MUSCAT, Oman (Sept. 21, 2016) U.S. Marines from 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) exercise Sept. 21 with U.S. Embassy-Muscat and Royal Omani Police.
The Marines processed more than 150 evacuee role-players in order to practice the MEU’s NEO capabilities, said 1st Lt. Michael O’Brien, the officer in charge of the exercise. The NEO exercise was an opportunity to practice a critical mission set of quickly providing security and safety to U.S. citizens abroad during a natural disaster or contingency.
“It’s important to demonstrate this training so embassies and U.S. citizens around the world know that U.S. Marines are out there prepared to serve in any capacity,” said O’Brien.
The Marines set up several stations throughout the embassy to receive, search, register and subsequently embark the role-players as evacuees.
“The role-players receive a brief at the entry control center and are broken up into groups,” said O’Brien. “Their ID card is scanned and the information populates into our registration kit.”
After the Marines processed the role-players at the embassy, they transported them to the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) via hovercraft and helicopters.
Once the Marines quickly and safely delivered the evacuee role-players to San Antonio, a combined team of MEU Marines and San Antonio Sailors processed the guests aboard ship.
After the exercise ended, the Marines and Sailors took the role-players on a courtesy tour of the San Antonio before returning them to the embassy.
“The Marines did excellent,” said O’Brien “NEO isn’t their normal military occupational specialty, so it’s something they have to learn on the side. It’s impressive the improvements they have made in that area,”
Together, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps team provides a versatile sea-based, expeditionary force that can be tailored to a variety of missions and reinforce U.S. Embassy security forces in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
22nd MEU, deployed with the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, is maintaining regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and Commander, 5th Fleet's area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.