USS John L. Hall (FFG 32) and embarked HSL-48 Detachment Nine, the Regulators, returned from a successful seven-month deployment to the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of responsibility on August 17, 2010. The ship left Mayport January 22.

John L. Hall's 160 Sailors and 24 officers and the Regulators' 25 sailors and six officers completed 12 Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) port visits and several multi-national exercises and events in the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and West Africa.

John L. Hall hosted numerous dignitaries during its visits, including the prime minister of Bulgaria, the U.S. Ambassadors to Bulgaria, Georgia, and Mauritania, and many national and local public officials.

In addition to civilian officials, John L. Hall hosted Chiefs of Naval Operations from Albania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Mauritania, and Ukraine. General William "Kip" Ward, Commander U. S. Africa Command, Rear Admiral Gerard P. Hueber, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Resources and Plans, Command Sergeant Major Mark Ripka, Command Sergeant Major U.S. Africa Command, and Command Master Chief Jay Wood, U.S. Sixth Fleet Command Master Chief, also paid visits to the ship during the course of its deployment.

John L. Hall conducted TSC visits in Vlore, Albania, Varna, Bulgaria, Batumi and Poti, Georgia, Kavala, Greece, Nouokchott, Mauritania, Constanta, Romania, Koper, Slovenia, Bodrum and Samsun, Turkey, and Odessa and Sevastopol, Ukraine. During these visits, the sailors trained host nation naval personnel in Damage Control (DC), Search and Rescue (SAR), and Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) tactics and techniques. They also participated in numerous Community Relations projects, hosted receptions and provided tours of the ship.

In addition to TSC port visits, John L. Hall built relations with other countries and navies by participating in several multi-national exercises. During Exercise Caya Green in February, John L. Hall operated with Greek and Israeli submarines, warships, and aircraft in order to improve proficiency in anti-submarine warfare.
John L. Hall later participated in the inaugural Partnership of Adriatic Mariners program, in which three Croatian and two Albanian coast guardsmen and maritime law enforcement officers embarked for two weeks to receive training on maritime interdiction tactics.

In May, John L. Hall took part in Exercise Phoenix Express, which emphasized maritime interdiction and law enforcement operations in the Mediterranean Sea. For Phoenix Express, John L. Hall's VBSS team completed the training course at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operations Training Center in Souda Bay, Greece. Boarding teams from Croatia and Malta embarked John L. Hall from May 24-30 for the underway portion of the exercise, which involved ships from Algeria, Greece, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the United States.

Following Phoenix Express and a port visit to Rota, Spain, John L. Hall participated in the African Maritime Law Enforcement Program (AMLEP) and Africa Partnership Station (APS). During AMLEP, an embarked US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment trained law enforcement officials from Cape Verde how to better protect their waters and fisheries. Following a port visit to Mindelo, Cape Verde, John L. Hall conducted an in-depth SAR exercise with units from Senegal and Gambia.

John L. Hall finished deployment by participating in Exercise Breeze in the Black Sea with ships from Bulgaria, France, Greece, Romania, and Turkey from July 21 to 23.
"During this seven month deployment, our crew trained foreign navies from over 10 different countries and each time they did it with outstanding results. We conducted exercises in the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and off the coast of West Africa, which provided vital training with coalition partners and demonstrated the versatility of the U.S. Frigate Fleet. Although the crew faced a lot of adversity over the deployment, they overcame every obstacle with the pride and determination that makes our Navy so strong," said Command Senior Chief James "Smitty" Tocorzic.

He continued, "After seven long months I'm sure their families are proud of the hard work they've put in and I know I couldn't be more proud of each and every member of this crew. I'm very lucky to be a part of this great team."

In all, John L. Hall visited 19 ports in 14 countries, traveled 34,000 miles, and completed more than 485 flight hours during its seven month deployment.