What’s INSIDE www.issuu.com/navyregionhawaii Paying tribute on Hurricane preparedness Hawaii participates in MFSC hiring event Memorial Day See page A-4, B-1 DoD Warrior Games See page B-5 www.hookelenews.com See page A-2, A-3 See page B-4 June 1, 2018 Volume 9 Issue 21 USINDOPACOM renamed, changes leadership U.S. Navy photo by MC2 James Mullen Adm. Phil Davidson, left, relieves Adm. Harry Harris, right, as commander of U.S. Indo-Pacifi c Command. Public Affairs Commu- mately engaged with over At a time of increasing important security and power within U.S. Pacifi c USS Taylor (FFG 50). nication & Outreach half of the earth’s surface contention in the region, operational assignments.” Command ... To our allies Ashore, Davidson has and its diverse popula- Harris conveyed his Davidson, a native of here in the Indo-Pacific, served in fleet, inter- Adm. Phil Davidson tion,” Mattis said. “The respect and confidence St. Louis and 1982 grad- you will have no better agency and joint tours relieved Adm. Harry United States is today in his successor to the uate of the U.S. Naval ally. To our partners, I as a flag officer. During Harris as commander, and has been for two cen- critical post in the Academy, reflected on look forward to advancing the ceremony, Mattis an- U.S. Indo-Pacific Com- turies a Pacifi c nation.” Indo-Pacifi c. U.S. Pacific Command’s our partnership in a nounced that PACOM mand (USINDOPACOM), Harris, born in Japan “Admiral Phil Davidson pivotal role in regional way that serves our was changing its name as in a ceremony May 30 and reared in Tennessee is well-suited to operate peace and security, and mutual interests.” well as its commander. at Joint Base Pearl and Florida, is a 1978 in the complex interna- reiterated American com- Davidson, the 25th “In recognition of the Harbor-Hickam. graduate of the U.S. Na- tional milieu that is the mitment to the region and PACOM commander, increasing connectivity Secretary of Defense val Academy and began Pacific Command in the our allies and partners. takes charge after between the Indian and James N. Mattis pre- his tour as the 24th PA- 21st century,” said Harris. “For more than 70 a successful tour as Pacific oceans, today we sided over the ceremony. COM commander in 2015. “He understands com- years, the Indo-Pacific Commander, U.S. Fleet rename the U.S. Pacific During his remarks Mat- “Men and women of the pletely both his strategic has been largely peace- Forces Command/Naval Command to U.S. In- tis praised Harris’ tenure U.S. Pacific Command, and operational respon- ful,” said Davidson. Forces U.S. Northern do-Pacific Command,” and highlighted the im- and your families... sibilities. I’m pleased, “In most ways, this Command in Norfolk, Va. Mattis said. “Over many portance for strong lead- what you do on a daily indeed gratified, that was made possible by two His previous command decades this command ership in the Indo-Pacifi c basis is of fundamental I leave this post in his things: the commitment assignments include com- has repeatedly adapted to area of responsibility. importance to our nation’s hands...a battle-tested of free nations to the free mand of Carrier Strike changing circumstances “PACOM is our primary defense. I’m proud to leader whose experiences and open international Group 8/Eisenhower Car- and today carries that combatant command, serve alongside you,” and expertise span the order … and the rier Strike Group, USS legacy forward as Amer- standing watch and inti- said Harris. globe in a multitude of credibility of the combat Gettysburg (CG 64) and ica focuses west.” The amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD 27) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam May 29 to U.S. Navy a nnounces conduct combat systems ship qualifi cation trials. U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Corwin M. Colbert 26th RIMPAC exercise Commander, U.S. 3rd force maritime component Fleet Public Affairs commander. This is the first time a non-founding Twenty-six nations, 47 RIMPAC nation (Chile) surface ships, five sub- will hold a component com- marines, 18 national land mander leadership posi- forces, more than 200 air- tion. craft and 25,000 personnel This year will also fea- will participate in the bi- ture live firing of a Long ennial Rim of the Pacific Range Anti-Ship Missile (RIMPAC) exercise sched- from a U.S. Air Force air- uled June 27 to Aug. 2, in craft, surface to ship mis- and around the Hawaiian siles by the Japan Ground Islands and Southern Cal- Self-Defense Force, and a ifornia. Naval Strike Missile from As the world’s larg- a launcher on the est international back of a pallet- maritime exer- ized load system cise, RIMPAC by the