Photo By Matt Lyman | Lance Cpl. Travis W. Trizinsky a landing support specialist assigned to 4th Marine...... read more read more
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PALDISKI, Estonia - “The Marine Corps is a force in readiness, relevant in building key partnerships and interoperability with allies and partner nations. We've learned from our experience in combat; in Iraq and Afghanistan that when we stand together side by side, shoulder to shoulder, defending those common values of freedom, dignity and democracy against threats who seek to oppress and destroy; we are stronger together," said Brig. Gen. Charles G. Chiarotti, deputy commander, Marine Corps Forces, Europe/Africa.
Those words were uttered in a well-lit, upstairs room to an audience consisting of multiple generals, a U.S. Ambassador and the President of Estonia to ring in the start to the distinguished visitors day, which signaled the end of Baltic Operations -12, June 14.
In its 40th year, Exercise BALTOPS 2012 aimed to improve maritime security in the Baltic Sea through increased interoperability and cooperation among regional allies. During this annual exercise, Marines and sailors worked side-by-side with personnel from partner nations, both on land and at sea, and became familiar with military operating procedures and practices of participating nations. Nations who participated in this iteration of BALTOPS included Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the United States.
The number of partner nations was impressive, but the variety of U.S. units drawn together to complete BALTOPS-12 was equally staggering.
“I can pull detachments from units throughout the Corps, and this is what we’ve done here at BALTOPS. When you look at it, we have Marines from the West Coast, the East Coast, from Atlanta, from the Norfolk area. We’ve pulled active and reserve Marines and sailors from all over to assemble this group to accomplish this mission,” said Col. Thomas Doman, BALTOPS -12 MAGTF commander.
All told there were more than 350 personnel drawn from more than 10 different units to populate this exercise and ensure BALTOPS-12 was successful training for the U.S. and the participating partner nations.
The crown jewel of the DV day, apart from the personnel working tirelessly to demonstrate their mastery of the tactics and skills they worked to perfect during the exercise, was the USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo a container and roll-on/roll-off ship.
The USNS Bobo was key to this exercise because of its ability to aid in the blending of equipment from the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program- Norway with the capability of conducting a Maritime Prepositioning Force off-load. Essentially without MCPP-N storing and maintaining the gear, the USNS Bobo ferrying the gear from MCPP-N to the port in Paldiski, Estonia and the expertise of the U.S. and partner nation personnel; there wouldn’t have been an exercise.
“I’m sure these exercises will forge the bonds between Estonian troops and their Allies. These bonds were created while Estonian soldiers were fighting side-by-side with their American brothers-in-arms in Iraq and are still doing so in Afghanistan,” said Brig. Gen. Riho Terras, chief of Defense of Estonia.
The MPF off-load was manned by both U.S. and Estonian personnel and was executed with professionalism and care.
As fast as they could batten vehicles to the lighterage from the USNS Bobo, they steamed it toward the shore under the watchful guidance of sailors assigned to Naval Beach Group -2, who skillfully stabbed the beach and the crowd cheered as a mix of Estonian, U.S. Marines and sailors drove Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements, Estonian utility vehicles and High Mobility Multi Wheeled Vehicles off the lighterage unto the shore.
“During this time I have had the privilege to witness the great capability and flexibility the U.S. Maritime Prepositioning Force provides to help others,” said Lt. Col. Rain Jano, commanding officer of Combined Task Force 164.
“So far Combined Task Force 164 has successfully completed an off-load operation from the USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo and has conducted significant amounts of joint training between our Estonian forces and the U.S. Marines,” added Jano.
Baltic Operations-12 is a great opportunity for the U.S. and the partner nations in the Black Sea region to come together in a spirit of learning and under the shared goal of enhancing interoperability and promoting regional stability. There are uncertain waters ahead for the BALTOPS exercises due to the fiscal changes the U.S. Navy is going through. Due to budget realignment the U.S. Navy is dissolving and reassigning the sailors, ships and equipment of Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron One.
“We still have MPSRON's TWO and THREE, but challenges to execute MPF exercises in the MFE theater of operations exist since we have to move ships much further from their respective home stations [Diego Garcia and Guam/Saipan],” said Phil Coulson, Logistics Management specialist assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force, G-3 Prepositioning.
Regardless of the ease of continuing the BALTOPS series of exercises, this exercise afforded the militaries of the U.S. and partner nations the opportunity to come together under a shared purpose to strengthen friendships, enhance interoperability and solidify the regional security of the Black Sea region.
| Date Taken: | 06.14.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.18.2012 08:10 |
| Story ID: | 90171 |
| Location: | PALDISKI, HARJUMAA, EE |
| Web Views: | 292 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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