By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lauren G. Randall, Amphibious Squadron 8 Public Affairs
USS GUNSTON HALL, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious dock-landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) conducted, for the first time aboard, testing of Scan Eagle, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), used in coordination with both Gunston Hall and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Feb. 1-14.
Scan Eagle is an Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) asset and the decision to deploy it on Gunston Hall was made shortly after the ship was assigned to the Iwo Jima ARG this past summer. Scan Eagle has been deployed on other LSDs on the West Coast. Installation plans only required minor changes onboard Gunston Hall. Insitu and Boeing contractors installed the system in concert with Gunston Hall's own consolidated maintenance availabilities, completed just before the group departed Norfolk, Va., for the 24th MEU and Iwo Jima ARG's final certification for deployment, certification exercise (CERTEX) and Bold Alligator 2012.
"This training time is the first opportunity since being installed to test the system," said Cmdr. Shawn A. Bohrer, executive officer aboard Gunston Hall. "Additionally, CERTEX and Bold Alligator 2012 are dynamic training events in which the ARG and ships react to differing presentations/vignettes just as they would real life scenarios. Employing Scan Eagle gives the ARG/MEU commanders a tremendous asset in developing the recognized maritime picture to support decision making."
Scan Eagle has already conducted two successful missions and located simulated surface contacts with positive visual identification during the training exercises. Scan Eagle is being used in the scenario to locate any simulated illegal activities during the training exercises such as drug or human trafficking, terrorist activities, or unknown crafts and vehicles within close proximity of the ARG at sea or the Marines on land, with video footage transmitted back to the control system on the ship using a live video feed.
"Scan Eagle is really going to expand the horizon of Gunston Hall, Iwo Jima (Amphibious Ready Group) ARG and 24th MEU," said Capt. John Meier, commanding officer aboard Gunston Hall. "It is state-of-the-art technology and is able to greatly enhance the ship's air capabilities with small equipment providing video information possibilities that the ARG has never had before."
The UAV captures live video footage as it flies up to 78 mph and up to 10,000 feet in altitude for more than 20 hours during a single flight. Scan Eagle has been deployed frequently over the past several years in support of maritime security and overseas contingency operations. It can be deployed ashore or onboard Navy ships such as amphibious dock-landing ships and destroyers.
"Having Scan Eagle aboard Gunston Hall enables the Iwo Jima ARG to have an additional intelligence collection asset which can be used over both land and sea," said Lt. Jabe Lopez, Scan Eagle's detachment officer in charge with Amphibious Squadron 8 (PHIBRON 8). "This is definitely a great blue-green data collection asset to have."
Insitu and Boeing contractors worked with Navy and Marine units during Bold Alligator 2012 and CERTEX to build a working relationship to fully integrate the Scan Eagle program aboard Gunston Hall. This UAV system is unique because it only requires four personnel to operate; the pilot, two air crewmen for lift-off and landing, and an information analyst to relay the data collected. The Scan Eagle aids in getting real-time, full mission video, from a stealthy package with an extremely long on-station time.
"It is really a robust capability ideally suited for remote locations," said Meier. "With the distance Scan Eagle can cover, it doesn't put our air crew in harms way. The ability to get vital information with live video coverage, without endangering our Sailors, will greatly enhance the Navy's mission."
Gunston Hall is underway participating in Bold Alligator 2012 as well as CERTEX, the final certification for the 24th MEU and Iwo Jima ARG before their scheduled spring deployment.
Showing posts with label Exercise Bold Alligator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Exercise Bold Alligator. Show all posts
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Enterprise Completes Successful Monthlong Underway
The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Porter (DDG 78) and USS Cole (DDG 67) are underway participating in exercise Bold Alligator 2012. Bold Alligator is the largest naval amphibious exercise in the past 10 years and represents the Navy and Marine Corps' revitalization of the full range of amphibious operations. The exercise focuses on today's fight with today's forces, while showcasing the advantages of seabasing. The exercise will take place Jan. 30 through Feb. 12, 2012, afloat and ashore in and around Virginia and North Carolina. #BA12 (U.S. Navy photo by Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Alfredo R. Martinez II/Released) By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Peter Melkus, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs
USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) returned to Naval Station Norfolk Feb. 10 after completing a month of crucial pre-deployment qualifications and certifications at sea.
During the past month, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Sailors and Marines participated in three major workup exercises: a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) and exercise Bold Alligator 2012 - the largest naval amphibious exercise conducted in more than a decade.
The exercises mark the final steps in the 50-year-old carrier's preparation for its 22nd and final scheduled deployment. The culmination of months of training since Enterprise concluded its last deployment in July 2011, the exercises presented various scenarios and situations the Enterprise crew may face while deployed.
"These exercises are important because they allow us to evaluate our ability to accomplish the very missions we will be called upon to complete during deployment," said Rear Adm. Walter E. Carter, commander, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group. "Over the past month we have trained as a strike group and have shown that we are more than capable, as a team, to succeed across the full spectrum of warfare capabilities."
The complex scenarios and missions required hard work and dedication at all levels, from the strike group's most senior leadership to the youngest Sailors on the deckplates, experiencing their first underway period. The exercises are designed to involve every warfare area and ensure each Sailor and Marine knows their role to the fullest.
"The Big 'E' crew did an outstanding job this underway," said Master Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate Eric J. Young, Enterprise's acting command master chief. "Our Sailors and Marines were really put to the test, and they answered those challenges without hesitation. I am very proud of their performance and look forward to deploying with such a motivated team."
COMPTUEX, which occupied the first three weeks of the underway, was the first critical test for the strike group to operate together as a cohesive team. Evaluators from Commander, Strike Force Training, Atlantic grade the strike group's overall combat readiness by simulating the occupation of an area with high tensions existing between fictional countries in scenarios loosely based on real world geo-political conditions.
"It's important to practice operating under these conditions so we're ready when the time comes to do it all for real, whether it's against pirates or other enemies," said Cmdr. James Midkiff, operations officer for Enterprise Carrier Strike Group.
During the scenario-based training, strike group ships encountered threats including small boat attacks, mines, strait transits through hostile waters, aircraft, surface and submarine threats, as well as internal damage control and security threat drills. After accomplishing its tasks, evaluators then certified the strike group for open ocean operations.
"I'm extremely proud of how all the Sailors and Marines of the Enterprise, Carrier Air Wing 1, and DESRON 2 team performed during the exercise," said Carter. "The crews' performance during these exercises inspires in me a great sense of confidence that the Enterprise's final deployment will be both memorable and successful."
The last week of the month-long underway included both the JTFEX and Bold Alligator 2012 exercises. More than 14,000 personnel from the U.S., France, Great Britain, Canada and other countries joined together in a massive joint exercise involving at least 25 ships.
The exercises involved scenarios that required the rapid development of defense strategies to defeat a fictional enemy in an ever-evolving combat climate. The exercises concluded with the launch of a massive amphibious raid from several ships to bring the fictional enemy to their ultimate demise.
"We flew 107 sorties [in one day] from Enterprise to support the amphibious landing, which is an amazing feat for our air wing, flight deck crew and maintenance crews that keep things running the way they should," said Midkiff. "It was a great example of our surge capacity and highlighted the key role that a Carrier Strike Group plays in such crucial operations. It's remarkable what we've accomplished as a strike group in such a short period of time - and I have no doubt that we're ready to deploy."
In the midst of all the combat training scenarios, Enterprise also played a secondary role. During the last month, Sailors and Marines aboard Enterprise demonstrated the capabilities of the Navy's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its crew to more than 200 distinguished visitors, including the secretary of defense, chief of naval operations, master chief petty officer of the Navy, chairman and vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and other representatives from Congress, Department of Defense, and Navy leadership.
Friday, February 10, 2012
French LCAT Visits Wasp
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Chase, Navy Public Affairs Support Element - East
USS WASP, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) welcomed France's newest amphibious craft Feb. 7 as part of the joint operations that make an essential piece of Exercise Bold Alligator 2012.
A landing catamaran, or LCAT, entered the well deck of Wasp as a test of the interoperability between the French craft and U.S. amphibious vessels. France is one of 11 nations taking part in Bold Alligator.
The landing craft, which originated from the French amphibious assault ship, Mistral (L9013), entered Wasp's well deck slowly before backing and returning to rest, making sure future visits could be safe and smooth.
"After loading with the Wasp and previously with USS San Antonio (LPD 17), we know we can load our LCATs with the amphibious well decks of American ships," said Lt. Cmdr. Arnaud Tranchant, the French liaison officer to Wasp.
The LCAT, called Engin de débarquement amphibie rapide (EDA-R), is a double-hulled landing craft. Lt. Cmdr. George H. Pastoor, lead planner for Bold Alligator said EDA-R can go 25 knots, allowing it to transport troops and equipment to shore faster than most landing craft.
On D-Day, the first day of shorefront operations for Bold Alligator, EDA-R played a crucial mission for the French forces, along with the Bold Alligator team at-large.
"We were the first to go into the enemy area," said Tranchant. The LCAT was responsible for putting French troops and supplies in "Garnet" (a hostile nation in Bold Alligator's scenario), and helped make it possible for U.S. Sailors and Marines to go ashore and complete their objectives.
For exercise participants, loading EDA-R into Wasp's well deck is an opportunity to ensure joint operations are just as effective in training as in real-combat scenarios.
"During a joint operation, you want to make sure that a force of combined nations has compatible equipment," said Pastoor. "You want to make sure your radios can talk to each other, that your aircraft can land on each other's flight decks. That's what this is about."
Pastoor said that EDA-R's visit was just one of the operations taken to ensure interoperability. Before D-Day, all involved forces practiced combat enhancement and force integration training, or CET/FIT. This included extensive and ongoing joint training, such as landing French and U.S. helicopters on each other's platforms.
"We want to make sure every force, every man is ready to land," said Pastoor.
After EDA-R docked in Wasp, U.S. service members took a quick tour of the craft before its departure.
"We cannot do these missions alone - Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya," said Pastoor. "Now and in the future, when we work together and work together successfully, we accomplish more."
USS WASP, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) welcomed France's newest amphibious craft Feb. 7 as part of the joint operations that make an essential piece of Exercise Bold Alligator 2012.
A landing catamaran, or LCAT, entered the well deck of Wasp as a test of the interoperability between the French craft and U.S. amphibious vessels. France is one of 11 nations taking part in Bold Alligator.
The landing craft, which originated from the French amphibious assault ship, Mistral (L9013), entered Wasp's well deck slowly before backing and returning to rest, making sure future visits could be safe and smooth.
"After loading with the Wasp and previously with USS San Antonio (LPD 17), we know we can load our LCATs with the amphibious well decks of American ships," said Lt. Cmdr. Arnaud Tranchant, the French liaison officer to Wasp.
The LCAT, called Engin de débarquement amphibie rapide (EDA-R), is a double-hulled landing craft. Lt. Cmdr. George H. Pastoor, lead planner for Bold Alligator said EDA-R can go 25 knots, allowing it to transport troops and equipment to shore faster than most landing craft.
On D-Day, the first day of shorefront operations for Bold Alligator, EDA-R played a crucial mission for the French forces, along with the Bold Alligator team at-large.
"We were the first to go into the enemy area," said Tranchant. The LCAT was responsible for putting French troops and supplies in "Garnet" (a hostile nation in Bold Alligator's scenario), and helped make it possible for U.S. Sailors and Marines to go ashore and complete their objectives.
For exercise participants, loading EDA-R into Wasp's well deck is an opportunity to ensure joint operations are just as effective in training as in real-combat scenarios.
"During a joint operation, you want to make sure that a force of combined nations has compatible equipment," said Pastoor. "You want to make sure your radios can talk to each other, that your aircraft can land on each other's flight decks. That's what this is about."
Pastoor said that EDA-R's visit was just one of the operations taken to ensure interoperability. Before D-Day, all involved forces practiced combat enhancement and force integration training, or CET/FIT. This included extensive and ongoing joint training, such as landing French and U.S. helicopters on each other's platforms.
"We want to make sure every force, every man is ready to land," said Pastoor.
After EDA-R docked in Wasp, U.S. service members took a quick tour of the craft before its departure.
"We cannot do these missions alone - Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya," said Pastoor. "Now and in the future, when we work together and work together successfully, we accomplish more."
NWDC Keeps Bold Alligator Under Control
By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Johnny Michael, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The commander of Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC)provided the media an opportunity to observe how Bold Alligator 2012, the largest amphibious exercise in 10 years, was controlled and synthesized Feb. 8.
BA12 incorporates a wide-variety of amphibious operations that revitalize Navy and Marine Corps core proficiencies. In addition to the 20,000 personnel and 25 ships participating, synthetic "players" - both friendly and enemy - and other simulated scenarios are being injected to add further layers of training to the exercise.
Rear Adm. Terry B. Kraft, commander, NWDC, welcomed the media to the operations center for BA12. The nerve center of BA12 is the large, circular control room of NWDC's Navy Center for Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NCAMS), which receives data on every event and provides command and control to the opposing forces. As unexpected events or problems are thrown at the friendly forces involved in the exercise, the analysts and controllers sitting in NCAMS have to quickly assess the actions of the commanders in the field and determine whether the problem was solved correctly, or if more actions are warranted.
Cmdr. Keith Holihan, Blue Exercise deputy director, said this feedback loop is key to the success of the exercise since events proposed during the year-and-a-half of planning that preceded the start of BA12 almost certainly never go exactly the way they were anticipated.
"No exercise plan survives first contact with those you are training," said Holihan. "The combatant commanders have changed some things that we have had to assess, analyze and respond to as a living, thinking opponent force, while we also recognize that we also have certain certification and training requirements that also have to be accomplished. So there's a little edge there where we have to respond to each other. It's very dynamic in that regard."
Ensuring that the exercise is not static is a result of good planning up front and maintaining flexibility throughout the exercise, said Michael White, director of plans and policy for Commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic.
"Once you go into full hostilities the problem is relatively simple, it's just a matter of putting your forces in the right place to take care of your opponents," White said. "The real test is when you're building up to full hostilities. The commanders have to make decisions, can I shoot, or can I not. Am I being threatened or is this just a feint that's just trying to get a reaction. Even now when we're in the situation where we have full hostilities, it's not just the opponent's forces that are in the vicinity, there are other countries' forces that are in and around it."
Many of the more complex and demanding events in BA12 have been completed, and now the focus is on maintaining pressure on the commanders in the field as they try to complete their objectives.
"Well we've gotten through a lot of the key pieces," said White. "We've gotten the Marines ashore, we're now conducting the land campaign synthetically. So while the actual troops installed are conducting unit-level training on the ranges, we're fighting a war campaign synthetically on the computers that the commanders onboard the ship have to maintain and work through.
"They're sitting afloat, off the shore, but they're seeing the campaign unfold they're dealing with all the command and control issues of having people ashore. We have people called response cells that are simulating that they are responding as those units go ashore, synthetic aircraft as well as synthetic troops, as well as those live forces that are going through their training ashore. We're still sending some harassment packages to the amphib task forces to make sure that they are still working on their force protection procedures."
Analysis and lessons learned, and subsequently any changes to amphibious doctrine, are also key responsibilities of NWDC. In addition to hosting the command and control center, NWDC is also provided an electronic doctrine library that everyone inside the control center can access at their computer station, and will, through its lessons learned activities, revise appropriate doctrine based on data collection and analysis of the exercise.
"There are going to be reams and reams of data that come out of this exercise on how to better do amphibious operations," said Kraft. "Our job here at Navy Warfare Development Command is to bring that information together and decide what's important and what's not so important, and help the fleet turn that into doctrine to change how we operate. There will be significant changes on how we do amphibious operations based on what we learned here."
In addition, two training requirements are wrapped up into the overarching BA12 exercise including the composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX) for the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group and the certification exercise for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. These are both certifications required for deployment.
"It's a challenge from the exercise planning perspective," said Kraft. "You have unit level exercise requirements that you have to complete during the COMPTUEX and the Joint Task Force Exercise. And then you have to interlace that with Bold Alligator. When you come out of it, the Enterprise strike group needs to be ready to deploy, and the Marine Corps forces have to be certified and you also want to exercise as much as you can for Bold Alligator."
BA12 is a live, scenario-driven simulation held off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida from Jan. 30 to Feb. 12. Its purpose is to revitalize Navy and Marine Corps amphibious expeditionary capabilities and to test and strengthen the fundamental roles of amphibious operations by focusing on force readiness and proficiency. Eight countries joined U.S. forces in the exercise, allowing American service members and coalition partners the opportunity to exercise amphibious operations in a real-world environment.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The commander of Navy Warfare Development Command (NWDC)provided the media an opportunity to observe how Bold Alligator 2012, the largest amphibious exercise in 10 years, was controlled and synthesized Feb. 8.
BA12 incorporates a wide-variety of amphibious operations that revitalize Navy and Marine Corps core proficiencies. In addition to the 20,000 personnel and 25 ships participating, synthetic "players" - both friendly and enemy - and other simulated scenarios are being injected to add further layers of training to the exercise.
Rear Adm. Terry B. Kraft, commander, NWDC, welcomed the media to the operations center for BA12. The nerve center of BA12 is the large, circular control room of NWDC's Navy Center for Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NCAMS), which receives data on every event and provides command and control to the opposing forces. As unexpected events or problems are thrown at the friendly forces involved in the exercise, the analysts and controllers sitting in NCAMS have to quickly assess the actions of the commanders in the field and determine whether the problem was solved correctly, or if more actions are warranted.
Cmdr. Keith Holihan, Blue Exercise deputy director, said this feedback loop is key to the success of the exercise since events proposed during the year-and-a-half of planning that preceded the start of BA12 almost certainly never go exactly the way they were anticipated.
"No exercise plan survives first contact with those you are training," said Holihan. "The combatant commanders have changed some things that we have had to assess, analyze and respond to as a living, thinking opponent force, while we also recognize that we also have certain certification and training requirements that also have to be accomplished. So there's a little edge there where we have to respond to each other. It's very dynamic in that regard."
Ensuring that the exercise is not static is a result of good planning up front and maintaining flexibility throughout the exercise, said Michael White, director of plans and policy for Commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic.
"Once you go into full hostilities the problem is relatively simple, it's just a matter of putting your forces in the right place to take care of your opponents," White said. "The real test is when you're building up to full hostilities. The commanders have to make decisions, can I shoot, or can I not. Am I being threatened or is this just a feint that's just trying to get a reaction. Even now when we're in the situation where we have full hostilities, it's not just the opponent's forces that are in the vicinity, there are other countries' forces that are in and around it."
Many of the more complex and demanding events in BA12 have been completed, and now the focus is on maintaining pressure on the commanders in the field as they try to complete their objectives.
"Well we've gotten through a lot of the key pieces," said White. "We've gotten the Marines ashore, we're now conducting the land campaign synthetically. So while the actual troops installed are conducting unit-level training on the ranges, we're fighting a war campaign synthetically on the computers that the commanders onboard the ship have to maintain and work through.
"They're sitting afloat, off the shore, but they're seeing the campaign unfold they're dealing with all the command and control issues of having people ashore. We have people called response cells that are simulating that they are responding as those units go ashore, synthetic aircraft as well as synthetic troops, as well as those live forces that are going through their training ashore. We're still sending some harassment packages to the amphib task forces to make sure that they are still working on their force protection procedures."
Analysis and lessons learned, and subsequently any changes to amphibious doctrine, are also key responsibilities of NWDC. In addition to hosting the command and control center, NWDC is also provided an electronic doctrine library that everyone inside the control center can access at their computer station, and will, through its lessons learned activities, revise appropriate doctrine based on data collection and analysis of the exercise.
"There are going to be reams and reams of data that come out of this exercise on how to better do amphibious operations," said Kraft. "Our job here at Navy Warfare Development Command is to bring that information together and decide what's important and what's not so important, and help the fleet turn that into doctrine to change how we operate. There will be significant changes on how we do amphibious operations based on what we learned here."
In addition, two training requirements are wrapped up into the overarching BA12 exercise including the composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX) for the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group and the certification exercise for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. These are both certifications required for deployment.
"It's a challenge from the exercise planning perspective," said Kraft. "You have unit level exercise requirements that you have to complete during the COMPTUEX and the Joint Task Force Exercise. And then you have to interlace that with Bold Alligator. When you come out of it, the Enterprise strike group needs to be ready to deploy, and the Marine Corps forces have to be certified and you also want to exercise as much as you can for Bold Alligator."
BA12 is a live, scenario-driven simulation held off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida from Jan. 30 to Feb. 12. Its purpose is to revitalize Navy and Marine Corps amphibious expeditionary capabilities and to test and strengthen the fundamental roles of amphibious operations by focusing on force readiness and proficiency. Eight countries joined U.S. forces in the exercise, allowing American service members and coalition partners the opportunity to exercise amphibious operations in a real-world environment.
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Wasp, ESG-2 Begin Bold Alligator "D-Day" Operations
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Drae C. Parker, USS Wasp Public Affairs
USS WASP, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) started "D-Day" operations Feb. 6 as Exercise Bold Alligator switches from its initial stages into full exercise combat operations.
"D-Day" marks the transition to land operations, where more than 3,600 Marines, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen representing 11 countries will begin to take back beaches in Virginia and North Carolina during a complex training scenario in which parts of the United States belong to hostile forces.
"This was the first day," said Lt. Cmdr. George Pastoor, lead planner for Bold Alligator. Pastoor added that the strike group will continue putting people on the beaches over the next few days.
Bold Alligator is the largest amphibious exercise conducted by U.S. forces in the last decade and since it is based on real-world situations, the exercise will run in real time and will not end until the mission is complete.
Wasp is serving as the flagship of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 for the exercise, and the ship's crew spent the past few days loading the equipment and personnel necessary to conduct well deck and flight deck operations.
"We are here to train like we fight," said Rear Adm. Kevin D. Scott, ESG-2 commander, in a ship-wide address over the ship's intercom system. "I know we are ready; to not only learn but to strike. Give it everything you've got and we will be victorious."
While Wasp handled command and control operations during the first day of D-Day operations, its crew will launch landing craft, air cushions and amphibious assault vehicles along with coordinating efforts with international forces and carrying out normal day-to-day evolutions.
"It's the most amphibious operations the ship's done in two years," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW/EXW) Joseph Costa, a member of Wasp's well deck control crew. "This allows the junior Sailors to see how their efforts contribute to the ship's larger mission."
The overall exercise involves 24 ships at sea conducting operations as well as numerous synthetic ships and personnel that aid in the overall training.
Pastoor said Bold Alligator involved a huge planning effort that went on for a year, starting in January 2011. The future plan for Bold Alligator is to switch between live and synthetic exercises each year.
"We worked hard for this," said Pastoor. "When you see all the ships in their place and ready to go, all the planning is worth it."
Wasp began Bold Alligator Jan. 30 and is expected to continue in the scenario until Feb 12.
USS WASP, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) started "D-Day" operations Feb. 6 as Exercise Bold Alligator switches from its initial stages into full exercise combat operations.
"D-Day" marks the transition to land operations, where more than 3,600 Marines, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen representing 11 countries will begin to take back beaches in Virginia and North Carolina during a complex training scenario in which parts of the United States belong to hostile forces.
"This was the first day," said Lt. Cmdr. George Pastoor, lead planner for Bold Alligator. Pastoor added that the strike group will continue putting people on the beaches over the next few days.
Bold Alligator is the largest amphibious exercise conducted by U.S. forces in the last decade and since it is based on real-world situations, the exercise will run in real time and will not end until the mission is complete.
Wasp is serving as the flagship of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 for the exercise, and the ship's crew spent the past few days loading the equipment and personnel necessary to conduct well deck and flight deck operations.
"We are here to train like we fight," said Rear Adm. Kevin D. Scott, ESG-2 commander, in a ship-wide address over the ship's intercom system. "I know we are ready; to not only learn but to strike. Give it everything you've got and we will be victorious."
While Wasp handled command and control operations during the first day of D-Day operations, its crew will launch landing craft, air cushions and amphibious assault vehicles along with coordinating efforts with international forces and carrying out normal day-to-day evolutions.
"It's the most amphibious operations the ship's done in two years," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW/EXW) Joseph Costa, a member of Wasp's well deck control crew. "This allows the junior Sailors to see how their efforts contribute to the ship's larger mission."
The overall exercise involves 24 ships at sea conducting operations as well as numerous synthetic ships and personnel that aid in the overall training.
Pastoor said Bold Alligator involved a huge planning effort that went on for a year, starting in January 2011. The future plan for Bold Alligator is to switch between live and synthetic exercises each year.
"We worked hard for this," said Pastoor. "When you see all the ships in their place and ready to go, all the planning is worth it."
