Month: June 2023

Source: United States Navy

The Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, will deliver the commissioning ceremony’s principal address. Remarks will also be provided Admiral Michael Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations; the Honorable Justin Williams, deputy mayor of the City of Baltimore; and Mr. Charles F. Krugh, president, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works.  The ship’s sponsors are Senator Levin’s daughters, Kate Levin Markel, Erica Levin, and Laura Levin.

The ship’s namesake served in the U.S. Senate for 36 years from 1979-2015. As the longest serving senator in Michigan state history, Levin became a staunch supporter of the armed services through his work and leadership as Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. Levin passed away on July 29, 2021.

The ship, which will be homeported at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, will be the 72nd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to be commissioned, with 17 additional ships currently under contract for the DDG 51 program. The ship is configured as a Flight IIA destroyer, which enables power projection and delivers quick reaction time, high firepower, and increased electronic countermeasures capability for anti-air warfare. The USS Carl M. Levin is 509.5 feet long and 59 feet wide, with a displacement of 9,496 tons. It will be homeported in San Diego. 

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at (703) 697-5342. More information on guided-missile destroyer programs can be found at:  https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Fact-Files/Display-FactFiles/Article/2169871/destroyers-ddg/

The ceremony will be live streamed at: https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/31729. The link becomes active approximately ten minutes prior to the event (9:50 a.m. EDT)

Source: United States Navy

Detroit will support counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Detroit’s operations will involve practical exercises and exchanges with partner nation maritime services, supporting U.S. 4th Fleet interoperability and reinforcing the U.S. position as the regional partner of choice.

“We look forward to building upon the successes of USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) and USS Little Rock (LCS 9) in our return to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility,” said Cmdr. Kyle Hickman, commanding officer of Detroit. “The crew has been extremely dedicated in its preparation and is ready for 4th Fleet tasking.”

The deployment of an LCS to the region aims to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to regional cooperation and security. The LCS’s shallow draft provides unparalleled opportunities for port access, making the ship an ideal vessel for these types of engagements.

Detroit will initially be manned by its crew of more than 100 Sailors, including a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment; and an aviation detachment, who will operate an embarked MH-60 helicopter.

“The crew executed a very difficult training cycle,” said Cmdr. Bruce Hallett, executive officer of Detroit. “They exceeded all expectations.”

LCS is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. It is capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence.

Source: United States Navy

The program office incorporated the latest advancements and information gained from market research, lab testing and fleet assessments to select the new Marine Corps maintenance cranial, the Team Wendy Exfil Light Tactical Polymer helmet, which is a Commercial-off-the-Shelf solution.
“The HGU-98/P provides improved impact protection and increased hearing protection, which are long overdue improvements that our maintainers deserve,” said Capt. Carey Castelein, program manager.

Since the inception of protective headgear in the 1950s, a major challenge has been to design helmets that offer the required impact and hearing protection while providing a system that provides a comfortable fit. Because flight lines and flight decks are notoriously loud, a safe and comfortable helmet is mission critical.

The new cranial comes in two sizes and an alternate H-shaped back retention system to accommodate a hair bun. The HGU-98/P also features two different styles of hearing protection, both rail mounted to the helmet, with either X4 ear cups for a slimmer fit or X5 with larger ear cups but with better sound attenuation.

“Through research, test and fleet assessments, our team was able to determine the best possible solution for improved head and hearing protection, taking into account cost, performance and user feedback,” said Jennifer Bartnick, program office team lead.

Squadrons that began receiving the HGU-98/P flight deck helmet system in October 2022 have given favorable feedback. Fielding to Marine Corps aviation units will continue through the end of the year, and the cranial with additional capability will begin delivery next year.

From the Naval Aircrew Systems Program Office. 
 

Source: United States Navy

The project was the latest success in an ongoing effort dubbed Operation Footprint by the Department of Defense’s Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program, one of 12 ongoing construction-related IRT projects across the globe.

Various construction disciplines were exercised, from concrete to framing to plumbing and electrical – all skills with which military construction teams need real-world experience to succeed in their brand of warfighting, said Cmdr. Leia Guccione, commanding officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 18, whose troops provided the bulk of the muscle needed to realize this latest accomplishment.

“There’s no substitute for experience in our line of work,” said Guccione. “You can’t learn how to build a house from a PowerPoint. You can’t learn how to build a bridge or a road or pour a pad from a PowerPoint. You’ve really gotta get out here, get your hands dirty, and do it.”

The IRT program was conceived in the early nineties to deliver unique training opportunities in support of military readiness while simultaneously serving a community benefit. This three month-long construction effort did exactly that, said Guccione.

“Currently, the NMCB 18 team has 135 folks who are downrange,” Guccione said. “One of the things they shared with us is that, for several of them, having worked on the [Southwest Indian Foundation] project was some of the best training to get them ready for the mission they had … It actually pays dividends.”

While its contemporary design wouldn’t look out of place in most neighborhoods, this particular light tan single-family unit was erected on a small hill overlooking the rolling desert landscape 15 miles east of Gallup on off-reservation land held in trust for the Navajo Nation.

The four-bed, two bath, rambler-style residence, called a hogan by some locals, was built to help alleviate the housing situation that was once described by former President Kelsey Begay of the Navajo Nation as 20,000 too few.

“The hard work the Reservists do is critical to meet our goal of building homes for homeless Navajo families,” said Jeremy Boucher, Southwest Indian Foundation’s director of operations. “The Reservists’ presence in Gallup has had a positive effect on the whole community, and we are immensely grateful to be an IRT partner.”

The Seabees of NMCB 18 were joined during the final weeks of construction by 30 soldiers from the Nevada Army National Guard’s 240th Engineering Company out of Las Vegas, Nevada, who worked arm-in-arm with the Seabees to finish the four-bedroom house while constructing an additional home for later delivery inside SWIF’s Gallup Manufacturing Facility. Technicians and volunteers with the Southwest Indian Foundation provided additional assistance as needed.

“To come out here and do this project with SWIF and the Navy Seabees, it’s been an outstanding operation,” said 1st Lt. Gabriel Brillanates, the 240th Engineering Company’s platoon leader.

“It’s been a great opportunity for us to both showcase our strengths and recognize areas for improvement,” he said.

Navy Capt. Marc F. Williams, Commodore of FIRST Naval Construction Regiment based on Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, California, visited the construction site on June 15 to assess the quality of training obtained and explore avenues to refine future in-field training opportunities to maximize their efficacy.

“From a real-world standpoint, you can go to every class in the world … But until you’re on a job site where you can learn how to adapt and overcome while exercising your skills in a joint environment with actual stakes on the line, no classroom can compare,” said Williams.

“For the Seabees, for the Army, and for our community partners, this is truly a win-win-win,” he said.

The inter-service IRT program is a charitable effort and training opportunity that since 1998 has helped the Southwest Indian Foundation build and deliver more than 200 homes to disadvantaged families, all in support of the Southwest Indian Foundation’s efforts to improve the lives of people representing the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, Laguna, Acoma, and Apache tribes.

The Department of Defense’s IRT website accepts applications from potential community partners for training opportunities in support of military training goals that align with various medical, civil engineering, cyber security, transportation, and aerial spray missions.

Source: United States Navy

The goal of the summit was to discuss opportunities and identify action items to promote DEI initiatives and establish a renewed focus on data and evidence-based decision-making. 

“In order to maintain our strategic edge, the Navy and Marine Corps team must operationalize innovative and cohesive initiatives, rooted in DEI’s goals,” said Secretary Del Toro. “We, as a Department, must be deliberate and continue to create a culture of inclusivity, where every person, regardless of their background, feels welcome and valued with an opportunity to succeed. If not, we will fail to see the potential of our people.”

Throughout the day, the DON DEI Program Office facilitated discussions about DEI initiatives and progress within the Department. Presenters focused on how DEI influences cohesion within the Department and the role leaders play in those efforts. Attendees also discussed how innovation is enhanced by diversity, emphasizing diversity’s connection to a mission ready force. Additionally, leaders discussed how diversity enhances innovation and creativity is highest during collaboration. Frans Johansson, American entrepreneur and author was the keynote speaker.

During the summit, SECNAV challenged all leaders, at every level, to assess where the DON, the Navy, and the Marine Corps are in achieving a more welcoming and inclusive environment, as well as identifying areas where we can continue to improve.

“This was a valuable opportunity for our Department of the Navy senior leaders to have a data driven discussion of DEI matters from a readiness and innovation perspective,” said Franklin Parker, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

Off-site attendees included the Assistant Secretaries of the Navy, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, and senior representatives of Navy and Marine Corps manpower branches.