Photo By Jeffrey Landis | SANTA RITA, Guam (March 28, 2015) - American and Japanese Sailors from nine different...... read more read more
SANTA RITA, Guam (March 28, 2015) – Sailors from nine different ships came together to enjoy some camaraderie, culinary treats and competition during Champion of Freedom 2015, held March 28, at the Charles King Fitness Center complex, U.S. Naval Base Guam.
Five U.S. Navy destroyers from Commander, Destroyer Squadron (COMDESRON)-15 and a guided missile cruiser and three destroyers from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), as well as other support ships totaling 12 at-sea participants, recently conducted Multi-Sail 2015, an annual at-sea maritime operations exercise designed to assess combat systems, improve teamwork and increase warfighting capabilities in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. Following the week-long at-sea event, Sailors from all the ships gathered to participate in Champion of Freedom 2015, a culminating event designed to share food, fun and friendly competition.
During Champion of Freedom 2015, Sailors participated in soccer, basketball, softball and volleyball tournaments throughout the day, as well as a tug-of-war. Between events, Sailors enjoyed traditional American barbecue-grilled chicken and ribs, hamburgers, etc., while other food booths from the JMSDF ships provided Japanese fare and saké.
According to Djuan Brown, an electronics technician aboard USS Lassen (DDG-82) and basketball player during the day’s tournament, the Champion of Freedom event with JMSDF ships at the end of a long week was a unique opportunity to engage with Japanese Sailors for friendly sports and an outdoor picnic on the base.
“This event gives us a chance to relax and relieve some stress from a very busy week and busy training cycle,” said Brown, whose team came from behind to beat USS Curtis D. Wilbur (DDG-54) in a basketball tournament game. “I really liked that we were participating with the Japanese forces this time, as we were able to have a lot of fun and appreciate a different culture.”
JMSDF participated in Multi-Sail for the first time to improve interoperability and strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance. Nearly 2,400 Sailors and nine ships participated in Multi-Sail 2015 in and around waters near Guam March 23-27. As of March 21, as many as 4,000 Sailors, with as many as 17 ships, were in port in Naval Base Guam – a surge larger than any other in several decades.
The COMDESRON-15 commodore, Capt. Shan Byrne, explained why this year’s Multi-Sail exercise was a critical exercise with JMSDF partners.
“Multi-Sail brings ships, submarines and aircraft together to focus on core warfighting requirements,” said Byrne. “Uniquely this year, our Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force allies joined us to practice intermediate and advanced warfighting skills.
“JMSDF and the U.S. Navy both have common interests and common systems, and we work well together with our focus on regional stability,” he said. “This is really a natural progression for us, working alongside our JMSDF partners to conduct high-end and intermediate live-fire exercises for maritime security."
The guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG-82) served as the command flagship for Multi-Sail 2015 with COMDESRON-15 staff embarked. Other participating ships include USS Curtis D. Wilbur (DDG-54), USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62), USS Sampson (DDG-102), USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) and JMSDF ships Atago, Yudachi and Makinami. Also supporting the exercise were the Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54), Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) and Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE-6), Commander, Task Force-72, and helicopters from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM)-77, HSM-51, HSM-35, HSM-37, and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC)-25, based out of Guam.
| Date Taken: | 03.28.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2015 04:59 |
| Story ID: | 158513 |
| Location: | SANTA RITA, GU |
| Web Views: | 211 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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