View allAll Photos Tagged Interoperability
Battle Group Poland U.S., U.K. and Romanian soldiers start to ruck march to the lanes during the battle group’s first multinational Spur Ride at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, July 1-2, 2017. Per cavalry tradition, soldiers must complete a series of gruelling mental and physical tests to earn the honor to wear silver spurs. The historic event helped strengthen the bond between the NATO allies and improved their interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt Jimmy Golden/Released)
170808-N-OX430-058 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 8, 2017) A Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 prepares to land on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during exercise Saxon Warrior 2017, Aug. 8. Saxon Warrior is a United States and United Kingdom co-hosted carrier strike group exercise that demonstrates interoperability and capability to respond to crises and deter potential threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Gaither/Released)
170808-N-OX430-064 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 8, 2017) A Royal Navy Merlin Mk2 prepares to land on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) during exercise Saxon Warrior 2017, Aug. 8. Saxon Warrior is a United States and United Kingdom co-hosted carrier strike group exercise that demonstrates interoperability and capability to respond to crises and deter potential threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Gaither/Released)
170805-N-KB401-043 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 5, 2017) The fast combat supply ship USNS Supply (T-AOE 6) conducts a replenishment-at- sea) with the Royal Navy Type 23-class frigate HMS Iron Duke (F 234) during exercise Saxon Warrior 2017, Aug. 5. Saxon Warrior is a United States and United Kingdom co-hosted carrier strike group exercise that demonstrates interoperability and capability to respond to crises and deter potential threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Zingaro/Released)
Troopers assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, operate their M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicles during Dragoon Crossing, a tactical road march starting out at Rose Barracks, Germany and continuing through the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic ending in Hungary on Sept. 13, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)
Philippine Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ronnie Angara uses shears, commonly known as the Jaws of Life, to cut into a barrel as U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Landa observes during a Balikatan 2014 training event May 6, 2014, at Clark Air Base, Philippines. In its 30th year, Balikatan is an annual training exercise that strengthens the interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military in their commitment to regional security and stability, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The training is part of a series of combined events aimed to improve the effectiveness between aircraft rescue and firefighting Marines and fire protection Philippine Airmen. Landa is an aircraft rescue and firefighting specialist with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Angara is a fire protection technician with 600th Air Base Wing. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Abbey M. Perria/Released)
001030-N-4697S-007.ABOARD USS KITTY HAWK (October 30, 2000) -- An SH-60 "Sea Hawk" from from the "Chargers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Fourteen (HS-14) fires flares during an air power demonstration performed by aircraft embarked aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). USS Kitty Hawk is the only permanently forward deployed Aircraft Carrier in the world and is currently participating in exercise "Foal Eagle 2000," a U.S. and Republic of Korean combined forces exercise demonstrating battle force Interoperability between the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen of both countries. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class John Sullivan. (RELEASED)
An F/A-18C Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, forward deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, taxis into an ordnance loading area after landing at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 21, 2016. VMFA-122 traveled to RAAF Base Tindal for the first time to participate in Pitch Black 2016 and unit level training known as Southern Frontier. Pitch Black affords Marines with VMFA-122 the opportunity to integrate and increase interoperability with regional joint and coalition partners, while developing operational concepts for conducting sustained combat operations. Southern Frontier will help the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low altitude, air-ground, high explosive ordnance delivery at the unit level.
U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 464, Detachment A, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a logistic resupply mission in a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from the U.S.S. Sacagawea during exercise Ssang Yong 2014 on April 1, 2014. Exercise Ssang Yong is conducted annually in the Republic of Korea (ROK) to enhance the interoperability of U.S. and ROK forces by performing a full spectrum of amphibious operations while showcasing sea-based power projection in the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Chief Warrant Officer Clinton Runyon, MCIPAC Combat Camera/Released).
