PACIFIC OCEAN - The Carl Vinson Strike Group will visit the Republic of Korea beginning Jan. 11. USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) will visit Busan, while USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USS Stockdale (DDG 106) will visit Chinhae. The Strike Group is conducting a deployment to the...

MANAMA, Bahrain - Everett, Wash.-based USS Momsen (DDG 92), currently assigned to Combined Task Force 151, the counter-piracy mission of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), responded to a medical emergency aboard an Iranian fishing vessel some 400 nautical miles north of the Seychelles, off the coast...

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) - Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) announced the recipients of the 2010 Battle Efficiency (Battle "E") award in an official message to the submarine force Jan. 1. The Battle "E" is an award of merit presented to the most proficient submarine...

BANGOR, Wash. (NNS) - Trident ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) and its Gold Crew returned to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor on Jan. 1 following an 88-day strategic deterrent patrol. Capt. Paul Skarpness, commander of Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 17, was among those on hand as Nebraska...

SAN DIEGO (NNS) - With the upcoming arrival of 2011, San Diego area Sailors were prepared Dec. 30 for the implementation of a new Navy-wide smoking policy that bans smoking below decks aboard all U.S. Navy submarines. The smoking ban, announced by Vice Adm. John J. Donnelly, Commander, Submarine...

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - The Los Angeles-class submarine USS Jacksonville (SSN 699) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after completing a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific region Dec. 2. Jacksonville originally left Pearl Harbor on June 2, with 135 Sailors onboard, many of which...

TOKYO, Dec. 9, 2010 - U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived here last night to discuss with Japanese leaders how to better leverage their military expertise and improve defense cooperation in light of North Korean aggression. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen,...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2010 - U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived here last night to discuss with Japanese leaders how to better leverage their military expertise and improve defense cooperation in light of North Korean aggression. Mullen, who flew here...

TOKYO, Dec. 9, 2010 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff met here today with Japanese leaders to encourage closer bi and multilateral cooperation, not only to confront current threats like North Korea, but also to tap new opportunities to advance regional security. Meeting with Gen...

NAVAL BASE POINT LOMA, Calif. - Los Angeles-class submarine USS Hampton (SSN 767) departs for its six-month Southwest Asia deployment Dec. 7. LA-class submarines are flexible platforms that can be called upon to conduct a multitude of missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface...

USS ESSEX, At sea (Dec. 8, 2010) - The Sailors of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11, embarked with the Essex Expeditionary Strike Group (ESX ESG), are participating in exercise Keen Sword 2011 with their counterparts from the Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces (JMSDF). As members of an embarked...

USS ESSEX, At Sea - The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) conducted flight deck landing qualifications (DLQs) with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) off the coast of Okinawa, Japan Dec. 7 as part of exercise Keen Sword 2011. “The shipboard deck landing...

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 8, 2010 -- Following what he called “a very full day of meaningful discussions” today with South Korean leaders, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned North Korea’s acts of aggression and praised South Korea for demonstrating restraint to keep it from...

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The National Park Service and the U.S. Navy hosted a joint memorial ceremony commemorating the 69th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7 at the newly dedicated $56 million Pearl Harbor Visitor Center at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. The...

KIRISHIMA TRAINING AREA, Kyushu, Japan -- About 200 Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit began the annual bilateral field training exercise Forest Light with Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces in mainland Japan, Dec. 7. Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 31st MEU,...

USS ESSEX, At sea -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) practiced decked landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) vehicle inter-operability with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) tank landing ship JS Kunisaki (LST 4003) off the coast of Okinawa, Japan Dec. 6 as...

SAN DIEGO (NNS) - USS Nimitz (CVN 68) departed San Diego Dec. 6 to conduct an administrative homeport change from Naval Base Coronado to Naval Base Kitsap at Bremerton, Wash. Nimitz is making the homeport change to conduct a year-long docking-planned incremental availability (DPIA) at the Puget...

SAN DIEGO (NNS) - Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (SURFPAC) ships, guided-missile cruiser USS Cape Saint George (CG 71) and mine countermeasures ship USS Dextrous (MCM 13) Crew Exultant, raised a total of $156,335 for the Defense Department's 2010 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) drive...

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel and their U.S. counterparts aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) work side-by-side Dec. 5 to increase interoperability and improve the alliance during Keen Sword 2011. Keen Sword officially kicked off on Dec. 3 with dozens of...

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia -- Equipped with trumpets, tubas, donated clothes, Hula-Hoops, toys and lots of energy, Sailors from USS Mustin (DDG 89) and the 7th Fleet Orient Express Band visited the Goodwill School, a local charity organization aimed at educating children in Sihanoukville, Cambodia on...