160307-N-OX801-011 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NAPLES, Italy (March 7, 2016) Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, Vice Adm. James Foggo III, right, gives remarks at the Phoenix Express 2016 planning conference at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, March 7, 2016. U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partner, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel P. Schumacher/Released)
160518-N-XT273-090 SOUDA BAY, Greece (May 18, 2016) Tunisian marines participate in fast rope familiarization during exercise Phoenix Express 2016 at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center May 18. Phoenix Express is a U.S. Africa Command-sponsored multinational maritime exercise designed to increase maritime safety and security in the Mediterranean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stumberg/Released)
160517-N-XT273-415 SOUDA BAY, Greece (May 17, 2016) Rear Adm. Kevin J. Kovacich, Director of Strategy, Plans and Programs U. S. Africa Command, receives a gift from Hellenic Navy Commodore Georgics Tsogkas, NATO Maritime Interdiction Operations Training Center Commandant, during the opening ceremony of exercise Phoenix Express 2016, May 17. Phoenix Express 2016, sponsored and facilitated by U.S Africa Command, is designed to improve regional cooperation, increase maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices, and operational capabilities to enhance efforts to achieve safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stumberg/Released)
160517-N-VK993-001 SOUDA BAY, Greece (May 17, 2016) Rear Adm. Kevin Kovacich, Director of Strategy, Plans, and programs, U.S. Africa Command, and Italian Navy Rear Adm. Alberto Maffeis, Commander Patrol Forces Italy joined with Hellenic Navy Commodore Georgios Tsogkas, Commandant of NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center for a tour of Naval Support Activity Souda Bay as part of exercise Phoenix Express 2016 opening ceremony May 17. Phoenix Express 2016, sponsored and facilitated by U.S Africa Command, is designed to improve regional cooperation, increase maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices, and operational capabilities to enhance efforts to achieve safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Lieutenant Junior Grade Jill Brown/Released)
160517-N-XT273-320 SOUDA BAY, Greece (May 17, 2016) Maritime professionals from North Africa, Europe and the U.S. take a tour of Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on a Hellenic rigid hull inflatable boat after the Exercise Phoenix Express 2016 opening ceremony May 17. Phoenix Express 2016, sponsored and facilitated by U.S Africa Command, is designed to improve regional cooperation, increase maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices, and operational capabilities to enhance efforts to achieve safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stumberg/Released)
160307-N-OX801-025 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY NAPLES, Italy (March 7, 2016) Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, Vice Adm. James Foggo III, right, welcomes attending senior leaders from maritime forces at the Phoenix Express 2016 planning conference at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy, March 7, 2016. U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partner, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel P. Schumacher/Released)
160518-N-XT273-190 SOUDA BAY, Greece (May 18, 2016) Tunisian marines participate in fast rope familiarization during exercise Phoenix Express 2016 at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center May 18. Phoenix Express is a U.S. Africa Command-sponsored multinational maritime exercise designed to increase maritime safety and security in the Mediterranean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stumberg/Released)
160517-N-XT273-424 SOUDA BAY, Greece (May 17, 2016) Senior leaders from North Africa, Europe and the U.S. pose for a group photo in front of the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center after the Exercise Phoenix Express 2016 opening ceremony May 17. Phoenix Express 2016, sponsored and facilitated by U.S Africa Command, is designed to improve regional cooperation, increase maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices, and operational capabilities to enhance efforts to achieve safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stumberg/Released)
160517-N-XT273-101 SOUDA BAY, Greece (May 17, 2016) Distinguished visitors from North Africa, Europe, and the U.S. take a tour on a Hellenic rigid hull inflatable boat following the Exercise Phoenix Express 2016 opening ceremony May 17. Phoenix Express 2016, sponsored and facilitated by U.S Africa Command, is designed to improve regional cooperation, increase maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices, and operational capabilities to enhance efforts to achieve safety and security in the Mediterranean Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stumberg/Released)
Maritime forces from Europe, North Africa, and the U.S. began the tenth iteration of the multinational maritime Exercise Phoenix Express, May 17, 2016.
Gen. David Rodriguez, Commander U.S. Africa Command and en. Samora Yunis, Chief of Staff Ethiopian National Defense Force sign the summary of conclusions after a Bilateral Defense Committee (BDC) meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 31, 2016. The new agreement out lines the cross-exchange of logistics, services, supplies and support, as well as a way forward for the Africa Data-Sharing Network and combat engineering. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dan DeCook)
A U.S. Army soldier swings from a ledge to a rope ladder during the French Desert Survival Course, May 6, 2015, at Arta Plage, Djibouti. The mountain obstacle course is the final test, requiring nearly every skill set learned in training, and must be completed in a strict 25-minute time limit to graduate the course. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Raughton/Released)
U.S. Army soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, paddle a zodiac watercraft across a beach during a water crossing exercise May 5, 2016, at Arta Plage, Djibouti. The soldiers completed the exercise as a team in less than 40 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Raughton/Released)
U.S. Army Spc. Steven Saurimayo, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, climbs a rope obstacle during the French Desert Survival Course May 6, 2016, at Arta Plage, Djibouti. The U.S. forces were required to complete the obstacle course, and then perform the same course in reverse while carrying a tire that could not make contact with the ground. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Raughton/Released)
A U.S. Army soldier swings from a ledge to a rope ladder during the French Desert Survival Course, May 6, 2015, at Arta Plage, Djibouti. The mountain obstacle course is the final test, requiring nearly every skill set learned in training, and must be completed in a strict 25-minute time limit to graduate the course. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Raughton/Released)
U.S. Navy Commander Ryan Maves, physician of infectious diseases, teaches medical professionals about illnesses during the Military Tropical Medicine seminar May 11, 2016 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. Medical specialists from the U.S., France, Germany, Italy and Djibouti attended the seminar to learn about treating tropical illnesses and diseases and how they affect military personnel in a contingency environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Raughton/Released)