Month: August 2023

Source: United States Navy

Amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 50) and dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) entered the Red Sea after transiting from the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal. Bataan ARG/26th MEU units bring to the region additional aviation and naval assets, as well as more U.S. Marines and Sailors, providing greater flexibility and maritime capability to U.S. 5th Fleet.

An amphibious assault ship can carry more than two dozen rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, including MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and AV-8B Harrier attack jets in addition to several amphibious landing craft. A dock landing ship also supports operations for various rotary-wing aircraft, tactical vehicles and amphibious landing craft.

The Bataan ARG departed Norfolk, Virginia on July 10 with Amphibious Squadron 8, Fleet Surgical Team 8, Tactical Air Control Squadron 21, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, Assault Craft Unit 4, Beach Master Unit 2 and the 26th MEU.

The 26th MEU, based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, is capable of conducting amphibious missions, crisis response and limited contingency operations to include enabling the introduction of follow-on forces and designated special operations.

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles of water space 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.

Source: United States Navy

 

The goal of the symposium and training are to simulate various command, control and communication exercises with both real-world and digital assets to integrate capabilities between surface ships, submarines and aircrafts to fine tune defense strategies in the Atlantic Ocean. The exercises prepare Sailors for deployments and other potential real-world scenarios.    

Vice Adm. Daniel Dwyer, Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, opened the symposium by welcoming the various units in attendance and reiterating the importance of collaboration between naval assets.  
 

“The symposium challenges participants by asking what they can bring to the fight and how we can collectively be our best,” Dwyer said. “The U.S. Navy is the service that is solely responsible for antisubmarine warfare, and we must be ready to respond to whatever challenges come our way. This is a total Navy team effort from every community.” 

The TUSW symposium is an annual event with the goal to provide training to Sailors in real-time to prepare for what they may expect in the real world. Fleet synthetic trainings (FST) allow for communication, innovation and creation of emerging techniques. Techniques that may also come from other events such as the Junior Officer Undersea Symposium and Training (JOUST) that occurs annually for junior officers globally.    

“We have a very challenging problem set, and I have total confidence in our incredibly skilled, talented and capable members here today,” said Dwyer. “You must be the top of your game and willing to collaborate with all of our undersea warfare capable assets.”  

Rear Adm. Martin Muckian, Commander, Submarine Group TWO and Deputy Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, closed the symposium with discussing the importance of teamwork in undersea warfare.  

“The TUSW symposium is a building block to future exercises that aide in responding to real world events,” said Muckian. “The coordination across platforms is imperative to our success. Each unit from the crew level all the way up to the squadron level supports one another to support the mission.  

Rear Adm. Muckian also visited the USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) to observe the FST first-hand. The FST provides a training environment for Sailors to prepare them for potential future challenges while at shore or at sea.  

“The work that the crew onboard the Oscar Austin is doing is an ideal example of training how we fight,” said Muckian. “The ship is utilizing any shortcomings during training to use those lessons as an opportunity to get stronger for the future.”   

The TUSW symposium and FST both provide a platform for warfighters to discuss capabilities, techniques and procedures to improve integration with one another in defending the homeland. Crewmembers from nine surface ships, seven submarines, three aviation squadrons and various shore-based commands participated in the symposium and synthetic training.  

U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime forces ready to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.  

For more information, please visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy. 

Source: United States Navy

The name selection of USNS Solomon Atkinson (T-ATS 12) follows the tradition of naming towing, salvage, and rescue ships after prominent Native Americans or Native American tribes.   

“I am honored to name the next T-ATS after Solomon Atkinson, a man who achieved many firsts, even in the face of adversity, and continued to lead,” said Del Toro. “Atkinson’s achievements as a SEAL have left behind an enduring legacy, not just in the Special Warfare Community, but with our nation’s astronauts as well. I am pleased to ensure that his name will extend globally to all who views this great ship.”

  

Born in 1930 in Metlakatla, Alaska, Solomon Atkinson was raised by his parents on the sole Indian Reserve in Alaska. Atkinson worked as a commercial fisherman before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1952. A year later, Atkinson volunteered for the underwater demolition teams and became a frogman, the precursor to present day SEALs. In 1962, Atkinson became one of the first Navy SEALs and was a plank owner for SEAL Team 1. As a SEAL, he deployed to Korea and completed three combat tours in Vietnam. His Vietnam service-related awards include a Bronze Star, a Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” and a Purple Heart. Atkinson also had the distinction of training numerous astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, in underwater weightless simulations at the Underwater Swimmers School in Key West, Florida. Atkinson retired from active naval service in 1973 as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 and returned to Metlakatla, where he continued to serve his people and state on the Indian Community Council and Board of Education, as founder and president of the first veterans’ organization on Annette Island, and as mayor of Metlakatla. Upon his passing in 2019, an honor guard from SEAL Team 1 served as pallbearers at his funeral.

