PANAMAX 2008 Begins Work-up Phase
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080818-04
Release Date: 8/18/2008 2:59:00 PM
Top News Story - Editors should consider using these stories first in local publications.
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class J.T. Bolestridge, USS Farragut Public Affairs
USS FARRAGUT, At Sea (NNS) -- The guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59), guided-missile destroyers USS Farragut (DDG 99) and USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 40, and 19 partner nations began the "work up" phase of Fuerzas Aliadas (FA) PANAMAX 2008, Aug. 14.
The at-sea phases of the exercise occur in the Caribbean and Pacific waters off the coast of Panama, and are broken up into several different scenarios and evolutions.
Kauffman Operations Officer Lt. James Wright explained how FA-PANAMAX will play out.
"The first phase of PANAMAX is our work up phase," said Wright. "It allows us to work the kinks out of our systems, flex our communications and generally re-familiarize ourselves with the capabilities of our force. After the work up phase we shift to the exercise scenario phase (ESP). In the ESP, we will see multiple attempts by 'terrorist' forces trying to attack the canal, transfer contraband through the canal, and generally disrupt the flow of goods through the canal. Our job is first to identify these threats, and second to eliminate them or mitigate their impact."
Bringing 20 nations together into a joint training environment takes a lot of work and preparation, but Wright also said that PANAMAX gives U.S. Sailors a unique opportunity to train in a variety of situations to which they normally wouldn't have access.
"Our biggest challenge is finding suitable targets on which to perform maritime interdiction operations (MIO) and visit, boarding, search and seizure (VBSS)," said Wright. "Most of our training is done on other warships. PANAMAX allows us the opportunity to do boardings on commercial vessels contracted specifically for that purpose. It also allows us to see different ways of handling some of our other warfare areas, providing important lessons in surface warfare and multinational and joint interoperability."
More than 30 vessels, 12 aircraft and 7,000 personnel are involved in the exercises focused on ensuring the security of the Panama Canal. DESRON 40 Commodore, Capt. Rudy Laco, said that getting this many partner nations to participate in an exercise of this sort strengthens overall interoperability and helps ensure hemispheric stability.
"Twenty nations coordinating to come together and work together for an 11-day span is amazing in itself; we're really strengthening the relationships between all of these participating navies," said Laco. "In the event of a real world situation requiring a multinational effort, the groundwork we're laying here will be invaluable."
FA PANAMAX 2008 participating nations include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, the United States and Uruguay. France, Mexico, Paraguay, and Spain are scheduled to participate as observers. The Conference of Central American Armies, the Organization of American States and the United Nations will also participate.
USS Kauffman, with Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL)42 Detachment 7 embarked, USS Farragut, and USS Forrest Sherman are assigned to DESRON 40 and deployed in support of Partnership of the Americas (POA) '08 operations. POA is an annual, year-long engagement operation held throughout South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. POA 08, sponsored by U.S. Southern Command, is implemented by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)/U.S. 4th Fleet, and emphasizes interoperability and cooperation between U.S. and partner nation's maritime forces through a variety of exercises and events.
For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.
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