Category: Defence

Source: United States Navy

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – One of the six business lines under the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) is a worldwide hospitality component, managed by the NEXCOM Hospitality Group. Building on its hospitality experience, NEXCOM Hospitality Group is rebranding its portfolio of Navy Lodge and Navy Gateway Inns and Suites (NGIS) properties to reflect best commercial practices, elevate the guest experience, work more efficiently and position these locations as the preferred choice in accommodation for military personnel, Department of Defense travelers and their families.

“As we embark on this journey to modernize our brand, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality to our service members, their families and all who serve our country,” said retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, Chief Executive Officer, NEXCOM.

As part of this initiative, all NEXCOM Hospitality Group brands will undergo a refresh. During 2024, NGIS will begin rebranding as “Navy Inn,” featuring a new name and logo along with modern design elements and amenities. Additionally, in 2025, a new brand, “Navy Inn Crew Stay,” will be introduced at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, followed by a second location at Commander, Fleet Activities Okinawa, Japan, with future locations under development. Finally, Navy Lodge will undergo a logo redesign as part of this rebranding effort.

The first Navy Inn prototype will make its debut at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia, with a ribbon cutting on Nov. 7, 2024. This ‘soft launch’ offers NEXCOM Hospitality Group a valuable opportunity to appraise various elements of the rebrand, from refined materials, vibrant color schemes and associate uniforms to a captivating Lone Sailor display, enhanced lighting and inviting lobby features—including a distinctive heritage wall. Guests will also find updated guest amenities with eco-friendly premium in-room bath amenities, plush Harbor Home towels alongside designated workspace and complimentary Wi-Fi, all crafted to offer an unparalleled hospitality experience.

Navy Inn Crew Stay lodging will provide lodging for Sailors on long-term mission stays. It will synchronize the strength of naval traditions with comfortable accommodations and functional spaces that will provide active, front-line Sailors a port of tranquility. Navy Inn Crew Stay locations will boast cutting-edge gaming rooms, personal hubs with comfortable seating and ample lighting for recharging and productivity and hydration stations with ice and filtered water.

Navy Lodges will continue to provide spacious suites with fully equipped kitchens, premium mattress and bedding and  eco-friendly in-room bath amenities all while prioritizing  renewable materials whenever possible.

“The rebranding of Navy Lodges, Navy Gateway Inns & Suites and the launch of Navy Inns is a strategic decision to align our services with modern hospitality standards, ensuring that we continue to provide unparalleled comfort and support to our military community,” explained Ronald Loman, Senior Vice President, NEXCOM Hospitality Group. “We are confident that this focus will help enhance guest satisfaction and brand loyalty at all our locations around the globe.”

NEXCOM Hospitality Group is comprised of 36 Navy Lodge and 59 NGIS locations that offer guests award-winning hospitality and empowers mission readiness by providing exceptional, high-quality accommodations worldwide, while optimizing government travel budget savings. Last year, NEXCOM lodging facilities sold nearly 4.1 million room-nights, saving the Navy and Department of Defense official travelers over $165 million.

Source: United States Navy

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, a native of Rochester, N.Y., was presented with the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhode Island Italian-American Hall of Fame (RIIAHF), in Providence, R.I., Nov. 2.

RIIAHF, a non-profit organization, honors individuals who have succeeded at the highest of levels in their respective fields, and awards scholarships annually to rising college freshmen.

Franchetti was one of three Italian Americans honored this year.

Her full remarks are below:

“Well, good evening and Senator Reed, thank you very much for your kind introduction and Grazie Millie to Joe Rocco and the entire team here at the Rhode Island Italian-American Hall of Fame for this incredible recognition. I also want to recognize my fellow award recipients and also the scholarship recipients, I know our future is bright when I got to see all that you’ve accomplished and I know what you will do in the future. Thanks in part to the scholarships that you’ll be receiving here this evening. Senator Reed, Provost of the Naval War College Mariano, ladies and gentlemen, and our veterans in the audience. I just got to meet 102 year, old Army artilleryman who fought in the Pacific in WWII and a Vietnam War Army nurse.

It’s really an incredible honor to be with you all here this evening to receive this lifetime Achievement Award. As you just heard and saw in the video, my great grandparents came to America in search of the American dream, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and new opportunities for their families. They arrived with the firm belief and the strongest of convictions that if you worked hard learned, all you could and always did things the right way that you and your family would find success in this new land. My Grandfather Rebello Franchetti, a seasoned Stone Cutter. He lived those values. As did my grandmother Chiarina Rhea the matriarch of our family. Together, they laid a strong foundation for my father, Lawrence Franchetti to be the very first person in my family, to go to college, to become an engineer and find his own success as a plant manager. Through the example that they set, they passed on to me, the values, the values that I have now passed on to my own college freshman, Isabel Marie Franchetti, Who studied Italian and learned about our Italian Heritage first-hand when we lived in Bella Napoli as part of our Navy Journey. There is no doubt that these values and the love and the support of my family laid the foundation for my success, as a naval officer, and as the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations. But there’s also no doubt that this award and really my every success is owed to our amazing team of Navy Sailors and civilians, people who come from all across the rich fabric of America. People with whom, I’ve had the opportunity to serve over my 39-year career. And as we sit here tonight, enjoying this wonderful evening. Many of those Sailors and Marines are deployed. They’re standing the watch very far from home. In fact, on any given day, roughly, 110, ships, and 70,000 Sailors and Marines are deployed operating all around the world, all around the clock, to preserve our nation’s security and prosperity, to deter our would-be adversaries, and to stand ready to fight and win decisively if called to do so. I could not be more proud of our Navy and Marine Corps team and I hope you’re proud of them too, so send them a big round of applause.

And those Sailors Marines are also standing the watch alongside amazing allies and partners including the very capable Marina Militare. The Italian Navy, who I’ve had a chance to work with for many many years. And in case, you didn’t see it in the news, the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group recently conducted a series of operations with the Italian Carrier Strike Group, led by ITS Cavour in the Indo-Pacific, and I can say with confidence that the partnership between the United States Navy and the Italian Navy grows stronger every single day. So, I want to say thank you again to Rhode Island Italian-American Hall of Fame for this incredible honor tonight. I could not be more proud of my Italian American heritage or more grateful for my family’s values that have always helped pave my way. Thank you very much.

Source: United States Navy

The Sullivans is scheduled for an independent deployment to U.S. 5th fleet area of operations where it will conduct maritime security missions to support stability and freedom of navigation in the region. The Sullivans’ crew is trained and ready to engage in a variety of activities, from escorting ships to participating in joint exercises with allied and partner navies in the Middle East.

This deployment, the ship’s fifth deployment in three years, reflects the Navy’s ongoing commitment to ensuring a strong U.S. presence in critical areas and further bolsters the U.S. deterrence posture in the region, providing increased options to the combatant commander.

Earlier this year, The Sullivans returned from the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. The ship provided Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) for Commander, U.S. European Command amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict.  The Sullivans, alongside USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119), additionally provided on-station relief for USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) and USS Mcfaul (DDG 74), allowing both ships to return home after multiple deployment extensions.  The crew provided escort to the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and USS Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group, and acted as Surface Action Group Commander, along with other U.S. Destroyers, while Gerald R. Ford conducted a port visit to Souda Bay, Crete. 

For more information on USS The Sullivans, please visit https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/ddg68/. For more news from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, visit www.usff.navy.mil and social media platforms at www.facebook.com/usfleetforces, https://www.instagram.com/usfleetforcescommand/, or https://x.com/USFleetForces.

Source: United States Navy

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Navy plans to operate three Ticonderoga-class (CG 47) cruisers beyond their expected service life: USS Gettysburg (CG 64), USS Chosin (CG 65), and USS Cape St. George (CG 71).  This decision adds 10 years of cumulative ship service life from fiscal year 2026 to 2029.

All three cruisers received extensive hull, mechanical and engineering, as well as combat system upgrades as part of an extended modernization program. USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and USS Chosin (CG 65) completed modernization in fiscal year 2023 and fiscal year 2024, respectively. USS Cape St. George (CG 71) is on schedule to complete modernization this fiscal year.  

Like the recently announced service life extension of 12 destroyers, extending these three cruisers will bolster the Fleet as new ships are built.  

“As a former cruiser Sailor, I know the incredible value these highly-capable warships bring to the Fleet and I am proud of their many decades of service,” said Secretary Del Toro. “After learning hard lessons from the cruiser modernization program, we are only extending ships that have completed modernization and have the material readiness needed to continue advancing our Navy’s mission.”

The decision follows a successful re-arm at sea demonstration aboard USS Chosin (CG 65) on Oct. 11, 2024.  The Transferrable Reload At-sea Mechanism (TRAM) demonstration was the first time the Navy transferred missile canisters from a replenishment ship to a warship while at sea.  This transformational logistics capability enables U.S. Navy ships to rearm without needing to pull into port.

The service life extensions align with Secretary Del Toro’s priority of Warfighting Excellence and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s Navigation Plan, which prioritizes putting more ready players on the field. 

Source: United States Navy

During the two-day visit, Kacher met with First Admiral I Gung Putu Alit Jaya, Head of Naval Operation and Exercise and other Indonesian counterparts to discuss current and future cooperation between the U.S. and Indonesian navies.

“At the heart of our strategic partnership with Indonesia is our strong bilateral defense relationship,” said Kacher. “Staff talks like these strengthen those ties because they enable important dialogue on shared maritime challenges and they build trust between our teams at a fundamental, operational level.”

“I hope we can strengthen our friendship and brotherhood,” said Jaya. “I am very confident that our meeting today will increase our mutual understanding and hopefully what we have done here will continue for years to come.”

During the staff talks, discussions between the admirals were centered on deepening the relationship of the two nations through continued communication and coordination of future opportunities to operate together.

“Our U.S. and Indonesian Navy partnership continues to flourish,” said Capt. Jennifer Barnes assistant chief of staff for plans and engagements at Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. “Here in 7th Fleet, our motto is ‘One Team’ and I can confirm that our two nations have worked together as one solid team over the last two days.”

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.