USS Mount Whitney Paves the Way for Partnerships
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS070924-03
Release Date: 9/24/2007 11:54:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jennifer Clifton, COMUSNAVEUR/COMSIXTHFLT Public Affairs
SOUDA BAY, Greece (NNS) -- USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) is making preparations to take on approximately 70 ship riders from six countries in the region of the Black and Caspian Seas for a five-day underway event in the area from Sept. 24-29.
The Black Sea Partnership Cruise, designed to foster theater security, maritime safety and information sharing, is the first cooperative training event of its kind in the region.
"We're going to make incredible headway in relationships and partnerships in the Black Sea," said Capt. Chip Walter, commodore of Commander Task Force 67, in anticipation of the event.
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Bass, the staff embarkation officer for the exercise, said he is expecting junior officers and senior enlisted from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine.
The 6th Fleet command ship will provide the training platform for four primary workshops including helicopter control operations, noncommissioned officer development, interoperability discussions and an oil spill table top discussion. Other workshops will cover shipboard medical procedures/CPR, exercise analysis and force protection.
A mix of ship riders from all of the participating nations will attend each of the four primary workshops.
"We want to promote regional security and show them the benefit of working together," said Capt. Skip Lussier, the regional planning team lead for the exercise.
The Black Sea Partnership Cruise is part of the Maritime Partnership Program, a larger U.S. government team effort to enhance stability worldwide by promoting cooperation and maritime safety and security.
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