Joint military training aids amphibious preparedness

Marine Corps personnel recently joined the Army and Navy in a joint training initiative designed to increase combat operational readiness in amphibious and prepositioning operations.

Marines with the 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics participated in exercise Resolute Sun, which also included a joint logistics over-the-shore (JLOTS) scenario.

The Marines started Resolute Sun on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and then convoyed to Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, more than 250 miles away.

“We don’t get an opportunity to conduct long-range convoys like that all the time; it takes a lot of discipline to accomplish something of this scale,” 1st Sgt. Brent Sheets, company first sergeant of Alpha Company, 2nd TSB, said. “The Marines got to see that there is more behind their job then the routine mission they do every day in garrison.”

Upon completion of the convoy, the Marines embarked 38 vehicles onto the USNS Watkins, which is part of the Navy’s Military Sealift Command 19 Large, Medium-Speed Roll-on / Roll-off Ships and is used for prepositioning of ground vehicles while designed to carry vehicles which are driven on and off the ship. After the ship was embarked with all cargo, it set sail for Fort Story, Virginia. Equipment was offloaded utilizing a trident pier built by the U.S. Army’s 331st Transportation Company, 11th Transportation Battalion, 7th transportation Regiment.

“We’ve worked smoothly with the Marines during this exercise,” Mark Paystrup, Construction Mechanic First Class with Beach Master Unit 2, Battalion Cargo Group 10, said. “They are our main counterparts. Because we work with them often, we are familiar with each other’s roles. What is more of an adjustment, is working with the Army. It is always good to practice that interoperability between the Services.”