Americans, Jordanians Express Solidarity Through Exercise Eager Lion

By Ensign Seth Koenig, United States Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

AQABA FREE ZONE, Jordan (NNS) -- During Exercise Eager Lion 2015, Jordanian and U.S. forces are training shoulder-to-shoulder to be prepared for whatever challenges await.

The exercise aims to create "muscle memory" for personnel from different cultures who may need to work together seamlessly as one team if a crisis calls for a joint response.

"There is fighting going on in some neighboring countries," said Brig. Gen. Khaled Al Sharah of Jordan's King Talal 3rd Mechanized Brigade. "These kinds of exercises emphasize our readiness for any kind of crisis."

This year's exercise is the fifth annual Eager Lion, taking place in various locations around the host Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where Jordanian and U.S. military personnel are joined by representatives of 16 other countries and international participants.

Al Sharah said Jordanians and Americans are learning to work together at three levels: Strategic, operational and tactical.

The partnership not only multiplies the manpower and equipment resources available to both sides, but also creates interoperability and personal relationships that will be established and ready when called on to respond to a real-world crisis.

"This exercise is a visible demonstration of the United States' enduring commitment to the Kingdom and people of Jordan," said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Burke Whitman, Coalition Forces Land and Maritime Component Command (CFLMCC). "It also makes us more interoperable, so that together, Jordanian and U.S. forces comprise a more flexible, more powerful crisis-response force."

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Stephen Lewallen, deputy commander of Marine Forces Central Command (FWD) and the CFLMCC chief of staff for Eager Lion, called Al Sharah both "tactically proficient and extremely engaging."

"I have truly been impressed by our Jordanian counterparts," he said. "There has been a very good balance (between Jordan and the U.S.) in putting this exercise together and working as a combined staff. This has been one of the most exciting exercises I've been involved with in a very long time - the execution has been exceptional."

During Eager Lion 2015, the CFLMCC team is coordinating responses to a series of simulated scenarios involving a fictitious enemy force. The exercise is taking place in multiple locations throughout the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where the allied forces will face staged challenges to border security, command and control, cyber defense and battle space management.

VCNO Speaks About Diversity at Military Institute in Singapore

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jay C. Pugh, Commander, Task Force 73 Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- The U.S. Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) spoke to military officers at Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College at the Singapore Armed Forces Technical Military Institute (SAFTI), May 18, about the value of a diverse work force and the challenges in developing one.

Adm. Michelle Howard delivered her remarks at SAFTI's request for its distinguished speakers program. Like many militaries in the region, the SAF is exploring ways to enhance diversity among its ranks.

During Howard's presentation she highlighted changing demographics, emphasized strong diversity in the work force and gave leadership advice using examples from her own career and recent academic studies.

"Sometimes we can't see outside our framework," said Howard, "and that's why we get surprised. So you have to deal with slow change and then you have to be positioned for surprise and so the question is as a leader, and an officer, how do you manage to get ready for both?

More than 100 military officers across all branches and nine countries attended the program. The program has been part of the college's educational platform since 1997 and was created to broaden and enrich the learning experiences of all officers in attendance. Howard emphasized that the number one career developmental milestone for future military leaders is access to positive role models.

"Having positive role models is really important to each of us and our ability to grow up in an organization. ...So that when we as officers see positive role models, that is a leadership icon for us to look up to and to say I can do that."

The first female four-star admiral, Adm. Michelle Howard assumed office as VCNO last year. Howard has long been an advocate of diversity in the Navy.

"Dr. Linus Pauling says that in life you can't [just] get a good idea. The best way to get a good idea is to generate a lot of ideas and grab the best one. And if you don't have diversity in perspective it is very hard to generate a lot of different ideas in order to figure out what the best one is."

She highlighted how well the U.S. military is doing to narrow the gender gap and noted the Navy's integration of women serving on submarines and current studies on incorporating women into combat roles.

Following the joint session, Howard took questions and engaged in a dialogue with military personnel attending the conference. The discussion touched on leadership, recruiting a diverse work force, retention and family.

Howard is visiting Singapore as part of the Lion City's International Maritime Defense Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia. Later in the week, she will meet with counterparts from several international navies and speak at the International Maritimes Security Conference (IMSC) and Asia-Pacific Submarine Conference (APSC).

IMDEX is the Asia Pacific's premier international maritime defense show. In its 10th iteration, the biennial conference will host an exhibition, strategic conferences and warships display. U.S. units participating in the conference include the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), the guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) and the fast-attack submarine USS Pasadena (SSN 752).

Submarine and Submarine Tender Moor Together in Phuket During Western Pacific Deployment

By Lt. j.g. David Oh, USS Key West Public Affairs and Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Michael Doan, USS Emory S. Land Public Affairs

PHUKET, Thailand (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Key West (SSN 722) arrived in Phuket, Thailand, and moored alongside the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) for a visit as part of its Western Pacific deployment May 14.

"The crew enjoyed getting back to the mission of supporting submarines and surface ships that were pierside in Guam following a four-month docking availability," said Capt. Robert Clark, the commanding officer of Emory S. Land. "Our visit to Thailand gives us the opportunity to have a submarine alongside and take our service and support to another level."

During the visit USS Emory S. Land conducted a tended mooring with USS Key West.

Additionally, the tender will be proofing a new procedure for fender deployments which will provide more flexible future operational capabilities. Fenders provide a buffer between the tender and the tended unit to ensure the safety of both vessels.

Though forward deployed from Guam, this was the Key West's first stop in Phuket since shifting home ports and the anticipation amongst the 160 man crew was palpable.

"I'm extremely proud of the crew and what they've accomplished," said Cmdr. John Thompson, the commanding officer of Key West. "They've developed immensely over the past year and we are ready to proudly represent our nation and contribute to maintaining a U.S. presence in the region."

Master Chief Electronics Technician Eric Baker, Key West's chief of the boat expressed similar sentiments.

"These men have worked very hard in the past year to become a capable team of professional Sailor," said Baker. "They are ready for this well-deserved port visit and are eager to explore and take in the culture and sights that Thailand has to offer."

While in Phuket, Sailors from Emory S. Land and Key West, are scheduled to volunteer at a local orphanage, helping with basic maintenance and playing with the children.

For many of Key West and Emory S. Land's Sailors, this was their first visit to Thailand.

"Temples, elephant rides, snorkeling - I'm going to do as much as I can while I'm here," said Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Zachary Morris, USS Key West.

"I have never ridden an elephant before so I am doing that as part of a tour group," said Legalman 1st Class Demetric Hart, USS Emory S. Land.

Measuring more than 360 feet long and displacing more than 6,900 tons when submerged, Key West remains one of the stealthiest, most formidable submarines in the world. Key West is capable of conducting anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

With the growing importance of the Pacific theater, Key West's crew remain eager to distinguish themselves as an essential component of the U.S. 7th Fleet.

Emory S. Land is a forward deployed expeditionary submarine tender on an extended deployment conducting coordinated tended moorings and afloat maintenance in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet area of responsibility.