U.S. to increase international coordination, presence in Strait of Hormuz

FromU.s.NavalForcesCentral CommandPublicAffairs

MANAMA, Bahrain - U.S. 5th Fleet is working with regional allies and partners to increase the rotation of ships and aircraft patrolling in and around the Strait ofHormuzfollowingIran’srecentunlawful merchantvesselseizures.

The increased force presence supports multinational efforts to deter threats to commercialshippingandreassureregional mariners.Inadditiontoheightenedpatrols, U.S. 5th Fleet is bolstering international maritime security collaboration among the International Maritime Security Construct and European Maritime Awareness in the StraitofHormuz.

“Iran’s unwarranted, irresponsible and unlawful seizure and harassment of merchant vessels must stop,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th FleetandCombinedMaritimeForces “U.S 5thFleetandourpartnersarecommittedto protecting navigational rights in these criticalwaters.”

Iran has harassed, attacked or interfered with the navigational rights of 15 internationally flagged merchant vessels over the pasttwoyears.Thispatternofdestabilizing behavioriscontrarytointernationallawand disruptivetoregionalsecurity.

Commander TaskForce 71/DestroyerSquadron (DESRON) 15,the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S.7th

USS Milius (DDG 69) conducts

port visit in Saipan

FromCommander,TaskForce71/

DestroyerSquadron15

SAIPAN CommonwealthoftheNorthern Mariana Islands - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) departed Saipan, Commonwealth of the NorthernMarianaIslands,afterascheduled portvisit,May12

Theportvisitprovidedanopportunityfor Miliustoenjoyamuchneededportvisitand enjoy the culture, and represents the U.S. Navy’s commitment to security presence in thePacific.

“Visits like this prove the effectiveness of our surface force, to defend the homeland andmeetingthechallengeswefaceacrossthe region with continued presence,” said Capt

Walt Mainor, Commander, Task Force 71/ Commodore,DestroyerSquadron(DESRON) 15 “Our Sailors are focused on making a differenceinourabilitytosupportafreeand openIndo-Pacific.”

During the port visit, Milius Sailors had anopportunitytoexperiencethehospitality, richhistoryandallthatSaipanhastooffer

“Team Milius has been highly focused on operations in the Western Pacific over the past several months and this port visit was extremely rewarding for the crew,” said Cmdr Leif Gunderson, Milius’ commandingofficer “Therichcultureandhistorywas greatly welcomed by the Sailors We look forwardtofuturevisitstothebeautifulisland ofSaipan!

ArnoldPalacios,governoroftheCommon- wealthoftheNorthernMarianaIslands,said itiswasanhonortohosttheship

“We are very happy to welcome them becausethey’vebeenoutthereprotectingus,” saidPalacios “Hopefullythisisaniceportcall and a nice break for the crew and we would liketowelcomethembackagain.

Milius is assigned to Commander, Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surfaceforce U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacificregion.

Q: Whattypesoffamily housingareavailable?

A: There are three types of housing available to families:

Public/PrivateVenture(PPV) Housing is also referred to as privatized housing in the Navy The Navy partnered with different private management companies to provide housing to Service Members. These companies are responsible forthe construction, renovation,maintenance and day-to-day management ofthe housing PPVhousing may be located on oroffgovernment property and in most cases will be formermilitary housing

GovernmentOwned (also known as Military Housing orNavy Managed Housing is what was formerly called on-base housing While only available in limited quantities CONUS,Government Owned Housing is still widely available OCONUS.

CommunityHousing is any housing that a Service Member may choose that is not PPVor government operated This is housing outside ofthe base that is privately owned and operated

NAVY HOUSING Norfolk: 757.445.2832

JEBLCFS: 757.462.2792

Oceana/DamNeck: 757.433.3268 Yorktown: 757.847.7806

Mid-Atlantic Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) programs and services are designed to help you make the most of your military experience, and they’re all available to you at no cost.

FUNCTIONSAND/OR SERVICESFFSCPROVIDES:

ClinicalCounseling – Individual, Couplesand ChildCounseling

Personal Financial Management

Information & Referral

Family EmploymentAssistance

TransitionAssistance

FamilyAdvocacy Program

Deployment and Mobilization Support

Ombudsman Support

RelocationAssistance

Parenting Programs

Stress andAngerManagement

Command Support

Crisis Support

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SAPR Support

GULFOFOMAN (May9,2023) Mine countermeasures ship USS Dextrous (MCM 13),not pictured sailswith ships participating in the Oman-led exercise KhunjarHadd in the GulfofOman,May9,2023.Dextrous is deployed to the U.S.5th Fleet area ofoperations to help ensure maritime securityand