Posted on 06/12/2006 5:53:35 PM PDT by SandRat
NORTH PERSIAN GULF (NNS) -- Seven Iraqi naval officers became the first Iraqis to participate in a Commander, Task Group (CTG) 158.1 Commanding Officers' Conference here, June 6.
Every month, the COs of CTG 158.1, comprised of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, as well as Royal British and Australian navy leaders, assemble to discuss issues pertaining to the protection of the Iraqi oil terminals, training of Iraqi naval forces and the security of the maritime environment.
“It allows the commanding officers of all the units who are conducting maritime security operations (MSO) up here to express some of their concerns and any issues they may have,” explained Lt. Cmdr. Damon Dixon, prospective operations officer for CTG 158.1. “It's also a way for the commanding general to meet with all the subordinate commanders.”
MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the North Persian Gulf and protect Iraq's sea-based infrastructure, which provides the Iraqi people the opportunity for self-determination.
With the help of a translator, Iraqi operational commanders were active participants, listening and asking questions as the COs discussed unit assignments, use of the newly-certified Iraqi Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) teams and advancements in Iraqi marine force training aboard the Al Basrah and Khawr Al Amaya oil terminals. Despite the language translation challenges, the COs were excited to meet the Iraqi staff.
“I think getting the Iraqi operations staff out here to talk to some of the other warship and coalition commanding officers is good,” said Lt. Cmdr. Bryan White, executive officer of the Naval Transition Team (NaTT) at the Iraqi naval base in Umm Qsar, Iraq. “It was good to see them bring up some points of their own. It's a good step forward for them.”
“It's only through that exchange of ideas that we can break down any preconceptions and issues,” added British Royal Navy Cmdr. Steve Dainton, commanding officer of HMS St. Albans (FFG 83). “It's important that we include them in these types of conferences, and I think [their presence] made it an even greater success.”
For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusnc/.
Forging a consolidated working team.
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