Future USS Ralph Johnson Keel Authenticated

From Team Ships Public Affairs

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy held a keel-laying ceremony for the future USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) at the Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipyard Sept. 23.

The keel was authenticated by ship sponsor and military wife Georgeanne McRaven, and 41-year veteran shipbuilder, Robert Boegner, Jr. The two traced their initials into the ship's keel plate after which they said, "We hereby declare that the keel of the future USS Ralph Johnson has been truly and fairly laid."

"I'm extremely honored to have Mrs. McRaven and Mr. Boegner here today to take part in this momentous event. Their participation demonstrates and celebrates the role that each individual involved in this vital shipbuilding program plays to help bring these warships to life," said Capt. Mark Vandroff, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. "I'm very proud of and grateful to the men and women of Ingalls shipbuilding. Their hard work has allowed us to celebrate this major ship milestone today."

Ingalls shipbuilding has a long history in destroyer shipbuilding, beginning with the keel-laying of the USS Spruance (DD 963) in the same shipyard over 40 years ago, in 1972. Ralph Johnson is the 64th Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, and the 30th DDG 51 class destroyer built by the shipyard. HII is under contract to build an additional six of the 14 DDG 51 class ships currently under contract. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is also under contract to build seven destroyers as part of the DDG 51 program restart.

DDG 51 class ships are integral players in global maritime security, engaging in air, undersea, surface, strike and ballistic missile defense. Ralph Johnson, a Flight IIA destroyer, will be equipped with Aegis Baseline 9 which incorporates Integrated Air and Missile Defense and enhanced Ballistic Missile Defense capabilities.

The ship is named for Marine Pfc. Ralph Henry Johnson, who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War. Johnson used his body to shield two fellow Marines from a grenade, absorbing the blast and dying instantly in March 1968.

As one of the Defense Department's largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships and special warfare craft. Delivering high-quality war fighting assets - while balancing affordability and capability - is key to supporting the nation's maritime strategy.

Valiant Shield 2014 comes to successful end

by Tech. Sgt. Brok McCarthy
Joint Information Bureau Public Affairs

9/23/2014 - ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam  -- The fifth iteration of Valiant Shield came to a close here Sept. 23 after nine days of joint air, land and sea interoperability training between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army.

"Overall, Valiant Shield 2014 was a very successful exercise," said Navy Rear Adm. Russell Allen, Valiant Shield exercise director. "Opposition forces provided a robust challenge to our air, sea and cyber forces, which enhanced our ability to function as a joint force and validated the Air-Sea Battle concept. The lessons learned will help further the development of tactics, techniques and procedures in the joint environment, especially those for the Air-Sea-Battle concept."

The goal of Valiant Shield 2014 was to bring together more than 18,000 service members, 200 aircraft and 19 surface vessels to develop a "pre-integrated" joint force built from habitual relationships. This force builds interoperable and complementary cross-domain capabilities and benefits from realistic, shared training enhancing the flexibility to develop new tactics, techniques and procedures as operational conditions dictate. Such forces provide the deterrence and stabilizing effects of a force-in-being, ready at the outset of a contingency without delays for buildups or extensive mission rehearsal.

During the air operation portions of the exercise, the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps completed scenarios that included simulated defensive counter-air missions, strike missions, suppressions of enemy air defenses, maritime interdiction, air-to-air refueling and command and control operations.

In addition, infantry Marines, along with Guam National Guardsmen, conducted an island seizure exercise on Tinian Island, approximately 50 miles north of Guam.  Marines were inserted on the island by two Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III MEF. Once on the beach, they encountered opposition provided by Guam's Army National Guard, Company A, 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry. Over the course of several days, the infantry faced increasingly complicated scenarios while trying to capture an old World War II-era compound.

Valiant Shield 2014 featured several firsts, including the deployment of an Army Patriot missile battery, from the 1-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion, and the integration of the Task Force Talon terminal high altitude area defense battery assets, previously deployed to Guam.

One of the many sea-based Valiant Shield scenarios was a live-fire sink exercise, which sank the decommissioned USS Fresno (LST 1182) in waters 18,000 feet deep, approximately 215 nautical miles northeast of Guam.

