Singapore Armed Forces host US expeditionary unit

Photo By Sgt. Gene A. Ainsworth III | Marines serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit prepare to depart USS Makin Island to begin a training exercise here Dec. 12. The Camp Pendleton, Calif., unit embarked three U.S. Navy ships in San Diego Nov. 14 and arrived in Singapore Dec. 12 as part of a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East regions.  

CHANGI NAVAL BASE, SINGAPORE

12.12.2011

Story by Capt. Roger Hollenbeck 

11th Marine Expeditionary Unit   

CHANGI NAVAL BASE, Singapore - Marines and sailors with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit began a cooperative exercise with elements of the Singapore Armed Forces here Dec. 12, focusing on bilateral air-to-air training with the Singapore air force, small unit subject matter expert exchanges, and training in an urban environment.

“We look forward to working with these professional warriors, in the air and on the ground,” said Col. Michael Hudson, 11th MEU’s commanding officer. “We take pride in sharing all that this agile, forward-deployed Marine air-ground-logistics team has to offer.”

The MEU’s AV-8B Harriers will be participating in Commando Sling, an exercise with the Singapore air force and U.S. Air Force at Paya Lebar Air Base. The ground training will be primarily the Marines and sailors of the MEU sharpening their skills at the Murai Urban Training Facility and Mandai Range. Small unit subject matter expert exchanges during the field training will allow the Marines and their Singaporean hosts to share experiences and best practices.

“This is a great opportunity,” said Hudson. “The venues and knowledge offered by our gracious hosts will give our Marines a different kind of training as they stay sharp for their deployment as America’s premier fighting force in the littorals.”

The Marines and sailors taking part in the exercise came ashore from the amphibious assault ship Makin Island which departed its San Diego homeport Nov. 14. The MEU, teamed with Amphibious Squadron 5, make up the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group.

The MEU's major subordinate elements participating in the training are Battalion Landing Team 3/1, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 11.

For more information, contact the unit's public affairs officer, Capt. Roger Hollenbeck, at [e-mail], or visit the MEU online at www.11thmeu.usmc.mil, http://www.dvidshub.net/units/11MEU or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/11thmeu.

• Date Taken: 12.12.2011
• Date Posted: 12.12.2011 02:00
• Story ID: 81219
• Location: CHANGI NAVAL BASE, SG