About 25,000 U.S. Marines and sailors demonstrated their capabilities during the Large Scale Exercise 2023 (LSE 23). The exercise is being held in 22 different time zones from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, to the Pacific.
The exercise involves seven fleets and six U.S. combatant commands’ carriers strike groups, two live and four virtual, as well as 25 live naval ships and more than 50 virtual ships.
During the LSE 23 drills, U.S. troops are combining live and virtual training in a simulated massive global conflict to test key warfighting concepts across U.S. naval forces.
The exercise includes live units, ranging from aircraft carriers to submarines; shore logistics support units; more than 30 virtual units; and an unlimited array of constructive (computer-generated) units.
The U.S. sailors and marines practiced various tasks including, live-fire drills, port damage repairs, airfield repairs, logistics operations, as well as surveys.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense release, the LSE 23 is one of the most realistic and technologically advanced naval exercises ever executed.
The DoD statement highlighted that “The realistic training environment allows sailors and Marines to train regardless of geographic boundaries.”
Commander of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command Adm. Daryl Caudle said, “We have to maintain the nation’s ability to project power globally for our country and to command and control that effectively requires us to do exercises like LSE 2023.”
Lead exercise planner Capt. Chris Narducci said last month during a press briefing, “We want to build a more competent and lethal force; we want to be able to demonstrate that we can globally synchronize this exercise. And then finally, we want to be able to show that we can fight and win against our adversaries using the live virtual constructive training environment.”
