Category: Defence

Source: United States Navy

Capt. Shawn T. Bailey, commander of Naval Ethics and Leadership Center, relieved Capt. Lester Brown, Jr., of his duties as NLEC San Diego’s commanding officer. Brown has been reassigned to Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Capt. Richard Zeber, from Naval Leadership and Ethics Center Newport, has been temporarily assigned to command of NLEC San Diego.

NLEC San Diego’s mission is to provide training and education for officers not yet in command as well as courses for the Navy’s enlisted leader development program.

Brown assumed command of NLEC San Diego in September 2022.

For additional questions, please contact the CHINFO News Desk, at chinfonewsdesk@us.navy.mil.

Source: United States Navy

Kilby spent time at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, including time aboard USS Hartford (SSN 768), which is undergoing an engineering overhaul at the facility, engaging with the submarine’s leadership and the crew.

Electric Boat is the prime contractor and lead design yard for the Navy’s Virginia-class fast-attack submarines. Following Electric Boat, Kilby toured Naval Submarine New London and participated in a ribbon cutting at a new AI & Machine Learning Lab for the Undersea Warfighting Development Center. UWDC leads undersea superiority and enables the combat lethality and desired effects generated from, and within, the Undersea Domain.

SUBASE New London supports 16 fast attack submarines and is home to more than 70 tenant commands and their 9,500 active duty, reserve and civilian personnel. Kilby spent time at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, with shipyard and labor leadership, civilian personnel and Sailors assigned to the base and submarine crews. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is America’s leader for attack submarine maintenance, repair, and modernization.

Kilby ended his Northeast visit in Bath, Maine, with General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. The shipyard specializes in the design, building and support of the Navy’s surface combatants and is the lead designer and builder of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Kilby reviewed operations with the leadership of Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Bath, the Navy’s on-site technical, contractual and business authority overseeing the design and construction of six ship classes at three private shipyards including Bath Iron Works.

During his visits, Kilby discussed Quality of Service for the Sailors assigned to the base and shipyard workers; including childcare, parking, quality food options and unaccompanied housing. Kilby also discussed the important role shipyards play in executing the CNO’s Navigation Plan 2024.

“We should all see ourselves, uniformed and civilian, in CNO’s NAVPLAN,” said Kilby. “Every one of us plays a part, large or small, in the execution – whether from taking care our people to getting our ships out of maintenance on time – we all have a role.” While at Bath Iron Works, he addressed the crew of the future USS John Basilone (DDG 122) prior to the ship’s sail away.

“You should all be extraordinarily proud to be a part of the namesake John Basilone,” said Kilby. “He was a true American hero, a relentlessly brave Marine and warfighter and I’m looking forward to seeing this ship bear his name and welcome you into the fleet next month.”

A sail away is a ship’s final departure from the construction yard for its homeport or commissioning site. It signifies the end of the new construction period and the beginning of its life preparing to perform the mission it was designed to undertake.

The future USS John Basilone (DDG 122) is a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and named for Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, who received the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. He was killed in action during the February 1945 invasion of Iwo Jima and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. Basilone is the only enlisted Marine to be honored with both the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor. The ship is scheduled for commissioning in New York City, Nov. 9, 2024.

Source: United States Navy

“It was only a brief visit, but an unforgettable one,” said Capt. Brent Spillner, commanding officer of Emory S. Land. “Both the hands-on WWII history and the islands’ breathtaking natural beauty left an indelible impression on us, and we truly appreciate the hospitality of the Republic of Palau.”
While in port, the crew had the opportunity to enjoy many once-in-a-lifetime tours on the island of Malakal. Emory S. Land Sailors had the chance to kayak, scuba dive, and snorkel through the nearby waters, witnessing many of the beautiful aquatic ecosystems the Republic of Palau had to offer. The crew was also given the opportunity to immerse themselves in the islands’ history with a kayak tour to Ulong Island to view the ancient Palauan pictographs on display, as well as the island of Peleliu, one of the most well-preserved World War II battlefields in the world.
“My experience during the Peleliu tour was amazing,” said Chief Machinery Repairman Rene Antonio Gomez, assigned to the ship. “The Marine Corps Engineer Detachment of the Republic of Palau did an excellent job of taking us around the whole island of Peleliu, breaking down the historical significance in each area, such as the ‘Orange Beach Cemetery’ and the famous ‘Bloody Nose Ridge’.”
Previously, the ship had returned to its homeport of Apra Harbor, Guam, Sept. 27, after completing seven successful port calls in Australia.
Emory S. Land is on deployment supporting the U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward deployed numbered fleet, operating with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Emory S. Land provides expeditionary intermediate-level maintenance, services, and logistics support to deployed submarines.
Guam is home to the U.S. Navy’s only submarine tenders, USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) and USS Frank Cable (AS 40), as well as Los Angeles-class attack submarines. The submarine tenders provide maintenance, hotel services and logistical support to submarines and surface ships in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The submarines and tenders are maintained as part of the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed submarine force and are capable of meeting global operational requirements.

For more information about USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), visit us at our official website at https://www.csp.navy.mil/emorysland or on our social media outlets on Facebook at
https://www.facebok.com/EmorySLand or on X @EmorySLand. For more news from USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), visit at https://www.navy.mil.
Are you interested in taking orders to Guam? Want to learn more about the duty station and life on our island? For more information, check out the ‘Go Guam!’ website at http://www.csp.navy.mil/go-guam/ and download the ‘1st Fifteen’ checklist.

Source: United States Navy

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, CARAT has become a flagship example of U.S.-Malaysia defense collaboration, underscoring both nations’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. This year’s CARAT Malaysia highlighted an impressive scope of naval capabilities and fortified the foundation of a partnership spanning four decades.

“I’m incredibly proud of our strong security partnership with Malaysia – a foundational pillar of the U.S.-Malaysia Comprehensive Partnership and a cornerstone of regional stability,” said U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard Kagan. “For 40 years, our military cooperation has steadily grown in strength, and today, we conduct 14 joint exercises annually, deepening our commitment to peace and security.”

During the exercise, participants trained on a full spectrum of naval capabilities. These cooperative evolutions highlighted the ability of Malaysia and the United States to work together towards the common goal of ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The ashore phase featured subject matter expert exchanges and a variety of joint training opportunities. These included dive and salvage training, aviation and information sharing, force protection, cyber security, maritime domain awareness, and maritime law and law enforcement.

At-sea training was conducted in the Strait of Malacca where U.S. Navy assets were joined by ships and aircraft from the Royal Malaysian Navy for events focused on building interoperability and strengthening relationships.

The exercise demonstrated the bilateral force’s ability to work together through numerous events, including tactics designed to enhance communication as ships sail together in complex maneuvers. Other focus areas included surface warfare, mobile diving and salvage, replenishment-at-sea approaches and visit, board, search and seizure.

“The objectives of this exercise have not only been a platform for training and development but also a powerful testament to our shared commitment to regional security and cooperation,” said Royal Malaysian Navy First Admiral Dr. Tay Yap Leong, commander, Diving and Mine Warfare. “The lessons learned here will be crucial as we prepare for future challenges, reminding us that our strength lies not just in our capabilities, but in our ability to work as a cohesive unit.”

Malaysia has been part of the CARAT exercise series since it began in 1995. CARAT Malaysia 2024 is a continuation of 30 years of maritime engagements between the U.S. Navy and Royal Malaysian Navy serving to enhance mutual capabilities in ensuring maritime security and stability.

Participating U.S. assets include the U.S Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105), with an embarked MH-60R helicopter, and a P-8A maritime patrol and reconnaissance patrol aircraft, Personnel from U.S. 7th Fleet, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 71, 72, 73, 75, and 76, Command, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, and Marine Rotational Force – Southeast Asia from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Royal Malaysian Navy participating assets include the Kedah-class offshore patrol vessel, KD Terengganu (F 174), the Keris-class littoral mission ship KD Rencong (114), a Eurocopter AS 550 Fennec helicopter, an F/A-18D Hornet multi-role fighter, and two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters.

As the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed DESRON in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore. DESRON 7 also functions as the CTF-76 Sea Combat Commander and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements as the executing agent of Commander, Task Group CARAT.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the 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

Phoenix Express is a multinational maritime exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and executed by Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. It brings together North African, European, and U.S. maritime forces as part of a global network of navies to enhance cooperation and expertise in maritime security operations in the Southern Mediterranean Sea.

This year marks the 19^th iteration of Phoenix Express. The 10-day exercise is designed to improve regional cooperation as well as enhance maritime domain awareness, information-sharing practices, and tactical interdiction expertise, all of which bolster the collective capabilities of participating nations in countering sea-based illicit activity.

“The quality and level of skill the Phoenix Express participants bring to our collective maritime capabilities in the Southern Mediterranean Sea is unparalleled,” said Rear Admiral Jason Naidyhorski, Vice Commander, U.S. 6^th Fleet. “Year after year, nations throughout Europe and Africa return to this exercise to build on already strong partnerships, with a shared goal of reinforcing a safe and secure North Africa, and Mediterranean. The type of training we see here has evolved with each iteration, and this year is no exception.”

Phoenix Express demonstrates high-level capabilities, split between land-based and sea-based phases, and will feature the use of maritime operations centers and a multinational coordination center to enhance information-sharing practices among partners, as well as exercises in ship-boarding, and search and rescue drills. The individual events throughout the exercise will provide participating maritime forces the opportunity to work together, share information, and refine tactics, techniques, and procedures to promote maritime safety and security in the region.

“The foundational partnership and the exceptional bilateral cooperation between the United States and Tunisia, especially in the maritime realm, go back over 200 years. In recent years, Tunisia has led the way in fighting illicit maritime activities, and we are grateful for the opportunity to work side-by-side with Tunisia and other regional allies and partners in a variety of critical areas during this exercise,” said Joey Hood, U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia.

This year, the Commander of the U.S. 6th Fleet will be working alongside African partners to incorporate the use of unmanned systems to demonstrate their use in deterring and detecting illegal actives in African exclusive economic zones.    

Participating nations in Phoenix Express include Algeria, Belgium, Georgia, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Türkiye, Senegal, and the United States.

Phoenix Express is one of three regional maritime exercises led by U.S. Naval Forces Africa as part of a comprehensive strategy to provide collaborative opportunities to African forces and international partners to address maritime security concerns.

Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.