U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Relocates to Florida

Navy News Stand ^ | Jan. 26, 2004 | Special release from the U.S. Department of Defense

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Official U.S. Navy file photo of multinational forces operating in the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (USNAVSO) area of responsibility. USNAVSO is the naval component to the U.S. Southern Command, and provides operational command and control to naval forces in the region and is the lead agent for cooperation and training initiatives between the U.S. and navies from Central, South America and the Caribbean.
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U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Relocates to Florida
Story Number: NNS040126-01
Release Date: 1/26/2004 6:56:00 AM

Special release from the U.S. Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy has decided to relocate U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (USNAVSO) from Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, to Naval Station Mayport, Fla.

Sept. 30, the President of the United States signed into law the Fiscal Year 2004 Defense Appropriations Act. The legislation included language that calls for the Navy to close U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads no later than six months after enactment of the Act. This legislation requires the relocation of tenant commands, including U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command. Since the Navy must close Naval Station Roosevelt Roads by March 31, relocation of USNAVSO is a high priority.

The relocation of USNAVSO to Mayport, Fla., effectively meets Navy mission requirements, and will ensure Navy personnel assigned to the command continue to enjoy a high quality of life. The Navy studied a number of locations and took into account availability of existing infrastructure, communications capabilities, and anti-terrorism/force protection support, amongst other factors. This relocation is scheduled to commence next month, and be completed by March 2004.

Initially, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command will be “dual-hatted” with Commander Naval Surface Group 2, and the two staffs will be consolidated. One Flag officer billet will be disestablished. Naval Surface Group 2 will then be disestablished, creating personnel savings and alignment efficiencies.

For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cusns.

[OXENinFLA]

WELCOME TO MAYPORT!!!!!!!


I got a big ole' smile on my face when I heard about this.

This is going to be great for JAX.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy has decided to relocate U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (USNAVSO) from Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, to Naval Station Mayport, Fla.

... The Navy studied a number of locations and took into account availability of existing infrastructure, communications capabilities, and anti-terrorism/force protection support, amongst other factors. This relocation is scheduled to commence next month, and be completed by March 2004.

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Florida welcomes U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (USNAVSO) !
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[A Navy Vet]

Question: Where is the Navy to conduct live round gunnery exercises?

[lilylangtree]

More jobs for Americans. Hooray!

[Old Sarge]

Wonderful. More votes the DNC will throw out.

[OXENinFLA]

Ocala?

http://www.news4jax.com/news/2682012/detail.html

Navy Investigating Bomb That Fell 400 Yards From Hunters

POSTED: 10:13 a.m. EST December 4, 2003

OCALA, Fla. -- Part of the Ocala National Forest is a designated Navy bombing range, but a group of hunters say Navy pilots missed their target and dropped a bomb only 400 yards from them on Thanksgiving day.

"I hit the ground; I was shaking real bad," Clay Underwood said.

The U.S. Navy said the 500-pound bomb was dropped by an F-14.

The hunters said the force of the explosion opened up 4½-foot crater in the dirt, and cleared trees around the site.

"It scared me. I never thought I'd live to see another day." Robbie Deloach said. "My ears were ringing (for) four or five days."

There's a dirt road a few feet away from where the bomb fell. That road is used by hunters as well as nature hikers.

"Any closer we (and we) wouldn't be here today," Robbie Deloach told Channel 4's Lisa Salvati.

Since the explosion, the Navy has put up a sign where the bomb fell, warning of possible danger. They also say they're looking into what happened.

"We're investigating," Navy Capt. Mark Boensel said. "(We) hope we can prevent it from happening again."

The hunters kept some of the pieces with serial numbers. They say those souvenirs and trees sliced in half by flying debris are scary reminders of their close brush with death.

Days later, the men are still stunned by what happened.

"I do have an eerie feeling about it, and it's something that will stick in my memory for ever and ever," Deloach said.

[LouD]

Where is the Navy to conduct live round gunnery exercises?

