Month: September 2022

Source: United States Navy

The port visit highlighted the strong U.S. commitment to the region built on shared values and principles and helped strengthen the alliance between the U.S. and Philippines.

“We were incredibly fortunate to have a port visit in Manila,” said Cmdr. Joseph McGettigan, Higgins commanding officer. “Our quick stop provided great opportunities for rest and relaxation during our patrol, as well as a chance for maintenance and repair. The visit also held special importance for many of our crew members who have family in the Philippines, as they were able to spend time visiting their relatives. Finally, we were able to get together with our Canadian counterparts onboard HMCS Vancouver, who we have been sailing with for a few weeks. We greatly appreciate the hospitality of the people of Manila and hope we can come back soon.”

During the port visit, Sailors were able to explore the surrounding areas through tours sponsored by the ship’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR), as well as connect with the people of the Philippines through a community relations (COMREL) event with “Lil Bravehearts,” an organization devoted to caring for and supporting the families of children with Down syndrome.

“I am very proud to have participated in an event that increases the well-being of children and fosters a healthy relationship between the U.S. and our allies,” said Operations Specialist 1st Class Christopher Roberts, from Birmingham, Alabama. “Being able to play with the kids, learn their stories and see their resilience was a real inspiration to me.”

Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class David Dodson, from Jacksonville, Florida, was one of the Sailors who was able to spend the duration of the port visit with relatives, some of whom he had never met before.

“My grandmother, her sisters, two uncles and two cousins all came down from Tarlac to Manila while we were in port,” said Dodson. “Except for my grandmother, it was my first time meeting everyone. They showed me around all the local markets and made sure I had sisig at every meal, which is my all-time favorite dish. I had such a great time and I’m beyond grateful for being able to spend time with my family.”

Higgins departed the Philippines to continue operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Higgins is assigned to Commander, Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th fleet’s principal surface force.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest forward-deployed fleet in the world, and with the help of a network of alliances and partners from 35 other maritime-nations, the U.S. Navy has operated in the Indo-Pacific region for more than 70 years, providing credible, ready forces to help preserve peace and prevent conflict.

Source: United States Navy

The embarked LNOs participated in watch standing and observing various ship’s evolutions during their time aboard Reagan, directly supporting the Sea Combat Commander (SCC) role as part of the strike group operations led by Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. SCC is responsible for defending the aircraft carrier from surface and sub-surface opposed units, as well as planning and executing offensive strikes. The JMSDF officers coordinated a formation exercise, joint integration anti-submarine warfare exercise and tactics in an integrated environment.

“It’s an honor to work with Commodore Horikawa Yuji and his staff from Escort Division 1” said Capt. Justin Harts, deputy commodore, DESRON 15 and embarked sea combat commander. “We are working hard to refine our interoperability with the JMSDF onboard the USS Ronald Reagan. While the JMSDF have been working continuously with DESRON 15/Commander Task Force (CTF) 71 as the theater surface warfare commander, COVID prevented regular embarkations of the forward deployed aircraft carrier and Sea Combat Commander training. Now that the rules allow for more regular training with our allies and partners, we are very excited to have our Japanese shipmates rejoin us as we share our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific Region.”

The U.S. Navy and JMSDF regularly host personnel from the other’s ships in order to strengthen ties between the two partner navies. While the LNOs gained insight into carrier operations, JMSDF Asagiri-class destroyer JS Amagiri operated as an integrated unit within the strike group, conducting anti-submarine warfare exercises, formation sailing, and tactics training.

“I am very honored to train with CSG 5,” said Capt. Horikawa Yuji, commander, Escort Division (CCD) 1, JMSDF. “I believe this exercise was effective and it deepens our cooperation and interoperability. I hope this exercise will enhance force deployment and combined operational capabilities between JMSDF and USN in order for a free and open Indo-Pacific, that contributes to support stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”

On Sept. 17, USS Ronald Reagan and Amagiri operations together concluded with a group sail in the Philippine Sea.

This LNO exchange has been part of a long series of bi-lateral training conducted between the U.S. Navy and JMSDF throughout 2022.

Earlier this year, CSG 5 and JMSDF made progress in expanding collective warfighting capabilities through routine exercises and exchanges. In April, CSG 5 and JMSDF Information Warfare (IW) teams conducted a conference aboard Ronald Reagan where they spoke face to face on topics relevant to information warfare.

In May, units from CSG 5 and JMSDF conducted group sail exercises as well as a cross-deck helicopter exercise involving a JMSDF helicopter.