Wasp began Bold Alligator Jan. 30 and is expected to continue in the scenario until Feb 12.
Bold Alligator Exercise Takes Fight to the Shore
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/FMF) Chad V. Pritt, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs
USS KEARSARGE, At Sea (NNS) -- Four months to the day before the 68th anniversary of the landing at Normandy, the Navy and Marine Corps team conducted another historic amphibious operation.
Exercise Bold Alligator 2012, the largest amphibious exercise in the past 10 years, culminated Feb. 6 with a D-Day landing on the beaches of Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Amphibious craft and thousands of U.S. Marines and British and Canadian commandos deployed from multiple ships to the shores of North Carolina following a week at sea practicing all facets of amphibious operations. The exercise's scope and scale were last seen during the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"This type of an amphibious operation occurred at the start of the war as we brought forces over into the [Arabian] Gulf off the coast of Kuwait, in about this size of a task force," said Marine Col. Scott S. Jensen, commanding officer of Marine Air Group (MAG) 29. "The difference being, is once we got there we offloaded onto the shore and our command and control shifted into a friendly country, and we reset ourselves land-based and were ready to support the combatant commander."
Landing craft air cushions and amphibious assault vehicles delivered Marines and coalition forces from the United Kingdom and Canada from amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) to the beach in a mock amphibious landing. The exercise is a revitalization of amphibious capabilities and re-investment in the Navy-Marine Corps team.
Marines from Regimental Landing Team 2, MAG 29, 2nd Marine Regiment, and British and Canadian commandos embarked Kearsarge Jan. 23 through Feb. 3 in preparation for the landing. The combined nature of the exercise allowed the U.S. and its partners to share amphibious tactics.
"A lot of times we say, 'oh they're coming to learn our tactics, techniques and procedures,'" said Jensen. "But I think these are smart people from great countries who bring a lot to the table from what they've learned, and we're seeing a lot of that sharing."
While the exercise is the largest in 10 years, the ability to launch an aggressive amphibious assault has always been a capability the Navy and Marine Corps have maintained.
"What a lot of people don't realize, is that the assault on Afghanistan was launched from the sea, to 700 miles inland," said Capt. Peter Pagano, commander, Amphibious Squadron 4. "Those initial forces from amphibious ships and aircraft carriers, kicked off OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom)."
The importance of amphibious capability lies not only with a tactical edge, but also a logistical need to provide from the sea. Sea basing, the maritime services' revolutionary power projection doctrine, provides American and coalition forces the ability to sustain a fighting force anywhere in the world.
"There are a lot of places around the world that just don't have the infrastructure or the political position to allow a huge American force to fly in and operate," Jensen said. "There aren't many places with capabilities in the world that can match what we see in this team."
Bold Alligator began Jan. 30 and will continue until Feb. 12 afloat and ashore, in and around North Carolina and Virginia.
USS KEARSARGE, At Sea (NNS) -- Four months to the day before the 68th anniversary of the landing at Normandy, the Navy and Marine Corps team conducted another historic amphibious operation.
Exercise Bold Alligator 2012, the largest amphibious exercise in the past 10 years, culminated Feb. 6 with a D-Day landing on the beaches of Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Amphibious craft and thousands of U.S. Marines and British and Canadian commandos deployed from multiple ships to the shores of North Carolina following a week at sea practicing all facets of amphibious operations. The exercise's scope and scale were last seen during the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"This type of an amphibious operation occurred at the start of the war as we brought forces over into the [Arabian] Gulf off the coast of Kuwait, in about this size of a task force," said Marine Col. Scott S. Jensen, commanding officer of Marine Air Group (MAG) 29. "The difference being, is once we got there we offloaded onto the shore and our command and control shifted into a friendly country, and we reset ourselves land-based and were ready to support the combatant commander."
Landing craft air cushions and amphibious assault vehicles delivered Marines and coalition forces from the United Kingdom and Canada from amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) to the beach in a mock amphibious landing. The exercise is a revitalization of amphibious capabilities and re-investment in the Navy-Marine Corps team.
Marines from Regimental Landing Team 2, MAG 29, 2nd Marine Regiment, and British and Canadian commandos embarked Kearsarge Jan. 23 through Feb. 3 in preparation for the landing. The combined nature of the exercise allowed the U.S. and its partners to share amphibious tactics.
"A lot of times we say, 'oh they're coming to learn our tactics, techniques and procedures,'" said Jensen. "But I think these are smart people from great countries who bring a lot to the table from what they've learned, and we're seeing a lot of that sharing."
While the exercise is the largest in 10 years, the ability to launch an aggressive amphibious assault has always been a capability the Navy and Marine Corps have maintained.
"What a lot of people don't realize, is that the assault on Afghanistan was launched from the sea, to 700 miles inland," said Capt. Peter Pagano, commander, Amphibious Squadron 4. "Those initial forces from amphibious ships and aircraft carriers, kicked off OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom)."
The importance of amphibious capability lies not only with a tactical edge, but also a logistical need to provide from the sea. Sea basing, the maritime services' revolutionary power projection doctrine, provides American and coalition forces the ability to sustain a fighting force anywhere in the world.
"There are a lot of places around the world that just don't have the infrastructure or the political position to allow a huge American force to fly in and operate," Jensen said. "There aren't many places with capabilities in the world that can match what we see in this team."
Bold Alligator began Jan. 30 and will continue until Feb. 12 afloat and ashore, in and around North Carolina and Virginia.
Saturday, February 04, 2012
LCACs Embark WASP for Bold Alligator
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Chase, USS Wasp Public Affairs
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) vehicles began ensuring amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) is fit to fight for Exercise Bold Alligator 2012, Feb. 2.
The air-cushion hovercraft, which can carry more than a 60-ton payload, are heading from a beachhead in Little Creek, Va., to the open well deck of Wasp and back as they engage in the first part of the exercise, ensuring all personnel and supplies involved in Bold Alligator 2012 are ready to go.
"Right now, we're just 'cutting across the pond' performing underway replenishments and onloading Marines," said Gunnery Sgt. Mark R. Redding, a watch captain aboard USS Wasp. "Without these operations, we can't transition to the next stage of LCAC ops."
Wasp, the flagship of Bold Alligator 2012, can carry three LCACs in its well deck. Getting them in and out of the deck can by a tricky operation, especially in foul weather, said Chief Gas Turbine System Technician (Electrical) Electrical Ronald L. Bolanowski. As a member of ACU 4, Bolanowski is a craftsman, or pilot, of an LCAC and a member of Assault Craft Unit 4.
"You have three different sets of controls you have to master to drive (the LCAC)," said Bolanowski. "After years of experience, it gets a little easier."
Loading the hovercraft requires the joint efforts of Marines and Sailors, to ensure safety and the efficient offload of the landing crafts. Coordination between Marine combat officers, enlisted Marines, ramp marshals, and well deck safety and control personnel led to a successful first evolution of operations, said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Ronald L. Stewart, a well deck safety crew member for Wasp.
"Everything went as planned and we look forward to doing the same thing again," said Stewart.
When done supplying Bold Alligator ships with personnel and supplies, LCAC crews and support personnel take on their next evolution, getting the Marines to the beach to "put the fight to the enemy" during the largest naval amphibious exercise of the past 10 years.
Bolanowski said the LCAC crews will first perform rehearsal beach assaults in the next few days before taking on the actual exercise Monday.
According to the United States Marine Corps, LCACs can cross 70 percent of the world's coastlines, as opposed to the 15 percent for tradition naval craft. This makes them particularly suited to the joint beach front operations which the Navy and Marine Corps are reemphasizing during Bold Alligator.
It's pretty exciting to take part in an exercise this large, said Bolanowski, who says he's never been involved in a bigger demonstration of amphibious force. Though there's pressure to make Bold Alligator a success, Bolanowski said he's happy to be taking part in it from an LCAC.
"It's the best job in the Navy for an enlisted guy, it cannot get any better," said Bolanowski. "There's nowhere in the Navy that they allow an E-7 or above to be in charge of $22 million worth of military equipment. I absolutely love it."
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) vehicles began ensuring amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) is fit to fight for Exercise Bold Alligator 2012, Feb. 2.
The air-cushion hovercraft, which can carry more than a 60-ton payload, are heading from a beachhead in Little Creek, Va., to the open well deck of Wasp and back as they engage in the first part of the exercise, ensuring all personnel and supplies involved in Bold Alligator 2012 are ready to go.
