I S S U E 1 O C T 2 0 1 9 NAVY EOD Q U A R T E R L Y C O M M U N I C A T I O N G U I D E

IDENTITY

See where we are in developing Navy EOD 2030.

GUIDANCE

CBD & visual information guidance are hot off the press! CLIPS

What's happening in the EOD community and around the Fleet? Contents

In this issue: 3 Message From The Commodores 5 Mission and Vision Update

6 Community Recognition 8 Visual Information Guidance 9 Clips A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMODORES Throughout our 78-year history, we have adapted as a force to implement new and emerging tactics and technology, tackle complex challenges from adversaries, and achieve operational excellence at every level. The faces broad challenges to national security, and our citizens depend on the nation’s successful ability to prevent war, deter attacks, and respond to aggression.

Great EOD leaders have been instrumental in communicating our strategic direction from the top down to the deck plates throughout our history. Effective communication is the bedrock of leadership, and it is our hope to continually improve the top-down communication within the EOD Group clemency.

This quarterly communication guide is not meant to take the place of direct communication but rather serve as another medium for us to talk directly to you, the backbone of the force. We pledge to keep you apprised of our role in the constantly evolving national security environment. We strive for transparency, and we value your feedback on our communication efforts. We too are constantly evolving as leaders, and your feedback will help us improve how information reaches you.

Thank you for all that you do. We are honored to serve alongside you.

CAPT Oscar Rojas CAPT Rick Hayes Commander, EOD Group 1 Commander, EOD Group 2 M I S S I O N A N D V I S I O N U P D A T E

NAVY EOD 2030 A Mission/Vision Working Group, led by members of EODGRU 1 and with collaboration from senior enlisted EOD technicians and officers across the community, worked to consolidate ideas and strategic goals to achieve the EOD Mission and Vision statements. The newly approved Navy EOD Mission and Vision statements are the foundation for Navy EOD 2030 and the strategic direction of the community.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FEEDBACK LOOP

• Develop the force to win against near-peer The Navy EOD mission, vision and strategic competitors and empowered non-state actors objectives will be rolled out to the force through a series of all hands calls and • Expand our crucial advantage against competitors' engagements in October and November. A undersea threats transcription and video will be made available • Capitalize on our ability to counter weapons of mass so that EOD members not assigned to Fleet- destruction concentration areas are included in the roll- • Grow expertise in exploitation of next-generation out. We welcome feedback, thoughts and initiatives from every member of the Navy EOD weapon systems community that can lead us closer to achieving • Embolden our allies' and partners' capabilities our objectives and realizing our vision of living in a Nation that is undeterred by explosive threats.

VISION MISSION We eliminate explosive threats so our fleet and A nation undeterred by nation can fight and win -- explosive threats whenever, wherever, and 5 however it chooses. C O M M U N I T Y R E C O G N I T I O N

ANCHOR DOWN A MESSAGE FROM EODGRU 1 & 2 COMMAND MASTER CHIEFS MARK BRITTAIN & CHAD HARRIS:

Congratulations to our newly selected Chief Petty Officers! Your selection is the culmination of hard work and dedication throughout the span of your career. Your significant triumphs and sacrifices have led you to where you are today, but you did not get here alone. Your Sailors, families and friends have supported you in your career, and you owe them a debt of gratitude for their continued support. Your journeys to this milestone have varied greatly, but you will learn to lean on your fellow selectees and embrace differences throughout the next six weeks. Over the next six weeks, you will be tried, tested, frustrated, sore and exhausted. Each and every obstacle you will face has been designed to prepare you to wear your anchors. You will develop a sense of camaraderie and fraternity with your fellow selectees. We will teach you, and we will learn from you, ultimately growing into a stronger, more capable Chiefs Mess. The significance of your accomplishment cannot be understated. With your selection and acceptance, you will join the ranks of great Chief Petty Officers who have come before you, and you will be charged with carrying on the legacy of those great men and women. Congratulations again on this huge accomplishment. I look forward to working with and getting to know all of you during the next six weeks. Stay motivated, stay humble, stay ready!

EODGRU 1 EODGRU 2 ITC DANIEL EODC THOMAS HMC BARBERAN EODC MEWS MNCCARD AGC ULMER MMC BLACK IV ETC MILLER EODC DEJESUS AGC WASHINGTON BMC BROOKS MNC MONNIN III EODC DENEHIE NDC WELLS ITC BURKHOLDER EODC MORGAN NDC DINETTE YNC WILSON BMC CALAIS ETC PUGH EODC HALL NDC CROWDER EODC RAY QMC HARTLOVE NDC DEANE ISC REA PRC KLINE MNC DIAZ EOC REID EODC KOOB NDC DONNELLY EODC ROBINSON HMC LIBBY EODC GANOUSIS EODC ROMERO EODC MONDRAGONKNAPP EODC GARIBALDO EODC SANCHEZ MAC PARKER EODC GREGORY NDC SMITH EODC PITTS NDC GRENIER EODC WISE MNC REY ETC HERGET ETC WOODS BMC ROMO EODC LONG LSC YAO PSC RUBALCAVA BMC MARTIN NDC YOUNG NDC SLAYDEN GMC MCNALLY EODC ZIPPERER III

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ANNUAL EOD LEADERSHIP AWARDS Rear Adm. Brian Brakke, commander of NECC, recognized this year's recipients of the coveted annual awards

Rear Adm. Brian Brakke presented the annual peer-nominated EOD This year's awardees are: leadership awards to three outstanding warriors. The EOD Association, Tidewater Chapter, hosted a luncheon to recognize the Force Master Chief Anthony Santino recipients of the Kauffman and Childre awards. Brakke recognized Leadership Award: EODCS Bill the recipient of the Santino Award at the Joint EOD Program Board Weber, assigned to EXU 1 in Indian Head, Maryland. Rear Admiral Draper L. Kauffman The Cmdr. Kevin Childre Excellence Award is presented annually to Leadership Award: LT Bryan Bond, one EOD officer or technician dedicated to mentoring, developing, formerly assigned to MDSU 2 and and training EOD leaders. The Rear Adm. Draper L. Kauffman currently assigned to Carrier Strike Leadership Award is presented annually to one deserving EOD Group 2 officer who serves in a platoon or company commander position. The Force Master Chief Anthony Santino Leadership Award is Commander Kevin Childre Excellence presented to one EOD chief or senior chief petty officer technician Award: CWO4 Dirk Palmer, serving in an operational or training leading chief petty officer formerly assigned to EOD Mobile billet. Unit 2 and currently assigned to EOD Group 2 Their focus on training and mentorship, selfless leadership and operational excellence sets the standard for the community. Be sure to extend your congratulations!

