NORFOLK, Va. — The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) returned to its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, concluding Continuing Promise, Dec. 21, 2022, said Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Deven Fernandez, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet, in a release. 

The Continuing Promise 2022 team worked collectively with participating host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in Caribbean, Central and South American region. 
 
Comfort visited Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Haiti throughout the mission. The crew aboard Comfort included U.S. military and civilians, more than a dozen non-governmental organizations and military members from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Netherlands and United Kingdom. 
 
Continuing Promise 2022 saw more than 13,000 patients, participated in more than 25 subject matter expert exchanges, conducted five humanitarian assistance and disaster relief workshops, shared in 18 Women, Peace and Security initiative events and partook in 11 community relations engagements. 
 
“I am so delighted to have shared this remarkable experience with the men and women of the Continuing Promise 2022 team,” said Capt. Kathryn Elliott, commanding officer of the Medical Treatment Facility aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). “We overcame adversity to provide medical care to the community in these host nations. Along the way we learned so much from our partners. The exchange of information that took place was vital to building upon our long-lasting relationships with the countries of this region. This is Comfort’s mission and a true continuing promise.” 
 
Over the course of the 2-month mission, there were many accomplishments by the Comfort team. Here are a few of the highlights from Continuing Promise 2022. 
 
Puerto Barrios, Guatemala 
Oct. 26 – Oct. 31 
• 44 surgeries conducted 
• 2,957 prescriptions filled 
• 7 concerts performed by the U.S. Fleet Forces band 
• Pediatric cardiology care provided, which is not available in the area 
• Provided life changing surgeries, such as receiving full use of hands 
 
Puerto Cortes, Honduras 
Nov. 1 – Nov. 7 
• 23 surgeries conducted 
• 3,350 prescriptions filled 
• 7 concerts performed by the U.S. Fleet Forces band 
• Held refresher course of BLS for the volunteers at the Red Cross 
• Refurbished local school in Puerto Cortes 
 
Cartagena, Colombia 
Nov. 11 – Nov. 20 
• 143 surgeries conducted 
• 7,012 prescriptions filled 
• 6 concerts performed by the U.S. Fleet Forces band 
• Refurbished local school by adding a new coat of paint 
• Supported embassy in the handover of materials to local community 
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 
 
Nov. 27 – Dec. 6 
• 87 surgeries conducted 
• 7,446 prescriptions filled 
• 137 patients received physical therapy treatment 
• 209 X-Rays taken 
• 78 Ultrasounds performed 
 
Jeremie, Haiti 
Dec. 11 – Dec. 17 
• 14,012 prescriptions filled 
• 1,035 patients seen 
• 55 pallets of medical supplies and other goods donated 
 
Since its inaugural mission in 2007, Continuing Promise missions have treated more than 595,000 patients and conducted over 7,250 surgeries in the region. The successful completion of the mission marks the end of the 12th Continuing Promise. 
 
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region. 

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753) returned to their homeport Dec. 21 in North Charleston following a 94-day deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe – Africa area of operations, the Coast Guard Atlantic Area said in a release.   

Hamilton’s crew operated in support of the U.S. Sixth Fleet and was tasked to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.  

Hamilton began its deployment with a transatlantic voyage to Rota, Spain and met with operational commanders from U.S. Sixth Fleet. After Spain, the cutter transited through the English Channel and Danish Straits, two vitally significant waterways that provide safe passage for 15% of the world’s shipping.  

Immediately upon entering the Baltic Sea region, Hamilton conducted at-sea exchanges with naval, coast guard and border guard forces of multiple Baltic Sea allies and partners, including Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Each engagement was oriented to support either traditional Coast Guard missions or in combination with defense readiness exercises used to enhance interoperability between the U.S. and NATO partners.  

As the first U.S. military vessel to visit Turku, Finland in over a decade, Hamilton hosted public tours of the cutter and held a reception for U.S. and Finnish government and military leaders. Guests included the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Finland, the deputy chief of the Finnish Border Guard, the state secretary of the Ministry of Interior and the mayor of Turku. The visit also served to reinforce the long-standing partnership between the Finnish Border Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard.   

