The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) visited Brisbane, for a port visit and prepared for exercise Talisman Sabre 2015, June 19-24.

"It was very exciting to visit our friends in Brisbane," said Cmdr. Shea Thompson, Chafee's commanding officer. "This port visit as well as exercise Talisman Sabre provides our Sailors a chance to strengthen the bonds between the U.S. and Australia. We just completed a long training phase and are ready to show off our hard-earned skills."

Chafee Sailors experienced the rich culture of the area with various tours of local historic locations and regional attractions provided by the ship's morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) association.

"MWR Australia offered ATV rides, SCUBA diving and fishing trips, as well as tickets to the Dream World Fun Park," said Ensign Ben Baehren, Chafee's MWR officer. "Sailors had many great options to choose from."

Other than tours, many Sailors spent time with their families and friends who came out to visit them in Brisbane.

"It was exciting to see my family," said Lt. Nicholas Hughes, whose wife, Jennifer, is from the Australian state of Victoria." Visiting Australia always feels like a homecoming; I've enjoyed exploring Brisbane and the famous Gold Coast."

Chafee is on deployment with the George Washington Strike Group in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and will participate in the biennial military training exercise Talisman Sabre 2015 in Australia, July 4-19.

For more news from Commander Task Force 70, visit www.navy.mil/.