A flight crew from 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment sits on top of their patriotic UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. The 2-147th is a Minnesota National Guard battalion attached to the 12th CAB as part of Task Force XII. Pictured are Chief Warrant Officer Bill Rawling, Capt. Andrea Ourada, Sgt. Jeffrey Miles and Sgt. Roger Gibeault. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jaren Lukach, 2-147th)
Saturday, September 22, 2007
12th CAB & Minnesota NG share the load
A flight crew from 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment sits on top of their patriotic UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. The 2-147th is a Minnesota National Guard battalion attached to the 12th CAB as part of Task Force XII. Pictured are Chief Warrant Officer Bill Rawling, Capt. Andrea Ourada, Sgt. Jeffrey Miles and Sgt. Roger Gibeault. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jaren Lukach, 2-147th)
Kearsarge Strike Group Offloads 22nd MEU in Kuwait
USS Kearsarge Strike Group offloaded more than 2,200 Sailors and Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in Kuwait in support of sustained training exercises Sept. 8-12.The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), amphibious transport dock USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) and dock landing ship USS Ponce (LPD 15) contributed to the offload.
“These exercises are designed to hone the Marines’ combat skills and maximize readiness,” said Sgt. Maj. Thomas Hall, 22nd Command sergeant major. “We also want to get our Marines acclimated to the desert environment so they can be ready for any mission.”
During the offload, the Sailors and Marines were transported ashore via landing craft air cushion (LCAC) from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 and helicopters from 22nd MEU’s Air Combat Element. Landing craft utility (LCU) boats also assisted in transporting personnel and equipment from the ships.
“This was definitely a total blue and green team effort,” Capt. James Gregorski, Kearsarge’s commanding officer. “Credit is due to our Deck, Air and Combat Cargo Air Departments who put in long hours and worked closely together to ensure a safe and efficient offload.”
1st Lt. Robert Stevenson, 22nd MEU’s embarkation officer, said preparation for the offload took weeks to ensure safety.
“We sent an advanced party of Marines to Kuwait before we started offloading,” said Stevenson. “We coordinated with them and the two other amphibious ships to offload the Marines and their equipment.”
Coordination took a collaborative effort by the ship’s Combat Cargo Department, ACU 4, and the ship’s Air and Deck Departments.
“It was truly an all-hands, ship-wide effort under arduous heat and humidity conditions. Every department played a key role,” said Cmdr. Peter Pagano, Kearsarge’s executive officer.
“Not only did all departments involved in this evolution provide great communication up and down the chain of command, we also performed the evolution safely with no mishaps,” added Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Christopher Falcon, a well deck safety observer for LCAC and LCU operations.
The Kearsarge Strike Group is on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations seek to disrupt violent extremists’ use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons, or other materials.
USS Kearsarge LHD-3
Minesweepers Set for Fall Patrol
USS Patriot (MCM 7) departed Sept. 20 for a seasonal patrol throughout the Pacific region.
The underway period, set also to include USS Guardian (MCM 5), will feature regional training and diplomatic port visits to partner countries in the region.
The training will focus on enhancing interoperability and mission readiness between the U.S. and regional allies.
Highlights of those visits will be service projects, ship tours and receptions.
“The focus of this patrol is to strengthen ties, build relations, and form new friendships among partner nations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Thomas E. Shultz, Patriot Commanding officer. “These Sailors are some of the most professional in the fleet, and I fully expect them to represent this ship, the Navy and their nation well.”
Seasonal patrols, ranging from two-three months, are routine for ships in the Forward-Deployed Naval Forces.
Patriot and Guardian recently completed a spring/summer patrol, from April-July of this year, that brought them—either individually or combined—to Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei.
Due to the small nature of Patriot/Guardian, whose crew is only 80 members each, the ships are able to pull into piers not available to deep draft vessels.
For this patrol, Patriot and Guardian will again venture into areas in the region rarely visited.
Sailors aboard Patriot understand that the patrol will be challenging but are looking forward to seeing other countries, experiencing new cultures and making new friends.
“This is why I joined the Navy,” said Mineman 2nd Class (SW) John R. Golden. “I know the people back home have not seen the things that I’ve seen. The hard work pays off when you get to step foot on different countries.”
Guardian and Patriot are mine countermeasures ship forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan. Guardian and Patriot serve under Task Force 76, which serves as the 7th Fleet’s mine countermeasures arm in forward-deployed operations.
50th SW completes transition to new GPS control system
by Staff Sgt. Don Branum
50th Space Wing Public Affairs
STech. Sgt. Dana Ammend, a space systems operator with the 19th Space Operations Squadron here, works alongside other Airmen with 2nd and 19th SOPS to upload navigation and timing data to GPS satellites using the Architecture Evolution Plan system. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum)
Space systems experts with the 2nd Space Operations Squadron here reached a crucial milestone in deploying the $800-million Architecture Evolution Plan ground control system Sept. 14.
The transition from legacy to AEP was conducted seamlessly in real time without any data service interruption to users, said 2nd SOPS commander Lt. Col. Kurt Kuntzelman.
"That's exactly what we were striving for initially," Colonel Kuntzelman said. "Now AEP will allow us to keep enhancing, modernizing and increasing our dominance in providing the best space-based positioning, navigation and timing services in the world."
Col. Terry Djuric, the 50th Space Wing commander, declared all AEP transition activities complete at 11:23 a.m. after Airmen with the 2nd and 19th SOPS completed GPS navigation data uploads to the 31-satellite GPS constellation.
"What we've been doing is incrementally transitioning GPS operations from the legacy floor to the AEP operations floor," said Maj. John Doucet, 19th SOPS' modernization support officer. "This was a phased transition where we synced up the databases and the navigation mission."
AEP is the first step toward a modernized system that will make current and future GPS features available to users on the ground, Major Doucet said. An immediate benefit is the ability to tie the control system into the Air Force Satellite Control Network, complementing an existing array of GPS ground control stations around the world.
"We did testing early on to see if we could connect to our satellites through AFSCN," said Lt. Col. Janet Grondin, who is the GPS Operational Control Segment program manager for the GPS Wing at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. "It's a huge capability: we can now contact a satellite at any time."
The transition, from a legacy system using 1970s technology and mainframe computers to a distributed computing architecture had to be seamless. For that to happen, the new baseline had to look exactly like the old baseline with regard to the navigation and timing data.
"The control segment is what develops the navigation signal and keeps the timing signal correct," Colonel Grondin explained. "When we're replacing that signal with a new one, you can't get that wrong. That's the real feat. The measure of success is that warfighters and civil users can go about their business using GPS with the same great signal we've always produced."
"Ideally, (the transition) won't have any effect on our end users ... but we're listening," Major Doucet said. Support specialists in the GPS Operations Center regularly field calls from civil and military users, helping them troubleshoot issues with GPS signals.
Boeing Corporation won the $800-million AEP contract and began development several years ago. At one point in the fall of 2006, more than 400 employees from both Boeing and Lockheed-Martin were assigned to the project, said Jeff Dimick, the GPS Control Segment program manager for Boeing.
"The legacy system was the only system on which GPS had operated for 22 years," said 50th Operations Group commander Col. Clinton Crosier. "This is the most significant upgrade to GPS in that 22 years."
Getting the green light to deploy AEP was no less complex. Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., and program executive officer for space, compared the transition to "changing out an engine in a car going 65 mph." The scope of the project became clear to Colonel Grondin when she went to Washington, D.C., to sell federal agencies on the new system.
"When we went to the civil agencies -- the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Agriculture -- that really brought home to me how many people use GPS on a daily basis," she said. Many of those agencies had a say in how, or whether, the transition to AEP would take place.
The key to making AEP a success, Mr. Dimick said, was teamwork among the diverse entities involved: Boeing Corporation, Lockheed-Martin, Aerospace, Air Force Space Command, 14th Air Force, the 50th SW, 310th Space Group, GPS Wing, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M., and the 746th Test Squadron at Holloman AFB, N.M.
"This is the best teaming arrangement I've ever experienced," he said. "It's really what helped us succeed."
"The team that guided this operational transition from the legacy GPS ground segment to AEP ... executed the mission in a disciplined and accountable manner to make sure GPS users worldwide were unaffected," Colonel Djuric said. "Our Airmen continue to perform this mission flawlessly."
That performance allows more than 1 billion GPS users around the world -- civilian pilots, farmers, stockbrokers, warfighters and many others -- to trust that they'll have access to precision navigation and timing whenever and wherever they need it.
Upon completion of the transition to AEP, the system will enter a multi-month operational evaluation period. Headquarters Air Force Space Command will accept this enhanced capability upon successful completion of the evaluation.
50th Space Wing Public Affairs
STech. Sgt. Dana Ammend, a space systems operator with the 19th Space Operations Squadron here, works alongside other Airmen with 2nd and 19th SOPS to upload navigation and timing data to GPS satellites using the Architecture Evolution Plan system. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Don Branum) Space systems experts with the 2nd Space Operations Squadron here reached a crucial milestone in deploying the $800-million Architecture Evolution Plan ground control system Sept. 14.
The transition from legacy to AEP was conducted seamlessly in real time without any data service interruption to users, said 2nd SOPS commander Lt. Col. Kurt Kuntzelman.
"That's exactly what we were striving for initially," Colonel Kuntzelman said. "Now AEP will allow us to keep enhancing, modernizing and increasing our dominance in providing the best space-based positioning, navigation and timing services in the world."
Col. Terry Djuric, the 50th Space Wing commander, declared all AEP transition activities complete at 11:23 a.m. after Airmen with the 2nd and 19th SOPS completed GPS navigation data uploads to the 31-satellite GPS constellation.
"What we've been doing is incrementally transitioning GPS operations from the legacy floor to the AEP operations floor," said Maj. John Doucet, 19th SOPS' modernization support officer. "This was a phased transition where we synced up the databases and the navigation mission."
