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American Forces Press Service News

14 Feb 2014

Chemical Weapons Destruction Ship Arrives Spain

MV Cape Ray: Photo CCL

The 'MV Cape Ray' has arrived at Rota, Spain, for a port visit while en route to aid in removal of Syrian chemical materials, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren informs the American Forces Press Service. The vessel -- part of the Transportation Department Maritime Administration's Ready Reserve Force program -- left Portsmouth, Va., Jan. 27, 2014. Hundreds of government and contract personnel worked for several months to prepare the vessel to neutralize Syrian chemical materials and precursors using hydrolysis technology.

14 Jan 2014

Final Sea Trials for "Chemical Weapon Destruction" Ship

MV Cape Ray: Image Wiki CCL

The US Military Sealift Command ship 'MV Cape Ray' has left Portsmouth, Va., to conduct final sea trials in preparation for its upcoming mission to destroy Syrian chemical weapons. During the sea trials, the crew and the Field-Deployable Hydrolysis System operators are evaluating the ship and the system at various sea states. The ship is expected to return shortly for final outfitting before deploying to an as-yet undisclosed location in the Mediterranean Sea sometime late this week or early next week, according to Army Col. Steve Warren , a Pentagon spokesman.

04 Nov 2013

U.S. and Canadian Forces Partner for SAR Exercise

A Canadian search-and-rescue technician points out the causality collection point to a soldier role-playing a wounded crash victim at Donnelly Training Area, Alaska, Oct. 30, 2013. The soldier is part of a Joint Task Force Alaska, Alaska National Guard, U.S. Army Alaska, Canadian Joint Operations Command arctic search-and-rescue exercise at Fort Greeley and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. U.S. Army photo

The call came in two days ago: an aircraft with 40 passengers aboard had gone down in a remote area somewhere along the Alaskan-Canadian border. The Federal Aviation Administration, which had been monitoring the flight, received the distress call before losing contact with the aircraft. Just as if it had been a real-life situation, the FAA contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center at Joint Base Elemendorf-Richardson. The notional scenario set the stage for more than 100 U.S.

29 Feb 2012

USCG to Station Ships in Arctic

USCG Icebreakers:Photo credit USCG

For the first time in history the Coast Guard will be stationing responders at Alaska’s North Slope this summer, when Shell Oil begins drilling in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr. said that the Arctic doesn't represent a security threat for at least the next decade, but that the Coast Guard has "a much wider aperture," beyond strictly defense. Papp told the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service that the Arctic has economic, energy and environmental implications for national security.

10 Mar 2009

U.S. Claims Chinese Harass Oceanographic Ship

Two Chinese trawlers stop directly in front of the military Sealift Command ocean surveillance ship USNS Impeccable (T-AGOS-23), forcing the ship to conduct an emergency "all stop" in order to avoid collision. The incident took place in international waters in the South China Sea about 75 miles south of Hainan Island. The trawlers came within 25 feet of Impeccable, as part of an apparent coordinated effort to harass the unarmed ocean surveillance ship. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

Five Chinese vessels shadowed and maneuvered close to the USNS Impeccable in the March 8, a senior Pentagon official said March 9. The oceanographic ship was 70 miles south of conducting routine operations in international waters when the ships approached, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. "We view these as unprofessional maneuvers by the Chinese vessels and violations under international law to operate with due regard for the rights and safety of other lawful users of the ocean," Whitman said.

21 Nov 2008

American Officials Address Piracy

On Nov. 19, 2008, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell today defended the military effort to deter piracy in the Gulf of Aden and called on commercial ships to do more against this scourge of the sea. The U.S. 5th Fleet forms the core of the American effort in the Maritime Security Patrol Area, but other nations are involved. “Any number of countries are out there now, patrolling and having a deterrent effect in a huge body of water,” Morrell said. The Gulf of Aden – where recent attacks have occurred – has about 1.1 million square miles of open water. More than 20 nations – under command of a Danish flag officer – are coordinating their efforts in the region. The increasing level of piracy is having an impact on commercial shipping.

22 Feb 2008

Navy Missile Likely Hit Fuel Tank on Disabled Satellite

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Andrew Jackson, a native of Ray Town, Mo., launches a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) from the Combat Information Center aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70). Lake Erie fired a single modified tactical Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) and successfully impacted a non-functioning National Reconnaissance Office satellite approximately 247 kilometers (133 nautical miles) over the Pacific Ocean, as it traveled in space at more than 17,000 mph. U.S. By Gerry J. The missile fired from a U.S.

29 Jan 2008

Guided-Missile Destroyer Dewey Christened

Mrs. Deborah Mullen, ships sponsor for the precommissioning unit Dewey (DDG 105) christens the newest Aegis-class destroyer, striking the traditional champagne bottle across the ship's bow at Northrop Grumman Systems Shipyard, Pascagoula, Miss., Jan. 26, 2008. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. By Fred W. The ship's freshly painted gray hull gave up only a hollow "clunk" as the bottle she gripped with both hands in baseball-bat fashion glanced off its edge.

17 Feb 2005

Maritime Forces Play Crucial Role in War on Terror

(Pictured: Commander, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Army Gen. John Abizaid, passes through rainbow side boys on the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) is embarked aboard Truman and is providing close air support and conducting intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance over Iraq. The Truman Carrier Strike Group is on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- They may be far away from the streets where ground troops are engaging insurgents and terrorists in direct combat, but Army Gen. John Abizaid told Sailors and Marines aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) that they are playing a crucial role in the global war on terrorism.

08 Aug 2007

Reservists Rush Aid to Utah Mine; Navy Begins Diving at Minnesota Bridge

Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules aircraft are rushing equipment needed to rescue six miners trapped in a cave-in in Huntington, Utah, and Navy divers are ready to begin work at the site of the collapsed bridge in Minneapolis. The Department of Labor asked for the aircraft to move a seismic vehicle, a shelter, an auxiliary truck and a small number of people to Utah. In Minneapolis, about 30 Defense Department personnel are working in support of state and local authorities. "The Navy diving detachment is on site and the salvage team consists of 18 personnel and six-man support team," said Bryan Whitman, Pentagon spokesman. The divers, part of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 in Little Creek…

07 Aug 2007

Navy to Help Recovery Effort in Minnesota Bridge Collapse

Navy divers will aid in recovery efforts at the site of the Aug. 1 bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Defense Department officials said Aug. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates approved a request from Transportation Secretary Mary Peters over the weekend. The westbound Interstate 35 bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed during the evening rush hour. Five people are known dead, with 98 injured. Minneapolis officials said 24 of those injured remain in critical condition. Officials said eight more people remain unaccounted for in the collapse. Navy divers will help state and local divers examine wreckage and clear debris. The divers will come from Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit 2, based in Little Creek, Va.

11 Jun 2007

Gates Recommends Mullen to Replace Pace as Chairman

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced June 8 that he will recommend that President Bush nominate Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen to replace Marine Gen. Peter Pace as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In a Pentagon news conference, Gates said he also will recommend Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright for the position of vice chairman. Cartwright is the commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr., the current vice chairman, announced his decision to retire last week. “I have become well acquainted with Admiral Mullen over the last six months and believe he has the strategic insight, experience and integrity to lead America’s armed forces,” Gates said.

28 Mar 2007

Keating Becomes Commander of U.S. Pacific Command

Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) the Honorable Dr. Robert M. Gates gives his remarks during an assumption-of-command ceremony for U.S. Pacific Command. Adm. Timothy J. Keating, formerly commander of U.S. Northern Command, assumed command of U.S. Pacific Command from Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Leaf during the ceremony. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. CAMP H.M. SMTH, Hawaii (NNS) -- Admiral Timothy J. Keating will bring the same good judgment and decisiveness to the U.S. Pacific Command that he demonstrated as commander of U.S. Northern Command, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here March 26. Gates spoke at a ceremony in which Keating assumed command of the largest U.S.

21 Mar 2007

Senate Confirms Keating, Renuart to Key Commands

The U.S. Senate confirmed the nominees to the top posts at U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) during the March 19 session. The full Senate confirmed Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating as PACOM commander and Air Force Lt. Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., to receive his fourth star and to become commander of NORTHCOM and North American Aerospace Defense Command. Renuart, who currently serves as Gates' senior military assistant, will assume Keating's NORTHCOM post. In announcing both officers' nominations in February, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates praised them for establishing a record of accomplishments in a variety of complex and challenging assignments.

19 Jul 2006

Admiral: Navy Task Force Ready for Any Contingency in Lebanon

While U.S. authorities in Cyprus are expecting to evacuate at least 5,000 Americans from Lebanon, they are preparing for any contingency, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said July 18. Vice Adm. Patrick M. Walsh, who also commands the U.S. 5th Fleet, briefed Pentagon reporters from his headquarters in Bahrain. Nine U.S. Navy ships are converging on Lebanon from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and from U.S. European Command. The European Command ships are arriving in the "joint operating area" already, Walsh said. The CENTCOM ships are expected over the next few days. DoD also has contracted with the Greek-flagged Orient Queen to evacuate Americans from the Lebanese capital.

09 Jun 2006

Conventional Trident Missiles Will Aid Terror War

Arming submarines with nonnuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles will give America a necessary quick-strike weapon in the war on terror, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here June 7. The proposal, part of the Defense Department's 2007 budget request, aims to remove two nuclear missiles from each of the Navy's 14 ballistic missile submarines, or SSBNs, and replace them with two conventionally armed Trident missiles, said Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani at the Naval Submarine League's annual symposium. The move would put about 22 such missiles into operational deployment, he said. "It's meant to be a very niche capability," Giambastiani told about 400 retired officers, businessmen and fellow submariners. "We're not talking a lot of missiles here.

21 Apr 2006

Pier Construction Project to Help Djiboutian Village

A pier construction project sponsored by the United States will help bring income to this impoverished village and make access to the area easier for U.S. Navy ships fighting the war on terrorism. The first thing you notice about this village on the north coast of Djibouti is the goats. They're everywhere -- on the porches of the houses, in the streets, blocking the roads. It is a sign of the poverty of this area. The village is in a country where the average per capita income is $450 a year. Shark fishing and raising goats are the main sources of income here. But that will change as a new project sponsored by the United States gets under way. Navy Secretary Donald C. Winter, U.S.

02 Mar 2006

Russia Recognizes U.S. Officers for Help in Sub Rescue

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Rebecca J. Underneath a portrait of Czar Peter the Great, the Russian Ambassador to the United States presented two U.S. officers with the Order of Friendship for their parts in rescuing submariners trapped underwater off the Kamchatka peninsula in August. Ambassador Yuri V. Ushakov presented the awards, the highest honor to non-Russian citizens, to Air Force Maj. Patrick Poon and Navy Lt. Cmdr. Steve Smith at the Russian Embassy here. Both men said it was due to the combined efforts of all on the team that seven Russian submariners survived their Priz AS-28 deep submergence submarine ordeal. Joint Chiefs Chairman Marine Gen. Peter Pace and Undersecretary of State Robert Joseph attended the ceremony. Aug.

04 May 2006

Small Boats Provide Links to Local Maritime Community

The guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) moves thru the Bay of Bengal after making a port call in Singapore. Lake Champlain is part of the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, currently deployed in support of the global war on terrorism and maritime security operations (MSO). U.S. While there is a ring of steel around the Iraqi oil terminal platforms in the Northern Persian Gulf, small rubber boats with special boat crews do much of the heavy lifting for security and stability in the area. Coalition ships move continuously around the Al Basra Oil Terminal and the Khawr al Amaya Oil Terminal, and each sends out small boat crews aboard rigid-hulled inflatable boats to conduct VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure) missions. "They are the 'beat cops' for the area," said Capt.

01 Sep 2005

Navy Ships Respond for Hurricane Relief

Joint Task Force Katrina is setting up today at Camp Shelby, Miss. , as the Defense Department's focal point to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency's relief efforts along the Gulf Coast, Air Force Maj. Eric Butterbaugh, a U. S. Northern Command spokesman, confirmed today. Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, 1st U. S. Army commander, will head the task force to coordinate DoD active-duty support for disaster relief efforts in the hurricane's aftermath, much of it already under way or in the works. Meanwhile, the number of National Guardsmen on duty in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida rose to almost 8,300 today. National Guard units and members in 17 more states remained on standby today…