Monterey Returns Home after Successful 'Partnership of the Americas' Deployment
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS060526-43
Release Date: 5/26/2006 2:43:00 PM
By Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Katherine Favell, USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group
NORFOLK (NNS) -- USS Monterey (CG 61) returned to Naval Station Norfolk May 25 following a seven-week deployment to the Caribbean in support of “Partnership of the Americas.”
"Partnership of the Americas" featured operations with Caribbean and Latin American countries, as well as goodwill port visits throughout the region. The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM)-sponsored deployment was designed to enhance maritime security and strengthen ties with partner nations.
During "Partnership of the Americas," Monterey's crew conducted unit-level training and exercises with militaries of other countries in the Caribbean Sea, focusing on providing humanitarian relief and eliminating narco-terrorism and human trafficking.
"This has been a phenomenal success across the board," said Capt. Robert Oldani, Monterey’s commanding officer. "The ‘Partnership of the Americas’ deployment has been a culmination of tremendous efforts from all hands and has left a positive, long-term effect on the people of our partner nations.”
Monterey left Norfolk April 4 for the deployment and during the time in the SOUTHCOM region, completed numerous unit-level training exercises including a towing exercise with USS Stout (DDG 55), work-ups with embarked Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 46 Detachment 1, and a submarine tracking exercise.
Monterey’s first bilateral exchange was a visit by a group of St. Kitts/Nevis coast guardsmen who came aboard to receive training in non-compliant boarding procedures. U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 406, which was embarked aboard Monterey for the deployment, trained more than two dozen St. Kitts service members during the day-long evolution.
Monterey also conducted operations and exercises with foreign navies in the region. Included in these was a bilateral exercise with the Colombian navy. In addition to Monterey, the exercise involved USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS Underwood (FFG 36), and the Columbian navy frigates ARC Antioquia (FN 53) and ARC Caldas (FN 52).
The two-day exercise included boarding exercises for which several Colombian naval officers embarked on Monterey to observe.
“Working with the Colombian navy was very advantageous for both parties,” said Rear Adm. Joseph Kilkenny, the commander of the George Washington Carrier Strike Group. “Even after such a short bilateral interaction, we feel comfortable with Colombia’s capabilities. Their Navy is extremely professional and proficient. They are great sailors and we are glad to have them as allies.”
In another two-day joint training venture, Monterey and Jamaica Defence Forces engaged in a Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) exercise aboard Monterey in Kingston Harbor and ashore in Kingston, Jamaica. Ten Jamaican sailors spent the night aboard training and sharing in military cultural exchange, while members of LEDET 406 conducted training ashore. The TSC culminated with a reception aboard Monterey attended by more than 50 dignitaries and foreign service members, and a live demonstration of the skills honed.
Monterey also made two goodwill port visits during the deployment to help forge positive relationships with countries in the region. During their visits to Aruba and St. Kitts, Monterey Sailors volunteered more than 200 hours to community relations projects.
In a message released to the units involved in “Partnership of the Americas,” Commander, Naval Forces Southern Command, Rear Adm. James Stevenson said the Sailors' interactions during the port visits “served to build important civilian-to-military ties through your impressive community relations projects. The positive impact of your efforts and the goodwill you fostered will be seen and remembered long after your departure.”
"The operations conducted in the Caribbean were invaluable for the Navy," said Kilkenny. "We recognize that the best way to forge partnerships is through communications and operations. In order for us to respond to an international crisis, such as a natural disaster, as a multinational force, we need to work on our interoperability and let nations in the region know who we are and what we can provide."
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