Additionally, Hamilton is the first U.S. Coast Guard cutter to visit Riga, Latvia in more than 20 years. The crew met with the U.S. ambassador to Latvia and hosted a reception on board Hamilton for members of Latvia’s navy and coast guard to include the Latvian navy’s chief of staff and the commander of the Latvian coast guard. Hamilton also served as a backdrop to Latvia’s 104th Freedom Day celebration alongside NATO forces.   

“It was an honor to grow the relationship between the United States and our Baltic Sea allies and partners during engagements both at sea and in port,” said Capt. Matthew Brown, commanding officer of Hamilton. “By working side by side with our current and future NATO allies, we learned just how much we have in common, and we were left with a stronger appreciation for our shared values. I could not be more proud of this crew’s hard work and sacrifice while serving as the United States’ representatives in the Baltic.”  

Hamilton’s deployment demonstrated the strategic value of conducting meaningful at-sea engagements, subject matter exchanges and port visits with allies and partners in the high northern latitudes and Baltic Sea region. The U.S. maritime services regularly operate with partner nations to cultivate a cohesive force to maintain freedom of the seas, ensure free economic exchange and maintain maritime security.  

“The U.S. Coast Guard is a proud and capable partner of the U.S. Joint Forces serving in the Europe and Africa areas of operations,” said Vice Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, commander of Coast Guard Atlantic Area. “We will continue to build maritime domain awareness and share best practices with our partner nations’ navies and coast guards.”    

Hamilton is a 418-foot, Legend-class national security cutter with a crew of 160. With its robust command, control, communication, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, the NSC is the most technologically advanced ship in the Coast Guard’s fleet. NSCs are a worldwide deployable asset that supports the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and national objectives to include drug interdiction, migrant interdiction, national defense, search and rescue, fisheries enforcement and national intelligence collection.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigorous (WMEC 627) returned to their homeport in Virginia Beach Dec. 21, following a 48-day patrol in the Northern Caribbean Sea, the Coast Guard Atlantic Area said in a release. 

In support of the Coast Guard’s Seventh District, Vigorous’ crew conducted maritime safety and security missions as they responded to the historically high migration activity and remained prepared to interdict and disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics in the South Florida Straits and Windward Pass.  

During the patrol, Vigorous traveled more than 8,000 miles and contributed to the safe transfer of more than 500 Cuban nationals. Vigorous worked with numerous Coast Guard assets, U.S. Customs and Border Protection boats and good Samaritan vessels to detect, deter and intercept unsafe and illegal ventures bound for the United States. 

“The Vigorous crew’s remarkable professionalism, competence and determination were on full display as we met the diverse challenges of operations at sea,” said Cmdr. Ryan Waters, commanding officer of Vigorous. “Whether executing days of small boat operations late into the night or rendering assistance to mariners on a disabled vessel, the Vigorous crew exceeded expectations at every turn. After a successful patrol, we look forward to returning home to our family and friends on shore.” 

Vigorous is a 210-foot, Reliance-class medium-endurance with a crew of 74. The cutter’s primary missions are counter-drug operations, migrant interdiction, enforcing federal fishery laws and search and rescue in support of U.S. Coast Guard operations throughout the Western Hemisphere.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Researchers with Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC)’s Enteric Diseases Department have partnered with the National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to begin phase 1 testing of a new Campylobacter jejuni vaccine, NMRC announced in a Dec. 19 release. 
 
Campylobacter jejuni, a foodborne pathogen, is one of the most common causes of diarrheal illness in the U.S. and abroad, and can impact readiness of deployed or traveling service members. 
 
Phase 1 testing, currently underway at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, focuses on the safety and best means of Campylobacter vaccine delivery. Researchers will vaccinate 60 patients in total as part of Phase 1 testing. This first phase of testing is expected to continue through the end of 2023. 
 
Phase 2 testing will involve vaccinating groups of adults with a dose of the vaccine determined in phase 1, to determine its effectiveness in protecting against Campylobacter. NMRC researchers expect to begin phase 2 testing by 2025 at the earliest, depending on funding and the facilities available. 
 
Diarrhea is a frequently occurring illness during military operations, despite modern preventive medicine efforts. The impact of severe diarrhea can be debilitating and impair a service member’s ability to do their job. Acute diarrheal illness during deployment is commonly responsible for loss of duty days, negatively affects mission readiness and may be fatal in the worst cases. 
 
