24th MEU reconnects with its amphibious roots
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Marines from the Camp Lejeune-based 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted an amphibious assault across the beaches here this morning as part of a combined training exercise with the Navy’s Nassau Amphibious Ready Group.
In tpre-dawn hours Marine infantrymen from the MEU’s Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, loaded Assault Amphibian Vehicles, better known as AMTRAKS, and “splashed” into the ocean from USS Ashland to assault objectives on Onslow Beach and Mile Hammock Bay. Right behind them followed armored HMMWV’s, M1A1 tanks, Light Armored Vehicles, artillery and support personnel loaded aboard Navy hovercraft and landing boats from USS Nassau and USS Mesa Verde, both located miles off the North Carolina coast.
The assault tested the ability of the Marine Corps-Navy team to plan and execute a mission using all elements of the Marine Air Ground Task Force to move from amphibious ships to objectives ashore, which is a primary skill set for Marine expeditionary units. The training exercise is planned to last approximately three days and will consist of follow-on missions throughout Camp Lejeune’s training areas.
The operation is part of a training exercise called Composite Training Unit Exercise, or COMPTUEX, where Marines and sailors from the 24th MEU work with the Nassau ARG to test their skills in planning and executing a variety of missions over the course of nearly three weeks.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with how everything’s coming together,” said Col. Pete Petronzio, commanding officer, 24th MEU.
The 24th MEU is slated to be the landing force for the Norfolk-based Nassau ARG, and will deploy early next year on three amphibious assault ships – USS Nassau, USS Mesa Verde and USS Ashland.
More than 2,300 Marines and sailors make up the 24th MEU, which is composed of its command element, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment (the Ground Combat Element), Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced) (the Air Combat Element), and Combat Logistics Battalion 24 (the Logistics Combat Element).
The Marines kicked off their pre-deployment training program in June, and before deploying they will complete a host of specialized combat courses, field training exercises and at-sea periods where they plan and conduct missions from ship.
Their final training exercise is called Certification Exercise, and is currently planned for early December, and will put the 24th MEU back at sea with its Navy counterparts.
For more information about the 24th MEU, visit the unit's Web site at http://www.marines.mil/unit/24thmeu.
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