The ballot is now open for young Australians aged 16-23 to set sail for the voyage of a lifetime aboard the national Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour in 2014. A voyage in Young Endeavour is a unique experience and one which develops skills for life.

Successful applicants will join a crew of 24 youth from around Australia for an eleven day adventure at sea. They will set the sails, climb the mast, navigate using the ship’s charts and gain the confidence to take command, sailing Young Endeavour along the Australian coast.

Elspeth Mildren of Kergunyah, Victoria, was elected youth crew captain earlier this week and sailed Young Endeavour across Cook Strait in New Zealand.

”What a ride that was!” said Elspeth. “Our 24 hour command day was amazing – considering we all came together seven days ago with zero sail training and knowledge, to plan and execute this journey as successfully as we did was amazing”.

The youth development program delivered during each voyage builds self‑awareness, develops teamwork and leadership skills, and fosters a strong sense of community spirit.

Youth Crew are selected by ballot, and no sailing experience is required. Young Endeavour is operated by a professional Royal Australian Navy crew who ensure the highest standards of safety and care, and teach the youth crew everything they need to know to sail the ship.

18 year old Nicole Moran of Burnie, Tasmania, is also sailing Young Endeavour this week.

“If you had asked me a few months ago if I ever thought I would climb a (35m) mast I would have thought that you were crazy. Young Endeavour not only gives you the chance to do that, but also to develop your leadership skills, to build your confidence and to meet some pretty amazing people,” said Nicole.

“For me the best part about being on Young Endeavour is getting all these opportunities and being supported with all the decisions you make. I would recommend it to everyone”.

In 2014 voyages will depart from Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and Queensland. Travel assistance is available to applicants from Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Australian Navy, November 8, 2013

By Rear Adm. Tom Moore
Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers

Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) will be christened Saturday in Newport News, Va., by Mrs. Susan Ford Bales, CVN 78’s sponsor and daughter of the late president. The christening of the ship comes after more than 12 years of planning and construction preparation. While we are still 28 months from delivery, the thousands of Navy personnel, shipbuilders and contractors who have worked on the ship are beginning to see the fruits of their labors.

Newport News Shipbuilding employees decorate the aircraft carrier Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) in ceremonial attire for its scheduled christening Nov. 9.

I am extremely proud of this great ship and what we have been able to accomplish as a team. The coordination amongst the program office, the shipbuilder – Huntington Ingalls Industries at Newport News, the engineers at NAVSEA 05V, our resource sponsor at OPNAV N98, and the Congressional support and oversight, has been an integral part of building the next generation platform that is vital to our national defense strategy.

It’s no secret that we have faced challenges building the first new aircraft carrier design in 40 years. Her christening was delayed by four months to maximize the outfitting we could accomplish in the dry dock. In the shipbuilding industry, we use the term “1-3-8 Rule” to summarize the amount of time a task would take to complete; one hour in the shop, three hours in the dry dock, and eight hours tied to the pier. Those four extra months in dry dock provided us the opportunity to work in the most efficient manner, bringing the ship to 70 percent completion and 77,000 tons at launch. When we launched USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), she was less than 60 percent complete. CVN 78 will be the heaviest aircraft carrier at launch in history. The decision to delay launch and continue work in the dry dock will ensure the most affordable path to delivery.

CVN 78 incorporates multiple developmental systems. The Ford class is a total redesign of the Nimitz class, incorporating advances in technology such as a new reactor plant, propulsion system, electric plant, electromagnetic catapults, advanced arresting gear, machinery control, and integrated warfare systems. The Ford class brings a 33 percent increase in sortie generation rate, quality-of-life improvements, and reduced maintenance. Together, these efforts will reduce manning by more than 600 billets, improve operational availability and capability, and reduce total ownership cost over its 50-year service life by $4 billion compared with Nimitz class carriers.

I like to tell the folks here at PEO Carriers that for CVN 78, the easy part is behind us- now comes the hard part. She will begin a 28-month test period, in which all of these technologies will be integrated with the all new electrical plant for the first time. The Ford class carrier may look like the Nimitz class, but what is inside is much more complex. I look forward to delivering this ship to the fleet in 2016, and feel honored to be part of the government-industry team building this fantastic ship that will be the first ship of a class at the center of Naval Aviation for the next 100 years.

Editor’s Note: You can watch the christening ceremony live Saturday here on Navy Live.

