Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group Completes PMINT

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lauren G. Randall, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

USS IWO JIMA, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8 and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) conducted the PHIBRON-MEU Integrated Training (PMINT) from Oct. 24 through Nov. 3.

PMINT is the first integrated training between the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) comprised of approximately 1,700 Sailors from 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), and approximately 1,200 Marines with the 24th MEU.

PMINT enhanced operability between the Sailors and Marines and began the process of forming a blue-green team during three phases and approximately two weeks of training exercises.

During the first phase, Sailors and Marines worked together to safely embark and integrate the 24th MEU including all of the aircraft, vehicles, gear and personnel throughout the three ships within the ARG.
Sailors and Marines conducted many well deck and flight deck operations during the first two days transporting 24th MEU gear from land to the ARG ships.

"PMINT is not new, we understood what we needed to do which is to bring the blue-green team together for the first time underway," said Marine Capt. Jeremey Wilkinson, MEU Battalion Landing Team (BLT) operations officer. "No matter how you cut the cake, green team cannot be successful without the blue and blue team cannot be successful without the green. So we have to learn how to work together to deliver the right solution around the world."

The second and longest phase was integrated training. Phase two of PMINT included a series of air defense exercises, surface gunnery, communication scenarios, boarding exercises, planning, co-mingling standard operating procedures and testing gear.

During the training exercises, Sailors and Marines worked on their driver training for the on and off loading of vehicles, dock landing qualifications, shipboard familiarization and overall team building.

"In the well decks, we've done a lot of integrated training, bringing different types of crafts and vehicles aboard," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW/AW/SCW) Kenyon Copeland, assigned to Iwo Jima.

"We've worked together with the MEU, the watercraft crews and ships company to stage them to see what kind of storage we can have, and if we would be able to fit any more and still get around."

Post exercise evaluations were held after each operation. All training evolutions were reviewed and critiqued in order to identify any problems and improvement possibilities.

"This is to basically get everyone on the same page before deployment, so that we can operate safely and complete our mission," said Copeland. "All the trainings have gone well; we've worked well together and kept our heads on a swivel."

The debarkation process involved off-loading embarked personnel, aircraft, watercraft and vehicles from the Iwo Jima ARG.

Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Joshua D. Kramer said Sailors and Marines worked well together and expects similar cohesiveness during the next training exercises.

Upon completion of PMINT the Iwo Jima ARG plans to conduct composite unit training exercise (COMPT2X) and a certification exercise (CERTEX) in preparation to deploy in 2012.

Iwo Jima ARG Completes First Phase of PMINT

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Scott P. Youngblood, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs

USS IWO JIMA, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8 and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked approximately 1,200 Marines and 1,700 Sailors to complete the first phase of PHIBRON-MEU Integrated Training (PMINT) Oct. 25 and 26.

This process involves on-loading and off-loading embarked personnel, aircraft, watercraft and vehicles between the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) including amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) and amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21).

"Here, we get a snapshot of the equipment and their personnel," said Marine Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Desiderio, Iwo Jima's combat cargo officer. "It's a training stage, so we have post-exercise evaluations after every evolution. We look at where the holes are, and we take corrective action for the next evolution."

The embarkation phase enhances operability between the Sailors and Marines and begins the process of forming a blue-green team.

"The embarkation is basically allowing us to get our feet wet and understand our own assets among the ships," said Marine Capt. Jeremey Wilkinson, MEU Battalion Landing Team operations officer. "Essentially the embarkation phase is a building block that allows us to get an idea of how we would be structured aboard a ship in order to meet a wide range of operations."

Marines flew a variety of aircraft from their Aviation Combat Element for training, including the MV-22B Osprey, the AV-8B Harrier, the AH-1 Cobra, CH-53E Super Stallion and the UH-1N Huey.

Landing craft air cushions from Assault Craft Unit 4 also transported light armored vehicles from the 24th MEU to the ARG, while amphibious assault vehicles splashed their way from the beach to the ARG.

"It's like playing the first soccer game of the season," said Desiderio. "People are all over the field until they figure out what their role is and where they should be at what time to execute what orders."

During this training period, embarked Marines will be working on their deck landing qualifications, driver training for the loading and off loading of vehicles, ship familiarization and overall team building.

Upon the completion of PMINT, the Iwo Jima ARG will continue with its remaining exercises in preparation to deploy more effectively in Spring 2012.

Kearsarge ARG Completes Integrated Training

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Cristina Gabaldon, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 4 and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted PHIBRON-MEU Integrated Training (PMINT) with the Kearsarge Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) off the coast of North Carolina April 20-May 5.

PMINT was a 16-day exercise that included many evolutions the ARG and MEU would execute during real-world operations. It began with the embark of nearly 900 Marines and all of their vehicles and equipment on USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), and the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21)

"PMINT gave us the opportunity to integrate with the 26th MEU and conduct operations with the ARG," said Capt. Baxter Goodly, Kearsarge's commanding officer. "This was the first time we've had a full MEU embarked in over two years and we were able to train with the MEU in everything from well deck to flight deck operations."

PMINT lays the groundwork for the ARG and the MEU to create a "Blue-Green" team and to work through the initial challenges faced when integrating Marines on board a ship.

"This training period is almost like a practice run for the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) the ARG will be doing in July," said Cmdr. Christopher Korn, operations officer on board Kearsarge. "We weren't graded for PMINT, but we were able to successfully run through several war-time missions of delivering Marines and their equipment to theater."

Capt. Larry Grippin, PHIBRON 4 commodore, was pleased with how well the operations went.

"We exceeded all standards and we were able to accomplish all the Blue-Green training we needed," said Grippin. "We were able to successfully integrate with the 26th MEU and we established a good working relationship in the process."

Commander of the 26th MEU Col. Mark Desens thanked the Kearsarge crew for the success of PMINT.

"I would like to compliment and congratulate the crew of USS Kearsarge," said Desens. "[The] 26th MEU came into PMINT with a long list of tasks and we were able to complete them on time, even exceeding expectations. PMINT was a great success, and I look forward to upcoming exercises and the deployment with the Kearsarge ARG."

Kearsarge will continue training with the ARG and the 26th MEU leading up to COMPTUEX in July and an upcoming deployment this fall.

Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group Conducts PMINT

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.