The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) hosted 250 Marine junior officers from The Basic School (TBS), Feb. 5-7, as part of a War Familiarization Exercise (WARFEX).

Bataan's role in hosting TBS and purpose of the exercise was to familiarize the junior officers with the capabilities and limitations of multipurpose amphibious assault ships and orient them to what life will be like as part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) on board Bataan.

"Part of Combat Cargo's responsibility to Bataan is coordinating the embarkation of landing forces, or any outside forces for that matter, and as such, we are honored to be able to host the future leaders of Marine Corps from The Basic School," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alan Gaddis, the combat cargo officer aboard Bataan. "For nearly all of these young officers, this is their first time aboard a ship, and giving them a positive first experience will help shape the way they view integration of the blue-green team, especially as the Marine Corps gets back to its amphibious roots and adheres to the commandant's planning guidance."

"This is the culminating exercise for the students of The Basic School," said Capt. Chris Flood, executive officer of class Fox Company 06-15 of TBS, a native of Ridgefield, Connecticut. "A backbone of the Marine Corps is being on a ship, and after six months of field exercises and classroom instruction here students will go through amphibious planning and coordination among staffs to reinforce what they have learned at TBS."

The second lieutenants started the visit by splitting up into two groups. Half of the junior officers toured the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) and the remaining half toured the Bataan. Afterwards, both groups spent the night in troop berthings aboard the Bataan.

"It was nerve-wracking and a lot to take in being my first time on a ship," said 2nd Lt. Sean Ryan, a native of Park Ridge, Illinois. "However, this is great because I am going to be able to get to know what my Marines are going to go through when they are living on the ship and experience it before I am actually in charge and expect them to know this."

2nd Lt. Ramzi Yatim, a native of Phoenix, shared that after six months of training at TBS, he was ready for WARFEX and to show his instructors and leadership what he had learned.

"We studied a lot about amphibious ships and while the instructors and captains tell us what it is like, I am ready to experience it first hand," said Yatim. "Being able to interact with the Navy and Sailors is enlightening and gives us an idea of what we are going to do when we deploy with the MEU."

Flood said that the remaining time the students spend on the Bataan will be planning and organizing for the field exercises that will close out WARFEX back on their base located in Quantico.

"My favorite part of the exercise is seeing everything come together," said Flood. "Students learn throughout the six months and now this is their show as we instructors and leaders stand back and watch them in action with minimal interference from us."

For more news from USS Bataan, visit http://www.navy.mil/.