Category: United States Navy

Source: United States Navy

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) provides maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services that support a variety of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft around the world. The depot also provides service to the Fleet through training for aircraft maintenance professionals who can then return to their respective organizations with the skills they need to maintain aviation readiness.

Recently, FRCE facilitated a training that will assist Fleet Readiness Center Western Pacific (FRC WESTPAC), located at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, to stand up a planned maintenance interval (PMI) line for V-22 Osprey aircraft with Japanese industrial partner NIPPI Corporation. Three NIPPI Corporation contractors attended the two-week Advanced Composite Repair Level 2 course at FRCE, earning their certificates of completion March 11.

“Completing this training was very important for our partners,” said Staff Sgt. Luis Rodriguez, the Marine Corps liaison for FRC WESTPAC, who traveled to FRCE in support of the three NIPPI contractors enrolled in the course. “There is a requirement for NIPPI Corporation to have personnel trained in these techniques in order to stand up the PMI line. Without successful completion of the training, they wouldn’t be able to do the work.”

The training prepares the participants to perform advanced repairs and modifications to aircraft components made of composite materials – advanced materials used on newer aircraft that are lighter than most metals, said Charles Taylor, the composite fabricator training leader at FRCE.

Students first review the essentials of composite repairs, including facility requirements, tools, and fasteners, and key repair methods. Once the students have refreshed their basic composite skills, they spend the rest of the course doing hands-on training, practicing double vacuum debulk (DVD) repairs and other techniques. The Navy developed the DVD procedure as a way to strengthen composite materials by removing air during the curing process, and it works to increase the strength of the repair to near-autoclave standards, Taylor said.

“The course expands on what was learned in Advanced Composite Repair,” he explained. “While at Cherry Point, we included time to get some practical applications of DVD repairs. The students were able to perform a 23-ply DVD repair on a V-22 ramp. They also had to learn how to scarf sand composite materials, which is a technique that is best learned by spending time in the booth practicing.”

The construction of the V-22 Osprey relies heavily on composite materials. The majority of the aircraft’s exterior is composite, as are the rotor blades and some of the structural components inside. This makes it important for the artisans to have advanced composite repair skills. The practical, hands-on training they completed at Cherry Point will ensure they’re ready to complete any needed repairs, Taylor said.

“This training allows them to go back to Japan and perform the full range of composite repairs,” he added. “They inducted their first V-22 last month and I’m confident with their knowledge of composite materials and what they learned over the past two weeks, they can go back home and handle any repair that might come their way.”

Taylor said he was impressed with the students’ performance. He said there were occasional communication challenges but, as a group, they were able to work through them and overcome the language barrier. In the end, the NIPPI team turned in a noteworthy performance.

“These gentlemen were the first outside contractors we have trained to pass their practical exam on the first attempt,” Taylor said. “They did an excellent job.”

NIPPI Corporation is a longtime partner of the United States government, servicing military aircraft since the early 1950s. To date, NIPPI Corporation has worked on over 14,000 aircraft for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.

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.”