History is made everyday - especially in the Navy! Once again the Navy made a ton of history in 2018. Read the following blog; click on some of the links for more information; and take a look at some of the moments and events that helped make this year another historic one for the Navy.
January
February
March
- Historic First: F35B Lands on Wasp, Launching Era of Increased Navy-Marine Corps Sea-based Capabilities in Indo-Pacific: (March 5, 2018) A detachment of F-35B Lightning II's with Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121) arrived aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) March 5, marking the first time the aircraft has deployed aboard a U.S. Navy ship and with a Marine Expeditionary Unit in the Indo-Pacific.
- US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Vietnam for Historic Visit: (March 5, 2018) USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) arrived in Da Nang, Vietnam, for a scheduled port call March 5, marking the first time a U.S. aircraft carrier has visited the country in more than 40 years.
- Navy Kicks Off ICEX 2018: (March 7, 2018) Commander, Submarine Forces (COMSUBFOR) officially kicked-off Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2018 in the Arctic Ocean with the construction of temporary Ice Camp Skate and the arrival of two U.S. Navy fast-attack submarines and one U.K. Royal Navy submarine, March 7.
- UPDATE 3: Navy Identifies Deceased Sailors in F/A-18F Crash: (March 14, 2018) Two U.S. naval aviators died March 14, 2018, when their F/A-18F Super Hornet crashed on final approach near Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida.
- NAS Key West Responds to Key West F/A-18 Crash: (March 14, 2018) Naval Air Station Key West is providing direct support for the response and recovery efforts following crash of a F/A-18F Super Hornet on its approach to Boca Chica Field, March 14.
- USS Colorado Commissioned: (March 17, 2018) The 15th Virginia-class attack submarine, USS Colorado (SSN 788), was commissioned at during a ceremony on Naval Submarine Base New London, March 17, 2018.
- Navy to Commission New Guided-Missile Destroyer Ralph Johnson: (March 23, 2018) The Navy will commission its newest guided-missile destroyer, the future USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony Saturday, March 24, at Columbus Street Pier in Charleston, South Carolina.
- USS Hue City Rescues Distressed Mariners: (March 27, 2018) Guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) rescued three fishermen March 27 off the coast of Georgia.
April
May
June
- DOD Identifies Navy Casualty (June 17, 2018) Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew I. Holzemer, of Tennessee, died June 17 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, as a result of a non-combat related incident.
- U.S., Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Indian Naval Forces Conclude Malabar 2018: (June 20, 2018) Trilateral maritime exercise Malabar 2018 was conducted off the coast of Guam from June 7 through June 16.
- Pacific Partnership 2018 Concludes: (June 21, 2018) The 13th annual Pacific Partnership mission concluded June 21 after completing mission stops in Japan and throughout South and Southeast Asia.
- U.S. Navy Identifies Casualty: (June 23, 2018) The U.S. Navy announced June 23 the death of a Navy pilot who was involved in a mishap at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.
July
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsJCKSytMe0
August
- Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2018 Concludes: (Aug. 2, 2018) The world's largest international maritime exercise concluded Aug. 2 following more than a month of training events conducted in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.
- Navy Establishes U.S. 2nd Fleet, Vice Adm. Lewis Assumes Command: (Aug. 24, 2018) Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson presided over a ceremony establishing U.S. 2nd Fleet and naming Vice Adm. Andrew "Woody" Lewis as the commander during a ceremony aboard the nuclear aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), Aug. 24, at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.
- U.S. Navy Statements on Passing of Sen. John McCain: (Aug. 25, 2018) Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and the commanding officer of USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), Cmdr. Micah Murphy, released statements Aug. 25 on the death of Senator and Navy veteran John S. McCain III who died Aug. 25 at age 81.
- CNO Selects Fleet Master Chief Smith as 15th MCPON: (Aug. 29, 2018) Following a comprehensive review of potential candidates, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson selected Fleet Master Chief Russell Smith to be the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Aug. 29.
- Jason Dunham Seizes Illicit Arms in Gulf of Aden: (Aug. 30, 2018) The guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet, seized an illicit shipment of arms from a stateless skiff in the international waters of the Gulf of Aden, on Aug. 28.
September
- UCT 2 Renders Assistance Following Plane Crash in Chuuk: (Sept. 28, 2018) U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2 rendered immediate assistance to the passengers and crew of Air Niugini flight PX56, after it crashed into the lagoon near Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, International Airport, Sept. 28.
October
[embed]https://youtu.be/QI7i3cQkwT8
- USS Indiana Brought to Life, Commissioned in Port Canaveral: (Oct. 1, 2018) USS Indiana, the third submarine to bear the name and third vessel to be named for the state, was brought to life by its sponsor, Diane K. Donald, wife of retired Adm. Kirkland Donald, the former director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion and Commander, Submarine Forces.
- Decatur Renders Assistance to Sri Lankan Fishermen: (Oct. 9, 2018) The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) rendered assistance to seven distressed mariners, Oct. 7 - 8, whose fishing boat had suffered an engine malfunction, rendering the vessel inoperable.
- Harry S. Truman Strike Group Enters Arctic Circle, Prepares for NATO Exercise: (Oct. 19, 2018) For the first time in nearly 30 years, a U.S. aircraft carrier entered the Arctic Circle Oct. 19 to conduct operations in the Norwegian Sea.
- U.S. Navy Holds Ceremony to mark First Dedicated UAS Test Squadron: (Oct. 22, 2018) The U.S. Navy commissioned its first Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) test and evaluation squadron during a ceremony Oct. 18 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River's Webster Outlying Field.
November
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t42uYTM0E6M
- U.S. EP-3 Intercepted in the Black Sea: (Nov. 5, 2018) On Nov. 5, 2018, a U.S. EP-3 Aries aircraft flying in international airspace over the Black Sea was intercepted by a Russian SU-27.
- U.S. Navy Aircraft Crashes in Philippine Sea: (Nov. 12, 2018) A Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 F/A-18 experienced a mechanical issue that resulted in the crew ejecting while conducting routine operations in the Philippine Sea, Nov. 12.
- USS Sioux City "Brought to Life" at U.S. Naval Academy: (Nov. 17, 2018) The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest surface combatant, the littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11), during a ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy, Nov. 17.
- USS John S. McCain Leaves Dry Dock, Continues Repairs in Yokosuka: (Nov. 27, 2018) USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) achieved a major milestone this week as it successfully launched from dry dock and moored pierside at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Nov. 27.
- Former President George H.W. Bush dies at age 94 (Nov. 30, 2018) His background was a little different than most who join the military at the age of 18, but his warmth, love of country and drive to serve made him a leader respected up and down his chains of command.
December
- USS Thomas Hudner brought to life in Boston (Dec. 3, 2018) The Navy commissioned its newest surface combatant, USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), Dec. 1 during a ceremony in Boston. Commanded by Cmdr. Nathan Scherry, it is the 66th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and the 36th DDG 51 class destroyer.
- Navy Conducts Unprecedented Flyover for President George H.W. Bush: (Dec. 6, 2018) The act of conducting a ceremonial flyover is nothing new for naval aviators, but the flyover that occurred Dec. 6 is one that has never occurred before in our Navy's history.
- SM-3 Block IIA Launched From Aegis Ashore Successfully Intercepts Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Target During Operational Test: (Dec. 12, 2018) The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and U.S. Navy Sailors manning the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex (AAMDTC) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) at Kauai, Hawaii, successfully conducted Flight Test Integrated-03 (FTI-03).
- Strike Fighter Squadron 147 Declares Safe-For-Flight: (Dec. 12, 2018) The "Argonauts" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 completed their carrier qualifications Dec. 12 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the final required component for Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (CJSFW) to issue the squadron its safe-for-flight operations certification.