Month: June 2024

Source: United States Navy

The U.S. Navy shares a longstanding alliance with the Philippines. In 1951, the two countries signed the Mutual Defense Treaty, vowing support and mutual defense against emergent threats to maintain freedom of the seas. The port visit acts to foster long standing U.S.- Philippine ties and fortify relations with government officials and local leaders.

During the visit, Vice Adm. Fred Kacher, Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet, engaged with Hon. MaryKay Carlson, the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Rear Adm. Alfonso Torres Jr., commander of the Armed Forces Western Command, Rear Adm. Renato David, commander of the Philippine Fleet and other key-leaders from the Philippines. Capt. Nicholas DeLeo, commanding officer, USS Blue Ridge, spoke with community leaders, continuing to foster relationships with the Philippines. Blue Ridge also hosted distinguished visitors during a ‘Big Top’ event and conducted ship tours.

“The United States and Philippine’s diplomatic relationships has been steadfast for almost eight decades due to our shared democratic values, mutual interests, and cultural ties,” said DeLeo. “This port visit allows the crew to return the hospitality and support the Filipino people always provide, through cultural exchange and engaging with the locals.”

During the port visit, the embarked crew explored the country’s rich culture through organized events, sightseeing on liberty, and serving the local community.

Blue Ridge’s Command Religious Ministries Services organized three community relations events, providing service members the opportunity to act as United States ambassadors and authentically experience a new culture.

“Our Sailors were ecstatic to see the beautiful country and to partner with vital organizations that serve and sacrifice for those in need,” said Lt. Michael Bowen, chaplain of the Blue Ridge. “Community volunteer projects allow us to show the people of the Philippines that we value and honor the important relationship between our two countries.”

Service members volunteered at a soup kitchen by preparing and serving meals to locals, while another group organized a community center for Project Pearl, a non-profit organization aiming to end poverty and aide underserved communities. In addition, USS Blue Ridge Sailors formed a team and competed in a friendly soccer match.

“At the Project Pearl COMREL, we served meals to the less fortunate and cleaned up the center, [including] washing chairs, sweeping, dusting, washing dishes, and moving building materials for the school under construction outback,” said Logistics Specialist Seaman Angel Carter, a Sailor from USS Blue Ridge. “It was tear-jerking to see the living conditions of the local community, but I was happy to support the organization’s mission to fight against poverty.”

In addition, Sailors rejuvenated and maximized liberty by participating in Morale, Welfare and Recreation sponsored tours, including Tagaytay sightseeing, Villa Escudero, Pagsanjan Falls and more.

“During the [Pagsanjan Falls] tour, I had the chance to explore the Philippines outside of the bustling city,” said Chief Information Technician Sean Robinson, a Sailor from USS Blue Ridge. “I traveled up the river by boat to see the waterfall, ate authentic Filipino food, and interacted with the families swimming.”

“We could not be more honored to make our first port visit of our summer patrol to Manila with the USS Blue Ridge and our Seventh Fleet Team. Our enduring partnership with the people of the Philippines is deeper and stronger than it has ever been,” said Kacher. “Our Sailors are excited to engage with the Manila community, and I look forward to meeting with my Armed Forces of the Philippines counterparts to discuss our shared commitment to security and stability in this vital and dynamic region.”

The countries’ connection goes beyond formal agreements. Filipinos compose one of the largest Asian groups serving in the U.S. Navy, whose presence is felt through their solidarity, perseverance, and pride in their heritage.

As the 7th Fleet flag ship, USS Blue Ridge is the oldest operational ship in the Navy and routinely operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

Source: United States Navy

Representatives from across the nuclear triad, including Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and industry partners, advocated for increased focus on workforce needs, small business collaboration, and mentorship programs throughout the nuclear enterprise.

SSP’s Director of Plans and Programs Kelly Lee—also a member of the Senior Executive Service—addressed areas SSP is modernizing in order to maintain the reliability, accuracy, and safety of the current sea-based strategic weapon system – known as Trident II D5 Life Extension (D5LE), while concurrently developing the future strategic weapon system. 

“In order to achieve Sea-Based Strategic Deterrence 2084, SSP has developed a strategic plan that outlines our program priorities and the key enablers to support the modernization of the strategic weapons system to counter emerging and future threats,” said Ms. Lee, who oversees the development and execution of the program plans and budget for the strategic weapons system. 

Modernization touches every inch of the nuclear enterprise; however, Ms. Lee narrowed that scope into three discreet themes: modernizing SSP’s workforce, modernizing industry and infrastructure, and modernizing the nuclear triad through collaboration across the services.
 
Aligning with the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review’s call to action to develop a “capable, motivate [nuclear enterprise] workforce,” Ms. Lee zeroed in on people as the real strategic assets for both the Navy and Air Force.
 
“We need a good talent pipeline to support sustainment and modernization,” she said.
 
“Without people, there are no weapons systems.”
 
“We are at an inflection point for industry and government as we modernize,” added Jeffrey Duncan, Vice President of Systems Engineering at JRC Integrated Systems, Inc., advocating for industry to invest in bringing in employees new to the nuclear enterprise.
 
“We need to introduce new people into the ecosystem.”

LSU Shreveport’s selection for these annual gatherings is not a coincidence. Barksdale Air Force Base, home of AFGSC, is located right next door and maintains close ties with the Shreveport-Bossier City community. This close proximity is a daily reminder that strategic deterrence is a local, as well as a national, endeavor.
 
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux, kicked off the symposium by reminding attendees how important the nuclear triad is to the nation and the close-knit local community.
 
“You are here to make sure we keep peace in the world,” he said.

AFGSC’s responsibility for two of the three legs of the nuclear triad – the strategic bomber force and intercontinental ballistic missiles – makes it a crucial pillar of the nation’s national security strategy. SSP, the Navy command that provides cradle-to-grave lifecycle support for the sea-based leg of the nation’s nuclear triad, collaborates closely with the Air Force to manage the increased demands of modernization and development that both services face.
 
“Strategic deterrence is a team sport, and all three legs are needed to win,” said Ms. Lee.
 
“The entire team must work together to leverage each other’s strengths and apply lessons learns.”
   
Hosted by LSU’s Strategy Alternatives Consortium (SAC), the Nuclear Triad Symposium’s mission is “to advance national policies, plans, strategies, resources, and professionals” in the realm of strategic deterrence, specifically through exploring the role of the U.S. Air Forces’ strategic deterrent history and present-day mission.

 A credible, effective nuclear deterrent is essential to our national security and the security of U.S. allies. Deterrence remains a cornerstone of national security policy in the 21st century.
 
Strategic Systems Programs provides training, systems, equipment, facilities and personnel responsible for ensuring the safety, security, and effectiveness of the nation’s Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) Trident II (D5LE) Strategic Weapon System.
 
SLBMs are one leg of the nation’s strategic nuclear deterrent Triad that also includes the U.S. Air Force’s intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and nuclear-capable bombers.  Each part of the Triad provides unique capabilities and advantages.
   
SLBMs make up the majority – approximately 70 percent – of the U.S.’s deployed strategic nuclear deterrent Triad. The SLBM is the most survivable, provides persistent presence, and allows flexible concept of operations.