By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Omar A. Dominquez, USS Peleliu Public Affairs
USS PELELIU, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 3 and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted PHIBRON-MEU Integrated Training (PMINT) Feb. 22-March 5, off the coast of Southern California.
PMINT is the first stage of training where more than 1,800 Sailors comprised of USS Peleliu (LHA 5), USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) integrated with more than 1,600 Marines from 15th MEU, in preparation for their upcoming Western Pacific deployment.
The exercise enhanced operability between the Sailors and Marines during the 10-day underway period.
"PHIBRON and MEU integration allows us to get underway with the Marines, and operate together for the first time," said Capt. Dale Fuller, commander, PHIBRON 3, "We go through all our standard operating procedures, whether they be air operations or well deck operations."
PMINT allows Sailors and Marines to work with each other to begin forming a "blue-green" team.
"For the Marines, the integration is more significant because they need to find where their berthing is located, how to move their equipment around the ship, how to do egress procedures on the ship, how to learn the ship's policy, gym hours, and store hours," said Fuller. "It's truly an integration process in which we learn how to operate together and work as a team."
According to Lance Cpl. Ron Meier, assigned to the 15th MEU, the Sailors aboard the Peleliu have been very welcoming.
"The Sailors aboard the ship are very helpful and friendly. If we have questions, they are sure to point us in the right direction," said Meier, "I enjoy ship life. You get to see your friends and meet a lot more people."
Since the 2008 deployment, many new faces have arrived on both sides of the blue - green team.
"It's important the Marines come aboard the ship because many of us don't have any prior experience in working together," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Buress, operations chief for the Air Combat Element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced). "In order to prepare ourselves to go forward and conduct operations, we need to know the Navy's training techniques aboard a ship to create a more advanced fighting force."
With PMINT complete, the Sailors and Marines look to push forward to the remaining exercises.
"Being the commodore of PHIBRON 3 and working with the 15th MEU has been a fantastic experience to start this integrated training phase for the Amphibious Ready Group," said Fuller. "This advanced training will form us in to a formidable force to be used as a national asset for the United States.
