Category: United States Navy

Source: United States Navy

JEJU-DO, South Korea (Oct. 13, 2024) – Forward-deployed U.S. Navy submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) departed the island of Jeju-Do, Oct. 13, after a scheduled port visit.
Seven decades ago, the United States and Republic of Korea (ROK) signed the U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty and established an alliance that has proven to be among the most capable, cooperative, and durable in the world. Frank Cable’s visit highlights the enduring nature of the U.S.-ROK partnership.

“This port visit was an outstanding opportunity to strengthen the relationship between our people and our navies,” said Capt. Mike Thompson, commanding officer, USS Frank Cable. “It was an honor to meet our counterparts from the Republic of Korea navy and to build bonds that benefit the entire region. As a nation, we strive to strengthen deterrence and modernize the U.S.-ROK Alliance through regular bilateral consultations, exercises, and strategic asset deployments. This visit, and visits like this, enhance our interoperability with a key ally and ensure our readiness to address shared maritime security challenges.”

Over the past four days in port, Frank Cable brought alongside ROK Na Dae-Yong (SS-069), a Chang Bogo-class submarine, in order to provide services and further demonstrate Frank Cable’s ability to repair allied submarines across the Indo-Pacific region. Frank Cable also conducted key leader engagements, hosted ship tours for ROK civilian and naval personnel, and embraced the opportunity to explore the local community and culture on Jeju-Do Island.
While aboard Frank Cable, ROK visitors walked the ship’s main spaces, met with command leadership and heard from Frank Cable Sailors in the Repair, Weapons, Supply, Medical, and Deck departments. These Sailors highlighted the scope of expeditionary submarine tender capabilities through a variety of displays and demonstrations.
Frank Cable personnel were also invited to tour the ROK Na Dae-Yong. Named in honor of a Korean naval officer and acclaimed ship designer, the Na Dae-Yong utilizes a diesel-electric power plant and was commissioned in 2000.

“I was thrilled to get to tour the Na Dae-Yong while here in the South Korea,” said MMN1 Gregory Ray, from Snohomish, Washington. “I’ve been on three different classes of U.S. submarines, but never a foreign submarine, and it still surprises me how different the manning and configurations can be in order to successfully execute the mission.”
The timing of this port visit was particularly special for both nations in light of the anniversaries that surround it. Frank Cable’s visit not only coincided with the U.S. Navy’s 249th birthday, but also comes just days after the anniversary of the U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, codified Oct. 1, 1953.

Frank Cable, forward-deployed to the island of Guam, provides expeditionary intermediate-level maintenance, services, and logistics support to deployed submarines and surface vessels in the Indo-Pacific region. Frank Cable is currently conducting routine operations in support of national security in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.
Under Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

For more information about Frank Cable visit our Facebook page www.facebook.com/FrankCableAS40 .
Are you interested in taking orders to Guam? Want to learn more about the duty station and life on our island? For more information, check out the ‘Go Guam!’ website at http://www.csp.navy.mil/go-guam/ and download the ‘1st Fifteen’ checklist.

Source: United States Navy

LARNACA, CYPRUS – The amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) and embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Special Operations Capable (SOC) arrived in Larnaca, Cyprus for a regularly scheduled port visit, October 14, 2024.

“Our Sailors and Marines are eager to experience the vibrant Cypriot culture, food, and history while continuing to forge and strengthen the ties between the two partners,” said Cmdr. David Pagan, New York’s executive officer. “The opportunity to experience the world-class hospitality of the Cypriot people is something our crew is exceptionally excited for and we sincerely appreciate their support as we deepen our bond with them as military ambassadors for the United States.”

While in the NAVEUR-NAVAF area of operations, New York will support U.S., Allied and partner interests in the region, including in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, to continue promoting regional stability and deterring aggression. The presence of an integrated Navy-Marine Corps team provides flexibility and enhanced capability to NAVEUR-NAVAF and U.S. 6th Fleet.

New York departed Norfolk, Virginia on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) area of operations on May 22.

The Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (WSP ARG) consists of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), New York, Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), and embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Special Operations Capable (SOC).

The 24th MEU (SOC) is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) providing strategic speed and agility, ensuring our Marines are prepared to respond and protect U.S. national security interests around the globe. The MEU can respond rapidly from longer ranges with greater capabilities across the spectrum of military conflict.

You can follow USS New York’s adventures on Facebook and Instagram (@uss_newyork).

To learn more about WSP ARG and 24th MEU (SOC) “Team of Teams,” visit their DVIDS feature page at https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/wasparg24thmeu.

Source: United States Navy

NORTH SEA – The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) transited through the Strait of Dover for the North Sea, Oct. 14.

The strike group will conduct operations in the North Sea with Allies and partners from several countries in the region, demonstrating the warfighting interoperability and strategic relationships built over the past eighty years.

“Storied in world history, our transit through the Strait of Dover to operate with our Allies in the North Sea underscores our commitment to maritime security and the NATO Alliance,” said Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of the HSTCSG. “We will operate with our NATO Allies and partners to strengthen our collective readiness, defense, and deterrence. No nation can confront today’s challenges alone, and we look forward to showcasing our interoperability.”

