Category: Defense

Source: United States Navy

The aircraft entering maintenance is an MV-22B Osprey belonging to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265, the “Dragons.” Their mission is to provide assault support transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force.

“FRC WESTPAC is very excited to be inducting this aircraft today, and adding another commercial partner to support V-22 planned maintenance interval (PMI) events in the region,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Ryan, Commanding Officer, FRC WESTPAC. “NIPPI Corporation has demonstrated their maintenance expertise on multiple other aircraft lines for FRC WESTPAC and we anticipate we will see the same quality output for the V-22 line.”

NIPPI Corporation joins the new FRC WESTPAC V-22 maintenance contract, which Subaru Corporation had been supporting since 2015, to handle the maintenance requirement for the Osprey fleet located outside of the continental United States. FRC WESTPAC’s customer base is mainly concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region, but can include any U.S. Navy or Marine Corps aircraft located around the world.

“With multiple contractors supporting the V-22 Osprey, FRC WESTPAC can guarantee that all future aircraft inductions will be the best overall value for the U.S. Government in terms of cost, aircraft turnaround time and quality of maintenance performed,” Ryan said. “Our goal here at FRC WESTPAC is to rapidly repair and return safe, mission-ready aircraft to the fleet so they have the warfighting capabilities to win, and at a cost conducive to the U.S. government.”

As a new awardee on FRC WESTPAC’s maintenance contract, NIPPI Corporation was allocated nine months to ready their facility and prepare their plan for maintenance of the aircraft. These requirements included, among other necessities, a facility with the necessary space and safety systems in place, an outline of manning capabilities with the appropriate technical expertise and a working supply chain or means of acquiring materials.

When asked about the upcoming induction, NIPPI leadership responded, “NIPPI is proud to be providing this capability for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and we look forward to starting the scheduled maintenance event on this first V-22 aircraft.”

NIPPI Corporation is a trusted, longtime partner of the United States government, servicing military aircraft since the early 1950s. To date, NIPPI Corporation has worked on more than 14,000 aircraft for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

FRC WESTPAC currently has four aviation maintenance contracts with NIPPI for scheduled maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. These contracts include the H-1, H-60, F-18 and the newly awarded V-22.

“FRC WESTPAC’s industrial partners are ready, willing and more than capable of producing the world-class quality aircraft that our customers need for future operations. With their support, FRC WESTPAC will continue to positively impact fleet readiness across the Naval Aviation Enterprise for years to come,” Ryan said.

Source: United States Navy

VMFA-314, the first Marine squadron to deploy the F-35C, continued to demonstrate its proficiencies during JWX 22 by conducting simulated offensive and defensive air support, as well as air-to-ground support training missions alongside the Marines of 1st Marine Air Wing, Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces and the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in support of Expeditionary Advance Base Operations (EABO).

“The opportunity to work alongside Navy and Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces allows us to demonstrate our forward presence and to showcase our readiness to support real world operations,” said Lt. Col. Brendan M. Walsh, VMFA-314 Commanding Officer. “Leveraging the Marine Corps’ decade of experience with the F-35B, we have spent the last two years working with the Navy to ensure the successful integration of the F-35C into the Carrier Air Wing and are now able to provide improved battlespace awareness and unmatched lethality.”

The integration of VMFA-314 and the F-35C into the Carrier Air Wing enables U.S. naval forces the ability to launch and recover fifth-generation aircraft from nearly anywhere in the world and to relocate to new strategic locations. The employment of the F-35C provides Marine ground units stealth capabilities and combat power to create the conditions for follow-on operations within key maritime terrain.

Exercises such as JWX 22 allow squadrons operating the F-35C to integrate tactics in conjunction with ground forces to help advance expeditionary capabilities such as EABO. These rehearsals of engagements will serve to reduce response times of forward-deployed units and support the continued prosperity, security and promise of a free and open, rules-based order for the U.S. and its alliances and partnerships.

With continued deployments of fifth-generation fighters onto highly mobile aircraft carriers, the F-35C is able to provide precision long-range strike capabilities to allies while also garnering valuable intelligence from areas of operation, all while operating from at-sea or shore-based austere environments.

VMFA-314 was the first Marine Corps squadron to transition to the F-35C variant of the joint strike fighter after retiring its legacy F/A-18A/C aircraft and receiving its first F-35C on Jan. 21, 2020. Now as the Marine Corps continues to develop as a modernized naval force, deploying squadrons such as VMFA-314, to key strategic maritime locations demonstrates the Marine Corps’ capability to deter adversary aggression, and if required, decisively win in conflict.

Written by Capt. Charles Allen, 3rd MAW Communication Strategy and Operations Office. 

Source: United States Navy

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) announced its 2021 Sailor of the Year (SOY) May 6 in a ceremony held at the National Naval Aviation Museum on Naval Air Station Pensacola.

Four finalists for SOY serving throughout the MyNavy HR Force Development domain rose through a number of competitions to represent the top achievers in recruiting and training from a pool of more than 8,000 military members.

