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PANAMAX 2007 Last Major Exercise of Partnership of the Americas 2007

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070911-10
Release Date: 9/11/2007 2:40:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Alexia M. Riveracorrea, CDS40 Public Affairs

VASCO NUNEZ DE BALBOA, Panama (NNS) -- With the completion of exercise PANAMAX 2007, major exercises of the Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2007 deployment have concluded. POA 2007 began in April and included exercises and other events throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean.

“PANAMAX was a great way to close out the major portions of the POA deployment,” said Commander Task Group 40.0 Capt. Randy Snyder, who led the deployment. “POA is designed around multinational interaction; working with 19 other countries on such a major exercise is exactly the level of interoperability we were sent to do.”

PANAMAX 2007 featured training and simulation in monitoring vessels at sea; visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) of suspect vessels; maritime interdiction operations; and flight operations. Each element was designed to enhance maritime domain awareness where navies are able to have a very up-to-date understanding of the marine operating environment.

This year’s PANAMAX, which included participants from 19 countries, also introduced joint operations to the annual event, which included actual and simulated ground operations in Honduras and enhanced, simulated air missions.

“The joint perspective really added to the complexity and realism of the exercise,” said Snyder.

While the exercise was expanded over previous years, it still maintained its maritime focus, key to preserving the security and sovereignty of the Panama Canal. One element of each year’s exercise is embarking partner-nation personnel in participating ships.

“As a ship rider on board USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), I think PANAMAX was executed with a high level of interoperability among participant navies,” said Panamanian Pacific Fleet Officer Lt. Jose Rojas.

Though PANAMAX was the last major element of POA, the deployment does not officially end for several days. Pearl Harbor is transiting back to its homeport of San Diego, USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) has a visit scheduled in Mexico prior to returning to its homeport of Mayport, Fla., and USS Mitscher (DDG 57) is scheduled to pick up family members for a Tiger Cruise on its way to its homeport of Norfolk.

“POA 2007 was a great deployment; each phase taught us more about other cultures in South America and how well their navies are trained,” said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Milluska Salazar on board Pearl Harbor. “I met a lot of people and made friends that will last for a long time.”

Other exercises completed during POA 2007 included UNITAS Atlantic off the coast of Argentina, Teamwork South off the coast of Chile, UNITAS Pacific off the coast of Peru, and numerous other bilateral exercises and exchanges with partner nation militaries in the region.

Participating in PANAMAX 2007 were USS Wasp (LHD 1), with Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15 detachment one and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 detachment four; USS Pearl Harbor; USS Mitscher; USS Samuel B Roberts, with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Wing (HSL) 48 Det. 7 embarked; and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Thetis (WMEC 912). Other Navy units included elements from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, Mine Countermeasures Squadron 3, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operational Support Units, and Navy Special Warfare personnel.