Peleliu ARG Completes COMPTUEX

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) R. David Valdez, Navy Public Affairs Support Element, West

USS PELELIU. At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines bolstered their joint warfighting capabilities during a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) held off the Southern California coast, March 17-31.

Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (PEL ARG) and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) practiced detailed planning, communication and execution during a variety of missions in order to complete COMPTUEX.

"COMPTUEX provided the ARG an opportunity to exercise our tactical capability in a dynamic, complex, at-sea scenario," said Capt. Dale Fuller, commander, Amphibious Squadron 3. "This prepares the ARG and our Marine counterparts in honing the required skill sets as we lean forward for our scheduled deployment."

COMPTUEX is the second of three at-sea periods for the PEL ARG and 15th MEU. Following PHIBRON-MEU Integration (PMINT) in February, COMPTUEX created a more complex environment for training. Each evolution required a greater level of communication between the ships and their embarked Marines.

"It is my belief that our Navy and Marine Corps team is currently on track to meeting the functional warfighting milestones necessary for us to be prepared for CERTEX, our next training evolution," said Col. Roy Osborn, 15th MEU commanding officer.

Scenarios tested the PEL ARG and 15th MEU's ability to perform maritime security operations, such as counter-piracy operations; as well as real-time operations including refueling at sea, flight operations, and amphibious landings. These are required tasks for the scheduled 2010 deployment.

Amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) is the command platform for the Peleliu ARG and 15th MEU. The ARG consists of the command element, Amphibious Squadron 3; amphibious transport dock USS Dubuque (LPD 8); amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52); and embarked units Tactical Air Control Squadron 11, Det. 1; Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23, Det. 5; Assault Craft Unit 5, Det. B; Assault Craft Unit 1, Det. F; Beachmaster Unit 1, Det. D; and Fleet Surgical Team 1.