USS Jacksonville Visits Malaysia During Western Pacific Deployment

By Ensign Nicholas Lucania, USS Jacksonville Public Affairs

SKOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Jacksonville (SSN 699) arrived in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia for a port visit as part of its Western Pacific deployment May 26.

The officers and crew of Jacksonville are excited to be in Kota Kinabalu and on deployment in the Western Pacific. For many of the crew, this was their first time visiting Kota Kinabalu. The crew was anxious to meet their Royal Malaysian Navy counterparts and immerse themselves in the Malaysian culture.

"The crew displayed hard work and dedication throughout the past two months at sea," said Cmdr. Matthew R. Boland, the commanding officer of Jacksonville. "My crew is excited to visit Malaysia and to enhance relations with foreign partners in the Western Pacific."

For more than one third of the crew, this is their first time deploying. They were excited to share their success with family and friends upon arrival.

"I can't wait to visit Kota Kinabalu," said Yeoman 2nd Class Jerry Molina. "This is my first deployment. I'm looking forward to shopping at the local markets, sampling the local cuisine and watching a game of sepak takraw."

Throughout its deployment, Jacksonville's crew of 144 Sailors will conduct a variety of missions.

Jacksonville will participate in several joint exercises focused on enhancing international maritime operations.

Jacksonville, homported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was commissioned May 16, 1981. It measures more than 360 feet long, displaces 6,900 tons and is one of the most capable submarines in the world. Jacksonville supports a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare and naval special warfare.

Throughout its 34-year history, Jacksonville conducted 13 deployments. Jacksonville continues to respond to all challenging tasks, living up to its motto of "The Bold One."

Harry S. Truman Completes Sea Trials, Returns to Homeport

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class T. N. Fulgham, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) returned to Norfolk Naval Station after completing five days of sea trials, making the final milestone after a six-month condensed incremental availability (CIA) period, May 27.

Sea trials, which take place following a maintenance availability period, allow Truman and representatives from Norfolk Naval Shipyard to assess the ship's state of readiness and ensure maintenance was properly completed.

Truman and its crew, at sea for the first time since November 2014, tested equipment which supports surface operations, flight deck evolutions, deck seamanship and damage control readiness through various drills and system checks - ensuring both ship and Sailors are ready for future at-sea operations.

"During this underway, the crew completed in-depth general quarters training that was about as close to real-life scenarios as we can simulate," said Chief Mass Communication Specialist D. B. Withrow, chief of Truman's repair locker 1-Bravo. "Completing our training evolutions in an actual at-sea environment allowed us to identify and address areas we may have missed back in the yards."

Truman also used this critical juncture at sea to test newly implemented systems and complete qualifications.

"Training for me is better out at sea," said Airman M. J. Gotoy. "I work with [aviation boatswain's mates (fuel)] so whenever we are in port they explain the [systems] to you but you really don't understand it until you see it operating."

Command Master Chief Antonio D. Perryman said the crew trains to win and he believes, based off the crew's previous successes, they will come through when it matters.

"I think we have the best of the best; the finest crew that's out there," said Perryman. "I say that because our Sailors are very resilient, they are happy and they are hard workers. They are dedicated to the training. 'The buck stops with me' mentality is something that lies in the heart of every Truman Sailor. They've fought every day to make sure we are getting all we need. Everything we ask this crew to do, they've done and they've been flexible. They love what they do and they give their all, 100 percent of the time."

Perryman explained a condensed incremental availabilty period is not an easy time, but a necessary one. He said the crew worked hard to get the ship to its current level of readiness, however there is still a lot of work ahead.

"We came out on sea trials, we were successful and now we get to go home, button up a few things and get back underway," said Perryman. "We will continue to train; we will strive to be better. We have an ammo on load coming, and flight deck certs. We have a lot of moving parts so we have to continue to practice safety. We have to keep our operational risk management up and always continue to put things in front of the Sailors to keep them happy and keep them successful."

Truman will have a short break in homeport before heading back to sea for flight deck certification and Tailored Ship's Training Availability, more milestones in preparation for an upcoming deployment scheduled for later this year.

Carl Vinson Makes Final Port Call

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Travis Alston, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The Sailors of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, May 27 for the final port call of the CSG's deployment to U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation.

During the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group's nine and a half month deployment to the Western Pacific and U.S. Central Command areas of operation, they supported strike operations in Iraq and Syria, CVW 17 successfully flew 12,300 sorties, including 2,382 combat missions and dropped more than a half a million pounds of ordnance in the fight against ISIS.

"This group of Sailors has endured the longest scheduled deployment of the modern U.S. Navy," said Capt. Karl Thomas, Carl Vinson commanding officer. "I couldn't have asked for a more motivated and professional team."

"This is our last port visit before we return to our homeport of San Diego in a few days. The crew has answered all bells and our nation's call to duty; now it's time to focus on getting back home to our families."

When the port call concludes, Carl Vinson will depart with more than 1200 "Tigers," friends and family members of Sailors who will have the opportunity to transit to San Diego and experience a small taste of their Sailor's day-to-day life underway. Events planned for this year's Tiger Cruise include ship tours, gun shoots and an air and sea power demonstration.

The Carl Vinson CSG consists of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Destroyer Squadron 1 with the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and the guided-missile destroyers USS Gridley (DDG 101), USS Sterett (DDG 104), and USS Dewey (DDG 105) along with embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 squadrons.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.

Disabled Veterans Tour Base

by Senior Master Sgt. Ken Johnson
117th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

5/26/2015 - BIRMINGHAM, Ala -- The 117th Air Refueling Wing hosted veterans from the Southeastern Blind Rehabilitation Center here on May 7.

The veterans were briefed on mission operations, toured the KC-135R Stratotanker and visited several shops around the base.

Master Sgt. Rodrick Taylor, the 99th Air Refueling Squadron Chief Boom Operator, invited the group to the base as a way to reach out to local veterans.

"I figured I'd make it a combined effort between different agencies on base," said Taylor. "Team Red White & Blue, The Booster Club and also the Air Force Sergeants Association, so everyone could be a part of it to be involved."

The SBRC is a division the United States Veterans Administration in Birmingham, Alabama. Their mission is to provide care for blind and low vision veterans and active duty service members to help them regain independence and quality of life. Rosario Zuniga, Blind Rehab Center Service Chief was excited to bring the veterans to the base. 

"The purpose for today's visit was number one, to be in the community. The fact that we get to come to the base is actually wonderful because right now I've got people reminiscing and actually met somebody they know. So that's really wonderful," said Zuniga.