Month: September 2023

Source: United States Navy

During the patrol, USS Benfold conducted a wide range of operations, including maritime patrols and joint exercises with allied forces, including exercise Noble Chinook with the Royal Canadian Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Benfold’s presence in the region demonstrated United States’ commitment to operating with allies and partners to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“The professionalism and dedication of the USS Benfold’s crew have been exemplary throughout this deployment,” said Cmdr. Jonathan Hightower, commanding officer of Benfold. “They have showcased the highest standards of naval service.”

Benfold is assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.

Source: United States Navy

Burlington is an efficient, lightweight and versatile asset that is able to support Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibility. The ship has the capability to transport a battalion-sized element, over 300 personnel, or 600 tons of cargo at high speeds.

The Burlington will be in Grenada for 12 days. During the ship’s time in port, the Continuing Promise 2023 team will work alongside Grenada’s medical experts and primary care providers to conduct medical engagements, reconstruction projects, humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) training, Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) symposiums, subject matter expert exchanges, and host several live performances by the U.S. Fleet Forces Band.

“Continuing Promise 2023 is not just another mission; it’s an opportunity to strengthen bonds, share expertise, and learn from the medical professionals in Grenada. I’m honored to be a part of this deployment,” said Lt. Steve Treut, U.S. Navy Nurse, currently deployed in support of Continuing Promise 2023. “Our time here is about more than just medical care; it’s about forging lasting partnerships and making a real impact.”

This U.S. Navy’s Continuing Promise deployment has taken place almost every year in the last 17 years to assist or aid people in the region. Since 2007, Continuing Promise medical personnel have treated more than 595,000 people, to include approximately 7,300 surgeries. When combined with all the veterinary services, subject matter expert exchanges, engineering projects, community relations events, and band performances, Continuing Promise has positively impacted more people in our partner nations than any other deployment series in the U.S. Navy’s history.

The Continuing Promise mission aims to foster goodwill, strengthen existing partnerships with partner nations, and encourage the establishment of new partnerships among countries, non-government organizations, and international organizations.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

Learn more about USNAVSO/4th Fleet at https://www.facebook.com/NAVSOUS4THFLT and @NAVSOUS4THFLT.

Source: United States Navy

Pacific Partnership 2023 enables participants to work together to enhance disaster response capabilities and foster new and enduring friendships in Samoa.

In collaboration with Samoa, Pacific Partnership’s mission is to conduct tailored humanitarian and civic preparedness activities in areas such as engineering, disaster response, public health, and Samoan outreach events.

“This year’s mission features nearly 1500 personnel. It is a joint effort on behalf of Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States,” said Royal Navy Captain Joe Dransfield, deputy mission commander. “Here in Samoa, the New Zealand Defense Force and Royal Navy partners will join the U.S.-led stop.”

While in Apia, PP23 will provide tailored medical care focusing on subject-matter exchanges and community education; constructing and reconstruction of critical infrastructures and knowledge exchanges with exercises covering disaster response and humanitarian assistance. Additionally, the U.S. Pacific Fleet woodwind ensemble will perform in a variety of community engagements.

“We’re delighted to be a part of the Pacific Partnership 2023,” said Noriko Horiuchi, chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Samoa. “The great outreach and connections between the U.S. and Samoa over the next few days will continue to enhance our great relationship. As well as the crew of the USS Jackson, PP23 will bring musicians, a veterinarian, medical personnel, engineers scoping future projects, and a team of Humanitarian and Disaster Relief experts.”

As part of PP23, the mission team will conduct missions throughout Southeast Asia and the South Pacific Islands.

For more information about Pacific Partnership  visit www.facebook.com/pacificpartnership, www.instagram.com/pacific_partnership/ or https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/C-LGWP. Pacific Partnership public affairs can be reached via email at publicaffairs.pp23@gmail.com.

Source: United States Navy

The new academic center, known as “NPS Hawaii,” will extend the reach and impact of NPS academic offerings to the fleet and force consistent with the institution’s primary purpose to meet naval-unique needs in graduate education. NPS Hawaii will provide relevant professional development programs for continuous learning and research to support operational needs, innovation and the intellectual growth of servicemembers as called for in the Secretary of the Navy’s recently published Naval Education Strategy.

What’s more, NPS Hawaii is also aimed at bolstering NPS’ responsiveness to the specific education and research needs of the Pacific Fleet. The presence of an NPS branch campus in a fleet concentration area aligns with PACFLT’s mission of maritime security and stability and emphasizes defense-focused educational opportunities.

“NPS Hawaii will tangibly increase our warfighting capability in the Pacific. In its geography, connections to northern California and traditions as a flagship institution of learning, NPS and PACFLT are natural fits and inseparable partners,” said Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of PACFLT, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for NPS Hawaii at Makalapa on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

NPS Hawaii follows in the footsteps of other major cooperative efforts between NPS and PACFLT, most notably the establishment of the Naval Warfare Studies Institute (NWSI) in 2021 and the creation of the Nimitz Research Group in 2022. Retired Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau, president of NPS, highlighted these collaborations and their importance to both institutions.

“In today’s dynamic and challenging environment, to outmaneuver and outfight, we must first be able to outthink an adversary,” Rondeau said. “NPS and PACFLT are focused on increasing our cognitive readiness and intellectual leadership to ensure U.S. maritime dominance.”

Rondeau also described the creation of NPS Hawaii as a key component of the NPS Strategic Framework, which places a priority on extending the reach of – and access to – NPS education.

