Phoenix Express 2011

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Maroc, Algérie, Tunisie: Phoenix-Express 2011 approche

Le Vice-Amiral Harry B. Harris a annoncé qe l Tunise arbitera le centre de commandement de l'Exercice Phoenix Express 2011

Lors d'une conférence de presse à l'Ambassade des Etats-Unis à Tunis le 9 novembre dernier, le Vice Amiral Harry B. Harris, commandant de 6° Flotte américaine, en compagnie de l'Ambassadeur américain à Tunis, a annoncé que sa présence s'inscrit dans le cadre des préparatifs de la 6e édition de l'exercice naval multilatéral «Phoenix-Express-11» prévu dans la partie centrale de la Méditerranée du 23 mai au 15 juin 2011 et dont le centre de commandement militaire conjoint sera placé à Tunis.
Ces manoeuvres s'inscrivent dans le cadre de la coopération militaire multilatérale entre les forces navales des deux rives nord et sud de la Méditerranée et les forces navales américaines, représentées par leur VIe flotte stationnée en Méditerranée et ont pour but le développement de la coopération entre les forces navales en matière de contrôle et de sécurité maritimes.
Le Maroc et l'Algérie participeront aussi à cet nouvelle édition. Rappelant que que la précédente édition de l'exercice «Phoenix-Express-10» s'est déroulée en trois étapes et ponctuée par deux escales et a vu la participation de plusieurs pays comme : Espagne, France,Grèce, Italie, Maroc, Malte, Portugal, Tunisie, Turquie.
13 11 2010


Fremo

Atlas-Defense

U.S. Marines assigned to 1st Platoon Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) Company Europe, conduct a visit, board, search and seizure drill March 29, 2011, with Spanish naval infantrymen and West African sailors at Naval Station Rota, Spain, in preparation for exercise Phoenix Express 2011. Phoenix Express is a two-week exercise designed to strengthen maritime partnerships and enhance stability in the region through increased interoperability and cooperation among partners from Africa, Europe and United States. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Travis Alston, U.S. Navy/Released)

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Phoenix Express 2011 Begins at Souda Bay, Crete

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeff Troutman Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East Detachment Europe
SOUDA BAY, Crete (May 23, 2011) – Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), a multi-national maritime exercise between U.S., North African and European naval forces, commenced training here today. PE-11, a three-week evolution divided into two phases, is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships.

Maritime and land forces from 14 countries will participate in the international military partnering exercise in the Mediterranean Sea from May 23 to June 15, and will serve as a unique training opportunity to enhance each country’s ability to work together and to deter illicit trafficking at sea.

Exercise events will consist of training in, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and Interdiction Operations (MIO), Command and Control from an ashore Combined Maritime Operations Center (CMOC), Search and Rescue operations (SAR), communications, division tactics, and medical response.

“Phoenix Express has evolved over the past six years, growing from six nations in 2005 to 13 participants this year. It is an essential training exercise in the Mediterranean that fosters trust among Allies and Partners, leverages our combined maritime strength, and promotes unity of effort to overcome common threats against our maritime security,” said Capt. Martin Beck, Commander Task Force Phoenix Express 2011. “The classroom training combined with live at-sea events provides a robust opportunity to share a wealth of expertise and experience among the 13 countries participating in this year’s exercise.”

The in-port phase of the training will focus on medical and MIO training at the NATO MIO Training Center in Souda Bay. Additionally, combined maritime forces pierside will coordinate workshops in helicopter operations and safety, damage control and firefighting, deck seamanship, navigation, SAR, small boat operations and a leadership roundtable. Once the in-port phase is complete, ships and personnel will depart Souda Bay and sail into the central Mediterranean Sea to begin the underway training phase.

While underway, ships and their personnel will focus on MDA and the automatic identification system, to include interaction between forces afloat and the CMOC ashore. Combined maritime forces will also execute a series of scenarios exercising force protection measures, MIO – to include visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) and helicopter VBSS (HVBSS) – SAR, replenishment at sea, towing and helicopter operations.

U.S. units participating in Phoenix Express include USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49), USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29), and Military Sealift Command’s maritime prepositioning ship USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3016) and fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198). Additional U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa staff personnel will also participate alongside other international naval forces in this exercise.



