Tag Archives: Africom

Expeditionary Seabase USS Hershel 'Woody' Williams Deploys for AFRICOM

Expeditionary Seabase USS Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams Deploys for AFRICOM

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Capt. David Gray, the military detachment officer in charge of the Military Sealift Command expeditionary sea base USS Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams (ESB-4), gives guidance and direction to Sailors while leading a training evolution aboard one of the ship’s ridged-hull inflatable boats while the ship was at anchor in the Chesapeake Bay, Sept. 15, 2019. Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams is conducting mine countermeasures equipment testing. US Navy photo.

Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB-4) kicked off its first deployment today, leaving Virginia for an extended deployment primarily to U.S. Africa Command. Read More →

AFRICOM Nominee: Russia, China Making Major Strategic Inroads in Africa

AFRICOM Nominee: Russia, China Making Major Strategic Inroads in Africa

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Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of the Army Training and Doctrine Command, unveils a plan to modernize recruiting during a press conference Oct. 9, 2018. US Army Photo

As Russia and China are increasing their economic and political influence on Africa’s economic and political development the expense of United States interests, the general tapped to head African Command told senators Tuesday. Read More →

Destroyer Williams Returns to Norfolk Following Troubled Deployment

Destroyer Williams Returns to Norfolk Following Troubled Deployment

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USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) departs Naval Station Norfolk for an eight-month deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility on May 30, 2014. US Navy Photo

USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) departs Naval Station Norfolk for an eight-month deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility on May 30, 2014. US Navy Photo

The guided missile destroyer USS James Williams (DDG-95) returned to homeport late last week following an eight-month deployment in which the senior leadership triad was removed at sea and later convicted of charges of dereliction of duty. Read More →

Destroyer Williams Triad Found Guilty of ‘Dereliction of Duty,’ CMC Was ‘Drunk and Disorderly’

Destroyer Williams Triad Found Guilty of ‘Dereliction of Duty,’ CMC Was ‘Drunk and Disorderly’

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May 31, 2014 photo of Cmdr. Curtis B. Calloway, Command Master Chief Travis Biswell and Cmdr. Ed Handley from the ship's ombudsman Facebook page.

May 31, 2014 photo of Cmdr. Curtis B. Calloway, Command Master Chief Travis Biswell and Cmdr. Ed Handley from the ship’s ombudsman Facebook page.

The leadership triad of the guided missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG-95) has all been found guilty of dereliction of duty in a non-judicial punishment hearing before Capt. Fred Pyle, commander of Destroyer Squadron 2 (DESRON 2), on Thursday, U.S. Fleet Forces Officials told USNI News. Read More →

100 Marines to Liberia by Thursday as Part of U.S. Ebola Response

100 Marines to Liberia by Thursday as Part of U.S. Ebola Response

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U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response board an MV-22B tiltrotor Osprey travelling to Tifnit Military Instillation, Morocco, April 3, 2014. AFRICOM Photo

U.S. Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response board an MV-22B tiltrotor Osprey travelling to Tifnit Military Instillation, Morocco, April 3, 2014. AFRICOM Photo

PENTAGON — U.S. Africa Command is deploying 100 U.S. Marines to Liberia to establish an interim air support for Ebola relief operations ahead of additional Army troops from the 101st Airborne Division due by the end of the month, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters in a Wednesday press briefing. Read More →

Destroyer Commander, XO and CMC Removed At Sea Ahead of ‘Command Climate Investigation’

Destroyer Commander, XO and CMC Removed At Sea Ahead of ‘Command Climate Investigation’

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USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) departs Naval Station Norfolk for an eight-month deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility on May 30, 2014. US Navy Photo

USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) departs Naval Station Norfolk for an eight-month deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility on May 30, 2014. US Navy Photo

CLARIFICATION: A previous version of this post used the term, “relieved” to describe the removal of the commander, executive officer and senior enlisted sailor of USS James E. Williams (DDG-95) in the headline and body of the story. Those references have been changed to, “removed.”

The commander, executive officer and the senior enlisted sailor of the guided missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG-95) have been removed of their commands ahead of an “investigation into the command climate,” aboard the ship, according to a statement issued Tuesday evening by U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Read More →

Analysis: The U.S. Navy's High-Low Mix

Analysis: The U.S. Navy’s High-Low Mix

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USS Nicholas (FFG 47) departs Souda Bay, Greece harbor following a port visit on Feb. 11, 2013. US Navy Photo.

USS Nicholas (FFG-47) departs Souda Bay, Greece harbor following a port visit on Feb. 11, 2013. US Navy Photo.

Interaction with partner navies around the world is a centerpiece of “A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Sea Power,” the document that guides U.S. Navy maritime operations. One of the strategic imperatives in that directive demands that the Navy “[f]oster and sustain cooperative relationships with more international partners.” That task is extraordinarily difficult because of the disparity between U.S. ships and partner vessels in size and capabilities.

The recent decision to retire seven aging Aegis cruisers eases the disparity to some extent, but also highlights an ongoing debate about the future of the naval force structure. Those seven cruisers are in addition to the five Ticonderoga-class ships scheduled for decommissioning in 2013 and the six Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates also designated to leave the fleet this year. The retirement of the frigates raises old issues. The current naval construction program will replace the “low-end” warships with littoral combat ships (LCSs). The Navy needs the high-low mix across the spectrum of tactical mission areas, but how can this best be achieved?

A new book by former deputy undersecretary of the Navy Seth Cropsey stirs this boiling pot. Read More →