Category: United States of America

Source: United States Navy

The engagement reinforced and expanded combined special operations forces interoperability with partner nation militaries in support of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

“We value the opportunity to train with our counterparts from India and Japan,” said an NSW operator. “It’s the continued collaboration like this that sharpens our tactics and strengthens our bond with our partners in the region.”

The training encompassed a variety of critical skills, including iterations on beach insertion, maritime interdiction, close-quarters combat, and tactical casualty care. Participants engaged in realistic scenarios culminating in a comprehensive capstone exercise featuring maritime interdiction operations and rehearsals for visit, board, search, and seizure techniques.

“After sharing procedures and establishing standards, our combined forces developed realistic special operations scenarios,” said another NSW operator. “This training improved our readiness and interoperability, preparing us to effectively plan and carry out modern missions.”

High-quality, realistic training is essential to maintaining and demonstrating the United States’ commitment to a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. Our partners in the Japan Self-Defense Forces and Indian Navy Marine Commandos are incredibly capable allies, and we continue to train and exercise together to improve interoperability and strengthen our capabilities.

NSW is the nation’s elite maritime special operations force, uniquely positioned to extend the Fleet’s reach. Additionally, U.S. Special Operations Forces provide flexible responses to contingencies in the Indo-Pacific. Integral to this capability is a forward-deployed posture and continuous engagement with partner and ally forces, heightening mutual interoperability and regional expertise.

Malabar 24 is a combined field training exercise with the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and U.S. Navy participants. The exercise is designed to support achievement of strategic objectives by strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and promoting interoperability in the conduct of complex warfighting operations.

Source: United States Navy

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Thomas A. Cecil, a June 2024 graduate from NPS’ Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation (MOVES) program and winner of Commander George L. Phillips Award for top MOVES graduate, focused his award-winning thesis research on advancing one of these technologies – mixed-reality (MR) head-mounted displays (HMD) – a key contributor to naval aviation’s plan for distributed, low-cost simulation-based training. 

The accolades for Cecil’s work didn’t stop on campus. His work has been selected as one of six nominees for the Best Paper Award at the upcoming 2024 Interservice/Industry Training Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC). Cecil will be on hand to present his nominated work with his NPS MOVES advisors on Tuesday, Dec. 3. 

“My thesis investigated the effects of mixed-reality, head-mounted displays on cognitive workload with an eye towards the implications for Naval Aviation,” he said. Cecil’s study employed the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory’s (USAARL) Multiple Attribute Task Battery (MATB), with participants completing three trials of aviation-related subtasks through touchscreens and a joystick. 

“We varied the display method participants used to view the tracking subtask between trials,” Cecil explained, providing testers with a legacy simulator as well as two head-mounted mixed-reality displays, each using one of two primary display technologies, optical see-through (OST) and video see-through (VST). Cecil collected “subjective user assessments, objective performance metrics, and heart rate variability to determine if the display methods affect the user’s cognitive workload,” he explained. 

Cecil’s results demonstrate the inherent challenges in transitioning to new technologies, and how humans engage with them. 

“We found significant differences between the display methods,” he said. “Users of MR HMDs demonstrated poorer performance, slower reaction times, subjectively higher cognitive workloads, and increased simulator sickness symptoms.”

With the advancement of live, virtual, constructive training environments, emerging technologies will play a major role in the training of tomorrow’s naval aviators, as will next generation virtual, augmented and mixed-reality displays. Areas for further research, detailed in Cecil’s thesis, offer insights into understanding how to optimally pair the training functions with the right technology. 

“Further research needs to investigate these impacts on actual aircraft while conducting training sorties to identify which training events are best suited to legacy or MR technology,” Cecil said. 

Collaboration with both the USAARL, as well as the Naval Air Warfare Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) proved to be key enablers to Cecil’s success. Through updates to its task battery, USAARL officials made critical changes that were essential to Cecil’s study design. 

“USAARL also proved instrumental in helping me process the data and conduct the statistical analysis,” he added.

“NAWCTSD proved helpful in the concept development stage by helping me understand the limitations of the work that had been done up to that point and the technology being used in development of MR simulators,” Cecil said. “They also lent us a headset that we used to build and validate our test bench.”

Following his award-winning research at NPS, Cecil is now stationed in Okinawa, Japan, where he serves as the director of the III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Tactical Exercise Control Group (TECG).

“We provide the MEF with wargame simulation and virtual reality capabilities in support of integrated Marine Air-Ground Task Force training,” said Cecil. “This includes providing planning, coordination, and technical support to III MEF and its major subordinate commands in support of participation in joint, unilateral, and bilateral training in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. We also maintain and operate tactical level virtual reality and wargame simulations.”

“My education at NPS has allowed me to hit the ground running with a solid foundational knowledge of the technology on hand,” he continued. “This translates into being able to focus my time and energy on leading our team rather than treading water trying to understand the systems and how they are employed.”

NPS, located in Monterey, California, provides defense-focused graduate education, including classified studies and interdisciplinary research, to advance the operational effectiveness, technological leadership, and warfighting advantage of the Naval service. Established in 1909, NPS offers master’s and doctorate programs to Department of Defense military and civilians, along with international partners, to deliver transformative solutions and innovative leaders through advanced education and research.

Source: United States Navy

“Avoid running cords and wires across common walking areas, keep outdoor steps and stairs clear, and make multiple trips instead of carrying so much you’re unable to see where you are going,” said Fred Christian, safety manager at the Center for Security Forces, speaking about holiday safety.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), during the 2023 holiday season, 14,900 people were treated at hospital emergency rooms because of holiday decorating mishaps. The CPSC also states that Thanksgiving Day is the peak day for cooking-related fires.

“Keep anything that can burn at least three feet from all heat sources, including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, and space heaters,” emphasized Christian. “Also, never use your kitchen oven to heat your home!”

The Naval Safety Center recommends placing turkey fryers at least ten feet away from any structures and on a level surface. Ensure the turkey or item to be cooked is fully thawed, always monitor the fryer, and have a dry powder or multipurpose fire extinguisher nearby.

Christian also highlighted the importance of ensuring chimneys are cleaned and inspected by a professional, and if space heaters are used in the home, ensure they have a safety tip-over switch and are turned off before bed.

The CPSC cites cooking as the leading cause of residential fires, and the average number of cooking-related fires occurring on Thanksgiving Day is 14,000, which is more than three times the daily average for the remaining year.

“People should perform smoke and carbon monoxide alarm checks every month and replace units that are more than ten years old,” said Christian. “Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of poisoning in the United States.”

Christian further explained that smoke alarms should be installed on every level of a home and placed in the bedrooms and outside of sleeping areas, either on the ceiling or high on the wall. For family members with hearing difficulties or who are deaf, install special alarms, strobe lights, or bed-shakers to alert them of danger.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is the busiest time of the year to be on the road. According to NHTSA, there were 326 people killed in traffic accidents in 2022, of which 43 percent were not wearing their seatbelts. On the eve of Thanksgiving Day, 35 percent of 100 drivers killed in fatal traffic accidents were impaired by alcohol.

“When traveling, plan early,” encouraged Christian. “Ensure you have an emergency kit, especially if traveling in remote areas. Be well rested, leave early, and anticipate heavy traffic. Most importantly, ensure everyone in the vehicle is buckled in properly no matter how long or short the travel time will be.”

The Center for Security Forces provides specialized training to more than 20,000 students annually in Force Protection, Expeditionary Warfare, Code of Conduct, Law Enforcement, and Small Craft Operations. It has training locations across the United States and worldwide, “Where Training Breeds Confidence.

Source: United States Navy

The selection was announced by NAVFAC Commander Rear Adm. Dean VanderLey, Nov. 13. Tobias, who has commanded NAVFAC Washington since June 2023, will bring his extensive facilities engineering expertise and leadership experience to the flag officer ranks at a crucial time for naval infrastructure.

His selection comes as the Navy implements Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s Project 33; a strategic initiative launched in September 2024 that identifies seven critical targets to enhance naval readiness by 2027. One of these key targets focuses on restoring the critical infrastructure that sustains and projects the fight from shore.

“Our CNO laid it out for us in our Project 33 targets – to restore the shore, from which we project the fight. So, we have to get after it,” said Tobias, emphasizing the urgency of the mission. “The future needs involve us being able to truly assess our risk. We understand our infrastructure has risk associated with it. So, it’s our job to make sure that we understand and communicate those risks and mitigate them where possible.”

A graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Tobias joined the Navy through the collegiate program before attending Officer Candidate School and Civil Engineer Corps Basic School. Throughout his career, he has emphasized the importance of teamwork and maintaining a positive attitude in leadership.

Under his command, NAVFAC Washington has aligned its efforts with Project 33’s ambitious goals while increasing retention rates and strengthening community engagement. “These are big, audacious goals, and I love to achieve big, audacious goals,” Tobias said. “With the teammates we have – the officers, the enlisted, the civilians and all the families who support us – we have the best. And with that, we’re going to hit those targets and even more – exciting times.”

His leadership philosophy centers on the power of teamwork and positive attitude. “Human beings function best when we work together as a team,” Tobias explained. “There might be a day where I come in and I’m not at my greatest, but you are, and you help pick me up, and there might be a day when you come in and you’re not at your greatest, but I am. And we pick each other up, and that’s how we achieve great things, working together.”

To junior officers and engineers starting their careers, Tobias offers words of encouragement: “Thank you for your choice. Thank you for your service. The challenges laid out by our CNO present a great opportunity to meet the challenges and exceed them. It’s a fun time to be in the Corps.”

Tobias credits his success to strong family support, particularly mentioning his mother’s influence as his first leadership model and his wife Toni’s ongoing support throughout his naval career. “It is a great joy to serve in the Navy, but it is a sacrifice for our families and for folks who are loving us and supporting us while we go do our thing,” he noted.

As he prepares to assume his new role, Tobias remains focused on NAVFAC’s critical mission within Project 33’s framework to restore and maintain the Navy’s infrastructure, ensuring readiness for potential challenges through 2027 and beyond. His selection represents both personal achievement and a significant milestone for the Civil Engineer Corps and the broader Navy community.

Source: United States Navy

“Two months into deployment, and the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group has experienced an unprecedented amount of operations with our NATO Allies and partners,” said Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of the HSTCSG. “It is truly impressive to watch the seamless integration of the armed forces of so many countries and multitude of ships and aircraft all operating as a unified fighting force. It is an absolute testament to the strength and versatility of the NATO Alliance.”

HSTCSG arrived in the North Sea on Oct. 15, immediately engaging with Allies and partners, starting with the Portuguese Navy Frigate NRP Francisco De Almeida (F 333) and Royal Norwegian Navy replenishment oiler HNoMS Maud (A-530). Almeida seamlessly integrated into the carrier strike group as an immediate force multiplier, where the ship served as a horizon reference unit for the carrier and conducted Helicopter, Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (HVBSS) operations.

During that time, Maud provided the needed fuel for the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) and USS Stout (DDG 55) to detach as a surface action group to conduct maritime operations in the Barents Sea, where the ships enhanced domain awareness, deterred adversaries, and practiced campaigning in the Arctic. On the way back, both ships pulled into Tromsø, Norway, for fuel, supplies, and rest and relaxation for the crew.

“It is important that U.S. naval forces demonstrate a calibrated presence in the Arctic by conducting routine operations in the region,” said Cmdr. Desmond Walker, commander officer of Stout. “We must take on all opportunities to enhance our capabilities toward potential campaigns around the world.”

In a display of transatlantic military cooperation and power projection, HSTCSG units conducted dual carrier strike group operations with the United Kingdom Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09) for the 7-day NATO-led maritime vigilance activity Neptune Strike (NEST) 24.2, Oct. 24-31. The two carrier strike groups transferred operational authorities to NATO to conduct coordinated surface and air operations, including complex air defense, anti-submarine warfare, and maritime strike operations.

Vigilance activity provides an example of the long-standing strategic partnership between the United States and its NATO Allies over the last 80 years. Today, upholding the international, rules-based order is more important than ever. Harry S. Truman participated in the first Neptune Strike vigilance activity, then called Neptune Shield, in Feb. 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; marking the first time the United States placed a carrier strike group under NATO’s control since the Cold War.

Before and during NEST, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 squadrons flew a multitude of missions with several countries to include Czech and Swedish Air Force JAS-39 Gripens, Danish F-16 Fighting Falcons, Royal Navy and Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, Finish F/A-18C Hornets. The ability to plan and fly tactical missions with Allies and partners explicitly demonstrates NATO’s combat credibility in the air, expanding the striking range of any carrier strike group.

Following NEST, the strike group disaggregated to conduct port visits across the region. Harry S. Truman and Carabiniere navigated the Oslofjord with the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate Thor Heyerdahl (F 314) to visit Oslo, Norway. At the same time, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg went to Helsinki, Finland, and Stout went to Gothenburg, Sweden.

While at anchor in Norway, Harry S. Truman, Vice Adm. Jeffrey Anderson, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet, and Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Eric Meyer of the U.S. Embassy to Norway, hosted a 700-person reception featuring Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre as the distinguished visitor. Gettysburg and Stout also hosted receptions and office calls with host nation civilian and military leaders.

At the conclusion of their port visit, Harry S. Truman and the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate Roald Amundsen (F 311) headed north into the Norwegian Sea to operate above the Arctic Circle, echoing the 2024 Department of Defense Arctic Strategy’s “Enhance, Engage, and Exercise” tenants by enhancing our ability to campaign in the Arctic, engaging with Allies, and exercising with calibrated presence.

“Operating in the Arctic requires comprehensive coordination and adaptability,” said Capt. Dave Snowden, commanding officer, USS Harry S. Truman. “Our ship is no stranger to these waters and, while these conditions are a proving ground that tested the ship, crew, and air wing, Team Truman and Tarbox demonstrated that we are capable of operating anywhere and anytime as a combat ready team.”

In an increasingly dynamic region, Harry S. Truman’s integration and collaboration with Allies and partners is a testament to NATO’s combined force interoperability, combat-credible collective defense, and flexibility of threat response in a region seeing increased strategic importance due to climate shifts and global competition.

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.