Combat Camera: On Board USS John C. Stennis, 18 Aug 2007

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 17, 2007) - An HH-60H Seahawk, from the "Eightballers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 8, flies through a rainbow transiting back to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul J. Perkins (RELEASED)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 17, 2007) - An S-3B Viking, from the "Top Cats" of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 31, launches from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul J. Perkins (RELEASED)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 17, 2007) - Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 fly over Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during a practice flight demonstration for an upcoming Tiger Cruise. Stennis is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul J. Perkins (RELEASED)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 17, 2007) - Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 Det. 11 Sailors in an HH-60H Seahawk neutralize a simulated mine. EODMU 11, as part of John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman John Wagner (RELEASED)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 17, 2007) - An HH-60H Seahawk, from the "Eightballers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 8, flies past Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during flight operations. Stennis is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul J. Perkins (RELEASED)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 17, 2007) - Flight deck personnel prepare to launch an F/A-18C Hornet, from the "Blue Diamonds" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 146, left, and an F/A-18F Super Hornet, from the "Black Knights" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul J. Perkins (RELEASED)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 16, 2007) - Flight deck personnel from the crash and salvage team simulate fighting a fire on an F/A-18F Super Hornet, from the "Black Knights" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, during a series of flight deck drills aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul J. Perkins (RELEASED)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 14, 2007) - John C. Stennis, Kitty Hawk, and Nimitz Carrier Strike Groups transit in formation during a joint photo exercise concluding Valiant Shield 2007. The exercise featured 15 ships as well as 17 aircraft from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. John C. Stennis, Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Groups are participating in Valiant Shield 2007, the largest joint exercise in the Pacific this year. Held in the Guam operating area, the exercise includes 30 ships, more than 280 aircraft and more than 20,000 service members from the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph R. Vincent (RELEASED)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 14, 2007) - Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88), Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Antietam and Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) transit in formation during a joint photo exercise with Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Groups concluding Valiant Shield 2007. The exercise featured 15 ships as well as 17 aircraft from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. John C. Stennis, Kitty Hawk and Nimitz Carrier Strike Groups are participating in Valiant Shield 2007, the largest joint exercise in the Pacific this year. Held in the Guam operating area, the exercise includes 30 ships, more than 280 aircraft and more than 20,000 service members from the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph R. Vincent (RELEASED)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 14, 2007) - Sailors aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) watch as the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) transit in formation during a joint photo exercise marking the conclusion of Valiant Shield 2007 (VS07). The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 are deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet. Valiant Shield 2007 was the largest joint exercise in recent history, including 30 ships, more than 280 aircraft, and more than 20,000 service members from the Navy, Marines Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eduardo Zaragoza (RELEASED)

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Ruling Allows Navy Sonar Use

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 11, 2007) - Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) conducts a fueling at sea (FAS) alongside Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Lincoln and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 are underway off the coast of Southern California conducting a Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Chantell J. Wilson (RELEASED)

News in Balance:

Recently, a number of news outlets reported that a federal court issued an injunction on Monday blocking the Navy from using a type of sonar that wildlife supporters say harms whales in exercises off the California coast.

Reuters, a news outlet not known for complete objectivity, proclaimed:

The preliminary injunction is a victory for environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council, or NRDC, which filed a lawsuit in March claiming the Navy did not do sufficient environmental testing of its mid-frequency active sonar.

What Reuters and AP have yet to report is that the National Marine Fisheries Services issued a final ruling on Thursday that allows the Navy to continue operating sonar in the western Pacific Ocean for the next five years, subject to a yearly authorization renewal.

Ruling Allows Navy to Continue Using Low-Frequency Sonar
8/17/2007
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brandan W. Schulze, Navy Office of Information

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The National Marine Fisheries Services issued a final rule Aug. 16 that allows the Navy to continue operating Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active (SURTASS LFA) sonar in the western Pacific Ocean for the next five years, subject to a yearly authorization renewal.

SURTASS LFA consists of two separate components. The LFA portion of the system is suspended vertically below the ship and transmits low-frequency sound energy into the water. SURTASS, the passive portion of the system, is towed behind the ship and is made up of a series of underwater microphones that detect natural and man-made sound energy in the water. This allows underwater objects, such as submarines, to be detected.

"SURTASS LFA gives us a solid capability that has been proven at sea," said Rear Adm. Carl V. Mauney, Director, Submarine Warfare. "It allows us to detect and track diesel-electric submarines at long range, enabling action, if necessary, at a time and place of our choosing."

