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FFC Showcases Homeland Defense Capabilities

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050718-02
Release Date: 7/18/2005 1:04:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class (SW) Janet M. Davis, U.S. Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Increasing awareness and understanding of the Navy’s role in homeland defense, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (CFFC) hosted Adm. Timothy Keating, commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and 25 Colorado community leaders for a visit to showcase FFC's homeland defense capabilities in July.

The visit marked Keating's first opportunity to travel to Norfolk with a group of community leaders to participate in the educational agenda. Keating is the command’s newest commander and also the first Navy commander of NORAD since its creation in 1958. Keating was joined by the President, Homeland Security Defense Foundation; Deputy Chief, Colorado Springs Police Dept.; President, Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce; and other influential community leaders who took time to meet with Sailors and see firsthand how the Navy supports homeland defense.

“They came for two reasons,” said Lt. Doug Talk, an FFC Visits and Embarks action officer. “They came for a kind of 'Navy 101,' an introduction to the Navy’s assets and how we utilize them, and also to get a focus on how we use those assets for homeland security.”

The visit highlighted the evolving scope of resources NORTHCOM has at its disposal. Its maritime component, Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC), coordinates issues with the department of homeland security at the operational and tactical level to train or to plan its missions. As NORTHCOM’s supporting Navy component, CFFC supports JFMCC to align the Navy homeland defense organization and enhance the ability to intercept and interdict maritime terrorist activities.

"These are the people doing their part for taxpayers,” said Lt. Cmdr. Derek Granger, executive officer, USS Winston Churchill (DDG 81). “To have them on board to actually see where their taxes are going and meet the Sailors that operate this equipment seems to enlighten them.”

The commands, which included Churchill, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (SSN 708), Amphibious Construction Unit (ACU) 4 and Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, worked together to provide briefings that showcased the entire range of Navy capabilities. The briefs also focused on how the Navy's various units and commands play into the homeland defense picture.

"On the destroyer, we gave them a brief on the AEGIS missile defense system," said Talk. "Aboard the aircraft carrier, we talked about power projection and the fleet response plan, and aboard the submarines, we discussed counter-drug operations and how the Navy works with the Coast Guard.”

In addition to briefings, operational demonstrations proved extremely useful and entertaining. ACU 4 provided a landing craft, air cushion (LCAC) demonstration, and VFA-106 provided an F/A-18 Super Hornet flight demonstration.

FFC's Visits and Embarks branch plays a continuous role in bringing influential taxpayers, politicians and community leaders face to face with the Sailors who make the Navy great.

“It’s one of the highest sought out programs because of the limited opportunities we have for embarks or boarding an aircraft carrier at sea,” said Jean Trotter, FFC's community relations director. “We reserve these visits for folks that can go back to their local communities and talk about the Navy to large audiences.”

Last year alone, FFC coordinated 1,009 visits for community leaders (including congressional, recruiting support and foreign visitors), 655 visits for Department of Defense personnel, and another 111 visits for educators.

“I enjoy participating in these kinds of visits because the civic leaders and civilians really appreciate the Navy,” said Talk, who has been with the command for 14 months. “Every time they see a Sailor, they always take time to thank us for what we’re doing. And I enjoy showing off the Navy to people who don’t normally have the opportunity to see the Navy. It’s nice to be able to show them what we do and the people that do it.”