“Chief Warrant Officer 4 Solomon “Sol” Atkinson embodied the spirit of dedication to family, community, and country,” said Rear Adm. Keith Davids, commander, Naval Special Warfare Command. “His pioneering role as one of the first U.S. Navy SEALs, and his unwavering commitment to service both in and out of uniform, serves as an inspiration for the entire Naval Special Warfare community. Naming the USNS Solomon Atkinson in his honor is a testament to his remarkable legacy and the enduring impact he has left on NSW, the Navy, and the nation.”

  

Along with the ship’s name, Del Toro announced the sponsors for the future USNS Solomon Atkinson as his widow, Joann Atkinson and their two daughters, Michele Gunyah and Maria Hayward, who, in their role, will represent a lifelong relationship with the ship and crew.

“There exists a long-held Tsimshian tradition, ‘akadi lip a’algyaga sm’ooygit,’ loosely translated ‘a chief never speaks for himself’,” said sponsor, Maria Hayward. “Through all of his time as a U.S. Navy UDT and SEAL, as well as a leader of veterans and Native Alaskans, Sol lived this ethos. And, here today, in the shadow of Sol’s death, he holds to it still. Thank you to the U.S. Navy for speaking to Solomon’s honor and helping his family and fellow Frogmen shout his legacy to the seven seas!”

  

Navajo-class ships will provide ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue capabilities to support Fleet operations. The current capabilities are provided by Powhatan-class T-ATF Fleet Tugs and Safeguard-class T-ARS Rescue and Salvage vessels, which began reaching the end of their expected service lives in 2020. Navajo-class ships will be capable of towing U.S. Navy ships and will have 6,000 square feet of deck space for embarked systems. 

More information on our towing, salvage, and rescue ship programs can be found here. 

Source: United States Navy

U.S. Army Maj. Joel Vinson and Maj. Harrison Leary, both of whom are Green Berets studying in NPS’ Department of Defense Analysis, would have been perfectly comfortable with having the incident remain a rousing surf story shared among friends. But the heroism of their actions, captured in the award citation, speak to the significance of their efforts. 

The citation commended the “exceptionally meritorious actions” of Vinson and Leary “to provide medical aid and emergency response leadership in a life-threatening crisis, [and] their clear and decisive actions in a time sensitive situation greatly aided efforts to prevent the untimely death of an injured Soldier.” 

The awards were presented in May by Army Brig. Gen. Guillaume Beaurpere, commanding general of the Special Operations Center of Excellence, during a visit to NPS to talk with students about the state of Special Operations Forces (SOF). 

The event happened on Oct. 1, 2022, as four friends were hitting the waves at a popular Sand City beach in the chilly Monterey Bay. Army Maj. Mike Meier, a fellow NPS student, was the first in the water while Vinson, Leary and a fourth colleague monitored the waves from the beach.

At some point while in the water, Meier’s surfboard popped violently back at him in just the right orientation that the rear fin caught his leg, cutting it deeply. Not realizing the severity of the injury, Meier managed to get himself back to shore but was losing a lot of blood through his slashed wet suit. Fortunately, Meier’s friends were watching and quickly jumped into action.

“Joel and I were able to reach him within seconds,” Leary said. “We immediately applied the first tourniquet with Mike’s own surf leash. We dragged him further out of the water and reassessed the tourniquet, his vitals and condition. He was conscious and able to assist us in applying the tourniquet.

“My civilian neighbor, George McNeely, who was with us, assisted by applying direct pressure to the injury with both of his hands to stop the bleeding while I held the first tourniquet in place,” he continued. 

Vinson had run back to the car to retrieve his cell phone to call 911. When he returned, he applied a second tourniquet using an additional surf leash. It wasn’t long before first responders arrived on the scene, and immediately worked on getting the bleeding to subside, and applied a third tourniquet. 

“Joel and I assisted in carrying him to the nearby ambulance,” Leary added. “He was taken to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula where medical professionals determined he needed immediate surgery, so he was then transported to a Salinas hospital.”

Meier was relieved and surprised his classmates were able to reach him so quickly and get control of his bleeding. Since he never lost consciousness during the ordeal, Meier recalls the event step by step. 

“I knew the gravity of the injury as soon as I saw the wound,” Meier said. “We are laboriously trained to treat hemorrhaging wounds in combat, and I’ve seen wounds like this downrange. I was well aware that if we didn’t get it under control in a few minutes, I’d be flatlining, and that was a pretty haunting realization which I still think about often. 

“Harry & J’s (Joel’s) quick and creative improvisation cut off the blood flow and mitigated the massive bleeding. After a few minutes, I felt my consciousness leveling out. Being the buddies that we are, it was our nature to weave humor into the situation. That kept my head in the game and got me through the worst of it.”

