U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked aboard the Essex Amphibious Ready Group’s three ships March 16-April 1, for Composite Training Unit Exercise, or COMPTUEX, off the coast of San Diego. These at-sea periods prior to deployment integrate the MEU and the ARG as a single unit
Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Whitehorse, in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy, assisted with the interception of more than 5200 kg of cocaine in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Costa Rica as part of Operation CARIBBE in early March. Interdict
The U.S. Navy has issued a Lockheed Martin-led industry team a contract modification for one fully funded 2015 Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) valued at $362 million, along with $79 million in advanced procurement funding for a second ship. The balance of the second ship will be funded by Dec. 31, 2015.
Cmdr. Adam L. Fleming relieved Cmdr. Randy J. Van Rossum as commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) during a change of command ceremony at Cesar Chavez Park in San Diego, March 31. During Van Rossum’s tour as commanding officer of Wayne E. Meyer, he led the sh
The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is set to deploy from Norfolk, Virginia, this week to Central and South America and the Caribbean in support of Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15) from April through October 2015. During CP-15’s mission, USNS Comfort will visit Barbados,
Commander, Destroyer Squadron Twenty One (COMDESRON 21) held a change of command ceremony at Pier 2 on board Naval Base San Diego, March 27. During the ceremony Capt. Brian Shipman turned over command of DESRON 21 to Capt. Robert Chadwick. Rear Adm. Ron Boxall, Commander, Carrier Strike Group Three,
For various reasons, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) has not deployed since 2004. But after a highly successful combat systems ship qualification trial (CSSQT), Wasp has sent a clear, concise, and concussive message to the fleet: She is back in the fight. After completion of a successfu
Members of Beachmaster Unit One (BMU 1) Beach Party Team (BPT) Delta returned to homeport Feb. 23 after completing a seven-month deployment with the Makin Island Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) to the U.S. 5th Fleet and 7th Fleet areas of operation. After several months of predeployment work-ups, B
The US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) is to depart on an independent deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean today. While deployed, Preble and its crew of more than 300 Sailors will conduct theater security cooperation and maritime presence operations with partner nations. The m
The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) began Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) March 23, 2015. FOST is based out of naval bases in the United Kingdom (UK); it delivers operational training across all disciplines for the Royal Navy and other Navies that wish to make
The “Tophatters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14 held a change of command ceremony March 20 at Naval Air Station Lemoore. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Corey L. Pritchard relieved Cmdr. Tommy F. Locke as commander of VFA-14. Locke, a native of Umatilla, Florida, is a 1994 graduate of the University
The amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) was awarded the Battle Effectiveness (Battle “E”) Award for Naval Surface Forces March 17, marking the second consecutive year San Diego has earned the award. San Diego was nominated by Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) Five and was selected for
USS Theodore Roosevelt on Its Way to Portsmouth More than 5,000 American sailors are heading for Portsmouth on board the giant aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. USS Curtis Wilbur Ends Sea Trials After EDSRA The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) completed
3PSC LLC, Norfolk, Virginia, received a modification of the previously awarded contract for the operation and maintenance of five US Navy oceanographic survey vessels. The modification is valued at $23,4 million and the work will be performed worldwide, with the conclusion of works expected to be co
