The annual U.S.-Ukraine co-hosted multinational training exercise Sea Breeze 2015 concluded in Odesa, Ukraine and the Black Sea Sept. 12, 2015.
Maritime forces from 11 allied and partnering nations participated in the 14th iteration of Sea Breeze. This year’s exercise included training at Ukrainian naval bases, airfields, and land bases, training within the Black Sea, and an additional exercise relative construction military port. The annual exercise seeks to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional security.
The participating nations include Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Moldova, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The at-sea phase focused on maritime interdiction operations as a primary means to enhance maritime security. Specific skill sets tested in the at-sea phase included maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, and self-defense against small boat attacks.
Other tested warfare areas include air defense, damage control, search and rescue, and other tactical maneuvers.
With a land and air component, Sea Breeze seeks to enhance interoperability and capabilities amongst participating forces, while promoting regional security and cooperation between personnel of participating nations.
Capt. Richard Dromerhauser, U.S. Navy Destroyer Squadron 60, Commodore, stated, “This year we provided our Sailors and Marines a platform from which they could train together – and an opportunity from which nations could work together. We trained side-by-side on land, in the air, and at sea from damage control drills at the low end of the warfare spectrum to maritime interdictions operations at the high end. This training we just completed improved our ability to respond to crisis, increased our tactical proficiency and, most importantly, brought us even closer as partners and friends.”