• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Blue Ridge departs Saipan, continues Tandem Thrust '03

Seventh Fleet

7th Fleet public affairs
Posted 04/25/2003

SAIPAN, Northern Marianas Islands -- The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet command ship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), and embarked Commander, 7th Fleet staff completed a two-day port visit here April 25, and are heading back to sea for the second phase of Exercise Tandem Thrust '03.

The port visit was a brief rest for Blue Ridge Sailors and staff members, who are participating with more than 8,000 personnel in the military training exercise in the Marianas Island training area. Tandem Thrust, which began April 14 and runs 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 are conducting land, sea and air training throughout the Marianas Island training area.

During the port visit, Blue Ridge and 7th Fleet Sailors participated in a community service project with the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Island Youth Center. The project consisted of Sailors planting nearly 600 trees and numerous plants as part of the Saipan Beautification Project. Crewmembers also had a chance to enjoy recreational activities such as sightseeing, athletic events and shopping.

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.