Month: December 2024

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Defense News: USNS Patuxent Returns Home in Time for Christmas

Source: United States Navy

Patuxent’s Chief Mate Chris Parke said he is immensely proud of the entire crew. “The on-time sea services provided by the crew, while operating in the Mediterranean Sea were beyond top-notch, they were extraordinary. It’s an honor to be back in Norfolk, just in time for Christmas, and I am glad so many of our crewmembers get to spend the holidays with their families and friends.”

For the past 75 years, MSC’s fleet replenishment oilers have played a vital role in the U.S. Navy’s logistics system, making it possible for combatant ships to stay forward deployed to protect America’s interests worldwide.

While steaming 54,827 nautical miles, Patuxent circumnavigated the globe twice. With just 77 civil service mariners (CIVMARS), the crew supported a variety of high visibility multinational and partner nation operations, providing multi-mission capable combat logistic tanker support in U.S. Sixth Fleet’s AOR. More specifically, Patuxent’s flexibility and steadfast commitment enabled the safe delivery of 12.9 million gallons of fuel and 86 underway replenishments for 54 U.S. Navy and 32 Allied Surface Combatant ships at-sea.

During the height of the Israel-Hamas war, Patuxent played a key role in ensuring the secure shipping of 120 pallets of bottled water, which was crucial to the well-being of the Gaza citizens.

Likewise, Patuxent served as goodwill ambassadors to 25 friendship-building port visits to Augusta Bay, Sicily; Malaga, Spain; Rota, Spain; Souda Bay, Crete, and Taranto, Italy. These friendship-building port visits are all-important for Navy diplomacy as they provide a visible symbol of cooperation between nations.

Patuxent is the fifteenth ship of the Henry J. Kaiser’s Combat Logistic Force ships. Underway replenishments are a vital naval capability that allows U.S. Navy and Allied Surface Combatant ships to be resupplied with fuel, food, and stores without pulling into a port. They are particularly important when combatants are unable to receive supplies from local ports in theater due to force protections measures. Replenishment oilers have a maximum sustained speed of 20 knots and are fitted with five fueling stations capable of pumping 900,000 gallons per hour to two ships at a time.

CLF ships are U.S. Government-owned and are operated by U.S. Government CIVMARS. Composed of 33 ships (17 fleet replenishment oilers, 14 ordnance and dry cargo ships, and two fast combat support ships), CLF ships allow Navy warships to remain on station indefinitely, projecting power.

Military Sealift Command operates non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, and strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world while moving military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.

For more news on Military Sealift Command, visit https://www.msc.usff.navy.mil.

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Defense News: U.S Navy Accepts Delivery of USNS Robert F. Kennedy

Source: United States Navy

Delivery follows the completion of Integrated Sea Trials where the ship’s readiness and capabilities are tested and validated to delivery requirements.

“This delivery is a significant milestone as we bring another oiler to our fleet and increase our replenishment underway capabilities,” said John Lighthammer, program manager, Auxiliary and Special Mission Ships, Program Executive Office, Ships (PEO Ships). “This is the final stepping stone in getting this essential ship to our civilian mariners in need of its tools.

John Lewis-class ships (T-AOs) are operated by Military Sealift Command and feature substantial volume for oil; significant dry cargo capacity; and aviation capability. T-AOs provide additional capacity to the Navy’s Combat Logistics Force and are a cornerstone of the Navy’s fuel delivery system.

General Dynamics NASSCO, the shipbuilder, is also in production on T-AOs USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209), USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210), USNS Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211), and USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212). The future USNS Harriet Tubman (T-AO 213) and USNS Dolores Huerta (T-AO 214) are under contract. Additionally, a Block Buy contract was issued in September 2024 for the detail design and construction of T-AO 214-221.

PEO Ships, one of the Department of Defense’s largest acquisition organizations, is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships and craft, and auxiliary ships, including special mission ships, sealift ships and support ships.

For more on PEO Ships, visit: NAVSEA/PEO Ships

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Indiana Woman Sentenced for Racially Motivated Attack Against a Woman of Chinese Descent

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

An Indiana woman was sentenced today to 72 months in prison and three years of supervised release for committing a federal hate crime.

On Sept. 17, Billie Davis, 57, pleaded guilty to willfully causing bodily injury to a victim, identified in court papers only by her initials, Z.F., through the use of a dangerous weapon (a knife), because of Z.F.’s actual and perceived race and national origin.

“Racially motivated violence has no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant pulled out a knife and viciously attacked a young woman who was simply riding a public bus to school, seriously injuring her because she was of Chinese descent. The sentence imposed for this heinous hate crime should send a strong message that perpetrators of hate-fueled violence will be held accountable. The Justice Department is committed to protecting every American from hate crimes by investigating and vigorously prosecuting those who carry out such heinous attacks.”

“Every person deserves to feel safe in their own community, and no one should be made to fear violence on their way to school simply because of who they are,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers for the Southern District of Indiana. “Violent hate should have no safe harbor in Indiana or anywhere in our great country. That’s why our Justice Department has prioritized prosecution of hate crimes and community outreach through our United Against Hate initiative. In recent years we’ve sadly seen an increase of bias crimes targeting people of Asian descent, and the serious federal prison sentence imposed here should demonstrate our commitment to stopping this hate. Anyone who has suffered a potentially hate-based violent incident should call 911 to address immediate safety issues, and then report the event to the Justice Department or FBI. Together we can make our community safer for everyone.”

“The FBI remains committed to protecting the civil rights of all individuals and this case should serve as a reminder that hate fueled actions will not be tolerated,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert “Alex” Middleton of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and ensure those who perpetrate such acts of hate are held accountable.”

According to documents filed in connection with this case, on Jan. 11, 2023, Z.F., a woman of Chinese descent who was enrolled at Indiana University at Bloomington, was riding a Bloomington Transit bus on her way to school. Davis boarded the bus, sitting behind Z.F. As Z.F. stood to exit the bus at her stop, Davis reached for a folding knife from inside her pocket and stabbed Z.F. in the head approximately seven to 10 times. Davis later admitted to the police that she attacked Z.F. because she was Chinese and because Davis believed Z.F. was the “enemy.” Davis used racist slurs when referring to Z.F.

The FBI Indianapolis Field Office, Bloomington Resident Agency, investigated the case, with assistance from the Bloomington Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Blackett for the Southern District of Indiana, Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Trial Attorney Barry Disney of the Criminal Division’s Mental Health Litigation Unit prosecuted the case.

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Colombian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Kidnap and Assault U.S. Army Soldiers in Colombia

Source: United States Department of Justice

A Colombian national pleaded guilty today to his role in kidnapping and assaulting two members of the U.S. military who were on temporary duty in Bogotá, Colombia.

According to court documents, Pedro Jose Silva Ochoa, 47, of Bogotá, and his co-defendants targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogotá. The two victims, who were serving on orders in Colombia, went to an entertainment district in Bogotá to watch a soccer game on the evening of March 5, 2020. They went to a pub, where one of Silva Ochoa’s co-conspirators incapacitated the victims by putting drugs, including benzodiazepines, in their drinks. Silva Ochoa’s co-conspirators then escorted the victims into a waiting car driven by Silva Ochoa, kidnapped them, and took their wallets, debit cards, credit cards, and cell phones. Silva Ochoa and his co-conspirators used one victim’s credit card and the other victim’s debit card to make purchases and withdraw money. The two victims lost consciousness until the following day, by which point they had been separated.

Pursuant to a plea agreement, Silva Ochoa pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Silva Ochoa was extradited in May from Chile to the United States, and he is the second co-defendant to plead guilty in this criminal scheme. Co-defendant Arango Castellanos was extradited in May 2023 from Colombia to the United States, pleaded guilty in January to the charges in the indictment, and was sentenced in May to 48 years and nine months in prison. Co-defendant Uribe Chiran was extradited in September from Colombia to the United States; she is currently scheduled for trial in February 2025.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole A. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Miami Field Office’s Extraterritorial Squad investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, and FBI’s Office of the Legal Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile, provided significant assistance. The Justice Department also thanks Colombian and Chilean law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance.

Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor and Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

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Defense News: U.S. Navy Optimizes Basic Military Training Program to 9 Weeks

Source: United States Navy

“Our focus is on delivering a streamlined yet robust training experience that equips our Sailors with the essential skills they need to succeed in the fleet,” said Rear Adm. Craig Mattingly, Commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC). “This change will help us achieve that, providing a rigorous curriculum that ensures readiness while enabling Recruits to join the fleet faster.”
 
The revised BMT program reflects refinements to key training modules and a renewed emphasis on core competencies such as Warrior Toughness, Firefighting, Seamanship, and Watchstanding. The program will also continue to incorporate the Sailor for Life philosophy, aimed at fostering resilience, mental toughness, and leadership throughout a Sailor’s career. This restructured curriculum was informed by extensive feedback from Recruit Training Command (RTC) staff and training experts.
 
“From the deckplate to the classroom, our team has worked hard to identify efficiencies that uphold our high standards while advancing the CNO’s vision for a capable and ready Navy,” Mattingly added. “This optimization doesn’t just shorten the time-to-train; it enhances our Recruits’ ability to transition seamlessly into the fleet and contribute immediately.”
 
“Recruit Training Command is prepared to execute this change in support of the CNO’s Navigation Plan. Our mission remains to transform civilians into smartly disciplined, physically fit, basically trained Sailors who are ready for follow on training and service to the fleet,” said Capt. Kenneth Froberg, Commanding Officer, Recruit Training Command.
 
For families planning to attend Recruit graduation, please check www.bootcamp.navy.mil for travel guidelines and the latest graduation information.