Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) arrived in White Beach, Okinawa, after completing a 10-day certification exercise (CERTEX) with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in the East China Sea March 21. CERTEX is a comprehensive, complex training evolution that combines the Navy and Mari
Los Angeles class-attack submarine USS Providence (SSN 719) returned to Naval Submarine Base New London following a seven-month regularly scheduled deployment, March 19. Providence, under the command of Cmdr. Michael Quan, returned from the Central and European Command areas of responsibility where
Naval Beach Group (NBG) 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, Amphibious Construction Battalion (ACB) 1 and USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR 300) collaborated during training exercise Brilliant Scepter March 4-8. Brilliant Scepter displayed the Navy’s ability to perform at sea loading operations for the various vehicl
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG) arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) March 15. The mission of the IKE CSG is to promote maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the AOR. Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8 is comprised o
The U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, other state and local agencies, along with Chevron Shipping and numerous pollution response and salvage companies and organizations participated in a major drill in Astoria, Thursday, designed to prepare personnel for a coordinated re
The amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) conducted a burial-at-sea for eight former military members March 18. Military funerals at sea are a long tradition conducted in honor of the deceased’s dedication and faithful service to our country. “Today, we bury the dead,” said Cmdr. Gre
Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted a noncombatant evacuation operation (NEO) drill while underway off the coast of Okinawa March 15. NEO is the safe evacuation of American civilians and embassy o
The “Wizards” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 conducted an aerial change of command ceremony over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) March 17. Cmdr. Mike Bisbee, of Miami, Fla., relieved Cmdr. Christopher DeMay, of Farmingdale, N.Y., as commanding officer. Bisbee
The multinational maritime exercise Saharan Express 2013 (SE-13) successfully concluded with post-sail discussions and a press conference, March 14. SE-13, which began March 7, is a maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation among participating nations in order to increase counter-piracy capa
Sailors from Submarine Group (COMSUBGRU) 2 welcomed a new command master chief March 15. COMSUBGRU 2 Command Master Chief Andrew Smith relieved Command Master Chief Wesley Koshoffer. Koshoffer’s pivotal role as the command master chief was to work with the command master chiefs from submarine squadr
The Navy celebrated the keel laying of Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John Warner (SSN 785) at Huntington Ingalls Industries – Newport News Shipbuilding (HII -NNS) in Newport News, Va., March 16. The submarine is named for former five-term U.S. Senator from Virginia and Secretary of the Navy John Warn
The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) held its second annual woman’s leadership symposium, March 10. The two-hour symposium afforded Sailors and Marines the chance to ask female officers and senior enlisted leadership personal and professional questions. Peleliu’s Commanding Officer Capt.
The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG) got underway March 17, following a four-day port visit to Jebel Ali, Dubai. During the port visit, Sailors from Stennis and guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) had the opportunity to explore the local culture and participate in a variety of
The United States Department of Defense has announced that Austal USA has been awarded a US$19.987 million modification to a previously awarded Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract. The modification exercises options for class service efforts and special studies, analyses and reviews for the LCS prog
