Month: February 2023

Source: United States Navy

This degree will be offered in partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and will include a Naval Studies Certificate embedded in the program. Here are the top ten reasons you should apply for the AS in Aviation Maintenance with USNCC:

1. Opportunities for advancement: Knowing more about aviation maintenance makes you a better maintainer. This means you will stand out amongst your peers when it comes to the work you do in the military and the field of aviation maintenance.

2. Strong demand for skilled technicians: Both within the military and after your time in uniform, there is a strong demand for skilled technicians in the aviation industry. With a growing need for maintenance and repair of aircraft, having a degree in aviation maintenance makes you a stronger candidate for a continued career in the aviation industry.

3. Transferable skill sets: The technical skills and knowledge you gain from an Associate of Science in Aviation Maintenance are transferable to other industries, including the automotive industry and the aerospace industry.

4. Overseas and travel opportunities: If you enjoy your overseas duty assignments, continuing your career in the aviation industry after your time in service allows you opportunities to continue working overseas. With airports around the world, there are aircraft everywhere that need good maintenance technicians to keep them flying.

5. Zero-cost education: As a USNCC student, your tuition, books, and course fees are covered. This means you can focus on earning your education without having to worry about how the next course will be funded.

6. Career growth opportunities: Continuing education earns you points in the Marine Corps, and an associate degree earns you two points on your advancement exam in the Navy. This translates directly to increased promotion opportunities and more money in your bank account.

7. Dynamic and challenging work environment: Aviation maintenance is a constantly-evolving industry with new technological advancements. Lifelong learning keeps you on the cutting edge, which makes you a better maintainer.

8. Stackable certificates: USNCC’s Associate of Science in Aviation Maintenance degree includes an embedded 15-credit Certificate of Naval Studies and an embedded 18-credit Certificate of Aviation Maintenance. This means you are earning milestone credentials on the way to your degree.

9. FAA credentialing: The Associate of Science in Aviation Maintenance prepares you for the written, oral, and practical examination for the Airframe and Powerplant License and, combined with the required experience, you can earn your Part 65 certification. This means your education and experience combined makes you a more qualified and competitive aviation maintenance technician.

10. Online and asynchronous learning environment: It doesn’t matter where in the world you are, as long as you have reliable internet access, you will be able to continue on your path to earn a naval-relevant associate degree in aviation maintenance. This means you can earn your degree on your schedule.

Sign up today for the Associate of Science in Aviation Maintenance degree on USNCC’s website, www.usncc.edu. 

The United States Naval Community College is the official community college for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. To get more information about USNCC, go to www.usncc.edu. Click on the Inquire Now link to learn how to participate in USNCC academic programs.

Source: United States Navy

The port visit is part of Leyte Gulf’s planned mid-deployment voyage repair (MDVR) maintenance period and allows Leyte Gulf Sailors much-deserved leisure time while taking in the sights, art, history and food of Crete.

“We are elated to return to Souda Bay,” said Capt. Michael Weeldreyer, commanding officer of Leyte Gulf. “The time in port will be used to conduct needed maintenance and enjoy some well-earned rest and relaxation, not to mention continue to foster our friendships with partner nations.”

Ships require preventative and regular maintenance to operate reliably, much of which is completed underway. However, some maintenance items must be completed pierside due to work requirements or parts. Planned MDVRs allow U.S. ships to complete these corrective and preventative repairs to ensure the ship remains fully mission-capable throughout the entire deployment.

While in port, Sailors will also have the opportunity to engage with the local community by participating in a series of community relations (COMREL) events at a local dog shelter where the Sailors will assist in improving the shelter grounds and animal socialization, as well as picking oranges for local orphanages.

“The COMRELs provided to us are such a great opportunity to not only provide a service to the locals, but spend time in a country doing something that we wouldn’t normally do,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Gwendolyn Juel, assigned to Leyte Gulf. “We get to work hand-in-hand with people that I would normally not have the opportunity to. I am really grateful for the opportunity and experience. I look forward to more in the future.”

Leyte Gulf, homeported in Norfolk, is attached to the USS George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike group (CSG) and is operating in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations as part of a scheduled deployment.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush is the flagship of CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG. CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W. Bush, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Information Warfare Commander, and Leyte Gulf.

The ships of DESRON 26 within CSG-10 are USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119).

The squadrons of CVW-7 embarked aboard the George H.W. Bush are the “Sidewinders” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA 86), the “Jolly Rogers” (VFA-103), the “Knighthawks” (VFA-136), the “Pukin Dogs” (VFA-143), the “Bluetails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW 121), the “Patriots” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ 140), the “Nightdippers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC 5), and the “Grandmasters” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM 46).

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with 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.

The George H.W. Bush CSG is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

Source: United States Navy

U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Emlen Tunnell (WPC 1145) was patrolling regional waters in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 when it seized 4,000 kilograms of hashish and 512 kilograms of methamphetamine from the smuggling vessel.

Currently led by the United Kingdom Royal Navy, CTF 150 is one of four task forces organized under the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). This was the first drug seizure in 2023 for CMF.

“This is just the beginning of our work in delivering maritime security operations in the region to stop illicit activities and drug smuggling,” said UK Royal Navy Capt. James Byron, the CTF 150 commander. “This comes as a result of a valued partnership between CTF 150 and all partner nations in Combined Maritime Forces.”

Byron assumed command of the multinational task force Jan. 18 after Royal Saudi Navy Rear Adm. Abdullah Al-Mutairi led the unit for six months.

Under Al-Mutairi’s leadership, CTF 150 ships logged more than 10,000 hours on regional patrols and intercepted six shipments of illegal drugs that included opium, heroin, hashish and amphetamines. The combined estimated value of the seized drugs totaled more than $250 million.

Since 2021, CMF has interdicted $1 billion worth of illicit narcotics during maritime patrols. CMF is the largest international naval partnership in the world consisting of 38 member-nations and partners.