Photo By Sgt. Chris Garcia | Marines prepare to guide vehicles off of the U.S. Naval Ship Dahl during a pierside...... read more read more
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Approximately 580 Marines and Sailors with 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Expeditionary Strike Group 2, participated in Maritime Prepositioning Force Exercise 17 at Blount Island Command, Florida, Aug. 7-24, 2017.
A maritime preposition force is a strategic power-projection capability, combining the lift capacity, flexibility and responsiveness of two maritime prepositioning ship squadrons. These types of squadrons consist of 14 ships which provide the ability to rapidly access gear and equipment needed for operations around the world.
MPFEX 17 is a military exercise in which Marines and Sailors worked together to offload and process military equipment from a single MPF ship, the U.S. Naval Ship Dahl. The exercise is a rehearsal of the Marines’ and Sailors’ ability to conduct safe, efficient offloads while in a tactical environment.
“A maritime preposition squadron…of seven ships would be supporting a MEB,” said Col. John Sullivan, the officer in charge of the arrival and assembly operations group. “So this is an opportunity for Marines to hone skills that are critical to the strategic power projection of a [unit of this size.]”
The week-long process took place under artificial parameters to simulate the time it would take to offload an entire squadron. The training began with the service members conducting beach operations using an improved navy lighterage system, which gives them the ability to offload a ship before it reaches a pier or in situations that prevent it from coming into port.
“MPF offloads are important for us to do because that’s how we get the force to shore in a non-permissive environment,” said 1st Lt. Mackenzie Gage, the landing force support party operations officer. “Beach operations are important; specifically because the expeditionary environments that we operate in won’t always support pierside offloads.”
Marines and Sailors worked through the day and into the night to make sure the equipment was offloaded safely and properly. After completing beach operations, the service members conducted pierside offload operations.
“We love working with the Navy,” said Cpl. Tiffany Mitchell, the beach operations group non-commissioned officer in charge. “It’s a great opportunity for the Marines to learn about the Navy’s [role]…that’s an opportunity that they probably won’t get in their career a lot.”
When the exercise was completed the Marines developed a better understanding of how to perform an MPF.
“The Marines did an excellent job,” said Maj. Valerie Shwindt, the lead planner for MPFEX 17. “We started with a baseline of little to no knowledge of MPF operations and all participants were eager to learn, asked questions, and took advantage of training opportunities provided.”
The exercise is in support of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and in preparation for Bold Alligator 17, a MEB-level amphibious operation exercise.
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2017 14:42 |
| Story ID: | 246049 |
| Location: | BLOUNT ISLAND COMMAND, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 264 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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