Moroccan navy frigate Hassan II (F 612) and U.S. Navy Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) pier side Souda Bay, Crete, May 24, 2011, at the start of Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11). PE-11, a three-week exercise divided into in-port and underway training phases, is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships among the 14 participating countries in their efforts to deter illicit trafficking at sea.

Avant à Casablanca

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RGB Departs Casablanca, Morocco

Posted: May 18, 2011 - 7:26pm

USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) departed Casablanca, Morocco Wednesday to complete a Theater Security and Cooperation visit.
While in Casablanca, Robert G. Bradley hosted a reception on board, participated in a COMREL, and trained the Moroccan Visit Board Search and Seize (VBSS) team. Sailors on board were given the opportunity to tour Casablanca, and experience a piece of the Morocco culture.
Casablanca marked the last COMREL that the Bradley would participate in.
Three class rooms were painted and repairs made to school desks. Seventeen Bradley Sailors were involved in this COMREL.
Altogether, Bradley participated in COMRELS in five countries which included improving the quality of life for students at schools, playing soccer with children at orphanages, and maintaining the building structure of hospitals.
“The COMREL project in Casablanca was very rewarding for Bradley sailors,” said Logistics Specialist Chief Petty Officer Ed Lafond, Robert G. Bradley COMREL coordinator. “The Moroccan primary school’s teachers and students were very enthusiastic upon our arrival and treated our sailors well.”
After leaving Casablanca, Robert G. Bradley participated in a PASSEX with the Moroccan Naval vessel, Hassen II. This gave VBSS team members from both nations a chance for some very important at-sea training.
“The MIO boarding events that were conducted with Hassan II today, brought forward a great opportunity to work with a partner nation, said Lt.j.g. Jim Carles, USS Robert G. Bradley VBSS Boarding Officer. “It expanded both navies’ capabilities and was a good opportunity to work with one another prior to the Phoenix Express exercise in June.”
Robert G. Bradley, an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, is homeported out of Mayport, Fla., and is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of responsibility.
APS is an international security cooperation initiative, facilitated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, aimed at strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and collaborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security in Africa.

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Phoenix Express Broadens Medical Capability

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

“What we are doing here today is basic first aid training,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class David Openshaw, lead medical instructor and a member of the Utah National Guard. “Most of the countries that come here already have their own style of training. All we want to do is broaden their understanding and show them what we do.”

The medical training will continue through the entire course of PE-11, a three-week evolution divided into in-port and underway training phases, and will include practical, as well as classroom, training.

“This is great training,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Quigley, Medical Corps, the senior medical officer for PE-11. Quigley is a reserve component member from Sixth Fleet reserve detachment 802 out of Navy Operational Support Center Atlanta. “We are here giving all of our multinational partners a broader understanding of basic first aid so that when we are working together we will all have the same knowledge.”

The training covered basic first aid, specifically the “ABC’s” – how to check an airway, breathing and circulation – as well as how to apply tourniquets and how to stop a sucking chest wound.

“This training has been very good. We are here to learn and this training will help our troops,” said Royal Moroccan Navy Maj. Afkir Said, a MIO unit team leader.

Maritime and land forces from 13 countries are participating in the international military partnering exercise, which commenced at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operations Training Center here on May 23, and which will culminate in a six-day underway portion in the Mediterranean Sea. PE-11 is a unique training opportunity designed to enhance each country’s ability to work together and to deter illicit trafficking at sea.

U.S. units participating in PE-11 will include USS Robert G. Bradley, USS Stephen W. Groves, and Military Sealift Command maritime prepositioning ship USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat and fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn. They are joined by Royal Morocco navy frigate Hassan II, along with two MIO boarding teams. Additional U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa staff personnel will also participate alongside other international naval forces in this exercise.

http://www.dvidshub.net/news/71044/phoenix-express-broadens-medical-capability

edit: fusionné,de grace lisez ou vous postez!!

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Moroccan Navy Lt. Amine Khalik (left), a member of the Moroccan special forces and Maj. Said Afkir (right), Moroccan special forces team leader practice using a tunicate during exercise Phoenix Express 2011, May 25, 2011. PE-11, a multi-national maritime exercise between U.S., North African and European naval forces, commenced training here today. PE-11, a three-week evolution divided into two phases of training, is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships.