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BASIC MEDIA ENGAGEMENT TIPS Accurate, truthful and timely communication increases the credibility and transparency of our organization and enhances the legitimacy of our operations.

BEFORE YOU ENGAGE WITH THE MEDIA, BEFORE YOU ENGAGE WITH THE MEDIA, YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF: YOU SHOULD CONSIDER: Is this a local or national outlet? Your appearance Is it live or recorded? Your background What do they want me to talk about? Background noise What do I want to talk about? Using plain language/avoiding jargon What questions might I be asked? Your tone and emotions

WHEN IN DOUBT, CONTACT YOUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER!

LT Kara Handley MCC Jeff Atherton [email protected] [email protected] o: 619-437-3644 o: 757-917-6781 c: 619-756-3915 c: 812-760-6873 6 G U I D A N C E VISUAL INFORMATION (VI) GUIDANCE TO THE FLEETS From msg DTG R 121001Z AUG 19 to ALFLTFORCOM & ALPACFLT:

1. (U) THIS IS A COORDINATED COMMANDER, U.S. PACIFIC FLEET (COMPACFLT), COMMANDER, U.S. FLEET FORCES COMMAND (COMUSFLTFORCOM), AND COMMANDER, U.S. NAVAL FORCES EUROPE (COMUSNAVEUR) MESSAGE. 2. (U) WE LIVE IN A DANGEROUS, COMPLEX AND RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD. COMPETING WITH GREAT POWERS ACROSS THE GLOBE, THE SECURITY INTERESTS OF OUR NATION AND THOSE OF OUR ALLIES ARE INCREASINGLY CHALLENGED. OUR NAVY EXISTS TO PROTECT OUR NATION, DETER CONFLICT, ENSURE FREEDOM OF THE SEAS AND PRESERVE OUR STRATEGIC INTERESTS. WE MUST ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO FIGHT AND WIN. WE MUST ALSO REALIZE THAT IN TODAY’S WORLD, INFORMATION AND CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT, AND WE MUST BE PREPARED TO DOCUMENT AND REPORT OTHERS CONDUCTING AGGRESSIVE, UNSAFE, AND UNPROFESSIONAL ACTIONS. 3. (U) IN ORDER TO WIN THE BATTLE OF THE NARRATIVE, WE MUST BE FIRST WITH THE TRUTH. WE MUST DELIVER THE VIDEOS AND PHOTOS THAT TELL THE WHOLE STORY VISUALLY, SHOWING THE FACTS AND CONTEXT OF THE ENTIRE ENCOUNTER. WE CANNOT AFFORD VISUALDOCUMENTATION GAPS THAT ALLOW OUR ADVERSARIES TO USE PROPAGANDA AND MISINFORMATION TO CREATE DOUBT AND SWAY PUBLIC OPINION. 4. (U) VISUAL INFORMATION (VI) PRODUCTS MUST BE ABLE TO STAND ALONE AND TELL THE WHOLE STORY (BEGINNING, MIDDLE AND END) BY ACCURATELY DOCUMENTING UNSAFE, UNPROFESSIONAL,OR NEFARIOUS ACTIVITIES. THE AUDIENCE MUST BE ABLE TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE ADVERSARY SHIP/AIRCRAFT AS THE AGGRESSOR AND UNDERSTAND THE FIVE WS (WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, AND WHY), JUST BY VIEWING THE MEDIA. VI PRODUCTS REQUIRE STORYTELLING CONTEXT, AND THEREFORE SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH A WIDE FIELD OF VIEW FOCUSED AT INFINITY. 4.A. (U) PHOTOGRAPHERS/VIDEOGRAPHERS NEED TO CAPTURE CONSISTENT ASPECTS OF BOTH THE TARGET OF INTEREST (SHIP, AIRCRAFT, UNMANNED PLATFORM, ETC.) AND OWN SHIP/AIRCRAFT PHYSICAL REFERENCE POINTS (I.E. ANTENNA, BRIDGE WING, STACK, AIRCRAFT WING, ETC.). CAPTURING RELATIVE MOTION AND POSITIONING BETWEEN PARTICIPANTS IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT. 4.B. (U) UNITS MUST ANTICIPATE THE ACTIONS OF OUR ADVERSARIES AND BE PREPARED TO COLLECT VI PRODUCTS AT ANY TIME. IT IS PREFERABLE TO CAPTURE/RECORD A SAFE AND PROFESSIONAL ENCOUNTER OR WHAT TURNS OUT TO BE A NON-EVENT THAT CAN BE DISCARDED, RATHER THAN AN INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTATION OF AN UNSAFE OR UNPROFESSIONAL INTERACTION. CALL AWAY THE VI TEAMS EARLY. 4.C. (U) RECORDING U.S. ACTIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENCOUNTER IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS RECORDING THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS. IF POSSIBLE, A SECOND CAMERA NEEDS TO CAPTURE OWN SHIP/AIRCRAFTS COURSE AND SPEED THROUGHOUT THE INTERACTION, SO OBSERVERS HAVE EVIDENCE THAT DOCUMENTS MANEUVERS OR ACTIONS BY THE U.S. WERE NOT THE CAUSE OF AN UNSAFE/UNPROFESSIONAL ENCOUNTER, OR SHOW WHAT ACTIONS U.S. FORCES TOOK TO DEFEND THEMSELVES (IF REQUIRED). 4.D. (U) DURING AN ACTUAL VI EVENT, THE COMMAND TEAM WILL OFTEN BE FOCUSED ON KEEPING THE SHIP/AIRCRAFT AND CREW SAFE - OR WORST CASE: DEFENDING THEM. COMMAND VI TEAMS MUST BE READY TO EXECUTE INDEPENDENTLY AND WITHOUT ON- SCENE SUPERVISION. 5. (U) GETTING VI RIGHT REQUIRES AN ALL HANDS FFORT. TYCOMS, TYPE WINGS, AFLOAT TRAINING GROUPS, TACTRAGRUPAC/LANT, AND STRIKE GROUP FOUR/FIFTEEN MUST CONTINUE TO INCORPORATE VI INTO ALL PHASES OF TRAINING FROM THE BASIC PHASE THROUGH COMPTUEX. SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT MUST PRACTICE THE TIMELY DELIVERY OF A HIGH QUALITY "STORYTELLING" PRODUCT. THIS TRAINING MUST INCLUDE DYNAMIC SITUATIONS WITH SHIPS AND/OR AIRCRAFT PARTICIPATING AS OPFOR IN CHALLENGING, GREAT POWER-REPRESENTATIVE SCENARIOS, NOT ONLY SMALL CRAFT OR "TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY" IN STATIC SITUATIONS. 6. (U) TO SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS AND TO MEET THE GUIDANCE ABOVE, CUSFFC/CPF WILL BE RELEASING AN UPDATE TO REF A IN THE NEAR FUTURE. ADDITIONALLY, OUR STAFFS WILL PROVIDE TOOLS TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND "WHAT RIGHT LOOKS LIKE." FINALLY, CUSFFC/CPF WILL COORDINATE WITH THE TYCOMS TO CONDUCT A VI READINESS KILL CHAIN ASSESSMENT TO IDENTIFY ANY DOTMLPF BARRIERS AND SEEK IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS TO ENSURE WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO EXECUTE THIS NO-FAIL MISSION. BOTTOM LINE, WE ALL MUST TURN THE CORNER ON VI. 7. (U) ADM AQUILINO, ADM GRADY, AND ADM FOGGO SEND.//

