Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island honored and recognized the contributions of its individual augmentee (IA) Sailors at an IA appreciation event held at the Chief Petty Officers’ Club, April 26. The semi-annual NAS Whidbey Island Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) event is held each April an
USS Chicago (SSN 721) arrived in Guam April 19 where it is assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron 15 as one of three forward-deployed submarines. Chicago replaces USS Houston (SSN 713), a fast-attack submarine that transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in January. Cmdr. Nick Tilbrook, Chicago’s co
The commander of U.S. 6th Fleet and commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO visited counterparts in the Republic of Albania, April 25. During his visit, Vice Adm. Frank C. Pandolfe hosted a reception for U.S. and Albanian dignitaries aboard the Little Creek, Va., based amphibious dock landing sh
The U.S. Navy has selected Northrop Grumman to produce the next-generation Fire Scout unmanned helicopter using the Bell 407 airframe. The new variant provides greater range, endurance and payload capacity to ship commander’s intelligence-gathering efforts. According to a U.S. Department of Defense
Ten ships from 12 host nations kicked-off Saharan Express 2012, a multinational exercise in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS), at the pre-sail conference in Dakar April 23. The countries met to coordinate maritime operations prior to the exercise, which focuses on combating illicit activit
In an effort to combat against mining threats in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), personnel from Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS), Military Sealift Command and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) arrived for exercise Lucky Mariner 2012, April 15. Exercise L
Two Sailors assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11, were each awarded their Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist (SCWS) qualification by Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus in a ceremony held on Camp Leatherneck, April 24. Yeoman 2nd Class Deron M. Bennett, from Lakewood, N.J., a
USS Underwood (FFG 36) departed on its final deployment in support of Southern Seas 2012, April 23. The deployment will begin by participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMTUEX) with the Eisenhower Strike Group as part of their pre-deployment training. The ship and crew will then deploy t
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
A P-3 Orion from Patrol Squadron (VP) 1, in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard’s District 14, assisted in the rescue of 10 Taiwanese fishermen April 21, 700 miles off the west coast of Guam. At approximately 4:30 p.m., local time, Coast Guard Sector Guam received an initial alert from an Emergenc
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
Naval Station (NS) Guantanamo Bay, Cuba commenced its annual base-wide hurricane preparedness exercise, April 13-18. HURREX/Citadel Gale 2012, a Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and Fleet Forces Command (FFC) exercise, is held annually to help commands prepare for the Atlantic hurricane
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)in conjunction with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) completed joint and bilateral exercise CJCS Exercise African Lion 2012, April 17. The exercise between the Kingdom of Morocco and the U.S. military services served as integrated field training for t
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
