Navy-Marine Corps Conduct First Non-Combatant Evacuation Exercise in Oman

By Commander, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade Public Affairs | September 22, 2016

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A U.S. Sailor with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit guides a U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) with Assault Craft Unit 4 during a bilateral non-combatant evacuation exercise at the U.S. Embassy, Muscat, Oman, Sept. 21, 2016. The non-combatant evacuation exercise is an opportunity for the United States and Oman to practice a bilateral mission of quickly providing security and safety to U.S. and international citizens abroad during a natural disaster or contingency.

A U.S. Sailor with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit guides a U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) with Assault Craft Unit 4 during a bilateral non-combatant evacuation exercise at the U.S. Embassy, Muscat, Oman, Sept. 21, 2016. The non-combatant evacuation exercise is an opportunity for the United States and Oman to practice a bilateral mission of quickly providing security and safety to U.S. and international citizens abroad during a natural disaster or contingency. (Photo by U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Lauren A. Falk/Released)


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A U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) with Assault Craft Unit 4 transports U.S. and international citizens during a bilateral non-combatant evacuation exercise at the U.S. Embassy, Muscat, Oman, Sept. 21, 2016. The non-combatant evacuation exercise is an opportunity for the United States and Oman to practice a bilateral mission of quickly providing security and safety to U.S. and international citizens abroad during a natural disaster or contingency.

A U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) with Assault Craft Unit 4 transports U.S. and international citizens during a bilateral non-combatant evacuation exercise at the U.S. Embassy, Muscat, Oman, Sept. 21, 2016. The non-combatant evacuation exercise is an opportunity for the United States and Oman to practice a bilateral mission of quickly providing security and safety to U.S. and international citizens abroad during a natural disaster or contingency. (Photo by U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Lauren A. Falk/Released)


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U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Commanding General of Task Force 51 Naval Amphibious Force, and 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, and U.S. Army Col. Eric J. Larson, Defense Attache, escort officials with The Royal Omani Police during a bilateral non-combatant evacuation exercise at the U.S. Embassy, Muscat, Oman, Sept. 21, 2016. The non-combatant evacuation exercise is an opportunity for the United States and Oman to practice a bilateral mission of quickly providing security and safety to U.S. and international citizens abroad during a natural disaster or contingency.

U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Commanding General of Task Force 51 Naval Amphibious Force, and 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, and U.S. Army Col. Eric J. Larson, Defense Attache, escort officials with The Royal Omani Police during a bilateral non-combatant evacuation exercise at the U.S. Embassy, Muscat, Oman, Sept. 21, 2016. The non-combatant evacuation exercise is an opportunity for the United States and Oman to practice a bilateral mission of quickly providing security and safety to U.S. and international citizens abroad during a natural disaster or contingency. (Photo by U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Lauren A. Falk/Released)


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A U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) with Assault Craft Unit 4 transports U.S. and international citizens to the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) during a bilateral non-combatant evacuation exercise at the U.S. Embassy, Muscat, Oman, Sept. 21, 2016. The non-combatant evacuation exercise is an opportunity for the United States and Oman to practice a bilateral mission of quickly providing security and safety to U.S. and international citizens abroad during a natural disaster or contingency.

A U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushioned (LCAC) with Assault Craft Unit 4 transports U.S. and international citizens to the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) during a bilateral non-combatant evacuation exercise at the U.S. Embassy, Muscat, Oman, Sept. 21, 2016. The non-combatant evacuation exercise is an opportunity for the United States and Oman to practice a bilateral mission of quickly providing security and safety to U.S. and international citizens abroad during a natural disaster or contingency. (Photo by U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Lauren A. Falk/Released)


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A U.S. Marine with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit escorts U.S. and international citizens during a bilateral non-combatant evacuation exercise at the U.S. Embassy, Muscat, Oman, Sept. 21, 2016. The non-combatant evacuation exercise is an opportunity for the United States and Oman to practice a bilateral mission of quickly providing security and safety to U.S. and international citizens abroad during a natural disaster or contingency.

A U.S. Marine with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit escorts U.S. and international citizens during a bilateral non-combatant evacuation exercise at the U.S. Embassy, Muscat, Oman, Sept. 21, 2016. The non-combatant evacuation exercise is an opportunity for the United States and Oman to practice a bilateral mission of quickly providing security and safety to U.S. and international citizens abroad during a natural disaster or contingency. (Photo by U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Lauren A. Falk/Released)


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MUSCAT, Oman --

U.S. Marines and Sailors from the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) with U.S. Embassy-Muscat and Royal Omani Police conducted the first non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) exercise in Muscat, Sept. 20-21.

 NEO exercises serve to enhance a critical mission set by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to quickly provide security and safety to U.S. citizens abroad during a natural disaster or contingency. Marine group forces help safely evacuate personnel to the ship as Sailors aboard provide food and medical attention.

 The exercise consisted of amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) and amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) in support of an amphibious landing and evacuation of select participants from the U.S. Embassy in coordination with the Royal Omani Police. Ship maneuvers and planning occurred from Sept. 18.

 The ARG/MEU provides a balanced and scalable sea-based crisis response force capable of accomplishing any mission ranging from combat to humanitarian assistance.

“The teamwork exhibited between USS San Antonio, USS Whidbey Island and the Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Muscat, Oman is the foundation behind conducting a timely and effective noncombatant evacuation," said Brig. Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Commander, Task Force 51 Naval Amphibious Force/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

As the first NEO exercise conducted in Oman by U.S. Navy and Marine Corps assets, the exercise validated the capabilities of the ARG/MEU to execute the critical mission set of crisis response.

“Our units are integrated with the U.S. Embassy in Muscat, Oman to ensure that we are ready to respond to any contingency as an integrated naval amphibious force,” said Donovan. “While this is an unlikely mission in Oman, it’s important to work with all our regional embassies to ensure our plans are up to date and our procedures are well practiced.”

The NEO exercise strengthened the solid relationship with the Sultanate of Oman, demonstrating commitment to conducting future cooperative exercises. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

 

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