Celebrating UNITAS 50:                        BOOKLET: A history of cooperation   Download this comprehensive 123-page booklet that explores UNITAS’ history (includes Spanish & Portuguese).     - DOWNLOAD PDF   TIMELINE: 1960 - 2009     - DOWNLOAD PDF   (COMPLETED) UNITAS Gold was the 50th iteration of the longest-running multinational maritime training exercise in the world. The annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored naval exercise took place off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla. from April 20 – May 7.     This exercise was designed to train participating forces in a variety of maritime scenarios, with each operating as a component of a multinational force and providing the maximum opportunity to improve interoperability.   Participants included military forces from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay.

Photos:   ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 23, 2009) -- Ships from eleven countries sail in formation during the photo exercise (PHOTOEX) of UNITAS Gold, the 50th iteration of the annual multinational maritime exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg/RELEASED)     ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 23, 2009) -- Mexican navy Knox-class frigate ARM Mina (F-214) sails in formation during the photo exercise (PHOTOEX) of UNITAS Gold, the 50th iteration of the annual multinational maritime exercise. This is the first time Mexico has participated in the partnership building exercis (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alan Gragg/RELEASED)     CAMP BLANDING, Fla. – Brazilian Marines (Fuzileiros Navais) demonstrate lane training techniques during Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2009 on April 18, 2009. POA, which is being executed simultaneously with UNITAS Gold, is an annual U.S. exercise focused on amphibious operations, non-combatant evacuation operations, peacekeeping and disaster relief. (By Lance Cpl. Abby Burtner) More UNITAS Gold PHOTOS

Exercise details: UNITAS Gold celebrated the 50th iteration of the annual exercise, which is usually held in two phases, an Atlantic and Pacific phase.  This year both phases were combined into one exercise hosted by the United States in waters off Jacksonville, Fla.    UNITAS, Latin for “unity,” represents nearly a half century legacy of naval cooperation in the Western Hemisphere.  Since 1960, the annual exercise series has brought together militaries in the region to improve capacity to address common security challenges in the region.   UNITAS Gold included 25 ships, four submarines, more than 50 aircraft, 650 Marines and 6,500 Sailors.  The forces trained together in a realistic scenario-driven training environment featuring live-fire exercises, undersea warfare, shipboard operations, maritime interdiction operations, air defense and surface warfare, amphibious operations, electronic warfare and special warfare.    During the exercise, U.S. Sailors, Marines and Coast Guard personnel trained side-by-side with multinational personnel in a high-tech environment utilizing state-of-the-art equipment.  The relationships developed from this exercise help foster friendly, mutual cooperation and understanding between participating navies.   Overall objectives of UNITAS Gold 50-09 included: Provide the opportunity for participants to organize and conduct combined naval operations in a multinational task force, and test its responsiveness. Improve the capability of all participating forces to carry out a variety of missions. Increase interoperability and enhance friendly relationships and mutual cooperation among participating navies.  The training objectives of each one of the participating navies were incorporated during the numerous planning conferences, thus allowing UNITAS Gold to provide effective training to increase interoperability while supporting the training requirements of all participating nations.   U.S. forces that took part  in UNITAS Gold 50-09 were: §  24th Marine Regiment §  Air Test and Evaluation Squadron ONE (VX-1) §  Amphibious Squadron 8 §  Carrier Air Wing 3 §  Destroyer Squadron Four Zero §  Florida Air National Guard §  Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 (CPRW 11) §  Riverine Group One §  U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command /  U.S. Fourth Fleet §  USCGC Thetis (WMEC 910) §  USS Ashland (LSD 48) §  USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) §  USS Doyle (FFG 39) §  USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) §  USS John L. Hall (FFG 32) §  USS Kauffman (FFG 59) §  USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) §  USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) §  USS San Jacinto (CG 56)   Partner nation forces that took part in UNITAS Gold 50-09 included: §  Brazil:  BNS Constituicao (F42) and BNS Tikuna (S 34) §  Canada:  HMCS Montreal (336), HMCS Corner Brook (S 878) §  Chile:  CF Blanco (CF-15)    §  Colombia:  ARC Almirante Padilla (FL 51) and ARC Catagena De Indias (BL 161)  §  Germany:  FGS Sachsen (F219), FGS Lubeck (F214), and Franfurt Am Main (A 1412) §  Mexico:  ARM Mina and ARM Oaxaca §  Peru:  BAP Palacios (FM 56)

SPEECH: Acting Secretary of the Navy speaks at the UNITAS Gold Commemorative Dinner     See Transcript       Key points & themes     UNITAS provides opportunities for the participating nations to increase their collective ability to counter maritime activities that threaten stability in the region.     UNITAS training develops and tests participating navies’ capabilities to respond in a unified manner to a wide variety of maritime missions.     UNITAS’ challenging training addresses key aspects of multinational and combined operations such as technology standardization and common operating procedures.     UNITAS has evolved over many years and includes training for many of the 21st century threats encountered in today’s maritime environment, along with essential seamanship and navigation that are core competencies for maritime services.  Participating forces will conduct operations spanning the full spectrum of maritime operations.