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Oceanography Strike Group Established

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060622-09
Release Date: 6/22/2006 1:18:00 PM

By Lithographer Seaman Apprentice Cale T. Bentley, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Navy established Strike Group Oceanography Team San Diego in a ceremony June 16.

The command was established in place of the disestablished Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center as part of a Navywide reorganization of the meteorology and oceanographic community.

“Aerographer’s mates are being pulled off ships and consolidated into these strike groups, with one on the East and West coast,” said Capt. David W. Titley, commander of Naval Oceanography operations.

Strike Group Oceanography Team San Diego supports four aircraft carriers and four amphibious ships in U.S. 3rd fleet, as well as special warfare operations, by providing them with meteorological and oceanographic support.

“A lot of the duties of an aerographer’s mate will remain the same, but there will be more deployments, and the change will benefit the Navy and give the junior Sailors more of an opportunity to go out to sea and get their qualifications,” said Aerographer’s Mate 1st class (AW) Michael S. Staten, leading petty officer of Strike Group Oceanography Team San Diego.

Aerographer’s mates were directly affected by a 21 percent cut in military oceanography personnel. The reorganization is expected to help the community better support fleet units and joint warfighting commands.

“With fewer aerographer’s mates afloat, we need to be twice as prepared, trained and maintained as we ever were,” said Cmdr. Joseph R. Brenner, commanding officer of Strike Group Oceanography Team San Diego.

For more news from around the fleet, visit www.navy.mil.