Coast Guard Cutter Sherman participates in 55th annual military unity exercise

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam Henderson | Members from 15 vessels, including Coast Guard Cutter Sherman, that all participated in UNITAS 2014 took time out of their military exercises to volunteer at the Virgen de la Puerta elementary school in Salaverry, Peru, Sept. 19, 2014. Sherman participated in the multinational naval exercises UNITAS LV. UNITAS, from Sept. 12 to Sept. 16, 2014. UNITAS is a combined Latin American and U.S. exercise that promotes cooperation, understanding and partnership among the participating navies in order to respond as a unified force to a wide variety of maritime missions. Hosted this year by the Peruvian Navy, the 2014 exercises involved naval forces from Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and the U.S., as well as observers from Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Italy, New Zealand, Panama, and U.K. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam Henderson/released)  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

10.20.2014

Courtesy Story

U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area

SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Sherman, homeported in San Diego, concluded two-weeks of multinational naval exercises, Sept. 26, 2014, as the U.S. Coast Guard representative to UNITAS 2014.

USS Ingraham(FFG 61) as well as Destroyer Squadron 40 represented the U.S. Navy during these exercises, as well as staff elements from U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/ Fourth Fleet , and Joint Interagency Task Force South also assisted in the planning and logistics for this year's events.

UNITAS, which means "unity" in Latin, is a combined Latin American and U.S. exercise and has been building ties with foreign navies since 1959 making it the longest running exercise of its type in the world. Originally focused on anti-submarine warfare but nowadays it focuses on cooperation, understanding and partnership among participating navies in order to respond as a unified force to a wide variety of maritime missions. The exercise represents a unique opportunity to improve capabilities, readiness, and cooperative relations among countries of north, south, and central American naval forces while promoting hemispheric coalition, and two-way cooperation resulting in mutual benefit to all navies. This year, 14 partner nations from across the world came together in Callao, Peru.

This year, the Peruvian navy hosted UNITAS and involved the participation of 10 ships and patrol craft, submarines, helicopters maritime patrol and tactical aircraft and naval forces from the United States, Peru, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico. Additionally, personnel from Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Italy, Panama, United Kingdom and New Zealand were represented in the exercise.

This year's exercise was conducted in two phases. The first phase included a full range of seamanship drills and experiences, including maritime operations, electronic warfare, anti-air warfare and air defense, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and maritime interdiction operations. The second phase was a simulated at-sea war game to test all of the skills that were used and defined in the first phase.

Aside from conducting naval exercises, UNITAS included other activities while the ships were moored in Callao and Salaverry, Peru. Events included sporting events among partner nations, a community relations project for a local school, a wreath laying ceremony at a Peruvian naval monument, and a plaque exchange among the nations.

This year’s UNITAS resulted in a stronger coalition, multilateral security cooperation and new friendships, strict professionalism and mutual understanding among the participating partner nations.

The next UNITAS exercise is scheduled for late 2015 in Chile and Brazil.

• Date Taken: 10.20.2014
• Date Posted: 10.20.2014 11:17
• Story ID: 145480
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US