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UNITAS Atlantic 2015 to Begin in Brazil

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS151113-02
Release Date: 11/13/2015 9:02:00 AM

By ENS Carol McKenzie, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fl. (NNS) -- Naval forces from Brazil, Chile, Peru, Mexico and the United States will begin UNITAS Atlantic 2015, an annual multinational exercise in Rio Grande, Brazil, Nov. 13.

Personnel from Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and Senegal will also participate in the exercise.

This year's exercise is hosted by the Brazilian Navy and will include multiple warships, aircraft and submarines that will conduct operations in the Atlantic. The UNITAS Atlantic commander is Rear Adm. Newton Calvoso Pinto Homem, Brazilian Navy.

Forces from the United States include USS George Washington (CVN 73), Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, USS Chafee (DDG 90), USNS Bighorn(T-AO-198) and USS McFaul (DDG 74), Patrol Squadron (VP) 8, VP-9, VP-62, a U.S. Air Force KC-135 plane, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23 and U.S. Navy Reserve Augmentees will also participate in UNITAS.

UNITAS is intended to train participating forces in a variety of maritime scenarios to test command and control of forces at sea, while operating as a multinational force to provide the maximum opportunity to improve interoperability.

'UNITAS provides an opportunity to test our ability to collaborate and operate as a multinational team in a challenging maritime environment,' said Rear Adm. George Ballance, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, U.S. 4th Fleet.

The overall objectives of the intense training focus on promoting tactical interoperability and promoting friendship, professionalism and mutual understanding among the participating partner nations, while increasing theater security cooperation in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

'Each warfare scenario will enhance relationships and build on skills in a variety of areas,' Ballance said. 'Specifically, the focus is on skill development and interoperability in electronic warfare, anti-air warfare, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and maritime interdiction operations.'

UNITAS began in 1960. It is the U.S. Navy's longest running annual multinational maritime exercise. UNITAS, which means 'unity' in Latin, is a demonstration of the U.S. commitment to the region and to the value of the strong relationships forged between our partner militaries.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet employ maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations in order to enhance interoperability, build enduring partnerships that foster regional security, and maintain access in the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility (AOR).