Category: MIL-OSI

Source: United States Navy

The future USS Miami honors the city of Miami and the crews of three previously Navy vessels to bear the name. 

“That shared history is what makes Miami one of the greatest cities on Earth—and emblematic of what makes this country the greatest country in the world,” said Del Toro. “Miami is a shining example of what happens when a city welcomes all who come seeking a better life.” 

Along with the ship’s name, Secretary Del Toro announced that international pop star Gloria Estefan will be the sponsor for the future USS Miami. In her role, Gloria Estefan will represent a lifelong relationship with the ship and crew.  

“We are so thankful as citizens of this great country to have all of you out there protecting and serving all of us,” Gloria Estefan said to the approximately 1,500 Sailors and Marines attending the kickoff concert, produced by entertainment icon Emilio Estefan.

The city of Miami has been honored with three previous vessels: a gunboat (1862-1865), a light cruiser (1942-1947), and a nuclear-powered submarine (1990-2014).   

In June 1862, the first Miami engaged enemy forces at a rapid fire while Flag Officer David G. Farragut’s ships ran past Confederate shore batteries at Vicksburg, Mississippi.  In 1864, the Gunboat’s crew supported Union troops ashore and battled Confederate ironclad Albemarle at Plymouth, NC..   

At the Battle of Leyte Gulf during World War II, the second Miami (CL 89) fought as part of Admiral William F. Halsey’s Third Fleet, helping to sink Japanese destroyer Nowaki on October 26, 1944.  Two seaplane pilots operating from Miamireceived the Distinguished Flying Cross for rescuing downed airmen in enemy waters. Miamiearned a total of 6 battle stars for operations in the Marianas, Western Caroline Islands, Leyte Gulf, Luzon, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.   

The third Miami (SSN 755) conducted cruise missile strikes during Operation Desert Fox in 1998 and again during Operation Allied Force in 1999.   

Attack submarines are designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships; project power ashore with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Special Operation Forces (SOF); carry out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions; support battle group operations; and engage in mine warfare.

Miami also has a maritime connection. The greater Miami region was formerly home to a seaplane base (1918-1920), a naval reserve air base (1931-1942), and a naval air station (1940-1958).  United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has been headquartered in Miami-Dade County since 1997.

More information on attack submarines can be found here.

Read Secretary Del Toro’s full remarks online.

Source: United States Navy

Developed by multiple departments at NPS, the Shoemaker Scholarship program offers students a condensed master’s degree with a variety of defense-focused science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) options.

“Expanding the Naval Academy’s Shoemaker Scholar program 500 percent marks a significant milestone in our commitment to fostering excellence in Naval Aviation,” said Vice Adm. Dan Cheever, Commander, Naval Air Forces. “Empowering the newest generation of Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers with a robust 12-month graduate education at the Naval Postgraduate School enhances individual capabilities and strengthens our Navy’s warfighting team. This initiative demonstrates our dedication to world-class education, decisive combat power, and producing officers ready for today’s challenges and empowered to innovate for the future.”

In 2018, NPS worked with Vice Adm. Michael Shoemaker, then serving as Commander, Naval Air Forces, on a graduate education opportunity for student Naval Aviators, taking advantage of delays in new starts to the training pipeline. Coined the Shoemaker Scholarship, the program was designed to maximize education opportunities for a handful of newly commissioned Naval Aviators en route to Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fla. It was a resounding success.

“The Shoemaker Scholarship is intended to provide recent graduates from the USNA or ROTC an opportunity to receive advanced education early in their careers,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Amy Roznowski, Deputy Senior Marine Representative at NPS. “The officers are awaiting the start of Naval flight training, and we are taking advantage of a gap in timing to enhance their careers by receiving advanced education and earning a master’s degree.”

Education is a key warfighting enabler. The expanded Shoemaker Scholarships, combined with more stackable degree certificates offed through NPS Online, is part of a Department of the Navy (DON) effort to implement a continuum of learning as outlined by the Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, in the Naval Education Strategy.

