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At-sea Exercise Strengthens American, Argentine Interoperability

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080512-23
Release Date: 5/12/2008 4:24:00 PM

By Lt. Mike Connors, USS Kauffman Public Affairs

USS KAUFFMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors from USS Kauffman (FFG 59) completed intense navy-to-navy training exercises including maritime interdiction operations and visit, board, search and seizure (MIO/VBSS) with Argentine forces May 6 during bilateral training along the southeast Atlantic coast of South America.

For the exercise, Kauffman simulated a merchant vessel en route to Valparaiso, Chile while the crew of the Argentine frigate Gomez Roca (P 46) practiced interdicting and then boarding the Kauffman.

The in-depth evolution began with Gomez Roca making a query of USS Kauffman's crew by radio. Following a request to inspect Kauffman for "possible smuggling" the Gomez Roca MIO/VBSS team boarded and searched USS Kauffman.

Kauffman's commanding officer, Cmdr. Robert Cepek, said the exercises went well despite the heavy seas and helped to cement the relationship between Argentina and the United States.

"This opportunity to coordinate and exchange information with the Argentine navy is important to strengthening our partnership with this key ally," Cepek said. "These exercises allow us to strengthen regional stability by developing the interoperability required for joint operations."

The at-sea operation with the Argentine navy was just one event of many throughout the four-day exercise with Argentina as the George Washington Carrier Strike Group operates in the waters around South America in support of Partnership of the Americas 2008. Other multi-national events held in the region included an anti-submarine warfare exercise, a surface warfare exercise, a ship-rider exchange program and other military-to-military engagements.

"These interoperability exercises are laying the framework for regional partnerships throughout the 21st century," said Capt. Rudy Laco, commander of Destroyer Squadron 40. "These events have underscored the professionalism and capability of the Argentine navy as a maritime force capable of working with partner nations to ensure regional stability. I look forward to working with Argentina for many years to come."

For more news from USS George Washington, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn73/.