USA: First Part of Operation Trident Arch Gets Underway

The first part of Operation Trident Arch, Jan. 7-14, is underway at Naval Weapons Stations Yorktown-Cheatham Annex.

Trident Arch is a Navy Expeditionary Medical Support Command (NEMSCOM) operation that rotates Fleet Hospitals and Expeditionary Medical Facilities from prepositioned storage sites world-wide, ashore and afloat for service life extension.

Fifty-six Sailors from Navy Cargo Handling Battalion (NCHB) 1, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group are working with 44 soldiers from the U.S. Army 149th Seaport Operations Company (SOC), 10th Transportation Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade, Fort Eustis, Va., to load Military Sealift Command ship M/V Black Eagle.

Trident Arch enables NEMSCOM to upgrade and retrofit prepositioned hospitals and medical facilities with certified extended life service within a maintenance cycle of five years while deployed to all strategic location world-wide.

“This containerized fleet hospital will rotate our prepositioned storage sites headed to Pacific Command and can accommodate 450 patient beds and 452 units of supporting equipment,” said Construction Mechanic 1st Class David Riggs, NEMSCOM port operations coordinator.

The mission of NEMSCOM is to plan and execute the design, acquisition, assembly, integration, storage, shipment, maintenance, and life cycle support of Navy deployable medical systems and act as a technical adviser for deployment of these assets.

“We are tasked to control the route and transport 633 containers from the NEMSCOM yard to pier side. We also provided drivers to operate and transport 452 rolling stocks,” said 2nd Lt. Danny Ferucci, officer in charge, 149th SOC.

“This operation is the best training opportunity for my Sailors to enhance their qualification in cargo handling. Hands-on experience still is the best training we can get from this evolution” said Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Luis Benavente, hatch captain from NCHB 1.

In addition to shipboard cargo handling, NCHB 1 augmented 14 tractor trailer drivers to support Trident Arch to ensure an earlier sail time.

“We consider this as a real-world training evolution that allows our stevedore and crane operators to gain experience and aim for their next level of cargo handling qualification,” said Chief Construction Mechanic Michael Prados, officer in charge, NCHB 1 Trident Arch detachment.

NCHB 1 is the active duty, rapid deployable unit of Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, (NAVELSG). NAVELSG delivers expeditionary logistics capabilities with mobilization-ready Navy Reserve Forces and active duty Sailors. NAVELSG provides a wide range of supply and transportation functions critical for peacekeeping, crisis response, humanitarian, and combat service support missions. NAVELSG is part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, a global force provider of adaptive force packages of expeditionary capabilities to joint war-fighting commanders.

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Naval Today Staff, January 10, 2013; Image: US Navy