Category: United States Navy

Source: United States Navy

Albuquerque Navy Week brings Sailors from across the fleet to the area to emphasize the importance of the Navy to Albuquerque, the state of New Mexico, and the nation. More than 50 Sailors will participate in education and community outreach events throughout the city.

Participating Navy organizations include Navy Band Southwest, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, United States Ceremonial Guard and Color Guard, Navy Construction Group One, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Phoenix, Navy Bureau of Medicine, U.S. Navy Esports, Navy History and Heritage Command, USS Constitution and nuclear-power Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Santa Fe (SSN 763).

Adm. Stuart Munsch, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe/Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Africa/Commander, Allied Joint Forces Command, Naples will serve as this Navy Week’s senior executive. Munsch is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He was selected for a Rhodes scholarship and attended Oxford University and earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Munsch previously commanded USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) from 2002 to 2005.

“I am excited to be returning to Albuquerque and lead the United States Navy team that will be visiting the area to discuss with the citizens of New Mexico how the Navy makes America more secure and prosperous,” said Munsch. “Our Navy is on watch around the world, ensuring the free flow of maritime commerce that keeps the global economy, and by extension, the New Mexico economy running.”

During Albuquerque Navy Week, Sailors are participating in community engagements, meeting with students, and speaking with local business, civic, and government leaders.

Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to cities like Albuquerque.

“Sailors are the reason America’s Navy is the most powerful in the world,” said NAVCO’s director, Cmdr. Julie Holland. “We are thrilled to bring your Navy Warfighters to Albuquerque.  At Navy Weeks, Americans will connect with Sailors who have strong character, competence, and dedication to the mission, and who continue a nearly 250-year tradition of decisive power from seabed to cyberspace.”

Throughout the week, Sailors are participating in various community events across the area, including engaging with students across multiple high schools and at the Roadrunner Foodbank, Habitat for Humanity, and publicly visible at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, New Mexico State Fair and downtown Albuquerque. Residents will also enjoy free live music by Navy Band Southwest at venues throughout the week.

Albuquerque Navy Week is one of 15 Navy Weeks in 2024, which brings a variety of assets, equipment, and personnel to a single city for a weeklong series of engagements designed to bring America’s Navy closer to the people it protects. Each year, the program reaches more than 130 million people — about half the U.S. population.

Media organizations wishing to cover Albuquerque Navy Week events should contact Lt. j.g. Madison Kwok at (808) 754-6863 or Madison.k.kwok.mil@us.navy.mil

Source: United States Navy

VALPARAISO, Chile – Navy and Marine forces arrived in Valparaiso in support of UNITAS LXV (65), the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise in the world, which officially commenced September 2, 2024. 
 
The Chilean navy is hosting this year’s UNITAS, which will feature 17 warships/vessels, two submarines, 20 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter), and more than 4,300 personnel from 24 partner nations. Forces will conduct operations off the coast of Valparaiso, Chile, and ashore in the vicinity of Puerto Aldea, Chile, through September 12. 

Rear Adm. Rich Lofgren provided opening remarks as U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4^th Fleet Deputy Commander, addressing the opportunities to build relationships ashore, including subject matter exchanges, operations briefs, and a Women, Peace, and Security symposium. Creating these spaces to build relationships on shore will pay dividends at during the at-sea phase of the exercise and beyond.

“Sailors go to sea,” Lofgren added. “I look forward with great excitement to joining you at sea, as we conduct combined and joint operations. We will enhance our capabilities and improve our interoperability in these maritime events – together. Make no mistake, all of us will work hard the next 12 days. But we will communicate effectively – together. We will operate effectively – together. And we will overcome obstacles – together.”
 
UNITAS, which is Latin for unity, united, or oneness, was conceived in 1959 when representatives at the first Inter-American Naval Conference in Panama agreed to conduct an annual maritime exercise with one another. Prior to UNITAS I in 1960, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Arleigh Burke reviewed preparations for the multinational exercise. He commended planners for their progress, especially in building compatible communication systems among navies, and predicted that UNITAS would build strong relationships among Sailors of the Western Hemisphere.  
 
UNITAS I took place in 1960 with forces from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, the United States, and Venezuela. This year marks the 65th iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise.  
 
Including the United States, UNITAS LXV will bring together 24 nations from all over the world to train forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability. Participating nations include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay. 
 
Following the UNITAS LXV Opening Ceremony on September 2, the in-port phase of the exercise will feature subject matter expert exchanges, professional symposia, ship rider exchanges, and operations meetings. During this time, Marines and Sailors will conduct training events in Valparaiso to include medical, cyber defense, and diving and salvage operations. 
 