Kenyan military forces practice patrolling and tactical skills with the 822nd Base Defense Squadron at Camp Simba Manda Bay, Kenya, June 18, 2020. The interoperability between the KMF and the 822d BDS helps improve tactical skills, and improve overall security for both forces. (Courtesy photo)
U.S. Soldiers with 2nd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment react to contact during an assault in an urban environment at the 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command's Distinguished Visitors Day for Exercise Allied Spirit IV at Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Jan. 27, 2016. The Allied Spirit IV Exercise focuses on unified land operations and enhancing fires interoperability and integration of NATO Allies. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Nathanael Mercado/ Released)
ROCKHAMPTON, Queensland, Australia (July 13, 2011) -- U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpls. Stephan A. Fournier, left, and Craig J. Reyes, right, both mortarmen with Company G, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, III Marine Expeditionary Force, conduct a weapons drill demonstration with a 60 mm mortar for Australian Defence Force service members on Camp Rocky in Rockhampton during Talisman Saber 2011. TS11 is a biennial combined training activity designed to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting Combined Task Force operations to improve Australian Defense Force/U.S. combat readiness and interoperability. It reflects the closeness of the alliance and the strength and flexibility of the ongoing military-military relationship. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jerome Reed/Released)
Cpl. Matthew Sisk, ordnance man with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, guides an F/A 18C Hornet with VMFA-122 to a halt for inspection at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Australia, July 22, 2016. VMFA-122 traveled to RAAF Base Tindal for the first time for exercises Southern Frontier Unit Level Training and Pitch Black 16. Southern Frontier ULT will help the squadron gain experience and qualifications in low altitude, air ground, high explosive ordnance delivery at the unit level. Pitch Black 16 affords Marines with VMFA-122 the opportunity to integrate and increase interoperability with regional joint and coalition partners while developing operational concepts for conducting sustained combat operations.
170807-N-KB401-289 THE MINCH, Scotland (Aug. 7, 2017) An MH-60S Sea Hawk, attached to the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, patrols while the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) transit the Minch, Scotland, during exercise Saxon Warrior 2017, Aug. 7. Saxon Warrior is a United States and United Kingdom co-hosted carrier strike group exercise that demonstrates interoperability and capability to respond to crises and deter potential threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Zingaro/Released)
160612-N-YM856-316 UTO, Sweden (June 12, 2016) Swedish Marine Capt. Fredrik Lambert, left, with 1st Marine Regiment speaks with U.S. Marine Capt. John Quail during the tactical exercise phase of BALTOPS 2016, June 12. BALTOPS is an annual recurring multinational exercise designed to improve interoperability, enhance flexibility, and demonstrate the resolve of allied and partner nations to defend the Baltic region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brittney Cannady/Released)
F-35 BF-17 from the F-35 Integrated Test Force in Formation with RAF Typhoons, Edwards AFB, CA April 4, 2014 F-35 test pilot LtCol Jon "Miles" Ohman performs interoperability testing.
Soldiers with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force practice amphibious landing techniques while conducting Helo Cast training during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., Jan. 27, 2014. Iron Fist is an amphibious exercise that brings together Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, other I Marine Expeditionary Force units, and soldiers from the JGSDF, to promote military interoperability and hone individual and small-unit skills through challenging, complex and realistic training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Emmanuel Ramos/Released)
Soldiers from the Hungarian Defense Forces start the process of building a temporary bridge over a portion of the Danube River in Gyor Hungary as Troopers assigned to 4th Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment prepare their M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicles to cross the bridge during Exercise Dragoon Crossing,Sept. 17, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)
Leadership from 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, held a static display for people from Gyor, Hungary that showcased their M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicles alongside Hungarian military vehicles during the Dragoon Crossing, a tactical road march starting out at Rose Barracks, Germany and continuing through the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic ending in Hungary on Sept. 17, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)
