Peruvian Navy Day

By: LT Paolo R. Camogliano, Peruvian Navy

October 8 is a national holiday celebrating not only the anniversary of the creation of our navy in 1821, but also commemorating the Battle of Angamos (1879) in which our greatest naval hero, Admiral Miguel Grau, and the crew of the Ironclad HUASCAR under his command immortalized their names fighting during the War of the Pacific.

When I think of Navy Day, the first thing that comes to my mind is a memory from when I was a small child, probably around 4 years old.  My father took me to Miraflores’ beachfront at night in order to see our fleet at anchor in the bay.  The ships were displaying all their lights, ready for the “pass and review” the next morning.  That is when my love for the Navy started.

In Peru, Navy Day starts early.  All naval personnel in the Lima-Callao area participate in a ceremony and parade over which our president presides.  After the parade, there's a pass and review of the fleet at anchor followed by a cocktail and buffet in which everybody has the chance to meet with fellow shipmates. Similar events are held nationwide and abroad hosted by our Naval Attachés.

Navy Day 2012 will be different for me than in past years; I will be underway sailing in the Caribbean aboard the USS UNDERWOOD.  I will have the privilege to represent my Navy in this fine ship and share with my new naval family this important date.

“¡Viva la Marina de Guerra del Perú!”

LT Camogliano is a foreign exchange officer embarked aboard USS Underwood.

USS Simpson officers embark Underwood

            I am Ensign Andrew Miller. I am embarked on the USS Underwood (FFG 36) with my fellow colleague Ensign Brody Henderson. We are on this ship to receive Surface Warfare Officer training because our permanent command, the USS Simpson (FFG 56) is back in Mayport, Fl. in dry-dock getting repairs done to it. With Simpson being unable to get underway, our commanding officer arranged for us to go to Underwood to get our qualifications.

            The Surface Warfare Officer qualification is a long process involving twelve to eighteen months of different areas of training such as combat information center watch officer, Officer of the Deck underway, and Officer of the Deck in-port. All of this training culminates in an oral board. The goal of all of this is to become designated as a fully qualified Surface Warfare Officer.

            I embarked on the “Wood” on Sept. 15 in Key West and was received with open arms by the officers and enlisted personnel aboard the ship. I would rather be underway focusing on the mission rather than being back in port filling out paperwork. I find it exciting and rewarding to be out at sea and am looking forward for my colleague and I to get pinned as Surface Warfare Officers. It is a big step in our careers and carries with it greater responsibility as officers. It has been a great experience so far and the training has been invaluable.

Very Respectfully,

Ensign Andrew Miller

UNITAS Atlantic 2012 Participants Exchange Subject Matter Experts

Naval forces participating in UNITAS Atlantic 2012 conducted subject matter expert exchanges with other participating nations for the duration of UNITAS Atlantic 53-12 multinational exercise hosted by U.S. 4th Fleet.

There are 14 U.S. Navy personnel embarked on various partner nation ships and foreign personnel from France, Peru, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, France, and Canada on four U.S Navy ships and one U.S. Coast Guard cutter.

There are four partner nation officers aboard the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36), seven aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68), four aboard the USS Bradley (FFG 49), one aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107), and three aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter CGC Escanaba (WMEC-907).

"I like the idea having personnel from different navies onboard our ship because it gives us an opportunity to exchange ideas and make connections that could be helpful in the future," said Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan M. Griffin, the combat systems officer aboard Anzio. "It gives us insights on how other navies handle different situations and how we might be able to help each other in future operations together."

The subject matter experts are aboard the different ships to increase the operational capability on a multi-national level and to bring a spirit of friendship and cooperation between partner nations.

"I am enjoying my experience so far and I am learning about different platforms and systems," said Sub-Lt. Garrett Aitken, a junior officer assigned to the Canadian Oiler HMCS Preserver (AR-8) and embarked aboard Anzio. "I believe that by holding these subject matter expert exchanges each partner nation can work together to accomplish our missions."

They also bring their own ideas and experiences to the table with them and can help find better ways to problem-solve during different situations.

"I think that different cultures and traditions have an impact when they come together," said Aitken. "Each one brings something different to the table that may help the mission proceed more smoothly. I definitely would recommend any officer or enlisted person to cross-deck to another ship and experience what I have so far."

UNITAS Atlantic 53-2012 is a U.S. and South America-sponsored international naval exercise. This is the 53rd year partner nations have participated in UNITAS, which stands for "unity" in Latin, making it the longest ongoing maritime exercise in the region. Thirteen warships from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, the United States and the United Kingdom and observers from France, Jamaica, Panama and Peru are participating in the exercise, which will run from Sept. 17 though Sept. 28, 2012 in the west Caribbean and associated areas.

UNITAS is designed to train each naval force in a variety of maritime scenarios, which each operating as a component of a multinational force to provide the maximum opportunity to improve interoperability. The exercise develops and sustains relationships that improve the capacity of our emerging and enduring partners' maritime forces to achieve common desired effects. This annual exercise fosters friendly, mutual cooperation and understanding between participating navies.

Ships Sortie for At-Sea Phase of UNITAS Atlantic

By Lt. Stephanie Homick, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

KEY WEST, Fla. (NNS) -- Thirteen ships representing the seven countries participating in the Atlantic Phase of UNITAS 2012 sortied to their operating area in the Caribbean, Sept. 20.

After spending a few days in port in Key West, Fla. preparing for the exercise through planning meetings, ships from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard departed the Mole Pier on the Truman Waterfront throughout the day.

