Navy

SAN DIEGO – USS Boxer (LHD 4) celebrated one of the Navy’s oldest traditions with a ceremony in the ship’s upper vehicle deck, Feb. 18.

Sailors and guests joined Boatswains Mate 2nd Class Steven Valdez and his family for the baptism of Valdez’s first child using the ship’s bell.

Shipboard baptisms began hundreds of years ago with the British Royal Navy in foreign ports and at sea. Before the ceremony, the ship’s bell is removed from the headstock and placed in a stand upside down. During the ceremony, the minister baptizes the baby inside the bell and after the ceremony, the child’s name is engraved inside the bell.

The ceremony was performed by retired Navy Chaplain Cmdr. Keith J. Shuley and was Boxer’s first baptism onboard in more than two years.

“Being baptized on the ship is important for a number of reasons,” said Shuley. “It’s a Navy tradition to be able to remember the commemoration of a child to God as people understand him. It goes back before the U.S. Navy. They have been performed throughout history within the British Navy and have been a tradition in medieval navies, as well. It’s a great and important moment for the crew, for the ship, for the family and for the child.”

Valdez noted how helpful the ship’s two religious personnel specialists were in arranging this ceremony.

“The RPs [religious personnel specialists] have been amazing,” said Valdez. “Through this whole process they have had all the answers and made it so easy and stress-free for my family and me.”

The ship’s bell will remain onboard as long as the ship remains in service. After Boxer’s decommissioning, the bell will be preserved by the Naval History and Heritage Command.

“It’s extremely special to me,” said Valdez. “To be able to restart the tradition of people getting baptized onboard again. It means everything to my family, and we are absolutely over the moon to have the ceremony performed here.”

Boxer is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship commissioned February 11, 1995 and is the sixth ship to bear the name. Boxer’s crew is made up of approximately 1,200 officers and enlisted personnel and can accommodate up to 1,800 Marines.

DILI, Timor-Leste – Amphibious transport dock USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)/Marine Exercise (MAREX) Timor-Leste, Feb. 15.

CARAT/MAREX Timor-Leste is a bilateral exercise between Timor-Leste and the United Sates designed to promote regional security cooperation and maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships.

“This past week contributed to regional maritime security by enhancing our ability to work side-by-side at sea and ashore across a wide range of naval competencies,” said Capt. Doug Langenberg, commanding officer of John P. Murtha. “As two maritime nations who understand the vital role of protecting our seas and sovereignty, the lessons we are able to leave with here today will only strengthen our ability to build international stability and contribute to global prosperity.”

CARAT/MAREX Timor-Leste strengthened relationships through information sharing, subject matter expert exchanges and training, bonding together through a game of soccer, and closed with a reception aboard the ship.

“CARAT Timor-Leste has been one of the main exercises I have been looking forward to on this deployment,” said Ensign Avery Fries, John P. Murtha’s 2nd division officer. “I am so thankful to President Ramos-Horta and Captain Neves for welcoming us and inviting us to participate in a dual military soccer game for the opening ceremony. Being able to take our shared passion of soccer outside the Navy and use it to build comradery among our services is what the game is all about.”

CARAT/MAREX Timor-Leste is a bilateral exercise between Timor-Leste and the United States designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability.

In its 28th year, the CARAT series is comprised of multinational exercises, designed to enhance U.S. and partner navies’ abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 13th MEU are trained to operate in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

As the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed destroyer squadron (DESRON) in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore, functions as Commander, Task Force 76/3 Sea Combat Commander, and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements as the executing agent of Commander, Task Group CARAT.

Task Force 76/3 recently formed as a result of merging the staffs of Navy’s Task Force 76, 7th Fleet, and 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

ADRIATIC SEA – Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit 12, assigned to Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, participated in exercise MAGRE 23.1 in Cartagena, Spain, Jan. 28-Feb. 4, 2023.

MAGRE was composed of multiple exercises including moored mine procedures, disposal procedures, maritime improvised explosive device drills, and underwater demolition.

“Working with our Spanish counterparts during MAGRE demonstrated the depth of knowledge each unit has and how we can foster professional growth across the international EOD community,” said Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1st Class Steven Virgilio, a member of EOD Mobile Unit 12. “The diversity of exercises during MAGRE helped each of us hone our craft as EOD Technicians and contributed to the critical transfer and development of knowledge for all partner units involved.”

The exercise is designed to increase interoperability and interchangeability between naval mine warfare and Mine Counter Measure (MCM) forces across U.S., ally, and NATO partner forces in the region. At a time when maritime operations are so pivotal to maintaining political and economic freedom and stability in the European region, having highly developed EOD/MCM personal helps ensure secure transits for NATO assets.

“Exercise MAGRE enabled us to increase our proficiencies and strengthen the warfighting readiness of EOD units across the NATO allies,” said Spanish Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Jorge Carrasco, a member of the Unidad De Buceadores MCM forces. “We look forward to more opportunities to train and work with our partners and become stronger, more capable operators together.”

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CN 77) is the flagship of CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG. CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W. Bush, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Information Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55).

The ships of DESRON-26 within CSG-10 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119).

The squadrons of CVW-7 embarked aboard the George H.W. Bush are the “Sidewinders” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86, the “Jolly Rogers” of VFA-103, the “Knighthawks” of VFA-136, the “Pukin Dogs” of VFA-143, the “Bluetails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, the “Patriots” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, the “Nightdippers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, and the “Grandmasters” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46.

For over 80 years, NAVEUR-NAVAF has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

The George H.W. Bush CSG is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.