By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Burgains
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97), the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga (FFH152), and the French Marine Nationale destroyer Jean De Vienne (D 643) completed the trilateral exercise Intrepid Sentinel, March 9.
Intrepid Sentinel tests the ability of coalition forces from multiple nations to work together and counter the challenges that may occur in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
“I’m proud of all the great work our Sailors performed during this exercise,” said Cmdr. David L. Reyes, Halsey’s commanding officer. “It’s also very important for us to be able to come together and work as one unit.”
The ships completed multiple exercises encompassing air, surface, and underwater warfare areas. They were involved in multiple scenarios including a live-fire exercise, air defense exercise, and a photo exercise.
“Our crew was very proud to represent the U.S. Navy during Intrepid Sentinel,” said Cmdr. Michael A. Stoker, Halsey’s executive officer. “It was the first time participating in the exercise for a lot of our crew and we look forward to more opportunities like this.”
Intrepid Sentinel is designed to improve the interoperability between the three nations and the ability to quickly establish a coordinated maritime coalition.
Halsey is deployed with the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations to reassure allies and partners and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region.
The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse comprises 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.