Bold Alligator 2016: Allied Strong Netherlands

Royal Dutch Navy Lt. Cmdr. Mirko Kessen is one of many allied and partner-nation service members integrated into the staff of 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Expeditionary Strike Group 2 during Bold Alligator 16. Kessen is serving as an ESG-2 current operations planning officer during the exercise, which is taking place along the eastern seaboard Aug 15-26, 2016. Both staffs will plan and execute a MEB-sized amphibious assault from a sea base in a medium land and maritime threat environment and anti-access/area denial environment to improve naval amphibious core competencies. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joey Mendez)