Blount Island Command

Infobox Military Structure
name= MBlount Island Command
location= Jacksonville, Florida


caption= Overhead picture of BICmd taken in 1994
type= Logistics base
built= March 1942
materials=
used= 1986— present
controlledby= United States Marine Corps
garrison= Marine Corps Logistics Command
commanders=
battles=

Blount Island Command (BICmd) is responsible for the United States Marine Corps' Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS) Maintenance Cycle operations and oversight of the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway (MCPP-N).

History

The concept of a Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) was first envisioned during the late 1970s. The initial program, established in 1979, was called the Near Term Prepositioning Force (NTPF). NTPF used existing operational force equipment and supplies to load on available ships belonging to the Military Sealift Command (MSC). These ships were based in Diego Garcia and initial equipment and ship maintenance was done in Naha, Okinawa and Subic Bay Naval Base. The Marine Corps immediately recognized the advantages of prepositioning equipment and seized the opportunity to revolutionize combat readiness.

In March 1983, the Commandant of the Marine Corps directed Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany to acquire the assets for the MPF program. MSC leased thirteen ships for the MPF program. The ships were formed into three Maritime Prepositioning Squadrons (MPSRONs). MPSRON 1 and 2 were loaded in Wilmington, North Carolina and MPSRON 3 was loaded in Panama City, Florida. The ammunition for all three squadrons was loaded at Military Ocean Terminal, Sunny Point, North Carolina.

Property leased

In 1986, the Marine Corps established the Biennial Maintenance Command (BMC) at Blount Island, Jacksonville, Florida on 262 acres leased from Gate Maritime Properties (GMP) for $11M per year. In 1989, Blount Island Command was established as a subordinate command to Marine Corps Logistics Bases, Albany, Georgia.

Property purchased

The lease between GMP and the Marine Corp was due to end in 2004, and in 2000, the Corp stated their intentions to purchase the property when the lease expired. The Marine Corps budget included $115.7 million for the acquisition, but extended negotiations did not result in an agreement. Gate contended that the land was worth between $160M and $200M, so in August 2004, the Marine Corps seized 1,100 acres on Blount Island (Gate's entire Blount Island holdings) by eminent domain and paid $101M (later increased to $106M). When land is seized by eminent domain for uses that benefit the public, the government is required to pay landowners "just compensation", so Gate asked for a jury to decide the land's value. On November 14, 2005, a jury determined that the government should pay $160M for the parcel. [ [http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/111605/bus_20309669.shtml Florida Times-Union: November 16, 2005-Marines to pay $160M for Blount property] ]

Facility

The base falls under the command of the Marine Corps Logistics Command located at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia. The portion of the Blount Island currently occupied by Blount Island Command is in transition to become a Marine Corps Logistics Base. Blount Island offered a variety of advantages not available at any other site, including:
* A private slipway with 5 large vessel berths located only 7 nautical miles (13 km) from the St. Johns River outlet
* Close proximity to Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia
* Access to a large industrial base and Navy support structure in Jacksonville, Florida.
* Over 33 acres (0.13 km²) of staging immediately adjacent to the 1000 foot (305 m) pier and maintenance area.
* Overflow staging and maintenance capacity for MPS offload and throughput training.

Mission

Plan, coordinate & execute the logistics efforts in support of Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) and Global Prepositioning Program &ndasy;Norway (GPP-N) programs.

Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF)

The MPF concept provides for rapid deployment of personnel and equipment of a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), by aircraft, to link up with prepositioned equipment and supplies embarked aboard forward deployed Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS). RThey do require an airfield for air delivery of MAGTF personnel in close proximity to a benign port and/or beach for offload of equipment. MPS have no inherent forcible entry capability; however, they can reinforce amphibious operations. These equipment and supplies reduces strategic lift requirements, reduce force deployment time and provides an immediate, creditable force in time of crisis.

Maritime Prepositioning Forces serve as a naval power projection capability that significantly supports the deployment and employment of Naval expeditionary forces worldwide. The three current MPS squadrons, composed of 16 ships, provide a unique, strategic warfighting capability. Employment of MPS assets during Operation Desert Storm, Operation Vigilant Sentinel, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom against Afghanistan and Iraq, and Operation Restore Hope and Operation Continue Hope in Somalia, demonstrated the utility of these expeditionary assets.

ee also

* List of United States Marine Corps installations

References

:Marine Corps
*cite web|accessdate=2007-11-24
url=http://www.bic.usmc.mil/History.asp
title=History of Blount Island
publisher=United States Marine Corps

External links

* [http://www.bic.usmc.mil/ Blount Island Command"s official website]