Category: United States Navy

Source: United States Navy

BATH, Maine (NNS) – Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday traveled to Bath, Maine, April 18, where he met with congressional leaders from Maine to visit General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW).

Gilday met with Sen. Susan Collins and other Congressional leaders and together they visited shipyard facilities, toured and met with Sailors aboard the future USS Carl M. Levin (DDG 120).                                                                                   

“The work being done here in Maine is critically important to our Navy,” said Gilday.  “The entire workforce of Bath Iron Works is delivering cutting edge capabilities at a critical time for our nation.”

“It was a pleasure to welcome back Adm. Gilday to Bath Iron Works, where he had the opportunity to see firsthand the tremendous skill and dedication of employees who are building the Navy’s most capable ships.  We also met with the commander of the future USS Carl M. Levin.  It is reassuring to know that the brave men and women of the Navy will crew a ship built by the world’s best shipbuilders,” said Senator Collins.  “Increasing the size of our Navy fleet is imperative to our national security in order to counter the rising aggression by Russia and China.  As a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I will continue to work to ensure that BIW has the resources it needs to support our Navy.”

During the tour they visited and received updates at the Bath Iron Works outfit facility, post-blast paint shop, and spoke with shipyard workers.

Gilday also met with BIW leaders to include the Interim President Robert Smith.  They discussed the importance and challenges of the shipyard, which include material delays and connecting with a younger generation of shipyard workers.

Aboard the Arleigh-Burke guided-missile destroyer, Gilday presented an award to a Sailor and expressed his appreciation to everyone on board. 

“Seeing a new warship being built is exciting, but what truly breathes life into a new ship is her crew,” said Gilday. “We are the finest fighting force in the world because of our people. I am confident USS Carl M. Levin Sailors will embrace a warfighting ethos with the integrity and uncompromising dedication that truly embraces their ship’s namesake, who helped ensure our nation’s armed forces remained the best in the world.”

The visit marked CNO’s second trip to Bath Iron Works.

Source: United States Navy

Sentinel Shield, an exercise designed to enhance interoperability, was conducted in the Arabian Gulf and involved personnel and ships from the U.S. Coast Guard and the United Arab Emirates Navy. The USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318) and UAENS Marban (P152) conducted passing exercises and maneuvering drills, as well as small boat training.

“UAE was an excellent partner in conducting the necessary serials to continue to build our relationship in the Arabian Gulf,” said Lt. Vaughn Gehman, Baranof’s commanding officer. “IMSC is essential in maintaining the free flow of commerce in these important waters.”

“I was delighted to see our Emirati partners participating in this month’s exercise,” said Commodore Don Mackinnon, commander of IMSC and CTF Sentinel. “Sentinel Shield exercises better train our task force while strengthening our ability to handle real-world scenarios and better communications with our partner nations.”

IMSC was formed in July 2019 in response to increased threats to freedom of navigation for merchant mariners transiting international waters in the Middle East. CTF Sentinel was established four months later to deter state-sponsored malign activity and reassure the merchant shipping industry in the Bab al-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz.

The coalition includes nine member nations: the Republic of Albania, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Lithuania, Romania, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Source: United States Navy

The inclement weather didn’t put a damper – or wash away – the visual reminders and supportive messages drawn and sketched by Sailors for their Chalk the Walk event.

“Everyone out here is in support of our event and sharing encouragement, information, and just reminding everyone that none of us are ever alone. Help is everywhere,” said Obando, Chalk the Walk organizer for what has become an annual event, rain or shine, at the command.

This year’s SAAPM theme is “Step Forward. Prevent. Report. Advocate,” a call to action for everyone in the Department of Defense to do their part to prevent sexual assault and encourage greater assistance seeking.

Such was the premise with the Chalk the Walk.

“We are out here to help spread awareness, educate, and talk about sexual assault awareness and prevention. Our Chalk the Walk event encourages our staff and patients to show their support by expressing their thoughts through chalk art and words of encouragement,” explained Chief Hospital Corpsman Jenny Singer, NMRTC Bremerton Sexual Assault Prevention Response coordinator and Clinical Support Services directorate senior enlisted leader.