Minister of Defense for the Slovak Republic Martin Glvac (left center) and Charge d'affaires Rudolf Perina (middle) pose for pictures inside an M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicle after Troopers assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, complete the second leg of the Dragoon Crossing, a tactical road march starting out at Rose Barracks, Germany and continuing through the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic ending in Hungary on Sept. 14, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Robert Guerra, right, a meteorological and oceanographic (METOC) analyst forecaster, and U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman First Class Bryan Pascascio, a preventive medicine technician, both with Task Force Koa Moana (TF KM) 20, I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), observe and annotate the climate data using a wet bulb globe thermometer and a Kestrel handheld weather meter to determine the effects of weather conditions on personnel in Peleliu, Republic of Palau, July 30, 2020. Marines and Sailors with TF KM20, are conducting engagements in the Republic of Palau from July through September of 2020. Koa Moana, meaning “ocean warrior,” is designed to strengthen and enhance relationships between the U.S. and partner nations/states in the Indo-Pacific region, improve interoperability with local security establishments, and serve as a Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team afloat in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s strategic and operational objectives. TF KM20 provides a unique opportunity to enhance relationships in the Republic of Palau. The Koa Moana task force has taken extensive measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The health and safety of U.S. service members and Palauan citizens participating in TF KM20 is an enduring priority. Prior to deploying, all exercise members participated in a three-week quarantine. After arriving in Palau, the Marines and Sailors remain quarantined for an additional 14 days. To date, all members deployed as part of TF KM20 tested negative for COVID-19. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Anabel Abreu Rodriguez)
Guests chat at an informal get-together Feb. 1 in advance of the opening of the second annual U.S. Africa Command C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference in Vicenza, Italy.
U.S. Army Africa photos by David Ruderman
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) hosted its second annual C4ISR Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 2-4 at Caserma Ederle, headquarters of U.S. Army Africa, in Vicenza, Italy.
The communications and intelligence community event, hosted by Brig. Gen. Robert Ferrell, AFRICOM C4 director, drew approximately 80 senior leaders from diverse U.S. military and government branches and agencies, as well as representatives of African nations and the African Union.
“The conference is a combination of our U.S. AFRICOM C4 systems and intel directorate,” said Ferrell. “We come together annually to bring the team together to work on common goals to work on throughout the year. The team consists of our coalition partners as well as our inter-agency partners, as well as our components and U.S. AFRICOM staff.”
The conference focused on updates from participants, and on assessing the present state and goals of coalition partners in Africa, he said.
“The theme for our conference is ‘Delivering Capabilities to a Joint Information Environment,’ and we see it as a joint and combined team ... working together, side by side, to promote peace and stability there on the African continent,” Ferrell said.
Three goals of this year’s conference were to strengthen the team, assess priorities across the board, and get a better fix on the impact that the establishment of the U.S. Cyber Command will have on all members’ efforts in the future, he said.
“With the stand-up of U.S. Cyber Command, it brings a lot of unique challenges that we as a team need to talk through to ensure that our information is protected at all times,” Ferrell said.
African Union (AU) representatives from four broad geographic regions of Africa attended, which generated a holistic perspective on needs and requirements from across the continent, he said.
“We have members from the African Union headquarters that is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; we have members that are from Uganda; from Zambia; from Ghana; and also from the Congo. What are the gaps, what are the things that we kind of need to assist with as we move forward on our engagements on the African continent?” Ferrell said.
U.S. Army Africa Commander, Maj. Gen. David R. Hogg, welcomed participants as the conference got under way.
“We’re absolutely delighted to be the host for this conference, and we hope that this week you get a whole lot out of it,” said Hogg.
He took the opportunity to address the participants not only as their host, but from the perspective of a customer whose missions depend on the results of their efforts to support commanders in the field.
“When we’re talking about this group of folks that are here — from the joint side, from our African partners, from State, all those folks — it’s about partnership and interoperability. And every commander who’s ever had to fight in a combined environment understands that interoperability is the thing that absolutely slaps you upside the head,” Hogg said.
“We’re in the early stages of the process here of working with the African Union and the other partners, and you have an opportunity to design this from the end state, versus just building a bunch of ‘gunkulators.’ And so, the message is: think about what the end state is supposed to look like and construct the strategy to support the end state.
“Look at where we want to be at and design it that way,” Hogg said.
He also admonished participants to consider the second- and third-order effects of their choices in designing networks.
“With that said, over the next four days, I hope this conference works very well for you. If there’s anything we can do to make your stay better, please let us know,” Hogg said.