Navy Counselor 1st Class Monique A. Staples, representing Navy Talent Acquisition Group Golden Gate, was selected as the 2021 NETC Sailor of the Year (SOY). She has been pre-selected for advancement to chief petty officer and will be pinned in the fall.

The NETC SOY program recognizes Sailors throughout the NETC domain who exhibit attributes such as sustained superior performance, leadership, self-improvement, command/community involvement, and appearance.

Rear Adm. Pete Garvin, NETC commander, congratulated all the finalists for their roles in shaping the Navy’s future force and for their contributions to the recruiting, training, and education missions.

“The Sailors we recognize today embody the Navy’s ethos,” said Garvin. “They were selected from an extremely talented field of Sailors who exemplify the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment.”

Staples is currently serving as a division leading petty officer, a role normally held by a chief petty officer. She is responsible for the leadership, training and production of 17 U.S. Navy recruiters and four recruiting stations geographically dispersed across 1,000 square miles of northern California, one of Navy Recruiting Command’s toughest markets. She was selected as Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Golden Gate’s Leading Petty Officer of the Quarter (2nd Quarter) and Sailor of the Quarter (4th Quarter) during fiscal year (FY) 2021.

“Being a recruiter is a unique opportunity. I am part of the first molding and shaping of this generation of Sailors,” said Staples. “I get a chance to influence and mentor, while contributing to mission readiness by manning the fleet. It’s an honor.”

Staples also serves as president of her unit’s Command Diversity Committee and has coordinated six multi-cultural events and observances, fostering unit cohesion and a positive environment for 305 military and civilian personnel.

The 2021 NETC SOY finalists include:

* Electronics Technician 1st Class Christopher A. Beeler, Surface Combat Systems Training Command San Diego
* Construction Electrician 1st Class Lhe’Niise E. M. Brown, Recruit Training Command
* Navy Diver 1st Class Ryan M. Murphy, Naval Submarine School

NETC is the U.S. Navy’s Force Development pillar and largest shore command. Through its “Street to Fleet” focus, NETC recruits civilians and transforms them into skilled warfighters ready to meet the current and future needs of the U.S. Navy.

For more information about NETC, visit the command’s website at https://www.netc.navy.mil and follow MyNavy HR on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MyNavyHR.

Source: United States Navy

Exercise Neon Defender is an annual bilateral training event between U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and the Bahrain Defence Force. The Bahrain Coast Guard is also participating. The exercise focuses on maritime security operations, installation defense and medical response.

“Bahrain makes many vital contributions to the maritime security of the Gulf and the annual bilateral Neon Defender exercise highlights the fulsome capability of Bahrain’s maritime forces,” said Ambassador Steven C. Bondy, the U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain. “The U.S.-Bahrain security partnership continuously develops to deliver enhanced regional security. This exercise is a strong example of how our two nations are working in tandem to improve security and safety for all, to the benefit of both our great nations.”

Nearly 200 U.S. personnel are participating, including maritime engagement, security, medical and construction teams from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard cutters USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142) and USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318) as well as several U.S. Navy unmanned systems will also participate in the exercise.

“Neon Defender is an excellent opportunity to increase interoperability with our Bahraini partners,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of NAVCENT, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “I am inspired as our military-to-military relationship with Bahrain continues to grow as we strengthen and expand our mutual cooperation.”

Headquartered in Manama, Bahrain, NAVCENT includes U.S. forces operating in the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb.

Source: United States Navy

Following a two-year hiatus due to the Coronavirus, the city embraced the return of Fleet Week. Nearly 40 events were scheduled throughout the event to enable service members to interact with local residents and thousands of people toured USS Lassen (DDG 82) and USS Delbert Black (DDG 119) during the week-long festivities.

“It was so nice to have the Sailors back in person this year,” said J.W. Arnold, the Executive Director of Broward Navy Days, the organization that helps plan and host Fleet Week Port Everglades. “This event is always our way of expressing appreciation for our military services, and it is easily the highlight of our year!”

From the “All Hands Welcome” with city leaders the first day to the inaugural Beach Olympics the last and with receptions for every level of service member in between, the team worked hard to ensure a good time for their military guests.

“We had the best time with the people of Fort Lauderdale,” said Ensign John McCoy of the USS Delbert Black, and a first-time visitor to any Fleet Week. “They showed us how great their city is, and it was humbling to see how appreciated we are in a military city like this.”

In return, the various military commands worked to repay the hospitality through Navy Band Southeast concerts, community relations projects, and the “Admiral’s Reception” aboard USS Lassen.

Other highlights from the 32nd Fleet Week Port Everglades included a “Spirit of America” concert with the Navy Band performing with other groups from the area, a Navy League Enlisted Person of the Year award dinner, a “Salute to Veterans” ceremony, complimentary deep sea fishing opportunities for the service members, and a Military Night at a Florida Marlins game and much more.

“We are already working on ways to make next year even better,” Arnold said. “The community has such a tremendous history and relationship with the military, and we are so very, very grateful for what they do.”

Fleet Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase the awareness of the Navy’s role and purpose in our national defense.