"Meeting all the new people from all the different countries - it was fun to talk to them, hear their stories and I think it's going to be fun to work with them in the exercise now after having met with them in all the meetings and spending some time with them," said Lt. Matthew Bornemeier, a pilot embarked aboard USS Underwood (FFG 36). After leaving the pier, each ship completed a simulated channel transit and then rendezvoused at a predetermined location in the Caribbean. The afternoon comprised of each ship's air department conducting deck landing qualifications.

"It's one of those skills that's a perishable skill," said Bornemeier of the deck landing qualifications. "If you don't continue to practice, you become a little rusty and it's something we do all the time...to maintain our proficiency. It's a challenging exercise and we do it every time we take off and land."

The afternoon concluded with an air defense exercise, the purpose of which is to assess each ship's combat information center in air plotting and anti-air warfare radio telephone procedures.

"An air defense exercise tests a unit's capability to detect, track and engage an air target," said Lt. Lori Rose, Underwood's operations officer. "It flexes combat's ability to conduct anti-air warfare."

Sept. 20 is the first day of the eight-day at-sea phase of the 53rd iteration of UNITAS Atlantic.

UNITAS is the longest running and largest maritime exercise in this hemisphere. The 12-day exercise will entail a variety of operations intended to enhance interoperability between the partner nations.

UNITAS Atlantic Participants Compete in Cooking, Sports

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stuart Phillips, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

KEY WEST, Fla. (NNS) -- Sailors from ships representing the seven countries participating in the Atlantic Phase of UNITAS 2012 joined together for a sports day and cuisine contest in Key West, Fla., Sept. 19.

Teams representing the Brazilian, Canadian, Colombian, Dominican Republic, Mexican, U.K., and the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard went head-to-head in contests of basketball, running, soccer, tug-of-war, volleyball, and cooking.

"It was a pretty exciting game, playing the Brits," said Logistics Specialist Seaman Christian Jones, who is assigned to the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG-68). "We put a lot of energy into it. We lost a previous game so when we came back, we had to put more energy in the game. It was pretty intense."

As the sports teams competed against each other, cooks from each ship were preparing dishes representing their respective countries in an international cuisine contest.

"We had to choose dishes that represent our country and the XO's [executive officers] from every ship came by to taste test the food and pick the best ship's food," said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW) Kenneth Bohan, USS Underwood's head chef. "We did macaroni and cheese and fried chicken to represent southern cooking and especially where our Culinary Specialist Seaman (SW) Trent Powell is from, Georgia. He's been working out here with Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Ernesto Lopez and they have really been putting their hearts and souls into it. We're just representing our countries so the judges can taste everything and pick the best one."

The day culminated in an awards ceremony presided over by Capt. Ace Van Wagoner, the commodore of Destroyer Squadron 40. The Brazilian navy took first place in running and volleyball. Sailors representing Anzio won first place in basketball and tug-of-war, and the British took first place in cooking and soccer.

"Brazil was our most difficult opponent," said Leading Seaman Martin Kelly, captain of the soccer team from the British destroyer HMS Dauntless (D-33). "We just beat them with a 2-1 win that we scored in the last minute. It was good to play different countries all at the same time. At some times tensions were a little bit high, but we all shook hands at the end of the game."
UNITAS is the longest running and largest maritime exercise in this hemisphere. The twelve-day long exercise will entail a variety of operations intended to enhance interoperability between the partner nations.

COMUSNAVSO/COMFOURTHFLT supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

Underwood Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago's Independence

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stuart Phillips, Southern Seas Public Affairs

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (NNS) -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) pulled into Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Sept. 7, just in time to help celebrate the country's 50th anniversary of independence.

The port call provided an opportunity for Underwood and the U.S. Embassy to host a reception aboard the ship to honor the milestone anniversary.

"Our countries enjoy a strong relationship through both commercial ties and military partnerships," said Cmdr. Peter Mirisola, commanding officer of Underwood. "This bilateral relationship enhances political and social stability and both nations' goal of stemming transnational crime, health promotion and international law."

Co-hosting the reception and representing the U.S. Embassy was U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Trinidad and Tobago, David C. Wolfe.

"We are here to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago's independence day and to mark more than 200 years of commercial, personal and military ties between our two nations," said Wolfe.

"This ship and crew are working with nations throughout the Caribbean to combat narcotics trafficking and build ties so that we can work together to address other common problems such as trafficking in persons and responding to natural disasters," Wolfe added.

Officers from the Brazilian Naval Ship BNS Greenhalgh (F-46), also visiting Trinidad and Tobago, were invited to join in the festivities.

Underwood and Greenhalgh will be sailing from Port of Spain en route to Key West, Fla., to participate in the multi-national UNITAS exercise later this weekend. Coincidentally, Sept. 7 is also the anniversary of Brazil's independence.

Underwood is deployed to Central and South America and the Caribbean in support of U.S. 4th Fleet's mission, Southern Seas 2012.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/Commander, U.S. 4th Fleet support U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

Ship Rider from Panama

My role here is to facilitate the ship’s entry into Panamanian waters. Through diplomatic channels it would take too long and we would be unsuccessful in capturing the “go fasts” and the narcotics. My role here is to call via cell phone since we’re in range. I call my boss. They already have notification that we’re in and around these waters and they give us the go ahead to chase after them. I was chosen because of previous experience doing counter-drug operations.

Back home I am in charge of the transportation department and I am in charge of the building maintenance. The reason I was chosen for this mission is because I have 20 years of Navy service right now and it’s good for me as an officer to get this experience as a liaison between the U.S. and Panamanian navies. It also helps me because I have to learn the different rules as far as pursuing go fasts and learning what lines of communication need to be established to enter different waters. 

V/R

Ensign Jose Camarena, Panamanian Navy