Marine Detachment Embarks USS Farragut

The embarked Marines will conduct training with Uruguayan marines when Farragut arrives in Montevideo, Uruguay for a port visit. Maj. Bill Sablan, the exchange detachment officer in charge, explained their training is designed to enhance security cooperation, one of the primary goals of POA 08.

"The overall idea is to enhance the capability sets of everyone involved in the training," Sablan said. "We'll take turns throughout the training showing each other our different tactics, techniques, and procedures. This type of face-to-face exchange is designed to build camaraderie between partner nations."

Mutual training will include non-combatant evacuation operation exercises, Marine Corps martial arts, small boat operations and small arms weapons training.

It has been uncommon for U.S. Marines to embark destroyers in recent years. The Navy and Marine Corps, as well as the Coast Guard, have recently increased their efforts to work cooperatively, creating more opportunities for enhanced training and experience.

Capt. Rudy Laco, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 40 said, "Combined U.S. Navy-Marine Corps operations involving partner nations like Uruguay are examples of maximizing employability and deployability for U.S. units and providing greater agility and reliability for partner nations, while being less predictable for potential adversaries."

POA 2008 is the third exercise by that name and will be carried out from April until October in Central and South America, as well as in the Caribbean. The exercise emphasizes interoperability and cooperation between U.S. and partner nation's maritime forces through a variety of exercises and events.