TUNIS, Tunisia – Maritime forces from North Africa, Europe, and the United States concluded Exercise Phoenix Express 2015, May 25, 2015.
Phoenix Express 2015, sponsored and facilitated by U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), is designed to improve regional cooperation, maritime domain awareness (MDA), information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise to counter sea-based illicit activity in the region.
Quotes:
“Phoenix Express 2015 with its tactical execution and maritime operations center coordination was truly an effective example of how our global network of navies can provide maritime safety and security.”
- Capt. Bryan Durkee, Commodore, CTF 67
“Five years from now, if some real world catastrophe is going on, we have people we’ve worked together with, we can pick up the phone and call them by their first name because we know them. They’re in a position to have an effect on the situation. That kind of thing really reaps benefits because you’ve worked with these people before and they trust you and you trust them.”
- Cmdr. Paul Henry, Deputy exercise control group lead
“There are many emerging challenges, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, so for us, it’s our pleasure to contribute and improve our navy’s skills.”
-Lt. Cmdr. Iosif Papadakis, Hellenic Navy
Quick Facts:
- Exercise Phoenix Express is one of four U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet-facilitated regional exercises. The exercise is part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities amongst African forces and international partners that addresses maritime security concerns.
- The at-sea portion of the exercise tested North African, European, and U.S. forces’ abilities to combat illegal migration, piracy, and movement of materials for weapons of mass destruction. Additionally, participating forces worked together to practice procedures of search and rescue in cases where vessels are in distress.
- Participating Maritime Operations Centers (MOCs) exercised information sharing practices.
- Participants of Phoenix Express had opportunities to enhance expertise in a number of areas: boarding techniques, search-and-rescue operations, medical casualty response, MOC to MOC communication, and maritime domain awareness tools.
- Scenarios focused on the globally-recognized Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) allowed endorsing nations to develop capabilities to detect and disrupt the delivery of materials used to build and develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
- U.S. units participating included the dive and rescue salvage ship USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51), USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) and P-3C Orion aircraft from Patrol Squadron (VP) 47. Additionally, medical and maritime interdiction operations (MIO) specialists assisted participating partner nation units during the exercise.
- Participating nations in Phoenix Express 2015 include Algeria, Croatia, Greece, Egypt, France, Italy, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey and the United States.