WEBVTT 00:04.377 --> 00:06.675 - [Interviewer] Hello, can you give us your name, 00:06.675 --> 00:08.317 rank, and where you're from? 00:08.317 --> 00:09.317 - Amy Egoli. 00:09.578 --> 00:10.411 Captain. 00:10.411 --> 00:13.185 I'm from detachment 802 in Atlanta. 00:13.185 --> 00:14.184 - [Interviewer] Great. 00:14.184 --> 00:17.267 What is your role in Phoenix Express? 00:18.667 --> 00:21.500 - My role is as exercise director, 00:22.951 --> 00:23.958 and I totally messed that up. 00:23.958 --> 00:24.982 (laughs) 00:24.982 --> 00:26.856 - [Interviewer] That's fine, that's fine. 00:26.856 --> 00:29.681 What is your role in Phoenix Express? 00:29.681 --> 00:32.291 - I am the exercise director for the exercise 00:32.291 --> 00:35.873 and so my role is to ensure that the exercise 00:35.873 --> 00:39.623 is executed on time, on schedule, and safely. 00:40.005 --> 00:41.233 - [Interviewer] Great, thank you. 00:41.233 --> 00:44.723 The first question,just to lead in what Phoenix Express is. 00:44.723 --> 00:46.290 What is Phoenix Express? 00:46.290 --> 00:49.853 - Phoenix Express is a multi-national exercise 00:49.853 --> 00:52.617 among European and Northern African Nations, 00:52.617 --> 00:56.784 to exercise the Maritime partnership that they have here 00:57.505 --> 01:00.870 in the Mediterranean for Maritime security. 01:00.870 --> 01:01.752 - [Interviewer] Great. 01:01.752 --> 01:05.252 What is the importance of Phoenix Express? 01:05.505 --> 01:09.672 - I think Phoenix Express is really important because 01:09.851 --> 01:12.497 the countries that surround the Mediterranean 01:12.497 --> 01:14.835 need to be able to work together, 01:14.835 --> 01:18.667 as both a regional force, and as a global force. 01:18.667 --> 01:21.990 It gives them the opportunity to get to know each other, 01:21.990 --> 01:25.990 to get to know the rules and regulations amongst 01:27.045 --> 01:29.115 their different nations and, 01:29.115 --> 01:32.083 the tactics that they each use so that when they do need 01:32.083 --> 01:33.995 to work together for Maritime security, 01:33.995 --> 01:35.864 they can do that effectively. 01:35.864 --> 01:37.089 - [Interviewer] Great. 01:37.089 --> 01:41.256 What U.S. forces will be participating in Phoenix Express? 01:42.026 --> 01:43.575 - We have quite a lot. 01:43.575 --> 01:45.908 We have forces from Africom. 01:46.059 --> 01:49.476 The exercise is actually executed through 01:50.724 --> 01:54.891 Commander Naval Forces, Europe and Africa, and Sixth Fleet. 01:56.575 --> 01:59.231 We have reservists from the U.S. that are supporting 01:59.231 --> 02:00.814 Sixth Fleet forces. 02:01.211 --> 02:03.878 We have U.S. Coast Guard forces. 02:04.523 --> 02:06.440 We have agencies, DTRA, 02:07.328 --> 02:09.597 and the Department of Homeland Security. 02:09.597 --> 02:13.579 Quite a lot of different folks from different places. 02:13.579 --> 02:15.193 - [Interviewer] Great. 02:15.193 --> 02:18.156 What specific kinds of training scenarios will the 02:18.156 --> 02:20.323 Navy forces be conducting? 02:20.367 --> 02:22.867 - First we do training on land 02:23.993 --> 02:26.910 for security and boarding training. 02:27.981 --> 02:30.159 There's some medical training, and then 02:30.159 --> 02:34.326 we have training on land as well for how to run a Sea MOC, 02:34.493 --> 02:36.438 Maritime Operations Center, 02:36.438 --> 02:39.487 and how to run an exercise control group. 02:39.487 --> 02:41.320 - [Interviewer] Great. 02:41.702 --> 02:44.299 Can you tell us what other Africa related exercises 02:44.299 --> 02:48.466 does U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/Sixth Fleet facilitate? 02:49.362 --> 02:53.029 - There are several express series exercises 02:53.679 --> 02:57.179 that we participate in for Eastern Africa, 02:59.429 --> 03:01.823 Western Africa, and then this exercise, 03:01.823 --> 03:04.416 which is the northern part of Africa. 03:04.416 --> 03:07.968 Sixth fleet also participates in exercises throughout 03:07.968 --> 03:10.957 the year and throughout the European AOR, 03:10.957 --> 03:13.290 with other European nations. 03:13.663 --> 03:16.438 BALTOPS is one, Austere Challenge, 03:16.438 --> 03:19.605 and for different purposes, depending. 03:19.753 --> 03:20.694 - [Interviewer] Okay. 03:20.694 --> 03:23.358 Is there anything else that you would like to add? 03:23.358 --> 03:25.813 - I think the thing that's been the most fun to see 03:25.813 --> 03:29.980 over the week is that, this team has grown so much. 03:30.065 --> 03:32.347 We've had people who have a lot of experience with this 03:32.347 --> 03:34.516 exercise and some that had none. 03:34.516 --> 03:37.774 To see them come together and actually execute the 03:37.774 --> 03:39.655 exercise and improve through the week, 03:39.655 --> 03:41.428 and improve our relationships, 03:41.428 --> 03:44.639 we can go forward with our Maritime partnerships 03:44.639 --> 03:46.889 throughout this region and, 03:47.535 --> 03:50.343 we know that we have folks that we can call on to help 03:50.343 --> 03:53.264 with the Maritime security in the Mediterranean. 03:53.264 --> 03:54.292 - [Interviewer] Great. 03:54.292 --> 03:55.655 That ends the questions that I have for you 03:55.655 --> 03:56.693 that pertain to this. 03:56.693 --> 03:58.488 Just a quick question from me to you, 03:58.488 --> 04:02.655 as a Reservist, what type of challenges do you face 04:04.165 --> 04:06.998 coming into an exercise like this. 04:07.324 --> 04:11.374 I mean, there's got to be some ratification to that as well. 04:11.374 --> 04:15.541 - I think just knowing, or not knowing, all the details, 04:15.816 --> 04:19.450 and coming into it kind of cold, or at least lukewarm, 04:19.450 --> 04:22.043 and not really understanding how all of the moving pieces 04:22.043 --> 04:25.001 are put together and then having to figure that out, 04:25.001 --> 04:26.418 and then execute. 04:26.460 --> 04:27.439 That's the hardest part. 04:27.439 --> 04:29.042 - [Interviewer] So the magnitude of the exercise. 04:29.042 --> 04:30.012 - Yeah, yeah. 04:30.012 --> 04:32.211 When you've actually got equipment and hardware out there 04:32.211 --> 04:35.504 that you're having to make sure stays safe 04:35.504 --> 04:37.655 and that people are mindful of that, 04:37.655 --> 04:40.630 and then making sure people have the accommodations 04:40.630 --> 04:42.998 that are appropriate, they're getting enough to eat, 04:42.998 --> 04:45.140 they're having a good time, and, you know, 04:45.140 --> 04:47.677 dealing with maybe a personnel issue or 04:47.677 --> 04:48.974 something that might come up. 04:48.974 --> 04:52.974 It's a lot, but, that's what we're here for, so. 04:53.151 --> 04:54.175 - [Interviewer] Great, great. 04:54.175 --> 04:55.092 Absolutely. 04:55.173 --> 04:56.006 That's it.