U.S. provides a Army. unique train- Addition- ing opportu- ally, for the nity designed first time to foster and since 2002, USS Portland arrives in Pearl Harbor sustain coopera- U.S. 3rd Fleet’s MC2 Britney Odom proximately 200 feet ron 465. These flight op- remainder of the exercise. tive relationships Command Cen- alongside the lead ship erations marked a few “It will be a unique ex- critical to ensuring ter will relocate from Commander, of its class, Military Sea- firsts for Portland — it perience for the crew to be the safety of sea lanes and San Diego to Pearl Harbor U.S. 3rd Fleet lift Command fleet re- was the ship’s fi rst night a part of the relocation of security on the world’s to support command and plenishment oiler USNS landing operation with 3rd Fleet’s command cen- interconnected oceans. control of all 3rd Fleet The amphibious trans- Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO an Osprey and the ship’s ter,” said Capt. J. R. Hill, RIMPAC 2018 is the 26th forces in 3rd Fleet’s area port dock ship USS Port- 187), Portland received first time conducting Portland’s commanding exercise in a series that be- of responsibility to include land (LPD 27) arrived in more than 175,000 gal- flight operations with a offi cer. gan in 1971. forces operating forward in Pearl Harbor May 29 to lons of marine diesel fuel CH-53. This is the largest “This is something that The theme of RIMPAC the Western Pacifi c. conduct combat systems and JP-5 jet fuel from number of aircraft in the has not happened in a 2018 is “Capable, Adap- The Fleet Command ship qualifi cation trials. the oiler. ship’s airspace to date. while and USS Portland tive, Partners.” Participat- Center will be established The ship departed San “UNREP was well-ex- For the fi rst time since is proud to be able sup- ing nations and forces will at a Deployable Joint Com- Diego May 21 and began ecuted by the crew,” said RIMPAC 2002, U.S. 3rd port the mission.” exercise a wide range of ca- mand and Control on Hos- its transit to Hawaii. Lt. David Youker, Port- Fleet’s Command Center During Portland’s time pabilities and demonstrate pital Point, Pearl Harbor, The ship’s crew has land’s operations officer. will relocate from San in Hawaii, the ship will the inherent flexibility of for the fi rst part of the ex- engaged in various train- “We were able to assess Diego to Pearl Harbor to host Commander, U.S. maritime forces. ercise and then transition ing exercises within the material condition and support command and 3rd Fleet, Vice Adm. John The relevant, realistic to amphibious transport past couple of weeks watchstander readiness, control of all 3rd Fleet D. Alexander and his training program includes dock ship USS Portland to ensure the ship’s while increasing our oper- forces in 3rd Fleet’s area staff, participate in com- amphibious operations, (LPD 27) for the remainder weapon systems are ational capability.” of responsibility to in- munity service projects, gunnery, missile, anti-sub- of the exercise. properly installed, func- In addition to the UN- clude forces operating in experience Hawaiian marine and air defense ex- Hosted by Commander, tion correctly, and can be REP, Portland performed the western Pacifi c. culture and make prepa- ercises and more. U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIM- operated safely. deck landing qualifica- The Fleet Command rations for the underway This is the first time PAC 2018 will be led by Portland performed tions with three MV-22B Center will be established training events. Brazil, Israel, Sri Lanka Commander, U.S. 3rd its first underway re- Ospreys from Marine at a Deployable Joint For more information and Vietnam are partici- Fleet, Vice Adm. John D. plenishment (UNREP), Medium Tiltrotor Squad- Command and Control on about Portland, visit pating in RIMPAC. Addi- Alexander, who will serve employing the Standard rons 163, 165 and 363, as Hospital Point in Hawaii www.public.navy.mil/ tional firsts include New as combined task force Tensioned Replenish- well as one CH-53E Su- for the first part of the surfor/lpd27 or www. Zealand serving as sea commander. ment Alongside Method per Stallion from Marine exercise and then tran- facebook.com/PORT- combat commander and For more, visit http:// May 22. Steaming ap- Heavy Helicopter Squad- sition to Portland for the LANDLPD27. Chile serving as combined www.cpf.navy.mil/rimpac. A-2 • June 1, 2018 HO‘OKELE Bowfi n submarine veterans host Memorial Day ceremony A member from the ofi n Pearl Harbor ase U.S. Submarine eterans prepares to present a lei during a tolling of the bell for the emorial Day ceremony at the Parche Par and Submarine emorial at oint ase Pearl Harbor-Hicam ay .