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USS Farragut Hosts First International Reception in Montevideo, Uruguay

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080512-10
Release Date: 5/12/2008 11:31:00 AM

By Ensign Jillian Danback, USS Farragut (DDG 99) Public Affairs

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (NNS) -- The crew of USS Farragut (DDG 99) hosted the ship's first international reception May 6, just hours after arriving at the Port of Montevideo Terminal, for a port visit.

This reception marked the beginning of Farragut's theater security cooperation (TSC) mission in support of Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2008.

The reception, held on Farragut's flight deck, involved a great deal of planning, according to Cmdr. Scott E. Dugan, Farragut's commanding officer.

"This event's success was a direct reflection of the enormous amount of work on the crew's behalf. It's difficult to imagine that an affair this elegant was held in the same place where we were conducting helicopter operations and mooring evolutions only a few hours ago," Dugan said. "However, the results were incredible."

Dugan explained the reception on the ship was the perfect venue to discuss common interests in Maritime Security, regional stability, and the importance of multinational cooperation.

"The focus of TSC is to work with partnering nations in order to establish friendly working relationships through the exchange of training between Navies and interaction in the community," Dugan said. "Ultimately we want to demonstrate that our commitment towards interoperability and maritime security extends beyond the needs of any single country."

In attendance were more than one hundred guests, to include numerous Ambassadors to Uruguay from over thirty countries, the Uruguayan Chief of Naval Operations, members of the U.S Embassy staff, military attaches from the United States Navy, Air Force, and Army, and various other civilian and military representatives.

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

Farragut Sailors are scheduled to participate 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 Farragut, visit www.navy.mil/local/ddg99/.