Bataan Amphibious Ready Group Completes COMPTUEX
21 June 2023
ATLANTIC OCEAN -- The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) successfully completed a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), June 4, 2023.
COMPTUEX, led by commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4, is a certification exercise designed to assess a ship’s deployability and to fully integrate the ARG and MEU as a cohesive multi-mission fighting force.
“The ARG - MEU team was tested across a wide range of missions,” said Rear Adm. Max McCoy, commander of CSG 4. “The team proved it can prevail in the most dynamic and challenging operating environments.”
Leading up to COMPTUEX, the Bataan ARG and 26th MEU participated in an amphibious squadron/MEU integration exercise and Amphibious Ready Group - Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise, led by CSG 4 and Expeditionary Operations Training Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force.
“COMPTUEX was the culmination of the Bataan ARG and 26th MEU’s ability to effectively execute assigned missions, demonstrating integrated operations across a spectrum of warfare areas," said Rear Adm. Tom Williams, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 2. "The scenarios stressed all aspects of their warfighting abilities, demonstrating advanced tactics and procedures against high end threats. I'm grateful for the hard look by Rear Adm. McCoy at CSG 4 and Col. Mahar at Expeditionary Operations Training Group over the past six weeks, who recommended Bataan ARG and 26th MEU are certified and ready to deploy."
During COMPUTEX, the Bataan ARG - 26th MEU team was trained, mentored and assessed by CSG 4 across multiple warfare areas through a variety of simulated and live events. Events included:
- Air warfare
- Strait transits
- Boarding operations
- Amphibious operations
- Live-fire events
- Responses to surface, subsurface, and land-based contacts and electronic attacks
- Ship-to-shore evolutions
“The success of the Bataan ARG and 26th MEU’s performance shows that we are the nation’s premier expeditionary quick reaction force,” said Capt. Martin Robertson, commander of Amphibious Squadron 8. “We are ready to answer the nation’s call by providing forces at the ready to assure allies, deter potential adversaries and provide U.S. presence.”
The combined Navy and Marine Corps team also tested their response to potential threats and real-world factors such as weather and equipment casualties.
“Fully capable of operating within the midst of ambiguity and uncertainty, exercises like COMPUTEX are essential,” said Col. Dennis Sampson, 26th MEU commanding officer. “Integrated naval exercises allow us to focus solely on warfighting and for Marines and Sailors to master their craft. Over the course of our six-month work ups, these naval exercises validated our ability to fight and win against a peer adversary.”
The Bataan ARG consists of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and the Harper’s Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50).
Embarked commands include commander, Amphibious Squadron (CPR) 8, Fleet Surgical Team 8, Tactical Air Control Squadron 12, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, Assault Craft Unit 4, Beach Master Unit 2, and the 26th MEU.
The 26th MEU consists of the command element; aviation combat element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (reinforced); ground combat element, Battalion Landing Team 1/6; and logistics combat element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22.
For more information, please contact the Bataan ARG and 26th MEU team public affairs: Bataan Amphibious Ready Group Public Affairs Team, CPR8PAO@lhd5.navy.mil and 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Communication Strategy and Operations Officer, Capt. Angelica White at angelica.white@bataan.usmc.mil.