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9 C L I P S massager. Kenton had been having trouble with neck BEHIND THE STORY: pain the day before, and Shepelew thought the massager might help. He went out and bought one. DISCOVERING THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE NAVY’S BOMB SQUAD JOHN WILKENS, LOS ANGELES TIMES

SAN DIEGO (June 28, 2019) When I first visited Kenton Stacy at the Veterans Affairs hospital in La Jolla, I knew his wife, Lindsey, would be there. I’d been told to expect his mother, too, out from Ohio. Geoff Shepelew surprised me. He’s a Navy bomb technician, and as I quickly learned, part of an unbroken chain of support that “There’s a camaraderie in this group that’s hard to started right after Kenton was injured by a bomb in articulate,” Shepelew said. “We’d do anything for Syria 18 months ago. each other. I know if something happened to me, they The Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team is a would be there for me, too. tight-knit group of about 1,800 enlisted sailors and ”The Stacys welcomed the company. “It shows good 550 officers. Theirs is a bond forged by the work they support,” Kenton whispered. His wife: “What it tells me do, underlined by a kind of gallows humor that shows is they’ll always be there for him.” up occasionally on T-shirts — “initial success or total The caring came through in other ways, too. An EOD failure” — and bumper stickers. parachute-rigger who had worked with Kenton and Since 9/11, about 150 bomb technicians in all admired his strength and resilience got a tattoo in his branches of the service have been killed and 250 honor. Squad members in Virginia pitched in to repair others injured, according to the EOD Warrior a house the Stacys owned in Chesapeake, Md., after Foundation, a Florida nonprofit group. a tenant trashed it. They helped make other fixes so it “When there’s an injury, we all feel it,” Mark Brittain could be sold, and the real estate agent handling the told me. He’s a Navy master chief who oversees bomb sale donated her commission. units on the West Coast. “What happened to Kenton The EOD Warrior Foundation provided grants so that could happen to any of us.” the Stacy grandmothers could fly out from Ohio and So after the explosion, commanders assigned help take care of the couple’s four children. It held a someone to be there with him in his hospital room. fundraising run in San Diego last November and has First in Texas, then in California. Every day. “We another one scheduled this year. wanted him to know that he won’t be forgotten,” “We’re a family,” said Nicole Motsek, the group’s Brittain said. executive director, “and families take care of each The assignment was rotated, one week at a time. other.” Except it wasn’t really an assignment. People Sounds simple. Often isn’t. volunteered, and not just the EOD techs. Special forces team members who had been on deployments with Kenton showed up, too. So did other Navy personnel. They hung out in his room for hours at a time, ran errands for the family, played with the kids. Some flew in from the East Coast, and some came from San Diego. Some had worked with Kenton and knew his family. Some had never met him. Shepelew, assigned to an EOD mobile unit based in Imperial Beach, walked into Kenton’s room at the VA in La Jolla in early March, carrying an electric

