U.S. supports U.K.-led Exercise Joint Warrior 2019

Exercise Joint Warrior 19-1 (JW 19-1) began off the coast of the United Kingdom, March 31, 2019. Joint Warrior is a biannual, U.K.-led multinational exercise that trains allies and partners in a maritime environment.

The exercise is designed and led by the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff in the U.K. and is intended to improve interoperability between allied and partner navies to prepare participants for a role in joint maritime combined operations.

"Joint Warrior is an excellent opportunity to work with our NATO allies," said Cmdr. Craig Trent, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78). "This exercise allows us to become a more cohesive and effective force for good that is capable of operating in any environment."

The Joint Warrior series is an integrated training event designed to provide NATO, allied, and partner forces a unique multi-warfare environment to prepare for global operations.

Joint Warrior 19-1 will provide forces with a variety of training scenarios that explore real-world challenges on a strategic, operational, and tactical level in a controlled environment.

“These types of exercises demonstrate the cooperation between Naval Forces Europe and our European allies and improve our overall warfighting proficiency,” said Cmdr. Tyson Young, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64). “The men and women aboard the Carney, and throughout the U.S. Navy, stand firm with our allies and are ready to work with our partners to confront today’s challenges.”

U.S. Navy units involved in Joint Warrior 19-1 include: Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Porter (DDG 78), USS Gravely (DDG 107), and USS Carney (DDG 64); Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13); two P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft from commander, Task Force (CTF) 67; a KC-135 Stratotanker from 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England; two MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters from USS Gravely; and two MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22.

Nations participating in Joint Warrior 19-1 include: Australia, Turkey, Germany, France, Canada, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

For more information and news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.c6f.navy.mil.