Navy Leap Frogs Demonstrate Navy Skills for Baltimore Students in Baltimore

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amy Kirk, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

Sept. 12, 2014 (NNS) -- Members of the Navy Parachute Team demonstrated Navy skills Sept. 1 for hundreds of students and faculty at Heritage High School and Reach! Partnership School located on the Lake Clifton Campus in Baltimore.

The team, known as the Leap Frogs, was in Baltimore supporting the Star-Spangled Spectacular, a 7-day free festival celebrating the 200th birthday of the national anthem.

"It's a privilege to be a part of this event. We do a lot of Navy events across the country, but coming to out to Baltimore, it's such a gorgeous city and it's a lot of fun," said Navy SEAL Lt. Dan Gibson. "The team has been looking forward to this trip all year."

The team tours the country throughout the year performing at schools and events to raise Navy awareness and support recruiting.

"We're the face of the Navy United States Navy because you've got a whole fleet out there serving hard and protecting our country and what we hope to do is demonstrate professionalism and excellence of the United States Navy," said Gibson.

The demonstration provided the students with bit of excitement about the military and the opportunities it offers them in training, travel and education.

"It was amazing," said ninth-grader Robin Hodges. "I feel as though maybe I want to give it a try when I grow up. "The Navy is cool."

In addition to the Leap Frogs demonstration, residents and visitors to the city can take part in public visitation of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships and attend patriotic concerts and witness an extraordinary fireworks display over Fort McHenry and the Baltimore harbor.

The Star-Spangled Spectacular runs September 10-16, 2014. This event celebrates the bicentennial of the Battle of Baltimore which provided the backdrop for Francis Scott Key's famous poem, "Defence of Fort McHenry," which later became America's national anthem. More than 30 ships from the U.S. and foreign nations, and the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels aircraft will be on display and open to the public.

Turkish Navy Heats Up Baltimore Star Spangled Spectacular Cooking Competition

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David Coleman

September 12, 2014 (NNS) -- Iron chefs sizzled their trade at the Galley Cook-off at the Baltimore Star Spangled Spectacular in the Baltimore Inner Harbor today.

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps culinary teams along with teams from Canada, Turkey, Norway, Great Britain and Germany were challenged to make an entree using eight farm-grown ingredients plus a Maryland Crab and Rockfish.

"It's not good luck, it's good skill and we already have it" said Culinary Specialist Seaman Clarke Pelmon, as she boasted her confidence.

The judges included Rear Adm. Vic Mercado, commander, Carrier Strike Group 8, and local restaurant and television personalities who dug in with gusto as they tasted the dishes. They judged for texture of the entrees, as well as the taste.

"It is very challenging to cook with a crab," said Master Seaman Jean-Louis Lassonde from the Canada Ship HMCS Athabaskan. However, he added the event is a lot of fun.

Rear Adm. Vic Mercado announced the winning dish was from Turkish Sailors attached to the TCG Kemalreis. He praised everyone for their tasty morsels and added it was tough decision to decide who would take home the winning prize. The winners rreceived a wooden spoon, something that could be used as a tool of their trade or proudly displayed in their galley.

Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Adam Spitz said "whoever wins, the U.S. Navy has the best food."

The event was held in conjunction with Baltimore Navy Week, Sept.10-16, 2014, and is part of the city of Baltimore's Star Spangled Spectacular. This event celebrates the bicentennial of the Battle of Baltimore that provided the backdrop of Francis Scott Key's famous poem, "The Defence of Fort McHenry," which later became America's national anthem. Along with more than 30 ships from the U.S. and foreign nations, the U.S. Navy's Blue Angles will be on display and accessible to the public.

VP-10 "Red Lancers" Making an Impact in El Salvador

By LTJG Brendan McGoey, VP-10 Public Affairs

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR (NNS) -- Patrol Squadron 10, known as the "Red Lancers", has had an immediate positive impact since arriving in El Salvador on June 24 in support of Operation MARTILLO, a U.S., European, and Western Hemisphere effort targeting illicit drug trafficking routes in Central America.

Operationally, the Red Lancers, a P-3C squadron based in Jacksonville, Fl., have conducted (X number) of patrols, helping bring to justice those suspected of participating in illegal smuggling operations and preventing the transfer of 5,703 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated U.S. market value of $116,000,000.

These flights would not be possible without the tireless diligence and devotion of the maintenance team, who provide the aircrews with mission capable aircraft. The department has provided a total of 2400 man-hours that have included one engine change, two propeller changes, two engine driven compressor changes, two hydraulic pump changes, and one AIMS turret change.

The Red Lancers will be attending the annual UNITAS and Silent Force Exercise conferences that are held in Lima, Peru. These conferences, beginning mid-September, consist of multinational exercises conducted to enhance interoperability and mutual cooperation between navies. The Red Lancers will be joined by forces from many Central and South American and European countries.

Additionally, the Red Lancers have had a positive impact in the local community by participating in various volunteer and community relations activities with local organizations. They have donated nearly 4,450 lbs. of clothing, food and school supplies to Iglesia Gran Comisin (Grand Commission Church), in La Libertad, El Salvador. Squadron members have also helped by cleaning floors, painting rooms, and building new shelves in the church's child development center.

The Love and Hope Children's Home, which provides care and shelter for local children in need, has also benefited from Red Lancer involvement. Volunteers have given over 163 hours of their time to build connections with the orphaned, abused, abandoned, or neglected children who are supported by the home.

Squadron members are also raising money on their own to help support future volunteer efforts. The squadron had 79 members participate in the COMREL 5K run on Saturday, August 23, which raised $2,255. The money will subsidize improvements to the child development center to include building a set of retractable folding doors so the children will have a protected place to do homework and other after school activities.

Additionally, 2,000 pounds of high-protein, nutritious rice packages will be delivered, providing food for up to 14,000 people.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet provide a 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 in support of U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations.