Category: United States of America

Source: United States Navy

NORFOLK, Va. – Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC) Hampton Roads (HR) leadership held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the official turnover of the newly renovated building N-25 onboard Naval Station Norfolk (NAVSTA Norfolk), Dec. 9.

 The more than $24 million building renovation took seven years to complete due other NAVSTA Norfolk projects.  In 2017, the installation and Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education made it their number one priority due to the poor condition of the historic building. 
 
“We have all put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to make this day a reality,” explained SCSTC’s Infrastructure Readiness Director, N4, Mr. Mark Wright.  “The project was a complete overhaul.  Each section was taken down to the studs.  Updates to the building included bringing it up to code, installation of a complete heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, and replacing electrical, plumbing, and flooring.  We also replaced the entire roof.”
 
The 107-year-old building is comprised of two separate sections. The original section was constructed in 1917, and the second was built in 1968.  In 1918, building N-25-A became the “General School,” containing various schools including training courses for machinist’s mates and metalsmiths.
 
The Clendenin family was in attendance as well to honor their father and grandfather, Mr. William Allen (Al) Clendenin.  Clendenin retired from active duty in June 1967 after 26 years of dedicated service and embarked on his civilian career in August 1967 as the senior learning evaluator for the Electronics School located in N-25. Upon retirement from civil service in August 1985, he was awarded the prestigious Navy Superior Civilian Service Award.  On July 8, 1987, the Navy renamed N-25 as “Clendenin Hall” in honor of his many years of service to the Navy in the field of electronics and communication.
 
Today, the newly renovated 90,000 square foot building serves as home for SCSTC HR.  Populated throughout the building are labs and classrooms supporting various training including Radar, Anti-Submarine Warfare, and Miniature/Microminiature Electronics Repair.  The facility also provides office space for personnel. 
 
“We are thrilled with the renovation but also appreciative of the historic significance of this building,” said SCSTC HR’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Riley Murdock.  “N-25 has been part of the training community since World War I and today, this facility will once again be utilized to train warfighters.”
 
Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC), headquartered in Dahlgren, Virginia, falls under the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), led by Rear Adm. Jeffrey Czerewko.  SCSTC is a training organization that consists of 15 global learning sites and detachments.  Its mission is to provide the U.S. Navy and our allies with highly trained warfighters to maintain, operate, and tactically employ surface combat systems across the spectrum of operations.  Annually, SCSTC delivers training to over 37,000 U.S. Navy Sailors as well as international Sailors from 27 partner nations. 
 
For information about Surface Combat Systems Training Command, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/SCSTC.   
 
Follow SCSTC on
https://www.facebook.com/SurfaceCombatSystemsTrainingCommand  
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The Hampton Roads Naval Museum provided the historical data regarding Naval Station Norfolk’s Building N-25-A.  To learn more about the museum, visit https://www.history.navy.mil/hrnm.

Source: United States Navy

“Recruiting was a great news story for the Navy in 2024,” said Franchetti. “We exceeded our recruiting goal of 46,000, bringing in 40,978 brand new Sailors, and all of our recruiting stations have been supporting Fleet Weeks around the country and introducing the American people to their Navy.”

The ‘Strike Group’ experience is designed to showcase the breadth and depth of Navy STEM careers, from nuclear engineering and aviation to special warfare and medicine — a range of opportunities that no other military or private sector path can match. Through leading-edge mixed reality, the ‘Strike Group’ provides users with a fully immersive, hands-on look into the technology and teamwork that are central to every role in the Navy.

“From the depths of the sea to the heights of the stars, America’s Navy is the most highly skilled, technologically advanced military force in the world,” says Waters. “A career in the Navy provides a life-changing experience filled with adventure, teamwork, and support, and the ‘Strike Group’ brings all of these aspects to life in the most realistic ways possible.”

‘Strike Group’ comprises 7 distinctive, interactive challenges and experiences:

· All Hands

Players will test their skills on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in a five-person virtual reality game. Participants will don a Meta Quest 3 headset and be transported out to the USS Gerald R. Ford where they will team up to launch an F-35C Lightning II jet. Working together in different roles – from loading fuel to flying helicopters to piloting the aircraft itself – each player will be immersed in the experience of what it is like to serve aboard an aircraft carrier and have their efforts influence a Navy mission.

· Support

The Navy conducts humanitarian missions around the globe through a variety of ship platforms and communities. Participants will navigate an interactive map of the world with a range of Navy ships and vehicles to explore the breadth and depth of these operations at strategic, geographic locations. Each vehicle will trigger an educational experience, not only about the mission, but also about the potential careers to help provide aid to communities worldwide.