"Right now, we're just 'cutting across the pond' performing underway replenishments and onloading Marines," said Gunnery Sgt. Mark R. Redding, a watch captain aboard USS Wasp. "Without these operations, we can't transition to the next stage of LCAC ops."
Wasp, the flagship of Bold Alligator 2012, can carry three LCACs in its well deck. Getting them in and out of the deck can by a tricky operation, especially in foul weather, said Chief Gas Turbine System Technician (Electrical) Electrical Ronald L. Bolanowski. As a member of ACU 4, Bolanowski is a craftsman, or pilot, of an LCAC and a member of Assault Craft Unit 4.
"You have three different sets of controls you have to master to drive (the LCAC)," said Bolanowski. "After years of experience, it gets a little easier."
Loading the hovercraft requires the joint efforts of Marines and Sailors, to ensure safety and the efficient offload of the landing crafts. Coordination between Marine combat officers, enlisted Marines, ramp marshals, and well deck safety and control personnel led to a successful first evolution of operations, said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Ronald L. Stewart, a well deck safety crew member for Wasp.
"Everything went as planned and we look forward to doing the same thing again," said Stewart.
When done supplying Bold Alligator ships with personnel and supplies, LCAC crews and support personnel take on their next evolution, getting the Marines to the beach to "put the fight to the enemy" during the largest naval amphibious exercise of the past 10 years.
Bolanowski said the LCAC crews will first perform rehearsal beach assaults in the next few days before taking on the actual exercise Monday.
According to the United States Marine Corps, LCACs can cross 70 percent of the world's coastlines, as opposed to the 15 percent for tradition naval craft. This makes them particularly suited to the joint beach front operations which the Navy and Marine Corps are reemphasizing during Bold Alligator.
It's pretty exciting to take part in an exercise this large, said Bolanowski, who says he's never been involved in a bigger demonstration of amphibious force. Though there's pressure to make Bold Alligator a success, Bolanowski said he's happy to be taking part in it from an LCAC.
"It's the best job in the Navy for an enlisted guy, it cannot get any better," said Bolanowski. "There's nowhere in the Navy that they allow an E-7 or above to be in charge of $22 million worth of military equipment. I absolutely love it."
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Kearsarge Departs for Bold Alligator 2012
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/FMF) Chad V. Pritt, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs
USS KEARSARGE, Atlantic Ocean (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) departed Naval Station Norfolk Jan. 30 to participate in Exercise Bold Alligator 2012.
Bold Alligator 2012 is taking place over a two-week period and is a multi-national joint effort hosted by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to strengthen core competencies in the areas of amphibious operations and bi-lateral cooperation.
The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), as part of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, joins 2 Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2 MEB), the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, units from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, and various ships and units from foreign partners.
"Our allies will be as equally engaged as we are during the exercise," said Capt. Dorian F. Jones, Kearsarge commanding officer. "We will have land, sea and air units from eight countries as we strive to develop bi-lateral relationships and execute the CNO's (Chief of Naval Operations) Maritime Strategy as it pertains to maritime security cooperation."
The exercise, which will be the largest of its kind in a decade, will consist of live, virtual and constructive scenarios, and will showcase the full spectrum of amphibious capabilities.
"It's a revitalization of the Navy and Marine Corps amphibious expeditionary tactics," said Jones. "It's about re-invigorating the Navy and Marine Corps interoperability and our culture of combined operations from the sea."
While the end result of the exercise will be a strengthened ability to respond to man-made and natural crises around the world, the broader purpose is to showcase the advantages of sea basing. Sea basing is the ability for theater commanders to project power ashore without relying on shore-based infrastructure. Amphibious forces thereby limit the vulnerability and sustainment requirements for shore-based personnel.
"As we learned in Haiti, and historically in other operations, a prepositioned amphibious ready group becomes a force multiplier," said Jones, referring to the humanitarian relief operations in that country following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake two years ago. "Our quick response to a limited engagement in Libya was also due to sea basing. It's a concept that works in practice, and our ability to train to those expectations with our partners is what sets us apart from our enemies."
Bold Alligator 2012 is scheduled to conclude Feb. 12.
"The exercise will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week until all of our training objectives are met," said Jones. "We train like we fight, and I expect all of Kearsarge's Sailors will put forth their best effort to ensure the greatest success."
USS KEARSARGE, Atlantic Ocean (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) departed Naval Station Norfolk Jan. 30 to participate in Exercise Bold Alligator 2012.
Bold Alligator 2012 is taking place over a two-week period and is a multi-national joint effort hosted by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to strengthen core competencies in the areas of amphibious operations and bi-lateral cooperation.
The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), as part of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, joins 2 Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2 MEB), the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, units from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, and various ships and units from foreign partners.
"Our allies will be as equally engaged as we are during the exercise," said Capt. Dorian F. Jones, Kearsarge commanding officer. "We will have land, sea and air units from eight countries as we strive to develop bi-lateral relationships and execute the CNO's (Chief of Naval Operations) Maritime Strategy as it pertains to maritime security cooperation."
The exercise, which will be the largest of its kind in a decade, will consist of live, virtual and constructive scenarios, and will showcase the full spectrum of amphibious capabilities.
"It's a revitalization of the Navy and Marine Corps amphibious expeditionary tactics," said Jones. "It's about re-invigorating the Navy and Marine Corps interoperability and our culture of combined operations from the sea."
While the end result of the exercise will be a strengthened ability to respond to man-made and natural crises around the world, the broader purpose is to showcase the advantages of sea basing. Sea basing is the ability for theater commanders to project power ashore without relying on shore-based infrastructure. Amphibious forces thereby limit the vulnerability and sustainment requirements for shore-based personnel.
"As we learned in Haiti, and historically in other operations, a prepositioned amphibious ready group becomes a force multiplier," said Jones, referring to the humanitarian relief operations in that country following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake two years ago. "Our quick response to a limited engagement in Libya was also due to sea basing. It's a concept that works in practice, and our ability to train to those expectations with our partners is what sets us apart from our enemies."
Bold Alligator 2012 is scheduled to conclude Feb. 12.
"The exercise will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week until all of our training objectives are met," said Jones. "We train like we fight, and I expect all of Kearsarge's Sailors will put forth their best effort to ensure the greatest success."
Wasp Sets Stage For Bold Alligator 2012
By By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Caleb Cooper, USS Wasp (LHD 1) Public Affairs
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) set sail Jan. 30 to initiate the live phase of exercise Bold Alligator 2012.
Wasp is serving as the flagship for Bold Alligator, the largest amphibious exercise conducted by the Navy/Marine Corps team in the past 10 years. It is also the first live, East Coast, Expeditionary Strike Group/Marine Expeditionary Brigade-level exercise in about a decade.
"Realistic training at sea is essential to the Navy and Marine Corps' ability to train like we fight," said Capt. Gary M. Boardman, Wasp's commanding officer.
Twenty-five ships, and 20,000 Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen are participating in the two-week exercise, which runs through Feb. 13. Commands involved include Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG), Expeditionary Strike Group 2 (ESG-2), 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) as well as coalition ships, units, and observers from 12 other countries.
Training scenarios are based on a continuum of situations that the Navy/Marine Corps team is likely to face in today's environment and are built in order to enhance the varied capabilities that allow amphibious forces to conduct forcible entry against an opposing military force; as well as crisis response, humanitarian assistance, and building partnerships.
"Exercises like Bold Alligator allow the Navy and Marine Corps team to exercise its full spectrum of expeditionary capabilities, to include working with our coalition partners, in complex environments," said Boardman.
"Bold Alligator is about building partnerships and ensuring the amphibious force is ready when called. Wasp is looking forward to leading the way as the flagship for Expeditionary Strike Group Two and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Battalion."
Wasp's underway is the culmination of weeks of certification training and ship preparations to include taking on numerous supplies, food stores, and hundreds of Marines, foreign officers and support staffs
"We have been extremely busy onloading the personnel and resources needed to conduct an exercise of this magnitude," said Chief Warrant Officer Chad Mader, Wasp's Combat Cargo Officer. "Getting everyone to work together is one of the goals of this evolution, so when we need [this force], we have the ability and knowledge to operate as one cohesive unit."
Bold Alligator 2012 serves as an opportunity to revitalize an integrated, Navy/Marine Corps approach to amphibious operations, strengthening their traditional role as fighters from the sea.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) set sail Jan. 30 to initiate the live phase of exercise Bold Alligator 2012.
