Story Number: NNS040915-05
Release Date: 9/15/2004 9:00:00 PM
By Lt. Sonja Stone, Expeditionary Strike Group 3 Public Affairs
ABOARD USS ESSEX, North Arabian Gulf (NNS) -- Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 3 executed the first ESG flag staff cross deck at sea Sept. 9, from USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) to USS Essex (LHD 2).
Once the turnover was completed and the ESG 3 watch was established, Essex Expeditionary Strike Group was officially activated Sept. 10.
Essex will fill a vital role as flagship for Marine Brig. General Joseph V. Medina, commander, ESG 3 and his staff. Medina assumed the duties as commander, Task Force (CTF) 58 June 30. The ESG 3/CTF 58 staff is responsible for Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Northern Arabian Gulf, to include protection of Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) off the coast of Iraq.
“This is a first, but it makes sense. Our cross deck to Essex supports the Navy’s philosophy of ‘presence with a purpose,’” said Medina. “The purpose of the flag staff is to bridge theater-wide operational plans and tactical execution at the Task Force level.”
The ESG 3/CTF 58 flag staff also provides the ability to simultaneously plan and execute multiple missions, thereby avoiding task saturation at the subordinate levels.
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=1513331st MEU arrives in Northern Arabian Gulf
Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, September 15, 2004
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit recently arrived in the Northern Arabian Gulf aboard ships from the Essex Amphibious Ready Group.
1st Lt. Tryiokasus W. Brown, spokesman for the Okinawa-based 31st MEU, said the transit took three weeks, during which the Marines and sailors continued to train “in preparation to assist coalition forces in the global war on terrorism.”
About 1,000 Marines assigned to the MEU departed White Beach Naval Facility on Okinawa aboard the USS Essex, USS Harpers Ferry and USS Juneau in mid-August. The 31st MEU includes the Battalion Landing Team, consisting of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment; 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (Reinforced); and MEU Service Support Group 31.
“Combined with the sailors of Amphibious Squadron 11 in the U.S. Central Command’s area of operations, the MEU continues to represent a force in readiness in the global war on terrorism with ‘Strike from the Sea’ capability,” Brown stated in the release.
http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=23532&archive=true