USS Pearl Harbor Completes CERTEX

Dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) successfully completed certification exercise (CERTEX) and pulled back into San Diego Oct. 14.

Pearl Harbor worked with the rest of the Makin Island Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (11th MEU) to complete CERTEX. The Makin Island ARG consists of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18), and Pearl Harbor.

“This was a great opportunity for the crew to exercise all of the capabilities of USS Pearl Harbor,” said Pearl Harbor Commanding Officer Cmdr. Homer Denius. “It was the first time we have fully integrated with the ARG and MEU and we were successful across all areas.”

The integration made for an intense two weeks of training for all involved.

Denius said the Sailors and Marines aboard Pearl Harbor did an impressive job in readying the ship for deployment and proving their professionalism.

“We completed landings in support of humanitarian assistance drills, mass casualty response, noncombat evacuation operations and a full ARG/MEU amphibious assault,” said Denius.

The ship’s crew spent countless hours bringing aboard ammunition. In addition, they completed an underway replenishment on the last full day out to sea, making the ship ready to go for its upcoming scheduled deployment.

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Source: navy, October 16, 2011