Just three months since announced, more than 360 Sailors have applied for the Voluntary Sea Duty Program (VSDP), officials said April 24. “We’re very pleased with the response from the Fleet,” said Capt. Kent Miller, director, Enlisted Distribution Division, Navy Personnel Command. “The intent of th
Families and friends welcomed back the guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, April 23, following completion of a successful eight-month deployment to the western Pacific and Arabian Gulf. “I am exceptionally pleased and proud of the tremendous performance o
General Dynamics NASSCO on tuesday 24th delivered USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13) to the U.S. Navy. The ship is named in honor of the slain African-American civil rights leader from Mississippi who served as the state’s first-ever field secretary for the National Association for the Advancement of Colo
The U.S. Navy has purchased two more radar systems from Raytheon Company as part of a continuing effort to replace outdated analog air traffic control systems with digital technology. The new radars will be installed at military bases in New River, N.C., and Quantico, Va. The Digital Airport Surveil
The Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) arrived at HMAS Stirling April 22 for a visit as part of its deployment to the western Pacific. With a crew of approximately 155, Michigan will conduct a multitude of missions and showcase the latest capabilities of the fleet. “We on Mi
The U.S. Navy began naval exchange activities with the Vietnamese navy April 23 in various locations throughout Vietnam, continuing a series of naval activities between the U.S. and Vietnam that last occurred in July 2011. This five-day collaboration will focus on non-combatant events and skills exc
More than 300 Sailors, spouses and their guests gathered in celebration of the 112th Submarine Birthday Ball held at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo April 20. Rear Adm. Phillip G. Sawyer, commander, Submarine Group (COMSUBGRU) 7, Commander Task Force (CTF) 54/74, hosted the event for Yokosuka’s submari
Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has signed a $598 Million contract with the US Department of Defense for 268 AE 1107C engines for US Marine Corps and Air Force V-22 aircraft. In the first year, Rolls-Royce will deliver 70 engines valued at $151 Million. The contract includes four addi
Spanish frigate SPS Blaz de Leso (F 103) arrived in Norfolk April 16, and Brazilian frigate BNS Independzência (F 44) arrived April 19 to participate in a composite unit training exercise (COMTUEX) with the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8. Guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) sponsored b
The U.S. Navy achieved a first when it fired Raytheon Company’s combat-proven Griffin B missile from a Rolling Airframe Missile(RAM) launcher. “Griffin enables sailors to defend against small, fast-moving surface craft employed by pirates and other non-traditional threats,” said Harry Schulte, vice
The F-35 Integrated Test team at Naval Air Station Patuxent River announced April 16 the completion of a weapons testing milestone. The ejection of a 500-pound bomb from F-35B test aircraft BF-3 March 29 into a foam-covered concrete pit marked the end of two weeks of testing nine different weapons c
Three Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters visited the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), April 17. Rich “Ace” Franklin, Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine and Stephan “The American Psycho” Bonnar toured the ship, visited with Sailors, signed autographs for fans and g
Six members comprising a team of Cape Verde’s Coast Guard, Maritime and Judicial Police, joined eight members of a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) and Sailors from guided-missile frigate USS Simpson (FFG 56), March 27 through April 18, in recent African Maritime Law Enforcement P
Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Norfolk-based guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), and the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195) are participating in a multinational exercise off the coast of Scotland. Exercise Joint Warrior 12-1, which runs April 1
