Pacific Perspective - Combat Power:Marine Rotational Force - Darwin Deploys to Northern Territory

According to MRF - D,a new group of about 2,000 U.S. Marines and Sailors in the form of a Marine Air - Ground Task Force has arrived in Australia's Northern Territory for the 13th iteration of the deployment.The arrangement was signed by Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Former U.S. President Barack Obama in 2011.It has another 12 years remaining.Each year,the deployment has grown in scale and complexity,enhancing our Alliance's capability and ability to work together and improving our combined capacity to respond to crises and contingencies in the Indo-Pacific Region.MRF - D remains an important touchpoint of the Australian/U.S. security Alliance,said MRF - D.*Said U.S. Marine Corps COL Brian T. Mulvihill,commanding officer of MRF - D 24.3:Our strong Alliance contributes to stability in the region and enables the readiness of our forces to respond to any crisis or contingency that arises.*Participants will conduct operations across a full spectrum of missions,including expeditionary operations;geographically distributed communications;non-combatant evacuation operations;embassy reinforcements;humaitarian assistance and disaster relief;and rapid projection of combat power.So the Alliance intends to deter our adversaries,and,if necessary,defend the rules-based international order.*The Marines are based at RAAF Darwin and,in concert with the Australian Defence Force,will carry out training throughout the region unitil the end of MRF - D 24.3's deployment in October.*MRF - D is a unit of I Marine Expeditionary Force.The motto of I MEF is "Ready.Engaged.Faithful".I MEF provides the Marine Corps with a globally responsive,expeditionary,and fully scalable Marine Air - Ground Task Force (MAGTF,pronounced MAGTAF),capable of generating,deploying,and employing ready forces and formations for crisis response;forward presence;major combat operations;and campaigns.*Leadership:I MEF is led by LTG Michael S. Cederholm,Commanding General,and MG Robert C. Fulford,Deputy Commanding General.A graduate of Weslyan University,LTG Cederholm,a Marine Corps Aviator,is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom.He is a graduate of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN);the National War College (MS in National Security Strategy);and is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Seminar XXI Fellow.*MG Fulford was commissioned in 1992 after graduating from the United States Naval Academy.He is a career infantry officer and veteran of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 1.MG Fulford is a graduate of the U.S. Army Infantry Officer Advanced Course;the Marine Corps Command and Staff College;and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.*A Marine Air - Ground Task Force is the principal organisation for all missions across the range of military operations.MAGTF's are a balanced,air-ground,combined arms task organisation of Marine Corps forces under a single commander that is structured to accomplish a specific mission.The four elements of a MAGTF are:1.Command Element (CE);2.Ground Combat Element (GCE);3.Air Combat Element (ACE);and 4.Logistics Combat Element (LCE).*The MAGTF was formalised by the publication of Marine Corps Order 3120.3,"The Marine Corps in the National Defense,MCDP 1-0".

Highlights: Men's Basketball vs. Towson - Navy Athletics - SECU Arena,Towson,Maryland

US Navy Strategy in Europe: Admiral Foggo and SecNav Braithwaite

Two senior US Navy officials, ADM James G. Foggo III and new Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite II recently spoke about the US Navy's goals in Europe on the "On the Horizon" podcast.Admiral Foggo (rhymes with "logo") is Commander,US Navy Forces Europe and Africa and Commander, Joint Forces Command Naples.Mr.Braithwaite had a long career in the US Navy and US Navy Reserves, and was most recently US Ambassador to Norway.Both men are graduates of the US Naval Academy.Indeed,they knew each other while they were midshipmen there.*
Admiral Foggo spoke about Exercise BALTOPS in the Baltic Sea:
We demonstrated that the US Navy is able to operate anywhere,at any time, and under any conditions.It was a terrific opportunity to improve interoperability and warfighting skills while learning from each other.*
Admiral Foggo also explained the
Navy role in the Black Sea and our relationship with Ukraine:
Security in the Black Sea remains one of our mutual areas of interest.This is why we continue to operate in the Black Sea.We operate there to send the message that we will uphold international law and norms.Our collective efforts will lead to a safer and better Ukraine, which means a better and safer Black Sea for all of us.
We recently had the guided-missile​ destroyers USS Porter (DDG 78) and the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group in the Black Sea.That both of them were operating in the Black Sea at the same time is a demostration to our NATO Allies and Partners of our continuing commitment...So it's the third time that NATO ships have operated in the Black Sea in 2020, and the second time the US Navy has operated in the Black Sea in 2020.This is nothing new...Other examples include replenishment operations with Turkish oilers... and a PASSEX (passing exercise) with our Georgian Partners.*
Secretary Braithwaite said:
I'd like to re-emphasize the importance of the Alliance that we have...I'm a big NATOist...You know how strong of an opinion I have about this trans-atlantic partnership... We stood with you in the dark days of World War II, and we continue to stand with you, for whatever challenges emerge-not just in Europe, but around the globe... Exercise Trident Juncture (with some 50,000 NATO and Partner troops) was an entire success under your leadership (Admiral Foggo) - it demonstrated our fortitude as well as reminding those who would challenge our interests on the seas as well as well as shoreside, of what our interest and intent is: to ensure that freedom rings true for those who​ embrace democracy.
Looking to the future, I want to make sure we build the right fleet to meet the challenges and threats of the future.
Why is the Baltic Sea so important and why is naval presence so important up there?It is a constricted waterway by the Danish Straits, but, you know,it is a critical artery of commerce with up to 15% of the world's cargo traffic transiting through that region, and a lot of nations bordering on that sea-many of them friends.So this dynamic security environment demands cooperation to ensure freedom of movement, and consequently economic prosperity.And that requires a commitment from regional Partners and Allies, and certainly from NATO.So every Baltic country has something powerful to contribute.*
Secretary Braithwaite served as a maritime patrol aviator and public affairs officer,retiring as a Rear Admiral,lower level and Vice Chief of Information.His decorations include the Legion of Merit; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat "V"; and Iraqi Campaign Medal.*

