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ESG 2 Demonstrates Flexibility, Highlights Expeditionary Nature

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090306-03
Release Date: 3/6/2009 11:22:00 AM

By Lt. John Fage, Expeditionary Strike Group 2 Public Affairs

USS MONTEREY, At Sea (NNS) -- Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 spent months conducting intensive planning and exercise evolutions preparing to lead Task Forces 51 and 59 as well as the newly-formed Combined Task Force (CTF) 151.

Task Force 51 is responsible for the planning and execution of contingency response missions in the 5th Fleet Area of Operations. Task Force 59 plans and conducts maritime humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations. CTF 151 is a multinational task force conducting counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Red Sea.

ESG 2 began planning for its 2009 deployment in early 2008, not long after returning from a year-long deployment to Bahrain in 2007. The unit's construct allows for maximum flexibility and ability to perform a wide array of missions, both planned and in response to unforeseen contingencies.

"As a command element, we're able to pack up, pick up and go where we're needed and successfully execute any mission handed to us," said Rear Adm. Terence McKnight, commander, ESG 2. "We're a flexible, adaptable and scalable amphibious staff that can respond anywhere, anytime to anything."

The staff practiced multiple scenarios through several exercises, including a joint task force exercise, from May to October, preparing for situations it might face while deployed to 5th Fleet.

"Going through the exercises allowed us to become a cohesive staff, thinking with one mind," said Cmdr. Todd Lewis, ESG 2's operations officer. "We went through each event step-by-step, identifying the exercise situation, developing proposed courses of action and then executing our plan.

"When it comes to real-world operations, there's no margin for error. Our preparation and planning made sure we're ready to go."

ESG 2's flexibility and adaptability were put to the test even before leaving its homeport of Little Creek Amphibious Base, Norfolk, Va., when the decision was made to create a new CTF whose mission was to focus solely on the epidemic of piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

More than a dozen of the unit's staff deployed early and on short notice in order to be on-station in Bahrain to do the initial planning of counter-piracy operations aimed at deterring, disrupting and suppressing piracy in one of the world's most critical waterways. Following one week on the ground and intensive planning, McKnight and several members of his staff embarked the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17), the CTF's inaugural flagship.

"Because of our planning and all the practice we had over the last year, we were ready to go as soon as we set foot on San Antonio," said Lewis. "We settled right into our battle rhythm and began looking for the criminals preventing the free flow of commerce on the high seas."

Over the following weeks, several U.S. and coalition ships, including the destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72), the guided-missile cruisers USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) and USS Monterey (CG 61) as well as the Military Sealift Command supply ship, USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1), reconfigured with a holding area for suspected pirates, conducted counter-piracy operations throughout the Gulf of Aden and the internationally recognized transit corridor. The ships brought a multitude of mission capabilities, including the Scan Eagle unmanned aerial vehicle; visit, board, search and seizure teams, a Marine expeditionary unit and robust medical capabilities.

The British frigate HMS Portland (F79), the Danish frigate, HDMS Absalon (L 16) and the Turkish frigate TCG Giresun (F-491) have also conducted operations as part of CTF 151, highlighting the fact that piracy is an international problem requiring an international answer. Singapore has also announced it will participate in CTF 151 operations.

"We've performed every task handed to us by the book," said McKnight. "Our active-duty and Reserve members integrated seamlessly and without hesitation, forming a very cohesive staff. Together as one team, we've worked hand-in-hand with our coalition partners to help make the world's waterways safer for everyone."