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| The
Japan-based USS Essex (LHD 2), with 31st MEU Marine exercise
participants embarked, conducts a general quarters drill during
a TRUEX. |
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Interoperability
training is quite important, as the MEU rotates its ground combat element
every training cycle. The battalion landing teams, the MEU’s ground
forces, deploy to Okinawa every six months as part of the Unit Deployment
Program. As the MEU gears up for a new cycle, TRUEX introduces the battalion
landing teams to the MEU’s rapid response planning process. The rapid
response planning process is considered unique to Marine Expeditionary
Units, because a MEU’s high operational tempo requires it to be able
to plan for any contingency within six hours of receiving the call to
duty. Gaining familiarity with this process by the battalion landing teams
pays off later during events leading up to the SPECIAL OPERATIONS CAPABLE
exercise (SOCEX). TRUEX also provides battalion landing team Marines with
the training necessary to carry out other missions during SOCEX.
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