Stuck in Bahrain, Marines able to keep busy

[unhappycamper]

Stuck in Bahrain, Marines able to keep busy
By Trista Talton - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Nov 18, 2008 19:03:42 EST

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Their ship is stuck at a Bahraini port, but that doesn’t mean extra liberty for some leathernecks with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Marines and sailors with the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based MEU who are aboard the amphibious transport dock San Antonio “continue to train aboard and from that vessel,” according to a MEU spokesman.

The ship’s maiden deployment with the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group out of Norfolk, Va., was interrupted Oct. 31 when it entered a yard in Bahrain to fix major oil leaks. Navy officials projected the maintenance would be finished within two weeks. This marks the latest problem for the ship, which has been plagued with performance problems, and was delivered late and $1 billion over budget.

But problems with the ship — criticized Monday by Navy Secretary Donald Winter, who said he “continues to be unsatisfied” with its performance — have not stopped its Marine inhabitants from participating in training exercises and classes.

“This training includes leadership, martial arts, physical training, infantry and other job-skills training they would normally conduct underway,” MEU spokesman Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper said in an e-mail. “Accessibility to land actually expands these Marines’ opportunities to conduct physical and small-unit training outside the confines of the ship, and unit leaders exploit these opportunities whenever possible.”


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/11/marine_26meu_111808w/%2e



uhc comment: It's a bitch when your brand new $1.8 billion ride craps out on its maiden voyage.

[Catch22Dem]

1. Sounds like they're stuck on the ship too....that sucks. Bahrain was fun when I was there