Training takes a new turn for 2nd Marine Division units

Photo By Sgt. Austin Long | Brig. Gen. Burke Whitman, the assistant division commander for 2nd Marine Division, looks at an LCAC preparing to board the USS Wasp (LHD-1) during a training session on Oct. 24, that is being conducted as a requirement for the ship to be able to operate with the water vehicles, while on deployment. The LCAC’s along with 2nd LAR have been practicing beach landing operations all week and will continue throughout the rest of the week and in future training operations.  

JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

10.25.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Austin Long 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. - The Marine Corps was built on the idea of being a beach landing force that is ready at all times. In the past 10 years of being at war with Afghanistan and Iraq, training has been more centered around urban combat and preparing for Afghanistan.

Now that troops are being drawn back from Afghanistan and could possibly be sent to other parts of the world, training needs to focus on being able to respond to any crisis from small to large littoral countries.

Brigadier Gen. Burke Whitman, the Assistant Deputy Commander for 2nd Marine Division, visited the USS Wasp (LHD-1), on October 24 to meet with Capt. Gary Boardman, the captain of the USS Wasp (LHD-1), to talk about how their units could work together more, so the division can return its focus on amphibious landings.
“The visit today with the ship captain was to build on the relationship with the Navy so that we can both correlate on plans to expand amphibious expeditionary training for 2nd Marine Division,” said Whitman.

Both the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Chief of Naval Operations have agreed that training needs to be re-focused around amphibious assaults for the entire branch rather than select units.

The Wasp has been out of port since October 22 and is scheduled to return sometime before next week. Marines have been doing beach landings all week and plan on continuing throughout the rest of the week.

Before loading on ship and the beach, Marines and sailors spent the day in class, familiarizing themselves with the ship and what training is scheduled to be conducted. The training evolution has supported the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion with loading 12 light armored vehicles on two landing craft air cushions or LCAC’s and landing on beach landing zones.

Due to the reduced availability of ships, 2nd Mar. Div. will be working with the 2nd Marine Air Wing to maximize ship availability. The next step will be for 2nd Mar. Div. to attend the Commander, Task Force or CTF 80, scheduling conference in the first week of November.

The future of amphibious assault vehicle operations will not be conducted close to shore. This decision was recommended by Boardman, after the ship’s shaft seal was damaged while stabilizing itself during amphibious assault ship operations around Camp Lejeune.

Since expeditionary strike group two has decided to not conduct operations close to shore this makes training more strenuous and difficult for AAV battalions.

The main obstacle for AAV’s to overcome in the upcoming operations is traveling the distance. With a greater distance AAV’s are limited to the number of rotations they can make during a training period, due to limitations that are in place on the distance the AAV’s can travel with troops that are not AAV crewmen.

Currently, Air-Sea battle requires ships to be as far as 25 nautical miles away from shore. With the cancellation of the advanced amphibious assault vehicle program, the AAV’s cannot meet the distance requirements. Despite the obstacles and standing requirements the Marine Corps must still train and take full advantage of its current capabilities.

• Date Taken: 10.25.2012
• Date Posted: 10.29.2012 11:10
• Story ID: 96908
• Location: JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, US