31st MEU to participate in ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercise

USAFRICOM, AT SEA

03.11.2011

Courtesy Story

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

USS HARPERS FERRY – Elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked aboard the USS Harpers Ferry, are scheduled to participate in the Association of Southeastern Asian Nations Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercise, March 14 – 18. The multilateral exercise will take place in Indonesian territorial waters.

Indonesia and Japan will lead the biennial exercise, with the 31st MEU participation in a supporting role. Other scheduled participants in the ARF DIREX include Australia, the People’s Republic of China, the European Union, the Republic of Korea and Singapore.

“The ARF DIREX improves humanitarian assistance capability for major, multinational relief efforts throughout the Asia-Pacific region,” said Lt. Col. William Arick, commanding officer, CLB 31, 31st MEU. “The 31st MEU must be continually ready for response to humanitarian crises that are prevalent in this region. Through these types of exercises, multinational civilian and military relief efforts are tested in planning and execution, with the goal of improving response capability to the next major disaster.”

US Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel praised Indonesia’s participation in ARF DIREX saying, “Through its leadership in developing major multilateral cooperative activities like ARF DIREX, Indonesia is demonstrating its desire to play a prominent role in regional and global affairs. The United States is committed to supporting such Indonesian efforts and to engaging other ASEAN and ARF members in mutually beneficial, multilateral activities, including common security concerns.”

The 31st MEU is scheduled to participate in multi-lateral events such as a table top exercise focusing on civil-military coordination; a field training exercise including evacuation and logistics distribution; as well as medical and construction civic action projects.

Disaster relief efforts are always organized by civilian leadership, and the military’s logistics capabilities – the robust ability to move supplies and people by air, ground and sea – makes us an ideal response team to support disaster relief efforts.

The U.S. military purpose in disaster relief is to alleviate human suffering and prevent the loss of life by rapidly delivering critical capabilities.

This exercise is part of the U.S. Pacific Command’s Theater Security Cooperation program, and provides unique and dynamic opportunities for cooperation between the U.S. and partner nation military and civilian aid organizations, while promoting relationship-building between militaries and local communities.

“This multi-lateral exercise ensures that the region is adequately prepared for regional humanitarian disasters, such as the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, by allowing partner nations to work together and build relationships before a critical need develops,” said Arick. “The 31st MEU has responded to four humanitarian assistance disaster relief situations in the last two years alone.”

The exercise participants from 31st MEU include more than 50 Marines and sailors, mostly from CLB-31.

The 31st MEU includes more than 2,200 Marines and sailors and is comprised of four elements: the Command Element; Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines; Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 (Reinforced) and CLB-31.

The 31st MEU provides a forward-deployed, flexible, sea-based force capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response and limited contingency operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Always ready to respond, the 31st MEU is also prepared to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief when directed. The 31st MEU is the only continually forward-deployed MEU, and remains the nation’s force-in-readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Date Taken: 03.11.2011
• Date Posted: 03.10.2011 21:54
• Story ID: 66817
• Location: USAFRICOM, AT SEA