AEP is the first step toward a modernized system that will make current and future GPS features available to users on the ground, Major Doucet said. An immediate benefit is the ability to tie the control system into the Air Force Satellite Control Network, complementing an existing array of GPS ground control stations around the world.
"We did testing early on to see if we could connect to our satellites through AFSCN," said Lt. Col. Janet Grondin, who is the GPS Operational Control Segment program manager for the GPS Wing at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. "It's a huge capability: we can now contact a satellite at any time."
The transition, from a legacy system using 1970s technology and mainframe computers to a distributed computing architecture had to be seamless. For that to happen, the new baseline had to look exactly like the old baseline with regard to the navigation and timing data.
"The control segment is what develops the navigation signal and keeps the timing signal correct," Colonel Grondin explained. "When we're replacing that signal with a new one, you can't get that wrong. That's the real feat. The measure of success is that warfighters and civil users can go about their business using GPS with the same great signal we've always produced."
"Ideally, (the transition) won't have any effect on our end users ... but we're listening," Major Doucet said. Support specialists in the GPS Operations Center regularly field calls from civil and military users, helping them troubleshoot issues with GPS signals.
Boeing Corporation won the $800-million AEP contract and began development several years ago. At one point in the fall of 2006, more than 400 employees from both Boeing and Lockheed-Martin were assigned to the project, said Jeff Dimick, the GPS Control Segment program manager for Boeing.
"The legacy system was the only system on which GPS had operated for 22 years," said 50th Operations Group commander Col. Clinton Crosier. "This is the most significant upgrade to GPS in that 22 years."
Getting the green light to deploy AEP was no less complex. Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., and program executive officer for space, compared the transition to "changing out an engine in a car going 65 mph." The scope of the project became clear to Colonel Grondin when she went to Washington, D.C., to sell federal agencies on the new system.
"When we went to the civil agencies -- the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Agriculture -- that really brought home to me how many people use GPS on a daily basis," she said. Many of those agencies had a say in how, or whether, the transition to AEP would take place.
The key to making AEP a success, Mr. Dimick said, was teamwork among the diverse entities involved: Boeing Corporation, Lockheed-Martin, Aerospace, Air Force Space Command, 14th Air Force, the 50th SW, 310th Space Group, GPS Wing, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland AFB, N.M., and the 746th Test Squadron at Holloman AFB, N.M.
"This is the best teaming arrangement I've ever experienced," he said. "It's really what helped us succeed."
"The team that guided this operational transition from the legacy GPS ground segment to AEP ... executed the mission in a disciplined and accountable manner to make sure GPS users worldwide were unaffected," Colonel Djuric said. "Our Airmen continue to perform this mission flawlessly."
That performance allows more than 1 billion GPS users around the world -- civilian pilots, farmers, stockbrokers, warfighters and many others -- to trust that they'll have access to precision navigation and timing whenever and wherever they need it.
Upon completion of the transition to AEP, the system will enter a multi-month operational evaluation period. Headquarters Air Force Space Command will accept this enhanced capability upon successful completion of the evaluation.
ORS: Doing space a different way
by Master Sgt. Kate Rust
Air Force Space Command Public Affairs
The space community will have to think differently and conduct its business differently to make operationally responsive space a success.
The goal of ORS is to provide joint force commanders space and space-related capabilities on orbit, quickly to meet urgent operational needs.
"The key piece of the puzzle is that in order for ORS to be successful, you have to have a significant amount of common infrastructure across the space community," said Col. John E. Hyten, director of Air Force Space Command Plans and Requirements, or A5.
While ORS is not strictly an Air Force initiative, AFSPC stands to be heavily involved, "leading the integration for standards."
Commonality between space agencies has proven to be difficult. There must be a clearly defined joint process for identifying and developing ORS requirements and capabilities; how they are integrated and deconflicted; and ways to create, follow and use common standards.
"If we don't have set standards that we can all sign up to," said Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, AFSPC commander, "then we'll wind up with unique satellites that require unique buses (subsystems) that require unique interfaces to unique boosters. It will take months and years to provide space effects to the warfighter as opposed to weeks."
Congress mandated ORS with the passage of the Warner Act of 2007. Representatives from around the entire space community met Aug. 28 to discuss how the new, joint ORS office, at Kirtland AFB, N.M., will work to deliver timely and relevant combat effects to joint force commanders. Space community representatives will meet again in the next few weeks to preserve momentum and ensure they start on the right foot for fiscal year 2008.
The ORS concept is not intended as a replacement for larger satellite constellations. ORS solutions will supplement them.
"The satellite constellations we operate provide a global service," said Colonel Hyten, "but they have some weaknesses that AFSPC would like to augment.
"For the most part, we know how to build small satellites (for ORS)," he said. "What we haven't solved is the common infrastructure and the quick, cheap access-to-space problem for an operationally responsive launch. I know the ORS office will put a lot of its efforts into trying to solve these issues."
AFSPC has a tremendous record of success - 51 consecutive successful operational launches in a row. To do that, the space enterprise has very rigorous policies, standards, checks and balances, and those will not change.
"There is no guarantee of success as we forge ahead with this initiative," said Colonel Hyten. "This is a very difficult endeavor that pushes the envelope. Eventually, we are going to have ORS capabilities. Is it going to be in the next two, the next five or the next 10 years? I don't know, but eventually we will have the breakthrough in access to space. That will allow ORS to be a very effective way of doing business."
General Chilton's mandate is to do it right from the very beginning, Colonel Hyten stated.
"Don't just do experimentation for the sake of experimentation," the colonel said. "Build it to deliver operational effectiveness to the joint force commanders.
"Congress has given us an opportunity," he said, "but to succeed, we need to do business in a different way."
Air Force Space Command Public Affairs
The space community will have to think differently and conduct its business differently to make operationally responsive space a success.
The goal of ORS is to provide joint force commanders space and space-related capabilities on orbit, quickly to meet urgent operational needs.
"The key piece of the puzzle is that in order for ORS to be successful, you have to have a significant amount of common infrastructure across the space community," said Col. John E. Hyten, director of Air Force Space Command Plans and Requirements, or A5.
While ORS is not strictly an Air Force initiative, AFSPC stands to be heavily involved, "leading the integration for standards."
Commonality between space agencies has proven to be difficult. There must be a clearly defined joint process for identifying and developing ORS requirements and capabilities; how they are integrated and deconflicted; and ways to create, follow and use common standards.
"If we don't have set standards that we can all sign up to," said Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, AFSPC commander, "then we'll wind up with unique satellites that require unique buses (subsystems) that require unique interfaces to unique boosters. It will take months and years to provide space effects to the warfighter as opposed to weeks."
Congress mandated ORS with the passage of the Warner Act of 2007. Representatives from around the entire space community met Aug. 28 to discuss how the new, joint ORS office, at Kirtland AFB, N.M., will work to deliver timely and relevant combat effects to joint force commanders. Space community representatives will meet again in the next few weeks to preserve momentum and ensure they start on the right foot for fiscal year 2008.
The ORS concept is not intended as a replacement for larger satellite constellations. ORS solutions will supplement them.
"The satellite constellations we operate provide a global service," said Colonel Hyten, "but they have some weaknesses that AFSPC would like to augment.
"For the most part, we know how to build small satellites (for ORS)," he said. "What we haven't solved is the common infrastructure and the quick, cheap access-to-space problem for an operationally responsive launch. I know the ORS office will put a lot of its efforts into trying to solve these issues."
AFSPC has a tremendous record of success - 51 consecutive successful operational launches in a row. To do that, the space enterprise has very rigorous policies, standards, checks and balances, and those will not change.
"There is no guarantee of success as we forge ahead with this initiative," said Colonel Hyten. "This is a very difficult endeavor that pushes the envelope. Eventually, we are going to have ORS capabilities. Is it going to be in the next two, the next five or the next 10 years? I don't know, but eventually we will have the breakthrough in access to space. That will allow ORS to be a very effective way of doing business."
General Chilton's mandate is to do it right from the very beginning, Colonel Hyten stated.
"Don't just do experimentation for the sake of experimentation," the colonel said. "Build it to deliver operational effectiveness to the joint force commanders.
"Congress has given us an opportunity," he said, "but to succeed, we need to do business in a different way."
Friday, September 21, 2007
USAREUR Announces Closures in Fiscal Year 08
HEIDELBERG, Germany— The U.S. Army, Europe will convert, inactivate and relocate numerous units within Germany in FY 2008 (which starts October 1, 2007) to support Army transformation and the Department of Defense's overall plan to increase strategic responsiveness in the face of threats posed by the Global War on Terrorism.
USAREUR will continue transformation and move closer to our end-state enduring Main Operating Bases by restructuring Army Air Defense assets, inactivating a military intelligence brigade headquarters, and completing the Combat Service Support (CSS) restructure plans initiated in FY 07 including modularizing finance and medical units. As a result of these unit actions there will be a reduction of approximately 1,720 Soldiers, 3,300 family members, 480 U.S. civilians and 530 local national civilians in Germany. In Italy the U.S. Army population will decrease by approximately 62 Soldiers and 93 family members. Numbers reflect the total personnel associated with the units and organizations in this announcement. The impact on both military and civilian personnel will vary, based on the disposition of their units and the status of individual Soldiers and employees. Also, the number of Soldiers reflects authorized positions, while the number of civilians is actual strengths.
Air Defense Artillery Force
• USAREUR Air and Missile Defense Detachment activates in Heidelberg.
• Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (ADA BDE), Wuerzburg, returns to the Continental United States.
• A, B, C, Headquarters and Service batteries from 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Hanau, relocate to Kaiserslautern.
• D Battery, 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Ansbach, relocates to Kaiserslautern.