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Environment) Donald R. Schregardus says the ruling "will allow the Navy to continue operations in the western Pacific that are vital to our national defense."

According to Schregardus, the system is vital for use in tracking extremely quiet diesel-electric submarines, which could pose a potential threat to Navy Sailors and ships if they go undetected.

When operating on battery power, these submarines can conduct nearly silent underwater operations. As countries continue to acquire diesel-electric submarines, the Navy makes tracking them a priority.

"SURTASS LFA sonar is the single best system the Navy has to find and track such submarines at long distances. This system helps keep our service members, our ships and our national interests safe," said Schregardus.

He said SURTASS LFA is necessary for national security, and is operated in a manner that is environmentally sound. Past research has facilitated the development of science-based mitigation measures that allow the sonar to operate in harmony with the ocean environment. Sonar operators monitor for the presence of marine mammals prior to, during and after sonar activity and either turn off or delay start-up if marine mammals come too close.

Schregardus said that five years of these sonar operations in the western Pacific produced no evidence of any harm to marine mammals or their populations.

"The Navy's extensive operations experience with this system, in combination with thorough scientific studies on the system's effects on marine mammals and fish, confirms that this sonar can coexist with ocean life," said Schregardus.

Schregardus said claims that SURTASS LFA destroys ocean life and cannot be operated in harmony with the environment are "simply untrue and not supported by scientific fact."

The Navy's official SURTASS site: http://www.surtass-lfa-eis.com//.

For more information on the Navy's environmental programs, visit https://secnavportal.donhq.navy.mil/ie/environment/.

Media sources: Reuters, The Associated Press.

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Stennis Completes Exercise Valiant Shield 2007

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 17, 2007) - An HH-60H Seahawk, from the "Eightballers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 8, flies toward Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during flight operations. Stennis is on a scheduled deployment to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Paul J. Perkins (RELEASED)

JCSSG Completes Exercise Valiant Shield 2007
2007-08-15
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Frank E. Neely

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSSG) successfully wrapped up Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 while operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) Aug. 14.

The eight-day exercise conducted off the coast of Guam, tested the military’s ability to rapidly bring together joint forces in response to any regional contingency. It also enabled the United States to contribute to regional security and stability and demonstrated U.S. commitment in the Pacific.

“The purpose of the exercise was to train in our ability to work in a strike force and joint environment,” said Rear Adm. Kevin M. Quinn, Commander, Carrier Strike Group 3. “We practiced our ability to carry out all of our mission areas in a very dynamic and robust training environment. It’s been great training.”

Valiant Shield, the largest joint exercise in recent history, brought together more than 20,000 Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and Air Force Airmen to participate in operations consisting of 30 ships and 280 aircraft.

“What we found in Valiant Shield is that we can come together at sea, working in a joint military environment, having not worked with each other a lot before and fall into a strike force construct to conduct integrated combat operations,” said Quinn.

Along with JCSSG, Nimitz and Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Groups also participated in Valiant Shield. The exercise offered a unique opportunity to have multiple aircraft carriers train together in a maritime environment and enhance operational proficiency.

“What was very striking to me was how well we were able to bring together three separate carrier strike groups and integrate them into a carrier strike force,” said Quinn. “It’s difficult enough to integrate all the elements of a carrier strike group into one cohesive fighting force. It’s another order of magnitude to do that with three strike groups. However, the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group performed very well. In fact, all the strike groups in Valiant Shield performed extremely well.”

With the vast area of the Pacific Ocean, integrated sea and air power is essential for immediate response to any contingency.

By bringing these forces together, this training enabled real-world proficiency in detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, on land and in the air in response to a range of mission areas.

“Valiant Shield showed the flexibility of a carrier strike group,” said Capt. Christopher Murray, deputy commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9. “When we need to get in close to support ground troops, we can do that, and we’ve done that. This exercise showed another area of expertise; our ability to conduct operations in the open ocean.”

For the “Death Rattlers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 323, a Marine squadron assigned to CVW-9, Valiant Shield provided a valuable learning experience.

“This exercise was vastly different than the combat operations we conducted in the 5th Fleet area of operations,” said Maj. James Erwin, VMFA-323 pilot and operations officer. “It was very much a shift in focus compared to when were providing close-air support for ground troops. In Valiant Shield, we practiced attacking and defending ships. For a Marine squadron, our typical focus is supporting ground forces. However, being integrated into a carrier air wing, we are expected to expand our skill sets to cover all the operations carrier air wings will participate in, and overall, we did well.”

This is the second year the U.S. military has conducted Valiant Shield; the first was held June 2006.

