Category: Defence

Source: United States Navy

The two helicopters, each with a crew of five personnel, were conducting routine training at the time of the incident. All ten crew members were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment and have been released from the hospital following medical treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

The cause of the mishap remains under investigation. Security personnel from NAS Fallon have secured the mishap site, which is on the Fallon Range Training Complex in a remote location.

Assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, HSC-12 is currently at NAS Fallon for comprehensive, integrated training in both real and simulated environments. CVW-5 is the ready, reliable and proven Forward-Deployed Naval Forces-Japan (FDNF-J) carrier air wing. CVW-5 will remain the FDNF-J air wing following the planned hull swap with Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).

Source: United States Navy

The mixed crew of U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy personnel will take part in a Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period (STMP) over the next several weeks as Australian technicians perform maintenance on a U.S Navy nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine (SSN) scheduled to arrive for a port visit.

The STMP marks a significant step toward Australia becoming sovereign-ready to operate, maintain, and support a fleet of conventionally armed SSNs, which is a central requirement in executing Pillar 1 of the AUKUS security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

“Our knowledge exchange with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Fleet Support Unit (FSU) since January has been exceptionally productive,” said Capt. Brent Spillner, commanding officer of the Emory S. Land. “Within weeks they were working shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. technicians on real submarine repairs, and for the last six weeks we’ve had a team of U.S. Sailors embedded in the FSU West workshops at HMAS Stirling. We’re learning as much from them as they are from us, and we have Australian sailors and officers in the key management positions for the STMP.”

More than 30 Australian sailors will execute the majority of planned maintenance work under the supervision of U.S. personnel, which will include the replacement of a mast in the submarine’s sail and a key hydraulic valve, along with the simulated removal of a large pump weighing more than 3,500 pounds from within the boat.

“Both of our navies are benefiting tremendously from the interoperability we’ve been developing during this deployment, and are now better able to support each other’s fleets around the world. This STMP marks the first time that Australian workers will perform maintenance on an American SSN in Australian waters, but it’s really just the next step in a long partnership,” said Spillner. “This is an important milestone and learning opportunity as we work together to establish Submarine Rotational Force – West, where both U.S. and UK submarines will regularly transit through HMAS Stirling, with maintenance and logistics assisted by Australian personnel, as they develop their own Intermediate-Level Maintenance capability for the eventual Australian SSNs.”

The deployment has been an opportunity for sailors from the three navies to work together.

“The opportunity to have RAN sailors from FSU integrated with my repair department has been phenomenal,” said Cmdr. Derek Fletcher, repair officer aboard Emory S. Land. “The ability to work side-by-side in Guam on U.S. SSNs and then continue that side-by-side work on RAN vessels and even a Royal Navy vessel while in Australia has truly demonstrated our interoperability. It’s been incredible to see our Sailors working together to provide repair services to vessels from all three AUKUS partners.”

Since the start of the Emory S. Land’s deployment, 176 U.S. Sailors have participated in 18 community relations events, investing 731 hours into the communities of Darwin, Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. While in port at HMAS Stirling, U.S. Sailors are planning an additional eight to 10 community relations events throughout the region, as well as having the ability to tour Western Australia.

“This deployment is like none other I have ever experienced and will not easily be forgotten,” said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Miller, Emory S. Land’s chaplain. “The warmth and hospitality which the U.S. Sailors have received is truly heartfelt. We are grateful for the strong bond of our two nations and we look forward to our stop in Western 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, Emory S. Land and USS Frank Cable (AS 40), as well as Los Angeles-class fast-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 operation. 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 Emory S. Land, visit us at http://www.csp.navy.mil/emorysland/ or like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/EmorySLand, or on Twitter @EmorySLand.
For more news from USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), visit http://www.navy.mil/local/as39/.

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

Operation Nanook (OP NANOOK), led by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), is an annual northern operation designed to test the ability of multinational forces to operate in the Arctic environment. The U.S.’s long-standing partnership with Canada enhances both nations’ operational capabilities, with Black bringing advanced maritime tools to the operation and testing the region’s maritime homeland defense capabilities.

“Canada is one of the U.S.’s closest neighbors, and we share a collective interest in homeland defense,” said Vice Adm. Doug Perry, Commander, U.S. Second Fleet. “The mission of the Second Fleet extends beyond our coastal waters, and our ability to provide assets across the Atlantic is critical. We are good neighbors and strong partners. When the call comes from our allies, Second Fleet is ready to fight in any environment.”

Maritime homeland defense is a core mission of the U.S. Second Fleet (C2F), and Arctic operations are part of a comprehensive series of joint, interagency, and multinational activities designed to defend Canada and secure northern regions. Working alongside Allies and partners, C2F plays a vital role in preserving the Arctic as a secure and stable region, and ensuring the North American homeland is defended. C2F has annually participated in OP NANOOK, strengthening these partnerships and demonstrating U.S. Arctic capabilities.

Earlier this year, C2F demonstrated its global readiness by performing Arctic operations during Steadfast Defender 2024, further solidifying its role as a key player in Arctic defense. This experience, coupled with the annual participation in OP NANOOK, underscores the fleet’s adaptability and commitment to safeguarding the Arctic region.

“The NATO alliance is strong and our collective navies are adaptable, interchangeable, and always ready,” said Canadian Rear Admiral David Patchell, Vice Commander U.S. Second Fleet, who recently served as Commander, Task Force-North during Steadfast Defender 2024. “Each time we exercise with our partners in the Atlantic and Arctic, it makes us stronger and more capable. It is crucial that we seize every opportunity to train in the North, as this environment has its own unique set of operational and sustainment challenges.”

The maritime portion of OP NANOOK will enhance polar interoperability between the Royal Canadian Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, and the Royal Danish Navy. Participating forces will engage in a series of exercises, including Maritime Interdiction Operations, boarding drills, gunnery exercises, search and rescue simulations, damage control scenarios, and fleet maneuver drills. These activities will be conducted in northern Arctic waters, including fjord transits near Nuuk, Greenland.

“U.S. Second Fleet brings a wide range of command and control capability, expertise and mission sets to any maritime operation,” said Patchell. “Exercises such as OP NANOOK demonstrate an enduring commitment to the Arctic while providing invaluable insight into the capabilities, tactics, and procedures of participating nations, enabling us to further our combined Northern operational readiness.”

The participating units include the Royal Canadian Navy’s Harry DeWolf-Class Offshore Patrol Vessels, HMCS Margaret Brooke and HMCS Harry DeWolf; the Royal Danish Navy’s Knud Rasmussen-Class Patrol Vessel, HDMS Lauge Koch; the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter, USCGC Northland; and the U.S. Navy’s USS Delbert D. Black.

As the Arctic environment continues to change, with increasing maritime military and commercial traffic, the Navy is committed to environmental stewardship. Strong defense relationships with Arctic allies provide a collective deterrent against strategic challenges. OP NANOOK-Tuugaalik, the maritime component of the exercise, showcases the U.S. and Royal Canadian Navy’s ability to operate in extreme Arctic conditions, ensuring readiness and protecting shared interests.

U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime forces ready to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

Source: United States Navy

Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby approved the establishment of the Navy Medicine Enterprise (NME), which is an operationally focused organizational structure providing senior fleet leadership a mechanism to address and prioritize health service support requirements to meet operational objectives, Aug. 14.

The commitment of Navy Medicine to both operational and preventive care is crucial in sustaining our force,” said Kilby. “This is about setting standards of care for our people – from physical and mental health, to training and education. Ensuring our naval medical forces are properly manned, trained, and equipped means we’re ready now and for the future fight.”

The U.S. Navy Surgeon General will lead the NME, providing a single integrated voice of a cooperative partnership operating within existing command structures and U.S. Code Title 10 authorities.

“Navy Medicine warfighters are integrated across every facet of warfighting, whether providing health services with the fleet or from the foundation,” stressed U.S. Navy Surgeon General and Chief, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Rear Adm. Darin Via. “The NME allows us to ensure we are addressing the needs of the fleet, not only through my authorities as the Surgeon General, but also aligned across the authorities of seven resource sponsors, three system commands and every type command.”

NME will address the readiness, and physical and mental health of all warfighters through healthcare services support designed to prevent illness and injury, maximize baseline human performance, and treat and rehabilitate warfighters’ post illness and injury through standardized quality of care, policy, education, training, and the delivery of medical forces in support of the warfighters.

“Health services are the backbone of effective warfighting in the U.S. Navy, ensuring that every Sailor and Marine is mission-ready and resilient,” said Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “The Navy Medicine Enterprise stands as a crucial pillar, providing comprehensive support to fleet commanders by mitigating risks, optimizing human factors, and maintaining peak operational health readiness, ultimately ensuring our enduring overmatch, our warriors, can sustain our maritime dominance and strategic advantage.”

The foundation of the NME process will be formed by stakeholders and organizations who are integral to the warfare improvement program who prioritize fleet capabilities and priorities. The NME process also includes coordination with resource sponsors to ensure alignment, reduce duplication, and to achieve organizational goals.

The Fleet Readiness Enterprise construct was established by the Chief of Naval Operations in 2002 to improve efficiency and effectiveness in producing readiness in fleet units and forces, institute structure and process to better support informed decisions on readiness resource allocation and risk mitigation. The enterprise construct enables a more holistic approach to developing fleet recommendations to the Office of the CNO regarding warfighting capabilities and programming.

Navy Medicine – represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals – provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.

Story originally posted on DVIDS: Navy Medicine Enterprise established to support readiness and warfighting 

Source: United States Navy

During his two-day visit Kacher met with the Hon. Kamala Shirin Lakhdir, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, as well as Adm. Muhammad Ali, chief of staff of the Indonesian Navy, and Vice Adm. Denih Hendrata, commander of the Indonesian Fleet Command, to discuss current and future cooperation between the U.S. and Indonesian navies.

Kacher’s visit to Indonesia underscored the shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific both the United States and Indonesia embrace through joint exercises and leadership engagements.

“Indonesia and the US are both maritime nations, and we have been vital partners over the last 75 years.  Engagements with our Indonesian navy counterparts like those I was able to have in Jakarta remain the cornerstone of our strong bilateral defense relationship.”

During this trip, discussions between the admirals were centered around building that relationship through support for a rules-based order in the maritime domain while enhancing abilities to respond to shared challenges, including short-notice at-sea engagements, humanitarian assistance/disaster response, and looking into future opportunities to operate together.

This year also marked the 30th iteration of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Indonesia, highlighting the 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. During that time, the naval partnership has grown to incorporate staff talks, joint operations, disaster relief operations, and working together to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

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