Big 'E,' Kearsarge, Work Together in Red Sea

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Austin Rooney, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

RED SEA (NNS) -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) steamed alongside each other in the Red Sea to conduct a photo exercise and host leadership visits, Feb. 16.

Rear Adm. Peg D. Klein, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 5, visited Enterprise as the ships practiced steaming alongside each other in formation.

"It is important that we learn to work together," said Klein. "Enterprise's entire deployment within 5th fleet will depend on its ability to work with other ships and to learn their capabilities."

Cmdr. Michael Bobulinski, USS Enterprise combat direction center officer, said the exercise conducted with Kearsarge helped train both crews in a variety of skills.

"Working with other ships improves the readiness and preparedness for all involved," said Bobulinksi. "As long as the U.S. Navy is required to operate in the global environment, each ship in her inventory will find itself reliant on one or more of her sister ships and/or coalition partners around the world."

Enterprise is on its 21st deployment. The Enterprise Strike Group consists of Enterprise, guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), guided-missile destroyers USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Barry (DDG 52) and USS Mason (DDG 87), USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8), Carrier Air Wing 1 and Destroyer Squadron 2.

USS Kearsarge returns to homeport

USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) returns to Naval Station Norfolk following a four month humanitarian mission. Click here for the video report from the US Navy website.

USS Kearsarge Deploys in Support of Continuing Promise 2008

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amy Kirk, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) along with various embarked units and non-governmental organizations (NGO) departed Norfolk Aug. 6 for a four-month deployment, in support of mission Continuing Promise (CP) 2008 Caribbean Phase.

CP is a collaborative effort between the United States and partner militaries, NGOs and partner-nation support organizations to build strong partnerships that can be called upon in the event of a regional situation requiring cooperative solutions.

Kearsarge's mission is to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian and civic assistance, as well as veterinary, medical, dental and civil engineering support to six partner nations and to send a strong message of United States compassion, support and commitment to Central and South America and the Caribbean.

The ship is scheduled to visit Nicaragua, Colombia, Panama, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

This mission has been coordinated through Commander, Amphibious Squadron Eight with partner nations in the region and planned hand-in-hand with a variety of other governmental and NGOs to creatively address the level and scope of care required that will be needed to support regional medical needs. A key objective of this deployment is to address regional health service support requirements and promote clinical information sharing across the region.

"We'll be working hand-in-hand with our neighbors on many common interests," said Capt. Fernandez Ponds, CP 2008 mission commander.

"By working together and sharing our knowledge, we can address medical and engineering concerns common to the region, while also demonstrating our commitment to developing cooperative solutions and fostering lasting bonds of friendship."

Embarked Fleet Surgical Team Four will team up with host nation health care providers to offer basic primary health care and education.

"The cooperation between the different nations, non-governmental organizations and host nation citizens in this mission will benefit us greatly," said Cmdr. Dave Damstra, CP medical contingent commander. "Should a disaster ever strike this area, we will be able to build upon the care, clinical information and cooperation we're working on now."

Navy Seabee Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 and Air Force 5th Civil Engineer Squadron, Prime Base Emergency Engineer Force will join local civil engineers for structure renovations to schools and churches across four locations, along with road and drainage repair.

"By working alongside our partners here, making renovations and repairs and building a better relationship with the nation, we will establish a great bond between our two nations," said Air Force Maj. Thomas DeFazio, CP engineering contingent commander.

CP's mission in Central and South America is part of the Partnership of the Americas initiative. The medical and engineering capabilities this mission brings helps demonstrate the United States' commitment to fostering cooperative partnerships among allies.

"We are very proud to be a part of this mission and focused on not only helping our neighbors, but also learning from them," said Capt. Walter Towns, Kearsarge commanding officer.

Kearsarge's mission exemplifies the United States maritime strategy which emphasizes deploying forces to build confidence and trust among nations through collective maritime security efforts that focus on common threats and mutual interests.

The CP Caribbean Phase is the second of two HCA deployments to the Southern Command area of focus for 2008. The first CP deployment was conducted by USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Pacific.

Kearsarge Strike Group Returns Home

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Tristan Miller, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea (NNS) -- Nearly 2,200 Sailors of the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group returned home to family and friends over the past week following a regularly scheduled deployment.

USS Porter (DDG 78) and USS Carr (FFG 52), homeported in Norfolk, and USS Vicksburg (CG 69) from Mayport, Fla., returned to their homeports Jan. 25. USS Ponce (LPD 15) and USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) returned to Norfolk Jan. 27. USS Miami (SSN 755) returned Jan. 29, and, USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) will return to Norfolk Feb. 1.

The seven-ship strike group, and elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Special Operations Capable (SOC), deployed beginning in late-July 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Maritime Security Operations in the 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.

