Local son deployed in support of Maritime Security
Navy Chief Petty Officer Joey R. Short, son of Helen and Charlie Short of Crestview, along with sailors and Marines from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BATARG), Norfolk, Va., and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU), Camp Lejeune, N.C., recently deployed as part of a regularly scheduled deployment to support Maritime Security Operations, provide crisis response capability, and increase theater security cooperation and forward Naval presence in the Fifth and Sixth Fleet areas of operation.
Prior to deployment, the BATARG and 22nd MEU successfully completed Expeditionary Strike Group Integration, a Composite Unit Training Exercise and a Certification Exercise.
The BATARG and 22nd MEU provide the combatant commander a versatile sea-based force that can be tailored to a variety of missions, including quick reaction crisis response options in maritime, littoral and inland environments in support of the Navy's Maritime Strategy.
The Navy, in coordination with the Marine Corps, is returning to the Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and Marine Expeditionary Unit deployment construct as the routine, rotational amphibious force deployment package. Returning to this construct enables the Navy to more efficiently meet geographic combatant commander requirements.
ARGs usually include an amphibious squadron (PHIBRON), an amphibious assault ship (LHA/D), amphibious transport dock (LPD), dock landing ship (LSD), embarked Naval support elements and an embarked MEU.
The BATARG is comprised of the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), the amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 42).
The 22nd MEU includes a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and its command element.
Short is a 1975 graduate of Niceville High School and joined the Navy in November 1990.
For more information on Bataan, please visit www.bataan.navy.mil.
