Photo Information

Sgt. Bunnarath Gnoy (second from left), the heavy equipment chief with Alpha Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), stands among other engineers with his unit at a worksite in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 23. Gnoy says that his leadership style in the Marine Corps will carry over into parenting his newborn son as he grows older. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Katherine M. Solano)

Photo by Cpl. Katherine M. Solano

Expeditionary Logistics Wargame brings Marines, Navy together to reintegrate, train

25 May 2012 | Cpl. Katherine M. Solano 2nd Marine Logistics Group

Elements of 2nd Marine Logistics Group will conduct a massive training operation  June 11-17, spanning the distance between Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Norfolk, Va.

The exercise, called the Expeditionary Logistics Wargame, will combine the efforts of air, land and sea assets across the Navy and Marine Corps to enhance readiness on a number of levels.

“The purpose of the exercise is to get back to the expeditionary mindset and to cross train with our naval counterparts,” explained Gunnery Sgt. James Lucas, the operations chief with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, 2nd MLG. 

CLB-8 will play a vital role in the exercise by providing the vehicles and manpower needed to conduct the long-range convoy from North Carolina to Virginia, and the logistical capabilities to support the “friendly forces” at the destination.

According to the concept of operations, “Nibia” will provide supplies and cargo to “New Brittanie,” both fictitious countries comprised of portions of Virginia and North Carolina, which will be the providers and destination points for the mock humanitarian exercise, respectively.  A unique element to this training evolution is the inclusion of a “refugee camp,” accessible by watercraft. 

Supplies, once delivered by land and air, will be called forward to landing craft and sailed to the coastal refugee camp.  This will involve the efforts of landing support and supply Marines and sailors with varying occupations.

Maj. Chester Reese, the future operations officer with 2nd MLG, pointed out that CLB-8 will be a main effort in the exercise, but they are by no means the only effort.

2nd MLG will combine forces with elements of 4th MLG, a reservist unit based out of New Orleans,  and Navy logistics, units every step of the way to complete the week-long exercise, said Reese.

“As we see the transitions out of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Marine Corps is going to put a renewed emphasis on amphibious operations and reintegration with the Navy,” Reese continued.  “We need to start forecasting into the future as amphibious operations start to become more important again.”

The reintegration and preparation for potential future operations, whether they be humanitarian or otherwise, is a large piece of a complicated puzzle that is the exercise.

As Reese summed up, 2nd MLG is supporting Headquarter Marine Corps' future technologies development, while taking the opportunity to do some internal training on skills, as well as reestablishing those relationships with Navy brethren.


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