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THESE NAVY EOD TECHS FOUGHT OFF 20 ISIS FIGHTERS IN A CAVE DURING SECRET NIGHT RAID Gina Garkins, Military.com SAN DIEGO (July 5, 2019) Two California- based sailors have been recognized for extraordinary heroism during a nighttime raid on a remote Both sailors, who are with Explosive Ordnance Disposal underground Islamic State group hideout, where the Mobile Unit 11, were credited with courage under fire pair fought off 20 terrorists and shielded their comrades and total dedication to duty. from grenades and enemy fire. "The bronze stars placed upon our warfighter's chests Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians 1st Class symbolize everything that is good about our nation," Christopher Greene and Travis Holland were each Capt. Oscar Rojas, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group presented with the Bronze Star with combat "V" device 1's commodore, said at the awards ceremony. last week at Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Greene and Holland are credited with devastating the Beach, California. They were recognized for their enemy's position and stopping their counterattack. The actions during a Sept. 18 mission in Iraq's Anbar province Bronze Star with "V" is the nation's fourth-highest award while assigned to Special Operations Task Force-West. for combat heroism. The team traveled to the ISIS headquarters hideout by Rojas presented the sailors with their medals in front of helicopter during the stealthy overnight raid. Despite Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11's memorial, constant danger of explosive hazards, Greene safely led according to a published Navy account of the the combined assault force to the target and began ceremony. EOD techs locate, identify and dispose of clearing the enemy cave complex, his award citation explosive ordnance -- a dangerous and in-demand states. mission, since terror groups in Iraq and Afghanistan "While clearing the cave of improvised explosive threats, frequently use the bombs to kill and hurt coalition Petty Officer Greene's element was engaged by 15 to forces. 20 enemy fighters barricaded within the cave system," it "Having this ceremony right in front of the memorial of adds. "Without hesitation, he deliberately stepped in the our fallen is a sobering reminder of the business that we line of fire at a critical time to shield his teammates are in," Rojas said at the event. "... The words captured from close range automatic weapon fire." in the [citations], they have true meaning behind them Holland, who'd found the 15 to 20 ISIS fighters because our nation rates the world's most premier EOD barricaded deep inside the cave, shielded the other force." troops from a blast when he saw two terrorists preparing to throw grenades into the main cavern where his team was standing. "Petty Officer Holland positioned himself in the open to shield his team from a potentially fatal blast, while also engaging the enemy combatants who were only three meters away," according to his award citation. "With disregard for his own safety, he repeatedly maneuvered directly in the line of enemy fire to shield his team.

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NAVY RELEASES HEMP

POLICY From Chief of Navy Personnel Public Affairs WASHINGTON (Aug. 7, 2019) Department of the Navy continues to direct Sailors and Marines not to use hemp- derived products in a message released Aug. 7. ALNAV 057/19 references and reiterates current Department of Navy (DoN) policy (SECNAVINST 5300.28F) regarding substance abuse, and it establishes the prohibition of use, ingestion, consumption or application of cannabinoid formulations made or derived from hemp or marijuana. Sailors who test positive for THC or other controlled December 20, 2018, President Donald J. Trump signed substances for which they have no valid prescription are into law the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, subject to mandatory administrative processing and commonly known as the “2018 Farm Bill”. This includes could receive a discharge characterized as “Other Than legislation allowing hemp cultivation and the transfer of Honorable” (OTH), which can affect future veteran’s hemp-derived products across state lines. The benefits and employment opportunities. Additionally, legislation defines hemp as a cannabis plant that the Navy reports unlawful drug users to the Federal contains no more than 0.3 percent of Bureau of Investigation for inclusion in the National tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical compound in Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), cannabis associated with psychoactive effects. With which could impact the ability to purchase firearms or the passage of this legislation, hemp-derived products, ammunition in the future. It is the responsibility of every including cannabidiol (CBD), have become widely Sailor to ensure that he or she is diligent in avoiding available. intentional or accidental exposure to THC and other Navy policy has not been affected by the passage of prohibited substances. the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, and all Information about Navy drug detection and deterrence products derived from hemp or marijuana are still as well as Navy policy on hemp and CBD products can prohibited. While currently deemed legal for civilians in be found at www.ddd.navy.mil. some states, all hemp and CBD products are strictly prohibited for use by Sailors. Commercially-available hemp products, including CBD, have not been inspected by the FDA and therefore have not been proven to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any illness. Some of these products do not list all ingredients, making it impossible to know definitively how much CBD, THC or other synthetic cannabinoids they may contain. Use, which is defined as oral ingestion, intravenous use, smoking/vaporization or any other method through which hemp-derived products may enter the body, could expose the user to THC. It is possible to test positive for THC on a urinalysis by using a CBD or hemp product. It can be impossible to determine where a CBD or hemp product was manufactured and what level of THC it may contain. Even trace amounts of THC can accumulate in the body and be detected in a urinalysis screening.

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Representing U.S. forces are personnel from Explosive U.S., ALLIED FORCES Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5, Coastal Riverine LAUNCH EOD EXERCISE Squadron 2, assigned to Coastal Riverine Group 1 Detachment Guam, III Marine Expeditionary Force, 36th HYDRACRAB Civil Engineering Squadron, and Helicopter Sea Combat From Navy Expeditionary Forces Command Pacific Squadron (HSC) 25. Public Affairs SANTA RITA, Guam (Aug. 14, 2019) -- In a first-of-its-kind event, expeditionary forces from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States arrived in Guam August 14 to conduct Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training in exercise HYDRACRAB.

HYDRACRAB brings together more than 100 Sailors from four Indo-Pacific nations to sharpen skills and strengthen practical cooperation for EOD-related skillsets. The exercise takes place on Guam and around the Marianas Island Range Complex.

"We are very excited to host our foreign partners and friends for the inaugural exercise HYDRACRAB 2019,” U.S. 7th Fleet provides security alongside allies and said Cmdr. Andrew Cook, EOD Mobile Unit 5 partners throughout a free and open Indo- Pacific. As commanding officer. “This exercise serves as a unique the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet opportunity to share tactics, techniques and procedures operates roughly 50-70 ships and submarines and 140 with integrated maritime and air assets that will help aircraft with approximately 20,000 Sailors. increase our collective warfighting effectiveness.”

During the exercise, forces will combine to practice a wide range of expeditionary competencies to include visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS), land and sea insertion techniques, joint demolition operations, small arms proficiency, counter improvised explosive device (CIED) operations, and anti-terrorism force protection (ATFP) diving operations.

“Cooperation between our nations’ premier explosive ordnance disposal forces is paramount to ensuring our readiness to face future conflicts by strengthening partnerships,” said Cook.

Representing Australia are Royal Australian Navy personnel from Clearance Diving Team One and Four. Representing Canada are Royal Canadian Navy personnel from Fleet Diving Unit – Pacific. Representing Republic of New Zealand are Navy personnel from HMNZS Matataua Maritime Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

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and Replenishment at-sea. Onshore, there will be subject US, MALAYSIA KICK-OFF matter exchanges in aviation, woman’s leadership, damage control, military law, public affairs, and medicine. MARITIME TRAINING “MTA Malaysia 2019 will include robust training covering a ACTIVITY 2019 wide spectrum of naval operations,” said Capt. Matthew Petty Officer 2nd Class Tristin Barth, Commander, Jerbi, commodore of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. Logistics Group Western Pacific Public Affairs “This year's schedule of events builds upon decades of LUMUT NAVAL BASE, Malaysia (Aug. 15, 2019) The U.S. side-by-side training that has allowed us to constantly Navy and Coast Guard and the Royal Malaysian Navy evolve and push the boundaries of maritime bilateral (RMN) began Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Malaysia capabilities, and we look forward to working with our 2019 marked by an opening ceremony at Lumut Naval Malaysian partners throughout the week.” Base, Aug. 14. Additionally, sports exchanges and community outreach MTA Malaysia 2019 is a continuation of 25 years of events are scheduled throughout the duration of the maritime engagements between the U.S. Navy and Royal exercise in local schools and community centers as well as Malaysian Navy serving to enhance mutual capabilities in joint band performances at multiple venues by the U.S. ensuring maritime security and stability. Navy 7th Fleet Band and the Malaysian Navy Band. The Pacific Area commander for the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. assets participating in MTA Malaysia will feature the Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, said that working alongside the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS U.S. Navy and international partners in this exercise is an Montgomery (LCS 8), U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton important part of their mission in the Indo-Pacific. “We are (WMSL 752), Safeguard-class salvage ship USNS Salvor proud to operate with our Malaysian partners, and (ARS 52), expeditionary fast transport ship USNS together we are dedicated to strengthening maritime Millinocket (T-EPF 3), Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit 1, an governance and security in support of peace and MH-60S Seahawk helicopter and an MH-65 Dolphin prosperity throughout the region.” helicopter. In addition, the U.S. will be supported by the This year also marks 62 years of diplomatic partnership U.S. 7th Fleet Band. between the U.S. and Malaysia.Vice Admiral Dato’ Aris Adi Royal Malaysian Navy assets include Lekiu-class frigate KD Tan Bin Abdullah, commander of Royal Malaysian Navy Lekiu (F30) and Kasturi-class corvette KD Kasturi (FSG 25), Western Fleet, said the conduct of this MTA is significant RMN Diving Unit, CB90 fast assault craft, a Super Lynx because in addition to the U.S. Navy and Royal Malaysian helicopter and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Navy, it is the first time this exercise has involved the (MMEA) vessel KM Marlin. Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Maritime Training Activity Malaysia builds upon 25 years of Coast Guard. “It also provides better opportunity for both maritime engagement between the U.S. and Malaysia as navies and coast guards to exchange knowledge and well as other exercises in South Asia, Southeast Asia and thoughts while developing a mutual understanding,” he the Pacific Islands including Pacific Partnership, the said. largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and This year’s exercise will feature hundreds of Sailors and disaster relief preparedness mission; Maritime Training Coast Guardsmen from both nations who will come Activity Sama with the ; Pacific Griffin with together throughout five days of at-sea and onshore ; and Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training training designed to enhance naval interoperability.Rear (SEACAT), which involves nearly a dozen partner nations. Adm. Joey Tynch, commander, Task Force 73, who oversees These engagements bring like-minded naval forces theater security cooperation for the U.S. Navy in Southeast together routinely based on shared values and maritime Asia, said this exercise with Malaysia is another layer to security interests. the strong and enduring Navy-to-Navy relationships in the As U.S. 7th Fleet's executive agent for theater security Indo-Pacific. cooperation in South and Southeast Asia, Commander, “This is partnership in action,” said Tynch. “The skills and Task Force 73 and Destroyer Squadron 7 conduct trust built while working together at sea are at the heart of advanced planning, organize resources, and directly maritime security.” support the execution of CARAT and other engagements At-sea, participants will engage in hands-on training in in the region. visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS), mobile dive and salvage, a gunnery exercise, maritime patrol operations

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Commander, Task Force 68 commands all Naval COMMANDER, U.S. 6TH Expeditionary Forces in the U.S. European Command FLEET, PRESENTS AWARDS and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility in direct support of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and TO EODMU 8 U.S. 6th Fleet Maritime and theater security cooperation From Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs strategies and maritime support plans. Capabilities ROTA, Spain (Aug. 15, 2019) Vice Adm. Lisa M. include security,explosive ordinance disposal, Franchetti, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, presented expeditionary construction, diving and salvage, counter awards to Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance IED, and hydrographic survey and expeditionary Disposal Unit (EODMU) 8 during an awards and quarters intelligence. ceremony at Naval Station Rota, Spain, Aug 9, 2019. U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts Accompanying Franchetti was Rear Adm. William J. the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in Houston, deputy commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, and U.S. concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to 6th Fleet Command Master Chief Johannes J. Gonzalez. advance U.S. national interests and security and EODMU 8, assigned to commander, Task Force (CTF) 68, stability in Europe and Africa. remains consistently engaged across two continents conducting EOD, counter-improvised explosive devices (IED) and mine-countermeasure operations supporting U.S. military forces and NATO partners across U.S. 6th Fleet. “It was a true honor to be with EODMU 8 and recognize these Sailors who are on the front line every day advancing our Navy Strategy and building relationships with critical partners,” said Franchetti. “Their dedication to service and hard work is an example to us all and a testament to the great Sailors we have serving in the .” Sailors were awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Junior Sailor of the Quarter, and Blue Jacket of the Quarter. Franchetti also presented the Senior EOD Technician Warfare Device to Explosive Ordnance Disposalman 2nd Class Austin Donelson. “It was a great opportunity to have Vice Adm. Franchetti, Master Chief Gonzalez, and Rear Adm. Houston” said Cmdr. Jeffrey M. DeMarco, commanding officer of EODMU 8. “The crew thoroughly enjoyed interacting with U.S. 6th fleet leadership as Vice Adm. Franchetti highlighted how impactful EODMU 8 efforts were to U.S. 6th fleet strategy and objectives. This was a great occasion to showcase the unique capabilities EOD and Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) bring to support those objectives.” EODMU 8, homeported in Naval Station Rota, Spain, provides EOD capability to locate, identify, render safe, recover, field evaluate and dispose of all explosive ordnance, including underwater, biological, chemical and nuclear weapons.

