On February 27, 2013, several U.S. Navy operations were detailed, including the swearing in of Chuck Hagel as the Secretary of Defense and various naval exercises and training activities across multiple locations. The USS John C. Stennis and USS Mobile Bay completed a substantial replenishment-at-sea, while other vessels conducted training and community service projects. Additionally, multinational exercises aimed at enhancing maritime security and anti-piracy capabilities were held in the Gulf of Guinea and other regions.

1. A Day in the Navy
February 27, 2013
(LINKS ARE TO ASSOCIATED PHOTOS, ARTICLES AND WEBSITES)
 Chuck Hagel is sworn in as the 24th Secretary of Defense by Michael L. Rhodes, deputy
director of Administration and Management at the Pentagon.
 The Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and the Ticonderoga
class guided missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) perform a replenishment-at-sea in
the Gulf of Oman while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. During the
replenishment, USS John C. Stennis received a total 544 pallets of supplies including 182
pallets of frozen food, 74 pallets of fresh fruits and vegetables, 37 pallets of soda, 76
pallets of dry goods, and 70 pallets of mail.
 Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) recently completed a six-month
planned incremental availability (PIA) and is underway conducting carrier qualifications
(CQ). These qualifications enable new pilots, as well as pilots who are seeking
requalification, the ability to launch and recover from an aircraft carrier.
 Sailors aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) participate in a
shipboard fire drill. USS Sterett is currently moored at Continental Maritime in San
Diego undergoing a Selected Restricted Availability.
 Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108)
embarked a group of leaders in business, industry, education and government from
Southern California as part of the "Leaders to Sea" program. Leaders to Sea, sponsored
by Commander, Naval Surface Forces, is designed to provide first-hand insight into the
daily operations of a U.S. Navy ship at sea.
 MV Ocean Giant (T-AK) is underway in the Pacific after completing its annual offload of
supplies, vehicles and equipment at McMurdo Station in support of Operation Deep
Freeze.
 USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) is underway in the Atlantic Ocean for three days of sea trials
in conjunction with a layberth shift from Baltimore to Norfolk.
 USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) and USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8) are underway in the Sulu
Sea supporting salvage and dismantling operations of the USS Guardian (MCM 5), which
ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef on Jan. 17.
 U.S. Navy divers from the Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 2, Company 4, on board USNS
Grapple (T-ARS 53), transit the Mediterranean Sea after wrapping up salvage operations
to recover the wreckage of an Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon that crashed off the coast
of Italy late last month.

2.  Sailors from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa join participants from 16
countries during Exercise Obangame Express, a multinational at-sea naval exercise
designed to increase counter-piracy capabilities of partner nations and deter other
maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea.
 The guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) participates in Exercise Proud Manta
2013, NATO's largest anti-submarine warfare exercise, along with nine other NATO
nations, while underway in the Ionian Sea.
 High Speed Vessel (HSV 2) Swift is pier side in Belize as part of High Speed Vessel-
Southern Partnership Station 2013 (HSV-SPS 13) deployment to U.S. 4th Fleet. Navy,
Marine Corps and Air Force personnel from Swift are ashore conducting subject matter
expert exchanges with the Belize Defense Force.
 Navy Region Southwest participates in Citadel Shield, a large-scale, anti-terrorism and
force protection training exercise at bases and installations throughout the nation. At
Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif., naval security forces worked with the FBI,
NCIS, San Diego and Coronado police, the San Diego Medical Examiner and other local
agencies. Held annually, the exercise trains personnel to respond to installation threats.
 Naval Station Norfolk Security Military Working Dogs Unit prepares to search vehicles
for improvised explosive devices during Exercise Citadel Shield.
 Seventy-six Reserve Sailors from the San Diego based Coastal Riverine Squadron One,
conduct boat crewman and security reaction force training in preparation for the
upcoming Middle East and African deployments. The squadron provides the Navy with
the capability to conduct operations within the coastal, harbor and riverine environments.
 Seven members of the Fleet Survey Team conduct a safety of navigation survey in
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, in support of U.S. Africa Command and the government of Cote
d’Ivoire. Survey data will be used to update nautical charts and will be used by both
countries to aid in military, commercial and recreational navigation.
 Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 work with Philippine
Seabees to construct a two-classroom building for the Aplaya Elementary School in
Barangay, Tagburos.
 Sailors assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) build an ancient
Chamorro hut in front of Adacao Elementary School to help students learn the ancient
Chamorro lifestyle for March's Chamorro Month during a community service project.
 Lt. j.g.Trisha Kutkiewicz, a member of the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, was selected
to be the skipper of the joint U.S. Armed Forces Sailing team, competing against 133
nations in the Conseil International du Sport Militaire sailing competition in Norway.
 Recruiters help 159 people join America's Global Force for Good.