Marines Kickoff Maritime Pre-Positioning Force Offload Souda Bay 2009

Photo By Cpl. Gabriel Velasquez | Lance Cpl. Samuel McClary, a Motor Transport Mechanic for 4th Landing Support Battalion, and a native of Delaware, Ohio, aligns the armored cab of a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement while Corporal Daniel Olivares, a Motor Transport Mechanic with Combat Logistics Battalion, and a native of Palmdale, Calif., tightens the bolts which secure it to the vehicle with a socket wrench. Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, CLB-15, and 4th LSB, are performing Exercise Maritime Prepositioning Force Offload Souda Bay 2009 at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece.  

09.15.2009

Story by Lance Cpl. Gabriel Velasquez 

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

NAVAL SUPPORT AREA SOUDA BAY, Greece - Marines and Sailors of 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 4th Landing Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Battalion 15, Naval Beach Group -2, Military Sealift Command, Blount Island Command, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe, and Maritime Pre-positioning Ship Squadron -2 began Exercise Maritime Pre-Positioning Force Offload Souda Bay 2009 Sept. 10 in Crete, Greece.

"This is a regularly scheduled exercise designed to test and refine our tactics, techniques, and procedures in conducting a Maritime Pre-positioning Force offload," said Michael G. Harvey, Pre-Positioning officer for Marine Forces Europe. "Since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom the ability to conduct such exercises has been hampered by the lack of forces. As a result, the Navy/Marine team's ability to execute MPF operations has been degraded," he added.

The exercise will sharpen the U.S. military's ability to provide the U.S. and allies with a naval force that is fully prepared for employment across a full spectrum of military operations.

MPF allows for a more expeditionary employment of Marines and consists of a total of 16 ships organized into three squadrons that are constantly forward-deployed to the western Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The ships are configured to transport nearly everything the Marines need for initial military operations.

"The time needed to fly out or sail the equipment needed from our bases would take too long," said Capt. Moses A. Thomas, Embarkation officer of the 15th MEU. "With the MPF ships, we can sustain a Marine Expeditionary Brigade size force for about 30 days."

The main goal of MPF offload training is to be prepared to accomplish the mission as quickly as possible and maintain a real world mindset.

"We work as if this is the real thing, quickly and diligently, so that when the time arises we all know what we are capable of to accomplish the mission," added Thomas.

Communication between all units involved is crucial considering the magnitude of the exercise and all of its different working parts. The significant planning prior to the exercise is being tested during the crucial first days of the exercise.

"The interaction and communication with all the units is going exceptionally well," said Lt. Col. Pete Wilson, Operations officer of the 15th MEU. "As always, the effort being put forward is indicative of Marines, allowing the exercise to run smoothly and efficiently."

• Date Taken: 09.15.2009
• Date Posted: 09.17.2009 04:55
• Story ID: 38901