Military Intelligence - Military Intelligence actions set the conditions for conversion to a Military Intelligence Brigade (MIB) in FY09.
• HHC, 205th MI Brigade, Wiesbaden, inactivates in FY08.
• HHC, 66th MI Group, Darmstadt, relocates to Wiesbaden.
FY08 2-2-2
Personnel Services
• HHC, 1st Personnel Command, Schwetzingen, inactivates.
• 139th Postal Company, Hanau, inactivates.
• 1st Platoon, 139th Postal Company, Wiesbaden, reflags as 3rd Platoon, 147th Postal Company.
• 2nd Platoon, 139th Postal Company, Hanau, inactivates.
Finance Command
• HHC, 266th Finance Command, Schwetzingen, converts to the 266th Financial Management Center and moves to Kaiserslautern.
• HHD, 208th Finance Battalion, Mannheim, converts to the 208th Financial Management Company.
• HHD, 8th Finance Battalion, Baumholder, inactivates.
Medical Services
• 30th Medical Brigade, Heidelberg, converts to the Medical Command (Deployment Support).
• 133rd Medical Detachment (Preventive Medicine, Sanitation), Hanau, inactivates.
• 255th Medical Det. (Preventive Medicine, Entomology), Grafenwoehr, converts to a modular structure.
• 71st Medical Det. (Preventive Medicine), Grafenwoehr, converts to a modular structure.
• 254th Medical Det. (Combat Support), Kaiserslautern, converts to a modular structure.
• U.S. Army Veterinary Treatment Facility Darmstadt, Griesheim, closes.
• North European Veterinary District Headquarters, Darmstadt, will transfer to Kaiserslautern.
• U.S. Army Health Clinic Darmstadt closes.
• U.S. Army Dental Clinic Darmstadt closes.
• U.S. Army Health Clinic Hanau closes.
• U. S. Army Dental Clinic Hanau closes.
• U.S. Army Veterinary Treatment Facility Hanau, closes.
• U.S. Army Health Clinic Buedingen closes.
• U.S. Army Dental Clinic Buedingen closes.
• U.S. Army Health Clinic Wuerzburg closes. The Command and Control element of the medical activity, the staff headquarters positions responsible for day to day oversight of health care clinic operations, relocates to Grafenwoehr.
• U.S. Army Dental Clinic Wuerzburg at Leighton Barracks closes.
• U.S. Army Dental Clinic Wuerzburg at Hospital Kaserne closes. The Command and Control element of the dental activity, the staff headquarters positions responsible for day to day oversight of health care clinic operations, relocates to Grafenwoehr.
• U.S. Army Veterinary Treatment Facility Wuerzburg, closes.
Combat Support Units
• 502nd Engineer Co., Hanau, returns to CONUS.
FY08 3-3-3
Military Police Units – return to CONUS
• HQ 127th MP Co., Hanau.
• 1st Platoon, 127th MP Co., Hanau.
• 2nd Platoon, 127th MP Co., Baumholder.
• 3rd Platoon, 127th MP Co., Darmstadt.
• HQ 13th MP Co., Vicenza.
• 2nd Platoon, 13th MP Co., Vicenza.
• 1st Platoon, 92nd MP Co., Hanau.
• 3rd Platoon, 92nd MP Co., Darmstadt.
• 95th MP Military Working Dog Team, Hanau.
• 95th MP MWD Team (K9), Darmstadt.
Combat Service Support Units
• 512th Maintenance Co, Mannheim, inactivates.
• 618th Transportation Det., Kaiserslautern, inactivates.
• 596th Maintenance Co., Darmstadt, inactivates.
• 515th Transportation Co., Mannheim, relocates to Grafenwoehr.
• 663rd Transportation Det., USA Reserve, Vicenza, inactivates.
• 2143rd Equipment Maintenance Center, Kaiserslautern, inactivates.
U.S. Army Garrisons
• USAG Schweinfurt – Sub-community Wuerzburg inactivates.
• Leighton Barracks and Hospital Kaserne in Wuerzburg scheduled to close by end of FY08.
• USAG Hessen, Hanau, inactivates.
• USAG Darmstadt inactivates.
Other Unit Actions
• Stars and Stripes HQ Europe, Darmstadt, relocates to Kaiserslautern.
• Darmstadt Training Support Center inactivates.
• Hanau Regional Training Support Center closes.
• General Support Center Roedelheim relocates to Grafenwoehr pending facility availability.
• All remaining ranges and training areas in affected communities will also close
• Hanau and Darmstadt community legal centers close.
• American Forces Network Wuerzburg ceases operation.
USAREUR will continue transformation and move closer to our end-state enduring Main Operating Bases by restructuring Army Air Defense assets, inactivating a military intelligence brigade headquarters, and completing the Combat Service Support (CSS) restructure plans initiated in FY 07 including modularizing finance and medical units. As a result of these unit actions there will be a reduction of approximately 1,720 Soldiers, 3,300 family members, 480 U.S. civilians and 530 local national civilians in Germany. In Italy the U.S. Army population will decrease by approximately 62 Soldiers and 93 family members. Numbers reflect the total personnel associated with the units and organizations in this announcement. The impact on both military and civilian personnel will vary, based on the disposition of their units and the status of individual Soldiers and employees. Also, the number of Soldiers reflects authorized positions, while the number of civilians is actual strengths.
Air Defense Artillery Force
• USAREUR Air and Missile Defense Detachment activates in Heidelberg.
• Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (ADA BDE), Wuerzburg, returns to the Continental United States.
• A, B, C, Headquarters and Service batteries from 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Hanau, relocate to Kaiserslautern.
• D Battery, 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Ansbach, relocates to Kaiserslautern.
Military Intelligence - Military Intelligence actions set the conditions for conversion to a Military Intelligence Brigade (MIB) in FY09.
• HHC, 205th MI Brigade, Wiesbaden, inactivates in FY08.
• HHC, 66th MI Group, Darmstadt, relocates to Wiesbaden.
FY08 2-2-2
Personnel Services
• HHC, 1st Personnel Command, Schwetzingen, inactivates.
• 139th Postal Company, Hanau, inactivates.
• 1st Platoon, 139th Postal Company, Wiesbaden, reflags as 3rd Platoon, 147th Postal Company.
• 2nd Platoon, 139th Postal Company, Hanau, inactivates.
Finance Command
• HHC, 266th Finance Command, Schwetzingen, converts to the 266th Financial Management Center and moves to Kaiserslautern.
• HHD, 208th Finance Battalion, Mannheim, converts to the 208th Financial Management Company.
• HHD, 8th Finance Battalion, Baumholder, inactivates.
Medical Services
• 30th Medical Brigade, Heidelberg, converts to the Medical Command (Deployment Support).
• 133rd Medical Detachment (Preventive Medicine, Sanitation), Hanau, inactivates.
• 255th Medical Det. (Preventive Medicine, Entomology), Grafenwoehr, converts to a modular structure.
• 71st Medical Det. (Preventive Medicine), Grafenwoehr, converts to a modular structure.
• 254th Medical Det. (Combat Support), Kaiserslautern, converts to a modular structure.
• U.S. Army Veterinary Treatment Facility Darmstadt, Griesheim, closes.
• North European Veterinary District Headquarters, Darmstadt, will transfer to Kaiserslautern.
• U.S. Army Health Clinic Darmstadt closes.
• U.S. Army Dental Clinic Darmstadt closes.
• U.S. Army Health Clinic Hanau closes.
• U. S. Army Dental Clinic Hanau closes.
• U.S. Army Veterinary Treatment Facility Hanau, closes.
• U.S. Army Health Clinic Buedingen closes.
• U.S. Army Dental Clinic Buedingen closes.
• U.S. Army Health Clinic Wuerzburg closes. The Command and Control element of the medical activity, the staff headquarters positions responsible for day to day oversight of health care clinic operations, relocates to Grafenwoehr.
• U.S. Army Dental Clinic Wuerzburg at Leighton Barracks closes.
• U.S. Army Dental Clinic Wuerzburg at Hospital Kaserne closes. The Command and Control element of the dental activity, the staff headquarters positions responsible for day to day oversight of health care clinic operations, relocates to Grafenwoehr.
• U.S. Army Veterinary Treatment Facility Wuerzburg, closes.
Combat Support Units
• 502nd Engineer Co., Hanau, returns to CONUS.
FY08 3-3-3
Military Police Units – return to CONUS
• HQ 127th MP Co., Hanau.
• 1st Platoon, 127th MP Co., Hanau.
• 2nd Platoon, 127th MP Co., Baumholder.
• 3rd Platoon, 127th MP Co., Darmstadt.
• HQ 13th MP Co., Vicenza.
• 2nd Platoon, 13th MP Co., Vicenza.
• 1st Platoon, 92nd MP Co., Hanau.
• 3rd Platoon, 92nd MP Co., Darmstadt.
• 95th MP Military Working Dog Team, Hanau.
• 95th MP MWD Team (K9), Darmstadt.
Combat Service Support Units
• 512th Maintenance Co, Mannheim, inactivates.
• 618th Transportation Det., Kaiserslautern, inactivates.
• 596th Maintenance Co., Darmstadt, inactivates.
• 515th Transportation Co., Mannheim, relocates to Grafenwoehr.
• 663rd Transportation Det., USA Reserve, Vicenza, inactivates.
• 2143rd Equipment Maintenance Center, Kaiserslautern, inactivates.
U.S. Army Garrisons
• USAG Schweinfurt – Sub-community Wuerzburg inactivates.
• Leighton Barracks and Hospital Kaserne in Wuerzburg scheduled to close by end of FY08.
• USAG Hessen, Hanau, inactivates.
• USAG Darmstadt inactivates.
Other Unit Actions
• Stars and Stripes HQ Europe, Darmstadt, relocates to Kaiserslautern.
