Month: May 2022

Source: United States Navy

Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC) mechanical engineer and team mentor Vincent “Vinny” Pecchia, P.E., of the Oceans Technical Department, and a team of students from across public and private institutions throughout Ventura County, joined forces for the 2021-2022 For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition—an annual international high school-level robotics competition where teams are required to compete using their respective robot design, built from scratch over the course of two months.

Dubbed “a Varsity Sport for the Mind™”, the FIRST Robotics Competition combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. In its 31^st season, the FIRST Robotics Competition offers high-energy, high-tech spectator sporting where teams, professionals, and young people together solve engineering design problems through specific criteria in both an intense, yet competitive environment.

Kicking off in January, this year’s FIRST Robotics Competition stakes felt higher, as the occasion marked the beginning of the first large-scale competition in over three years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ventura County FIRST Robotics Team, named Team 4414 HighTide of HighTide Robotics, was founded in 2018, with the goal of providing opportunities for high schools students around Ventura County to participate in a competitive and meaningful way through FIRST. Team sponsors include: The Lawrence Thomas Memorial Fund, Sessa MFG., Google, HAAS, Applied Powdercoat, and Texlon.

This year’s FIRST Robotics Competition theme—Rapid React presented by the Boeing Company—required the use of innovative engineering, creative thinking, and teamwork to reimagine the future of safe, high-speed travel, and lightning-fast deliveries to propel the next evolution of transportation forward. Comparatively, each robot had to pick up balls and shoot them into a goal, in addition to climbing a set of ascending monkey bars. Points were awarded to teams whose robots operated autonomously as programmed, shot more balls into the goals, and climbed more rungs during competition.

Team 4414 HighTide’s robot, named “Cutback”, references a surfer term used when a surfer changes direction with a turn, using their rails to go back towards the breaking part of the wave—a crucial maneuver required to enjoy the steepest part of the wave.

During the preparation portion of the season, Team 4414 HighTide met nearly 4 days or more a week, working countless late evenings prior to competition to ensure Cutback was ready to rival against its competitors. 

“The FIRST Robotics Competition is a very unique experience for our local high-school youth,” said Pecchia. “Students have the opportunity to obtain hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) experience, while mentors like myself get to share our love of science and engineering with the next generation of scientists and engineers.”

Beginning March 3-6, Team 4414 HighTide, competed at the FIRST Robotics Regional Competition at Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, CA, against 34 other teams. Out of the 35 teams competing, Team 4414 HighTide won the regional event and the “quality award”—an award that celebrates machine robustness in concept and fabrication. By achieving the quality award, Team 4414 High Tide was qualified to compete in the World Championships in Houston, TX in April.

One week later, on March 9-12, Team 4414 HighTide competed against 44 other teams in the second regional competition at Naval Base Ventura County. Success struck again where Team 4414 HighTide won the regional event and the “autonomous award”—an award given to a team that has demonstrated consistent, reliable, high performance robot operation during autonomously managed actions.

The following month, April 6 to 9, Team 4414 HighTide competed in the Aerospace Valley Regional against 35 teams. The Team won the regional event in Lancaster, CA and received the “industrial design award”—an award given to a team that demonstrates industrial design principles, striking a balance between form, function, and aesthetics.  After three exciting wins at three regional competitions, Team 4414 HighTide packed their bags, and joined 452 other teams in Houston for the World Championships.

The FIRST World Championship event took place on April 20-23 in Houston. Team 4414 HighTide was able to battle through and win the “Turing Division” and win the Quality Award, which allowed the team to move on to the final “Einstein Field” where teams competed against five other division winners. As the competition moved forward, Team 4414 HighTide continued to outperform their competitors, advancing them to the final event. After continuous dedication, Team 4414 HighTide put up a great fight and gave the crowd a series to remember as they lost the final competition match—a tough but close-scoring loss.

“This was my first year as a mentor, and because of this, I did not fully realize the magnitude of passion and dedication from the students until I saw them crying tears of joy for making it to the Einstein championship event. It was inspiring,” said Pecchia.