Wasp is serving as the flagship for Bold Alligator, the largest amphibious exercise conducted by the Navy/Marine Corps team in the past 10 years. It is also the first live, East Coast, Expeditionary Strike Group/Marine Expeditionary Brigade-level exercise in about a decade.
"Realistic training at sea is essential to the Navy and Marine Corps' ability to train like we fight," said Capt. Gary M. Boardman, Wasp's commanding officer.
Twenty-five ships, and 20,000 Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen are participating in the two-week exercise, which runs through Feb. 13. Commands involved include Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG), Expeditionary Strike Group 2 (ESG-2), 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) as well as coalition ships, units, and observers from 12 other countries.
Training scenarios are based on a continuum of situations that the Navy/Marine Corps team is likely to face in today's environment and are built in order to enhance the varied capabilities that allow amphibious forces to conduct forcible entry against an opposing military force; as well as crisis response, humanitarian assistance, and building partnerships.
"Exercises like Bold Alligator allow the Navy and Marine Corps team to exercise its full spectrum of expeditionary capabilities, to include working with our coalition partners, in complex environments," said Boardman.
"Bold Alligator is about building partnerships and ensuring the amphibious force is ready when called. Wasp is looking forward to leading the way as the flagship for Expeditionary Strike Group Two and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Battalion."
Wasp's underway is the culmination of weeks of certification training and ship preparations to include taking on numerous supplies, food stores, and hundreds of Marines, foreign officers and support staffs
"We have been extremely busy onloading the personnel and resources needed to conduct an exercise of this magnitude," said Chief Warrant Officer Chad Mader, Wasp's Combat Cargo Officer. "Getting everyone to work together is one of the goals of this evolution, so when we need [this force], we have the ability and knowledge to operate as one cohesive unit."
Bold Alligator 2012 serves as an opportunity to revitalize an integrated, Navy/Marine Corps approach to amphibious operations, strengthening their traditional role as fighters from the sea.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
NECC participates in Bold Alligator
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kay Savarese, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Riverine Group (RIVGRU) 1 will command the Navy's expeditionary forces for Bold Alligator 2012 (BA12), the nation's largest joint forces and multinational amphibious exercise on the East Coast, which began Jan. 30.
RIVGRU-1 is part of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) that deployed to North Carolina as headquarters for the Navy Expeditionary Force (NEF) supporting BA12.
Units from NECC participating include RIVGRU-1, Riverine Squadrons (RIVRON), Maritime Civil Affairs Team (MCAST), Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command (NEIC), and Expeditionary Training Group (ETG).
"The NEF represents the first live play on the ground and inland waters of North Carolina for Bold Alligator 2012, representing the historic flexibility of maritime services," said Capt. Christopher Halton, the commodore of RIVGRU-1 and commander of NEF.
The NEF provides command and control necessary to integrate NECC into any Navy operation. BA12 provides NECC the opportunity to further refine partnerships for worldwide Navy support, including joint operations and allied forces, extending global partnerships. In the BA12 scenario, the NEF deploys to assist a fictitious host nation.
"The NEF was the first U.S. force placed at the maritime-ground seam to help the host nation's security forces improve their capability and capacity," said Halton. "In addition, the NEF is assisting the host nation with countering insurgent activity, maintaining or developing goodwill in the local populace as well as preparing for the follow-on amphibious landing."
Expeditionary forces operate on or near coastal and waterway areas to execute the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy; forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.
"The NEF is extending the United States' 'Blue Water Option' further into the inland waterways and harbors of nations who request help," said Halton. "There is no other Navy force that can operate from a ship or ashore with equal ease and with the same operational capability."
ETG will assist in directing BA12 and evaluate NECC performance to further refine NECC procedures by coordinating synthetic training by utilizing realistic actors and contractors. Expeditionary forces will operate in at least seven different locations throughout the duration of the exercise.
In addition to NECC, units participating in BA12 include the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG), Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), as well as various other ships and units.
BA12 is a live, scenario-driven simulation held off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida from Jan. 30 to Feb. 12. Its purpose is to revitalize Navy and Marine Corps amphibious expeditionary capabilities and to test and strengthen the fundamental roles of amphibious operations by focusing on force readiness and proficiency.
Eight countries will join U.S. forces in the exercise, allowing American service members and coalition partners the opportunity to exercise amphibious operations in a real-world environment.
NECC is a command element and force provider for integrated maritime expeditionary missions, serving as a single functional command for the Navy's expeditionary forces.
Bold Alligator 2012 to Revitalize Amphibious Operations
Blog Editors Note: My east coast readers should keep an eye out for possible USMC HF ALE activity through February 12 associated with Bold Alligator.
NORFOLK (NNS) -- Commander, United States Fleet Forces (USFF) and Commander, Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM) will lead the East Coast's largest joint and multinational amphibious assault exercise in the past ten years officials announced Jan. 25.
Exercise Bold Alligator 2012 (BA12) will revitalize Navy and Marine Corps amphibious expeditionary tactics, techniques and procedures, and reinvigorate its culture of conducting combined Navy and Marine Corps operations from the sea.
BA12 will be a live and synthetic, scenario-driven, simulation-supported exercise designed to train Expeditionary Strike Group 2 (ESG 2), 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2d MEB) and Carrier Strike Group 12. Staffs will plan and execute a MEB-sized amphibious assault from a seabase in a medium land-and-maritime threat environment to improve naval amphibious core competencies.
The exercise will run Jan. 30 through Feb. 12, ashore and afloat, in and off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina and Florida
"Amphibious forces are a critical element of maritime power projection that ought to be a high priority for support, even in a resource constrained environment, because they are a cost effective option for accomplishing a wide range of military operations," said Adm. John C. Harvey, commander, USFF.
The units involved include the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG), Expeditionary Strike Group 2 (ESG-2), 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) as well as various other ships and units.
Nine countries are participating in exercise BA12, providing maritime, land and air units or observers. The countries participating with the U.S. forces are Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom.
One of the exercise's priorities is to incorporate lessons learned over the past 10 years of challenging combat operations, overseas contingency operations, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR), noncombatant evacuation operations (NEO) and homeland defense.
The exercise will focus on the fundamental aspects and roles of amphibious operations to improve amphibious force readiness and proficiency for executing the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy - forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.
"In today's world, the Navy-Marine Corps team must remain capable of gaining access to an operational area, and projecting and sustaining a sizable landing force ashore," said Lt. General Dennis Hejlik, Commander, MARFORCOM. "We have the legislated responsibilities to be able to conduct these operations, and we certainly must be ready to do so beyond the ARG-MEU level where we routinely operate today."
The culmination of Bold Alligator 2012 will include three large-scale events within the exercise: an amphibious assault at Camp Lejeune, N.C.; an aerial assault from the sea into Fort Pickett, Va.; and an amphibious raid on Fort Story, Va.
Embedded within their participation in BA12 is the Enterprise CSG's Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX); the Iwo Jima (ARG) and 24th MEU certification exercise (CERTEX); and Riverine Group 1 (RIVGRU 1) Maritime Security Operations Ready (MSO-R) certification by Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC).
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
USS Wasp Prepares for Bold Alligator
Note: For my east coast friends, standby for a major east coast military exercise.
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Andrew Rivard, USS Wasp Public Affairs
USS WASP, At sea (NNS) -- USS Wasp (LHD 1) returned to sea Jan. 9 to conduct qualifications in preparation for Bold Alligator 2012 the nation's largest joint/multinational amphibious assault exercise in the past 10 years.
To properly prepare for Bold Alligator, Wasp will spend the next week conducting flight and well deck operations to allow the ship and various Marine Corps elements to become certified for amphibious operations at sea.
During this at-sea period, Wasp's crew will work jointly with U.S. Marines to land and launch AV-8B Harrier aircraft and amphibious hovercraft known at landing craft air cushion (LCAC)
"We are treating this training as sort of a dress rehearsal," said Ensign Anthony Despota, Wasp's Combat Information Center officer. "Not only will we conduct a multitude of flight and well deck operations but the Combat Systems department will conduct operations with various units while underway to test and ensure that all of our equipment will be working properly in time for Bold Alligator."
Exercise Bold Alligator 2012 will focus on the fundamental aspects and roles of amphibious operations to improve amphibious force readiness and proficiency for executing the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy - forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.
