Task Group Exercise Comes to a Close, Ends with Success

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Kole E. Carpenter, USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Canadian, Japanese and U.S. ships completed a two-week long Task Group Exercise (TGEX) Oct. 31 off the coast of Southern California.

The exercise, led by U.S. 3rd Fleet gave Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 15 the opportunity to conduct and evaluate training across multiple warfare areas for Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), guided-missile cruisers USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and USS Chosin (CG 65), guided-missile destroyers USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), USS Kidd (DDG 100), USS Pinckney (DDG 91) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), littoral combat ships USS Independence (LCS 2) and USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigates HMCS Calgary (FFH 335) and HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338), Kingston-class coastal defense vessels HMCS Brandon (MM 710) and HMCS Yellowknife (MM 706), and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JS) Teruzuki (DD 116)

"The U.S. Navy uses exercises like TGEX to strengthen maritime relationships with partner nations," said Capt. Patrick Keyes, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, assistant chief of staff for plans, policy, training and readiness. "Additionally, TGEX gave four independent deployers the opportunity to be assessed across multiple warfare areas and provided an opportunity for ships not getting certified to get valuable training, necessary during their training cycle."

Milius, Paul Hamilton and Fort Worth Crews 103 and 104 used TGEX as their final opportunity to certify prior to deployment.

TGEX was a rare opportunity to cultivate partnerships across Pacific fleets.

"Our goal was to improve tactical skill," Japanese foreign liaison officer Lt. Cmdr. Kohei Sueki said. "We would also like to enhance regional understanding between the Japanese and the U.S. and Canadian Navies."

Sueki added that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force sought to increase maritime war fighting capability and international relations through their participation in TGEX.

"Japanese, U.S. and Canadian ships coming together is not something that happens often," Lt. Vincent Pellerin, Canadian foreign liaison officer said. "We hoped to foster better international relationships and learn how to work well with other fleets."

Joint, inter agency and international relationships strengthen U.S. 3rd Fleet's ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners.

European Distinguished Visitors Embark USS George H.W. Bush

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Patrick I. Crimmins, USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (NNS) -- U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa hosted 23 distinguished visitors from multiple European countries aboard aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) as a part of the Navy's Distinguished Visitor (DV) Embark program, Oct. 30.

The DV program is a unique experience that allows civilian and military guests board the ship while underway and experience the Navy's mission and witness carrier operations firsthand.

The DVs included Lithuanian Minister of National Defense, Juozas Olekas; Latvian Minister of Defense, Raimonds Vejonis; Polish Undersecretary of State, Maciej Jankowski; Estonian Defense Forces Commander, Commander, Estonian Defense Forces, Maj. Gen. Riho Terras; and Spanish Fleet Commander in Chief, Adm. Santiago Bolibar.

Bush also hosted DVs the previous day representing Bulgaria, Georgia and Greece including Bulgarian Minister of Defense Dr. Velizar Shalamanov; Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Maia Panjikidze; and Commander, NATO Missile Firing Installation Crete, Greece, Maj. Gen. Lazaros Skylakis.

The DVs toured the aircraft carrier and observed flight operations from the flight deck.

"It's important to see the combat power of the United States Navy and to understand our strong support of the NATO alliance," said Adm. Mark Ferguson, who joined the delegation aboard the ship for the day.

The carrier has various capabilities that exhibit more than simply wartime usefulness.

"When we show up somewhere, we bring a heck of a lot of combat power, and we make a pretty big statement," said Capt. Andrew Loiselle, commanding officer of George H. W. Bush. "But, it's not just about combat power. It's about all the other things we bring to the table; everything from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. We've got some fantastic capabilities on board this ship and we're willing to help out."

During the tour, Ferguson also met with Sailors about the ship and thanked them for their service.

"I'd like to congratulate the crew of the Bush on a successful deployment," said Ferguson. "The ship has done everything from engagements to combat operations in Central Command. You all represent the very best of the global U.S. Navy."

During a gift exchange ceremony, Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Juozas Olekas spoke on the importance of working together in a multinational manner with the U.S. and other NATO countries.

"We all know how important our cooperation with the United States is for peace and democracy," said Olekas. "Indeed, it was a very unforgettable day for me being on this carrier, this symbol of freedom. It is a symbol of our efforts for peace."

George H.W. Bush, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

AFMC selects Hill for excellence

by Richard W. Essary
75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

10/31/2014 - HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah,  -- Hill was selected as Air Force Materiel Command's choice for the Commander-in-Chief's 2015 Annual Award for Installation Excellence.

This award recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the people who operate and maintain U.S. military installations. Each year one installation from each service is selected for this honor. Installation excellence enables better mission performance and enhances the quality of life for service members and their families, according to a Department of Defense news release.

"Being selected to represent our command is an incredible honor for Team Hill," said Col. Ron Jolly, 75th Air Base Wing and installation commander. "Whether we are deploying combat-ready Airmen around the world, providing exceptional medical care for our beneficiaries or championing activities to bed down F-35 operations, this recognition is a testimony of Team Hill's hard work and commitment to our nation's security."

Hill will compete against other Air Force-level command winners for the award. An inspection team will visit each finalist base, and the winners are traditionally announced in the spring.

