The guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a seven-month deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations (AOO).
Cole, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, departed Norfolk, Aug. 22, 2014 and spent the deployment supporting U.S. national security interests in Europe.
The ship transited more than 40,000 miles, participating in Exercise Mavi Balina, a multilateral, anti-submarine exercise hosted by Turkey, a passing exercise with the French navy’s Charles De Gaulle Carrier Strike Group, and multiple passing exercises with Romania, Turkey, Israel, and France. Cole also conducted maritime security operations in support of Operation Active Endeavour.
Visiting six ports in five countries, Cole crew members volunteered more than 500 hours in eight community relations events for local charities and organizations.
Sailors also made time for individual accomplishments as well, with more than 40 Sailors advancing to their next pay grades and eight being selected into new job ratings. Cole also pinned 11 new surface warfare officers and more than 75 new enlisted surface warfare specialists.
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Image: US Navy