By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Shayla D.
Hamilton,
USS George Washington Public Affairs
TIMOR SEA (NNS) -- The George Washington Carrier Strike
Group (GWCSG) concluded its participation in exercise Talisman Sabre 2015
(TS15), July 18.
"During TS15 we demonstrated our pacific partnership
with the Australians and Kiwis," said Cmdr. Michael Posey, lead TS15
planner, Commander Task Force 70. "The first level of TS15 validated our
long-standing relationship with the Australians and it was a reminder that our
two nations have fought together in every major conflict since World War II."
While Talisman Sabre has been a bilateral exercise, members
of the New Zealand Defense Forces participated as embedded units within the
Australian Defence Force, and members of the Japan Self-Defense Force
participated, for the first time, as embedded personnel within U.S. military
units.
During TS15, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 F/A-18 Super Hornets
executed an in-flight tank refueling from a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
KC-30A.
According to Posey, this symbolizes the ever-growing
partnership between the U.S. and Australia. The strategic partnerships and
tactical interoperability were two of the important elements incorporated to
achieve success in TS15.
"This exercise was planned for almost two years,"
said Posey. "I really enjoyed working with members from other nations and
services. It has been a reminder of why we fight. To realize and see firsthand
that U.S. and Australian forces share those same values has been very valuable."
TS15 is a biennial land, sea and air military training
exercise between U.S. and Australian forces that features more than 33,000
personnel, 21 ships, 200 aircraft and three submarines, which increases
U.S.-Australian interoperability to respond to a wide variety of contingencies
and maintain security, peace, and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
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