From Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

On Aug. 24, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson presided over the Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet (C2F) establishment ceremony aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) in Norfolk, Virginia. Vice Adm. Andrew “Woody” Lewis was confirmed by the Senate on June 28 to serve as the first commander of the newly established C2F, which will be headquartered in Norfolk.

When 2nd Fleet was disestablished nearly a decade ago, its focus was on training and certifying forces with a relatively benign security environment in the Atlantic and Europe. However, the security environment has grown more challenging and complex, particularly in the North Atlantic. We have established a new command in Norfolk that will operate differently from the 2nd Fleet that existed in 2011. The new C2F will honor our legacy, but the establishment signifies our dedication and renewed focus on naval operations on the East Coast and North Atlantic.

Below are seven things that you should know about C2F:

1. WHY: The dynamic nature of the security environment demands a dynamic response. The Navy is doing this in two ways. The first is by dynamically employing our forces – like USS Harry S. Truman Strike Group – where we are flexing our ability to be operationally unpredictable. The second is the way the Navy is organized to command that employment; this is why we are standing up C2F.
2. WHAT: C2F has two missions: to train our forces for fleet operations and to execute fleet operations. Standing up C2F will increase our Navy’s competitive mindset and our warfighting lethality. The command will focus on joint, integrated training and operations at the high-end of naval warfare.
3. HOW: C2F will exercise operational and administrative authorities over assigned ships, aircraft and landing forces on the East Coast and the North Atlantic. Additionally, it will plan and conduct maritime, joint and combined operations, and will train and recommend certification of combat-ready naval forces for maritime employment and operations around the globe. C2F will fall under operational and administrative control of U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) Command. The C2F commander will act as the operational and training fleet commander, which standardizes operational readiness of deployable forces to a single fleet standard.
4. WHERE: Initially, C2F assets will operate in the same operating area where USFF currently operates – but through war gaming and concept development, the Navy and the joint force will define how 2nd, 4th and 6th Fleets coordinate in both peace and wartimes.

5. WHO: Our initial staff will form the basis of our future lethality… these individuals have proven their competency and have been chosen because of their warfighting ethos. We will grow as we reach full operational capacity. We will be lean, expeditionary and focused on fleet operations. C2F is made up of more than just the men and women who have orders to the staff here in Norfolk. C2F also includes:

• Sailors up and down the East Coast, readying and our nation’s ships, aircraft, and submarines for high-end warfare training and operations.
• Our Marine Corps brothers and sisters. C2F will work closely with II MEF in training and will operate forward with a full Navy and Marine Corps team.
• Military Sealift Command ships with civilian Merchant Mariners who on a daily basis providing critical on-time logistics, strategic sealift and specialized mission support throughout the Second Fleet area of operation 365 days a year.
• C2F will regularly work hand in hand with our allies and partners to ensure freedom endures in the Atlantic. We are stronger together.

6. WHEN: Now. The staff has begun to report to C2F, and is responsible for establishing the command structure and associated missions, functions and tasks. Currently, the staff is planning for joint high-end operational training in early 2019.

What are your questions about C2F? Let us know below, or on our Facebook page.

http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2018/08/24/six-things-you-need-to-know-about-u-s-2nd-fleet/ U.S. Navy