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U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Quigley is the senior medical officer for PE-11. Quigley is a reserve component member from 6th Fleet reserve detachment 802 out of Navy Operational Support Center Atlanta helps two Moroccan special forces personnel with the correct application of a tunicate during exercise Phoenix Express 2011, May 25, 2011. PE-11, a multi-national maritime exercise between U.S., North African and European naval forces, commenced training here today. PE-11, a three-week evolution divided into two phases of training, is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships.

source: http://www.dvidshub.net

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By Petty Officer 1st Class Edward Vasquez

SOUDA BAY, Greece – Phoenix Express 2011, 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, used by participant nations in their efforts to deter illicit trafficking at sea.

“The training is giving us a broader understanding of MIO operations as well as greater flexibility,” said Royal Moroccan navy Lt. Amine Khalik, a member of the Royal Moroccan special forces.

PE-11, a three-week evolution divided into in-port and underway training phases, is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships.

“This is really helping to bring our different countries together,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer Dale Naaktgeboren, master-at-arms, instructor for Tactical MIO planning. “We are finding out that we are dealing with the same problems and that we can overcome them by working together.”

Maritime and land forces from 13 countries will participate in the international military partnering exercise in the Mediterranean Sea from May 23 to June 15, and will serve as a unique training opportunity to enhance each country’s ability to work together and to deter illicit trafficking at sea. Having the ability to conduct intercept operations against suspect vessels has become increasingly important to these navies.

“This is helping me to get a better understanding of how MIO works,” said U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Pascale, quartermaster, visit, board, search and seizure team member attached to USS Robert G. Bradley. “Coming out here and meeting all of the participants from the other countries is great – it shows me that we have common interests and goals.”

U.S. units participating in Phoenix Express include Bradley, USS Stephen W. Groves, and Military Sealift Command ship maritime prepositioning ship USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat and fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn. Additional U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa staff personnel will also participate alongside other international naval forces in this exercise.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe -U.S. Naval Forces Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/naveur/.

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Phoenix Express 2011 offre une formation MIO

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Sailors from Greece, Morocco and the United States participate in a class to understand better how to perform Maritime Interdiction Operations at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operations Training Center Souda Bay Crete, May 24, during Phoenix Express 2011. PE-11, a three-week evolution divided into inport and underway training phases, is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships.

dvidshub

Moroccan navy frigate Hassan II (F 612) and U.S. Navy Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) pier side Souda Bay, Crete, May 24, 2011, at the start of Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11). PE-11, a three-week exercise divided into in-port and underway training phases, is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships among the 14 participating countries in their efforts to deter illicit trafficking at sea.

Spoiler:

y aura t il un missilex ?

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Lt. Amine Khalid, a member of the Moroccan Special Forces Suspect Vessel Boarding Team, translates English to his teammates during a Phoenix Express 2011 Boarding Team Psychology class in Souda Bay, Crete. PE-11, a three-week exercise divided into in-port and underway training phases, 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 Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeff Troutman)

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Maj. Konstantinos Liolios, a psychiatrist serving in the Greek army, instructs suspected vessel boarding team members from the USS Robert G. Bradley, Greece, Morocco and Croatia during a Phoenix Express 2011 Boarding Team Psychology class in Souda Bay, Crete. PE-11, a three-week exercise divided into in-port and underway training phases, 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 Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeff Troutman)

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MIO Boarding Teams Taught Psychology is Critical to Mission Success


By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeff Troutman

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

The 12 sailors were joined by their multinational exercise partners from Greece, Morocco and Croatia in the hours-long class at the NATO MIO Training Center here as the trainees learned a variety of psychological factors that come into play when boarding a vessel suspected of engaging in illicit trafficking.

Greek armed forces Maj. Konstantine Liolios, the psychiatrist who instructed the class, devoted the first part of the lecture to psychological factors which often affect MIO boarding teams, with the second hour addressing the psychological factors that often stem from interacting with the crew of the suspected vessel.

“Stress is something we are faced with every day, and we have to learn to be comfortable with it, and manage it properly,” said Liolios. “A boarding member who is overstressed or fearful of the mission will spread that anxiety to the crew of the suspected vessel, and that can be very problematic.”

Liolios used the classroom time to teach the Sailors from the different MIO boarding teams everything from proper stress-reducing breathing techniques to effective team-building scenarios designed to bring a boarding team closer to one another professionally.

“As members of a boarding team, it’s essential that you act as a team,” Liolios told the class. “It’s what is known as a ‘correlational paradigm’ -- the more cohesion the team has, the better the performance, and vice-versa.”

The second part of the class helped the boarding teams recognize and understand the psychological standpoint from the crew of the suspected vessel’s point of view, and included breakdowns of ways boarding teams are to use the vessel’s chain of command and maintain professionalism when dealing with the crew to avoid a catastrophic shift in control. Basic communication rules stressed during the lecture reminded the boarding members to always treat others with dignity and respect and to maintain eye contact, as well as looking for clues in a crew members body language.

The sailors from Bradley were hopeful that despite the inevitable language barriers they would encounter during PE-11, they would walk away with a better understanding of how boarding teams from other cultures kept the seas safe for all.

“We’re hoping to pick up some tips from the other boarding teams here at PE-11,” said U.S. Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeremy Allen, Navy boatswain’s mate, the captain’s liaison for the USS Bradley boarding team. “Our goal here is to get more proficient in our own training, and at the same time help train our allies.”

“What we take away from this class will help us to know each other better and be more coherent in our duties,” said Royal Morocco Navy Lt. Amine Khalid, a member of a Moroccan boarding team who acted as an English translator for his teammates during the class. “This class will help us to pay better attention to detail during our training at PE-11, and during actual missions in the future.”

At the end of the class, Liolios completed his lecture by underscoring the importance of stress management techniques and recognizing severe stress reactions.

“All of the things taught in this class are common sense, but should still be kept in the forefront of the boarding team’s mind,” said Liolios. “We need to be stressed enough that it improves our level of functioning, so that we can perform each mission as safe and proficient as possible.”

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe -U.S. Naval Forces Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/naveur/.

http://www.dvidshub.net/news/71132/mio-boarding-teams-taught-psychology-critical-mission-success

photos HR

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Phoenix Express Training Broadens Medical Capabilities
Story Number: NNS110527-08
5/27/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Edward Vasquez, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East
SOUDA BAY, Crete (NNS) -- The U.S., Royal Morocco and Mauritania naval forces sharpened their essential skills in basic combat first aid training presented May 25, during Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), a multi-national maritime exercise designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships.

"What we are doing here today is basic first aid training," said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class David Openshaw, lead medical instructor and Utah National Guard member. "Most of the countries that come here already have their own style of training. All we want to do is broaden their understanding and show them what we do."

The medical training will continue through the entire course of PE-11, a three-week evolution divided into in-port and underway training phases, and will include practical, as well as classroom, training.

"This is great training," said Cmdr. John Quigley, Medical Corps, PE-11 senior medical officer and Reserve component member from 6th Fleet Reserve Det. 802, out of Navy Operational Support Center Atlanta. "We are here giving all of our multinational partners a broader understanding of basic first aid so that when we are working together we will all have the same knowledge."

The training covered basic first aid, specifically the "ABCs" – how to check an airway, breathing and circulation – as well as how to apply tourniquets and how to stop a sucking chest wound.

"This training has been very good," said Royal Moroccan Navy Maj. Afkir Said, a MIO unit team leader. "We are here to learn, and this training will help our troops."

Maritime and land forces from 13 countries are participating in the international military partnering exercise, which commenced at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operations Training Center in Souda Bay May 23. The exercise will culminate with a six-day underway portion in the Mediterranean Sea. PE-11 is a unique training opportunity designed to enhance each country's ability to work together and to deter illicit trafficking at sea.

U.S. units participating in PE-11 will include USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49), USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29), and Military Sealift Command maritime prepositioning ship USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3016) and fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198). They are joined by Royal Morocco navy frigate Hassan II, along with two MIO boarding teams. Additional U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa staff personnel will also participate alongside other international naval forces in this exercise.

USN

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110526-N-ON468-043 SOUDA BAY, Crete (May 26, 2011) Chief Master-at-Arms J.T. Elwood, center, an instructor for the Security Training Assessment Assistance Team (STAAT) at the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Sicily, Italy, directs members of the Moroccan suspect vessel boarding team how to properly advance on a hostile crew member during a self-defense exercise as 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 13 participating countries in their efforts to deter illicit trafficking at sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeff Troutman/Released)

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USS Robert G. Bradley Conducts Multinational Damage Control Training
Story Number: NNS110602-26
6/2/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Edward Vasquez, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East Detachment Europe
SOUDA BAY, Crete (NNS) -- USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) hosted a multinational damage control training workshop at Marathi Pier in Souda Bay, Greece, as a part of exercise Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), June 2.

Navy teams from four nations participated in the training.

"This training is important, because we have the opportunity to see the different types of equipment used in other navies," said Royal Morocco navy Lt. j.g. Vasiliki Katsantoni, engineering assistant Royal Morocco navy ship Hassan II. "We all have similar equipment, but it is nice to see what other navies use."

The workshop was designed to increase participating countries' knowledge and experience in damage control, and to help all of the participants gain an understanding of the principles used by partner navies and their firefighting techniques.

"We are just showing our partners at Phoenix Express what kinds of equipment we are using as well as a practical demonstration of hose handling and pipe patching," said Chief Damage Controlman (SW) Christopher Boyad, USS Bradley damage control chief. "Pretty much we all use the same concepts, the same basic ensembles and the same firefighting equipment."

Workshops during Phoenix Express such as this one are enabling the combined maritime forces to advance information sharing, which is crucial to maintaining a region free from transnational threats, and enhances the ability to combat common safety and security concerns in the maritime environment, as well as illegal immigration, criminal activity, narcotics trafficking and weapons trafficking.

"I think this exercise is very important because sailors need to be conscious of damage control," said Spanish navy Lt. Alfonso Garcia de Paredes, damage control officer for the Spanish ship ESPS Vencedora. "Seeing what other navies do and how they use their equipment is very good."

U.S. units participating in Phoenix Express include Bradley, USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) and Military Sealift Command's maritime prepositioning ship USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3016) and fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198). Additional U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa staff personnel also are participating alongside other international naval forces in this exercise.


USN

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said Royal Morocco navy Lt. j.g. Vasiliki Katsantoni, engineering assistant Royal Morocco navy ship Hassan II

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MIO Teams Practice Fast-Rope Exercise during Phoenix Express 2011


By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Jeff Troutman, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East Detachment Europe

SOUDA BAY, Crete (NNS) -- Maritime interdiction operations (MIO) teams from five multi-national participants conducted a fast-rope exercise from the Royal Moroccan navy ship Hassan II, as part of the Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11) in-port training phase, June 4.

Spanish, Moroccan, Maltese, Algerian and Greek MIO teams embarked the Royal Moroccan Panther helicopter (helo) from Hassan II, in teams of five for a short flight to the Greek training vessel Aries, where they rappelled from the helo to the permanently-moored ship's flight deck.

The fast-rope exercise was a way for the teams to practice an alternate method, referred to as helicopter visit, board, search and seizure; of boarding a vessel suspected of carrying suspicious cargo, said Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EWS/SW) Scott Crawford, a First Helicopter Rope Suspension Techniques Master from Rota, Spain, who operated the Panther on five of the 12 passes the helo made to the Aries.

"It's easier, and five times faster, to slide down a rope and hit the deck of a suspected vessel than it is to come up the side via a ladder," said Crawford. "We made twelve passes with the helicopter, and I was impressed each time with how fast the teams' turnaround was. The biggest thing to remember with an evolution like this is that you board in the reverse order in which you wish to exit the helo."

The different MIO teams involved in the exercise prepared for the fast-rope evolution by first attending numerous classroom briefings on rappelling safely and efficiently as a team, followed by a required number of rappel evolutions from the training towers located at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center. Once the teams qualified on the towers, the instructors were ready to engage the teams in the fast-rope evolution from the helo.

"I enjoyed the involvement and coordination this training required," said Malta navy Lt. Papa Pasquale, team commander for his country's MIO team. "It is not an easy thing, to rappell down from a helicopter onto an unfamiliar ship, with all of the dangers that can come with such a mission. I am proud of the effort my teammates and I put forth throughout this evolution, and I feel it helps to show why we are here representing our country at PE-11."

"This kind of training, where you have to learn from one another and back each other up, is great for foreign relations," said Crawford. "It was an excellent time for me, personally, to be a part of this portion of PE-11. I definitely learned some things and feel it was beneficial for me as an instructor."

With their feet planted firmly on the deck and their newly-acquired training at their disposal, the MIO teams at PE-11 will now head into the at-sea portion of the exercise to hone their skills in an entirely different environment.

USN

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Mass Casualty Training Prepares Phoenix Express Participants

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Edward Vasquez, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East Detachment Europe

SOUDA BAY, Crete (NNS) -- Sailors from the U.S., Spain, Algeria and Morocco teamed up to conduct a mass casualty drill as part of Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), June 4.

The exercise provided sailors the opportunity to practice skills presented in hands-on seminars conducted during the previous two weeks of in-port training.

"Overall the medical training for the in-port phase of PE-11 has been excellent," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan Walker, PE-11 medical instructor and Utah National Guard member. "We are training the different countries in PE-11 how to respond to a mass casualty."

"With drills like this we are getting a better understanding of how we can help to get our Sailors and Soldiers the help they need in a timely manner," said U.S. Army Maj. Daniel Kopp, PE-11 medical officer and Illinois National Guard member.

As Walker and Kopp took turns mentoring junior hospital corpsman, U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Quigley, PE-11 senior medical officer and Sixth Fleet reserve component member, watched and witnessed what he felt was effective cross-cultural training.

"This drill will help because it gives us better skills working together despite the barrier of language and national difference," said Quigley. "And it will help us develop a way of dealing with real world mass casualty events."

USN

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Moroccan Navy takes part in NATO exercise
ATHENS — Morocco has participated in a naval exercise sponsored by NATO.
The Royal Moroccan Navy contributed personnel to Phoenix Express-2011, held at a NATO base in the Greek island of Crete. Moroccan sailors joined their counterparts from Croatia, Greece and the United States in maritime interdiction simulations held at the NATO center in Souda Bay, Crete in an effort to enhance interoperability with the Western alliance.
"What we take away from this class will help us to know each other better and be more coherent in our duties," Royal Morocco Navy Lt. Amine Khalid said.
Khalid was a member of the Moroccan team that conducted interdiction and search missions as part of Phoenix Express. He said the classroom instruction, which stressed the psychological factors in the boarding of a suspected insurgency or smuggling vessel, would be vital in actual operations.
"This class will help us to pay better attention to detail during our training at PE-11, and during actual missions in the future," Khalid said.
Phoenix Express was designed to enhance maritime interoperability among the 13 participating countries, including Morocco. The exercise was divided into phases that focused on port and training.
The three-week exercise, which began in late May, included members of the U.S. Navy's visit, board, search and seizure team of the USS Bradley. Trainers taught Moroccans and other participants methods to reduce stress and focus on teamwork during an interception operation.
"A boarding member who is overstressed or fearful of the mission will spread that anxiety to the crew of the suspected vessel, and that can be very problematic," Greek Maj. Konstantine Liolios, one of the trainers, said.
Morocco has been a member of NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue, which over the last two years worked to enhance maritime security in the region. Officials said Morocco and other North African states have been urged to join NATO's Operation Active Endeavor, which targets insurgency and weapons smuggling ships in the Mediterranean.

WT

La MRM présente en force dans cet édition de Phoenix Express !!

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Phoenix Express 2011 Begins At Sea Boarding Exercises


By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Edward Vasquez, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

At Sea (NNS) -- Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), a multi-national maritime exercise between U.S., North African and European naval forces, conducted the first day of at sea boarding exercises, June 7.

Five ships got underway from Souda Bay, Greece, on June 6, joining one already at sea, bringing together six of the eight multinational ships participating in PE-11. Two additional ships will join the group on June 8.

Maritime and land forces from 13 countries are participating in the international military partnering exercise that began with Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) boarding team training for participating countries May 23, and is scheduled to end with post-exercise briefings in Augusta (Sicily), Italy, from June 13-15.

During freeplay training June 7, USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) served as a target vessel suspected of illicit trafficking, allowing MIO teams from the Spanish navy ESPS Vencedora, the Malta armed forces, and Royal Morocco navy ship Hassan II to conduct visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) evolutions. In total, MIO teams from seven nations completed individual VBSS evolutions with Groves, and Military Sealift Command ships USNS Big Horn, and USNS Wheat serving as target vessels.

