Month: May 2022

Source: United States Navy

Following a two-year hiatus due to the Coronavirus, the city embraced the return of Fleet Week. Nearly 40 events were scheduled throughout the event to enable service members to interact with local residents and thousands of people toured USS Lassen (DDG 82) and USS Delbert Black (DDG 119) during the week-long festivities.

“It was so nice to have the Sailors back in person this year,” said J.W. Arnold, the Executive Director of Broward Navy Days, the organization that helps plan and host Fleet Week Port Everglades. “This event is always our way of expressing appreciation for our military services, and it is easily the highlight of our year!”

From the “All Hands Welcome” with city leaders the first day to the inaugural Beach Olympics the last and with receptions for every level of service member in between, the team worked hard to ensure a good time for their military guests.

“We had the best time with the people of Fort Lauderdale,” said Ensign John McCoy of the USS Delbert Black, and a first-time visitor to any Fleet Week. “They showed us how great their city is, and it was humbling to see how appreciated we are in a military city like this.”

In return, the various military commands worked to repay the hospitality through Navy Band Southeast concerts, community relations projects, and the “Admiral’s Reception” aboard USS Lassen.

Other highlights from the 32nd Fleet Week Port Everglades included a “Spirit of America” concert with the Navy Band performing with other groups from the area, a Navy League Enlisted Person of the Year award dinner, a “Salute to Veterans” ceremony, complimentary deep sea fishing opportunities for the service members, and a Military Night at a Florida Marlins game and much more.

“We are already working on ways to make next year even better,” Arnold said. “The community has such a tremendous history and relationship with the military, and we are so very, very grateful for what they do.”

Fleet Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase the awareness of the Navy’s role and purpose in our national defense.

Source: United States Navy

Exercise Neon Defender is an annual bilateral training event between U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and the Bahrain Defence Force. The Bahrain Coast Guard is also participating. The exercise focuses on maritime security operations, installation defense and medical response.

“Bahrain makes many vital contributions to the maritime security of the Gulf and the annual bilateral Neon Defender exercise highlights the fulsome capability of Bahrain’s maritime forces,” said Ambassador Steven C. Bondy, the U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain. “The U.S.-Bahrain security partnership continuously develops to deliver enhanced regional security. This exercise is a strong example of how our two nations are working in tandem to improve security and safety for all, to the benefit of both our great nations.”

Nearly 200 U.S. personnel are participating, including maritime engagement, security, medical and construction teams from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard cutters USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142) and USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318) as well as several U.S. Navy unmanned systems will also participate in the exercise.

“Neon Defender is an excellent opportunity to increase interoperability with our Bahraini partners,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of NAVCENT, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “I am inspired as our military-to-military relationship with Bahrain continues to grow as we strengthen and expand our mutual cooperation.”

Headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, NAVCENT includes U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb.

Source: United States Navy

CECOS provides CEC junior officers with the necessary skills, knowledge and education to enhance lifelong learning and to provide quality support to the fleet.

Graduation from the course is a requirement for new U.S. Navy CEC officers before they report to initial assignments as public works officers and construction managers at Navy and Marine Corps installations or as platoon commanders and staff officers in the Naval Construction Force.

The 15-week-long course covers a wide range of topics such as leadership, professional development, public works, construction technology, contracting, expeditionary construction and combat operations.

Commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) and 45th Chief of Civil Engineers, Rear Admiral John W. Korka, served as the guest speaker for the graduation ceremony.

“Our business is the warfighting business.  Each of you are warfighters,” said Korka. “Many of you are headed to Seabee battalions where you will deploy around the globe to strengthen our Navy’s construction and engineering readiness.  Some of you are headed to NAVFAC commands where you will manage large-scale construction projects or direct repairs to infrastructure and you will hear repeatedly that we support the warfighter.”

Korka also thanked the families, friends and spouses of the class, commending them for their loyalty and describing his deep respect and gratitude for their sacrifices.

“I am living proof that family readiness equals operations readiness and mission success,” said Korka. “I could not be where I am today without my family’s unyielding support.”

This was the second Basic Class to graduate under the command of Capt. Peter Maculan. 

“This class has made an excellent first impression on their fellow Civil Engineer Corps officers over these past 15 weeks,” said Maculan.  “I look forward to serving with them in the fleet.  Good luck to all and Godspeed!”

Nine students were recognized for displaying outstanding character and competence during the 15-week course.  The honor graduate, representing the top student of the class, was Ensign Julianna Pereira. 

Distinguished graduates, representing the top 15% of the class, were evaluated by their academic performance, leadership, physical fitness, personal initiative and enthusiasm.  Basic Class 272 distinguished graduates included Ensign David Marler, Ensign Kensey Dahlquist, Ensign Alan Haduong, Ensign Jared Dingel, Ensign Elise Tessero, Ensign Jacob Muenchau and Ensign Kylee O’Conner.

The Commodore Hunt Commemorative Esprit de Corps Award, named after Eileen Hunt, a long serving CECOS civilian employee and an honorary Seabee who stood the watch faithfully for nearly 45 years at the school, is granted to the student who best represents the class, personifies the spirit of camaraderie, teamwork and demonstrates an infectious and unwavering positive attitude. 

The Basic Class 272 recipient of this prestigious award was Ensign Jordan Pugh.

Basic class 272 was made up of students who represent a cross section of society who come together in pursuit of a common goal; becoming a CEC officer.  Each student took a different path to reach their goal and a couple of graduates shared their journey.
Ensign Huy Duong was born and raised in the Republic of Vietnam until the age of eleven. He did not speak English upon his arrival to the United States. His grandparents assisted the U.S. military during the Vietnam War and were forced into “re-education” camps following the end of the war. Eventually, Duong’s grandparents were granted entrance into the United States as political refugees. 

Duong and his family were sponsored by his grandparents to immigrate to the United States twelve years ago. The Duong family initially arrived in Tampa, Florida. Three months later they then moved to the Seattle, Washington area to begin their American journey.

“I joined the United States Navy because my grandparents are very pro-American as well as my parents, and I felt that this was a good way to pay back this great country for everything it has given my family,” said Duong. 

A graduate of Washington University in civil engineering, Duong begins his military career with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 located in Port Hueneme, California. 

“I have wanted to become a part of this team since my sophomore year of college because of the rich tradition and history,” said Duong.

Ensign Cleofe Jaurigue is another young officer who took a challenging path to becoming a CEC officer.

Jaurigue came to the United States at the age of twenty and enlisted in the U.S. Navy to help set a structured path for herself.  As a construction mechanic, she deployed to Dubai, United Arab Emirates where she became fascinated with the “beautiful” infrastructure. 

“I began watching videos and became very interested,” said Jaurigue. “I was fortunate to take advantage of the Naval Career Intermission Program and complete my degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago.  Being in the Navy really helped me reach my goals.” 
Jaurigue enjoyed being part of Basic Class 272, especially during the FTX training. 

“The advisors enabled everyone to lead without stepping on toes. It helped confirm that I have what it takes to be a highly effective Naval Officer,” said Jaurigue. 

The next stop for ENS Jaurigue will be Public Works Department Battalion, Great Lakes located in Illinois. Here she is excited to start her next journey mentoring and leading our nation’s warfighters.

A small community of only 1,300 officers, CEC officers are found all over the world in highly visible positions supervising skilled personnel while working on construction projects, infrastructure repairs and maintenance, facility support contracts, real estate management, natural resource management, environmental planning and management, expeditionary construction and many other infrastructure management areas.  From the very beginning, CEC officers obtain engineering management and leadership experience far exceeding that of a typical recent college graduate in engineering or architecture.

CECOS, located at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, California, provides Seabees, civil engineer corps officers, facility engineers and environmental professionals with the necessary skills, knowledge and education to enhance lifelong learning and to provide quality support to the fleet.

For more info about CECOS, visit www.netc.navy.mil/CECOS/ or follow CECOS on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CivilEngineerCorpsOfficersSchool/
 

Source: United States Navy

For Canales, who has served 19 years in the U.S. Navy, PP22 may be her last full deployment. She hopes this will be an unforgettable experience.

“One of my goals here is to make this one memorable because this is going to be my last [deployment], and this is her first,” said Canales of her daughter. “So, I am happy she is with me for this [mission].”

It is Navy tradition for senior enlisted members to mentor junior officers. For Lozada, Pacific Partnership offers an opportunity to not only serve with her mother but also gives her the chance to grow and persevere professionally under mom’s tutelage.

“Chiefs and junior officers work together anyways, but I have a double layer,” Lozada said.

“I have the support of my mom, but on top of that, she is a chief to mentor me as a junior officer. It is really nice to work within that dynamic and focus on the mission, but I feel lucky that we have each other on the ship.”

Canales said the feelings are mutual. The proud mother says she looks up to the junior officer.

“My daughter is the kind of person I want to be when I grow up,” said Canales.

“She taught me changes are good, and that change is the only permanent thing in the world, and it is okay to change your focus on something else that works for you. Look at her now, she is a nurse, and not just a nurse, a Navy nurse. I am proud of her.”

After spending her childhood moving around to various commands during her mother’s naval career, Lozada never imagined she would join the Navy herself.

“As I grew older, I appreciated the stuff that she was doing as a mother,” Lozada said. “I started to have more of an appreciation toward the military and all that she was able to provide us with. Eventually, I joined the military myself. I have so much more of a newfound appreciation for it. Joining the military was me maturing and really seeing eye-to-eye with my mom.”

The family duo will work in tandem during PP22, caring for patients throughout the Indo-Pacific Region. Lozada, working in patient care, will create connections and work side-by-side with partner and host nation personnel. Canales will ensure PP22 doctors and nurses have all equipment needed to complete the mission.

“We get to show our partners that we are here to help at any time, and I like being able to represent and show what we do,” Lozada said.

Reflecting on everything her mother has accomplished in her Navy career, Lozada says she sees her mom as an inspiration as Lozada moves forward in her own career.

“Growing up, my mom always inspired me to be a strong woman,” Lozada said. “She made it to chief. That is a milestone and breaks the boundaries. She gives me hope that I can fulfill my role as a new officer.”

Deployments mean family members must say goodbye to one another, and Sailors often miss holidays with loved ones throughout the year. This year, Mercy is deployed on Mother’s Day. Canales and Lozada consider it a unique opportunity to celebrate this special occasion together at sea.

“Unlike all of the other mothers on this ship, I get to celebrate Mother’s Day with one of the reasons I am a mother,” Canales said.

“I know this is a Mother’s Day that I will never forget.”

The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) is currently underway for Pacific Partnership 2022. Now in its 17th year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brandie Nuzzi wrote this story.