31st MEU trains to evacuate noncombatants

Photo By Master Sgt. Bryan Peterson | Lance Cpl. Kevin Woods keeps his field of fire secured at the Ie Shima Range Oct 7.  

IE SHIMA, OKINAWA, JAPAN

10.07.2006

Story by Cpl. Bryan Peterson 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

by Lance Cpl. Bryan A. Peterson
III Marine Expeditionary Force PAO

IE SHIMA, OKINAWA, Japan -- Recent clashes in the Middle East between the militant group Hezbollah and Israel put many civilians' lives at risk. With constant Israeli air attacks bombarding war-torn Lebanon, nearly 15,000 U.S. citizens living in the country wanted to leave.

Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., were conducting operations in the Jordanian desert at the time. Within 24 hours of receiving the call for action, Marines with the MEU diverted their attention to evacuating the Americans.

On Oct. 7, nearly 150 Marines and sailors with C Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, currently serving as the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit's battalion landing team, conducted an exercise at Ie Shima Range to prepare for similar situations if called upon.

Noncombatant Evacuation Operations are designed to expeditiously evacuate noncombatant allied personnel when their lives are endangered by war, civil unrest or a natural disaster.

The exercise began when three CH-46 Sea Knight and two CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262, arrived on Ie Shima just after sunset. Marines rushed out of the aircraft to clear the area of enemy forces.

After they seized the airstrip and set up a perimeter, Marines inside the boundaries set up a hasty Evacuation Control Center where they conducted a security check of two Marines posing as U.S. citizens.

Sgt. Enrique Ramos, posing as a citizen, said the Marines did an outstanding job.
"I would feel secure knowing these guys would be the ones doing this in the real world," said Ramos, a field radio operator for Headquarters and Service Co., 1st Bn., 5th Marines.

The company's platoon sergeant, who served as range safety officer during the exercise, is no stranger to a NEO.

In 1997, Staff Sgt. Joshua Gutierrez and his unit then were attached to the 26th MEU when they initiated Operation Silver Wake in response to the deteriorating situation in Tirana, Albania. The 26th MEU successfully evacuated nearly 900 American citizens and many nationals from other countries.

Gutierrez said NEO exercises should be conducted on a routine basis. He added NEOs are not something Marines anticipate but always need to be prepared for.

Lance Cpl. Kevin Woods said he has participated in NEO exercises before but doesn't know if he will ever participate in one for real. He said the exercises keep him and his Marines prepared for anything.

"When we do it, we get in the mindset that it is real world. The enemy is not guaranteed to be out there, but if they are we are prepared for (them)."

The training marked the last exercise for the Amphibious Ready Group Exercise. The 31st MEU is currently in the Philippines for Talon Vision, where they are conducting operations with the Philippine Armed Forces.

• Date Taken: 10.07.2006
• Date Posted: 10.24.2006 08:50
• Story ID: 8118
• Location: IE SHIMA, OKINAWA, JP