Alligator Dagger tests warfighting capabilities

DJIBOUTI –

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Sept. 06, 2017) Sailors assigned to the air department aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) prepare to refuel an AH-1Z Viper (USMC), assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (reinforced) on the ship’s flight deck during Alligator Dagger exercise. San Diego is part of the America Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is in to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners, and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Justin A. Schoenberger/Released)

“An ARG/MEU brings an incredible amount of flexibility to the fight,” said Cmdr. Tom Sandoval, deputy operations director for Naval Amphibious Forces, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5). “Whether it be at sea or ashore, our ‘jack-of-all-trades’ team is capable of conducting missions ranging from airborne mine countermeasures, counter-piracy and maritime security operations to humanitarian aid/disaster relief missions in the world’s most volatile regions.”

Commanded by Marine Brig. Gen. Frank Donovan, TF 51/5 (the first command of its kind since World War II) integrates the ARG/MEU afloat, the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) ashore and Fleet Anti-terrorism Support Teams under one unified command structure to seamlessly form a robust and capable crisis response force.

“Alligator Dagger is TF 51/5’s dedicated, unilateral combat rehearsal provided to the ARG/MEU, USS Puller, SPMAGTF and TF 51/5 headquarters, in which each of the elements work together as a combined Navy and Marine Corps team to practice, rehearse and exercise integrated capabilities that are available to U.S. Central Command both afloat and ashore,” said Marine Col. Howard Hall, TF 51/5 operations director.

According to Hall, this is the first opportunity for TF 51/5 Sailors and Marines to train together as a fully integrated Navy and Marine Corps team alongside the newly-commissioned USS Lewis B. Puller; an Expeditionary Mobile Base platform that will enable TF 51/5 to extend its expeditionary presence.

170906-N-ZS023-029 U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Sept. 6, 2017)An MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 161 (Reinforced) lifts off from the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) in support of exercise Alligator Dagger 2017. Alligator Dagger is a dedicated, unilateral combat rehearsal led by Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, in which combined Navy and Marine Corps units of the America Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are to practice, rehearse and exercise integrated capabilities that are available to U.S. Central Command both afloat and ashore. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Vance Hand/Released)

“We’ve been looking forward to participating in this dedicated unilateral training,” said Sandoval. “This exercise will confirm what we already know about our strengths but it will also allow us to evaluate where we can best focus our efforts in preparation for real world missions in the region – because we don’t get ‘do overs’ when it comes to crisis operations; we must be prepared to get it right the first time

In addition to the combat proficiency training, this exercise will incorporate live-fire, Vessel Board Search and Seizure, Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel as well as air and amphibious assault evolutions to ensure tactical proficiency.

Approximately 2,000 Sailors and Marines from the America-class amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), the command ship for Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 3; USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52); USS San Diego (LPD 22); USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3); Battalion Landing Team 1/5; Aviation Combat Element VMM-161 (reinforced) and the Logistics Combat Element CLB-15 are participating in the third iteration of this exercise. This is USS America’s maiden deployment to the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of operations and the first time USS Puller has participated in a naval exercise as a designated U.S. Navy warship.

For more information about TF 51/5 visit our website www.5thmeb.marines.mil or our DVIDS page https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/AlligatorDagger17, contact TF 51/5 Navy Lt. Cmdr. Sandra Arnold at Sandra.arnold.g@marcent.usmc.mil, 973-1785-6351 or Marine Staff Sgt. Vitaliy Rusavskiy at Vitaliy.Rusavskiy@marcent.usmc.mil.