Photo By Cpl. Michael Bartman | U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Karsten S. Heckl, commanding general of Combat Development...... read more read more
The Marine Corps’ Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration visited the Norfolk naval shipyards earlier this week to get a firsthand assessment on the state of amphibious warship maintenance and readiness.
LtGen Karsten Heckl visited the NASSCO and BAE shipyards in Norfolk where he toured the USS Kearsarge and the USS Arlington, both currently undergoing scheduled maintenance.
While in Norfolk, Heckl met with representatives from U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Marine Corps Forces Command.
“This visit helped me to better understand the challenges and issues the Department of the Navy and industry partners face with regards to conducting amphibious warship maintenance and modernization,” said Heckl.
“Look no further than our recent crises and conflict around the globe, which all have further highlighted the high demand our Combatant Commanders have for amphibious ready groups with embarked Marine Expeditionary Units. Combatant commanders’ demand continues to significantly outpace the availability of amphibs.”
The Marine Corps’ routine operational and training demands require clear articulation for the Navy to establish appropriate readiness goals.Throughout the visit, Heckl worked to understand firsthand the current ship maintenance issues and challenges and how the Marine Corps can influence and impact readiness.
This visit resulted in a more comprehensive understanding of the current challenges and issues related to amphibious warfare ship maintenance, modernization, and readiness.
The Marine Corps has a deep interest in the ability to train and deploy ARG/MEUs on a steady cycle. Marines and sailors operating from forward-postured amphibious warfare ships can be rapidly deployed to a wide range of contingencies when called upon, providing both deterrence and access in response to crisis or conflict.
Amphibious warfare ships are the cornerstone of the Navy-Marine Corps’ global maritime crisis response force. They are pivotal in our Nation’s ability to deter aggression, reassure our allies and partners, maintain freedom of navigation and access to key global shipping lanes that are the economic lifelines for many countries.
Future solutions to amphib maintenance and readiness will involve the Navy, Marine Corps, the defense industrial base and a skilled American workforce.
“Our American shipyards are crucial to getting our amphibious warships repaired and ready for the grueling demands of the deployment cycle,” Heckl said. “We appreciate the complicated and challenging nature of the task.”
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2024 14:30 |
| Story ID: | 471734 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 83 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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