Airmen News

The European Union's counter-piracy outfit announced a new Deputy Commander has taken over to lead its maritime security operations off the coast of Somalia.European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia - Operation ATALANTA said RAdm Messina (Italian Navy) handed over the role of Deputy Operation Commander (DCOM) of the EU NAVFOR Somalia to RAdm Slaars (French Navy) during a ceremony presided by Operation Commander, Vice Admiral José M. Núñez Torrente at Operation Headquarters (OHQ) in Rota…

Marking his first official travel to the Asia-Pacific region, Vice President Mike Pence made his first ceremonial stop in Japan at Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, April 18. During the Japan portion of his regional visit, the vice president will travel to Tokyo where he will meet with Prime Minister Shinz Abe and lead the inaugural U.S.-Japan Economic Dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister Tar As. The vice president will also participate in a listening session, followed by remarks to the U.S. and Japanese business community. Naval Air Facility Atsugi Commanding Officer Capt. John Bushey, from Spencer, Iowa, said NAF Atsugi serving as the…

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Thursday that U.S. troops and military equipment would be sent on regular rotations in the Philippines and that the two countries had started joint patrols in the South China Sea as China increasingly asserts its territorial claims. The initiatives are designed so that the United States does not increase its permanent footprint in its former colony, but they demonstrate that the two countries are increasing security cooperation amid joint concerns over China's actions in the region's disputed waterways. Countries across the region have expressed concern over China's activities, but the broader American military presence was not meant to provoke conflict with the Chinese, Carter said.

Last month we were offered an in-depth discussion on marine salvage with Captain Gregg W. Baumann, U.S. Navy, Director of Ocean Engineering, Supervisor of Salvage and Diving. Captain Baumann and his team have a long history regarding difficult missions accomplished, including most recently the location and filming of the lost TOTE containership El Faro. What is the scope of the responsibility of the Supervisor of Salvage & Diving; Director of Ocean Engineering? The responsibilities of the Supervisor of Salvage & Diving…

Ten countries jointed together with its naval forces in Langkawi, Malaysia, to begin a two-day Multinational Maritime Security Exercise, says a report in Bernama. A total of 19 naval vessels of various classes are being used by the forces of Brunei Darussalam, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea and the United States in the exercise. The program includes discussions among the participants to resolve any obstacles that could hamper the smooth running of the mass field training, says Malaysia's Chief of Navy Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar, who launched the exercise at the Royal Malaysian Navy facility. The event is held in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace 2015 (LIMA'15) Exhibition.

Presiding over busy waterways and airspace that serve as unofficial highways of an inhospitable state twice the size of Texas, the federal government has a looming presence over Alaska and its famously live-and-let-live residents. And Uncle Sam considers marijuana illegal over every inch. This poses unique hurdles for entrepreneurs hoping to capitalize on an Alaska move to legalize recreational marijuana, and who seek to grow and process products to be marketed across the state, much of which is accessible only via transport links policed by U.S. agencies and governed by federal law. To get around such obstacles, some investors say they plan to launch location-specific seed-to-sale businesses…

The Coast Guard is responding to a plane crash Saturday approximately 51 miles southeast of Chincoteague Island. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 5th District in Portsmouth received notification at approximately 2:40 p.m. that a single-engine Cirrus aircraft with only the pilot aboard failed to land at Manassas Regional Airport as scheduled. Instead the Cirrus remained at an altitude of approximately 13,000 feet and continued into restricted air space in the vicinity of Washington, D.C. Two U.S. NORAD F-16 aircraft came alongside the Cirrus to investigate and observed the pilot to be unconscious in the cockpit. The F-16 airmen escorted the Cirrus on its course over the Eastern Shore of Virginia until it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.

Two Chinese sailors died and six are missing after their boat caught fire and sank in the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Air Force said on Sunday. The boat sank on Friday and the survivors were picked up by a Venezuelan fishing boat. Seven sailors were in good condition, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona said on its website. Two of the Chinese sailors died of burns and two were critically burned, it said. Rescue teams from Davis-Monthan flew on Saturday to the Venezuelan vessel, about 1,100 nautical miles (2,050 km) west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, to provide medical care. Airmen parachuted into the water and used inflatable life rafts to reach the fishing vessel.

Researchers at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) say they have developed technology to extract carbon dioxide from seawater while simultaneously producing hydrogen, and then converted the gasses into hydrocarbon liquid fuel. NRL engineers consider the breakthrough to be a potentially revolutionary advancement. Flying a radio-controlled replica of the historic WWII P-51 Mustang red-tail aircraft – of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen – NRL researchers  pictured here (l to r) Dr. Jeffrey Baldwin, Dr. Dennis Hardy, Dr. Heather Willauer, and Dr.

National Maritime Day is May 22; & this year celebrates the thousands of civilian mariners who support freedom as part of the Navy’s Military Sealift Command. Rear Adm. T.K. Memorial Day is traditionally a time to honor those who not only served our nation, but those who through their service made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen bear arms and go in harm’s way because they are the warriors of our great nation. Each year in May, we remember and honor these warrior heroes.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) today announced that Gen. William M. Fraser III, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), has been chosen as this year's commencement speaker to be held at USMMA on Monday, June 17, 2013. “The United States Merchant Marine Academy is honored to have General Fraser as our commencement speaker. He epitomizes the ideals of our Academy. He is an outstanding role-model for our graduates who are about to embark on a lifetime of service and leadership,” said Rear Admiral James A. Helis, Ph.D., superintendent.

