Cooperation from friends and Allies can help meet such challenges by complementing and supplementing U.S. expertise and equipment. Combined exercises and operations with the navies of friends and allies directly enhance the combat effectiveness of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in several ways. Such awareness includes familiarity with specific environmental conditions peculiar to regional areas, and an appreciation for the capabilities and limitations of systems and equipments in the combined force. Peacetime combined exercises and operations also provide opportunities to practice and refine procedures, tactics, and doctrine designed to increase the combat effectiveness of the force. Finally, the mutual trust and confidence developed among Commanders during combined naval exercises and operations are essential to enabling prompt and effective coalition combat operations.
Sustainability involves transport, munitions, and communications adequate to support the operation.
Sustainability is greatly enhanced by the ability to base equipment and personnel ashore. For example, availability of shore-based aircraft to supplement carrier air wing aircraft offers obvious sustainment advantages. The U.S. case is promoted in all these areas by routinely conducting peacetime combined exercises and operations. The Navy initiated this program over 15 years ago to facilitate discussions of tactics, doctrine, policies, equipment interoperability, and future operations and exercises. The program has grown, and today we hold talks with 16 nations, including Russia.