Category: Defence

Source: United States Navy

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (Sept. 12, 2024) – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro hosted the first-ever Department of the Navy Foreign Area Officers Summit at the U.S. Naval Academy’s Mahan Hall, Sept. 12, 2024.

The summit provided the secretary with an opportunity to interact with FAOs stationed all over the world, in addition to academy midshipmen, allowing him to share his priorities concerning global engagement, strategic competition, and interoperability with Allies and partners.

Secretary Del Toro was introduced by Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Policy Ms. Anne Gebhards, and National Security Council Spokesperson Mr. John Kirby later provided keynote remarks. Summit panelists included Lt. Gen. Joseph “JP” McGee, Adm. Stuart Munsch, and Lt. Gen. James Bierman.

The Navy Foreign Area Officer (FAO) community is a stand-alone restricted line community offering world-wide assignment opportunities to qualified naval officers.

“[FAOs] are in many ways the eyes and ears of the Navy and Marine Corps team,” said Del Toro. “It is my belief that FAOs operate at the front lines of the implementation of our National Defense Strategy, which is right where we need you.”

Naval officers selected for FAO are assigned a region of specialization, provided language and graduate education on an as-required basis, and detailed to FAO-coded billets in accordance with the Navy FAO career path.

“Together, we have emerged from the nascent phase of Department of the Navy FAOs, where we viewed FAOs as highly specialized and trained military diplomats—officers with language and cultural understand who could navigate the interagency environment and manage security cooperation programs or attaché duties,” said Del Toro.

FAOs duties include living and adapting to many different foreign countries—some austere and even dangerous, sometimes away from extended family members.

“In every corner of the world where the United States fights to uphold the rule of law and promote prosperity for all, we do it alongside our allies and partners,” said Del Toro. “And so, now, more than ever, it is imperative that we have the expertise of you, our FAOs, to shape the battlefield, deter conflict, de-escalate tensions, and, if necessary, prevail in conflict.”

Navy FAOs maintain a broad range of military skills and experiences: knowledge of political-military affairs; familiarity with the political, cultural, social, economic, and geographic factors of the countries and regions in which they are stationed; and proficiency in one or more of the dominant languages in their regions of expertise.

Navy FAOs can expect to serve on staffs of Fleets, Combatant Commands, Defense Agencies, and DoD military-diplomatic offices at U.S. Embassies. They provide expertise in planning and executing operations, provide liaison with foreign militaries operating in coalitions with U.S. forces, conduct political-military activities, and execute military-diplomatic missions.

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Source: United States Navy

The U.S. Navy will commission the future USS Nantucket (LCS 27), a Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, November 16, 2024, at Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts.

The naming of LCS 27 honors the rich heritage of the people of Nantucket and the maritime legacy that the island represents.

As the sponsor of LCS 27, Polly Spencer, the wife of the 76th Secretary of the Navy, will lead the time-honored Navy tradition of giving the order during the ceremony to “man our ship and bring her to life!” At that moment, the crew hoists the commissioning pennant, and Nantucket becomes a proud ship of the fleet.

Nantucket will be the 14th Freedom-variant littoral combat ship and the fourth ship to bear the name.

Following its commissioning, Nantucket will depart Boston for its homeport assignment of Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida.

Nantucket is a fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatant that operates in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCSs like Nantucket will integrate with joint, combined, manned, and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe.

The mission of CNSP is to man, train, and equip the Surface Force to provide fleet commanders with credible naval power to control the sea and project power ashore.

For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/.

Source: United States Navy

SAN DIEGO – The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Manchester (LCS 14) arrived at its San Diego homeport Sept. 11, following an 18-month deployment.

“We are extremely proud of the accomplishments made by the USS Manchester crews throughout their 18 months of deployed operations,” said Capt. Douglas Meagher, commodore, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One. “Littoral combat ships like Manchester have and continue to demonstrate strategic value through relevant presence and unique access in the Indo-Pacific, strengthening relationships with maritime allies and partners.”

While deployed, Manchester participated in several multi-national exercises including Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK) 2023, Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) 2023, Pacific Griffin 2023, and Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Malaysia.

“I am excited to see the LCS community involved in all aspects of multinational training and exercises. Ships like Manchester demonstrate the LCS value to Fleet Commanders, made possible by the men and women onboard,” said Cmdr. Matthew Farrell, commanding officer of the Manchester Gold crew. “I am proud to have sailed throughout the Indo-Pacific with this crew of warfighters, and we are excited to return home to San Diego to spend time with family and friends.”

Manchester participated in MNEK off the coast of Indonesia in June 2023. The exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief rather than operational warfighting.

In July 2023, Manchester embarked Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 and a U.S. Coast Guard tactical law enforcement team to support OMSI 2023. The Coast Guard tactical law enforcement team is a specialized force that carries out maritime interdiction, security, and counter-narcotics operations. OMSI is a Secretary of Defense program that leverages Department of Defense assets transiting the region to improve maritime security and maritime domain awareness, ultimately supporting regional stability and partnerships in Oceania.

Manchester transited the Philippine Sea during Exercise Pacific Griffin 2023, June 2023, alongside Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) and Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14), as well as Republic of Singapore Navy Formidable-class stealth frigate RSS Tenacious (FFC 71) and Independence-class littoral mission vessel RSS Dauntless (LMV 21). Pacific Griffin is a maritime exercise between the U.S. and Republic of Singapore conducted in waters near Guam. During the two weeks of dynamic training evolutions ashore and at sea, the two navies enhanced combined maritime proficiency and strengthened relationships.

“One of the greatest aspects of deploying to the Indo-Pacific is the opportunity to work alongside our allies and partners. Whether that was with the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Philippine Navy or the Republic of Singapore Navy, it was an honor to work side-by-side with them,” said Farrell.

