Navy News Service for Wednesday, September 03, 2008
NNS080903-07. Daily News Update for September 4, 2008
From the Navy News Service
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Daily News Update features six newscasts each day - one two-minute newscast and five one-minute newscasts.
Two-minute newscast-
- Headlines from around the fleet: The Navy continues recovery and accountability efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav; USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) pulls into its last homeport in Bremerton, Washington.
http://www.navy.mil/management/videodb/player/video.aspx?id=11454First one-minute newscast-
- Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter discusses the Navy's response to Hurricane Gustav.
http://www.navy.mil/management/videodb/player/video.aspx?id=11455Second one-minute newscast-
- Naval Support Activity Naples security fire and medical personnel participate in a disaster response drill.
http://www.navy.mil/management/videodb/player/video.aspx?id=11456Third one-minute newscast-
- A surgeon from the Indian Navy helps USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) during Pacific Partnership 2008.
http://www.navy.mil/management/videodb/player/video.aspx?id=11457Fourth one-minute newscast-
- Gulf Coast military members evacuate to Meridian, Miss. in preparation for Hurricane Gustav.
http://www.navy.mil/management/videodb/player/video.aspx?id=11458Fifth one-minute newscast-
- An emergency manager helps personnel prepare for Hurricane Gustav.
http://www.navy.mil/management/videodb/player/video.aspx?id=11459-USN-
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NNS080903-12. Bataan Sails in Familiar Waters During HURREX 08
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39508NNS080903-16. Navy Installations Provide Critical Support in Times of Crisis
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39499NNS080903-03. San Antonio Takes New Technology to Sea
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39478NNS080903-02. Operation Prepare Helps Navy Families Develop Emergency Plans
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39481NNS080903-13. Navy Mission Assurance Analysts Support Hurricane Gustav Relief Efforts
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39502NNS080903-06. Canadian and U.S. Rescue Forces Join Together for Hurricane Relief Efforts
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39484NNS080903-01. Deployed Sailors Deliver Toys, Supplies to El Salvadoran School
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39473NNS080903-15. Kitsap Approach to Traffic Safety Gets More than Laughs
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39371NNS080903-09. NMCB 4 Assists Recovering Service Members
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39494NNS080903-14. Letting Voices Be Heard: Registering To Vote Overseas
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39488NNS080903-17. COMNAVSURFOR Hosts SWOFOTS
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39507NNS080903-11. Navy Engineers Create New Fuel Analyzer for Marine Corps
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39425NNS080903-10. Aviators Receive Wings of Gold at Corpus Christi
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39482NNS080903-08. CP08 Translators: Breaking the Language Barrier
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39431NNS080903-05. All Navy Boxing Looking for Navy and Coast Guard Service Members
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39459NNS080903-04. NAS Whidbey Island AGs, Civilians Turn Over Observer Duties
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=39421NNS020724-05. This Day in Naval History - Sept. 04
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=2778Eye on the Fleet - U.S. Navy Photo of The Day
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http://www.navy.mil/list_single.asp?id=63436-USN-
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NNS080903-12. Bataan Sails in Familiar Waters During HURREX 08
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christina M. Shaw
ABOARD USS BATAAN, At sea (NNS) -- The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) departed Naval Station Norfolk Sept. 2 for HURREX 08-002 to demonstrate at-sea readiness for disaster response.
It will give Bataan a chance to demonstrate their ability to respond to humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief needs during the 2008 hurricane season.
"This will be a valuable time for us at sea, and we'll stay out as long as we need to," said Capt. Rick Snyder, Bataan's commanding officer.
Nearly 1,100 Sailors make up Bataan's crew, and Snyder believes their "big hearts" may be even more important than the state-of-the-art equipment and capabilities that makes the ship an ideal platform for disaster-relief operations.
"The Sailors are all great Americans who are ready to take care of other Americans, that's probably the best asset we have," said Snyder.
During the course of the exercise, the ship and embarked commands will test their ability to coordinate and perform search and rescue operations, evacuations and provide medical care.
