Rear Adm. Butler visits USS Arlington (LPD 24)

Photo By Sgt. Austin Long | Lieutenant j.g. Claire Wasko, the auxiliaries’ officer with the USS Arlington (LPD 24), provides an overview of the navigational equipment used in the ship’s command center, or bridge, to Rear Adm. Richard Butler, the commander of Carrier Strike Group Four, during a tour of the USS Arlington (LPD 24), July 28, 2015. Butler toured the ship and visited several departments where he was given a brief overview of that department’s capabilities and daily operations by a Marine or sailor that worked there. U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and sailors with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group are participating in a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) in preparation for their deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility later this fall. (United States Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Austin Long/ Released)  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

08.06.2015

Story by Sgt. Austin Long 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Richard Butler, the commander of Carrier Strike Group Four, and U.S. Marine Corps Col. Jeffrey Kenney, the commanding officer of Expeditionary Operations Training Group, toured the USS Arlington (LPD 24) while visiting with U.S. Navy Capt. Sean Bailey, the commanding officer of the USS Arlington (LPD 24), and service members as they participated in a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), July 28.

U.S. Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and sailors with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group are participating in COMPTUEX in preparation for their deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility later this fall.

While deployed, the USS Arlington can be tasked with a variety of missions; such as noncombatant evacuations, visit, board, search, and seizure, embassy reinforcement, humanitarian assistance, amphibious assaults, and more.

“The Arlington specifically is an integral part to the ARG [Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group] as a whole,” said Butler. “The [USS Arlington] is going to be a primary tool for the 5th and 6th Fleet commanders. Whether it’s during peacetime theater engagement operations or contingency operations the [USS Arlington] is the commanders’ go to rapid reaction force to be able to take care of a whole host of different missions. The [USS Arlington] is a primary tool for those commanders to have at their disposal in order to influence an entire region.”

The USS Arlington (LPD 24) is unique to the 26th MEU because the ship can organically support a variety of missions while deployed which include maritime raids, mass casualty care, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, and troop transport from ship-to-shore.

While aboard, Butler alongside the ship’s captain and command staff visited with Marines and sailors in their respective departments. During each of the department visits, Butler was given a brief overview of the support and operational capabilities of that section.

Sections toured included the flight deck, medical ward, tactical logistics command center, command and control center, or the bridge, boat deck, and the 9/11 Pentagon Tribute Room.

“I was glad that I was able to explain to him the procedures for treating various casualties, the capabilities of the triage and operating rooms, as well as capabilities of the X-Ray machine, pharmacy, lab, and dental facilities,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Harris, a surgical technician aboard the USS Arlington.

After the tour, Butler and Kenney met with Bailey in his office for refreshments and conversation.

“My favorite part of the visit was hearing from the crew,” said Butler. “Everybody seems motivated and excited to be here. I wish the CO and all of the crew the best of luck on their upcoming deployment and I know they will represent the Navy and the Marine Corps very well.”

• Date Taken: 08.06.2015
• Date Posted: 08.06.2015 11:09
• Story ID: 172336
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US