Month: September 2022

Source: United States Navy

“We do some serious training while we’re here,” said Rear Adm. Wayne Baze, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3, and the Navy/Marine Corps Element Task Force Lead for DSCA. “It’s the military getting with our emergency management teams from the police, fire systems, port authorities, emergency management operations, and medical providers to see how we can merge our talents together in times of crisis, so that we can do our jobs safely and effectively. This is hard stuff, and in order to get good at it, we have to do it over and over again.”

Each year the Fleet Week DSCA exercise is focused on a different facet of humanitarian assistance and disaster response, such as debris and emergency route clearing; transportation and logistics strategies; and supply chain resilience. This year’s focus was the management of aviation response and recovery operations in a neighborhood which could potentially become inaccessible during a major earthquake.

“This was a culmination event, the fourth exercise we’ve run this year,” said Jill Raycroft, SFFW DSCA Exercise program director. “We’ve been running DSCA exercises for about 11 years, and we usually come in via the water in the eastern part of the city. This year we wanted to look at how military air assets might assist the city in rendering aid to a part of the city that would be a little more cut off.”

The exercise brought together people and assets from a myriad of agencies such as the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Army, the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management, the Port of San Francisco, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the San Francisco Police, Fire and Sheriff’s departments.

Ultimately, the culmination event, the landing of a Marine CH-53 Super Stallion in a local park was canceled for weather and safety reasons.

“Even though the helicopter didn’t land today, this has been a great learning opportunity for all of the military, state and local agencies,” said Raycroft, praising the coordination efforts behind the exercise and the full commitment and cooperation of all the players.

According to SFFW Executive Director, Lewis Loeven, exercises like these add value to all parties involved.

“In 2010, we wanted to increase the value that we were getting out of fleet week.,” said Loeven. “So we started a program where we do training and education for both the military and civilian on how we work together. We’re getting people on the same page so they can better respond to an emergency.”

The weeks of planning and coordination made for a unifying start to this year’s Fleet Week. San Francisco Fleet Week, now in its 41st year, celebrates the rich naval tradition in the Bay area, honors our nation’s service members, and facilitates annual disaster preparedness training between the Navy, Marines Corps, Coast Guard and local first responders.

It is San Francisco’s largest annual civic sponsored event. It’s a free event in the Fisherman’s Wharf district that features the Blue Angles, a full air show over the San Francisco Bay, and ship tours all weekend long drawing thousands of people into the city. This year, Fleet Week is Oct. 3 – 10, 2021. Most activities and the large air show are over the weekend of Oct. 7 – 10.

Source: United States Navy

Ronald Reagan’s departure marks the end of a scheduled-maintenance availability period.

“We’re excited to be back at sea, and are grateful for the excellent support from our maintenance teams ashore,” said Capt. Fred Goldhammer, Ronald Reagan’s commanding officer. “Not only was our completion of scheduled maintenance and in port training beneficial in ensuring the combat readiness of ‘Warship 76,’ but this brief period allowed our crew an opportunity to recharge and reconnect with our families and friends.”

While departing, hundreds of Reagan Sailors manned the rails in their service dress white uniforms as the ship made its way to sea for the second time this year.

During this routine deployment, Ronald Reagan, its strike group ships, the embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 staffs, will continue working with allies and partners, promote adherence to a rules-based international order, as well as maintain presence and flexibility.

Prior to Reagan’s return to Yokosuka, the ship conducted operations in the Philippine Sea.

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group includes the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), as well as Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Barry (DDG 52) and USS Benfold (DDG 65), assigned to DESRON 15.

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Under Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States Navy

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) James Honea released his priorities to the Fleet, Sept. 13.

MCPON Honea first mentioned his priorities during his change of office ceremony, Sept. 8, and elaborated on them further during the Senior Enlisted Leadership Mess Symposium at the Admiral Gooding Center at Washington Navy Yard, Sept. 9th.

“We must ensure our principles, basic standards of technical competency development, and expertise align to the Chief of Naval Operations’ navigation plan,” said Honea. 

MCPON Honea’s priorities of Warfighting Competency, Professional and Character Development, and Quality of Life, align with Navigation Plan 2022, which outlines how the Navy is uniquely positioned to strengthen integrated deterrence, campaign forward, and build enduring warfighting advantages.

To download the one-page infographic, click here.