Whirlwind Sailor named CNSS 5 BJOY January 7, 2018 — Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Juan D. Aviles-Perez, assigned to the coastal patrol ship USS Whirlwind (PC 11), was selected as command Blue Jacket of the Year (BJOY) for Commander, Naval Surface Squadron (CNSS) 5, Jan. 4. MORE

RFA Fort Rosalie helicopter leads HMAS Warramunga to a 3.5 ton drug bust January 7, 2018 — The Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152), currently operating as part of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), stopped drug smugglers operating in international waters in the Arabian Sea, Jan. 2. MORE

HMAS Warramunga seizes 7.8 tons of narcotics in the Gulf of Oman December 30, 2017 — Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Warramunga (FFH 152), currently deployed as part of Combined Maritime Forces’ (CMF) Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, seized 7.8 tons of narcotics during a series of boardings Dec. 27-29 in the Gulf of Oman. MORE

U.S., French forces fortify longstanding partnership during Alligator Dagger December 20, 2017 — The French navy Mistral-class amphibious assault ship LHD Tonnerre (L9014), with embarked U.S. Marines and Sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, and the USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3) rehearsed amphibious operations and combat sustainment in the vicinity of Djibouti during Alligator Dagger Dec. 12-21. MORE

CTF 52 Hosts U.K./U.S. Mine Countermeasures Exercise December 7, 2017 — The U.S. Navy and Royal Navy completed a U.K./U.S. Mine Countermeasures Exercise (MCMEX) in the central Arabian Gulf, Dec. 7. MORE

U.S. Sailors and Marines to embark aboard French vessel December 4, 2017 — Sailors and Marines from Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51, 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5) and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked the French Mistral-class amphibious assault ship LHD Tonnerre to conduct amphibious and maritime security operations within the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, Dec. 4. MORE

USS Monterey Conducts Teleconference with the President of the United States of America November 23, 2017 — The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) a component of Carrier Strike Group Ten (CSG 10), held a teleconference with the President Donald Trump and representatives from each of the branches of the Department of Defense on Thursday afternoon. The President wanted to thank the crew for serving their country and being away from home this holiday season. MORE

SECNAV Visits Bahrain November 22, 2017 — Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer met with leadership and spoke to service members aboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain as part of a multinational tour of the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Nov. 21. MORE

France’s CATG Departs Port for a Bilateral Deployment November 21, 2017 — France’s amphibious task group (CATG), comprised of the French Navy Mistral-class amphibious assault ship LHD Tonnerre and the Horizon-class air defense destroyer Chevalier Paul, left its homeport Nov. 21 for a deployment which will include time in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. MORE

Sailors receive grand tour of USNS Washington Chambers October 25, 2017 — Eleven Sailors from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s (NAVCENT) tenant commands toured the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11) at Khalifa Bin Salman Port Oct. 23. MORE