The coordination among all units involved was tested immediately when Commander, U.S. Second Fleet directed the short-notice underway to commence the exercise.
"Bataan is like a well-oiled machine," said Capt. Jack Sotherland, Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group commodore. "Everybody was notified; they recalled their personnel, and we went ahead and made it happen."
Bataan Sailors proved themselves during real-world events just three years earlier. The ship was on station in the Gulf of Mexico Aug. 20, 2005, and was the first Navy ship on scene after Katrina, a category 4 hurricane, made landfall.
The crew went right to work and spent 19 days supporting the relief efforts by moving more than 1,600 people to safety and delivering more than 160,000 pounds of supplies to the Gulf Coast states.
"We moved food, water and neonatal materials to the area, because everything was bad," said Storekeeper First Class (SW/AW) Antonio Gillespie, stock control leading petty officer. "This time, all the ships and commands got together to coordinate who needs to be where in order to be on site in a more timely fashion."
Embarked squadrons for the exercise include equipment and personnel from Commander, Amphibious Squadron Two; Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, Tactical Squadron 21, Fleet Surgical Team Six, Assault Craft Unit Two and Four and Beachmaster Unit Two.
Bataan is the fifth ship of the Navy's Wasp-class ships. She was commissioned Sept. 20, 1997, and is the second U.S. Navy warship to bear the name.
For more news from USS Bataan (LHD 5), visit
www.navy.mil/local/lhd5/.
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NNS080903-16. Navy Installations Provide Critical Support in Times of Crisis
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW/SW) Marcel A. Barbeau, Navy Region Southeast Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- On Navy installations around the world, Emergency Family Assistance Centers offer numerous resources for Navy personnel and their families during times of crisis, including the annual hurricane season.
"The Emergency Family Assistance Center, which is run by the Fleet and Family Support Center, is a one-stop shop for Navy personnel and their families," said Carol Lucius, work-family life coordinator for Commander Navy Region Southeast (CNRSE). "We had teams ready to go in [response] of Hurricane Gustav."
Each team has case managers who can help solve problems, and includes housing and legal personnel, chaplains and Morale, Welfare and Recreation employees.
"We can bring the American Red Cross into the disaster area, as well as Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society," said Lucius. "It just really depends on the disaster and what the needs are for each situation."
The team begins its work even before a storm hits. Even though Hurricane Gustav turned out to be a bad storm, "we had a team ready to deploy, and we were just waiting for the word saying we were needed," said Lucius.
According to Lucius, one group the team looks to help early is the individual augmentees' families.
"Since the service member is deployed overseas, we want to ensure that those families' needs are met before disaster strikes. We help those families put a good disaster plan in place."
In addition to the emergency centers, a key component to providing assistance is the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS), which is used to muster personnel and assess their needs during and following a disaster.
"It's important for all Navy personnel -- active duty, reserve and civilian -- to update their information on NFAAS," said Lucius. "If they have special needs due to hurricanes, Navy personnel and their families can fill out an assessment survey on NFAAS to receive assistance."
To log on to NFAAS, visit
https://www.navyfamily.navy.mil.
NFAAS is already providing help to those in need.
"The lead case manager for New Orleans was on vacation, but she coordinated with NRSE NFAAS's point of contact and began helping families in her area of responsibility anyway. That's the level of dedication our employees have."
Throughout the region, installations are standing by in case support is needed for forecasted bad weather caused by hurricanes.
"The Navy takes care of its families," Lucius continued. "The Emergency Family Assistance Center is the Navy's way of providing information and helping people who have just been through something awful and don't know which way to turn."
For more news from Commander, Navy Region Southeast, visit
www.navy.mil/local/nrse/.
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NNS080903-03. San Antonio Takes New Technology to Sea
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Brian Goodwin, Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group Public Affairs
USS SAN ANTONIO, At Sea (NNS) -- The amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) deployed Aug. 28 as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), marking the first deployment of a ship in the technologically advanced San Antonio class of warships.
The deployment introduces new technology and capabilities never before seen in any ESG. One example of this technology is the ship wide area network (SWAN).
