The UNITAS Joint Brazilian-United States Navy Exercise | What You Need To Know

In the early 80s, I was part of ship’s company onboard the USS John F. Kennedy. For three of those years I made the UNITAS [YOO] + [NI] + [TAS] deployment to South America.

As a Cryptologic Technician, one of my duties was to sit with the “I-branchers” and transcribe the Brazilian Navy transmissions. The transmissions would be sent at their country’s highest level beginning with the Fleet Commander at Sea and working their way up.

Now, it’s 2022 and Alejandra and I have been to Rio de Janeiro twice to visit friends she inherited from her parents. They were friends of her parents and have become her friends over the years.

As Luis-Phillipe, and I sat on his balcony overlooking Copacabana Beach, I realized something. He was the same man I had listened to in the early 80s as we jointly participated in UNITAS.

Luis-Phillipe was a retired Brazilian Admiral and we had served during the same exercises all those years ago.

The UNITAS Joint Brazilian-United States Navy Exercise is an annual multinational maritime exercise that takes place in Latin America and the Caribbean. Held annually, UNITAS is designed to enhance security cooperation and improve coalition operations. This year's edition, UNITAS LXII, was hosted by Peru from September 24-October 6 and involved more than 32 ships, four submarines, and 26 aircraft from 19 partner nations. As a participant in this year's exercise, you'll have the opportunity to take part in a variety of training scenarios that will help you learn about how to work as part of a team. What are you waiting for? Get ready for UNITAS LXII!

UNITAS are sea exercises and in-port training involving several countries in North, South and Central America, conducted by the United States since 1959 in support of U.S. policy.

In 2009, the exercises were named UNITAS Gold, in recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the first exercises in 1959.

What is UNITAS?

UNITAS Joint Brazilian-United States Navy Exercise | What You Need To Know This year's edition of UNITAS will be bigger and better than ever before! Taking place this fall, UNITAS is a historic joint exercise between the Brazilian and U.S. navies that will help to foster trust, reduce tensions, and promote security in both countries' maritime regions. The aim of the exercise is to improve interoperability and cooperation between the two militaries, so be sure to check it out this fall!

What will be the scenario of the exercise?

Since 9/11, the scenario for the exercise involves a terrorist attack on one or more U.S. vessels operating in international waters and waters within the exclusive economic zone of Brazil. This allows U.S. military forces to train together with their Brazilian partners to respond to such an event and ensure mutual readiness should it occur. The exercise is a highly beneficial exercise for both countries as it helps to keep the two militaries up to date on their respective capabilities and ensures mutual readiness in the event of an emergency.

What will be the objectives of this year's UNITAS exercise?

This year's UNITAS exercise will focus on maritime security and cooperation between Brazil and the United States. The objectives of the exercise include improving communication, coordination, and integration processes between Brazilian and U.S. Navy forces in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. There are also plans to increase joint exercises between Brazilian and U.S naval vessels as well as develop new cooperative mechanisms addressing regional security issues such as piracy off the coast of Africa and drug trafficking in South America. This year's UNITAS exercise is critical in furthering the strategic alliance between both countries and building on their already strong naval cooperation.

UNITAS is a longstanding maritime exercise that takes place every year in Latin America and the Caribbean. The 2020 edition was hosted by Peru and U.S. forces participated in numerous military exercises alongside partner nations, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), air defense, missile defence, ship defense, amphibious operations and lessons learned sessions focusing on counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HA/DR). The training objectives focused on enhancing coordination among coalition partners in order to respond more effectively to crises, while also strengthening partnerships with Latin American countries. In addition to naval activities, U.S.-led humanitarian assistance missions were conducted by C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft which delivered much needed medical supplies and food to areas affected by natural disasters.

Conclusion

The scenario of the exercise usually involves involve the two navies working together to respond to a humanitarian crisis.

Jerry Nelson is an American writer living the expat life in Buenos Aires. Some of the adventures Jerry has enjoyed, he jumped into the ocean from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Aden, cut off a goat's balls as part of a mating ritual in Indonesia, raced a NASCAR around the oval in Charlotte, created a small coin purse out of live Tarantulas in Australia's outback, spent six-weeks with the Sinaloa cartel along the U.S./Mexican border and sailed a 16th century schooner through the sound and into the open ocean.

Never far from his coffee and Marlboros, Jerry is always glad to discuss future working opportunities. Email him at [email protected] and join the quarter-million who follow him on Twitter.