During the UNITAS LXV Underway Phase, forces will participate in events testing all warfare operations, to include live-fire exercises such as a SINKEX and an amphibious ship-to-shore landing and force withdrawal. 
 
Unmanned and hybrid fleet systems will return for a second year to UNITAS with the presence of unmanned undersea vehicles. As part of the U.S. Navy’s future hybrid fleet, the Chief of Naval Operations has tasked U.S. 4th Fleet to scale unmanned platforms to the fleet level.   
 
There are many U.S. forces participating in UNITAS LXV, including USS Germantown (LSD 42), USS St Louis (LCS 19), and USS Hampton (SSN 767). Other U.S. participants include Patrol Squadron Five (VP 5); Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2; Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EOD) 2; Mine Countermeasures Group 2 (MCMGRU TWO); Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50 Detachment 4 (HSM 50 Det 4); 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (2/7); 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment (1/24); 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (4th LAR); 4th Reconnaissance Battalion (4th Recon); Combat Logistic Regiment 4 (CLR 4); 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines (2/14); Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234); Marine Wing Communications Squadron 48 (MWCS-48); Marine Aircraft Control Group – 48 (MACG-48); Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112); U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) Pacific Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET); and USCG Maritime Security Response Team East (MSRTE) Direct Action Section. Operational and tactical level leadership will be provided by Commander, Destroyer Squadron 40, (COMDESRON 40); Commander, Amphibious Squadron Seven (COMPHIBRON SEVEN); U.S Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH); USNAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT; and U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM).  
 
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region. 
 
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South is the Marine Corps component to U.S. Southern Command, is responsible for planning exercises, operations, and overall Marine Corps support for the SOUTHCOM assigned area of responsibility.

Source: United States Navy

KEFLAVÍK AIR BASE, Iceland – Hospitalman Zachary Elliott joins U.S. Sailors and Marines for U.S.-led exercise NORTHERN VIKING 2024 (NV24) in Keflavik, Iceland, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 3, 2024.

As a native of Centerton, Arkansas, Elliott is a graduate of Bentonville West High School and parents and siblings still live in the area.

Currently, Elliott is a U.S. Navy Sailor assigned to Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical System Team Nine (ERSS Team 9) as a hospital corpsman and surgical technologist. His job duties range from assisting an ER physician in tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) and working with the unit’s trauma surgeon in damage control surgery.

While supporting NV24, Elliott is part of exercise activities that include participants from Denmark, France, Iceland, Norway, and Poland as well as components of Standing NATO Maritime Group One and Allied Maritime Command.

“It is an honor to be part of this exercise,” said Elliott. “I am grateful for the experience it is providing me, as well as the bonding it provides our team in order to function as a professional and precise emergency medicine and surgical unit. Expanding on my tactical combat casualty care and damage control resuscitation knowledge, has helped me become a better corpsman.”

NV24 strengthens interoperability among NATO Allies through a variety of contingency situations including humanitarian crisis response caused by a simulated volcanic eruption and other training opportunities to further enhance safety and sustainment operations, expeditionary and construction capabilities, medical responses, and search and rescue, as well as humanitarian assistance.

Through NV24, the U.S., Iceland and Allied nations are able to remain prepared if needed to execute a multi-domain command and control of joint and coalition forces in the defense of Iceland and the Sea Lines of Communication in the Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom (GIUK) gap, a vital shipping hub for commerce between North America and Europe.

Participation in multinational exercises such as NV24 enhances professional relationships and improves overall coordination for the U.S. with Allied militaries during times of crisis. It also allows U.S. servicemembers the ability to experience new cultures and visit a foreign country.

While in Iceland, Elliott said he is looking forward to exploring the area that makes this country a tourist destination for many.

“This is my first time visiting this beautiful country,” said Elliott. “I am looking forward to seeing the amazing things people have told us about, of course after our job is finished.”

Northern Viking is a biennial exercise that has been held since 1982 and is based on the provisions of the 1951 Defense Agreement between Iceland and the United States.

U.S. European Command directed and U.S. Naval Forces Europe-led, NV24 is a U.S. Sixth Fleet planned and executed Joint and Coalition live exercise. U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts a full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with Allies, in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Story originally posted on DVIDS: Centerton Native Supports Military Exercise NORTHERN VIKING in Iceland 

Source: United States Navy

Laboon deployed for 279 days to the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea providing deterrence and defense to U.S. partners.

