Arlington, with embarked parts of the twenty second Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), is working within the Baltic Sea to strengthen relationships with NATO allies and companions whereas conducting mixed coaching and theater-security cooperation engagements. This marks Arlington’s first time working within the Baltic Sea since departing on deployment earlier this yr, in addition to the primary time the ARG-MEU has totally aggregated within the Baltic.
“We sit up for re-aggregating as a three-ship ARG-MEU staff whereas working within the Baltics,” stated Capt. Eric Kellum, commanding officer of Arlington. “The Sailors and Marines are particularly excited to go to Sweden as our first port go to within the Baltics, as we’re dedicated to our NATO allies and companions within the area.”
Arlington entered the Baltic Sea after months of operations all through European and African waters, together with one bilateral train and three multinational workouts, in addition to 4 scheduled port visits in Greece, Turkey, Tunisia and Croatia. These workouts included Alexander the Nice with Greece, EFES with Turkey, and African Lion on the northern coast of Africa. The ship accomplished a mid-deployment voyage restore in July in Rijeka, Croatia.
“That is the primary alternative that the Marines on the Arlington have visited the Baltic,” stated Lt. Col. Christopher Myette, government officer of the twenty second MEU embarked aboard Arlington. “We sit up for having fun with the identical hospitality our fellow Marines on the opposite ships loved beforehand within the deployment. Sweden is a vital accomplice, and this can be a nice alternative for the Marines to expertise a few of its wealthy tradition earlier than we resume coaching with our allies and companions within the area.”
Whereas in Sweden, Arlington Sailors and Marines will discover the traditionally and culturally vital metropolis of Stockholm, studying its tradition via Stockholm Previous City Stroll and Stockholm’s Should Sees excursions. The crew will even be capable of take part in a Stockholm Craft Beer and Swedish Pop Wonders tour.
The Kearsarge ARG and embarked twenty second MEU are beneath the command and management of Process Power 61/2. Along with Arlington, the ARG consists of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and the Whidbey Island-class dock touchdown ship USS Gunston Corridor (LSD 44).
As Arlington docks in Stockholm, Kearsarge is conducting a go to to Helsinki, Finland, and Gunston Corridor calls on Tallinn, Estonia. These port visits display the US’ dedication to working with key NATO allied and accomplice nations to protect safety and stability within the Baltic Sea area.
Embarked instructions with the Kearsarge ARG embody Amphibious Squadron SIX, twenty second MEU, Fleet Surgical Workforce 2, Fleet Surgical Workforce 4, Tactical Air Management Squadron 22, Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron 22, Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron 28, Assault Craft Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit 4, Naval Seaside Group 2, and Seaside Grasp Unit 2.
Amphibious prepared teams and bigger amphibious activity forces present army commanders a variety of versatile capabilities together with maritime safety operations, expeditionary energy projection, strike operations, ahead naval presence, disaster response, sea management, deterrence, counter-terrorism, info operations, safety cooperation and counter-proliferation, and humanitarian help and catastrophe reduction.
For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has solid strategic relationships with our Allies and Companions, leveraging a basis of shared values to protect safety and stability.
Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces within the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of duty. U.S. Sixth Fleet is completely assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces via the complete spectrum of joint and naval operations.
