Month: June 2022

Source: United States Navy

The MOC, located on Naval Station Norfolk’s V-88 building, fosters a data driven environment to drive down maintenance cost and further increase mission capable (MC) rates across naval aviation. The new facility construct allows for a central collaboration point between the various cells to make necessary decisions that prioritize expedited delivery of necessary parts or technical assistance, while providing valuable insight to the end user for efficient handling of aircraft.

The ceremonial ribbon was cut by the Navy’s Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. William Lescher, and Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic, Rear Adm. John Meier, who both spoke on this mile-stone achievement and what it means for naval aviation. The MOC IT team was also able to show off their technical prowess by having a virtual ribbon displayed and cut at the same time.

“This facility is what I would describe as a world class facility. And in my 36 years in the Navy, I’ve never seen a better facility that is more equipped in terms of technology, displays, data management and even ergonomics,” Meier said. “I can tell you that the Sailors that work here are excited. They’re innovative, they’re looking for new ways to do business. And I think this is just the culmination of this first phase and is the beginning of how we conduct business as Naval Air Force.”

The MOC concept was first introduced to naval aviation in late 2018 as part of the Naval Sustainment System-Aviation (NSS-A) initiative and is one of NSS-A’s seven pillars in order to reach across siloed activities to create a holistic approach to maintaining naval aircraft readiness goals.

The opening of this facility comes at a historic time in naval aviation as this year marks the centennial of naval aircraft carriers (CONAC). Similar to the evolution of the aircraft carrier, the MOC represents a revolutionary step in how the Navy maintains a lethal and ready force for the future.

“The MOC has fundamentally changed the way we perform aviation maintenance in the Navy,” Lescher said. “The facility is world-class, but what makes the MOC come alive is the hard work and collaboration of everyone involved.”

Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic (COMNAVAIRLANT) is responsible for six nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, 54 aircraft squadrons, 1,200 aircraft and 43,000 officers, enlisted and civilian personnel with priorities focused on warfighting, people, and readiness by providing combat ready, sustainable naval air forces with the right personnel, properly trained and equipped, with a focus on readiness, operational excellence, interoperability, safety, and efficient resourcing.

Source: United States Navy

Italian Navy ITS Margottini (SNMG2 flagship) and Turkish Navy TCG Salihreis met the two Japanese ships, JS Kashima and JS Shimakaze, during their transit in the Mediterranean Sea while conducting the 66th edition of the Overseas Training Cruise. Kashima and Shimakaze departed Japan on April 24.

The newly commissioned Japanese officers had the opportunity to interact with the NATO units and conduct training activities, including a maneuvering exercise. A personnel exchange allowed NATO crew members to embark the Japanese ships and vice versa. The exchanges gave all participants insight into the way NATO and Japan operate at sea and fostered understanding and interoperability between the units.
Commander of the Training Squadron JMSDF Rear Admiral Shukaku Komuta welcomed Commander, SNMG2 Italian Navy Rear Admiral Mauro Panebianco aboard Kashima remarking Japan’s pleasure to strengthen its partnership with NATO. Panebianco met the young officers to wish them the best for their careers.

“The interaction of today is a great opportunity to strengthen our cooperation and partnership,” Panebianco said. “We share many of the core values of your Navy – that is why our cooperation is mutually beneficial. Japan is one of a number of countries beyond the Euro-Atlantic area with which NATO is developing relations.”

Following the interaction, the two Japanese ships resumed their worldwide cruise that is scheduled to end in August. Margottini and Salihreis resumed their activities in the Mediterranean Sea providing a strong international presence and maintaining a high level of readiness to keep peace and preserve security on the high seas.

Source: United States Navy

Each participating nation brings indispensable military expertise to the table, but different languages, different military structures, and diverse backgrounds create a unique environment for coordination on a massive scale. Navigating the challenges associated with this is no easy feat, yet Ally and partner nations continue to execute year after year. That is because exercises, like BALTOPS, provide a unique training opportunity to work in close coordination – often face-to-face – and strengthen combined response capabilities critical to preserving freedom of navigation and regional security. 

This year, more than 45 ships, over 75 aircraft, and 7,000 personnel are tasked to execute a series of complex events throughout the two-week exercise. One may ask how it is possible, but a key piece to the puzzle lies within the exercise control group (EXCON).

EXERCISE CONTROL

Planning for each iteration of BALTOPS is a year-long process that begins as soon as the previous exercise ends. And perfectly positioned to plan this exercise, is STRIKFORNATO — a rapidly deployable joint headquarters that plans, commands, and controls NATO maritime operations within the Euro-Atlantic region.

If you were to walk into STRIKFORNATO headquarters, in Oeiras, Portugal, you would witness an international team of military experts, working meticulously to create plans and contingency responses for both real-world and exercise scenarios.

In addition to planning BALTOPS, the team is charged with the challenging role of serving as exercise control throughout the exercise itself. The EXCON maintains the overall operating picture during the exercise and ensures scenario progressions run according to plan.

“It’s a large and complex exercise,“ said Royal Navy Cmdr. Anthony Wallace, BALTOPS exercise lead. “We have broken down focus areas into syndicates and assigned subject matter experts as the leads of those syndicates. During the exercise, they work to ensure their respective events are planned and executed successfully.”

BALTOPS22 is comprised of two phases: the Combat Enhancement Training/Force Integration Training (CET/FIT) phase and the Tactical Execution phase (TACEX). These phases are designed to provide training opportunities for each of the national participants, enhance international interoperability, and test the flexibility of joint forces – all in a setting that is designed to represent operating in real-world situations.

The CET/FIT phase is scripted and allows participants time to learn how to operate together effectively and safely as well as resolving any communication issues. The exercise then culminates with the TACEX phase, where the exercise paradigm shifts, and providing commanders with freedom to decide responses to scenario developments. The EXCON not only designs the scenario, they develop ad hoc changes within the scenario during the TACEX, to provide a degree of realism while ensuring participants remain within the confines of the scenario.

THE JOINT OPERATIONS CENTER

The STRIKFORNATO Joint Operations Centre (JOC) monitors joint maritime operations in Europe and serves as command and control of NATO Allies and partner forces.  The EXCON relies heavily on the JOC, not only for the comprehensive situational awareness it provides the commander, but for the capacity it brings to integration among participants.

“The JOC is responsible for maintaining the combined operating picture, but also it is where all the tasks are sent to subordinate units, and where subordinate units report their activities,” said Italian Navy Cmdr. Rocco Bucceroni, JOC director at STRIKFORNATO. “Our team is here to support the EXCON promptly and ensure that activities are conducted professionally, safely, and smoothly. We also provide them real-time information about each exercise event, while maintaining situational awareness and a reporting chain of command for incidents or safety hazards.”

Designing an exercise of BALTOPS’ scope and magnitude is a complex process and takes a strong team of dedicated subject matter experts to ensure its success. The EXCON, the JOC, and the entire team at U.S. Sixth Fleet and STRIKFORNATO directly contribute to security and stability in the Baltic Sea. 

BALTOPS22 is the premier maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic Region. The exercise, led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and executed by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, provides a unique training opportunity to strengthen the combined response capabilities critical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea. 

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with our Allies and Partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility.  U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.  

STRIKFORNATO, headquartered in Oeiras, Portugal, is Supreme Allied Commander Europe’s (SACEUR) premier, rapidly deployable and flexible, maritime power projection Headquarters, capable of planning and executing full spectrum joint maritime operations.