U.S. Fleet Forces Command

Navy and Marine Corps units from across the region assembled in Hampton Roads from 18 to 24 July to rehearse humanitarian response missions in preparation for what is forecasted to be a historically active Atlantic hurricane season. Led by the staff of Expeditionary Strike Group TWO (ESG 2), the forces rehearsed one of the strike group’s primary on-call missions; defense support to civil authorities/foreign disaster response (DSCA/FDR). “Putting in the reps to fine-tune our preparations and overall response to a major humanitarian event is critical to ensuring we are ready to go when the call is made. We have already seen the strongest, earliest hurricane of a season in history. The threat is real, and it brings home the need to maintain a rigorously-rehearsed, integrated capability to respond.”--Rear Admiral David Walt, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group TWO https://lnkd.in/e2rvjA92

It is our duty to plan for the future and ensure our US Navy is always ready to preserve the peace, respond in crisis, and win decisively in war. At the CNO Futures Game held at U.S. Naval War College we test, analyze, and explore future force structure options that will enable us to field a force capable of responding to all threats–anywhere and anytime. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gVpuJPcE

Mental health IS health. Adm. Daryl Caudle, Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces, said the work is only beginning. “Every sailor has been part of this strike group, [and] over 7,000 have been screened to make sure that we understand completely their state of mind, their mental health,” Caudle said. “We will track them for the next several months to make sure that they stay healthy.”

Welcome home VAQ-130!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 📍NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. - The “Zappers” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 returned to their homeport of Whidbey Island, Washington after a combat deployment as the only E/A-18G Growler squadron with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, July 13, 2024. Led by Cmdr. Carl Ellsworth, VAQ-130 flies the EA-18G Growler, the U.S. military’s only dedicated electronic attack aircraft whose primary role is Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). The “Zappers” were the first to employ an Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) in combat. VAQ-130 was also the first Growler squadron in Navy history to score an air-to-air kill. “I can’t remember the last time the Navy had a more challenging deployment with a combination of multiple extensions, severely limited opportunities for R&R, and true combat,” said Ellsworth. “…not just for aviators, but the crew of the whole strike group as well, in the most kinetic action at sea since World War II. Words can’t do justice to how proud I am of this ‘Zapper’ Team which performed their duty in combat amidst incredibly challenging circumstances for months on end, frequently not knowing what each day would bring. The best of our country is right here at VAQ-130.” During the historic combat deployment aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) supporting Operation Prosperity Guardian, the “Zappers” executed continuous combat operations in the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and Gulf of Aden to maintain the freedom of navigation in international waterways. In Operation Yukon Lightning, VAQ-130 conducted seven pre-planned, dedicated strikes into Houthi-controlled Yemen and executed nearly 700 combat missions to degrade the Houthi capability to threaten innocent shipping. The aviators of the squadron saw malicious, indiscriminate use of Iranian-sponsored Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles (ASBMs), Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles (ASCMs) and one-way attack (OWA) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and supported the launch of over 120 standard missiles and dozens of Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) by U.S. and coalition assets in self-defense. After nine months of operations in a persistent weapons engagement zone, the “Zapper” Team returned home to their friends and families to celebrate the end of an unprecedented deployment. The team will be afforded the opportunity to reunite with their loved ones and take some time to rest and relax.

“All around the aircraft carrier, the signs of the intense fight during its deployment were apparent. Combat action patches for the sailors. A unit commendation ribbon for the crew. And on the flight deck, F/A-18 Super Hornets with stencils of the Houthi drones they shot down. One showed three drones destroyed and 16 bombs dropped. The Eisenhower was at the center of a strategy to use military strikes, deterrence and diplomacy to manage the conflict in the Middle East, a part of the response put in place in the immediate aftermath of the attacks in Israel.” MORE from The New York Times ⬇️

