 Vice Admiral James Fogo, Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, visited Sweden to witness the tactical phase of Baltops 2016, a multinational maritime exercise. It's about our presence in the Baltic region for reassurance to our allies and friends that have coastlines and navies and marine cores up here. I'm here today on Uto Island. It is our second amphibious assault in a week and we are combined with Marines of the United States Marine Corps, the United Kingdom, Italy and Sweden and Finland. With 17 nations involved in Baltops, Admiral Fogo said he was most amazed by the participant's ability to work together effectively in such a short time. The interoperability is impressive when you bring five or six different marine cores together the ability to communicate, to operate in one another's vehicles, to fight together and to establish relationships that will be long-lasting because we'll be back next year for Baltop 17. It is an enormous force multiplier for the alliance and also for the United States of America. This was the 44th iteration of Baltops and Admiral Fogo said it gets more challenging each year but service members keep rising to the occasion. We made it tougher this year. Last year it was two amphibious exercises and landings in two weeks. This year it's three exercises and landings in two weeks that's put incredible stress on the force and I have to tell you that despite the lack of sleep, our Marines and the Allied Marines are tremendously resilient, enthusiastic and ready to conduct their mission so as a Navy Admiral I'm impressed, exemplify. Petty Officer Valerie Carson, Uto, Sweden