EOD Training and Evaluation Unit (TEU) TWO

Team,
Last Thursday I had the opportunity to visit Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit (EODTEU) TWO to observe and participate in several training exercises. EODTEU TWO is a specialized EOD training unit that provides advanced unit level and mobility skill training for our deploying forces.

One of the notable events of my visit was a combat demonstration in a fabricated indigenous village during which the EOD team disarmed and detained a hostile force before locating, neutralizing and safely disposing of an improvised explosive device. I also had the opportunity to ride with our Sailors in the MRAP-JERRV (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected - Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Rapid Response Vehicle) to the demolition range where I saw up close the meticulous effort that goes into detonating a live explosive.

Our EOD Sailors are currently serving in every major region in the world, including Afghanistan where they’re forward deployed and participating in direct combat operations every day. They are capable of clearing IEDs, unexploded ordnance, chemical and biological warfare agents, dirty bombs and underwater mines. Whether parachuting into a combat zone from 30,000 feet or diving to 300 feet to disarm mines in critical waterways, these highly skilled professionals are almost always “first in” to clear the way for combat operations.

Thanks again to the Sailors of EODTEU TWO for hosting me and showing me what you can do. I was very impressed by your dedication to your profession and commitment to your mission. You truly represent the very best of our Navy.
All the best, JCHjr

USS CONSTITUTION vs. HMS GUERRIERE

Team,
Today marks the 199th anniversary of the engagement between the frigates USS CONSTITUTION and HMS GUERRIERE.

On 2 August 1812, CONSTITUTION, under the command of a skillful and eager Navy Captain by the name of Isaac Hull, set out for a raiding cruise of British Merchant ships along the coast of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland before encountering the American privateer DECATUR whose Captain informed Hull that a British frigate could be found south of their position. Hull, itching for a fight, immediately fixed course for due south and went searching for the ship. The very next day at 1400 on 19 August, CONSTITUTION spotted a sail that turned out to be the HMS GUERRIERE.

Now, Hull was all too familiar with GUERRIERE. Just a month earlier and shortly after the outbreak of the war, CONSTITUTION was on her way to New York when she encountered a British squadron of five ships – a 64-gun ship of the line HMS AFRICA and four frigates, one of which was GUERRIERE. Clearly outnumbered, CONSTITUTION had no choice but to outmaneuver and outrun the British ships. Hull led the British ships on a three day chase and employed skillful tactics (such as towing and kedging) along the way to escape capture (thanks in large part to his First Lieutenant, Charles Morris)…but he was anything but content. The encounter left him eager for a fight, and this was his moment.

James Dacres, Captain of the GUERRIERE, was informed of CONSTITUTION’s pursuit and gave the order to drop sail to bring the Americans within firing range. CONSTITUTION was a much better built and equipped frigate but the British had a great tradition of ship-to-ship fighting at sea. Both crews were extremely confident in their abilities and their ships to fight and win this engagement.

At 1700, GUERRIERE commenced firing with her weather deck guns and then switched to her port broadsides, but all the shots either fell short or did little damage. The cannonballs struck but bounced off of CONSTITUTION’s 21-inch thick wooden hull, thus earning her the famous name “Old Ironsides” and vindicating Joshua Humphrey’s insistence on using the rarer and much more expensive southern live oak. CONSTITUTION returned fire during the first hour with her port guns, but also with little effect.

At 1800, precisely one hour after the first shots were fired, the ships maneuvered closer and within minutes they were within “pistol-shot” of each other. They furiously exchanged broadside shots until CONSTITUTION took out GUERRIERE’s mizzenmast and eliminated her ability to effectively maneuver. Hull took advantage of the situation and maneuvered around GUERRIERE’s bow to deliver two raking broadsides that took down her main yard. During the chaos of battle, the ships had maneuvered too closely and GUERRIERE’s bowsprit became entangled with CONSTITUTION’s mizzen rigging leaving the ships bound dangerously close to each another. Both ships prepared boarding parties as musket fire erupted from each side. Ironically, it was during this exchange that both ships took their greatest casualties. As the ships broke free from each other, GUERRIERE’s foremast and mainmast collapsed, and effectively left her dead in the water.

At 1900, as CONSTITUTION approached for round two, GUERRIERE fired a shot in the opposite direction to signal her desire to surrender and thus ended the first major naval engagement of the War of 1812.
Isaac Hull took GUERRIERE’s remaining crew of over 200 as prisoners, including her Captain, James Dacres. Ten impressed Americans were found among the GUERRIERE crew (impressments were one of the reasons we went to war with the British). Casualties onboard GUERRIERE were more than five times those on CONSTITUTION, even though CONSTITUTIONS crew was close to double in size. The next morning, when it was apparent that GUERRIERE was too damaged to be towed, she was burned and sunk. The victory over GUERRIERE gave a much-needed boost to American morale in the war. Although we were only two months into the war, we had already experienced setbacks with losses at Fort Mackinac, Fort Dearborn, and the surrender of Detroit (by General William Hull, who just happened to be the uncle of Isaac Hull). Despite the superior frigates of the U.S. Navy, it was the brilliant seamanship by her Captain and crew that brought victory to CONSTITUTION. There was a fighting spirit among her crew that was unmatched by the British navy.

This great single ship victory over what was considered the greatest strength of the much larger Royal Navy, along with the USS UNITED STATES’ capture of HMS MACEDONIAN and CONSTITUTION’s later victory over HMS JAVA, rocked the Royal Navy back on their heels, and demonstrated the superb fighting spirit of our Sailors and the superb fighting qualities of our ships.

All the best, JCHjr

USS CONSTITUTION fires a 21-gun salute

toward Fort Independence on

Castle Island during an underway to

celebrate the 213th launching

day anniversary of the ship.

E-2D Roll-out Ceremony

Team,

Last Thursday I attended a ceremony for the rollout of our Navy’s first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. The Advanced Hawkeye is our Navy’s latest version and fourth iteration of the E-2 Hawkeye – a carrier-based, multi-mission, all-weather airborne early warning and command and control aircraft. The E-2 has been the “eyes of the fleet” since it first entered service in 1964; and while the physical characteristics of the airframe have changed very little over the past 50 years, the E-2D features a complete upgrade to the communications and avionics systems that vastly expand the Hawkeye’s capabilities.

One such improvement, and probably the most distinctive feature of the E-2D, is the 24-foot rotodome (antenna) attached to the top of the aircraft. The rotodome does not get many points for style, but it is one of the most important components on the airplane as it now provides our flight operators with a continuous 360-degree scanning capability and the ability to focus in on specific areas of interest.

The APY-9 is the E-2D’s primary sensor and probably the most sophisticated system on the aircraft. It has a surveillance range 250% larger than the E-2C. This state-of-the-art radar provides surface detection up to 200 miles and air detection beyond 250 miles from the surface to 10,000 feet. These enhancements allow the E-2D to assume a range of new missions from blue water surveillance to providing theatre air and missile defense in the littorals (it’s the first aircraft to detect cruise missiles launched from land), and battle management and control over land.

The new Advanced Hawkeye was delivered to Airborne Early Warning Squadron ONE TWO ZERO (VAW 120) where the “Greyhawks” will now learn more about the aircraft to unlock its true potential before training other Sailors to fly and operate the new equipment.

Although the journey has just begun and there is still much to learn, this is a great moment for naval aviation that we can all be proud of. The E-2D is a real game changer for our Navy; indeed, there’s no doubt about it.

All the best, JCHjr

HSC-22 “Sea Knights” – The Importance of Flexibility

Team,

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO TWO (HSC-22) based out of NAS Chambers Field in Norfolk. The “Sea Knights” of HSC-22 are an outstanding group of Sailors. They fly the MH-60S helicopter and carry out numerous missions such as vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and anti-surface warfare. As with all my visits to our ships, submarines and squadrons, I was most impressed by the Sailors of HSC-22 and truly enjoyed spending time with them and learning more about their daily activities and what it really takes to get the job done.

One thing in particular that really struck me is the flexibility the Sea Knights have demonstrated in some of our most important and high profile missions. For example, in January of this year a detachment from HSC-22 embarked aboard USS BATAAN on less than 24 hours notice and deployed to Haiti to support the relief effort. In the early days of the operation, they flew nearly non-stop search and rescue missions and evacuated victims with life-threatening injuries. It was the Sea Knights that transported this little girl left abandoned in a box labeled “Don’t throw away” to medical care aboard the USNS COMFORT. As the situation in Haiti evolved, HSC-22 rapidly adapted and transitioned from SAR MEDEVAC duties to distributing relief supplies to Haitian communities. In the first month of operations alone, HSC-22 conducted 137 medical evacuations, delivered over 118,000 pounds of supplies and 85,000 pounds of food and water.

At the very same time the HSC-22 detachment was supporting the relief effort in Haiti, another HCS-22 detachment was embarked in USS FREEDOM (LCS-1) for her maiden deployment (over two years early) to the eastern Pacific. FREEDOM was in the middle of a vertical replenishment operation when she was notified that a drug runner was in the vicinity. The armed HSC-22 MH60S, immediately broke away to pursue the drug boat. When the drug boat refused to heed warning shots, the crew disabled the engines forcing the vessel to stop. FREEDOM’s crew arrived at the scene, boarded the vessel, arrested its crew and seized the contraband. To date, HSC-22 Det 2 and the crew of the USS FREEDOM have seized 3 “go-fast” drug boats and over $100 million in narcotics. These two examples – the Haiti relief operation and counter-narcotics operations – exemplify the sheer versatility of our platforms and our people.

