Month: May 2024

Source: United States Navy

The Navy began reducing water pumping operations at the Red Hill Shaft from 4.2 million gallons a day (MGD) to 1.8 MGD, April 29, after working with state regulators for months on a plan to allow the Navy to reduce the amount of water discharged into the Halawa Stream.  

Since January 2022, and at the direction of state regulators, the Navy has continuously pumped approximately 4.2 MGD to create a capture zone within the shaft to reduce the potential spread of groundwater contamination.  

The pumped water is treated through a granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration system, then discharged under a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit into the stream. 

The shaft is located under the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF), which Navy Closure Task Force-Red Hill (NCTF-RH) is currently working to decommission.  

The reduction will save 72 million gallons of water per month, or 864 million gallons per year.  

The reduction of water pumping rates at the Red Hill Shaft marks a major milestone in the Navy’s efforts to conserve one of Hawaii’s most important resources,” said Rear Adm. Steve Barnett, commander, NCTF-RH. 

The Navy has been working with the DOH to reduce the flow of discharge by conducting several detailed studies to evaluate the impacts of such a reduction on the environment.   

To evaluate the aquifer conditions at various pumping rates, the Navy conducted a GAC Flow Optimization survey from April 2023 to June 2023, in accordance with DOH and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved work plans. The survey included weekly groundwater sampling and water level monitoring events from 51 monitoring well locations, including the entry and exit points of the GAC, to ensure discharged water is free of contaminants.  

In May 2023, the Navy submitted the initial Consolidation and Optimization of the Groundwater Sampling Programs memorandum to EPA and DOH and received comments on July 31, 2023.  

  In August 2023 the Navy made its initial request to reduce the amount of water being pumped from the shaft, and in September 2023 the Navy submitted a final report of its findings to DOH. This report presented data to evaluate the feasibility of reducing the flow from the Red Hill Shaft to meet the objective of long-term sustainability of the drinking water resource. 

  On Nov. 15, 2023, after reviewing the Final Report of Findings, the DOH submitted a letter to the Navy indicating the study did not provide sufficient evidence that a reduction in pumping at the shaft would not result in harm to human health or the environment. DOH recognized the importance of conserving the island’s natural resources and outlined a path forward to reduce pumping rates through an increase in monitoring and evaluation of the Navy’s plans and processes. 

The Navy since acknowledged DOH’s letter and resubmitted its plan, receiving direction to implement the water flow reduction on April 22, 2024.  

During the time, the Navy installed a truck fill station at the facility to allow some of the excess water to be used to clean the inside of the tanks in the coming months. The Navy continues to evaluate other potential beneficial reuses of the water but must consider the physical site constraints and available infrastructure. 

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 safe drinking water in compliance with all Federal, State, and local laws, policies and regulations. 

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

SAFE. DELIBERATE. ENGAGED. COMMITTED. 

Source: United States Navy

With this year’s theme, “Advancing Gendered Security in a Complex World: Hard Power, Smart Power, Soft Power,” the symposium will focus on the impact of allyship across multiple instruments on national power.

NWC’s 10th WPS Symposium will feature a variety of keynote remarks, panel discussions, and presentations delivered by prominent U.S. and international military and government leaders, scholars and other national security practitioners. Topics will include strengthening maritime security, cultivating allyship in defense and security sectors, WPS in an era of strategic competition, climate change and environmental security, leveraging WPS for force resiliency and readiness and gender perspectives in strategic planning.

The event will also present current and historical case studies from around the world which demonstrate how gender-inclusive peace and security efforts can lead to innovative and enduring solutions.

As a leader in professional military education, NWC follows U.S. Department of Defense and Department of the Navy alignment with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, empowering women’s meaningful participation in all phases of planning and operations to generate outcomes advancing state and human security.

NWC has been committed to integrating WPS subject matter into its curriculum and faculty research since 2011 when the first WPS U.S. National Action Plan was launched.

Registration for virtual attendance and participation in this year’s WPS Symposium can be completed here. For additional information about the event, please contact wps-womenpeaceandsecurity@usnwc.edu.

NWC delivers excellence in education, research, and outreach, informing today’s decision-makers and educating tomorrow’s leaders. The college provides educational experiences and learning opportunities that develop students’ ability to anticipate and prepare strategically for the future, strengthen the foundations of peace, and create a decisive warfighting advantage.

