MEDITERRANEAN SEA (June 10, 2011) -- A member of the Royal Moroccan armed forces maritime interdiction operations team, attached to the Royal Moroccan ship Hassan II, examines a mock component used to build a weapon of mass destruction aboard USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) on June 10, as a part of Phoenix Express 2011. Phoenix Express is a three-week exercise divided into in-port and underway training phases designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships among the 14 participating countries in their efforts to deter illicit trafficking at sea.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (June 11, 2011) -- Sailors attached to USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) stand by to conduct replenishment at sea with Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198), June 11, as a part of Phoenix Express 2011. Phoenix Express, a three-week exercise divided into in-port and underway training phases, is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships among the 13 participating countries in their efforts to deter illicit trafficking at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Edward Vasquez/Released)

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (June 11, 2011) -- USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) comes alongside Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198) in anticipation of conducting a replenishment at sea, June 11, as a part of Phoenix Express 2011. Phoenix Express, a three-week exercise divided into in-port and underway training phases, is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships among the 13 participating countries in their efforts to deter illicit trafficking at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Edward Vasquez/Released)

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (June 8, 2011) Firefighters aboard USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) conduct a fire drill exercise on the flight deck of Groves as a part of Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), June 7. A three-week exercise divided into in-port and underway training phases, PE-11 is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships among the 14 participating countries in their efforts to deter illicit trafficking at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Edward Vasquez)

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (June 8, 2011) -- A member of the maritime interdiction operations Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure team attached to USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) climbs down the boarding ladder to conduct a boarding exercise as a part of Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), June 7. A three-week exercise divided into in-port and underway training phases, PE-11 is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships among the 14 participating countries in their efforts to deter illicit trafficking at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Edward Vasquez/Released)

Teams from four ships came together to participate in a damage control training workshop as a part of exercise Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11) at Marathi Pier in Souda Bay, June 2.

Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), a multi-national maritime exercise between U.S., North African and European naval forces, held a pre-sail kickoff meeting here June 1, bringing together for the first time since the exercise began ten days ago the Task Force Phoenix Express commander and the commanding officers and crew of the eight ships participating in the exercise.

Two lead coxswains from USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) First Division joined several colleagues from the Greek armed forces to conduct a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) evolution here during a May 30 Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11) training course.

Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), a three-week exercise bringing together 13 different countries that began May 23, combines a vast array of military training and knowledge from all participants in an effort to deter illicit trafficking at sea.

The Visit, Board, Search and Seizure team (boarding team) from USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) was taught the elements of psychology that come into play during maritime interdiction operations (MIO) during a May 25 classroom training presented as part exercise Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11).

Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), a multi-national maritime exercise, brought Sailors from the U.S. and Greek navies together to sharpen their small arms handling, an essential skill used in conducting maritime interdiction operations (MIO) against vessels suspected of illicit trafficking.

Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), a multi-national maritime exercise, is helping Sailors from U.S., North African and European naval forces to understand better how to perform Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), used by participant nations in their efforts to deter illicit trafficking at sea.

Sailors from the U.S., Royal Morocco and Mauritania naval forces sharpened their essential skills in basic combat first aid during Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), a multi-national maritime exercise designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships.