PigBoatSailor

Yes, I miss the boat. I admit it, the wardroom teased me, claiming I would forget the lack of sleep, the bitterness with the slow-moving and sometimes illogical and infuriating wheels of the military bureaucracy, and would end up only seeing the old times through rose colored glasses. Well, I still remember the mordant, acerbic young man I was while on the boat. But I also remember the crew whose whims and habits I knew as a gestalt, and those individual members I knew on a much more personal level, with whom I needed only a few spare words to convey volumes to, with whom I was so attuned that trust was like breathing.

Read more...

February 15, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Vigilis

Pakistan has at least 40 nuclear warheads, and one of the most sophisticated and feared delivery systems in the world.

The Pakistani Navy is very proud of its three, French-built Agosta 90B stealth submarines, each capable of carrying 16 cruise missiles with nuclear payloads. They are the top of their class for French submarines and Pakistan has the French license to produce more of them at a commercial base in Karachi.

Read more...

February 14, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Secretary of the Navy

...There is no prohibition on blogs operated by individual members as private citizens. The DON recognizes the value of this communication channel in posting current information and supporting the morale of personnel, their family and friends. As long as personnel adhere to specific restrictions on content, the DON encourages the use of blogs and recognizes this free flow of information contributes to legitimate transparency of the DON to the American public whom we serve.

Read more...

February 13, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (2)

Lex

As the Islamists carefully craft their message to appeal to Muslim sensibilities, the perception of the war in the minds of the great, undecided middle shifts gradually away from modernity and towards reaction. The ranks of intolerance and barbarism swell, the middle ground gets mined, and all of us on either side are left to walk away from dialogue and man the barricades instead. Or most of us, I should say. Some decline to join the fight. No impeachment process for W? Not interested then. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Read more...

February 10, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (1)

PH1 Curt Cooper, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

A U.S. Navy P-3 Orion from Patrol Squadron (VP) 47 Golden Swordsmen assisted search and rescue operations for survivors of the sunken Egyptian ferry Al Salam Boccaccio 98 in the Red Sea, Feb. 4.

The ferry, carrying an estimated 1,400 passengers, sank about 50 miles off the coast of Egypt at approximately 2 a.m., Feb. 3. The VP-47 crew flew for almost 15 hours to assist Egyptian authorities in the search efforts.

Read more...

February 08, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Salah Nasrawi, Associated Press

CAIRO, Egypt - An Egyptian passenger ship carrying 1,300 people has sunk in the Red Sea, the head of the Egyptian Maritime Authority, Mahfouz Taha Marzouk, said Friday...

Four Egyptian frigates have sailed to rescue survivors, Egypt's minister of transport, Mohammed Lutfy Mansour, told CNN shortly before the sinking of the ship was announced.

Read more...

February 03, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (3)

Bubblehead

Once again, I'm proven prophetic (I think). Back when USS Virginia (SSN 774) left on her maiden "deployment" in September, I predicted that we'd see people claiming that they were going to the Southern Command region to spy on Venezuela. I think I might have been proven right, based on this story/blog entry in the Washington Post that says... well, I don't really know what the hell he's trying to say.

Read more...

February 01, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (2)

JO1 Stefanie Holzeisen-Mullen

The San Antonio-class will functionally replace more than 41 ships (LPD 4, LSD 36, LKA 113, and LST 1179 classes of amphibious ships). This new class of ships will provide the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, sea-based platforms that are networked, survivable, and built to operate with 21st century transformational platforms, such as the MV-22 Osprey, the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), and future means by which Marines are delivered ashore.

Read more...

January 31, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Willis Oketch, The Standard

10 suspected pirates seized in the Indian Ocean were flown to Mombasa on Sunday.

Read more...

January 29, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Alex Nunez

Germany's U-15, a Type 206A-class diesel-electric submarine, has hit bottom in Eckernfoerde Bay in the Baltic Sea, as she was returning to base.

No injuries are reported among her 22 crewmembers, and a rescue mission is being planned out of the submarine base.

Read more...

