From U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) — Commander, United States Fleet Forces (USFF) and Commander, Marine Corps Forces Command (MARFORCOM) will lead the East Coast’s largest joint and multinational amphibious assault exercise in the past ten years officials announced Jan. 25.

Exercise Bold Alligator 2012 (BA12) will revitalize Navy and Marine Corps amphibious expeditionary tactics, techniques and procedures, and reinvigorate its culture of conducting combined Navy and Marine Corps operations from the sea.

BA12 will be a live and synthetic, scenario-driven, simulation-supported exercise designed to train Expeditionary Strike Group 2 (ESG 2), 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2d MEB) and Carrier Strike Group 12. Staffs will plan and execute a MEB-sized amphibious assault from a seabase in a medium land-and-maritime threat environment to improve naval amphibious core competencies.

The exercise will run Jan. 30 through Feb. 12, ashore and afloat, in and off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina and Florida

“Amphibious forces are a critical element of maritime power projection that ought to be a high priority for support, even in a resource constrained environment, because they are a cost effective option for accomplishing a wide range of military operations,” said Adm. John C. Harvey, commander, USFF.

The units involved include the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (CSG), Expeditionary Strike Group 2 (ESG-2), 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB), Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) as well as various other ships and units.

Nine countries are participating in exercise BA12, providing maritime, land and air units or observers. The countries participating with the U.S. forces are Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and the United Kingdom.

One of the exercise’s priorities is to incorporate lessons learned over the past 10 years of challenging combat operations, overseas contingency operations, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR), noncombatant evacuation operations (NEO) and homeland defense.

The exercise will focus on the fundamental aspects and roles of amphibious operations to improve amphibious force readiness and proficiency for executing the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy – forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.

“In today’s world, the Navy-Marine Corps team must remain capable of gaining access to an operational area, and projecting and sustaining a sizable landing force ashore,” said Lt. General Dennis Hejlik, Commander, MARFORCOM. “We have the legislated responsibilities to be able to conduct these operations, and we certainly must be ready to do so beyond the ARG-MEU level where we routinely operate today.”

The culmination of Bold Alligator 2012 will include three large-scale events within the exercise: an amphibious assault at Camp Lejeune, N.C.; an aerial assault from the sea into Fort Pickett, Va.; and an amphibious raid on Fort Story, Va.

Embedded within their participation in BA12 is the Enterprise CSG’s Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX); the Iwo Jima (ARG) and 24th MEU certification exercise (CERTEX); and Riverine Group 1 (RIVGRU 1) Maritime Security Operations Ready (MSO-R) certification by Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC).

For more history and information on Bold Alligator 2012, see Harvey’s blog at http://www.usfleetforces.blogspot.com/.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy. Join the conversation about Bold Alligator 2012 on social media using #BA12.

For more news from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/clf/.

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For Immediate Release | October 15, 2009

NAVY ANNOUNCES WELCOME SALUTE AND PUBLIC VISITATION FOR FUTURE USS NEW YORK (LPD 21) DURING COMMISSIONING WEEK EVENTS IN NEW YORK CITY

NEW YORK, OCT 15 – The future USS NEW YORK (LPD 21), built with 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center in her bow, will be commissioned in New York City on November 7, 2009.  The ship will actually arrive on November 2, when the public can welcome her as she renders honors at the World Trade Center site, and by visiting the ship before she leaves on November 12, 2009.

At approximately 8:00 a.m., on November 2, the future USS NEW YORK will come to a standstill across from the World Trade Center site, dip her flag, and deliver a 21-gun salute.  Members of the Fire Department of New York, the New York Police Department, Port Authority Police, members of the families of 9/11 victims and veteran’s will gather on the shore at the North Cove in the World Financial Center to return the salute.  Members of the general public are encouraged to attend

There will also be several opportunities for the general public to tour the ship when she is docked at Pier 88 at 12^th Avenue and West 48 Street.  The schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, November 4 – 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 5 – 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, November 8 – 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Monday, November 9 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 10 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 11 – 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Note that times and dates are subject to change.
Visit www.ussny.org for the latest schedule

Members of the general public wishing to tour the ship should:

- arrive early as lines my be long, especially on the Sunday, Nov. 8.

- enter at West 46^th Street and 12^th Avenue (by the Intrepid).

- bring a photo ID (adults).

- wear comfortable shoes.

No large packages or backpacks will be permitted.

“It is an honor to be associated with the ship.  We are all looking forward to sailing her to New York City for Commissioning,” Commanding Officer F. Curt Jones said.  “I have members of my crew that joined the Navy as a direct result of 9/11. I have crew members that have lost family members on 9/11. I have met numerous people as a result of being associated with the ship that lost family, friends…so we know that the steel that is part of the ship represents in some fashion those people. It represents loss but for us it also represents hope and we keep both of those things close to us,” he added.

Download the SPMAGTF-26 PDF

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Participate in the celebration of the USS New York LPD-21 and become a part of history as she sails past the World Trade Center Site The City of Jersey City, the JC Police and Fire Departments will be hosting a NJ contigent for the event to display our respect for the USS New York at the Exchange Place waterfront area.

Many of your men and women spent countless hours on September 11, 2001 and the many days after assisting so many people in need. This event can help many in the healing process, as something new and, so important rises from the WTC Steel recovered from Ground Zero. I believe the souls lost on 9-11-01 comprise the Spirit of the USS New York .

It is my prayer that this Spirit will guide and protect the crew who serve the USS New York, as they sail into harm’s way to protect Our Country and preserve our Freedom. Please ask your Honor Guard units and Uniformed personnel to arrive at the Exchange Place Waterfront NO LATER THAN 0700 Hrs on November 2,2009.

ALL Uniformed personnel will report to the Jersey City Fire Ladder co’s displaying the Large United States Flag to obtain event instructions for proper placement in the formation. The City of Jersey City ,in coordination with NJ Transit Police, is providing Light Rail transportation to the Exchange Place waterfront free of charge for this event.

Free Parking is available at the NJ Transit Light Rail station at Claremont Avenue and West Side Avenue Jersey City 07305. Directions: NJ Turnpike Exit 15 E, go east on Rt 1& 9 over the Hackensack River. Bear right onto Rt 440 South and go into traffic circle to make U turn at Culver Avenue ( which is right past Hudson Toyota) Make a left at the light and go back onto Rt440 North and make 1st right onto Claremont Ave. Go 1 block and a VERY LARGE NJ Transit Parking Lot is on right.

We thank you for your assistance and look forward to seeing your department’s representation in this very important event. Respectfully, Richard Gorman #539 Captain, Eng Co 6 Grp A Fire Dept of Jersey City Special Operations Hazardous Materials Unit 465 Marin Blvd Jersey City, NJ 07302 Cell # 201-697-5723 HM Office# 201-547-6520 Eng 6 Office# 201-547-4211 gormanr@jcnj.org or FDJC1882@aol.com

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