Essex Sailors, Marines Sharpen Amphibious Warfare Skills During Fall Patrol
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS081202-04
Release Date: 12/2/2008 10:59:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson, USS Essex Public Affairs
OKINAWA, Japan (NNS) -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) arrived in Okinawa, Japan, to debark the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Nov 30.
"When we began fall patrol in September, many of the 31st MEU Marines had never been on board a Navy ship. We gave them a warm Essex welcome and then fully integrated them into the shipboard routine," said Capt. Brent Canady, Essex commanding officer.
"The Marines worked closely with Sailors to accomplish a very challenging fall patrol that sharpened our amphibious warfare skills continuing to make Essex "Always Ready," for any operational tasking."
Sailors and Marines worked side-by-side throughout the deployment, as they conducted extensive, bilateral exercises with Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Republic of the Philippines, and enjoyed liberty in various ports throughout Asia.
Major exercises included the Amphibious Landing Exercise, conducted with the Philippines; ANNUALEX 20G, conducted with Japan; and the Korean Interoperability Training Program.
"It was an eye-opening experience being on board for the first time," said Lance Cpl. Jacob Jordan, from Canon City, Colo. "I had to learn a lot, but it all paid off in the end because we learned what we're capable of as a team. The camaraderie between Sailors and Marines is stronger than you think. When we're on shore and they're at sea you don't see it, but that all changes when we're on board together."
According to Chief Boatswain's Mate (SW/AW) Christopher White, the kind of integrated training Sailors and Marines took part in on fall patrol is essential to mission readiness.
"This training is important because we need our guys to be better prepared when a real scenario presents itself," said White. "You never know when you'll be called upon to do this stuff for real, and maintaining a high level of readiness is paramount."
Jordan, a maintenance specialist with the 31st MEU, agreed.
"It's our job to make sure we have good communications with the Sailors and the Marines on the beach. "Training is a big part of making sure we know how to do our job and making sure they have what they need."
Sailors and Marines also enjoyed liberty together in Subic Bay, Philippines; Okinawa, Japan, and Hong Kong. Deployments like fall patrol provide an excellent opportunity to experience the unique culture of many locations, explained Jordan.
"Hong Kong was awesome," said Jordan. "There are so many people there from different cultures…from London, Australia, America, and the architecture is just spectacular."
While Jordan will not join the MEU when they return to Essex next year for spring patrol, he said he's looking forward to his next opportunity to deploy on a Navy ship, wherever it may be.
The post-patrol offload began early Nov. 29 with the fly-off of the 31st MEU's Aviation Combat Element (ACE), during which 31st MEU and Essex Combat Cargo Marines off-loaded all the ACE's remaining arsenal of aircraft, including CH-53E Sea Stallion, CH-46E Sea Knight, AH-1Z Super Cobra and UH-1 Huey helicopters.
The offload continued throughout the day, as they moved approximately 60 pieces of rolling stock, and 300 pieces of MEU cargo, capping off another successful fall patrol.
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 lead ship of the only forward-deployed U.S. expeditionary strike group and serves as the flagship for CTF 76, the Navy's forward-deployed amphibious force commander. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with a detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
For more news from USS Essex (LHD 2), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd2/.
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