The U.S. 6th Fleet has begun exercise Silent Response 2016, a regularly scheduled training exercise.

The purpose of the exercise is to ensure the staff is ready to respond to real-world events, even when experiencing degraded communications capabilities, or from alternate locations.

Quote:

"Exercise Silent Response is designed to test the ability of the U.S. 6th Fleet staff to adapt and innovate. The staff will exercise command and control over the full spectrum of naval operations in degraded communications environments. In a first for 6th Fleet, the exercise scenario will force the staff to move from the command ship to an alternate location. This unique training will challenge us to maintain continuity of operations, which will improve our skills and make our team stronger." - Capt. Brendan McLane, 6th Fleet Maritime Operations Center Director

Quick Facts:

U.S. 6th Fleet regularly trains and prepares its staff in order to conduct the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Exercise Silent Response 2016 has been conducted since 2015 and is not in response to any specific threat or real-world activity. The training conducted allows U.S. 6th Fleet staff to practice its routine functions in degraded communications environments, as well as at alternate locations for flexibility.

Approximately 200 U.S. 6th Fleet personnel will be involved in Silent Response 2016.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

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