Month: November 2023

Source: United States Navy

“Pacific Partnership has brought together people from different backgrounds, cultures and expertise to work hand-in-hand, fostering understanding and building lifetime connections,” said the Honorable Ladie Jack, the mayor of Majuro. “Through our collective efforts, we have achieved remarkable milestones and made a positive impact on the lives of our countless individuals.”

This was Pacific Partnership’s fifth visit to the Republic of the Marshall Islands since its first visit in 2007. Service members from the United States and Australia worked with Marshallese on a range of events including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) seminars, engineering projects, medical engagements and host nation outreach events.

“I am grateful to have the chance to work alongside our friends here in the Republic of Marshall Islands,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Brian Quin, mission commander. “Kommol tata to the Marshallese people for inviting us to their country and for a successful first stop of many during Pacific Partnership 24-1. These enduring bonds of friendship and trust that we have put together across this mission are the real reward of this visit.”

Members of PP24-1’s medical group sailed aboard RMIS Liwatoon Mour, the Marshallese hospital ship, for 4-day mission where they worked side-by-side with Marshallese medical providers conducting a tuberculosis eradication campaign in Aur Atoll.

“The success of this joint effort to bring critical health testing and treatment to the people of Aur represents the best of what our two nations can achieve when working together toward common goals, such as containing the scourge of tuberculosis,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Lance Posey.

This effort held extra significance because it was first time in Pacific Partnership history that U.S. medical personnel operated from a host nation’s hospital ship.

“Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of death in the Marshall Islands.,” said Lt. Hoel Rupert David, medical planner, family nurse practitioner. “Because of that, a Marshallese medical team conducts a Tuberculosis eradication campaign to the various Atolls each year. This was the first year our medical staff was able to do an expeditionary medical operation to assist with the campaign. It was such an honor to work alongside the Marshallese medical staff and make a difference in people’s lives.”

Aboard the Mercy, Pacific Partnership’s optometry team worked side-by-side with the local ophthalmologist, Dr. Meena Pathak, to screen patients and remove cataracts from 42 Marshallese patients.

“We were able to give the gift of sight to patients who were previously debilitated due to cataracts, which are the most common cause of treatable blindness in the world,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Gabriel Valerio, head of surgery for this year’s Pacific Partnership. “This surgery returns these patients to being productive members of society and frees family caretakers to do the same. This increases the quality of life, not only for the patient, but also for the entire family and community. I am honored and blessed to have been a part of the Marshallese citizens’ care.”

Additionally, the optometry team provided 795 pairs of eyeglasses to community members as part of their vision health efforts.

The 3-day Pacific Partnership 24-1 humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) workshop centered on climate change and Marshallese disaster response capabilities. More than 30 members of the Majuro first responder community, including representatives from the National Disaster Management Office, Port Authority, Sea Patrol, Marshall Island Police Department and the Directorate of Civil Aviation, participated in the workshop, which culminated in a Mass Rescue Operations Exercise in the Majuro lagoon.

“We practiced coordinating boats to do search patterns and pull victims out of the water,” said James Gardner, a planner with the U.S. Coast Guard. “With the three different search areas covered, we were able to locate all 25 mannequins.”

This was especially valuable for the newer members of Sea Patrol, for whom this kind of skills training was a new experience, said Nate Lometo, a member of the Marshall Islands Sea Patrol.

U.S. Navy Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 (ACB 1) led engineering projects at Long Island and Rita Elementary Schools. Working alongside local volunteers, including American and local staff from the U.S. Embassy, the Seabees repaired sinks, rewired electrical systems, replaced outdoor lighting, painted classroom interiors and exteriors, and installed new ceiling lights and fans, handrails, and toilets.

“The ability to work with the local schools here in Marshall Islands and to make a difference for the kids here was truly a rewarding experience”, said Lt. j. g. Nelson Demarest, the engineering planner for Pacific Partnership 24-1. “This has been one of the highlights of my naval career.”