The Strait of Dover, historically known as the Dover Narrows, is the narrowest part of the English Channel and separates Great Britain from mainland Europe. The channel also separates the Atlantic Ocean from the North Sea, a strategically important area where the carrier strike group will conduct various bilateral operations with Allies and partners. The strike group last operated in the North Sea during a deployment in 2018, including time operating above the Arctic Circle in the Norwegian Sea for the NATO exercise Trident Juncture.

“I’m excited to operate in the North Sea again,” said Capt. Dave Snowden, commanding officer of USS Harry S. Truman and former executive officer during the 2018 deployment. “With its unique geographical and environmental characteristics, every time we operate in this region we increase our proficiency and showcase our inherent flexibility to operate anywhere in the world.”

The HSTCSG will support U.S. Naval Forces Europe’s maritime operations and theater security cooperation missions, working alongside Allies and partners to maintain maritime safety, security, and stability. The Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) operated in the North Sea in 2023 and was the first aircraft carrier to visit Oslo, Norway, for a port of call since 1958.

Before entering the Strait of Dover, the strike group operated off the Azores and Northern Africa for a series of warfighting training scenarios between the strike group’s ships and air wing before heading North for the English Channel.

“It feels like the world has their eyes on us, speculating where we’ll go and what we’ll do next,” said Lt. Adam Biethman, a reactor department officer onboard Harry S. Truman. “I love the flexibility of our strike group, and it’s great to know we’ll be operating and learning from our Allies in the North Sea.”

The carrier strike group consists of the flagship USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75); Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 with nine embarked aviation squadrons; staffs from CSG-8, CVW-1, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28; the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64); and two Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, USS Stout (DDG 55) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109).

HSTCSG’s mission is to conduct prompt and sustained combat operations at sea and remain the cornerstone of the Navy’s forward presence through sea control and power projection capabilities. You can find them on DVIDS at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/CVN75.

Source: United States Navy

PACIFIC OCEAN – The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) took one more step toward returning to a deployment-ready state, completing its first post planned incremental availability exercise while underway in the Pacific Ocean Sept. 27.

The culmination of the training evolution was a Final Evaluation Problem (FEP), a command assessment tailored to the unique training portfolio and requirements of Nimitz, as well as the ship’s upcoming deployment. Passing the FEP moves Nimitz into the pre-deployment phase, beginning the ship’s preparation for the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), and eventual deployment.

“We’ve overcome the first major hurdle of Nimitz’s pre-deployment training and evaluation process,” said Capt. Douglas Graber, Nimitz commanding officer. “It was difficult evolution, but the long hours of training and preparation we put in really paid off. I couldn’t be more proud of our crew and their performance throughout the evaluation process.”

For more information please contact the USS Nimitz Public Affairs Officer at pao@cvn68.navy.mil.

Source: United States Navy

With decades of public service, Panetta offered frank advice and lessons learned to the more than 1,300 students, faculty and staff gathered in the packed NPS King Hall auditorium.  

“Fundamental to everything our democracy stands for is leadership, and that requires character, integrity, and courage,” said Panetta. “Those qualities are abundant in this room, and being selected to come to NPS further sets you apart. When you graduate, you will carry the additional obligation to do more, take risks, make hard decisions and lead solutions to complex national defense challenges if we’re going to remain the world’s strongest democracy.”

In his opening comments, Panetta stressed the importance of alliances in addressing today’s conflicts, and terrorism instigated and supported by a growing axis of autocracies lead by China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.

“Our adversaries are actively working to undermine trust,” Panetta remarked. “When our nation is distracted, tyrants will fill the void. The leader’s job is not to point fingers, but to point out falsehoods and elevate reality so we can agree on the problem, then work together to address it.  Across the aisle, or across alliances, that’s how leaders get things done. That’s how we win.”

The “Fireside Chat” was moderated by retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Eric Wendt, a former Special Forces Green Beret and current professor of practice in the school’s Department of Defense Analysis, and an NPS distinguished alumnus. When asked the one thing he would do to improve DOD today, Panetta responded, “There are many things, but the one thing I am most concerned about is speed.”

“We need DOD bureaucracy to move at the speed of technology,” added Panetta. “I’m concerned that we can’t act swiftly enough to ensure our advantage by leveraging and learning about cutting edge technologies. Industry is setting the pace, and much of it is American innovation, but we need to apply innovative thinking to how we acquire, adapt and adopt technology to meet capability needs. I believe NPS and the future Naval Innovation Center at NPS are parts of the solution.”

During his visit, Panetta also spoke with Defense Analysis students in the DA 3900 Command and Leadership course taught by Wendt, where he further encouraged students to apply their operational experience, NPS education and research to solving the most vexing challenges facing DOD.

Before leading the DOD, Panetta served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, director of the Office of Management and Budget, White House Chief of Staff, and as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Today, Panetta co-directs with his wife, Sylvia, the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, based at California State University, Monterey Bay. The Institute is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit center that seeks to instill in young men and women the virtues and values of public service.

• For more information on the Secretary of the Navy Guest Lecture program at NPS, and to watch past lectures, visit https://nps.edu/sgls

Learn more about the NPS Department of Defense Analysis at https://nps.edu/web/da