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USS Ingraham Joins Exercise Eagle Salute

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080403-01
Release Date: 4/3/2008 8:14:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jonathan Kulp, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

RED SEA (NNS) -- Guided-missile frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61) joined Egyptian and U.S. maritime forces, March 4 in the Red Sea to participate in Exercise Eagle Salute 2008.

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and Egyptian maritime forces held the bilateral exercise to promote ship-to-ship interoperability, strengthen military relationships, and enhance regional security.

"The exercise was a great way to strengthen our military-to-military relationships with the Egyptian maritime forces," said Ingraham's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Rick Odom. "My crew was very engaged and motivated. They performed their jobs very well."

Among the exercises performed were visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS), search and rescue (SAR), and an underway connected replenishment between Ingraham and the Egyptian ship ENS El-Zaffer (DD 951).

"The VBSS exercise was a good teambuilding experience for both navies," said Chief Gunner's Mate (ESWS) Curtis Staybrook, Ingraham's boarding officer.

Seaman Brian Jones, a line-handler attached to Ingraham, agreed that Eagle Salute provided everyone involved with worthwhile training.

"Once the lines were set up, we were able to pass and receive cargo from their ship to ours," Jones said. "I think the evolution went well."

Ingraham is in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations as part of the Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group, which is currently conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) as part of a regularly scheduled deployment.

MSO help set the conditions for security in the maritime environment, which promotes stability and global prosperity. These operations complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusnc/.