MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON -- Amid sweltering temperatures and swelling surf, more than 1,000 service members from all branches of the military, including Marines from Camp Pendleton, and the U.S. Maritime Administration, recently participated in Exercise Joint-Logistics-Over-The-Shore 2000 along a 7.5-mile portion of beach near Las Pulgas.
The U.S. Transportation Command-sponsored exercise, which is part of a major defense transportation exercise, called Turbo Patriot, aims to exercise joint coordination capabilities and use of strategic sealift assets.
Turbo Patriot, which kicked off Aug. 6 and concludes Oct. 7, is designed to train and deploy joint forces into an area of operations, conduct simultaneous in-stream wet and dry JLOTS operations and deliver all of the Army's 25th Infantry Division equipment from Hawaii to the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., by Sept. 17.
Over the six-week training session, soldiers, sailors and civilians built piers along the beach, set up a base camp of operations, and anchored a 3-million gallon capacity oil tanker several miles offshore. Hundreds of trucks and military equipment were unloaded to simulate a large-scale effort that would need to be established in an emergency seaport.
"Basically, we built a 1,080-foot pier, which is a routine mission for us," said Lead Petty Officer Mark Hays, Amphibian Construction Battalion 1, out of Coronado, Calif. "We're the ship to shore connection," he added.
Joint training events, such as JLOTS, help develop effective, flexible, well-integrated forces get ready for deployment worldwide in support of U.S. interests. JLOTS also moves heavy combat equipment ashore in port areas that are undeveloped or damaged by war.
Defense Department officials hope to hold the exercise here on an annual basis, according to Air Force Maj. Ken Scott, 143rd Transportation Command. "You can't get this practice anywhere else," Scott added.
The Navy's 950-foot sealift ship USNS Seay was anchor off the coast as the primary off-load platform for the exercise. Army personnel from West Coast transportation units conducted port operations. Three ships ordinarily kept in reduced operating status by the U.S. Maritime Administration were activated and used in support of the event.
"I think it's important that we participate and host these joint exercises; (the armed forces) are taking a hard look at how we can work together on training," said Marine LtCol. Chuck McGohey, assistant chief of staff for operations and training.