• Darmstadt Training Support Center inactivates.
• Hanau Regional Training Support Center closes.
• General Support Center Roedelheim relocates to Grafenwoehr pending facility availability.
• All remaining ranges and training areas in affected communities will also close
• Hanau and Darmstadt community legal centers close.
• American Forces Network Wuerzburg ceases operation.
After 30 years, C-130s leave Michigan air base
Thanks to OhioScan and several others for this pieceAfter more than 30 years of service in Michigan, a venerable military cargo plane is departing the Motor City.
As part of a major nationwide military reorganization, the C-130 Hercules cargo plane is leaving Selfridge Air National Guard Base, just outside Detroit. Air Force Reserve and/or Michigan Air National Guard crews have been flying the plane at the base since 1971.
"We have done everything a C-130 can do in just about every place around the world," said Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Liggins, a flight engineer who works has been working as part of an air crew on on the plane at Selfridge since 1994. "There is no mission in the C-130 that we have not been a part of."
At a going-away party for the aircraft, Liggins ticked off the countries Selfridge C-130s have served in: Bosnia, Panama, Honduras, various spots across Africa and, of course, Afghanistan and Iraq. Half of the Selfridge squadron's C-130 spent the last six months of 2006 supporting the Army and Allied forces in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The change in operations at Selfridge is a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) plan to streamline the nation's military operations. As part of that plan, an Air Force Reserve unit, the 927th Air Refueling Wing, is leaving Selfridge to be re-assigned to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla.
The Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Wing is moving from flying C-130 and F-16 Falcon fighter jets to flying KC-135 Stratotanker refuelers and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft.
The KC-135s will start arriving at Selfridge later this year from an Air Force Reserve unit at Beale AFB, Calif. An exact timeline on the move from F-16s to A-10s has not yet been announced, but Congress enacted a law requiring all BRAC changes to be implemented by the end of 2009.
The last C-130 is expected to depart Selfridge on or about today.
Maj. Gen. Thomas Cutler, a C-130 pilot who is the adjutant general of the Michigan Air National Guard, said the aircraft and its crews have served the nation and its home state well for more than three decades. Cutler said the aircraft's most shining moment came two years ago when pilots and crews from the 127th responded in C-130s to carry aid to victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Louisiana area in 2005. "As I watched our aircraft and our people perform supporting our own citizens here at home, I was as proud as I have ever been," Cutler said at the retirement ceremony on Sept. 9 at Selfridge. "With the transition to the KC-135, there will be a new aircraft, a new mission, but it will be the same people performing that mission," Cutler said. "I am confident you will do it just as well as you always have."
Col. Mike Thomas is a veteran of the C-130 at Selfridge. Currently, he is the commander of the 127th Airlift Group which has been flying the Hercules. He soon will be the commander of the 127th Air Refueling Group, flying KC-135s. More than 30 years ago, as a young pilot, he flew C-130s at Selfridge as part of the base's original C-130 unit, the Air Force Reserve's 305th Air Rescue Squadron. He's been with the plane at the base ever since.
Thomas said the 127th is scheduled to receive eight KC-135s and to be fully mission ready in 2008. He said the potential exists that the base could eventually have as many as 12 or 13 of the aircraft in the future.
The change in aircraft means a return trip to pilot training for Capt. Leah Voelker, who has been flying C-130s at Selfridge since 2001. Voelker leaves soon for four-and-a-half months of training to be qualified as a pilot in the KC-135. "It is a different aircraft with a different set of parameters that we need to learn," she said. "It's a new challenge for us."
Liggins, who has been in the Air Force for 21 years, worked on the electronics systems on F-4s and F-16s prior to becoming a flight engineer on C-130s. Later this year, he will go to an Air Force school for several months to be trained to work as an in-flight refueling technician on the KC-135. Asked about the change, he paused and looked at the last Hercules parked outside a hangar at Selfridge. "The C-130 has been home. It's a big shift, a big challenge to reach a new level of proficiency. I'm looking forward to a different mission, a different opportunity, but I am going to miss the C-130," he said.
In addition to the aircraft changes, U.S. Army Garrison-Detroit is leaving Selfridge, leaving several hundred acres of property on the base unused. A developer is expected to be named later in September to develop a plan for the excess property, which includes several hundred feet of frontage on Lake St. Clair.
Other BRAC changes in the Detroit area include a residential area in Macomb County's Chesterfield Township, near the base, that had been used for military housing and is now vacant. The township is working with the federal government to re-develop the property.
At the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, where the Army develops advanced tanks, vehicles, fuels and other technology and has the logistical management center for virtually all of its equipment, the government is adding about 1,000 positions to the installation's 4,000-member work force as it transfers some work from its Rock Island, Illinois, arsenal to the Warren location.
MD Guard Vigilant in Homeland Defense Exercise
BY Maj. Kristine Henry, Maryland National Guard
Members of the 32nd Civil Support Team of the Maryland National Guard suit up to perform simulated hazardous material recovery operations during Exercise Vigilant Guard in downtown Baltimore. (Photo by Maryland National Guard)
BALTIMORE (Maryland National Guard, Sept. 19, 2007) - Soldiers of the Maryland National Guard's 115th Military Police Battalion were among the first troops securing the scene at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and six years later, some of these same Soldiers are fully engaged in a homeland defense exercise aimed at preparing for a potential repeat of that day's events - training they hope never to use.
It's called Exercise Vigilant Guard, and it's an annual training exercise sponsored by the National Guard Bureau at locations across the country. One such exercise took place in Maryland Sept. 5-7.
"Exercises such as Vigilant Guard ensure the National Guard is as prepared as possible in order to respond to any contingency that may occur," said Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill, the adjutant general of Maryland. "Having Soldiers and Airmen who are trained, equipped and ready for domestic emergencies is at the heart of the National Guard mission."
The terrorist attack scenario unfolded over the course of the three-day exercise. The first two days were played out on computer screens and communication equipment at the Joint Operations Center at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Md., primarily testing the Maryland Guard's ability to coordinate and interoperate with other state and local agencies.
Using simulated reports - "notional injects" in exercise parlance - from a variety of sources, the scenario unfolded. First a truck bomb collapsed a span of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge during rush hour traffic. Next, a bomb exploded on a rail line, derailing a train near the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. As public concern spread, traffic approached gridlock and telephone lines become overwhelmed. Suspected terrorists next fired an anti-tank rocket at a train in downtown Baltimore, followed by a shoot-out with city police who found a suspicious white powder in their vehicle near the M&T Bank Stadium.
With local responders overwhelmed, the situation became serious enough to require military assistance, and Gov. Martin O'Malley called out the National Guard.
The third day of events was no longer just notional; it was full of action as National Guard troops, Baltimore City Police Department, Baltimore City Fire Department and other local first responders swung into action and actually implemented their response in downtown Baltimore.
A cloud of debris rose from a parking lot in downtown Baltimore as Maryland National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters landed near the stadium and began to disperse Soldiers from the 115th Military Police Battalion's Initial Reaction Force. Soon the Guardsman had assessed the situation and deployed their forces, setting up checkpoints and patrolling the streets.
Meanwhile, Soldiers and Airmen of 32nd Civil Support Team, who specialize in detecting nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, donned blue HAZMAT suits and attempted to analyze materials at the scene.
For added realism, the whole operation was under the scrutiny of "mock media" - reporters and news cameramen played by members of the Maryland National Guard and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.
As the military police and HAZMAT teams worked to contain the situation, members of the 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment and the 175th Wing formed a Joint Media Operations Center to respond to reporters' questions and increase the flow of information to a worried public.
In the end, the scene was secured and the threat identified.
More important, the goal of the exercise was achieved: to prepare for the worst. As Vigilant Guard came to a close, Col. Pete Hinz, the Joint Task Force commander, reflected on the overall intent of the exercise.
"Although this was a National Guard Bureau sponsored event, Vigilant Guard really encapsulated some of Gov. O'Malley's 12 Homeland Security Goals. Three of the main goals we exercised here today were interoperability among many of the first responders, hazardous material recovery and training, training, training," Col. Hinz said.
"We have learned a lot from this exercise and will use these lessons learned to continue to improve our homeland readiness here in Maryland."
Members of the 32nd Civil Support Team of the Maryland National Guard suit up to perform simulated hazardous material recovery operations during Exercise Vigilant Guard in downtown Baltimore. (Photo by Maryland National Guard) BALTIMORE (Maryland National Guard, Sept. 19, 2007) - Soldiers of the Maryland National Guard's 115th Military Police Battalion were among the first troops securing the scene at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and six years later, some of these same Soldiers are fully engaged in a homeland defense exercise aimed at preparing for a potential repeat of that day's events - training they hope never to use.
It's called Exercise Vigilant Guard, and it's an annual training exercise sponsored by the National Guard Bureau at locations across the country. One such exercise took place in Maryland Sept. 5-7.
"Exercises such as Vigilant Guard ensure the National Guard is as prepared as possible in order to respond to any contingency that may occur," said Maj. Gen. Bruce F. Tuxill, the adjutant general of Maryland. "Having Soldiers and Airmen who are trained, equipped and ready for domestic emergencies is at the heart of the National Guard mission."
The terrorist attack scenario unfolded over the course of the three-day exercise. The first two days were played out on computer screens and communication equipment at the Joint Operations Center at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation in Reisterstown, Md., primarily testing the Maryland Guard's ability to coordinate and interoperate with other state and local agencies.
Using simulated reports - "notional injects" in exercise parlance - from a variety of sources, the scenario unfolded. First a truck bomb collapsed a span of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge during rush hour traffic. Next, a bomb exploded on a rail line, derailing a train near the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. As public concern spread, traffic approached gridlock and telephone lines become overwhelmed. Suspected terrorists next fired an anti-tank rocket at a train in downtown Baltimore, followed by a shoot-out with city police who found a suspicious white powder in their vehicle near the M&T Bank Stadium.
