TRONDHEIM, Norway -- The MV Virginian was at port in Trondheim recently with approximately 40 U.S. Marines and Navy personnel on hand to load equipment kept in specially equipped storage facilities inside large caves around the region.
This rotation of gear supports the Marine Corps most responsive prepositioning program known as the maritime prepositioning force. The Norway Air-Landed Marine Expeditionary Brigade(NALMEB) is the only land based prepositioning program currently in existence. The Marine Corps equipment stored in the caves is on a strict maintenance schedule and kept in a high state of readiness by the Norwegians.
Originally designed to defend Norway
during the cold war, the program has remained intact and has proved its relevance in support of current exercises as well as contingency operations.
The equipment has most recently been used to support the global war on terrorism, and to support NATO and joint operational and training events in and outside of Norway.
Rotation of the gear is important to this program, said Maj. Gen. Kjell Ludvighsen, Commanding General, Regional Headquarters South Norway. The equipment should be in excellent shape, but not new. If the equipment were merely sitting in the caves there would come a time when it would no longer be needed. Rotating the equipment gives us the ability to complete proper maintenance cycles and keep all of the equipment in deployable condition for a much longer period of time.
The location of this equipment in Norway will likely play an even greater role in the future. It is ready to be used in any contingency inside or outside the European theater and in many cases, shipping equipment from Norway is faster, cheaper, and easier than moving it from the U.S. According to Maj. General Ludvighsen the caves also offer the ability to remove specific gear that is needed as apposed to keeping equipment on ships where it can be blocked in.
?Prepositioning is dead, Maj. Gen. Ludvighsen explains. We now refer to the equipment as forward deployed.
The Norwegians maintain the caves and equipment in them and the loading of this ship was a combined effort of United States and Norwegian military as well as civilians from both countries.
The success of this program is due largely to the solid relationship between the United States and Norway,? said Lt.Col. Nicholas Berryman, officer in charge of the mission.
We have a close relationship with the Americans and the U.S. Marine Corps especially, said Maj.Gen. Ludvigsen.
Together, this team provides a great capability for flexible and rapid response to crises in and outside the area.