Official U.S. Navy website - Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

PORTLAND, Ore. — More than 100 Sailors assigned to the future USS Portland (LPD 27) engaged with the community by volunteering, April 16 through April 18, in the ship’s namesake city.

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) — The 2018 Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) Summit concluded in Yokosuka, Japan, April 20 after a week of discussions, lessons and career advancement initiatives.

SAN DIEGO (April 20, 2018) — USS Coronado (LCS 4) successfully completed operational testing of the Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) System, Apr. 6.

SAN DIEGO -- USS Milius (DDG 69) departed San Diego April 20, officially beginning its transition to the Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Japan (FDNF-J) in Yokosuka, Japan.

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- 116 friends, family members, and guests of crewmembers assigned to the future USS Portland (LPD 27) embarked aboard the vessel to transit from Astoria, Ore. to the ship's namesake city, April 14.

SASEBO, Japan - The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) departed Sasebo, April 18, capping six years of forward-deployed service in the Indo-Pacific.

SAN DIEGO - USS Milius (DDG 69), a ballistic missile defense (BMD) capable guided missile destroyer, will leave her homeport of San Diego, April 20, to join the Forward Deployed Naval Forces-Japan.

ACAJUTLA, El Salvador — Sailors from Naval Beach Group (NBG) 2 kicked off the Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS) 18 exercise with the successful lowering and assembly of Improved Navy Lighterage System Causeway Ferries 06 and 07 from the Military Sealift Command ship USNS Brittin (T-AKR 305) April 18, 2018.

SAN DIEGO (NNS) – Commander, Naval Surface Group Western Pacific (CNSG WP) was officially established in Japan to oversee the Forward Deployed Naval Force Japan (FDNF-J) surface ship maintenance, training, and certification on April 11, 2018.

The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) departed White Beach, Okinawa April 16, to continue a routine patrol and prepare for a homeport shift to San Diego, following participation in White Beach Festival 2018.

SWATT events focus on advanced tactical training at sea to improve warfighting proficiency, lethality, and ship interoperability before integrated phase training with other elements of the CSG. The exercise is the third SWATT led by Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SWMDC), and the second of the CRUDES variety.

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” This 2,500-year-old Sun Tzu maxim was the quote of the day in USS Mason’s Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, plan of the day.

EAST CHINA SEA – Ships of the Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group, with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sailed together with the amphibious transport dock JS Shimokita (LST 4002) in a bilateral formation, April 9.

SAN DIEGO - Sailors from San Diego-based destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) are scheduled to return to Naval Base San Diego, April 12, after a successful three-month deployment.

EAST CHINA SEA – Ships of the Wasp Expeditionary Strike Group, with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, sailed together with the amphibious transport dock JS Shimokita (LST 4002) in a bilateral formation, April 9.

SAN DIEGO (April 6, 2018) – Cmdr. Aaron DeMeyer assumed command of USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) from Cmdr. Brian Ribota during a ceremony April 6 aboard the USS Midway Museum.

Since the release of the Comprehensive Review the Surface Warfare community has taken a hard – and much needed – introspective look at our qualification processes, training programs, and career management policies. Poor practices have rightly been called out for change and a healthy debate has been raised over virtually every aspect of Surface Warfare training and personnel management – including the executive officer/commanding officer (XO/CO) fleet-up model – a model which many in the community love to hate.

OKINAWA, Japan – The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) arrived at White Beach, Okinawa on April 9, the ship’s final time there as it prepares to sail to San Diego for a homeport shift.

For the first time, the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) arrived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a regularly scheduled port visit, April 6.

Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 1, the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) returned to their respective homeports following the completion of an amphibious squadron (PHIBRON)-MEU Integrated Training (PMINT) off the coast of Southern California, April 5.

Among the many debates occurring across the Navy in the wake of the USS FITZGERALD and USS JOHN S. MCCAIN collision mishaps of last summer is whether or not the Surface Community should continue with the unit-level XO/CO Fleet-Up policy. Strong, considered opinions exist on both sides of the issue as thoughtful professionals seek to settle the question regarding the value and future of the policy.

With the Navy entering one of its largest and most dynamic growth periods to date, retaining experienced Sailors is paramount to ensuring our continued success at maintaining a dominant global presence.

Greetings from Surface Forces’ headquarters in Coronado. We’ve been busy, as a community and as a Navy, since our last edition of the waterfront’s finest magazine.

As I finished my Executive Officer tour and considered my transition to the role of Commanding Officer, I used the time during Prospective Commanding Officer pipeline training to read the books about leadership and warfighting that were on my list.

Sailors and Marines from the USS Essex (LHD 2) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) recently departed Naval Base San Diego to engage in a first for the Navy’s Surface Warfare community

The Navy joins the nation in celebrating Women's History Month throughout the month of March 2018. ALNAV 007/18 encourages participation in all the heritage celebrations and special observances throughout the year.

In December 2005, the surface force’s leaders decided to transition from a traditional executive officer (XO) and commanding officer (CO) model of separate tours to a fleet-up model where the current XO relieves the CO on the same ship.

PACIFIC OCEAN (April 2, 2018) - Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) transits the Pacific Ocean during an amphibious squadron and Marine expeditionary unit (MEU) integration (PMINT) exercise. PMINT is a two-week training evolution between Essex Amphibious Ready Group and 13th MEU, which allows Sailors and Marines to train as a cohesive unit in preparation for their upcoming deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Sabyn L. Marrs/Released)

After completing a 28,400-mile journey from Norfolk, Virginia, to Sasebo, Japan, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) arrived replaced USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) as 7th Fleet’s forward-deployed amphibious assault ship. Prior to completing their transit across the Atlantic into the Pacific, Wasp conducted two months of humanitarian relief work following major hurricanes in the Caribbean.

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) joined USS Ross (DDG 71) in the Black Sea to conduct maritime security operations on Feb. 17, as part of an operational schedule that helps sustain the U.S. Navy’s presence in the region.

"Gee, I wish I were man, I'd join the Navy." These words, from a 1917 recruiting poster of a woman wearing a man's Navy uniform and a jaunty 'Dixie Cup,' are a relic of bygone era for women in the Navy today.

Following in the footsteps of the Patrol Torpedo boats of World War II and the Riverine Patrol Boats in Vietnam, the modern Mark VI Patrol Boat offers today's Surface Warfare Officers

Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (SURFPAC) and Commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic (SURFLANT) announced their 2017 Sailors of the Year (SOYs).

Retired Vice Adm. James H. Doyle Jr., whose 34 years of commissioned service culminated with his work developing and fielding cruisers and destroyers with the Aegis Combat System and associated systems, died on Feb. 23. He was 93.

The Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) was commissioned in a ceremony at Charleston, South Carolina, on March 24.

SAN DIEGO (Mar. 30, 2018) - Capt. Matthew McGonigle relieved Capt. Jordy Harrison as Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One (COMLCSRON ONE) during a change of command ceremony at Naval Station San Diego, March 30.

OSTEND, Belgium (NNS) -- San Diego-based Mine Countermeasures Division (MCMDIV) 31, the tactical planning staff attached to Commander, Mine Countermeasures Squadron (COMCMRON) 3, successfully completed the annual multinational exercise Dynamic Move March 29.

HONG KONG -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) departed Hong Kong after a four-day port visit, March 30.

PACIFIC OCEAN (May 5, 2017) Lt. Joven Ernani Dinglasan, center, Warfare Tactics Instructors (WTI) of the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC), monitors; Lt.Ryan Kelly and Lt. Beux Wedderburen as they operate as tactical actions officer and force tactical actions officer during a missile exercise rehearsal aboard USS Bunker Hill. Thirteen WTIs were underway with the USS Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group (CSG), May 2-11, leading advanced tactical training events in support of the Theodore Roosevelt Group Sail. WTIs are an elite cadre of young surface warfare officers (SWO) selected by SMWDC to become the best of the best in tactics and doctrine development. These new generation surface warriors are charged with increasing the tactical proficiency of surface ships in support of sea control and maintaining maritime superiority. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ignacio D. Perez/Released)

YOKOSUKA (NNS) – The crew of U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) successfully completed their Fleet Support Operations-Medical (FSO-M) assessments conducted Feb 20-March 26.

OKINAWA, Japan – Sailors, assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), visited sites of the Battle of Okinawa, March 26, during a regularly scheduled port visit to Okinawa, Japan.

Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 1, and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) commenced PHIBRON-MEU Integration Exercise (PMINT) Mar. 23.

Hong Kong (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) arrived in Hong Kong for a port visit March 27 after a stretch of operations as part of a deployment in the Indo-Pacific.

SAN DIEGO (NNS) – Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) sponsored a Surface Training and Readiness (STAR) Tactical Advancements for the Next Generation (TANG) Design Workshop onboard Naval Air Station North Island, March 19-22.

INDIAN OCEAN - - The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG), led by Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, returned to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations (AOO) as part of its regularly scheduled deployment.

From Navy Live (http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2018/03/23/readying-the-fleet-to-own-the-fight/). Our Navy’s enduring mission is to protect and defend America and its national interests worldwide. As the largest contingent of the Nation’s maritime warfighting force, it is critical our surface ships continue to “own the fight” by being the best, the fastest, the toughest and the smartest warships operating around the globe.

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 16, 2018) Cmdr. Karl McCarthy, commanding officer of USS Coronado (LCS 4) (left), and Vice Adm. Rich Brown, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (center), watch as Lt. Anthony Grayson performs the shipping officer watch duties on the bridge of the Independence-class littoral combat ship Coronado. Coronado is one of eight LCS homeported in San Diego.

WHITE BEACH, Okinawa – The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) arrived at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, March 22, following a week of unit-level training at sea.

During last month’s historic first visit of the voyaging canoe Hokule‘a to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH), Master Navigator Nainoa Thompson spoke about his father, Myron “Pinky” Thompson, who was 15 years old at the time of the attack on Oahu Dec. 7, 1941.