Also in May, another group of JMSDF LNOs embarked aboard Ronald Reagan where they observed U.S. Navy firefighting and damage control practices during general quarters, flight operations, and watch standing and navigation practices.

In August, the strike group hosted flag talks aboard the Reagan with their counterparts from JMSDF Fleet Escort Force to discuss maritime strategy and best practices for force operation and bi-lateral integration at sea. These efforts have led to recent operations with JMSDF destroyers JS Ohnami (DD 111) and JS Yamagiri (DD 152) in August, and now most recently with Amagiri and the visiting LNOs this month.

The U.S. and Japanese maritime forces have been partnered in the Indo-Pacific for more than 60 years.

U.S. 7th Fleet exercises operational control of its units through designated task forces or task groups. These groups are organized along domain and functional lines. CTF 70 is theater strike warfare commander and theater air and missile defense commander.

CTF 70 is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest forward-deployed fleet in the world, and with the help of and network of alliances and partners from 35 other maritime nations, the U.S. Navy has operated in the Indo-Pacific region for more than 70 years; providing credible, ready forces to help preserve peace and prevent conflict.

Source: United States Navy

Military members looking to stay at a U. S. Marine Corps lodging facility can now call the Navy Exchange Service Command’s (NEXCOM) Department of Defense Reservation Center for reservations for the Inns of the Corps, Bachelor Officer Quarters and Marine Corps Recreational facilities. NEXCOM’s DoD Reservation Center in Jacksonville, Florida, began handling reservations for the U. S. Marine Corps lodging facilities on Sept. 12.

“I’m very excited to have this opportunity to further support our military families,” said Stephen Pepe Jr., Director, NEXCOM’s DoD Reservation Center. “My team and I take great pride in providing PREMIER Guest Service every time we book a reservation for a caller. We are honored to serve our military members’ travel needs worldwide, all day, every day, one guest at a time!”

NEXCOM’s Navy Lodge Program established a Central Reservation Center in 1984 to improve the service it provided military members making reservations at its locations. The Central Reservation Center provided worldwide reservations in “real time,” becoming the only military service to provide this type service for lodging operations. In 2012, the name was changed to the Department of Defense Reservation Center.

For reservations, U. S. Marines Corps guests can call 1-888-409-7829 (409-STAY).  

Source: United States Navy

The summit included nearly 200 participants from across the sustainment enterprise to include, The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Sustainment; Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic; Commander, Navy Regional Maintenance Center; Director, Surface Ship Maintenance, Modernization and Sustainment; Navy’s Expeditionary Warfare and Surface Warfare directorates; the Program Executive Offices for Ships, Integrated Warfare Systems, and Unmanned and Small Combatants; and NAVSUP Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence.

The two-day event was chaired by Surface Warfare Officer Boss, Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener. Day one included a number of level-setting briefs to include a joint brief on wholesale supply and retail sparing issues led by NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, Surface TYCOM N41, and Naval Sea Logistics Center. This brief tied current funding pool challenges to Surface Warfare Enterprise sustainment and readiness in the context of Performance to Plan, Navy’s approach to improving operational results using data. The brief also provided a background on how Navy Working Capital Fund works, maritime allowancing basics, and tactics to effect desired outcomes.

The bulk of the two days were spent discussing the myriad sustainment issues impacting the various ship classes. Though the issues were far ranging, parts availability surfaced as a common theme, especially for older Hull, Mechanical and Electrical systems.

Lynn Kohl, NAVSUP WSS vice commander, weighed in on the need to engage the wholesale supply system with these parts issues, especially when life-of-type part buy opportunities arise.

Kohl also mentioned there is a place for NAVSUP WSS to use the Navy Working Capital Fund to fund certain ship harvesting efforts, the decommissioning process for Ticonderoga-class cruisers for example. If ongoing demand for these harvested parts are expected, NAVSUP WSS would recoup the harvesting cost through future sales. NAVSUP WSS and Naval Sea System Command’s Surface Ship Sustainment Office, PMS 443, are in ongoing discussions on implementing this plan as a result of this conversation at the summit.

NAVSUP WSS is one of 11 commands under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, NAVSUP employs a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel. NAVSUP and the Navy Supply Corps conduct and enable supply chain, acquisition, operational logistics and Sailor and family care activities with our mission partners to generate readiness and sustain naval forces worldwide to prevent and decisively win wars. Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/navsupwss, and https://twitter.com/navsupsyscom.