The underway portion of Exercise Cutlass Express 2015 commenced as boarding team members from Comoros, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda began visit, board, search, and seizure scenarios while at sea, Jan. 31, 2015.
Exercise Cutlass Express 2015, sponsored by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is designed to leverage a Global Network of Navies to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA) and information-sharing practices to increase capabilities of East African and Indian Ocean nations to counter sea-based illicit activity.
Capt. Rich Dromerhauser, deputy commander, Destroyer Squadron 60, said:
We work together, sharing the lessons learned that inspire innovative solutions to common threats on our waterways. During Cutlass Express we forge relationships vital to the Global Network of Navies.
Participating vessels include: Seychelles Coast Guard patrol ships Andromache and Constant, Mauritian National Coast Guard patrol boats Rescuer and Retriever, Djiboutian Navy ship La Dague and the USS SIMPSON (FFG 56). 12 nations with more than 250 people are participating in this year’s exercise.
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Image: US Navy