"SWAN is the first network to be the backbone of vital components of the ship," said Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Wendall Bates.
"Engineering, navigation and steering all run through SWAN, allowing Sailors to monitor all the systems in a much faster and reliable way."
Communications with other ships has always been key to the Navy's success. San Antonio has taken communications to the next level.
"Our cooperative engagement capability allows us to interact with fellow ships underway," said Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW/AW) Kevin Sanders, combat systems leading petty officer.
"By seeing what other ships see through our radars, we can see targets far ahead and either intercept them ourselves or pass along orders for our allies to intercept."
Targeting surface threats with weapons has also benefited from the new technology.
"San Antonio is the first class of ship to have an MK-46 30mm gun weapon system," said Cmdr. Kurt Kastner, San Antonio's commanding officer. "It is a very effective anti-surface weapon with specific daytime and nighttime modes."
Another force protection measure added to the transport dock ship is San Antonio's arsenal of small boats.
"Our collection of small boats makes both Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) operations and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations easier with increased capability and flexibility," explained Kastner.
Other San Antonio design features make day-to-day life more comfortable for the Sailors, while also increasing efficiency.
The engineers aboard keep much cooler thanks to unmanned engine rooms. This is possible due to the engineering control system (ECS).
"ECS is a PC-based system that provides remote monitoring and control of the propulsion, fuel, electrical, auxiliary, damage control, and ballast systems," said Kastner.
San Antonio can also serve as a small-scale hospital ship, and boasts a state-of-the-art medical department that is equipped to provide the highest quality of care with the inclusion of systems like Medical Web.
"San Antonio is designed as a secondary casualty receiving ship with an in-house care facility, complete with an operating room, capable of caring for 24 intensive care patients," said Kastner. "Additionally, Medical Web allows the medical team to transfer digital X-ray images for consultation at large, to shore-based hospitals."
The design of the ship has also made moving supplies throughout the ship less laborious.
"The ship's design places the elevators in front of the store rooms, allowing for easy transfer of stores while other ships often need to snake around the ship to get the stores where they need to go," stated Kastner.
A deployment is an opportune time to work on qualifications and further in-rate knowledge. San Antonio's Total Ship Training System provides ship wide access to computer-based lessons.
"This Total Ship Training System offers everybody the opportunity to train on any computer aboard on various topics ranging from rate specific training, to basic damage control courses," continued Kastner.
Ultimately, San Antonio was designed with one predominant focus: the Marines and supporting their mission.
"LPD-17 provides 23,000 square feet of vehicle space and wider passage ways for debarkation and embarkation," said Marine Chief Warrant Officer Two Anthonie Scott.
"This allows the ship and the Marines to perform independent operations, while the rest of the strike group works other missions. This is the future of amphibious shipping, and the Navy-Marine Corps team will only benefit from its existence."
"These systems, when combined together, will deliver to the Navy the next generation of warships," concluded Kastner.
San Antonio is part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), which also consists of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7); the dock-landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50); the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72); the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61); all homeported at Norfolk, Va.; the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), homeported at Mayport, Fla.; and the fast attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768), homeported at Groton, Conn.
The strike group is currently en route to the Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). MSO helps set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations.
The strike group will also support the other tenets of the Navy's Maritime Strategy, which include forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, and humanitarian assistance/disaster response. The Maritime Strategy represents a new vision for the 21st century and establishes new capabilities to codify longstanding challenges, while maintaining the focus on enduring missions.
For more news from Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group, visit
www.navy.mil/local/iwoesg/.
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NNS080903-02. Operation Prepare Helps Navy Families Develop Emergency Plans
From Operation Prepare Helps Navy Families Develop Emergency Plans
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Operation Prepare, a fleet-wide education and awareness campaign on emergency preparedness, provides Navy family members with valuable tools and resources to help them be more prepared in the event of natural disasters.
"Operation Prepare's purpose is to make sure people are aware of any type of events or hazards, so that if anything does happen they're prepared to deal with anything that comes along," said Owen McIntyre, director of CNIC's N37 Emergency Management Program.