By Rear Adm. Rick Snyder
Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 2

In September, I returned to the amphibious force to serve as Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 2. Since then, I have been fortunate to sit in the front row, again – to see first-hand the disciplined actions of our tailorable, versatile and highly trained amphibious force. The amphibious force continues to offer a range of unique capabilities – from combat power, to humanitarian assistance from a range of locations ashore, to the littoral, to long-term sea bases.

The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), center, leads the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), left, and the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) in the Red Sea, June 16, 2013. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Corbin J. Shea/Released)

Recently I was asked what my best time was in a 30-year Navy career. My answer – my best time is today. Today is a great day for our amphibious force. I want to share today with you; to give you a glimpse of the view from the front row.

The Navy-Marine Corps team remains unmatched in its ability to deliver a powerful ground force ashore, maintain freedom of the seas, and execute non-combatant and humanitarian operations to foster peace and stability where needed across the globe.

In partnership with ESG-3, ESG-7 and our Marine counterparts, we provide a visible, flexible, enduring presence and thus provide unique capabilities and solutions worldwide.

Electricians Mate 2nd Class Joe Gerolmo holds his daughter for the first time during a homecoming celebration for the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) at Naval Station Norfolk, Nov. 7, 2013. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rafael Martie/Released)

Just this week, Kearsarge Amphibious Readiness Group returned from a successful deployment, operating within the U.S. 5^th and 6^th Fleet areas of responsibility.

The Sailors and Marines onboard USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), USS San Antonio (LPD 17),USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), along with elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, completed an eight-month deployment to include the rescue of 128 stranded mariners of the coast of Malta and executing disaggregated operations in support of national tasking off the coast of Libya.  Even as the Kearsarge Amphibious Readiness Group approached home, they supported the U.S. Coast Guard in rescuing a man from a distressed vessel. They never stopped answering the call.

As we welcome one amphibious readiness group home, we are getting ready to send another one out the door. The Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group, consisting of USS Bataan (LHD 5), USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44), and elements of the 22^nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are underway readying for deployment, conducting exercises off the coast of Virginia.

Last month, as part of a scheduled rotation of forward deployed assets, we welcomed USS Tortuga (LSD 46) home to Norfolk, after completing seven years forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan. While deployed, she took part in numerous multi-lateral training exercises and cooperation afloat events as a continuously forward-deployed amphibious ship. It’s good to have her back, and assuming her forward deployed watch is USS Ashland (LSD 48).

The same day we welcomed USS Tortuga back home, Amphibious Construction Battalion (PHIBCB) 2 was hard at work at the Ocean View beaches of Norfolk. In coordination with the Coast Guard, PHIBCB 2 assisted in the recovery of two buoys which washed ashore during recent heavy weather. As the only East-Coast based amphibious construction battalion, PHIBCB 2 offers a unique combination of dynamic small craft expertise and construction capabilities – they provide the amphibious force even greater capability and flexibility to answer our nation’s call.

Just to show our true range of capability, on the same day we welcomed home Tortuga and pulled buoys off beaches; the Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group, in company with two destroyers, conducted a live-fire missile exercise off the Virginia coast.

The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) fires a RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) in the Atlantic Ocean, Oct. 22. The RAM provides ships with self-defense against anti-ship missiles and asymmetric air and surface threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class RJ Stratchko/Released)

As we carry out these missions, we have many things to consider given the dynamic environment in which we operate.  Our deployments are long, our budget is uncertain, and yet our Navy must still put warfighting first, operate forward, and be ready. We do this with innovative thinking like readiness kill chain analysis, optimized deployment cycles, flexible amphibious readiness group composition considerations, and optimizing use of our newest technology to include the LPD 17 class. Most importantly, we do this with the finest Sailors and Marines the world has ever seen.

As the commander of the East Coast amphibious force, I embrace these efforts so we can make decisions and take action to best meet the interests of our nation, our Sailors and our Marines.

Even as discussions about the structure and role of America’s military continue, the amphibious force will be on point, as we’ve always been. Just this week, eight of 14 East-Coast based amphibious ships conducted operations underway. Dedicated Sailors and Marines conducted exercises, sea trials and certifications in a range of warfare areas from aviation, to combat systems, to engineering. Highly skilled Sailors and Marines conduct these evolutions to ensure we remain more than operational; but relevant, effective and ready at a moment’s notice.

The amphibious force has a tradition of providing unique capabilities to offer solutions. I look forward to continuing that tradition.