Throughout each competition, teams were required to describe their quality plan—for example, how their design ensures robustness throughout the entire competition. Each machine competing also demonstrated quality workmanship, job specific sub-systems, wiring, and aesthetic design aspects, among other things. During competition, each machine withstood the rigors of competition, which include maintaining functionality—including the use of risk mitigation measures. Overall, the collaborative effort of building the machine therein contributed to Team 4414 HighTide’s success.

Teams not only abided by strict measures during robot development, but were also challenged to raise funds, design a team brand, and hone teamwork skills, in addition to building an industrial-size robot to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors.

NAVFAC EXWC has been involved with FIRST for several years—this being the first year a team has made it all the way to the world championship division.
“When I was in school the education system had engineering flipped around; rather, you’d learn theory first then figure out how to put it into use later, permitting you had access to the needed equipment (something which rarely students did). Today, STEM and technology educators, and the education system at large have really turned this around! Students now have access to programmable microprocessors, open source computer-aided design, and other essential programs, not to mention a myriad of cheap parts where they can create whatever they desire only limited by their imaginations,” said Pecchia.

“Today, STEM programs are bridging a gap that was not prominent many years ago. Now, students have access to the equipment, and mentorship from seasoned engineers to cultivate a simple idea into a physical, working-end product,” said Pecchia.

Pecchia’s desire to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers is not out of the ordinary. In fact, this year alone, 2,859 veteran and 176 rookie teams, comprised of 80,000 students from 26 countries participated in this FIRST Robotics Competition festivities internationally.

“You can make a career working for the Department of Defense as a civilian,” said Pecchia. “Part of my mentorship extended beyond robotics, and rather, educating students about the opportunities available to them should they chose to pursue a career in STEM. The Navy and armed forces at large offer a variety of STEM-related career fields. In fact, commands like NAVFAC EXWC are actively recruiting students who study STEM right out of college.”

Students who participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition are eligible for roughly $100 million in scholarships each season. These scholarships are awarded on merit alone, and have nothing to do with how well a robot performs during the competition season.

Source: United States Navy

A U.S. Coast Guard interdiction team from USS Momsen (DDG 92) discovered the illegal narcotics during a flag verification boarding in accordance with international law. The confiscated drugs and fishing vessel remain in U.S. custody.

The vessel’s nine crew members identified themselves as Iranian nationals and will be transferred to a regional nation for repatriation.

Momsen was operating in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, one of four task forces under the Combined Maritime Forces. The international naval force has increased regional patrols to locate and disrupt unlawful maritime activity.

The vessel was interdicted while transiting international waters along a route historically used by criminal organizations to smuggle people, weapons, narcotics and charcoal. Crew members attempted to discard more than 60 bales of the seized drugs as Momsen approached.

CTF 150 has conducted nine successful drug seizures in 2022, resulting in the confiscation of heroin, methamphetamine, amphetamine pills and hashish worth a combined value of $130 million.

Combined Maritime Forces is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world. The organization includes 34 nations and is headquartered in Bahrain with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet.

Source: United States Navy

The training was led by EODMU 3 platoon 322 and consisted of IED identification training, hands-on shipboard drills searching for and responding to realistic IED components, a simulated low-light boarding utilizing an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter and tactically securing a vessel while coordinating with simulated sniper over-watches.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1st Class Zach Dorfman, one of the instructors involved, emphasized that the exercise was a great chance to meet face-to-face with the personnel aboard Mobile Bay and alongside HSC-14, to reinforce expertise on the integrated pre-planned responses to IEDs in the 7th Fleet area of operations.

“In the event that the Mobile Bay VBSS team comes across any sort of IED, our unit would get called in to observe and render the vessel safe,” Dorfman said. “We also work with our helicopter assets, in this case HSC-14, to both get us to that vessel and to keep us safe. During this exercise, we covered the whole process – the Mobile Bay VBSS team’s searching and responding procedures, our response after being called away and the MH-60S’s role in getting us there, covering us and getting us out.”

Ensign Brennen Means, the VBSS officer aboard Mobile Bay, highlighted that the event was a great opportunity to swap experiences between the three units, who each specialize in different, yet, in this case, intersecting warfare interests.

