15th Wing Public Affairs

Nearly 20 U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets from the University of Hawaii at Manoa recently received a first-hand glimpse into the 96th Air Refueling Squadron’s (ARS) mission. They witnessed a 154th ARS KC-135 Stratotanker manned by a 96th ARS aircrew refuel a C-17 Globemaster III in flight May 4 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Before their flight, the cadets received a mission brief from Lt. Col. Brian Hill, 96th ARS commander, to explain the importance of air refueling in the Pacific theater. Afterward, they toured the squadron’s facility while their guide, Capt. Rick Brown, 96th ARS chief of safety, spoke to them about the squadron’s history as well as the capabilities of the KC-135.

“In three or four years, we’re going to be commissioned offenders,” said Valerie Sasa, a cadet from U.S. Air Force ROTC Detachment 175. “We would like to see what every job does and how it benefits the U.S. Air Force.”

Sasa hasn’t yet chosen which career field she will pursue in the Air Force, but plans to use her experience with the 96th ARS as an opportunity to broaden the scope of potential jobs she could pursue.

According to Capt. Jonathan Navarra, operations officer for detachment 175, this “incentive” flight gave the cadets a chance to experience the operational Air Force outside their normal classroom setting.

“They always hear [(the instructors]) talk about the Air Force,” he said. “This gives them an opportunity to see and touch the things that we talk about. They can see all the o t h e r t h i n g s that go into being successful in the Air Force. Things like situational awareness, attention to detail, taking care of your people, they can see it culminate when they go to a flying squadron … this gives them a tangible experience.”

Brown said that along with giving the cadets a glance at the refueling mission itself, it is also important to show future leaders of the Air Force the skill and enthusiasm 96th ARS employs to conduct its mission.

“These guys are going to be carrying on the legacy we put forth for them,” he said. “It’s good to show them not only how well we do our job but the pride we put into our jobs also.”

An additional benefit of seeing the 96th ARS mission, said Brown, is the total force integration the squadron displays with the 203rd ARS, an experience that will serve them well when they commission.

“It’s important to explain to them how we work with the guard and how important it is to our mission here. We take a lot of pride in what we do and the fact that we do it so well,” Brown said.

Sasa said she was also impressed with some of the physical attributes the KC-135 pilots used to operate the aircraft.

“There’s a lot of buttons in the flight deck,” she said. “A lot of them look like they’re really hard to reach. I think you have to have really long arms to be a pilot.”

While Sasa admits she may not have the same lengthy arms the pilots have, it doesn’t necessarily disqualify KC-135 pilot from her career field choices.

“I don’t have long arms,” she said. “But I could find a way to make it work.”

Illustration | U.S. Navy photos by MC2 Daniel Barker

Commander Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

The Navy held a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 27 to dedicate the new drive-in submarine magnetic silencing facility (MSF) at Beckoning Point at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH).

According to officials, this facility is crucial to the mission and safety of Navy submarines and their crews because its unique features help reduce steel-hulled vessels’ susceptibility to magnetic – influence underwater mines and magnetic detection systems.

“After a culmination of 11 years of work by numerous Department of the Navy civilian contractors and Navy personnel, the completion and success of this treatment marks a milestone for future evolutions of this type,” said Aaron Leong, project lead supervisor of MSF Pearl Harbor. “With the certification of this facility, we now are prepared to continue operations for all types of submarines.”

Due to magnetic fields that are constantly being encountered during normal ship operations, ships and submarines build up a magnetic signature. The earth’s natural magnetic fields between the North and South poles are being crossed routinely while the vessels are underway. The traversing of these natural fields, and vessels lying dormant for extended periods of time during scheduled maintenance, result in changes to a vessel’s magnetic signature. Correcting those changes requires a thorough treatment process to minimize the level of permanent magnetism.

Deperming is performed at the submarine MSF by temporarily surrounding a submarine with coils and supplying current to those coils to create high magnetic fields. By cycling the coil field, the permanent magnetization of the submarine is manipulated. The magnitude of the coil-induced magnetic field starts high, and then is decreased with each cycle. When the process is completed, the magnitude of the permanent magnetization is equal to the ambient field. The MSF can control the ambient field to desired magnitudes.

