Sailors and Marines trained in practical application for real-world events during the Defense Support for Civil Authorities (DSCA) loading exercise (LOADEX) on board Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, June 14-15.

Sailors and Marines assigned to San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Arlington (LPD 24), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Naval Beach Group (NBG) 2, Assault Craft Units (ACU) 2 and 4, and Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) participated the exercise.

"This week's DSCA LOADEX demonstrated our rapid response capability, not just for NECC forces, but with other Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary counterparts who would participate in a DSCA response if called upon to do so," said Lt. Cmdr. Jerod McCully, who is assigned to NECC's N3 department.

The DSCA LOADEX is an exercise that is designed to train and familiarize Sailors and Marines with rapid response capabilities following man-made and natural disasters, such as industrial accidents, hurricanes and earthquakes that affect both local civilian and military populations.

During the LOADEX, personnel and heavy equipment from Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) vehicles to bulldozers to HUMVEEs and other machinery were transported from the Little Creek base to USS Arlington. During the first day of the exercise 10 loads or approximately 1.6 million pounds were transported using landing craft air cushion or landing craft units from the Little Creek base to USS Arlington. The second day of the exercise forces conducting the offloading of the equipment back to the base.

Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Terrence Dickens, assigned to Beach Master Unit 2, said this type of training prepares forces for real-world tasking.

"It keeps us mission oriented and prepares us for any types of missions in support of DSCA tasking," said Dickens.

Master Chief Machinist's Mate Erik Johnson, craft master with ACU 4, has 1,000 hours of LCAC operational experience and added that this LOADEX provided valuable training for students attending the Advanced Training Qualification on board JEBLC-FS.

"It is unique to have students currently enrolled in the Advanced Training Qualification participate in this two-day exercise," said Johnson. "When we have an opportunity to get well deck experience we take it."

During the two-day exercise, Sailors and Marines practiced the loading of personnel and equipment on amphibious connector craft, transiting to a Navy Amphibious ship at anchor, loading the ship via the well deck, and debarking the personnel and equipment over the beach to simulate a short-fused DSCA response. By using this controlled environment, Sailors and Marines will have a better understanding of how to prepare for the real event if or when it happens. Additionally, the training validated the collective ability to respond in a timely fashion to a DSCA event.

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