Category: Defense

Source: United States Navy

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – Each Thursday morning Sailors from Information Warfare Training Site (IWTS) Hawaii can be found volunteering onboard USS Missouri (BB 63), preserving the Battleship, famous for being the site of surrender that marked the end of World War II.
  
During a ceremony on Mar. 24, the IWTS Hawaii volunteers were recognized for their efforts by the Missouri’s Director of Volunteers and received plaques for the “Outstanding Adopt-a-Space” and “Outstanding Military Group Support” for 2021; and Cryptologic Technician Technical 1st Class Jacklyn McVay was awarded the USS Missouri Legacy Award/Outstanding Military Volunteer by USS.
 
IWTS Hawaii Sailors spend time preserving the deck, maintaining historic gun mounts, and cleaning the space that the site adopted through the Missouri “Adopt-a-Space program.”
 
“It is always a great experience going over to help preserve and maintain a significant piece of Naval history,” said McVay. “There are a lot of times that we will go to the ship, planning on cleaning the bridge, but are then ask us to help with anything from moving teak wood to disassembling a gun mount for refurbishment and replacement. While it may be a small amount of time that we give to the ship, the help that we do provide and the lasting contribution is amazing.”
 
McVay has been volunteering onboard the USS Missouri for the past two years.
 
Information Systems Technician Submarines 1st Class Tyler Silliman is in charge of planning the volunteer events for the site’s Sailors. His coordinated efforts have resulted in more than 100 hours of volunteer work from 14 Sailors participating in the program throughout 2021.
 
“Taking pride in our space aboard the historical bridge is something our Sailors look forward to every single Thursday,” said Silliman. “Our site’s Sailors are very appreciative of the opportunities given to us to support the USS Missouri.”
 
All of IWTS Hawaii’s Sailors who take part in the program are proud of their volunteer efforts onboard the historic warship to preserve a significant piece of Naval history, and maintain the outstanding relationship that has been fostered with the Missouri Volunteer Organization.
 
“I am so proud of the entire IWTS Hawaii team for their volunteer work,” said Cmdr. Tim Raymie, Information Warfare Training Command San Diego’s Commanding Officer. “Not only are the team outstanding information warfare instructors, but also great Naval professionals who take pride in their Naval heritage and whose dedication to keeping the Missouri in pristine shape will help future Sailors and civilians fully appreciate the ship’s proud history and legacy.”
 
IWTS Hawaii, is one of three training sites under Information Warfare Training Command San Diego (IWTCSD). As part of the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT), IWTC San Diego provides a continuum of training to Navy and joint service personnel that prepares them to conduct information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.

With four schoolhouse commands, a detachment, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT trains over 22,000 students every year, delivering trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians, and officers in the information warfare community.

Source: United States Navy

The award recognizes the top 100 providers out of more than 10,000 businesses and organizations for superior customer service in various fields including the government sector. 
 
The Navy College Virtual Education Center (NCVEC) uses LiveHelpNow, a customer service software, to live chat with Sailors about Tuition Assistance (TA), Navy College Program for Afloat Education (NCPACE), and to answer general education questions via the website and text messaging. LiveHelpNow is also the system by which Sailors and academic institutions submit help request support tickets, and it houses a knowledge library of articles on Navy College topics.
 
The announcement came on the heels of the final stages of the service model transition from brick and mortar Navy College Offices to a virtual service provider via the NCVEC in 2021.
 
The Navy Voluntary Education (VOLED) Director, Cdr. Adam Walski, praised his team for their extraordinary efforts during the transformative year.
 
“Achieving best-in-class service delivery is impressive enough,” said Walski. “However, taking into account some of the challenges the team had to overcome – from pandemic restrictions to overhauling our service delivery model – takes it to the next level. Bravo zulu!”
 
For Systems Manager Darryll Cleaves, the award affirms the hard work of the education counselors and the VOLED team as a whole.
 
“This award highlights the commitment and dedication of the VOLED team’s unwavering support to Sailors achieving their education goals,” said Cleaves.
 
Cleaves also believes the award confirms the effective collaboration he sees within the NCVEC.
 
“It highlights the teamwork and efforts the VOLED team puts into providing the best customer service to military members,” said Cleaves. “In particular, it recognizes the collective effort of an outstanding group of education counselors who worked hard responding to all chats and texts generated by Sailors. And, they did so in a timely and efficient manner.”
 
NETPDC Commanding Officer Capt. Willie Brisbane offered her praise to the VOLED team for their efforts.
 
“A huge congratulations to the NCVEC team on receiving the LiveHelpNow award,” said Brisbane. “To attain the title as the ‘top service provider’ is exceptional and I am very proud of their accomplishment!”
 
As a part of the service delivery transition, the phone number for the NCVEC recently changed to the MyNavy Career Center number, 1-833-330-MNCC (6622). This change affords Sailors across the globe toll free access to a Navy College Program counselor. Sailors can speak with a counselor at the NCVEC, Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
 
Sailors interested in continuing their education journey can also go to the Navy College Assistance Center via the Navy College website, www.navycollege.navy.mil, and click “Chat Now” to chat online with a Navy College education counselor.
 