January 27, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (0)

David Fulghum, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Boeing is finally showing off one of its more poorly kept secrets.

Its planners are polishing the design for an EP-3E-replacement signals intelligence aircraft for the U.S. Navy and a likely future offering for the international market. The new design, revealed Jan. 24, comes in response to the death of the Army/Navy Aerial Common Sensor contract offered by Lockheed Martin.

Read more...

January 26, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Jim Krane, The Associated Press

The U.S. Navy boarded an apparent pirate ship in the Indian Ocean and detained 26 men for questioning, the Navy said Sunday. The 16 Indians and 10 Somali men were aboard a traditional dhow that was chased and seized Saturday by the U.S. guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill, said Lt. Leslie Hull-Ryde of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain.

The dhow stopped fleeing after the Churchill twice fired warning shots during the chase, which ended 54 miles off the coast of Somalia, the Navy said. U.S. sailors boarded the dhow and seized a cache of small arms.

Read more...

January 24, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Bubblehead

During my first deployment, in '92-'93, I talked to the guys off the USS Ranger (CV 61) who had gone ahead to scout out Perth for the Battle Group. They arranged for "receptions" with the locals -- renting hotel ballrooms and everything. They handed out invitations to women they saw on the street; based on the prospective invitee's external physical attributes, she'd either get an invitation to the enlisted reception or the officer reception (there were about 5x the number of invites available for the former). Unfortunately for the enlisted Sailors, only officers got to go on these advance parties. The girls who got invited to the enlisted reception probably had very nice personalities, though...

Read more...

January 24, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Charlie Munn

The Korean peninsula is a perfect example of our system and a communist system played out to their logical ends. South Korea is a post-industrial liberal democracy, and North Korea is starving, imprisoned, and ruled by a megalomaniac. Which would you prefer to live in? Is the Pueblo incident still relevant today? You bet. The attention-starved North Koreans would love to get their hands on some US hostages and/or technology.

Read More...

January 23, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Chaotic Synaptic Activity

Scary story, but gives new meaning to the old axiom of never take the same path twice.

It seems the bad guys have come up with a creative solution to get at our helo assets, to include special attention being paid to MedEvac helos.

Read More...

January 18, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Louis Hansen, The Virginian-Pilot

In a move to bring sailors closer to combat and to assume duties from the fatigued Army and Marines, the Navy formally established the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command at a ceremony Friday at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base.

The new command pulls together Seabees, cargo handlers, ordnance disposal experts and maritime security forces under one structure. It will also create a new riverine force for patrolling inland waterways in countries plagued by terrorists, drug runners and pirates.

Read More...

January 16, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (3)

Doc a

Well, on some good news here in about 9 days I start my process of getting out of Iraq. I can't wait -- rather unexpected news, I suppose, because I was figuring on being here 'til March/April time frame, but I'm not going to complain cutting the tour short at 5 months.

Read More...

January 11, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Michael Ledeen, National Review

This is a letter from Kenneth Stethem to President George W. Bush. Ken is a former U.S. special-forces operator and the brother of Robert Dean Stethem, the Navy diver who was brutally tortured and murdered by Hezbollah 20 years ago. Robert's murderer was just released by the German government (and fled to Lebanon) in an apparent exchange for a German hostage in Iraq.

Read More...

January 09, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (3)

natoairwarrior

Rape, robbery, assault and cold-blooded murder work wonders for undermining popular support, something the Pentagon should start heeding closer attention to as it moves to depend heavily on a democracy like Japan in the coming years in this region. The old days of "incidents" and "crimes" being swept under the rug are long-gone, as are the days when the US military could get away with slapping criminals within its ranks on the wrists.

Read More...

January 06, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (0)

bubblehead

From the Submarine Force Museum webpage, please visit this page honoring the Submarine Force's Medal of Honor awardees, and click on each of their pictures to read their MOH citation. The one that never fails to make my eyes misty (and that I read from at my retirement ceremony) is from the citation for CDR Howard Gilmore...

Read More...

January 06, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (2)

natoairwarrior

No matter our good intentions and good works, we are remembered mostly for our mistakes and our misdeeds, and this will likely go down as one of the worst marks on our collective record, if not the worst. This isn't the Kitty Hawk that works harder than anyone else in the Navy, the Kitty Hawk that boasts the most productive and efficient results of any ship in the fleet, the Kitty Hawk that faithfully stands watch from the "Norpac to the Indo," but the Kitty Hawk... the ship with the murderer, the robbers, the gang members, the drunk drivers.

Read More...

January 05, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Bubblehead

A few days ago, I blogged about a DARPA concept for a sub-launced Multi-Purpose Unmanned Aerial Vehicle called the "Cormorant". I didn't like the idea very much, because I was concerned that the submarine would be vulnerable to attack when retrieving the MPUAV. Some people a lot smarter than me have convinced me to give it a second look, though, and I've decided it might be feasible.

Read More...

January 05, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Cap'n Bob

Godspeed to the officers and crew of the USS Ronald Reagan as they deploy from San Diego today. The Navy's newest aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), is scheduled to deploy today on a mission "in support of the War on Terror." Greater than 5000 crew members aboard will participate in the mission.

Read More...

January 04, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (3)

Matthew Heidt

Most experts in foreign affairs see the looming nuclear crisis in Iran as the most pressing national security threat to the US in the coming months and perhaps years. When a suicidal islamofascist regime installs a former US Embassy kidnapper as "president" and calls for the extinction of state of Israel, it is prudent to take them at their word.

Read More...

January 04, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Bubblehead

The Navy has had a few "21" ship programs over the last several years, all dealing with ships (of that class) "for the 21st century", in the Navy's vision. SSN-21, DD-21, and, last but not least, CVN-21. (The "SSN 21" program, as you know, was replaced by a new "submarine for the 21st century", the Virginia program.)

Read More...

January 03, 2006 | Link | Sound Off (0)

CDR Salamander

I have a feeling I may regret this, because the 16-inch fetish folks will come out of the woodwork. I don't want to argue that. Like the BBs, those could-of-would-of-should-of are better left in the grave. I would love to talk about building a Graff Spee like pocket BB or something like that.....but we have a good answer already out there - and not a PowerPoint weapon like the 155mm for the DDX. May be a fine gun, but probably good to have another option in the fleet. There is some bad gouge about the MK-71 8" that John Lehman killed. So go for some good debunking here to do your research.

Read More...

December 30, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Greg Mitchell

Police say Mom asked two teens (she was sleeping with one of them) to kill Dad, just home from Iraq. She and her late husband both had blogs. So did their two kids. The local paper, the News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. quoted from (and linked to) all of them in its coverage. Fair or foul?

Read More...

December 29, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Christopher Castelli, InsideDefense

Although Congress threatened big cuts to the Navy's DD(X) destroyer earlier this year, the program emerged from budget talks relatively unscathed last week. In another victory for the sea service, appropriators and authorizers added $440 million for two more Littoral Combat Ships.

Read More...

December 28, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Sig Christenson, San Antonio Express-News

The USS San Antonio is a ship of distinctions -- it's the Navy's first ship designed entirely on computer, the first with "gender-neutral" quarters, first of its class and first to bear the city's name.

But there's also a dubious distinction for the San Antonio, which is just weeks from its Texas commissioning -- its price, $1.76 billion, is almost three times its projected cost a decade ago.

Read More...

December 28, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (1)

CDR Salamander

In the face of not so much popular support, retreating European armies from Ukraine and Bulgaria and others - Poland decides to extend its deployment to Iraq through the end of 2006.

Read More...

December 27, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

CDR Salamander

This is just sad. Pathetic when you think about it. Honestly, I wouldn't have expected this.

This is why we have a problem with our weapons systems. This is why there is so little trust in the fleet that decisions are made for the right reason, and the companies that build and design our weapons systems are being held accountable.

Read More...

December 23, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (2)

(Updated)

We are deeply saddened to report that Navy Reservist Paul Berkley, known to many of us by his nom de blog "Legibletrout," was murdered early Sunday morning in Raleigh, North Carolina. Berkley was home on leave from his duty station at Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain.

There have been two arrests made in connection with a deadly shooting in Raleigh that occurred over the weekend.

Paul Berkley, 46, and his wife, Monique Berkley, 26, of Clayton, were shot while on a pathway in Millbrook Exchange Park shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday.

Paul Berkley, a reservist who just returned from the Middle East on Thursday, died at the hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. His wife, who was shot in the shoulder, is listed in good condition.

We pray for the swift recovery of Paul's widow, and the well-being of his family.

UPDATE: Paul's widow, Monique, has now also been arrested and charged with his murder -- making his final entry all the more haunting:

I have been home a few days now, just got my internal clock turned to local time. I have been shopping and hanging out with family (eating stuff I should not) [...] I watched my son sing the other night in a program put on by the chorus he is in. They started with the Star Spangled Banner, before which Zeke came up to the mic and welcomed me home, which was sweet. He also did a solo performance right about the middle of the show that really pleased the crowd. Last night Becky and I watched Hindi movies and ate pizza. She had never seen any Hindi movies and was really amused... we started dancing and doing the melodramatic moves they do in the movies, cracking ourselves up in the process. We also did a sentry training program called "shoot don't shoot" which gives you scenarios and asks you if you would shoot the person or not. Becky didn't shoot anyone, preferring to give them the benefit of the doubt, and she was blown up or shot a few times. I had to do four of them, and knew the correct answers, so it was fun seeing the scenario play out after she decided the best course of action was "verbal command" or "wait and see."

Zeke and Becky are Paul's children from a previous wife.

This is horrifying.

(Hat tip: Mrs. G)

JOHN ROBLES remembers his friend Paul.

Paul was a gentle guy with a wild life and personal history. Some of the jobs he had and things he did were straight out of a reality show. He was the life of the party, and would do anything,even without a dare. As a teen and young man he was dangerous, reckless, loving, kind and careless. As an adult, he was about the same, but with a lot of life's wisdom added. In other words, he was a hell of a lot of fun. His stories would engross you by the hour. I wish I had saved all the emails he sent me with stories of his escapades. He was a proud dad, and a staunch member of the Navy. He was proud of what he did, and made no apologies, nor did he drag his own politics into it. Paul was a good man all around, and a good friend. I love him so much, and I am going to miss him like hell.

Rest in peace, Paul.

UPDATE 2: Monique Berkley was formally arraigned for her husband's murder Tuesday, and denied bail. Raleigh police also released the audio tape of her 911 call (WARNING: Very Disturbing).

Dispatcher: What's that? Who is that I hear in the background?

Monique Berkley: My husband.

Dispatcher: What is he -- has he been shot?

Berkley: Yes.

Paul's children, Zeke and Becky, are now with their biological mother in California.

UPDATE 3: The Raleigh News & Observer provides some background on the Berkley family. Monique, Becky, and Zeke all kept websites of their own. Exploring these pages is a disturbing journey into a world of angst, jealousy, and betrayal. (Because Becky and Zeke are minors, no links to their personal websites will be provided here).

Becky writes: "It's all just so ironic, isn't it? My dad was in the Middle East for months and months and didn't get shot. ... then he came home, where you'd assume he'd be much safer ... and then, all this happened."

Becky also writes about her 18-year-old boyfriend, Latwon Darrell Johnson, who was arrested Sunday along with Andrew Canty as a suspect in Paul's murder (Canty had earlier confessed to his own mother that he was having a sexual relationship with Monique). Becky's comments have since been overrun by all sorts of creepy individuals, several of whom accuse her of plotting to kill her father, and freely hurl racially-toned insults.

Zeke's webpage is devoted to his music, which he describes as a "unique style of horror acoustic rock... songs about having sex with dead things and terrible rape scenes." Professional intervention may be in order for this young man.

