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Bataan Hosts Marines During AMFEX

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081223-04
Release Date: 12/23/2008 1:34:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Stephen Oleksiak, USS Bataan Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) hosted 283 Marine Corps junior officers as part of the Amphibious Familiarization Exercise (AMFEX) Dec. 15-17.

AMFEX is designed to help introduce the Naval expeditionary character of Marines aboard amphibious class ships to entry-level Marine officers before they join the fleet.

"The idea here is to get these officers knowledgeable and familiar with the characteristics of the ship," said Chief Warrant Officer John Bradley, Bataan's combat cargo officer. "Marines who are younger and less experienced will one day come to these junior officers with questions and these officers need to be prepared. We here on Bataan are here to help prepare them."

The visit consisted of a tour of the Bataan and the amphibious transport vessel USS Nashville (LPD 13) before ending with an overnight stay aboard Bataan.

"The reception that we received was incredible. It was evident that we were welcomed by everyone from the tour escorts to the commanding officer," said Maj. Russell Rybka, company commander. "The state of the ship was impressive and I think that the company will take a lot away from their time on Bataan."

"This was a very enlightening experience for most of us," said 2nd Lt. Matthew Daugherty. "Only about half of the company graduated from the Naval Academy and had prior experience. For the rest of us this was a necessity to better lead our Marines."

Bataan is the fifth ship of the Navy's Wasp-class ships. She was commissioned Sept. 20, 1997, and is the second U.S. Navy warship to bear the name. CVL-29 was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier that was commissioned in November 1943. After serving in both World War II and the Korean conflict, CVL-29 was decommissioned in 1954.

For more news from USS Bataan (LHD 5), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd5/.