Twenty-one containers of assorted ammunition were off-loaded from MV Cape Hudson at the Royal Thai navy ammunition pier, Thung Prong. The ammunition was destined for use by Marines, Soldiers and Airmen during Exercise Cobra Gold 2001 in Thailand. Photo by Dub Allen.

SC trains continuously for real-world contingencies by participating in Joint Chiefs of Staff, geographic commanders in chief and fleet exercises. MSC participated in or supported more than 65 exercises during FY 2001, including the following major exercises.

Turbo Challenge – a U.S. Transportation Command-sponsored exercise that tested and evaluated the capability of the Defense Transportation System to support the deployment and sustainment of forces to the Korean peninsula.

Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration of Forces – a joint U.S.-Korean command post exercise sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea that tested bilateral interoperability and moving and receiving forces in the Korean theater – combined with Turbo Challenge.

Positive Force – a bi-annual Joint Chiefs of Staff command-post exercise that evaluated Joint Staff and National Command Authority decision-making abilities in responding to worldwide contingencies during a major theater war.

Cobra Gold – an annual U.S. Pacific Command exercise conducted in Thailand that tested strategic lift readiness and joint interoperability.

In the background, a side-loadable warping tug brings in more steel piles for an elevated causeway system on Chilpo Beach, South Korea, during Turbo Cads 2001. In the foreground Military Sealift Command's flag flies over its mobile sealift operations center. Photo by Bridget Morris.

Turbo CADS – a containerized ammunition distribution system exercise designed to test joint capabilities to transport munitions via military 20-foot shipping containers. In FY 2001, the exercise was held in Korea.

Ulchi-Focus Lens – an annual coordination exercise in support of the Republic of Korea that afforded U.S. Navy reservists assigned to MSC an opportunity to train for mobilization.

Bright Star – a bi-annual combined-forces exercise designed to enhance MSC readiness, interoperability and joint sea control capability in conjunction with Egyptian forces.

Turbo Activations – four separate no-notice exercises during the year that measured the activation time and personnel and materiel readiness of selected Ready Reserve Force vessels by the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Nuevos Horizontes (New Horizons) – a series of joint and combined exercises tailored to provide military-to-military training involving the movement of humanitarian and civil assistance cargo held in conjunction with countries in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility such as Antigua, Belize, El Salvador, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Tobago.

Tandem Thrust – a U.S. Pacific Command-Seventh Fleet field training exercise that tested U.S. forces combat readiness.

Unified Charger – an annual exercise that allows U.S. Navy reservists to activate, deploy and support MSC Europe as they would during a contingency.

Eastern Ready – a similar annual reserve exercise supporting MSC Atlantic.

MV Cape Hudson, assisted by Thai tugs, moves away from the Thong Prong pier after off-loading ammunition containers as part of exercise Cobra Gold 2001.