“This ceremony today reflects a larger NPS strategic initiative to deliver highly relevant, focused education at the time and at the point of need,” Rondeau said. “For the Navy to stay ahead of competitors and potential adversaries, NPS must be on the leading edge of the Navy’s efforts. With this in mind, we have been working to transform NPS, to make NPS more transformative as a catalyst for driving technological leadership in our Navy. We believe fundamentally that how we educate and learn is essential toward adaptation at pace, and NPS must be an institution that leads in the application of knowledge to naval warfighting.”

Dr. Joseph Hooper, NPS vice provost for academic affairs, led the initiative to create NPS Hawaii. He emphasized the significance of having a branch campus located in proximity to PACFLT headquarters.

“NPS Hawaii at PACFLT will serve as a focal point for NPS classes on the island, as well as a meeting place to coordinate joint research efforts,” noted Hooper. “The broader NPS Hawaii umbrella offers a mechanism for officers, enlisted, and civilians at PACFLT to enroll in educational opportunities coordinated jointly between fleet leadership and the university.”

Course offerings at NPS Hawaii will be concentrated in three broad interdisciplinary categories, according to Hooper.

“First, select distance learning graduate certificates are being offered to the fleet, both active duty and civilians,” Hooper said. “These overlap with existing NPS offerings in critical areas such as operations analysis, space, and great power competition. Second, NPS faculty are delivering targeted short courses on-site at PACFLT facilities on operationally relevant topics. Finally, flag- and SES-level courses are being delivered on the island as well as via distance learning, with initial topics focused on emerging technologies and strategic development.”

Hooper added that short courses will range from 1 to 5 days and will leverage the dedicated campus at Makalapa, as well as NPS’ new distance learning portal, NPS Online.

NPS Hawaii was created as part of the NPS Fleet Liaison Activity mission, which manages fleet outreach and engagement between NPS and major commands in fleet concentration areas. Similar NPS Fleet Liaison efforts are being explored for other areas, including San Diego and Norfolk, Va., as well as in support of senior leaders in the National Capital Region of Washington, D.C.

According to Capt. Philip Old, who will lead NPS Hawaii as the first NPS Fleet Liaison Officer (LNO) to PACFLT, the new branch campus serves as a testament to the joint effort between PACFLT and NPS in fulfilling the Naval Education Strategy.

“With the establishment of NPS Hawaii, COMPACFLT and NPS are implementing the Secretary of the Navy’s Naval Education Strategy to achieve his vision for naval education – that all Sailors, Marines, and Department of the Navy civilians continuously learn in an integrated, technology-enabled environment to increase our naval forces’ readiness and competitive advantage in all-domain operations,” said Old, who previously served as NPS chief of staff.

Rondeau emphasized the importance of having a formal liaison to PACFLT headquarters, as well as the NPS Fleet Liaison Activity mission in general.

“The duties of the NPS LNO to CPF position encapsulate all of the four main elements of our transformation journey in education, research, innovation and institution,” said Rondeau. “Moving Captain Old to the position as LNO to CPF ensures we have a seasoned leader who knows the INDOPACOM theater well and who has been part of NPS’ transformation.”

Ultimately, the establishment of NPS Hawaii is a move toward further mission alignment, advancement and optimization, as well as responsiveness to the needs of the fleet and force.

The Naval Postgraduate School provides defense-focused graduate education, including classified studies and interdisciplinary research, to advance the operational effectiveness, technological leadership and warfighting advantage of the Naval service. For additional information, visit NPS online at https://nps.edu.

Source: United States Navy

A wide-ranging fall exercise, Noble Wolverine involves sustained Surface Action Group (SAG) operations intended to improve interoperability between the allied navies and support a free and open Indo-Pacific. The exercise, which is taking place over multiple phases, involves maneuvering drills, small boat operations and helicopter flight deck training, as well as routine bilateral surface operations.

The U.S. and Canadian ships also executed a combined at-sea replenishment with the Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler USNS Yukon (T-AO 202) during Noble Wolverine.

“By continuing to operate in the Indo-Pacific, the Royal Canadian Navy is building relationships with partner nations and reinforcing partnerships with our allies like the U.S. Navy,” said Cmdr. Sam Patchell, commanding officer of HMCS Ottawa. “Joint exercises such as Noble Wolverine build a level of trust and interoperability that can only be forged at sea.”

USS Ralph Johnson is forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, and operates under Commander, Task Force (CTF) 71 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. During the exercise small boat operations, Patchell and a contingent of Ottawa sailors embarked USS Ralph Johnson.

Several Ralph Johnson sailors also embarked Ottawa during the exercise.

“Noble Wolverine allows our allied sailors to work closely together at sea and grow that crucial interoperability as a fighting team,” said Cmdr. Isaia Infante, commanding officer of USS Ralph Johnson. “We know that people across the region share our dedication to a free and open Indo-Pacific, and we’re excited to work with all of those partners and allies in pursuit of our shared goals.”

Commander, Task Force 71 is U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. CTF 71 is responsible for the readiness, tactical and administrative responsibilities for forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers as well as any surface unit conducting independent operations in the region.

“There is tremendous value for our surface forces in operating alongside our close allies for extended periods of time,” said Capt. Walter Mainor, commander of Task Force 71 and DESRON 15. “By continuing to build this operational familiarity, our allied forces can train to react as one coordinated team. As we practice those tactical reflexes together, we truly multiply the size and strength of our forces.”

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.