17 OKINAWA, Japan – Rear Adm. Chris Engdahl assumed command of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 76 from Rear Adm. Fred Kacher during a change of command ceremony at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, May 12.
Presiding over the ceremony was Vice Adm. Bill Merz, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet.
“Fred, you were exactly the right leader of Expeditionary Strike Group 7 when the Fleet needed you most. A tough year, I am thankful for your great work and the tremendous achievements of your team,” said Merz.
During Kacher’s time as commander, the Sailors and Marines of ESG 7 expanded naval integration and warfighting concepts, and combated the challenges of the pandemic throughout each deployment. In the past 18 months, the strike group executed four deployments covering a range of amphibious operations to include embarking and operating the F-35B Lighting II aircraft on USS America (LHA 6), integrating with Mark VI patrol boats and expeditionary m
Presiding over the ceremony was Vice Adm. Bill Merz, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet.
“Fred, you were exactly the right leader of Expeditionary Strike Group 7 when the Fleet needed you most. A tough year, I am thankful for your great work and the tremendous achievements of your team,” said Merz.
During Kacher’s time as commander, the Sailors and Marines of ESG 7 expanded naval integration and warfighting concepts, and combated the challenges of the pandemic throughout each deployment. In the past 18 months, the strike group executed four deployments covering a range of amphibious operations to include embarking and operating the F-35B Lighting II aircraft on USS America (LHA 6), integrating with Mark VI patrol boats and expeditionary mine counter measure detachments, expeditionary strike force operations and executing more than a dozen exercises and operations with U.S. allies and partners in the region.
In early 2020 as the world started to learn of a potentially contagious new illness now known as COVID-19, the ships of the USS America (LHA 6) strike group with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), operating under the command of ESG 7, were deployed at sea conducting operations in the Indo-Pacific region. Since then, the strike group Sailors and Marines, benefitting from the expertise of an infectious disease doctor, have followed strict guidelines and remained COVID-free throughout three deployments, with no active COVID-19 cases at sea. WHITE BEACH NAVAL BASE, OKINAWA (Aug. 28, 2020) A U.S. Marine with Battalion Landing Team 2/4, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit has his temperature checked by Seaman Litzy Campos, a native of Phoenix, Arizona, embarked with Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42). Germantown, part of the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), 31st MEU team, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operation to enhance in
SOUTH CHINA SEA
Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked aboard the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) conducted flight-training operations near Singapore within international waters, April 8.
During these operations, U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lighting IIs assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 164 (Reinforced), 15th MEU also conducted joint training with F-15SG and F-16D multi-role fighter jets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).
âItâs a professional privilege to work and fly with our longstanding partners from the Republic of Singapore while operating in the southern reaches of the South China Sea,â said Maj. Benjamin Boera, future operations officer with F-35B Detachment, VMM-164 (Rein.), 15th MEU. âFlying alongside pilots with the RSAF is a great experience for us all and helps further promote the F-35Bâs 5th-generation capabilities while reinforcing our support and commitment to all partner nations i
USNI News
French Navy Exercise Combines Ships from 5 Navies on Short Notice
April 12, 2021 4:50 PM
U.S. Navy Ensign Micael Lozano, left, and Lt. Erik Bohman observe (from left to right) HMAS Anzac, IN Satpura, and FS Tonnerre from the bridge wing of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25) during La Perouse 2021. US Navy Photo
Amphibious warship USS
Somerset (LPD-25) joined ships and aircraft from five countries in the Bay of Bengal last week for a multi-lateral exercise designed to help the navies quickly organize and operate as an integrated, combined maritime force.
French-led exercise La Pérouse was “notable” because ships from the U.S., France, Japan, Australia and India “were able to quickly aggregate into a multi-national, maritime force,” said Cmdr. Dave Kurtz, who commands San Diego, Calif.-based