“With really infectious diarrhea, you get cramping, and if you have cramps, you can’t really operate,” said Dr. Frederic Poly, head of NMRC’s Enteric Diseases Department, who has been involved with the project since 2005. “You can develop a fever; you’re going to get dehydrated and you’re going to lose cognitive perception. These are all symptoms that will negatively impact how you function.” 
 
Following recovery from initial infection and bouts of diarrhea, individuals can still experience long-term effects of infection. 
 
“With Campylobacter, there’s potential downstream effects, like irritable bowel syndrome or Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can lead to respiratory and neurological issues,” noted Lt. Yuliya Johnson, a microbiologist with NMRC. “It doesn’t happen to everyone, but there is still an associated risk we hope to mitigate by developing a vaccine.” 
 
According to Poly, this vaccine will be the first developed for use against Campylobacter, and if successful, has the potential to benefit civilian and pediatric populations as well. Vaccination at a young age can curb developmental issues caused by diarrhea that might otherwise affect physical and mental development in children. 
 
Poly, NMRC’s most recent senior civilian of the quarter for science, leads the NMRC Enteric Diseases Department. The department, composed of 23 full time microbiologists, molecular biologists, biochemists and immunologists, researches treatments for the prevention of infectious bacterial diarrhea. 
 
This past year, the department completed development and clinical evaluation of a prophylactic against another military relevant enteric pathogen, ETEC (enterotoxigenic E. coli). The enteric diseases lab is also working on the development of an oral prophylactic to prevent infection from several other intestinal pathogens. 
 
NMRC and its commands are engaged in a broad spectrum of activity from basic science in the laboratory to field studies in austere and remote areas of the world to investigations in operational environments. In support of the Navy, Marine Corps and joint U.S. warfighters, researchers study infectious diseases, biological warfare detection and defense, combat casualty care, environmental health concerns, aerospace and undersea medicine, medical modeling, simulation, operational mission support, epidemiology and behavioral sciences. 

PASCAGOULA, Miss. — HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division started fabrication of the U.S. Navy’s newest amphibious assault ship Fallujah (LHA 9) on Dec. 19, the company said in a Dec. 20 release. The start of fabrication signifies that the first 100 tons of steel have been cut for the ship and that the shipyard is ready to move forward with the construction of the ship.  

“Our shipbuilders are proud of the work they do for the security of our nation and for our Navy and Marine Corps customers,” said Eugene Miller, Ingalls Shipbuilding LHA program manager. “The start of fabrication on Fallujah is a significant milestone in the construction of this large-deck amphibious ship and demonstrates our ability to maintain a sustained LHA production line at Ingalls.”  

For nearly 50 years, Ingalls has built large-deck amphibious assault ships and is the sole shipbuilder for amphibious ships. Ingalls has delivered 15 large-deck ships, including the Tarawa-class, LHA 1-5; the Wasp-class, LHD 1-8; and most recently the America-class, LHA 6 and LHA 7. The third of the America class, Bougainville (LHA 8), is currently under construction.  

The America class is a multi-functional and versatile ship that is capable of operating in a high density, multi-threat environment as an integral member of an expeditionary strike group, an amphibious task force or an amphibious ready group.  

In October, Ingalls was awarded the $2.4 billion U.S. Navy fixed-price-incentive contract for the detail design and construction of Fallujah. Similar to Bougainville, Fallujah will retain the aviation capability of the America-class design while adding the surface assault capability of a well deck and a larger flight deck configured for F-35B Joint Strike Fighter and MV-22 Osprey aircraft. These large-deck amphibious assault ships also include top-of-the-line medical facilities with full operating suites and triage capabilities.  

NEWPORT, R.I. — HII collaborated with the Navy on a research and development effort that advanced the launch and recovery of a large-size unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV), using an amphibious ship and HII’s Pharos system, the company said in a Dec. 20 release. 

“This is a great example of synergies within HII that accelerate the Navy’s vision for the future fleet,” said Chris Kastner, HII president and CEO. “I’m proud of the cross-division teaming, plus the pace of progress of unmanned systems toward launch and recovery from an amphibious ship.” 