The Chalk the Walk event covered the command’s sky bridge between the main hospital and adjacent parking lot, is part of NMRTC Bremerton’s month long recognition of SAAPM, which also includes a Sailors Against Sexual Harassment and Assault 5K run/walk, teal ribbon display, denim decoration display, and Sexual Assault Prevention Response victim advocate recognition.

“We all have the opportunity and responsibility to promote a climate that is free from sexual assault,” added Singer. “We all play a part in prevention and treating everyone with dignity and respect and not tolerating retaliation when someone has the courage to speak up.”

According to the DoD, over a decade of research demonstrates that sexual assault occurs less often in units where members support and respect each other. Data further shows that sticking up for someone who is being hazed, bullied, and harassed or abused sends a strong message that helps improve climates.

“I came out here to help spread awareness and hope to shed light that we support others and that people can stand up for themselves,” stated Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Kai Vincent,

The SAPR program balances focused education with comprehensive response, compassionate advocacy, and just adjudication in order to promote professionalism, respect, and trust, while preserving Navy mission readiness.

SAPR also reinforces – one chalk mark at a time – a culture of prevention, response, and accountability for the safety, dignity, and well-being of Sailors and Marines. The Department of the Navy does not tolerate sexual assault.

If you or someone you know in the DoD community has experienced sexual assault, please consider reaching out to DoD Safe Helpline for 24/7, anonymous, one-on-one support at 877- 995-5247 or SafeHelpline.org/live-chat.

Source: United States Navy

Sailors assigned to weapons department acquired the ordnance, consisting of 30,000 rounds of small arms caliber ammunition, from the Navy Munitions Command Atlantic Detachment (NMCLANT) Yorktown.

“We use the ordnance to maintain security for all personnel aboard the ship and for the ship itself,” said Chief Master at Arms Jonathan K. Vitron, from Seaside, Oregon, the security operations chief aboard George Washington. “It helps maintain our firearm qualifications and proficiency for when the need to use force arises.”

The evolution included Sailors from weapons department bringing onboard the ordnance with members of the security department setting up perimeters to ensure safety of the crew and the ordnance.

“During this evolution, ordnance and weapons department handled the small arms, with security department making sure certain areas were secure and people weren’t going where they shouldn’t,” said Lt. Cmdr. Brian J. Garcia, from Humble, Texas, the ordnance handling officer aboard George Washington, highlighting the logistics involved in the process.

During the onload, the crew took inventory three times: before departing NMCLANT, on the pier, and finally on the ship, before transferring the ordnance to the temporary magazine, where it will be monitored on a regular basis.

“We are required to take magazine temperatures daily. We record them and submit them with our twelve o’clock reports for the command duty officer and assistant command duty officer to review,” said Garcia.

The regular replenishment of on-board small arms ordnance is crucial to help maintain force protection of the ship and ensure that security can keep up with weapons qualifications, resulting in improved safety for all.

Join the conversation with GW online at www.facebook.com/USSGW. For more news from USS George Washington, visit www. Navy.mil/local/cvn73/.

Source: United States Navy

During a ceremony at the U.S. Navy’s regional headquarters in Bahrain, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and CMF, commissioned Combined Task Force (CTF) 153.

“This is a tangible and meaningful demonstration of our commitment to ensuring regional maritime security and stability through international cooperation,” said Cooper.

As CMF’s fourth task force, CTF 153 will focus on international maritime security and capacity-building efforts in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden.

CMF is the largest standing multinational naval partnership with 34 nations committed to the international rules-based order at sea. The organization’s other task forces include CTF 150, which now focuses on maritime security in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean; CTF 151, which leads regional counter-piracy efforts; and CTF 152, dedicated to maritime security in the Arabian Gulf.

“The Middle East region is dynamic and vast. There’s not one navy who can patrol the surrounding waters by themselves,” said Cooper. “We are always at our best when we are teaming with partners.”

Cooper designated U.S. Navy Capt. Robert Francis to initially serve as CTF 153’s commander. However, a regional partner will assume the leadership role in the fall.

The task force staff will include as many as 15 U.S. and international military personnel from CMF member-nations. The staff is currently embarked aboard amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) operating in regional waters. When not at sea, CTF 153 personnel will work from offices ashore at CMF headquarters in Manama, Bahrain.

CMF was established in 2001 with 12 like-minded countries to counter the threat of international terrorism. The organization was later expanded to include counter-piracy operations and added a 34th member in 2021.