A closed-wrap MSF requires the submarine to be manually wrapped with heavy copper cables whereas the cables at a drive-in MSF are built into the facility, suspended above, below and on the sides of the submarine.

“In the past, Texas would have had to have been hand wrapped in cables to conduct this same procedure. And manual wrapping is a labor intensive and extremely time consuming process. This facility replaces an antiquated process with the ease of a drive-in,” said Cmdr. Andrew Hertel, commanding officer of USS Texas.

The Pearl Harbor MSF, managed by Navy Region Hawaii and operated by personnel from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Detachment Pacific, is capable of deperming all classes of U.S. submarines including Virginia-class submarines.

The ceremony included a presentation of colors, a Hawaiian blessing and invocation. Guest speakers for the event included Capt. Jeffrey James, commander of JBPHH; Cmdr. Andrew Hertel, commanding officer of USS Texas; Rick Heltzel, president of Healy Tibbitts; and David Lin, MSF program manager, Naval Sea Systems Command.

USS Texas is the first submarine in the U.S. Navy to carry the name of the Lone Star State and the second Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine.

Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

Families and friends welcomed back the guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on April 23, following completion of a successful eight-month deployment to the western Pacific and Arabian Gulf.

“I am exceptionally pleased and proud of the tremendous performance of every Sailor aboard Russell during this challenging deployment,” said Cmdr. Joseph Carrigan, Russell’s commanding officer. “I

believe I speak for each member of the crew when I say that we are thrilled to be home with our families, friends and the greater Pearl Harbor Ohana.”

Russell and her crew of nearly 300 Sailors conducted a wide range of operations, including ballistic missile defense, maritime security operations and oil platform defense. Additionally, the ship and her crew participated in multi-national exercises with NATO allies and Gulf partner nations in support of theater security cooperation and operations.

Mike McGuinness, the father of Seaman Matt McGuinness, flew all the way from New Jersey to greet his son at the pier as the ship pulled in.

“I thought it would be a good idea to come out and surprise him,” Mike said. “This is his first deployment. He has been in the Navy for one and a half years.”

While in the Arabian Gulf, Russell integrated with Carrier Strike Groups George H. W. Bush, John C. Stennis and Abraham Lincoln, supporting a variety of missions. Additionally, Russell served as the ballistic missile defense commander platform for Commander Task Force 50 for two months, participating in 15 system operability tests, two joint air defense exercises, and a bilateral amphibious exercise with Saudi Arabia.

“While deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, USS Russell consistently demonstrated unparalleled operational excellence and mission accomplishment while conducting maritime security operations, ballistic missile defense operations, maritime infrastructure protection, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support,” Carrigan said.

The officers and crew enjoyed several port visits in the western Pacific, East Asia, the Indian Ocean and the Middle East, including Guam, the Philippines, the Maldives, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Hong Kong and continued the U.S. Navy’s long-standing tradition of ambassadorship.

During the ship’s visit to Gan, Maldives, Russell Sailors connected with their Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) counterparts and interacted with the local community. Russell Sailors participated in soccer matches and culinary exchanges where coast guardsmen from the Maldivian Coast Guard Ship (CGS) Shaheed Ali taught Sailors how to cook traditional Maldivian dishes aboard Russell.

Guided-missile destroyers are multi-mission anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare surface combatants. They operate independently for support of carrier and expeditionary strike groups and surface strike groups.

Photo illustration. (Top photo) Mo’i Kane Richard Kuali’i Kamau Jr., the king of this year’s Merrie Monarch Royal Court, visits the Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile frigate USS Crommelin (FFG-37) during a pier side welcome ceremony hosted by the Merrie Monarch Royal Court. The 49th annual Merrie Monarch Festival aims to perpetuate, promote and preserve the art of hula and the Hawaiian culture through education. (Above) The Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile frigate USS Crommelin (FFG-37) visits the island of Hawaii for the 49th annual Merrie Monarch Festival.