Over the following three days, participants engaged in a steady stream of briefings and presentations focused on systems, missions and updates from the field.
Col. Joseph W. Angyal, director of U.S. Army Africa G-6, gave an overview of operations and issues that focused on fundamentals, the emergence of regional accords as a way forward, and the evolution of a joint network enterprise that would serve all interested parties.
“What we’re trying to do is to work regionally. That’s frankly a challenge, but as we stand up the capability, really for the U.S. government, and work through that, we hope to become more regionally focused,” he said.
He referred to Africa Endeavor, an annual, multi-nation communications exercise, as a test bed for the current state of affairs on the continent, and an aid in itself to future development.
“In order to conduct those exercises, to conduct those security and cooperation events, and to meet contingency missions, we really, from the C4ISR perspective, have five big challenges,” Angyal said.
“You heard General Hogg this morning talk about ‘think about the customer’ — you’ve got to allow me to be able to get access to our data; I’ve got to be able to get to the data where and when I need it; you’ve got to be able to protect it; I have to be able to share it; and then finally, the systems have to be able to work together in order to build that coalition.
“One of the reasons General Ferrell is setting up this joint information enterprise, this joint network enterprise . . . it’s almost like trying to bring together disparate companies or corporations: everyone has their own system, they’ve paid for their own infrastructure, and they have their own policy, even though they support the same major company.
“Now multiply that when you bring in different services, multiply that when you bring in different U.S. government agencies, and then put a layer on top of that with the international partners, and there are lots of policies that are standing in our way.”
The main issue is not a question of technology, he said.
“The boxes are the same — a Cisco router is a Cisco router; Microsoft Exchange server is the same all over the world — but it’s the way that we employ them, and it’s the policies that we apply to it, that really stops us from interoperating, and that’s the challenge we hope to work through with the joint network enterprise.
“And I think that through things like Africa Endeavor and through the joint enterprise network, we’re looking at knocking down some of those policy walls, but at the end of the day they are ours to knock down. Bill Gates did not design a system to work only for the Army or for the Navy — it works for everyone,” Angyal said.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Searyoh, director general of Defense Information Communication Systems, General Headquarters, Ghana Armed Forces, agreed that coordinating policy is fundamental to improving communications with all its implications for a host of operations and missions.
“One would expect that in these modern times there is some kind of mutual engagement, and to build that engagement to be strong, there must be some kind of element of trust. … We have to build some kind of trust to be able to move forward,” said Searyoh.
“Some people may be living in silos of the past, but in the current engagement we need to tell people that we are there with no hidden agenda, no negative hidden agenda, but for the common good of all of us.
“We say that we are in the information age, and I’ve been saying something: that our response should not be optional, but it must be a must, because if you don’t join now, you are going to be left behind.
“So what do we do? We have to get our house in order.
“Why do I say so? We used to operate like this before the information age; now in the information age, how do we operate?
“So, we have to get our house in order and see whether we are aligning ourselves with way things should work now. So, our challenge is to come up with a strategy, see how best we can reorganize our structures, to be able to deliver communications-information systems support for the Ghana Armed Forces,” he said.
Searyoh related that his organization has already accomplished one part of erecting the necessary foundation by establishing an appropriate policy structure.
“What is required now is the implementing level. Currently we have communications on one side, and computers on one side. The lines are blurred — you cannot operate like that, you’ve got to bring them together,” he said.
Building that merged entity to support deployed forces is what he sees as the primary challenge at present.
“Once you get that done you can talk about equipment, you can talk about resources,” Searyoh said. “I look at the current collaboration between the U.S. and the coalition partners taking a new level.”
“The immediate challenges that we have is the interoperability, which I think is one of the things we are also discussing here, interoperability and integration,” said Lt. Col. Kelvin Silomba, African Union-Zambia, Information Technology expert for the Africa Stand-by Force.
“You know that we’ve got five regions in Africa. All these regions, we need to integrate them and bring them together, so the challenge of interoperability in terms of equipment, you know, different tactical equipment that we use, and also in terms of the language barrier — you know, all these regions in Africa you find that they speak different languages — so to bring them together we need to come up with one standard that will make everybody on board and make everybody able to talk to each other,” he said.
“So we have all these challenges. Other than that also, stemming from the background of these African countries, based on the colonization: some of them were French colonized, some of them were British colonized and so on, so you find that when they come up now we’ve adopted some of the procedures based on our former colonial masters, so that is another challenge that is coming on board.”
The partnership with brother African states, with the U.S. government and its military branches, and with other interested collaborators has had a positive influence, said Silomba.
“Oh, it’s great. From the time that I got engaged with U.S. AFRICOM — I started with Africa Endeavor, before I even came to the AU — it is my experience that it is something very, very good.
“I would encourage — I know that there are some member states — I would encourage that all those member states they come on board, all of these regional organizations, that they come on board and support the AFRICOM lead. It is something that is very, very good.
“As for example, the African Union has a lot of support that’s been coming in, technical as well as in terms of knowledge and equipment. So it’s great; it’s good and it’s great,” said Salimba.
Other participant responses to the conference were positive as well.
“The feedback I’ve gotten from every member is that they now know what the red carpet treatment looks like, because USARAF has gone over and above board to make sure the environment, the atmosphere and the actual engagements … are executed to perfection,” said Ferrell. “It’s been very good from a team-building aspect.
“We’ve had very good discussions from members of the African Union, who gave us a very good understanding of the operations that are taking place in the area of Somalia, the challenges with communications, and laid out the gaps and desires of where they see that the U.S. and other coalition partners can kind of improve the capacity there in that area of responsibility.
“We also talked about the AU, as they are expanding their reach to all of the five regions, of how can they have that interoperability and connectivity to each of the regions,” Ferrell said.
“(It’s been) a wealth of knowledge and experts that are here to share in terms of how we can move forward with building capacities and capabilities. Not only for U.S. interests, but more importantly from my perspective, in building capacities and capabilities for our African partners beginning with the Commission at the African Union itself,” said Kevin Warthon, U.S. State Department, peace and security adviser to the African Union.
“I think that General Ferrell has done an absolutely wonderful thing by inviting key African partners to participate in this event so they can share their personal experience from a national, regional and continental perspective,” he said.
Warthon related from his personal experience a vignette of African trust in Providence that he believed carries a pertinent metaphor and message to everyone attending the conference.
“We are not sure what we are going to do tomorrow, but the one thing that I am sure of is that we are able to do something. Don’t know when, don’t know how, but as long as our focus is on our ability to assist and to help to progress a people, that’s really what counts more than anything else,” he said.
“Don’t worry about the timetable; just focus on your ability to make a difference and that’s what that really is all about.
“I see venues such as this as opportunities to make what seems to be the impossible become possible. … This is what this kind of venue does for our African partners.
“We’re doing a wonderful job at building relationships, because that’s where it begins — we have to build relationships to establish trust. That’s why this is so important: building trust through relationships so that we can move forward in the future,” Warthon said.
Conference members took a cultural tour of Venice and visited a traditional winery in the hills above Vicenza before adjourning.
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U.S. Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 464, Detachment A, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conduct a logistic resupply mission in a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from the U.S.S. Sacagawea during exercise Ssang Yong 2014 on April 1, 2014. Exercise Ssang Yong is conducted annually in the Republic of Korea (ROK) to enhance the interoperability of U.S. and ROK forces by performing a full spectrum of amphibious operations while showcasing sea-based power projection in the Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Chief Warrant Officer Clinton Runyon, MCIPAC Combat Camera/Released).
