4 October 2005

Exercise Destined Glory (Loyal Midas ) 2005 4 October 2005 NATO response force maritime / amphibious exercise assembles multinational forces in mediterranean The largest NATO amphibious exercise this year, codenamed Destined Glory (Loyal Midas) 2005, will take place from 29 September to 14 October 05 on the Italian island of Sardinia and in adjacent waters of the Thyrrenian Sea. Destined Glory (Loyal Mida) 2005 is a realistic crisis response exercise that will test the expeditionary capability of the maritime component of the NATO Response Force (NRF), currently led by the Commander of the Italian High Readiness Maritime Headquarters (COMITMARFOR). Ten NATO member nations ( Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America) are participating in this exercise and providing some 8.500 personnel, 37 ships and 57 aircraft, including the maritime and amphibious forces affiliated with the Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) based in Naples, Italy. Under the overall command of the United States Navy Vice Admiral John Stufflebeem, Commander Joint Command Lisbon, the NRF maritime and amphibious forces will exercise their capability and readiness to respond rapidly to any threat to the Alliance, wherever that may be. Note for the Editor: Immediately prior to and during the exercise, media questions should be addressed to the Chief, Allied Press Information Centre (APIC) located at the Elmas Military Air Base, Cagliari, Sardinia. Phone: 00 39 335 820 4313 Fax: 00 39 070 240 217 E-mail: piodestinedglory@yahoo.com A Press Day and a press conference will be held on 7 October 2005.