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USS The Sullivans Participates in Adriatic Multilateral Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS041026-01
Release Date: 10/26/2004 7:25:00 AM

From USS The Sullivans Public Affairs

ABOARD USS THE SULLIVANS (NNS) -- Sailors aboard guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) had the opportunity to interact with Albanian, Croatian and Macedonian forces in the Adriatic Sea during their participation in Adriatic PHIBLEX (Amphibious Landing Exercise) and Albanian PASSEX (Passive Exercise) Oct. 3-15.

The exercises were the first occasions the three participating Adriatic nations took part in combined military exercises and was conducted in coordination with their bid for NATO membership. In an effort to promote interoperability and military-to-military cooperation, the four nations conducted amphibious landings, maritime interception operations, basic seamanship and coastal maneuvering, surface gunnery exercises, helicopter operations, and search and rescue scenarios.

"The Adriatic PHIBLEX was an outstanding opportunity in a multinational environment," said Lt. William Snyder, The Sullivans operations officer. "All countries involved were able to share a great deal of knowledge on naval tactics and procedures."

During Adriatic PHIBLEX, Croatian and Albanian officers were able to witness The Sullivans' crew performing simulated rescue-and-assistance drills and maritime interception operations. Junior officers aboard The Sullivans got the chance to do maneuvering drills with foreign navies, as well as cross-deck to other platforms.

"The Croatian sailors were very professional," said Ensign Thomas Parker. "They knew what they were doing, and you could tell it wasn't their first time working with U.S. forces."

The Sullivans conducted an Albanian PASSEX with USNS Patuxent (T-AO-201) and two Albanian patrol craft. During the two-day event, junior officers cross-decked among ships, getting exposure to other navies.

Parker and Lt. j.g. Jonathan Linder of The Sullivans both had the chance to spend time aboard the Albanian patrol craft, while Ensigns Dawn Makowsky and Cavan Tubbs spent a day and a half aboard Patuxent.

"Being able to cross-deck to a [military sealift command] ship was a wonderful new experience for me," said Tubbs. "I had a chance to experience what only a select handful of Navy Sailors ever get to see. As an officer on board an Aegis platform, it was really interesting to see the distinct differences between a warship and a support ship. Not only did I get the opportunity to tour a unique platform, I also had the opportunity to interface with Merchant Mariners. I learned about their unique career paths, billeting, rank structures, tasking, and even about their incentives and pay. It was really interesting to see how civilian sailors differed from military Sailors."

Both American and Albanian forces enjoyed participating in the Albanian PASSEX exercise and greatly benefited from exposure to each other's navies.

"I really enjoyed the opportunity to work with the Albanian navy, whose size belies a competence and professionalism that is second to none," said Linder.

The Albanian PASSEX exercise ultimately helped to open the lines of communication more between the U.S. and Albanian navies. "It may seem like a small thing to us, but by the end of the DIVTACS (divisional tactics) exercise, we had them saying 'Roger, out' over Bridge to Bridge [radio]," said Lt. Cmdr. Wyatt Chidester, The Sullivans executive officer.

"While some of what we did might have been very simple for your Navy, it was very beneficial for us to do," said Albanian naval officer Lt. Cmdr. Adnand Agastra. "Operating with the American Navy is becoming more normal for us."