Monique Berkley's weblog is perhaps the most disturbing. Titled "Legible Smegible," a clear slap at her late husband's nom de blog, her tagline is "I just want to comment on others." Which is precisely what she does, in disturbing fashion. Now the tables have turned, and Paul's friends are leaving nasty comments in her guestbook.

It's highly unlikely Monique has seen any of this, however, as she is currently in jail awaiting trial on charges of first degree murder.

UPDATE 4: WTVD News reports that various weblogs may be used as evidence against Monique Berkley. Including, presumably, this one:

Although I am glad Mr. B is having a good time with his family...I find it interesting if I am so FOS that you people keep a lookin.....You ALL know what I am talking about...an if you don't you in fact are FOS and well.. do not have a clue how to do your jobs..so enjoy.. you all will be had in due time...and the cool thing is your doing it to yourselves..ROFLMAO....oh and pass this along fo me KISSERRRSSSSS.....

oh and jealousy is so damn ugly really.....

That entry, by the mother of one of Zeke's friends, was posted on Saturday, December 17. Paul was murdered at 3am the next day.

UPDATE 5: Monique Berkley has confessed to murdering her husband.

December 21, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (18) | Incoming! (12)

Matthew Heidt

In my very first post here on FR, I wrote about the arrest of a cleric made in Albany, NY in August of 2004. The case was opened on this cleric aka "the Commander" as a result of a SOF led raid on the Ansar al Islam terrorist camp in northern Iraq during the initial invasion. While searching the camp, SOF operators and probably CIA CSO personnel found a "little black book" of phone numbers which included the number and the address of the radical mosque in Albany. Ostensibly, this terrorist phone directory contained other phone numbers in the US as well as many from other foreign countries. I argued then that the Iraq War had already yielded information which interrupted a terrorist conspiracy, previously unknown to authorities, within the Continental US that, amongst other things, was attempting to obtain shoulder fired missiles for use on domestic targets. This small incident in and of itself demonstrates the terrorist connections between Iraq and AQ, and furthermore argues for the legitimacy of the War. But I digress...

Read More...

December 20, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Neptunus Lex

Me: So. I was feeling pretty sorry for myself and then I thought, geez: Sucks to be you.

Urinal:

Me: I mean, my part's relatively easy.

Urinal:

Me: Well, not so very easy. I mean, I've been doing this for nearly 28 years now whenever my number pops, and it's not like I've ever had any fun doing it. You'd think maybe that if I was going to be a pothead, I'd have been caught by now. Ya' know what I mean?

Read More...

December 20, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

chaoticsynapticactivity

For a lot of years (since the end of WWII, to be exact, the Cold War lead us on a path towards the development of two very large navies on the face of the planet. Our was comprised of a mix of surface and submarines. The Soviets had surface ships, but a higher proportion of their fellet was subs. This lead to the development of more sophisticated methods of finding subs over ASDIC and active SONAR. Over time, more systems were developed to detect subsurface contacts using passive (listening) methods. Along the way, intelligence was gathered that would allow a passive system operator to look at the acoustic signature of the contact, and then consult a library of information that would help more specifically identify the class of the contact.

Read More...

December 20, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Matthew Heidt

First let me thank the Frogosphere from the bottom of my heart for your kind wishes and prayers for my recovery. Day 2 was kind of rough but it should be smooth sailing from here on out.

I'd also like to thank you for saving me from the shame and humilation of finishing behind the Officer's Club blog in the Weblog Awards. Coming in 3rd twice in a row is more than I deserve and I'm glad Matt & Jimbo won the honors. Two SOF blogs in the top 3 ain't bad! Thunder6 is swingin' the pipe as we speak and I congratulate him not only on his strong showing, but especially for his brave service.

Read More...

December 19, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Department of Defense

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and returned to his family for burial tomorrow with full military honors.

Seaman 2nd Class Dee Hall, of Syra, Okla. He is to be buried at the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio.

Hall was one of seven crewmen aboard a U.S. Navy PBY-5 Catalina that took off from Kodiak Island, Alaska on June 14, 1942, to attack Japanese targets in Kiska Harbor, Alaska.

