The deployment is a part of an everyday rotation of forces that foster maritime safety and elevated theater cooperation by offering a ahead naval expeditionary presence with huge, specialised disaster response capabilities to assist the geographic combatant commander, numbered fleet commander, and joint particular operations process drive commander.
“We’re prepared to finish any mission earlier than us, and we’re wanting ahead to the alternatives we should work alongside our allies and companions within the months forward,” mentioned Capt. Martin Robertson, commander of Amphibious Squadron 8. “Our Sailors and Marines have skilled exhausting and are prepared. We’re grateful for the assist of our households and family members throughout this journey.”
The BAT ARG/twenty sixth MEU(SOC)’s pre-deployment coaching program culminated with its ultimate certification train, Composite Coaching Unit Train (COMPTUEX), a collection of workout routines designed to completely combine roughly 4,000 Marines and Sailors into one cohesive contingency drive whereas testing the models’ talents to hold out sustained operations from the ocean. Throughout COMPTUEX, the BAT ARG/twenty sixth MEU(SOC) operated beneath NATO command and management to duplicate the realities of missions the Navy-Marine Corps group could encounter on deployment.
“Over the course of the final 9 months, Marines and Sailors of the twenty sixth MEU(SOC) efficiently demonstrated the battle workers competencies coupled with all-domain operational capabilities and excessive proficiency throughout the MEU Marine Air-Floor Job Drive (MAGTF) mission important duties and warfighting features, to incorporate MEU/SOF-integration, throughout an enhanced, rigorous pre-deployment coaching program inside a state of affairs reflective of the EUCOM, AFRICOM, and CENTCOM areas,” mentioned Col. Dennis “Dolf” Sampson, commanding officer of the twenty sixth MEU(SOC). “All through our work-ups, the Bataan Amphibious Prepared Group and the twenty sixth MEU(SOC) executed a number of superior at-sea coaching workout routines and absolutely built-in right into a cohesive naval expeditionary drive able to supporting theater campaigning necessities whereas remaining postured, because the Nation’s Fast Response Drive, to quickly reply to any disaster.”
The Bataan ARG is comprised of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 50), the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and the Harpers Ferry-class dock touchdown ship USS Carter Corridor (LSD 50). Embarked instructions embrace commander, Amphibious Squadron (CPR) 8, Fleet Surgical Crew 8, Tactical Air Management Squadron 21, Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron 26, Assault Craft Unit 4, Seashore Grasp Unit 2, and the twenty sixth MEU(SOC).
“I couldn’t be any prouder of the Marines, Sailors, and households of the twenty sixth MEU(SOC),” Sampson mentioned. “They set the bar very excessive throughout our work-ups because the premiere Tri-GCC Disaster Response Drive, showcasing the flexibleness and all-domain operational capabilities the ARG/MEU(SOC) supplies to a Fleet or Joint Job Drive Commander throughout the littorals and past.”
The twenty sixth MEU(SOC) serves as one of many Nation’s 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 BAT ARG, the twenty sixth MEU(SOC) serves as a premier stand-in drive with a full complement of all-domain capabilities to function persistently throughout the littorals or weapons engagement zones of an adversary.
For extra info, please contact Bataan ARG and twenty sixth MEU(SOC) Public Affairs: Bataan Amphibious Prepared Group Public Affairs, CPR8PAO@lhd5.navy.mil and twenty sixth Marine Expeditionary Unit (Particular Operations Succesful) Communication Technique & Operations, 26MEU_COMMSTRAT@bataan.usmc.mil.