· Fly

Players will experience Naval aviation like never before. This full-motion flight simulator will drop participants into the cockpit of an F-35C Lightning II, where they’ll launch from an aircraft carrier with

their wingman on a training mission. With some up-front tutorials, users will learn to maneuver the aircraft prior to engaging in a mission to drop munitions on a practice target, and then land safely back on the carrier.

· Dive

Navy Underwater Construction Teams always are on call if an undersea repair is needed. In this interactive, virtual mission, participants will take on the role of a Navy diver, driving a boat to a location after a storm, then use their dive and welding skills to help repair a damaged pier.

· Achieve

America’s Navy has hundreds of roles available in every field – from nuclear engineering to aviation to special operations. To help participants see themselves in one of these careers, they can take a personality quiz that will pair them with a list of jobs best suited for them. The best part? Participants also will receive an AI-generated image of themselves in their recommended role.

· Seek

Few people ever get to experience life inside a Navy submarine. To showcase the “Silent Service,” participants will undergo a real-life submarine mission – an Ice Exercise (ICEX) near the North Pole. Players will work together and use their skills in nuclear propulsion, sonar, and navigation to successfully break through the thick sea ice during the Arctic Ocean operation.

· Train

Navy SEALs have a legacy of strenuous training and intense qualifications. In this experience, a Navy SEAL trainer will guide participants through a series of challenges that will test their physical strength, mental fortitude, and willpower.

Why It Is Called the ‘Strike Group’

The new ‘Strike Group’ interactive experience is modeled after the Navy’s modern carrier strike groups (CSGs). When deployed these CSGs are comprised of roughly 7,500 personnel, 1 aircraft carrier with an embarked air wing of 65 to 70 aircraft, a guided missile cruiser, and a destroyer squadron with three or more guided missile destroyers. Carrier Strike Groups extend the Navy’s warfighting reach, epitomize the leading-edge technology and teamwork that are synonymous with Navy life. The Navy currently maintains 11 carrier strike groups, 10 of which are based in the United States and one that is forward deployed in Japan.

Media Opportunity

CNO Commissioning of the Navy’s New ‘Strike Group’/Celebration of the Navy’s Recruiters of the Year

Thursday, December 12, 2024

The Granite Sea at the U.S. Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004

Schedule of Events

10:30 am – Strike Group Commissioning Ceremony Kickoff

10:40-10:50 am – Silent Drill Team Performance

10:50-11 am – Ribbon Cutting

11 am-6 pm – Strike Group Tours Open to the Public

6-6:30 pm – Recruiters of the Year (ROY) Ceremony Kickoff

6:30–8:30 pm – Reception

Please RSVP to Navy Recruiting Command, nrc_hq_00p_list@us.navy.mil

Source: United States Navy

The grants, part of a long-standing memorandum of understanding to advance LDES solutions, support the State of California’s clean energy goals and enhance the energy resilience of Navy and Marine Corps installations.

“We are proud to partner with the State of California to advance LDES solutions that align with California’s clean energy goals,” said Assistant Secretary of the Navy and Chief Sustainability Officer Meredith Berger. “These projects are more than just an investment, they’re a shared commitment to a stronger, cleaner future. Together, we are demonstrating innovative technologies that support California’s transition to a cleaner energy future while assuring Navy and Marine Corps mission readiness.”

Since 2016, the Department of the Navy (DON) has partnered with the CEC to operate on the cutting edge of technology by pursuing innovative renewable energy initiatives. The $42 Million Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and $8 Million Naval Base San Diego projects represent an instrumental public-private partnership between the State of California, the DON, local communities and industry.

“Long-duration and multi-day energy storage is key to California’s clean energy future because it helps transforms how we can capture and store excess power generated by renewable resources,” said CEC Chair David Hochschild. “Working with the military on this project helps California continue accelerating the path to market for emerging technologies that are critically needed to address climate change, air pollution, and equity in our state and globally.”

Once completed, the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton project at the Haybarn Energy Reliability Center will provide electricity to the California grid and backup power for Marines for up to 14 days in the event of power outages, and yield an additional 400 MWHs of energy storage to Camp Pendleton and the surrounding community. The project demonstrates the power of a defense community and represents the largest LDES project in the Department of Defense to date.

“By integrating these advanced storage systems, the Marine Corps can more efficiently manage energy demand, ensure continuity of operations during grid outages, and reduce dependency on traditional fuels. These capabilities not only enhance the resilience of our installations but also highlight our commitment to advancing the nation’s clean energy leadership through strong federal-state partnerships,” said Berger.

