Navy to Christen Second Joint High Speed Vessel

The Navy will christen the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) Choctaw County, named for three U.S. counties, located in Mississippi, Alabama and Oklahoma, which share the county’s name, during a ceremony in Mobile, Ala., Sept. 15, at 10 a.m. CDT. 

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will deliver the ceremony’s principal address.  Women from Ackerman High School’s class of 1966, 29 in all, will serve as the ship’s sponsors, with Theresa Pitts designated as the lead sponsor for the classmates.  Ackerman High School is located in Choctaw County’s town of Ackerman, Miss.

 “I chose to name this joint high speed vessel after Choctaw County where core American values of hard work, putting family first, and giving back to your community are on constant display,” said Mabus.  “I could think of no better representatives of these values than the women of Ackerman High School’s class of 1966.  Each represents the best of the American spirit and our enduring American values.  I am honored they accepted the invitation to serve as sponsors for this fine ship.”

The 338 foot-long aluminum catamaran is being constructed by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.  Choctaw County and the eight other JHSVs under contract enable fast, intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles, supplies and equipment.  Military commanders will have the flexibility to use the JHSV in a variety of roles, including supporting overseas contingency operations, conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, supporting special operations forces and supporting emerging joint sea-basing concepts.

They can transport 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots and can operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, providing U.S. forces added mobility and flexibility.  The JHSVs also have an aviation flight deck to support day and night air vehicle launch and recovery operations.  JHSVs have berthing space for up to 146 personnel and airline-style seating for up to 312.

Upon delivery to the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC), Choctaw County will be designated as a U.S. Naval Ship and will have a core crew of 21 civilian mariners who will operate and navigate the ship.  The first four JHSVs, including Choctaw County, will be crewed by federally employed civil service mariners.  The remaining six will be crewed by civilian contract mariners working for private shipping companies under contract to MSC.  Military mission personnel will embark, as required, by the mission sponsors.

Interested media may contact the Navy Office of Information at 703-697-5342.  Information on JHSV is available online at http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=1400&ct=4 .

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Visits Japan

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Adam Thomas, Commander Naval Forces Japan Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Assistant Secretary of the Navy (ASN)(Manpower and Reserve Affairs), Juan M. Garcia III, kicked off a tour to the region Japan U.S. military installations with a visit to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) Aug. 27.

During his tour of the region, Garcia is scheduled to visit a total of five region Japan area installations including CFAY, Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.

"We're here visiting the region for three reasons," said Garcia. "First, in a time of enormous change in the Navy and Marine Corps which includes a new budget, a new national defense strategy and significant personnel policy changes, we need to address some possible misperceptions, give you the ground truth as we know it, and hopefully alleviate some anxiety."

Garcia held an all-hands call at CFAY where he highlighted the "21st Century Sailor and Marine", a new initiative rolled out by the Secretary of the Navy and senior leaders, which is designed to maximize the personal readiness of Sailors and Marines in order to sharpen the effectiveness of combat forces.

"We know that the new national defense strategy which includes a rebalance to the Pacific is a sea service strategy," said Garcia. "It's about the Navy and Marine Corps, and most importantly the great folks that are out here on the tip of the spear. We want to make certain that they have the tools needed to excel and that's what the 21st Century Sailor and Marine is all about."

During the all-hands call, Sailors and Marines had the opportunity to ask Garcia questions and address their concerns regarding recent personnel policies.

"I was impressed by Assistant Secretary of the Navy Garcia's responses to our questions. He spoke about a lot of good information regarding the new initiatives," said Master-at-Arms 1st Class Theodore Mitchell. "It makes Sailors feel good that he's taken the time to come and speak to us about our concerns. He didn't just talk around the subjects; he addressed them right at our level."

The position of ASN is to act on matters that affect manpower and personnel policy within the Department of the Navy. His duties include issues that affect active duty and Reserve Sailors, Marines, and Department of the Navy civilians.

SECNAV Remembers Legacy of Naval Aviator, Astronaut Neil Armstrong

From Secretary of the Navy Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- "On behalf of the men and women of the Navy Department, I extend my deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to the family of Neil Armstrong.

"Mr. Armstrong rightly belongs to the ages as the man who first walked on the moon, a pioneer of space exploration and science. A giant. But to those of us in his Navy family, he will also remain a shipmate -- a naval aviator who flew nearly 80 combat missions during the Korean War. A leader.

"He never wanted to be a living memorial, and yet to generations the world over his epic courage and quiet humility stands as the best of all examples. It is not merely his "small step" we admire; it is his very large and humble heart.

"The world has lost a legend. We have lost a friend, unique in our lifetime and never to be out of our minds."

Ray Mabus

 Secretary of the Navy

SECNAV Visits Logistics Group Western Pacific and Navy Region Center Singapore

By Lt. Cmdr. Clay Doss, Logistics Group Western Pacific Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus addressed U.S. Sailors and Navy civilians during an all hands call at Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOG WESTPAC) and Navy Region Center Singapore (NRCS) Aug. 8.

Mabus thanked all hands for their continued service while assigned in Singapore.

"The people at home will never know how much skill and talent it takes to wear the uniform and do your job on a day to day basis in this part of the world," said Mabus. "You make America safer, more secure, and just a better place."

Mabus highlighted the renewed focus on the Western Pacific in the new strategic guidance released by the Department of Defense in January, noting that the continued U.S. military presence in East Asia since World War II had contributed to regional peace and stability.

