Navy Reestablishes U.S. Fourth Fleet

navy.mil ^ | 4/24/08 | Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alan Gragg

[Typical_Whitey]

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the reestablishment of U.S. 4th Fleet and assigned Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan, currently serving as Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, as its first commander.

U.S. 4th Fleet will be responsible for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of focus, which encompasses the Caribbean, and Central and South America and the surrounding waters.

Located in Mayport, Fla., and dual-hatted with Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO), U.S. 4th Fleet reestablishment addresses the increased role of maritime forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus, and demonstrates U.S. commitment to regional partners.

"Reconstituting the Fourth Fleet recognizes the immense importance of maritime security in the southern part of the Western Hemisphere, and sends a strong signal to all the civil and military maritime services in Central and Latin America," said Roughead. "Aligning the Fourth Fleet along with our other numbered fleets and providing the capabilities and personnel are a logical execution of our new Maritime Strategy."

U.S. 4th Fleet was original established in 1943 as one of the original numbered fleets, and was given a specific mission. During World War II, the U.S. needed a command in charge of protecting against raiders, blockade runners and enemy submarines in the South Atlantic. U.S. 4th Fleet was disestablished in 1950 when U.S. 2nd Fleet took over its responsibilities.

Initially, the new 4th Fleet will be headquartered with COMUSNAVSO and take advantage of the existing infrastructure, communications support and personnel already in place in Mayport. As a result, U.S. 4th Fleet will not involve an increase in forces assigned in Mayport.

"This is a significant change and presents us the opportunity to garner the right resources for the missions we run for Southern Command," said Rear Adm. James W. Stevenson Jr., Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO). "As a numbered fleet, we will be in a better position to ensure the Combatant Commander has the right assets available when needed."

U.S. 4th Fleet will retain responsibility as COMUSNAVSO, the Navy component command for SOUTHCOM. Its mission is to direct U.S. naval forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, Theater Security Cooperation, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

For more information from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command visit www.cusns.navy.mil.

For more information from U.S. Southern Command visit www.southcom.mil.

[oyez]

Key West was home to SUBRON 12, a diesel-electric training squadron and the USS Bushnell, a submarine tender. The NAVSTA Annex had one pier, only big enough for a couple of Destroyer Escort sized ships. NAS was home to VS-30 and HS-1, training squadrons that worked with SUBRON 12. VF-101 was also a training squadron. VX-1 was test and evaluation.
Other than the Hotpad detachment there wasn't single combat ready outfit in the area.

Once it was clear that no more diesel boats would be built most of the commands moved out. NAS stays open now to in most part, to train fighter pilots

[BIGLOOK]

A Fleet was a Vice Admiral slot.

It's an promotion slot. He's VAdm now.

[Typical_Whitey]

Depends on the number of dependents that he has. If married and kids its harder to get a coast change due to the cost of House Hold Goods moves. In the past there was also the option of taking a 1 year unaccompanied tour in Diego Garcia that would make him part of the West Coast and from there follow on orders to San Diego for him and dependents. OTOH if he is single coast changes should not be too much of a problem depending on his rate and the billet availability i.e., if there is an open slot in San Diego and he is single he should talk to his chief and have his chief call the detailer on his behalf ...

Hope this helped.

[Grampa Dave]

Friday I posted this comment re the recovered laptop:

“Makes one wonder what was on the computers of Chavez’s butt boy who got a dirt bath earlier this year, courtesy of Columbia?”

Now we have this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2007601/posts

Official: Laptop reveals ties to Ecuador (FARC)
Miami Herald ^ | Apr. 27, 2008

Posted on Sunday, April 27, 2008 6:08:49 AM by nuconvert

Official: Laptop reveals ties to Ecuador

By ALEJANDRA LABANCA

New documents a Colombian government official says were retrieved from the computer of slain guerrilla leader Raúl Reyes show FARC’s ties in Latin America may be more widespread than previously reported. Some of the documents, obtained by The Miami Herald, indicate that a leading member of Ecuador’s constitutional assembly, charged with reshaping that country’s political landscape, may have been a longtime supporter of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

María Augusta Calle — also the head of Venezuela’s Telesur TV network in Ecuador and a supporter of President Hugo Chávez — let the rebels use her bank account for at least one transaction and helped promote their ideas through another news agency she directs, the Colombian offical said.

In two e-mails dated June and July 2006, a woman who signs as ‘’Alicia’’ corresponds with someone she calls ‘’friend’’ in one of her e-mails and ‘’Darío’’ in the other. She talks about personal matters, current affairs and media strategies.

[Travis McGee]

I agree. (I live in Orange Park and get to NAS JAX weekly.)