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ESG 7 / CTF 76 News

Naval Beach Unit 7 Changes Command
June 1, 2021 — SASEBO, Japan (May 28, 2021) – Cmdr. Wilbur Hines assumed command of Naval Beach Unit (NBU) 7 from Cmdr. Kirk Sowers during a change of command ceremony in Sasebo, Japan, May 28. ... MORE

U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship hosts German Defense Minister
May 29, 2021 — The crew of Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) hosted Germany’s Defense Minister, who toured the ship while moored at Naval Base Guam, May 28.German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer spent the afternoon meeting with Charleston’s crew, discussing the shared U.S.-German interest of a free and open... MORE

210528-N-WU807-1015 APRA HARBOR, Guam (May 28, 2021) German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer arrives aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), May 28. Charleston, part of Destroyer Squadron Seven, is on a rotational deployment operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operation to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam Butler)

A unique mission at Sea
May 4, 2021 — Straight out of high school, a Mystic, Connecticut native joined the Air Force to explore new places, cultures, people, and ideas. Once assigned to the 3rd Operations Support Squadron as an intelligence analyst, Senior Airman Alexander Garrett received a once-in-a-lifetime deployment notification to support the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19). He was the only U.S. Air Force intelligence analyst on board. ... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Alexander Garrett poses for the camera on the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), departing Yokosuka, Japan. The Blue Ridge is responsible for patrolling and fostering relationships within the Indo-Pacific region. Garrett is the first intelligence analyst from the 3rd Wing to support the Blue Ridge.

U.S. Navy Reservists take the Watch
April 8, 2021 — Reserve personnel provide operational support to Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7, forward-deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations... MORE

Multinational Naval Forces Conduct Exercise La Perouse
April 6, 2021 — BAY OF BENGAL – USS Somerset (LPD 25) joins units from the Royal Australian Navy, French Navy, Indian Navy, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to participate in the third iteration of La Perouse, April 5, 2021... MORE

BAY OF BENGAL (April 5, 2021) Ships operate in the Bay of Bengal in support of exercise La Perouse 2021, April 5. La Perouse consists of naval assets from Australia, France, India, Japan and the United States. La Perouse is an exercise conducted during the annual French Navy midshipman deployment called Mission Jeanne d'Arc. The exercise is designed to conduct training, enhance cooperation in maritime surveillance, maritime interdiction operations, and air operations. As the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet employs 50-70 ships and submarines across the Western Pacific and Indian oceans. U.S. 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and
protect a free and open Indo-Pacific Region. (Photo courtesy asset by French Navy/Released)

Partner to Compete, Compete to Deter
March 11, 2021 — The Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the soldiers of the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force executed a bilateral raid at Kin Blue Beach and in the Central Training Area (CTA), Okinawa, Japan, Feb. 1, 2021. The 31st MEU routinely conducts bilateral training in order to increase interoperability with regional partners, and views the JGSDF as an important ally as we ‘partner to compete, and compete to deter’ in the Indo-Pacific region... MORE

31st MEU is operating aboard ships of the America Expeditionary Strike Group in the 7th fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Brandon Salas)

USS America conducts integrated operations with Japanese F-35s
October 25, 2020 — PACIFIC OCEAN - The first-in-class amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) participated in advanced combined operations with Japan this week in the western Pacific Ocean... MORE

F-35 Lightning II aircraft assigned to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force conduct integrated air operations with the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6).

Destroyer Squadrons 7 and 15 train together to sharpen Sea Combat Commander skills
October 17, 2020 — SOUTH CHINA SEA -- Through dynamic changes in 2020, the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet continues to operate at sea, enabling their two forward-deployed destroyer squadrons (DESRON) to practice advance tactics and procedures in surface and anti-submarine warfare.DESRON 7 staff embarked USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) to train alongside the Navy’s largest... MORE

From left, USS Germantown (LSD 42), USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194), USS Antietam (CG 54), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS America (LHA 6), USS Shiloh (CG 67), USS New Orleans (LPD 18), and USS Comstock (LSD 45) break away from formation in support of Valiant Shield 2020. Valiant Shield is a U.S. only, biennial field training exercise (FTX) with a focus on integration of joint training in a blue-water environment among U.S. forces. This training enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas.

USS Comstock Embarks Mark VI Patrol Boats and ExMCM for Maritime Security Operations
October 12, 2020 — USS Comstock (LSD 45) is underway after loading Mark VI patrol boats and expeditionary mine countermeasure (ExMCM) elements in Guam to integrate Navy expeditionary forces aboard the amphibious dock landing ship for a security patrol in the Philippine Sea. ... MORE

PB Mk VI 1206 assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 3 prepares to board the amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45), Oct. 4, 2020. Maritime Expeditionary Security Force and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Sailors assigned to Commander, Task Force 75 (CTF 75) embarked and are conducting integrated littoral maritime security operations from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) with the Marines and Sailors already deployed as Task Force Ellis from I Marine Expeditionary Force. PB Mk VI provides increased capabilities to amphibious warships and can operate directly in support of the Navy platform or independently in support of mission tasking. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Manuel A. Serrano)

III Marine Expeditionary Force, 7th Fleet Kick Off Joint Training Exercise Noble Fury:
October 7, 2020 — OKINAWA, Japan -- Noble Fury 21, a joint training exercise involving Marines and Sailors from III Marine Expeditionary Force and 7th Fleet is taking place Oct. 6 to Oct. 15, 2020 on Okinawa and other Japanese islands, including Iwo To.Noble Fury is part of ongoing joint III MEF-7th Fleet integrated training. The exercise improves both commands’... MORE