The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738) combined the blue and gold crews during a crew combination ceremony at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Sept. 21. Cmdr. Gregory Kercher, Maryland Blue commanding officer, relieved Cmdr. Andrew Kimsey, Maryland Gold commanding officer,
Navies from six continents and more than 30 nations kick off the most widely attended international exercise ever held in the region, Sept. 16. International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX) 12 is the first of what is intended to be a recurring partnership event. “This exercise is about mines
Two U.S. Navy ships, led by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (COMDESRON) 26, departed from the U.S. for Scotland, Sept. 17. The ships will take part in the Joint Warrior 12-2 exercise with allied navies. Joint Warrior is a coalition exercise designed and led by the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staf
The commanding officer of the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Boise (SSN 764), was selected as the U.S. Fleet Forces Command winner of the 2012 Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Leadership award, Sept. 17. Cmdr. Brian Sittlow‘s recognition was announced via a Chief of Naval Operations Naval A
Guided-missile cruiser USS ANZIO (CG 68) moored in Key West, Florida, Sept. 20, the kick off location for UNITAS 53, a two-week multinational interoperability training exercise off the coast of Florida and in the Central Caribbean. The word “UNITAS”, Latin for ‘Unity’. UNITAS is designed to train pa
Amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) conducted a burial-at-sea for 24 deceased former military members and one military spouse, Sept. 19. Burials at sea are a long standing tradition dating to when the Navy did not have the means for a proper burial so bodies and remains were buried at sea. N
The Vice Chief of Naval Operations testified before the House Armed Services Committee Sept. 20 to discuss potential impacts of the Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012 to the U.S. Navy. Adm. Mark Ferguson joined the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Robert F. Hale, Vice Chief of Staff of
The Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed from Naval Base San Diego for deployment to the Western Pacific ocean, Sept. 17. The ARG’s deployment supports the Navy’s overall mission to protect maritime freedom, enhance global security, and fost
USS Carr (FFG 52) offloaded 4,134 pounds of marijuana, worth 4 million dollars recovered during Countering Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) operations in the U.S. 4th Fleet (C4F) area of responsibility in support of Operation Martillo, Sept. 17. During a routine night patrol in the Western Carib
Amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) departed Naval Base San Diego, Sept. 17 with the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (PELARG) and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) for a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific. In addition to Green Bay, the Peleliu ARG consists of amphibious
Guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) and other U.S. Navy assets participated in a counter-piracy exercise with elements of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (Navy) PLA(N) near the Horn of Africa, Sept. 17. The exercise, the first bilateral counter-piracy exercise ever conduc
Carolyn Blashek, the founder of Operation Gratitude, is the Navy’s 2011 Spirit of Hope winner, officials announced, Sept. 17 in NAVADMIN 286/12. Blashek founded Operation Gratitude in 2003 as a nonprofit, volunteer based organization to support deployed service members, their children and wounded wa
Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship USNS Henson (T-AGS 63), with its embarked scientific staff from the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), joined naval ships from Indonesia, Australia and Singapore in a formation exercise near Morotai Island, Indonesia. Indonesian President
More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines assigned to the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit departed San Diego for deployment Monday, Sept. 17. The Peleliu ARG, composed of Peleliu, amphibious transport dock ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20) and amphibious dock landing
