By MC2 (SCW) Taylor Mohr, PHIBCB 2 Public Affairs
EO2 (SCW) Kenyon Clark uses a KALMAR to unload ISO containers from an INLS Causeway Ferry and load them onto tractor trailers during amphibious operations at Anzio Beach aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., during NBG 2 CPX Blue Heron, June 19. (Photos by MC2 Taylor Mohr/150619-IM663-008 /150619-IM663-007/150619-IM663-006)
As the sweltering summer heat beat down on the Seabees and Sailors assigned to various commands within Naval Beach Group (NBG) 2, all hands remained focused on safely executing training in preparation for Maritime Prepositioning Force Exercise 2015. Temperatures peaked at 99 degrees with 60% humidity, as Command Post Exercise (CPX)/Blue Heron continued as scheduled aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., in mid-June.
We are in the Navy and we are Seabees and there is no way some heat is going to keep us from doing our job, said Equipment Operator 2
nd Class (SCW) Kenyon Clark, Amphibious Construction Battalion (PHIBCB) 2. I ve been deployed to Kuwait before, this is nothing.
CM2 (SW) Brandon Day ground-guides EO3 (SW) Sinead VanHoven while she uses a D7R Bulldozer to smooth out a beach roadway section during amphibious operations at Anzio Beach aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., during NBG 2 CPX Blue Heron, June 18. (Photo by MC2 Taylor Mohr/150618-IM663-001)
NBG 2 consists of commands with both Navy surface and construction force skill sets. Seabees and Sailors assigned to PHIBCB 2 and Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2 operate displacement landing craft, while Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 2 Sailors maintain beach lanes and control traffic at the beachhead. PHIBCB 2 builds and maintains beach camp facilities and also operates heavy equipment such as tractor trailers, dozers and loaders used to move equipment on and off the craft and the beach. Occasionally a dozer is needed for beach salvage to push rolling stock out of the loose sand or to assist landing craft off the beach.
NBG 2 works together with our subordinate commands to simulate an actual Maritime Prepositioning Ship offload, said Lt. Amy Kenny, NBG 2 Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) operations officer. We are able to utilize our organic assets to include a crane and pierside Roll-on-Roll-off Discharge Facility [RRDF] or platform to simulate LO/LO [lift on/ lift off] and RO/RO [roll on/ roll off] operations using Landing Craft Mechanized [LCM] 8 and Improved Navy Lighterage System [INLS] craft. These craft then offload at the beach to allow all the commands to interact as they would during an actual offload in support of the U.S. Marine Corps.
EO3 (SW) Sinead VanHoven uses a D7R Bulldozer to smooth out a beach roadway section during amphibious operations at Anzio Beach aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., during NBG 2 CPX Blue Heron, June 18. (Photo by MC2 Taylor Mohr/150618-IM663-002)
The importance of the Blue Heron exercise is to enable all commands under NBG2 to work together and practice their own unique skill sets to accomplish a mission as one cohesive unit.