CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Media are invited to cover Marines and Sailors with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit during pre-deployment training when the unit conducts a foreign humanitarian assistance exercise in Long Beach, California, June 2. 
 
The Navy's Essex Amphibious Ready Group and the Marine Corps' 13th MEU are conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise, the final exercise before the unit's deployment this summer. 
 
Providing foreign humanitarian assistance is a mission the Navy-Marine Corps team may be tasked with while deployed. FHA consists of Department of Defense activities, normally in support of the United States Agency for International Development or Department of State, conducted outside the United States, its territories and possessions, to relieve or reduce human suffering, disease, hunger or privation. 
 
"This is a great opportunity for our Marines and Sailors to train in a realistic, uncertain environment," said Lt. Col. Bryan Hatfield, commanding officer, Combat Logistics Battalion 13. "The CLB and MEU provide unique logistical support during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations."
 
This exercise validates the Navy-Marine Corps team's ability to adapt and execute missions in ever-changing, unknown environments.  Upon completion of this exercise the 13th MEU will be certified as the nation's premier forwarddeployed, flexible sea-based Marine Air-Ground Task Force capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response and limited contingency operations in order to support the theater requirements of geographic combatant commanders.
 
The ESX ARG is a strong, flexible, responsive and consistent force capable of maneuver warfare across all domains; it is equipped and scalable to respond to any crisis.  The ESX ARG is composed of USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Anchorage (LPD 23) and USS Rushmore (LSD 47); the landing force is comprised of the 13th MEU command element; Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, serving as the ground combat element; Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 and Marine Fighter Attack Detachment 211 serving as the aviation combat element; and Combat Logistics Battalion 13 serving as the logistics combat element.
 
Depending on atmospheric conditions, residents may experience increased noise levels May 30 to June 15 in the cities of Long Beach and Seal Beach, and in the vicinity of Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Los Alamitos Army Airfield, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, San Clemente Island, March Air Force Base, Naval Air Facility El Centro, California, and Gila Bend and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona.
 
Interested media personnel should contact 1stLt. William Roberts at (760) 429-5138 or William.Roberts2@usmc.mil.