USS Nicholas Brings Home 4 Tons of Drugs from Operation Martillo

From U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate USS Nicholas (FFG 47) delivered more than four tons of cocaine and marijuana to Naval Station Mayport, Fla., seized from drug interdictions conducted in support of Operation Martillo, July 17.

Crew members offloaded approximately 3,408 kilograms (7,500 pounds) of cocaine, and 109 kilograms (239 pounds) of marijuana, with an estimated wholesale value of more than $93 million. The amount of cocaine seized was enough for 7.2 million doses, each dose approximately the same size as a sugar packet.

USS Nicholas is returning to port after a 175-day deployment supporting counter illicit trafficking operations aimed at disrupting transnational organized crime and keeping drugs off the streets.

"With the help of some partners in the region we accomplished what we set out to do; disrupt the drug trade," said Cmdr. Stephen Fuller, USS Nicholas commanding officer. "Interdictions are challenging, but with the help of other naval units, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the partner nation navies, we executed a successful deployment."

During the deployment, Nicholas with embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) conducted a combination of six disruptions and interdictions while in the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic and Pacific coastal waters of South and Central America.

Also during the deployment, Nicholas transited the Panama Canal twice, conducted passing exercises and an officer exchange with the Colombian Navy, certified 22 pilots through Helicopter Anti Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 42 Detachment 9, four underway replenishments with a Chilean oiler, celebrated the anniversary of the War of 1812, and a "Crossing the Line" ceremony when the ship crossed the equator.

U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels, U.S. military and patrol aircraft from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, along with the support of allied and partner nation (PN) forces assisted with patrolling coastal regions from Colombia to Mexico to detect and monitor illicit traffic in order to cue and support PNs and U.S. interagency interdiction efforts.

Patrol airplanes from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 77 (VAW-77), Patrol Squadron Eight (VP-8) operating from El Salvador and U.S. Customs and Border Protection long range patrol aircraft operating from Jacksonville, Fla. And Corpus Christi, Tex., use sophisticated sensors to detect suspicious vessels and coordinate interdictions by the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and partner nations patrolling the region.

More than 80 percent of the narcotics entering Central America and largely transiting through Mexico on their way to U.S. markets enter via maritime littoral routes, with the main conveyance being "go-fast" boats. By teaming up with regional partner nations and allied forces to scrutinize the littorals, transnational organized crime networks will be denied those routes.

LEDETs belong to Tactical Law Enforcement Team South or Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team and are an armed deployable specialized force under the USCG's Deployable Operations Group. They were created to support narcotics interdiction operations aboard U.S. Navy and allied ships and are capable of supporting DOD national defense operations. LEDETs provide specialized law enforcement capability and maritime security capabilities to enforce U.S. laws across a full spectrum of maritime response situations, maritime security augmentation and maritime interdiction anti-piracy operations.

Operation Martillo (Spanish for 'hammer') is a U.S., European, and Western Hemisphere partner nation effort targeting illicit trafficking routes in coastal waters along the Central American isthmus. This joint service, interagency, and multinational operation is being led by Joint Interagency Task Force South, the agency charged with detection, monitoring, and supporting the interdiction of illicit trafficking in a 42 million square mile area under the direction of U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM).

Operation Martillo is a component of the U.S. government's coordinated interagency regional security strategy in support of the White House strategy to combat transnational organized crime and the U.S. Central America Regional Security Initiative.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) supports USSOUTHCOM joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

Mayport-based Frigate Departs on Final Deployment for Southern Seas 2012

From Naval Station Mayport Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- USS Underwood (FFG 36) departed on its final deployment in support of Southern Seas 2012, April 23.

The deployment will begin by participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMTUEX) with the Eisenhower Strike Group as part of their pre-deployment training. The ship and crew will then deploy to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) May 2 to conduct Southern Seas 2012. Southern Seas will include the multinational exercises UNITAS Pacific (UNITAS PAC), Silent Forces Exercise (SIFOREX) and UNITAS Atlantic (UNITAS LANT).

