The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit completed the offload of personnel and equipment from the ships of the Bataan Strike Group into Kuwait Sunday to begin two weeks of sustainment training at the Udairi Range complex.
The training will provide the Marines and Sailors of the MEU an opportunity to exercise and refresh skills that keep the unit ready to conduct contingency operations throughout U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility.
Col. Gregg A. Sturdevant, commanding officer of the 26th MEU, said the offload into Kuwait will give every element of the MEU a chance to train.
“The Kuwait sustainment training allows the entire MEU air ground logistics team to come ashore for the first time since departing the United States in early January,” he said. “We will maximize the training and maintenance opportunities the Udairi Range complex and Camp Beuhring have to offer.”
Upon completion of the scheduled training at Udairi Range, the 26th MEU will rejoin the Bataan Strike Group to continue operations in the region as the strategic reserve.
Since arriving in U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility in February, the 26th MEU has completed three bilateral training exercises with military forces in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Gulf region. Additionally, the 26th MEU and Bataan Strike Group have been conducting maritime security operations in support of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
The 26th MEU departed North Carolina Jan. 6 on a routine deployment as the landing force with the Bataan Strike Group. In addition to the USS Bataan (LHD-5), the strike group is comprised of the USS Oak Hill (LSD-51), USS Shreveport (LPD-12), USS Nitze (DDG-94), USS Vella Gulf (CG-72), USS Underwood (FFG-36) and USS Scranton (SSN-756).
For more information on the 26th MEU, go to www.usmc.mil/26thmeu.