Month: April 2024

Source: United States Navy

Meredith Berger, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment (EI&E), and Chief Sustainability Officer, whose office works with Tribal Nations across the country on behalf of the Department of the Navy, hosted the event and was joined by Brendan Owens, Assistant Secretary of Defense for EI&E, as well as representatives of the Vietnam War Commemoration Office (VWCO).

“This wall represents the legacy of Native American contributions to our nation’s defense, and represents our efforts to be inclusive and considerate of our community connections,” said Berger. “This space will grow with additional displays that will represent our Joint Force and those have helped meet the mission.”

The first item on display is the Standing Strong Blanket commissioned by Native American artist Joseph Chamberlain, who was a member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe. This blanket was presented by the Vietnam War Commemoration Office to the Navy after receiving it from the Eastern Band of Cherokee, to thank and honor Vietnam War Era Veterans and their families.

Since 1776, when General George Washington began enlisting Native Americans for his Army, Navy, and Marines, Native Americans have contributed significantly to the defense of our nation. They have had the highest percentage of people in military service per capita, exceeding every American ethnic group. 29 Service members of Native American ancestry have earned the Medal of Honor for their courage and devotion to the nation.

The ceremony honoring the blanket’s addition to the wall represents the first step in the development of a permanent Pentagon hallway display that will honor the history and heritage of the Native American community’s contributions to the Department of Defense.

The ceremony comes as the DON concludes EI&E Week, the period between Earth Day and Arbor Day that highlights the accomplishments of the department’s Energy, Installations, and Environment portfolio.

The Office of the ASN for EI&E serves the DON and the nation by enhancing combat capabilities for the warfighter through a focus on communities, critical infrastructure, and climate action. Specifically, the portfolio focuses on renewable, reliable, resilient energy sources, sustainability and construction, maintenance and sustainment of infrastructure, protecting the safety and occupational health of military and civilian personnel; environmental protection in support of mission readiness, planning and restoration ashore and afloat; and conservation of natural and cultural resources.  

Source: United States Navy

“Work-life balance and community fellowship are essential to the well-being and readiness of our Sailors and their families,” said Leslie Gould, director of Fleet and Family Readiness at Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC). “We hope these events not only provide a fun, recreational outlet, but also an opportunity to bring friends and families together to strengthen personal ties throughout our Navy community.”

Entertainment will vary by location and may feature concerts, comedic performances, interactive murder mystery dinners and more! Examples of headlining musical performers include acts such as Andy Grammer, Dierks Bentley, Eli Young Band, Goo Goo Dolls, Ludacris, The All-American Rejects, Switchfoot and others.

Operation MWR events are open to all MWR eligible patrons, are free of charge, and in most cases do not require advanced registration. However, space may be limited at some venues and entry will be first-come first-served.

Service members and their families can find information about events at an installation near them by visiting navymwr.org/operationmwr or contacting their local Navy MWR office.

“Service members can also access other leisure and community offerings through their Navy MWR office,” said Gould. “All year long, MWR offers services such as trips, tours, leisure skills classes, sporting events, discounted attraction tickets and more, providing opportunities to recharge and connect through recreation.”

Commander, Navy Installations Command is responsible for worldwide U.S. Navy Shore installation management, designing and developing integrated solutions for sustainment and development of Navy shore infrastructure as well as quality of life programs. CNIC oversees 10 Navy regions, 70 installations, and more than 43,000 employees who sustain the fleet, enable the fighter, and support the family. Learn more by visiting CNIC’s website at https://www.cnic.navy.mil/ or following CNIC on social media: Facebook, Facebook.com/NavyInstallations; X (formerly known as Twitter), @cnichq; and Instagram, @cnichq.

Source: United States Navy

Here are the links to the latest updates: 

• Navy Announces Swarm Team Results. Recently detected low levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons, or TPH, in the Navy’s drinking water system were the result of laboratory activity and not associated with the release of jet fuel from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, the Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) announced April 24. 

• AFFF Concentrate Removal. Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) safely removed 32 55-gallon drums of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) concentrate from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, April 23. 

• Earth Day: NCTF-RH Participates in Bike Path Cleanup. Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) recognized Earth Day by partnering with the City and County of Honolulu to clean a section of the Pearl Harbor Historic Bike Trail, April 20.   

• NCTF-RH Operational Update. Since the assumption of authority for the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) on March 28, 2024, Navy Closure Task Force – Red Hill (NCTF-RH) began and accomplished several initiatives. 

• NCTF-RH Launches Mobile App. NCTF-RH announced the availability of a free mobile application to track the progress of Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility decommissioning efforts. The NCTF-Red Hill app will provide the latest developments on tank cleaning, the decommissioning plan, environmental remediation, regulatory approvals, and operational planning for all major milestones. 

• Navy Assumes Responsibility of Red Hill Facility. NCTF-RH assumed responsibility of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) from Joint Task Force-Red Hill (JTF-RH) during a transition of authority ceremony held at the Battleship Missouri Memorial, March 28. 

• Navy Shares Premise Plumbing Assessment Findings. The Navy released a summary of findings from its Preliminary Premise Plumbing assessment. The report is posted on the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) Safe Waters website Here. 

• Navy Voluntarily Extends Long-Term Monitoring Program . The Navy will voluntarily continue extensive sampling of the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water distribution system for an additional year. “We are doing this because it is the right thing to do,” said Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett, commander of the Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) and Navy Region Hawaii. “We have made this deliberate decision as a result of our steadfast commitment to the people of Hawaii, our service members, civilians, contractors and their families.” 

• Navy Expands How it Addresses Drinking Water Concerns on Oahu. NCTF-RH, in conjunction with Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii (CNRH), and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH), continues to make significant strides in addressing community concerns about drinking water by forming a new Water Quality Action Team, voluntarily extending a drinking water monitoring program, and performing an in-depth inspection of a water heater from a residence in Navy housing at JBPHH. 

• Navy Takes Decisive Action to Address Water Quality Concerns; Partners With Federal, Local Regulators to Boost Drinking Water Monitoring Efforts. “The Department of the Navy’s first priority is providing reliable and safe drinking water to those who live and work on the Navy’s water system – service members, civilians, residents and their families, and members of the community,” said Rear Adm. Steve Barnett, commander, Navy Closure Task Force – Red Hill (NCTF-RH), and commander, Navy Region Hawaii. “Determining the root cause of these detections is the top priority and the Navy is working in close collaboration with subject matter experts so that we can provide the community with more information and assistance.”  

• Extension of the operations and breadth of the Red Hill Clinic. At the request of the Navy, the Red Hill Clinic will continue operations for an additional year. The clinic provides medical assessments for all TRICARE-eligible beneficiaries and individuals granted Secretarial Designee status who are experiencing symptoms they believe may be related to the November 2021 Red Hill fuel release.  

“Progress continues as planned to decommission the Red Hill facility,” said Rear Adm. Steve Barnett, commander, NCTF-RH. “The AFFF in the fire suppression system is gone, and along with it another threat to the aquifer. Our many preparations are complete, and we are working with DOH to allow tank cleaning operations to begin as early as next week. Our team of professionals is working hard and remains committed to safely and expeditiously decommissioning the facility and remediate the environment.”   

NCTF-RH is committed to working with all government agencies and community stakeholders to safely and deliberately close the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility underground storage tanks and associated piping system, conduct long-term environmental remediation, and ensure continued access to drinking water that complies with all Federal, State, and local regulations.   

  For more information about NCTF-RH, visit navyclosuretaskforce.navy.mil or download the mobile app by searching for “NCTF-Red Hill” in the Apple App store or Google Play store. 

Source: United States Navy

 

Koehler met with senior ROK officials to discuss the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s destabilizing activities.
 
The meetings included:
ROK Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Kim Myung-soo
ROK Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Yang Yong-mo
Commander, ROK Fleet, Vice Adm. Choi, Sung-hyeok
 

Koehler assured the ROK Navy of Pacific Fleet’s commitment to a strong defense relationship, and extending the Spirit of Camp David, reaffirmed the importance of trilateral cooperation between the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the United States to enhance interoperability between our combined forces to demonstrate the strength of the partnership and its resolve against those who challenge regional stability.
 
Koehler also met with senior U.S. officials including:
U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Hon. Philip Goldberg
Commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, U.S. Forces Korea, Gen. Paul LaCamera
Commander, Naval Forces Korea, Rear Adm. Neil Koprowski

 
During his visit to Busan and Gimhae, Koehler met with Sailors and civilians assigned to commander, Naval Forces Korea, paid respects for the fallen at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, and spoke to and ate lunch with midshipmen at the ROK Naval Academy.
 
The visit to Republic of Korea underscored the United States’ commitment to strengthening alliances and partnerships for an enduring, resilient, free, and open Indo-Pacific.
 

Source: United States Navy

Greetings, everyone. I’m Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, wishing you and your family a very happy Month of the Military Child.

As April comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank and celebrate the children of our Navy and Marine Corps service members and veterans – children who serve and make sacrifices in their own right – for the benefit of each and every one of us.

Our children embody the same values that we do in the Navy and the Marine Corps. They’re resilient, selfless, courageous, and committed.

Today and every day – this month and every month – we honor and give gratitude to the next generation, to those who serve even though they did not volunteer to do so.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

God bless you all, God bless our Department of the Navy, and God bless these United States