NORFOLK, VA -- The commanding officer and staff of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit visited the ships of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group at Naval Station Norfolk and Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, Sept. 23 - 24, 2010.
The purpose of the visit was to allow Col. Eric J. Steidl, 22nd MEU commanding officer, and his staff to facilitate appropriate interaction between the MEU’s Command Element, Amphibious Squadron 6 and the BATARG ships' staffs prior to the pre-deployment training program.
"Coming to visit our fellow warriors and friends on the Bataan, San Antonio, and Oak Hill as well as PHIBRON-6 was a motivational event for the 22nd MEU as it illustrates what makes the ARG/MEU team so powerful,” said Steidl. “Though we each have our service ethos and perspectives, when the ARG/MEU forms we become truly a Naval Force. It was great to renew friendships from previous deployments and we look forward to building an impressive ARG/MEU team for the next deployment - One Team!"
During the visit, Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, met with Rear Adm. Kevin D. Scott, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 2, Navy Capt. Steve Yoder, deputy commodore, Amphibious Squadron Six, Navy Capt. Steve Koehler, commanding officer, USS Bataan, and Steidl, to receive a status update of the ARG and discuss current and future Marine Corps and Navy amphibious engagements.
"It was very good to be back onboard the Bataan, the ARG, and with 22nd MEU,” said Hejlik. “I have followed the ARG/MEU closely over the past 18 months and I believe no finer Marine/Navy team exists no matter the size of the force or its mission. When it comes to the ARG/MEU Team, the ability to offer the hand of friendship and help, as you demonstrated in Haiti, does not come at the expense of striking with a clenched fist as demonstrated by the Peleliu ARG/MEU in the Gulf of Aden. I am confident that when the Bataan ARG/MEU deploys, you will all be ready for any task that comes your way."
The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is considered a scalable, multipurpose force and consists of more than 2,200 Marines and sailors. Commanded by Col. Eric J. Steidl, it will consist of a ground combat element, an aviation combat element, a logistics combat element and its command element upon composite this year.