Photo By Cpl. Mark Fike | U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Andrew Black offloads a 7-Ton off the U.S.N.S Pililaau...... read more read more
SUBIC BAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Philippines – U.S. Marines from across III Marine Expeditionary Force conducted a maritime prepositioning force (MPF) offload during Exercise Freedom Banner 2019 (FB 19), March 22-24, 2019, at Subic Bay International Airport, Republic of the Philippines.
From the moment the U.S.N.S. Pililaau pulled into the port at Subic Bay International Airport, the Marines had only 48 hours to offload equipment and set conditions for the successful execution of the follow-on exercise, Exercise Balikatan (BK) 2019.
FB 19 is an annual exercise conducted in the Indo-Pacific region that allows Marines to execute a full mission rehearsal and increase their capability to respond rapidly to a crisis or contingency.
“Freedom Banner is an exercise that III Marine Expeditionary Force conducts annually to ensure that the Marines conducting that offload have the training and the experience needed should we have a real-world operation where the MPF will be executed,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Amir Golshani, the 3rd Marine Logistics Group MPF officer with 3rd MLG Headquarters.
During FB 19, Marines increase their ability to conduct an MPF offload throughout the Indo-Pacific region and provide service members equipment and assets they require to complete their missions.
"The purpose of the MPF is to ensure that the Marine Corps equipment is readily available to them in any strategically placed location throughout the world,” said Golshani.
Offloading hundreds of pieces of heavy equipment from a ship is no easy task. The Marines were tested in both the preparation and execution phases of the offload, from carefully inspecting every piece of equipment to working day and night below deck where the temperatures and noise can reach uncomfortable levels.
"The Marines faced challenges during FB 19," said Gunnery Sgt. Jerry Brumfield, the offload preparations party chief with Motor Transport Maintenance Company, 3rd Maintenance Battalion, 3rd MLG. "Through the challenges and hard work, the MPF offload has gone smoothly."
“I feel like my Marines have done an extremely wonderful job,” said Brumfield. “The Marines have set the tone for the entire operation and I’m confident I have a good batch of Marines here that love doing what they do. They’re extremely motivated and they’re highly capable.”
Freedom Banner 2019 increases deployment flexibility and the capability to respond rapidly to any crisis or contingency in the Indo-Pacific region, further strengthening 3rd MLG's ability to fulfill its motto and 'sustain the Pacific'.
| Date Taken: | 03.22.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2019 07:37 |
| Story ID: | 315649 |
| Location: | SUBIC BAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT , PH |
| Hometown: | ATLANTA, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 873 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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