2007 Press Releases

U.S. and Kenya militaries to conduct bilateral exercise

February 26, 2007

Elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the Bataan Strike Group (SG) will conduct a bilateral military exercise with land and naval forces from the Kenyan military during Edged Mallet '07 scheduled to take place in March.

The annual exercise provides U.S. and Kenyan armed forces the opportunity to refine their operational skills while enhancing their ability to work together effectively and strengthening the longstanding military-to-military relationship which exists between the United States and Kenya.

The exercise will include small arms live-fire and bilateral patrols on designated Kenyan military areas and will remain transparent to local populations and the general public.

In addition, U.S. military personnel, in conjunction with Kenyan engineers and military doctors, will assist coastal civilian communities with a school refurbishment project and medical clinic.

"These projects bring together U.S. and Kenyan military personnel to assist Kenyan civilians, while providing practical training for our engineers and medical specialists," said Col. Gregg A. Sturdevant, commanding officer of the 26th MEU.

The 26th MEU departed North Carolina Jan. 6 on a routine deployment as the landing force with the Bataan Strike Group. In addition to USS Bataan (LHD-5), the strike group is comprised of the USS Oak Hill (LSD-51), USS Shreveport (LPD-12), USS Nitze (DDG-94), USS Vella Gulf (CG-72), USS Underwood (FFG-36) and USS Scranton (SSN-756).

The Bataan SG is currently supporting maritime security operations (MSO) in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command area of operations. MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.