US Ships Arrive in Busan to Strengthen Partnerships and Experience Korean Culture

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea Public Affairs

BUSAN, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- Sailors from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) along with the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Pasadena (SSN 752) arrived in Busan, South Korea, May 1, to strengthen partnerships with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy.

"We welcome the visit of these U.S. Navy ships to the city of Busan," said Cmdr. Lee, Jong-Sik, of the Republic of Korea Fleet Headquarters. "We hope our visiting U.S. Sailors will have the opportunity to experience Korean culture and we look forward to strengthening the alliance and conducting training with our U.S. Navy partners."

While in Busan, Sailors from all three vessels will have the opportunity to conduct community relations engagements in the local Korean community. Fostering enduring relationships through community relations with local citizens, theater security cooperation engagements with the ROK Navy, and regular bilateral training is part of the U.S. Navy's contribution to sustaining a strong alliance between the U.S. and the ROK.

Preble, Fitzgerald, and Pasadena are currently conducting routine patrols throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet. As multi-mission platforms, these vessels can carry out independent operations or operate in conjunction with other Navy ships to conduct maritime security operations that promote stability and peace, and develop key partnerships with allies across the region.

EODMU-5 Holds Change of Command

By Leah Eclavea, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5 held a change of command ceremony aboard U.S. Naval Base Guam April 29.

Cmdr. Benjamin Cipperley relieved Cmdr. Oscar Rojas as EODMU-5 commanding officer.

Guest speaker Capt. Christopher Merwin, commander, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Group 1, praised Rojas for the many successful missions executed by EODMU-5 under his command.

"On Oscar's watch, the Mobile Unit 5 team has disposed of over 80,000 pounds of unexploded ordnance," Merwin said. "(The team) conducted highly sensitive political and environmental ordnance recovery and disposal operations."

During his time on Guam, Rojas deployed personnel to 47 joint and combined exercises and engagements that spanned 21 countries within 7th Fleet's Area of Responsibility. He also established a human intelligence program that is the first of its kind within the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.

Merwin presented Rojas with the Meritorious Service Medal for his time in command. Rojas will report to the Chief of Naval Operations office in Washington D.C. for his next assignment.

"What I am going to miss the most about Guam and EODMU-5 is truly the people, that's what has made our assignment here memorable," Rojas said. "The local community is so supportive in everything that we do and our command members are so dedicated to the mission that it's going to be tough to put them behind us."

Cipperley served as the deputy operations officer and staff EOD officer for commander of Task Force 76 in Okinawa, Japan. He commended Rojas for his leadership of the command as well as for entrusting him with a great support team in the Sailors of EODMU-5.

"To the warriors and patriots of EODMU-5, I am honored and humbled to be a part of this incredible command during one of the most dynamic periods in military history," he said. "The strategic pivot to the Pacific has fostered an environment of expanded engagements in tactical advancement and you have seized the initiative to expand the realm of the possible."

Fort Worth Makes Stop in the Philippines

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Conor Minto, USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) Public Affairs

SUBIC BAY, Republic of the Philippines (NNS) -- The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) stopped in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, May 4 to resupply and refuel before continuing routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

This is the first stop in the Philippines for Fort Worth, which is currently on her maiden 16-month rotational deployment in support of the Indo-Asia-Pacific Rebalance.

Fort Worth is the second LCS to deploy to U.S. 7th Fleet as part of an initiative to simultaneously deploy up to four LCS in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region by 2018. The third and fourth LCS deployments are planned in 2016, providing a simultaneous presence of two ships in the region.

"While this is a brief visit for Fort Worth, the ship will return to the Philippines later this summer to participate in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2015 with the Republic of Philippines Navy," said Cmdr. Matthew Kawas, Fort Worth Crew 103 commanding officer.

Fort Worth will conduct routine patrols in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations before returning to Singapore for the International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) 2015 just ahead of the next crew swap in late May.

Throughout the summer and fall, Fort Worth will take part in most of the 2015 CARAT exercise series. In its 21st year, CARAT is an annual, bilateral exercise series with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations including, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

Fast, agile and mission-focused, littoral combat ships are designed to operate in near-shore environments and employ modular mission packages that can be configured for surface warfare, mine countermeasures or anti-submarine warfare.

Fort Worth will employ the surface warfare (SUW) mission package for her entire deployment, augmenting her 57mm gun and rolling airframe missile launcher with two 30mm guns, two 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boats, and two six-member maritime security boarding teams. Enhancing the SUW mission package is the embarked aviation detachment from Helicopter Maritime Squadron (HSM) 35, the Navy's first composite expeditionary helicopter squadron, which consists of one MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and one MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aircraft system. The Fire Scout complements the MH-60R by extending the HSM-35's range and endurance, enhancing maritime domain awareness.

3rd AF vice, chief visit Incirlik for immersion tour

by Senior Airman Michael Battles
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

5/4/2015 - INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey  -- The 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force vice commander and command chief visited Airmen of the 39th Air Base Wing April 28 - 29, here.

Maj. Gen. Christopher Bence, 3rd Air Force and 17th Expeditionary Air Force vice commander and Chief Master Sgt. Kaleth Wright, 3rd AF and 17th EAF command chief, met with base officials as well as various Airmen and civilians to answer questions, received a mission brief on current operations and toured key base facilities.

Bence and Wright also held two separate all-calls, which focused on the needs of Incirlik's company grade officers and the enlisted force. Bence focused on answering questions regarding deployments, promotions and partnership, while Wright's all-call was tailored toward topics such as the new enlisted performance report, mentorship and his personal keys to success.

During his all-call, Bence stressed the importance of the partnership of the 39th Air Base Wing and its Turkish counterparts.

"Incirlik Air Base is at the crossroads of Southwest Asia, North Africa, the European continent and Russia," Bence said. "It is a vexing challenge, but what you all can do is continue to be the great partners and guests of this beautiful country called Turkey and interacting with our Turkish hosts."

Bence also answered a question regarding the future of force shaping of the Air Force.

"First off let me say that we are no longer force shaping," said Bence. "We are done at least in the short term with [force shaping]. Last year, due to the Budget Control Act, [we had to make] very hard choices to get to a right-sized active duty force to support our mission so that we did not suffer readiness. [It] was a very hard decision our leadership had to make."

One topic that Wright emphasized to Incirlik's Airmen was his expectations regarding mentorship.

"I'd like to see more hands on in your face - leadership, guidance, mentorship," Wright said. "I want to change the level of mentorship and guidance [we are giving our] young supervisors, specifically from technical sergeants through chiefs."

During their visit, both Bence and Wright thanked the men and women of the 39th Air Base Wing for the hard work, dedication and contributions to the mission of Incirlik Air Base.

"I'm really impressed with this wing," Wright said. "I wasn't sure about the details of the mission of this wing, but now I know. Thank you for taking care of the mission, thank you for taking care of business and for being as professional as you are."