Congratulations!!!! 🙌🥳 The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) was awarded the 2023 Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for U.S. Fleet Forces on July 10, 2024. The award is presented annually by the Chief of Naval Operations to one ship in the Atlantic Fleet and one in the Pacific Fleet based on overall readiness and includes a small monetary stipend, which will be given to the ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation fund to benefit crewmembers. New York's crew was cited for their indomitable spirit, superior performance and consistently high standards of readiness. “The Sailors, senior enlisted leaders, and officers of USS New York represent the best fighting force ever gathered,” said Capt. Ben Oakes, New York’s commanding officer. “I am extremely proud of this team and all that they accomplished in the past year. There is no doubt that we are ready and will continue to perform at our highest while forward deployed. I could not be more honored to bring this award back home to New York where it all started with one young girl’s patriotic act out of love for her country.” This marks the second time New York was selected to receive this prestigious award. In May 2014, New York was selected as the fiscal year 2013 winner amongst the amphibious ships of the Atlantic Fleet. The Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund was established in 1917 by the New York Tribune Association. It was initiated by a letter written by 13-year-old Marjorie Sterrett, February 1916. Marjorie, who lived in Brooklyn, contributed her weekly allowance of a dime to "Help build a battleship for Uncle Sam." Prior to World War II, income from this fund was used to pay prizes annually to turret and gun crews making the highest scores in short-range battle practice, as well as submarine crews making the highest scores in torpedo firing. It is now used to recognize those ships which display battle efficiency and emphasize readiness and fitness of the ship. Accordingly, the reward has been used to recognize the most battle-efficient or battle-ready warship on each coast. The ship, whose motto is “Strength, Forged through Sacrifice… Never Forget,” was commissioned in 2007 as the fifth ship in the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock. She is one of three ships named to commemorate the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, when over 3,000 people lost their lives in terrorist attacks in New York City. New York departed Norfolk, Virginia on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) area of operations on May 22 as part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (WSP ARG)-24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Special Operations Capable (SOC).

A round of a-paws for #MightyIKE Sailors! 👏 Welcome home to all USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Sailors, and CAPT Demo! In line with Culture of Excellence 2.0 concepts of building Great People strong in Mind, Body, and Spirit, CAPT Demo, the command facility dog assigned to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, helped improve mental health and resiliency of #MightyIKE Sailors throughout their historic 9-month deployment. To learn more about Culture of Excellence 2.0 and how to build great culture at every Navy command, visit: https://lnkd.in/g-jxJ-qz US Navy US Fleet Forces Command U.S. Naval Air Forces

Welcome home Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🥳💙💛 📍JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 returned to their homeport of Jacksonville, Florida after completing a nine-month deployment as part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, embarked on the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE), July 13, 2024. “When the HSM-74 ‘Swamp Foxes’ deployed in October of last year, we embarked the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and her escort ships with the confidence that we were joining the best team in the world,” said Cmdr. John Kohut, commanding officer of HSM-74. “It is an honor to return with that team from such a historic combat deployment; executing the mission of the United States Navy at the highest professional level. Each Warrior Sailor of the ‘Swamp Foxes’ was critical to the defense of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and the protection of innocent merchant shipping, directly rescuing 26 mariners attacked by the Houthis in the Southern Red Sea. The resilience of our Sailors, who persevered in harm’s way time and time again, is truly an awe-inspiring sight. Their actions with courage under fire, have earned my eternal gratitude and the thanks of a grateful nation.” During their nine-month deployment, the “Swamp Foxes” accomplished a multitude of feats, including the first-ever hellfire missiles employed to defend U.S. and coalition assets as well as innocent merchant vessels. During the Dec. 31 Houthi attack on civilian mariners in the Red Sea, “Swamp Fox” helicopters from Gravely and IKE engaged with four Houthi-employed small boats, ultimately sinking three of them after they maliciously opened fire on the aviators and aircrew of HSM-74. Following that attack, the Houthis persisted in their malign activity against commercial traffic and IKECSG to disrupt and endanger the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce. CVW-3 conducted pre-planned, dedicated strikes into Iranian-backed, Houthi-controlled Yemen territories in response. HSM-74 flew during all seven of the strikes, providing reconnaissance combat search and rescue capabilities in case of aircraft mishaps. In May 2024, the CEL embarked aboard Philippine Sea responded to civilian mariners in distress after the M/V Tutor was struck by a Houthi-employed unmanned surface vehicle. The USV impact caused severe damage and flooding to the engine-rooms, resulting in the evacuation of all onboard. While not primarily designed for personnel transfer, the “Swamp Foxes” demonstrated their ability to flex to the international community’s needs and successfully evacuated 26 CIVMARs to safety.

Welcome home Electronic Attack Squadron One Three Zero!!! 🥳 📍 NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. — A homecoming for United States Navy sailors and aviators who served a historic nine-month deployment in the Red Sea happened Saturday in Whidbey Island. Their mission was to protect shipping lanes from a terrorist group – specifically Houthi rebels. MORE ⬇️

“On Oct. 7, everything changed,” said Capt. Christopher Hill, commanding officer of the Eisenhower. “We didn’t know yet what they were going to ask us to do, but we knew it would likely have something to do with participating in that conflict.”