Read More...

December 16, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

USMC

While serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom here, one sailor temporarily put aside her duties as a religious program specialist to perform another job in Fallujah.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Sarah Radel, 25, was among many female service members assigned to search Iraqi women and children entering the city.

Read More...

December 07, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Michelle Malkin

Why have so many chosen to forget?

Read More...

December 07, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Louis Hansen, The Virginian-Pilot

The Iraqi Navy consists of four patrol boats, given to Iraq by the United Arab Emirates, and a few small, fast boarding boats.

The new sailors operate the patrol boats, and the marines watch from the platforms. Iraqi marines have taken full control of guarding KAAOT.

"They've made a significant amount of progress," said British Capt. Paddy McAlpine, who overseas the operation from the San Jacinto. "At some point in the future, we'll be able to stand back."

Read More...

December 07, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

PeteL

Howard Dean made some comments on a Texas radio show that prove he is an idiot...

Read More...

December 07, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Matthew Heidt

It is hardly surprising that someone like Howard Dean would predict a US defeat in Iraq. Being a huge loser himself and Chairman of a party chock full of losers, I would imagine that it is difficult to see any serious challenge as being achievable. As for Kerry, it's not like he hasn't been down this road before; the only difference is that instead of slandering US troops before the Senate, he is doing it as a Senator.

Read More...

December 07, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

WillyShake

In honor of memory of those who fought desperately to stave-off the sudden attack on our fleet 64 years ago today, I'd like to highlight a particular story of valor that many folks have not heard--the story of how the USS West Virginia (BB-48) was saved from capsizing & therefore lived to fight another day.

Read More...

December 07, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Wade Boese

States will be able to subscribe to new international instruments early next year making it a crime to use nonmilitary ships to intentionally transport or launch attacks with biological, chemical, or nuclear arms. Employing these types of weapons in attacks against or from a fixed platform at sea, such as an oil rig, will also be illegal.

Read More...

(Hat tip: Eagle1)

December 05, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Matthew Heidt

I wonder if Congressman Murtha remembers what it felt like to be engaged in combat with a persistent but never victorious enemy while leftists in America screamed from the rooftops that he was fighting for no purpose in a losing effort. Surely from his position behind the trigger he could see how wrong they were; especially when they said he and his fellow Marines were murdering innocents and torturing captives. Was it so long ago that he returned from war to see his compatriots spit upon and cursed that he can't remember the bewilderment and perverse shame of being called a baby killer?

Read More...

December 05, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (2)

legibletrout

... DOG TAGS! Yeah...all military guys have em. There are alot of legends about dog tags, so I'm gonna kill a few of em right now.

Read More...

December 02, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Mike England, Navy News

The range would instrument a 500-square-nautical-mile area of the ocean with undersea cables and sensor nodes, and would be primarily used for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training by U.S. Atlantic Fleet units. Establishment of the range would not result in an increase in sonar activity, but would allow monitoring of exercises currently conducted.

Read More...

December 02, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Associated Press

The Commander-In-Chief's Trophy was recovered Wednesday night, about 48 hours after it was believed to have been stolen, Navy officials said.

The trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the football competition between the three major service academies, was found in a storage room inside Bancroft Hall, the academy's dormitory.

Read More...

December 01, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Jack Dorsey, The Virginian-Pilot

The Military Sealift Command has established in Norfolk the Military Sealift Fleet Support Command , which includes about 5,000 members -- 4,000 civilian mariners assigned worldwide, 400 civilian support staff and about 200 military members.

Read More...

November 30, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

SGT. B.

... As he was removing the protective plastic and paper, I silently remonstrated with myself. I wasn't seeing past the moment. I needed to develop a sense of perspective to appreciate what my friend was showing me.

He produced the jumper shirt, made of navy blue wool. His rating insignia, on the sleeve, gold chevrons and rockers of a Petty Officer First Class, with the snow white eagle in the middle, as well as service stripes down the sleeve, gleamed in the light. You get gold insignia instead of red if you have behaved yourself, or so the tale goes...

