Navy News Service

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. You are subscribed to Navy News for U.S. Navy. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Navy News Service NNS130916-04. Navy Continues to Support WNY Personnel and Families (11:10 p.m. EST) -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76609 DNU -- Washington Navy Yard Shooting: NFAAS Accountability Ordered, Navy Establishes Hotlines for WNY Families -- http://www.navy.mil/viewVideo.asp?id=18835 NNS130916-24. Navy Releases Special and General Courts-Martial Cases from August 2013 -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76625 NNS130916-07. Suicide Prevention: A Mission for All -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76602 NNS130916-05. CNO Wraps up Weeklong Visit with PLA Navy -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76608 NNS130916-27. Some Non-resident Training Course User Accounts Locked -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76629 DNU -- CPO Pinning Around the Fleet -- http://www.navy.mil/viewVideo.asp?id=18833 NNS130916-08. Carrier Air Wing 5 Reunites with George Washington for 2013 Patrol -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76598 NNS130916-29. Website Launched to Support Sailors Forward Deploying to Rota -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76626 NNS130916-17. NASA Visits USS San Diego in Preparation for Space Capsule Recovery -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76614 DNU -- In this edition of All Hands Update, we'll talk about the Chief of Naval Personnel's "Recruit-to-Fleet" tour, and see how you can make a difference with the Combined Federal Campaign. -- http://www.navy.mil/viewVideo.asp?id=18832 NNS130916-13. Annual UNITAS Naval Exercise Wraps Up in Colombia -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76615 NNS130916-15. Navy Lessons Learned Information System Upgraded -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76611 NNS130916-14. Theodore Roosevelt Completes Flight Deck Certification -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76613 NNS130916-01. Boxer, New Orleans Visit the Philippines -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76607 DNU -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus speaks to the Navy Family about the awful events of Sept 16 2013 -- http://www.navy.mil/viewVideo.asp?id=18836 NNS130916-25. New Commander for USS New Mexico -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76627 NNS130916-02. US Navy leaders, Korean War Veterans join ROK Navy to Commemorate 63rd Anniversary of Inchon landing -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76599 NNS130916-06. USS Higgins Mentors Guam Students -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76606 NNS130916-03. George Washington Welcomes Japanese Visitors -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76601 DNU -- Sailors Around the Globe Commemorate the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks -- http://www.navy.mil/viewVideo.asp?id=18834 NNS130916-30. Current All Hands Update -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=76618 NNS020716-04. This Day in Naval History - Sept. 17 -- http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=2564 Eye on the Fleet - U.S. Navy Photo of The Day -- http://www.navy.mil/list_single.asp?id=162059 -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-04. Navy Continues to Support WNY Personnel and Families (11:10 p.m. EST) From Naval District Washington WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy continues to provide support to Navy personnel affected by the shooting at the Washington Navy Yard (WNY) Sept. 16. An emergency family support task force was established to assist victims, workers and families with issues related to the shooting. That task force will be led by Vice. Adm. Bill French, Commander of the Navy's Installations Command. That support includes several phone numbers established by The Warfighter and Family Support Center for families seeking information about their loved ones who work at the Navy Yard. The numbers, which can also be used to request additional services, are: 1-855-677-1755, 202-433-6151, 202-433-9713, 202-433-3234 or 202-685-6019. Furthermore, critical incident stress management and counseling services are available at 800-222-0364. Family services counselors and chaplains have also been called into action. Teams of chaplains throughout the region are standing by to provide assistance, as needed, over the next several days. Those in need of chaplain support are encouraged to contact the Warfighter and Family Support Center at 202-433-6151 or 202-433-9713. Access to the Washington Navy Yard will be restricted Tuesday, Sept. 17 to mission essential personnel only as the FBI continues its investigation. In a video message (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AptksIDRQPI&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLDQ1SztOjkOlNWHM2rsUo2kE3_ZUKGVTA), Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus pledged his support to those affected by the shooting. Earlier in the day, during a press conference at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Mabus announced he had conferred SECNAV Designee status on injured personnel. The Secretary of the Navy Designee Program provides special eligibility for medical and dental care from naval medical facilities for patients affected by the shooting. As a result of the incident, the Navy has issued an "Order to Account" for all Navy uniformed personnel, both active duty and selected Reserve, assigned to commands in the D.C. metro area. The order also applies to family members, Navy civilian employees, as well as, NAF and NEX personnel. Personnel muster through the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS). To muster, visit the NFAAS website at https://navyfamily.navy.mil. An active shooter was reported inside the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters building (Bldg. 197) on the Washington Navy Yard at 8:20 a.m. (Eastern Time) Sept. 16. D.C. Metro Police Chief Cathy Lanier confirmed there were 12 fatalities in a shooting. A number of agencies are investigating the incident including the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, D.C. Metro Police, and the FBI which has lead. The Navy has released the service history of Aaron Alexis, who is believed to have been the shooter. Here is a link to that biographical data: http://www.navy.mil/docs/Alexis_Aaron.pdf "I'm deeply shocked and saddened by the shooting this morning at the Navy Yard," said Mabus. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. I have complete confidence in our first responders, and I continue to be completely focused on this very difficult situation." "Darleen and I extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of today's events at the Navy Yard," said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert. "Our team of Sailors and Navy Civilians at the Navy Yard deserve our care and concern at this time. I applaud the efforts of all who immediately responded to this course of events in order to care for the injured victims and ensure the safety of our personnel." This release will be updated as new information is confirmed. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-24. Navy Releases Special and General Courts-Martial Cases from August 2013 From Defense Media Activity-Navy FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (NNS) -- The following reports the results of Special and General Courts-Martial tried within the United States Navy in August 2013. The cases are listed by the Navy Region in which they were tried. Navy Region Mid-Atlantic General Court-Martial * At a General Court-Martial in Norfolk, Virginia, ABE1 Fabian Thompson, USN was tried for rape, aggravated sexual assault, forcible sodomy, and burglary. On 9 August 2013, a panel of members returned a verdict of guilty to aggravated sexual assault and not guilty to the remaining charges. The members sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1 and confinement for 1 year. * At a General Court-Martial in Groton, Connecticut, ITS2 Jeramie M. Hutchinson, USN was tried for rape and two counts of sexual assault. On 28 August 2013, a panel of members returned a verdict of guilty to rape and not guilty to the remaining charges. The members sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge and confinement for 3 months. * At a General Court-Martial in Norfolk, Virginia, CSSN Aaron Lane, USN pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. On 29 August 2013, a military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Dishonorable Discharge, forfeit all pay and allowances, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1 and confinement for 2 years. Special Court-Martial * At a Special Court-Martial in Norfolk, Virginia, AOCS Timothy B. Samulak, USN pleaded guilty to assault. On 6 August 2013, a military judge sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-5, forfeit $500 pay per month for 6 months and confinement for 60 days. * At a Special Court-Martial in Norfolk, Virginia, ABEAN Brian Lloyd, USN pled guilty to violation of a lawful general order and larceny. On 29 August 2013, a military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1, be fined $12,120 and confinement for 11 months. Navy Region Southeast General Court-Martial * At a General Court-Martial in Pensacola, Florida, HR Brandon Yarbrough, USN was tried for aggravated sexual assault, abusive sexual contact, indecent acts, larceny, and breaking restriction. On 9 August 2013, the panel of members returned a verdict of not guilty to aggravated sexual assault, one specification of abusive sexual contact, and one specification of indecent acts, but guilty to the remaining charges of abusive sexual contact, indecent acts, larceny, and breaking restriction. The panel of members sentenced him to be discharged with a Dishonorable Discharge and confinement for 4 years. Special Court-Martial * At a Special Court-Martial in Mayport, Florida, YN1 Carlos Agostobaez, USN pleaded guilty to disrespect toward a superior commissioned officer and false official statement. On 20 August 2013, the military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, reduction in rank to paygrade E-3 and confinement for 75 days. Navy Region Midwest General Court-Martial * At a General Court-Martial in Great Lakes, Illinois, EMFR Ian Moore, USN was tried for sexual assault and violating liberty policy. The panel of members returned a verdict of not guilty to sexual assault and guilty to the liberty policy violation. On 1 August 2013, the panel of members sentenced him to restriction for 14 days. Special Court-Martial * At a Special Court-Martial in Great Lakes, Illinois, an E-7 was tried for fraternization. On 7 August 2013, a military judge found the accused not guilty. Navy Region Northwest Special Court-Martial * At a Special Court-Martial in Bremerton, Washington, HM2 Vernon A. Hankins, USN pleaded guilty to assaults consummated by a battery. On 1 August 2013, the military judge sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-2, be fined $7,000 and confinement for 45 days. Navy Region Southwest General Court-Martial * At a General Court-Martial in Lemoore, California, AME2 Kerran A. Green, USN was tried for aggravated sexual abuse of a child. A panel of members returned a verdict of guilty to one specification of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and not guilty on the remaining charge. On 1 August 2013, the panel of members sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-4 and confinement for 60 days. * At a General Court-Martial in San Diego, California, PR2 Timothy W. Vigil, USN pleaded guilty to receipt, possession and viewing child pornography and endangering a child under the age of 16. On 22 August 2013, the military judge sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, forfeit all pay and allowances, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1 and confinement for 48 months. Special Court-Martial * At a Special Court-Martial in San Diego, California, SA Mathew A. Haag, USN pleaded guilty to unauthorized absence, missing movement, and wrongful drug use. He was tried for missing movement and providing alcohol to a minor. A panel of members returned a verdict of guilty to the charges. On 8 August 2013, the panel of members sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, forfeit $1,010 pay per month for 6 months, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1 and confinement for 6 months. * At a Special Court-Martial in San Diego, California, AT1 Michael A. Hussey, USN pleaded guilty to creating a hostile work environment, assault and indecent exposure. On 21 August 2013, the military judge sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-4 and confinement for 89 days. * At a Special Court-Martial in San Diego, California, CS3 Daniel A. Lujan, USN pleaded guilty to unauthorized absence. On 23 August 2013, the military judge sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-2 and confinement for 75 days. * At a Special Court-Martial in San Diego, California, STG3 Christopher D. Dreyer, USN pleaded guilty to indecently recording the private area of another. On 26 August 2013, the military judge sentenced him to reduction in rank to paygrade E-1 and confinement for 8 months. * At a Special Court-Martial in San Diego, California, IT2 Christian J. Thompson, USN pleaded guilty to attempting to indecently record the private area of another. On 27 August 2013, the military judge sentenced him to forfeit $1,010 pay per month for 12 months, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1 and confinement for 335 days. Navy Region Hawaii General Court-Martial * At a General Court-Martial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, CM2 Adam Nelms, USN was tried for aggravated sexual assault, sodomy, adultery, and providing alcohol to a minor. On 1 August 2013, the panel of members returned a verdict of not guilty to aggravated sexual assault and sodomy, but returned a verdict of guilty to adultery and providing alcohol to a minor. The panel of members sentenced him to forfeit $1,040 per month for 2 months and hard labor without confinement for 90 days. Special Court-Martial * At a Special Court-Martial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, ET2 Caleb Granados, USN was tried for dereliction of duty and aggravated assault. On 28 August 2013, the panel of members returned a verdict of guilty to all charges and sentenced him to be discharged with a Bad Conduct Discharge, reduction in rank to paygrade E-1 and confinement for 147 days. Navy Region Japan General Court-Martial * At a General Court Martial in Yokosuka, Japan, ENC John Doyle III, USN pleaded guilty to violating a lawful general order, wrongful -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-07. Suicide Prevention: A Mission for All By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kris R. Lindstrom, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, At Sea (NNS) -- September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), along with the Navy, is using the month to focus on ongoing suicide prevention efforts. Sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt who may be contemplating suicide can seek help through the ship's chaplains, psychologist or suicide prevention coordinator. "A couple weeks ago, a master chief died by his own hand in Camp Lejeune and it devastated the command," said Cmdr. Ryan