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NEWS | Aug. 28, 2018

Exercise Reliant Mermaid 2018 Concludes

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Nelson

Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) concluded participation in exercise Reliant Mermaid 2018, a maritime search and rescue and anti-terrorism force protection exercise hosted by the Israel Defense Forces, Aug. 8, 2018.

The exercise is designed to increase interoperability by enhancing individual and collective maritime proficiencies of participating nations, as well as promote interoperability, mutual understanding and cooperation. The exercise promotes maritime safety and security in the region.


During the exercise, Israeli sailors embarked Carney to observe the exercise events and participate in training with U.S. Sailors, which included live-fire exercises, flight operations, damage control training, medical training and search and rescue exercises performed by U.S. and Israeli vessels.

For the damage control portion of the exercise, 12 Carney Sailors had the opportunity to board the Israeli Navy Sa’ar 5-class corvette INS Lahav (502) which mimicked a distressed vessel at sea. While aboard Lahav, Carney Sailors demonstrated techniques for repairing a breached hull and subsequent dewatering and damage control efforts.

“Working with the Israeli Navy aboard Lahav was very insightful,” said Machinery Repairman 1st Class Michael Gilder. “I think the cross training was extremely valuable for the Sailors of both countries.”

Training with other military forces enhances mutual awareness and maritime capability of partner nations. Reliant Mermaid helped create an environment that promoted maritime safety and security in the region, and interoperability between Israel and the U.S.

“This was an extremely successful exercise which not only provided valuable training to the Sailors of both nations involved, but it also emphasized the ability of both navies to work seamlessly together,” said Cmdr. Tyson Young, commanding officer of Carney. “The Carney crew performed admirably during the exercise and we look forward to future engagements with our allies.”

U.S. Navy participation in the exercise included Carney, the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195) and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

Reliant Mermaid is a regularly scheduled exercise and is not associated with, or a reaction to any real world events.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts a full range of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation missions in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other parties in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.