Building on the success of a June 2022 demonstration where HII launched and recovered its large diameter UUV Proteus with its Pharos system, HII entered into two separate Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) to further advance the capability to deploy unmanned vehicles from ships. The CRADAs were with Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City division and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport, Rhode Island. 

Led by the company’s Advanced Technology Group, comprised of members from Mission Technologies and Ingalls Shipbuilding divisions, HII designed and constructed a surrogate system which was land tested in Panama City, Florida, to ensure the system could accommodate the Navy’s Snakehead phase one large displacement unmanned undersea vehicle (LDUUV) in a loaded condition. The test demonstrated that Pharos can be adapted to a wide range of vehicles, including LDUUVs. 

Following that successful demonstration, Pharos and the Snakehead LDUUVs were tested at the Navy’s Narragansett Bay Test Facility in Newport. Pharos, with the Snakehead LDUUV embarked in its cradle, was lowered down and pulled up a ramp to simulate disembarking and embarking the system in the well deck of an amphibious ship. The simulation ensured that the 22,000-pound pull was within the existing capabilities of an LPD as operating in the Navy fleet. 

“These demonstrations validate a near term launch and recovery capability for the Pharos system,” said Todd Borkey, HII’s executive vice president and chief technology officer. “HII accelerates the transitioning of new technology into the customer’s mission, thus we are eager to enter the next phase of testing and demonstrate a launch and recovery from an LPD.” 

The Pharos system began as a corporate independent research and development project. Ingalls Shipbuilding developed over 40 launch and recovery concepts from a mothership. These concepts were down-selected to the Pharos system with the objective of demonstrating the launch and recovery capability of a LDUUV from an LPD. Ingalls Shipbuilding and Mission Technologies took the Pharos concept and collaboratively designed, developed and constructed Pharos to enable the demonstrations. 

PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. ­— The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Forward (WMEC 911) offloaded approximately 13,375 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $176 million in Port Everglades, Florida, Dec. 15, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a Dec. 19 release. 

The drugs were interdicted in the international waters of the Caribbean Sea by crews from Forward, Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron and Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 408 on the HNLMS Holland (P840). 

Throughout the patrol, Forward held approximately 18,500 pounds of cocaine on deck worth an estimated $244 million. Earlier this month, Forward transferred approximately 4,365 pounds of cocaine to USCGC Campbell (WMEC 909) and 1,654 pounds of cocaine to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Forward also intercepted three suspected narcotics smugglers and held 12 others.  

“Working with the Dutch to support multi-national interests in the Caribbean is greatly rewarding,” said Cmdr. Staci K. Rutsch, Forward’s commanding officer. “Coupled with our ship’s organic law enforcement capabilities, this patrol led to a significant removal of illicit narcotics from the maritime domain. Opposing transnational criminal organizations is important in maintaining our partnerships and keeping our partners in the central Caribbean safe. I could not be more proud of the crew’s hard work in supporting this mission.” 

The fight against drug cartels in the Caribbean Sea and the transnational criminal organizations they are associated with requires a unity of effort in all phases; from detection and monitoring to interdiction and apprehension, and on to criminal prosecutions by international partners and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in districts across the nation. 

Forward is a 270-foot Famous-class medium-endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia, with a crew of 97. The cutter’s primary missions include law enforcement, search and rescue, protection of living marine resources, homeland security and defense operations, international training and humanitarian operations throughout the Western hemisphere. 

BOSTON — Sea Machines Robotics Inc. has installed its new AI-ris computer vision product onboard a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) 270-foot Famous-class medium-endurance cutter ahead of the vessel’s upcoming deployment. AI-ris uses artificial intelligence to identify and track visual targets of interest.   

This installation was made possible under an ongoing Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between Sea Machines Robotics and the USCG Research and Development Center in an effort to evaluate how computer vision systems can be utilized for autonomous navigation, collision avoidance and target detection. The deployment of AI-ris provides the USCG a new tool for maritime domain awareness and allows Sea Machines to refine its computer vision technology with feedback from the USCG across diverse environmental conditions and operational scenarios.  

The collaboration between Sea Machines and the U.S. Coast Guard began in 2020 following the USCG Research and Development Center selecting the Sea Machines’ SM300 remote command and autonomy product for their 29-foot research vessel.  

