Month: September 2024

Source: United States Navy

Ssang Yong, held regularly since 2012, aims to enhance combined defensive posture on the Korean Peninsula. This year, the exercise includes more than 13,000 personnel from the ROK and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, as well as the U.K. Commando Force which is participating for a second consecutive year. The exercise also involves the ROK Army Aviation Command, ROK Air Force Operations Command, and the ROK Drone Operations Command.

The primary focus of this year’s exercise is to enhance the capability to conduct a combined-joint forcible entry operation, in which coalition forces would swiftly neutralize key enemy facilities to terminate a hypothetical conflict scenario. The ROK-U.S. Navy and Marine Corps conducted joint amphibious operations, followed by land-based operations to rehearse eliminating enemy forces.

Notably, this year’s exercise includes the first deployment of a combined ROK-U.S. battle staff, which commands amphibious operations from the Dokdo-class landing transport helicopter ship ROKS Marado (LPH-6112). This combined battle staff is assessing command and control capabilities and is developing lessons learned for future operations.

The exercise features large-scale joint and combined forces, including a division-sized landing force, the ROKS Marado and Dokdo (LPH-6111), the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4), amphibious assault carrier USS America (LHA-6), more than 20 naval vessels, 30 aircraft such as the ROK Marine Corps’ MUH-1 “Marineon” helicopters, U.S. F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft, and ROK Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters, as well as 40 amphibious assault vehicles, including the Korea Assault Amphibious Vehicle.

Significantly, Ssang Yong 24 is the first time the U.S. Marine Corps’ next-generation Amphibious Combat Vehicle is employed in an exercise on the Korean Peninsula, conducting joint amphibious operations with the ROK Marine Corps. Furthermore, the ROK Marine Corps’ MUH-1 helicopters have undergone deck-landing qualifications on U.S. vessels for the first time.

The exercise’s decisive-action amphibious landing event took place on September 2 along the coastal area of Songra-myeon, Pohang. This phase included simultaneous amphibious and airborne simulated assaults:
• Reconnaissance units from the ROK Drone Operations Command provided real-time intelligence, while reconnaissance forces from the ROK and U.S. Marines, and UK Royal Marines, infiltrated the objective area via sea and air to conduct surveillance and guide precision strike rehearsals.

• Close air support provided by U.S. F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft and AH-1Z Viper helicopters launched from land and sea to neutralize enemy targets, setting conditions for the amphibious assault.
• Amphibious forces including Marines storming the beaches in ROK Assault Amphibious Vehicles and U.S. Amphibious Combat Vehicles to establish a beachhead, followed by the deployment of armored vehicles via U.S. and ROK Navy landing craft including Landing Craft, Air Cushion hovercraft and tank landing ships.
• Airborne forces completed a tactical airdrop from ROK Air Force C-130 transport aircraft, while the U.S. Marine Corps’ MV-22 Osprey, ROK Marine Corps’ MUH-1, ROK Army CH-47 Chinooks, and ROK Navy UH-60 helicopters rehearsed air assaults maneuvers.
• Following the successful amphibious assault, the ROK Marine Corps’ logistics units established a division-level Combat Service Support Area on the beach to sustain land operations.
• The landing forces then transitioned to land-based operations, including simulated CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear)-response elimination operations with combat casualty care exercises to further refine their combined training objectives.
ROK Marine Corps Lt. Col. Cho Hyun-Chul, who participated in the exercise as battalion commander of the landing forces, stated: “This exercise reaffirms the strong alliance between the ROK and U.S. Marine Corps and further strengthens our combined defense posture. Going forward, the ROK and U.S. Marine Corps will firmly retaliate against any provocation from the enemy.”
U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Gabriel Tiggs, executive officer of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, said: “Rehearsing this kind of combined joint forcible entry training with an amphibious landing, then follow-on operations, is very important because of how complex they are. The defense of the Korean Peninsula depends on our ROK-U.S. forces to continuously work together, shoulder-to-shoulder, including this Ssang Yong and into the future.”

Source: United States Navy

Albuquerque Navy Week brings Sailors from across the fleet to the area to emphasize the importance of the Navy to Albuquerque, the state of New Mexico, and the nation. More than 50 Sailors will participate in education and community outreach events throughout the city.

Participating Navy organizations include Navy Band Southwest, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, United States Ceremonial Guard and Color Guard, Navy Construction Group One, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Phoenix, Navy Bureau of Medicine, U.S. Navy Esports, Navy History and Heritage Command, USS Constitution and nuclear-power Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Santa Fe (SSN 763).

Adm. Stuart Munsch, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Africa/Commander, Allied Joint Forces Command, Naples will serve as this Navy Week’s senior executive. Munsch is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He was selected for a Rhodes scholarship and attended Oxford University and earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Munsch previously commanded USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) from 2002 to 2005.

“I am excited to be returning to Albuquerque and lead the United States Navy team that will be visiting the area to discuss with the citizens of New Mexico how the Navy makes America more secure and prosperous,” said Munsch. “Our Navy is on watch around the world, ensuring the free flow of maritime commerce that keeps the global economy, and by extension, the New Mexico economy running.”

During Albuquerque Navy Week, Sailors are participating in community engagements, meeting with students, and speaking with local business, civic, and government leaders.

Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to cities like Albuquerque.

“Sailors are the reason America’s Navy is the most powerful in the world,” said NAVCO’s director, Cmdr. Julie Holland. “We are thrilled to bring your Navy Warfighters to Albuquerque.  At Navy Weeks, Americans will connect with Sailors who have strong character, competence, and dedication to the mission, and who continue a nearly 250-year tradition of decisive power from seabed to cyberspace.”

Throughout the week, Sailors are participating in various community events across the area, including engaging with students across multiple high schools and at the Roadrunner Foodbank, Habitat for Humanity, and publicly visible at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, New Mexico State Fair and downtown Albuquerque. Residents will also enjoy free live music by Navy Band Southwest at venues throughout the week.

Albuquerque Navy Week is one of 15 Navy Weeks in 2024, which brings a variety of assets, equipment, and personnel to a single city for a weeklong series of engagements designed to bring America’s Navy closer to the people it protects. Each year, the program reaches more than 130 million people — about half the U.S. population.

Media organizations wishing to cover Albuquerque Navy Week events should contact Lt. j.g. Madison Kwok at (808) 754-6863 or Madison.k.kwok.mil@us.navy.mil

Source: United States Navy

VALPARAISO, Chile – Navy and Marine forces arrived in Valparaiso in support of UNITAS LXV (65), the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise in the world, which officially commenced September 2, 2024. 
 
The Chilean navy is hosting this year’s UNITAS, which will feature 17 warships/vessels, two submarines, 20 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter), and more than 4,300 personnel from 24 partner nations. Forces will conduct operations off the coast of Valparaiso, Chile, and ashore in the vicinity of Puerto Aldea, Chile, through September 12. 

Rear Adm. Rich Lofgren provided opening remarks as U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4^th Fleet Deputy Commander, addressing the opportunities to build relationships ashore, including subject matter exchanges, operations briefs, and a Women, Peace, and Security symposium. Creating these spaces to build relationships on shore will pay dividends at during the at-sea phase of the exercise and beyond.

“Sailors go to sea,” Lofgren added. “I look forward with great excitement to joining you at sea, as we conduct combined and joint operations. We will enhance our capabilities and improve our interoperability in these maritime events – together. Make no mistake, all of us will work hard the next 12 days. But we will communicate effectively – together. We will operate effectively – together. And we will overcome obstacles – together.”
 
UNITAS, which is Latin for unity, united, or oneness, was conceived in 1959 when representatives at the first Inter-American Naval Conference in Panama agreed to conduct an annual maritime exercise with one another. Prior to UNITAS I in 1960, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Arleigh Burke reviewed preparations for the multinational exercise. He commended planners for their progress, especially in building compatible communication systems among navies, and predicted that UNITAS would build strong relationships among Sailors of the Western Hemisphere.  
 
UNITAS I took place in 1960 with forces from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, the United States, and Venezuela. This year marks the 65th iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise.  
 
Including the United States, UNITAS LXV will bring together 24 nations from all over the world to train forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability. Participating nations include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay. 
 
Following the UNITAS LXV Opening Ceremony on September 2, the in-port phase of the exercise will feature subject matter expert exchanges, professional symposia, ship rider exchanges, and operations meetings. During this time, Marines and Sailors will conduct training events in Valparaiso to include medical, cyber defense, and diving and salvage operations. 
 
During the UNITAS LXV Underway Phase, forces will participate in events testing all warfare operations, to include live-fire exercises such as a SINKEX and an amphibious ship-to-shore landing and force withdrawal. 
 
Unmanned and hybrid fleet systems will return for a second year to UNITAS with the presence of unmanned undersea vehicles. As part of the U.S. Navy’s future hybrid fleet, the Chief of Naval Operations has tasked U.S. 4th Fleet to scale unmanned platforms to the fleet level.   
 
There are many U.S. forces participating in UNITAS LXV, including USS Germantown (LSD 42), USS St Louis (LCS 19), and USS Hampton (SSN 767). Other U.S. participants include Patrol Squadron Five (VP 5); Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2; Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EOD) 2; Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (MCMGRU TWO); Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50 Detachment 4 (HSM 50 Det 4); 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (2/7); 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment (1/24); 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (4th LAR); 4th Reconnaissance Battalion (4th Recon); Combat Logistic Regiment 4 (CLR 4); 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines (2/14); Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234); Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48 (MWCS-48); Marine Aircraft Control Group – 48 (MACG-48); Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112); U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) Pacific Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET); and USCG Maritime Security Response Team East (MSRTE) Direct Action Section. Operational and tactical level leadership will be provided by Commander, Destroyer Squadron 40, (COMDESRON 40); Commander, Amphibious Squadron Seven (COMPHIBRON SEVEN); U.S Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH); USNAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT; and U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM).  
 
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region. 
 
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South is the Marine Corps component to U.S. Southern Command, is responsible for planning exercises, operations, and overall Marine Corps support for the SOUTHCOM assigned area of responsibility.