Month: February 2024

Source: United States Navy

INDIAN HEAD, Md. (Feb. 9, 2024) – Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti visited Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD), Feb. 9.

Franchetti’s visit provided her the opportunity to see firsthand how NSWC IHD, the Navy’s Arsenal, is foundational to the munitions industrial base and is gearing up to meet increased demand by partnering with the commercial industry.

“Indian Head is a critical part of our foundation, and I’m grateful for the work you do here,” said Franchetti. “I can tell that you’re focused on warfighting and that’s what matters – delivering lethality and decisive combat power.”

During the visit, CNO heard how NSWC IHD is built for production, engineering, research development, test and evaluation, and how that has resulted in significant capability development.

She also recognized and spoke with Sailors and civilians who work to bring cutting-edge technology to the Navy, including the newest underwater explosive in 40 years, enhancing the lethality of mines, torpedoes and novel missile engagements.

Franchetti also received a brief on NSWC IHD’s energetics comprehensive modernization plan (ECMP) and how it is changing their business model with a focus on investments in improved safety and readiness, renovation and expansion, and state of the art modernization to optimize production tenfold.

During the brief, Mr. Ashley Johnson, NSWC IHD Technical Director, explained how NSWC IHD is a thought leader for the Department of Defense in this arena, executing public, private partnerships with the commercial industrial base to minimize capacity gaps and meet munitions demands.

“We need more players on the field, ready players, and that means munitions,” Franchetti said. “As we implement the ECMP and expand our munitions base we need to continue to tap into all of our resources across the joint force, with our industrial base, and our international partners.”

Franchetti concluded her visit by touring the warhead production floor, meeting the workforce and hearing directly from them about the mix, cast, cure operations from the beginning with inert preparation through the assembly, test and pack-out. She also heard how ECMP’s infrastructure investment makes the facilities much more reliable and increases readiness levels, unlocking latent capacity.

This was Franchetti’s first visit to NSWC Indian Head as Chief of Naval Operations.

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Source: United States Navy

CS/SC is a yearly force protection exercise planned and conducted by CNIC to test the Navy installation’s response to a base emergency, such as an active shooter or explosive device.

Prior to the start of the exercise, the clinic’s Tactical Combat Casualty Care instructors applied moulage or wound simulations using prosthetics and theater makeup to enhance the training scenario.

Active-duty personnel from Fleet Readiness Center West, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113 and VFA 194 volunteered to act as victims with injuries. The actors were then placed at Neutra Elementary, afterschool hours to help provide a realistic training scenario during this multi-government agency exercise.

Meanwhile at the clinic, the building was placed on lockdown from the notification of the scenario at the nearby base school, activating active shooter security protocols to keep patients and staff safe. The clinic incident management team was subsequently assembled to respond to the simulated crisis and lend medical support to the base installation.

“There are many response elements that must be inspected and validated including notification and lockdown procedures, security forces and fire department response, mutual aid agreements, patient care, transport, and recovery,” said Karl Kassner, NHC Lemoore medical emergency manager.

The actors were transported back to NHC Lemoore as patients, where the clinic triage team was assembled to evaluate each of the 18 patients who had simulated injuries.

“This exercise tested the coordination and collaboration between NAS Lemoore and its mass casualty plans in support of installation medical needs during a disaster,” said Kassner. “Active shooter exercises are critically important for the safety and security of our clinic personnel and patients. Participation in this exercise fulfills requirements to conduct annual active shooter drills and provide valuable training to our medical staff.”

Naval Health Clinic Lemoore, co-located with Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Lemoore, ensures the readiness of its active-duty service members and improves the lives of military families through the delivery of high-quality healthcare to over 18,000 eligible beneficiaries at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California and NAS Fallon, Nevada.

The command also provides dental care and medical administrative support to Navy, Marine Corps, and international students at the Naval Postgraduate School, Defense Language Institute and the Center for Information Dominance in Monterey, California. The command’s mission is to advance the readiness and health of our warfighters and beneficiaries and to invest in our people and partnerships.

Source: United States Navy

Participating ships included Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), embarked with a MH-60S Sea Hawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 from the U.S.; and the Philippine Navy’s BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS-15) and AW109 Helicopter (NH434).

The MCA displays the enduring partnership between the two militaries and advances combined capabilities in the evolving maritime domain through routine goodwill activities at sea.

During the activity, the allied forces sailed together and participated in advanced planning and maritime communication operations to enhance interoperability.

“We welcome any opportunity to conduct maritime activities with our allies. Sailing and operating together demonstrates our commitment to improving our interoperability and continued coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Capt. Sean Lewis, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 commodore.

The U.S. Navy regularly conducts events to strengthen ties among allied and partner nations. MCA enhances combined readiness and capabilities in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Gabrielle Giffords is on a rotational deployment to the Indo-Pacific, conducting operations, exercises and port visits throughout the region and working hull-to-hull with allied and partner navies to provide maritime security and stability, key pillars of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7’s Sea Combat Commander and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements.

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.

Source: United States Navy

The port visit marks Bulkeley’s first in 2024, as the ship continues its regularly scheduled patrol in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations.

Bulkeley’s port visit allows the U.S. to build on its important relationship with Malta and affords the ship’s crew an opportunity to experience the local culture.

“Patrol has been a very professionally rewarding experience for this hardworking crew,” said Cmdr. Richard Slye, commanding officer of Bulkeley. “I can think of no better opportunity than a stop in beautiful Malta to see and experience this beautiful country.”

During the ship’s time in Valletta, the crew will explore the sights, history, cuisine, and culture of Malta.

“Malta has an incredibly rich and unique heritage; I am very excited to get to see their art and architecture in person again,” said Sonar Technician, Surface 3rd Class Christopher Tarantino. “Malta hosts some of Caravaggio’s most inspiring masterpieces, which I hope to experience firsthand.”

port visit, Bulkeley was operating with Carrier Strike Group 12 and USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) throughout the Sixth Fleet area of responsibility. Bulkeley also escorted the Mount Whitney (LCC 20) and the USS Bataan (LHD-5) on separate missions.

The squadron embedded aboard the Bulkeley are the “Griffins” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 79. Bulkeley is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., Allied, and partner interests.

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 U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command 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

Arctic Specialist is an annual multinational EOD and mine countermeasures (MCM) exercise aimed to provide training, exercise and development of land and maritime EOD Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) at the squad and team level in a cold-weather environment. This exercise is designed to enhance capability and interoperability among participating nations. Forces from Denmark will also participate in Arctic Specialist.

EODMU Eight’s MCM Company Commander Lt. Daniel Haines said, “We rely on our experts in the High North to further expand our operations into the Arctic. Exercises like Arctic Specialist allow us to continue improving our collective security by conducting increasingly complex and high-end missions with our Allies.”

During the 11-day exercise, EOD and MCM forces will share TTPS for countering regional and global security threats.

CTF-68 commands all naval expeditionary forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility in direct support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe -Africa, and U.S. 6th Fleet.

U.S. 6th Fleet conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and inter-agency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.