Enhancing energy resilience and serving as a blueprint for LDES system installations for renewable microgrids at naval facilities, the Naval Base San Diego project will provide the DON with valuable data to support the integration of LDES into the core of military operations and maximize the use of non-fossil fuel backup systems to power 24-hour critical operations, allowing missions to continue under volatile conditions, uninterrupted.

“Projects like these build upon the value and benefit of working together on LDES and new technical solutions and serve as a model for installations around the world to increase energy reliability and ensure mission success during unexpected grid conditions and natural disasters,” said Berger.

We are thankful for our collaborative partnership with the CEC and appreciate their taking a meaningful stand in support of our mission assurance and collective national security, and for giving us the opportunity to build the community resilience, climate readiness, and energy future we value and require. We are proud of our partnership and look forward to continuing to demonstrate its value through projects like these for a long time to come.”

Source: United States Navy

WASHINGTON (Dec. 11, 2024) – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro gave remarks at the 2024 U.S. Naval Institute (USNI) Defense Forum, Dec. 11, 2024.

The forum consisted of Senior military officials, members of Congress, industry leaders, and defense analysts who discussed the current state of shipbuilding as well as examined issues such as static fleet size, maintenance challenges, operational availability, and the difficulties shipyards face with labor, training, budgeting, and requirements.

Secretary Del Toro opened his remarks by discussing the future of building and sustaining the naval force structure for the nation’s needs.

“For the first time since World War II, we face a comprehensive maritime power,” said Secretary Del toro. “Our Navy and Marine Corps Team serves as a proud and powerful testament of our Nation’s commitment to our allies and partners in Europe, the Middle East, and Indo-Pacific regions.”

Secretary Del Toro also discussed strengthening maritime dominance and why it is important to build a culture of warfighting excellence.

“To fight and decisively win our Nation’s wars, we cannot rely on merely maintaining our sea power—we must strengthen our maritime dominance,” said Secretary Del Toro. “Our people are the foundational strength of this Department, and they provide us competitive warfighting advantage over our adversaries.”

“Our priority of building a culture of warfighting excellence is founded on strong leadership that is rooted in treating each other with dignity and respect,” said Secretary Del Toro.

Secretary Del Toro continued by highlighting the importance of enhancing strategic partnerships.

“Our greatest asymmetric strength lies in our network of partnerships with our Defense Industrial Base,” said Secretary Del Toro, “As we look to the future, we must continue to make informed decisions about shipbuilding, maintenance, repair, and the future of the fleet which will impact and shape the Navy for decades to come.”

Secretary Del Toro concluded his remarks with sharing his pride in the U.S. Navy.

“I am extremely proud of everything our department has accomplished over the last three years, and I am excited for our Navy-Marine Corps team as we chart a course for the future—a future that will require us to respond and adapt to whatever geopolitical challenges our Nation may face,” said Secretary Del Toro.

Source: United States Navy

“Sea Sisters is one of the few direct engagements the U.S. military has with our Djiboutian partners,” said Chief Gunner`s Mate Lydia Cassard. “It provides an opportunity for building relationships, collaborating on a joint event, and learning from each other.”

The training exercise started with classroom knowledge exchanges and a briefing on events before transitioning to the water for training in search and rescue, tactical combat casualty care, water survival, and weapons familiarization.

Sea Sisters began in 2023 when servicewomen from MSRON 11 conducted a maritime personnel recovery exercise with the Djiboutian Coast Guard servicewomen for the first time. Sea Sisters began to unite women from partner nations for a common goal: protecting the port of Djibouti.

“Sea Sisters allows the opportunity for women of the MSRON to share their experience in the community and their skillset with our partners,” said Chief Cassard. “In turn, we get to hear them as well. It’s a huge exercise that we are always excited to be a part of and a chance to share knowledge and culture as well as make friends.”

The Biannual Sea Sisters engagement prepares Djiboutian Coast Guard servicewomen for the Bull Shark exercise, a joint personnel recovery exercise that brings maritime forces from the United States, Djibouti, Spain, and France together. MSRON units assigned to Camp Lemonnier work with the Djiboutian Navy and Coast Guard for months each year to prepare for the regional exercise, practicing maritime skills, signaling, advanced navigation, and casualty care. The exchange of knowledge and shared experiences serve to build trust.

About MSRON 1B and Camp Lemonnier

MSRON 1B is an expeditionary command that executes a full spectrum of combat and combat support missions, including littoral combat and embarked security trams on high value assets in support of global force management and major combat operations.

While assigned to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, MSRON 1B provides CLDJ’s 36 tenant commands and visiting naval vessels protection through 24/7 port security and escorting operations. CLDJ is an operational installation that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where and when they are needed to ensure security in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. (U.S. Navy story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maurice Brown)