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2nd Fleet Staff Boots Interoperability Through Training with Interagency Experts

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081106-06
Release Date: 11/6/2008 6:14:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Lolita Lewis, Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet staff members participated in a maritime headquarters training event Oct. 27-30 at Norfolk Naval Station to enhance the staff's ability to function as a joint task force in planning and executing contingency and crisis response.

Approximately 70 staff members attended the event which featured a special panel of experts from U.S. Southern Command, Department of State and other organizations.

Vice Adm. Mel Williams Jr., commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet kicked off the four-day event by emphasizing the importance of training and responding to change as critical keys to success.
"We as individuals and teams should grow and learn together so we are better prepared to meet our responsibilities," Williams said.

"This organization's ability to rapidly mobilize and deploy as a [joint task force] headquarters provides a geographic combatant commander a trained and ready headquarters that is scalable and prepared to execute operations across the operational continuum, ranging from disaster relief/humanitarian assistance to major combat operations."

Building relationships and having established contacts prior to a crisis allows planners to develop dialogues early on, break down barriers and facilitate quicker and a more effective response, noted Williams.

The panel consisted of Paul Berg, the acting director of the Western Hemisphere Bureau's Office of Policy, Planning and Regional Coordination and Commander, 2nd Fleet's virtual political advisor (POLAD); Col. Dan Tomlinson, the political military (POLMIL) advisor at the State Department's Western Hemisphere Affairs; Leana Bresnahan, chief of human rights, U.S. Southern Command; Steven Klingel, the Security Sector Reform/ Rule of Law coordinator, U.S. Southern Command Partnering Directorate; and Phil Sundel, the deputy legal advisor in the Washington Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

They each explained their roles and mission areas and highlighted key points from their perspectives to enhance 2nd Fleet's ability to respond as a JTF.

Klingel praised the command for being proactive.

"The fact that you are looking so far ahead in this training is a joy to behold. I've seen exercise after exercise where this could've helped," said Klingel. "A forum like this could speed up the entire planning an execution process."

"We need to be joined across the board, know the rule sets as we work with our partners to go after the adversary," said Williams.

Williams concluded by thanking panel members for their insight and assistance in support of 2nd Fleet. He also applauded his staff for investing the time to train and enhance the command's readiness.

For more news from Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c2f/.