Kearsarge, 26th MEU Complete ARG Exercise

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aren Everett, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Sailors from the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (KSGARG) returned to homeport at Naval Station Norfolk July 2, after participating in the KSGARG/MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) Exercise off the U.S. Atlantic coast.

The KSGARG consists of the Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 4, 26th MEU, the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51).

"Our major objective is to make sure we get the Marines where they need to go," said Chief Warrant Officer James Edward Gray III, Kearsage tactical information warfare officer. "In order to do that, you've got to protect the ship from being damaged, hit or attacked. Every ship has a role to play in all of that."

During the exercise, the ARG was tested in every possible type of warfare situation. One of the last exercises was a strait transit, which was like the capstone of ARGMEUEX, according to Gray.

"They threw everything at us," said Gray. "Just watching the communication flow through combat, to the bridge, and then to the warfare commanders, made me think we were doing well. We weren't taking any damage; there was no reason for us to set GQ, so everything was happening pretty smoothly."

"For a person who doesn't know what they're getting into, going on the watch, knowing that it's going to happen, is kind of unnerving," said Gray, "but once you get there and sit in the seat it becomes more like an opportunity to be on the varsity team and play in the big game, so to speak. Once you start doing it you don't want to stop. It's pretty fun."

The KSGARG is scheduled to participate in the composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), which is the final certification before deployment. Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4 oversees and conducts both ARGMEUEX and COMPTUEX.

Gray said that this will be the seventh COMPTUEX of his career.

"It's like ARGMEUEX on steroids," said Gray. "There'll be a lot of what they call 'free play' involved, where they'll get off the script and maybe one night you'll wake up to hearing that we're in the middle of doing something with other ships that are not necessarily on our team. It's going to be interesting."

The KSGARG is scheduled to deploy in fall 2015.

Navy Hosts Senate Energy Subcommittee Hearing

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Phil Beaufort, U.S. Fleet Forces Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The Navy hosted a field hearing for the Senate Energy subcommittee on water and power aboard multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), moored at Naval Station Norfolk, March 12.

The subcommittee received testimony on energy and water policies being implemented by Department of the Navy (DoN) operations and facilities.

During his testimony, Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus spoke of the DoN's fuel and water conservation efforts and the importance of energy independence.

"Today, the United States controls just two percent of known global oil reserves, but we consume over 20 percent of the world's oil," said Mabus. "The math is clear, even if we opened up every possible source of oil available to us, it wouldn't be enough to supply our needs."

Mabus said the Navy and Marine Corps cannot remain content or complacent in how they use, produce or procure energy.

"For every dollar charged for a barrel of oil, the [DoN] spends $30 million. When unrest in some oil producing regions broke out last year, the price of a barrel increased by $30, which increased the Navy's fuel bill by over $1 billion," said Mabus. "That additional $1 billion in fuel costs, that we could not have planned for, left us having to take money out of operations, meaning our Sailors and Marines steamed less, flew less and trained less."

Mabus said Navy's investments in biofuels have brought costs down and he believes those prices will continue to come down with increased demand.

"Alternative fuels cannot become competitive with oil unless there is a demand for them. But demand at a commercial scale will never be possible unless there is the supply to meet that demand," said Mabus. "Purchases of small amounts for our research efforts has shown dramatic results in lowering the cost of biofuels, which cost half as much today as they did just two years ago."

Former U.S. Sen. and former Secretary of the Navy John Warner, led one of the panels and spoke about the impact further Navy research and development will have going forward.

"Since we are here to talk specifically about the Navy, I would note that the Navy is on the leading edge across all initiatives, especially when it comes to development and use of biofuel," said Warner. "Navy scientists and engineers have developed great expertise in assessing both the advantages, and even the limitations, of biofuels. Their research and development has proven the concepts of 'drop in fuels' in aircraft and ships."

The Navy plans to launch what Mabus calls the "Great Green Fleet" during this year's Rim of the Pacific Exercise. Mabus said the ships and aircraft of RIMPAC will demonstrate their ability to run on biofuel later this summer and the Green Fleet will deploy operating on biofuel in 2016.

"The Great Green Fleet is not about some environmental agenda," said Mabus. "It is about maintaining America's military and economic leadership across the globe in the 21st Century. In the middle of the 19th Century, it was the Navy that shifted from sail to steam. In the early 20th Century, we shifted again from steam to oil, and in the middle of the 20th Century it was the Navy that pioneered nuclear power. At each of those transitions, there were those who questioned the need, challenged the cost or simply opposed change of any kind."