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua, McDaid, working as a firefighter for the 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard, gets training on a Rosenbauer CA5 Panther vehicle’s High Reach Extendable Turret (HRET) from Estonian Air Force Firefighter Staff Sgt. Paavo Münter while Tech Sgt. Michael Cruz, 175th Civil Engineering Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, observes at Amari Air Base, Estonia , June 6, 2013, during Saber Strike. Saber Strike 2013 is a multinational exercise involving approximately 2,000 personnel from 14 countries and is designed to improve NATO interoperability and strengthen the relationships between military forces of the U.S., Estonia and other participating nations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hughes)
COL. Norman Fabian, Chief if Staff for the NATO Rapid Deeployment Corps Hohenfels (NRDC-H), a composite team of Michigan National Guard Soldiers, and National Armed Forces representatives from the Latvian Army, talks with his team about the importance of their mission during Exercise Allied Spirit IV at 7th Army Joint Multinational Training Command's Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Jan. 17, 2016. Exercise Allied Spirit IV includees more than 2,200 participants from six NATO nations, and exercises tactical interoperability and test secure communications with Alliance members and partner nations. (Michigan National Guard photo by Sgt. First Class Helen Miller/Released)
F-35 BF-17 from the F-35 Integrated Test Force in Formation with RAF Typhoons, Edwards AFB, CA April 4, 2014 F-35 test pilot LtCol Jon "Miles" Ohman performs interoperability testing.
170805-N-KB401-114 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 5, 2017) The Royal Navy Duke-class frigate HMS Westminster (F237) makes a starboard turn in the Atlantic Ocean during exercise Saxon Warrior 2017, Aug. 5. Saxon Warrior is a United States and United Kingdom co-hosted carrier strike group exercise that demonstrates interoperability and capability to respond to crises and deter potential threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael B. Zingaro/Released)
Crew of a Polish Wolvarine Armoured Personnel Carrier practice demounting and taking up defencive positions during a live fire exercise on Exercise Steadfast Jazz at the Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, on Nov. 6, 2013.
Exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013 is taking place from 1-9 November in a number of Alliance nations including the Baltic States and Poland. The purpose of the exercise is to train and test the NATO Response Force, a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and special forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly wherever needed. The Steadfast series of exercises are part of NATO’s efforts to maintain connected and interoperable forces at a high-level of readiness.
(NATO photo/SSgt Ian Houlding GBR Army)
Maintainers with Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 224 prepare McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18D ''Hornets'' to take off at Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido, Japan, Jan. 14, 2016. VMFA (AW)-224, home based at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., is temporarily based in Iwakuni on a unit deployment program and deployed to Northern Japan to participate in the Chitose Aviation Training Relocation Exercise Jan. 12-22. During the exercise, the squadron conducted dissimilar air combat training with and against the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to further support combined interoperability and Pacific theater security cooperation.
April 26, 2008, Navy Lt. Jerome V. Cerdan, a dentist, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Alfredo Ruiz-Borges, a Hospital Corpsman, attached to 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, extract a tooth from a young girl at the field dental clinic in Tmar Pok, Banteay Meanchey, Kingdom of Cambodia. Marines and sailors of 3rd Medical Battalion are deployed in support of Cambodia Interoperability Program '08, a bilateral Medical and Dental Civil Action Program which is intended to build on the relationship between the U.S. and Cambodian governments and develop interoperability between U.S. forces and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. (Official USMC photograph by Cpl. Thomas Lew)
This is what CAmbodia
This is what Cambodia is like, kind of.
Lt. Col. Jonathan L. Due (middle,) a squadron commander assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, speaks with local reporters after Troopers from the unit arrive in the Slovak Republic after finishing the second leg of the Dragoon Crossing, a tactical road march starting out at Rose Barracks, Germany and continuing through the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic ending in Hungary on Sept. 14, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)
Leadership from the Slovak Republic and 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, along with people from the local area, attended a static display that showcased the M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicle, an M777A2 Howitzer and other military vehicles belonging to the Slovakian military at the Slovak Republic Ministry of Defense during the Dragoon Crossing, a tactical road march starting out at Rose Barracks, Germany and continuing through the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic ending in Hungary on Sept. 16, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)
A Polish Wolvarine Armoured Personnel Carrier in a dug-in location during a live fire exercise on Exercise Steadfast Jazz at the Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, on Nov. 6, 2013.
Exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013 is taking place from 1-9 November in a number of Alliance nations including the Baltic States and Poland. The purpose of the exercise is to train and test the NATO Response Force, a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and special forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly wherever needed. The Steadfast series of exercises are part of NATO’s efforts to maintain connected and interoperable forces at a high-level of readiness.
(NATO photo/SSgt Ian Houlding GBR Army)
After walking about 3 kilometers through forests, Paratroopers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, made their way from the air assault infiltration location and tactically moved on foot through thick vegetation. Their objective was to conduct a deliberate attack on the military operations on an urban terrain site known as Haaslat Village at Hohenfels Training Area Aug. 28. Exercise Saber Junction 2014 includes participants from the U.S., NATO allies and European security partners, conducting unified land operations at the 7th Army's Joint Multinational Training Command's Hohenfels Training Area. The exercise trains units in the simultaneous combination of offensive, defensive and stability operations while improving international interoperability, commitment to NATO and allied nations and strategic access to critical areas within the European Command's area of responsibility. More information about Saber Junction 2014 can be found at www.eur.army.mil/SaberJunction/ (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christina M. Dion/Released)
F-35 BF-17 from the F-35 Integrated Test Force in Formation with RAF Typhoons, Edwards AFB, CA April 4, 2014 F-35 test pilot LtCol Jon "Miles" Ohman performs interoperability testing.
Soldiers from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force fire a 120 mm mortar system during Exercise Iron Fist 2014 aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 3, 2014. Iron Fist 2014 is an amphibious exercise that brings together Marines and sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, other I Marine Expeditionary Force units, and soldiers from the JGSDF, to promote military interoperability and hone individual and small-unit skills through challenging, complex and realistic training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jamean R. Berry/Released)
Battle Group Poland soldiers conduct security from defensive positions during Puma 17 at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, May 24. Puma is a joint operation exercise between the U.S., U.K. and Romanian soldiers from the battle group along with the Polish Army’s 15th Mechanized Brigade. The exercise’s key objective is to train NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence units focusing on interoperability and improving joint operational capability in a variety of missions. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Patricia Deal/Released)
Soldiers from the Hungarian Defense Forces build a bypass bridging site over the Danube River as Troopers assigned to 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, begin their deliberate water crossing during Dragoon Crossing, a tactical road march starting out at Rose Barracks, Germany and continuing through the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic ending in Hungary on Sept. 17, 2015. The purpose of the exercise is to reassure NATO Allies of the U.S. intent during Operation Atlantic Resolve while demonstrating interoperability and freedom of movement throughout Eastern Europe. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. William A. Tanner/released)
RAMSTEIN AFB, Germany —Moroccan and U.S. military representatives discuss combined interoperability requirements during the recently convened Commandand Control Interoperability Board (CCIB), held May 1-4, 2012, at Ramstein Air Force Base. Seated from left to right are: Colonel Sean Broderick (AFRICOM Director C4Systems), Brigadier General Arnold Gordon-Bray (AFRICOM Deputy Director of Operations), Col-Major Mohammad Bajda (Royal Moroccan Air Force), Colonel Abdelhak Sanhaji (Royal Moroccan Air Force) and Colonel Mohamed Oubouhou (Royal Moroccan Army). (U.S. Africa Command photo by Kent Waller)
Battle Group Poland U.S. Soldier attempts to assemble the M240L while blindfolded during the battle group's first multinational Spur Ride at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland, July 1-2, 2017. Per cavalry tradition, soldiers must complete a series of gruelling mental and physical tests to earn the honor to wear silver spurs. The historic event helped strengthen the bond between the NATO allies and improved their interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kevin Wang/Released)
A Polish F-16 takes off during the first day of the air portion of Ex Steadfast Jazz at 31st Air Tactical Base, Poznan, Poland, on Nov. 5, 2013.
Exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013 is taking place from 1-9 November in a number of Alliance nations including the Baltic States and Poland. The purpose of the exercise is to train and test the NATO Response Force, a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and special forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly wherever needed. The Steadfast series of exercises are part of NATO’s efforts to maintain connected and interoperable forces at a high-level of readiness.
(NATO photo/SSgt Ian Houlding GBR Army)