Month: February 2024

Source: United States Navy

[superslideshow center] 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro met with top shipbuilding industry executives in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and toured some of the world’s most technologically advanced and prolific shipyards.  Discussions were very productive and centered on attracting Korean investment in integrated commercial and naval shipbuilding facilities in the United States.

Shortly after arriving in Seoul on Sunday, February 25, Secretary Del Toro engaged separately with Hanwha Vice Chairman and CEO Dong Kwan Kim and HD Hyundai Vice Chairman and CEO Kisun Chung.  The morning of Tuesday, February 27, Mr. Chung personally gave Secretary Del Toro a tour of Hyundai’s shipyard in Ulsan.  Later that afternoon, the Secretary traveled to Geoje Island, where Hanwha Ocean CEO Hyek-woong Kwon led a tour of his company’s shipyard there.

Secretary Del Toro reflected, “In each of these engagements, I brought to the table a simple, yet profound opportunity: invest in America.  I was enormously gratified by the strong interest expressed by the leaders of each of these world-class shipbuilders in establishing U.S. subsidiaries and investing in shipyards in the United States.”

As China continues to aggressively pursue worldwide shipbuilding dominance, Secretary Del Toro expressed his heartfelt appreciation that the Republic of Korea, one of America’s closest allies, continues to hold its own in the international shipbuilding industry.  The importance of Korean shipbuilding as an asset to the U.S.-ROK alliance and to the network of global maritime democracies cannot be overstated.

As part of his call for a new Maritime Statecraft in his speech to the Harvard Kennedy School on September 26, 2023, Secretary Del Toro had observed that the U.S. maritime industry “is ripe with opportunity to partner with a greater number of shipbuilders here in the U.S. and with our closest allies overseas, including Japan and South Korea.”  In the same speech, he announced his objective to “attract the most advanced shipbuilders in the world to open U.S.-owned subsidiaries and invest in commercial shipyards here in the U.S., modernizing and expanding our shipbuilding industrial capacity and creating a healthier, more competitive shipbuilding workforce.”

Secretary Del Toro said his engagements over the past several days affirmed and advanced that vision.  “As I saw firsthand during my shipyard visits in Korea this week, Hanwha and Hyundai set the global industry standard.  I could not be more excited at the prospect of these companies bringing their expertise, their technology, and their cutting-edge best practices to American shores.  As world class leaders in the global shipbuilding business, they are poised to energize the U.S. shipbuilding marketplace with fresh competition, renowned innovation and unrivaled industrial capacity.”

The Secretary’s current trip to the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Palau, a key step in his Maritime Statecraft efforts to reinvigorate America’s comprehensive maritime power, aligns closely with the Pentagon’s National Defense Industrial Strategy, which calls for venture capital and new ideas to revive the U.S. industrial base.

Secretary Del Toro noted that “in addition to our currently active shipyards, there are numerous former shipyard sites around the country which are largely intact and dormant.  These are ripe for redevelopment as dual-use construction facilities for both warships, like AEGIS destroyers, as well as high value chain commercial vessels, such as the ammonia gas carriers that will enable the global transition from fossil fuels to green energy sources like hydrogen.”

The Secretary emphasized the economic value of revitalizing U.S. shipbuilding: “Investment in dual-use shipyards in the United States will create good paying, blue collar and new-collar American jobs building the advanced ships that will protect and power the economy of tomorrow.”

As he departed Korea, Secretary Del Toro underscored that his engagements with Hyundai and Hanwha’s leaders this week marked only the beginning, adding, “I look forward to hosting Mr. Chung and Mr. Kim at my office in the Pentagon to continue our discussions in the coming weeks.”

Source: United States Navy

The Maritime Security Enhancement Training (MSET) was the latest iteration of Combined Task Force (CTF) 154’s international training exercises and included participants from eleven nations from the Combined Maritime Forces, as well as EUNAVFOR and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

The operation was the largest scale event in CTF 154 history, with approximately 150 participants, facilitators and observers, providing an excellent opportunity to build international relationships between participating nations, as well as share knowledge and practice capabilities.

The facilitators and participants shared skills and expertise on core areas including the law of the sea, uncrewed systems, Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS), patrol boat operations and drills, explosive ordnance disposal and diving.

Representatives from Combined Maritime Forces, EUNAVFOR and UNITAR provided daily lectures on the law of the sea, covering the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the role of international organizations in combating piracy and drug smuggling and the legal issues on the use of uncrewed surface and air systems.

Personnel from Bahrain-based Task Force 59 briefed participants on how they are currently employing uncrewed systems and provided training on the Saildrone operating portal, used by the Jordanian Maritime Operations Center.

Taking full advantage of the facilities and assets available at the naval base, participants practiced vital VBSS skills, man overboard procedures and towing drills by simulating real world scenarios, led by the Royal Jordanian Navy. Multi-national training exercises such as these allow navies to seamlessly work together when such situations occur in real life.

Under the surface of the Gulf of Aqaba, the dive team taking part in Operation Northern Readiness practiced diving drills and shared best practices, before returning to the surface to share their knowledge on explosive ordnance disposal. The team also took the opportunity to view the recompression chambers at a nearby hospital, used to treat or prevent decompression sickness.

CAPT Ayman Al Naimat, Commander of CTF 154 and himself a member of the Royal Jordanian Navy said, “This is an incredible opportunity for both the CMF and the partner nations participating in this exercise as well as for the Royal Jordanian Navy. All members were able to share their knowledge, experience and demonstrate their skills throughout the week. The opportunity to share and learn from each other is how we grow and improve maritime security operations and support the rules-based international order at sea.” CAPT Ayman Al Naimat added, “It was an honor to both host Operation Northern Readiness in my country, and to lead Combined Task Force 154 that coordinated this work.”

This is the fifth focused training event led by CTF 154, with plans for future training operations already underway. CMF launched CTF 154 in May 2023 to organize multinational maritime training opportunities at locations across the Middle East, enabling more CMF partner nations to participate in training opportunities without ships or aircraft, particularly during courses taught ashore.

CMF consists of 41 member and partner nations whose forces operate in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Gulf, and Indian Ocean. These nations are united in upholding international rules-based order to protect the free flow of commerce, promote regional maritime security, and deter illicit activity by non-state actors.

Source: United States Navy

During staff talks, the Nigerian and U.S. delegations discussed capacity building, maritime domain awareness, and bilateral maritime integration, among other focused topics. They also presented corresponding briefs on command priorities and capabilities, outlooks for 2024, and opportunities for future collaboration.

Adm. Munsch and Rear Adm. Muhammad delivered opening remarks to kick off the event, Feb. 27. The leaders discussed recent operations and activities conducted by the Nigerian and U.S. navies, Nigeria’s enduring participation in the NAVAF-facilitated exercise Obangame Express, and collaborative efforts to combat illicit activity and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and West Africa.

“Africa encompasses several global maritime crossroads, and the Nigerian Navy plays a critical role in providing maritime security and countering illicit activity not only in the Gulf of Guinea, but across the continent,” said Munsch. “Having our Nigerian counterparts here in Naples to discuss maritime initiatives and areas for enhanced collaboration has been an invaluable experience, and I am very grateful to our partners for their participation in these talks.”

The Nigerian Navy is a longtime participant and frequent host of Obangame Express, an exercise designed to counter sea-based illicit activity by improving regional cooperation, information-sharing practices, and maritime interdiction expertise of participating nations. Additionally, the U.S. and Nigerian navies routinely participate in bilateral and multilateral engagements to strengthen interpersonal bonds and address shared challenges and opportunities.

USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), U.S. Coast Guard Cutters USCGC Spencer (WMEC 905) and USCGC Mohawk (WMEC 913), and USNS Carson City (T-EPF 7) all conducted port visits to Lagos, Nigeria in recent years, and Lagos served as the primary hub for Obangame Express 2023, demonstrating the close ties between Nigeria and the United States.

“The U.S. Navy and Nigerian Navy have a long history of strong relations, built on a foundation of shared approaches and collaboration through many engagement opportunities,” said Muhammad. “We thank NAVAF for hosting these staff talks and we look forward to continuing to strengthen our cooperation and partnership in maritime efforts.”

The U.S. Navy shares a common interest with African partner nations in ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation on the waters surrounding the continent, because these waters are critical for Africa’s prosperity and access to global markets.

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

The joint training was designed to further modernize the partnership between U.S. forces and Japan, as well as strengthen joint capabilities and security strategies in the Indo-Pacific region.

“Working hand-in-hand with our partners in the JMSDF SBU offers us the opportunity to learn together and grow both as separate units, and as allied partners,” said a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare operator who participated in the exercise. “Building on our existing relationship offers us all the opportunity to continue to expand our joint knowledge.”

The training, which included classroom instruction and practical application, focused heavily on small-unit skills such as mission planning, navigation and communications. The event culminated with an on-the-water exchange of tactics among the partner forces.

For more than six decades, the U.S.-Japan alliance has served as a cornerstone for peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. High quality, realistic training exchanges such as this help to further synchronize special operations capabilities among partners and allies.

Naval Special Warfare is the nation’s elite maritime special operations force, uniquely positioned to extend the Fleet’s reach and gain and maintain access for the Joint Force in competition and conflict.

Source: United States Navy

The rating insignia reveal followed the U.S. Navy’s announcement in NAVADMIN 036/24, establishing the branch’s enlisted career field for operators, maintainers, and managers of robotic and autonomous systems.

The establishment of the RW rating underpins the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s plans for building and developing “a team who has the reps and sets in sensors, platform autonomy, and mission autonomy programs, and can provide input in machine-learning feedback processes,” a priority she discussed in her keynote address at the WEST 2024 naval conference.

Although Rambert is the first Sailor to don the new RW uniform rating badge, the development of the Navy robotics warfare community represents years of effort.

“It’s a proud moment to see all the hard work that’s gone into developing this badge, and just seeing it finally get codified and brought to life – to me, it signifies the hard work of the people around me,” Rambert said.

From research and analysis to organizing working groups and designating individual subject matter experts, Sailors and Navy civilian employees have been working behind the scenes on creating the Robotics Warfare Specialist career field for more than three years.

Its founding has distinguished the Navy as the first Department of Defense branch to establish a dedicated enlisted workforce specialized in unmanned and autonomous technology.

“The RW rating is a major milestone in our Navy’s relentless march to achieve a truly hybrid Fleet,” Cheeseman penned in NAVADMIN 036/24.

According to Rambert, the DoD’s hybrid force framework is a force multiplier, allowing Sailors to develop seasoned experience across the rating’s multiple domains – subsurface, surface, air, and ground platforms.

With a background as an aviation electrician’s mate, Rambert spoke to the tactical advantages that will come with the new rating’s initial cadre – and the growing opportunity for future RW Sailors.

“You get the opportunity to go to so many different places,” Rambert said. “If you look across the spectrum of the entire Navy, you’ve got Sailors that have the potential to really touch every single domain out there and that’s very rare.”

Rambert has served as the Navy’s sole Robotics Enlisted Community Manager at the Bureau of Naval Personnel since October 2023.

“It’s really an awesome feeling to be the first one to represent the rating,” Rambert said. “And to see this rating finally come to fruition, you can see the level of excitement, and passion from the other Sailors that are out there.”

Eligibility and Application

The initial selection of Sailors for RW conversions will consist primarily of active-duty Sailors currently holding robotics-related Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) codes. Sailors currently or previously assigned to billets in unmanned vehicle divisions are primed for selection.

Active-duty E-4 to E-9 Sailors who meet the above criteria can apply by submitting a NAVPERS 1306/7 Electronic Personnel Action Request (EPAR) form to BUPERS-328 or BUPERS-352 (SELRES).

The Navy’s Fact Sheet focused on RW Conversion Opportunity provides further details on the specific NECs, ASVAB scores, and background requirements for applicants.

Rambert described the sought-after characteristics of RW candidates as being driven, adaptable, and motivated to become masters of the craft.

“They have to have [the] drive to want to be a part of something that might not be entirely defined by policy,” Rambert said. “They need to be passionate about what they do because what they’re learning now and the lessons learned that we take to the table later can have huge effects on the success of the rating as we progress into the future.”

Rating Symbol Design

Originally designed by Chief Aviation Electrician’s Mate McLean Monaghan, the RW rating symbol comprises an airplane propeller and lightning bolt crossed over a treaded wheel, all layered over a single wave. Each element represents a domain that U.S. Navy Robotics Warfare Specialists are expected to operate in to support the mission of the DoD:

· Airplane Propeller – Aerial Systems

· Lightning Bolt – The Electromagnetic Spectrum

· Treaded Wheel – Ground Systems

· Wave – Surface and Subsurface Systems

For information regarding the application process, visit the RW enlisted community management page on the MyNavy HR website at: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Community-Management/Enlisted/Robotics-Warfare/

For more news from the Chief of Naval Personnel, follow MyNavy HR on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube, or visit https://www.navy.mil/cnp