USS Blue Ridge makes Saipan port visit
Seventh Fleet
7th Fleet public affairs
Posted 04/23/2003
SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands -- The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet command ship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), and the embarked Commander, 7th Fleet staff arrived here April 23.
During the visit, Blue Ridge and 7th Fleet Sailors will participate in a community service project and have a chance to enjoy recreational activities such as sightseeing, athletic events and shopping.
The port visit will be brief rest for Blue Ridge Sailors and 7th Fleet staff, who are participating with more than 8,000 personnel in the military training exercise Tandem Thrust 2003 in the Marianas Island training area. Tandem Thrust, which began April 14 and will run through early May, is a U.S. Pacific Command-sponsored exercise designed to train the U.S. 7th Fleet commander's staff as a designated joint task force (JTF) headquarters.
The exercise focuses on crisis action planning and execution of contingency response operations. U.S. Pacific Command units will conduct land, sea and air training throughout the Marianas Island training area.
The 7th Fleet area of responsibility for U.S. Navy operations encompasses 52 million square miles of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. On average, there are 50 ships, 200 aircraft and approximately 20,000 Sailors operating in the area.
Blue Ridge is commanded by Capt. J. Stephen Maynard, and has a complement of nearly 1,000 crewmembers and embarked staff.
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