Category: Defense

Source: United States Navy

Aside from brief stops, Jackson’s arrival to Singapore will be the first by an LCS since USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) departed in summer 2020. During this visit, Jackson is scheduled to complete a planned maintenance availability (PMAV) period.

“Having Jackson once again using Changi Naval Base as the site for maintenance is a significant milestone and gives operational commanders increased adaptability for maintaining and operating ships,” said Rear Adm. Chris Engdahl, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/Task Force 76. “We are thankful for our defense relationship with the Republic of Singapore and their willingness to host our ships as we strive toward a common goal of ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

PMAVs are routine events in the ship’s schedule conducted by littoral combat ships, in which a maintenance team assists with the completion of planned maintenance due to the ship’s minimally-manned crew. Compared to other Navy ship platforms, the littoral combat ship has a relatively small crew. Labor and technical support during Jackson’s deployment is supplemented by active duty maintenance execution teams, as well as some civilian contractors who conduct planned preventative maintenance work.

LCS rotationally deploy to Singapore and use Changi Naval Base as the place for logistics and maintenance. This effort is at the core of the security relationship between Singapore and the U.S.

“The return of the LCS to Singapore is another example of the excellent and longstanding partnership between the Republic of Singapore and U.S. navies,” said Capt. Tom Ogden, commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. “We look forward to planning and executing alongside our Singapore counterparts with the added value of ships in proximity to each other and the ability to interact and share experiences in person.”

The Republic of Singapore and U.S. navies work together on a number of initiatives at sea such as ASEAN-US Maritime Exercise (AUMX), Exercise Pacific Griffin, Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT), and Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise, as well as combined operations such as multi-national counter-piracy.

Since beginning their deployment in summer 2021, Jackson, along with the other ships attached to DESRON 7 – USS Tulsa (LCS 16) and USS Charleston (LCS 18) – have operated throughout the region while conducting maintenance, primarily out of Apra Harbor at Naval Base Guam.

Attached to DESRON 7, Jackson is on a rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the region, and to work alongside allied and partner navies to provide maritime security and stability, key pillars of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

As the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed destroyer squadron in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally-deployed to Singapore, functions as ESG 7’s Sea Combat Commander, and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements.

Under Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States Navy

(USS Arlington (LPD 24) Public Affairs and NAVSUP HQ Office of Corporate Communications contributed to this story)

Husbanding services encompass the critical elements of logistics support required by U.S. Navy vessels when they visit commercial and military ports around the world. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella’s (NAVSUP FLCSI’s) Global Multiple Award Husbanding Contract (GMAC) enables the command’s contracting specialists to partner with European husbanding service providers (HSPs) to support requirements for U.S. maritime forces participating in various bilateral and joint exercises across Africa and Europe, including the High North.

As the U.S. Sixth Fleet-led exercise Northern Viking 22 (VK22) drew to an end in mid-April, NAVSUP FLCSI’s contracting team leveraged the GMAC to procure husbanding services for one of the exercise participants, USS Arlington (LPD 24), during a scheduled port visit April 14, 2022 in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Some of the husbanding goods and services procured for the port visit included pilot and tug services, mobile crane and manlift services, mobile crane equipment, potable water, ship brow, x-ray scanner with trained operators, cell phones and transportation vehicles.

“The GMAC proved to be the ideal contracting vehicle for the port visit as it allowed for a number of administrative efficiencies resulting in minimizing the risks of increased costs and poor service,” said Robert DeAngelis, NAVSUP FLCSI contract specialist.

 As part of his role, DeAngelis was boots-on-the ground in Reykjavik during the port visit.

“I met with local port authorities to inquire on the services and local support, assessed the competency and perceived effectiveness of port security,” said DeAngelis. “Furthermore, I was able to dynamically authorize needed service changes, with the U.S. Sixth Fleet contracting officer’s representative, the ship’s supply officer and HSP vendor. This fluid support allowed us to take advantage of cost saving initiatives and expand support for the ship in real time.”

Besides contracting support, one of FLCSI’s logistics support officers hand-delivered critical parts to the ARG’s embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).

“Our ability to support port visits at strategically significant High North locations, such as Reykjavik, is a concrete example of NAVSUP’s expanding capabilities delivering operational readiness to the Fleet where and when our Warfighters need it,” said Capt. Douglas S. MacKenzie, NAVSUP FLCSI commanding officer. “This successful port visit also demonstrates how our logisticians and contracting professionals make a crucial contribution to enhancing logistics interoperability and engagement with our Allies in the region. In this case, the Icelandic Coast Guard and the Icelandic commercial HSP industry.”

Assigned to the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), Arlington joined six NATO Allied Nations during VK22 to strengthen interoperability and force readiness, enabling multi-domain command and control of joint and coalition forces in the defense of Iceland and Sea Lines of Communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap.

After the port visit, the 22^nd MEU participated in a bilateral training event with the Kingdom of Norway’s Armed Forces to strengthen U.S. and Norway interoperability ensuring collective capabilities and steadfast partnerships among NATO allies and partners.

The Kearsarge ARG and embarked the 22nd MEU are under the command and control of Task Force 61/2. Arlington’s presence in the High North is a demonstration of the U.S. Navy’s continued commitment to collective defense of the European region and reinforces the strong bond between the U.S. and Iceland

NAVSUP serves as the Department of the Navy’s lead for all husbanding services contracts. FLCSI is one of NAVSUP’s eight globally-positioned commands that provides for the full range of solutions for logistics, business and support services to the U.S. Naval, Joint, NATO and Allied Forces across 14 enduring and forward operating sites; forward contingency and cooperative security locations in 13 countries in Europe and Africa.

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

Source: United States Navy

The investigation determined that the crash was caused by an in-flight failure of a damper hose, resulting in total loss of the main rotor damping which led to severe vibrations upon touchdown.

The Navy continues to mourn the loss of Lt. Bradley Foster, Lt. Paul Fridley, Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 1st Class James Buriak, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Sarah Burns, and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Bailey Tucker, and our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and loved ones.

A redacted version of the findings from this command investigation is available on the U.S. Pacific Fleet on-line FOIA Reading Room: https://www.cpf.navy.mil/FOIA-Reading-Room/#release-181321

Source: United States Navy

Now in its 17th year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. The Pacific Partnership 22 team will work with host nation counterparts and regional partners to provide tailored medical, dental, and veterinary care and conduct bilateral engineering civic actions, and exchange information related to disaster response processes and procedures.

As part of PP22, Mercy and the mission team will conduct missions throughout Oceania and the Western Pacific. Typical Pacific Partnership events include the building of schools, medical and engineering expert exchanges, and host nation outreach events.

“Pacific Partnership is a unifying mission that builds trust among nations to work efficiently together in preparing to respond in crisis,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Hank Kim, Pacific Partnership 22 mission commander. 

“I look forward to exchanging experiences and expertise with our host and partner nations to collectively build skills that will last well after the mission.”

For more information about Pacific Partnership and USNS Mercy, visit www.facebook.com/USNSMERCY, www.facebook.com/pacificpartnership, or https://www.msc.usff.navy.mil/ships/mercy/ .

Commander, Task Force 73 public affairs can be reached via email at CTF73_Public_Affairs@fe.navy.mil.

Source: United States Navy

Navy tradition dictates when Sailors cross into the Arctic Circle, they enter the realm of Boreas Rex, King of the North, and must complete a series of challenges before being deemed worthy of the title “Blue Nose.”

At the time of the ceremony only nine Sailors and Marines aboard the ship were previously designated as “Blue Nose”. They were critical in the planning and execution of the ceremony to ensure safety and fun for those who chose to participate.

“I became a ‘Blue Nose’ in 2016 with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment in Norway,” said Religious Program Specialist 1st Class Brandon Peterkin. “Getting to help plan it this time for my shipmates was a lot of fun. All the homemade costumes and different traditions made this a priceless experience full of fun and laughter for everyone involved.”

Arlington Sailors and embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines completed four cold water challenges before presenting themselves to Boreas Rex, played by Arlington’s Master Chief Engineman Arcent Vazquez and Sergeant Major Gerald Furnari, Sergeant Major of Troops aboard Arlington, for acceptance into the “Order of the Blue Nose.”

“When the Chief’s Mess was putting the plan together, we wanted to ensure we delivered a lasting impression for the crew,” said Vazquez. “This is my last deployment and to have been asked to play Boreas Rex and provide everyone with an experience they will cherish was something I will forever be grateful for.”

The ceremony is 100% voluntary and all those who participate receive a certificate notating their crossing into the Arctic Circle. Receiving the certificate is purely morale-based and does not benefit the Sailor in any professional manner. The Navy has a similar line-crossing tradition at the equator, referred to as a “Shellback” ceremony.

 “It was a privilege to participate in a time honored Navy tradition as fun and unique as the ‘Blue Nose’ ceremony,” said Cpl. Henry Rodriguez, attached to the 22nd MEU. “This is something I’ll never forget from my time aboard the Arlington.”

After recently completing exercise Northern Viking 2022 off the coast of Iceland, Arlington made the trek north to cross into the Arctic Circle. Northern Viking 2022 is a U.S. European Command-directed and U.S. Naval Forces Europe-led, U.S. Sixth Fleet planned and executed Joint and Coalition live exercise that strengthens interoperability and force readiness between the U.S., Iceland and allied nations and enables execution of multi-domain command and control of joint and coalition forces in defense of Iceland the Sea Lines of Communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap.

USS Arlington, attached to the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and 22nd MEU, is on a scheduled deployment under the command and control of Task Force 61/2 while operating in U.S. Sixth Fleet in support of U.S., Allied and partner interests in Europe and Africa.