U.S. Navy completes maritime training

U.S. Navy sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) recently completed training for maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden during December.

Chung-Hoon’s latest round of drills was a combined forces effort. U.S. Coast Guard and Army personnel came aboard as instructors to help teach new techniques and tactics.

The instructors agreed that the different military branches need to be able to connect to and rely on each other in global areas of operations, no matter where.

“Clearly, the Army is more of a ground force,” said U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Alan Bland. “However, we are trying to build networks, in and around the AOR (area of responsibility), from the sea, for the land.”

The training involved everything from boarding a vessel to close-quarters combat and survival.

“We’ve done medical training, and we’ve also gone over boarding procedures regarding specific vessels that they will encounter out here,” said U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Enforcement Specialist 1st Class Michael Walden. “Medical [training] is very important as it can save your life during a boarding.”

Chung-Hoon is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.