More than 25 reserve and active duty Sailors from multiple commands participated in Urgent Provider, a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief planning exercise, hosted by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet from Dec. 3 through Dec. 5 on board Naval Station Mayport.

The Naval War College Assist and Assess Team along with the United States Agency for International Development developed and delivered the two-and-a-half day exercise, which involved participants to plan a joint task force commander's response to a request for humanitarian assistance after a hurricane.

"This exercise is a great opportunity to get hands-on training in a real world scenario in the 4th Fleet Area of Operations," said Capt. Joanna Sarmiento, commander of the 4th Fleet Reserve Unit.

"This is also a great chance to continue to work with a build upon the relationship the reserve unit has made with the active duty counterparts."

Participants in the exercise included personnel from U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/ U.S. 4th Fleet; U.S. Naval Forces Europe; U.S. 7th Fleet; Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN; Navy Entomology Center of Excellence; Naval Coordination and Guidance of Shipping; and Destroyer Squadron 40.

Personnel were broken up into three operational planning teams, known as OPTs, to work through the different phases of the planning exercises.

"It was very interesting to learn about the Navy's approach to disaster relief and how detailed and meticulous the planning and execution really is," said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Maureen Sanders."

For many Sailors participating in the exercise, this was their first time involved in a humanitarian planning exercise, including Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Seth Collier.

"After participating in this exercise, I feel confident in my ability to be an asset if I were called upon to be part of a real humanitarian mission."

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet employ maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations in order to enhance interoperability, build enduring partnerships that foster regional security, and maintain access in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility.

For more news from U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.