USS ESSEX (At Sea) - The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) departed Okinawa, Japan Jan. 29 for a regularly scheduled deployment after onloading components of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Jan. 27-28. The ARG’s patrol throughout the Western Pacific region will include a series of...

CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) - USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) hosted NBA Hall of Famer, Jerry West, and professional golfer, Bryce Molder, for a putting challenge aboard the carrier, Jan. 25. "PLAY for LA" an 18-day promotional event leading up to the Northern Trust Open, is led by Northern Trust Open...

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS La Jolla (SSN 701) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Thursday, Jan. 27, for a scheduled six-month deployment to the Middle East and the Western Pacific. USS La Jolla's commanding officer, Cmdr. Jeff Bernard, commented that...

SUKUMO CITY, Japan - Lt. Michael Syamken, Dental Officer aboard USS Tortuga (LSD 46), surprised 11 Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) sailors by seeing patients in JS Shimokita’s (LST 4002) dental facilities, Jan. 27, near Sukumo Island. During an officer exchange as part of ongoing...

PORT KLANG, Malaysia (NNS) - USS Carl Vinson (CVN) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 Sailors visited the Wesley Senior Citizen Home as part of a community service (COMSERV) project, Jan. 24. The Wesley Senior Citizen Home is sponsored by a local congregation in Kuala Lumpur, said Lt. Cmdr. James E...

CHUK SAMET, Thailand (NNS) - Three Military Sealift Command ships are offloading hundreds of pieces of U.S. Marine Corps equipment, containerized supplies and personnel in support of exercises Freedom Banner and Cobra Gold at Chuk Samet, Thailand, through Jan. 28. Freedom Banner 2011 brings...

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) - Force shaping and stabilization are two of the top issues for Navy's manpower planners. One tool they are using to ensure Navy's officer communities maintain the right mix of skills, force size and stability is the Probationary Officer Continuation and Redesignation...

NORFOLK (Jan. 25, 2011) - Navy leaders are expressing alarm at recent statistics that show that sailors' use of "Spice" and similar so-called designer drugs rose in the last quarter of 2010. Spice and similar products are essentially an herbal, synthetic form of marijuana, mimicking the chemical...

SOUTH CHINA SEA - Assets assigned to Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) participated in an Air Surface Warfare exercise in the South China Sea Jan. 19-20. USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), USS Stockdale (DDG 106), USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) joined...

SAN DIEGO (NNS)- The guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) will depart San Diego Jan. 20 on a six-month independent deployment to the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR). Higgins will help provide deterrence, promote peace and security, preserve freedom of the sea and...

MANGILAO, Guam- Personnel from USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) volunteered at the Guam Department of Youth Affairs (DYA) facility in Mangilao, Guam, Jan. 18. The Sailors spent the day whacking weeds and mowing lawns alongside DYA clients. The youths were excited to see the Sailors, and the Sailors...

SAN DIEGO (NNS)- The amphibious transport landing dock ship USS Cleveland (LPD 7) conducted a burial at sea ceremony, Jan. 17. Twenty deceased service members and family members were honored during the ceremony, some of whom had served as far back as World War II. The ceremony was led by Lt...

AGANA HEIGHTS, Guam (NNS) - Navy officials participated in a ground-breaking ceremony for the $158 million Naval Hospital Guam replacement project Jan. 14 aboard the installation in Agana Heights, Guam. "Today, as we officially break ground on a new, state-of-the-art, world-class healthcare...

USS RONALD REAGAN, At Sea (NNS) - Nine Sea Cadets from the Naval Sea Cadet Corps are underway aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) from Jan. 3-20 to experience life on an aircraft carrier. The Naval Sea Cadet Corps is an organization for youth who want to learn new skills and gain confidence while...

POLARIS POINT, Guam (NNS) - For the first time ever, the Virginia-class attack submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) moored outboard the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) Dec. 28 in Guam. "The Virginia class is the nation's newest fast attack submarine," said Cmdr. Michael Dufek, repair officer...

SAN DIEGO (NNS) - A congressional delegation led by Rep. Mark S. Critz (D-Pa.) paid a visit to the amphibious transport landing dock ship USS Cleveland (LPD-7) Jan. 13. The purpose of the trip was to experience, first-hand, aspects of the U.S. Naval and Marine Corps forces and to expand his...

YOKOSUKA, Japan - The U.S. Navy announced today the Dock Landing Ship USS Germantown (LSD-42) will replace USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) as part of the permanently forward-deployed amphibious forces of the U.S. 7th Fleet. USS Germantown is expected to arrive at Sasebo soon to commence the turnover...

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) - The chief of naval operations (CNO) visited Sailors in Hawaii and spoke at the 10th Annual Hawaii-Military Partnership Conference in Honolulu Jan. 5-7. CNO Adm. Gary Roughead visited and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Rick D. West met with Sailors from Joint...

BUSAN, Republic of Korea (NNS) - Sailors from USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 and the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) visited the Sung Ae Won Home for Children as part of a community service project in Busan, Republic of Korea, Jan. 13. The Sung Ae Won home provides shelter for...

KIRITIMATI, Kiribati - With dancing, a giant roast pig, and a tropical island as the backdrop, citizens of Kiritimati (Christmas) Island and U.S. service members celebrated the opening of a new facility to improve health care for pregnant women, newborns and sick babies Jan. 12. A ribbon cutting...