In August 2023, Navy explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians assigned to EOD Mobile Unit 5 conducted an anti-terrorism force protection inspection training dive underneath Manchester.

As part of MTA Malaysia 2023, Manchester conducted complex at-sea training such as surface warfare, live-fire gunnery exercises, flight operations and advanced ship-handling tactics with the Royal Malaysian Navy. The MTA strengthens bilateral ties between the United States and Malaysia and allows the two countries to work together with a goal of ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

While in port, Manchester Sailors fostered strong relationships with host nations. In Subic Bay, Philippines, Manchester provided ship tours to the Philippine Navy and a damage control demonstration. In Sriracha, Thailand, Sailors volunteered at the Child Protection and Development Center.

During deployment, Manchester conducted port visits to six partner and allied nations: Indonesia, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

Manchester repeatedly demonstrated resilience and LCS sustainability by consistently maintaining extended operations at sea. During deployment, Manchester spent 32 continuous days underway supporting theater priority operations.

Manchester is a fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatant that operates in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCSs like Manchester integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe.

For more news from Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One, visit
https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/comlcsron1/ or follow on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/COMLCSRONONE/

Source: United States Navy

SOUTH CHINA SEA — The U.S. and Italy navies, alongside the Royal Australia Air Force, convened to conduct a multilateral exercise in the South China Sea in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, Sept. 8-11.

Participants included the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59), P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, the flagship of the Italian navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CV 550), the Italian navy Carlo Bergamini-class frigate ITS Alpino (F 594), and the Italian multipurpose combat ship ITS Raimondo Montecuccoli (P432).

“These multilateral exercises are a concrete demonstration of the advances we are making alongside our allies and partners in the region,” said Vice Adm. Kacher, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. “They present dynamic opportunities to hone our skills in one of the most complex maritime regions in the world.”

The nations conducted fixed-wing air defense and combined anti-submarine warfare exercises, as well as subject matter expert exchanges across the participating ships.

“This multilateral exercise has been another great opportunity to highlight the professionalism of our crews and the ability to join, train and be ready to operate together, projecting our forces for months, away from home,” said Rear Adm. Giancarlo Ciappina, commander, Italian Carrier Strike Group. “Another demonstration of the strong determination and commitment that exists among allies and partners everywhere in the world. Our cohesion and integration in the planning and preparation of the serial activities allowed us to work as a tight and strong team, synergizing our efforts and enhancing the value of multinational cooperation and proving the existing and effective interoperability among our forces”.

The ships also exercised interoperable skills in command and control, tactics, and anti-surface warfare.

“These types of activities demonstrate our collective commitment to regional and international cooperation to support an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific,” Headquarters Joint Operations Command, Joint Force Air Component Commander Air Commodore Michael Grant said. “By training and operating together, our forces can build upon shared tactics, techniques, and procedures to enhance interoperability and readiness to respond to shared security challenges.”

The U.S. Navy regularly operates alongside our allies in the Indo-Pacific region as a demonstration of our shared commitment to the rules-based international order. Multilateral exercises such as this one provide valuable opportunities to train, exercise and develop tactical interoperability across allied navies in the Indo-Pacific.

Russell is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States Navy

Cheryle Stone did not even know she had a second cousin—much less one who had been killed at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941—until the U.S. Navy contacted her in 2021, asking for a DNA sample. The sample matched, and Stone was suddenly connected to history.

A Black sailor serving in a segregated Navy, 19-year-old David Walker was a mess attendant 3rd class aboard the battleship USS California when the Japanese attacked. Two torpedoes breached the ship’s hull, forcing it to tilt as it filled with water. Enemy bombs then began exploding on the deck. When the attack ended, 102 crewmembers had been killed, including Walker.

In the weeks and months after the attack, the remains of 42 unidentified sailors and Marines were removed from the ship and buried at the Halawa Naval Cemetery in Hawaii. In 2018, the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency exhumed the unknown graves related to the California to identify them through DNA testing. That was how Stone learned she had a cousin.

Stone’s mother died when she was five, and she and her sister were sent to live with a member of their church; her brother went to another family. Stone knew almost nothing about her mother’s family. “The only thing I heard was that we had a family member who died,” Stone said. “No one said ‘died at Pearl Harbor.’”

Stone initially did not respond to letters and calls from the Navy. It was not until her nephew read one of the letters that he convinced her to respond. In January 2024, two Navy chiefs visited Stone and showed her materials relating to her cousin, including a letter from her aunt dated Dec. 29, 1941, asking the Navy about her son. There were no response letters. “I could feel her pain,” said Stone.

Stone chose to have her cousin’s remains buried at Arlington National Cemetery. “He deserved the honor of being at Arlington,” she said. “He put in his service just like the others who are buried here.”

On Sept. 6, 2024, Stone and about 20 family members and friends gathered in Section 62 for Seaman Walker’s funeral. U.S. Navy Chaplain (Lt.) Jennifer Miles, who oversaw the ceremony, told the group, “Today, Mess Attendant 3rd Class David Walker takes his rightful place here on these hallowed grounds.”

Rear Adm. Mike Brown, with the office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare, presented the tightly folded flag to Stone. After the service, Brown spoke about the importance of remembering Seaman Walker. “It’s meaningful for his family to see him get the recognition he deserves as a sailor in the U.S. Navy,” Brown said, “and I think it’s important, as a Navy, to own our past and recognize African American sailors who served in 1941 in very specific jobs in our segregated service. We’ve come a long way.”

Stone concluded the service for her cousin by reading from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and leading everyone in a prayer. When she finished, she pronounced, “Aunt Edna, your baby boy is home and he’s being laid to rest.”