All four were surprised with how quickly events unfolded, and were pleased with their ability to help Meier. The friends see each other every day, hang out on the weekends, have classes together, spend family time together, attend church, golf, play softball and work out together routinely. 

And, just as in the field, they have each other’s backs.

“Joel and I were thankful we were able to stay calm during this intense event,” said Leary. “Both of us are Green Berets, have received vast amounts of medical cross-training in our careers, and are gratified that our training kicked in to be able to control the situation.” 

“It was emotionally difficult for me, being that he is such a great friend of ours, and his injury was certainly life threatening,” said Leary. “In the moment, it was just automatic. We did what we needed to do so he didn’t die. 

“Mike (Meier) was in surgery for several hours … And amputation was a very real concern at one point when the surgeons could not get blood flow to return to his leg,” Leary continued. “Luckily, the radiology team was able to successfully remove clotting and restore blood flow and Mike not only lived, but was able to keep his leg and has made a full recovery since the accident.”

Source: United States Navy

Falls from height are the second-leading unintentional fatal workplace event, according to the National Safety Council. Workers in the construction industry are most at risk, with the most nonfatal cases involving days away from work and 20% of all nonfatal fall-from-height cases each year.

In its first year, NAVSAFECOM’s local area assessments noted 168 fall protection discrepancies, ranging from poorly maintained handrails to a lack of a unit fall protection program. Since 2017, the Navy has incurred four fatal falls, of which three could have been mitigated under the Fall Protection Program, based on data from the Risk Management Information safety reporting system.

These statistics underscore the importance of the working group’s purpose. During the first two days, the working group conducted a comprehensive review of OPNAV M-5100.23, Chapter 13, and OPNAVINST 5100.19F, Chapter 13 in an effort to update the chapters to reflect changes in regulatory requirements.

“The intent is to eventually merge these two chapters into one cohesive chapter that encompasses all fall protection requirements for all warfare areas, providing the end user a singular document for all fall protection requirements,” said Charles Gum, Shore Directorate deputy director, NAVSAFECOM. Requirements that are specific to a particular warfare area or community will be added as an addendum to the singular chapter.

Forming one, cohesive fall protection chapter across all warfare communities will make it easier to understand and allow people to access just one place to find policy, said Gum.

Before the group got started, Gum provided a quick refresher of the current safety and occupational health hierarchy:

• Department of Defense Instruction (6055.01-SOH)
  • DoN Safety Program (SECNAVINST 5100.10)
    • Navy Safety Program Manual (5100.23)
      • Community-Specific Safety Guidance (OPNAVINST 5100.19, 3750, etc.)
        • Headquarters/Immediate Superior in Command (ISIC) Guidance, Local Standard Operating Procedures and Instructions

Gum noted OPNAV M-5100.23 provides the “what” in the regulatory requirements. The instruction outlines the Echelon 1 perspective and is specific in some areas only to ensure consistency and uniformity.

The Headquarters, ISIC and local instructions describe the “how, what and who” performs the requirements spelled out in the OPNAV instruction. Every organization executes its processes a bit differently. These local instructions allow organizations to tailor their processes in a way that works best for them, as long as they meet the requirements, said Gum.

“The 5100.23 is the Navy’s top-tier instruction,” said Gum. “One of the reasons we’re merging is to alleviate the end user from having to find multiple instructions; 5100.23 will be the one instruction. No longer will people say, ‘I’m from the afloat community, so I’m only going to read the afloat instruction.’” 

Gum noted there was a time when 5100.23 was named the ashore manual. It no longer says that in order to reinforce it is the Navy’s overarching Occupational Safety and Health Manual that all other safety manuals across all warfare areas should align to. 

The working group also focused on removing duplicative or obsolete information from the instructions. Proposals were made to clarify and remove ambiguous phrasing and ensure processes were up to date and aligned with current policy. For example, the working group removed the mandatory minimum cumulative training-hour requirements for various positions within the fall protection program and replaced them with training syllabus topics required for the position to allow commands more flexibility in training their personnel. 

The last two days of the meeting were spent revising the Fall Protection Guide, which was last updated three years ago.

“There’s been a misunderstanding that the guide is actually policy, and it is not,” said Gum. “There is guidance in the front of the guide that leads people to believe it is policy. It was intended to be designed as a guide – not to mimic policy. That understanding has been blurred.”

To correct this perception, the group updated the glossary and removed obsolete and duplicate definitions. Proposed comments were made throughout the document to remove any language that was directive in nature.

The group also clarified sections and terminology throughout, tightening the verbiage and ensuring consistency.

“The guide is an important asset for Sailors and Marines, and we believe the updates will enhance their fall protection programs and serve as a complement to the OPNAV policy,” said Gum.

The updated Fall Protection Guide is expected to be released to the naval enterprise in late September 2023. The updated Chapter 13 of OPNAV M-5100.23 will be released next year due to the time it takes for all stakeholders to concur on content.