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7th Fleet Commander Visits Essex During Bilateral Exercise With Korea

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081107-22
Release Date: 11/7/2008 6:15:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson, USS Essex Public Affairs

ABOARD USS ESSEX (NNS) -- The visit served as an opportunity for Vice Adm. John M. Bird to see Essex's amphibious capabilities while fully engaged in bilateral operations.

During the visit, Bird met with Essex, Amphibious Squadron 11 (PHIBRON 11), and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) leadership and participated in a brief ship tour, including the ship's bridge, debarkation control and combat information center (CIC).

Bird was greeted on the ship's bridge by Capt. Brent Canady, Essex's commanding officer, who provided a brief overview of Essex's involvement in KITP, which includes extensive flight operations in support of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (HMM-262), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

"I'm really impressed with 262," said Canady. "These guys are really doing a good job, and they're playing a huge part in making this training a success."

While on the bridge, Bird observed HMM-262 in action, as two AV-8B Harrier jet aircraft demonstrated vertical and running launches.

After the flight demonstrations, Bird was escorted to Combat Information Center (CIC), where Essex and ROK leadership were observing aspects of the exercise. Capt. Donald Schmieley, commodore, PHIBRON 11, described how the strategic coordination with ROK leadership was translating into successful training on the beach and in the air.

"We have trained side by side with the ROK military in exercises like this for many years, the ROK military is one of the best in the world, and we are glad to be continuing that relationship," said Schmieley.

Essex' Sailors and 31st MEU Marines will continue to collaborate with their ROK counterparts throughout the week.

The 31st MEU is the only permanently forward deployed MEU, maintaining a presence in the Pacific Ocean at all times as part of III Marine Expeditionary Force, and is based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan.

Essex is the only forward-deployed U.S. amphibious assault ship and serves Task Force 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

For more news from USS Essex (LHD 2), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd2/.