Month: November 2022

Source: United States Navy

“By building stronger relationships with and developing greater understanding of mutual warfighting capabilities, limitations, challenges to and opportunities for success, we become a more capable international maritime warfighting force,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Steven McDowell, director of Surface Advanced Warfighting School (SAWS). “Our discussions span all domains of maritime warfighting, but also include terminology differences we might have for the same nomenclature or tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP).”

The purpose of this week-long seminar is to offer an opportunity for “Five Eyes” (FVEY) partners to discuss existing and new capabilities, opportunities to expand capacity within the coalition, and to build on lessons learned from recent deployments and exercises. FVEY is common term that originally formed as an intelligence alliance and can be traced to informal secret meetings during World War II.

Royal New Zealand Navy Cmdr. Paula Dacey, Fleet Maritime Logistics Chief of Staff, “It’s fantastic to bring the logistics ideas and objectives to this group. It’s the first time logistics have been included and this ensure we’re well-aligned to continue partnerships for exercises like Rim of the Pacific conducted primarily in Hawaii and Talisman Saber that occurs in Australia, both are executed biennially.”

Protocols for preventing the spread of COVID-19 ruled out face-to-face MWWG conferences for the last two years, but they were able to hold discussions utilizing video teleconferences.

The MWWG included nearly 70 participants who were represented by a head of delegate (HoD) from each nation and participants attended several breakout discussions, engagements on ships in the local area and cultural exchanges with a limited amount of sightseeing in the San Diego area.

A variety of discussion topics included: Maritime Aviation, Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Amphibious Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Information Warfare, Mine Warfare, Operational Analysis, and Logistics. Next year, the delegation will be hosted in New Zealand.

Source: United States Navy

More than 200 jobseekers were in attendance and some had the opportunity to be interviewed on the spot from various companies of the public and private sector.

“This is the first time that we held this event in the past few years because of the pandemic. We started preparing for this event sometime in February of this year,” said Gerald Mundy, MFSC transition and employment program coordinator who helped coordinate the event.

Angel Natal, work and family life specialist at MFSC who was the overall organizer of the event, shared his thoughts on how it provided transitioning service members the opportunity to prepare for jobs in the civilian sector.

“We decided that this was a good time to start it up again. It is a part of our curriculum to provide the opportunities for transitioning members to meet face-to-face with potential employers,” Natal said. “We call this a hiring event because we provide the employers the venue to go ahead and meet transitioning members and also the opportunity to interview right on the spot, so it does provide a lot of good opportunities for our service members and their families.”

This year, 35 employers participated in the event such as Navy Region Hawaii, Federal Detention Center, U.S. Secret Service, USDA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and some state agencies. Four Skillbridge companies also participated, which is a big aspect of transitioning today.

Skillbridge is a program that allows a service member, once they are within six months of their discharge date, to do an internship or apprenticeship with a company while they are still in service. It allows them to be with the company for six months and learn everything, and potentially when they get out, work with that company.

“This is a very good program that is heating up now in what we see, and transitioning members want to get involved in that. Skillbridge has been around since 2014 but took off in Hawaii around 2016. In the state there are over 30 Skillbridge companies,” said Natal.

Overall, the hiring event was successful which was in line with Natal’s projections.

“One of the best things was the diversity of the participants in that all branches of service showed up to include DoD personnel as well as spouses and veterans in good numbers,” said Natal.

The next hiring event is scheduled for next year in the spring for March 17. For more information, about MFSC Pearl Harbor, visit the MWR Great Life Hawaii website at jbphh.greatlifehawaii.com.

Source: United States Navy

One P-8A aircraft, along with nine aircrew members and nine aircraft maintainers conducted flight operations within the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of New Zealand and Fiji.

VP-10 showcased a static display of the P-8A, executed three mission flights and one MK-39 Expendable Mobile Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Target (EMATT) flight. Members of the RNZAF were able to gain familiarity with the aircraft during flight operations and anti-submarine warfare training.

Military and civilian New Zealanders expressed excitement upon the arrival of the P-8A Poseidon aircraft and the C-130 Hercules from the United States.

“We’re receiving four new P-8s and five new C-130Js from the U.S., which is amazing for New Zealand,” said Pilot Officer Andrew Lindsay, RNZAF. “There has never been a better time to be in the RNZAF. I’m excited to be part of the new military generation.”

During the three days of mission flights, VP-10 conducted surveillance and took photographs of fishing vessels of interest.

“Most fishing vessels abide by maritime law; with their transponder on, correctly identifying their vessel category and flying their flag of origin,” said Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) Andrew Sunde, RNZAF. “Sometimes we will find fishing vessels misidentify themselves or conduct illegal fishing practices within an exclusive economic zone. International organizations may find fishermen from third world countries extorted for their labor by entities that do not abide by the basic human rights that are standard in New Zealand and the U.S.”

Using the P-8’s onboard MX-20 camera, VP-10 found a fishing vessel that misidentified itself carrying fishing gear within Fiji’s EEZ.

“Sometimes these fishermen operate in poor conditions and work for low pay months on out,” Sunde continued. “The fishing vessels will stay in the area while another ship will come pick up the fishing products in sea and sell for profit. For the fishermen who abide by maritime law, it is nice for them to see us here while they’re fishing in the deep sea. It’s like seeing a police officer patrol on your street. When fishermen see patrol aircraft in the area, it encourages them and others to continue to conduct lawful fishing practices.”

VP-10 photographed and identified six fishing vessels over the span of three days. “We want to assist Fiji to enforce legal fishing practices within its exclusive economic zone,” said Andrew Sunde. “New Zealand and our allies believe in human rights, safe working conditions and sustainable fishing practices.”

The ‘Red Lancers’ had the opportunity to volunteer 76 manhours of community service with Whatunga Tūao Volunteer Central. VP-10 weeded and mulched a corner section of Edwards Pit Park in Palmerston North, NZ. Squadron members were given a blessing by the local Māori tribe Rangitāne, planted a commemorative tree donated by Leafland Tree Nursery and were provided a grilled breakfast donated by the Mad Butcher outlet.

VP-45, based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, is currently operating from Misawa Air Base in Misawa, Japan. The squadron conducts Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance as well as theater outreach operations as part of a rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.