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.“Gator Navy” Makes its debut in Mayport
By Capt. Timothy Schorr
Commodore Amphibious Squadron 8
It’s a lovely summer afternoon in Florida. What better time for nearly 2,000 Sailors with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group to officially call Mayport home?
Sailors on USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), USS New York (LPD 21) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) have moved their families, their pets, their cars and their household goods from Hampton Roads to the Jacksonville/Mayport area. I was fortunate enough to be part of this transition and I could not be prouder of the Sailors who professionally and gracefully took on this life-changing challenge.
Both Iwo Jima and Fort McHenry recently passed the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), the largest and most critical navy-wide material inspection, just weeks before executing a ten-day Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON/MEU) Integration exercise. These Sailors have been working long hours to ensure their equipment meets and exceeds technical standards, while balancing the demands of moving their families and belongings to Florida. Needless to say, they haven’t had much down time. To their great credit, they show no signs of being worn down by the demands placed upon them. When I walk down the passageways on board these ships, I am blown away by the motivation, charisma, and confidence that these Sailors exude.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug.16, 2014) USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 41) underway in formation en route to Mayport, Fla. The two ships are homeport shifting to Mayport, Fla., on Sunday, Aug. 17.
The Sailors on board these ships understand the “big picture” implications of this home port shift, but I am sure many people, whether Navy affiliated or not, are asking “what does it all mean?” This is a fair question, and one that deserves a thorough response.
The presence of the ships of the Iwo Jima ARG in Mayport allows the Navy to have two viable East Coast surface ship homeports while also ensuring the preservation of the ship repair industrial bases in both Hampton Roads and Mayport/Jacksonville. Additionally, it allows the Navy/Marine Corps team to successfully use the ARG and amphibious vessels with embarked Marines to carry out diverse missions across a broad spectrum of operations. Naval Station Mayport is an ideal strategic base because of its proximity to Latin America and the Caribbean. The three ships of the IWOARG are capable of responding on short notice to a natural disaster, with a full Marine compliment.
Some folks are concerned that this move may disrupt the training cycle for the three ARG ships, or that we may not be able to receive the same level of training, maintenance, and technical support provided in Norfolk. On the contrary, since its move to Mayport in December 2013, USS New York has received nothing but the finest support from its Florida hosts.
All three ships in the ARG received outstanding care and support in Norfolk and I have the utmost confidence that they will continue to receive equally outstanding support from the team in Mayport. Bottom line: the Navy holds its training, maintenance, and technical support teams to a high standard that is enforced across the Fleet.
Transferring homeport for three ships has been a challenging enterprise for all parties involved. That being said, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that this successful transition was only made possible with the expert help of Fleet & Family Services in Norfolk and Mayport. I want to thank the community of Norfolk for their unwavering commitment to our ships and the sincere welcome Mayport has shown our Sailors and their families.
MAYPORT, Fla. (Aug.17, 2014) – Sailors and Marines of USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) man the rails as the amphibious assault ship pulls into its new homeport of Naval Station Mayport.
The Sailors of the Iwo Jima ARG are eager to complete the homeport shift to Mayport. They look forward to settling into new homes, new schools, new communities. They’ve heard so much about the strong support the Jacksonville/Mayport community provides its Navy families and commands. Now, they’re ready to experience it for themselves. It’s an exciting time for these Sailors. The future is bright for them and for the Jacksonville/Mayport community.
For more news from Expeditionary Strike Group 2, visit www.navy.mil/local/esg2/.
Commodore Amphibious Squadron 8
It’s a lovely summer afternoon in Florida. What better time for nearly 2,000 Sailors with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group to officially call Mayport home?
Sailors on USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), USS New York (LPD 21) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) have moved their families, their pets, their cars and their household goods from Hampton Roads to the Jacksonville/Mayport area. I was fortunate enough to be part of this transition and I could not be prouder of the Sailors who professionally and gracefully took on this life-changing challenge.
Both Iwo Jima and Fort McHenry recently passed the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), the largest and most critical navy-wide material inspection, just weeks before executing a ten-day Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON/MEU) Integration exercise. These Sailors have been working long hours to ensure their equipment meets and exceeds technical standards, while balancing the demands of moving their families and belongings to Florida. Needless to say, they haven’t had much down time. To their great credit, they show no signs of being worn down by the demands placed upon them. When I walk down the passageways on board these ships, I am blown away by the motivation, charisma, and confidence that these Sailors exude.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug.16, 2014) USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 41) underway in formation en route to Mayport, Fla. The two ships are homeport shifting to Mayport, Fla., on Sunday, Aug. 17.The Sailors on board these ships understand the “big picture” implications of this home port shift, but I am sure many people, whether Navy affiliated or not, are asking “what does it all mean?” This is a fair question, and one that deserves a thorough response.
The presence of the ships of the Iwo Jima ARG in Mayport allows the Navy to have two viable East Coast surface ship homeports while also ensuring the preservation of the ship repair industrial bases in both Hampton Roads and Mayport/Jacksonville. Additionally, it allows the Navy/Marine Corps team to successfully use the ARG and amphibious vessels with embarked Marines to carry out diverse missions across a broad spectrum of operations. Naval Station Mayport is an ideal strategic base because of its proximity to Latin America and the Caribbean. The three ships of the IWOARG are capable of responding on short notice to a natural disaster, with a full Marine compliment.
Some folks are concerned that this move may disrupt the training cycle for the three ARG ships, or that we may not be able to receive the same level of training, maintenance, and technical support provided in Norfolk. On the contrary, since its move to Mayport in December 2013, USS New York has received nothing but the finest support from its Florida hosts.
All three ships in the ARG received outstanding care and support in Norfolk and I have the utmost confidence that they will continue to receive equally outstanding support from the team in Mayport. Bottom line: the Navy holds its training, maintenance, and technical support teams to a high standard that is enforced across the Fleet.
Transferring homeport for three ships has been a challenging enterprise for all parties involved. That being said, I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that this successful transition was only made possible with the expert help of Fleet & Family Services in Norfolk and Mayport. I want to thank the community of Norfolk for their unwavering commitment to our ships and the sincere welcome Mayport has shown our Sailors and their families.
MAYPORT, Fla. (Aug.17, 2014) – Sailors and Marines of USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) man the rails as the amphibious assault ship pulls into its new homeport of Naval Station Mayport.The Sailors of the Iwo Jima ARG are eager to complete the homeport shift to Mayport. They look forward to settling into new homes, new schools, new communities. They’ve heard so much about the strong support the Jacksonville/Mayport community provides its Navy families and commands. Now, they’re ready to experience it for themselves. It’s an exciting time for these Sailors. The future is bright for them and for the Jacksonville/Mayport community.
For more news from Expeditionary Strike Group 2, visit www.navy.mil/local/esg2/.
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