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Carter Hall Training with Maritime Expeditionary Security Force

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090215-10
Release Date: 2/15/2009 7:22:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW/SW) Flordeliz Valerio, Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group Public Affairs

USS CARTER HALL, At Sea (NNS) -- The amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) served as a training platform for the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF).

MESF is currently deployed to the Middle East in support of force protection and harbor defense missions, and embarked aboard Carter Hall to conduct simulated small boat attack exercises with coalition ships.

Maritime Expeditionary Boat Detachment 562, officer-in- charge, Lt. Cmdr. Brett Siweck, from Reno, Nev., said that their mission aboard Carter Hall is to provide opposing forces during multi-ship exercises.

"We simulated boat attacks against various coalition forces," said Siweck. "These exercises were geared to train our personnel for real world situations."

Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Chad McAllister, from Salt Lake City, assigned to Combined Task Group (CTG) 56.5, said the exercise was designed to help ships better their defenses.

"We learn their shipboard defenses and observe how the ship will react if there was a small boat attack," said McAllister.

MESF ran attack formations to attempt to get within ship defenses and simulate fire attacks.

Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Strandquist, Carter Hall's executive officer, said such exercises are necessary to prepare the crew and prevent attacks.

"These types of exercises help our crew to train and be alert," said Strandquist. "Any small boat could attempt to attack a warship at any time but, with all the drills and training we do with MESF, it will help us better prepare for these threats."

Carter Hall is deployed as part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation. MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

For more news from Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/iwoesg/.