With local responders overwhelmed, the situation became serious enough to require military assistance, and Gov. Martin O'Malley called out the National Guard.
The third day of events was no longer just notional; it was full of action as National Guard troops, Baltimore City Police Department, Baltimore City Fire Department and other local first responders swung into action and actually implemented their response in downtown Baltimore.
A cloud of debris rose from a parking lot in downtown Baltimore as Maryland National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters landed near the stadium and began to disperse Soldiers from the 115th Military Police Battalion's Initial Reaction Force. Soon the Guardsman had assessed the situation and deployed their forces, setting up checkpoints and patrolling the streets.
Meanwhile, Soldiers and Airmen of 32nd Civil Support Team, who specialize in detecting nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, donned blue HAZMAT suits and attempted to analyze materials at the scene.
For added realism, the whole operation was under the scrutiny of "mock media" - reporters and news cameramen played by members of the Maryland National Guard and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.
As the military police and HAZMAT teams worked to contain the situation, members of the 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment and the 175th Wing formed a Joint Media Operations Center to respond to reporters' questions and increase the flow of information to a worried public.
In the end, the scene was secured and the threat identified.
More important, the goal of the exercise was achieved: to prepare for the worst. As Vigilant Guard came to a close, Col. Pete Hinz, the Joint Task Force commander, reflected on the overall intent of the exercise.
"Although this was a National Guard Bureau sponsored event, Vigilant Guard really encapsulated some of Gov. O'Malley's 12 Homeland Security Goals. Three of the main goals we exercised here today were interoperability among many of the first responders, hazardous material recovery and training, training, training," Col. Hinz said.
"We have learned a lot from this exercise and will use these lessons learned to continue to improve our homeland readiness here in Maryland."
GW Jump Starts with Flight Deck Qualifications
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jennifer Apsey, USS George Washington Public Affairs
An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the "Puking Dogs" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143, lands on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman David Bach)
USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- After more than a year of silence on the flight deck, the roar of jet engines filled the air and rumbled throughout USS George Washington (CVN 73).
GW Sailors took the first step towards flight deck certification Sept. 18, 2007 when an F/A-18 Super Hornet from VFA-143 “Pukin’ Dogs” from Naval Air Station Oceana successfully made the first landing onboard.
“Flight operations are a very important part of getting flight deck-certified and getting our ship out there to defend our country,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class (AW) Joseph Dennison of Air Department’s V-0 Division. “Right now they are assessing the arresting gear personnel and the aircraft handling teams.”
The evolution required the hard work of many individuals from the ship’s Air Department and six attached squadrons. Sailors were busy throughout the day’s flight operations -- whether handling, refueling, or ensuring aircraft landed properly.
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 1st Class (AW) Marcus Burgess of Air Department’s V-2 division said GW Sailors were ready for the task at hand, as training and safety are a priority for the Sailors of Air Department.
“There were all kinds of training in preparation for flight certification,” Burgess said. “We did everything from flight deck drills to sending personnel to other carriers to get qualifications.”
During GW’s recent availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, several upgrades were implemented to assure flight deck landing safety. All five arresting gear engines were completely repaired from top to bottom and more than 1,000 maintenance actions were performed on flight deck equipment.
“The purchase cables used to catch the aircraft are good for 2,000 traps,” Burgess said. “We replace the cables once they reach the limit or when they are damaged beyond repair.”
Dennison said GW will perform more than 100 traps for carrier qualifications.
“It went fairly well for the first day,” Dennison said. “This underway period is a real big step in the history of GW.”
GW is currently underway performing carrier qualifications and flight deck certification the first step in preparation to relieve USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the "Puking Dogs" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143, launches off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington is undergoing carrier qualifications and flight deck certification in preparation for a homeport change to Yokosuka, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Phillip Pavlovich)
An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the "Puking Dogs" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143, lands on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman David Bach)USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- After more than a year of silence on the flight deck, the roar of jet engines filled the air and rumbled throughout USS George Washington (CVN 73).
GW Sailors took the first step towards flight deck certification Sept. 18, 2007 when an F/A-18 Super Hornet from VFA-143 “Pukin’ Dogs” from Naval Air Station Oceana successfully made the first landing onboard.
“Flight operations are a very important part of getting flight deck-certified and getting our ship out there to defend our country,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class (AW) Joseph Dennison of Air Department’s V-0 Division. “Right now they are assessing the arresting gear personnel and the aircraft handling teams.”
The evolution required the hard work of many individuals from the ship’s Air Department and six attached squadrons. Sailors were busy throughout the day’s flight operations -- whether handling, refueling, or ensuring aircraft landed properly.
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 1st Class (AW) Marcus Burgess of Air Department’s V-2 division said GW Sailors were ready for the task at hand, as training and safety are a priority for the Sailors of Air Department.
“There were all kinds of training in preparation for flight certification,” Burgess said. “We did everything from flight deck drills to sending personnel to other carriers to get qualifications.”
During GW’s recent availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, several upgrades were implemented to assure flight deck landing safety. All five arresting gear engines were completely repaired from top to bottom and more than 1,000 maintenance actions were performed on flight deck equipment.
“The purchase cables used to catch the aircraft are good for 2,000 traps,” Burgess said. “We replace the cables once they reach the limit or when they are damaged beyond repair.”
Dennison said GW will perform more than 100 traps for carrier qualifications.
“It went fairly well for the first day,” Dennison said. “This underway period is a real big step in the history of GW.”
GW is currently underway performing carrier qualifications and flight deck certification the first step in preparation to relieve USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as the Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the "Puking Dogs" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 143, launches off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington is undergoing carrier qualifications and flight deck certification in preparation for a homeport change to Yokosuka, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Phillip Pavlovich)
Russian Space Forces Launch Navsat - Update
The Russian Space Forces launched a Parus military navigation on 11 Sep 2007 at 1305 UTC from Plesetsk Space Complex (LC132 Pad 1). Name: Cosmos 2429
International Designator: 2007-038A
SSC #: 32052
Mission: Military Navsat - Parus type
Launch Date/Time: 11 Sep 2007/1305 UTC
Launcher: SL-08/C-1, Kosmos-3M
Orbital Period: 104.63 minutes
Orbital Inclination: 82.98 degress
Apogee: 999 kM
Perigee: 956 kM
Eccentricty: 0.0029585
Downlinks: 150.030 MHz (FM FSK) and 400.080 MHz
The Tsyklon series was followed by the fully operational "Tsyklon-B" or "Parus" system. Unlike the wildly varying Transit satellites, the Tsyklon and Parus satellites had similar configurations. Both are in the form of a drum covered with solar cells, with a weighted mast on top for gravity-gradient stabilization, and a what appears to have been an antenna hung off one side near the bottom. They are all launched from the Plesetsk Northern Cosmodrome by the standard Soviet Kosmos 3M medium-lift booster, one satellite per shot, though a few did include small secondary payloads. The developed Parus satellites had a launch weight of about 810 kilograms (1,785 pounds), and were placed into a near-circular orbit of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) at a near-polar inclination of 83 degrees.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Mitscher Returns from Deployment in South America
The guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) returned to her homeport at Naval Station Norfolk Sept. 18 after a six-month deployment in support of Partnership of the Americas (POA). POA is a U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command deployment designed to support Southern Command responsibilities by focusing on enhancing relationships with regional partner nations through a variety of exercises at sea and on shore.
Exercise Neptune Warrior 07/Sky Lance Has Begun
Note: For Milcom Monitoring Post readers in Europe, this exercise should afford you and excellent opportunity to monitor the UK RN/RAF and TASCOMM radio systems on HF. Drop me a line and let me know what you are hearing.
The UK’s largest maritime training course and a major air exercise are being brought together beneath, on and above the waters of the majority of the UK for the first time later this month (17-28 September 2007).
Neptune Warrior, a twice yearly Royal Navy and Royal Air Force run exercise, which qualifies British forces to work and fight in a task group this time will be coordinated and integrated with the RAF’s Exercise Sky Lance which aims to offer similarly aligned training.
The combined forces of Neptune Warrior and Sky Lance will feature a total of 17 warships and around 100 aircraft from the UK and eleven allied nations. The UK forces will be joined by forces from the United States, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada, Netherlands, Spain and Norway.
Both Neptune Warrior and Sky Lance will provide participants with a first class introduction to the problems they may encounter during the planning and execution of coalition operations with the lessons learned benefiting real-world missions.
Multi-national operations can be a significant challenge for the armed forces but are essential to practise interoperability, develop common operating procedures and to learn from each other. The English border regions and the highlands of Scotland provide a challenging environment to all participants in terms of topography, oceanography and, on occasion (!), adverse weather conditions.
From a maritime perspective participating ships, include the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates HMS Montrose, HMS Lancaster and HMS Westminster and four submarines.
In the air, Exercise Sky Lance will be executed across the whole of the UK with up to 100 aircraft participating per day; Harriers, Typhoons, Tornados and Hawks will make up the bulk of the RAF’s air input.
Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) provision will be made by both maritime patrol aircraft and other Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACs) aircraft and additional support will be provided by air-to-air refuelling assets such as Tristars and VC-10s.
The exercises will also benefit from the participation of land-based formations including Tactical Air Controllers, Artillery Spotters and RAF mobile convoys providing a variety of realistic targets for the many air operations planned.
The UK’s largest maritime training course and a major air exercise are being brought together beneath, on and above the waters of the majority of the UK for the first time later this month (17-28 September 2007).