"Underwood completed our final basic phase training back in February and we've been working for well over a year in preparation for Southern Seas 2012. As we head out the door we'll finish our integrated phase training with Eisenhower Strike Group COMTUEX, which will be our certifying event allowing us to move out on deployment to Fourth Fleet," Cmdr. Peter T. Mirisola, commanding officer, USS Underwood (FFG 36) said.

Underwood will also support Operation Martillo, a joint, interagency and multi-national collaborative mission among Western Hemisphere and European nations to deny Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) air and maritime access to the littoral regions of the Central American isthmus. Operation Martillo targets narcotics, precursor chemicals, bulk cash, weapons and humans being transported via maritime and air domains.

Southern Seas is an annual collaborative deployment to conduct a variety of exercises, missions and multinational subject matter expert exchanges. The focus is on enhancing interoperability, increase regional stability, and building and maintaining regional relationships with countries throughout the hemisphere through joint, multinational and interagency exchanges and cooperation.

"It is going to be quite a privilege and an honor to go down there. I know the crew's excited. We're going to have a lot of great visits. We're looking forward to the multi-national engagement with our Central and South American and Caribbean nation hosts," Mirisola said.

Formally known as the Partnership of the Americas, Southern Seas gives a distinct name to one of the United States' marquee deployments. This is the seventh such deployment and falls under U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) Partnership of the Americas initiative.

"There's no better way for Underwood to deploy than to support Southern Seas and UNITAS. This is the United States' longest standing annual exercise and the crown jewel of naval exercises for the U.S. Navy. There's no better way to end the ship's service life than to finish with UNITAS deployment," said Mirisola.

Underwood will return to Mayport in November 2012 and be decommissioned in March 2013. The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate was commissioned January 29, 1983 and conducted her maiden deployment in 1985. Underwood participated in numerous counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea in her 29 years of service to the fleet.

After the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Underwood and her crew deployed immediately to the island and provided critical medical assistance in support of Operation Unified Response.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

Naval Station Mayport Holds Motorcycle Safety Symposium

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Salt Cebe, Navy Public Affairs Support Element Detachment Southeast

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Station Mayport held a motorcycle safety symposium to discuss how the motorcycle safety program is helpful to military personnel and how it could be improved March 27.

Service members offered their personal riding experiences, discussed what they had learned since taking the motorcycle safety courses and reiterated how the courses had helped them stay safe while riding their motorcycles on and off naval installations.

"We need to get the message out and unfortunately a lot of times we see individuals who say they can get by without personal protective equipment," said Commander, Naval Safety Center Rear Adm. Brian Prindle.

Several Sailors spoke about their own personal moments of clarity, when they realized just how important motorcycle safety really was.

"I've been riding for some time now. I can honestly say that if it wasn't for the training I received through the motorcycle safety center I probably wouldn't be here," said Electronic's Technician 1st Class John Broughton.

Broughton continued to speak about the importance of what he learned during the Basic Riders Course (BRC).

"For me it started five years ago during my BRC. In that class they tell you if you lay down your bike, you panic. I didn't know what I would do if that happened. A truck that wasn't paying much attention sped right through one of the many four-way intersections and didn't even look in my direction," explained Broughton. "At that moment, as the truck came at me, I remembered that phrase. It actually saved me. I was able to lean as hard as I could and cut around the truck. It saved my life."

Prindle said that motorcycle safety training has become more intensive and therefore has also become more successful in helping to prevent mishaps. The overall goal is to make sure all military personnel who ride motorcycles are as prepared as possible when they hit the road.

"What we want to do is tell our Sailors and Marines that we're going to support them and their right to ride a motorcycle," stated Prindle. "We want to give them the proper training so that they're prepared, safe and successful if and when they do decide to ride a motorcycle.

Biden Welcomes Sailors Home From Deployment

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – Alongside hundreds of military family members and friends, Vice President Joe Biden today welcomed about 350 sailors home as the USS Gettysburg returned to Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Fla., after a seven-month deployment.

"You did a great job,” Biden told the sailors. “We're proud of you." The vice president personally thanked each sailor, shook hands, and handed out vice presidential coins to everyone on the ship.

The guided missile cruiser and its crew were deployed with the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group. While deployed, the strike group supported military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, along with maritime security operations in the Mediterranean and Arabian seas.

Hundreds of family members and friends turned out to welcome the sailors home. Some held up homemade welcome home signs and others danced to the beat of a New Orleans-style jazz band to keep warm as they waited in the chilly weather.

The vice president greeted the sailors’ family and friends, and also thanked them for their sacrifice and service. "It's an honor to be with you today to welcome home your sailors," Biden said.

"They've missed weddings. They have missed funerals. They have missed holidays," he added. "And let me tell you, you've missed it with them."

Seven sailors would be meeting their new infants for the first time today, the vice president noted. "I've spoken to each one of them,” he said. “They're brilliant.

“They all said the same thing: Beat Army Saturday," joked Biden, referring to the fierce rivalry between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen, who will square off Dec. 10 on FedEx Field here.

Biden kept his remarks brief. He said he understands from personal experience not to stand in the way of a family reunion. He recalled when his son, Army Maj. Beau Biden of the Delaware Army National Guard, would return home after a military-related absence.

"I learned early, early on, if anyone got -- no matter who it was, the president, the Lord almighty -- got between his mother and him or his wife and him as he was getting off that bus and on a ship, they would have been trampled,” Biden said. “I promise I'm not going to get between you and that ship coming in here."

Also sailing into Mayport was the USS George H.W. Bush, which was on its first deployment since being commissioned. Nearly 6,000 sailors aboard the carrier strike group’s ships, including the George H.W. Bush, are scheduled to return to their homeport in Norfolk, Va., Dec. 10.

Navy Rear Admiral Nora Tyson, the commander of the carrier strike group, joined Biden in thanking each sailor who exited the Gettysburg.

Gates Visits Littoral Combat Ship USS Independence

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

NAVAL BASE MAYPORT, Fla, May 7, 2011 – Seeing one of the littoral combat ships in the flesh was one of the items on Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ bucket list, and he got to mark that off yesterdayfollowing a visit to the USS Independence here.

“This ship is the embodiment of the revolution in military affairs,” Gates told the crew gathered in the ship’s hangar.

The crew size is just one aspect of the revolution Gates was talking about. There are only 40 crewmen (eight officers and 32 enlisted) who man a ship 104 feet wide by 418 feet long. The crew is augmented by sailors in charge of the various “packages” the ship takes aboard, and it can be configured for different missions.

In its different configurations, the ship can perform anti-mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and humanitarian relief.

The ship can carry helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles or a mix of the two. It is a trimaran with a top speed of 44 knots, and while it is labeled the LCS-2, it is the first of its class. Much of the ship is aluminum, and several sailors spoke about how that means they don’t have to paint it.

The Navy plans to buy 55 of these littoral combat ships.

Gates joked that the first Navy ship that bore the name USS Independence was bought in 1814 to fight pirates. The current Independence, which can operate in blue water and “green water” close to shore, will be handy in the same mission. “The more things change... ” Gates quipped.

The secretary received a tour of the ship with chiefs and petty officers explaining just how different the ship is from anything else the Navy has.

The bridge is huge, and sailors don’t steer with the typical wheel. Instead, the ship is steered at computer stations and a joy stick. The bridge is carpeted, and the ship is like a floating computer network.

The berthing area is also a revelation with some rooms having two-men per room and others four. The crew is relatively senior, with the lowest-ranking person on the crew being a petty officer second class, and all personnel are trained in multiple jobs on the ship.

In Mayport, the ship was at the end of a long dock with the traditional Arleigh Burke frigates. The first view of the ship is striking. One member of Gates’ party noted that the ship looks like a floating Stealth Fighter.

“It looks sinister,” the secretary said. “That’s a good thing.”