Hawaii-Based Guided-Missile Cruiser USS Chosin to Depart for Western Pacific Deployment

Sailors aboard the Hawaii-based Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) will depart April 30 for a scheduled Western Pacific deployment.

In this file photo, USS Chosin (CG 65) fires a MK 45 5-inch gun during exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Raul Moreno Jr.)

While deployed, Chosin will conduct theater security operations with partner nations while providing deterrence, promoting peace and security, preserving freedom of the seas and providing humanitarian assistance/disaster response.

“A little over a year ago I realized a lifelong dream when I assumed command of this mighty warship and its exceptional crew,” said Chosin Commanding Officer Capt. Patrick Kelly. “The crew of Chosin have prepared well for this deployment. We are trained, we are focused, and we are ready to operate forward.”

Kelly added, “We are privileged to be part of the Navy’s presence in the Asia-Pacific Region and to represent Surface Group MIDPAC and U.S. Pacific Fleet. We look forward to operating with our allies, partners and friends in the months ahead — wherever we are needed.”

Chosin is one of 11 surface ships of Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific. USS Chosin is the first U.S. Navy warship named in commemoration of the First Marine Division’s heroism at the Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War. The ship’s motto is “invictus,” Latin for invincible or unconquered.

U.S. Navy guided-missile cruisers perform primarily multi-mission [Air Warfare (AW), Undersea Warfare (USW), Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) and Surface Warfare (SUW)] surface combatants capable of supporting carrier strike groups, amphibious forces, or of operating independently and as flagships of surface action groups.

Commander, U.S. Naval Survace Group Middle Pacific leads and manages the overall warfighting capability of the Surface Combatant Force homeported at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH), HI to achieve the highest levels of combat readiness; to coordinate with external organizations for products and services to directly support Surface Combatant Force mission readiness; and to support the Type Commanders and Numbered Fleet Commanders in the development of Surface Warfare requirements, policies, programs, standards, and business practices to meet operational readiness goals.

U.S. Third Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line.

 

House and Senate Military Affairs Committees to Hear From Military and Defense Contractors

Topics Include Economic Impact of Sequestration on the Armed Forces

An informational briefing is being held to discuss the economic impact of the Armed forces in Hawaii.

WHO:  The House Committee on Veterans, Military & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts and the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs

WHAT:  Informational hearing on the economic impact of the Armed Forces in Hawaii

WHEN: Wednesday, March 6, 2013, 9:00 a.m.

WHERE:  Conference Room 309,  Hawaii State Capitol

It will also address the effects that across the board cuts in the federal budget, known as sequestration, will have on the military in Hawaii.  The following individuals, or their representatives, have been invited to participate in the briefing:

• Admiral Samuel Locklear, United States Pacific Command
• General Herbert Carlisle, United States Pacific Air Forces
• Admiral Cecil Haney, United States Pacific Fleet
• Lieutenant General Francis Wiercinski, United States Army Pacific
• Lieutenant General Terry Robling, United States Marine Forces Pacific
• Rear Admiral Charles Ray, United States Coast Guard, District Fourteen
• Major General Darryll Wong, Hawaii State Department of Defense

The Committees will also hear from the following invited defense contractors, or their representatives:

• Alan Hayashi, BAE
• Bill Ryzewic, BAE Shipyard
• Ben Nakaoka, Navatek

Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans, Representative K.Mark Takai said, ” the military is an integral part of our community in Hawaii and it goes without saying that what impacts our Armed Forces will affect all of our citizens.  The country’s Defense Department will be hit particularly hard by sequestration and we need to have as much information as we can get to prepare for and deal with this critical issue.”

The briefing will be televised live by Olelo on Channel 49.

Admiral Cecil Haney just stated the following on Facebook:

As a result of an indefinite continuing resolution and sequestration budget cuts, we will make tough choices to delay or cancel some training, operations, and maintenance and will defer these decisions until the last possible moment in order to provide flexibility and thoughtful deliberation. Our guiding principles will be to protect forward readiness and minimize the impact on our people. I am particularly concerned about the potential furlough one day a week of our valuable civilian teammates and how this will impact them as well as our military workforce. Even though budget constraints will cause some turbulence in the short-term, there should be no doubt about the Navy’s enduring commitment to maintain security and stability in the vital Asia-Pacific. The U.S. Pacific Fleet remains on watch — as demonstrated March 1 when USS Freedom departed San Diego bound for Southeast Asia, marking the maiden deployment of the Navy’s first littoral combat ship. We will continue to deploy capable warfighting units forward to operate with our allies and partners. We will also continue to keep our Pacific Fleet Sailors, civilians and families informed. Our Navy team is strong, and with everyone’s help and understanding, we will overcome this new challenge.

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 22, 2013) The littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) is underway conducting sea trials off the coast of Southern California. Freedom, the lead ship of the Freedom variant of LCS, is expected to deploy to Southeast Asia this spring. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James R. Evans/Released)

 

 

Inaugural Wounded Warrior Pacific Trials Start Tomorrow

Adm. Cecil D. Haney, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, will host the first-ever Wounded Warrior Pacific Trials at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and other locations on the island of Oahu, Nov. 12 to 16.

Nearly 50 seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen from across the country will compete for a place on the 2013 Warrior Games Navy-Coast Guard team.

The trials will kick off on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Throughout the week, wounded warriors will compete head-to-head in archery, cycling, track and field, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming and wheelchair basketball.

Participants in the trials include active-duty and retired service members with upper-body, lower-body and spinal cord injuries; serious illnesses; traumatic brain injuries; visual impairment; and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for our wounded warriors, who are eager to demonstrate their abilities – rather than disabilities – in a new competitive arena,” said Haney. “November marks Warrior Care Month, and this year’s theme is ‘Success through Transition.’ I can think of no better time to celebrate the accomplishments of these service members, who have not let illness or injury slow them down.”

Ultimately, 35 athletes will be selected for the Navy-Coast Guard team that will compete at the 2013 Warrior Games, an annual competition among wounded warriors from all branches of military service. The final Navy-Coast Guard team roster will be announced aboard the USS Missouri Nov. 16 at 3:30 p.m. The team is sponsored by Navy Wounded Warrior-Safe Harbor, the Navy’s organization for coordinating the non-medical care of seriously wounded, ill, and injured Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and their families.

A schedule of Wounded Warrior Pacific Trials practice sessions and events is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/pacific-trials/2012/. Athlete biographies, news and imagery of the competitions will be posted to the website as they become available.

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RIMPAC 2012 to Begin on June 29th

Twenty-two nations, 42 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise scheduled June 29 to Aug. 3, in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

A picture I took when the US NAVY sent me out to the USS Ronald Reagan Aircraft Carrier.
http://damontucker.com/2011/02/05/happy-birthday-ronald-reagan-inside-the-ronald-reagan-room/dscn4637-3/

The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2012 is the 23rd exercise in the series that began in 1971.

Hosted by U.S. Pacific Fleet, and led by Vice Adm. Gerald Beaman, commander of the U.S. Third Fleet (C3F), RIMPAC 2012 marks the first time non-U.S. officers will command components of the combined task force during the exercise. Commodore Stuart Mayer of the Royal Australian Navy will command the Maritime Component and Brig. Gen. Michael Hood of the Royal Canadian Air Force will command the Air Component. Other key leaders of the multinational force include Royal Canadian Navy Rear Adm. Ron Lloyd, deputy commander of the Combined Task Force (CTF), and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Rear Adm. Fumiyuki Kitagawa, vice commander of the CTF.

The theme of RIMPAC 2012 is “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.” The participating nations and forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. These capabilities range from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex warfighting. The relevant, realistic training syllabus includes amphibious operations; gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises as well as counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal and diving and salvage operations.

RIMPAC 2012 will feature the first demonstration of a U.S. Navy “Great Green Fleet,” during which U.S. surface combatants and carrier-based aircraft will test, evaluate and demonstrate the cross-platform utility and functionality of biofuels. This demonstration will also incorporate prototype energy efficiency initiatives such as solid state lighting, on-line gas turbine waterwash and energy management tools.

This year’s exercise includes units or personnel from Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Details of RIMPAC activities and imagery are available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac.

Adm. Cecil Haney Assumes Command of U.S. Pacific Fleet

Adm. Cecil D. Haney, former deputy of the U.S. Strategic Command, relieved Adm. Patrick M. Walsh as commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during a change of command ceremony onboard Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Jan. 20.

PEARL HARBOR (Jan. 20,2012) Adm. Patrick M. Walsh, right, returns the salute of Adm. Cecil Haney, left, as Haney relieves Walsh as U.S. Pacific Fleet commander during a traditional change of command ceremony on the Pearl Harbor waterfront. Looking on are Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert, second from left, and Adm. Robert Willard, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, second from right. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David Kolmel / Released)

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert presided over the ceremony and praised Walsh for his service in the Navy and the impact his leadership had on the command.

“He’s had a marvelous career. He knows what it means to take care of a family, he knows what it means to take care of a command, and he’s encouraged his staff to do the same,” said Greenert to a crowd of almost 900 attendees. “He’s (Walsh) all about being ready, he’s harnessed that Pacific Fleet teamwork, the talent and resources…”

More Here:  Adm. Cecil Haney Assumes Command of U.S. Pacific Fleet

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