Neptune Warrior, a twice yearly Royal Navy and Royal Air Force run exercise, which qualifies British forces to work and fight in a task group this time will be coordinated and integrated with the RAF’s Exercise Sky Lance which aims to offer similarly aligned training.
The combined forces of Neptune Warrior and Sky Lance will feature a total of 17 warships and around 100 aircraft from the UK and eleven allied nations. The UK forces will be joined by forces from the United States, France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada, Netherlands, Spain and Norway.
Both Neptune Warrior and Sky Lance will provide participants with a first class introduction to the problems they may encounter during the planning and execution of coalition operations with the lessons learned benefiting real-world missions.
Multi-national operations can be a significant challenge for the armed forces but are essential to practise interoperability, develop common operating procedures and to learn from each other. The English border regions and the highlands of Scotland provide a challenging environment to all participants in terms of topography, oceanography and, on occasion (!), adverse weather conditions.
From a maritime perspective participating ships, include the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates HMS Montrose, HMS Lancaster and HMS Westminster and four submarines.
In the air, Exercise Sky Lance will be executed across the whole of the UK with up to 100 aircraft participating per day; Harriers, Typhoons, Tornados and Hawks will make up the bulk of the RAF’s air input.
Intelligence, Surveillance, Targeting and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) provision will be made by both maritime patrol aircraft and other Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACs) aircraft and additional support will be provided by air-to-air refuelling assets such as Tristars and VC-10s.
The exercises will also benefit from the participation of land-based formations including Tactical Air Controllers, Artillery Spotters and RAF mobile convoys providing a variety of realistic targets for the many air operations planned.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Tarawa Conducting Unit Training Offshore SoCal
Navy and Marine Corps flight deck crewman await the landing of a CH-53D Super Stallion helicopter on board amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1). Tarawa is participating in a composite unit training exercise with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit off the coast of Southern California. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman David A. Brandenburg.
Peleliu Heading Home After Pacific Deployment
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Jason McKnight USS Peleliu Public Affairs
USS PELELIU, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Peleliu (LHA 5) and its embarked staff of international Pacific Partnership volunteers headed to its homeport of San Diego after a brief port visit in Pearl Harbor, Sept. 15.
The visit to Hawaii saw many civilian and military augmentees of this summer's four-month long humanitarian deployment disembark the ship to return to their homes and parent commands.
Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 31, based in Pearl Harbor, was one of those commands which made up the unique team of military and civilian professionals of Pacific Partnership.
"I was continually amazed, but not surprised, by the passion these people displayed during this mission," said Capt. Bruce Stewart, DESRON-31 and mission commander for Pacific Partnership. "Every challenge which came up was overcome by their perseverance and their dedication to helping complete every task, but more importantly, they always seemed to keep in mind our mission to help our host nations' people."
Peleliu's Commanding Officer, Capt. Ed Rhoades, echoed Stewart's assessment.
During a briefing welcoming friends and family members who embarked for a Tiger Cruise back to San Diego, Rhoades said he could not be prouder of the work and professionalism his crew had shown during deployment.
"I think you'll see what I mean as you cruise with us this next week," said Rhoades. "I am truly blessed to lead such a wonderful group of young men and women. They have truly gone above all expectations of job accomplishment this summer, and they continue to excel every day."
Peleliu, an amphibious assault ship, was deployed for the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s humanitarian mission and was manned and outfitted with Navy Seabees and their equipment. It embarked a much higher-than-normal number of doctors, nurses, and health professionals. Even an Army veterinarian was embarked.
Both military and non-governmental organization civilian volunteers augmented the crew for Pacific Partnership. By the end of the deployment, this group had a distinctly international flavor. Nations including Canada, Australia, India, Vietnam, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Japan, and Korea all sent representatives to be part of this mission of mercy.
Peleliu will return to homeport later in September and, after a post-overseas movement standdown, will commence training for its next scheduled deployment.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Latest Army Vessel Honors Black American Hero
By Steve Harding (Harding is managing editor for "Soldiers" magazine.)
The logistics support vessel Major General Robert Smalls (LSV-8) — the first Army vessel named for an African American — was inducted into the Army’s watercraft fleet September 19, 2007, during a commissioning ceremony at Baltimore’s historic Inner Harbor.
The 314-foot long, 5,412-ton vessel officially joined the Army Reserve's 203rd Transportation Detachment as more than 300 guests looked on. Smalls is the second of two improved LSVs based on the six earlier Gen. Frank S. Besson-class vessels. Her sistership, Staff Sgt. Robert T. Kuroda, LSV-7, joined the Reserve's Honolulu-based 548th Trans. Det. in October 2006.
Among the dignitaries attending yesterday's commissioning were Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief of the Army Reserve; Maj. Gen. William Monk III, commander of the Reserve's 99th Regional Readiness Sustainment Command; Brig. Gen. James E. Chambers, the Army's chief of transportation; Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, who represents Maryland's 7th Congressional District; and Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina's 6th Congressional District.
Built by VT Halter Marine in Moss Point, Miss., and christened in April 2004, LSV-8 is named in honor of Robert Smalls. As a 23-year-old slave during the Civil War he commandeered a Confederate transport steamer loaded with armaments and used the vessel to spirit his wife, children and 12 other slaves to freedom. Hailed as a hero by Union leaders, Robert Smalls went on to become the first African-American to captain a vessel in U.S. service and later served as a major general in the South Carolina militia, a state legislator, a five-term member of the U.S. Congress and U.S. Collector of Customs in Beaufort, S.C.
That LSV-8 bears Maj. Gen. Smalls' name is due largely to the efforts of Kitt Haley Alexander, a writer and artist who spearheaded a seven-year effort to have an American military vessel named after the Civil War hero.
"I knew that this man deserved more recognition from this nation," she said, "and I first approached the Navy about naming a ship after him. After that didn't work out I ended up sitting near the Army's chief of military history at a social function and, after speaking with him later, he said that Robert Smalls' service in the militia might allow the Army to name a vessel after him." After a lengthy verification process, the Civil War hero was ultimately selected to give his name to the vessel.
Maj. Gen. Robert Smalls and the other seven LSVs currently in Army service are designed to provide worldwide transport of general and vehicular cargo. Fitted with huge bow and stern loading ramps, the ships each boast a 10,500-square-foot central cargo deck large enough to hold up to 24 M-1 Abrams main battle tanks.
The Kuroda and Smalls - launched in 2003 and 2004, respectively - are updated variants of the six earlier Besson-class LSVs and incorporate improved bow ramps, upgraded communication and navigation systems, and a host of other refinements.
The vessels in the Army's watercraft fleet range in size from small workboats to the LSVs, according to U.S. Army Transportation Corps officials. Army vessels have participated in each of the nation's conflicts since the Revolutionary War, and currently play a vital role in supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as participating in humanitarian-relief efforts in the Pacific and Caribbean.
"This is a tremendously capable vessel, and we're very fortunate to have such an asset in the Army and the Army Reserve," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Steven C. Brown, commander of the 203rd Trans. Det. and LSV-8's vessel master. "We've trained very hard to bring this ship into the Army's fleet, and this commissioning ceremony is a way of saying that Maj. Gen. Robert Smalls and her crew are ready to undertake their wartime missions."
"This is a great day, and one I will never forget," said Freddy Meyer, great great grandson of Maj. Gen. Smalls and one of many of the former slave's descendents on hand for the ceremony. "Maj. Gen. Smalls was a renaissance man - an educator, a politician, a Soldier, a businessman and a family man, and the Army could not have picked a better person to name this ship after."
Mr. Meyer and several other Smalls family members were aboard the vessel when she first arrived in Maryland, and had the opportunity to get to know many of the crewmembers.
"I know that these Soldiers will be an excellent crew for this great vessel," he said. "They're smart and professional, and they're very mindful of the kind of man Robert Smalls was, and what he stood for. This ship could not be in better hands."
The logistics support vessel Major General Robert Smalls (LSV-8) — the first Army vessel named for an African American — was inducted into the Army’s watercraft fleet September 19, 2007, during a commissioning ceremony at Baltimore’s historic Inner Harbor.The 314-foot long, 5,412-ton vessel officially joined the Army Reserve's 203rd Transportation Detachment as more than 300 guests looked on. Smalls is the second of two improved LSVs based on the six earlier Gen. Frank S. Besson-class vessels. Her sistership, Staff Sgt. Robert T. Kuroda, LSV-7, joined the Reserve's Honolulu-based 548th Trans. Det. in October 2006.
Among the dignitaries attending yesterday's commissioning were Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, chief of the Army Reserve; Maj. Gen. William Monk III, commander of the Reserve's 99th Regional Readiness Sustainment Command; Brig. Gen. James E. Chambers, the Army's chief of transportation; Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, who represents Maryland's 7th Congressional District; and Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina's 6th Congressional District.
Built by VT Halter Marine in Moss Point, Miss., and christened in April 2004, LSV-8 is named in honor of Robert Smalls. As a 23-year-old slave during the Civil War he commandeered a Confederate transport steamer loaded with armaments and used the vessel to spirit his wife, children and 12 other slaves to freedom. Hailed as a hero by Union leaders, Robert Smalls went on to become the first African-American to captain a vessel in U.S. service and later served as a major general in the South Carolina militia, a state legislator, a five-term member of the U.S. Congress and U.S. Collector of Customs in Beaufort, S.C.
That LSV-8 bears Maj. Gen. Smalls' name is due largely to the efforts of Kitt Haley Alexander, a writer and artist who spearheaded a seven-year effort to have an American military vessel named after the Civil War hero.
"I knew that this man deserved more recognition from this nation," she said, "and I first approached the Navy about naming a ship after him. After that didn't work out I ended up sitting near the Army's chief of military history at a social function and, after speaking with him later, he said that Robert Smalls' service in the militia might allow the Army to name a vessel after him." After a lengthy verification process, the Civil War hero was ultimately selected to give his name to the vessel.
