Stennis Strike Group visits Korea



BUSAN, Republic of Korea (March 12, 2009) Ships from the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group and U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) are moored pier side at the Republic of Korea Navy Base Oryuk-Do in Busan. The strike group arrived March 11, while Blue Ridge pulled in March 5. Pictured from left are the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), the amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge, the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88). U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Matthew Schwarz

Mine countermeasures ships depart Second Fleet, call Third Fleet home
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet announced March 6 that the first two of eight mine countermeasure ships will begin the transfer from 2nd Fleet's Area of Responsibility to 3rd Fleet.
The two ships will depart Naval Station Ingleside's waterfront March 9 and begin a month-long journey to a new homeport in San Diego.
USS Warrior (MCM 10) and USS Chief (MCM 14) are set to leave for a permanent change of duty station in accordance with the Department of Defense Base Relocation and Closure Commission's directed closure of Naval Station Ingleside. Four of the six remaining ships will set sail in phases once maintenance and upgrades are complete. Two other MCM ships will be heavy lifted.
This move begins the consolidation of mine warfare surface assets in one location to align resources, consolidate expertise and increase cost savings in maintenance, training and operations.
In addition to the MCM ships moving, other mine warfare commands moving to the West Coast include MCM Crews, MCM Class Squadron, MCM Squadron 1, MCM Squadron 3, Mobile Mine Assembly Group and Mobile Mine Assembly Unit 15.

SURFOR Sailors hoist flag, honor Vietnam vets
by MC1(SW) Katherine Sanchez
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Surface Forces (SURFOR) held a flag-raising ceremony on March 6 to honor veterans of the Vietnam War.
Several Vietnam veterans associated with the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Vietnam Memorial Monument at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, attended the ceremony. The event began with an observance of morning colors by the SURFOR staff led by Vice Adm. D. C. Curtis, commander, Naval Surface Forces/Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, as the Navy Band played the national anthem.
Guest speaker, retired Navy Capt. and Vietnam veteran Kenneth B. McGee, addressed the staff and highlighted the importance of the memorial, explaining that it is a "hallowed monument and grounds for thoughtful reflection on the sacrifices made by our military men and women during all wars - past, present and future."
"It is to serve as a bridge between Sailors of the Vietnam War era and those on current active duty so that the courage, dedication and sacrifices made by all are honorably and perpetually linked in the spirit of naval service," McGee added.
Curtis acknowledged McGee's remarkable naval career and highlighted the importance of taking a brief respite to reflect on naval tradition and honor heroes.
"We're here today to recognize our flag, what we stand for and the reason we serve," Curtis said. "It's important to recognize our neighbors. These folks came before us, and I always tell people it's important that we recognize our veterans for their sacrifices, for their dedication and their professionalism."

Discussions aim to resolve U.S. ship incident
by Jim Garamone
WASINGTON (NNS) -- The incident in the South China Sea involving a U.S. ocean surveillance ship is serious enough to merit face-to-face discussions between U.S. and Chinese officials, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said March 11.
USNS Impeccable (T-AGOS 23) -– an unarmed Military Sealift Command vessel -- was conducting operations in international waters 70 miles south of Hainan Island on March 8 when the ship was surrounded and harassed by five Chinese vessels.
Morrell said the U.S. defense attaché in Beijing has been talking with China's defense ministry about the incident. The Chinese defense attaché also is speaking with Defense Department officials.
"[The incident] is serious enough that we believe it requires face-to-face talks to find out what was going on here and to ensure that there are no further incidents of this nature in the future," Morrell said.
Morrell reiterated the U.S. position that Impeccable was performing its mission in international waters.
"We hope that the Chinese would behave in a similar way, that is, according to international law," he said. "Furthermore, this incident is not at all consistent with the expressed desire of both governments to build a closer relationship, particularly a closer military-to-military relationship."
The U.S. position is that if a ship is lawfully operating in international waters, "that that is legal and permitted, and there should be no … reason to interfere with those operations," Morrell said.
Officials are hopeful that the conversations between the two nations will clear up any misunderstandings about this incident and ensure it doesn't happen again, he added.

Symposium highlights women's history, achievements, future
by MC1(SW) Katherine Sanchez
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Surface Forces (SURFOR) sponsored a Surface Navy Women's Symposium at the Naval Base San Diego theater March 5.
More than 200 officers, enlisted service members and civilians attended the event, which was coordinated by SURFOR's diversity office.
The symposium featured historical highlights and accomplishments of women in the surface Navy. Speakers and panelists included a command-selected female commanding officer, a post-command patrol craft commanding officer, detailers and command master chiefs who shared their experiences and insights, covering a range of topics including career milestone planning, balancing family life and work requirements, childcare options and women's health issues.
"There is a tremendous amount of experience in this room today. Take the time to speak with the participants," said Vice Adm. D.C. Curtis, commander of Naval Surface Forces/Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S Pacific Fleet.
"Ask them about their careers, tours in different ship classes and how they met the challenges of family, division officer and department head tours."
Lt. Hope Brill, deputy director of the Office of Women's Affairs in Washington presented a Navy women's policy overview entitled "Today's Women and Tomorrow's Navy Organization." The overview featured past, present and future statistical information on female officers and enlisted personnel.
"The panelists and speakers presented a wealth of information concerning women in the Navy, as well as new programs and initiatives we can look forward to in the future," said Lt.j.g. Lisa Lange, who attended the event. "One thing that impressed me most was the passion the women in attendance displayed in their desire to make positive changes in the Navy."
As outlined in the Chief of Naval Operations' Guidance for 2009, building the future force and being a top 50 employer is a priority for the Navy. SURFOR's Diversity Director, Lt. Cmdr. Mark Haney, said the symposium was successful in reaching the goal to raise awareness of new initiatives, leadership opportunities and social and family-life challenges of women in the fleet today.
Haney also mentioned SURFOR's recently launched Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) "e-Mentor" Program which capitalizes on the diversity of talent in the surface community by facilitating the sharing of SWO values and knowledge throughout the community via the Internet.

Naval Surface Warfare Center helps make Coast Guard history
PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Port Hueneme led the first Coast Guard National Security Cutter Combat Systems Ships Qualification Trials (CSSQT) in Coast Guard history aboard Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) Jan. 20-Feb. 27.
CSSQT is a series of at-sea exercises and tests to verify shipboard combat and weapon systems have been installed properly and can be operated and maintained safely and effectively by the crew. The CSSQTs are conducted at NSWC Port Hueneme, the Navy's in-service engineering agent for combat and weapons systems on surface ships.
Bertholf is also the first Coast Guard ship to carry advanced technology combat systems, similar to those on Navy surface ships.
"The CSSQT was highly successful because we completed the majority of the testing, and we were able to identify the shortfalls of all the major combat systems," said Lt. Holly Wendelin, the ship's project officer.
The successful CSSQT execution by NSWC Port Hueneme, a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), provides for sustainability of the Coast Guard's advanced fleet today and tomorrow. In designing and engineering next-generation ships and combat systems, NAVSEA uses engineering techniques to design systems and create a safer environment and a better quality of work for Sailors.
"I consider the CSSQT a success in that it achieved its overall objective — characterized combat system performance and demonstrated the crew's ability to operate and maintain this complex system in support of the Coast Guard's mission," said Rick Howard, NSWC Port Hueneme project manager.

Arizona Navy Week gets underway
PHOENIX (NNS) -- Phoenix Navy Week 2009 activities started March 4 when the commander of Navy Region Southwest provided opening remarks before the Arizona State Legislature House Committee on Military Affairs and Public Safety.
"The Navy gets tremendous support from Arizona. We have just over 7,000 active duty and Reserve Sailors that call Arizona home," said Rear Adm. Len R. Hering.
He also noted the Navy is indebted to the people of Arizona for their commitment to supporting the sea services. During the remarks, Hering discussed the Navy's role in the national maritime strategy noting the importance of sea power and ocean areas adjacent to critical geographic areas.
"With 70 percent of the world's surface covered by ocean, and with 80 percent of the world's population living within a few hundred miles of the seacoast, and with 90 percent of the world's commerce traveling by sea, it is clear we must be focused on littoral regions," said Hering.
In discussing the span of responsibility for his San Diego-based command, Hering described his responsibilities for 10 bases and multiple facilities spread over the six states: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California.
"This area includes some of the most extensive training ranges and test support areas in the Navy to include the linked Pacific Missile Range Facility off the Southern California Coast, inland to the China Lake Complex in the high desert," Hering noted.
Further highlighting military facilities and bases Hering said, "The training range complex geometry in the southwestern U.S. is particularly vulnerable to encroachment pressures, yet it is vital to the readiness of all branches of the armed forces.
"This linkage between the at-sea training areas off Southern California with China Lake, the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Twenty-nine Palms, Fallon and the Barry Goldwater Range here in Arizona is critical to ensuring our men and women in uniform have the opportunity to train realistically with the full range of systems they employ overseas regardless of branch of service."

Navy Region Southwest leads San Diego toward water conservation
by Lt.j.g. Lenaya Rotklein
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- As part of an ongoing comprehensive effort to be good stewards of natural resources, Navy Region Southwest lowered water consumption by 15 percent from October 2007 through September 2008.
The conservation effort has been championed by Commander Navy Region Southwest Rear Adm. Len Hering, Sr.
"I have maintained an even greater focus on the Navy's efforts to manage our water requirements and achieve greater sustainability," said Hering.
There are many factors that contribute to the Navy's water usage in San Diego. As expected of any large organization – and particularly one that has global deployments – usage of a range of resources is dependent on operational tempo and personnel movements.
As the second-largest consumer of water in the area, with nearly 2,000 buildings on three large installation complexes throughout San Diego County, Navy Region Southwest has focused efforts towards greater reductions. These efforts include replacing 7.5 acres of turf with smart landscaping and artificial turf.
Approximately 5,000 2.5-gallon-per-minute showerheads were replaced with more efficient 1.5-gallon-per-minute showerheads. More than 200 urinals were replaced with waterless units in addition to replacing 3,000 faucet aerators.
In Metro San Diego, during wet seasons, the Navy adjusted irrigation to exceptionally low levels; turning off sprinklers and lowering the number of days and times sprinklers were on. To ensure the integrity of the irrigation systems, more controls were installed on the systems and practices were implemented to increase inspections and leak detection. Irrigation was even turned off from November 30, 2007 until late March 2008.
"Our water challenge does not end here," said Hering, "we have a significant number of water meters throughout our facilities and will use the data we collect to focus on those areas where we can make more progress."
Given San Diego is an arid climate, Navy Region Southwest takes water conservation seriously. Senior Navy leaders have launched an increased awareness campaign to Sailors and civilians who live and work at Navy installations.
"I am focused that our facilities meet the mission requirements of the Navy," says Hering. "Our mission includes focusing on natural resources and fiscal stewardship."

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Feb. 19, 2009) Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Emmanuael Rios and Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Carmichael Yepez, both assigned to Fleet Combat Camera Group Pacific, train for taking down and searching detainees during Quick Shot 2009. Quick Shot is a semi-annual field exercise to train combat camera personnel to operate in a combat environment. U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Eli J. Medellin