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	UNITAS LXIV Concludes in Colombia
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        <h1 class="title">UNITAS LXIV Concludes in Colombia</h1>
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                 alt="Ships and Aircraft participating in UNITAS 23 steam into formation in the Caribbean Sea, July 16, 2023."
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            <div class="image-title">UNITAS 2023</div>
            <div class="image-caption">CARIBBEAN SEA (July 16, 2023) Ships and Aircraft participating in UNITAS 23 steam into formation in the Caribbean Sea, July 16, 2023. UNITAS is the world's longest-running maritime exercise. UNITAS is the world's longest-running maritime exercise. Hosted this year by Colombia, it brings together multinational forces from 20 partner nations, including 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter) and approximately 7,000 people. The exercise trains forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Conner Foy)</div>
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                 alt="Colombian Divers conduct diving operations with multinational partner nations aboard ARC Golfo de Morrosquillo (LD 242) during UNITAS LXIV, July 14, 2023."
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            <div class="image-title">UNITAS 2023</div>
            <div class="image-caption">CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA (July 14, 2023) - Colombian Divers conduct diving operations with multinational partner nations aboard ARC Golfo de Morrosquillo (LD 242) during UNITAS LXIV, July 14, 2023. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running maritime exercise. Hosted this year by Colombia, it brings together multinational forces from 20 partner nations, including 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter) and approximately 7,000 people. The exercise trains forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability with the presence of unmanned air, surface, and submarine systems. Forces will conduct operations off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, and ashore in Covenas and Barranquilla, Colombia, through July 21. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hunter S. Harwell)</div>
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                 alt="USS Little Rock (LCS 9) transits the Carribean Sea during UNITAS 23, July 16, 2023."
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            <div class="image-title">UNITAS 2023</div>
            <div class="image-caption">CARIBBEAN SEA (July 16, 2023) USS Little Rock (LCS 9) transits the Carribean Sea during UNITAS 23, July 16, 2023. UNITAS 23. Little Rock is one of 26 vessels to participating in UNITAS LXIV, the world's longest running maritime exercise, July 11-21. Colombia is hosting UNITAS LXIV this year with nearly 7,000 people from 20 nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Conner Foy)</div>
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                 alt="Navy Diver 2nd Class Jeremy Deato, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 (MDSU-2) enters the water from ARC Golfo de Morrosquillo (LD 242) during diving operations with the Colombian Navy during UNITAS LXIV, July 14, 2023."
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            <div class="image-title">UNITAS 2023</div>
            <div class="image-caption">CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA (July 14, 2023) - Navy Diver 2nd Class Jeremy Deato, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 (MDSU-2) enters the water from ARC Golfo de Morrosquillo (LD 242) during diving operations with the Colombian Navy during UNITAS LXIV, July 14, 2023. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running maritime exercise. Hosted this year by Colombia, it brings together multinational forces from 20 partner nations, including 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter) and approximately 7,000 people. The exercise trains forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability with the presence of unmanned air, surface, and submarine systems. Forces will conduct operations off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, and ashore in Covenas and Barranquilla, Colombia, through July 21. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hunter S. Harwell)</div>
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                 alt="A Brazilian Marine provides rear security during visit board search and seizure training during UNITAS LXIV at Cartagena, Colombia, July 12, 2023."
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            <div class="image-title">UNITAS 2023</div>
            <div class="image-caption">A Brazilian Marine provides rear security during visit board search and seizure training during UNITAS LXIV at Cartagena, Colombia, July 12, 2023. During UNITAS, reconnaissance and special operation force Marines and sailors from 11 partnered and allied nations conducted multilateral special operations training consisting of fast roping, room clearing, VBSS, jungle patrolling, low level static line jumping, and small arms tactics. UNITAS, taking place in Colombia this year, is the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise that focuses on enhancing interoperability among multiple nations and joint forces during littoral and amphibious operations in order to build on existing regional partnerships and create new enduring relationships that promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Colton K. Garrett)</div>
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                 alt="U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 88 approaches a beach in Coveñas, Colombia, July 8, 2023, during a beach landing exercise for UNITAS LXIV."
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            <div class="image-title">UNITAS 2023</div>
            <div class="image-caption">U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 88 approaches a beach in Coveñas, Colombia, July 8, 2023, during a beach landing exercise for UNITAS LXIV. UNITAS, taking place in Colombia this year, is the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise that focuses on enhancing interoperability among multiple nations and joint forces during littoral and amphibious operations in order to build on existing regional partnerships and create new enduring relationships that promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the U.S. Southern Command’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mary Kohlmann)</div>
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    <div><b>By Petty Officer 1st Class Hunter Harwell</b> <span class="date">/ Published July 25, 2023</span></div>
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    <p>UNITAS LXIV (64), the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise concluded with a closing ceremony in Cartagena, Colombia, July 21, 2023.</p>

<p>“Everybody participating has raised the bar, making this the best UNITAS we have ever been a part of,” said General Laura Richardson, commander U.S. Southern Command. “By working together we can keep the Western Hemisphere free, secure and prosperous. During an exercise like UNITAS we need to work our hardest, because when we work harder during an exercise it makes the real thing a second nature to us.”</p>

<p>UNITAS, which is Latin for “unity,” was conceived in 1959, first executed in 1960 and held every year since. This year marked the 63rd iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise.</p>

<p>The Colombian Navy hosts this year's UNITAS, which will feature 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter), and approximately 7,000 people from 20 partner nations. Forces will conduct operations off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, and ashore in Covenas and Barranquilla, Colombia, through July 21.</p>

<p>In addition to the United States, UNITAS LXIV brings together 19 nations from all over the world to train forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability. Participating nations include Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Spain, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.</p>

<p>Following the UNITAS LXIV Opening Ceremony on July 12, the in-port phase of the exercise featured subject matter expert exchanges, professional symposia, ship rider exchanges, and operations meetings. During this time, Marines and Sailors conducted expeditionary training events in Covenas to include riverine operations and diving and salvage operations.</p>

<p>During the Underway Phase, forces participated in events testing all warfare operations, to include live-fire exercises such as a SINKEX and an amphibious ship-to-shore landing and force retraction.</p>

<p>An addition to this year’s UNITAS is the presence of unmanned air, surface, and subsurface systems. As part of the U.S. Navy’s future hybrid fleet, the Chief of Naval Operations had tasked U.S. 4th Fleet to scale unmanned platforms to the fleet level.</p>

<p>U.S. Forces contributing to UNITAS LXIV included USS New York (LPD 21), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Little Rock (LCS 9), USS Pasadena (SSN 752), and USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10), Patrol Squadron Five (VP 5), Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EOD) 612, Mine Countermeasures Group 3, (MCMGRU 3), Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures EOD Company 61 (EODMU 61), East-coast based Naval Special Warfare units, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22 (HSC 22), Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70 Detachment 2 (HSM 70 Det 2), Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE), Fleet Surgical Team (FST) Eight, Meteorological Environmental Team (MET), 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment (3/23), 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion (4th AABn), 8th Combat Logistic Battalion (CLB 8), 4th Combat Engineer Battalion (4th CEB), Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 774 (VMM 774), Marine Light Helicopter Attack Squadron 775 (HMLA 775), Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234), Marine Aircraft Control Group – 48 (MACG-48), and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112), Commander, Destroyer Squadron 40, (COMDESRON 40), Commander, Amphibious Squadron Four (COMPHIBRON FOUR), U.S Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH), Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), USNAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT, and U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM).</p>

<p>U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.</p>
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