Maj. Gen. Robert Smalls and the other seven LSVs currently in Army service are designed to provide worldwide transport of general and vehicular cargo. Fitted with huge bow and stern loading ramps, the ships each boast a 10,500-square-foot central cargo deck large enough to hold up to 24 M-1 Abrams main battle tanks.
The Kuroda and Smalls - launched in 2003 and 2004, respectively - are updated variants of the six earlier Besson-class LSVs and incorporate improved bow ramps, upgraded communication and navigation systems, and a host of other refinements.
The vessels in the Army's watercraft fleet range in size from small workboats to the LSVs, according to U.S. Army Transportation Corps officials. Army vessels have participated in each of the nation's conflicts since the Revolutionary War, and currently play a vital role in supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as participating in humanitarian-relief efforts in the Pacific and Caribbean.
"This is a tremendously capable vessel, and we're very fortunate to have such an asset in the Army and the Army Reserve," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Steven C. Brown, commander of the 203rd Trans. Det. and LSV-8's vessel master. "We've trained very hard to bring this ship into the Army's fleet, and this commissioning ceremony is a way of saying that Maj. Gen. Robert Smalls and her crew are ready to undertake their wartime missions."
"This is a great day, and one I will never forget," said Freddy Meyer, great great grandson of Maj. Gen. Smalls and one of many of the former slave's descendents on hand for the ceremony. "Maj. Gen. Smalls was a renaissance man - an educator, a politician, a Soldier, a businessman and a family man, and the Army could not have picked a better person to name this ship after."
Mr. Meyer and several other Smalls family members were aboard the vessel when she first arrived in Maryland, and had the opportunity to get to know many of the crewmembers.
"I know that these Soldiers will be an excellent crew for this great vessel," he said. "They're smart and professional, and they're very mindful of the kind of man Robert Smalls was, and what he stood for. This ship could not be in better hands."
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Keep alert for Solid Curtain exercise
During the week of Sept. 17-20, 2007, all Naval bases and installations in the continental U. S. will be participating in the CFFC-directed and sponsored Exercise Solid Curtain 2007.
Solid Curtain 2007 has been developed to enhance the training and readiness of Naval security personnel and is a regularly scheduled exercise. It is not in response to any specific threat.
Disruptions to normal base operations will be limited; we do not intend to impact our ability to perform our normal mission operations. However, there will be times when the conduct of the exercise may cause increased traffic or delays in base access. Area residents may also see increased military activity associated with the exercise.
On Thursday, Sept. 20, 9-11 a.m. EDT, exercise events will drive all continental U.S. activities to increase their Force Protection Condition. This will involve stricter access restrictions, increased levels of security, and increased readiness. It is anticipated that this elevation in Force Protection Condition will be maintained for approximately 12-15 hours.
Solid Curtain 2007 has been developed to enhance the training and readiness of Naval security personnel and is a regularly scheduled exercise. It is not in response to any specific threat.
Disruptions to normal base operations will be limited; we do not intend to impact our ability to perform our normal mission operations. However, there will be times when the conduct of the exercise may cause increased traffic or delays in base access. Area residents may also see increased military activity associated with the exercise.
On Thursday, Sept. 20, 9-11 a.m. EDT, exercise events will drive all continental U.S. activities to increase their Force Protection Condition. This will involve stricter access restrictions, increased levels of security, and increased readiness. It is anticipated that this elevation in Force Protection Condition will be maintained for approximately 12-15 hours.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Russian EW satellite has drifted off station - EW system seriously degraded
Blog editor note: This is in my opinion is a serious military situation. I would say that the Russian satellite based EW network is no longer operational and its capability is the most degraded I have ever seen in recent memory. They can only view the US mainland for early warning of a land based ballistic attack for six hours day (via Cosmos 2414). They have no early warning capability of a sea-based missile launch or a missile launch from any other part of the world. This is a scarey situation now that the Strategic Forces is nearly blind to a missile attack. The orbital graphic below tells the tale of the tape.
I find it interesting that the Russians racheted up activity from their Long Range Air Forces four days prior to their moving the geostationary satellite below.
Background information below courtesy of the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces (RSNF) blog. This blog report does contain frequency information.
Click on picture for a better view.
Cosmos-2379, one of the two Russian early-warning satellites that appears to be operational, has drifted off its station at 24 degrees West in geosynchronous orbit. The satellite started drifting around August 17 and is drifting east, which may indicate that it is a controlled transfer to a different station. As of this morning the satellite was at 11 degrees East, so it hasn't reached the next closest early warning satellite geostationary orbital slot at 12 degress East.
An early warning satellite in the 24 degree west orbital slot can maintain 24-hour coverage of the U.S. territory. At the same time, reliability of that coverage is believed to be fairly low.
Cosmos-2379, launched in August 2001, is six years old (72 months), which is about the maximum operational life demonstrated by these satellites. So, it is quite possible that Cosmos-2379 has completed its mission. If 2379 is no longer operational that leaves only one operational early-warning satellite, Cosmos-2422, launched in July 2006, in a high earth orbit (Molniya).
The HEO satellite, Cosmos-2422, is in the position to observe launches from the U.S. territory for only about six hours a day.
The Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces blog posted on April 3, 2007:
Cosmos-2393 early-warning satellite ended its operations, bringing the number of active satellites in the space segment of the Russian early warning system down to two.
Cosmos-2393 (NORAD catalog number 27613) was launched on December 24, 2002, into a highly-elliptical orbit. It was a satellite of the 73D6 type, which are part of the US-KS early-warning system. Cosmos-2393 did not perform its regular orbit-correcting maneuver that was expected to take place in the first days of February 2007 (the last maneuver took place in November 2006). The life span of the satellite, about 50 month, is above the 40 months average for spacecraft of that type, indicating that it was a normal termination of the satellite mission.
After the Cosmos-2393 departure, the space-based segment of the Russian early-warning system is left with just two satellites - Cosmos-2422 (29260) on the highly-elliptical orbit and Cosmos-2379 (26892) on the geostationary orbit.
In 2007, the Space Forces are planning to launch a new US-KS satellite into the highly-elliptical orbit. The date of the launch has not been announced yet.
Russia, meanwhile, is working on a new space-based early-warning system, known as EKS.
The Commander of the Space Forces, Col.-General Vladimir Popovkin said on August 22, 2007, that Russia will begin tests of a "new orbital segment of the early-warning system" in two years.
As mentioned above, the new system might be known as "EKS" (the title reportedly stands for "Edinaya Kosmicheskaya Systema" or "Integrated Space System"). It was reportedly designed about 1999 or 2000 by the Energiya Corporation.
Details about the new system are scarce, but it would probably include satellites in highly-elliptical and geostationary orbits, just like the current system. Some reports indicate that in addition to detecting missile launches, satellites in the new system will provide a communication package for ballistic missiles, hence the "integrated space system" mention above.
At the same time, EKS it is not the only early-warning satellite project that has been proposed by Russian industry. A competing project was developed by the Lavochkin Design Bureau, which produced satellites of the US-KS and US-KMO systems. It appears, however, that they did not get an order for the new system.
Popovkin also admitted that the current space-based early-warning system does not provide continuous detection of missile launches. He disclosed that in 2007, the system was able to detect four ballistic missile launches (three of them Russian) and seven space launches.
The satellite deployed in the highly-elliptical orbit -- Cosmos-2422 (HEO, launched on July 21, 2006, NORAD catalog number 292600 -- is most likely a first-generation satellite of the 73D6 type that was built for the US-KS system (also known as Oko).
This system was designed to detect land based launches of ballistic missiles from U.S. territory and cannot detect missiles launched from sea platforms or other regions.
The geostationary Cosmos-2379 (GEO, 24 Aug 2001, 26892) is a newer satellite of the 71Kh6 type, which has the capability to detect missiles against Earth background. Satellites of this type were developed for the US-KMO system, which was supposed to provide global coverage. This system is not yet operational.
The early-warning satellites transmit information in real time tot he command center at Serpukhov-15 (near Kurilovo, Kaluga oblast). The information is processed there and transmitted to the command center of the 3rd Army in Solnechnogorsk. These Russian Oko EW satellites transmit downlinks at 2286.0, 2292.0, 2298.0 and 2304.0 MHz.
I find it interesting that the Russians racheted up activity from their Long Range Air Forces four days prior to their moving the geostationary satellite below.
Background information below courtesy of the Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces (RSNF) blog. This blog report does contain frequency information.
Click on picture for a better view.Cosmos-2379, one of the two Russian early-warning satellites that appears to be operational, has drifted off its station at 24 degrees West in geosynchronous orbit. The satellite started drifting around August 17 and is drifting east, which may indicate that it is a controlled transfer to a different station. As of this morning the satellite was at 11 degrees East, so it hasn't reached the next closest early warning satellite geostationary orbital slot at 12 degress East.
An early warning satellite in the 24 degree west orbital slot can maintain 24-hour coverage of the U.S. territory. At the same time, reliability of that coverage is believed to be fairly low.
Cosmos-2379, launched in August 2001, is six years old (72 months), which is about the maximum operational life demonstrated by these satellites. So, it is quite possible that Cosmos-2379 has completed its mission. If 2379 is no longer operational that leaves only one operational early-warning satellite, Cosmos-2422, launched in July 2006, in a high earth orbit (Molniya).
The HEO satellite, Cosmos-2422, is in the position to observe launches from the U.S. territory for only about six hours a day.
The Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces blog posted on April 3, 2007:
Cosmos-2393 early-warning satellite ended its operations, bringing the number of active satellites in the space segment of the Russian early warning system down to two.
