CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- News media are invited to observe the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducting amphibious raid training here June 13. 
 
The unit’s Marines and sailors must demonstrate they can perform several mission-essential tasks, to include ship-toshore raids, before deploying with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group this summer. The Navy-Marine Corps team is currently conducting its final certification exercise and being evaluated after months of pre-deployment training. 
 
“For the past six months, the team has worked incredibly hard to refine the execution of our core missions,” said Col. Chandler Nelms, 13th MEU commanding officer. “From the beginning, this team excelled, and they continued to get better. I’m confident in our ability to provide a rapid, crisis-response force wherever our deployment takes us.”
 
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 Essex 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 Essex 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.
 
Interested media personnel should contact MSgt Scott Dunn at (760) 763-7047 or Scott.Dunn@usmc.mil.