by Jonathan Lehrfeld

     A Navy test pilot is leading the next set of astronauts to the International Space Station on NASA’s Crew-8 mission, which successfully launched recently after a few weather delays.

     Cmdr. Matthew Dominick is serving as the commander of the expedition to the orbital laboratory. Liftoff occurred from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to a NASA release.

     The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft Endeavour, propelled by a Falcon 9 rocket, was initially slated to launch sooner, but the mission was rescheduled twice due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Kidd (DDG 100) and USS Sterett (DDG 104) arrived in the Philippines for a scheduled port visit in January.

This visit marks an additional demonstration of the U.S.-Philippine Alliance, and broader commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. It also serves to fortify relationships with local leaders and communities, reaffirming the seven-decade-old Alliance between the U.S. and the Philippines.



Port calls are part of the U.S. Navy’s routine operations, and CSG-1 is committed to maintaining that tradition to support operational readiness and regional partnerships.



By Grady Fontana

In a heartwarming display of camaraderie and goodwill, members of Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) and MSC Far East recently undertook a community relations event at the Learning Center of the Human Help Network in

USS Miguel Keith is an afloat forward staging base-variant of the mobile landing platform designed to provide dedicated support for air and mine countermeasures, and special warfare missions. It’s currently in the Indo-Pacific region in support of U.S. 7th Fleet and is in Thailand undergoing routine voyage repair and maintenance.

The USS Normandy (CG 60), a part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, arrived in Rijeka, Croatia for a regularly scheduled port visit and mid-deployment voyage repair (MDVR), July 26, 2023.

The port visit to Rijeka provides an opportunity to strengthen the United States and Croatia’s relationship, and offers a chance to further demonstrate the United States’ commitment to its European regional allies and partners, while also allowing Normandy to begin her scheduled mid-deployment maintenance availability.

“It is an honor to choose Croatia as Normandy’s mid-deployment maintenance availability port,” said Capt. Errol A. Robinson, commanding officer, USS Normandy. "Porting in Rijeka enables us to make the necessary repairs during deployment periods and to continue to demonstrate the interoperability we have with our Croatian partners. Moreover, the officers and crew are extremely excited to explore Rijeka and its wonderful culture."

Maritime forces from Royal Australia Navy (RAN), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, and the U.S. Navy are underway July 4, conducting cooperative maritime exercise Pacific Vanguard (PV) 2023.

Pacific Vanguard is an opportunity for the four Indo-Pacific navies to strengthen their skills in maritime operations, anti-submarine warfare operations, air warfare operations, live-fire missile events, and advanced maneuvering scenarios.



The destroyer JS Shiranui (DD 120) and multiple aircraft are representing Japan. The Exercise Control (EXCON) personnel, integrating into the watch floor, are among the personnel representing Australia. The destroyer ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH 976) is representing the Republic of Korea. 



The guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) and aircraft supporting from Commander, Task Force 72 are among the units representing the United States.

     The head of U.S. Fleet Forces Command operates a fleet smaller than the Navy planned, due to delays in ship and submarine construction and maintenance.

     But Adm. Daryl Caudle said reducing operations isn’t an option, as Navy forces routinely find themselves in contact with their Russian and Chinese counterparts and demand for their presence is on the rise.

     So the admiral has put together a four-part plan meant to maximize the fleet’s usefulness.

Using Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday’s prioritization of readiness spending on people, maintenance, parts and training as a starting point, Caudle’s plan is intended to turn that readiness into operational lethality.