Military

4th and 2nd ANGLICO Support Joint Warrior

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091020-09
Release Date: 10/20/2009 10:12:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katrina Parker, Destroyer Squadron 24 Public Affairs

USS COLE, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines assigned to the 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) and the 2nd ANGLICO particpated in Exercise Joint Warrior 09-2 held Oct. 3-16.

Joint Warrior, designed and led by the United Kingdom's Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS), is a multi-warfare exercise designed to improve interoperability between allied navies and prepare participating crews to conduct combined operations during deployments.

The exercise promotes Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet's three focus areas: conducting safe and effective fleet operations to achieve mission, providing ready maritime forces for global assignment, and teaming with allies and partners in execution of the maritime strategy.
Fourth ANGLICO is a Marine Forces Reserve unit whose mission is to provide allied and U.S. Army commanders with naval fires to include close air support, naval surface fire support and fire support coordination.

The 26-member team taking part in Joint Warrior consisted of Navy and Marine Corps officers, as well as enlisted forward observers and field radio operators. During the exercise, the team trained with Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 24 staff on board the guided missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) and the guided-missile frigate USS John L. Hall (FFG 32). The ANGLICO Leathernecks also conducted ground training at Cape Wrath, Scotland.

"For the exercise, we [worked] as a simulated special operations forces unit that goes ashore working with non-amphibious ships such as destroyers and frigates," said Lt. Col. Max Goralnick, officer-in-charge of the 4th ANGLICO detachment during exercise Joint Warrior.

"The ability to use a platform that is not configured for amphibious operations is a valuable learning experience for the units," added Goralnick.
Joint Warrior incorporates conventional warfare exercises and Fleet Irregular Warfare Training. The exercise focused heavily on non-traditional warfare areas such as counterpiracy and maritime security operations.

"This is an exciting opportunity for us to work with Sailors who do not usually deal with amphibious operations," said Goralnick.

Goralnick said the training area in Scotland provides terrain that simulates certain conditions present in areas to which personnel may be deployed, which physically and mentally challenges the unit. Also, working alongside coalition forces on various Navy platforms is a rare learning experience.

"The biggest benefit from this training is getting actual hands on training with naval surface fire," said Marine Sgt. Ismael Lopez, the fire power controlman chief assigned to 4th ANGLICO. "We rarely get this opportunity to train with that, as well as coordinating with coalition forces."

"Joint Warrior is one of the single-greatest maritime exercises," said Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Hanger, the operations and training officer for 4th ANGLICO and OIC for Joint Warrior. "This training is unparalleled and we want to really ramp up the Marine Corps involvement in the future."

Hanger said he was very impressed by the day-to-day operations he saw during his time on the USS Cole.

"In just a 12-hour period, the ship had a host of foreign helicopters on their deck, put RHIBS (rigid-hull inflatable boats) in the water, conducted maritime interdiction operations (MIO), assisted allied navies during a simulated pirate attack, put Marines on the shore while doing reconnaissance and potentially engaging a 'hostile' target," said Hanger. "All of this was done while keeping in constant communication with the different navies and agencies involved."

"Working with the DESRON staff and the Cole's crew is a great opportunity to look at how we are fighting the fight today as a Navy-Marine Corps team," Goralnick said. "Training exercises like Joint Warrior help us all with our flexibility as we move forward and encounter the next challenges we have to face."