Month: July 2023

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Defense News: U.S., Allied Forces Conduct Exercise Pacific Vanguard 2023

Source: United States Navy

Pacific Vanguard is an opportunity for the four Indo-Pacific navies to strengthen their skills in maritime operations, anti-submarine warfare operations, air warfare operations, live-fire missile events, and advanced maneuvering scenarios.

The destroyer JS Shiranui (DD 120) and multiple aircraft are representing Japan. The Exercise Control (EXCON) personnel, integrating into the watch floor, are among the personnel representing Australia. The destroyer ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH 976) is representing the Republic of Korea.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) and aircraft supporting from Commander, Task Force 72 are among the units representing the United States.

“Cooperative engagements with our Allies during exercises like Pacific Vanguard are critical to ensuring we can stay a strong and effective interoperable force,” said Cmdr. Kenji Igawa, commanding officer of USS Howard. “I am tremendously proud of my Sailors’ focus on this mission. A free and open Indo-Pacific is made possible by the relationships we build together during exercises like this one.

U.S. 7th Fleet forces routinely train to refine operational proficiency and to improve crisis and contingency response capabilities to ensure stability and security throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

USS Howard 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.

“Getting the opportunity to work together as proficient surface teammates is key to enabling peace and stability in the region,” said Capt. Walter Mainor, commander of U.S. Navy Task Force 71 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. “Getting to operate in the waters around Guam is valuable to our combined efforts at confronting our shared maritime challenges, and ensuring we can continually grow in all aspects of the at-sea operations that are necessary to keep this region secure.”

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

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Defense News: Guided-missile Submarine USS Michigan Arrives in Yokosuka, Japan

Source: United States Navy

The port visit in Yokosuka reflects the United States’ commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, and complements the many exercises, training, operations and other military cooperation activities conducted by U.S. submarine forces with our Japanese allies.

Michigan is one of four Ohio-class guided-missile submarines. The Navy’s guided-missile submarines provide strike and special operation mission capabilities from a stealthy, clandestine platform. Armed with tactical missiles and equipped with superior communications capabilities, guided-missile submarines are capable of launching missile strikes and supporting Special Operation Forces missions.

Measuring more than 560 feet long and weighing more than 18,000 tons when submerged, Michigan is one of the largest submarines in the world.
Michigan is the second submarine of the Ohio-class of ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) and guided missile submarines (SSGNs), and the third U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. Michigan is homeported in Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, and is operating under Commander, Submarine Group (CSG) 7 in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

CSG 7 directs forward-deployed, combat-capable forces across the full spectrum of undersea warfare throughout the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 7, visit www.csp.navy.mil/csg7/

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Defense News: UK, U.S. Forces Complete Large-Scale Mine Countermeasures Exercise in Arabian Gulf

Source: United States Navy

The exercise, called Neptune’s Kilt, involved more than 500 Sailors and Airmen from four surface ships, two MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters, and four A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The training aimed to strengthen interoperability among U.S. and UK forces in mine hunting operations.

The ships included HMS Middleton (M34), HMS Bangor (M109) and RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009) from the UK, as well as guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) from the United States. The 75th Air Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from the U.S. Air Force and Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 from the U.S. Navy participated with fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, respectively.

“This exercise has enabled us to increase our proficiency in mine countermeasures and enhance the integration of our tactics from the air and sea,” said UK Royal Navy Capt. Derek McKnight, deputy commander for U.S. 5th Fleet’s mine countermeasures task force, Task Force 52. “As a combined U.S.-UK task force it is an honor and a pleasure to work closely together.”

The mine countermeasures mission focuses on clearing mines from vital waterways to ensure the free flow of commerce. During the exercise, maritime assets practiced procedures for detecting, classifying and clearing mines as Air Force A-10s and the Navy destroyer conducted unit defense training.

“We effectively conducted tactical communications, mine-clearing exercises and formation sailing,” said Cmdr. Jake Ferrari, Paul Hamilton’s commanding officer. “We remain committed to keeping maritime sea lanes open and ensuring maritime security throughout the region.”

