BHR, Marines Conduct Non-Combatant Evacuation Exercise

[SGRock]

Aboard USS Bonhomme Richard, At Sea - Sailors from USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and a Special Marine Air/Ground Task Force comprised of southern California- and Hawaii-based Marine units conducted a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) exercise July 12 from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.

The exercise was held during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC 2006), the largest biennial maritime exercise in the world.

When American citizens living, working or traveling abroad are threatened and have no means of escape, Marines and Sailors are often called upon to evacuate them to safety in an operation known as a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation. Marines and Sailors have successfully conducted numerous NEOs around the world, evacuating American citizens and diplomatic personnel.

“A NEO exercise teaches today’s Marines and Sailors what it’s like to be a part of a real-world NEO and evacuate American citizens and foreign nationals from potentially hostile areas,” said Marine Gunnery Sgt. Brenda Parks of Combat Logistics Command 31.

During the exercise, BHR Sailors and Marines landed in the potentially hostile fictional country of Orange. Marines infiltrated Orange by helicopter and Air Cushion Landing Craft (LCAC) in order to secure and evacuate more than 130 American citizens and four foreign nationals. Once on the ground, the Marines traversed enemy terrain and took control of the mock U.S. embassy, which was being overrun by simulated rioters.

Once the area was secured, the evacuees began arriving in trucks, helicopters and even some by foot. The evacuees, comprised of BHR Sailors acting as role players, were processed through the Evacuation Command Center (ECC), where Marines performed security checks including ID checks, bag searches, and pat downs.

After being evacuated by helicopter and LCAC, the evacuees were brought to BHR, where they were processed, berthed, fed and provided medical treatment.

“The Marines of the ECC were extremely confident and absolutely thorough, but our job could not have been successful without the help of the MPs (military police) of Kaneone Bay,” said Parks. “Their assistance was invaluable.”

Navy medical personnel assigned to the ship and embarked with the Marines also responded to a mass casualty drill during the NEO exercise.

According to BHR Commanding Officer Capt. Steve Greene, NEOs are just one of the many essential missions BHR and her embarked Marines are trained to conduct.

“The success of this exercise can be attributed to the detailed planning of our embarked Amphibious Squadron and Marine staffs and the superb execution of operations by both Marines and Sailors. It was an opportunity to conduct world-class training that can be directly applied to real-world amphibious operations,” Greene said. “Whether we are rescuing American citizens from hostile territory, providing life-saving humanitarian aid or delivering combat power to resolve crises or win wars, the Navy/Marine Corps team is able to deliver the right level of force to the right place at the right time.”

Sailing as a part of the Bilateral International Force with the Japan Maritime Defense Force for RIMPAC 2006, Bonhomme Richard and embarked units are currently conducting naval and amphibious operations in the Hawaiian operating area.