Sailors from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 assisted in the medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) of an elderly patient from Rota who required medical treatment Nov. 24. Upon the request of Coast Guard Sector Guam, a MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter from HSC-25 was promptly dispatched from Andersen Air
There are many factors that contribute to mission success on any given operation. Some are enablers which, when combined, set the stage for success and provide the command team with the necessary tools to achieve a positive mission outcome. Highly trained and effective personnel are critical to miss
USS Freedom (LCS 1) delivered 10 pallets of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies to officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Nov. 24. The delivery was part of Operation Damayan and occurred in Tacloban – one of the areas hardest hit by Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. Supported by U
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the not-yet-launched Zumwalt-class destroyer he toured Nov. 21 “represents the cutting edge of our naval capabilities.” The ship, now known as the Pre-Commissioning Unit, or PCU, Zumwalt, will become the USS Zumwalt, named for former Navy Adm. Elmo Zumwalt. Officia
During the evening of November 22, a search and rescue exercise was conducted by ESPS Meteoro and her embarked helicopter. The exercise was part of an intensive air-sea training programme. During the exercise, two qualified rescue divers from the embarked air wing simulated two men who had been wash
Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700) returned to Groton, Conn., Nov. 25, just in time for Thanksgiving and following its final scheduled deployment after more than 30 years in service. Led by Cmdr. Jack Houdeshell, Dallas transited more than 34,000 miles during a scheduled six-mon
After almost five months away, HMAS Waller graciously berthed back at her home port of Fleet Base West last week. As she arrived alongside, she was welcomed by crew member’s families and members of the Submarine Force. Her return marked the end of a series of exercise engagements and port visits in
Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command (NEIC) held a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Oceana Nov. 22. Cmdr. Benjamin Snell relieved Capt. Joe J. Johnson as commanding officer of NEIC. “Today we recognize your (NEIC’s) outstanding achievements over the last few years as your new leade
Naval Shipyard Gdynia S.A. has completed the overhaul of the warship ORP Bałtyk (fuel tanker with the ship’s side number Z-1). The scope of overhaul included among other things: maintenance of the hull, superstructure, open decks and tanks. Furthermore, the shipyard carried out repairs of the main c
Babcock has begun work to deliver an upgrade and maintenance programme on HMS Sutherland, which will see the Type 23 frigate receive extensive upgrades and improvements that will significantly increase the ship’s sustainability and fighting capability. Sutherland docked down on Friday, 22 November,
The guided missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102) conducted a change of command ceremony while in homeport at Naval Base San Diego, Nov. 22. Cmdr. Steven Foley, who has been the ship’s executive officer since September, relieved Cmdr. Dwayne Ducommun as commanding officer of Sampson during a ceremo
HMS Dragon returned home to Portsmouth on Friday (November 22) from eight months on operations in the Indian Ocean and eastern Mediterranean. Hundreds of friends and family turned out to welcome the ship back home joined by Portsmouth Military Wives Choir and the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines
The guided missile frigate USS Gary (FFG 51) conducted a change of command ceremony while in homeport at Naval Base San Diego, Nov. 22. Cmdr. Steven R. McDowell, a native of Millbrook, N.Y., relived Cmdr. James E. Brown, a Las Vegas native, as commanding officer of Gary during a ceremony on the pier
USS Chancellorsville Finishes Combat Systems Upgrades Naval Sea Systems Command completed the first-ever Air Defense Cruiser Aegis Baseline 9 combat systems upgrade for USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), March 29. The upgrade, part of the Navy’s Cruiser Modernization program, began in April 2012 at BAE S
