Well deck operations aboard USS Bataan (LHD 5) started March 21 with the implementation of Amphibious Warfare 1.3 and the help of Assault Craft Unit 4.

Operations Specialist 1st Class Leron J. Renfro, a native of Houston, currently assigned to Naval Beach Group 2, is on amphibious assault ship as part of the group in charge of grading AMW 1.3 results. Renfro stated, AMW 1.3 is the training portion of the well-deck qualification needed by the ship for deployment and his team is there to evaluate Bataan's effectiveness with amphibious warfare exercises.

"We are doing our AMW 1.3 certification, which will enable us to launch and receive various amphibious crafts into our well deck," said Chief Boatswain's Mate Peter Whitaker, a native of North Conway, New Hampshire. Whitaker is the leading chief petty officer of Second Division, which handles well-deck operations.

"The different kind of craft we have to be able to take into the well include landing craft air cushions, amphibious assault vehicles, landing craft units and lighter, amphibious resupply, cargo 5 tons," said Whitaker.

Whitaker said, this certification would ensure that Bataan could fulfill the whole purpose of amphibious warfare, which is ship to shore movement of marines and their equipment.

ACU 4, currently stationed at the Joint Expeditionary Base in Little Creek, Virginia, embarked Bataan March 19 in LCAC 85 to assist with well-deck operations. Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st Class Christopher Hilger, a native of Camarillo, California, said the crew of five will deploy with Bataan and this training is as much for them as it is for the ship. Hilger is the engineer for the craft and runs the power plant, to include all systems that relate to engines and the transmissions.

"We are the ship to shore connector," said Hilger. "We bring all the troops, vehicles and assets and carry about 60 tons as needed."

Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) 2nd Class Andrew Kim, a native of Alton, New Hampshire, is the deck engineer for LCAC 85 and assists Hilger with overall plant operations. If something breaks mechanically, Kim says he is the one to fix it.

"The best part of this training for me is being out on the water and hitting the beaches," said Kim. "I deployed two years ago on Bataan and I am ready to do it again."

Renfro stated the completion of the training qualification depends on four departments - deck, engineering, combat information center and the bridge coming together as one and working effectively and efficiently to ensure the safety of all personnel, crafts, equipment and ship.

"The criteria that I grade on, is effectiveness and control of LCACs, LCUs, and AAVs," said Renfro. "Deck has to be able to receive all vehicles, stage them properly, send them out properly and know the difference between situations like wave height, for basic and general safety not only of the ship, but also of the craft and crew onboard whatever is coming on.

"Engineering has to be able to ballast up and down efficiently to get the craft inside and outside the well, he said.

"CIC has to show its ability to direct craft and have solid communications with all the craft so they can relay when they are farther away from the ship when no one has any visual contact with them, telling them what is going on and what should be happening, he said.

"Finally, the bridge has to show they know how to react in different situations," Renfro said. "When a craft is coming up, the bridge needs to know they cannot change course because if they were to change course suddenly and not talk to anyone involved, then you can have a craft coming on board and the craft can end up running into the side of the ship, damaging and hurting the ship, crew and pushing back the certification phase."

Whitaker said as high tempo as this training evolution is, everything is going outstanding. He went on to say that deck department has been getting nothing but positive feedback from NGB 2.

"The training is going very well; the crew is very receptive," said Renfro. "It has been a while since the ship has actually partaken in some of these exercises other than the synthetic training that they have done in the school house; so to see it real world, real life and having to work through problems and situations has been very eye opening for everyone involved."

AMW 1.3 continued through March 23. Bataan will continue her underway conducting routine qualifications in preparation for her future deployment.

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