"Wasp's crew will be working 24-7 conducting a variety of operations during the day and well into the night so that we can ensure that no matter what we have thrown at us we can handle the situation with a calm head and successfully complete our tasking," said Despota.
Despota said these evolutions are critical to the success of Bold Alligator and all future Navy-Marine Corps missions.
"This underway period will help us work out any kinks we may come across," said Despota. "Successfully completing Bold Alligator will help to ensure that we as a naval force will be able to complete mission tasking when directed."
The successful completion of exercise preparations is dually critical for Wasp as it is slated to serve as the Bold Alligator flagship, placing Wasp in a high visibility position during the entire course of the exercise.
"Wasp will host numerous distinguished visitors including high-ranking government officials and foreign military personnel," said Despota. "Bold Alligator is an all-hands evolution requiring all personnel onboard to play their parts in helping ensure the exercise is successful."
Bold Alligator participants include elements of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
Bold Alligator 2012 will allow U.S. service members and coalition partners the opportunity to exercise amphibious operations in a real-world environment and revitalize the Navy Marine Corps' vital core competencies.
The exercise will run from Jan. 30 through Feb. 12.
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Andrew Rivard, USS Wasp Public Affairs
USS WASP, At sea (NNS) -- USS Wasp (LHD 1) returned to sea Jan. 9 to conduct qualifications in preparation for Bold Alligator 2012 the nation's largest joint/multinational amphibious assault exercise in the past 10 years.
To properly prepare for Bold Alligator, Wasp will spend the next week conducting flight and well deck operations to allow the ship and various Marine Corps elements to become certified for amphibious operations at sea.
During this at-sea period, Wasp's crew will work jointly with U.S. Marines to land and launch AV-8B Harrier aircraft and amphibious hovercraft known at landing craft air cushion (LCAC)
"We are treating this training as sort of a dress rehearsal," said Ensign Anthony Despota, Wasp's Combat Information Center officer. "Not only will we conduct a multitude of flight and well deck operations but the Combat Systems department will conduct operations with various units while underway to test and ensure that all of our equipment will be working properly in time for Bold Alligator."
Exercise Bold Alligator 2012 will focus on the fundamental aspects and roles of amphibious operations to improve amphibious force readiness and proficiency for executing the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy - forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.
"Wasp's crew will be working 24-7 conducting a variety of operations during the day and well into the night so that we can ensure that no matter what we have thrown at us we can handle the situation with a calm head and successfully complete our tasking," said Despota.
Despota said these evolutions are critical to the success of Bold Alligator and all future Navy-Marine Corps missions.
"This underway period will help us work out any kinks we may come across," said Despota. "Successfully completing Bold Alligator will help to ensure that we as a naval force will be able to complete mission tasking when directed."
The successful completion of exercise preparations is dually critical for Wasp as it is slated to serve as the Bold Alligator flagship, placing Wasp in a high visibility position during the entire course of the exercise.
"Wasp will host numerous distinguished visitors including high-ranking government officials and foreign military personnel," said Despota. "Bold Alligator is an all-hands evolution requiring all personnel onboard to play their parts in helping ensure the exercise is successful."
Bold Alligator participants include elements of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
Bold Alligator 2012 will allow U.S. service members and coalition partners the opportunity to exercise amphibious operations in a real-world environment and revitalize the Navy Marine Corps' vital core competencies.
The exercise will run from Jan. 30 through Feb. 12.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Marines Return to Amphibious Roots
A landing craft heaves through a near-shore swell on the Red Beach coastline on Camp Pendleton, Calif., during assault training exercise Dawn Blitz, June 3, 2010. The weeklong Navy/Marine exercise involved 4,500 sailors and Marines, seven ships, 60 amphibious assault vehicles, 16 landing craft and numerous fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Don Bartletti.
By Marine Corps Capt. Timothy Patrick, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - After nearly a decade of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Marine Corps has been inappropriately branded as a second land army.
In response to this misconception, the Corps returned to its amphibious roots Dec. 11 with exercise Bold Alligator 2011, an operation with the Navy's U.S. 2nd Fleet, which re-establishes Marines in their traditional role as "fighters from the sea."
Initiated by Navy and Marine Corps leadership, Bold Alligator 2011 is a two-part exercise leadership designed to reacquaint brigade- and group-level commands with their amphibious doctrine, tactical skill sets and logistical requirements.
"Though we have focused [at this level] almost exclusively on land warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan for the last decade, amphibious operations continue to be the mainstay of our Corps' mission," explained Marine Corps Col. Scott D. Aiken, operations officer for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force. "We have been working toward this for more than two years now, and it's one of the first of many steps in the direction to revitalize our core competency."
During these two years, planners from the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Staff Training Program in Quantico, Va., have been busy engineering scenario-based environments to test the Navy/Marine Corps team on their amphibious competence and the dozens of different missions that fall under amphibious operations.
"Amphibious operations are much more than just assaults," said Marine Corps Lt. Col. Bowen Richwine, lead action officer for the expeditionary force's part in the exercise.
In fact, since 1990, the Navy/Marine Corps team has conducted more than 110 amphibious operations throughout the world, including noncombatant evacuations, disaster relief or similar crisis-response operations conducted in austere and uncertain environments.
"While assault is one reason for maintaining amphibious capabilities, the utility in conducting raids, demonstrations and amphibious support to noncombatant operations is immense," Richwine explained. "Amphibious forces also have enormous deterrent value against potential adversaries."
Bold Alligator 2011 is the first installment in what will be regularly scheduled large-scale amphibious exercises involving the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and the Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group 2. Marines and sailors are conducting the exercise from two Navy landing helicopter assault amphibious ships, the USS Iwo Jima and USS Bataan, and multiple simulation centers that will provide in-depth analysis of landing timetables, weather conditions and fires effects. The next scheduled event for the training cycle is a live exercise scheduled for February.
The scenario for the exercise includes the conduct of a forcible entry operation to enable a noncombatant evacuation in the midst of a violent sectarian conflict. This complex, but realistic, mission requires the ability to respond rapidly, project a credible security force ashore, and organize the evacuation of thousands of noncombatants.
In many cases, these capabilities can be provided only by amphibious forces. Bold Alligator 2011 is designed not only to retain proficiency in amphibious operations for the Navy/Marine team, but also to update concepts, procedures and techniques, and to incorporate the new enablers developed since the units last focused on amphibious operations at the this level in 2001, officials said.
"We need to continuously refine our thinking and our training with amphibious capability," Richwine said. "We have the opportunity to develop new skill sets across the entire range of military operations - from humanitarian assistance to contested beach assaults, and everything in between."
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Navy, Marine Corps Begin Bold Alligator 2011
NORFOLK (NNS) -- Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 and Commander, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), in coordination with ships assigned to the U.S. 2nd Fleet, will begin Bold Alligator 2011 Dec. 11, commencing the largest joint fleet simulated amphibious exercise in the last 10 years.
Bold Alligator is designed to revitalize the fundamental roles of the Navy and Marine Corps team as "fighters from the sea" and will focus on conducting major amphibious operations simultaneously with a non-combatant evacuation exercise.
"The nature of amphibious forces is that we're extremely flexible and can be specifically tailored to any mission at any time," said Rear Adm. Kevin Scott, commander of ESG 2. "Bold Alligator 2011 represents the ongoing efforts in meeting the challenges of future warfare conflicts, overseas contingency operations and homeland defense, so we remain the world's premier amphibious force."
Bold Alligator 2011 is the first installment in what will be regularly scheduled large amphibious exercises. The next scheduled event is a live exercise scheduled for February 2012.
By conducting this year's exercise synthetically in Norfolk from two multipurpose amphibious assault ships — USS Bataan (LHD 5) and USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) — and multiple simulation centers, planners can provide operational and tactical training in a realistic environment without the cost of putting ships, Sailors and Marines to sea, said Scott.
The exercise will focus on the fundamental aspects and roles of amphibious operations to improve amphibious force readiness and proficiency for executing the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy – forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.
"The scenario for the exercise will include a forcible entry operation conducted to enable a non-combatant evacuation (NEO) in the midst of a violent sectarian conflict," said Brig. Gen. Chris Owens, the commanding general of 2nd MEB. "This complex but realistic mission requires the ability to respond rapidly, project a credible force ashore and organize and execute the evacuation of thousands of non-combatants. In many cases, these capabilities can only be provided by amphibious forces."
The exercise includes a total of 29 participating commands, including eight ships, 14 ESG/2nd MEB reporting units and seven training centers. While only about 500 Sailors and Marines will take part in the exercise, the scenarios are built for more than 10,000 notional forces.
Bold Alligator participants include: ESG 2, 2nd MEB, 6th Marine Regiment, Marine Aircraft Group 29, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 6, PHIBRON 8, Tactical Air Control Group 1, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 21, TACRON 22, Commander Naval Beach Group 2, Beach Master Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU 4, Bataan and Iwo Jima.
Response cells with supporting roles include: USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Ashland (LSD 48), USS Anzio (CG 68), USS Cole (DDG 67) and USS Elrod (FFG 55).
Training centers include: Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic Norfolk, Tactical Training Group, Atlantic Dam Neck, Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic, Commander Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Commander Afloat Training Group Norfolk and Mayport and 2nd MEB Simulation Center.
Bold Alligator is designed to revitalize the fundamental roles of the Navy and Marine Corps team as "fighters from the sea" and will focus on conducting major amphibious operations simultaneously with a non-combatant evacuation exercise.
"The nature of amphibious forces is that we're extremely flexible and can be specifically tailored to any mission at any time," said Rear Adm. Kevin Scott, commander of ESG 2. "Bold Alligator 2011 represents the ongoing efforts in meeting the challenges of future warfare conflicts, overseas contingency operations and homeland defense, so we remain the world's premier amphibious force."
Bold Alligator 2011 is the first installment in what will be regularly scheduled large amphibious exercises. The next scheduled event is a live exercise scheduled for February 2012.
By conducting this year's exercise synthetically in Norfolk from two multipurpose amphibious assault ships — USS Bataan (LHD 5) and USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) — and multiple simulation centers, planners can provide operational and tactical training in a realistic environment without the cost of putting ships, Sailors and Marines to sea, said Scott.
The exercise will focus on the fundamental aspects and roles of amphibious operations to improve amphibious force readiness and proficiency for executing the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy – forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.
"The scenario for the exercise will include a forcible entry operation conducted to enable a non-combatant evacuation (NEO) in the midst of a violent sectarian conflict," said Brig. Gen. Chris Owens, the commanding general of 2nd MEB. "This complex but realistic mission requires the ability to respond rapidly, project a credible force ashore and organize and execute the evacuation of thousands of non-combatants. In many cases, these capabilities can only be provided by amphibious forces."
The exercise includes a total of 29 participating commands, including eight ships, 14 ESG/2nd MEB reporting units and seven training centers. While only about 500 Sailors and Marines will take part in the exercise, the scenarios are built for more than 10,000 notional forces.
Bold Alligator participants include: ESG 2, 2nd MEB, 6th Marine Regiment, Marine Aircraft Group 29, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 6, PHIBRON 8, Tactical Air Control Group 1, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 21, TACRON 22, Commander Naval Beach Group 2, Beach Master Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU 4, Bataan and Iwo Jima.
Response cells with supporting roles include: USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Ashland (LSD 48), USS Anzio (CG 68), USS Cole (DDG 67) and USS Elrod (FFG 55).
Training centers include: Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic Norfolk, Tactical Training Group, Atlantic Dam Neck, Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic, Commander Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Commander Afloat Training Group Norfolk and Mayport and 2nd MEB Simulation Center.
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Navy, Marine Corps Prepare for Amphibious Training
By Ian Graham, Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON - For the past 10 years, the word "Marine" in the Marine Corps has seemed a misnomer: combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have left the majority of Marines land locked, with little or no experience in amphibious operations.
Naval leadership has taken note. The Navy and Marine Corps will begin exercises in the coming days that focus on amphibious combat training for sailors and Marines.
"Bold Alligator 2011 will be the first brigade-level joint amphibious exercise in the last 10 years. The exercise this week will strengthen and refine our fundamental expeditionary capabilities to project a sustained combat power ashore," said Rear Adm. Kevin Scott, commander of the Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group Two and embarked commander of the Amphibious Task Force for the exercise. Scott discussed the planned Dec. 11-17 training yesterday during a "DoDLive" Blogger's Roundtable.
Bold Alligator exercises will continue into the future, Scott said. Bold Alligator 2011 is simulated, he said, but still involves all of the critical Navy and Marine Corps leadership and components. The first live exercise is scheduled for February 2012.
The benefit of starting with a simulated exercise is the versatility simulation provides, Scott said. Simulated exercises also allow a framework to be built for future live exercises, he added.
"We can tailor the situation to test the many different aspects of an operation such as weather, opposing forces, actions by opposing forces, terrain, et cetera, and we can do this at substantially less cost," Scott said. "So we anticipate that we'll use this embedded exercise to build upon the live [exercise] that's going to take place approximately 13 months from now.
"And then, you know, my vision is we'll probably have several synthetic exercises between each live exercise," he continued, "to make sure that we capitalize on the assets when they become available."
In recent years, the military has deployed its amphibious forces to assist other nations in need, Scott said.
"Within the last 10 years, we've seen the need for a ready and capable amphibious force for such events as the Indian Ocean tsunami, the earthquake in Haiti and the flooding in Pakistan," he said. "As long as the majority of the world's populations and commerce reside along the coastlines and waterways of the world, there will always be a need for amphibious forces."
The Bold Alligator series will help the Navy and Marine Corps incorporate new technology, weapons systems and vehicles into their arsenal, Scott said. The idea, he added, is to have procedures and plans in place for any kind of mission -- combat, humanitarian aid, search and rescue or disaster response.
"You know, the nature of amphibious force is that we're extremely flexible and can be specifically tailored to any mission at any time. No one can bring more capability ashore rapidly and sustain it as our Navy-Marine Corps team can," Scott said. "Bold Alligator 2011 is a first step in revitalizing the fundamentals of amphibious operations and assuring the Navy-Marine Corps team is ready, responsive and resolute."
WASHINGTON - For the past 10 years, the word "Marine" in the Marine Corps has seemed a misnomer: combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have left the majority of Marines land locked, with little or no experience in amphibious operations.
Naval leadership has taken note. The Navy and Marine Corps will begin exercises in the coming days that focus on amphibious combat training for sailors and Marines.
"Bold Alligator 2011 will be the first brigade-level joint amphibious exercise in the last 10 years. The exercise this week will strengthen and refine our fundamental expeditionary capabilities to project a sustained combat power ashore," said Rear Adm. Kevin Scott, commander of the Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group Two and embarked commander of the Amphibious Task Force for the exercise. Scott discussed the planned Dec. 11-17 training yesterday during a "DoDLive" Blogger's Roundtable.
Bold Alligator exercises will continue into the future, Scott said. Bold Alligator 2011 is simulated, he said, but still involves all of the critical Navy and Marine Corps leadership and components. The first live exercise is scheduled for February 2012.
The benefit of starting with a simulated exercise is the versatility simulation provides, Scott said. Simulated exercises also allow a framework to be built for future live exercises, he added.
"We can tailor the situation to test the many different aspects of an operation such as weather, opposing forces, actions by opposing forces, terrain, et cetera, and we can do this at substantially less cost," Scott said. "So we anticipate that we'll use this embedded exercise to build upon the live [exercise] that's going to take place approximately 13 months from now.
"And then, you know, my vision is we'll probably have several synthetic exercises between each live exercise," he continued, "to make sure that we capitalize on the assets when they become available."
In recent years, the military has deployed its amphibious forces to assist other nations in need, Scott said.
"Within the last 10 years, we've seen the need for a ready and capable amphibious force for such events as the Indian Ocean tsunami, the earthquake in Haiti and the flooding in Pakistan," he said. "As long as the majority of the world's populations and commerce reside along the coastlines and waterways of the world, there will always be a need for amphibious forces."
The Bold Alligator series will help the Navy and Marine Corps incorporate new technology, weapons systems and vehicles into their arsenal, Scott said. The idea, he added, is to have procedures and plans in place for any kind of mission -- combat, humanitarian aid, search and rescue or disaster response.
"You know, the nature of amphibious force is that we're extremely flexible and can be specifically tailored to any mission at any time. No one can bring more capability ashore rapidly and sustain it as our Navy-Marine Corps team can," Scott said. "Bold Alligator 2011 is a first step in revitalizing the fundamentals of amphibious operations and assuring the Navy-Marine Corps team is ready, responsive and resolute."
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