Tarawa Hosts Coalition Leadership In Djibouti

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class David Brandenburg | Capt. Brian Luther, commanding officer USS Tarawa shows Brig. Gen. Sanford Holman, current Deputy Commander Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, and Brig. Gen. Roosevelt Barfield, incoming Deputy Commander Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, Tarawa's Hall of Heroes during a tour of the ship. Tarawa is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). Maritime Security Operations help set the conditions for security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complements the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material. U.S.  

04.01.2008

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

By U.S. Naval Forces Central Command

DJIBOUTI – Amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) welcomed aboard coalition leaders from Pakistan, France, Ethiopia, Egypt and the U.S., April 1.

Guests included U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Sanford Holman, the deputy commander of Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa, and Brig. Gen. Roosevelt Barfield, the prospective deputy commander; Egyptian Army Col. Ezz El Din Hosen; Egyptian Army Lt. Col. Khaled El Essawy; Ethiopian First Secretary Motuma Getacheew; Egyptian Consular Ashraf El Wardany; French Navy Cmdr. Patrice Barrier and Pakistani Air Force Wing Cmdr. Tahir Munir.

Tarawa's Commanding Officer Capt. Brian E. Luther personally guided the distinguished visitors around the ship.

"It is important for citizens of other nations to be aware of the wide range of capabilities that a ship like Tarawa brings to a region," said Luther. "We're war fighters, but we're also nation-builders. Touring the ship provides the officials of coalition nations a first-hand look at all those capabilities and gives them a chance to understand and describe them accurately to their colleagues and fellow citizens back home."

During the tour, Luther showed the visitors Tarawa's well-deck and landing craft, medical and surgical spaces, pilothouse and AV-8B harrier flight operations. Additionally, the guests spent two hours interacting with Sailors and Marines as they learned about the ship's namesake and its mission.

"All in all, it was a good exchange of foreign cultures," said Luther. "I believe the sentiments expressed by the Generals were shared by all the visitors, and the visit was, in every sense, a great success."

Tarawa is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of Maritime Security Operations. MSO help set the conditions for security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complements the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

• Date Taken: 04.01.2008
• Date Posted: 04.15.2008 10:15
• Story ID: 18445