"The drills have been going well; also the interaction between us and the maritime interdiction team has been good," said Gas Turbine Specialist 1st Class (SW) James Sveen, a Groves Sailor who acted as the captain of the boarded merchant vessel. "We are doing maritime interdiction operations as well as visit, board, search and seizure exercises. The questions that they are asking are all the right questions and they have a good situational awareness of where we are and where their boarding team is. Over all, they're doing very well."

The underway portion will emphasize common safety and security concerns in the maritime environment, as well as illegal immigration, criminal activity, narcotics trafficking and weapons trafficking.

"This is good we are bringing together our maritime partners so that we can learn from each other," said Lt. j.g. Blake Tribou, assessment officer for PE-11 attached to Groves. "We want to help foster international relations and reinforce our standing commitment to NATO, as well as show our commitment to the countries of Northern Africa."

While underway, ships and their crew will focus on maritime domain awareness and the automatic identification system, to include interaction between forces afloat and the Combined Maritime Operations Center ashore at Naval Air Station Sigonella (Sicily), Italy.

Combined maritime forces will also execute a series of scenarios exercising force protection measures, MIO – to include VBSS and helicopter VBSS (HVBSS) – search and rescue, replenishment at sea, towing and helicopter operations.

U.S. units participating in Phoenix Express include Groves, USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) and Military Sealift Command's maritime prepositioning ship USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3016) and fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198).

Additional U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa staff personnel also will participate in this exercise alongside navies and armed forces personnel from Albania, Algeria, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey.

USN

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Members of Moroccan Armed Forces Maritime Introduction Operations team, attached to the Royal Moroccan Ship Hassan II, search USS Stephen W. Groves, June 7, as a part of Phoenix Express 2011. PE-11, a three-week exercise divided into in-port and underway training phases, is designed to enhance regional maritime partnerships among the 14 participating countries in their efforts to deter illicit trafficking at sea.

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A member of the Greek navy maritime interdiction operations Visit, Board Search and Seizure team performs a body search of USNS Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat Deck Cadet Daniel Thacker during a sweep of the ship’s bridge. The sweep of the bridge was part of an at-sea training exercise, with Wheat posing as a vessel suspected of illicit trafficking, conducted during Phoenix Express 2011.

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Members of the Greek navy maritime interdiction operations Visit, Board, Search and Seizure team board USNS Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat, posing as a vessel suspected of illicit trafficking, to conduct a search and sweep of the vessel during an at-sea training exercise for Phoenix Express 2011.

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Members of the Greek navy maritime interdiction operations Visit, Board, Search and Seizure team conduct a search and sweep of the USNS Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat pilot house during an at-sea training exercise for Phoenix Express 2011.

dvidshub

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Multinational Maritime Interdiction Teams Train during Phoenix Express


By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Edward Vasquez, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East Detachment Europe

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (NNS) -- An international maritime interdiction operations (MIO) team participating in Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), executed a boarding scenario that supported the aims of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), June 10.

PSI is a global cooperative effort that aims to stop trafficking in weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems and related materials. PE-11 provided an opportunity to train multinational maritime interdiction operations (MIO) teams on how to interdict these materials being illegally transported by sea.

PE-11 is providing a platform for training in communication, from the command elements down to the teams boarding ships, so that MIO teams will have the information they need to conduct counter-proliferation interdiction operations. PSI is designed to stop WMD proliferation by promoting proactive information sharing and enabling development of capabilities and authorities to enable coordinated action.

"This is an international cooperative effort to stop the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials to and from state and non-state actors of proliferation concern," said Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Ruppert, assessment officer for PE-11.

The PSI is an activity, not an organization, and participation is voluntary: each participating nation decides whether and how to engage on a case-by-case basis.

During PE-11, the MIO teams from the PSI-endorsing country of Morocco conducted a boarding to interdict a shipment of simulated dual use components on a target ship.

Lt. Amine Khalid, Royal Morocco armed forces , is an MIO team leader attached to RMS Hassan II.

"WMD-related trafficking threatens the citizens of all countries," said Khalid. "Defeating this threat requires proactive information sharing, and when necessary, coordinated action."

