Exercises
Exercise Cooperation From The Sea 96,
conducted in Vladivostok (Russia), included both amphibious and at-sea training for U.S. and Russian naval forces. In addition, elements of the America (CV 66) carrier battle group and Wasp (LHD 1) amphibious ready group conducted bilateral operations with a Russian carrier battle group in the Mediterranean. These interactions continued to build on the positive foundation laid in 1995 and set the stage for further cooperation between our naval forces. U.S. naval forces also participated in the Russian Navy's 300th anniversary celebrations in St. Petersburg [Russia] and Kaliningrad [Russia].
Central and Eastern Europe.
The Partnership for Peace (PfP) program continued to be the centerpiece of NATO's strategic relationship with Central and Eastern Europe. Naval forces conducted four major PfP exercises with Eastern European nations. These operations, part of our bilateral military-to-military contacts program, included basic seamanship exercises and familiarization visits with the naval forces of the region. Units from the Sixth Fleet, including assigned Marine expeditionary forces, conducted fleet and amphibious training exercises with forces from Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Albania and Georgia. The training exercise BALTOPS 96 was conducted in the Baltic Sea and involved a record 43 ships from 12 countries, including the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Gallatin (WHEC 721).
Cooperative Osprey 96.
This 19-nation exercise was conducted at Camp Lejeune, N.C., with the commanding general, Marine Forces Atlantic, as the exercise director. Part of the PfP program, this exercise focused on military operations other than war. Exercise objectives included developing procedures to form and train coalition forces for peacetime operations in the littorals. The first visit by Ukrainian navy ships to the United States in September was particularly significant. These vessels conducted amphibious training with Atlantic Fleet units at Norfolk, Va. Black Sea Operations. Marines conducting training with forces from Romania, Ukraine and Bulgaria made a major contribution in building Black Sea alliances and furthering PfP efforts in the region. Forward-deployed, self-sustaining amphibious task forces can exploit excellent opportunities for initial bilateral training with the armed forces of emerging democracies.
UNITAS 96.
The 37th annual UNITAS deployment is a primary means of supporting regional stability in the Western Hemisphere. Active and reserve surface combatants, P-3C aircraft, Marines embarked in an amphibious combatant and a submarine joined to conduct multinational exercises with South American nations while circumnavigating the continent during a five-month period. This year, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, South Africa and the Netherlands also participated during certain phases of the deployment. Our naval forces operate with host nation air, sea and land forces during each Latin American stop. These exercises often provide the only opportunity for Latin American forces to train with U.S. and other allied forces. For example, UNITAS Marines participated in four amphibious exercises and two riverine exercises in the nine-nation, 27-city deployment. The two riverine exercises provided an invaluable foundation for the expanded riverine training occurring with South American allies through the recently established Riverine Center for Excellence. In addition, this year embarked explosive ordnance detachments experienced real-world training while searching for voice and data flight recorders from AeroPeru Flight 603 after the aircraft crashed off the coast of Lima, Peru, in October.
CARAT 96.
Regional stability in Southeast Asia is supported by the Pacific Fleet's Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) program, patterned after the UNITAS deployment. Active and reserve surface combatants, maritime patrol aircraft, a special purpose Marine air-ground task force embarked in amphibious combatants, medical detachments and a U.S. Coast Guard training detachment exercise with six countries in the South China Sea region for two months each year. In 1996, Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore participated. During each stop, our naval forces exercised with the host nation's air, sea and land forces. The objectives for each phase were to promote regional maritime interoperability, increase readiness, enhance military-to-military relations and ensure stability of Southeast Asian sea lanes of communication.
Rim-of-the-Pacific 1996 (RIMPAC 96)
is a biennial exercise designed to enhance interoperability and proficiency of multinational and bilateral forces operating in response to short-notice littoral missions. More than 28 ships and 1,200 Marines -- including the Independence (CV 62) and Kitty Hawk (CV 63) carrier battle groups, the Essex (LHD 2) amphibious ready group with the 11th MEU(SOC) embarked and U.S. Coast Guard vessels -- participated in RIMPAC 96. An additional 29 ships from Australia, Canada, Chile, Korea and Japan were involved in the exercise. In addition to embarked carrier air wings, U.S. Air Force and Hawaiian Air National Guard and maritime patrol aircraft from the United States, Canada and Japan also participated.
West African Training Cruise (WATC 96)
is an annual exercise conducted to provide interaction between U.S. naval forces and host nation counterparts, enhance military training and maintain familiarity with the West African littoral environment. U.S. Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel embarked in amphibious ship Tortuga (LSD 46) conducted training in Benin, Cape Verde, Cote D'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal and Togo.
Sorbet Royal
was a NATO-sponsored submarine escape-and-rescue exercise involving units from seven countries and observers from six other countries. Conducted in the Vestfjord area of Norway, the exercise successfully demonstrated an ability to coordinate a multinational rescue of the crew of a disabled submarine and marked real progress in the standardization of procedures and equipment.
Freedom Of Navigation.
An essential element of U.S. foreign policy is ensuring free and safe transit through ocean areas and international air space as a matter of legal right -- not contingent upon the approval of adjacent countries. Naval forces are especially useful in demonstrating transit rights under international law. In 1996, Navy ships and aircraft conducted numerous freedom-of-navigation operations in or through areas where coastal nations have maintained excessive maritime claims in conflict with existing international law. The president, secretary of defense and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all have emphasized the importance of these operations as an active component of U.S. policy.