Sea Machines CEO Michael G. Johnson stated, “The close collaboration between Sea Machines and the United States Coast Guard Research and Development Center extends deeply into their mission-oriented service. The USCG is a branch of the armed forces, a law enforcement agency, a regulator, a member of the U.S. Intelligence community, and a first responder. Sea Machines’ goal is to lead with new technologies that advance on-water operations and support the Coast Guard in the many missions they serve.”    

YOKOSUKA, Japan — Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG 86) arrived in its new forward-deployed location of Yokosuka, Japan, Dec. 19, joining Commander, Task Force (CTF 71)/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the squadron’s Public Affairs said in a release. 
 
The forward presence of USS Shoup enhances the national security of the United States and improves its ability to protect strategic interests. USS Shoup is a multi-mission ship with air warfare, submarine warfare and surface warfare capabilities. It is designed to operate independently or with carrier strike groups, surface action groups and amphibious ready groups. 
 
“We are looking forward to having USS Shoup join our forward-deployed team,” said Capt. Walter Mainor, commander, Task Force 71. “USS Shoup will be instrumental to U.S. 7th Fleet’s ability to strengthen bonds with our Allies and partners, and our continued commitment to regional maritime security and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.” 
 
The United States values Japan’s contributions to the peace, security and stability of the Indo-Pacific and its long-term commitment and hospitality in hosting U.S. forces forward deployed there. These forces, along with their counterparts in the Japan Self-Defense Forces, make up the core capabilities needed by the alliance to meet our common strategic objectives. 
 
Maintaining the most advanced ships and a forward-deployed naval force (FDNF) capability supports the United States’ commitment to the defense of Japan and the security, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region. This allows the most rapid response times possible for maritime and joint forces, and brings our most capable ships with the greatest amount of striking power and operational capability to bear in the timeliest manner. 
 
“Shoup is excited for the opportunity to join 7th Fleet and the FDNF ships in Yokosuka, Japan” said Cmdr. Dale Tourtelotte, USS Shoup commanding officer. “Our Sailors have trained diligently over the past few years in preparation for this transition. We are ready to support our allies and partners in the region in maintaining maritime security. Additionally, we are appreciative of the hospitality shown to our families who have been living in Japan for the past few months. We are eager to arrive in Yokosuka.” 
 
Shoup is a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke Class Aegis guided missile destroyer that can deploy with two MH-60 variant helicopters. It also has improved ballistic missile defense, anti-air and surface warfare capabilities. The ship is 155 meters in length; displacing approximately 9,200 tons, with a crew size of approximately 270 Sailors. The ship was commissioned June 22, 2002. 
 
CTF 71/DESRON 15 is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. 

WASHINGTON — The Navy’s first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) completed Builder’s Trials on Dec. 15, 2022, Team Ships Public Affairs said in a release. 

Builder’s trials consist of a series of in-port and at-sea demonstrations that allow the shipbuilder to assess the ship’s systems. For DDG 125, these trials also mark the first opportunity to test the new Flight III systems while underway. The trials are conducted by the shipbuilder, Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Mississippi.   

“Embarking on Builder’s Sea Trials is a significant accomplishment for the DDG 51 program,” said Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 class program manager, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships. “As the first Flight III ship, DDG 125 is the culmination of years of dedication and perseverance to design, build, and integrate the Flight III capability of BL 10, AMDR and the supporting systems such as the new Electric Plant and associated upgrade to the Machinery Control System.” 

The future USS Jack H. Lucas will be the 75th Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class destroyer, and the first of the DDG 51 Flight III ships. The Flight III upgrade is centered on the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar and incorporates upgrades to the electrical power and cooling capacity. Flight III is the fourth Flight upgrade in the proud history of the class, and the largest upgrade to date. 

The DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG 51) is a multi-mission guided missile destroyer able to operate offensively and defensively, independently, or as units of Carrier Strike Groups, Expeditionary Strike Groups and Surface Action Groups. These ships respond to the full range of military operations including Low Intensity Conflict/Coastal and Littoral Offshore Warfare scenarios and open ocean conflict, providing or augmenting power projection. Flight III ships will fill the critical need for enhanced surface combatant Integrated Air and Missile Defense.   

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division is also under construction on the future Ted Stevens (DDG 128), Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), George M. Neal (DDG 131) and Sam Nunn (DDG 133).