JCSSG includes the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), embarked CVW-9, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21, the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54), the guided-missile destroyers USS O’Kane (DDG 77), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) and the fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10). More than 6,500 Sailors and Marines are assigned to JCSSG.

The squadrons of CVW-9 include: the “Black Knights” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, “Blue Diamonds” of VFA-146, “Argonauts” of VFA-147, Death Rattlers of VMFA-323, “Yellow Jackets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138, “Golden Hawks” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112, “Top Cats” of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 31, “Eightballers” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 8 and “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30.

Stennis, JCSSG’s flagship, left her homeport of Bremerton, Wash., Jan. 16 for a regularly-scheduled deployment and has conducted operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 7th Fleet AOR.

“My strike group has performed magnificently, and I couldn’t be more proud of them,” said Quinn. “Contributing to security and stability in the Middle East, as well as the Pacific, is one of the most important missions of the United States Navy.”

With the conclusion of Valiant Shield, Stennis and its strike group will sail to the U.S. 3rd Fleet AOR, where they will finish the remainder of their 2007 deployment.

“When I look back on this great adventure of ours, the thing I’m most proud of is the performance of our young Sailors and Marines,” said Quinn. “They’ve left the comforts of their homes; they’ve left their families; they’ve gone forward into the combat zone to fight for our country, and their performance in that combat zone has been outstanding.”

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Update 2: Navy Plane Crashes, Search Concludes

FILE PHOTO -- ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 2, 2007) – An E-2C Hawkeye, attached to the "Seahawks" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126, launches from the flight deck of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman is underway in the Atlantic Ocean participating in the composite training unit exercise in preparation for deployment to the Persian Gulf. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Justin Lee Losack (RELEASED)

Open Thread:

UPDATED:

The Associated Press reports three aviators on a twin-engine radar plane that crashed off North Carolina's coast have died, the Navy said Friday.

Search crews found debris from the E-2C Hawkeye turbo prop plane but no bodies, said Mike Maus, a spokesman with the Norfolk-based Atlantic Fleet Naval Air Force.

"The search has been terminated," Maus said. The aviators were declared dead, he said.

The Navy identified those aboard as Lt. Cameron N. Hall, 30, of Natchitoches, La.; Lt. Ryan K. Betton, 31, of Collinsville, Va.; and Lt. j.g. Jerry R. Smith, 25, of Greenville, Maine.

The cause of the crash remained under investigation.

E-2C Hawkeye Crashes, Navy Conducting Search
2007-08-16
By Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- A Navy E-2C Hawkeye aircraft from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 120 crashed at sea Aug. 15, while conducting operations on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

Three aviators were aboard the aircraft. An air and sea search is being conducted by units from Harry S. Truman, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The identities of the crew are not being released at this time.

The aircraft crashed at approximately 11:00 p.m. following its launch from Harry S. Truman. The ship was approximately 150 miles southeast of the Virginia Capes conducting routine training operations.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

VAW-120 is the east coast E-2C/C-2A Fleet Replacement Squadron based at Naval Station Norfolk and trains pilots and Naval flight officers in both aircraft before they are assigned to operational fleet squadrons.

The E-2C Hawkeye is a twin-engine turbo prop aircraft used for airborne command, control, and early warning. It normally carries a crew of five including two pilots and three NFOs.

Official Squadron Web Site

Official USS Harry S. Truman Web Site

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Gen. Odierno Details 'Quick Strike' Ops

Lt. Gen. Odierno briefs the media in Washington, D.C., on the results and actions taken after the recent al Qaida inspired bombings that took place in the Nineveh province, early in the week. 4 parts.Video: Lt. Gen. Odierno, Part 1
Video: Lt. Gen. Odierno, Part 2
Video: Lt. Gen. Odierno, Part 3
Video: Lt. Gen. Odierno, Part 4
LTG Ray Odierno, Commander of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, speaks via satellite with reporters at the Pentagon, providing an update on ongoing security operations in Iraq.
Link: Iraq Briefing 17 August 2007
Dispatches from the Front:

Odierno Highlights Operations Phantom Strike, Phantom Thunder
By John J. Kruzel

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2007 (AFPS) -- Iraqi and coalition forces are pursuing extremist leaders in Iraq’s remote areas in coordinated “quick strikes” that launched this week, the commander of Multinational Corps Iraq told Pentagon reporters today.

Operation Phantom Strike is a series of joint operations that extend from Operation Phantom Thunder, a corps-level offensive that began in June targeting al Qaeda, Sunni insurgents and Shiia extremists in, near and around Baghdad, said Army Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno.

