Month: April 2024

Source: United States Navy

“We are committed to our Sailors and their families who are our number one priority,” said Adm. Daryl Caudle, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “Hurricane preparedness is not only critical to maintaining combat readiness, it’s crucial to ensuring everyone’s safety during adverse weather conditions. This annual hurricane preparedness exercise, in coordination with our partners ashore, will continue to enhance our collective responses before and throughout this upcoming Atlantic hurricane season.”

HURREX/CG 24 is designed to exercise and strengthen the Navy’s shore and afloat commands’ responses and emergency operation procedures in preparation for an active hurricane season along the U.S. East Coast. The exercise additionally creates opportunities for fleet and installation teams to reinforce coordinating relationships with local/state authorities and partners to enhance the Navy’s support to Sailors, their families as well as surrounding communities through any condition or circumstance during what has been predicted to be an active hurricane season this year. 

“With climate change producing more frequent and stronger storms, severe weather events pose an increasingly significant challenge to naval operations and infrastructure,” said Vice Adm. Scott Gray Commander, Navy Installations Command. “Committing to annual training in coordination with our partners ensures our Sailors and installations are ready to face the uncertainties of severe weather, allowing us to adapt quickly and effectively to safeguard our personnel, assets, and mission readiness.”

The first week of HURREX/CG 24 simulates a storm system developing along U.S. Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico to engage fleet and shore commands on heavy weather response procedures and the inevitability of storm impact. 

The second week engages commands to shift focus to procedures for recovery from severe weather events. These may include lifting evacuation orders, reopening installations, conducting damage assessments, and standing up of the Emergency Family Assistance Center (EFAC) require external coordination, strengthening relationships with local/state authorities and partners.

HURREX/CG 24 is an essential part of maintaining and improving installation support and recovery efforts before, during and after major weather events. The quality of service and safety of our people remain our top priority.

Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions within local communities and to normal base operations. However, there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access.

Sailors and military civilians can log into the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) at https://navyfamily.navy.mil to verify and update contact information for themselves and their family members.

For more information about HURREX/CG 24 exercises, contact USFFC Public Affairs at usff_nflt_pa@us.navy.mil or CNIC Public Affairs at CNICHQPublicAffairs@us.navy.mil.

For information about how HURREX/CG 24 may impact your community, please visit your local Navy installation’s website or social media channels for additional details.
 

Source: United States Navy

Talwar, a Talwar-class frigate, seized 453 kg of methamphetamines, 416 kg of hash and 71 kg of heroin from a dhow as part of Focused Operation Crimson Barracuda.

The Indian Navy joined CMF last November.

“I commend the crew of INS Talwar for their efforts throughout this Focused Operation and their hard work has paid off with this seizure of 940 kg of drugs,” said Royal Canadian Navy Capt. Colin Matthews, Commander, Combined Task Force 150. “This seizure, the fourth of this Focused Operation, demonstrates the effectiveness and professionalism of CMF, and of the Indian Navy, in deterring and disrupting criminal and terrorist activities at sea.”

Crimson Barracuda, which concluded on April 15, focused on countering terrorist and criminal organizations’ use of the high seas to conduct smuggling operations in the Western Indian Ocean region.

CTF 150 is one of five task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, the world’s largest international naval partnership. CTF 150’s mission is to deter and disrupt the ability of non-state actors to move weapons, drugs and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.

Combined Maritime Forces is a 42-nation naval partnership upholding the international rules-based order by promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

Source: United States Navy

Kaizen is a Japanese term meaning change for the better or continuous improvement. It is a structured approach focusing on identifying and eliminating roadblocks that hinder a process. This event specifically tackled challenges in recruiting qualified personnel for Navy Medicine.

“Our Navy needs highly skilled physicians, dentists, nurses, corpsmen, and other medical professionals to care for Sailors, Marines, and their families,” said Rear Adm. Rick Freedman, Deputy Surgeon General, Navy Medicine. “The work we do directly contributes to the Chief of Naval Operation’s priorities of Warfighting, Warfighters, and building the Foundation that supports them. This kaizen event was a fantastic opportunity to partner with Navy Recruiting Command and explore innovative solutions to enhance our recruiting efforts.”