“Naval education is foundational to our ability to deter conflict and succeed in war,” Del Toro said. “We will continue to strengthen our Department’s culture, policies, processes, talent management, and investments to reflect education’s key role in force development.”

Typically, Navy officers are required to achieve a master’s degree to further advance their career tracks. In the aviation community, however, asking a pilot to leave the fleet to go to school for two years is very difficult logistically. The Shoemaker Scholarship program allows the students to get their degree before they get to the fleet, granting them the opportunity to sharpen their mind and then take their new-found expertise to their next command and reducing the need for an operational gap.

“Using this program, we were able to increase the number of NPS graduates,” said retired U.S. Navy Capt. Bill Sherrod, former NPS Chief or Staff and Air Warfare Chair. “We get more skilled students out into the fleet, but not disrupt their career timeline. The delays in flight training creates the opportunity on the front side as opposed to later in their career. And that was really the impetus behind the expanded program.”

Not only does the Shoemaker Scholarship program positively impact students, but it is also a cost-effective way to strengthen the fleet. While serving as NPS Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, Dr. Joseph Hooper championed the expansion of the Shoemaker Scholarship program, stating that NPS could utilize additional curricula for Shoemaker students with classes that are already being taught at the university, filling empty seats.

Adm. Samuel Paparo, an NPS alumnus and Naval Aviator who commanded the U.S. Pacific Fleet and was recently appointed as commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), recognized a backlog at flight school and looked for solutions across the Naval Education Enterprise.

“Admiral Paparo has been a champion for NPS, and we were able to put forward options for graduate education that could help with the aviation training pipeline,” said Hooper. “Highly qualified ensigns coming straight from undergraduate studies were able to slot into classes already being offered for our resident mid-career officers. It’s a benefit to the aviation community, the students, and to the university to create flexibility in obtaining advanced degrees early in the career.”

The program, which saw the first expanded cohort arrive last year, has been a resounding success thus far. Not only do Shoemaker Scholars have a higher graduation rate from flight school, these junior officers come to NPS fresh from their undergraduate studies; they learn very quickly in class, but also get advice from the many mid-career Navy, Department of Defense and international officers with real-world operational experience who make up the bulk of the student body.

Indeed, Shoemaker Scholars have made their mark at NPS and within the DON. U.S. Navy Lt. Suzelle Thomas, a 2019 Shoemaker Scholar, was the first woman to qualify in the F-35C Lightning II following her designation as a Naval Aviator. Two June 2023 graduates, Ensign G. Forrest Dawe and Ensign Nate McDonald, saw their applied research projects contribute advancements to aviation capability: Dawe researched a method to predict vortex conditions for hypersonic testing in the NPS supersonic wind tunnel, while McDonald developed and fabricated a novel engine design for tactical missiles supporting an Office of Naval Research (ONR) project.

This June, 21 Shoemaker Scholars are on track to graduate and will head to Pensacola for flight school with their master’s degrees in hand. Among them will be Ensign Justin Yu, who graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy last year and will earn his NPS master’s degree in Astronautical Engineering. His applied research focuses on combining systems engineering architectures with physics-based models of co-orbital engagements to support mission engineering efforts aimed at protecting friendly assets from aggressor spacecraft.

“Coming straight from the Naval Academy, I found the experience here at NPS to be a great complement,” said Yu. “My peers and I of course value the education and hands-on research, but also the opportunity to learn from all the other students who come here from the fleet or from the other services with different operational backgrounds, perspectives and aspirations – that’s invaluable, and we’ll stay in touch.”

Roznowski added, “With every Shoemaker Scholar that comes here, NPS builds a stronger network of skilled decision makers and deeper ties to the fleet. Ensigns in the Shoemaker program depart NPS and take with them not just the knowledge of their academic program, but also the ability to educate their fellow Sailors and Marines other service members about the opportunities and capabilities offered at NPS.”

