Okinawa marines embark USS Green Bay for Cobra Gold 2017

U.S. Navy’s San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD 20) departed White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan after embarking marines for one of the largest multilateral exercises in Asia.

Green Bay departed Sasebo for her multi-month Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol on January 25 and arrived in Okinawa on January 30.

It took the Green Bay three days to on-load more than 600 marines from the 31st MEU, along with 65 vehicles and approximately 855 tons of equipment during the three-day period.

Green Bay is scheduled to participate in Cobra Gold. The crew and embarked Marines are preparing for the multitude of evolutions which will accompany that exercise.

Exercise Cobra Gold has taken place annually for more than 30 years. Cobra Gold 2017, the 36th version of the military exercise, will bring together more than two dozen nations to address regional and global security challenges and to promote international cooperation and stability within the region.

Green Bay and the 31st MEU will focus on the ability to plan for and execute multiple amphibious missions, to include humanitarian assistance and non-combatant evacuation.

Before arriving in Okinawa and throughout the patrol, Green Bay has been working on its material condition of readiness and making sure the marines feel a part of the Navy and Marine Corps family.

“The crew fully understands the priority of supporting our Marines,” said Capt. Nathan Moyer, Green Bay commanding officer. “Throughout our period of transition from Sasebo to Okinawa, we have been building our tempo and level of enthusiasm so that when we operate with the Marines, we are already prepared to support in every way.”

Green Bay is part of Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force, headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa.