The Hindu : U.S. Naval team coming today; `no security check'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 29, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

U.S. Naval team coming today; `no security check'

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, JAN. 28. A 20-member U.S. Naval team led by Admiral Walter F. Doran, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, will arrive here tomorrow on a visit to the Southern Naval Command.

The special aircraft of Admiral Doran's team is scheduled to land at the Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery, at 10-30 a.m. tomorrow.

According to sources, special arrangements have been made at the airport for the arrival of the high-security team. There will be no security check for the team at the airport. Sources said Admiral Doran and his team would be carrying their arms and ammunition along with them.

Admiral Doran is responsible for the world's largest combined fleet command, encompassing 102 million square miles and more than 190 ships and submarines, 1,400 aircraft, 191,000 sailors and marines and 30,000 civilians.

Sources said Admiral Doran would visit the Naval Base and meet the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, Vice-Admiral Yeshwant Prasad. The Admiral is also likely to visit the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) School and the Navigation and Direction (N&D) School at the Naval Base.

The team will return on Friday.

Admiral Doran had attended the Indian Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) at Wellington, Nilgris, in 1979 and earned a master's degree in defence studies.

He was Chief of Staff, U.S. Southern Command, from December 1996 to July 1998. He commanded the Seventh Fleet from August 1998 to September 2000.

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