F.E. Warren holds annual Fort D.A. Russell Days

by Senior Airman Jason Wiese
90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

7/21/2015 - F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- The clanking of a blacksmith's hammer and the smell of gun smoke lets the base and Cheyenne, Wyo., know one of its biggest events is back.

F.E. Warren opened its gates to the general public from July 17 to 19 for the 21st annual Fort D.A. Russell Days, the base's open house.

Guests had a chance to view demonstrations and displays showing the base's past and current missions.

"This is one of our best community outreach programs for showing people what we do," said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Ramey, member of 90th Security Support Squadron Vehicle Section. Ramey volunteered to showcase the 90th Security Forces Group's vehicles and equipment during Fort D.A. Russell Days.

Ninetieth Missile Wing Airmen provided tours of the missile procedures trainer, a Minuteman III ICBM launch control center replica, and the U-01 training facility, a Minuteman III launch facility replica. Furthermore, other base organizations, including security forces and civil engineers, displayed some of their equipment and explained their missions to visitors.

"Everybody's been ecstatic about learning about the vehicles," said Senior Airman Allen Roy, also with the 90th SSPTS Vehicle Section.

In addition to equipment displays, the Warren Spouses Club and Balfour Beatty Communities offered visitors tours of historic brick homes on base.

First-time events at this year's Fort D.A. Russell Days were a Buffalo Soldiers presentation and a visit from the Leap Frogs, the U.S. Navy parachute team.

The open house coincides with the beginning of Cheyenne Frontier Days, Ramey said. This allows more people to see the base's mission because many people visit Cheyenne for CFD.

Fort D.A. Russell Days is the brain-child of Paula Taylor, 90th MW Warren ICBM & Heritage Museum director. The event included living history presentations from the Colonial-era, Civil War, World War II, along with re-enactments of battles from each.

"This is the best turnout we've had in the 21 years we've done Fort D.A. Russell Days," Taylor said. "There was a continuous stream of visitors."

One visitor who had a chance to see many of the demonstrations had kind words to say about the open house. Tayler Wilson, Cheyenne resident, said she visited the open house to see what it was all about.

"I read about it in the newspaper, and it's a cool thing," Wilson said. "It allows people to really see what the base does for our community."

Logisticians Provide Boots-on-Ground Support for Talisman Sabre 2015

By Sky M. Laron, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka Director of Corporate Communications

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka logistics support representatives (LSRs) are providing boots-on-ground support for Talisman Sabre 2015 in various locations throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region July 4-19.

Talisman Sabre is a biennial land, sea and air military training exercise between U.S. and Australian forces that features more than 33,000 personnel, 21 ships, 200 aircraft and three submarines, the exercise provides an invaluable opportunity to conduct operations in a combined, joint and interagency environment that will increase both countries' ability to plan and execute a full range of operations from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts.

"Fleet support at its best," said Fred Beredo, Logistics Support Manager, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka. "Our team continues to stay engaged and remain relevant in delivering logistics capability to the warfighter."

Providing critical logistics and sustainment support pierside, shipboard and on the beachhead is something these supply-rated Sailors and Marines know quite a bit about and with 34 port visits slated within a 40-day span, during this exercise alone, these sustainment experts are pushing the needed food, fuel, mail, material and parts the last tactical mile into the hands of the U.S. and coalition forces who need it.

"The team has concurrently escorted and arranged billeting, chow and transport for inbound and outbound passengers, as well as coordinated material handling equipment and truck support," said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Roy Crockett, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, logistics support officer and Marine Liaison Detachment officer-in-charge (OIC). "Serving as the expediting hub for critical material stuck in customs, the team was also able to retrieve and quickly forward critical items to Navy and Marine Corps units as well as receive, store and transfer both registered and regular mail."

Regardless of the uniform or branch of service or whether the exercise participant was from the U.S., Australia or another participating nation like Japan or New Zealand, the service provided by the NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka LSRs was seamless.

Whether it's running along the pier ensuring freight and equipment gets to its desired destination or manning the phones to ensure contractors are able to deliver desired services for their ship customer, the LSR is everywhere the fleet needs to be, ensuring maximum support.

"This has been a great opportunity to collaborate with the Australian and New Zealand Defense Forces and attain a broader perspective of combined logistics efforts," said Crockett. "I believe the mission was accomplished and all FLC Yokosuka Marines and Sailors participating have represented well."

NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), is the Western Pacific region's largest U.S. Navy logistics command, headquartered just 26 miles due south of Tokyo, the enterprise networks more than 20 sites and fuel terminals from Misawa, Japan, to Sydney, Australia; Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to Guam with a mission to serve the Asia Pacific Region's forward deployed maritime warfighter with 24/7 operational logistics support integrating an extensive service provider network to deliver fuel, material, mail and supply chain services across the U.S. Navy's largest geographical area of responsibility.

Talisman Sabre 2015 Concludes Aboard USS Blue Ridge

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jared Harral, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

BRISBANE, Australia (NNS) -- The biennial joint U.S.-Australian exercise Talisman Sabre 2015 concluded with a ceremony aboard the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), in Brisbane, Australia, July 20.

This was the sixth iteration of the exercise, which focused on joint training of a combined task force of Australian and U.S. forces in a mid-intensity, high-end operation, incorporating interagency cooperation. The exercise provided effective and intense training to ensure Australian and U.S. forces are capable, interoperable and deployable on short notice.

"Our relationship is in full throttle on all levels," said United States Consulate General Hugo Llorens. "Together we're working to secure a peaceful and prosperous Asia-Pacific, which in the end, benefits anyone, and Talisman Sabre 2015 is one clear way that we are helping to ensure peace and prosperity of the region."

"We have partnered many times with the United States military and I am really pleased to see Talisman Sabre 2015 continue to build on the partnership, to ensure that both of us are ready to go where we may need to when required," said Vice Adm. David Johnston, chief of joint operations for the Royal Australian navy.

The exercise featured 21 ships, including the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), more than 200 aircraft, and three submarines. In all, more than 33,000 U.S. and Australian personnel participated in the exercise.

"It's been an extraordinary exercise, and I congratulate all of those who have been involved both in planning it and participating in it," said Johnston. "It's been one of the safest that we have performed and one of the most complex we have done."

Talisman Sabre is designed to be a realistic and challenging exercise aimed at improving both nations' ability to work together, preparing Australian and U.S. service members to plan and execute contingency responses, from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts.

US 3rd Fleet Participates in Talisman Sabre 2015

From Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet concluded participation in Talisman Sabre 2015, a two-week biennial joint-training exercise let by U.S. Pacific Command and the Australian Defence Force (ADF), July 18.

More than 33,000 U.S. and Australian personnel, 21 ships, three submarines and 200 aircraft participated in the evolution, making it the world's second largest maritime exercise. Military assets from both nations conducted various types of training at sea, ashore and in the air off the Australian coast and in the United States 7th and 3rd Fleet areas of responsibility.

"Talisman Sabre 2015 provided a great opportunity for our 3rd Fleet team to work together with the Royal Australian Navy to train in a high-end, mid-intensity warfighting scenario to improve joint combat training, readiness and interoperability," said Vice Adm. Kenny Floyd, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet. "This exercise improves both nations' ability to work together, preparing U.S. and Australian service members to work together to provide security in the region and around the world."

U.S. 3rd Fleet served as Combined Force Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) for the exercise. In the joint task force construct, CFMCC is one of four functional components which include Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander, Combined Forces Air Component Commander, Combined Forces Land Component Commander and Combined Forces Special Operations Component Commander.

U.S. 3rd Fleet staff managed a combined force of geographically dispersed Australian and U.S. ships, demonstrating the fleet's ability to manage multinational assets from 3rd Fleet headquarters in San Diego, which added to the realistic, relevant training that is necessary for an effective global Navy.

Joint interagency and international relationships strengthen U.S. 3rd Fleet's ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners.