USS Kitty Hawk transits in formation for a joint photo exercise during Exercise Malabar 07-02, in the Bay of Bengal on 05 September 2007. The Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group is taking part in a multinational exercise that includes naval forces from India, Australia, Japan, Singapore and the United States.
Image Courtesy - Seaman Stephen W. Rowe, Mass Communication Specialist.
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Personal Relationships Key to Malabar
[USS Nimitz Public Affairs, 07 September 2007]
By Dustin Q. Diaz, Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class
The deployed nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and Indian Navy flagship INS Viraat are participating in military-to-military personnel exchanges during the multilateral exercise Malabar 07-02 from 04 to 07 September 2007 to further enhance interpersonal relationships. The multilateral maritime training exercise is typically held between the Indian and US navies. For this exercise, the Indian Navy invited the navies of Singapore, Japan and Australia to participate, expanding the opportunities for face time, according to Rear Admiral Ravinder Kumar Dhowan, the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet of the Indian Navy. "Crew swaps are an essential part of any multilateral exercise," said Rear Admiral Dhowan and added, "This is the first time Malabar has been taken to this level, and I feel it will take cooperation to a new high." Among the first to cross-deck from USS Nimitz was Rear Admiral John Terence Blake, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 11, and two officers assigned to the Carrier Airborne Command & Control Squadron. Lieutenant Commander Phil Clement and Lieutenant J.G. Matt Robins, cross-decked to INS Viraat via helicopter on the first day of the exercise. "The way you work well is face-to-face," said Rear Admiral Terry Blake and added, "I did it as a junior officer and established relationships as an O-2 that still serve me today."
Rear Admiral Robin Dhowan said that personnel in every mission area will cross deck during Exercise Malabar 07-02, from brown-shoe sailors working on the flight deck to engineers. "Every dimension has been covered, including surface warfare, subsurface and aviation," said Rear Admiral Dhowan and added, "We have established relationships leading up to the exercise during the months of planning, and now we are simplifying procedures and seeing the fruits of our labors play out." Rear Admiral Blake agreed, saying that this Malabar exercise will build on previous interaction between the two nations, and the interoperability gained in this exercise will assist in high-level warfighting efforts, as well as future humanitarian efforts, should the nations need to cooperate in case of an emergency in either event in the future. "The world is a community, and it always pays to have interaction," said Rear Admiral J T Blake and added, "The principle focus is to increase interoperability, and having mutual understanding is key to that." As one of the first handful of personnel to cross-deck to INS Viraat, Lieutenant Commander Clement said he was impressed by INS Viraat and its personnel and enjoyed talking to them around the ship, from below decks up to the flight deck. "I had a blast," said Lieutenant Commander Clement and added, "It was fun seeing something new. The hospitality was great too."
The Nimitz and Viraat strike groups will both continue cross-decking for the duration of the exercise. Commanded by Captain Mike Manazir, USS Nimitz and embarked Carrier Air Wing 11 are now operating as a part of the US Navy's 7th Fleet (C7F). Operating in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, C7F is the largest of the forward-deployed US Navy fleets covering 52 million square miles, with approximately 50 ships, 120 aircraft and more than 22,000 Sailors and Marines assigned at any given time. These forces are tangible proof of America's commitment to peace and stability in Asia, and they directly support US national goals of strengthening alliances, defeating global terrorism, preventing future terrorist attacks, defusing regional conflicts, and preserving the free flow of trade.
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