Read More...

November 29, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

PeteL

I was in Herat on Thanksgiving. Actually I spent the day in a helicopter (Russian Mi-17) between Herat and Khandahar. Had MRE's for lunch on the ramp at Herat, and flew into Khandahar for dinner. Of course, by the time we go to there, I had a migraine of epic proportions. I went to the DFAC (Dining Hall) and got food, which looked great, but could not eat.

Read More...

November 29, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Eagle1

Must be an interesting contract to read, in which a US marine security firm has agreed with the transitional Somali government to patrol Somali waters and help stop the wave of piracy and other activities taking place there...

Read More...

November 28, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Matthew Heidt

Alas, as Reservists we were once again stifled by the Navy and had no demo to blow up, but plenty of ammunition to shoot. We had some great training in and refreshed some skills and especially tactics that are quite perishable if not used with some frequency. We have tons of pictures, but Naval Special Warfare policy is basically no pictures of anything unless they are released officially, so sorry.

Read More...

November 23, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Jim Dunnigan

Unlike Cuba, Venezuela has lots of oil money, and the Russians are eagerly offering Chavez just about anything he wants. Chavez wants three more submarines, and the Russians are hot to find export customers for their new Lada (replacement for the Kilo) diesel electric boats.

Read More...

November 22, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Matthew Heidt

Leaving on Thursday to go out to our super secret SEAL training facility in the California desert to literally blow some tax dollars for the weekend. I expect to be shooting, and using all of my creativity in inventing new and exciting demolition charges to explode.

Read More...

November 17, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

The Onion

After I graduated from high school, I was making good money painting houses, my girlfriend was cool with a rockin' little bod, and I partied almost every night. But after a year or so, I started to wonder: "If someone wrote a book about my life, would anyone want to read it?"

Read More...

November 17, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Bubblehead

USS Philadelphia (SSN 690), which was involved in a collision with the Turkish M/V Yaso Aysen in the Arabian Gulf in September, returned home to Groton today. On the same day, the Squadron Deputy who had taken over command when the CO was fired turned the boat over to her new, permanent CO.

Read More...

November 16, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

legibletrout

I just got a call from one of the guys I am sponsoring for his deployment to Bahrain. He had a lot of questions, and he reminded me of how I felt before I came here. I laughed, cuz one of his first questions was about internet access, which was one of mine. People coming here usually don't know too much about Bahrain, so they need to know about living arrangements, some cultural things, what to bring.

Read More...

November 16, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Cpl. Shane Suzuki, 2nd Marine Division

It is unadulterated courage in the face of horrifying danger and risk. It is being able to perform under fire while knowing you are probably going to lose a leg. It is taking care of your Marines when everything is on the line. It is duty, courage and love all together. It is what Nathaniel Leoncio showed the Marines of Company L the morning of Oct. 4.

Read More...

November 15, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Eagle1

Some have called for the US Navy to be more active in pursuing the pirates of Somalia especially based on the recent cruise ship attack. However, even the US Navy has limited assets, and most of them are being used for activities deemed to be higher priority than piracy patrol work off Somalia (which...is not on a sea lane of vital interest to the US). Absent a compelling national interest, there is little reason for the US to act.

Read More...

November 14, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (5)

John Chapell, The Pilot

The ship would come in after three months and get a fresh crew at Holy Loch, Scotland. After minimum repairs, we'd go out again. They had a blue crew and a gold crew, and we would do this for months. You got an air flight straight home for two or three months of shore duty. It was called 'training' because they had to make it look like it was useful. The wives kind of liked that, kind of didn't. They liked it when the man was home. They were allowed to send us each three 'family-grams' while we were on patrol.

Read More...

November 11, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Navy News

Volunteer ombudsmen from the Task Force Navy Family Ombudsman Resource Cell (ORC) are continuing to contact military members, spouses and Navy families who lived in the hurricanes Katrina-, Rita- and Wilma-affected areas to make sure they have information and access to resources for assistance.

Read More...

