MEDITERRANEAN SEA –
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) completed its participation in exercise Dogu Akdeniz 2017, Nov. 14, 2017.
While in Aksaz, Turkey, Donald Cook Sailors attended multiple planning sessions, a reception for participants and a press conference for Dogu Akdeniz. After departing, the ship then participated a tactical maneuvering exercise as well as surface, air and subsurface tracking missions between all participants.
“Dogu Akdeniz provided an excellent opportunity for participating nations to engage in realistic maritime training to build experience, teamwork and strengthen our interoperability as we work toward mutual goals,” said Cmdr. Matt Powel, commanding officer of the Donald Cook. ”This exercise will continue to improve interoperability among the United States, our allies and partners, and increase our capacity to conduct the full spectrum of military operations.”
The U.S. Navy’s participation in Dogu Akdeniz demonstrated that they are engaged, postured, and ready with credible forces to assure, deter, and defend in an increasingly complex security environment.
”Dogu Akdeniz was a great success for the crew of USS Donald Cook,” said Donald Cook’s Command Master Chief Jeremy Douglas. “The crew conducted themselves with the highest professionalism during the close quarter operations with our partner and allied nations. It was great to see the U.S. and our NATO allies’ ability to execute this successful exercise. Participating in exercises like Dogu Akdeniz helps to enhance the professional relationships between everyone involved and helps to improve the communication and coordination between allies and partner militaries.”
Dogu Akdeniz is a Turkish-led, multinational maritime exercise designed to improve combined combat capabilities, increase operational capacity and strengthen relationships among NATO allies.
Participating nations included Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as Standing NATO Maritime Group 2.
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.