Bataan Amphibious Ready Group Completes PMINT

ATLANTIC OCEAN, UNITED STATES

09.23.2016

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Julie Matyascik 

USS Bataan (LHD 5)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and the Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group (BATARG), Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8 and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), completed a two-week PHIBRON-MEU Integrated Training (PMINT) exercise off the east coast of the United States Sept. 23.

During PMINT, more than 1,800 Sailors from amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) along with 1,400 Marines from the 24th MEU, integrate for the first time, to complete a series of exercises designed to enhance interoperability between the Sailors and Marines.

“PMINT was a resounding success,” said Capt. Eric N. Pfister, commanding officer of USS Bataan. “We had a chance to train face-to-face, exercise equipment and procedures, and really get a solid start.”

PMINT is comprised of a three-phase evolution and is typically about two weeks of training exercises. The first phase is embarkation. Sailors and Marines work together to practice mission essential tasks like flight deck qualifications, amphibious assaults, transportation of vehicles and gear from shore to ship and tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel.

“The purpose of this exercise is the three ships, Navy support elements and the MEU come together to work collectively in the same place, at the same time,” said Pfister. “Our next evolution will be our midterm, the ARG/MEU exercise, where we will have inspectors grading our homework, followed by the final phase, COMPTUEX (Composite Training Unit Exercise), which will be like our final exam.”

While underway, the embarked MEU personnel conducted integrated warfighting operations through a series of planning exercises, surface gunnery and communication scenarios and air defense exercises.

“Although we’ve been building this team for a few months now, this is our first at-sea period, where we will begin to develop “muscle memory in the basics,” said Col. Ryan Rideout, the commanding officer of the 24th MEU. “A large percentage of us have not operated aboard ship in a while and for most of our Marines, this is their first time. That said, I couldn’t be happier with what I’ve seen so far, which is shaping up to be an extremely capable Navy and Marine Corps team.”

Marines flew a variety of aircraft from their Aviation Combat Element for training, including the MV-22B Osprey, the AV-8B Harrier, the AH-1 Cobra, CH-53E Super Stallion and the UH-1N Huey.

Upon the completion of PMINT, the BATARG will continue with its remaining exercises in preparation to deploy more effectively in early 2017.

-USN-

• Date Taken: 09.23.2016
• Date Posted: 09.25.2016 12:46
• Story ID: 210456
• Location: ATLANTIC OCEAN, US