Camp Lejeune News

The United States' Department of Navy (DoN) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Experimentation Cell (DoN SEC) connects SBIR innovators with the DoN experimentation community to deliver innovative solutions for the warfighter.“Our mission is to support the SBIR community from the first idea to experiment execution by offering beginning-to-end facilitation, mentoring, and training in all aspects of experimentation,” said Scott Bartlett, the DoN SEC program manager,Naval experimentation can validate or inform concepts of operations…

A Unified Command was established on Wednesday afternoon to oversee the safe removal of fishing vessel Sea Angels, which ran aground in the vicinity of Browns Inlet, North Carolina.On Dec. 9, 2019, fishing vessel Sea Angels ran aground near a restricted navigation area in Browns Inlet, where the potential of unexploded military ordnance exists due to active live fire training in the area dating back to World War II.There is an estimated 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel onboard the fishing vessel…

From the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center to New Year's Eve in Times Square, New York’s time-honored traditions are some of the most well-known around the world. Arriving today as part of another New York tradition, a “parade of ships” from several branches of the U.S. military (and one ship from Canada) sailed into the New York Harbor and up the Hudson River from Battery Park to just south of the George Washington Bridge, for the 29th annual Fleet Week New York (FWNY). Now in its 29th year…

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced November 9 that the name of the next America-class amphibious assault ship will be USS Bougainville (LHA 8). The naming ceremony took place at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. LHA-8 will be the second ship to be named after Bougainville, an island in the northern Solomons, which was the location of a World War II campaign in 1943-1944 during which allies secured a strategic airfield from Japan. Success at Bougainville isolated all Japanese forces left in the Solomons. The first Bougainville was an escort carrier that was launched in 1944, a year after the Bougainville campaign began. It was decommissioned for the first time in 1946.

Most people who encounter the Coast Guard near shore will get a good look at a Response Boat-Small (RB-S). With more than 400 boats in operation, the RB-S is the largest vessel class in the Coast Guard’s fleet. The boats are in constant use, from life-saving to law enforcement and homeland security missions. But the redoubtable RB-S is approaching the end of its service life and the the Coast Guard’s Acquisition Directorate has launched an ambitious project to replace this important asset. The RB-S II will be one of the largest boat buys of its kind.

More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines from the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (IWO ARG) and 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24 MEU) departed for deployment from Norfolk and Camp Lejeune, N.C. The deployment is to support Maritime Security Operations, provide crisis response capability, increase theater security cooperation and provide forward naval presence in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation. The IWO JIMA ARG/24 MEU is comprised of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8…

The first U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) will be based in Seattle and commissioned on July 3, 2002, at the Integrated Support Command, located at Pier 36, Seattle, Wash. Coast Guard Commandant, Adm. Thomas H. Collins; Pacific Area Commander, Vice Adm. Terry M. Cross; and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) will be attending the commissioning. Sen. Murray, who was instrumental in bringing an MSST to the Puget Sound, will be the keynote speaker. MSSTs are domestic mobile units that possess specialized training and capabilities to perform a broad spectrum of port safety and security operations. They are modeled after the Coast Guard’s Port Security Units (PSUs) and Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETs).

The second of four Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSST) to be commissioned this summer has started specialized training in Camp Lejeune, N.C. Coast Guard MSST 91102 completed its first week of training in Yorktown, Va., last week before moving to a Coast Guard training detachment in Camp Lejeune. The domestic, mobile MSST, modeled after Coast Guard Port Security Units and Law Enforcement Detachments, will be established regionally in Hampton Roads to respond to terrorist threats or incidents in ports and waterways throughout the country. The MSST will deploy in support of national special events such as OpSail, Olympics or storm recovery operations and protect military load-outs…

An industry team led by Raytheon's Naval & Maritime Integrated Systems (N&MIS) business unit has been awarded a competitively procured contract to produce Small Unit Riverine Craft (SURC) for the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). The Raytheon team will produce up to 100 SURCs, with a nominal contract value of $30 million and a potential contract value of up to $60 million. SURC will provide the USMC with a combat craft capable of transporting a 13-man infantry squad primarily in support of operations on inland waterways as well as in a variety of conditions on the open sea. Procured as a commercial item, the Marine Corps team used performance-based acquisition practices and an innovative strategy that reduced the procurement cycle time to less than six months.

The Coast Guard commandant, the commandant of the Marine Corps and a North Carolina congressman will be honored guests at a building dedication Friday at the Coast Guard Port Security Unit Training Detachment (PSU TRADET) located at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. Adm. Thomas H. Collins, Gen. James Jones and Congressman Howard Coble will be on hand to formally dedicate a new building the Marine Corps has leased to PSU TRADET. The building will provide more office space for PSU TRADET personnel along with more classrooms to be used for instruction in the several courses offered at PSU TRADET. PSU TRADET was established in October 1997 to train and standardize Coast Guard port security units for overseas deployment. Recently, PSU TRADET has taken on numerous other responsibilities.

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jessica M. The U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSSTs) lent its specialized training to the sixth annual Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) exercise which concluded Aug. 21. SEACAT was an at-sea, scenario-driven, fleet training exercise involving the U.S. along with six Southeast Asian countries tracking and boarding simulated critical contacts of interest. U.S. Coast Guard Lt. David Alvarez, a planning action officer specializing in Maritime Security Operations for the Coast Guard’s Pacific Area Command, said the exercise is not only beneficial for the hands-on and live-action training experience, but also opens the door for information sharing and learning for everyone involved.

