Marines and sailors from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force will conduct training at Joint Force Training Base, Los Alamitos, Calif. aboard the pier side SS Cape Inscription (T-AKR 5076), April 2, 2013. The training operation will highlight a visit, board, search and seize (VBSS) mission, preparing the MRF for anti-piracy and anti-terrorism operations as well as capturing vessels. This training venue supports mission-essential training and brings a dimension of realism into the operating environment.

The MRF, a precision enabled force, composed of infantry and reconnaissance Marines, will conduct a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operation, in preparation for an upcoming deployment to the Middle East and Pacific theater with the 13th MEU.

The 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force provides the MEU Commander, Geographic Combatant Commander, or Joint Task Force Commander an enabled sea-based precision raid force that has received specialized training to conduct opposed visit, board, search, and seizure of Maritime Vessels and Gas and Oil Platforms, limited-scale precision raids, and other specialized mission sets.

The back bone of the force is provided by a Marine Force Reconnaissance Platoon supported by a security element and augmented with key enablers to include explosive ordnance disposal, Scout Snipers, intelligence support, Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, and both Marine and Navy aviation and Naval surface craft. The Maritime Raid Force’s specialized training allows it to be a responsive and adaptable force, capable of supporting crisis operations world-wide in a time-constrained environment.

Historically, the Maritime Raid Force has been used in support of Maritime Interdiction Operations such as anti-piracy, interception of illicit maritime trafficking, and hostage rescue.

During the training operation, the MRF will fast-rope from a series of helicopters, to include Marine Corps CH-53E and UH-1Y, and Navy MH-60S onto the SS Cape Inscription (T-AKR 5076), where follow-on training in anti-piracy tactics will be conducted.

The mission of the MRF is to provide geographic combatant and task force commanders a forward-deployed precision enabled force, able to rapidly assemble to conduct maritime contingency special operations in time constrained and dynamic environments.

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