Category: Defense

Source: United States Navy

The award, also known as the Battle “E” award, highlights the crew’s high level of sustained proficiency and readiness to perform in an operational environment throughout a year-long evaluation.

“This is a team award,” said Capt. Eric J. Anduze, Theodore Roosevelt’s commanding officer. “It demonstrates this team’s ability to perform anywhere, anytime.”

In addition to winning the Battle “E” award, Theodore Roosevelt also won a number of awards including the yellow E for Air Department, the black E for Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department, the green E for Combat Systems, the Deck white crossed anchors, the blue M for Health Services, the Navigation white ship’s wheel, the Reactor red E, the Safety green S, the Security black S, the Supply blue E, the Weapons black W, the Carrier Maintenance purple E and the Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation award.

“This is an outstanding accomplishment for the ship and the crew,” Anduze said “This achievement was only possible from each Sailor’s hard work and dedication to the mission.”

Each Sailor who served as ship’s company during the calendar year 2021 is allowed to wear the Battle “E” ribbon.

“Winning the Battle ‘E’ is a true testament to the resiliency and grit that TR Sailors show on a day-to-day basis,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Chief Daniel Espana, assigned to Air department’s V-1 division. “It’s a rewarding feeling that we were recognized by Big Navy and on top of other ships we were able to get that Battle ‘E.’”

The 2021 Battle “E” award marks the fifth time that Theodore Roosevelt has won the award since its commissioning on Oct. 25, 1986.

“This award confirms what I have known for a long time” said Anduze. “We truly are the best crew on the best ship in the best Navy in the world!”

In May 2021, Theodore Roosevelt returned to its homeport of Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego after a six-month deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

In July 2021, Theodore Roosevelt moved to Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton to undergo a docking planned incremental availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility where the ship is receiving scheduled maintenance and upgrades.

For more news from USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn71/

Source: United States Navy

The visit comes exactly two weeks after the Fort Lauderdale was delivered to the Navy by Huntington Ingalls Industries and two weeks prior to crew move aboard.

“You see move-aboard day looming in the future and just like any moving day it has created the right kind of urgency and so it was just such a treat to spend some time here because you see a ship and it starts with the keel and you can only imagine what it’s going to be and when it becomes a reality it really is impressive,” said Berger.

During her visit, Berger toured the ship, spoke to the crew and awarded Sailors with coins to thank them for their exceptional job performance throughout the pre-commissioning process of the fleet’s newest amphibious transport dock ship.

“I think this is a crew that is punching above their weight,” Berger said. “Everyone that I met was taking on additional responsibilities, going the extra mile in training and making sure they were doing everything for every piece and part of this ship to make it the best that it can be so I am impressed, I’m proud and I can’t wait to see what they keep on doing. They are setting the bar for what the expectation will be for Fort Lauderdale and it is truly excellence. They are setting the bar so high and so I know that not only this crew but all that follow will be set up for success because of the standard that is set.”

The last time Berger saw the ship was seven months ago when she christened the ship.

“It was so exciting to actually get on the ship. I didn’t get the chance to last time when I was here for Christening and so it was a tease,” said Berger. “I got to look at it but I didn’t get to go and see everything and so overall, it was so exciting to see and touch and feel the ship and I also got to meet the Sailors who are the Fort Lauderdale and so my impression was just this is the real deal and I got to see it all in a way that I didn’t get to last time. Big advances have been made. You can see the heart in the work that everyone is doing to make sure the ship is ready.”

Berger was joined on the tour of the ship by Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP) Gulf Coast personnel, Huntington Ingalls Shipyard personnel, as well as Fort Lauderdale’s Commanding Officer Capt. James Quaresimo and Command Master Chief James Magee.

“It was an absolute honor having Secretary Berger visit,” Quaresimo said. “We are proud to be able to show off the ship and the crew was very excited to meet her. I was great that she took the time to stop and speak with them and acknowledge their hard work.”

Quaresimo and the crew will commission the future USS Fort Lauderdale later this year.

“We are very much looking forward to the next steps of moving aboard, certifying for operations at sea, and setting sail for our namesake city to conduct commissioning,” said Quaresimo.

For more news on PCU Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) visit https://www.facebook.com/FORTLAUDERDALELPD28.

Source: United States Navy

The ceremony, held in the USS Yorktown Visitor’s Center, was led by the Honorable Judge Heather McShain, magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Midwest work with RTC to expedite citizenship for recruits who are qualified under the Immigration & Nationality Act Section 329, which allows expedited naturalization for aliens and non-citizen nationals serving in an active-duty status.

Naturalization ceremonies were halted in 2017 due to a DoD policy extending the amount of time military members were required to serve before becoming eligible for citizenship. This changed on February 2, with the signing Presidential Executive Order 14012, which requires the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS to facilitate naturalization for members of the military.

“During [processing days], recruits are screened for their citizenship status and a list of non-U.S. citizens for a training group is compiled,” said Lt. Leslie Liang, RTC’s naturalization officer. “The naturalization team representative is tasked with sitting down with the recruits to fill out their Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service and Application for Naturalization forms.”

Once the application and any additional required documents are mailed and processed, the recruits are interviewed by USCIS and must pass an English and civics test. If the application for naturalization is granted, RTC’s naturalization team work to coordinate a ceremony with USCIS and the District Court of Illinois. From start to finish the process takes about eight weeks.

“Recruits should ensure they bring any and all documentation related to naturalization to RTC, such as a green card, passport, state ID, marriage certificate, and divorce decree,” said Liang. “[They] are provided with a study guide for the interview and civics test after they apply and are encouraged to study the material in preparation for their interview.”

