By Mass Communication Specialist Mel Orr, USS Blue Ridge Public Affairs
BRISBANE, Australia - U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) arrived in Brisbane, Australia on July 8 in support of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011 (TS11).
The exercise enhances joint combat readiness and interoperability between U.S. and Australian air, land and maritime forces, and will focus on crisis action planning and execution of emergency response operations.
TS11 is jointly sponsored by U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defense Force (ADF) Joint Operations Command and is designed to support and strengthen ADF’s capability to defend Australia and its national interests.
“The U.S. and Australia have a proud, longstanding history of working together,” said Blue Ridge Commanding Officer Daniel Grieco. “This exercise will further strengthen ties between our two nations and enhance our ability to cooperatively operat our military force to further peace and st ability in the region.”
While in Brisbane, Blue Ridge and embarked 7th Fleet staff Sailors will take in the sights during the numerous scheduled tours, participate in community outreach projects, and welcome local Brisbane residents for guided tours of the ship, all in the spirit of friendship and camaraderie.
Blue Ridge serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force. Blue Ridge is the flagship for Commander U.S. 7th Fleet. CTF 76 is headquartered aboard White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan; with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
TS11 is jointly sponsored by U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defense Force (ADF) Joint Operations Command and is designed to support and strengthen ADF’s capability to defend Australia and its national interests.
“The U.S. and Australia have a proud, longstanding history of working together,” said Blue Ridge Commanding Officer Daniel Grieco. “This exercise will further strengthen ties between our two nations and enhance our ability to cooperatively operat our military force to further peace and st ability in the region.”
While in Brisbane, Blue Ridge and embarked 7th Fleet staff Sailors will take in the sights during the numerous scheduled tours, participate in community outreach projects, and welcome local Brisbane residents for guided tours of the ship, all in the spirit of friendship and camaraderie.
Blue Ridge serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force. Blue Ridge is the flagship for Commander U.S. 7th Fleet. CTF 76 is headquartered aboard White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan; with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
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Brisbane is my home town; I met some of the boys from the “USS Blue Ridge” yesterday and got a look at the old girl herself, she’s quite a sight.