Source: United States Navy

The three-dimensional, laser-scanning equipped UAS is supporting multiple student research efforts under a project led by NPS Associate Professor of Oceanography Mara Orescanin to develop a more effective and reliable capability to estimate bathymetry in the tumultuous, dynamic – and operationally critical – surf zone.

“This area is typically a challenge to predict bathymetry because it is optically opaque, difficult to operate in as strong currents and waves develop, and changes on scales of hours to days from collecting data,” says Orescanin, who serves as principal investigator on the Office of Naval Research and National Science Foundation funded research.

Current efforts are building on the thesis research of a recent NPS graduate, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Justin Crisp, who demonstrated how UAS-mounted near-Infrared LiDAR sensors outperformed conventional surveying and mapping methods to “provide a standalone solution to estimate nearshore bathymetry … and a promising path to improving coastal access capabilities for intelligence collection,” he wrote in his September 2023 NPS thesis.

U.S. Navy Lt. Corbin Mellow, an NPS Space Systems Operations student projected to graduate in June 2024, is also utilizing the LiDAR-equipped UAS for his thesis, with Orescanin and physics faculty member Dr. Christopher Smithtro as co-advisors. Mellow is exploring the scalability of LiDAR sensors, comparing the UAS-mounted unit with possible space-borne, remote-sensing capabilities to improve bathymetry using LiDAR.

Future plans for this project will explore the integration of new payloads on the LiDAR-equipped UAS focused on detecting and mapping mines in the surf zone, Orescanin says.

To learn more about oceanography at NPS, visit https://nps.edu/web/oceanography.

For more information about NPS’ Space Systems Academic Group, visit https://nps.edu/web/ssag.

Source: United States Navy

The 21st Theater Sustainment Command is in charge of setting the theater, which means rapidly deploying forces and equipment to the point of need anywhere in Europe. A critical part of that process is conducting Reception, Staging, and Onward Movement. The onward movement piece portion of that sustainment operation requires teamwork from allies and other services within the Department of Defense. The U.S. Navy was just that essential service.

When most people think of the U.S. Navy, massive gray vessels protecting international waters is the initial thought. Yet, the U.S. Navy has a ground force of engineers affectionately titled the “Seabees,” from NMCB 11 that assist mobility and protection efforts for maneuver forces.
U.S. Navy Lt. Mason Mullins, team leader, NMCB 11 discusses the importance of the Seabees on ground with their counterparts and how he prides himself on that expertise within the Navy with light humor. “Floaty gray thing, what’s that,” said Mullins. “We often joke and say that because most of our operations are on the ground with you guys building resources. This was a different challenge than usual though as we couldn’t even see the ground when we first arrived as it was covered in snow. We had to use poles to find where level ground was prior to construction.”

The decision to build the bridge stemmed from the strategic importance of the region, which is known for its challenging terrain and numerous waterways. Recognizing the need for improved infrastructure to facilitate military operations and enhance logistical capabilities, the Seabees assembled a medium girder bridge that can be built utilizing their team with nothing but manpower if required, with the largest component of the bridge having the ability to be carried in a four-man lift.

Yet, the elements of Norway did provide key lessons learned to the warm weather stationed allies. 3BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. is not stationed with the rest of their division in Fort Drum, New York where conditions are similar to Norway. Additionally, the crew of 25 personnel from NMCB 11 are all stationed from the humid climate of Gulfport, Mississippi. The challenges for both teams were substantial and required adaptation to the artic environment.

Petty Officer 1st Class Melissa Desalvo, bridge master, NMCB 11 led her team through 25-30 mph winds and snow so high the ability to find solid ground became difficult for bridge placement across the crossing site. Desalvo’s team worked together to ensure the safety and completion of the bridge site for Norwegian and 3BCT, 10th Mtn. Div.’s different vehicle types during the movement of the convoy.

“The biggest difference in building this bridge is the arctic conditions,” said Desalvo. “In Gulfport you have a lot of humidity which is a lot of heat slowing down the bridge building process, but out here you also have to take breaks to warm back up. Similar in slowing the process down, but just a completely different obstacle because you can at least see the ground during construction of the bridge in a warmer environment. The ice and snow made that task tremendously difficult, but the Norwegians assisted us and there was a lot of cross training involved. They gave the Army and us a few tips. It took us 12 hours which is pretty fast under these conditions.”

The construction process was a testament to the collaborative spirit between the U.S. Navy and Norway. Navy Seabees, renowned for their expertise in construction and infrastructure development, worked side by side with Norwegian engineers and the U.S. Army but the Seabees did majority of the heavy lifting as this is their expertise.

1st Lt. Stone Sawyer, sapper platoon leader, A Company, 326 Brigade Engineer Battalion, was grateful for the cross training his team of Sappers received working with the Norwegian Allies and the Seabees.
“This was a good training opportunity,” said Sawyer. “As light combat engineers we don’t get to do these things often. We had about 20 Soldiers here with eight Soldiers rotating through to receive the training with the Navy during construction. It has been great for me working with Lt. Mullins as I get to witness how he does his job as an engineer in the Seabees and how he can integrate into what we do as combat engineers to improve our unit’s mobility. This was a great opportunity to work with him and our Norwegian partners.

The successful collaboration between the NATO allies caused six multinational vehicles to cross the bridge and confirm their joint capabilities crossing linear danger areas. As the bridge stands tall, bridging not only physical gaps but also forging stronger bonds between two nations, it serves as a reminder of the incredible things that can be achieved when NATO comes together in defense of its territories.
“I’m the most proud of this crew,” said DeSalvo. “They came out here and overcame a lot of obstacles in an inexperienced climate and knocked it out of the park. This proves as a major benefit for mobility when it comes to the Army and our allies. When you come to an impasse and you need an alternate route, we can establish a bridge quickly, which allows you to get to where you need to go a little faster.” As the 21st TSC continues to set the theater within the onward movement process, the U.S. Navy and our Norwegian partners have proven to be a vital ally for military exercises in the European theater.

DEFENDER is a Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness, and is a U.S. European Command scheduled, U.S. Army Europe and Africa conducted exercise that consists of Saber Strike, Immediate Response, and Swift Response. DEFENDER 24 is linked to NATO’s Steadfast Defender exercise, and DoD’s Large Scale Global Exercise, taking place from 28 March to 31 May. DEFENDER 24 is the largest U.S. Army exercise in Europe and includes more than 17,000 U.S. and 23,000 multinational service members from more than 20 Allied and partner nations, including Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Source: United States Navy

More than 3,000 members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard will arrive in Miami to enjoy the exhilarating mix of culture and history the city offers.

“The Department of the Navy is tremendously excited to bring the Navy and Marine Corps team to the inaugural Fleet Week Miami” said Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who will be in Miami engaging with civic and industry leaders. “Today’s Navy reflects the energy, diversity and opportunity that defines South Florida—and indeed the nation. And we want all of South Florida to come join us to honor and to honor thse great women and men who serve our nation.”

In addition to the many Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and women; interactive displays of military technology; ship tours; daily visits to Miami schools; neighborhood Navy and Marine Corps Band concerts; dozens of community volunteer events; and flyovers of military aircraft promise to make this an exciting week.

The appearance of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) off Miami’s shores on Sunday, May 5, will herald the arrival of the other three Navy warships taking part in Fleet Week: the amphibious assault ship, USS Bataan (LHD-5); and the guided missile cruisers, USS Normandy (CG-60) and USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55) as well as the Coast Guard cutter USCGS Seneca. While the Truman will be several miles offshore, these four ships will be docked at Port Miami for visits by the public.

“The United States Navy is America’s Navy. It’s your Navy,” said Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “Fleet Week Miami is a great opportunity for families to come out, tour our ships, connect with our Sailors, and get a better understanding of what your Navy does to protect our homeland.”

It has been more than a decade since the Navy has been invited to a new city for a Fleet Week opportunity. Miami residents will have the opportunity to interact with Sailors/Marines and Coast

Guardsmen and men who defend our nation’s shores and to see the military technology that projects global power.

“Fleet Week Miami provides the great citizens of Miami the chance to see their Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard—and the wonderful young men and women who have answered the country’s call to national maritime service,” Del Toro said.

Tours of the ships are planned for Monday through Saturday May 6-11. The weekdays will focus on afternoon and evening tours from 1-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., while Saturday tours are slated to be 9-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. All tours are free.

In addition to the ships, displays of Naval history, recruiting information, Navy and Marine technology, and Navy environmental programs will be available for visitors to see as they wait for their tours.

Visitors wishing to tour the ships must reserve a time through the www.fleetweekmiami.org website 48 hours in advance of their desired visit. This is to ensure a moderate flow of people to the ships that may be accommodated without wait times of several hours.

Information on events and activities may be found by visiting the website or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/fleetweekmiami. Additional details will be posted as they become confirmed.