Across 32 host-nation outreach events, more than 3,600 Sailors, students, and residents of Majuro came together to foster bonds of friendship through concerts, sports days, and religious events.

Now in its 19th iteration, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships.

Source: United States Navy

he UAVs, part of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force 59, put a highly capable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability in the hands of Sailors at sea. Flexrotor’s high endurance and vertical takeoff-and-landing capabilities make them particularly well suited for the task of building an accurate maritime picture, said Capt. Colin Corridan, Task Force 59 commodore.

“Our warfighters require innovative methods for gaining a deeper understanding of the operating environment,” Corridan said. “The ISR capabilities of these UAVs greatly expand our sight picture and help us better monitor what’s happening in the region.”

Flexrotor provides complete autonomous flight following takeoff, with a wide communication range and the ability for around-the-clock ISR coverage. It can be used day or night by U.S. and coalition partners for a wide range of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance operations over land and sea.

Flexrotors played an integral part in recent operations where it integrated with 12 different unmanned platforms for “manned-unmanned teaming” operations, tracking Iranian Navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) ships and small boats over several days during routine patrols in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

The operations aboard Stethem built on the strength of that operation, Corridan noted.

“The Sailors aboard Stethem and from Task Force 59 are strengthening maritime security and stability through the use of Flexrotor, deterring malign activity by bad-faith actors,” he said. “As these capabilities expand, we’re going to be able to gain more information more quickly to be able to make faster, smarter decisions.”

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprising 21 nations, includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb.

Source: United States Navy

The four-day exercise coincided with the annual maintenance of SUPSALV equipment utilized for rapid response to pier-side oil spills and deployment to the open seas with the objective to demonstrate readiness in deploying its Tiered Preparedness and Response capability in Bahrain.

“By actively deploying spill equipment we are able to maintain technical proficiency while maintaining our longstanding partnership with environmental protection organizations in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” said Mr. Sean Suk, environmental director, NSA Bahrain. “In addition to protecting the coastlines to the best interests of our host nation, the exchange of information, technology and training is a key to an effective response in case of an actual incident.”

The SUPSALV team, led by Mr. Robert McClellan, has conducted oil spill recovery exercises at NSA Bahrain previously and assisted in real-world recovery oil spill efforts. They took lead in this year’s exercise, simulating various aspects of fuel-spill response, including containment, cleanup, environmental monitoring, and the promotion of health and safety measures.

“The ability to come out and put this equipment in the water and operate it is vital to readiness. There are so many issues in the maintenance cycle that can only be identified and addressed by using it in the field,” said McClellan, “Pairing that with the opportunity to coordinate with our other response partners, both on and off base, is what maximizes these events and ensures we are able to respond in a meaningful and effective way.”

In attendance were several host-nation agencies including Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (MEMAC), Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), APM Terminals, Bahrain Coast Guard, Ports and Maritime Affairs (PMA). Participants received a tour of the SUPSALV Emergency Ship Salvage Material (ESSM) facility where they received a briefing on the capabilities and overall functions of various salvage systems, and equipment including a command van, rigging van, salvage skimmer system van, oil containment boom van, high-speed skimmer support van, shop and firefighting system vans. Participants were also given an in-water demonstration at the floating pier where they observed the SK0050 high-speed current buster and boom-handling boats along with the oil-containment boom in an operational-skimming configuration. The participating agencies were able to assess readiness and enhance their collective ability to mitigate environmental damage and protect public health.

“This exercise demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship and helps to foster cooperation and communication between the U.S. Navy and host nation partners such as ourselves,” said Capt. Aref Al Awadhi, senior oil spill response officer, MEMAC. “It is a routine but important exercise that helps to ensure that we are all prepared to respond effectively to oil spills and other hazardous material incidents.”