"The military has always been here in the region," said Mabus. "From a Navy-centric standpoint, the new strategy puts more emphasis on the Navy and Marine Corps."

Mabus held the all hands call during a four-day visit to Singapore that included meetings with US and Singaporean military and civilian officials along with attendance of Singapore's 47th National Day parade.

The Secretary's visit reinforced the importance of the strategic partnership between the U.S and Singapore.

"For all of the military services involved with engagement in this region, from the exercises to continued access of this regional hub, we have no better partner than Singapore," said Mabus. "We'll bring the first of up to four Littoral Combat Ships here next Spring."

While no U.S. base exists in Singapore, the U.S. Navy presence here dates back several decades and the Navy leases facilities from the Singaporean government. Today, the U.S. military community in Singapore includes active duty, civilian personnel and family members, distributed among 15 commands.

COMLOG WESTPAC was established at the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), Sembawang Terminal, in July 1992, after the command's relocation from Naval Station Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines. Established in 2007, NRCS provides administrative support to nine Navy, Army, Air Force and Joint commands in Singapore. It also manages 165 family and bachelor housing units and dozens of command, administrative and warehouse facilities.

COMLOG WESTPAC and NRCS are the U.S. 7th Fleet's providers of combat-ready logistics and shore support services. These commands maintain and operate government-owned and contracted vessels to keep combatant ships and units throughout the region armed, fueled and fed.

Additionally, COMLOG WESTPAC is 7th Fleet's Theater Security Cooperation agent for Southeast Asia, promoting military-to-military relations and coordinating exercises such as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training.

Secretary of the Navy Visits Enterprise

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian G. Reynolds, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus visited aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in the Arabian Sea Aug. 6-7, as the carrier continued its 25th and final deployment.

Enterprise Sailors and Marines, currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, used this opportunity to welcome Mabus to the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

Following his arrival on the carrier's flight deck, Mabus was greeted by Rear Adm. Walter E. Carter, commander, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group (ENTCSG) and Capt. William C. Hamilton, Jr., Enterprise's commanding officer.

Mabus was then escorted to the ship's navigation bridge and primary flight control before moving to the hangar bay where he addressed more than 3,000 Sailors and Marines gathered for an all-hands call.

 "I'm happy to be here with you all," said Mabus as he addressed Big E's crew. "I'm happy to be here on this historic ship, on its historic last voyage."

During his address, Mabus thanked the crewmembers for their service and told them that he understands that what they do is not easy.

"The Navy and Marines are America's 'away team,'" said Mabus. "The people at home never know just how skilled you are. They never see what it takes to do what you do and put on that uniform on a daily basis. On their behalf, I want to say 'thank you.'"

Mabus continued his expression of gratitude, saying, "I know that this ship and all of our ships have had an incredibly high operational tempo. I understand the stress that it puts on your families. The importance of what you all are doing for America cannot be overstated."

He also spoke of how the Navy's role in maritime combat operations will change in the future.

"We're going to build the fleet," said Mabus. "We are going to begin to use ships differently. We are growing the fleet to meet the new responsibilities of the new national defense strategy that the president announced in January."

During the event Mabus also presided over the reenlistment of 32 Sailors and Marines and presented awards to members of the Enterprise and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 team.

"The United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps are the finest expeditionary fighting force that the world has ever known," Mabus told the crew. "You are making part of the history of not only this Enterprise, but of all of the Enterprises that have sailed on behalf of our Navy and our nation."

After concluding his remarks, Mabus answered questions from the crew of the Big E and CVW-1 and posed for photos with those gathered in the hangar bay before heading to dinner with members of the enlisted crew on the carrier's mess decks.

Following dinner, Mabus was escorted on a tour of the legendary ship, visiting, among other areas, Medical department spaces, a weapons magazine, the combat direction center, carrier air traffic control center, a squadron ready room and the machinery repair shop. He was also able to observe flight operations from the flight deck, both in daylight and after sunset.

Enterprise is currently deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security operation efforts and support missions as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

#GreatGreenFleet: USS Nimitz Receives Biofuel

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Renee L. Candelario

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- USS Nimitz (CVN 68) took on more than 900,000 gallons of 50-50 biofuel in preparation for the Navy's Great Green Fleet demonstration, July 18.

The fuel will be used for aircraft and other naval surface ships to reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil by blending traditional petroleum-based fuel and biofuel made up of a mixture of algae oil and waste cooking oil.

"There has been a lot of rigor in our Navy to try to test bio fuel and see how we can be more efficient in terms of how we operate our engines and aircraft," said Rear Adm. Peter Gumataotao, commander Carrier Strike Group 11. "If the biofuel works it can potentially increase our legs in combat maneuverability in terms of our ability to fly longer and sail further."

Nimitz received the fuel delivery July 17, from the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) using connecting fuel hoses between both of the ships. The fuel will be tested for accuracy and similar properties as unblended fuel in the ship's fuel laboratory.

"This is the last step," said a representative from NAVAIR. "To make this Great Green Fleet possible with the expertise of these sailors, [this evolution] will not be a problem."

The Great Green Fleet demonstration will be attended by the Secretary of the Navy the Honorable Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operation Jonathan Greenert.

"It's more than biofuel when you talk about energy efficiency," said Gumataotao. "The bottom line is [the fuel] improves our combat capability and improves the way we fight."

Nimitz is currently underway for participation in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 surface ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in the RIMPAC exercise from June 29 to Aug. 3, in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

RIMPAC is world's largest international maritime exercise and provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans.