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| When the advance team completes loading the equipment, the ship will head to Camp Lejeune to on load the remaining personnel and gear. |
| By U.S. Navy Seaman Apprentice Charles A. Ordoqui Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic |
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| NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 3, 2005 — Elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., began loading equipment, vehicles and supplies Oct. 31, onto the Norfolk-based amphibious assault ship USS Nassau, in preparation for a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Days before the unit's advanced party arrived, Nassau began preparing for its on load.
"We have to work side-by-side with the Navy to make sure everything runs smoothly," said U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Thomas J. Evans, senior combat cargo assistant aboard Nassau. There is more to the job for the Marines assigned to the unit than just loading their equipment and waving goodbye. "We have to work well with the Marines and make sure we have space for everything," said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Ed Murdock, operations officer aboard Nassau. The unit is composed of four basic elements: a command element, ground combat element, aviation combat element and the unit service support group, each of which must be moved aboard Nassau for deployment. The advanced party of approximately 22 Marines and sailors began that mission in Norfolk Oct. 31. Before the unit on load |
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began, decisions had to be made about where vehicles and equipment would be stored and in what order they will be on loaded. "The order that the vehicles are placed on the ship is all decided by the priority that they will need to be unloaded," said Evans. An amphibious assault ship is designed to accommodate more than 40 helicopters and one to four landing craft. In addition, the more than 1,500 personnel of the unit require thousands of pounds of supplies for them to function as a unit during a deployment. The unit and Navy personnel on Nassau worked together tirelessly to get the job done on time. "We have no choice but to work together, and when there is a job to do, everyone gets along just fine," said U.S. Navy Seaman Curtis D. Crutcher, who serves as a postal clerk. While the Marines have an important job to do, their ability to work as a team with sailors is vital to getting the job done. "Safety is a big challenge for us, and we really have to have cooperation from the Navy to maintain it," said Marine Corps Sgt. Daniel E. Streeter, platoon sergeant and supervisor of well deck loading operations. Nassau, the lead ship of the Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group, which includes the guided-missile cruiser Cape St. George, guided-missile destroyer Winston Churchill, amphibious assault ship Austin, dock landing ship Carter Hall and the attack submarine USS Norfolk, will deploy from Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 7 and travel to Camp Lejeune to on load the remaining 1,500 personnel and equipment of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). |
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