USS Michigan Visits Busan During Western Pacific Deployment

By Lt. Shanna Gainer, USS Michigan Public Affairs

BUSAN, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) arrived at Busan for a visit as a part of its deployment to the Western Pacific, June 23.

With a crew of approximately 165, Michigan will conduct a multitude of missions and showcase the latest capabilities of the submarine fleet.

"I feel very fortunate, along with Michigan's prospective commanding officer, Capt. Joe Turk, to have this opportunity to bring our ship into Busan," said Capt. Erik Burian, Michigan's commanding officer. "Our ability to complete our important mission is directly supported by the combined efforts of our regional partners, and now we'll be able to extend that thanks in person."

USS Michigan is one of four Ohio-class guided-missile submarines. The Navy's guided-missile submarines provide the Navy with unprecedented strike and special operation mission capabilities from a stealthy, clandestine platform. Armed with up to 154 tactical missiles and equipped with superior communications capabilities, guided-missile submarines are capable of launching missile strikes and supporting Special Operation Forces (SOF) missions.

Measuring more than 560 feet long and weighing more than 18,000 tons when submerged, Michigan is one of the largest submarines in the world.

"After almost two years on deployment in the Western Pacific, shared by both the Blue and Gold Crews, Michigan is looking forward to a chance meet up with our ROKN [Republic of Korea Navy] partners and learn about the culture of Korea, for the first time for many of us, myself included," said Burian.

"Our crew worked tirelessly these last months and we are excited for the opportunity to enjoy some time off," said Michigan's Chief of the Boat, Master Chief Machinist's Mate Jason Puckett. "I'm positive that our Sailors will have a great time experiencing the culture in beautiful South Korea!"

For many of the crew members, this is their first time visiting Busan.

"I am very excited to visit my first far eastern port," said Lt. j.g. Katie Castro. "South Korea is a beautiful and fascinating country and I am looking forward to some hiking and visiting the local shrines in the Busan area. I hope to partake in some camaraderie with fellow submariners in the South Korean Navy, and am very excited to meet our host ship."

"For our younger Sailors, Busan provides a unique experience to visit another country and enjoy some time off from our steady training and operational routine at sea. We're quite grateful for the generosity of our hosts from the Busan Navy community, and especially onboard ROKS Jung-Ji, and are eager to have this port visit on our way back to homeport in Seattle," said Burian.

Michigan is homeported in Bremerton, Washington and is forward deployed from Guam.

Face of Defense: Uncles Inspire Guardsman to Serve

By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Lynette Olivares

Minnesota Air National Guard

NASICE, Croatia, June 24, 2015 – The inspiration to serve in the American military sometimes comes from movies, friends or family. For Minnesota Army National Guard Spc. Robert Matz, it came from his nine uncles.

“All of my father's brothers did some kind of military service, but I am in the first in my family to join,” Matz said.

Recently, he joined 30 other soldiers from the 851st Vertical Engineer Company from the Camp Ripley Training Center in Minnesota for his first overseas trip.

Matz and his comrades took part in a humanitarian assistance project in Croatia, funded by the Office of Defense Cooperation and the National Guard State Partnership Program.

‘We Learn Off of Each Other’

“It [is] interesting to cross train with new people with different jobs. We learn off of each other and it is cool to be able to come up with new ideas,” Matz said.

Matz said it was his first time working with foreign troops. His training in carpentry and background as an electrician in Baldwin, Wisconsin, he said, made it easier to find common ground.

“Overcoming the language barrier was tough, because the measurements were different and we couldn’t communicate efficiently,” Matz said. “I think it also makes it kind of fun at the same time. You have to communicate with your hands or make a language you can both understand.”

The U.S. and Croatian troops worked together to achieve their mission, he said.

Roof Renovation

The men and women of the 851st VEC completed a total renovation of a roof that was severely damaged by flooding last year. The job was completed in less than three weeks and the time crunch was felt by most of the military engineers involved, Matz said.

“We have to match the way they do it and most of us have never [used] the notch system,” he said. “The Croatians like to cut everything by a chainsaw. It’s interesting and difficult because we are learning as we go.”

Matz said one of the most interesting experiences of his time in Croatia was the local village festival that he and his team attended. It included traditional, food, costumes and dancing.

“When we went to the festival and it was cool to see how word spread pretty quick how many people knew we were here,” he said.

“The culture is one big family; it was so cool how friendly they were and how much it means for you to be here.”

Carter Meets With Estonia’s President, Prime Minister

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2015 – Defense Secretary Ash Carter met with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas in separate meetings in Tallinn, Estonia, yesterday, according to a Defense Department news release.

During the meetings, Carter emphasized the United States' ironclad commitment to Estonia's security under NATO's Article 5, the release said.

According to the release, this commitment includes plans to maintain a persistent rotational presence in all of the Baltic countries and to temporarily position armored vehicles and equipment in Estonia, as well as Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania to support training and exercises in Central and Eastern Europe.

Carter thanked Ilves and Rõivas for Estonia's long-term support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and for meeting NATO's two percent defense funding goal, the release said. He also commended Estonia's leadership in the area of cyber defense and announced additional U.S. support to the Estonian-led NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence, the release said.