First Woman VCNO Visits Naval Support Activity Naples
Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michelle Howard visited Sailors aboard Naval Support Activity Naples, March 6, 2015. While on board, Howard took time to visit U.S. Naval Hospital Naples, served as the keynote speaker at the Women's History Month Symposium, provided remarks for the 2015 Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) Flag Course Africa, and conducted an all-hands call for more than 300 Naples-based Sailors. During the all-hands call, Howard took time to personally recognize Naples-based, forward-deployed Sailors for their service. "I want to say thank you for all that you do. You work in a theater with a lot of responsibility and challenges…
US, Australian, Indonesian Navies Commemorate Battle of Sunda Strait
Senior officials from the United States, Australia and Indonesia paid their respects to the crews of USS Houston (CA 30) and HMAS Perth (D 29) during a wreath laying ceremony March 1, commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the Word War II Battle of Sunda Strait. In the early morning of March 1, 1942, the cruisers Houston and Perth were sunk by the Japanese Imperial Navy in the Sunda Strait, about 60 nautical miles from Jakarta, Indonesia. During the battle, in which both ships fought to the last of their fuel and ammunition, 696 U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard Houston and 375 Australian sailors aboard Perth, including the captains of both ships, lost their lives. The wrecks remain their final resting places as war graves beneath the sea.
PACFLT Hosts Senior Leaders Course
Senior military leaders from 14 nations gathered at U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) headquarters here in Hawaii for the Naval War College Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) Flag Officer Course Feb. 5-11. The 27 CFMCC participants came from Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, Chile, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Peru, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the United States. "This course is one of the most important international venues the U.S. Navy hosts and directly supports our strategic rebalance to the Indo-Asia-Pacific," said Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet.
U.S., Australian Expeditionary Staffs, Ships Begin 1st Phase of Talisman Saber
The U.S. Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group 7 ships left Brisbane, Australia, on June 10, while amphibious ships of Royal Australian Navy began the embarkation of Australian soldiers in northern neighbor Townsville, launching the force integration training (FIT) phase of Talisman Saber 2007 (TS07). TS07 is a joint and combined exercise demonstrating and improving on the U.S.-Australian military alliance that will feature crisis action planning and the execution of contingency response operations in land, sea and air maneuvers. More than 20,000 U.S. and 12,000 Australian personnel will participate in the military training exercise set to enhance interoperability and regional stability.
U.S. Navy Assumes Command of CTF 152
Rear Adm. Allen G. Myers relieved Italian Navy Rear Adm. Emilio Foltzer as Combined Task Force (CTF) 152 commander Dec. 3 during a change of control ceremony aboard ITS Etna (A 5326). CTF 152 is responsible for conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the central and southern Persian Gulf. During the ceremony, Myers stressed the importance of regional maritime partnerships. “Between supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and continuing the mission of maritime security operations, cooperation with regional partners is imperative,” said Myers. Foltzer said he is confident CTF 152 will continue to make a positive impact on security and stability in the region under Myers’ supervision. “Today, CTF 152 returns back to the U.S. Navy under the sage leadership of [Rear] Adm.
