The in-stream offload from the containerized and rolling stock cargo ship, operated by Military Sealift Command, showcased the rapid deployment capabilities of maritime prepositioning force operations, which rely on pre-loaded ships that are forward-deployed and combat-ready.
Highlighting the joint interoperability of Exercise Freedom Banner 25, Sailors with Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 13 maneuvered equipment from the holds of USNS Dahl onto an Improved Navy Lighterage System causeway ferry, a modular system that enables efficient ship-to-shore movement, even in areas without established port facilities. Beachmaster Unit 1 and Naval Beach Group 1 assisted with the movement of vehicles onto the shore.
Freedom Banner 25, a key component of the larger Korean Marine Exchange Program (KMEP) 25.1, is designed to test and refine the complex logistical processes that enable the Marine Corps to respond to crises and contingencies around the globe. The exercise highlights the critical programs managed at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island in Jacksonville, Florida, the nerve center for the Marine Corps global prepositioning network.