R. Rupe, chaplain of Theodore Roosevelt. "He was a great model of accomplishment. Now he's gone. I'm not judging him and I don't know what happened in his life but I would much rather have him alive than be gone." It is difficult for any person to come forward and seek help with the worry of how their peers will view them after the fact, said Rupe. "People are not crazy and certainly not out of the ordinary," said Rupe. "I think a lot of people don't seek help because they fear they are going to be marginalized. That's why we have chaplains, a ship psychologist, doctors and trained personnel on board because matters of the heart are harder to solve sometimes." Anyone can be a suicide prevention specialist. It doesn't take a super hero to save a life or lend a helping hand. "A lot of people don't even know that they are helping," said Rupe. "Just by talking to someone who is suicidal, you are providing hope and an ear that listens." Chief Culinary Specialist Carmen D. Goode, the ship's suicide prevention coordinator, said that Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month is helpful for the cause, but suicide prevention is an on-going and continuous battle. "It raises awareness at all levels," said Goode. "It also encourages other Sailors to help each other out - shipmates helping shipmates. Just knowing where all the resources are aboard the ship." Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month encourages Sailors to talk about the topic and take a more proactive approach to prevent suicide. "There are so many issues that can be focused on," said Lt. Cmdr. Mathew B. Rariden, the command psychologist. "Drawing attention to something over the course of an entire month opens up the dialogue, and it raises the degree of awareness in the importance across the Navy." The Big Stick's team of chaplains and medical and support personnel have built a system and created an environment to assist Sailors contemplating suicide. "We have worked very hard to foster our culture where if people need to reach out for help, not only can they do it but they can get help very quickly and there are very few barriers in the way," said Rariden. Rariden said that one of the largest misconceptions and reasons why people don't come forward to talk to him is that they think they will be separated from the Navy for doing so. "I want people to know that this is not a career ender," said Rariden. "People have this fear that they come forward and ask for help that they just ended their career. I have people flowing through my office and then getting back to work." Before Theodore Roosevelt can combat external enemies, the carrier must ensure her combat systems are functioning and her Sailors are operational as well. Talking about suicide will not end a Sailor's career, but keeping it bottled up could end a life. Join the conversation with TR online at www.facebook.com/USSTheodoreRoosevelt and www.Twitter.com/TheRealCVN71. For more news from USS Theodore Roosevelt, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn71/. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-05. CNO Wraps up Weeklong Visit with PLA Navy From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Commander in Chief of the People's Liberation (PLA) Army Navy Adm. Wu Shengli concluded his visit to the United States in a series of discussions with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert in the Pentagon and a visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center before departing Sept. 13 for China. Shengli began his weeklong visit to the U.S. in San Diego, starting with a briefing at U.S. 3rd Fleet Headquarters about the upcoming RIMPAC exercise. The People's Liberation Army Navy will be participating in RIMPAC for the first time in 2014. While in San Diego, Greenert and Shengli visited USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), USS Jefferson City (SSN 759) in port, and embarked on USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) at sea. Shengli also visited U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton before traveling to Washington, D.C.. Shengli's delegation included Senior Capt. Zhang Zhen, the commanding officer of the first aircraft carrier commissioned into the PLA Navy, Liaoning. "It was great and inspiring to see the two professionals talk about common challenges, aviation, and aircraft carriers," said Greenert of Zhang Zhen's meeting with commanding officer of the USS Carl Vinson, Capt. Kent Whalen. In Washington Adm. Shengli's visit began with a full honors ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard. The ceremony consisted of a troop review, performance by the U.S. Navy ceremonial guard and band, and formal remarks by Greenert welcoming his counterpart and delegation to the United States. CNO described the weeklong visit as a great opportunity to find common interests and move ahead in military to military cooperation. Greenert also highlighted the upcoming RIMPAC in 2014 in which the PLA Navy will participate for the first time. "I look forward to continuing our engagements, and I look forward to the success of RIMPAC 2014," said Greenert. "Now that the Chinese Navy is going to join us we have a full rim of the Pacific for the RIMPAC exercise. Following the ceremony Greenert and Shengli headed to the Pentagon where both admirals were able to discuss future opportunities for partnership in engagement ranging from Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief efforts to piracy operations. "We exchanged ideas and experiences regarding piracy operations, humanitarian deployments, academic exchanges and other common areas of interest, where the cooperative efforts between our two navies can evolve and mature," said Greenert. "This visit overall has been very successful," said Shengli. "I am very happy about the importance that the U.S. has attached to this visit." The visit of Adm. Wu Shengli to the U.S. was intended to help establish clear paths of communication, encourage transparency and trust, mitigate risks and focus multilateral cooperative efforts to address common security challenges. The visit of Shengli coincided with the Sept. 6, arrival of three ships from the PLA Navy at Pearl Harbor marking their first port visit to the U.S. since 2006. Shengli last visited the U.S. as a guest of previous CNO Adm. Mike Mullen in 2007. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-27. Some Non-resident Training Course User Accounts Locked By Susan D. Henson, Center for Personal and Professional Development Public Affairs VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors trying to access their Non-Resident Training Course (NRTC) online account may not be able to access them without assistance, said Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) officials Sept. 16. NRTC accounts not used in the last 30 days have been disabled, according to Tom Phillips, CPPD's NRTC program manager. Accounts were locked as a result of computer security measures ordered by the Defense Department and U.S. Navy's cyber commands. Since the order took effect Aug. 21, more than 187,500 accounts have been locked. Users who have a locked account should contact the CPPD Voluntary Education (VOLED) Support Site in Pensacola, Fla., for assistance in regaining access. The VOLED team in Pensacola can be reached anytime via email at NRTC@navy.mil and Monday through Friday by commercial phone at 1-877-264-8583, or DSN at 753-6070. "NRTC help desk staff members are unlocking accounts upon user request," said Phillips. "As of Sept. 13, we've unlocked 2,865 accounts and are working to meet user requests as quickly as possible." Capt. John Newcomer, CPPD's commanding officer, said security risks are part of our daily lives, and managing that risk is necessary. "While this can be seen as an inconvenience, security and risk management are important to keeping our Navy team as safe as possible. We are working hard to ensure Sailors regain timely access to courses that will help them improve professionally and personally." For more information about the Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD), visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/cppd/. For more news from the Center for Personal and Professional Development, visit www.navy.mil/local/voledpao/. Find CPPD on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Center-for-Personal-and-Professional-Development/100056459206 and on Twitter @CENPERSPROFDEV. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-08. Carrier Air Wing 5 Reunites with George Washington for 2013 Patrol By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ramon G. Go, USS George Washington Public Affairs PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) welcomed aboard Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 to continue its 2013 patrol, Sept. 14. Carrier Air Wing 5 is the nation's only "911" air wing and is a critical combat strike element of Battle Force 7th Fleet, the only forward-deployed carrier strike group in the U.S. Navy. "Our goals are to support our operational chain of command's engagement strategy in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations while remaining ready to dissuade or react to any adversary that may threaten our interests in the region," said Capt. Michael Boyle, CVW-5's commanding officer. During the first half of George Washington's patrol, CVW-5 participated in exercise Talisman Saber (TS), which is a biennial training event aimed to improve Australian Defence Force and U.S. combat readiness and interoperability as a Combined Joint Task Force. "The combined work the carrier strike group [CSG] and the Australians accomplished during Talisman Saber helped promote greater international relations and train our aircrew for a variety of missions," said Lt. j.g. Eric Valdez, an aviator assigned to the "Liberty Bells" of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 115. "As we progress into our patrol, we will continue to support and train with the CSG and our allied forces." CVW-5 is comprised of nine squadrons with approximately 1,900 Sailors and 67 aircraft, which complete the full capacity of operations and manning for George Washington. "We will initially focus on night landing currency," said Boyle. "Each pilot needs two-days of landings before landing at night, and each night recovery has to be accomplished within 29 days of the last night carrier landing or field carrier landing practice would be required at Iwo To." CVW-5 commenced their first day of flight operations soon after their return. "CVW-5 will conduct air-to-air and air-to-surface training exercises with our allied forces," said Boyle. "The air wing will continue to support these evolutions and demonstrate the capabilities of a carrier at sea." CVW-5 is a collection of aircraft designed to perform various functions and exercises. The aircraft are attached to: the "Diamondbacks" of Strike Fight Squadron (VFA) 102 flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet; the "Royal Maces" of VFA-27, the "Eagles" of VFA-115 and the "Dambusters" VFA-195 each flying the F/A-18E Super Hornet; the "Shadowhawks" of Electronic Attack Squadron 141 flying the EA-18G Growler; VAW-115 flying the E-2C Hawkeye; the "Providers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30, Detachment 5, flying the C-2A Greyhound; the "Golden Falcons" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 flying the MH-60S Seahawk; and the "Saberhawks" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 77 flying the MH-60R Seahawk. George Washington and CVW 5 provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn73/. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-29. Website Launched to Support Sailors Forward Deploying to Rota From Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs NORFOLK (NNS) -- To ease the transition process, a new website is available to Sailors and families who are slated to soon be forward deployed to Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota, Spain, Navy officials announced Sept. 16. "Let's Move to NAVSTA Rota, Spain," a Surface Force Atlantic (SURFLANT) and Naval Station Rota collaboration, was designed to give Sailors and family members the opportunity to become more familiar with NAVSTA Rota and the surrounding areas. It offers information, photos and videos to familiarize Sailors with their new duty station and better prepare them for a successful transition. "While the site should be helpful to anyone transitioning there, it was developed to be a 'one-stop shop' for families and Sailors aboard the four destroyers that will soon be forward deployed to Rota," said Capt. Frank Dowd, SURFLANT Forward Deployed Naval Force Rota project lead. "We worked closely with Rota leaders and service providers there in developing the site to ensure the information is not only accurate, but that it really addresses the topics these folks want and need to know about." The four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers headed for Rota include three from Norfolk: USS Ross (DDG 71), USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) and USS Porter (DDG 78), along with USS Carney (DDG 64), from Mayport, Fla. To support Sailors and families as they prepare for the transition to Spain, a joint Rota-SURFLANT team has worked closely with 6th Fleet leadership to prepare a comprehensive slate of information-gathering opportunities. These include a four-day visit to Norfolk in June for group briefings and one-on-one discussions with Sailors, updating and issuing a new print and electronic Rota "Welcome Aboard" brochure, and the recently unveiled website. The diverse site offers nine different tabs, or topic areas, which lead to more than 250 informational websites, more than 350 photos and videos to show what the housing, the base and the local area looks like. There are also nearly 500 Frequently Asked Questions, or FAQs, categorized by topic area, displayed to help answer typical questions service members and their families might have about moving to the area. It also features contact information so Sailors can ask questions and address any concerns they might have. "Family members and Sailors can call or email Rota experts with questions and concerns specific to them," said Chief Mass Communications Mikel Bookwalter, Rota's deputy public affairs officer. "We want this website to prompt and provide for two-way communication to provide a prompt response or open up an ongoing dialogue, if it is a complicated issue," Bookwalter explained, "Rota's leadership includes seasoned experts in numerous topic areas, from the local community and Morale Welfare and Recreation, to housing, health care and the local schools. Regardless of the concern, there is someone available here that can respond to your questions, via email, to ease your transition." To help prepare for the move, the website offers a "Move Planning" tab containing numerous checklists from pet clearance and screening information to shipping household goods, from shipping the right automobile to "things to know before you go." The "Housing" tab links to different housing floor plans and photos of on-base and off-base housing. Sailors can also find temporary lodging information and an early housing application link to help service members with their housing needs prior to arriving to NAVSTA Rota. The website also offers a "Health care" tab that provides information on the NAVSTA Rota hospital, off-base hospitals and health care facilities, the Exceptional Family Member Program and TRICARE's Overseas