Source: United States Navy

Since October 2023, more than 52 hospital personnel have been involved in several missions at installations within the Fleet and in partnership with allied nations across United State European Command (EUCOM) and United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).

These missions encompassed medical support for ships and remote commands, and included training exchanges, assistance during Fleet exercises, and various Global Health Engagements (GHE). While the primary role of the deployer is to provide direct clinical care or training expertise to the Navy’s strategic partners, these missions also serve as exceptional learning opportunities for staff to grow and adapt their hospital training to the operational or humanitarian setting.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Tristan Carter, a Surgical Technician, recently returned from a clinical mission with the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base, USS Hershel W “Woody” Williams (ESB 4). During his 12-week temporary duty, he was responsible for maintaining the ship’s critical operative functions and provided subject matter expertise to the embedded medical and training teams.

“The most exciting part was being able to coordinate a ship wide emergency drill encompassing all the different emergency response teams, including damage control, flight deck crash and salvage, and the medical and surgical teams,” said Carter who was also able to leverage his certification as a Combat Marksmanship Coach to assist embarked Marines maintain their weapons qualifications.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Louis Walker spent six-months aboard USS Bulkeley (DDG 84). There he gained valuable experience related to acute medical appointments, basic life support, first aid, and emergency preparedness. He also worked alongside the ship’s Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC), providing both High Quality Care and Trauma Combat Casualty Care Training for up to 300 Sailors, improving their ability to respond to emergent situations. Walker was also able to test the ship’s water supply, perform food safety inspections, monitor the heat stress program, and administer vaccines to protect the ship’s crew from communicable disease and occupational hazards.

Cmdr. Suzanne Gudeman, a Urologist from Bloomington, Illinois, contributed to Cutlass Express 2023, an annual multinational exercise in Kenya. During this GHE mission, the team shared clinical expertise with host nation medical providers, fostering goodwill and understanding between partner nations.

“This experience was a great opportunity to assess host nation skills, provide helpful feedback, and build a sense of teamwork and collaboration with our partners,” said Gudeman. “I’m thankful to be able to share our knowledge and learn more about providing healthcare in under-resourced areas.”

Lessons learned from these diverse missions have been incorporated into a command training program which prepares Hospital Corpsmen and medical professionals to support the operational forces. NMRTC has also re-engineered its annual training plan to ensure opportunity for medical teams to be well prepared with the diverse skill sets needed for ship or remote command roles, to include preventive medicine, acute care evaluation, and medical emergency training.

NMRTC Commanding Officer Captain William Scouten said he recognizes personnel development is critical to both ensure mission success and professional satisfaction. “We have created within our command, a learning environment that broadens and reinforces the clinical decisions and practices, and hones skills, ultimately improving the quality of patient care delivered both on a mission and within the hospital setting.”

Enlisted Sailors who have been involved in Fleet missions have also benefited from the opportunity to achieve their Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification, the highest qualification the Surface Navy awards to enlisted service members. They have also been able to and exposure to different cultures, shipboard life, medical planning, and care management in resource limited conditions.

NMRTC Rota serves as a force multiplier in Navy Medicine’s strategic global medical support mission throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East while also supporting operational readiness and maintaining a strategic repository of expertise at the Naval Hospital Rota MTF within the Iberian Peninsula.

Navy Medicine is represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals – provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.

Story originally posted on DVIDS: NMRTC Rota Supports Diverse Regional Missions to Safeguard and Prepare Warfighters and Allies

Source: United States Navy

The dialogue was an opportunity to expand upon The Royal Australian Navy and the United States Navy Strategic Dialogue Framework for Engagement signed by both navies Dec. 15, 2020.

“This meeting furthers our unwavering commitment to increasing interoperability across warfare domains. Australia is a critical partner in the region and vital to maritime security and stability,” said Black. “Our dialogue reaffirms our shared values in an increasingly challenging security environment.”

