DVIDS – News – Navy Expeditionary Fight Forces Lead Joint Expeditionary Superior Base Operations Throughout Fleet Battle Drawback 22-1

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Navy Expeditionary Fight Forces (NECF) operated alongside the US Marine Corps (USMC) off the coast of Camp Lejeune to conduct Fleet Battle Drawback (FBP) 22-1 March 16-21.

Fleet Battle Issues happen a number of instances a 12 months to check coordinated Fleet capabilities. Throughout FBP 22-1, Navy Expeditionary Fight Command (NECC) exercised command and management of a number of land and sea property throughout the Navy and USMC.

“We’ve got to think about the very robust and succesful command and management functionality of the expeditionary forces. It doesn’t matter who you ship to work with us, we’re going to obtain the commander’s aims,” mentioned Rear Admiral Joseph DiGuardo, commander, NECC.

DiGuardo is the mission commander for the battle workers through the train the place Sailors and Marines from the NECF, Amphibious Prepared Group-Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG -MEU), Naval Particular Warfare Group Two, and Marines exhibit important sea-based and littoral operations in a real-world platform.

“We’re executing the identical duties for C2 that we have now executed prior to now; simply the circumstances are simply totally different this time,” Diguardo added. “We aren’t within the desert, we’re within the maritime setting, however that doesn’t imply the duties are totally different and doesn’t imply we’re any much less ready.”

FBP 22-1 additionally examined the Navy’s potential to combine USMC, and Navy Particular Warfare (NSW) to execute efficient operations in a contested setting. The Navy’s potential to diversify the forms of items that lead mission command and management ensures the Navy maintains maritime superiority and excel in joint, built-in operations throughout this period of strategic competitors.

“Expeditionary Fight Drive is the place the Navy and Marines come collectively,” mentioned Navy Capt. Chuck Eckhart, commander, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Group 2 and deputy commander for Fleet Battle Drawback 22-1. “The Navy Expeditionary Fight Drive is uniquely outfitted to guide Fleet Battle Drawback as a result of we have now the flexibleness to deploy in austere environments and push command and management ahead to allow Distributed Maritime Operations,” mentioned Eckhart.

Throughout FBP 22-1, the battle workers served because the bridge between ships at sea and Sailors and Marines working within the littorals, by speaking alternatives and threats to freedom of navigation throughout the mission area.

“The Navy Expeditionary Drive is part of strategic competitors, and the way in which it’s a part of strategic competitors could also be a little bit bit totally different from what you see in different weapons, payloads, and platforms in the US Navy,” mentioned DiGuardo. “We improve {our capability} by doing this – by working C2 in a manner that’s by no means been finished earlier than and it is extremely efficient.”

“The professionals to having a Navy Expeditionary Fight Drive-led C2 battle workers is that we will push ahead into an space with out a longtime presence or an space with a smaller footprint and setup base in a short time,” mentioned Lt. Cmdr. Bruce Batteson, NECC’s future operations officer. “We are able to function out of any construction accessible to us and are extra cellular than many different entities.”

Whereas expressing the worth in having the Navy’s expeditionary pressure main this built-in staff, Batteson additionally acknowledged the significance of leveraging the strengths of every service throughout the Division of Protection.

“From a nationwide protection image, we will’t win with out joint integration and the capabilities that brings to the desk,” mentioned Batteson. “FBP 22-1 is a chance to make use of fully-trained, fully-ready items to push the boundaries and execute in real-world environments.”

As a part of FBP 22-1, Sailors and Marines will conduct unmanned underwater automobile operations, combine underwater and airborne passive and lively sensors, and take a look at anti-swarm and level protection on the Expeditionary Superior Base and aboard the ARG-MEU, constructing upon their experience gained over a few years of world operations and previous FBPs.

“What the Navy’s expeditionary pressure has realized prior to now 20 years of world conflict on terrorism, is completely relevant within the maritime combat. The key phrase in expeditionary Sailors is “Sailor,” so after all the Sailors of the expeditionary forces are who we have to allow the entry, attain, and lethality that the Navy will want within the maritime combat,” mentioned NECC Drive Grasp Chief Rick Straney.

NECC is situated in Virginia Seashore, Virginia, with a mission to man, practice, equip and maintain Navy Expeditionary Fight Forces. NECC Sailors clear the battlespace of hazards; safe important terrain; construct infrastructure and logistics chains; and defend the Fleet, services and forces. FBP 22-1 built-in naval capabilities to help particular operations, present protection ashore and at sea, and develop the usage of unmanned underwater autos.