From Expeditionary Strike Group 2 Public AffairsCommander, United States Fleet Forces hosted the first of two Main Planning Conferences June 24, for Exercise Bold Alligator 2012, scheduled to take during January and February 2012.I really think Bold Alligator 2012 is a very big deal. Grand plans and schemes are great on paper, but the Navy and Marine Corps are both going to learn a lot from actually doing an exercise this large.
Bold Alligator 2012 represents the Navy and Marine Corps' revitalization of the fundamentals of amphibious operations, strengthening their traditional role as fighters from the sea.
The focus of this event is based on the common goal of Navy and Marine Corps leadership to revitalize, refine and strengthen core amphibious competencies, which are critical to maritime power projection and are a cost effective option for a wide range of military operations.
The capabilities that allow the amphibious force to conduct a forced entry landing against an opposing military force are the same capabilities that make it the force of choice for crisis response and building partnerships.
"As recent world events show, amphibious forces are a critical part of a wide range of military operations," said Rear Adm. Kevin Scott, commander, ESG-2. "We need to always be ready to successfully conduct prompt and sustained amphibious expeditionary operations from the sea in support of the nation's maritime strategy."
More than 330 Navy and Marine Corps personnel from more than 50 ships and commands met at Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic (EWTGLANT) aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., to incorporate recent guidance from senior leaders and continue the planning process for the large-scale amphibious exercise. The primary training audiences for the exercise are Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2d MEB) and the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group.
Bold Alligator 2012 will be a large-scale multinational naval amphibious exercise conducted by United States Fleet Forces (USFF) and Marine Forces Command (MFC) that will focus upon the planning and execution of a brigade-sized amphibious assault from a seabase in a medium threat environment. The underlying scenario of this exercise is designed to emphasize the Navy/Marine Corps capabilities in undeveloped and immature theaters of operations.
Expected to participate in the exercise are: an amphibious task force (led by ESG-2) consisting of 10 amphibious ships and four to six combatants; a Marine expeditionary brigade-sized landing force (2d MEB); a carrier strike group (aircraft carrier, embarked air wing and four combatant ships); mine counter measure forces, Navy expeditionary combat command forces, Military Sealift Command ships; coalition force elements from several allies, and other commands in the support of amphibious operations.
Have you been reading the recommendations by Admiral Harvey in preparing for this exercise? I have, indeed I probably never would have read One Hundred Days: THe Memoirs of the Falklands Battle Group Commander had it not been recommended by Admiral Harvey. In case you are wondering, that book was really good.
If your one of those 'on-the-go' types like me, you can also check out a podcast discussing Chinese Amphibious Operations: 1949-1958 recorded May 8, 2024 hosted at the New York Military Affairs Symposium website.
I wonder if there is any way I can find a way to get embarked for this exercise.
