OFF THE COAST OF NORTH CAROLINA — The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and their Navy counterparts of Amphibious Squadron 8 kicked off their final training evolution today to prepare their Marines and sailors for an upcoming deployment this spring.

Certification Exercise, commonly called CERTEX, is the third at-sea exercise for the Navy-Marine team and is intended to test their ability to rapidly plan and respond to a variety of crises during the next three weeks.

Over the weekend, approximately 2,300 Marines loaded the three amphibious assault ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, which includes the USS Iwo Jima, USS New York and USS Gunston Hall.

The Marines worked around the clock to load the essential aircraft, vehicles and equipment that constitute a Marine Air Ground Task Force, which they will put to the test while refining their skills before heading across the Atlantic into the European and Central Command areas of operation.

The 24th MEU/PHIBRON 8 team will conduct training missions in North Carolina and Virginia in the coming days, which will include a Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel, mechanized raids, long-range aviation raids, and a response to a multiple casualty situation. These missions are based on a continuous fictitious scenario that has developed throughout the MEU’s six-month work-up cycle that has the unit operating off the coast of unstable countries who requested support from the United States.

A unique addition to this final exercise will be the integration of an unmanned aerial vehicle, which will deploy with the 24th MEU. This will be the first East Coast MEU to deploy with a UAV, which they will use to gather aerial imagery.

The 24th MEU’s CERTEX is also being included in the scenario driving Bold Alligator, the largest amphibious exercise conducted off the East Coast in 10 years.

The 24th MEU will conduct some missions in support of this larger exercise, but will mostly focus on its own mission essential tasks they are required to execute prior to deploying.

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10/27/2009  By 26th MEU Public Affairs, 26th MEU 

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.  — North Carolina Marines from several units recently joined to form Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 26. SPMAGTF-26 is scheduled to board the ship that will become USS New York, Oct. 29. The ship and embarked Marines will sail to New York City for the ship’s commissioning, Nov. 7, where it will be designated USS New York.

USS New York holds particular significance to the people of New York with 7 1/2 tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center forged into her bow. The ship also honors the memory of those who lost their lives during the unprovoked attacks of 9/11.

The 260 Marines who make up SPMAGTF-26 represent Marine Corps expeditionary forces that will deploy aboard USS New York in the future.

The ship and Marines will arrive in New York City, Nov. 2. During its approximate two weeks in New York, the ship will be open for public tours where the embarked Marines will showcase their equipment and interact with visitors.

USS New York will be the Navy’s newest Landing Platform Dock, a class of ship designed to embark Marine Corps units who can execute a wide range of missions. Improvements to this class of ship include a larger flight deck with an on-deck hanger, larger well deck for amphibious operations, enhancements to troop berthing and other areas. These advancements are designed to allow embarked Marines to prepare for and conduct operations more quickly and efficiently then previous versions of the LPD.

The flight deck will be capable of launching up to two MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft simultaneously. It can also serve as the launch point for Marine CH-53E Super Stallion, UH-1N Huey and AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters. The well deck is capable of supporting two Landing Craft Air Cushioned as well as the traditional Landing Craft Utility and Marine amphibious craft. The vehicle stowage areas offer more space and maneuverability for Marine land vehicles like the M1A1 Abrams tank, and others.

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit command element provided the majority of the unit’s members assigned to show case the Marine Corps’ future role on the ship.

The Aviation element will showcase Marine air assets capable of launching from USS New York. It is comprised of pilots, crew and support Marines for CH-46E, CH-53E, AH-1W, UH-1N and MV-22 Osprey aircraft, which come from II and IV Marine Air Wing. II MAW is providing a majority of support with aircraft from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29. IV MAW is providing aircraft from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774.

The Ground Combat Element will highlight infantry assets able to deploy from USS New York. It contains conventional infantry reinforced with light armored vehicles, tanks, artillery, combat engineers and amphibious assault vehicles. 2nd Marine Division is providing support with elements from 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, who are augmented by elements of F Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12 Marine Regiment; 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion; 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion; and 2nd Tank Battalion.

At the conclusion of the event, the Marines will return to their parent units aboard Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Stations Cherry Point and New River.

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Source: http://www.marines.mil/unit/26thmeu/Pages/SPMAGTF-26formsforUSSNewYorkcommissioning.aspx

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Updated: Monday, 19 Oct 2009, 2:44 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 19 Oct 2009, 1:32 PM EDT

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