In April, the U.S. and UK naval forces completed a similar training exercise with French partners in the Arabian Gulf called Artemis Trident. Dive teams and explosive ordnance disposal technicians from the three nations embarked mine countermeasures ship USS Devastator (MCM 6) as well as Cardigan Bay to share best practices and tactics.

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb.

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Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – Reginald Johnson, 31, of Philadelphia, P.A., pleaded guilty, today, to involuntary manslaughter (criminal negligence) and assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with a vehicular homicide.  The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            According to the Government’s evidence, on January 15, 2023 around 6:10 p.m., Reginald Johnson drove his Jeep eastbound into the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest and 15th Street, N.W crashing into an Uber driver in a Toyota Corolla who was turning left across eastbound traffic lanes onto 15th Street, NW.  Mr. Johnson reached a speed of 61 miles per hour shortly before the crash, more than twice the 25 miles per hour speed limit.  Mr. Johnson told an officer that he saw the car turning but thought it was stopping, sped up, and struck the car towards its tail end.

              Reginald Johnson had been drinking alcoholic beverages at Mission Bar from approximately 1:24 p.m. to 5:46 p.m. before choosing to get behind the wheel. His breath alcohol content was at 9:20 p.m. was 0.10 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. D.C. Code § 50–2206.01 defines intoxicated as “An alcohol concentration at the time of testing of 0.08 grams or more … per 210 liters of the person’s breath…”

            On June 30, 2023, the defendant pleaded guilty, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, to involuntary manslaughter (criminal negligence) in the death of one passenger, Carlos Christian, and assault with a dangerous weapon in the injury of another passenger, Camila Selman.  Superior Court Judge Robert Okun scheduled a sentencing hearing for October 13, 2023, at which time the defendant faces a sentence of up to 12 years in prison. 

            In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of Detective William Lee and others from MPD’s Major Crash Unit who investigated the case in Washington, D.C. They also acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter, of the Homicide section, who is prosecuting the case.

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Michigan Man Arrested on Felony and Misdemeanor Charges For Actions During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON — A Michigan man has been arrested on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer, for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

            Jeremy Rodgers, 28, of Midland, Michigan, is charged with felony offenses: assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and act of physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Rodgers is also charged with misdemeanor offenses of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, act of physical violence in a Capitol building or on Capitol grounds, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

            Rodgers was arrested in Orlando, Florida, and will make his initial appearance today in the Middle District of Florida.

            According to court documents, authorities identified a man, later determined to be Rodgers, from video and surveillance footage on Jan. 6, 2021, assaulting a law enforcement officer with a flagpole. Court documents state that on January 6th, Rodgers, carrying a blue flag attached to a wooden flagpole, approached a line of law enforcement officers guarding the entrance to the East Rotunda Door and then used his flagpole as a weapon, audibly striking a United States Capitol Police (USCP) Officer three times on the helmet. Court documents say that shortly after, Rodgers again struck down the flagpole twice more in the direction of the officers.

            Court records allege that Rodgers is believed to have attempted to use his flagpole to prevent officers from closing the East Rotunda Door and entered the Capitol building through that door at approximately 2:26 p.m.  Once inside the building, court documents allege that Rodgers walked toward Statuary Hall and the House side of the building and was observed removing a railing blocking the path of the crowd behind him, stating, “come on in.”  Court documents state that Rodgers then stood aside and shouted “USA, USA” while waving people toward the House Chambers.

            According to court documents, Rodgers then joined a crowd of rioters that pushed through a police line guarding the entrance to the House of Representatives Chambers and spent several minutes outside the entrance to the House Chamber. Afterward, Rodgers was involved in another scuffle with police, remained in the building, and paraded through the Rotunda waving his flag before finally exiting the building at approximately 2:56 p.m.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, Middle District of Florida, and the FBI’s Tampa Field Office.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Detroit and Washington Field Offices, which identified Rodgers as BOLO (“Be On the Look Out”) #242 on its seeking information photos.

            Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 29 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including nearly 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. 

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

            A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.