Northern Problem 2023 is an annual, Icelandic Coast Guard-led train, designed to supply essentially the most modernized explosive ordnance disposal coaching on the earth. This 12 months’s iteration featured 16 nations, over 400 members, and marked the primary time the U.S. Marine Corps participated within the train. Taking part nations included: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, United Kingdom, and america.
Through the coaching, members responded to 2 ‘calls,’ a time period for responding to an explosive menace, every day. All through the coaching, every scenario grew to become more and more extra complicated, including a number of, simulated, improvised explosive units (IED) for the operators to securely neutralize whereas a considering adversary countered their procedures to problem their problem-solving abilities and supply a extra real looking, threat-informed, scenario-based coaching setting.
“This was an amazing expertise for the Marines from Fight Logistics Battalion 22 (CLB-22). The train challenged our group with dynamic and related EOD eventualities put collectively by professionals within the subject,” stated Grasp Sgt. George Cardenas, EOD chief of 26MEU(SOC) Logistics Fight Ingredient. “The mixture of so many ranging experiences, views and techniques, strategies, and procedures, creates a difficult and professionally rewarding studying setting that in the end makes us higher warfighters for the 26MEU(SOC).”
Together with the EOD groups, every nation supplied a nationwide and worldwide proctor to observe over groups as they solved numerous threat-informed drawback units. The inclusion of proctors allowed for in-depth collaboration between members and inspired discussions on finest practices and techniques, strategies and procedures.
“Taking part in Northern Problem has allowed us to turn into intimately conversant in the way in which NATO manages EOD operations together with tasking, reporting, and knowledge gathering,” stated Chief Warrant Officer 3 Thomas Jones, the Officer-In-Cost of the 26MEU(SOC) EOD factor in Iceland. “The train and experiences right here permits us to change information and construct stronger relationships with our companions. Extra so, our participation in workouts like Northern Problem results in higher interoperability and integration with our NATO companions and EOD operations sooner or later.”
Northern Problem 23 supplied a possibility for members to share concepts and techniques, higher equipping them to neutralize trendy explosive threats, and in-turn share these procedures and information with members of their group of their respective items and nations.
“I’m extraordinarily happy with the distinctive efficiency of our EOD Marines, honing in on their craft and enhancing their warfighting readiness,” stated LtCol Luke Sauber, commanding officer, CLB-22, 26MEU(SOC). “Taking part in real looking, coaching eventualities allows the Marines from the MEU(SOC) Logistics Fight Ingredient to reply to real-world threats related to the present and anticipated future working environments the place they might be dynamically tasked to function. Our EOD Marines represented the 26MEU(SOC) in a optimistic gentle, marking the primary time a contingent from the U.S. Marine Corps participated in Northern Problem, a NATO-level train,” Sauber concluded.
The 26MEU(SOC) serves as one of many United States premier disaster response forces able to conducting amphibious operations, disaster response, and restricted contingency operations, to incorporate enabling the introduction of follow-on-forces and designated particular operations, in assist of theater necessities of the Geographic Combatant Commander. Coupled with the usBataan ARG, the 26MEU(SOC) serves as a premier stand-in power with a full complement of all-domain capabilities to function persistently throughout the littorals or weapons engagement zones of any adversary.
The Bataan Amphibious Prepared Group and twenty sixth Marine Expeditionary Unit (Particular Operations Succesful) has been deployed since Jul. 10. The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, USS Bataan (LHD-5); Harpers Ferry class dock touchdown ship, USS Carter Corridor (LSD 50); and embarked 26MEU(SOC) have been working within the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command space of operations below the tactical command and management of Job Power 51/5. The usMesa Verde and embarked 26MEU(SOC), below the tactical command and management of Job Power 61/2, is on a scheduled deployment within the U.S. Naval Forces Europe space of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., Allied, and accomplice pursuits.
Headquartered in Naples, Italy, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) operates U.S. naval forces within the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of duty. U.S. Sixth Fleet is completely assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces by the complete spectrum of joint and naval operations.
