Personnel assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Six (EODMU-6), Detachment Two, detonate a floating mine during Gulf of Mexico Exercises (GOMEX) 05-1. GOMEX is scheduled quarterly for mine countermeasures units that have completed the basic mine countermeasure training phase. GOMEX marks the transition of a mine warfare readiness group from training to ready-to-deploy status that includes integrated surface, air and explosive ordnance disposal mine countermeasures operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mineman 2nd Class Patrick Connerly) Two Mine Countermeasures (MCM) ships, several MH-53E helicopters and hundreds of Sailors trained in the Gulf of Mexico's Corpus Christi operating area through Nov. 9 for the Gulf of Mexico Exercise (GOMEX) 08-2.
GOMEX 08-2 is held to certify that ships, equipment and crews are ready to deploy when called upon. This exercise marks the transition from a training group to fully capable and deployable assets in the MCM arsenal.
HELMINERON 15 MH-53E helicopters; mine countermeasures ships USS Warrior (MCM 10) and USS Devastator (MCM 6); and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 6 are assets that comprise the MCM triad. Bringing them together is one of the most demanding and challenging military exercises on the Gulf Coast.
"This exercise gives us the opportunity to observe the individual unit's capability to conduct the mission for which they are trained," said Cmdr. Rob Hoar, assessments officer for Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command (NMAWC). "It also allows the command and control function of the coordinating staff to be flexed in ways that are not possible through any other means prior to deploying into theater."
Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMRON) 1 is the command coordinating the exercise, which will employ the triad and determine any shortfalls in operations. MCMRON 1 will also evaluate some new MCM technology installed onboard the ships and helicopters.
Lt. Cmdr. Ken Reilley, commanding officer, Devastator is looking forward to having his crew operate the new systems installed recently.
"Perhaps the most exciting installation is the Precise Integrated Navigation Systems (PINS) v(5) final installation. Devastator is the first of the class to have this done," said Reilley.
PINS offers improved navigational accuracy and command/control features which will yield rapid mine-hunting operations.
The latest Mine Warfare Environmental Decision Aids Library build will be exercised for the first time, providing the Mine Warfare commander with timely and accurate reports reducing task time due to re-investigation of previously classified contacts.
"We always look forward to the challenge of practicing our art at sea," Reilley added. "Our new crew members will be readied for their watches to support sustained combat operations at sea, once we deploy."
Likewise, HM-15 is using this exercise to train and incorporate the capabilities of both the MK-104 mechanical sweep gear and the updated AN/AQS-24 high-speed, high resolution mine hunting sonar system with side-scan sonar and laser line target acquisition scan technology.
Once mine contacts are verified, EOD divers deploy to neutralize mines using unique systems such as AN/PQS 2A Hand-held SONAR, lift balloons, specific shape charges and demolition materials.
The seas and environmental conditions in the Corpus Christi Operating Area are challenging with diver visibility averaging less than 3 feet.
"High silt bottoms and strong currents make it difficult for divers to conduct their mission," said EOD Master Chief Leo Arambula. "The saying goes 'if you can successfully operate in the waters off Corpus Christi you can operate anywhere.'"
This is a large exercise in that the assets from each part of the MCM triad will be present and performing their function. NMAWC will have people at each of these levels gathering information on what happens during the exercise.
"At the end of the exercise, we will take this information and reconstruct what happened during the exercise," said Dr. David Broyles, NMAWC analyst. "From this information, we can produce useful information about why certain things, good or bad, happened during the exercise, our strength and weaknesses and where we might want to focus future efforts."
NMAWC, in assessing this exercise, is applying extensive experience gained from the merger with the Anti-Submarine Warfare Command.
"The transition from the previous, subjective form of evaluating MCM has been replaced by an open, inclusive and data driven method to evaluate the capabilities of our forces," added Hoar.