Petty Officer 2nd Class Christina Nichols, a native of Redmond, currently participated in the Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercising with 18 different international locations. Being out to sea with different nations is thrilling,” Nichols said in a press launch. “It’s cool to observe how each to deliver interacts with us during the exercise. BALTOPS 2019 ran from June 8-21 and included sea, air, and land assets. The multi-national workout provides a unique schooling opportunity that.
Fosters cooperative relationships vital to ensuring safety at sea and protecting the sector’s interconnected oceans, the release states. According to U.S. Navy officers, it’s far designed to enhance schooling value for contributors, beautify flexibility and interoperability and reveal resolve among allied and associated forces defending the Baltic Sea location. Nichols is a gunner’s mate aboard the Blue Ridge-class amphibious command deliver USS Mount Whitney.
Mount Whitney is known for the 14,505-foot height inside the Sierra-Nevada variety in California, the best point in the decrease continental the United States, consistent with the release. It is the primary ship within the U.S. Navy to endure this name. Mount Whitney serves because the Command Ship for Commander, SIXTH Fleet/ Commander, Joint Command Lisbon/Commander, Striking Force NATO and has a supplement of one hundred fifty enlisted employees, 12 officers, and 150 civilian mariners from army sea-raise command.
Nichols credits success within the Navy to among the training she learned developing up in Redmond.
I found out to accept and recognize extraordinary life and beliefs,” she stated in the launch. “I discovered to paintings with any ones of a kind humans from special perception systems with none shape of discrimination. The Navy upholds the equal ideals that we’re a group. First, which’s congruent with my upbringing. BALTOPS 2019 was deliberate and led using the U.S. Second Fleet (C2F), as directed via U.S. Naval Forces Europe. C2F become re-installed last summer season as a response to the converting protection environment, and BALTOPS 2019 marks the first time the renewed fleet can be operating in Europe, in keeping with the release.
Commander, C2F, Vice Adm. Andrew “Woody” Lewis led the exercising on behalf of U.S. Naval Forces Europe.
“Through BALTOPS 2019 and physical activities adore it, we improve our relationships and enhance general coordination and interoperability among allies and companions all through both peace and times of battle. As you all are conscious, U.S. 2nd Fleet can be leading the exercise, however, make no mistake, it is going to be founded on NATO and partner standards,” Lewis said inside the release. The workout began in Kiel, Germany, with a pre-sail convention. At-sea training took place for the duration of the Baltic Sea, together with occasions scheduled close to Putlos, Germany; Saaremaa Island, Estonia; Riga, Latvia; Klaipeda, Lithuania; and Ravlunda, Sweden. At the stop of the workout, most participating ships sailed to Kiel to participate in the Kieler Woche Festival.
Allied countries with ships and forces participating in BALTOPS 2019 included Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and the USA. NATO partner nations Finland and Sweden also participated in the workout. Serving within the Navy method Nichols is part of a global this is taking up new significance in the United States’ consciousness on rebuilding army readiness, strengthening alliances, and reforming business practices to assist the National Defense Strategy, the release states.
A key element of the Navy the state desires is that the USA is a maritime country. The state’s prosperity is tied to the ability to perform freely on the sector’s oceans, in step with the release. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered using water; eighty percent of the arena’s populace lives near a coast, and ninety percent of all international trade with the aid of volume travels using sea. Our priorities center on human beings, capabilities, and strategies, and will be executed by way of our attention on pace, cost, results, and partnerships,” Richard V.
Spencer, Navy secretary, stated inside the release. “Readiness, lethality, and modernization are the requirements using those priorities. Though there are numerous approaches for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and profession, according to the release, Nichols is maximum happy with receiving a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for doing thoroughly with an inspection by the Afloat Training Group.
She stated within the launch that the command knocked it out of the park.
Sometimes, small divisions like ours can get not noted,” Nichols said in the release. “It’s quality to be diagnosed for maintaining the deliver safely. As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Nichols and different sailors recognize they’re a part of a legacy to final beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the kingdom wishes. Serving in the Navy approach that I get to help others each on the delivery and round the world,” said Nichols. Inside the release, “Our presence offers peace and aid while vital.
