Marines and Sailors finish up BAAMREX

Photo By Staff Sgt. Koby Saunders | Marines successfully execute the transition of command and control from ship to shore during Bold Alligator Aviation Mission Rehearsal Exercise at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Virginia, May 25, 2017. During BAAMREX, command staff rehearsed the task of providing live aerial support from amphibious ships while Marines are afloat and transitioning that control ashore when Marines land. This command and control comes from the Marine Tactical Air Control Center, the senior agency of the Marine Aviation Command and Control System, which provides the aviation command element commander the situational awareness he or she needs to accomplish the mission. BAAMREX, held at the Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic facilities, is an exercise designed for 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing command staff to rehearse and execute Tactical Air Command Center operations in a simulated combat environment. Specifically, BAAMREX is an opportunity for Marines of 2nd MAW, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Sailors from Expeditionary Strike Group 2 and other units to rehearse key events of Bold Alligator 17. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Koby I. Saunders)  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

05.25.2017

Story by 2nd Lt. Samuel Stephenson 

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek Fort Story, Virginia-For Marines and Sailors participating in the joint Bold Alligator Aviation Mission Rehearsal Exercise, pressure is high as key leaders discuss the importance and complicated task of providing live aerial support for upcoming Bold Alligator 17 and controlling aviation assets from ship to shore.

BAAMREX, held at the Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic facilities at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, wrapped up two weeks of work between the Navy and Marine Corps rehearsing key elements of Bold Alligator 17, and also apply lessons learned for future amphibious operations.

“I believe that one of the keys to the amphibious operation, which is probably the most complex operation in our Department of Defense, is aviation,” said Brig. Gen. Matthew Glavy, commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. “The seamless integration of fires into the objective area, and everything that aviation provides whether it be the Marine Corps or the Navy, or the entire joint force. So there’s a command and control piece to that that we’ve got to get right, and BAAMREX is our rehearsal to make sure we get that right before we get on the ship.”

The facilities at EWTGLANT allow the Marines and Sailors to replicate shipboard operations as well as the ability to transfer that command and control of aircraft ashore. Instead of weeks needed to setup tents and equipment in the field, EWTGLANT has allowed Marines and Sailors the opportunity to focus solely on the tactical problem while sparing resources being used for real world operations.

“EWTGLANT has been tremendous help to us throughout,” said Maj. Jonathan Howard, plans officer for 2nd MAW and exercise director for BAAMREX. “The facility is really great because they have this part of the building called the Joint Expeditionary Tactical Trainer. It is set up and designed to look just like the inside of a ship. So when you walk into the Tactical Air Coordination Center [in the JETT], it looks just like it does on the ship. Same thing with the Supporting Arms Coordination center, the Flag Plot where the amphibious task force commander’s command post is, same way with the landing force operation center, all those spaces are set up and designed to look like a ship. So in times when you can’t get on ship and do the exercise and do the rehearsal, this is really the next best thing.”

Though BAAMREX has primarily focused on the aviation mission for Bold Alligator, the full Marine Air Ground Task Force is represented to ensure that no stone goes unturned in solving problems that result from such a large coordination effort between the Navy and Marine Corps.

“At the end of the day, the MAGTF exists to support a main effort,” said Capt. Marcial Garcia, a regimental fire support officer for 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment and ground watch officer for BAAMREX. “Right now, the main effort exists on the ground and the air portion is what we’re rehearsing here, but what we’re really rehearsing is how air is going to ultimately support the main effort. With the main effort being on the ground, I think it’s essential to have someone with experience in terms of ground operations sitting as the ground watch officer, more so, than I thought before I got here.”

An essential part of BAAMREX was the rehearsal of moving command and control personnel from ship to shore, when would be the best time to do it, and of course, how to do it. Additionally, getting to shore as quickly as possible so the full Marine Tactical Air Command center can be set up to full operational capacity to keep the bringing the fight to the enemy.

“The true gold standard from transitioning command and control from ship to shore, whether it’s the [Marine Expeditionary Brigade], the [aviation command element], the [ground combat element] or the [logistic combat element], is that it is transparent to the enemy,” said Howard. “He doesn’t even know it happened. He continues to be destroyed, neutralized or suppressed and for our money, he shouldn’t know that we’ve made our move.”

• Date Taken: 05.25.2017
• Date Posted: 05.25.2017 14:01
• Story ID: 235297
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US