Colombian Armada submarine A.R.C. Tayrona completed joint training with several U.S. Navy ships in early November, during a brief deployment under the Diesel Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI) off the coast of Mayport. The DESI program, established in 2001, has engaged several diesel South American navies with submarines to provide a series of programmed stateside deployments. The goal is to support fleet training exercises and tactical development events. “Being able to train with Tayrona gives us the opportunity to improve our skills in sub-surface detection,” said Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, Rear Adm. James W. Stevenson Jr. He met with Cmdr. Herney Gutierrez, Tayrona’s commanding officer, during an office call at U.S.