Rear Adm. Kavon Hakimzadeh, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2, was on the pier to welcome home the crew of Laboon.
“We are honored to welcome back the men and women of USS Laboon who have proven their proficiency and resolve throughout a demanding deployment,” said Hakimzadeh. “From safeguarding critical maritime routes to deterring threats in volatile regions, Laboon’s crew has exemplified the very best of our Navy’s tradition of excellence. We are deeply proud of what they have accomplished, and we thank each Sailor and their families for their unwavering dedication to our nation’s security.”

While independently deployed, Laboon participated in the multi-national Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect international shipping lanes in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden. In support of freedom of navigation, Laboon and her crew countered multiple attacks carried out by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in the Red Sea.

“It has been a challenging nine month deployment to hostile waters, but this team demonstrated time and again just how capable our warships are and that we have the best trained most professional warfighters in the world ready to bring the fight to any enemy,” said Cmdr. Eric Blomberg, Laboon’s commanding officer.

Chief Petty Officer Rickey Gisclair attributes Laboon’s success to training and teamwork.

“This deployment really embodied why we train so hard and every Sailor stepping up to fulfill their role in a challenging environment,” said Gisclair.
While on deployment, a refrain heard frequently onboard was: “If we have to fight; we fight and we win!” Laboon is named for Pittsburgh, Pa. native John Francis Laboon who left to serve his country as a U.S. Naval officer. After attending Carnegie Technical Institute (now Carnegie Mellon University), he was commissioned at the Naval Academy and served as the communications officer, gunnery and torpedo officer and executive officer on USS Peto (SS 265), a Gato-class submarine in World War II. During a Western Pacific patrol, while under intense enemy fire, he rescued a downed pilot from heavily-mined waters and was awarded the Silver Star. Shortly after the war, he left the Navy only to be called back to duty as a Chaplain to become Father John Francis Laboon or “Father Jake.”

During their 5th Fleet operations, Laboon upheld the tradition of Father Jake, rescuing three mariners in distress in the Gulf of Aden who had been stranded adrift at sea for ten days.

U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse comprises of 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandeb.
NAVEUR-NAVAF, headquartered in Naples, Italy, operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime forces ready to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic to ensure access, deter aggression, and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.

U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) is responsible for manning, training, equipping and employing more than 125 ships, 1,000 aircraft, and 103,000 active duty service members and government employees, and providing combat-ready forces forward to numbered fleets and combatant commanders around the globe in support of U.S. national interests. USFFC also serves as the Navy’s Service Component Commander to both U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Strategic Command, and providing naval forces in support of joint missions as Commander, Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVNORTH) and Commander, Naval Forces Strategic Command (NAVSTRAT). USFFC is the Strategic Command Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC STRAT), and executes Task Force Atlantic in coordination with U.S. Naval Forces Europe.

For any inquiries, contact usffc_nflt_pa@us.navy.mil. For more news from USFFC, visit www.usff.navy.mil and for more information visit www.facebook.com/usfleetforces or www.twitter.com/usfleetforces.

Source: United States Navy

To prepare for transport, IKE’s weapons department staged 3 million pounds of ammunition on the flight deck and in the hangar bay.

Ordnance was transferred to Ford and Truman by MH-60S Seahawk helicopters attached to the “Tridents” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 and the “Dragon-Slayers” of HSC-11. The “Dusty Dogs” of HSC-7 moved ordnance from IKE to the McLean.

In total, 1,764 vertical replenishment and connected replenishment transfers were conducted during the underway.

“Weapons department was amazing at clearing out all of the ordnance on the ship,” said Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Alexis Armstrong, G-5 division leading chief petty officer. “Off-loads and on-loads are like the Super Bowl for us.”

In order to ensure the success of the off-load, leadership emphasized safety as the top priority for the entire crew.

“Prior to every ordnance evolution, each division does a safety brief at the beginning of each off-load,” said Master Chief Aviation Ordnanceman Jerome Ruffins, weapons department leading chief petty officer. “Throughout the off-load we have officers, chief petty officers and first-class petty officers that are roving the flight deck, hangar bay and magazines for safety. We are moving a lot of heavy equipment and explosives, so safety is paramount.”

The ammunition off-load was a success and the weapons department chain of command was pleased with the commitment and effort from their Sailors.

“I was highly impressed with the amount of work it takes to get everything out of the magazines and ready for vertical or connected replenishments,” said Cmdr. Kent Davis, weapons department head, better known as “Gun Boss”. “It was a huge effort for the whole team to come together and make it happen.”

The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) are underway in the Atlantic Ocean for an ammunition transfer between the three ships and the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12).