Japan's Top Admiral Experiences Aircraft Carrier Operations at Sea

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Brian Sloan, USS George Washington Public Affairs

WATERS SOUTH OF JAPAN (NNS) -- Adm. Tomohisa Takei, chief of staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), visited the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), May 22.

Takei received an orientation on flight operations aboard George Washington while strengthening the joint interoperability between the U.S. Navy and JMSDF.

"My impression of this aircraft carrier is that it's like a Swiss watch with very complex mechanisms and it has people who are very smart and precise that operate it," said Takei.

Adm. Takei's visit also allowed him to see the more than 5,000 Sailors of the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, which includes the George Washington crew and it's embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, operate together.

"Today's visit was a great opportunity for Adm. Takei to see what we do together as a unified team," said Rear Adm. John Alexander, commander, Battle Force U.S. 7th Fleet. "[Adm. Takei] is effectively the Japanese Chief of Naval Operations, so to have him aboard today was a great honor."

According to Takei, the relationship between the U.S. 7th Fleet and JMSDF is stronger and tighter than ever. The relationship between JMSDF and the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet spans more than 60 years as U.S. and Japan continue to work together in the Western Pacific.

"It was an honor to have Adm. Takei aboard our ship," said Capt. Timothy Kuehhas, George Washington's commanding officer. "His visit displays the trust we have instilled between our two nations and the partnership we've established and continue to build to protect this region of the world."

Additionally, Takei emphasized the importance of forward-deployed Naval forces in the Indo-Asian Pacific region.

"The U.S. Navy's presence gives us a chance to industrialize, modernize, and is indispensible for future economic growth in [the Western Pacific] region," said Takei.

George Washington and CVW-5 are on patrol in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. George Washington will conduct a hull-swap with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) later this year after serving seven years as the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan.

USS America Completes Deperming Evolution

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kyle Goldberg, USS America (LHA 6) Public Affairs

POINT LOMA, Calif. (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) completed a magnetic treatment, known as deperming, at Naval Base Point Loma Magnetic Silencing Facility (MSF) May 21.

Deperming reduces the ship's magnetic signature by flashing the ship's hull with electricity in order to help avoid detection and to minimize marine mine attraction to the steel hull.

America is the first amphibious warship of its class to undergo this process and will once again set another high-standard of excellence, said Michael Nixon, MSF crew cabling supervisor.

"As a first of class, your ship's coil effects are going to establish a standard for subsequent LHAs in this class behind you," said Nixon. "Your ship is different than what we've done before; it's like [deperming] two ships at once."

America's crew took part in hauling on board 152 600-foot cables weighing about 1,200 pounds each. Each cable is two inches in diameter, twice the size of cables used to deperm destroyers which use only 68 cables.

"We wrapped cables at 136 different points along the ship plus hauled eight power feeding cables forward and eight aft," said Lt. Patricia Cunanan, the ship's electrical officer and officer in charge of this evolution.

Once the cables were placed and connected, they were energized with 250 volts direct current (DC) for three-minute intervals in a four to six-hour process.

Cunanan said the heat generated by the amount of current pushed through these large cables created the potential for hazards. In order to help reduce the risk of injury to personnel or equipment, the evolution was completed in increments.

"We energized for three minutes, and then stopped, checked for damage and waited about 30 minutes to let the cables cool down," said Cunanan.

Nixon said the cables must be given enough time to cool, otherwise the protective cover could melt and ignite arcs, causing damage to the deck.

While most of America's crew was involved with loading and offloading the cables, the electrician's mates focused on safety by ensuring the quality of cables was sufficient for the evolution.

"Our job was primarily to do insulation resistance and clean the contacts; this way we have clean solid connections," said Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Grant Syslo, assigned to America.

Once the deperming was complete, the crew began disassembling and removing the cables.

"I hauled and tied down cables. It was not as hard as I thought," said Operations Specialist Seaman Craig Wood, assigned to America. "Our crew was motivated, and even though it was raining some of the time, I think we still finished ahead of time."

The ship returned to Naval Base San Diego following the successful evolution.

"Deperming was an all-hands event," said Cunanan. "I am proud of the work we were able to accomplish as a team in such a short time. I want to thank the Point Loma facility for their flexibility, America's electricians and all Sailors involved."

17th Airlift Squadron; A look back: Base get's fourth flying unit as 17th MAS is reactivated

by Airman 1st Class Stefan Alford
437th Military Airlift Wing Public Affairs

5/26/2015 - CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Editor's Note: As the 437th Airlift Wing gears up to deactivate the 17th Airlift Squadron, we hope you enjoy the walk down memory lane with us as we reprint stories that highlight the achievements of the Air Force's first operational C-17 squadron. This article was first printed in the Aug. 7, 1987 edition of the Airlift Dispatch.

