• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Realistic Training Preps Marines on Boxer for Real-World Scenarios

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081113-18
Release Date: 11/13/2008 6:03:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew Jackson, USS Boxer Public Affairs

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (NNS) -- Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted humanitarian assistance operations (HAO) training during simulated exercises at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Nov. 3-7.

The HAO was one of several exercises conducted during amphibious assault ship USS Boxer's (LHD 4) Composite Training Unit Exercises.

"The purpose of this exercise was to provide basic humanitarian assistance relief," said 13th MEU Chief Warrant Officer Colin Cooper, HAO Mission Commander. "We get food, water and medical attention to internally displaced persons as quickly as possible."

Once basic needs have been met, Marines are capable of expanding relief operations.

"We can provide prenatal care, preventative medicine and medical screenings. In addition, we have multilingual speaking staff complimenting our ability to practice culturally sensitive medicine," said Cooper.

During the training exercises, Department of State officials participated in roles reflective of foreign U.S. embassy officials to work cooperatively with the 13th MEU.

"I was very impressed with the level of organization at the HAO site, which was very realistic," said Alaina Teplitz, Director of Administrative Management Training Division for the Department of State. "The village housing internally displaced persons, the role players and the questions and issues they presented to me during my visit closely reflected real scenarios."

During this exercise Marines provided relief to actual persons of Middle Eastern descent, an element that adds realism to a training scenario. The location of the exercise was a simulated Middle Eastern city at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton that mimics real elements of geography, city structure and scenarios Marines may encounter during future operations.

"The more realistic our exercises are, the better prepared we will be during real operations. We're faced with the challenge to react to many changing situations while syncing different elements of our team," Cooper said. "I feel like we've successfully reached the milestones we set for the HAO training. Most importantly, Marines understand their roles during humanitarian assistance operations."

BOXESG is scheduled for more training exercises this fall prior to a deployment scheduled for early next year.

BOXESG is comprised of Amphibious Squadron 5, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS New Orleans (LPD 18), USS Comstock (LSD 45), USS Chung Hoon (DDG 93), USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, Naval Beach Group 1, Assault Craft Unit 5, Assault Craft Unit 1, Beach Master Unit 1 and Fleet Surgical Team 5.

The 13th MEU is comprised of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced), Combat Logistics Battalion 13 and Battalion Landing Team 1/1.

For more news from USS Boxer (LHD 4), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd4/.