Maritime forces participating in Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2012, the largest multinational maritime exercise this year in the Baltic Sea, demonstrated a land, sea and air amphibious operation for international distinguished visitors here, June 11.
PALANGA, Lithuania – U.S. Marine Col. Gregory Douquet, chief of staff, Marine Forces Europe, (left) and U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Anne Derse (right) plant a ceremonial oak tree during Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2012, June 11. This is the 40th iteration of BALTOPS, a maritime exercise intended to improve interoperability with partner nations by conducting realistic training at sea.
KLAIPEDA, Lithuania (July 27, 2011) - Sideboys aboard the USS Carr (FFG 52) render honors for the arrival of Anne Derse, the U.S. ambassador to Lithuania. Carr hosted a reception aboard the ship for U.S. and Lithuanian dignitaries, including the ambassador and commander in chief of the Lithuanian Navy. Carr is homeported out of Norfolk, Va., and is on a scheduled three-month deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Brian Lance/Released)
I believe most people think that special operations forces never interact with the media. That is, of course, until something bad happens, forcing someone to explain the situation in an ambiguous manner.
On Oct. 22, I had the most rewarding day since being assigned as the Bilateral Affairs Officer to the U.S. Embassy, Vilnius, Lithuania. That day, I was in charge of organizing the delivery of hygiene and medical material donated as part of Project Handclasp, the Navy’s space available program for shipping humanitarian donations.
