Videos

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Battalion Landing Team started their portion of Alligator Dagger 17, a two-week combat rehearsal in Djibouti, to increase proficiency and readiness in the 5th Fleet area of operation, by reintroducing basic marksmanship skills and weapons familiarization. “This basic sustainment training keeps the Marines’ edges sharp so we maintain that constant force of readiness,” said Staff Sgt. Rogan Nichols, the platoon sergeant for third platoon, Company A. “This is why we are known as the force in readiness, and it’s what our MEU is prepared for.” The BLT culminated the training by conducting squad supported live-fire, fire-and-movement attacks, which incorporated company organic assets as wells scout snipers exercising the combat orders process. The BLT successfully completed all training expectations and reinforced the strength of their teams from the bottom up making the BLT as a whole fundamentally more effective and responsive. “This training helped the Marines get to the next tier of confidence in their weapons systems, intimately learning about their day and night optics and how to use both in low-light and other harsh situations, as well as built a familiarity with rest of their gear issued for deployment,” Nichols added. The Battalion Landing Team worked in extreme conditions to prepare themselves as well as the rest of the 15th MEU for seamless and quick response to crises situations even in the most unforgiving terrain and climate. “This exercise acclimated us to operating in 5th Fleet’s environment,” said 1st Lt. Patrick Neichter, the platoon commander of 2nd platoon, Company B. “Alligator Dagger was necessary so we are prepared to respond to any type of crises situation while the 15th MEU is operating in the 5th Fleet area of operation.” From heat acclamation and building and using terrain models to conduct live-fire squad attacks, the BLT built their confidence of the key leaders as well as the small unit leaders perfecting readiness, the Marines’ leadership skills and the overall abilities of the 15th MEU.

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS (Sept. 8, 2017) Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force conduct a visit, board, search and seizure mission aboard USS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB 3) during exercise Alligator Dagger 2017. VBSSs are conducted to capture and control a suspected enemy vessel in order to combat terrorism, piracy and smuggling operations on the sea. Available expeditionary Navy/Marine Corps forces stand ready aboard ships to assure allies, deter potential adversaries and provide persistent U.S. presence. Alligator Dagger provides opportunity to enhance capabilities in critical mission sets inherent to the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps team. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Capt. Maida Zheng/Released)"

PACIFIC OCEAN -- U.S. Marines with C. Battery, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Battalion Landing Team conduct a deck shoot aboard USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), Aug. 7, 2017. The 15th MEU and America Amphibious Ready Group are operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance regional partnerships and serve as a ready-response capability for any type of contingency. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Cpl. F. Cordoba)

Brig. Gen. Ottignon speaks to the U.S. Marines and Sailors of 1st Marine Logistics Group (1st MLG) at Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 28, 2017. During Ottignon's tenure, the 1st MLG completed 14 Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluations to ensure deployment readiness. Additionally, 11 units deployed during this time; three with Marine Expeditionary Units, five with Special Purpose Marines Air-Ground Task Force, and three with Marines Rotational Forces-Darwin.