USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) (Photo : US Navy)
The Vietnam People's Navy (VPN) and the U.S. Navy are now into their 7th annual Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) Vietnam emphasizing non-combatant events.
NEA Vietnam 2016 includes symposia in military medicine and maritime law; subject-matter expert exchanges in navigation; shipboard medicine and damage control and community service events, including multiple performances by the United States Seventh Fleet's rock band, "Orient Express."
U.S. warships participating in NEA Vietnam 2016 include the USS John S McCain (DDG 56) and destroyers from Destroyer Squadron 7 (DESRON 7). Personnel from Commander, Task Force (CTF) 73, are also involved in the exercise.
DESRON 7's mission is to conduct prompt, sustained operations at sea in support of United States national policy and maritime security objectives as part of Forward Deployed Naval Forces in the United States Seventh Fleet.
The new warship, the USS Fort Worth (LCS-3), is part of DESRON 7. USS Fort Worth is a Freedom-class littoral combat ship optimized for combat in shallow coastal waters such as those prevalent in Asia.
Task Force 73 is the Seventh Fleet's provider of combat-ready logistics. It maintains and operates government-owned ships and operating government-contracted vessels to sustain combatant ships and units throughout the Seventh Fleet area of operations.
The USS John S. McCain is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that's part of the Seventh Fleet. She's homeported to Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan and is part of Destroyer Squadron 15.
July marked the 21st anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam, and these activities are designed to foster mutual understanding, build confidence in the maritime domain, and develop relationships between the people and navies of both nations.
This year's NEA Vietnam 2016, which began Sept. 28, evolved from annual port visits to Da Nang by U.S. Navy ships more than a decade ago to a multi-day bilateral naval engagement ashore and at sea. Each year, the engagement becomes more complex, and last year marked the first time a littoral combat ship, USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), participated.
"Our coordination with the VPN and Da Nang People's Committee continues to be positive and productive, and we appreciate the efforts of the U.S. country team in Hanoi to continually deepen our partnership with the VPN," said Capt. H. B. Le, commodore, DESRON 7.
"We've expanded the sea phase this year to incorporate a more complex CUES (Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea) event and search and rescue scenario. We're looking forward to working with USS John S McCain and interacting with the VPN and people in Da Nang, building on the success and lessons from last year's NEA."
During the sea phase, the two navies will practice communications using CUES and conduct a search and rescue scenario.
"My sailors are excited to visit Vietnam and look forward to the unique opportunity to operate alongside the Vietnam People's navy," said Cmdr. Jessie Sanchez, commanding officer, John S. McCain.
"I look forward to getting underway as part of our continued efforts to increase our ability to operate alongside our VPN partners."
