By Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs
PERSIAN GULF – Destroyer Squadron 26 completed Exercise Goalkeeper II, Feb. 28, a multilateral exercise held in the Persian Gulf.
The four day exercise included coalition partners from Bahrain, Australia, Canada and the United States, and trained forces in various aspects of Maritime Security Operations as well as command and control functions with the Royal Bahraini naval staff.
Capt. Michael Strano, commander, DESRON 26, and his staff, embarked USS Cleveland, and used the Afloat Forward Staging Base concept to plan and execute Goalkeeper II. Units participating included Cleveland, USCGC Monomoy, USNS Pathfinder, Bahraini frigate RBNS Sabha, RBNS Al Manama, the Canadian frigate HMCS Charlottetown and Australian and U.S. maritime patrol aircraft.
In addition to familiarizing all forces with MSO, Goalkeeper II provided participants with an opportunity to exercise their ability to locate and track various contacts; conduct visit board search and seizure and work with the Bahraini coast guard.
During the exercise, U.S. and Canadian boarding teams trained Bahraini forces in operational procedures and boarding techniques, used during VBSS and interaction patrols.
IPATS are an element of MSO which help generate support and awareness amongst commercial vessels sailing in the region of the coalition's efforts to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment. Coalition forces also conduct MSO under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that commercial shipping and fishing can occur safely in the region.
Strano noted the importance of MSO and the vital role coalition forces play here in the region.
"Our coalition teams have been very well received by local fishermen and how crews that we visit," said Strano.
"Fishermen have said they feel safer continuing their trade with our ships present. The fact that Bahraini ships are a part of CTF 152 only improves our relations with local mariners. The Bahrainis assist coalition forces in bridging barriers that may exist and are a positive presence in the area."
Royal Bahrain Navy Brig. Gen. Abdulla Saeed Al Mansoori assumed command of CTF 152 from U.S. Navy Rear Adm. William E. Gortney, March 4, marking the first time coalition forces have been commanded by a gulf nation.
MSO help set the conditions for security in the maritime environment, which promotes stability and global prosperity. These operations complement 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.