Defense News: NAVSUP FLC Bahrain Supports Multiple Port Visits

Source: United States Navy

NAVSUP FLC Bahrain’s contracting department quickly awarded contracts to support the arrival and delivery of provisions to Cole in Aqaba, Jordan after a short notice schedule change and also deployed Logistics Support Representatives (LSRs) to provide on the ground support ensuring the delivery of mission critical cargo during the quick two-day port visit.

Gridley and Fitzgerald were in Manama, Bahrain conducting maintenance before returning to sea. During the port visits, NAVSUP FLC Bahrain delivered 66 pallets of mission critical cargo, provisions and mail.

Logistics Specialists first class Kyera Smiley, logistics support representative of NAVSUP FLC Bahrain noted, “LSRs are trained to not dwell on problems. Instead, we focus on what to do next in order to develop the most effective way to support our afloat mission partners.”

NAVSUP FLC Bahrain contract specialists and LSRs used innovative thinking and flexibility to provide seamless support to keep the ships mission ready.

“The past two weeks demonstrated the flexibility of our team,” said Commander Scott Wallace, executive officer of NAVSUP FLC Bahrain. “Our ability to rapidly award contracts and deploy staff is key to our ability to support ships operating in U.S. 5th Fleet.”

NAVSUP FLC Bahrain is one of eight FLCs under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP’s mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.

Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/navsup and https://twitter.com/navsupsyscom

Defense News: USS Hershel “Woody” Williams Completes Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security Patrol

Source: United States Navy

From March to April, Hershel “Woody” Williams completed maritime security operations with African partners from Sierra Leone, Cabo Verde and Senegal as well as members of the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps.

“The men and women that made this possible are a testament to our shared values and commitment to ensuring the safety, security, and freedom of navigation on the waters surrounding the African continent,” said Capt. Michael Concannon, commanding officer, USS Hershel “Woody” Williams.

In March, the joint U.S. and African maritime team interdicted an illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing vessel operating in Sierra Leone’s economic exclusive zone. 

In April, as part of the African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP), the joint team, led by Cabo Verde, worked in coordination with the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-N), the International Police (INTERPOL), and Cabo Verde’s national Maritime Operations Center (COSMAR) to conduct a compliant boarding of a Brazilian-flagged fishing vessel, which led to the seizure of approximately 6,000 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $350 million.

 “I couldn’t be more proud of the professionalism and integration of the U.S. tri-maritime services, partner nations and other supporting organizations during our maritime security operations,” said Concannon. “These maritime security events show the world that our African partners are poised and ready to strike against illicit activity.”

Hershel “Woody” Williams is the first warship permanently assigned to the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility. The U.S. shares a common interest with African partner nations in ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation on the waters surrounding the continent, because these waters are critical for Africa’s prosperity and access to global markets.

The ESB ship class is a highly flexible platform that may be used across a broad range of military operations. Acting as a mobile sea base, they are part of the critical access infrastructure that supports the deployment of forces and supplies to support missions assigned.

For over 70 years, U.S. Sixth Fleet forces have forged strategic relationships with our allies and partners and solidified a foundation of shared values, experiences and vision aimed at preserving security and stability.

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, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Defense News: USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) Arrives in Narvik, Norway

Source: United States Navy

The ship’s presence in Norway is a demonstration of the U.S. Navy’s continued commitment to the collective defense of the European region and reinforces the strong bond between the United States and Norway. It also builds upon other recent engagements between the U.S. and Norway, including USS Kearsarge’s (LHD 3) recent port visit to Tromsø, Norway, as well as training opportunities between the two nations during exercises Cold Response 22 and Northern Viking 22.

“We are thankful to the Kingdom of Norway for their hospitality and the chance to train with our Norwegian counterparts,” said Cmdr. Beth Nelson, commanding officer of USS Gunston Hall. “As part of the Kearsarge ARG/MEU team, we look forward to seeking more opportunities that strengthen U.S., Norway, and NATO Ally and Partner relationships.”

While in port in Narvik, USS Gunston Hall will off-load U.S. Marine Corps equipment and vehicles in support of a bilateral Norway training exercise strengthening the long-standing relationship between the U.S. and Norway.

In addition to the equipment offload, the crew will partake in several local tours and experience the rich culture of Norway and its citizens through visits to historical sites.

The ARG/MEU team recently departed the East Coast of the United States for a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations. The team is conducting global maritime operations and security in support of Allied and partner interests in Europe and Africa.

The Kearsarge ARG and embarked 22nd MEU are under the command and control of Task Force 61/2. The ARG consists of USS Kearsarge; the San-Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24); and the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44).

Embarked commands with the Kearsarge ARG include Amphibious Squadron SIX, Fleet Surgical Team 2, Tactical Air Control Squadron 22, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, Assault Craft Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit 4, Naval Beach Group 2, Beach Master Unit 2 and the 22nd MEU.

Amphibious ready groups and larger amphibious task forces provide military commanders a wide range of flexible capabilities including maritime security operations, expeditionary power projection, strike operations, forward naval presence, crisis response, sea control, deterrence, counter-terrorism, information operations, security cooperation and counter-proliferation, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

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, in order to advance U.S. national interests, security, and stability in Europe and Africa.

Defense News: Navy Validating Joint Base Long-term Water Monitoring Samples, Acting on Findings

Source: United States Navy

Under an interagency-approved flushing and sampling plan, the Navy water system is now in a two-year period of LTM. This includes testing about 6,000 more samples from roughly 55% of residences and other facilities on the system for more than 60 different contaminants.

