Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
SAILING THE BALTIC SEA WITH THE OTHER NATIONS OF THE EXERCISE FRUKUS, THE USS NORMANDY AND
ITS CREW PREPARED TO SHOW WHAT THEY CAN DO.
CHIEF BRIAN SWAIN SAYS IT PROVIDED MORE THAN JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE NORMANDY'S
CAPABILITIES.
"THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY AND TO WORK WITH, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, WITH FRANCE AND THE
UK, TO WORK WITH THEM, OUR ALLIES, YOU KNOW, AND A GOOD CHANCE FOR RUSSIA, IS A GOOD, A
GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THAT YOU STILL HAVE TIES THERE."
THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT RUSSIA PLANNED FRUKUS, AND THE FIRST YEAR IT WAS HELD IN
THE BALTIC SEA.
WITH EIGHT DIFFERENT EXERCISES, FOUR SHIPS MANNED BY FOUR DIFFERENT NATIONS, IT COULDN'T
HAVE BEEN EASY TO PUT TOGETHER.
BUT CHIEF SWAIN THINKS THAT THINGS TURNED OUT PRETTY WELL.
"EVERYTHING WENT SMOOTH, WE GOT TO SEE THE COMBAT SYSTEMS SIDE OF THE HOUSE, THE SHIP
DRIVING SIDE OF THE HOUSE, ALL THOSE. SO IT WAS A GOOD VARIATION, ESPECIALLY WITH THE
WEAPONS SHOOTS, ALL THE SHIPS GETTING TO SHOOT."
IN ONE OF THE EXERCISES, CHIEF SWAIN AND A TEAM FROM NORMANDY BOARDED A RUSSIAN SHIP
TO PRACTICE THEIR VISIT, BOARD AND SEARCH PROCEDURES. SONNED IN THEIR FULL GEAR AND
ARMED WITH THEIR BLUE EXERCISE WEAPONS, THEY DID A THOROUGH SEARCH OF THE SHIP. OF COURSE,
THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY WEAPONS, OR PROBLEMS ON THIS TRIP.
"IT WAS LIKE A COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROJECT. YOU GO OVER THERE, EVERYBODY WAS SMILING,
EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY, EVERYBODY WANTED TO TAKE PICTURES. THERE WERE SOME GIFTS EXCHANGED.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS A WARM WELCOME. EVERYBODY ENJOYED US OVER THERE AND WE HAD FUN GOING
OVER THERE WITH THEM."
IT WAS EASY TO SEE FROM THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES, THIS PARTNERSHIP EXERCISE WAS A SUCCESS.
FROM THE BALTIC SEA, ABOARD THE USS NORMANDY, I'M AIR FORCE SERGEANT NATHAN PARRY.