In addition, nations also commit to work toward strengthening legal authorities in support of WMD-related interdictions. Since it was first proposed by President George W. Bush in May 2003, PSI has generated broad international cooperation resulting in endorsement by 98 nations. Pacific Protector '03, led by Australia, was the first example of this cooperation and was a maritime interdiction training exercise conducted in the Western Pacific Ocean in September 2003.

"PSI participation is voluntary – each participating state decides on a case-by-case basis whether and how to engage, said Petty Officer 2nd Class David McClurg, assessment officer for PE 11. "To date, 98 countries have indicated their support of the PSI by endorsing the Statement of Interdiction Principles."

More than 40 exercises incorporating PSI-related activities have been conducted since the drafting of the Statement of Interdiction Principles in September 2003.

"PSI exercises establish interoperability among PSI participants and impart useful skills and experience relevant to other duties for all international personnel involved," said Ruppert.

U.S. units participating in Phoenix Express include USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29), USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) and Military Sealift Command's maritime prepositioning ship USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3016) and fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198).

Additional U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa staff personnel are also participating in this exercise alongside navies and armed forces personnel from Albania, Algeria, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey.

USN

Citation :

Phoenix Express 2011 Helps Prevent the Distribution of Components used to build Weapons of Mass Destruction

By Petty Officer 1st Class Edward Vasquez
MEDITERRANEAN SEA, Jun 13, 2011 — An international maritime interdiction operations (MIO) team participating in Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11) executed a boarding scenario June 10, 2011 that supported the aims of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI).
PSI is a global cooperative effort that aims to stop trafficking in weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems and related materials. PE-11 provided an opportunity to train multinational maritime interdiction operations (MIO) teams on how to interdict these materials being illegally transported by sea.

PE-11 is providing a platform for training in communication, from the command elements down to the teams boarding ships, so that MIO teams will have the information they need to conduct counter-proliferation interdiction operations. PSI is designed to stop WMD proliferation by promoting proactive information sharing and enabling development of capabilities and authorities to enable coordinated action.

"This is an international cooperative effort to stop the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, and related materials to and from state and non-state actors of proliferation concern," said Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Ruppert, assessment officer for PE-11, whose rate is being withheld upon request.

The PSI is an activity, not an organization, and participation is voluntary: each participating nation decides whether and how to engage on a case-by-case basis.

During PE-11, the MIO teams from the PSI-endorsing country of Morocco conducted a boarding to interdict a shipment of simulated dual use components on a target ship.

"WMD-related trafficking threatens the citizens of all countries," said Royal Morocco armed forces Lieutenant Amine Khalid, Morocco MIO team leader attached to RMS Hassan II. "Defeating this threat requires proactive information sharing, and when necessary, coordinated action."

In addition, nations commit to work toward strengthening legal authorities in support of WMD-related interdictions. Since it was first proposed by the President of the United States in May 2003, the PSI has generated broad international cooperation resulting in endorsement by 98 nations. Pacific Protector '03, led by Australia, was the first example of this cooperation and was a maritime interdiction training exercise conducted in the Western Pacific Ocean in September 2003.

"PSI participation is voluntary -- each participating state decides on a case-by-case basis whether and how to engage, said Petty Officer 2nd Class David McClurg, assessment officer for PE 11, whose rate is being withheld upon request. "To date, 98 countries have indicated their support of the PSI by endorsing the Statement of Interdiction Principles."

More than 40 exercises incorporating PSI-related activities have been conducted since the drafting of the Statement of Interdiction Principles in September 2003.

"PSI exercises establish interoperability among PSI participants and impart useful skills and experience relevant to other duties for all international personnel involved," said Ruppert.

U.S. units participating in Phoenix Express include USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29), USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) and Military Sealift Command's maritime prepositioning ship USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3016) and fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198).

Additional U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa staff personnel are also participating in this exercise alongside navies and armed forces personnel from Albania, Algeria, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia and Turkey.

Citation :

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, 2011 as a part of exercise Phoenix Express

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SOUDA BAY, Crete (May 25, 20110) -- Members of the Royal Morocco armed forces practice using a tourniquet during exercise Phoenix Express 2011

07-06-11 ... Le Panther en Exercice à bord de l'USS R.G. Bradley