“Our actions are focused on the health and safety of our people and our community – that is my highest priority,” said Rear Adm. Tim Kott, commander, Navy Region Hawaii. “By conducting long-term monitoring efforts, we are ensuring that our water remains safe. We have been able to make great progress thanks to the collaboration and hard work with many partners, and with the help of our community. We appreciate the continued working relationship with the Hawaii Department of Health as we review sampling results and act on any findings.”

Under the plan, the Navy is sampling 5% of homes and other buildings in each zone of the Navy water system for the first three months after the DOH amended that zone’s health advisory (a total of 15% in each zone after three months). After that, 40% of all homes and other buildings on the system will be sampled over the following 21 months. All schools, child development, and medical centers will be sampled regularly during both phases of the plan.

Sampling locations for homes in each zone are chosen as a geographic representation of the zone, based on their location on the neighborhood distribution system. Different homes will be chosen during each phase to provide a good geographic spatial representation of homes sampled.

A Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii representative contacts residents of homes selected for sampling to schedule an appointment at the resident’s earliest convenience. The sampling process takes about an hour.

When the sample team arrives at the home, they explain the long-term monitoring process and answer any questions, then proceed to the sampling faucet, typically the one highest and farthest from where water enters the home. The sample team takes several field measurements to account for some general conditions in the home. The team collects four one-liter bottles for lab analysis on the mainland.

It typically takes two to three weeks for final results. All results are validated to state and federal drinking water requirements, including the incident-specific parameters (ISPs) set by the DOH for the Navy water system.

Validated testing results will be posted to the Safe Waters website at: https://jbphh-safewaters.org.

Sample results are generally categorized as non-detect, detect, or exceed. If a sample exceeds action levels for contaminants, the resident or building point of contact will be personally notified.

“This is a very large undertaking, and my staff and I remain committed to conducting this effort in coordination with the DOH to ensure that we are continually providing safe drinking water for all users of our water system,” said Capt. Gordie Meyer, commanding officer of NAVFAC Hawaii. “We will immediately act on any validated sampling exceedances, coordinating with the DOH to determine the best course of action. We will continue to meet the incident-specific parameters — which are more health-protective than drinking water regulated standard levels — that are in place to verify that the water in our system remains safe for all uses.”

“The added level of safety that these ISPs offer also means that we may be working with our residents and tenants to conduct follow-up sampling and remedial actions,” added Meyer. “I regret that this may cause some additional disruption, but we are committed to doing this right and restoring trust in the Navy water system from the Navy’s Waiawa well, which is routinely monitored to ensure our water source and distribution system is safely providing water to our consumers. We will continue to work with regulators and our partners at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure that water from the Navy water system remains safe for all uses.”

For more information on these actions, go to the news section of http://www.navy.mil/jointbasewater.

For more information on long-term monitoring of the Navy water system, go to https://jbphh-safewaters.org.

Defense News: Bulk Fueling: Expeditionary Fueling on the Move

Source: United States Navy

The blue-green teams of the Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary forces from Navy Cargo Handling Battalion EIGHT (NCHB-8) expeditionary fuels team and Marine Corps 6th Engineer Support Battalion Bulk Fuels Team, joined up at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, to integrate and train in coordination to focus on a concept of employment experimentation with the Expeditionary Fuel Dispensing System–Small (EFDS-S).

“We’re here to have our Sailors get their hands on the equipment, and we have some experience with this setup. We have subject matter experts here that can help with training to rapidly deploy this and to be able to move it around quickly,” said Lt. Frank Peterson, NCHB-8 Expeditionary Fuels Company. “It’s a good opportunity for us to work together, where we can see things that the Marines are doing, and that we can incorporate into our processes and vice versa. As well as future missions that may require us to work closely together and this is an opportunity to work out any kinks with that integrated structure.”

Exercises like this demonstrate the interoperability of our forces, as well as the ability our units have to integrate with other services, reinforcing a culture of learning and increasing our warfighting readiness.

“For us, it shows us how the marines set up their bulk fuels systems, essentially, we do the same exact thing, it gives us a different perspective of how another branch does what we do. It defiantly helps us get lessons learned,” said Operations Specialist 1st Class Harry Carney, NCHB-8 Expeditionary Fuels Company. “After a while, it shows that we can work with other branches and do the exact same thing and get the job done.”

The expeditionary forces of the Navy and Marine Corps train no matter what the weather conditions are and in austere environments like this weekend with rain and snow, is no different. Training in bulk fuels and sleeping in tents is another weekend for these Sailors and Marines.

“Coming from a ship it’s defiantly a lot different, working in an austere environment of rain and snow is an experience you need. Working in bulk fuels is different anyway, so it’s a good way to open your eyes with these experiences, especially as an operations specialist,” said Carney.

The U.S. Navy’s ability to conduct integrated operations around the globe across the full spectrum of military operations is a core requirement for maintaining maritime superiority during this era of strategic competition.

Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG) provides dynamic logistics support to the joint force across the spectrum of conflict from peacetime support to major combat operations. NAVELSG rearms, refuels, and resupplies the fleet when and where needed to reinforce maritime lethality and support the Navy Expeditionary Combat Force efforts to CLEAR, SECURE, BUILD, and PROTECT in the littorals.

For more news from Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, visit www.dvidshub.net/NAVELSG or www.necc.usff.navy.mil/navelsg. You can also find us on social media at https://facebook.com/Navelsg/, https://linkedin.com/company/navelsg, https://instagram.com/navelsg