Eighteen years after being deactivated here, the 17th Military Airlift Squadron was reinstated during a ceremony at the base flagpole Monday.

The long-rested guidon bearing the 17th MAS emblem was passed from Lt. Col. (Ret) Edwin E. Green the former unit commander, to Lt. Col. Michael W. Wooley, the new commander, as Maj. Gen. Donald A. Logeais, 21st Air Force commander officiated over the ceremonies.

"It's a challenge I look forward to," Colonel Wooley said. "The squadron will give a more manageable span of control to the flying squadron commanders."

Colonel James F. Hinkel, 437th Military Airlift Wing commander said, "We're involved in so many things mission-wise, and our flying squadrons are reasonably large by Air Force standards, that it makes it difficult for the squadron commanders to get involved with their people. This enables us to better deal with our people, and that's a big factor as far as pilot retention is concerned.

"It also improved my span of control," he continued, "because I know with more supervisors the people will be better taken care of."

Colonel Hinkel added that the transition process incorporating the 17th MAS into the wing will be gradual. "Starting around the October timeframe, the squadron will be picking up one-third of the missions the other squadrons fly. By next April all four squadrons will be fling an equal workload."

The 17th MAS is comprised of members and planes from Charleston's 20th, 41st, and 76th Military Airlift Squadrons.

The 17th MAS was first activated as the 17th Air Corps Ferrying Squadron at Hamilton Field, Ca., in April 1942.

Over the next 20 years, the 17th was renamed a number of times before finally becoming the 17th MAS in January 1966.

At the squadron's deactivation in 1969, the 17th MAS received a flying safety award for over 225,000 hours of accident-free flying.

At the reactivation ceremony, Colonel Hinkel challenged Colonel Wooley "and other leaders and members of the 17th MAS to live up to the Charleston tradition of excellence and continue where Colonel Green and his people left off 18 years ago."

Naval War College Holds First Capstone War Game of its Kind

By Daniel L. Kuester, U.S. Naval War College Public Affairs

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- A group of 66 naval officers representing 48 nations participated in the inaugural Naval Staff College (NSC) war game, May 15, at the U.S. Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island.

The new war game was designed to test naval strategy and tactics in a simulated environment and, for the first time, incorporate learning objectives from the entire academic year.

"It's the first capstone war game of its kind that challenges the international officers with a unique, hands-on learning opportunity," said Capt. Mark Turner, director of the NSC. "Students get to synthesize and apply all components of their educational experiences over the last 11 months in a practical way."

Students were divided into 'Blue' and 'Gold' coalition teams, with coalition task force and national teams comprising each side.

The game began with a series of informal and formal student planning sessions to develop national and coalition strategies.

Throughout the game, students evaluated and refined their strategies and then came together at the battle board for five game turns to employ maritime and joint forces in a contested joint maritime environment.

Each team worked together to gain control of fictitious 'Green Island.'

"Every aspect of the war game stimulated players to think, from mission command to balancing operational factors," said Lt. Cmdr. Yen-chang Tsai, NSC student from Taiwan. "The robust command and control structure employed by Gold enabled us to consistently adapt to the operational environment and dominate the operational tempo."

The 11-month-long graduate program is designed to prepare international naval officers for positions of higher responsibility within their own maritime services. The course emphasizes naval planning and decision making, with particular attention to broadening the students' understanding of the importance and role of sea power in international affairs.

"The versatility of seapower and the decisive influence it brings to the contested maritime environment was succinctly revealed to the class throughout all the phases of planning and execution of the game," said Maj. Jonathan Lim, from Singapore. "This was a very visual and impactful lesson, which was extremely effective following on from the conceptual learning in our seminars."

Since its inception in 1972, more than 2,000 naval officers representing 126 countries have graduated from the NSC. More than 313 graduates have attained the rank of flag officer and 122 have served as chief of service, with 19 currently serving in the latter capacity.

"War gaming has been integrated into the NWC curriculum since 1894," said professor Walter Berbrick, the NSC war game director. "It not only makes learning and teaching an active, effective and enjoyable way to discover and transfer knowledge in the classroom, but strengthens relationships between people in the process."

While gaming technology and techniques have evolved over the centuries, the purpose has remained the same - to provide decision-making experience for game participants, and decision-making information for military and civilian leaders.