Dempsey Favors Building Vietnamese Naval Capabilities

By Jim Garamone

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2014 – If the United States lifts the embargo against the sale of lethal weapons to Vietnam, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey would recommend providing materials for the Peoples’ Navy, he said during a news conference in Ho Chi Minh City today.

In the first trip by a chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Vietnam since 1971, Dempsey visited Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Forty-five years ago, the United States was in a conflict with North Vietnam, and Dempsey was a cadet at West Point preparing to join that war. “The challenge now is to think 45 years ahead,” the highest-ranking U.S. military official said.

By 2050, there will be 9 billion people on Earth -- 7 billion of whom will live in the Indo-Pacific. “Where the people are is where the issues are,” the chairman said.

Vietnamese reporters questioned Dempsey on China’s territorial claims in the East China Sea. “We’ve been very clear that we don’t take sides in the territorial disputes, but we do care very much how they are resolved,” he said. “They should not be resolved through use of force.”

The United States has longstanding defense agreements with nations in the region -- Thailand and the Philippines are treaty allies. “We are interested in becoming a partner with a strong and independent and prosperous Vietnam,” the chairman said.

Still, at its core the solution to the East China Sea issue hinges more on stronger multinational response brokered through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations rather than a question of “‘What does the United States intend to do about it?’,” he said.

The United States and Vietnam have common interests. “We’re encouraging many of our ASEAN partners and friends to take a multinational approach to maritime security and maritime domain awareness,” he said.

Building capabilities for maritime domain awareness is important to any effort in the region, Dempsey said, including patrol boats, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets and search and rescue equipment.

“Our advice is that we look at this regionally, not country-by-country,” the chairman said. “We’re working our way forward in that spirit.”

There is a growing sense among U.S. elected officials and non-governmental organizations that Vietnam has made progress on the human rights issues that initially led to the embargo being put in place more than three decades ago.

“I think in the near term there will be a discussion on how to lift it,” Dempsey said. “My military advice … will be if it is lifted that we begin with assets that would make the Peoples’ Navy more capable in the maritime domain. That would generate a conversation on what that means, but I think the maritime domain is the place of our greatest common security interest right now.”

This could include intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance assets and even some weapons they don’t yet have for their fleet, the chairman said.

Vietnam is uniquely and importantly positioned as the 13th largest economy in the world, he said. While it is located in Southeast Asia, the nation is the springboard into the Indo-Pacific region.

“I do see Vietnam occupying a key geostrategic region,” Dempsey said. “In terms of managing its maritime resources and managing the territorial disputes -- I’d suggest as goes Vietnam, I think as goes the South China Sea.”

Roberts Relieves Goldman at Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jason Swink

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Capt. Michael Martin relieved Capt. Howard Goldman as commanding officer of Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific (NSTCP) and Training Support Department (TSD) Hawaii in a time-honored change of command ceremony atop the historic Battleship Missouri Memorial, the "Mighty MO."

NSTCP is comprised of 90 permanently-assigned officers and enlisted instructors and 30 civilians and government contractors who oversee more than 800,000-square-feet of training spaces and simulators where they train more than 25,000 Sailors each year.

Guest speaker Capt. David Roberts, the commanding officer of Submarine Learning Center, said he is one of Goldman's biggest fans as he spoke of NSTCP's accomplishments during the last three years.

"I want to thank you for your passion in training, your passion for submariners, your incredible talent and strong leadership during your tenure here," said Roberts.

Under Goldman's leadership, NSTCP received numerous awards and accolades including retention excellence awards in 2011 and 2012, and was a driving force in the rapid build-up of a new schoolhouse in Guam.

"On his watch, Howard brought new capability to his school to support newly reporting Virginia-class submarines including trainers and curricula," said Roberts. "With the assistance of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, he built a new state-of-the-art submarine bridge trainer with its IMAX theater-like immersive training capability to better simulate surfaced submarine operations."

Goldman during his parting remarks thanked several dozen individuals and organizations by name for their support.

"To those I have served for, thank you for your mentorship and your teaching. To those who I have served with, thank you very much for your friendship," said Goldman. "Most importantly, to those who have served me, my crew, thank you for everything. Without you, none of this would have been possible."

Goldman was presented the Legion of Merit for his leadership, vision and boundless energy during his tenure.

As Martin assumed command, he thanked Goldman for setting him up for success.

"You have established programs, processes, and most importantly, a culture of knowledge and desire to support the waterfront in the NSTCP team," said Martin.

Martin went on to address the officers, Sailors and civilian staff of NSTCP, challenging them to do three things.

"Be the expert in your profession. Learn something new about your craft every day. Impart that knowledge on the fleet," said Martin. "If you execute those three things each and every day, you will allow our command to continue to excel and most importantly, grow."

NSTCP provides training to all U.S. submarine crews in Pearl Harbor and to visiting submariners from allied nations in the Pacific, including Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Australia. In addition, NSTCP maintains a detachment of instructors in Guam who provide training to U.S. submariners based in Guam and submariners visiting Guam while deployed to the Western Pacific.

Bolivar Assumes Command of Joint Region Marianas

By JoAnna Delfin, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

AGANA HEIGHTS, Guam (NNS) -- Joint Region Marianas held a change of command ceremony at the Guam High School gymnasium aboard U.S. Naval Hospital Guam Aug. 15.

Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar relieved Rear Adm. Tilghman Payne as commander, Joint Region Marianas; U.S. Defense Representative Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Palau; and commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas.

Vice Adm. William French, commander, Navy Installations Command was the ceremony's guest speaker and praised Payne for his leadership during his tour.

"The region Marianas team flawlessly executed over five-hundred million dollars worth of military construction," French said. "Tilghman and his team managed the largest U.S. training range in the Western Pacific. Over the last two years, Tilghman and his team have coordinated over two thousand training events on those ranges and that's really what matters."

Following his remarks, French presented Payne with the Defense Superior Service Medal for his service on Guam from July 2012 to August 2014.

During that time, Payne provided context regarding the U.S. Defense Policy Realignment Initiative to senior members of the U.S. and Japanese governments, furthering force realignment to Guam. In the wake of threats from North Korea, he led the effort to receive a Terminal High Altitude Defense system, a strategic asset that strengthened regional defenses, deferred aggression and highlighted the nation's commitment to the defense of the Mariana Islands.

"The past two years have been an extraordinary opportunity for me both professionally and personally," Payne said. "This job has enabled me to be involved in the entire breadth of activities that a military officer can do. It involves a bit of diplomacy, lots of work with the other services, great engagement with the community and the ability to make things better for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, and their families."

Payne thanked members of the Government of Guam and the local community for their partnership and expressed his gratitude to his staff for their support during his tour.

"All the men and women who have made the past two years at the helm of the only joint region in the Department of Defense such an enjoyable experience, thank you," he said. "You are doing incredible things and it's been an honor to be a part of your team."

Payne retires after 33 years in the Navy.

Bolivar reports to Guam after serving as commander, Navy Region Northwest.

"The morale and energy of this region are awesome and strong," Bolivar said. "I know I have some big shoes to fill but you can rest assured that you will leave team Marianas in good hands. They will be my top priority and together we will meet the challenges head on with continued success. Team Guam, team Marianas, thank you for the warm welcome you've shown me so far. I look forward to working with each and every one of you."

U.S. Fleet Forces Commander Visits Pensacola Training Commands

By Lt. Jonathan Bacon, Naval Air Technical Training Center Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Adm. Bill Gortney, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command toured Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC), Aug. 15. to see firsthand how Sailors and Marines are trained for the fleet.

At NATTC, Gortney had the opportunity to observe the full range of aviation maintenance training to include advanced "C" schools for radar maintenance, carrier and amphibious air traffic control at the Air Traffic Control Schoolhouse. Additionally, he saw the Aviation Boatswain's Mate Handling and Aviation Boatswain's Mate Fuels "C" schools at NATTC's Air Training Department.

During the visit Gortney observed the Joint Oil Analysis Program "C" school, and the Naval Aviation Logistics Command Management Information System (NALCOMIS) "C" school. He talked to the Sailors and Marines as he walked through an Aviation Structural Mechanic Metal Fabrication Lab and the Aviation Machinist's Mate Jet Engine Lab.

Capt. Alan Dean, NATTC's commanding officer, who accompanied Gortney on the visit, said "I appreciate Adm. Gortney taking time to visit NATTC to meet our staff and students, and see our facilities. Our staff is the best our Navy and Marine Corps has to offer. They are highly motivated subject matter experts that provide the best entry level and advanced aviation technical training to our Navy, Marine Corps, and international students in support of the Naval Aviation Enterprise. Today's visit was an opportunity to showcase some of the many ways our training directly supports the fleet."

For more than 70 years, NATTC has been delivering training and increasing readiness within the Naval Aviation Enterprise. NATTC graduates approximately 15,000 Navy and Marine students annually. The majority of the student body is comprised of enlisted personnel attending "A" schools, where they are gaining the knowledge and skills required to perform in the fleet as technicians at the apprentice level.

NATTC's advanced schools provide higher-level technical knowledge for senior petty officers, and specialty schools offer specific skills not particular to any one rating, such as airman apprentice training, maintenance, personal financial management and shipboard aircraft firefighting. NATTC also conducts technical training for officers in aviation fuels, carrier air traffic control center operations, aircraft launch and recovery equipment, shipboard aircraft fire fighting and amphibious air traffic control center operations.

Zephyr Puts Pause on Patrols

From USS Zephyr Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The Cyclone-class coastal patrol ship USS Zephyr (PC 8) was lifted out of the water at Colonna's Shipyard Aug. 8 to undergo a projected 347-day, dry-docking phased maintenance availability.

Throughout the course of the next year Zephyr will have extensive maintenance performed on the hull and several other areas of the ship.

"It was a sad day for me to watch Zephyr exiting the water because I will not get the chance to put the ship through its paces upon completion," said Zephyr Commanding Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Follett. "At the same time, I know the ship will come out of the yards 'fit to fight' and fully capable to be an asset for 4th Fleet. The crew has done a phenomenal job preparing the ship for this maintenance period. They are by far the best and most cohesive crew I have had the pleasure to lead."

Refurbishments and upgrades will be completed on the ship's fin stabilizers, gearboxes, reverse osmosis units, anchor windlass, combat craft retrieval system, communications suite, and messing and berthing facilities.

"I'm really looking forward to the new berthing spaces on the ship," said Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Anthony Hester." Gaining more locker space for our personal gear will be a great improvement in our quality of life on board for our deployments."

Some of the ship's crewmembers will take advantage of the time ashore to attend training courses, while others will work alongside shipyard workers to ensure Zephyr completes this dry-dock period as mission ready as possible.

This maintenance period will reset the ship's service life and, upon completion, Zephyr will return to her homeport of Mayport, Fla. as part of Commander, U.S. 4th Fleet.

Patrol craft support maritime security operations in order to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships that foster regional security in the area of operations which includes South America, Central America, the Caribbean and surrounding waters.