A Small Unit Riverine Craft (SURC), from the Navy’s Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 1, conducts an orientation ride in Lake Qadisiya, the man-made reservoir on the North side of Haditha Dam. RIVRON 1, based out of Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek, is currently supporting the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF) in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. The deployment marks the first for a Navy riverine squadron since the Vietnam War. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jon E. The Navy’s riverine force marked its one-year anniversary May 25. Riverine Group (RIVGRU) 1 and Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 1 were both formally established May 25, 2006, under Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC).

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Jeremy L. The Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), gave a unique award to the Non-Destructive Inspection Work Center on May 20. The AIMD award program was incorporated to help relieve monotony at the work bench and build camaraderie between the Navy and Marine Corps personnel working in AIMD. Master Chief Avionics Technician (AW/SW) David Clark, AIMD leading chief petty officer (LCPO), incorporated the “Shop of the Week” program aboard Bataan after initiating the concept with Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman (AW/SW) Michael G. McGary in 2004 while stationed aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group (KSGESG) assisted in the rescue of three mariners aboard a sailboat in distress May 18. The crew of the 48-foot S/V (sailing vessel) Sea Fever, ages 90, 81 and 50 respectively, were rescued 40 miles off the coast of North Carolina as a result of the combined efforts of amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22 Detachment 1, and Coast Guard Station Fort Macon. When the began taking on water, the Sea Fever crew sent a 'mayday' message reporting they were taking on water. Although they had three pumps energized, they were not able to keep up with the flooding and were going down. U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina responded to the mayday, and sent a request for assistance in their search for the stranded vessel.

Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Michael Raines signals to the load master of a Landing Craft Utility (LCU) to raise the bow ramp prior to departure from the well deck of amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) is conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) which help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ken J. The crew aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) successfully conducted their first landing craft utility (LCU) operations in almost a year while underway in the Persian Gulf on April 7.

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway speaks with Marines and Sailors from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). Bataan left her homeport of Norfolk, Va., Jan. 4 on a regularly scheduled deployment as the flagship for the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). Bataan ESG is conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) which help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material. U.S.

Ships of the Bataan Strike Group performed maritime security operations (MSO) Feb. 25 to March 1 in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command's area of responsibility. MSO helps set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complements the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. “Every ship in the Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) is actively engaged in MSO,” said Cmdr. Timothy Spratto, Bataan Strike Group chief staff officer. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material. “We’ll partner with regional allies or multinational coalition forces to supoort security in various regions,” said Cmdr.

The dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) and Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) began Image Nautilus 2007 on Feb. 5 by successfully offloading the MEU and their supplies in Djibouti on the northeast coast of Africa. The two-week operation, which also includes Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 and Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 2, allows the Sailors of Oak Hill and the embarked Marine assets the chance to work and train together. Oak Hill successfully offloaded the MEU and many of their supplies to the beach, including M1A1 Abrams tanks, trucks and HMMVVs, with the assistance of two landing craft air cushions (LCACs) from ACU 4. “The amphibious projection of power from ship to shore is one of Oak Hill’s primary missions,” said Cmdr. Ray Stapf, Oak Hill’s commanding officer.

The U.S. Coast Guard awarded a $105 million contract Tuesday to New York-based L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. L-3's Titan Group Aviation and Maritime division will provide training program management, curriculum development, instructors and other administrative support personnel to Coast Guard training centers. As part of this new award, which includes firm fixed price and time and materials pricing, L-3 Titan will provide up to 215 instructors, instructional developers, technical and administrative support personnel covering a variety of skills to U.S. Coast Guard training facilities in Petaluma, Calif.; Yorktown, Va.; Elizabeth City, N.C.; Camp LeJeune, N.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Cape May, N.J.; New London, Conn.; Oklahoma City, and Washington.

Secretary of the Navy, Dr. Donald C. Winter presents the Department of the Navy 2006 Safety Excellence Award for Marine Corps ground safety to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune at the Navy Memorial. During the ceremony, Winter discussed the importance of personal responsibility in regard to safety, and he stressed the need for the Navy and Marine Corps to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents. Sixteen Safety Excellence Awards were presented to the top Navy and Marine Corps commands that demonstrated extraordinary excellence by sustained mission success with simultaneous exemplary safety performance. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brandan W.

QinetiQ subsidiary Foster-Miller Inc, has been awarded a $1 million contract to further develop its advanced Boat Trap system by the United States Department of Defense Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate, working closely with the US Coast Guard. Designed to bolster US harbor security and protect coastal military bases abroad, Boat Trap is a non lethal, ballistic net that is deployed from a helicopter into the path of a threatening speedboat traveling at high speed. It is designed to entangle the propeller, causing the craft to immediately stop. Port security and ship protection has become a central issue in the war on terror and recent assessments of US port security has highlighted the risk from terrorists' using speed boats as a mode of attack.

The multipurpose amphibious assault ship, USS Bataan (LHD 5), departed her homeport Jan. 4 as the flagship of the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) for a regularly scheduled six-month deployment. The deployment marks the first time Bataan has deployed overseas since 2004. The Bataan ESG deployed to conduct maritime security operations in support of the ongoing rotation of forward-deployed forces. “Together with the Marines, the Bataan ESG is an ample force to show presence, agility and mobility,” said Capt. Donna Looney, Bataan Strike Group commander. The list of exercises and certifications the crew completed last year includes ESG Integration Exercise (ESGINT), Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), and Certification Exercise (CERTEX).

Sailors and Marines man the rails as the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) departs Naval Station Norfolk. Bataan is the command ship for the Bataan Expeditionary Strike group (ESG), which is deploying to conduct maritime security operations in support of the ongoing rotation of forward-deployed forces. U.S. The Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) entered U.S. 6th Fleet’s area of operations Jan. 10 in support of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe’s initiative to strengthen emerging and enduring partnerships with the nations and navies of Greece, France, Morocco, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Malta. While in theater, approximately 6,000 U.S.