"Staying informed, developing a plan and making an emergency kit is the theme of this initiative so that every member of the Navy community can learn to prepare and respond in the event of an emergency," said McIntyre
In observance of National Preparedness Month, which is held each September, Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) encourages all Navy personnel and their families to prepare for and respond to various types of emergencies before they occur.
"Help ensure your family's safety by following Operation Prepare's advice: have a family emergency plan, be informed by staying up to date on weather alerts, and have a kit in case you are forced to evacuate," said McIntyre.
Operation Prepare provides emergency preparedness tools and resources online at
www.cnic.navy.mil. From facts sheets on various disasters—natural and manmade hazards, fast-spreading diseases and terrorist events—to planning forms and an emergency supplies checklist, preparing for all types of emergencies has never been easier. All materials are tailored for the Navy and are consistent with information from myriad sources such as the American Red Cross, Centers for Disease Control, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security.
For individuals and families who have already developed their emergency plans and assembled emergency kits, National Preparedness Month is a good time to update or replenish the kits' contents. It's also recommended that Sailors review and practice their plans (e.g., communication means, pet and special needs care, evacuation, shelter in place) during the month.
Finally, Sailors may want to think about giving blood, volunteering or signing up for life-saving classes (e.g., first aid, CPR, use of automatic defibrillators) at the local Red Cross or YMCA. These actions will reinforce a Navy family's readiness to respond to emergencies and may even help save the lives of others.
Preparedness is the individual's responsibility, but Operation Prepare helps Navy families understand what they will need to survive during the critical hours following a disaster.
For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit
www.navy.mil/local/cni.
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NNS080903-13. Navy Mission Assurance Analysts Support Hurricane Gustav Relief Efforts
By Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Corporate Communications
DAHLGREN, Va. (NNS) -- Analysts and engineers from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren Laboratory deployed Sept. 1, to support U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) operations in response to Hurricane Gustav by providing predictive infrastructure analysis support.
When Gustav hit the Louisiana coast, two NSWC Dahlgren infrastructure analysts deployed to Colorado Springs and joined the operations team at USNORTHCOM headquarters to initiate impact analysis.
"We began Hurricane Gustav predictive analysis on Aug. 28, providing updates as required over the weekend," said Kathrina Urann, Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP) Project Manager. "Mission Assurance Division personnel have identified DoD bases, assets and supporting infrastructure potentially affected by Hurricane Gustav. We also provided NORTHCOM with infrastructure analysis for base support installations tasked with prepositioning supplies for Hurricane Gustav relief and information on identified infrastructure outage areas."
This analysis is critical to helping USNORTHCOM ensure that DoD assets are able to support Hurricane Gustav relief efforts as requested and is incorporated into briefings and status reports throughout USNORTHCOM, the Joint Staff National Military Command Center (NMCC) and the Office of the Assistance Secretary of Defense (OASD) for Homeland Defense and America's Security Affairs (HD&ASA).
"Around-the-clock on-call support will continue through Sept. 4, 2008," said Kathrina Urann. "Military responders are now relying on two NSWC geospatial systems – TRITON and the Homeland Defense–Mission Assurance Portal (HD-MAP) – to monitor Hurricane relief efforts and identify DoD assets affected by Hurricane Gustav. In addition, Mission Assurance Division personnel are beginning infrastructure analysis in advance of Tropical Storm Hanna."
The responders are also using the geospatial systems in their efforts to identify commercial infrastructure assets potentially affected by the hurricane.
TRITON is an external unclassified common operational picture that provides DoD personnel access to USNORTHCOM and mission assurance analysis and data. The HD-MAP is OASD HD&ASA's classified geospatial portal providing access to Defense Critical Infrastructure Program data and analysis.
The Navy's Mission Assurance Division has also established communications with the Department of Homeland Security's National Infrastructure Coordination Center to share products and information in support of Hurricane Gustav disaster response and relief efforts.
For more news from Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, visit
www.news.navy.mil/local/nswcdahlgren/.
