USA: DESRON 26 Departs for Multinational Exercise Joint Warrior 11-2

Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, embarked aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), departed Sept. 16 to participate in the multinational exercise Joint Warrior 11-2 off the coast of Scotland.

Arleigh Burke and Fleet Replenishment Oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196), based out of Norfolk, Va., will work alongside navies from the United Kingdom and other NATO allied partners.

“We will be operating in a multi-warfare, multi-platform coalition environment with 12 other nations,” said Capt. Peter DeMane, commodore of Destroyer Squadron 26. “This is a unique opportunity for our Sailors to experience a sophisticated training environment while we strengthen relationships with our allies in execution of the maritime strategy.”

Joint Warrior is a United Kingdom-led, multi-warfare exercise designed to improve interoperability between allied navies and prepare participating crews to conduct combined operations during deployment.

The exercise, scheduled from Oct. 1-17, promotes Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet’s three focus areas: conducting safe and effective fleet operations to achieve mission success, providing ready maritime forces for global assignment and teaming with allies and partners in execution of the maritime strategy.

Joint Warrior allows Arleigh Burke and British ships to work together with maritime, land and air units from allied nations while providing each other with key services and logistical support.

“Interoperability with, and tactical employment of, the warfighting capabilities provided by non-U.S. navies is a perishable competency. When we come together for Joint Warrior, U.S. ships are able to become more proficient at working in future real-world deployments with the other participating nations,” said DeMane.

The participating ships have been divided into forces that represent fictional regions engaged in territorial disputes. Ships and aircraft will participate in scenarios including small boat attacks, boarding operations, air defense, anti-submarine warfare and ship maneuvers.

Joint Warrior serves as a certifying event for U.S. ships that will deploy with coalition forces in the future.

“The crew of this ship have been working hard getting ready to reach our certification milestones, and it’s exciting to know we’ll turn these realistic training scenarios into lessons for our next deployment,” said Cmdr. Corey Keniston, Arleigh Burke commanding officer.

Other nations participating in the exercise are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

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Source: navy, September 21, 2011;