U.S. Army, Albanian Navy Divers cross train at Pasha Liman

Photo By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Bryson | U.S. Army Staff Sgt.Orlando Alegria, 86th Army Dive Detachment diving supervisor, stands on a dock near a decommissioned submarine after a day of diving with Albanian Navy divers at Pasha Liman Naval Base near Vlore, Albania. The divers engaged in joint training as part of DEFENDER-Europe 21 exercises now underway for the first time ever in Albania. DEFENDER-Europe 21 is a large-scale U.S. Army-led exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability between the U.S., NATO allies and partner militaries. This year, more than 28,000 multinational forces from 26 nations will conduct nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas in more than a dozen countries from the Baltics to the strategically important Balkans and Black Sea Region. Follow the latest news and information about DEFENDER-Europe 21, visit www.EuropeAfrica.army.mil/DefenderEurope.  

VLORE, ALBANIA

05.09.2021

Story by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Bryson 

U.S. Army Europe and Africa     

TIRANA, Albania— U.S. Army divers from the 86th Army Dive Detachment cross trained with Albanian Navy divers May 6. 2021 and May 9, 2021, at Pasha Liman Naval Base near Vlore, Albania, as part of DEFENDER-Europe 21 exercises now underway for the first time ever in Albania.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt.Orlando Alegria, 86th Army Dive Detachment diving supervisor, who has been diving for five years in the Army, said cross training with the Albanian divers was a unique experience that he would not soon forget and he praised the hospitality of his hosts and the natural beauty found on sea and land here.

“I think being able to work with our allied nations, for whatever mission it may be, ensures that their capabilities are somewhat inline with our capabilities,” said Alegria, “And if we do need to train with them– or complete a mission with them, that we can communicate effectively and get the job done regardless of any language barrier.”

Alegria explained military divers are “jacks of all trades” and possess a broad range of capabilities that can be used in conjunction with port and logistics over-the-shore operations, including port rehabilitation, underwater demolitions, obstacle clearance, channel dredging, ship husbandry, construction and surveying both on land and in navigable waters.

“I love everything about my job,” Alegria said. “The ability to travel to locations I probably never would have gone otherwise, the small community that we are... everyone who comes to this team pretty much becomes part of the family. Just watching the younger guys grow up and having the ability to train them and watch them become better divers is my favorite part of being an Army diver.”

DEFENDER-Europe 21 is a large-scale U.S. Army-led exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability between the U.S., NATO allies and partner militaries. This year, more than 28,000 multinational forces from 26 nations will conduct nearly simultaneous operations across more than 30 training areas in more than a dozen countries from the Baltics to the strategically important Balkans and Black Sea Region. Follow the latest news and information about DEFENDER-Europe 21, visit www.EuropeAfrica.army.mil/DefenderEurope.

• Date Taken: 05.09.2021
• Date Posted: 05.13.2021 09:59
• Story ID: 396289
• Location: VLORE, AL