The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed the weeklong ARG/ MEU Exercise near Camp Lemonier Djibouti May 26.
The exercise was a ship-to-shore training evolution designed to strengthen Navy and Marine Corps amphibious capabilities and involved service members from the USS New Orleans (LPD 18), USS Comstock (LSD 45) and 13th MEU.
“As the MEU we are the floating reserve for U.S. Central Command,” said Lt. Col. Tye R. Wallace, Commanding Officer, Battalion Landing Team 1/1. “In that capacity, we have to be ready to go anywhere in the area of operations and perform any of our standard MEU missions.”
Marines were joined by the French Foreign Legion throughout the exercise, giving both military forces a chance to learn from each other.
“We mainly paired the French Foreign Legion with Alpha Company to do combined exercises,” said Wallace. “They did some small unit infantry training and practiced room search operations to help train French forces.”
Wallace said Alpha Company conducted other training with amphibious assault vehicles and tanks to familiarize the French with U.S. Marine Corps operations.
“We also brought some of the French Officers and Legionnaires aboard the ship to give them a tour,” said Wallace. “This was to build relationships between the two companies and to show them how we live out on the sea.”
Wallace said he hopes this exercise will be a stepping stone for follow-on MEU’s to do something similar and continue to build working relationships.
“I think we came out of the exercise stronger than when we came in,” he said. “We have identified any issues and taken corrective action to bring ourselves back up to our full capabilities.”
Weapons Company, BLT 1/1, also tested some of their equipment ashore while conducting field operations.
Staff Sgt. Steven E. Williams, platoon sergeant for Weapons Company, said they wanted to put some rounds down range to keep up to date on marksmanship skills. This gave Weapons Company an opportunity to get some time out in the field to build unit cohesion.
“I know it was really hot out here, but both new Marines and those who have been with us for awhile learned something,” he said. “It was good to get off the ship and get some training in. I think the Marines really enjoyed themselves; I know the French did as well.”
The 13th MEU and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group are currently on a deployment in support of regional and Maritime Security Operations (MSO).
In addition to BLT 1/1, the MEU is composed of its Command Element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 13.
The exercise was a ship-to-shore training evolution designed to strengthen Navy and Marine Corps amphibious capabilities and involved service members from the USS New Orleans (LPD 18), USS Comstock (LSD 45) and 13th MEU.
“As the MEU we are the floating reserve for U.S. Central Command,” said Lt. Col. Tye R. Wallace, Commanding Officer, Battalion Landing Team 1/1. “In that capacity, we have to be ready to go anywhere in the area of operations and perform any of our standard MEU missions.”
Marines were joined by the French Foreign Legion throughout the exercise, giving both military forces a chance to learn from each other.
“We mainly paired the French Foreign Legion with Alpha Company to do combined exercises,” said Wallace. “They did some small unit infantry training and practiced room search operations to help train French forces.”
Wallace said Alpha Company conducted other training with amphibious assault vehicles and tanks to familiarize the French with U.S. Marine Corps operations.
“We also brought some of the French Officers and Legionnaires aboard the ship to give them a tour,” said Wallace. “This was to build relationships between the two companies and to show them how we live out on the sea.”
Wallace said he hopes this exercise will be a stepping stone for follow-on MEU’s to do something similar and continue to build working relationships.
“I think we came out of the exercise stronger than when we came in,” he said. “We have identified any issues and taken corrective action to bring ourselves back up to our full capabilities.”
Weapons Company, BLT 1/1, also tested some of their equipment ashore while conducting field operations.
Staff Sgt. Steven E. Williams, platoon sergeant for Weapons Company, said they wanted to put some rounds down range to keep up to date on marksmanship skills. This gave Weapons Company an opportunity to get some time out in the field to build unit cohesion.“I know it was really hot out here, but both new Marines and those who have been with us for awhile learned something,” he said. “It was good to get off the ship and get some training in. I think the Marines really enjoyed themselves; I know the French did as well.”
The 13th MEU and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group are currently on a deployment in support of regional and Maritime Security Operations (MSO).
In addition to BLT 1/1, the MEU is composed of its Command Element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 13.
Lance Cpl. Jesse G. Brumback, javelin gunner from Las Vegas with Weapons Company, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) prepare an M19 grenade launcher at a range near Camp Lemonier, Djibouti during Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) exercise May 26.
Staff Sgt. Steven E. Williams, from Alton, Ill., platoon sergeant for Weapons Company, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) organizes ammunition boxes holding 40mm rounds for an M19 grenade launcher at a range near Camp Lemonier, Djibouti during Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) exercise May 26.
Lance Cpl. Nick H. Kapteyn, tow gunner from Worcester, Mass. with Weapons Company, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) organizes ammunition boxes holding 40mm rounds for an M19 grenade launcher at a range near Camp Lemonier, Djibouti during Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) exercise May 26.
Staff Sgt. Steven E. Williams, from Alton, Ill., platoon sergeant for Weapons Company, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) organizes ammunition boxes holding 40mm rounds for an M19 grenade launcher at a range near Camp Lemonier, Djibouti during Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) exercise May 26.
Lance Cpl. Cody J. Niedfeldt, from Allen, Kan. and Lance Cpl. Justin C. McGregor, from Noble, Okla., gunners with Weapons Company, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) prepare to shoot an M19 grenade launcher at a range near Camp Lemonier, Djibouti during Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) exercise May 26.
Lance Cpl. Cody J. Niedfeldt, gunner from Allen, Kan., shoots an M19 grenade launcher as Lance Cpl. Justin C. McGregor, gunner from Noble, Okla., with Weapons Company, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) guides 40mm rounds into the weapon at a range near Camp Lemonier, Djibouti during Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) exercise May 26.
Marines with Weapons Company, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard USS New Orleans (LPD 18) set up a position on a mountainside after driving all night in an ambush training exercise during Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) exercise May 23.
Thanks for the story and lots of photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the story and for bringing the news to people back home!
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