Syria and North Korea?

[OXENinFLA]

I heard about 100 w/ 70 Naval Officers coming to JAX.

[A Navy Vet]

"Wonderful. More votes the DNC will throw out."

No, I think they only throw out the ones that are offshore...:)

[A Navy Vet]

I'm not sure of your point. With all the daily exercises the military conducts there is bound to be accidents when humans are involved.

[OXENinFLA]

Ocala is right next door to JAX, that story just popped into my head when you ask where they'd be bombing.

[blackie]

Florida welcomes U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (USNAVSO) ~ Go Navy ~ Bump!

[bjcintennessee]

ping

[A Navy Vet]

I would hate to see my shipmates in danger (not that Syria or NK has a navy), but if it means eliminating Syria's support of terrorists and NK's Ill, sign me up.

BTW, one of my biggest fears is of a naval engagement in this day of hi-tech weapondry. As bad as 16 inch guns were in WWII, can you imagine the devastation brought my today's sophisticated missles and torpedoes? There's nowhere to hide or retreat. Check out the movie, "Crimson Tide" to get a feel for modern sea warfare.

[A Navy Vet]

Got it. Thanks.

[DeaconRed]

"Days later, the men are still stunned by what happened."

Probably would be a good idea for them to find another area to hunt. Or take up Golf.
I enjoy hunting however, I hate it when they shoot back.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

From my limited research, it appears they're doing joint live training exercises with the Marines at Eglin Air Force Base a few times a year ~ a flexible plan. (^: ...plus simulated training.

---

LIEUTENANT GENERAL EMIL R. BEDARD
DEPUTY COMMANDANT PLANS, POLICIES AND OPERATIONS
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
BEFORE THE
SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON READINESS AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
ON
APRIL 9, 2003
CONCERNING
O&M BUDGET VS OVERALL READINESS

One of the most important things we can provide our forward deployed
Navy-Marine Corps teams is confidence in their ability to employ all
weapons systems at their disposal. Confidence that the forward air
controller is going to coordinate an effective and safe mission, that
the ground forces will suppress enemy air defenses and direct the
trajectories of their projectiles in directions which do not hazard the
aircraft and that the strike aircraft will hit the target. We can learn
the elements of this training in parts, and in multiple sites, but
separate training only works on the skills and techniques in piecemeal
fashion, and does not necessarily engender the critical level of
integration essential for combat readiness. It is absolutely critical
that the Navy and Marine Corps maintain areas where they can combine
naval gunfire, artillery, air and ground maneuver forces simultaneously
which is the topic of my next point.

Training at Eglin Air Force Base. With cessation of training at
Vieques, Puerto Rico, the established training ranges, quality of
training support, and proximity to the ocean available at Eglin Air
Force Base, Florida can provide Naval Expeditionary Forces with an
alternative training capability. Eglin's capabilities, location, and
tenant commands provide the opportunity to facilitate joint training
between Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Special Operations
Forces. Development of an expeditionary force training capability at
Eglin can support the Secretary of Defense's vision and direction for
training transformation and the development of a Joint National
Training Capability. This type of training area will be critical to
Naval expeditionary combat-readiness.

The Marine Corps proposes to execute two ten-day training exercises
with a Marine Expeditionary Unit at Eglin each year. These exercises
include a variety of scenarios such as amphibious landings, raids,
mechanized operations, helicopter operations, and live fire and
maneuver exercises. No final decision on training activities can be
made until an environmental assessment currently underway is completed.
The Navy and Marine Corps are actively working to develop and sustain
cooperative relationships with the local community and the state of
Florida to support our training at Eglin, AFB.

 

More: http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/testimony/readiness/bedard030409.txt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

More on last Dec.'s exercises: Marines to storm beaches for training

VAST: The Virtual At Sea Training System allows live-fire exercises against synthetically genereated targets at sea.

[varon]

Question: Where is the Navy to conduct live round gunnery exercises?

Cuba ;-)