All of you are ambassadors for this ship, your service and country. From the first Combined Endeavor exercise in 1995 when only ten nations took part, it has grown into one of the largest exercises of its kind conducted in Europe. Participating nations will attempt to satisfy a series of technical tasks designed to test the compatibility of systems and equipment across a broad range of capabilities. Communications networks will be built as testing progresses. This year, following daily testing, the 400 participants will engage in a wide range of sporting events which serve to build esprit de corps and camaraderie.
Participants also take part in cultural activities and trips during a mid-exercise break.
The number of people becoming ESWS qualified each year on Simon Lake is impressive, with numbers surpassing ships with three times as many Sailors onboard. On April 28, Captain David A. Duffie, Commanding Officer, awarded 32 Sailors their pins, bringing April's total to 67. That's 175 new ESWS qualified Sailors so far in 1998. According to CAPT Duffie, roughly one-third of the crew may become ESWS qualified by the end of the year. When I walk around the ship, everyone is helping someone else out.