Joint Warrior Provides Training to Junior Sailors

USS COLE, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) are getting a rare opportunity to train in multiple warfare areas simultaneously while participating in Exercise Joint Warrior 09-2 Oct. 3-16.

Joint Warrior, designed and led by the United Kingdom's Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS), is a multi-warfare exercise designed to improve interoperability between allied navies and prepare participating crews to conduct combined operations during deployments.

The exercise promotes Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet's three focus areas: conducting safe and effective fleet operations to achieve mission goals, providing ready maritime forces for global assignment, and teaming with allies and partners in execution of the maritime strategy.

Boarding operations, flight deck operations, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare operations are proficiencies that can be called on at any time during this unscripted exercise. The crew must maintain a high level of readiness.

"Joint Warrior is advertised as one of the most realistic war games that the U.S. Navy can be involved with," said Cole's Commanding Officer Cmdr. Edward Devinney. "I want the crew to take away the training benefits as they are pushed to their limit."

Watchstanders play a vital role during Joint Warrior; they must stay vigilant and be prepared to execute real time responses against real world threats in this training environment.

"That is the interesting part of it," said Damage Controlman 2nd Class Hakim Ahmed, from Atlanta, Ga. "When you are challenged with something you are not prepared for, you find out what you are really made of."

Ahmed also said Joint Warrior gives him the opportunity to train junior Sailors on professional and basic military knowledge. "This exercise is giving me an opportunity to give back to the junior firemen and seamen on how to properly maintain equipment and be safe while conducting various operations around the ship."

Joint Warrior incorporates conventional warfare exercises and Fleet Irregular Warfare Training (FIWT), while working alongside allied navies from the Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Turkey and the U.K.

"Working with allied partners is beneficial," said Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) 2nd Class (SW) Keith Farris, from Dillan, S.C. "We are making connections and gaining familiarity with these nations, and that is a really good thing."

"It is rare to operate with allied ships during a training exercise and there is a lot the crew can gain from that," Devinney said. "Now is the time for the crewmembers to focus and keep their heads on swivels in order to maximize the training benefits of this exercise."

For more news from USS Cole, visit www.navy.mil/local/ddg67/.