The tenth iteration of Exercise Phoenix Express serves to improve regional cooperation, increase maritime domain awareness information-sharing practices, and operational capabilities to enhance efforts to achieve safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea.

Joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead and its embarked detachment of U.S. Navy Sailors, civil service mariners and U.S., Spanish and British Marines conduct the Gabon phase of Spearhead’s support to Africa Partnership Station in Port Gentil, Gabon.

150406-N-EC444-029 PORT GENTILE, Gabon (April 6, 2015) The Military Sealift Command’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) moored in Port Gentile, Gabon April 6, 2015. Spearhead is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of the international collaborative capacity-building program Africa Partnership Station. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Sonny Lorrius/Released)

150406-N-RB579-025 PORT GENTIL, Gabon (April 6, 2015) The Military Sealift Command’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) moored in Port Gentil, Gabon April 6, 2015. Spearhead is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of the international collaborative capacity-building program Africa Partnership Station. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joshua Davies/Released)

150406-N-RB579-019 PORT GENTIL, Gabon (April 6, 2015) Sailors stand on the flight deck of the Military Sealift Command’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) after the ship pulls into Port Gentil, Gabon April 6, 2015. Spearhead is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of the international collaborative capacity-building program Africa Partnership Station. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joshua Davies/Released)

U.S. Naval course brings 33 naval leaders from Africa and Europe to discuss maritime issues of mutual concern in effort to improve war-fighting capability.

NAPLES, Italy (March. 2, 2015) Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, Vice Adm. James Foggo, III, welcomes Gabon navy Chief Rear Adm. Yves Keba Malekou as he arrives for the 2015 Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) Flag Course Africa at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, March 2, 2015. During this weeklong CFMCC course, facilitated by the U.S. Naval War College, 33 senior naval leaders from maritime countries in Europe and Africa will participate in seminars and discussions focusing on the effective employment of naval forces in a joint, coalition or interagency environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel P. Schumacher/Released)

The U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band visited Mauritania for performances and engagements to enhance U.S.-Mauritania relations and build ties with their musical counterparts. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt.j.g. Christopher Cornette/Released)

Marines and sailors from Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 14 completed a partnership exercise in Gabon, June 28.

The guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) participated in a bilateral underway engagement with the Tunisian Navy’s Patrol Ship 501 La Galite and an Archangel-class patrol boat, June 14.

It has been roughly three-and-a-half months since Spearhead departed Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., on the first part of her maiden deployment to U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) theaters.