ATLANTIC OCEAN – The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the U.S. Navy Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) participated in ARG, MEU exercise (ARGMEUEX) off the coast of North and South Carolina. ARGMEUEX was created to provide essential and realistic ship-to-shore training, designed to enhance the integration of the Navy-Marine Corps team.
ARGMEUEX provides an opportunity to integrate unique individual and unit skills and develop the ARG and MEU’s collective proficiency in challenging and unfamiliar environments.
“ARGMEUEX is the first time MEU and Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8 staff really integrate aboard ship and execute full mission profiles from the drop of a fragmentary order to full execution,” said Capt. John Netherland, the 26th MEU targeting information officer.
The ARG/MEU team refined their skills of being an amphibious force capable of gaining access to critical areas anywhere in the world with ground, air, and logistics capabilities.
“The training is important because it is a fast pace exercise that stresses the limits of both MEU and PHIBRON staff and simulates some of the things we could encounter in a deployed environment,” said Netherland.
During the exercise Marines and Sailors conducted replenishments at sea, mass casualty drills, flight operations, amphibious raids, Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure missions.
“The challenges we have come across during ARGMEUEX is taking the planning that we have been practicing up to this point and following it through to full execution,” said Netherland. “Execution is the most important part in linking our planning efforts to accomplishing a mission.”
Expeditionary Operations Training Group and Carrier Strike Group Four were also aboard amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) giving mentorship and guidance to the Bataan ARG and 26th MEU.
“By doing stuff that is hard and at a much faster pace than you will probably encounter on deployment you will be ready for whatever comes your way,” said Lt. Grace Reilly, air officer with PHIBRON 8. “Right now we get the opportunity to fail a little bit before we never make those mistakes again.”