Navy originally designed the MH-60S to perform two primary missions – troop transport and vertical replenishment. Now that we have more “run time” with the MH-60S, our people are unlocking the full potential of this very capable platform to meet our operational needs. Today, the MH-60 has been adapted to twelve missions, including an Armed Helo Kit capable of firing the Hellfire missile – a truly remarkable capability for this platform.

And this is what our Navy has done with each and every one of our platforms. Starting with our first six frigates, our people have adapted our ships, submarines and aircraft to accomplish their missions. For example, Navy originally designed the FFG during the 1970s to provide open-ocean escort of amphibious warfare ships and merchant ship convoys – a mission that they, in fact, have rarely executed. Instead, 35 years later, think about all of the missions those ships have executed that were not part of their original design – maritime interception, counter piracy, counter-drug, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, etc.

What HSC-22 is accomplishing with the MH-60S is what we have done in our past and what we must continue to do in our future. We design our platforms to accomplish a specific set of missions in an anticipated environment – we write a script for how we think the future will play out. When reality deviates from that script – as it always does – our people figure out how to adapt what they have to accomplish what they must.

HSC-22 represents what I believe is the key to our future – smart, well-trained and confident pilots, aircrew and maintainers adapting what they have to get the job done.

Thanks again to the Sea Knights of HSC-22 for the opportunity to visit and learn more about the impressive capabilities your squadron continues to bring to our Navy and our nation.
All the best, JCHjr

New Blog Format and Maintaining our Standards

Team,

I started this blog when I assumed command of US Fleet Forces Command because I wanted to get feedback from the deckplate on the current state of the fleet as well as different perspectives and ideas on particular topics.  I have been very happy with the comments you have provided me and your feedback has really helped shape my thinking.

Now that I am approaching my six month mark in command, I would like to change the format of this blog in a manner which I hope will benefit us both – but particularly increase what you get out of the time you devote to reading and responding to my posts.

For the past six months, I have asked questions that can pretty much be mapped to one or more of my three primary concerns as Commander, USFF: to provide forces ready for tasking to our Combatant Commanders, to sustain those forces (including our people) so that we may fight today’s wars, tomorrow and get our ships, submarines, and aircraft to their expected service life, and to ensure our force deploys confident in their readiness to execute their missions through adhering to the tried and true standards that have benefited our Navy throughout our history.

Based on the picture of Fleet conditions I’ve developed over the past six months, I intend to transition away from predominately asking questions to letting you know my thoughts and informing you of the decisions I’ve made.  The value of your comments will not diminish, quite the contrary, but hopefully this will give you a better opportunity to understand what is on my mind and the actions I am taking.

That said, one area I have significant concern with is the confusion between “taking risk” and lowering standards.  As Navy made hard decisions over the past six years to meet growing Combatant Commander force demands, come off the manpower glideslope, and fund recapitalization after the “procurement holiday” of the 1990s; we began to use phrases such as “taking risk.”  Taking risk was often used to describe the actions that must be taken to “do more, with less.”  What really occurred in some instances was we did more, but we did it less well and we lowered our standards.

As we recapitalize the fleet, meet Combatant Commander demand, and properly invest in the sustainment of our ships, submarines, and aircraft, we cannot lower the tried and true standards which have served our Navy for over 230 years.  Recent incidents - HARTFORD, JAMES E WILLIAMS, and flight discipline lapses - are just some examples that illuminate areas where we must re-educate, reinvigorate, and reinforce the bedrock importance of our tried and true standards that run the gamut from how we operate, to how we maintain, to our conduct, and the concept of accountability.  As a Fleet Commander, fewer resources means that there are things we will do less, but that must not result in doing things less well.  More to follow.  All the best, JCHjr.

Navy as a Learning Organization

Team,

A Learning Organization is one that cultivates change through its people. It adapts by encouraging them to be creative and share ideas. I believe our Navy is a Learning Organization. That is one of the reasons I maintain this blog - to learn from you.

As part of my recent trip to the CENTCOM AOR, I was struck by the vast array of experience and skills our Sailors are acquiring executing their missions. As a Learning Organization we must institutionalize this knowledge along with the other critical lessons our Sailors are learning every day while executing our more traditional missions. To accomplish the required learning, and to ensure we begin evolving, we must first ensure we have a healthy learning environment underpinned by concrete practices and supportive leadership.

What are your thoughts? Do you feel Navy is an effective learning organization today? If not, how do we take the next step from learning as individuals to learning as an organization? What must Navy do to improve how Sailors and Civilians create, acquire, and - most importantly - transfer their knowledge? Finally, how do we evaluate progress in this area? All the best, JCHjr