Cosmos-2393 (NORAD catalog number 27613) was launched on December 24, 2002, into a highly-elliptical orbit. It was a satellite of the 73D6 type, which are part of the US-KS early-warning system. Cosmos-2393 did not perform its regular orbit-correcting maneuver that was expected to take place in the first days of February 2007 (the last maneuver took place in November 2006). The life span of the satellite, about 50 month, is above the 40 months average for spacecraft of that type, indicating that it was a normal termination of the satellite mission.
After the Cosmos-2393 departure, the space-based segment of the Russian early-warning system is left with just two satellites - Cosmos-2422 (29260) on the highly-elliptical orbit and Cosmos-2379 (26892) on the geostationary orbit.
In 2007, the Space Forces are planning to launch a new US-KS satellite into the highly-elliptical orbit. The date of the launch has not been announced yet.
Russia, meanwhile, is working on a new space-based early-warning system, known as EKS.
The Commander of the Space Forces, Col.-General Vladimir Popovkin said on August 22, 2007, that Russia will begin tests of a "new orbital segment of the early-warning system" in two years.
As mentioned above, the new system might be known as "EKS" (the title reportedly stands for "Edinaya Kosmicheskaya Systema" or "Integrated Space System"). It was reportedly designed about 1999 or 2000 by the Energiya Corporation.
Details about the new system are scarce, but it would probably include satellites in highly-elliptical and geostationary orbits, just like the current system. Some reports indicate that in addition to detecting missile launches, satellites in the new system will provide a communication package for ballistic missiles, hence the "integrated space system" mention above.
At the same time, EKS it is not the only early-warning satellite project that has been proposed by Russian industry. A competing project was developed by the Lavochkin Design Bureau, which produced satellites of the US-KS and US-KMO systems. It appears, however, that they did not get an order for the new system.
Popovkin also admitted that the current space-based early-warning system does not provide continuous detection of missile launches. He disclosed that in 2007, the system was able to detect four ballistic missile launches (three of them Russian) and seven space launches.
The satellite deployed in the highly-elliptical orbit -- Cosmos-2422 (HEO, launched on July 21, 2006, NORAD catalog number 292600 -- is most likely a first-generation satellite of the 73D6 type that was built for the US-KS system (also known as Oko).
This system was designed to detect land based launches of ballistic missiles from U.S. territory and cannot detect missiles launched from sea platforms or other regions.
The geostationary Cosmos-2379 (GEO, 24 Aug 2001, 26892) is a newer satellite of the 71Kh6 type, which has the capability to detect missiles against Earth background. Satellites of this type were developed for the US-KMO system, which was supposed to provide global coverage. This system is not yet operational.
The early-warning satellites transmit information in real time tot he command center at Serpukhov-15 (near Kurilovo, Kaluga oblast). The information is processed there and transmitted to the command center of the 3rd Army in Solnechnogorsk. These Russian Oko EW satellites transmit downlinks at 2286.0, 2292.0, 2298.0 and 2304.0 MHz.
USS Forrest Sherman Arrives in Comoros
By Gillian Brigham, Commander Naval Forces Europe Public Affairs
MORONI, Comoros (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) arrived off the coast of Moroni, Sept. 12 as the first U.S. Navy ship to visit the island nation in more than 30 years.
The country is made up of three islands situated in the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and the east coast of Africa. Sailing as part of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa’s newly established Southeast Africa Task Group CTG 60.5, Forrest Sherman is in the region to build partnerships and promote maritime safety and security initiatives.
“Being the first U.S. Navy ship to come to Comoros in 33 years is a unique and exciting experience for everyone aboard Forrest Sherman,” said Capt. Nicholas H. Holman, commander, CTG 60.5. “We are thrilled to be here and hope to forge strong relationships with the people and government of Comoros. Safe and secure oceans are the building block of long-term stability and economic development for every nation in the world.
"We look forward to partnering with Comoros and other countries in Southeast Africa to combat maritime security threats like piracy, unlawful fishing and smuggling.”
Forrest Sherman left her homeport in Norfolk July 9 and operated in the Black Sea and Tanzania before sailing to Comoros. While assigned to CTG 60.5, the ship will continue to operate in Southeast Africa, working to strengthen regional maritime partnerships.
Bataan Arrives at NNSY for Maintenance Availability
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Brian Anderson, USS Bataan Public Affairs
The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) arrived at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth to begin a scheduled eight-month dry-docked phased maintenance availability (DPMA) Sept. 5.
Under the early morning sun, the 45,000-ton warship was guided or “deadsticked,” by the power of tugboats from her homeport of Naval Station Norfolk up the Elizabeth River to the NNSY, where she will remain until May 2008.
The 844-foot Wasp-class ship will use dry dock No. 8 during her stay in the yards, making this the third time Bataan has entered an extended maintenance availability period since her christening in 1997.
“While in the yards, Bataan will receive upgrades and numerous overhauls to make it the best warfighting platform in her class,” said Bataan’s Repair Officer, Lt. Cmdr. David Wuestewald.
“One of the major jobs will be the fuel-oil stability modification. As fuel is consumed, sea water will take its place in the tanks, balancing the ship and creating a more stable platform for the aircraft that land on the flight deck. It is going to make us more mission-capable,” said Wuestewald.
A few select Sailors will be on Tiger Teams to assist with the repairs alongside contractors and shipyard workers.
“About one-tenth of the crew will be involved in improving the habitability of the ship,” said Wuestewald. “This includes painting and resurfacing decks, and upgrading the interior of the ship after the wear and tear Bataan has endured since the last yard period."
Safety will play a much bigger role now that the environment contains more moving parts and extra hazards.
“Several things make the shipyard environment much more dangerous than our normal pier-side configuration,” said Bataan’s Safety Officer Lt. Lawrence Behr. “We’ve had to adjust to a number of new potential safety hazards while in the dry dock, including fall and trip hazards and heat stress. The main thing for us all to remember is to use operational risk management and maintain situational awareness at all times.”
The maintenance availability follows a six-month regularly scheduled deployment Bataan completed in early July.
The multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) arrived at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth to begin a scheduled eight-month dry-docked phased maintenance availability (DPMA) Sept. 5.
Under the early morning sun, the 45,000-ton warship was guided or “deadsticked,” by the power of tugboats from her homeport of Naval Station Norfolk up the Elizabeth River to the NNSY, where she will remain until May 2008.
The 844-foot Wasp-class ship will use dry dock No. 8 during her stay in the yards, making this the third time Bataan has entered an extended maintenance availability period since her christening in 1997.
“While in the yards, Bataan will receive upgrades and numerous overhauls to make it the best warfighting platform in her class,” said Bataan’s Repair Officer, Lt. Cmdr. David Wuestewald.
“One of the major jobs will be the fuel-oil stability modification. As fuel is consumed, sea water will take its place in the tanks, balancing the ship and creating a more stable platform for the aircraft that land on the flight deck. It is going to make us more mission-capable,” said Wuestewald.
A few select Sailors will be on Tiger Teams to assist with the repairs alongside contractors and shipyard workers.
“About one-tenth of the crew will be involved in improving the habitability of the ship,” said Wuestewald. “This includes painting and resurfacing decks, and upgrading the interior of the ship after the wear and tear Bataan has endured since the last yard period."
Safety will play a much bigger role now that the environment contains more moving parts and extra hazards.
“Several things make the shipyard environment much more dangerous than our normal pier-side configuration,” said Bataan’s Safety Officer Lt. Lawrence Behr. “We’ve had to adjust to a number of new potential safety hazards while in the dry dock, including fall and trip hazards and heat stress. The main thing for us all to remember is to use operational risk management and maintain situational awareness at all times.”
The maintenance availability follows a six-month regularly scheduled deployment Bataan completed in early July.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
NPOESS Program Restructured
The Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced recently that they have restructured the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). This $4.2 billion modification of the Northrop Grumman Space Technology contract culminates a rigorous year long effort to re-plan virtually every aspect of the NPOESS program following its certification through the Nunn McCurdy process in 2006. The plan details the development and delivery of the system through initial production in the next decade.
This extensive re-planning was a joint effort between the three agencies, which comprise the NPOESS Integrated Program Office and Northrop Grumman Space Technology. The schedule delivers sensors to the NPOESS Preparatory Project to support a 2009 launch, and calls for the launch of the first NPOESS satellite in 2013.
The restructured contract puts in place a "back to basics" approach with management controls and reporting requirements which will ensure strict oversight of the contractor. The fee structure is now more objective through the inclusion of incentives for cost, schedule and technical performance.
"This is the most extensive and rigorous planning process I have ever witnessed," said Gary Davis, the Program Executive Officer for Environmental Satellites. "This restructured program will provide the meteorological community with the exceptional performance that they require to maintain the quality forecasting capability that the American public has come to expect."
NPOESS maintains the capability to restore sensors that were removed during the Nunn-McCurdy process, through sponsorship and cooperative agreements. The program has also been restructured to allow sufficient time for integration of the de-manifested sensors.
This extensive re-planning was a joint effort between the three agencies, which comprise the NPOESS Integrated Program Office and Northrop Grumman Space Technology. The schedule delivers sensors to the NPOESS Preparatory Project to support a 2009 launch, and calls for the launch of the first NPOESS satellite in 2013.
The restructured contract puts in place a "back to basics" approach with management controls and reporting requirements which will ensure strict oversight of the contractor. The fee structure is now more objective through the inclusion of incentives for cost, schedule and technical performance.
"This is the most extensive and rigorous planning process I have ever witnessed," said Gary Davis, the Program Executive Officer for Environmental Satellites. "This restructured program will provide the meteorological community with the exceptional performance that they require to maintain the quality forecasting capability that the American public has come to expect."
NPOESS maintains the capability to restore sensors that were removed during the Nunn-McCurdy process, through sponsorship and cooperative agreements. The program has also been restructured to allow sufficient time for integration of the de-manifested sensors.
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