U.S., Singaporean Navies Enhance Maritime Partnership in Guam

Navy News Service

U.S. NAVAL BASE GUAM, Sept. 5, 2017 — The U.S. and Singaporean navies concluded Exercise Pacific Griffin 2017 here Sept 2.

Pacific Griffin 17, which began Aug. 19, served as this year's U.S.-Singapore annual maritime exercise. It was coordinated months in advance by planners from both navies, officials said.

Pacific Griffin highlights the longstanding maritime partnership between the U.S. and the Republic of Singapore navies through 23 years of annual-bilateral exercises.

"The U.S. Navy deeply values our close partnership with the Republic of Singapore Navy," said Navy Capt. Lex Walker, commodore of Destroyer Squadron 7. "Pacific Griffin 2017 provided a unique opportunity for both navies to interact and engage in a broader and more complex range of maritime scenarios and operations."

As the first bilateral exercise between the two navies taking place outside the vicinity of Singapore, the exercise featured a full-spectrum of naval operations ranging from anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare to air defense, live fire drills and tactical ship maneuvers.

Professionalism, Interoperability

Colonel Saw Shi Tat of the Singaporean navy highlighted the value of the exercise in enhancing professionalism and interoperability.

"The operating environment in Guam gave us the opportunity to hone our edge and push our operational envelopes," he said. "It also allowed us to operate with our friends and partners from around the world, including the U.S. Navy."

Participating naval assets included the littoral combat ship USS Coronado, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold, replenishment oiler USNS Matthew Pecos and the Singaporean multirole stealth frigates RSS Supreme and RSS Stalwart and landing platform dock ship RSS Endurance.

"The complexity and sophistication of Pacific Griffin is a direct result of the many accomplishments and lessons we've learned from working together with the Republic of Singapore Navy for many years," Walker said.

Beyond the exercise, sailors from both navies developed professional and personal relationships that build lasting bonds between the two navies.

"It was an honor for the sailors of USS Coronado to participate in Pacific Griffin with a respected and capable maritime partner like the Republic of Singapore Navy. This was a tremendous opportunity to build upon previous engagements," said Navy Cmdr. Douglas Meagher, USS Coronado's commanding officer. "We look forward to continue strengthening our cooperation with Singapore through our quality interaction and work together at sea."

Logistics Group Western Pacific and the maritime staff element conduct planning, organize resources and directly support the execution of maritime exercises such Pacific Partnership, the bilateral Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training series, Naval Engagement Activity with Vietnam and the multilateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training with Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

Guardsmen Head Toward Hurricane Irma as Texas Relief Efforts Continue

From a National Guard Bureau News Release

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 5, 2017 — As Hurricane Irma bears down on the Caribbean today, National Guard units are sending personnel to aid civilian authorities in the storm's path.

Irma has been classified as a Category 5 storm with maximum winds of 175 mph, and states of emergency have been declared in Florida and Puerto Rico.

The Illinois National Guard's 182nd Airlift Wing sent a Peoria-based C-130 Hercules aircraft and a seven-member crew to the U.S. Virgin Islands to deliver key response capabilities ahead of the storm's anticipated arrival. The C-130 stopped en route in Colorado to pick up a National Guard Bureau joint enabling team, which coordinates support to areas affected by natural disasters or other emergencies through advanced communications equipment and experts in disaster response operations, intelligence, logistics, personnel and public affairs.

Yesterday, the Rhode Island Air National Guard's 143rd Airlift Wing sent a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and aircrew to support the preparation effort. The airmen first headed to New Jersey, where the crew will load boxes of packaged meals, and will transport the cargo to St. Croix and St. Thomas ahead of the forecasted storm.

Harvey Recovery Continues

Meanwhile, recovery from Hurricane Harvey continues in Texas, where more than 18,000 National Guard personnel were on duty.

Ten soldiers from the Pennsylvania Army National Guard left Fort Indiantown Gap on Sept. 1 in two CH-47 Chinook helicopters, to deliver food and water to stranded people and rescue those still in need.

On Aug. 31, an Illinois Air Guard C-130 from the 182nd Airlift Wing joined the federal Hurricane Harvey relief and recovery efforts and has been transporting people, supplies and equipment.

By the early morning of Sept. 2, that crew had transported more than 60 evacuees out of danger, including 20 children, four disabled adults and some 3,000 pounds of personal belongings. The crew also had delivered more than 7,500 pounds of relief supplies and equipment.

In addition, two Illinois Air Guard airmen from the Springfield -based 183rd Wing's183rd Air Mobility Squadron traveled Sept. 1 to Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida to assist 1st Air Force in the operations center that is coordinating the Air Force's portion of the relief efforts.

Also on Sept. 1, two C-130 Hercules aircraft and 14 more airmen deployed from the Kentucky Air National Guard base in Louisville to fly humanitarian aid and airlift evacuation missions in Texas.

"Like their forebears, the Minutemen, these airmen have put their regular lives on hold to help our neighbors in need," said Army Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes Jr., the Illinois adjutant general. "We thank them for their service and we thank their families and employers."

(The National Guard offices of Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island contributed to this article.)

Marine Saves Vietnam Veteran After Motorcycle Accident

By Sgt. Connor Hancock , 1st Marine Corps District

BOWMAN, SC, UNITED STATES -- BOWMAN, S.C. — About a month ago, Staff Sgt. Dustin Gill’s life changed forever. His day started off as planned; him and his wife Cynthia packed their luggage and hit the road for their honeymoon cruise. It was a predictable drive on Interstate 26, until the couple hit dead stop traffic.

“I saw a motorcycle laid out and a body on the highway,” said Gill. “I ran across a couple of lanes of traffic to check the guy out.”

The man laid on the side of the road bleeding and still. His left leg was completely severed from the knee down. Gill immediately applied pressure to the man’s leg and asked a fellow bystander, who was also at the scene for his belt. Gill then directed Cynthia to grab a tire iron to make an improvised tourniquet.

“I used the bar to twist the belt as tight as I could to stop the bleeding,” Gill said. “I had my wife grab a blanket out of the car so I could cover him up- so he didn’t see his amputated leg and go into shock.”

Gill directed onlookers to call 911, get him a pen and notepad, and clear traffic to allow for helicopter landing.

“We kept him talking as much as possible to ensure he maintained consciousness and to give as much information as we could about him to the EMTs,” said Gill.

When EMTs arrived, Gill assisted them in applying a proper tourniquet, passed along the man’s information, and stepped away as the man was flown out by helicopter.

The man Gill saved is George Wingert, an 80-year-old Florida resident and Vietnam War Army veteran.

“If Dustin wasn’t there for me, I wouldn’t be here now,” Wingert said. “He was meant to be there. He’s a part of my life now.”

Gill learned to provide medical aid during Marine Corps training he received leading up to his two deployments in Afghanistan. Gill served as a machine gunner in a security platoon in 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, during his second tour in Afghanistan.

“I’m grateful for the training because it obviously had an impact,” said Gill. “Going down to my honeymoon, I didn’t think anything like that was going to happen, but I’m glad I knew how to react.”

Since the incident, Dustin and Cynthia Gill have been keeping close contact with George.

“Dustin and his wife came down Saturday, and they spent several hours here,” Wingert said. “They’re phenomenal.”

Daniel Wingert, George’s Grandson, said Dustin and Cynthia made the difference in saving George’s life. “I want to commend him for the job well done,” said Daniel. “I’ve always had great respect for the Marines and the job that they do. It just shows how people can come together and be there when needed to help.”

According to Gill, any Marine with the same training would have helped in the situation. “It was an unfortunate circumstance that day, but I’m glad I was there when I was. I wish George a speedy recovery.”