Bataan ARG to begin arriving in Haiti today - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Bataan ARG to begin arriving in Haiti today

ABOARD THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP BATAAN — The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group is scheduled to begin arriving in Haiti early Monday, with all ships expected to be in Haitian waters by sundown.

“When the sun comes up [Monday] there will be a ship off Haiti with Marines,” said Capt. Tom Negus, the ARG commander. “The others will arrive throughout the day.”

The dock landing ship Carter Hall will be first on station, followed by dock landing ships Gunston Hall and Fort McHenry and then finally the Bataan.

Though Negus said they also hope to be able to distribute relief supplies Monday, the primary goal for both the Marine Corps and Navy is assessing the situation and establishing relationships on the ground.

“Tomorrow’s priorities are to get a good situational awareness,” said Col. Gary Brandl, commanding officer of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The current plan is to first fly missions over what will become their assigned area of operations, Brandl said. They could launch those missions as soon as they’re in helicopter range of the island nation, which could come as early as noon Monday.

As important as the initial assessment, Brandl said, is the immediate follow-on, getting Marines ashore. Though they plan to start delivering supplies as quickly as possible, even during the assessment phase, the large scale operations can’t happen until the Marines get into place on the ground and establish a presence and security.

“Bringing order and organization is most important,” he said. “Then will come the follow-on services — we need to have an understanding of the environment and figure out where we can be of the most help.”

For the Navy, the bulk of the work will begin once the first amphibious ships arrive near the port, Negus said. Though the Bataan — which will arrive last — carries air-cushioned landing craft aboard, the three other ships carry conventional landing craft, which will go in first.

“We will be sending beach parties ashore first to establish landing zones near the shore that don’t require any other infrastructure,” he said. Sources tell Navy Times that part of the beach parties’ missions will be to place those zones where the LCACs can come ashore without sustaining any damage.

Another asset will be Gunston Hall's 10 amphibious assault vehicles, Brandl said. They will not only be able to go ashore on their own, but will be invaluable in navigating many of the side streets that are now impassible to most vehicles.

While the assessment phase is going on, Negus said, a simultaneous goal will be to hook up with the other elements on the ground and begin coordination efforts.

“This is just as important as the assessment, to establish contact,” he said. “As always, it comes down to relationships and this is a truly a community project and coordination is very important to ensure we provide the best support to the Haitian people as possible.”

Though Brandl has his eyes on the big picture, he’s also concerned about his Marines.

“Our biggest hazard in this mission is environmental and it’s those environmental concerns that are our biggest hurdle when it comes to force protection,” Brandl said

Meanwhile, preparations are ongoing onboard the Bataan. Though they don’t know if the onboard hospital will be tasked to treat victims, they’re getting ready for it.

“We understand the Vinson’s hospital did bring a few onboard for treatment and if the decision is made to bring people aboard, we will be ready to accommodate,” said Capt. Sam Howard, Bataan's commanding officer, referring to the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson, which is also on scene. “We’re a Level II hospital with four operating rooms as well as triage facilities, and our medical staff has been augmented by fleet surgical teams.”

Howard said that though his ship will have the most capable hospital of all the regular Navy ships, it pales in comparison to the hospital ship Comfort, which is not scheduled to arrive on station until Jan. 21.

More coverage on the relief effort in Haiti