Ben Werner

About Ben Werner

Ben Werner is a staff writer for USNI News. He has worked as a freelance writer in Busan, South Korea, and as a staff writer covering education and publicly traded companies for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va., The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C., Savannah Morning News in Savannah, Ga., and Baltimore Business Journal. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree from New York University.


Recent Posts By the Author


Navy Calling Up 1,600 Reservists to Fill in For Shipyard Workers Out for COVID-19

Navy Calling Up 1,600 Reservists to Fill in For Shipyard Workers Out for COVID-19

Norfolk Naval Shipyard workers prepare to install a 2400-pound pilgrim nut on a propeller of the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) on Feb. 12, 2020. George H.W. Bush is currently in Norfolk Naval Shipyard for its Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA). US Navy photo.

The Navy is activating 1,629 reservists to help reduce a carrier and submarine maintenance backlog at its public shipyards that is exacerbated by COVID-19, according to Naval Sea Systems Command.

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White House Orders Review of Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker Program

White House Orders Review of Coast Guard Heavy Icebreaker Program

An artist’s rendering of VT Halter Marine’s winning bid for the U.S. Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter. VT Halter Marine image used with permission

The White House released a memo Tuesday ordering the Coast Guard and other federal agencies to review the planned Polar Security Cutter fleet, a year after awarding the first-in-class icebreaker contract.

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Philippines Freezes Pull-Out From Visiting U.S. Forces Agreement

Philippines Freezes Pull-Out From Visiting U.S. Forces Agreement

USS Wasp (LHD-1) makes a port visit to Subic Bay, the Philippines in support of Exercise Balikatan 2019 on April 1, 2019. US Navy Photo

 

The Philippine government is putting the brakes on its plan to end a critical aspect of its Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S., but experts say it is too soon to tell whether this decision signals a warming relationship between the two allies.

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Navy Continues 2 Weeks Off-Base Isolation for All New Recruits

Navy Continues 2 Weeks Off-Base Isolation for All New Recruits

Recruits march in formation at Recruit Training Command. More than 35,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp. (U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Jennifer Newsome)

The Navy is extending indefinitely its practice of isolating all 750 recruits arriving weekly for boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes for two weeks at off-base hotels and a closed water park.

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USS Russell Transits Taiwan Strait

USS Russell Transits Taiwan Strait

Ens. Ryan O’Neal, from Wichita, Kan., searches for surface contacts from the pilot house as the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG-59) transits the Taiwan Strait on June 4, 2020. US Navy Photo

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG-59) transited the Taiwan Strait Thursday, days after China’s newest aircraft carrier departed for sea trials.

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