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam participates in the Citadel Protect/Citadel Pacific 2012 anti-terrorism/force protection field training exercise from April 9 to 12.

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 (SW) Mark Logico

Members of a Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) team board guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) from a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB)

Sailors aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) raise a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) aboard.

Sailors assigned to guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) perform maneuvers in a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB).

Underway replenishment ship USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) (left) and guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) perform maneuvers during maritime exercise Koa Kai 12-2.

Illuatrartion | U.S. Navy photos by MC2 Daniel Barker

(Additional photo here)

Service members, families, friends and other supporters gather at the Hawaii State Capitol for the Hawaii Medal of Honor awards ceremony. The Hawaii Medal of Honor was created to honor those with Hawaii ties who were killed in action while serving as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Navy Public Affairs Support
Element West, Detachment Hawaii

HONOLULU – The Hawaii State Senate and House of Representatives convened in joint session March 28 to award the Hawaii Medal of Honor to recognized military service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Recipients of the medal included members of the United States Armed Forces, the United States military reserves and the Hawaii National Guard who were residents of the state of Hawaii, attended an educational institution in Hawaii, or who were stationed in Hawaii by order of the United States Department of Defense.

“Those who we honor today, those who we acknowledge today, are those who are rich in character,” said Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie. “Their circumstances in terms of their material life may be humble, but they are rich in character.”

The Hawaii Medal of Honor was created to recognize the heroism of Hawaii’s armed forces, and this year 24 recipients were honored, including U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Kraig Vickers. The medal was awarded on behalf of the people of the state of Hawaii to honor those with Hawaii ties who were killed in action while serving our country as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Families of some of the fallen service members were on hand to receive the Hawaii Medal of Honor on behalf of their loved ones.

“My duty today is to, in some small way, to try to comfort those when comfort may not be enough and to massage the pain of a broken heart,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Darryll D.M. Wong, state adjutant general. “While I may fall short in this endeavor, I can at least take solace in knowing that the state of Hawaii has provided some closure to these families by recognizing the supreme sacrifice made by their Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines on behalf of this grateful state.”

Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy Women’s Glee Club pay honors at the USS Arizona Memorial during the “Salute to America’s Heroes,” concert series. The Naval Academy Women’s Glee Club regularly travels around the country representing the Naval Academy.

Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Detachment Hawaii

The U.S. Naval Academy Women’s Glee Club gave a performance aboard the USS Arizona Memorial during their 10-day spring break performing tour March 13.

The theme of this year’s tour is “A Salute to America’s Heroes,” and several public concerts were held at various locations around Oahu.

“We are looking forward to bringing this premier women’s choral ensemble back to Hawaii to perform in an area which has a large naval presence,” said Cindy Bauchspies, director of the U.S. Navy Woman’s Glee Club. “It means a lot to our midshipmen to be able to perform a concert that honors those who have served our country because they will each serve as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps upon graduation from the [U.S.] Naval Academy.”

The Naval Academy Women’s Glee Club regularly travels around the country representing the naval academy and visits area schools to introduce students to the opportunities available to them by attending the U.S. Naval Academy.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to bring a group of professionals like that out here. Individuals that want to serve their country, join the academy,” said Capt. Lawrence Scruggs, chief staff officer at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. “Seeing the Navy Hymn here was pretty spectacular.”

Founded in 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy today is a prestigious four-year service academy that prepares midshipmen morally, mentally and physically to be professional officers in the naval service.

Keiki (children) perform during a change of command and retirement ceremony March 9 at Camp H.M. Smith. Observing the performance (left to right) are Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, U. S. Navy Adm. Robert Willard, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey and Adm. Samuel Locklear III. The ceremony honored Adm. Willard and featured Adm. Locklear as the incoming Commander, U.S. Pacific Command. U.S. Navy Photo by MC2 Daniel Barker

American Forces Press Service

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii–Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, praised the outgoing chief of U.S. Pacific Command for his leadership and welcomed his successor March 9.

