USS KEARSARGE, At Sea -- U.S. Marines and sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), USS Arlington (LPD 21) and USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) via sea on landing craft air cushion and air in MV-22B Osprey initiating Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON), MEU integration training (PMINT).
The 26th MEU, its supporting elements and PHIBRON 4 conducted integration training at sea in preparation for their deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility slated later this year.
Expeditionary Operations Training Group developed the scenarios and course for the exercise. They facilitate the operations in accordance with requirements deemed necessary for the MEU and PHIBRON to meet certification for deployment.
“It’s the first at sea period for the MEU,” said Col. Robert C. Fulford, 26th MEU commanding officer. “The most important task of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force is to operate at sea.”
PMINT lays the foundation for all the elements of the MEU to develop relationships with their Navy counterparts and gain an understanding that teamwork is necessary to accomplish the mission said Fulford.
The training familiarizes Marines and sailors of the MEU with their Navy counterparts and establishes the baseline of living and operations while aboard a naval vessel.
“PMINT is important because it’s the first time the Amphibious Ready Group and the MEU can come together and plan on a ship while embarked,” said Capt. Troy E. Mitchell, the assistant intelligence officer with the MEU and a Houston, Texas, native. “It also gives you the chance to test your systems, make sure everything works, and ensure the staffs begin synchronizing some of their battle rhythms and daily processes.”
Personnel with the units manned three different naval vessels, the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), USS Arlington (LPD 21) and USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), each with specific requirements to meet the support and demands required for deployment.
“We get comfortable doing our drills, figuring out our spaces, and learning each other,” said Mitchell. “In addition, it’s the first time we plan and employ Marines and sailors on ship simultaneously.”
Man overboard, abandon ship and emergency operational procedures were conducted onboard the vessels after MEU personnel arrived. Marines learn the rules and regulations onboard a vessel from their Navy brethren during PMINT to enable an easier transition during deployment.
“We try to help the Marines get familiar with the ship,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Ashley M. Clinton, a Aviation Boatswain Mate with Amphibious Squadron 4 and a Houston, Texas native. “We try to walk them through the drills and help them get to the right spaces on ship, so they know the rules and their way around during deployment.”
The ships’ crew helped guide others through the drills and gave informal presentations to demonstrate how each situation onboard is handled.
“We’re aware many of them haven’t been underway on a ship before, so we try to provide them with as much information as we can,” said Clinton. “Working with Marines is fun and a change from our usual operations when we’re not deployed.”
The establishment of teamwork and positive communication was an important aspect of the dialogue and cooperation between the crew and MEU personnel.
“We’re all working toward a common goal,” said Mitchell. “We have a lot to learn from the Navy, and this is their house, we’re guests, but we’re family. In being humble and taking the opportunity to learn from them, we can grow and increase our ability to perform.”
Friendly competition is encouraged if the best interest of both parties is accounted for and everyone remains safe and unharmed. Some friendly competition can help drive them to work harder and create friendly bonds.
“Where the healthy competition comes are things the fun boss is organizing,” said Mitchell. “She’s running the pull-up competition and things similar to that which are integration things that are vitally important to building our team and learning who’s who.”
The morale, welfare and readiness officer, or fun boss, organizes social and celebratory events onboard ship to provide Marines and sailors with amenities and support while they are underway.
“The main takeaway is positive relationships,” said Mitchell.
This exercise is one of many that have, already, or are later scheduled to be conducted in preparation for the MEU and PHIBRON deployment later this year. The two units are establishing a working culture and plan to bond as a force in readiness as the training continues.
“Outside of exercises, which are working functions, little things we’re doing to better our integration include things like the ice cream social we had,” said Mitchell. “It was good, because it was something the ship’s captain did and he didn’t have to ... He’s basically telling us to take some time and have fun while we’re working hard during these exercises.”
The next training event scheduled is the Amphibious Readiness Group/MEU exercise. It will bring together the PHIBRON and MEU to conduct a series of scenario-based operations they’ll be evaluated on to receive certification for deployment.
“I could not be more pleased with our team and all the hard work they’ve done throughout these exercises,” said Fulford. “The next step, ARG/MEU EX will be a lot of work and I think we’re prepared for it.”