Annapolis,Maryland:Naval Academy Noon Meal Formation - "No Self But Country"

Navy's New Atlantic Fleet Begins Full Operations with Critical NATO Exercise

Less than a year after it was re-established,having been drydocked in 2011 by the Obama administration,the US Navy's Atlantic Fleet (Commander 2nd Fleet,or C2F) achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on 29 May 2019.That means it can now lead fleet-wide operations,developing and employing forces at the highest level of warfare,as well as interoperating with allies and partners in the North Atlantic and Arctic.The C2F is based in Norfolk,Virginia.It is under the command of VADM Andrew "Woody" Lewis,a US Naval Academy graduate and distinguished naval aviator.The new fleet is a response to Russia's aggressive activity and China's increasing influence in the North Atlantic and Arctic.Both countries have been steadily developing and deploying advanced weapons systems and maritime assets that challenge the defences of North America and Europe alike. *
C2F's major European debut mission will be leading the annual Exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) in the Baltic Sea,leveraging increased lethality,interoperability and integrated warfighting capability with regional allies and partners.VADM Lewis described BALTOPS as being:
an unambiguous display of strength in the Baltic Region.As an Alliance,increasing our capabilities across all domains,as well as building a command-wide network,will give us the ability to deter aggression and project stability.*
C2F will ensure access and defend the US,allied and partner interests.In partnership with the Naval War College and the warfare development centres,C2F will be a hub in the Navy's concept development and implementation,ensuring that when the Navy operates around the world,it is prepared to compete,fight and win in this era of great power competition,the Navy said.The motto of C2F is "Ready to Fight."*
BALTOPS 2019 runs from 9-21 June.With air,maritime and ground assets from 18 nations,BALTOPS participants will exercise air defence;maritime interdiction;anti-subsurface warfare;mine countermeasures;and amphibious operations,in order to strengthen joint leadership and teams across all layers of the battlespace.BALTOPS will demonstrate resolve in defending the Baltic Sea Region by executing a series of combined tactical manoeuvres  and scenarios.For example,some of the drills are to be staged off the heavily militarised Russian enclave of Kaliningrad,which is nestled between Poland and Lithuania.BALTOPS must show that establishing and maintaining maritime superiority is uppermost in the minds of the NATO and partner forces charged with securing the Baltics..

Exploring Deep Space:NASA Admin Outlines Quest

Major General Charles F. Bolden,US Marine Corps Retired and Administrator of NASA,is directing the space agency on its challenging new path-and isn't taking any prisoners.The Obama administration has committed to the International Space Station for at least another 10 years,he told the audience at the Humans 2 Mars summit at George Washington University in April 2014.We have now been on the ISS continuously for almost 14 years.*
Astronauts in the Orion spacecraft will explore an asteroid and return samples to earth beginning in 2017.We've chosen an asteroid in lunar orbit as our proving ground.The Space Launch System that will get them there will be the most powerful launch system ever flown.*
Mars and its moons are probably not like low earth orbit.What we don't know is,what it is like flying out there.Then we will probably fly around the moons of Mars,and finally,figure out how to land humans on Mars.The data on radiation from Mars rovers will tell us how to protect astronauts on Mars.The challenge is huge,but we love huge challenges.*
The Space Launch System is already being manufactured in New Orleans.It will launch a Mars mission in the 2030s,GEN Bolden said.*
GEN Bolden is a graduate of the US Naval Academy.He became a Naval Aviator in 1970 and a Navy test pilot in 1979.In 1980,he was selected as an astronaut candidate.By 1992,he was the space shuttle commander of seven astronauts aboard STS-43.He left the astronaut corps to resume his Marine Corps career in 1994,with assignments as Deputy Commandant at the USNA and Commanding General,I Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation Desert Thunder,Kuwait.In 2009,President Barack Obama appointed GEN Bolden NASA Administrator.