Dawn Blitz 2011 kicks off

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

09.27.2011

Story by 1st Lt. Jeremy McLean 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marines and sailors from I Marine Expeditionary Force and the Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group 3 will plan and execute amphibious landings off the coast of California during exercise Dawn Blitz 2011, Sept. 28 through Oct. 3.

More than 700 Marines and sailors from 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade Command Element, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 17 and Marine Aircraft Group 16 will embark on ship to conduct battle space shaping operations, non-combatant evacuation training, operational planning, live-fire shoots, shipboard driver qualification, aircraft take-offs and landings aboard ship and the largest amphibious landing here this year.

"This exercise is an opportunity to reinforce the Navy-Marine Corps partnership and gain an appreciation for the operational and strategic necessity of this close working relationship," Maj. Gen. Spiese, commanding general of 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

Camp Pendleton's I Marine Expeditionary Force keeps 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade trained, ready and responsive should a crisis emerge with an annual series of major exercises, including Iron Fist, Pacific Horizon and Javelin Thrust. The focus of this specific exercise is to remain sharp and current on operating from the sea.

Larger than a Marine Expeditionary Unit but smaller than a Marine Expeditionary Force, a MEB is a scalable-sized force that is capable of self-sustained operations in austere environments from deserts to mountains. Its command element can deploy quickly on short notice to any place in the world to provide command and control for a wide range of contingencies, from combat missions to humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

Video footage and photos of the exercise will be posted daily for download at www.dvidshub.net/units/DB

Coordinating Instructions to cover Amphibious Landing:

Media who are interested in attending the landing at Gold Beach must RSVP no later than 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 via e-mail to: [e-mail] or via phone at: [phone]. Please provide your name, agency, and contact information when you RSVP. Members of the media will meet at Camp Pendleton's Las Pulgas gate no later than 6:30 a.m. on Friday where they will be met by a uniformed public affairs representative and escorted to the site. The event will take place outdoors and access to electrical power will not be available. Vehicle access to the event is restricted and live broadcasts may be difficult to facilitate. The training site will be dusty so please dress accordingly.

• Date Taken: 09.27.2011
• Date Posted: 09.28.2011 16:41
• Story ID: 77710
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US