NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain –
Commander, Task Force (CTF) 65 hosted Phase 1 of Operation Junction Rain (OJR), which featured U.S. Coast Guard cutter (USCGC) Thetis (WMEC 910) partnering with Nigeria and Cabo Verde to combat illicit activities in their respective territorial waters and economic exclusion zones, April 24-2 May, 2019.
OJR is the operational portion of Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP). It is an interoperability operation between the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard (USCG), and African partner nations with the prime objective of assisting partner nations in developing and refining maritime domain awareness and marine resource management. This is the third year CTF-65 has hosted OJR, with an added feature for 2019 being the addition of Thetis.
Utilizing Thetis, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Cenetary, and Cape Verde Coast Guard Guardio (CVCG), a team of 10 USCG Law Enforcement detachment members, four deployed watch standers, three liaison officers, and a sizeable support contingent from USCG Atlantic Area and Tactical Law Enforcement Team South coordinated the interactions and operations between CTF-65 control and partner nation personnel.
“The Coast Guard support contingent seamlessly integrated into the fast paced operations of the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations,” said Lt. Nicholas Heiliger, CTF-65’s operations officer. “Their coordination and grasp of the mission ensured success throughout this phase of the exercise. We are looking forward to their return for Phases 2 and 3 as we continue to increase interoperability with our African partner nations.”
AMLEP 2019’s OJR Phase 1 concluded on May 2, 2019, and USCG personnel returned to their home stations where preparations are underway for future deployments to the CTF-65 area of responsibility. Thetis continued to the next portion of OJR with other African partners.
CTF-65 and Destroyer Squadron 60, headquartered in Rota, oversee the forward-deployed forces of U.S. 6th Fleet’s area of operation in support of regional allies and partners as well as U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.