The equipment deployment schedule was structured to comply with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA-90) National Preparedness for Response Exercise program (NPREP) training and drill requirements for deploying skimmers, containment systems, and training for ESSM personnel. The NPREP is a voluntary program developed for spill responders to provide a mechanism for compliance while being economically feasible to adopt and sustain. Completion of the NPREP exercises satisfies all federal oil pollution response exercise requirements mandated by OPA-90.

“Mastering response procedures from a manual is a solid start, but it’s the real-time application of these procedures in a live setting that truly enhances our team’s capabilities,” said Capt. Zachariah Aperauch, commanding officer, NSA Bahrain. “I am incredibly proud of our team’s coordination and execution of this oil spill response exercise, which was demonstrated before representatives from the Kingdom of Bahrain. This exercise is a testament to our enduring partnership and dedication to our host nation.”

NSA Bahrain’s mission is to support U.S. and coalition maritime operations throughout the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations by providing security for ships, aircraft and tenants on board NSA Bahrain and assigned detachments. NSA Bahrain provides efficient and effective shore services to sustain the fleet, enable the fighter and support the family with honor, courage and commitment.

For more news from NSA Bahrain, visit https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/USNSA-B

Source: United States Navy

The event fostered collaboration, strengthened alliances, and enhanced maritime security among the intelligence-sharing nations, known as FVEYs or the Five Eyes Alliance. 

“This meeting was a testament to our unwavering commitment to protect our shared interests, and provided a unique opportunity to enhance cooperation, exchange knowledge, and collectively address the challenges that lay ahead,” said Rear Adm. Tom Moninger, the U.S. Navy’s Director for Plans, Policy & Integration.

The meeting proved to be a significant milestone in strengthening the FVEYs’ collective efforts towards ensuring regional and global security, providing a platform for leaders to share best practices, forge closer ties, and explore joint initiatives that will further bolster maritime security and stability.

“With the escalation of conflict in the world, it is more important than ever to gather with our FVEY partners to exchange invaluable insights and collectively address the rising challenges of the moment. Together, we reaffirm the enduring strength of our defence partnerships and our commitment to working together in securing the seas for a safer and more stable future,” said Royal Canadian Navy Rear-Admiral Chris Robinson, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific.

Deputy Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Rear Admiral Jonathan Earley CSC, RAN, hosted the historic gathering, and emphasized that the meeting served as a catalyst for further collaboration among the FVEYs. 

“We are confident that the outcomes of this meeting will strengthen our collective resolve to ensure the safety and security of our maritime domains,” said Earley.

Formally established shortly after the end of World War II, the FVEYs partnership continues to play a significant role in global security, aiming to uphold the rules-based international order.

Source: United States Navy

Accompanied by Capt. Matthew Schlarmann, Naval Station Norfolk Executive Officer; Capt. Ray Glenn, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (CNRMA) Executive Assistant; and Ron Plowman, unaccompanied housing director, Secretary Del Toro inspected several of the 4,000 unaccompanied housing and 3,600 Public-Private Venture (PPV) housing units during his visit The intent is to identify the most pressing infrastructure concerns and prioritize improvements.

“I need to see firsthand the issues and concerns of our service members, who volunteer to serve our Nation. We need to treat them with dignity and respect, identify their concerns, and implement processes to directly improve their experience outside the workplace. While we are doing much already, much more needs to be invested in our unaccompanied barracks and infrastructure,” said Secretary Del Toro.

This is Secretary Del Toro’s second tour of housing facilities in as many months. In October, Secretary Del Toro and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith toured barracks across Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to gain a better understanding of living conditions and requirements to improve facilities across the Marine Corps.

As part of a follow up to the visit to Naval Station Norfolk, Secretary Del Toro plans to host a Department of the Navy-wide offsite on unaccompanied housing to ensure the best decisions and the right solutions are being made for servicemembers and their families.

“Quality of life is connected to mission readiness, and we need to ensure our Sailors, Marines, civilians, and their families have the best possible resources both in and out of the workplace,” said Secretary Del Toro.