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The list of accolades for the awardees includes clearing EOD TECHNICIANS RECEIVE structures and weapons caches, rendering safe IEDs, destroying enemy ordnance stockpiles, defeating a first- COMBAT AWARDS By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jeff Atherton, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Aug. 6, 2019) Nine current and former Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU)

6 explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians were presented various combat awards at a ceremony, July 19.

Capt. Richard Hayes, commander of EOD Group 2, presented the following awards:

- EOD Technician 1st Class Kyle Voors: Bronze Star with “V” device for valor, Combat Action Ribbon

- EOD Technician 2nd Class Jerod Shelton: Bronze Star of-its-kind maritime threat platform and manually with “V” device for valor, Navy and Marine Corps clearing paths of a known high-threat area to render Commendation Medal with “C” device for combat immediate lifesaving medical care to a stricken coalition distinction, Combat Action Ribbon service member. - Senior Chief EOD Technician James Cooper: Bronze “I am humbled to be associated with this group of combat Star Medal, Combat Action Ribbon proven Sailors so dedicated to their country, their - EOD Technician 1st Class Kyle Lewis: Bronze Star profession and their teammates,” said Colbert. “These are Medal, Combat Action Ribbon men of enormous courage for whom the words ‘quiet - EOD Technician 1st Class Cullen Brungs: Bronze Star processional’ and ‘calm under pressure’ are not simply a Medal, Combat Action Ribbon catchphrase.” - Lt. Breandan Murtha: Navy and Marine Corps EODMU 6 provides operational EOD forces capabilities to Commendation Medal with “C” device for combat include locating, identifying, rendering safe, exploiting, distinction, Combat Action Ribbon recovering and disposing of all explosive ordnance - EOD Technician 1st Class Dustin King: Navy and including nuclear and chemical weapons Marine Corps Commendation Medal with “C” device for while providing access for conventional and special combat distinction operations forces to maneuver across the full range of - EOD Technician 2nd Class Austin Cox: Navy and Marine military operations. Corps Commendation Medal with “C” device for combat “Seeing these nine Sailors recognized amongst their peers distinction, Combat Action Ribbon and command is an affirmation that they were well - EOD Technician 1st Class Justin Gainey: Combat prepared for their missions, which is perhaps the greatest Action Ribbon responsibility I have as the commanding officer

of EOD Mobile Unit 6,” said Colbert. “Because of the Between the Sailors, Hayes presented five Bronze Star willingness of these Sailors to risk their lives and stand in Medals (two with valor), four Navy and Marine Corps the gap between the supported force and the explosive Commendation Medals with combat distinguishing device threats and weapons employed by their enemies, there are and eight Combat Action Ribbons. numerous special operations forces, both American and “Explosive ordnance disposal technicians are Sailors of partner forces, who are alive today because of our Sailors’ high character and exceptional competence,” said Cmdr. exceptional skill and courage on the battlefield.” Evan Colbert, EODMU 6 commanding officer.

“They are creative thinkers with an uncanny ability to understand and solve complex problems while under enormous pressure and exposed to great risk.” The Sailors all earned the awards in connection with combat operations while assigned to Commander, Task Force 56.1. 1 6 C L I P S

EODMU 6 CELEBRATES KEGBUSTER DAY By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jeff Atherton, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 ublic VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (August 29, 2019) Current and former Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit (EODMU) 6, otherwise known as “Kegbusters,” celebrated the heritage of the command August 29 at a ceremony held aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. “We are gathered here today to shed some light on what it The guest speakers highlighted the history of the command means to be a Kegbuster,” said Cmdr. Evan Colbert, and significant achievements including mine EODMU 6 commanding officer. “The inspiration for countermeasure missions in Operations Desert Shield and Kegbuster Heritage Day came from discussions with past Desert Storm and the recovery of TWA Flight 800 in the and present EODMU 6 Sailors looking for an opportunity to Atlantic Ocean. celebrate the command’s roots, unique history, command The current EOD mission still includes the mine culture and mission success in order to tie together our countermeasure mission but the EOD technicians deploy past, present and future.” world wide in support of Fleet, Joint and Special The Kegbusters, the official nickname of EODMU 6, comes Operations forces. fromthe historic mine countermeasure mission of “busting” “Diving, and mine countermeasures all still part of being a sea mines, which during the American Revolutionary War, Kegbuster today and then some,” said Briggs. “Your CO were made from wooden kegs and flintlock firing and XO were throwing other mission acronyms at me mechanisms. yesterday that I’ve never heard before, but when I look at The moniker pays homage to the original mission of the your command logo today, I still see EOD, diving and mine command, which was established January 1, 1986 in countermeasures. That is the linkage that connects what Charleston, South Carolina and commanded by Capt. we did three decades ago to what you do today. You (retired) Terry Briggs, the ceremony’s guest of honor. are Kegbusters! Own it; buy into it, 33 years ago, today, As the unit’s first commanding officer, Briggs had the and tomorrow. We have that in common. I am just as challenge of establishing EODMU 6 as the Navy’s premier proud of you today as I was of the plankowners of the mine countermeasure unit and quickly made its mark with command 33 years ago.” noteworthy success in the Arabian Gulf in To close the ceremony, Colbert unveiled a replica Civil 1987. War era , donated to the command from the “It has been 33 years, seven months and 23 days since the Coastal Heritage Society of Savannah. command was established,” said Briggs at the ceremony. “The historically accurate replica will be “It is very gratifying displayed on the quarterdeck of EOD Mobile Unit 6 to to see this command where it is today. Although we were serve as a reminder notonly to the command’s southern not Kegbusters in those roots, but also to the command’s 33 years of demonstrated days because the call sign came later, what we do have in success as the Navy’s premier EOD mine countermeasure command is that I can identify with you and you can unit,” he said. identify with me.” EODMU 6, still the Navy’s mine countermeasure experts, added mobility platoons to their arsenal in the emerging war on terror at the turn of the century and relocated from Charleston to Virginia Beach in 2008. The ceremony continued with remarks from former EODMU 6 Sailors Capt. (retired) Brett Reissener, Lt. Cmdr. (retired) Rich Mahone and current EOD Group 2 commodore Capt. Rick Hayes. 1 7

