Essex (LHD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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13thMEU(S0C) hones skills in Singapore SGT. DOUG ANDERSON 13TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT(SOC) Aboard the USS Essex (LHD-2) — The Marines and Sailors of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) took advantage of their visit to Singapore during the first part of their deployment to train in a jungle environment. The 13th MEU(SOC), commanded by Colonel John C. Garrett, departed Hong Kong, heading for one of the three islands that make up the country of Singapore. Singapore was the first working port the MEU had visited since beginning their six-month Western Pacific deployment. Singapore provided the Marines and Sailors with terrain that can ' t be found aboard the 13th MEU(SOC) ' s home base, Camp Pendleton, California — a terrain of hot, humid, dense, jungle forest. This is a chance to do some more sustainment training, said Major Kirk Rice, Operations Officer for Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 3 1 , Ground Combat Element for the 1 3th MEU(SOC). Singapore offers us the chance to get the Marines and Sailors out on terra firmae, run around and practice our basic skills, living up to the motto ' In every clime and place, ' Rice added. Some of those skills included: Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT), rappelling, assault rock climbing, and infantry tactics. For five days the Marines and Sailors trained in the northern area of Singapore at the Saribum Fibua Village, a small area located within the Lim Chu Kang training site. The Marines made good use of the MOUT facility and jungle environment. A great deal of time and effort went into cross-training units that weren ' t infantry-tactics inclined. Marines that normally prepare legal briefs went out on reconnaissance patrols alongside Marines that normally handle mail. Marines from the 13th MEU(SOC) ' s communication detachment had a chance to patrol and land navigate in the dense jungle area. I never know when the time will come when I ' ll have to go out there

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Left: Lance Corporal Jamie Lindermuth, a field radio operator with the 13TH MEU(SOC), blends into his surroundings during a patrol in the LIM CHU KANG training area in Singapore. Right: Light Armored Vehicle Commander, Sgt. Anecito Hernadez (left) provides security as Light Armored Reconnaissance Scout, Lcpl. Erick Rezendiz ( middle) checks on Lcpl. Nathan Haley. The Marines were part of a military operation in an urban terrain training scenario at the Lim Chukang Training Site in Singapore. WBmi mWM and actively patrol. I need to keep my skills at top level, said Corporal Jose Ramirez, a radio operator with the 13thMEU(SOC) communication detachment. If I don ' t, I wouldn ' t want to get someone ambushed or killed because ofsomething I did. When you patrol, you really learn how much you need and count on each other, said Ramirez. The assault rock cUmbers of BLT 3 1, along with Sailors from amphibious squadron five, honed their skills on 45 to 65-foot rock walls, getting to the top and back down expertly and efficiently. It was a chance for the scalers to get into the swing of things. The climbers had not been on a wall since January, 1994. According to Corporal Joseph Fortune, Chief Assault Chmber from Weapons Platoon, Company I, BLT 3 1. Getting on any cUff wall after a long period of time always feels like the first time, Fortune said. The Marines of Company D, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion, brushed up on training outside their light armored vehicles (LAV). We wanted to train more on using an LAR unit in a MOUT environment, said LAV Commander Sergeant Aniceto Hemandez. We never know when the situation may arise, and we might have to get out of our Corporal Joseph Fortune (HANGING UPSIDE DOWN), Chief Assault Rock Climber for COMPANY I, BATTALION LANDING TEAM 3 1, Works with other climbers to develop dieir rock climbing skills in Singapore. The Marines were on the cliff wall practicing emergency rescue procedures.