In addition to the Green Fleet, Mabus unveiled a number of short- and long-term DoN energy goals he said are designed to achieve energy security and independence.

* Energy Efficient Acquisition: Evaluation of energy factors will be mandatory when awarding contracts for systems and buildings.

* Reduce Non-Tactical Petroleum Use: By 2015, DoN will reduce petroleum use in the commercial fleet by 50 percent.

* Increase Alternative Energy Ashore: By 2020, DoN will produce at least 50 percent of shore-based energy requirements from alternative sources; 50 percent of DON installations will be net-zero.

* Increase Alternative Energy Use DoN-Wide: By 2020, 50 percent of total DoN energy consumption will come from alternative sources.

"Maximizing the combat capability of our platforms through energy efficiency and energy innovation is what the Navy's energy program is about," said Vice Adm. Philip Cullom, deputy chief of naval operations for fleet readiness and logistics.

Cullom addressed the congressional panel about the need to take this sea-change to the deckplate in order for it to succeed.

"We are driving this change through formal education, in the training pipeline and on the deckplate," said Cullom. "With contributions from every Sailor, at every level, we will achieve our energy vision so that we remain 'Paratus et Potens'...'Ready and Able.'"

In addition to Mabus, Warner and Cullom, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy Tom Hicks, Rear Adm. Tim Alexander, commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic; Maj. Gen James Kessler, commander of Marine Corps Installations Command; and Col. Bob Charette, director of Marine Corps Expeditionary Energy Office, each provided testimony.

Kearsarge Displays Energy Initiative

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (AW) Tamara Vaughn, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

ABOARD USS KEARSARGE, Norfolk, Va. (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) hosted the Senate Committee for Energy and Natural Resources and Chair of the Subcommittee on Water and Power, aboard March 12 to discuss Navy and Marine Corps energy initiative programs.

The committee members toured exhibits showcasing new green technologies which will help the military conserve energy and improve consumption efficiency. Each exhibit provided a glimpse of environmentally friendly equipment that will enhance operational, tactical and fuel efficiency which is critical to the today's military.

"Energy is at the core of everything," said Senate staff member Charles F. Stanton. "With any company, even the Navy, we need to identify our weakness when it comes to energy. With events like this one we can see what new technologies are out there and implement them with today's military. It not only saves money but it is the right thing to do."

The members stopped at each booth, receiving demonstrations by technical experts on alternative fuels and information on programs that provide cleaner forms of energy to help make the military more self sufficient. With record oil prices and the ever-rising cost of energy, maintaining energy security is a priority in today's military.

"Our vessels are powered by fuel," said Rear Adm. Ann C. Phillips, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group TWO. "So anything we can do as the Navy to provide efficiency and flexibility on how - and what - we use to provide that energy, is going to provide us with battle capabilities in the future."

Phillips, who commands amphibious units on the East Coast, noted that energy efficiency is the first step toward finding oil alternatives.

"Being more energy efficient gives us the opportunity to look at other sources of energy other than fossil fuels, which is better for the environment; reduces green house gas; and provides a cleaner source of energy. The Navy's energy policy is the right way to go and to be able to host an event like this and showcase a ship like the Kearsarge, that has been enhanced with energy saving equipment, is the icing on the cake."

The demonstrations educated the committee on energy saving technologies, which will improve operational readiness, lower mission cost, and decrease dependency on foreign oil.

Bold Alligator Exercise Takes Fight to the Shore

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/FMF) Chad V. Pritt, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea (NNS) -- Four months to the day before the 68th anniversary of the landing at Normandy, the Navy and Marine Corps team conducted another historic amphibious operation.

Exercise Bold Alligator 2012, the largest amphibious exercise in the past 10 years, culminated Feb. 6 with a D-Day landing on the beaches of Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Amphibious craft and thousands of U.S. Marines and British and Canadian commandos deployed from multiple ships to the shores of North Carolina following a week at sea practicing all facets of amphibious operations. The exercise's scope and scale were last seen during the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"This type of an amphibious operation occurred at the start of the war as we brought forces over into the [Arabian] Gulf off the coast of Kuwait, in about this size of a task force," said Marine Col. Scott S. Jensen, commanding officer of Marine Air Group (MAG) 29. "The difference being, is once we got there we offloaded onto the shore and our command and control shifted into a friendly country, and we reset ourselves land-based and were ready to support the combatant commander."