One recruit who received her citizenship during this ceremony was Airman Luisa Sanchez, who is originally from Columbia, and joined the Navy from New Jersey.

“It feels very nice because it’s something for years you’ve had in your mind, and you knew that you needed to work for it, because nobody gave it to you for free,” said Sanchez. “Now that I’m a citizen, I can travel to more countries and not have to worry about being back in the United States in six months, and I can apply for a better job in the Navy.”

Sanchez, who is currently enlisted under the Airman Professional Apprenticeship Career Tracks program said her dream job is to be able to work on submarines.

“Now with my citizenship I can actually do that,” she said.

Sanchez’s celebration didn’t end with her newly acquired citizenship. The next day she graduated from boot camp and became a United States Sailor, with her mother and father watching in the audience.

Her father also just received his citizenship and had nothing but praises for his daughter upon liberty call.

“I’m really happy because now she can start a new life and have new opportunities, and I’m really happy for my daughter,” he said.

Liang feels strongly about the RTC naturalization program for personal reasons and is honored to be part of bringing the program back.

“The program is very near and dear to my heart. My parents were born in China and immigrated to America in the early 1990s,” said Liang. “After residing in America with their Permanent Resident Card (green card) for 20 or so years, they finally became naturalized as U.S. citizens. In the same way my parents were afforded an opportunity to come to America to seek a better future for our family, I am beyond ecstatic to be able to assist others in becoming naturalized.”

Liang said he hopes RTC will continue a monthly ceremony due to the success of the program restarting.

Boot camp is approximately 10 weeks and all enlistees into the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes physical fitness, seamanship, firearms, firefighting and shipboard damage control along with lessons in Navy heritage and core values, teamwork and discipline. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp.

For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/rtc

Source: United States Navy

At the end of the workday, these war ships are manned by what is known as a duty section. When Sailor’s head home at the end of the workday, a portion of the crew stay behind to maintain security and conduct maintenance and training. To supplement the ship’s crew, the Navy utilizes a harbor patrol security division to protect the ships, piers, and personnel at the base’s waterfront. The Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) harbor patrol unit is responsible for guarding the largest congregation of U.S. Navy ships on the west coast. NBSD has a pier line that is almost two miles long and is homeport to between 50 to 60 ships, depending on homeport shifts, commissionings and decommissionings. But NBSD harbor patrol’s area of responsibility does not stop there.

“The mission of harbor patrol is to secure the waterfront for all three installations in the metro area, Naval Base Coronado, Naval Base Point Loma, and Naval Base San Diego,” said Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Bernard Hyppolite, the leading chief petty officer for NBSD’s harbor patrol unit. “We are very unique; we are the only harbor security that does that.”

Harbor security is a different operating environment than land-based security, which typically has security force Sailor’s tied to more stationary posts. Each harbor security team covers a large area and is capable of quickly covering large distances when needed, but operating a Navy security boat is no simple task. Each boat becomes its own coordinated unit, with each member playing a vital role. The team member steering the boat, and who is ultimately in charge and responsible for the vessel, is the coxswain. The coxswain must be able to expertly operate the boat, and effectively lead its crewmembers.

“Harbor security is very different in the aspect that we are not only in charge of guarding a specific post, we are responsible for providing security to every base’s waterfront, PSBs [portable security barriers], and all Navy assets,” said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Byron Mead, a NBSD harbor patrol security boat coxswain. “So, with that comes its own aspects and challenges, such as being able to safely operate a Navy security boat.”

Manning a security boat requires dedicated schooling and specific qualifications, and the team must stay up to date with constant training to maintain their qualifications and hone their skills.

“We conduct monthly training to maintain our proficiency. We also do quarterly, semiannual and annual drills with all three installations with different scenarios and threat environments to maintain our skills and qualifications,” said Master-at-Arms 1st Class Jacob Engle, the harbor security boat training supervisor. “My favorite part is getting out on the water and training the guys. Watching them get more comfortable with the boat and seeing them overall improve to become better operators is the most fun part of the job.”

Harbor patrol trains to prepare for any security threat they could face, but fortunately, most days are calm, with the majority of offenders being boating hobbyist, fishermen, and crabbers that linger a little to close to the bases security barrier. With a flashing of the security boat’s lights, and a hailing from the loudspeaker, harbor patrol gets their attention and directs them away. Most incidents are resolved quickly and amicably, but if a threat ever comes by way of water to one of San Diego’s naval bases, harbor patrol will be ready to meet it head on.

“The job is very challenging and very demanding. It’s good that most of the time no security threats are taking place. But, God forbid, if they do, these Sailors are the first line of defense,” said Hyppolite. “It can be a thankless job, but I appreciate them every day for what they do.”

Source: United States Navy

Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet met with Christopher Seed, New Zealand Chief Executive and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the Pacific Fleet command headquarters on board Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam March 28, 2022.

The leaders reaffirmed the strong partnership and friendship between New Zealand and United States.

They discussed the criticality of the Indo-Pacific region and importance of conducting maritime operations with like-minded partners to ensure security, stability and sustainability of the seas.

The Royal New Zealand Navy and U.S. naval forces regularly operate together including combined support efforts to Tonga following the volcanic eruption in January, replenishments-at-sea between navies, cooperative deployments with HMNZS ships visiting Guam and USS Howard (DDG 83) visiting Wellington.

The meetings underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthening alliance and partnerships for an enduring free and open Indo-Pacific.