Pearl Harbor sets sail for Pacific Partnership 2013
5/15/2013
by MCSN Samantha Webb, USS Pearl Harbor Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) departed its homeport of Naval Station San Diego, May 14, as the command platform for Pacific Partnership 2013.
This year's mission will partner the U.S. Navy with non-governmental organizations and regional partners including Australia, Canada, France, Japan and New Zealand to improve maritime security, conduct humanitarian assistance and strengthen regional disaster response preparedness.
Adm. Cecil D. Haney, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet said missions such as Pacific Partnership strengthen international relationships, build trust and open the kind of dialogue between leaders that are necessary to deter conflict and address some of the most urgent and complex issues of our time.
"The U.S. Pacific Fleet is always prepared for battle, but we also operate to preserve the peace," said Haney. He added that multilateral missions like Pacific Partnership provide a huge benefit to the maritime security of all participating nations by increasing regional stability leading to peace and prosperity.
This year's mission commander is U.S. Navy Capt. Wallace Lovely, commodore of Hawaii-based Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 31. Lovely said this year's mission is unique in that it is the first to share mission leadership with partner nations.
"Australia will lead in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand will lead in both Kiribati and Solomon Islands, and the United States will lead in Samoa, Tonga and the Marshall Islands," said Lovely.
According to Lovely, sharing the lead responsibilities, and logistical resourcing among partner nations, will help the mission remain sustainable across of a range of future fiscal challenges. "I could not be more proud of the multilateral planning effort that has gone into this year's mission," Lovely said, "It has been a true team effort."
According to a U.S. Pacific Fleet release, Pacific Partnership, and missions like it, is a clear demonstration of the U.S. Navy's commitment to enhanced regional security and long-term stability throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Warrior Games help wounded warriors recover
by Jason Kelly
May 10, 2013
Starting Saturday, members of Team Navy will compete in the 2013 Warrior Games against other wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans from the Army, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Read story here....

May application phase to open for Sailors seeking PCS orders
5/6/2013
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- The Career Management System Interactive Detailing (CMS/ID) application phase is scheduled to begin, May 9, and remain open until 5 a.m., May 21, for Sailors in their permanent change of station (PCS) orders negotiation window.
CMS/ID is the web-based program enlisted Sailors use to review and apply for PCS orders nine to seven months from their projected rotation date (PRD). Sailors may access the site at https://www.cmsid.navy.mil or from the CMS/ID link at www.npc.navy.mil.
This is the first application phase for Sailors with a February 2014 PRD, the second application phase for Sailors with a January 2014 PRD and the last application phase for Sailors with a December 2013 PRD.
These Sailors, with Fleet Ride/Perform to Serve approval, if applicable, may review advertised billets in CMS/ID during the application phase and apply for up to five jobs, either directly using CMS/ID or through a command career counselor (CCC).
The application phase is typically about 10 days, allowing Sailors time to review available jobs, research billets and discuss options with their family and chain of command before making applications before the application phase closes.
CMS/ID features a "Sailor Preference" section under the "Sailor Info Tab" where Sailors may rank duty preferences by type, command, location, platform and community, as well as indicate which special programs and schools they would like and leave comments for the detailer.
Detailers will always attempt to fill billets using a Sailor's desired selections first; however, Fleet readiness requirements are the guiding factor in filling billets. Detailers must also follow sea-shore flow guidelines outlined in NAVADMIN 361/12, so unless a Sailor requests Sea Duty Incentive Pay (SDIP) or the Voluntary Sea Duty Program (VSDP) to take consecutive sea duty orders, a Sailor up for shore duty should not be involuntarily assigned another sea tour. It may mean a Sailor hoping for shore duty in Hawaii or Washington may receive shore duty someplace else, where the need is greater.
A single set of sea billets, prioritized by U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and a single set of shore billets, prioritized by U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Bureau of Naval Personnel are advertised each application cycle as the Navy seeks to fill gaps at sea and place Sailors with the right experience levels and skill sets into high-priority Fleet billets.
Some factors a detailer must weigh when matching Sailors to jobs include the Sailor's desires, qualifications, training availability, career progression and cost to the Navy.
Detailers won't assign Sailors to advertised jobs until after the close of the application phase, during the detailer selection phase. Sailors may log into CMS/ID anytime after the detailer selection phase to see if they have been selected for orders.
Sailors can learn more about CMS/ID from their CCC or access CMS/ID by selecting the CMS/ID link on the Navy Personnel Command website at www.npc.navy.mil.

'Trident Fury' exercise begins
5/6/2013
by MC3 Chris Brown,
Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest Public Affairs
USS SPRUANCE, At Sea (NNS) -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Ford (FFG 54), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111), and ships from the Royal Canadian Navy began Exercise Trident Fury May 3.
Trident Fury is a biennial joint and multinational naval training exercise led by the Royal Canadian Navy and is designed to provide mutually beneficial, realistic and relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.
"I am very excited that my crew has been given the opportunity to participate in Exercise Trident Fury with the Royal Canadian Navy and other U.S. Navy units." said Cmdr. Joseph T. Shuler, commanding officer of Ford.
The bilateral training exercise is taking place in the waters west of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and was developed by Canada's Pacific Joint Task Force Headquarters for the purpose of building a strong working relationship between the maritime and aviation forces of the United States and Canada.
"We worked with the Canadians twice last year and were greatly impressed with the professionalism and skills they exhibited," said Shuler.
During the exercise, Sailors from Ford and Spruance will participate in many bilateral evaluations including anti-submarine warfare, war-at-sea exercises, daily multi-ship maneuvering and gunnery exercises on a flying target.
"This is a great exercise for us," said Command Senior Chief Joe Lovelace, command senior chief aboard Ford. "It allows us the opportunity to continue training and better develop our Sailors."
Exercises like Trident Fury strengthens the U.S. Navy's ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners.