Month: January 2024

Source: United States Navy

In accordance with the District Court’s ruling, the Department of the Navy has established a Class Action Review Board (CARB) as a remedial PEB process for those impacted. To that end, the CARB is reissuing PEB findings for those identified as class members over the next 12-18 months.

If class members do not want further review of their PEB case, no action is required. If no review is requested, there will be no impact to your current status and benefits, to include your VA benefits. Inquiries about the CARB or general information about the CARB may be directed to a CARB Physical Evaluation Board Liaison Officer at peb_peblo_comms.fct@navy.mil or 202-685-6436.

For class members desiring legal advice or counsel regarding the Torres CARB, a Government attorney is available for advice and counsel, free of charge, through the Department of the Navy’s Office of the Judge Advocate General, Disability Evaluation System Counsel Program (DESCP). The DESCP may be reached at DESCP_TorresUnit@us.navy.mil or (202) 875-1198.

For additional information and the latest updates about the CARB please visit the CARB website: https://www.secnav.navy.mil/mra/CORB/Pages/CARB.aspx

Source: United States Navy

This exercise, led by Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5), taking place in Kuwait and the North Arabian Gulf from January 28 to February 7, showcases the commitment of both nations to regional security and readiness.

Under the umbrella of Exercise Eager Defender, U.S. Marines, Sailors and Soldiers are participating alongside their Kuwaiti counterparts in joint training. The exercise focuses on enhancing various aspects, including maritime security, visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS), harbor security, unmanned systems operations, small unit naval infantry tactics, and joint command and control operations, culminating with a combined multinational amphibious assault. Through collaborative training, participating forces will acquire the necessary skills to effectively address regional security threats and increase interoperability between both militaries.

Exercise Eager Defender serves as a testament to the enduring partnership between the United States and Kuwait. It demonstrates the commitment of both nations to reinforcing partnerships and interoperability in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility. This exercise is one of several annual joint exercises where the U.S. military collaborates with partner nations, ensuring high levels of readiness for crisis and contingency.

“Exercise Eager Defender highlights our shared commitment to regional security and the preservation of peace,” said Brig. Gen. Matthew Reid, Commanding General of TF 51/5. “By working together, the Kuwait Armed Forces and U.S. military are strengthening our capabilities and preparedness. This exercise is a testament to the enduring partnership between our nations.”

Exercise Eager Defender reaffirms the strong bond between the Kuwait Armed Forces and the U.S. military. By fostering cooperation and mutual understanding, this exercise further enhances the ability of both nations to respond effectively to security challenges in the region.

For more information about TF 51/5 visit our website www.TF515.marines.mil or subscribe to our DVIDS page at www.dvidshub.net/feature/EagerDefender24, contact TF 51/5 Gunnery Sgt. Victor Mancilla at victor.mancilla@usmc.mil or Capt. Stephanie Baer at stephanie.baer@usmc.mil.
 

Source: United States Navy

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in Limassol, Cyprus for a regularly scheduled port visit 25 Jan., 2024.

“It’s been great to return to Cyprus; our crew established a fantastic relationship with the Cypriot Navy during our visit in May 2023.”,said Cmdr Tyrchra Bowman, commanding officer of USS Arleigh Burke. “We look forward to building on the relationship this time while our Sailors enjoy some well-earned liberty in this beautiful country.”

The visit to Limassol enables the opportunity to strengthen the U.S. partnership with its NATO ally Cyprus and a shared commitment to a stable and secure Europe.

Arleigh Burke began its fourth forward deployed Naval Forces-Europe patrol Nov. 6^th, 2023. Throughout the second half of the patrol the ship has operated in the Mediterranean with the Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG).

The Bataan ARG consists of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), and the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50). Embarked commands include the Marines of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) and Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.
 

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

Source: United States Navy

Throughout their mission, which included underwater harbor clearance efforts to allow for safer navigation through the shipping channel of São Tomé, UCT 1 provided training on emergency scuba procedures, dive medicine, lift bag operations, underwater exothermic cutting, and inspection diving with São Tomé Coast Guard divers. They also conducted multiple dives with the São Tomé Coast Guard, allowing them to practice these new techniques.

“The team has been very engaged with us, giving us an exciting opportunity to learn from and train alongside such experienced divers,” said 1st Sergeant Manuel Do Rosario, the São Tomé Coast Guard diving senior enlisted leader. “The introduction to diving equipment, safety and medicine was the first time our divers have had any formal training outside of ‘on the job training’ and we are eager to have more training and classroom opportunities in the future.”

After providing training, the Seabee divers conducted the first inspection of the commercial port since its construction in 1962. They removed four submerged shipping containers from the channel, repaired a mooring buoy anchor, and gathered 100,000 square meters of hydrographic data for the U.S. Sixth Fleet maritime infrastructure assessment program.

Over the course of their mission, UCT 1 encountered a few challenges in removing the submerged containers and repairing the mooring buoy chain.

“The fuel-mooring buoy chain was lost six years ago and buried beneath the sandy bottom,” said Lt. Joseph Bevilacqua, the officer-in-charge for the UCT 1 detachment, which reports to U.S. Sixth Fleet’s Commander, Task Force (CTF) 68. “We utilized lift bags to leap frog down the chain for 300 meters. It took three days to find the anchor and it was covered in marine growth.”

