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Farragut Conducts Theater Security Cooperation Activities With Uruguayan Navy

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080511-03
Release Date: 5/11/2008 8:04:00 PM

By Ensign Jillian Danback, USS Farragut Public Affairs

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (NNS) -- The crew of USS Farragut (DDG 99) arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay May 6, where they marked the beginning of theater security cooperation exercises (TSC) with the Uruguayan Navy.

Farragut Sailors are participating in the TSC exercises in support of Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2008, a U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) exercise designed to promote interoperability and partnership with hemispheric nations.

"The focus of TSC is to work with partner nations in order to establish friendly working relationships through the exchange of training tactics," said Cmdr. Scott E. Dugan, Farragut's commanding officer. "Ultimately we want to demonstrate that our commitment towards interoperability and maritime security extends beyond the needs of any single country."

While TSC is an important part of POA, it also supports the Chief of Naval Operations' Maritime Strategy and the Naval Operational Concept. TSC activities center around three main pillars: military to military engagements, community service activities, and receptions for foreign dignitaries.

Scheduled events during Farragut's TSC include two community relations (COMREL) projects to the Maruja Boy's Orphanage and a senior citizens' residence. Farragut Sailors conducted vessel boarding search and seizure (VBSS) training with the Uruguayan navy and ship handling exercises with the Uruguayan Patrol Crafts 15 de Noviembre (R05) and 25 de Agusto (R06), and provided courses of instruction on small boat engineering and repair.

Tours of Farragut will also be offered to Uruguayan naval personnel, their families, and midshipmen at the Uruguayan Naval Academy.

Additionally, Marines embarked from the 4th Recon Detachment of the 24th Marines will assist in TSC events by conducting gunnery training with Uruguayan Marines and Marine Corps martial arts sessions for both Farragut and Uruguayan VBSS teams. The incorporation of Marines into TSC exercises demonstrates the importance of interoperability for not only partnering navies, but for the entire Navy-Marine Corp team as well.

Farragut Sailors continue participation in POA '08, the third exercise by that name, from April until October in Central and South America, as well as in the Caribbean. The exercise emphasizes interoperability and cooperation between U.S. and partner nation's maritime forces through a variety of exercises and events.

For more news from USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn73/.