 Military leaders from Allied and Partner Nations took part in the Combined Force Maritime Component Commander Flag Course, or CFMCC. The course is designed to provide a forum to discuss regional security challenges faced by the participating nations. We are training flag officers from our allies and major partner nations how to command and control large naval formations. And we're doing that across the entire spectrum of naval operations from the very small maritime security operations, like counter piracy, all the way up to our most complex striking forces. The course fosters open discussion with the intention of creating a better understanding of how to work together to meet security challenges. So this class is designed to cause us to think about what does it mean to lead a combined force? What are the best lessons learned that we have, the best tactics, techniques, procedures of leadership in that regard? And in so doing set conditions for us collaboratively to meet the challenges that I just highlighted. Beyond dialogue, the course provides the opportunity for participants to strengthen relationships with one another. When you get together face to face, you develop relationships and from those relationships you develop a level of trust. And that level of trust will serve us very well in future operations. If a crisis were to occur, participants feel that having a pre-existing relationship with other commanders will enable cohesive operations to address challenges. It's absolutely important to know each other and also to know about the security challenges. Because when we have to work together, act together, it'll be too late to try to know each other and know the challenges. Then we have to act and the key word is act together. Petty Officer Matt Wright, Naples, Italy.