Prepositioning armada assembles off Spain:
APF conference brings together key players
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But this was not Spain's mighty armada of the late 1500s; rather, it was the ships of the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron One - assembled for the Afloat Prepositioning Force squadron conference March 14-15 in this Majorcan port city.
Hosted by the Mediterranean-based MPSRON One and Waterman Steamship Company, the conference was designed to bring together MSC squadron commanders, ship owners, squadron staff, Navy and Marine Corps sponsors, ship masters and chief engineers to discuss current and future APF program status and issues.
"It's great to have everyone assembled to discuss the critical ability of our MPF forces," said Vice Adm. Gordon Holder, USN, Commander, MSC, in his opening remarks.
Co-chaired by Vice Adm. Holder and Prepositioning Program Manager Ross Carmadella, the conference was attended by more than 40 people, including the commanding officers of each MPS Squadron, MSC Europe, MSC Far East, MSC Central, Naval Beach Group One and Naval Beach Group Two.
Ship masters from MPSRON One also participated, as did MSC ship owners and contractor representatives. Mike Neuhardt, the MSC MPS Project Officer, served as the conference director.
The conference kicked off with a strategic view and current operations brief by each of the squadron commanders. Next, operating companies gave their unique perspective. Theater perspectives from the U.S. European, Central and Pacific Commands were presented. Current issues discussed included force protection and shipboard communication, among others.
The attendees discussed the future of the MPF, including the addition of one more ship to each squadron. This will provide each squadron with cargo space for a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion, an expeditionary airfield, a 500-bed fleet hospital and additional U.S. Marine Corps equipment. The three Maritime Prepositioning Force (Enhanced) ships are under conversion, and the first, USNS Harry L. Martin, delivers in April of this year.
"The fourth squadron conference was a resounding success and was enhanced by our customers, the Marines, attending," said Carmadella.
Next year MPSRON 3 will be hosting the conference in Saipan, where MSC hopes to expand the customers represented to include the Army, Air Force and Defense Logistics Agency. (FROM MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).
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