CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2014) Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Garrett Osborne and Quartermaster Seaman Yasmin Wild, assigned to Beachmaster Unit 1, signal Landing Craft Air Cushion 59 off the beach after delivering the last load of the day during Exercise Pacific Horizon 2015. Pacific Horizon is a scenario-driven, simulation supported crisis response exercise designed to improve 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s and Expeditionary Strike Group 3’s interoperability and strengthen Navy-Marine Corps relationships by conducting an in-stream Maritime Prepositioning Force offload of equipment, by providing host country civil-military security assistance, and by conducting infrastructure restoration support. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Eric Chan/Released).

PCD Technical Rigor Supports Iwo Jima ARG, 24th MEU Exercise

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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2014) Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Garrett Osborne and Quartermaster Seaman Yasmin Wild, assigned to Beachmaster Unit 1, signal Landing Craft Air Cushion 59 off the beach after delivering the last load of the day during Exercise Pacific Horizon 2015. Pacific Horizon is a scenario-driven, simulation supported crisis response exercise designed to improve 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s and Expeditionary Strike Group 3’s interoperability and strengthen Navy-Marine Corps relationships by conducting an in-stream Maritime Prepositioning Force offload of equipment, by providing host country civil-military security assistance, and by conducting infrastructure restoration support. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Eric Chan/Released).
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2014) Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Garrett Osborne and Quartermaster Seaman Yasmin Wild, assigned to Beachmaster Unit 1, signal Landing Craft Air Cushion 59 off the beach after delivering the last load of the day during Exercise Pacific Horizon 2015. Pacific Horizon is a scenario-driven, simulation supported crisis response exercise designed to improve 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s and Expeditionary Strike Group 3’s interoperability and strengthen Navy-Marine Corps relationships by conducting an in-stream Maritime Prepositioning Force offload of equipment, by providing host country civil-military security assistance, and by conducting infrastructure restoration support. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Eric Chan/Released).

The USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) completed a 23-day ARG/ Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise (ARG/MEU Ex) in September 2014 and Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) Amphibious Assault Direction System (AADS) engineers were there to support.

The exercise was the first fully integrated, pre-deployment 2014 Iwo Jima ARG and 24th MEU exercise designed to prepare the ships and the MEU for upcoming deployment. The exercise included operations such as damage control to Marine expeditionary and amphibious maneuvers that capitalize on ship-to-shore movements, simulated strait transits, mass casualty drills, and day and night flight operations. The training also offered Marines a chance to get their sea legs.

“Deploying to deliver technical support and supporting expeditionary and amphibious maneuver exercises are a few of the ways we support Fleet readiness,” said NSWC PCD Expeditionary and Maritime Systems Department Head Sheila Schnoering. “This is how we provide technical solutions to complex problems and proudly enable naval programs to be successful.”

Overall, AADS is a command-and-control capability that provides users with a graphic display to monitor movements and offer communication capabilities in a secure environment. NSWC PCD’s AADS team deployed to ensure the command and control data system that provides real-time information to command and control ships within the ARG worked as intended.

The engineers were also on hand to assist Sailors with use of the system. AADS can be installed on amphibious ships, Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC), and Landing Craft Utility (LCU) used in expeditionary and amphibious maneuver missions. NSWC PCD is the In-Service Agent for AADS and Fleet LCACs.

An MH-60S air crewman with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, gazes out of the gunner’s door of a Seahawk helicopter while participating in flight operations over the Atlantic Ocean. Flight operations are in support of a simulated strait transit during Composite Training Unit Exercise with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in preparation for the deployment at the end of the year. (U.S. Navy courtesy photo)
An MH-60S air crewman with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, gazes out of the gunner’s door of a Seahawk helicopter while participating in flight operations over the Atlantic Ocean. Flight operations are in support of a simulated strait transit during Composite Training Unit Exercise with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in preparation for the deployment at the end of the year. (U.S. Navy courtesy photo)

“The AN/KSQ-1 allows Sailors to identify, track, communicate with, and control amphibious landing craft from launch through transit Over-The-Horizon (OTH), off-coast, and return while conducting maneuver warfare from the sea,” said AADS Software Engineer Melissa Darby. “AADS also provides positional information on all participating ships as well as secure radio relay systems that extend beyond the line of sight. This is an important capability for amphibious and expeditionary maneuvers like this exercise.”

NSWC PCD recently completed an AADS Gator 7.1 software and hardware upgrades. The Iwo Jima ARG will be the first ARG to deploy with these advanced capabilities. NSWC PCD supports amphibious and expeditionary maneuver systems like AADS as one of its core mission areas.

“This is how we deliver direct Fleet support. We use our AADS technical expertise to ensure the system not only performs as advertised, but that the users know how to use the command and control capability,” said NSWC PCD Project Manager John Pavlov. “Deploying with these assets during training exercise in an integrated environment is how we make naval programs successful. It’s just one way we provide a bridge between the warfighters and the technical community in the intended environments.”

Iwo Jima ARG is comprised of amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) and amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43).

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