Nearly 10 of Hill's units and programs brought home "best" in Department of Defense, Air Force, AFMC and Air Force Sustainment Center recognition during the award period including: the military treatment facility, dental services, fire department, environmental and energy programs, housing management, communications, sexual assault prevention and response, and public-public, public-private partnerships.

Team Hill has much to be proud of during the award period, officials said. Along with the exceptional recognition, the installation embraced AFSC's "Art of the Possible" culture that led to a number of successes and cost-savings' initiatives.

Some of those include:

- Hill completed approximately 5,300 flight plans for local depot-maintenance and tenant aircraft missions and received a 99 percent customer-service satisfaction rating with zero discrepancies from those units.
- The chapel organized weekend retreats for Hill's families and single Airmen to focus on resiliency skills before, during and after a deployment.
- The Hill clinic created a new satellite pharmacy to decrease wait times by 400 percent. It also collaborated with a nearby health department to develop a civilian flu vaccine program that was benchmarked by the Air Force.
- The fire department completed 1,100 emergency responses, protecting people and base facilities.
- The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office conducted 11 education and outreach activities on- and off-base, involving more than 2,000 participants.
- The communications directorate led the Air Force's third largest network migration and resolved more than 2,600 trouble tickets.
- The 629th Munitions Squadron, which is the busiest munitions inspection operation in the Air Force, executed more than 5,000 shipments to units worldwide.
- Contracting awarded nearly $18 million worth of contracts to fix a hangar roof and renovate a facility that will directly support Hill's ability to reach "initial operational capability" for the F-35 Lighting II. Additionally, Hill began 33 construction projects related to the F-35 worth $111 million.
- The base's environmental program validated a laser paint-removal system for the C-130 Hercules that strips paint seven times faster than previously accomplished.
- Hill's use of solar arrays and municipal landfill methane gas saved the Air Force nearly $674,000 annually.
- The Enhanced Use Lease Office administered the largest EUL project in the DOD -- three projects to date worth $83 million -- at no-cost to the government.
- Team Hill partnered with the community to host one of DOD's largest air shows, which enabled 550,000 spectators to witness firsthand the pride and precision of the Air Force.

New Thinking for Tomorrow's Battlefields

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steven Khor, Commander Submarine Force Pacific, Public Affairs.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- Sailors, junior officers and developers from around the nation attended the Tactical Advancements for the Next Generation (TANG) Expo at the historic submarine base on board Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Oct. 27-30, for a week long workshop aimed at new ideas and concepts for the fleet.

This TANG was co-sponsored by Commander, Undersea Surveillance (CUS); Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (SUBPAC); Naval Sea Systems Command Maritime Surveillance Systems Program Office (NAVSEA PMS 485); and the Undersea Systems Program Office (PEO IWS 5).

It is the fifth in a series of TANG events designed to improve watch team efficiency, build smoother communication, create a stronger military community and boost skills in order to improve the capabilities of submarines, and ships and their crews in the fleet. The current event focused on process improvements for the Integrated Undersea Surveillance Systems community.

"Your job is to use your experience, and tell us how to make the processes and more importantly the systems better so we can get better data to the decision makers," said Rear Adm. Phil Sawyer, SUBPAC commander, addressing those gathered to kick-off the week's events. "It is imperative that you dig deep and recognize that the feedback that you provide will make it to the fleet. They enable us to get the right data to the guy that is making the decision quicker and allows him to make a better decision, and that's fundamentally what this is about."

The TANG events such as this one started in 2011, in an effort to harness views on technology to improve sonar and fire control systems.

Sawyer said that because of TANG events, there are improvements in those systems that can be seen in the fleet today.

Capt. Steve Harrison, major program manager for PEO IWS 5, believes the event will help the TANG attendees to come up with ways to rapidly implement new ideas into the fleet.

During the week, participants utilized foam core, cardboard, markers and sticky-notes to brainstorm clever ideas quickly throughout the room. The event included presentations, exercises, and reviews.

"The developers are here to watch these ideas and over the next year or so rapidly turn those ideas into another round of more advanced prototypes that Sailors and junior officers will try out," said Harrison. "Those ideas that work best are then introduced into our systems as quickly as two years."

Harrison said that they have used this design-thinking approach for submarine and surface ship sonar and combat systems over the past several years, and it has produced some great capabilities.

Harrison believes TANG design-thinking events help support the Chief of Naval Operations tenets of Warfighting First and Operate Forward, because these innovative capabilities will be pushed to forward-deployed warships based on Undersecretary of Defense Frank Kendall's Better Buying Power 3.0 initiatives, which emphasize achieving dominant capabilities through innovation and technical excellence.

Harrison added that the TANG design-thinking approach could really help solve many of the system problems we see in the Navy.

"Our Sailors and officers live with these systems for weeks and months on end while they are under way, so they really know the limitations of the systems and have been brainstorming on every watch, what they would do if they were in charge of development," said Harrison. "These TANG events provide a structured approach for the developers to listen to their great ideas, and we are constantly amazed at what they come up with."

Sonar Technician 2nd Class Adam Worzella, of the Naval Ocean Processing Facility in Dam Neck, Virginia, said he is excited to see the new challenges that will be implemented into the fleet from events like TANG.

"I think it is great," said Worzella. "It will definitely make it easier to implement new systems and make it a more fun in the process of trying to figure stuff out from people who have been in and seen all the systems that we currently have."