Source: United States Navy
The blue-green teams of the Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary forces from Navy Cargo Handling Battalion EIGHT (NCHB-8) expeditionary fuels team and Marine Corps 6th Engineer Support Battalion Bulk Fuels Team, joined up at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, to integrate and train in coordination to focus on a concept of employment experimentation with the Expeditionary Fuel Dispensing System–Small (EFDS-S).
“We’re here to have our Sailors get their hands on the equipment, and we have some experience with this setup. We have subject matter experts here that can help with training to rapidly deploy this and to be able to move it around quickly,” said Lt. Frank Peterson, NCHB-8 Expeditionary Fuels Company. “It’s a good opportunity for us to work together, where we can see things that the Marines are doing, and that we can incorporate into our processes and vice versa. As well as future missions that may require us to work closely together and this is an opportunity to work out any kinks with that integrated structure.”
Exercises like this demonstrate the interoperability of our forces, as well as the ability our units have to integrate with other services, reinforcing a culture of learning and increasing our warfighting readiness.
“For us, it shows us how the marines set up their bulk fuels systems, essentially, we do the same exact thing, it gives us a different perspective of how another branch does what we do. It defiantly helps us get lessons learned,” said Operations Specialist 1st Class Harry Carney, NCHB-8 Expeditionary Fuels Company. “After a while, it shows that we can work with other branches and do the exact same thing and get the job done.”
The expeditionary forces of the Navy and Marine Corps train no matter what the weather conditions are and in austere environments like this weekend with rain and snow, is no different. Training in bulk fuels and sleeping in tents is another weekend for these Sailors and Marines.
“Coming from a ship it’s defiantly a lot different, working in an austere environment of rain and snow is an experience you need. Working in bulk fuels is different anyway, so it’s a good way to open your eyes with these experiences, especially as an operations specialist,” said Carney.
The U.S. Navy’s ability to conduct integrated operations around the globe across the full spectrum of military operations is a core requirement for maintaining maritime superiority during this era of strategic competition.
Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG) provides dynamic logistics support to the joint force across the spectrum of conflict from peacetime support to major combat operations. NAVELSG rearms, refuels, and resupplies the fleet when and where needed to reinforce maritime lethality and support the Navy Expeditionary Combat Force efforts to CLEAR, SECURE, BUILD, and PROTECT in the littorals.
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