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EOD UNIT SUCCEEDS IN ARCTIC TEST OF UUVS, ANTI-MINE SYSTEMS From Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One Public Affairs

ADAK, Alaska (NNS) -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit One (EODMU-1) successfully tested its ability to operate unmanned underwater vehicles and conduct expeditionary mine countermeasures in very shallow Arctic water. The unit, operating as Combined Task Group 35.1, ran the the limits of unmanned and autonomous systems to tests Sept. 2-12 in waters off of Adak, Alaska, in support of prepare forces to operate in Arctic environments. Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise (AECE) 2019. “Being able to exercise these capabilities as part of AECE To support an amphibious landing for the U.S. Marine 2019 ensures are forces are capable, interoperable, and Corps, the Navy must ensure the path to the beach is free deployable on short notice,” Rojas said. “ExMCM provides of danger to the landing force. Very shallow water, an inherent flexibility, scalability and rapid-deployment defined as depths of 10-40 feet, by limiting underwater capability that a large platform like a ship or aircraft visibility may pose a greater danger of placing personnel cannot match. UUVs are a force multiplier for us, in a minefield. improving the efficiency and range of our capabilities and During the exercise, an expeditionary mine allowing us to work safer and more efficiently in a countermeasure (ExMCM) company attached to EODMU-1 contested environment.” worked together in a man-machine team with unmanned About 3,000 U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel are underwater vehicles (UUVs) to ensure the very shallow participating in Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Exercise water zone was free of hazards. Using the Mk 18 Mod 1 (AECE) 2019 in the Aleutian Islands and south-central Swordfish and Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish, they conducted mine Alaska through Sept. 28. hunting, hydrographic surveys and intelligence preparation AECE is one in a series of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command of the operational environment ahead of additional Navy exercises in 2019 that prepares joint forces to respond to and Marine Corps assets that will be operating in the crises in the Indo-Pacific region. AECE will specifically test region. joint expeditionary force logistical transfer capabilities in The ExMCM company is a 30-person unit with four the Arctic environment, including wet logistics over the elements: the command-and-control element, an shore, expeditionary mine countermeasures, mobile diving unmanned systems platoon, an EOD mine and salvage, offshore petroleum discharge system countermeasures platoon and a post-mission analysis operations and expeditionary infrastructure assessment element. ExMCM companies first deployed in 2014 and program. Navy and Marine Corps participants conduct have continued to prove their capabilities, operating from operational and tactical actions to validate the a variety of platforms in many different environments. Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO), Littoral “Navy EOD is only EOD force that can clear underwater Operations in a Contested Environment (LOCE) and the hazards, making the force a crucial enabler for the Navy Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) and Marine Corps team to be able to maneuver where concepts. they want to, when they want to,” said Cmdr. Brian Reitter, EODMU-1 provides operational EOD capabilities such as commanding officer of EODMU1. “We are excited about locating, identifying, rendering safe, exploiting, recovering the training and evaluation opportunities this exercise has and disposing of all explosive ordnance including chemical afforded us, and we can’t thank the local Adak community and nuclear weapons while providing access for enough for hosting us here.” conventional and special operations forces to maneuver Capt. Oscar Rojas, commodore, Explosive Ordnance across the full range of military operations. Disposal Group One, said Navy EOD is constantly pushing

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WHEN BOMB BLASTS ARE A JOB HAZARD, THIS TEST COULD HELP MEASURE THEIR EFFECTS By John Ismay, New York Times

Similar to the way the National Football League is addressing brain injuries among its players by testing their neuropsychological health at the beginning and end of each season, the Pentagon has in recent years ordered all service members to complete cognitive evaluations before combat deployments, as well as after any blast injuries — The military’s E.O.D. technicians were regularly exposed to such as from an enemy improvised bomb explosion. These blasts in peacetime as they disposed of dud or tests are used to measure troop readiness, though, and unserviceable munitions on controlled ranges, but 18 years are not necessarily entered into the soldier, sailor, airman of sustained combat has meant that these men and or Marine’s medical records. At the joint-service explosive women are often much closer to explosions and are ordnance disposal school at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort afforded less protection from them. This has led to some Walton Beach, Fla., that is about to change. technicians suffering traumatic brain injuries, and those For the first time, all incoming students at the United wounds may be linked to cognitive problems that arise States military’s bomb disposal school in Florida will earlier than they ordinarily would among their civilian complete a computer-based test to assess their cognitive counterparts of the same age, according to the Defense abilities. It is not designed to measure their ability to and Veterans Brain Injury Center. Across the services, complete the demanding course; instead, it will serve as a nearly 316,000 service members have sustained at least a baseline reading of their neurological health before they mild brain injury since 2000, but their effects aren’t always enter a career field in which exposure to powerful apparent. explosions is part of the job description. “To make it through E.O.D. school, it’s a higher standard The Pentagon’s E.O.D. force is small, numbering just under mentally and physically” than for other military careers, 6,500 officer and enlisted technicians across the Army, said Navy Capt. Dean Muriano, who took command of Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, but they have one of Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal in May. “Their the highest deployment rates in the entire military and are mental and physical abilities are all among the top 25 in constant demand to disable and destroy the improvised percent of the people who can get into the military.” So, bombs used by various insurgent forces. As a result, it is even if a technician’s cognitive abilities appear normal for not uncommon to find mid-ranking technicians who have their age group later in life, Muriano said, without a made a half-dozen or more combat deployments, defused baseline reading made at the beginning of their career hundreds of improvised bombs and have also been with which to compare it, it’s not possible to capture the exposed to dozens of powerful blasts at close range. full extent of a cognitive decline. Explosions such as these produce blast overpressure, Muriano compared the idea behind baseline sometimes called a shock wave, which is a wall of dense neuropsychological assessments to how the military has air formed by rapidly expanding gases that damage soft long addressed the issue of hearing loss. To gauge their tissues like brain matter. As it races outward in all hearing, every person who joins the military completes a directions at once, this overpressure can reflect off walls battery of tests called an audiogram, in which they step and terrain features, punch through windows and harm into a soundproof booth, put on a set of headphones and bystanders even when they are taking care to protect listen to a series of tones of varying frequencies and pitch. themselves from an explosion. Pentagon policy requires periodic follow-up audiograms, and if a service member’s hearing is found to have

