Porter Departs Norfolk to Join Forward Deployed Naval Force

From CNSL Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) departed Norfolk Naval Station for the last time, March 27, before being forward deployed to Rota, Spain.

Porter's crew of about 270 Sailors are scheduled to operate in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility prior to arrival in Rota. The ship will be the third of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers deployed to Spain by the end of 2015.

"The crew has worked very hard to get to this point and they are excited about the opportunity to work with our foreign partners as well as experience various cultures with our homeport shift," said Cmdr. Blair Guy, Porter's commanding officer. "This is a significant opportunity for the ship and the crew and we are ready to meet all mission requirements."

Porter will join the guided-missile destroyers, USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) and USS Ross (DDG 71), both of which transited to Spain last year. The fourth vessel, USS Carney (DDG 64), is slated to depart Mayport, Florida, for Rota in the fall.

Each ship is equipped to provide a mobile ballistic-missile defense for allies and partners in the European region. Missions will also include maritime security operations, cooperative training exercises and deployments.

Experts Convene to Discuss Maritime Power, International Security

By Daniel Kuester, U.S. Naval War College Public Affairs

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- Maritime security leaders gathered at U.S. Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island, March 25-26, to focus global military attention on seapower during the EMC Chair Symposium "Maritime Power and International Security."

Experts from the military, academia, national security, corporate interests, United Nations, government, and non-governmental organizations all took part in the two-day event that focused on power projection, deterrence, humanitarian assistance, special operations and security and strategies.

"NWC is home to Navy thought and Naval War College should be leading the Navy and the nation on maritime issues," said Derek Reveron, EMC chair, professor in National Security Affairs and organizer of the annual event. "This conference gives us the opportunity to do that."

The symposium was timed to coincide with the release of a new maritime strategy by the U.S. sea services March 13 titled, A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower: Forward, Engaged, Ready.

The new maritime security, released by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, outlines maritime priorities in support of the national interest. It replaces a similar 2007 document and accounts for changes in the global security environment, new strategic guidance, and a changed fiscal environment.

One of the areas highlighted at the symposium, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, is already being explored by experts from NWC and Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The two schools currently exchange faculty to discuss this topic and bring two different perspectives to the subject.

"As the number of humanitarian disasters expands (some due to natural disasters, others to conflict), we can expect that increased civil-military engagement will be required to meet the life-saving needs of affected populations," said Vincenzo Bollettino, executive director of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative who was a member of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief panel at the symposium.

"It is imperative that we begin more systematic study of civil-military engagement, both to help guide normative discussions about civil-military interaction as well as to inform conversations related to the efficiency of the response," he added.

Both military and civilian groups are needed to assist when large disasters happen, according to Bollettino.

"Today's humanitarian emergencies, particularly complex emergencies that entail aspects of natural disasters and conflict require that both military and humanitarian actors better train for and participate in conversations about civil-military engagement," he said. "These conversations should be taking place in multiple fora (military, academic, humanitarian) and in various countries."

Another aspect of maritime power was discussed in the power projection session where a panelist focused on the changing nature of the challenges faced by the country.

"I think the biggest challenge facing the U.S. military is to adjust to the rise of small, smart, and cheap weapons systems," said T.X. Hammes, distinguished research fellow at National Defense University, Washington, D.C., and panelist at the symposium. "Poor nations and even small groups will have access to precision, long-range weapons in significant numbers. Thus our base areas, supply convoys, fuel dumps, ammo dumps, air and sea ports will be subject to attack. We have to figure out how to deal with this type of threat."

The symposium touches on many aspects of maritime power in just a few days. Reveron says that addressing all of these issues in a short time is not intended to solve the problems, but to serve as a platform for the experts to think about the issues that will eventually lead to answers.

"This event will help me and my colleagues think through these important issues and serves as an incubator for ideas," said Reveron.

Reveron also said one of his aims is to encourage attendees to write about maritime issues after the event and hope they incorporate some of the discussion points into their own writings.

US 7th Fleet Kicks Off SAPR Month with Bystander Intervention Training

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joshua Karsten, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

PHILIPPINE SEA (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet staff kicked off their sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) training month by focusing on bystander intervention while underway aboard the U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) March 24.

During the 2-hour training session Sailors interacted with each other in two-way group conversations, discussing scenarios seen in various thought-provoking videos. Discussions included issues that Sailors encounter first hand such as peer pressure, stress, drinking, fraternization and sexual advances in the workplace. The training was broken into rank based sessions so the discussions following the videos could reflect the various levels of leadership interaction based on each peer group.

"The end result is that we want Sailors to take ownership, be active bystanders and get involved in their peer group to eliminate other Sailors from making bad decisions that could have a long term negative effect on their lives," said Chief Cryptologic Technician Maintenance Michael Horton, command SAPR. "The training focuses on understanding that it should be a culture of change to want to do better for their peers and ultimately better for themselves."

Bystander intervention training is often associated with sexual assault prevention, however this new training goes beyond just stopping a potential sexual assault. It covers the entire range of destructive behaviors, from sexual harassment to alcohol abuse to hazing, harassment and suicide.

"Intervention is not just sexual assault, we want Sailors - when they see something that's out of the ordinary - to feel comfortable to come forward to their chain of command or to approach the situation from the lowest level to find a resolution to whatever the conflict is," said Horton.

Bystander intervention training is a direct result of Navy-wide Sailor feedback asking for more interactive and hands-on training. The new style of training highlights that any Sailor, regardless of rank, is a leader and focuses on starting the trend that stepping up and stepping in will be the "in" thing for the Navy of the future. The training was led by rank based peers and has removed the older style power point sessions.

The Navy-wide mandatory training was introduced during the fall of 2014 and all Sailors are required to complete by September 2015.

582nd Helicopter Group activated, makes history

by Airman 1st Class Malcolm Mayfield
90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

3/27/2015 - F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- The first helicopter group in the Air Force officially activated during the Assumption of Command Ceremony of the 582nd Helicopter Group March 27, 2015, on F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.

Col. Dave Smith, 582nd HG commander, received the guidon from Maj. Gen. Jack Weinstein, Task Force 214 and 20th Air Force commander. The group will take over operations of the 37th, 40th and 54th Helicopter Squadrons along with forming the 582nd Operations Support Squadron.

The 582nd HG is standing up under 20th AF to improve mission effectiveness and standardization at all three missile wings at Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Minot AFB, North Dakota; and F.E. Warren, which also fall under Air Force Global Strike Command.

"Global strike command and particularly the helicopter and security forces mission within 20th AF and Task Force 214 are very unique to the Air Force in that our day-to-day operations," said Lt. Col. James Blanchard, 582nd OSS commander. "While we are conducting operations, we need to be constantly focused and vigilant on what our operational mission is every day. We could be called at any time."

The helicopter group is a product of the AFGSC Force Improvement Philosophy initiative. FIP is a grass-roots program which allows Airmen to take ownership of their mission through recommendations send to their leadership to improve mission effectiveness and morale.

"I think it's a good change. One of the major reasons for this change was to put helicopter leadership over the helicopter operators," Blanchard said.
Prior to the formation of the helicopter group; the 90th, 91st and 341st Operation Groups managed the helicopter squadrons at their respective wings.

"The group itself provides a standardization [across the three helicopter squadrons]." Blanchard said. "It's difficult when you have organizations that are in three different locations and having no organization that really provided the standardizing between the three units."

With these changes, the plan is to improve mission effectiveness and standardization at all missile wings, however, being the first helicopter group they will have to start from scratch.

"Starting a brand new aviation's group when there was never one before will be a challenge," said Chief Master Sgt. Brian Sato, 582nd group superintendent. "But we have a bright future."

The helicopter group will unify the helicopter squadrons under 20th AF and increase the effectiveness of each squadron with a multitude of new additions, one addition being the 582nd OSS.

The newly-formed operations support squadron is tailored for the three helicopter squadrons.

"The OSS can focus on providing the support, training, tactical development and current operations functions [of the helicopter squadrons]," Blanchard said. "This allows the operators to focus on the mission and not all of the additional duties they had to do before."

Each squadron will receive a 582nd OSS detachment to providing standardized support throughout the helicopter squadrons.

"We are giving missileers the opportunity to focus on their mission," Sato said. "We're also providing a better product by [reaching our] full potential."

Smith said the new group will be defined by three essential qualities: discipline, stewardship and collaboration.

"Discipline... The discipline I'm referring to is the discipline to commit to the warrior ethos." Smith said. "Stewardship... We are not crewmembers temporarily assigned to the ICBM mission, we are nuclear security experts and we will accomplish our mission more effectively and more efficiently while reducing risk. Collaboration... Additionally, we must continue to break out of our stove pipes and integrate with our security forces teammates that we support."

The 582nd HG has made history and created a multitude of avenues for Airmen in aviation to develop and grow, along with adding to the list of FIP initiatives brought to fruition and is working toward accomplishing the ICBM mission more effectively, efficiently and safely.