The Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), along with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), began Certification Exercise (CERTEX), Sept. 10, during a scheduled deployment. CERTEX is an evaluated event that focuses on the 31st MEU capability of conducting vital missions such as humanitari
Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS Ponce (AFSB(I) 15) continued to support military operations in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), Aug. 27. Ponce, once an amphibious transport dock (LPD) ship, is now the Navy’s first AFSB(I) with a combined crew of U.S. Navy Sailors and Military Se
The amphibious transport dock Arlington (LPD 24), the eighth built at Huntington Ingalls Industries , recently returned from successful builder’s sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico. Dock trials started last week, and the ship left HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Aug. 21 for three days of at-sea
First-in-class Joint High Speed Vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1), the high-speed catamaran transport ship under construction at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama, successfully completed Acceptance Trials (AT) on August 17, 2012, in the Gulf of Mexico. To achieve this milestone, the Navy conducted comprehe
General Dynamics Canada will demonstrate its breadth of maritime defence capabilities at DEFSEC Atlantic 2012 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 5-7. General Dynamics is one of Canada’s leading defence systems integrators with extensive experience in handling multi-year projects of national signific
The leadership of Military Sealift Command-chartered High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) began a week of Africa Partnership Station (APS) West 2012 engagements in Port of Douala Aug. 27 with several office visits with the military and political leaders in the region. The ship arrived in Cameroon Aug. 26
Representatives from the Japanese government visited the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) Aug. 22. The representatives visited the ship to observe the day-to-day operations aboard the Japan-based aircraft carrier to understand the ship’s mission within the
The U.S. Navy has begun integrated testing (IT) of Raytheon Company’s (NYSE: RTN) Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) C-1. During its first flight in IT, the JSOW C-1 was retargeted to strike a large moving ship target. “This flight test further demonstrates that JSOW C-1 can receive third party target upd
Commands are encouraged to celebrate Women’s Equality Day Aug. 26, as announced by NAVADMIN 251/12. Established by Congress in 1971, Women’s Equality Day was designed to commemorate the long struggle of generations of women to gain the right to vote. The observance also calls attention to women’s co
U.S. 6th Fleet flagship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), concluded a port visit to Theoule-sur-Mer, France, after taking part in several events honoring the 68th anniversary of the liberation of Provence, Aug. 19. During the visit, Sailors hosted ship tours and took part in a wreath-laying ceremony, par
Guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) held a change of command ceremony at sea in the Gulf of Aden, Aug. 16. Cmdr. Christopher D. Stone relieved Cmdr. Michael E. Hutchens as Churchill’s commanding officer in a ceremony held on the destroyer’s flight deck. Hutchens assumed comman
The U.S. 6th Fleet flagship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Theoule-sur-Mer, France, Aug. 14, to commemorate the 68th anniversary of allied troops landing in Provence during World War II. During the visit, Sailors will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cross of Lorraine monument t
Two midshipmen from the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy trained aboard amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) from July 18 to Aug. 7 as part of the Foreign Exchange Training of Midshipman (FOREXTRAMID) program. This program is managed by Naval Service Training Command in coordination with Operati
On July 6, US Senator Jeff Sessions joined Austal, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works personnel in completing the Combat Systems Light Off milestone in the second Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship, Coronado (LCS 4). Senator Sessions operated th
