By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Zane Ecklund, USS New York Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) — The amphibious transport dock landing ship USS New York (LPD 21) began participating and serving as the supporting platform for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) during during the commencement of African Lion 2012, April 9.

African Lion 2012, is a bi-lateral theatre and security exercise in conjunction with Royal Moroccan Armed Forces designed to promote inter-operability and coordination between nations, in addition to ensuring regional peace.

Capt. Richard Busch, operations and fire support officer for Marines embarked aboard New York, considers African Lion a great opportunity to strengthen positive relations abroad.

“This exercise is training to enhance mutual understanding of each country’s tactics, techniques, and procedures,” said Busch. “It will also reinforce a long standing relationship with the Moroccan people.”

Staff Sgt. Adrian Rondini, is excited about being able to participate in the exercise.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to work with a different force and learn some tactics, and to teach them some of our own,” said Rondini. “It’s an awesome opportunity anytime we can join efforts with other countries, and it helps build a reputation in case we have future obligations.”

While the exercise predominantly demonstrates the capabilities of the MEU, New York will play a supporting role by facilitating air and amphibious operations. Helicopters from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 261 (reinforced) airlifted munitions from the ship’s flight deck while pre-staging equipment ashore. In addition, landing craft air cushions (LCAC) from Amphibious Craft Unit (ACU) 4 have transported MEU assets from the ship’s well deck.

Quartermaster 2nd Class Amy Klemarczyk, an ACU Sailor, said she is proud of her unit’s involvement in the operation.

“Without the LCACs we wouldn’t be able to transport the MEU and get the mission done,” said Klemarczyk.

New York is part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group with the embarked 24th MEU. New York is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. USS New York is the sixth ship named for the state of New York, and the fifth amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio Class. Her motto is “Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget.”

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Amphibious Ready Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/arg8/.

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NAPLES, Italy — An MV-22 Osprey operating from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) crashed in a Royal Moroccan military training area southwest of Agadir, Morocco, while participating in the bilateral Exercise African Lion. Four U.S. Marine Corps personnel were on the aircraft at the time of the incident. Two personnel died as a result of their injuries sustained in the crash. The two other personnel were severely injured in the crash and are being medically evacuated for further treatment.

The MV-22 Osprey was assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 261 based at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River, N.C. The squadron was operating from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) at the time of the incident.

The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) with the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), are participating in Exercise African Lion, a bilateral exercise conducted with Royal Moroccan military forces. The annual exercise is scheduled to be conducted April 8-17, 2012, in a designated military training area southwest of Agadir, Morocco.

Exercise African Lion is a bilateral, theater security cooperation exercise led by U.S. Marine Forces Africa and is conducted annually between the U.S. military and the Kingdom of Morocco to further develop joint and combined capabilities. The exercise will focus on building capacity, capability, and interoperability in the following areas: field and aviation training, humanitarian civic assistance, amphibious landings, intelligence capacity building, and command post and peace support operations.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

For more information on the incident, please contact HQMC, Division of Public Affairs at 703-614-4309 or ontherecord@usmc.mil.

Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/news/86587/mv-22-osprey-crashes-during-military-exercise#.T4YyRFGUfHQ#ixzz1rmnfy0w6

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By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Recruit Scott Youngblood, Amphibious Squadron 8 Public Affairs

USS NEW YORK, At Sea (NNS) — A film crew from Discovery Channel got underway with amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) Jan. 27 to document shipboard life and training evolutions for the network’s TV series “Mighty Ships.”

Discovery Channel has featured more than 30 different ships, from freighters to luxury liners, and is now embarked with New York while participating in Certification Exercise (CERTEX) and Bold Alligator 2012. The show will depict the working relationship between the Navy and Marine Corps services.

CERTEX is the final certification for deployment for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group. Bold Alligator 2012 is the largest naval amphibious exercise in the past 10 years.

“We wanted to show how two factions of the military work seamlessly together to train and prepare for deployment,” said Chris Gargus, the film crew director of photography.

Gargus has been on several Navy vessels while filming for “Mighty Ships.”

“The enormous complexity of these fascinating vehicles coming aboard such as the ‘floating tanks’ and the massive LCACs (Landing Craft Air Cushion) and the noise they create, combined with the precision of the crew, that’s what fits the category of Mighty Ships,” said Gargus.

Even after being aboard the New York for nearly a week, it hasn’t been easy for the film crew to adjust to a shipboard lifestyle, explained Gargus.

“It’s overwhelming as a civilian coming on board a ship, trying to figure out how everything works, and who does what,” said Mark Stevenson, director and writer for this episode. “Even with two camera crews, we can only be in two places at once. Having [Sailors] help us with that is critical because otherwise we would not be able to do it.”

“Everyone has been very helpful, the efficiency of the ship’s Sailors for making things happen for the film crew has been very impressive,” continued Stevenson.

The film crew made its way through the ship’s passageways and spaces, interviewing Sailors on topics ranging from flight deck operations to Visit Board Search and Seizure procedures.

“They asked me about the different pressures during evolutions pertaining to boatswains out at sea, and directing Sailors under some of the most dangerous conditions underway,” said Boatswains Mate Chief Warrant Officer Keith Shaw. “We wanted Discovery to understand if we’re not on our ‘A’ game one hundred percent of the time, there is a potential for loss of life; we stay ready so we don’t have to get ready.”

“This episode revolves on the integration of Sailors and Marines, and how the two groups work together to complete many different tasks aboard the ship while out to sea,” said Gargus.

“We were told from the beginning there is a great rivalry between the two, everything from sports to everything else,” said Gargus. “Everyone’s got their jokes about each other. But I saw a Navy hand reach out and a Marine arm come up from a rope ladder hanging off the side of the ship and pull that man up, and at that moment, they’re both part of the same brethren, performing the same action and looking out for each other.”

New York is set to be featured in season six of “Mighty ships.” The episode is slated to air in six to eight months when New York will be well into its maiden deployment scheduled for spring 2012.

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