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Neptune Warrior Prepares Boone for Upcoming Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060630-24
6/30/2006

By Photographer’s Mate Airman Apprentice John Suits, Destroyer Squadron 24 Public Affairs

USS BOONE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Boone (FFG 28) completed the Neptune Warrior course June 28 while underway in the North Atlantic.

Neptune Warrior is a course designed to increase the coordination between coalition and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies in maritime operations. The course takes units from the participating nations and divides them into different groups to simulate contact between air, surface, and sub-surface threats.

“This is possibly the best training Boone could’ve asked for,” said Cmdr. Marc Dalton, Boone’s commanding officer. “Neptune Warrior is a NATO exercise, and it gave us the opportunity to work with allied forces to prepare us for our next deployment.”

Boone provided sea-escort and littoral support to USS Monterey (CG 61) and its forces during Neptune Warrior, which has been evolving over the years.

“Neptune Warrior began with the Royal Navy when they ran a training course to train their own forces, but it expanded for training many navies around the world,” said Dalton. “Boone learned how USS Simpson (FFG 56) and USS Mcinerney (FFG 8) went through Neptune Warrior and reviewed lessons learned from the course. We were given information from Joint Maritime Operational Training Staff (JMOTS) in order to train for the course and we were given individual deployment training provided by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (COMDESRON) 24,” Dalton added.

Lt. Mike Wolner, Combat Systems Officer (CSO) aboard Boone, explained how Neptune Warrior benefited Boone’s Sailors.

“The crew learned how to operate in a battle group environment,” said Wolner. “Neptune Warrior covers a broad spectrum of warfare in controlling air assets and terror threats. Neptune Warrior is an experience Boone isn’t able to simulate. It allowed us to expose Boone to real-world situations, and it gives us room to be a more organized and flexible Navy.”

Having successfully completed Neptune Warrior and earned their certification, the crew of Boone will return to Mayport, Fla., to prepare for their upcoming deployment. Monterey and USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) also completed the Neptune Warrior course.

For related news, visit the Destroyer Squadron 24 Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/desron24/.