The Operations Room is the nerve centre of a ship. With radar, sonar and communications equipment covering the full range of electronic and electro-magnetic detection and analysis, the Ops Room staff track the activity of vessels and aircraft in the ship’s area of responsibility. In action, they are
The officers and crew of USS San Antonio (LPD 17) were today presented with the Battle “Battle E” award by the commander of Amphibious Squadron (COMPHIBRON) 4. “Everyone who believes that San Antonio is still broken and on the sidelines will now realize that we are not,” said San Antonio Commanding
Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) took part in the Petty Officer 1st Class Navy-wide advancement exam on the ship’s forward mess decks, March 1. The Navy-wide advancement exams take place for qualified enlisted Sailors E-3 to E-5 twice a year. The exams tests a Sailor’s knowled
Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) held a change of command ceremony at sea in the Arabian Gulf, Feb. 29. Capt. Cedric E. Pringle relieved Capt. Jim Landers as commanding officer. Pringle becomes the ship’s third commanding officer since commissioning in 2009. For the past 18 months, P
Guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) completed two days of participation for Exercise Obangame Express 2012, Feb. 29. Obangame Express is an at-sea maritime exercise designed to improve cooperation among participating nations in order to increase maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Gu
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) visited the United States Naval Academy and Naval Support Activity (NSA) Annapolis Feb. 28. During the visit, MCPON (SS/SW) Rick D. West toured the various historical sites on the Naval Academy grounds, rode across the Chesapeake Bay aboard one of the a
In February 2012, at and around the US Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune, approximately 12,000 military personnel and 24 ships from 9 different countries participated in the largest US amphibious exercise since 2001. Among the participants in Bold Alligator were 2 Dutch units from the Caribbean region,
Commander, Naval Surface Forces announced mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) is the winner of the 2011 Battle Effectiveness (Battle “E”) Award for Commander, Mine Countermeasures Squadron 7, Feb. 28. This is Patriot’s sixth consecutive year winning the Battle “E”, one of the Navy’s most p
Amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) earned the Battle “E” award for the second consecutive year Feb. 27 for its performance, demonstrating the highest state of battle readiness in 2011. The award, announced via naval message, recognizes sustained superior performance in an operation
Markey Machinery has been awarded an order for a complete suite of winch systems onboard AGOR-27, a new academic research vessel under construction at Dakota Creek Industries, (Anacortes, Washington). Sponsored by the US Navy’s Office of Naval Research, this award continues a plan to renew America’s
African sailors who spent 27 days aboard guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56) as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS) 2012, departed Simpson, Feb. 27. The 10 APS shipriders came from the navies of Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo and Togo. The shipriders got aboard S
Military Sealift Command-chartered container ship MV Green Wave departed McMurdo Station, Antarctica, Feb. 25, after delivering more than 6.8 million pounds of vital supplies in support of Operation Deep Freeze. ODF is the annual joint task force support For Antarctica mission to resupply the remote
Mayor Alvin Brown welcomed Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus to Jacksonville on Tuesday. The secretary visited City Hall and met with 40 JROTC cadets from Mandarin High School. He also attended a luncheon with local business leaders at EverBank Field. The mayor presented the secretary with the key to
Sailors from various commands aboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island took part in an Auxiliary Security Force (ASF) training course, Feb. 6-24. The Sailors will serve as force protection assets and offer support to the base’s security department. The focus of the ASF course is to be a force i
