Month: September 2022

Source: United States Navy

In August 2022, the ARG-MEU, consisting of Kearsarge, USS Arlington (LPD 24) and USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), trained alongside the Finnish and Swedish Navies to foster a shared goal of preserving security and stability in the Baltic region.

To assist the ARG-MEU’s approximately 4,000 Sailors and Marines in preparing for the interoperability training events, Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella (NAVSUP FLCSI) and its mission partners coordinated the shipment and delivery of mail, provisions, medical supplies and mission-related cargo during the ships’ scheduled port visits to Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Latvia and Lithuania.

In anticipation of the ships’ arrivals, NAVSUP FLCSI deployed logistics support representatives and a transportation officer to engage directly with the ships’ supply departments and their logistics mission partners. NAVSUP FLCSI Transportation Officer Damien Anderson deployed to Helsinki, Finland, for the Kearsarge ARG port visit, Aug. 5-8.

“By being present at the port, I was in a better position to assist the Kearsarge’s supply officer with direct actions to meet tight deadlines,” said Anderson. “This was especially the case for any military air and commercial shipments that entered the country and needed to be directed to the ship location, and ship parts that needed to be offloaded for repair.”

Additionally, the ARG-MEU conducted bilateral exchanges with members of the Finnish Armed Forces, Aug. 9-18, in the Northern Baltic Sea and in the region of Hanko. During the exchange, both navies participated in exercise events throughout the maritime domain. At sea, units participated in amphibious well deck operations, mine-countermeasure demonstrations, ship maneuvering drills, and several quick-response medical exercises. They also shared techniques and procedures, and improved communication and coordination.

“This exercise enabled the Kearsarge ARG-MEU to train and operate alongside our Finnish partners,” said Capt. Aaron Kelley, commander of the Kearsarge ARG and embarked Amphibious Squadron SIX. “Finland’s expertise is critical to further developing our understanding of the operational environment. Working together improves coordination across our combined maritime force and provides increased readiness and responsiveness, while also demonstrating ally and partner resolve and commitment to security in the Baltic region.”

After completing the exercises with the Finnish Navy, Arlington and Gunston Hall conducted a scheduled port visit in Riga, Latvia, Aug. 20. They later joined the rest of the ARG-MEU to participate in a maneuvering exercise with the Swedish Navy, Aug. 30.

“We are well aware of the strategic value the Kearsarge ARG has while operating in the Baltic Sea and how its presence has underscored the ability of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa to provide flexible and dynamic capabilities where and when needed,” said Capt. Douglas S. MacKenzie, NAVSUP FLCSI commanding officer. “We are proud to have played a key role in sustaining the ARG’s readiness posture with our products and services so they can complete their mission.”

Crewmembers had the opportunity to further explore port visit locations and gain a deeper historical and cultural appreciation of the nations in the region while fostering interpersonal relationships.

“My job was to ensure that trucks of provisions, cargo, mails, medical supplies, and ship stores merchandise were clear of customs before Arlington arrived in Stockholm,” said Lt. Tianhao Shi, NAVSUP FLCSI logistics support officer. “Completing the onload on the first day enabled the ship’s crewmembers to maximize their much-deserved rest and liberty.”

To successfully support the Kearsarge ARG’s port visits, NAVSUP FLCSI personnel coordinated their efforts with logistics mission partners including ARG-MEU supply teams, U.S. Sixth Fleet contracting office representatives, Task Force 63, the Navy Exchange Service Command, host nation embassy defense attaché officers, and husbanding service providers.

Prior to the ARG-MEU’s training with their Baltic Sea allies and partners, the ships underwent logistics and maintenance periods (LMPs), including mid-deployment voyage repairs (MDVRs). LMPs and MDVRs involve performing repairs so that ships remain fully mission capable throughout their deployment. Read the full story about NAVSUP’s support to the Kearsarge ARG during the ships’ July maintenance periods – https://dvidshub.net/r/zm4la5

“Our ability to support the ARG’s logistics and maintenance periods in July and the ships’ port visits in August demonstrate our commitment to facilitating end-to-end sustainment for U.S. ships across Europe’s High North region as the ARG-MEU crewmembers accomplish their mission of strengthening relationships with Baltic allies and partners while ensuring maritime security throughout the region,” MacKenzie said.

Kearsarge ARG is under the command and control of Task Force 61/2. Embarked commands with the ARG include Amphibious Squadron SIX, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Fleet Surgical Team 2, Fleet Surgical Team 4, Tactical Air Control Squadron 22, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, Assault Craft Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit 4, Naval Beach Group 2, and Beach Master Unit 2. The Kearsarge ARG and larger amphibious task forces provide military commanders a wide range of flexible capabilities including maritime security operations, expeditionary power projection, strike operations, forward naval presence, crisis response, sea control, deterrence, cyber operations, security cooperation and counter-proliferation, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

NAVSUP FLCSI is one of eight FLCs under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, NAVSUP employs a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 25,000 military and civilian personnel. NAVSUP and the Navy Supply Corps conduct and enable supply chain, acquisition, operational logistics and Sailor & family care activities with our mission partners to generate readiness and sustain naval forces worldwide to prevent and decisively win wars. NAVSUP FLCSI operates across 14 enduring and forward operating sites; forward contingency and cooperative security locations in 13 countries in Europe and Africa.

Source: United States Navy

ERSS provides damage control surgery, emergency surgery and advanced trauma surgery, at the closest point-of-injury either afloat, undersea or ashore during combat or contingency operations with minimal personnel.