They ran into similar issues when removing the sunken containers. The containers were buried three feet deep in sand and contained several tons of concrete making them stuck in the sea floor. The structure of the containers was also compromised, causing the lift point to bend and break under the pressure of the lift bags.

“We had to move to a secondary course of action,” said Bevilacqua. “We utilized underwater exothermic cutting, which is a reliable but slow method and requires a vessel with a large deck space.”

In spite of some challenges, the teamwork between U.S. and São Tomé enabled overall mission success. Working through challenges and sharpening their skills across the board is what makes bilateral engagements such as these so beneficial for all involved.

At the end of the operation, UCT 1 completed their survey of the channel and removed hazards to navigation, leaving the Coast Guard divers better equipped to continue clearing the shipping channel. Through efforts like this, the Seabees strengthen the abilities of partner nations, allowing smoother maritime commerce and operations.

UCT 1 is a specially trained and equipped unit within the Navy Expeditionary Combat Force that constructs, inspects, repairs and maintains ports, ocean facilities, underwater systems and general maritime infrastructure. UCT is a key component of port damage repair operations during a disaster or contingency.

CTF 68, headquartered in Rota, Spain, commands all Navy Expeditionary Forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility and is responsible for providing EOD operations, naval construction, expeditionary security, and theater security efforts in direct support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) and U.S. Sixth Fleet.

For over 80 years, NAVEUR-NAVAF has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the USEUCOM and USAFRICOM areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

Source: United States Navy

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) recently hosted the military official responsible for F-35 sustainment logistics and engineering efforts for the fifth-generation fighter aircraft.  

Air Force Maj. General Donald K. Carpenter, director of the Lightning Sustainment Center for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, visited FRCE Jan. 24 in order to tour the depot’s F-35 components and air vehicle modification lines and familiarize himself with depot operations that support the F-35’s mission readiness. The engagement allowed FRCE to provide Carpenter with updates on current and future F-35 sustainment initiatives at the depot, including component capabilities development and planned facilities and infrastructure expansion, said FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. James M. Belmont.

“As the role of the F-35 continues to expand in the national defense, so does our support of the platform,” Belmont explained. “Our skilled artisans, engineers and logisticians are able to provide the nation’s warfighters with the services they need, when and where they need them, and that ability only grows with every new F-35 related capability and facility established at our depot.

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to show Major General Carpenter just how far we’ve come since the inception of the F-35 program at FRC East, and provide him with a road map of where we’re headed in the future,” Belmont continued. “The work we do at FRC East is critical to the F-35 platform, and I’m proud to provide the major general with a first-hand look at how our team’s sustainment efforts enable mission readiness.”

FRCE is the lead site for depot-level maintenance on the F-35B Lightning II and has conducted modifications and repair on the Marine Corps’ short takeoff-vertical landing variant of the aircraft since 2013. The depot has also worked with the F-35A (conventional takeoff and landing) and F-35C (carrier) variants. In 2018, FRCE began establishing capabilities supporting a variety of components for the aircraft, with current ability to modify or repair 32 parts and plans to and an additional 42 in 2024.  Construction is under way for additional F-35 support infrastructure, including vertical lift fan test and processing facilities scheduled to come online later this year, with plans for the addition of an F-35 aircraft sustainment complex that will more than triple the dock space currently available for F-35 modifications at FRCE.

“It’s exciting to see the expansion of the F-35 capabilities and capacity under way at FRC East and learn more about how the depot and its workforce are positioned to enhance F-35 readiness,” said Carpenter, a former jet engine mechanic and flight engineer. “After meeting with Captain Belmont and touring the components shops and air vehicle modification line, I’m coming away with a more in-depth understanding of the depot’s ability to support sustainment of our growing F-35 fleet. The workforce here is exceptional, and it was great to hear directly from them how they see the sustainment efforts here continuing to improve.”

At the Lightning Sustainment Center, located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, Carpenter leads a team of nearly 400 personnel who support F-35 sustainment planning and operations for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force, along with seven partner nations, nine foreign military sales countries, and five industry contractors. Currently, the team supports sustainment of more than 950 Joint Strike Fighters and the planning/integration of more than 1,200 additional aircraft by 2027.

“The F-35 is the cornerstone of our nation’s future fighter fleet, and its presence makes an operational impact every single day,” Carpenter said. “As we continue fielding more fifth-generation fighters, sustainment operations will become increasingly important, and so will the role of commands like FRC East in helping the Joint Program Office maintain an environment of comprehensive sustainment excellence. I have no doubt that FRC East, and the workers here, will continue to be an important piece of F-35 mission readiness well into the future.” 

Belmont agreed that the work being done at FRCE now makes a real difference on flightlines across the globe, and will continue to grow with the F-35 fleet. 

“The F-35 is the future of naval aviation, and we’re proud of the work we’ve done here at the depot to support our nation’s warfighters,” Belmont said. “As the number of F-35 aircraft and missions flown increase, so do the sustainment requirements – and the men and women of FRC East are ready and able to provide the service our nation’s military aviators need to meet the mission.”

FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.