Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) began Certification Exercise (CERTEX), Aug. 7. CERTEX is an event focusing on the 31st MEU’s capability of doing missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations or non-combatant
USS Lassen Docks in Melbourne, Australia The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) arrived in Melbourne for a port visit, Aug. 7. During the port visit Lassen will be involved in several community engagement projects including a visit to an after school program and a socce
Members of Pacific Partnership 2013 (PP13) from the U.S. and Royal New Zealand Navy traded places for seven days, switching ships and returning to their respective vessels prior to the end of the PP13 mission’s completion, Aug 5. The Sailors from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LS
Without fanfare, HMAS Ballarat departed Fleet Base East early on 5 August 2013 to conduct some additional warfare training before commencing a three month South East Asian and Operation RESOLUTE deployment, following almost a month of intense Unit Readiness Workups. The deployment is a milestone for
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) arrived in Melbourne for a port visit, Aug. 7. During the port visit Lassen will be involved in several community engagement projects including a visit to an after school program and a soccer game with the local community. Sailors
Two Australian Defence Force (ADF) reserve officers represented Australia in a country first at NATO’s annual Young Reserve Officer Workshop 2013 (YROW 13) in Brno, Czech Republic 27 July – 2 August 2013. Working alongside 47 representatives from over 30 NATO member or partner nations, Royal Austral
The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Choules has arrived at Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, to support Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) activities as part of Operation LANDSCAPE. Approximately 60 ADF personnel assigned to Joint Task Force 638 have been deployed or have already directl
The Dutch Landing Platform Dock HNLMS Johan de Witt joined the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta on 6 August 2013. For the next 4 months, Johan de Witt will be the EU Naval Force flagship, hosting the Force Commander, Commodore Peter Lenselink, and his multinational staff on bo
The U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) departed Brisbane, Australia following a five-day, goodwill port visit, Aug. 3. The city of Brisbane welcomed more than 5,000 George Washington Sailors into its shops, restaurants, schools and parks to experience Austra
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has launched its largest warship since World War II, according to media reports. The Izumo-class helicopter destroyer was officially unveiled at Yokohama on 6 August 2013. This unveiling occurred at a time of heightened tensions over several small disputed i
On Wednesday 7 August, ESPS Numancia completed her deployment with the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta, and started her journey back to her home port in Rota, Spain. This was the second time that the Spanish frigate has deployed as part of EU NAVFOR, the first hav
Tough love, long hours and relentless travel may be what characterises a posting to the Sea Training Group (STG), but so too does passion, patience, adaptability and subject matter expertise, as was observed during HMAS Ballarat’s Unit Readiness Evaluation, from 29 to 30 July. Members of the “Green
Earlier yesterday, Tuesday 6 August, Commodore Jorge Novo Palma Portuguese Navy handed over the Force Command of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta to Commodore Peter Lenselink Royal Netherlands Navy during a change of command ceremony aboard NRP Álvares Cabral in the Port of Djib
Minister for Defence Stephen Smith joined the Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, and the Trustees of the Australian Sailor Monument to launch the Australian Sailor Monument Appeal in Fremantle, Western Australia, on August 2. The Australian Sailo