November 09, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Lex

Be one of the first 10 to donate $100 to Soldier's Angels/Valour-IT and send me an email via the contact form claiming your donation. I'll cross-check the donation receipt time and validate donor names with FbL against your email time-stamp and the first ten will get shipped a ball cap. A USS Ronald Reagan ballcap. Complete with scrambled eggs (that's senior officer's gold braid, for any landlubbers in the crowd) if you want 'em. Or plain-billed, if you'd prefer to be seen as someone who actually works for a living.

Read More...

November 08, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Ed

Wow today was a busy day. First day in the mobilization center. Found out where I will be in Iraq and a very little about what I will be doing. We are organized into a provisional battallion made up of multiple training teams that are dispersed. I was feeling pretty good about it until I found out I am in command of my team...

Read More...

November 08, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Navy News

VICTORIA, Seychelles - The U.S. Navy responded Nov. 7 to a request to dispose of suspected unexploded ordnance left over from a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) that struck the cruise liner Seabourn Spirit during a Nov. 5 attack by pirates near the coast of Somalia.

Read More...

November 07, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Eagle1

The International Maritime Bureau declares the waters off Somalia "out of control" and ask for coalition help after two more ships were atacked over the weekend...

Read More...

November 07, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Louis Hansen, The Virginian-Pilot

With heavy combat in the Middle East taxing the Army and Marines, the Navy wants to put more boots and force into the fight. The Navy estimates it has 7,000 sailors on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq. Sailors guard ports and oil platforms, build roads and buildings and run customs operations, among other duties.

The Navy also will re-establish a riverine combat force to close a gap in providing force and protection along rivers in hostile countries. The "brown water Navy" has not been widespread since swift boats fought in Vietnam, although Navy SEALs perform specialized river operations.

Read More...

November 06, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Bubblehead

I was going through some of my old Navy paperwork tonight and I ran across a "joke" biography I had written a few years ago. You've probably seen the official Navy biographies -- they're very dry. They list commissioning source, all the jobs the person has had, their awards, and (something that always torqued SubBasket) say they are married to "the former (name)".

Read More...

November 06, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Eagle1

Bad things could happen from the sea, and though this article reads like a sales pitch for an expensive new system from Lockheed (especially the part about "The PCL system ...could be operational from Washington to Boston within two years of government funding ..."), there is also much good stuff in it...

Read More...

November 05, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (1)

legibletrout

I was asked about why women are not assigned on subs. It's very simple, and not at all what people might think. The conditions on a sub make it nearly impossible to provide any kind of proper segregation between males and females. Ever heard of "hot racking"? That's where two people sleep in the same rack, on alternating shifts.

Read More...

November 05, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Paul Simonds, Navy News

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) (CVN 69) returned to sea Oct. 26, and headed out to accomplish another milestone. After more than 200 carrier arrested landings, Ike successfully completed her Flight Deck Certification Oct. 28 and is one step closer to becoming surge ready.

Read More...

November 04, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (1)

Matthew Heidt

For those who are Kicking Some A$$ for us all! Operation Valour IT

Hit the PayPal button and help our wounded warriors to communicate with a voice activated laptop. Do it now. Move!

Read More...

November 04, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Matthew Heidt

Longtime members of the Frogosphere will remember how the SEAL community lost 11 operators during Operation Red Wing in Kunar, Afghanistan in July of this year. A four SEAL recon element was compromised and engaged by a numerically superior force of an estimated 100 or so Taliban.

Read More...

November 03, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

Paul B

I thought I was headed out again today, but it didn't happen. This is a good thing. I'm very stopped up, can hardly breath. The kind of stopped up where you cant blow your nose, you can't breathe through it...your whole head hurts. In the Navy, you don't call in sick. You go to work, check in with your boss, go to sick call and then if medical says your sick you can go home. Since this is our virtual Friday I will just tough it out and rest the next few days.

Read More...

November 03, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (0)

CDR Salamander

One case of euthanasia I can agree with. The excretable FX series, "Over There," has been CANX.

Read More...

November 03, 2005 | Link | Sound Off (1)