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BOMB BLAST CONTINUED declined past a certain point, they may be removed from rescue a human life. Above a certain level of accumulated working in areas with high background noise — such as dosage, a person may be prevented from working near engine rooms on ships, or near jet aircraft. radiating sources ever again. The assessment will begin before the end of September While the E.O.D. school’s new cognitive testing process for the incoming classes of E.O.D. students, Muriano said. will help the military better understand the risks of blast But such tests are too late to catch the full extent of harm exposure, it will probably offer only one data point on a suffered by technicians exposed to massive blasts long complicated subject that the military does not yet fully before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. understand: how much blast is too much, especially for Todd Sheckley spent 23 years in Navy E.O.D. and he repeated incidents over time. struggled to understand why he was having trouble “I don’t know if we’ve ever had empirical data on what’s piecing together information or making plans after his safe and what’s not safe,” Muriano said. “We’ve got a long retirement from the service in 2011. “I’ve been married for way to go to learn and to understand the effects of what 26 years so my wife has been there to see the changes,” we do to our brains.” Sheckley said. “Normal people wouldn’t be able to tell.” With deployments to Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and countries around the Middle East, Sheckley destroyed large amounts of captured enemy munitions regularly. But it was most likely while serving in the Philippines in the early 1990s that he suffered his most significant brain injury. As the United States was closing its longstanding base at Subic Bay, Navy leaders decided to destroy immense stockpiles of obsolete explosive shells in situ rather than send them back to the States for disposal. Sheckley and his team ended up working for months, setting off about 200 explosions each day on a demolition range. When they set off each explosion, Sheckley said, he and his teammates were in an open bunker, “but you could still feel the vibration and the shock wave coming over and around.” After years of being told he didn’t have any trauma to his brain by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Sheckley was finally diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury at a specialty clinic at Washington University in St. Louis. Since going through bomb-disposal training himself in 2000, Muriano has seen a growing consensus among military leaders and the medical community that repetitive exposure to blasts may have a cumulative effect that has not been fully quantified. He thinks the services may ultimately require guidelines and restrictions similar to those applied to service members who work around nuclear reactors and other potential sources of ionizing radiation. There are limits for daily exposure, those for single incidents where someone is accidentally exposed to higher levels of radiation and a hard limit for how much radiation someone is allowed to absorb while trying to

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NAVY DIVERS CLEAR SUNKEN FISHING VESSEL FROM HARBOR IN ADAK, ALASKA AS PART OF AECE 2019 By Lt. Kara Handley, EOD Group One Navy divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One (MDSU-1) successfully removed the abandoned fishing vessel (F/V) Heritage from Adak, Alaska’s harbor this week in support of Arctic Expeditionary Capabilities Following AECE 2019, the survey report will be used for Exercise (AECE) 2019. future planning on the salvage of the two tugs. The vessel has been abandoned for over ten years and MDSU-1 will also conduct a shore clean-up and regrade was blocking access to the small boat ramp that is the the boat ramp to ensure it is safe for local use. The U.S. primary launch point for private and commercial fishing Navy pays close attention to its environmental impacts and boats into Adak’s harbor. The Navy divers conducted with any salvage operation, environmental concerns are surveys and inspections on the fishing vessel in May to gain one of the Navy’s top priorities. a full understanding of the job and what personnel and Capt. Oscar Rojas, commodore, Explosive Ordnance equipment would be required for the mission. The divers Disposal Group One, said removing the fishing vessel not also interviewed the local community on their observations only removed a navigational hazard abut also set of the boat over time and determined F/V Heritage was conditions for future military training and operations in the beyond salvageable due to its structural state. region, allowing clearer access to the Bering Sea. He said, After confirming the fuel tanks on the vessel were empty “I’m incredibly proud of the work our expeditionary Navy and residual oil in the hydraulic lines and sumps was divers have conducted up here in Alaska, not only minimal, the divers scrapped the vessel by cutting it in supporting the local community in Adak, but also training place until smaller sections of the vessel could be pulled to clear underwater hazards and repair port facilities—a onto shore for disposal. skill that will be absolutely crucial in a future fight for sea Lt. Cmdr. Leon Faison, an engineering duty officer control.” assigned to MDSU-1 and the officer in charge of the MDSU-1 provides combat ready, expeditionary, rapidly salvage operation, said, “The Navy is thankful for the deployable mobile diving and salvage companies to support from the city of Adak, including all of their conduct harbor clearance, salvage, underwater search business owners and government officials, who have and recovery, and underwater emergency repairs in any graciously welcomed our Navy divers to the area and have environment. MDSU-1, is one of only two such units in the expressed their appreciation for the MDSU-1 mission.” U.S. Navy, and provides Fleet commanders with the ability The salvage and removal operation took approximately to gain or maintain physical access to ports and begin the one week with divers beginning their work on Sept. 2 and process of returning vessels damaged or stranded back to completing the removal Sept. 8. sea. While this salvage and removal operation primarily focused Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group One, the parent on removing an underwater hazard for the community of command of MDSU-1, man, trains and equips Navy EOD Adak, it also provided realistic and relevant training for and expeditionary divers as the world’s premier combat Navy divers in a cold-water environment to ensure they are force for eliminating explosive threats and underwater ready to maintain physical access to ports and contribute hazards so the Fleet and Nation can fight and win to our Nation’s lethality whenever, wherever. wherever, whenever and however it chooses. In addition to removing the sunken fishing vessel, the divers Approximately 3,000 U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are scheduled to conduct surveys on two sunken tug boats personnel are participating in Arctic Expeditionary in the main jetty of Sweeper Cove to include video, Capabilities Exercise (AECE) 2019 in the Aleutian Islands pictures and a summary salvage report to determine and south-central Alaska Sept. 1-28. possible removal or salvage solutions. 1 8