US Navy,
USS PEARL HARBOR, At Sea: Task Group 40.0 successfully ended the first phase of its Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2007 deployment after circumnavigating South America while conducting numerous exercises at sea and various port visits.
Navies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, France, Peru, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States as well as the U.S. Coast Guard participated in different events during the UNITAS Atlantic, Team Work South and UNITAS Pacific portions of POA 2007.
“This year’s UNITAS phases and Team Work South exercises were more challenging than ever,” said Commander Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 40 and Task Group 40.0 Capt. Randy Snyder. “In each of the successive events in the exercises, we could see the progressive improvement of not only our own ships, but also the partner nations as well. There has been a steady effort to increase the complexity of events and stress such things as command and control elements, communications capabilities, and combined warfare commander doctrine.”
The task group — which comprises Chilean frigate Latorre (FFG 14) and U.S. Navy ships USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) with Anti-Submarine Helicopter Squadron Light 48 Det. 7 embarked — clearly supported the CNO’s concept of a “1,000-ship navy” global maritime partnership, and opened the door for future deployments together with partner nations throughout Central and South America.
“Sailors of Task Group 40.0 did an excellent job of meeting all the objectives of the theater commander for the deployment,” said Cmdr. John Wilshusen, chief staff officer, DESRON 40. “Whether it was working closely with partner nations to plan and execute challenging events at sea, volunteering for community relations projects or participating in memorial ceremonies and multinational sports ashore, our Sailors put their efforts into every event to accomplish a lot of great things and developed personal friendships with their counterparts across the theater.”
For the next two months, ships of Task Group 40.0 will be doing a series of theater security cooperation events throughout Central America and the Caribbean. During these activities Sailors will work directly with their counterparts in partner nation navies within a wide variety of areas, such as small boat handling, boat engine maintenance, and marine electronics troubleshooting and repair.
“It’s an opportunity for exchange of professional knowledge, skills and abilities at the personal level, and helps develop the spirit of teamwork and cooperation at the tactical level,” said Wilshusen. “Through these building blocks, we can develop the personal ties that allow us to work more proficiently in larger operations like the counter-drug effort.”
During this period, Sailors will also have the chance to interact with local citizens by participating in community relations projects, delivering Project Handclasp materials and taking advantage of tours of the locations visited.
“As good ambassadors we look forward to continue helping others, and enhancing friendship with partner nations,” said Pearl Harbor’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Victor Cooper. “I fully expect this phase to be successful and meaningful for our Sailors as well the community.”
POA 2007 is focusing on enhancing relationships with regional partner nations through a variety of exercises and events at sea and ashore throughout South America and the Caribbean.