Landing craft air cushions and amphibious assault vehicles delivered Marines and coalition forces from the United Kingdom and Canada from amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) to the beach in a mock amphibious landing. The exercise is a revitalization of amphibious capabilities and re-investment in the Navy-Marine Corps team.

Marines from Regimental Landing Team 2, MAG 29, 2nd Marine Regiment, and British and Canadian commandos embarked Kearsarge Jan. 23 through Feb. 3 in preparation for the landing. The combined nature of the exercise allowed the U.S. and its partners to share amphibious tactics.

"A lot of times we say, 'oh they're coming to learn our tactics, techniques and procedures,'" said Jensen. "But I think these are smart people from great countries who bring a lot to the table from what they've learned, and we're seeing a lot of that sharing."

While the exercise is the largest in 10 years, the ability to launch an aggressive amphibious assault has always been a capability the Navy and Marine Corps have maintained.

"What a lot of people don't realize, is that the assault on Afghanistan was launched from the sea, to 700 miles inland," said Capt. Peter Pagano, commander, Amphibious Squadron 4. "Those initial forces from amphibious ships and aircraft carriers, kicked off OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom)."

The importance of amphibious capability lies not only with a tactical edge, but also a logistical need to provide from the sea. Sea basing, the maritime services' revolutionary power projection doctrine, provides American and coalition forces the ability to sustain a fighting force anywhere in the world.

"There are a lot of places around the world that just don't have the infrastructure or the political position to allow a huge American force to fly in and operate," Jensen said. "There aren't many places with capabilities in the world that can match what we see in this team."

Bold Alligator began Jan. 30 and will continue until Feb. 12 afloat and ashore, in and around North Carolina and Virginia.

Kearsarge FCPOA Lends a Hand to Soup Kitchen

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Cristina Gabaldon, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

RED BANK, N.J. (NNS) -- Eleven members from amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge's First Class Petty Officer Association (FCPOA) took a few hours off from their schedule to volunteer at a local soup kitchen in Red Bank, N.J., June 23.

The FCPOA arrived at Norma Todd's Lunch Break just before lunch, where they led a prayer and recited the Pledge of Allegiance before serving lunch to 54 men, women and children.

Norma Todd's Lunch Break is an organization ran by employees and volunteers who are committed to helping the community. Active since 1983, Norma Todd's Lunch Break is a place where members of the community who are in need can go for a hot meal, food boxes, clothes, and many other services.

"We are so honored to have these Kearsarge Sailors here," said Gwendolyn Love, executive director of Norma Todd's. "We know they just finished deployment and it's amazing to me that not only do they serve our country, defending our freedom, but they also are serving our community."

On average, Norma Todd's Lunch Break serves 80 people a day for lunch, plus home deliveries for those who cannot make their way to the soup kitchen.

"With the recession we are busier than ever," explained Love. "A lot of volunteers and donators we have had over the years are now our patrons coming in daily. With times being so tough, we need more volunteers; that is why we were just thrilled to learn that Sailors from USS Kearsarge were coming to help out."

Aviation Boatswain's Mate (handling) 1st Class Donya Craig, enjoyed the entire afternoon at the soup kitchen.

"We, as an FCPOA, decided to volunteer at the soup kitchen so we can give back to the community, even if it isn't our own," said Craig. "This experience really opened our eyes, and it felt like we really made a difference."

Other volunteers who are regulars to Norma Todd's were also very impressed by the Sailors coming in to help out.

"This is the first time I've seen the Navy come help out here," explained Juan Figueras, a 34-year old Red Bank volunteer. "I came from being homeless and today, being able to work alongside the Navy, helping people, was such an honor. I wish I could do what these people do; I wish I would have joined the Navy!"

As the patrons conversed with the Sailors as they went through the food line and asked questions.

"You see these people with so many struggles and hardships, but they were so appreciative for everything," explained Craig. "This was an awesome experience and I encourage anyone to take the opportunity to do something like this at least one time. As for the FCPOA, we are already planning our next community project and will hopefully be able to make it a monthly event."

Kearsarge arrived in Earle, N.J., June 20, to offload ammunition after a nine-month deployment in support of humanitarian efforts in Pakistan and Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector in Libya.