US-Egypt military exercise canceled

The Associated Press is reporting that this year's joint military exercises involving Egypt, the United States and other coalition nations have been canceled as Egypt moves away from the regime of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

The State Department said yesterday that the Egyptian government and the U.S. mutually agreed to postpone the 2011 exercise "in light of ongoing transition events."

Egypt and the U.S. also agreed to start formal planning in June 2012 for the next installment of what is called Exercise Bright Star in 2013.

Exercise Bright Star is a biennial, multinational exercise sponsored by the U.S. Central Command. It is designed to improve military-to-military relationships among the U.S., Egypt and other nations, including France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Turkey and Britain.

PHIBRON 2 Showcases Command and Control

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class W.B. Swoboda, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

USS BATAAN, At Sea (NNS) -- The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group(ARG) began its participation in Exercise Bright Star 2009 Oct. 10, with Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 2 serving as the command and control (C2) element, providing oversight on naval surface, aviation and amphibious operations during the naval portion of the exercise.

As PHIBRON 2 showcases its C2 capabilities, the operations of the units over which it has tactical control are displayed and monitored throughout the Tactical Force Control Center (TFCC) aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5).

"As the battle watch captain (BWC), my position is the center hub for all operations of the ARG," said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Kraft, communications officer for PHIBRON 2. "My primary responsibilities as a BWC include coordination with higher command and between the different platforms of the ARG, timely execution of a given timeline, and regularly reporting on the status of operations."

Each component of the Bataan ARG depends on consistent and accurate coordination and communication to successfully execute their parts of Bright Star 2009, as well as their ongoing mission of conducting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations. This coordination includes tracking both air and surface contacts with sophisticated radar systems and transmitting the information via satellite links to other ships and installations ashore.

"Team cohesion is not an issue, regardless of the distance between units, because we are dealing with professionals," said Master Chief Machinist's Mate Armando Samonte, PHIBRON 2's senior enlisted advisor. "Each unit is very capable of performing their assigned task. Once in a while we may encounter equipment problems with our communications systems but nothing our skilled technicians cannot readily restore."

Watchstanders in TFCC oversee the execution of an operations plan approved by the PHIBRON 2 commodore, Capt. Jack L. Sotherland. While Sotherland ultimately decides on the operational plan, he receives inputs from the commanding officers of each unit within the ARG and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), embarked upon the ships of the Bataan ARG.

"The commodore, MEU commander, and the captain of Bataan are all major commanders, so it's all a supported-supporting relationship," said Capt. Paul McElroy, the deputy commander for PHIBRON 2. "The PHIBRON coordinates with the different commanding officers in the ARG, as well as the MEU, so whether we're supporting Marines landing ashore, or we're sending a boarding team to assist a vessel in distress, the commodore will have the support of all the other commanding officers."

Handling such a diverse group of assets can be just as much of a challenge as it is a luxury. "It's a delicate balancing act," said Kraft. "You have to prioritize based on what is most important, plus the BWC relies very heavily on the other members of the watch team for support. Looking at it from the outside, it looks easy because we function very well as a team by dividing the workload."

Bataan ARG is participating in Bright Star 2009 through Oct. 20. The exercise is the largest and most significant coalition military exercise conducted by U.S. Central Command. It is designed to improve readiness, interoperability, and strengthen the military and professional relationships among U.S., Egyptian, and several other participating forces. The multinational exercise is conducted by U.S. Central Command and held every two years.

Bataan ARG is participating in the multinational exercise while conducting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations and is composed of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), the amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, Fleet Surgical Team 6, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU 4 and Beachmaster Unit 2.

BATARG, 22nd MEU Demonstrates Amphibious Capabilities During Bright Star

A landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 approaches the shore for an amphibious beach assault demonstration near Alexandria, Egypt during Exercise Bright Star 2009, as two CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters fly overhead. The multinational exercise is designed to improve readiness and interoperability among U.S., Egyptian and participating forces. The biennial exercise is conducted by U.S. Central Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephen Oleksiak/Released)

An updated video report on Bright Star 2009 is available at http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmplyr.asp?id=13332

By Marine Capt. Clark Carpenter, 22nd MEU Public Affairs

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (NNS) -- Coalition forces along with Marines and Sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) stormed Egyptian beaches near Alexandria during a major amphibious assault demonstration Oct. 12 as part of Exercise Bright Star.

The simulated assault combined the forces of the Egyptian army and navy, Pakistani marines, Kuwaiti marines, and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps forces from the MEU and ARG.

"The amphibious assault demonstration was not only a great demonstration of the cooperation of regional militaries, but it highlighted the amphibious expertise of the Marine Corps, Navy and coalition partners," said Col. Gareth F. Brandl, commanding officer of the 22nd MEU and native of Virginia Beach, Va.

According to MEU operations officer, Lt. Col. David Owen, the MEU has been planning for the exercise since June. Final details of the amphibious assault demonstration were coordinated between coalition participants upon arrival earlier in the week, he added.

"There was a significant amount of detailed planning that went into this event to ensure success," said Owen. "This is a great example of how we can work together with our partner nations in this region, regardless of any language barrier, and plan and execute very complex mission sets like the amphibious assault demonstration today."

Although the demonstration did not begin until mid-day, movement of aircraft, personnel and equipment began before dawn. The previous day included a full rehearsal to ensure the precise timing of the landing.

Twelve aircraft from the MEU, five landing craft from the Bataan ARG, two Egyptian landing craft utilities, six amphibious assault vehicles, five Egyptian amphibious tracked vehicles and a host of forces from other partner nations participated in the event.

"This was a team effort," said Brandl. "Conducting operations like this with our partner nations now will help ensure we can conduct future missions in a proficient and professional manner."

The day's event began as a team of Egyptian special forces inserted on the beach, simulating beach reconnaissance prior to the assault. Shortly after, four AV-8B Harriers from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM) (Reinforced), attached to 22nd MEU, streaked over the viewing stand to simulate the targeting of enemy positions on the beach.

The next waves of forces consisted of AAVs and Egyptian amphibious assault craft which displayed the maneuverability and firepower amphibious vehicles can deliver on enemy positions ashore. The last waves brought the MEU's light-armored vehicles and the Humvees of the unit's Combined Anti-Armor Team to the beach aboard landing craft utility vessels from Assault Craft Unit 2 and Landing Craft Air Cushioned transports from Assault Craft Unit 4.

"This type of training is important because it shows us what we can accomplish working with other forces from around the world," said Cpl. Gabriel T. Church, native of Marion, N.C., and a vehicle commander with Combined Anti-Armor Team, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd MEU. "As the theater reserve force, there are endless possibilities of what we may be asked to do - non-combatant evacuations, humanitarian relief or combat operations. This training helps keep our edge sharpened if the situation calls for it."

Bright Star, the longest running exercise in the U.S. Central Command's Area of Operations, was established in 1981 as a result of the Camp David Peace Accords. The CENTCOM and Egyptian co-sponsored exercise is designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships and improve readiness and interoperability between U.S., Egyptian, and coalition forces.

The 22nd MEU, led by Col. Gareth F. Brandl, is a scalable, multipurpose force of more than 2,200 Marines and Sailors. The unit is composed of its ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team 3/2 (commanded by Lt. Col. Robert C. Fulford); aviation combat element, (VMM) 263 (Reinforced) (commanded by Lt. Col. Paul P. Ryan); logistics combat element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22 (commanded by Lt. Col. Gary F. Keim); and its command element. The unit is serving as the theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command.

The Bataan ARG, led by Capt. Jack Sotherland, is composed of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15), amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, Fleet Surgical Team 6, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU 4, and Beachmaster Unit 2.

Bright Star Underway - Paratroopers Make Jump

Paratroopers from five nations descend onto Koum Asheem drop zone in Egypt as part of Exercise Bright Star. (US Army Photo)

U.S. and coalition forces conducted a “Friendship Jump” at Koum Asheem drop zone in Cairo Sunday as part of Exercise Bright Star.

The joint-combined exercise continues through Nov. 19. It includes a computer-aided command post exercise, airborne operations, naval operations, and special forces training exercises conducted by the components of U.S. Central Command. This year’s exercise demonstrates the shift in modern warfare by focusing on technology as a battlefield enabler, USCENTCOM officials said.

The airborne operation began at 6:30 a.m. Sunday with about 200 paratroopers participating from the United States, Egypt, Kuwait, Germany, and Yemen. There was an airborne wing exchange at the conclusion of the jump.

Nearly 7,100 Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors from Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Pakistan, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Yemen are participating in this year’s Bright Star exercise.

About 200 members of the New York Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry (Rainbow) Division headquarters are part of this week’s command post exercise in Egypt. The division, with supporting elements from New Hampshire, New Jersey and Minnesota, will team with members of the Egyptian Army’s 9th Armor Division command and staff to replicate a multinational senior headquarters during the battle simulation.

Bright Star is designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships for U.S. and coalition forces while increasing awareness and appreciation of each participant’s culture, customs and professional military skills, according to the U.S Central Command.

Bright Star is the oldest and largest exercise in the USCENTCOM area of operations. It is a biennial joint/coalition exercise designed to increase regional involvement in pursuit of improved security and defense capabilities.