Units from the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps also participated in the sinking exercise, firing a variety of ship-based and aircraft-based weaponry to enhance tactical proficiency and targeting against a surface target at sea.

The lessons learned from exercises like VS14 will assist the U.S. in continuing to develop regional and global power projection capabilities that provide a full range of options to succeed in defense of its interests and those of its allies and partners around the world.

"Valiant Shield was extremely successful for gathering lessons learned in a joint environment," said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Andrew Toth, Valiant Shield air boss. "Weather was an issue at the beginning, but thanks to the hard work of some dedicated people, we were able to accomplish all of our objectives. What we learned during Valiant Shield will provide us invaluable improvements to the way we plan and execute future operations."

2014 UNITAS Participants Conduct COMREL at Local Salaverry School

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam Henderson, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command & U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

SALAVERRY, Peru (NNS) -- A combined total of 63 Sailors and U.S. Coast Guard members along side 15 members from partner nations came together to participate in a community relations event (COMREL) at Virgen De La Puerta, Sept. 20.

The countries involved in the COMREL were Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and the U.S. The team worked together to paint, organize, clean and provide some light construction work around the compound.

"These sort of events where Sailors get the opportunity to get out and make a difference in the communities always reward both sides. Sailors always come back with great stories on what they did and how much fun it was helping out. Almost always, it's the smiles on the children's faces that have the biggest impact," said Cmdr. Dan Straub, commanding officer of USS Ingraham (FFG 61).

This event is part of the UNITAS exercise, which is intended to train participating forces in a variety of maritime scenarios to test command and control of forces at sea, while operating as a multinational force to provide the maximum opportunity to improve interoperability.

"It was a great experience working side by side with the various navies as we came together for a good cause. I believe we all made a positive impact for the students and the community," said Master-at-Arms 1st Class Mario Gonzalez a native from Los Angles.

During the COMREL, several Peruvian children came to the grounds to meet the service members and to help them while they worked to fix their school.

"It was a great experience working alongside our partner nations. It shows that, even though we are from various parts of the world, we can come together with one common goal, and that is to help out the children," said U.S. Coast Guard Yeoman 2nd Class Michael Snyder.

UNITAS began in 1960. It is the U.S. Navy's longest running annual multinational maritime exercise. UNITAS, which means "unity" in Latin, is a demonstration of the U.S. commitment to the region and to the value of the strong relationships forged between our partner militaries.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet support U.S. Southern Command's joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations in order to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

USS Peleliu Embarks ESG 7, Sets Sail for CERTEX

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Will Gaskill, USS Peleliu Public Affairs

OKINAWA, Japan (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), lead ship of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (PEL ARG), embarked the Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 for patrol in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

"It's great to be back at sea with our Sailors and Marines," said Rear Adm. Hugh D. Wetherald, commander, ESG 7. "They demonstrate every day the exceptional dedication and capability of the 7th Fleet amphibious force and the important role we have in maintaining security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region."

ESG 7 is 7th Fleet's U.S. amphibious force and is responsible for conducting expeditionary warfare operations that support a full range of theater contingencies, ranging from humanitarian and disaster relief operations, to full combat operations as well as a number of bilateral and multilateral exercises each year.

Peleliu recently completed Advanced Integration Training with the 31st MEU, and is preparing for Certification Exercise (CERTEX), where the embarked Marines will conduct advanced amphibious operations such as beach landings utilizing assault amphibious vehicles, landing craft utilities, as well as joint flight operations.

CERTEX will offer Peleliu and the 31st MEU a chance to strengthen mission readiness and build on the Navy's forward presence.

"CERTEX gives the PEL ARG and 31st MEU the opportunity to practice in a combined and joint environment and is designed to increase both units' effectiveness," said Capt. Paul C. Spedero, Peleliu's commanding officer. "We are one team with one fight, and I am confident that this team will excel in all areas of the exercise. I look forward to meeting the challenges ahead of us."

Peleliu is on its final regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment in the 7th Fleet AOR supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-pacific region before decommissioning early next year.