During the event, a collaborative team comprised of BUMED and NRC personnel brainstormed methods to improve Navy Medicine’s recruiting strategy. Key areas of focus included:
— Identifying and highlighting the rewarding career paths within Navy Medicine
— Streamlining the application process for potential recruits
— Developing targeted outreach programs to attract top talent

The team formulated a comprehensive plan to address these areas, which will be implemented by Navy Medicine in the coming months.

“This week’s meeting leveraged Recruiting Command’s close relationship with Navy Medicine to knock down barriers to effectively recruiting people interested in building a better version of themselves through pursuit of an unparalleled medical career in our Navy,” said Rear Adm. Jim Waters, Commander, Navy Recruiting Command.

Navy Medicine’s senior enlisted leader spoke of the importance of BUMED and NRC partnerships in preparation for the future fight.

“We are committed to attracting the best and brightest minds to join our Navy Medicine family,” said Force Master Chief PatrickPaul Mangaran, director of the Hospital Corps. “This kaizen event signifies a valuable step forward in achieving that goal. By working together, we can ensure a strong and highly skilled medical force for the Navy.”

Navy Medicine – represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals – provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.

Navy Recruiting Command consists of a command headquarters, two Navy Recruiting Regions, Navy Reserve Recruiting Command, and 26 Navy Talent Acquisition Groups. Their combined goal is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.

Story originally posted on DVIDS: Navy Medicine partners with Recruiting Command to attract STEM-focused students  

Source: United States Navy

Lancaster, a Duke-class Type 23 frigate, seized the illicit drugs as part of Focused Operation Crimson Barracuda in an effort to counter illegal drug smuggling, who’s profits often goes to funding terrorist activity. In the two days they have participated in Crimson Barracuda, the crew has interdicted a total of 3,300 kg of illicit narcotics.

On April 10, Lancaster seized 800 kg of hashish, 390 kg of methamphetamines and 110 kg of heroin from another dhow in the Arabian Sea.

“For the second day in a row, CTF 150 and the crew of HMS Lancaster prevented harmful and illicit drugs from reaching their final destination,” said Royal Canadian Navy Capt. Colin Matthews, Commander, Combined Task Force 150. “Once again, we have prevented criminal and terrorist organizations from profiting off the sale of these drugs to fund their activities. I am incredibly proud of this team for all that they have accomplished in such a short window.”

Crimson Barracuda counters terrorist and criminal organizations’ use of the high seas to smuggle narcotics, weapons, and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman.

CTF 150 is one of five task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, the world’s largest international naval partnership. CTF 150’s mission is to deter and disrupt the ability of non-state actors to move weapons, drugs and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.

Combined Maritime Forces is a 42-nation naval partnership upholding the international rules-based order by promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

Source: United States Navy

The ship and her crew will begin this patrol by crossing the Strait of Gibraltar and operating in the Mediterranean Sea, in support of U.S. Sixth Fleet tasking.

“Roosevelt’s crew is excited to get underway and get back to sea where we belong,” said Cmdr. Jeffrey Chewning, Commanding Officer of Roosevelt. “We look forward to executing the mission we’ve been given over the next several months.”

Roosevelt completed her fifth FDNF-E patrol in November 2023. The fifth patrol took the ship and her crew throughout the Mediterranean Sea and across the Sixth Fleet area of operations. While in the Med, Roosevelt integrated with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, supporting security and stability in the region.

While on patrol in the Baltic in the summer of 2023, Roosevelt participated in NATO’s enhanced vigilance activity (eVA) Neptune Strike 23-2 and operated with NATO Allied Maritime Command’s Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG-1), demonstrating increased interoperability with NATO allies and partners. 

Roosevelt was also the first American warship to conduct a Naval Surface Fire Support live fire exercise off the coast of Latvia.

Roosevelt is one of four U.S. Navy destroyers based in Rota, Spain, and assigned to Commander, Task Force 65 in support of NATO’s Integrated Air Missile Defense architecture. These FDNF-E ships have the flexibility to operate throughout the waters of Europe and Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Arctic Circle, demonstrating their mastery of the maritime domain.

For more than 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with our 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.