More than 3,000 sailors & Royal Marines are geared up for a three-month deployment to the Mediterranean. 'Cougar 12', which begins later this month, will see four warships, one amphibious support ship, a giant ro-ro ferry/transporter, three commando units and helicopters and personnel from eight Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Corps squadrons committed to the three-month deployment – in all more than 3,000 sailors, Royal Marines, soldiers and airmen. They will take part in two large…

The Commander of the 1100 strong Australian contingent, Commodore Stuart Mayer says it’s the first time the United States has provided another country with the opportunity to plan and execute the maritime aspect of this exercise. The world’s largest Maritime exercise has officially begun with elements of the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force joining the military forces of 21 other nations in Hawaii. Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012 has brought together 25,000 sailors…

While on deployment, Swift visited the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru, Panama and Haiti, working with local communities, governments and militaries to build partnerships throughout Central and South America, and the Caribbean. All branches of the U.S. military service are represented on board Swift. Specialists from the Seabees, the Marines Corps, medical and veterinary fields, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Expeditionary Security Team (EST), and Maritime Civil Affairs Team (MCAT) were aboard Swift for this mission.

Aviation Boatswain's Mates (Handling) Airmen, Brianna Luttrell, from Bonanza, Ore., and Matthew Page, from Boston, view the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) from the ground level of its dry dock. Ronald Reagan is in Bremerton, Wash., for a regularly scheduled docked-planned incremental availability maintenance period. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Shawn J. Stewart/Released)

In 2009, the Military Sealift Command offshore petroleum distribution system ship MV Vice Adm. K.R. Wheeler (foreground) and Military Sealift Command tanker USNS Lawrence H. Gianella (background) practice running a float hose between the two ships during a one-day exercise off the coast of Yeosu, South Korea. (U.S. Navy photo by Edward Baxter, taken off Yeosu, South Korea on Aug. Military Sealift Command offshore petroleum distribution system ship MV Vice Adm. K.R. Wheeler participated in a combined, joint military exercise off the coast of Anmyeon, Republic of Korea on March 23.

Two subsidiaries of the Swedish company Trelleborg AB, one based in Virginia and the other in France, have agreed to plead guilty and pay a total of $11m in criminal fines for their participation in separate conspiracies affecting the sales of marine products sold in the United States and elsewhere, the Department of Justice announced April 21. A two-count felony charge was filed in U.S. District Court in Norfolk, Va., against Virginia Harbor Services Inc., formerly known as Trelleborg Engineered Products Inc. (VHS/TEPI), a manufacturer of foam-filled marine fenders, buoys and plastic marine pilings headquartered in Clearbrook, Va. According to the charges…

Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet announced June 9 the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) will replace USS George Washington (GW) (CVN 73) in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008 Exercise scheduled to take place in the Hawaiian operating area from June 29 through July 31. A fire occurred onboard GW on May 22 while the ship was at sea. The ship is currently in port at , , conducting repairs to spaces and equipment affected by the fire. The timeline for repairs to the ship has not yet been determined.

Military Sealift Command large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Gilliland loaded more than 150,000 square feet of U.S. Army equipment in Antwerp, Belgium, March 15-18. The equipment – trucks, trailers, tanks and other combat support equipment – belongs to the U.S. Army’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. Gilliland is delivering the cargo to the to be used in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since , MSC ships have delivered more than 101 million square feet of equipment in support of operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. “Serving the men and women deployed to and by getting their equipment to them on time is one of our key missions here at Sealift Logistics Command Europe,” said Capt. Nicholas Holman, SEALOGEUR commander.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Jennifer S. Tactical Training Group Pacific (TTGP) led international military forces positioned around the world through a Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint (FST-J) exercise headquartered in San Diego, Feb. 25-29. The training strengthens strike group decision makers' proficiency at disseminating information, making sound decisions and executing them. "Our objectives are to increase our effectiveness in a joint, coalition environment," said Cmdr. John Clausen, Ronald Reagan Strike Group surface operations officer. Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers and Marines communicated through a network to carry out simulated missions on bases spanning from Orange, Conn., to Osan, South Korea.

An independent consultant and two executives of Dunlop Oil & Marine Ltd., a manufacturer of marine hose located in Grimsby, U.K., pleaded guilty and have agreed to serve record-setting prison sentences for participating in a conspiracy to rig bids, fix prices, and allocate market shares of marine hose sold in the U.S. the Department of Justice announced. The plea agreements were filed today in U.S. District Court in Houston. The Antitrust Division filed a one-count felony charge on Dec. 3, 2007, against Peter Whittle, sole proprietor of a consulting business named PW Consulting (Oil & Marine); Bryan Allison, managing director of Dunlop Oil & Marine Ltd.; and David Brammar, Dunlop’s sales and marketing director, in U.S. District Court in Houston.

As part of the Coast Guard’s ongoing port security mission, extra Coast Guard boats and people will be providing armed escort and enforcing the Naval Vessel Protection Zone (NVPZ) surrounding the USS Roosevelt Battle Group during its return to Hampton Roads Wednesday morning. “We’re very proud of what our Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Marines are doing overseas to protect our homeland,” Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Brendan McPherson said. More than 150 Coast Guard men and women from Coast Guard Group Hampton Roads, the Marine Safety Office and a number of local boats and cutters, including the 210-foot cutter Diligence from Wilmington, N.C., will be conducting a channel clearing operation from 6:15 to 8:35 Wednesday morning.

New Zealand has issued international warnings to ships and aircraft travelling in the South Pacific area where Russia's Mir space station is due to break up next week. However, air and maritime safety officials say they don't expect shipping and air traffic to be at serious risk from debris falling into the watery "space junk graveyard". New Zealand is in charge of monitoring air and sea traffic in the splashdown area about 4,000 km (2,500 miles) east of the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island. Russian space officials have advised that 15-year-old Mir is expected to re-enter the atmosphere on Thursday, March 22, plus or minus one day, a senior Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) official said.