“The intent and the design of ERSS is to be self-sustaining. We bring all of our own equipment and only requirement from those we augment is power, a space to work in, a water supply and lighting,” said Cmdr. Joseph Fitzpatrick, a surgeon assigned to NMCP and the ERSS team. “We bring our own supplies, litters, and medications. We can do all of this with 7 personnel; a surgeon, an anesthesia provider, an emergency room physician, two nurses and two hospital corpsman.”

Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Sean Miles, the primary subject matter expert (SME) on ERSS, said ERSS can be effective in any war-time scenario, even working with partners and allies in a NATO environment.

“NATO has terminology to describe the different echelons of care a person will go through to receive treatment. In the U.S. Navy, on the surface side, our Role 2 capabilities that we have is on our large amphibious ships. These ships were designed with an operating room, resources and personnel to be able to surgically resuscitate someone and sustain them on board,” said Miles.

ERSS provides Role 2 care in a highly mobile way and is referred to as Role 2 Light Maneuver (R2LM). In a distributed maritime operation, where ships are not in a traditional strike group or amphibious readiness group, ERSS significantly enhances flexibility and mobility for expeditionary operations. When employed on a platform, with their initial load out of equipment, ERSS can accommodate three critical patients and five non-critical patients.

The Navy Bureau of Medicine (BUMED) builds, maintains, trains and equips a diverse range of medical units capable of maneuvering and integrating with the fleet and fleet marine force in a “Fight Now” posture.

Capt. Reggie Ewing, U.S. Fleet Forces command fleet surgeon, said that the capabilities of the ERSS directly align with BUMED and the Navy surgeon general’s priorities.

“The surgeon general’s priorities of people, platforms, performance and power are in direct support this concept of distributed maritime operations and operating in a contested maritime environment. Through utilization of these priorities, Navy medicine will increase lethality through increased survivability of our fighting force. If we can get
them back into the fight, then we can win the fight.”

U.S. 2nd Fleet serves as bridge between the United States’ east coast and
Europe. Cmdr. Rommel Flores, medical planner for U.S. 2nd Fleet, explains how this particular capability will help ships and NATO partners and allies throughout the 2nd Fleet area of operation.

“As the Atlantic, arctic and high north are contested maritime environments, an area 2nd Fleet shares with 6th Fleet, this damage control surgical team will assure our Sailors and Marines that 2nd Fleet will maximize their health and safety as they perform their mission when embarked on any ship,” said Flores. “This ERSS training onboard the USS Tortuga is aligned with 2nd Fleet’s objective of preparing forces to deter and defeat potential adversaries. As we continue to grow this medical capability and integrate with our partner nations, as seen while operating with the Royal Canadian Navy during OP NANOOK, we are introducing different and challenging medical scenarios that stress the system, exposing gaps and seams that we have not observed before,” said Flores.

As the SME, Master Chief Miles has seen these teams operate first-hand and added, “If we have the ability to add a resource that can save a life we should be able to apply that.”

U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime forces ready to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

Source: United States Navy

The ship was named for Somerset County, in honor of the 40 passengers and crew who gave their lives on United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The passengers and crew prevented the plane from reaching its intended target, but tragically crashed in Stoneycreek Township in Somerset County.

Commanding Officer, Capt. Chris Brown and 22 Sailors arrived in Somerset County for a multi-day trip to attend the observance, and serve in a uniformed capacity as escorts, honoring the families of the 40 passengers and crew that perished on Flight 93.

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden laid a wreath at the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 National Memorial and provided remarks as the keynote speaker for the observance.

“Sept. 11 touched us all,” said Biden. “It changed us all, but it reminds us that, with courage and kindness, we can be a light in that darkness. It showed us that we are all connected to one another.”

The first lady greeted the entire crew, gave them words of encouragement and appreciation, and took a group photo with them.

USS Somerset personnel participated in various service and engagement Community Relations projects (COMRELs) during their trip.

Their annual visit fosters the strong relationship with the Somerset County community and allows Sailors to share the significance of being assigned to Somerset.

“We are honored to represent Somerset County and the heroes of Flight 93,” said Capt. Chris Brown, commanding officer of USS Somerset. “We will continue to help current and future generations understand that individual choices make a difference, that compassion and sacrifice can triumph over evil and hate, and that the actions of the heroes of Flight 93 is one of the most courageous acts in American history.”

The crew attended a high school football game to show support for their namesake, interact with local fans, and present a flag. Dean of students and athletic director, Scott Close accepted the flag on behalf of Somerset Area Jr.-Sr. High School.

“This is absolutely incredible,” said Close. “Being a lifelong Somerset County resident and being here during the events of 9/11, I followed the progress of the building or USS Somerset to when it was finally commissioned. It means a lot to us, the school district and entire Somerset County. We appreciate Captain Brown and you guys taking the time to come out on a Friday night and share the evening with us.”

The Somerset crew also visited Central Cambria High School, the Somerset courthouse, Patriot Park, and the Stoystown American Legion where the met with local veterans.

Somerset is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock assigned to Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 3 and home ported in San Diego. The ship’s keel contains steel from a mining machine standing near the crash site in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Every deck of the ship contains mementos of Flight 93, including a dedicated passageway leading to the Memorial Room, which bears the names of the passengers. Like its sister ships USS New York (LPD 21) and USS Arlington (LPD 24), Somerset was named in honor of those who lost their lives during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.