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Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, 24th MEU Kickoff COMPTUEX 2011

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS111130-03
11/30/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Heather W. Hines, USS Iwo Jima Public Affairs

USS IWO JIMA, At Sea (NNS) -- The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, along with amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, got underway Nov. 29 for composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX).

COMPTUEX is a pre-deployment certification that evaluates an ARG's ability to conduct major combat operations by use of a scenario-based exercise.

Lt. Cmdr. Jason Hanser, Iwo Jima ARG information warfare commander/cryptologic resource coordinator from Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8, said that being battle ready is key in the future success of the Blue/Green Team represented on board.

"COMPTUEX gives us an overall picture of where we are at, how we are doing as a composite group of ships and how well our overall Navy and Marine Corps team is operating as one unit," said Hanser. "We not only test our people, but the processes and our overall ability to plan a successful operation."

Hanser also stressed the importance of the entire crew maintaining operational security (OPSEC).

"[The crew] cannot wait until the ship is certified as deployment ready to start thinking about OPSEC. Right now is the time," said Hanser. "During the various exercises we embark upon, we also need to stress the importance of operations security to our families, especially when using the various social media outlets. This will not only protect them, but will help towards ensuring the ship returns home safely."

Upon completion of COMPTUEX, the Iwo Jima ARG will embark on the final phase of deployment certification, also know as CERTEX.

Iwo Jima ARG, comprised of PHIBRON 8, the 24th MEU, the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), amphibious dock-landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) and amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), is scheduled to deploy in Spring 2012.