A U.S. Marine and Sailor guide a Light Armored Vehicle onto the loading ramp of a Landing Craft Air Cushion at Mile Hammock Bay, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 5, 2018 during Type Commander Amphibious Training. TCAT allows the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, their subordinate units, and the U.S. Navy’s Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group to rehearse ship to shore maneuver and expeditionary command and control prior to exercise Trident Juncture 2018. The goal of TCAT is to increase unit and individual proficiency during amphibious operations. The LAVs are with 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Robert Durham/released)

Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Robert Durham

TCAT Prepares 24th MEU for Trident Juncture 18

15 Oct 2018 | Gunnery Sgt. Robert Durham II Marine Expeditionary Force

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. --

Marines and Sailors from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group exercised expeditionary command and control and ship to shore maneuver during Type Commander Amphibious Training Oct. 3-5, 2018, at Onslow Beach, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in preparation for exercise Trident Juncture 18.

The service members will join more than 40,000 troops from 31 NATO Allied and partner countries to participate in Trident Juncture.
The multilateral exercise provides the 24th MEU the opportunity to exercise their amphibious and expeditionary capabilities with the Navy in a unique environment in support of Allied and partner nations.

The MEU staff at sea worked with their Navy counterparts during TCAT and coordinated the offload and onload of different types of cargo and personnel from the 24th MEU’s major subordinate elements.

The purpose of TCAT was for the 24th MEU and Iwo Jima ARG to rehearse operations as an integrated task force and increase the joint capabilities of the Navy-Marine Corps team.

“It’s essentially MEU amphibious training” said Maj. Patrick Lavoie, the operations officer for Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines. So, we’re preparing for Trident Juncture in conjunction with preparing for upcoming deployments, With all of these enablers attached, we can train and figure it out [on Camp Lejeune] so when we get out [to Iceland and Norway], we’re able to do it safely and efficiently and maximize those opportunities.”
The BLT 2/2 training with Amphibious Assault Vehicles from 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, and Light Armored Vehicles from 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, gave the leaders new opportunities to conduct ship to shore maneuvers with mechanized support.

“TCAT gives my company and 2/2 a chance to do some initial training with our Navy brothers and sisters prior to beginning any big exercise we’re looking to do,” said Capt. Scott Mahaffey, a company commander with 2/2. “There is no notional training here. We’re actually doing it, which is a much better experience than talking things out on a white board.”