Program. For dependents, the "Family Support" tab leads to children's school information, childcare services and programs, counseling programs, Human Resources Office and employment opportunities information as well as commissary information and youth services such as Scouts and sports. Other tabs include off-duty activities offered by Morale, Welfare and Recreation, command information and contacts, ombudsman information, Rota and Spain information for places to go and things to do, like beach locations and transportation alternatives. From Spanish food to flamenco, from the nearby beach to bullfighting, the website includes a wealth of data and captivating images for deploying service members and their families to get a head-start in their move preparations to NAVSTA Rota. Plans for the site include continuously updated FAQs, more videos and enhanced first-person accounts of life in Rota. To visit the "Let's Move to NAVSTA Rota, Spain" website, click on http://www.public.navy.mil/surflant/hq/Pages/RotaMove.aspx . NAVSTA Rota: http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnreurafswa/installations/ns_rota.html NAVSTA Rota Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USNavalStationRota NAVSTA Rota Welcome Aboard: http://issuu.com/navstarota/docs/welcome_aboard_package_2013 Homeport Rota Spain You Tube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnUTmgNjZF_Q1rzZj__oHMA For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/surflant/ . -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-17. NASA Visits USS San Diego in Preparation for Space Capsule Recovery By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Corey T. Jones, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Senior project managers from NASA managing the Orion spacecraft's Exploration Flight Test (EFT-1) visited San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22), Sept. 12 in preparation for a test to retrieve the Orion space capsule in January off the coast of Southern California. NASA representatives met with Rear Adm. Frank Ponds, commander Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 3 and Capt. William R. Grotewold, the ship's commanding officer to discuss plans for the upcoming recovery mission. "We had a chance to display the ship's capability, show the crew's enthusiasm and demonstrate that our amphibious capability is multi-dimensional - just one more thing that our Navy can do," said Ponds. "The LPD 17-class ships have one of the most robust command and control communications systems in our Navy inventory." The uncrewed EFT-1 flight will take Orion to an altitude of approximately 3,600 miles above the Earth's surface,, After the test flight, Orion will reenter the atmosphere at a speed of more than 20,000 miles per hour, returning to Earth faster than any current human spacecraft. Orion will land in the Pacific, where the U.S. Navy will locate and recover the craft into the ship's well-deck. The test flight is intended to test the capsule's avionics, heat shield and parachutes. "It's all about relationships, to make sure our priorities are the same and clearly everyone is on the same page and we're excited about it," said Mark Geyer, NASA Orion program manager. "This ship that is going to support our mission possesses an incredible capability." NASA and the Navy have a long history of working together, notably with the recent stationary recovery of Orion in the well-deck of the USS Arlington (LPD 24) while berthed at Naval Station Norfolk's Pier 12 Aug. 15. "NASA did a trade study whether they wanted Orion to land on the ground or in the water," said Andy Quiett, Detachment 3 deputy operations lead for the Orion program and DoD liaison for NASA, "and because of the size, weight and the deep space requirements of the vehicle, they determined it needed to land in water." Orion's unique life support, propulsion, thermal protection and avionics systems enable extended duration for deep space missions with the goal to eventually land on Mars. "We are working hard to go to Mars and EFT-1 is our first step in that direction," said Dan Dumbacher, deputy associate administrator for NASA's exploration systems. "EFT-1 will be the furthest we've sent a human spacecraft since our moon travels in 1972, so we need to get the design experience, we need to get the test experience and we need to get the operations experience such as the recovery operations that we're looking at here." EFT-1 is to be the first of many such future recovery missions. "It's important to participate in an event that's bigger than us," said Grotewold. "This is going to go on for the entire life of this ship and to be able to get in on the ground floor for something like this in an awesome opportunity for all of us." ESG 3 and USS San Diego operate within Third Fleet's area of responsibility. Joint, interagency and international relationships strengthen U.S. 3rd Fleet's ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners. For more news from Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c3f/. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-13. Annual UNITAS Naval Exercise Wraps Up in Colombia From U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval forces from 15 partner nations concluded UNITAS 2013, the 54th annual multinational maritime exercise, Sept. 15 in Cartagena, Colombia. Hosted this year by the Colombian navy, UNITAS included naval forces from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Peru, the United Kingdom and the United States, with observers from Belize, El Salvador, Germany, Jamaica, Panama and Mexico. UNITAS, the longest-running exercise of its type in the world, has evolved and now includes training for many of the threats encountered in the 21st-century maritime environment, along with essential seamanship and navigational skills that are core competencies for maritime services in the Americas. During 10 days at sea, 19 ships conducted a full spectrum of maritime operations, including electronic warfare, anti-air warfare and air defense, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and maritime interdiction operations. U.S. 4th Fleet was represented by USS Rentz (FFG 46) and other naval units, including Patrol Squadron 10 (VP-10) and Destroyer Squadron 40. "This was a robust schedule of events, packed with a myriad of warfare areas that stressed the multi-national forces and their ability to interoperate and work together towards common goals," said Cmdr. Lance Lantier, the commanding officer of the Rentz. "Rentz could not have been prouder to represent the United States as the sole U.S. Navy ship to participate in UNITAS, and we could not be prouder to have successfully completed all events with enthusiasm and devastating firepower," he said. "Any ship invited to participate in this robust exercise in the future should be excited at the opportunity." The immediate purpose of the exercise was to train participating forces in a variety of high-end maritime scenarios to test command and control of forces at sea, while operating as a multinational force to provide the maximum opportunity to improve interoperability. "The training objectives of each one of the participating navies were incorporated during several planning conferences conducted before the exercise, allowing this year's UNITAS to provide effective training to increase interoperability while supporting the training requirements of all participating nations," said Rear Adm. Sinclair M. Harris, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet. At the same time, the intense training resulted in coalition building, multilateral security cooperation and promoting friendship, professionalism and mutual understanding among the participating partner nations. "UNITAS is undoubtedly a top-shelf training opportunity, but it much more than that," Harris said. "UNITAS builds lasting friendships, bonds and confidence among the participants, so when we are called to respond to a region or global crisis, we can do so as a coordinated and experienced team." The next UNITAS exercise is scheduled for summer 2014. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet employ maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations in order to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships that foster regional security in the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility. For more news from U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-15. Navy Lessons Learned Information System Upgraded From Navy Warfare Development Command Public Affairs NORFOLK (NNS) -- The Navy Lessons Learned Information System (NLLIS) has been upgraded for easier user interface, navigation and better search results. NLLIS is a comprehensive knowledge management system that collects, shares, tracks and manages Navy lessons learned to improve the development and readiness of the Fleet. Navy Warfare Development Command manages the Navy Lessons Learned Program and NLLIS. "As the comprehensive source of Navy Lessons Learned, NLLIS is an important destination for the Fleet to learn from past lessons when planning future tasks or missions," said Rear Adm. Scott B. Jerabek, commander, NWDC. "The improved features will benefit users through faster, more comprehensive and organized searches." Specific enhancements include: * Search capabilities and keyword filters were upgraded to return improved results and data elements include doctrine, tasks and after action reports. Results are also now displayed by type, such as observations, port visits and after action reports. * The task list module now includes the Universal Joint Task List and Service Tasks Lists. Users can conduct a keyword search from this task content that can then be expanded to also view tagged joint lessons learned. * Binders - personalized information around a specific topic - was completely redesigned for easier use, including improved search features, breadcrumb navigation and enhanced displays views. * Administrators and Lesson Managers can restrict visibility of selected observations to just their own organization or an assigned group by setting them up as "published" or "unpublished." With more than 90,000 documents, NLLIS is the central repository for all Navy Lessons Learned. It is housed under the Joint Lessons Learned Information System and can be accessed at https://www.jllis.mil. For more news from Navy Warfare Development Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/nwdc/. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-14. Theodore Roosevelt Completes Flight Deck Certification By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Heath Zeigler, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, successfully completed flight deck certification, Sept. 14, fulfilling an important milestone of getting the ship and its embarked airwing combat ready. The Red Rippers of Fighter Attack Squadron (VFA) 11, Knighthawks of VFA 136, Checkmates of VFA 211, Screwtops of Carrier Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123, and Dragonslayers of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 11 all took part in the certification, and were instrumental in the success and safety of the flight operations. The flight deck certification consisted of 160 total carrier landings, during both the day and night. Certification drills included rigging the emergency barricade, flight deck firefighting and crash and salvage operations. "We worked hard to make sure that all expectations were met," said Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Frank E. Gardner, flight deck leading chief petty officer. "We out performed what was expected of us." This is a monumental achievement for Theodore Roosevelt since it is the first time it has landed aircraft on its deck in four years. "It's amazing to see so many Sailors who have never seen a deployment come together to accomplish this task," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 1st Class Terry Keyes. "It took a lot of work and long days to get things done and accomplished, but the end result was more than what we expected." Before the flight deck crew left the shipyard, they spent many hours training on all aspects of how the flight deck operates under all conditions. "We spent long hours training our crew," said Gardner. "We wanted to make sure that everything could go as smoothly as we could possibly make it." Time management and teamwork were both keys to the success of the flight deck certification process. "We have to manage our time while on station," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 1st Class Raymond Gross, leading petty officer of fly two, a division of Air department. "We have to work with other sections of Air Department to be able to take breaks and get food because our job requires us to be on deck when jets are moving about." Keyes added that flexibility was also important in the event of last minute changes, such as catapult repairs or aircraft reorganization for launch. "No matter how well we worked together, we had to remain flexible because anything could happen," said Keyes. "Equipment may go down or a jet may need fuel, so we had to constantly make changes in a safe but efficient manner." The success of flight deck certification marks one step closer for Theodore Roosevelt to becoming, once again, a ready-for-tasking carrier. Theodore Roosevelt will continue carrier qualifications during the current underway period. Join the conversation with TR online at www.facebook.com/USSTheodoreRoosevelt and www.Twitter.com/TheRealCVN71. For more news from USS Theodore Roosevelt, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn71/. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-01. Boxer, New Orleans Visit the Philippines By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jennifer Gold, Boxer Amphibious Ready Group Public Affairs SUBIC BAY, Philippines (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), and amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) arrived in Subic Bay, Philippines, Sept. 16 for a port visit and to begin a major bilateral exercise. The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) along with Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will participate in Amphibious Landing Exercise 2014, three weeks of bilateral, air-ground and amphibious training alongside the Philippine Marine Corps. "This opportunity to train alongside our Republic of the Philippines counterparts is a rarity for Southern California based ARGs and MEUs. I thank our hosts for extending the invitation for us to jointly expand our operational horizons as we share tactics and techniques on ranges and training areas that are new to us," said Capt. Malcolm Potts, commodore of Amphibious Squadron 1. While in Subic Bay, the crew will participate in community relations projects, experience the local culture and take tours provided by the ship's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation department. For some of the crew this is their first visit to the Philippines, but for others it's where they were born. "I can't wait to see my family," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Joy De Dios, who is from Baguio City, Philippines and hasn't been back in 16 years. "Growing up, my aunts stayed home and took care of us while my parents worked all day." De Dios' aunts and cousins are planning to meet her in Subic Bay, where she says she will get to catch up with them and treat them with dinner and a spa day. "It will be a chance for me to give back to them, instead of them taking care of me," she said. Potts emphasized the cultural significance of the port visit and personally what the visit will mean for many of the crew members. "Seeing new places and experiencing different cultures was a key factor many of us chose when joining the Navy or Marine Corps, and this will be our first port visit this deployment, as well as, the first time a large percentage of the Blue and Green team will set foot outside the United States. We look forward to seeing and experiencing the natural beauty Luzon has to offer," he said. Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Marc Ginez, who grew up in Urdaneta City, Philippines said he is thrilled to visit. "It will be a surprise for my family," he said. "I haven't told them yet, but I plan to have them meet me at the pier." The ARG is currently deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. For more news from USS Boxer (LHD 4), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd4/. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-25. New Commander for USS New Mexico By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/EXW) Jason J. Perry, Submarine Group 2 Public Affairs GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN 779) held a change of command ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., Sept. 16. Cmdr. Todd Moore relieved Capt. George Perez Jr. during a pierside ceremony aboard the vessel, which completed its maiden deployment last month. The keynote speaker, Capt. Michael Bernacchi, executive assistant for the Chief of Naval Personnel and former chief of staff at Submarine Group 2, returned to Groton and applauded Perez for a successful tour that included readying the submarine for sea operations following its commissioning. "George pushed New Mexico through the largest [post-shakedown availability] ever - got it on time and on budget, which is very challenging in and of itself," said Bernacchi. "That is an amazing achievement." Bernacchi said Perez and his crew moved up New Mexico's readiness timeline by months, enabling the ship to take on duties earlier than expected after joining the active fleet in March 2010. Perez assumed command of New Mexico in October 2010. "He is a masterful leader," said Bernacchi. "He finds out what his people are good at and he makes them better." Under Perez's leadership, New Mexico was recognized for numerous awards and achievements including the 2011 Battle Efficiency "E" for surpassing other attack submarines in overall readiness. The crew also received the 2012 Supply "S" for logistical proficiency and was the 2013 Atlantic attack submarine nominee for the Capt. Edward F. Ney Award for food service excellence. Perez was also recognized for successfully leading New Mexico through its maiden deployment to the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. The boat returned from the deployment in August. Perez applauded his crew of 140 enlisted Sailors and officers for their efforts during his tour. "We were ready to go from the day we hit the water, and we have not looked back since," said Perez. "The crew has been absolutely superb in their performance and I couldn't have been more proud to have been their commanding officer in the past three years." Perez enlisted in the Navy in 1986 and served as a nuclear-qualified electrician's mate. After being selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program (Nuclear Option), he attended the University of Texas and earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1991. He was promoted to the Navy rank of captain Sept. 1. Perez's relief, Moore, previously served on the staff of U.S Strategic Command. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in systems engineering. During ceremony remarks, Moore expressed excitement about the opportunity to lead his crew. "I couldn't have imagined a better turnover or a better place to be than right here, right now. It is with great spirit and gratitude that I take command of USS New Mexico," said Moore. "Tomorrow we return to the task of breathing life into this new warship, preparing it and ourselves to be part of that global force and preparing to defend our land." USS New Mexico is the second Navy vessel to bear the name of the 47th state. The first ship was an accomplished battleship that won six battle stars for service during World War II. For more news from Commander Submarine Group 2, visit www.navy.mil/local/Subgru2/. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-02. US Navy leaders, Korean War Veterans join ROK Navy to Commemorate 63rd Anniversary of Inchon landing By Lt. Arlo Abrahamson, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea Public Affairs INCHON, South Korea (NNS) -- Vice Adm. Robert L. Thomas, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, and Rear Adm. Lisa Franchetti, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, joined the Republic of Korea Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Choi Yoon-Hee in commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the Inchon amphibious landing, Sept 15. The Inchon landing commemorative events included a wreath laying ceremony, naval demonstration, and parade throughout the city of Inchon, South Korea. U.S. and Republic of Korea navy leaders were joined by Lt. Gen. Bernard Champoux, commanding general of the U.S. 8th Army, and Maj. Gen. Christopher Owens, commander U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Korea, along with other senior leaders from the Republic of Korea during the commemorative events. Leaders from both the U.S. and Republic of Korea took time to recognize the contributions of Korean War veterans and highlighted the importance of the Inchon landing battle as a key turning point during the Korean War. "Sixty-three years ago, at this very location, a United Nations force of 261 ships and 75,000 troops, thanks to the unwavering determination and outstanding strategy of General Douglas MacArthur, achieved a miraculous victory," said Adm. Choi Yoon-Hee. "This great victory was made possible through the sacrifice of United Nations troops, along with Republic of Korea Navy and Marines." Retired Col. Warren Wiedhahn, a U.S. Korean War veteran and officer assigned to the amphibious landing force 63 years ago, recalled the significance of the Inchon landing during a memoir speech on behalf of Korean War veterans. "History tells us the Inchon landing was one of the most daring, yet successful amphibious assaults in the history of warfare," said Wiedhahn. "As we saw the absolute ruins of Inchon and Seoul in September of 1950, it would have been impossible for us to imagine the modern, vibrant cities we see in Korea more than 60 years later." More than 2,500 people attended the 2013 Inchon landing ceremony, including more than 250 veterans from the U.S., Republic of Korea, and participating United Nations countries. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea is the regional commander for the U.S. Navy in the Republic of Korea and provides expertise on naval matters to area military commanders, including the Commander, United Nations Command, the Combined Forces Command, and Commander, U.S. Forces Korea. For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnfk/. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-06. USS Higgins Mentors Guam Students By Jesse Leon Guerrero, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs AGAT, Guam (NNS) -- Forward-deployed Sailors from the destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) volunteered their time to talk with and mentor Guam public school students at Oceanview Middle School in Agat, Guam Sept. 16. The eight Sailors interacted with more than 100 students discussing topics such as Navy training, deployments, ship duties and other related areas. "We're helping communities. We're helping countries," said Electrician's Mate 2nd Class (SW) James Hartley. "We're helping to protect small vessels that are out there. It's not just about us. It's about everyone and keeping the ship safe, keeping the ocean safe." Hartley said he tries to volunteer as often as he can because he can meet new people, learn new cultures and show the Navy is here to give their support to the local community. "It's a great way to help out the kids and get our names out so people know we're here to help," he said. "We're not just out on a ship. We're trying to help everybody." School teacher Neil Pendon said he appreciated having the military at the school, helping him with his class for the day and added that the show of Navy participation in the community is reciprocation of how the community supports the military. "I like how they come out and spend time here, even though they don't have to," he said. "With a lot of the military, they show their support by going to the schools and doing these things for the students. So it's just like how we show our support for the United States." Sailors also spent time with the students during their lunch break and took part in physical education classes, showing them some of the exercises required in their physical training. Operations Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Adam Richards shared his stories with students about serving the nation by helping to keep his ship running smoothly and explained how the ship's Sailors train and study in a variety of ways. He encouraged the students to stay in school and excel within their education to turn their dreams into a reality. "Education is so important," Richards said. "The more you know, the more it can help you. All of this comes in handy, even when you least expect it." USS Higgins is homeported in Naval Base San Diego and has been underway for nearly eight months. For more news from U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas, visit www.navy.mil/local/guam/. -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS130916-03. George Washington Welcomes Japanese Visitors By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paolo Bayas, USS George Washington Public Affairs PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) hosted Japanese guests while at sea, Sept. 15. The distinguished visitors were given a general orientation of an underway U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to better understand George Washington's strategic mission in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. "We're excited to have this group aboard," said Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, commander, Battle Force 7th Fleet. "This group represents the ministry of defense and the ministry of foreign affairs officials who are critical to the proper infrastructure support for our military in Japan. The ability to show what the meaning of U.S. forward-deployed presence means, which is carrier strike group operations while at sea is an important element of our engagement with the Japanese senior leadership." Masakazu Yamauchi, director general, Bureau of Local Cooperation (BLC), Ministry of Defense (MOD); and Takashi Hirai, Japan-U.S. Security Treaty Division, North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) were among the four distinguished visitors who spent the day aboard George Washington. "First, I want to thank the U.S. Navy for their generosity to let me have such an experience," said Yamauchi. "I was able to receive very beneficial explanation on operations aboard George Washington and I understand the importance of the role of George Washington as a deterrence to protect Japan." According to Yamauchi, George Washington seems like a small town with the amount of Sailors he saw working on board. "After actually observing the take-off and landing of the aircraft and seeing how difficult this job is, I want to thank the U.S. forces for doing their job and training hard," said Yamauchi. "If it is possible to have more local Japanese citizens get a similar experience, maybe they will be able to expand their knowledge in the importance of our alliance, U.S. 7th Fleet and George Washington." According to Capt. Greg Fenton, George Washington's commanding officer, giving tours to the Japanese provides George Washington with an opportunity to share the crew's story of teamwork that is exhibited across the ship, and the crew's contribution to the U.S. and Japanese alliance. "[These tours] give our allies the chance to go back and say they have seen the capabilities that are brought forth by having an aircraft carrier forward-deployed," said Fenton. "The most positive thing is the opportunity for our allies to take our story back, and share it with their partners and people they work with." George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn73/. NNS130916-30. Current All Hands Update From Defense Media Activity - Navy WASHINGTON (NNS) -- All Hands Update features two one-minute newscasts and two web-only newscasts. First one-minute newscast - - Headlines for Monday, September 16, 2013- CNP Completes Recruit-to-Fleet Tour;Combined Federal Campaign in Full Swing http://youtu.be/WUYX4myvX78 http://www.navy.mil/viewVideo.asp?id=18832 Second one-minute newscast - - CPO Pinning Around the Fleet http://youtu.be/_Kwyt8E_JPo http://www.navy.mil/viewVideo.asp?id=18833 First one-minute web newscast - - Sailors Around the Globe Commemorate the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks http://youtu.be/H2bg6I9fnsQ http://www.navy.mil/viewVideo.asp?id=18834 Second one-minute web newscast - - Washington Navy Yard Shooting: NFAAS Accountability Ordered, Navy Establishes Hotlines for WNY Families http://youtu.be/fu3GK7LBkuc http://www.navy.mil/viewVideo.asp?id=18835 Defense Media Activity - Navy usually produces one two-minute All Hands Update (AHU) newscast each day. AHU can be seen throughout the day and evening on the Direct-to-Sailor (DTS)satellite television service available aboard 160 ships of the fleet and via the Navy Web site at www.navy.mil. Check your local DTS program schedule for air times. AHU can also be seen throughout the world on the American Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS). -USN- -USN- -USN- -USN- -USN- -USN- NNS020716-04. This Day in Naval History - Sept. 17 From the Navy News Service 1861 - Union landing party from USS Massachusetts takes possession of Ship Island south of New Orleans. This was the headquarters for Adm. David Farragut's Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron. 1895 - Battleship Maine commissioned. 1902 - Detachment of Sailors and Marines land from cruiser Cincinnati (C 7) to protect American property at Colon, Panama. 1944 - Navy Task Force lands Army troops on Angaur, Palau Islands, supported by Navy carrier aircraft and shore bombardment. -USN- -USN- -USN- Navy News Service is the official news wire service of the U.S. Navy, containing stories recently posted to the Navy Web site at www.navy.mil. It is a product of the Defense Media Navy - 6700 Taylor Rd., Fort Meade, MD 20755. Reprints should be credited to the Navy News Service (NNS). For the latest in Navy news from around the fleet, visit www.navy.mil. For all Navy-related questions, review the FAQs posted at www.navy.mil or visit www.history.navy.mil. Media queries should be directed to the Navy News Desk at (703) 697-5342. -USN-   Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Navy. Navy News Service is the official news wire service of the U.S. Navy containing stories recently posted to the Navy web site at www.navy.mil. It is a product of the Defense Media Activity - Navy, 6700 Taylor Ave, Fort Meade, MD 20755. Reprints should be credited to the Navy News Service (NNS).