MARCH 10, 2025 – U.S. Marines stormed ashore Feb. 28 to offload tactical vehicles and equipment from the USNS Dahl during an exercise at the Republic of Korea Marine Corps Base Pohang in South Korea.
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.
“We are the linchpin in the Corps’ ability to project power globally,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jesse Johnson, operations director for Blount Island Command. He oversees the training of technical assistance and advisory teams in Jacksonville, which deploy in support of Marine expeditionary forces.
“Everyone on our facility works tirelessly to ensure that whenever and wherever Marines need to go, their equipment and supplies are forward and ready.” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Jesse Johnson, operations director for Blount Island Command, about managing the global planning, deployment, arrival, assembly and reconstitution of the assets.
The in-stream offload at Pohang followed an earlier pier-side offload at the Chinhae Naval Ammunition Pier, where U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Kevin Collins, commanding general of 3rd Marine Logistics Group, visited 3rd Maintenance Battalion. From under a 7-ton vehicle, he spoke with a lance corporal about the importance of properly maintained equipment in austere conditions.
Collins received a detailed briefing on asset capabilities from Samuel Paulk, assistant officer in charge of the exercise’s technical assistance and advisory team. Paulk, a Blount Island Command communication electronics supervisor, brought his expertise to ensure the smooth operation of critical communication systems.
Established in September 1986, Blount Island Command has earned six Meritorious Unit Commendations. Between October 2020 and September 2022, it supported four separate geographic combatant commands, including seven large-scale exercises. It also excelled in modernizing Marine Corps prepositioning programs, making strategic-level impacts, including 18 time-sensitive presidential directives.
Freedom Banner 25 supports the Marine Corps’ Distributed Maritime Operations and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations concepts, which emphasize mobility and sustainment in forward environments.
Upon completion of Freedom Banner 25, the Marines will transition to Freedom Shield 25, the second phase of KMEP 25.1, to continue building readiness and interoperability between U.S. and Republic of Korea forces.
Dustin Senger
Marine Corps Blount Island Command