Navy Adm. Robert F. Willard, who retires after nearly four decades of naval service, passed the leadership of PACOM to Navy Adm. Samuel J. Locklear III at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii.

“Adm. Willard brings to a close a remarkable, nearly four-decade career as a naval aviator,” Panetta said. “It has taken him to every corner of the globe and to almost every level of command from fighter squadron to commander of the mighty [U.S.] 7th Fleet and now the Pacific Command.”

Panetta characterized Willard as “a proven and very effective leader” who also spent time at the Pentagon serving on the joint staff.

“He’s a brilliant and accomplished military officer,” Panetta said of Willard. “He always offers very deep strategic insights into the most pressing security challenges. And his very plain spoken manner has made him an outstanding leader here in the Asia-Pacific.”

Panetta noted the critical need to maintain a presence in the Asia-Pacific theater.

“This is an extremely important theater,” he said. “And this is a pivotal moment in history when America’s future, in many ways, depends on the peace and prosperity of this very vital region.”

Dempsey added his perspective of PACOM’s important role.

“This is no ordinary change of command,” he said. “With the strategic sweep from the west coast of Bob’s home state of California to the west coast of India, U.S. Pacific Command’s responsibility encompasses almost half of the earth’s surface and half of the world’s population.”

“It’s also deeply intertwined with our nation’s destiny in this 21st century, a fact that we made clear in our recently released emerging defense strategy,” the chairman added.

Dempsey praised Willard’s leadership since the admiral took command of PACOM in 2009.

“For almost three years, Bob and his 330,000 team-mates nobly represented our nation’s prestige with 36 of the most vibrant nations in the world,” he said. “He epitomizes credible leadership.”

“He is rock solid, unflappable and, as I mentioned earlier, humble, all balanced with a touch of California cool that you’d expect from a great fighter pilot,” Dempsey added.

“The good news is we’re placing this command in the hands of another extraordinary couple, Sam and Pam Locklear,” Dempsey continued. “Sam, your record for the Navy speaks for itself. And your leadership in Europe, most recently, expertly working with our NATO partners, advanced our efforts to help the people of Libya turn a new and more promising page in their history.”

Panetta pointed to a crucial time in the Pacific and the need for a strong leader.

“I can’t think of a more critical time when the nation needs the very best, the very best in military experience, military leadership and military advice to be able to confront the challenges and the threats that we face in the world today,” he said.

Dempsey said a “new and promising chapter” awaits the new PACOM commander as focus shifts to the Pacific region.

“This may sound daunting, but I know the men and women of PACOM are ready for whatever challenges they may face,” he said.

“I can’t think of a better couple to lead them than the Locklears,” Dempsey added. “You two have my complete trust, confidence and support.”

Capt. Jeffrey James, commander of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH), speaks at the grand opening ceremony of the Peltier Child Development Center at JBPHH on March 8.

Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Det Hawaii

Sailors, Airmen and civilians attended the Peltier Child Development Center’s grand opening ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) on March 8.

After opening remarks from Col. Dann Carlson, deputy commander of JBPHH, Capt. Jeffrey James, commander of JBPHH, talked about the development center.

“There is a saying in higher education circles that no nation is so wealthy that it can squander its youth and the promise of its youth,” James said.

“The seeds of learning must be sown and encouraged to blossom. One-on-one engagement is the spark that lights the lifelong fire of inquisitiveness and a search for knowledge and that’s what the dedicated professionals who were carefully selected to do the work to care for our children here and facilities like this do,” he said.

Once James was finished with his remarks, Kahu Kekua offered a traditional Hawaiian blessing for the center.

“What you see here today is a sign of the future,” Kekua said. “We need to take care of our Sailors, our Airmen and their ohana their family and that’s what we’re doing today.”

The Peltier Child Development Center, with an enrollment of 134 children, is the first of three others to open in Hawaii. The center provides child care for children from ages six weeks to 12 years who are family members of service members and Department of Defense personnel.