The crew of the destroyer Ross had a bit of fun Tuesday, shooting off an interceptor missile from its forward launcher and achieving the first ballistic missile target intercept in a European exercise. “That was bright!” one watch-stander can be be heard saying in the background, over laughs and high-fives. The SM-3 Block IA launch took place in the North Atlantic, aimed at a Terrier Orion ballistic missile target — a 2,800-lb two-stage rocket — launched from Great Britain’s Hebrides range, located off the northwest coast of Scotland. The SM-3 was intercepted in space, according to a 6th Fleet release. The launch was…
An outspoken member of the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday called for Navy Secretary Ray Mabus to resign, the latest twist in what has become an impassioned public feud over the pending decision whether to let women join the Marine Corps infantry and its elite special operations command. In a letter to Defense Secretary Ash Carter, California Congressman Duncan Hunter, a Marine Corps combat veteran, slammed the secretary over his recent criticism of a Marine Corps research project that concluded combat teams containing women were less effective than those composed entirely of men. READ: Congressman Duncan Hunter’s letter to Defense Secretary Ash Carter “Recent statements by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus — openly criticizing the Marine Corps and…
In a message to the fleet, the outgoing chief of naval operations thanked sailors for their hard work and efforts during his tour. “I want to thank you for your inspiring efforts that ensured the Navy operated where it mattered, when it mattered – while laying the foundation of our future fleet,” he wrote. He also assured sailors they were in good hands with Richardson. See Greenert’s farewell here. Greenert discussed uniforms, optempo and more in his final interview as CNO with Navy Times.
Sept. 11, 2001 was a day when thousands of Americans — firefighters, police, troops and everyday people — became heroes. But one story of heroism got little attention until a short documentary was created for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. Released by Eyepop Productions and narrated by famed actor and veterans advocate Tom Hanks, the 12-minute video tells the story of how the U.S. Coast Guard, supported by the people who worked on the New York and New Jersey waterfront, pulled off the greatest mass waterborne evacuation in history. (The half million evacuated makes it even bigger than the famed 1940 Allied evacuation of Dunkirk in…
Seven decades ago, Petty Officer 1st Class George Mendonsa and his date were among the hordes in Times Square celebrating Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II when Mendonsa grabbed what he thought was a nurse (she was a dental assistant), leaned her back and kissed her in a fit of emotion. Life magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured the moment, and as they say, the rest is history. The iconic photo came to represent the relief and excitement over the war’s end, but Eisenstaedt never got his subjects’ names. On the photo’s 40th anniversary, Life asked the nurse and…
Ever-changing uniform requirements can be frustrating. Just when you get your sea bag set, the U.S. Navy unveils a new or updated uniform to add to the list. In fact, there are more than a dozen changes in the works right now — an improved fire-retardant coverall, moisture-wicking warm-up suits, service dress blue jumpers, lightweight pairs of the Navy working uniform, a cold-weather parka, just to name a few. The U.S. Navy isn’t the only one doing this. The Royal Navy has unveiled its new working uniform, which will replace the duds they’ve worn since World War II. Now that’s old school!…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQVKmqqk-TQ The national security cutter Stratton made history last month when it intercepted a South American narco-submarine packed with more than 12,000 pounds of cocaine, the service’s biggest bust to date. On Monday the crew stopped in San Diego to offload that haul — and another 28 tons of cocaine nabbed in over 23 seizures on its latest patrol — totaling a $1 billion street value, according to the service. Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft greeted the crew on the pier for the drop, part of a San Diego layover before the crew returns home to Alameda, California. Stratton’s patrol was part of…
Just over a year ago, retired Vice Adm. Mike Miller collected $100 each from the chief of naval operations and the Navy secretary as he handed over command of the Naval Academy. In his remarks, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus told the crowd at Alumni Hall that he and Adm. Jon Greenert had made a bet four years earlier with Miller — a ’74 academy grad — that he wouldn’t last a second tour at the Naval Academy without getting in trouble. “… I think the main thing we share is the astonishment of his classmates and my shipmates from long ago…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpMJeUAUfkE (Skip to 5:10. Wall Street Journal video via YouTube) Mixed martial arts superstar Ronda Rousey took down her opponent in 34 seconds in a fight heard ’round the world Aug. 1. The Wall Street Journal re-posted its May interview with Rousey this week in honor of her victory, and in it, she gives some insight into what might have become of her if she’d taken another path: WSJ sports columnist Jason Gay: So if, Beijing [summer 2008 Olympics], you had won gold — you would be doing what now? Rousey: I’d probably be a rescue swimmer for the Coast Guard.…
The sailors of dock landing ship Comstock’s deck department think their cruise video is better than the cruiser Normandy’s. On Tuesday, we posted a video made by the sailors on Normandy that included go-pro video of small boat ops, a sweet F-18 flyby and 5-inch gun blasts. Two sailors from Comstock wrote in with links to their own deployment video, pieced together by the seamen and boatswain’s mates of OD Division, claiming superiority. The Comstock returned to San Diego in late February from a 7-month cruise. We checked it out and it definitely gives the Normandy a run for its money. V-22s,…
