Flagship 08.04.22

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, August 4, 2022 1

IN THIS ISSUE

A sailors best friend redux: Sully H.W. Bush, arriving!

Sully H.W. Bush, the yellow Lab who was former President George H.W. Bush’s service dog, joined the Avenger crew as they prepare for an upcoming, scheduled deployment. Page 6

VOL. 29, NO. 30, Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com

August 4-August 10, 2022

USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) Commissions

Women’s healthcare in DoD unchanged by Supreme Court decision By C. Todd Lopez DoD News

The future USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) currently moored in Port Everglades, in its name-sake city Fort Lauderdale, Fla., gets ready for Saturday’s commissioning ceremony. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY SGT. GAVIN SHELTON, USMC)

Commander, Naval Surface Forces Public Affairs FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest Amphibious Transport Dock ship USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) July 30, 2022, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “To the Sailors and Marines who will serve aboard USS Fort Lauderdale, thank you and your families in advance for the service you will fulfill and sacrifices you may endure,” Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who spoke at the event, said. “The moment you bring this Amphibious Transport Dock to life, you will strengthen the integrated deterrence capability of our entire Joint Force.” Guest speakers for the event also included President of Ingalls Shipbuilding Kari Wilkinson; Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric Smith; Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantlis; and principal speaker, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida’s 23rd District. “It is such an honor to be involved in the commissioning of the USS Ft. Lauderdale. It’s another chapter to the momentous history, friendship, and respect that the

city has with the U.S. Navy,” said U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “As Chair of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, my support for our military is unwavering. I will always stand by our service members and veterans, and honor those who continue to serve.” Ship sponsor Meredith A. Berger gave the first order to “man our ship and bring her to life.” “The Navy names ships for people, places, and ideas that are special. The Navy certainly picked a special place when naming the USS Fort Lauderdale,” she said. “I am honored to be the sponsor for this incredible ship.” Built by the Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Fort Lauderdale was launched March 28, 2020 and christened Aug. 21, 2021. The ship was delivered to U.S. Navy Nov. 30, 2021. “Finally, if there is one thing that history has shown us from the days of antiquity it is that the stakes of the competition for control of the seas are high and for our part, USS Fort Lauderdale stands ready to deliver on any day, and at any time,” said Capt. James Quaresimo, the ship’s commanding officer. “And those that may wish to

challenge us — they should pause. For we are equipped with America’s unstoppable secret weapon that our enemies will never be able to duplicate and that is the fierce, dedicated and unstoppable, men and women of the United States Navy and Marine Corps!” The ceremony marks the official transition of the USS Fort Lauderdale into the fleet and caps a weeklong series of events celebrating the ship and its namesake city. Amphibious transport dock ships are warships that embark, transport and land elements of a landing force for a variety of expeditionary warfare mission LPDs are used to transport and land Marines, their equipment, and supplies by embarked Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) augmented by helicopters or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (MV 22). These ships support amphibious assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions and serve as secondary aviation platforms for amphibious operations. USS Fort Lauderdale will be homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.

While last month’s Supreme Court opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization means each state now makes its own laws regarding abortion services, the health care that the Defense Department provides to service members has not changed, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness said. “Service members can receive the same reproductive health care after Dobbs as they did before the ruling,” Gil Cisneros testified today before the House Armed Services Committee. “Consistent with long-existing federal law, ‘covered abortions’ — those cases that involve rape, incest or where the life of the mother would be endangered — will continue to be authorized to use federal funds and facilities. There is no interruption to this care.” Travel policies related to health care also remain, Cisneros said. If a service member must travel to obtain a covered abortion, she may do so on official status and will not be charged leave. While the department will continue to be able to provide to service members the same level of health care it has always provided, Cisneros said the department is aware that the Dobbs decision will change available options for some service members when it comes to abortions that are not covered under department policy. Based on laws that may be in effect in the state where a service member is stationed, abortion services may not be available. “Service members are now having to navigate additional challenges to access essential women’s health care services,” he said. “Service members and their families, who were previously able to make very personal decisions about when to have a family, may now face greater burdens depending on where they’re stationed.” Cisneros told lawmakers that the DOD continues to review its personnel and medical polices as a result of the Dobbs decision. “We understand the very personal nature of how the court decision impacts families,” he said. “We are being very deliberate in analyzing Dobbs with both focus and compassion. We want to make sure we get this right because it impacts access to essential women’s health care and reproductive care.” Another aspect of reproductive health Turn to Healthcare, Page 7

Submarine force kicks off inaugural Submarine Conference of the Americas By Petty Officer 1st Class Cameron Stoner Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic

Commander, Submarine Forces hosted the inaugural Submarine Conference of the Americas (SCOTA) onboard Naval Station Norfolk, July 26-27. The inaugural SCOTA was hosted by Western Hemisphere (WHEM) undersea leadership from allied and partner submarine-operating nations to showcase and address national undersea domain capabilities, the challenges of interoperability, and undersea collaboration against strategic

competitors in the WHEM. Vice Adm. William Houston, commander, Submarine Forces, kicked off the multinational conference with a welcome remark to attendees from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Peru and the U.S. “We are all at this conference together because our countries share the same values of democracy,” said Houston. “Our submarine forces all offer unique capabilities and advantages and this conference will enable all of us to take the next step forward in our Turn to Submarine, Page 7

From spitting rhymes to changing lives: The journey from rapping to recruiting www.flagshipnews.com

www.facebook.com/ The.Flagship

www.twitter.com/ the_flagship

Some recruiters compare aspects of being a recruiter to being a salesman, especially in times like these when it can be difficult to attract the amount of talent the Navy needs. Navy Counselor 1st Class Edward Hutton isn’t one of those recruiters. PAGE A2

Participants of the inaugural Submarine Conference of the Americas (SCOTA) pose for a photo onboard Naval Station Norfolk, July 26, 2022. SCOTA is a multinational conference with attendees from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Peru and the U.S. This is the inaugural SCOTA hosted by Western Hemisphere (WHEM) undersea leadership from allied and partner submarine-operating nations to showcase and address national undersea domain capabilities, the challenges of interoperability, and undersea collaboration against strategic competitors in the WHEM. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS CAMERON STONER)

Service Person of the Month

New Naval Safety Commander

A Sailor from Naval Submarine Support Facility at Naval Submarine Base New London was recently recognized as June’s Service Person of the Month.

Naval Safety Command (NAVSAFECOM) held a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Oceana where Rear Adm. Christopher M. Engdahl relieved Rear Adm. F.R.“Lucky”Luchtman.

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Flagship 08.04.22 by Military News - Issuu