"We demonstrated that an expeditionary strike group is the Navy's 'Swiss Army Knife'. We were able to perform any mission, anytime, anywhere," said Capt. Frank Ponds, commander, Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group. "The strike group executed a wide array of missions on this deployment from humanitarian relief, counter piracy and maritime security to combat strike operations. And, as a group, our balanced and varied capabilities simultaneously empowered our enduring and emerging partners as well as deterred our adversaries."

Each ship of the strike group contributed something of note to the greater mission of promoting regional stability and security.

The amphibious assault ship Kearsarge traveled more than 3,000 miles with their embarked Marines to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to victims of Tropical Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh.

"The crew worked hard to move Kearsarge over three thousand miles to arrive on Thanksgiving day to be in a position to best assist in the efforts that had already begun by the government of Bangladesh," said Capt. James Gregorski, commanding officer, Kearsarge, when recalling the response to the cyclone. "Sailors and Marines were eager to help ease the burden of this tragedy."

Kearsarge also supported combat and training operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, supported Project Handclasp and visited Haifa, Israel, which had not been visited by a U.S. naval ship since Sept. 11, 2001.

The amphibious transport dock Ponce was the first U.S. naval ship to visit the port of Ash Shuaybah, Kuwait and provided their embarked Marines with needed supplies as they conducted training on shore.

"Being able to use the port of Al Shuaybah was key to our being able to quickly and effectively offload gear," said Cmdr. Richard Frey, commanding officer of Ponce. "We appreciated the cooperation and effort of our partners in Kuwait in accomplishing this mission."

The dock landing ship Gunston Hall participated in operation "Image Nautilus" a training exercise where they and their embarked Marines worked with the Djiboutian navy in Africa, promoting a strong relationship and improving interoperability.

Guided missile destroyer Porter visited Mombasa, Kenya, becoming the first U.S. naval ship to visit there since 2005. Porter also assisted with counter piracy efforts off the coast of the Horn of Africa.

Guided missile cruiser Vicksburg, along with guided missile frigate Carr, defended the Al Basra and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminals in Iraqi waters as part of Coalition Task Force 158, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

While deployed, Carr Sailors also assisted an Iraqi sailor with severe skull fractures. And, Carr and Porter also rescued 28 people adrift at sea in the Mediterranean and provided them aid and comfort.

"The rescue and assistance we provided at sea demonstrated we are still in the business of saving lives," said Ponds. "Our actions this deployment clearly showed that cooperation and lending a helping hand transcends nationality."

The strike group also promoted regional cooperation by visiting over twenty ports in twelve countries across three continents and conducted three bilateral exercises with regional partners. Sailors across the strike group carried out the traditional Navy role of bringing U.S. diplomacy to foreign shores.

"Our people are the core of everything we do and port visits are great learning experiences for our personnel," said Ponds. "Activities such as community relation projects, receptions, distinguished visitor embarks, media engagement, etc., provide us the opportunity to strengthen relationships and to learn about local culture."

The strike group is comprised of the flagship Kearsarge, Gunston Hall, Porter, Ponce, Carr, Vicksburg, the fast attack submarine Miami and embarked elements of the 22 MEU SOC.

Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group Completes ULTRA-S Assessment

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Gearhiser, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Atlantic

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group completed the Unit Level Training Assessment - Sustainment (ULTRA-S) on all six surface vessels Jan. 24.

ULTRA-S assesses a ship's ability to train itself with the aid of an outside observer.

During the training period, teams of between 18 and 25 assessors from various ships in the strike group, including between eight and 10 representatives from Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 8, boarded the various ships in the strike group and evaluated their training procedures. The assessors traveled from ship-to-ship for nearly a month, staying a few days on board each unit.

"We break the evaluation down by surface and air warfare areas, from damage control to navigation, seamanship and other warfare areas," said Lt. Michael Reed, training officer for PHIBRON 8.

The purpose of the ULTRA-S evaluation is to ensure that U.S. Navy ships are prepared for their warfighting and peacekeeping duties at sea.

"The main point is to maintain the ship's proficiency through out the year," Reed continued. "Senior leadership wanted to put in a measurement that ensures ships are at the basic level of training and are always ready to deploy. Having these assessments maintains a ship's training readiness and their warfighting capabilities."

Capt. Frank Ponds, Commander, PHIBRON 8 said that conducting ULTRA-S ensures that every ship is a "ready-now" asset, available for tasking.

"ULTRA-S keeps us at a sustained, high-level of performance, capable to meet any mission, anytime, anywhere," added Ponds.

The Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group is currently on a regularly scheduled deployment and consists of amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15), dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), guided missile cruiser USS Vickburg (CG 69), guided missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78), guided missile frigate USS Carr (FFG 52) and attack submarine USS Miami (SSN 755).