“This experience and training further strengthened our relationship and competency with the other units and was valuable for our VBSS team,” Means said. “Having these shared drilling experiences better prepares all of us in the response to illicit cargo, and Sailors in the 7th Fleet area of operations will continue to do outstanding work because of them.”

EODMU 3 platoon 322 is currently embarked on the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Sailors attached to this unit are tasked with responding to reports of IEDs from any of the ship’s VBSS teams conducting MIOs in the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, including Mobile Bay.

Sailors interested in participating in shipboard VBSS teams are required to obtain a number of anti-terrorism force protection (ATFP) qualifications before they can apply to become team members. Sailors involved in VBSS aboard Mobile Bay are designated as members of the team in addition to maintaining sustained superior performance in the tasking given to them as part of their designated rate or job.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability through alliances and partnerships while serving as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States Navy

The training included U.S. Navy’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 flagship USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54), Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138, and the JMSDF destroyer JS Teruzuki (DD 116), with the focus on building interoperability and strengthening relationships in support of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

“My crew valued this opportunity to work with our allies and integrate as part of the strike group,” said Capt. Warren Smith, commanding officer of Antietam. “Being able to conduct numerous events together and build this relationship will serve us well for future at-sea engagements.”

“We have achieved improving tactical capabilities of element and interoperability through this high-end bilateral exercise with the U.S. Carrier Strike Group,” said Cmdr. Takashi Sato, commanding officer, JS Teruzuki. “In such a way, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and U.S. Navy cooperate closely and sail together in the several seas, we are maintaining and strengthening our cooperative action capability.”

The U.S.-Japan bilateral training focused on a gunnery exercise, electronic warfare exercise, helicopter deck landing qualifications, formation sailing, communication drills, and replenishments at-sea. The events allowed for the U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense force to exercise together towards common maritime goals.

“These professional interactions between our strike group and the JMSDF continue from our multiple, regular engagements ashore that focus on the planning and sharing of knowledge to benefit both countries and the region,” said Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly, Commander, Task Force 70/CSG 5. “Our Sailors across the force greatly benefit from our interactions with our JMSDF allies-both personally and professionally. As professional mariners and allies, these coordinated and integrated efforts ensure that we are effective at coming together to confront our shared maritime challenges and helps continue our like-minded objective to secure a future of peace and stability.”

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet is the largest forward-deployed fleet and routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and protect critical regional partnerships.

Source: United States Navy

Nandranie “Nan” Busjit-Bhalai, a licensed clinical social worker, licensed in Florida, provided non-medical individual counseling sessions, therapy, psychoeducational and support groups, workshops and training to the crew.

Members of the Command Resiliency Team (CRT) on Mobile Bay coordinated a visit with Nan to provide the ship an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the services of a licensed clinician and demystify the range of holistic resources she offers for Sailors. Abraham Lincoln also has two licensed psychologists aboard, allowing Mobile Bay Sailors and the other ships in the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to access needed care.

“Usually the small boats will send a Sailor in distress to the carrier temporarily to receive mental health services,” Nan said. “We all agreed it was a great idea to have me come here, where I can provide services to as many Sailors as possible and give those who were unsure about receiving services an up close look at the process to promote use.”

In the workshops she provided, Nan covered a wide variety of topics, including stress management and coping strategies, anger management, mindfulness, mental fitness, healthy relationships, effective communication, leadership coaching and managing grief and loss. She also held focus groups for single Sailors and parents to help address both shipboard concerns and challenges that arise at home.

“Something very important to provide Sailors on a platform where they don’t always have access to a licensed clinician are the tools to help themselves,” Nan said. “I was particularly adamant about ensuring I was able to train on a holistic approach to stress and depression in the hopes of empowering Sailors by demystifying these often-misrepresented topics.”

Nan was granted Navy Tier 3 credentials, a requirement to practice mental health services onboard Navy vessels as well as at shore-based facilities. As a DRC, she is trained to provide trauma therapy for clients who have experienced sexual assault, administer cognitive-behavioral therapy for personnel displaying suicide ideation, and give advice and counsel on command mental health matters and promotion of wellness.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability through alliances and partnerships while serving as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.