The Middle East

Seven in Seven

By Lance Bacon on April 22, 2010 Aviation, Carriers, Congress, Environment, Foreign navies, Maritime operations, Military Sealift Command, Navy, NECC, ordnance, Recruiting, SEALs, Ships, Submarines, The deckplates, The greenside, The Middle East, The Pacific, Washington

The Navy nabbed a lot of headlines again this week. Leading the way is news that the Green Hornet on Thursday took to flight – the fighter jet, not the super hero. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was powered by a 50/50 blend of biofuel and JP-5. That same day, a U.S. military jury cleared a Navy SEAL of failing to prevent the beating of an Iraqi prisoner suspected of masterminding a 2004 attack that killed four American security contractors. Two others will soon have their day in court. And on Wednesday, the Navy implemented its first change in 17 years to…

Seven in Seven

By Lance Bacon on April 16, 2010 Aviation, Carriers, Congress, Foreign navies, leadership, Maritime operations, Navy, Personnel, Seabees, Ships, Submarines, The greenside, The Middle East, The Pacific, Uniforms, Washington

The Navy nabbed a lot of headlines again this week. Leading the way is news that the Navy’s 10th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock will be named for Rep. John Murtha – a story first reported by Scoop Deck’s own Phillip Ewing. An unfortunate T-39 crash killed four in Georgia also made headlines, as did the Thursday announcement that changes were coming to the performance evaluation system and advancement policy (check Monday’s Navy Times for more on that). And the president also reaffirmed his 2011 Afghan withdrawal plan this week. Here’s seven stories in seven minutes from the past seven…

CNO wraps up Middle East tour

By Lance Bacon on April 2, 2010 individual augmentees, leadership, Morale, Navy, The Middle East

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead recently visited Africa and the Middle East to strengthen maritime partnerships and spend time with sailors in the region. During his visit to the destroyer Cole, Roughead described the ship as symbol of strength. “Remember the special heritage that this ship has,” he said. “It represents the resiliency of our Navy, and it represents the spirit of our Navy – in ways that other ships simply do not.” In Djibouti, he toured Camp Lemonnier, telling IAs / GSAs that “this is a different way for us to use our Navy.” The Navy has…

Just Call it 'Can-Do Kung Fu'

By Lance Bacon on March 31, 2010 Navy, NECC, Seabees, The greenside, The Middle East

The Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 can really pack a punch. When they catch a break from ops in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan, they focus on hand-to-hand and close-quarters combat techniques taught in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. Two Seabees endured three months of gruelling, accelerated training to become instructors. One is EA2 Erik Kennerson, who wants to award at least 18 tan belts before rotating this summer. You can read about their efforts here. The tan belt requires two hours of training a day, four days a week. Students learn punches, throws, chokes, weapons of opportunity…

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