As part of the MyNavy HR Force Development team, NETPDC provides products and services that enable and enhance education, training, career development and personnel advancement throughout the Navy. Primary elements of the command include the Voluntary Education Department, the Navy Advancement Center and the Resources Management Department.

Additional information about NETPDC can be found at https://www.netc.navy.mil/NETPDC.
 

Source: United States Navy

The keel for the future USS Patrick Gallagher (DDG 127), was ceremonially laid at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW), March 30.  

The ship is named for Marine Corps Cpl. Patrick Gallagher, who received the Navy Cross for heroism during the Vietnam War when he managed to jump on and throw an enemy grenade into a river. He was killed in action just one year later.  The keel laying marks the 55^th anniversary of his death.

A contemporary keel laying ceremony recognizes the moment of a ship’s construction when two significant pieces of the hull structure are welded together and joined, constituting a major portion of the ship’s shape. The authentication or etching of the ship sponsors’ initials into a ceremonial keel plate will take place during the ceremony. The sponsors of DDG 127 are Gallagher’s three sisters: Teresa Keegan, Rosemarie Gallagher, and Pauline Gallagher.

“The future USS Patrick Gallagher will strengthen our maritime dominance and bring proven capability to the fleet,” said Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “This ship and all who serve aboard it will be a reminder of the steadfast commitment to our country that Cpl. Gallagher exhibited.”

The final Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built in the Flight IIA configuration, DDG 127 is equipped with the Aegis Baseline 9C2 Combat System, which brings crucial Ballistic Missile Defense capabilities to the Fleet in addition to the ship’s primary missions of anti-air, anti-surface, anti-submarine, and strike warfare.

BIW is also currently in production on the future USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120), USS John Basilone (DDG 122), USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124), USS Louis H. Wilson Jr. (DDG 126), USS William Charette (DDG 130), and USS Quentin Walsh (DDG 132).

As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, sealift ships, support ships, boats and craft.

Source: United States Navy

The E-2D crashed at approximately 7:30 p.m. Two crew members were rescued by Maryland State Police and transported to Wallops Island for follow-on medical treatment for non-life threatening injuries. The names of injured crewmembers will not be released due to privacy concerns.

Unfortunately, the third crew member was found deceased in the aircraft. The Worcester County Fire Department Dive Team supported the search and recovery of the deceased. The name of the crew member killed will not be released at this time, pending primary next of kin notification. 

This incident is under investigation, and updates will be provided as the situation develops.

Source: United States Navy

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) provides maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services that support a variety of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft around the world. The depot also provides service to the Fleet through training for aircraft maintenance professionals who can then return to their respective organizations with the skills they need to maintain aviation readiness.

Recently, FRCE facilitated a training that will assist Fleet Readiness Center Western Pacific (FRC WESTPAC), located at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, to stand up a planned maintenance interval (PMI) line for V-22 Osprey aircraft with Japanese industrial partner NIPPI Corporation. Three NIPPI Corporation contractors attended the two-week Advanced Composite Repair Level 2 course at FRCE, earning their certificates of completion March 11.

“Completing this training was very important for our partners,” said Staff Sgt. Luis Rodriguez, the Marine Corps liaison for FRC WESTPAC, who traveled to FRCE in support of the three NIPPI contractors enrolled in the course. “There is a requirement for NIPPI Corporation to have personnel trained in these techniques in order to stand up the PMI line. Without successful completion of the training, they wouldn’t be able to do the work.”

The training prepares the participants to perform advanced repairs and modifications to aircraft components made of composite materials – advanced materials used on newer aircraft that are lighter than most metals, said Charles Taylor, the composite fabricator training leader at FRCE.

Students first review the essentials of composite repairs, including facility requirements, tools, and fasteners, and key repair methods. Once the students have refreshed their basic composite skills, they spend the rest of the course doing hands-on training, practicing double vacuum debulk (DVD) repairs and other techniques. The Navy developed the DVD procedure as a way to strengthen composite materials by removing air during the curing process, and it works to increase the strength of the repair to near-autoclave standards, Taylor said.

“The course expands on what was learned in Advanced Composite Repair,” he explained. “While at Cherry Point, we included time to get some practical applications of DVD repairs. The students were able to perform a 23-ply DVD repair on a V-22 ramp. They also had to learn how to scarf sand composite materials, which is a technique that is best learned by spending time in the booth practicing.”

The construction of the V-22 Osprey relies heavily on composite materials. The majority of the aircraft’s exterior is composite, as are the rotor blades and some of the structural components inside. This makes it important for the artisans to have advanced composite repair skills. The practical, hands-on training they completed at Cherry Point will ensure they’re ready to complete any needed repairs, Taylor said.

“This training allows them to go back to Japan and perform the full range of composite repairs,” he added. “They inducted their first V-22 last month and I’m confident with their knowledge of composite materials and what they learned over the past two weeks, they can go back home and handle any repair that might come their way.”

Taylor said he was impressed with the students’ performance. He said there were occasional communication challenges but, as a group, they were able to work through them and overcome the language barrier. In the end, the NIPPI team turned in a noteworthy performance.

“These gentlemen were the first outside contractors we have trained to pass their practical exam on the first attempt,” Taylor said. “They did an excellent job.”

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

FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.