During the strategic dialogue, the delegations discussed increasing joint capabilities, information and technology sharing, as well as developing high end warfighting capabilities.

“Only through a collective response can the challenges of the changing strategic environment be met,” said Earley. “Engagement with our US partners through the bilateral strategic dialogue enables us to focus on ensuring developments across warfighting, science and technology and the capability domains are closely aligned.”

The U.S. and Australia recently operated together in February during a trilateral exercise in the South China Sea. The operations reinforced international maritime law, freedom of the seas, and safety and security in the Indo-Pacific.

Additionally in February, over three dozen Royal Australian Navy (RAN) sailors and officers reported aboard the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) as part of the ship’s crew under the Personnel Exchange Program (PEP) effort. This PEP is in support of the Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) Pillar I effort to deliver a sovereign conventionally armed SSN fleet to Australia.

These recent joint programs and exercises reinforce the ironclad partnership between Australia and the United States. Professional engagement and interoperability with allies and partners is the cornerstone of regional stability and fosters peace and prosperity for all nations.

The Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5) is the principal advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) on Navy strategies, plans and policies, including planning and coordinating the global employment of naval forces.

Source: United States Navy

“Service in the Navy and Marine Corps is more than just a job. It represents a chance to serve something bigger than yourself,” said Secretary Del Toro. “We recognize the desire of Americans from all walks of life to use their talents to better our great Nation, to be part of a legacy of courage and honor that stretches back to the very founding of our nation—and beyond.”

As the 78th Secretary of the Navy, Del Toro leads a department of nearly one million Sailors, Marines, and civilians who provide direct and indirect support to the economic and national security of our Nation, as well as international commerce.

“And no matter how you serve, you’ll be part of a team working together toward a shared goal,” said Secretary Del Toro. You’ll learn invaluable skills and gain leadership experience. Collectively, as a Sailor, Marine, or civilian, you will take part in tackling the world’s toughest challenges whiles preserving America’s advantage across several cutting-edge technologies.”

Born in Havana, Cuba, Secretary Del Toro immigrated to the United States at ten months old with his parents in 1962 to escape the Castro regime. Like thousands of other Cuban refugees, the Freedom Tower in Miami was their first stop on the road to freedom. Eventually, they relocated to a tenement building on 42nd Street and 10th Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen, New York.

“Throughout my childhood, both of my parents sacrificed and labored for the sake of their children. They wanted to give us a better life in America, a life unattainable back in Cuba. Their service and sacrifice instilled in me a desire to give back to this great Nation which took us in at a time when we were most vulnerable,” said Secretary Del Toro.

In 1983, Secretary Del Toro graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and served on active duty in the Navy for 22 years. His is just one of many stories of Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and women, and civilians who answered the call to defend the values that define our Nation, and to make a lasting impact on the world.

“I encourage all Floridians to come out this week and engage with Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and women, and all the civilians who support them,” said Secretary Del Toro. Come listen to their stories of service during Fleet Week Miami and see where you can fit into the story.”

Fleet Week Miami runs through May 12. During the week, visitors can interact with nearly 7,000 Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen and women. This positive, direct interaction promotes understanding of the military and the sacrifices they make in support of our nation’s defense.

Tours of participating ships are planned for Monday through Saturday May 6-11. The weekdays will focus on afternoon and evening tours from 1-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., while Saturday tours are slated to be 9-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. All tours are free.

In addition to the ships, displays of Naval history, recruiting information, Navy and Marine technology, and Navy environmental programs will be available for visitors to see as they wait for their tours.

Visitors wishing to tour the ships must reserve a time through the www.fleetweekmiami.org website 48 hours in advance of their desired visit. This is to ensure a moderate flow of people to the ships that may be accommodated without wait times of several hours.

Information on events and activities may be found by visiting the website or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fleetweekmiami.

Read Secretary Del Toro’s full remarks online.