A Keen Eye on Keen Sword
By Rear. Adm. Karl Thomas Commander, Task Force 70 This week, we wrapped up Keen Sword 2019, the biennial exercise with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, (JMSDF) or Kaijo Jieitai as they are known in Japan. This exercise is designed to strengthen and demonstrate our commitment to the U.S. – Japan alliance and ultimately …
MCPON Letter to the Enlisted Force: Focus on building winning teams
The world stage is a very dynamic and challenging one, with many nations maturing their ability to efficiently operate in the maritime environment. The evolution of technology, and our Navy’s growth in this new “great powers” era demands that our Navy apply resources in a far more refined and complex manner. As our Navy’s storied …
Special Report: Exercise Trident Juncture 18
U.S. Navy Sailors will be among 14,000 participants from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps and Air Force when Exercise Trident Juncture 18 begins Thursday with 30 NATO allies and partner nations. Trident Juncture 18 is designed to test NATO’s ability to plan and conduct a major collective defense operation – from troop training at the …
Ally Island Stands Watch over the North Atlantic
By Adm. James G. Foggo III Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples There is no NATO without the North Atlantic. Strong presence in this key region assures NATO’s collective security and Iceland is central. As I recently said in my second podcast, “On the Horizon,” the operational reality is that …
Exercise BALTOPS 2018 Enhancing Interoperability Among NATO Allies and Partners in Baltic Region
Exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS), the premier maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic Region, is taking place in the Baltic Sea from June 1-15. Air, maritime and ground assets from several NATO ally and partner nations are involved in the live training event that set sail from Klaipeda, Lithuania, and finishes in Kiel, Germany. Training focus areas …
Exercise BALTOPS 2018 Enhancing Interoperability Among NATO Allies and Partners in Baltic Region
Exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS), the premier maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic Region, is taking place in the Baltic Sea from June 1-15. Air, maritime and ground assets from several NATO ally and partner nations are involved in the live training event that set sail from Klaipeda, Lithuania, and finishes in Kiel, Germany. Training focus areas …
New Foundational Training Courses Will Grow Better Enlisted Leaders
By Fleet Master Chief (SW/IW/AW) Russell Smith Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education Fleet Master Chief We invest a lot of time and energy in the Navy in teaching, training, and maintaining technical competency, but our delivery of leader development training is not nearly as robust. We have room to improve our standardized leader development training delivery …
Win First and then Go to War
By Cmdr. Stephen Aldridge Commanding officer, USS Mason (DDG 87) “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” This 2,500-year-old Sun Tzu maxim was the quote of the day in USS Mason’s Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, plan of the day. As the …
Training to Fight and Win Today and Tomorrow
By Rear Adm. Kenny Whitesell Commander, Carrier Strike Group Four Recently, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) completed its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), the final Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP) event in preparation for its deployment this past Wednesday. This robust exercise featured 11 ships; the nine ships of Carrier Strike …
Training to Fight and Win Today and Tomorrow
By Rear Adm. Kenny Whitesell Commander, Carrier Strike Group Four Recently, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) completed its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), the final Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP) event in preparation for its deployment this past Wednesday. This robust exercise featured 11 ships; the nine ships of Carrier Strike …