Services fuse to build seaport
The U.S. Transportation Command-sponsored exercise, part of a major defense transportation exercise called Turbo Patriot, aims to exercise joint coordination capabilities and use of strategic sealift assets.
Turbo Patriot, which kicked off Aug. 6 and concludes Oct. 7, is designed to train and deploy joint forces, conduct simultaneous in-stream wet and dry JLOTS operations and deliver all of the Army's 25th Infantry Division equipment from Hawaii to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin by Sept. 17.
Over the six-week training session, soldiers, sailors and civilians built piers along the beach, set up a base camp and anchored a 3 million-gallon-capacity oil tanker several miles offshore. Hundreds of trucks and military equipment were unloaded to simulate a large-scale effort in an emergency seaport.
"Basically, we built a 1,080-foot pier, which is a routine mission for us. We're the ship-to-shore connection," said Lead Petty Officer Mark Hays, Amphibian Construction Battalion 1, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado.
Joint training events such as JLOTS help develop effective, flexible, well-integrated forces for deployment worldwide in support of U.S. interests. JLOTS also moves heavy combat equipment ashore in port areas that are undeveloped or damaged by war.
Defense Department officials hope to hold the exercise here annually, according to Army Maj. Ken Scott, 143rd Transportation Command. "You can't get this practice anywhere else," Scott added.
The Navy's 950-foot sealift ship USNS Seay was anchored off the coast as the primary offload platform for the exercise. Army personnel from West Coast transportation units conducted port operations.
Three ships used sparingly by the U.S. Maritime Administration were activated to support the event.
"I think it's important that we participate and host these joint exercises; (the armed forces) are taking a hard look at how we can work together on training," said Marine LtCol. Chuck McGohey, assistant chief of staff for operations and training. (FROM THE SCOUT, MARINE CORPS BASE, CAMP PENDLETON).
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