Photo By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal | A U.S. Navy service member watches as a Landing Craft Air Cushion reaches shore during...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS, Hawaii -- U.S. Armed Forces joined representatives from 22 allied and partner nations to observe an amphibious demonstration as part of the U.S. Marine Forces, Pacific hosted U.S. Pacific Command Amphibious Leaders Symposium, May 19.
Amphibious capabilities provide a way to exploit the littorals, or coastal regions. Assets like the Amphibious Assault Vehicle and Landing Craft Air Cushion can launch from ship to shore, and from there maneuver to an objective.
Marines and sailors with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit participating in U.S. Pacific Fleet’s exercise Culebra Koa 15 showcased the mobility of AAVs and LCACs for multinational observers attending PALS.
U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. C.J. Mahoney, deputy commander, MARFORPAC, offered examples of when amphibious capabilities have been used to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
“Operation Damayan, when the typhoon hit in the Philippines, was a great example of using an amphibious leading edge to get there and then to follow in with other types of forces,” Mahoney said. “Operation Tomodachi, the great earthquake of March 11, 2011 in Japan with the 31st MEU, III Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Okinawa, responded to that in a big way with the application of amphibious forces during the HADR mission.”
PALS provides a venue for senior leaders of allied and partner Marine Corps, naval infantries, and other militaries spanning the Indo-Asia Pacific Region to discuss and learn about amphibious capability development.
U.S. Marine Col. Nate Nastase, Plans, Policy and International Affairs assistant chief of staff, MARFORPAC, said the main purpose of the symposium is to have a meaningful dialogue with interested parties about maritime and amphibious operations and to better understand each nation’s needs.
“What we’re trying to figure out by bringing these folks together is what it is that they think they need for their particular situation,” Nastase said. “How can that potentially compliment us or their neighbors, or a group of like-minded nations to help each other out in times of crisis, or in times of humanitarian disaster? Every piece will help. That’s what we’re trying to develop here, a better understanding of who all of our potential partners are out there who have capabilities that can augment each other to provide a better service.”
Nastase said that the symposium covers a very relevant topic for nations in attendance.
“I think there is a lot of interest in this,” Nastase said. “First of all it’s a maritime domain. It’s very much a sea and island theater that we live in out here. All of these countries that are participating are coastal nations so they have a vested interest in understanding and operating in the littoral -(relating to the shore of a lake, sea, or ocean) region of their nations.”
In addition to observing the amphibious demonstration, symposium participants were able to join in dialogue through briefings, discussions and scenario-based table-top group exercises as part of PALS.
The Asia-Pacific is the region most prone to natural disasters in the world. Having amphibious capabilities can enhance the means for nations in the region to provide HADR assistance from sea-to-shore or shore-to-shore.
| Date Taken: | 05.19.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.22.2015 23:35 |
| Story ID: | 164361 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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