USS Missouri (SSN 780) holds change of command ceremony in Pearl Harbor

ByLt j.g.BennettEllington

Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USSMissouri(SSN780)conductedachange of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam,Feb.28

Cmdr.GieoragAndrews,fromGardnerville,Nevada,relievedCmdr CarlosMartinez, from Atlanta, as commanding officer of the Missouri during the ceremony which was held aboard the submarine, with the crew andguestsseatedpierside

“ThroughoutmycareerIhaveheardhow greatsubmarinecommandis AndI’mhere to tell you the hype is real, said Martinez,addressinghiscrew “Servingwithyou all was loaded with experiences; it was a problem solving, decision-rich endeavor thatwasathickblendoftactical,engineering and leadership experiences that I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to share with you.”

MartineztookcommandoftheMissouri in September 2020. He led the crew through numerous significant events to include a deployment to the Western Pacific, two fleet readiness training periods, and a sustained level of performance which earned Missouri the Commander, Submarine Squadron (CSS) 1 Battle Efficiency “E” award for 2022.

“Solidarity is part of our command beliefs,” said Martinez, “and solidarity is what makes us the best crew in the fleet What we do is epic by every measure and [submarining] is a team sport of epic proportions.” Martinez’s next assignment will be to CSS-7 in Pearl Harbor where he will serve as the deputy commander Capt. Tyler Forrest, deputy commander CSS-1, attended the ceremony as the guest speaker “Carlos and his team regularly rewrote the script for what ‘right’ looks like,” said Forrest. “To the crew of Missouri, keep leaningforward,pushtheenvelope,setthe standardandcontinuetocementthelegacy that has come to define the ‘Mighty Mo’!”

Andrews’ previous assignment was to Commander,SubmarineForcesU.S.Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, where he served as the Force Nuclear Power Officer

“What we do as United States submariners grows in importance every day, [and] the crew of Missouri is what makes this mighty warship the most lethal beast beneath the sea,” said Andrews “Today I make a commitment to these volunteers these brave souls, who make sacrifices day in and day out to defend our way of life.”

Missouri was commissioned July 31, 2010 MissouriistheseventhVirginia-class submarine and the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be named for the state of Missouri. It is 377feetlongwithabeamof34feet.Virginia-class,fast-attacksubmarineshaveacrew ofapproximately132 madeupof15officers and 117 enlisted Sailors

International Maritime Exercise 2023 kicks off operational phase

ByNAVCENTPublicAffairs U.S.NavalForcesCentralCommand/ U.S.5thFleet

MANAMA, Bahrain The Middle East region’s largest maritime exercise, International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2023, kicked off its operational phase March 2 during an opening ceremony at U.S. 5th Fleet’sheadquartersinBahrain.

Theceremonycappedaweekofacademic discussions covering a series of topics includingthenavalplanningprocess,maritime operations center procedures, and disasterresponsecoordination.

IMX 2023 is an 18-day naval training event hosted by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). This year’s iteration is combined with exercise Cutlass Express, which is led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa

The combined exercises include 7,000 personnel, 35 ships, and 30 unmanned and artificial intelligence systems from more than 50 nations and international organizations

IMX and Cutlass Express are designed todemonstrateglobalresolveinpreserving the rules-based international order offeringauniqueopportunityforparticipantsto collaborateandshowcaseregionalmaritime securitycooperation.

“The incredible level of international representation is truly remarkable,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of NAVCENT U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces “Maritime forces are always at our best when we work and lead together.”

Cooper is the IMX 2023 exercise commander. Senior officers from United ArabEmiratesandFranceareservingasthe deputy commander and vice commander, respectively Additionally, IMX’s chief of staffisfromPakistanandthemaritimeoperationscenterdirectorisfromEgypt. Internationalnavalforcesparticipatingin theexercisearedividedintofiveoperational task forces led by Bahrain, Jordan, Kenya, SaudiArabiaandtheUnitedStates.Training evolutionswillspanacrosstheArabianGulf, ArabianSea,GulfofOman,GulfofAden,Red

MANAMA,Bahrain (March 1,2023) Machinist’s Mate 3rd ClassAndrewMorales,assigned to mine countermeasures ship USS Devastator (MCM 6) briefs militaryofficers fromvarious nations,March 1,2023 in Manama,Bahrain,during International Maritime Exercise/Cutlass Express 2023.IMX/CE 2023 is the largest multinational training event in the Middle East,involving 7,000 personnel from more than 50 nations and international organizations committed to preserving the rules-based international orderand strengthening regional maritime security cooperation.(U.S.NAVYPHOTOBYLT J.G.GULIANNADUNN)

Sea, Indian Ocean and East African coastal regions

The operational phase will include partner exchanges on mine countermeasures; visit, board, search and seizure; unmanned systems and artificial intelligence integra- tion; explosive ordnance disposal; vessel defense; search and rescue; and mass casualtyresponse,amongotherfocusareas.

This is the eighth iteration of IMX since itsestablishmentin2012.

IMX and Cutlass Express are scheduled toconcludeMarch16and17,respectively A full list of nations and international organizations participating is available at: https:// www.dvidshub.net/feature/IMX23

NAVALSTATION MAYPORT,Fla.(Feb 23 2023) In a special ceremony,aboard USS Cooperstown (LCS 23),Surface Combat SystemsTraining

Command (SCSTC) LCSTraining Facility(LTF)Atlantic’s (LANT) Command SeniorChief(CMDCS) KeithJohnson andwife,Cooperstown’s CMDCS

KeonaJohnson,are both frocked to command masterchief,Feb.23.(U.S.NAVYPHOTOSBYSURFACECOMBATSYSTEMSTRAININGLCSTRAINING FACILITYATLANTIC/USSCOOPERSTOWN(LCS23))