“With the elimination of safe havens and support zones due to Phantom Thunder, al Qaeda and Shiite extremists have been forced into ever-shrinking areas. It is my intent to pursue and disrupt their operations,” Odierno said.

Over the coming weeks, the general said, combined forces will conduct quick-strike raids against extremist sanctuaries and staging areas. Using precision-targeting operations, troops will target terrorist leaders and members of lethal improvised-explosive-device and car-bomb networks, he said.

“We will continue to hunt down the leadership, deny them safe haven, disrupt their supply lines and significantly reduce their capability to operate in Iraq,” Odierno added.

In the first 24 hours of one “quick-strike” raid, Multinational Division North soldiers captured and killed several enemies and seized weapons caches in the Diyala River Valley. Called Operation Lightning Hammer, this operation targeted extremists as they tried to re-establish sanctuaries, the general said.

Odierno highlighted some successes of Operation Phantom Thunder, which launched June 15. In 142 battalion-level joint operations, Iraqi and coalition forces detained 6,702 suspects, killed 1,196 enemies and wounded 419 others. Combined forces also killed or captured 382 high-value targets, he said.

Troops also cleared 1,113 weapons caches and scores of IEDs and car bombs. “The number of found and cleared IEDs, (car bombs) and caches are approximately 50 percent higher than the same period last year due, in large part, to effective tips provided by concerned Iraqi citizens,” the general added.

Odierno warned that high-profile attacks may rise as two important dates approach. In the early weeks of September, Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month, begins. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, is slated to present an anticipated report to Congress around the same time.

“Our enemy is ruthless and will no doubt attempt to exploit the upcoming Ramadan season, as well as influence political opinions in the coming weeks by increasing attacks with particular emphasis on high-profile terror attacks,” he said.

But extremists’ efforts are increasingly hampered by civilians who cooperate with coalition forces as troops ramp-up raids around the country, Odierno said.

“Al Qaeda and other extremist elements will have to contend with an Iraqi population that no longer welcomes them,” he said, “as well as quick-hitting offensive operations by coalition and Iraqi forces.”

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Update: Navy Plane Crashes, Search Continues

FILE PHOTO -- ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 2, 2007) – An E-2C Hawkeye, attached to the "Seahawks" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126, launches from the flight deck of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman is underway in the Atlantic Ocean participating in the composite training unit exercise in preparation for deployment to the Persian Gulf. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Justin Lee Losack (RELEASED)

Open Thread:

This post has been updated a second time here.

The Associated Press reports crews continued searching by sea and by air Friday for three aviators missing since their Navy twin-engine radar plane crashed off North Carolina's coast Wednesday night.

"Nothing has changed," said Mike Maus, a spokesman with the Norfolk-based Atlantic Fleet Naval Air Force. "The SAR (search and rescue) effort is still ongoing."

The E-2C Hawkeye turbo prop plane had just launched from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman when it went down into the Atlantic Ocean in clear weather about 11 p.m. Wednesday.

E-2C Hawkeye Crashes, Navy Conducting Search
8/16/2007
From Commander Naval Air Force Atlantic Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- A Navy E-2C Hawkeye aircraft from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 120 crashed at sea Aug. 15, while conducting operations on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

Three aviators were aboard the aircraft. An air and sea search is being conducted by units from Harry S. Truman, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The identities of the crew are not being released at this time.

The aircraft crashed at approximately 11:00 p.m. following its launch from Harry S. Truman. The ship was approximately 150 miles southeast of the Virginia Capes conducting routine training operations.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

VAW-120 is the east coast E-2C/C-2A Fleet Replacement Squadron based at Naval Station Norfolk and trains pilots and Naval flight officers in both aircraft before they are assigned to operational fleet squadrons.

The E-2C Hawkeye is a twin-engine turbo prop aircraft used for airborne command, control, and early warning. It normally carries a crew of five including two pilots and three NFOs.

Official Squadron Web Site

Official USS Harry S. Truman Web Site

Additional media sources: CNN, Time, dailypress.com.

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Combat Camera: Operation Pericles Night Ops

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. German Dionida from B Troop, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division adjusts his helmet before departing on Operation Pericles from Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Iraq, Aug. 14. The operation aims to eliminate al-Qaida's presence within the Diyala River Valley. Photographer: Staff Sgt. Martin Newton, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

A U.S. Army soldier from B Troop, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division searches an Iraqi man during Operation Pericles in Abu Garma, Iraq, Aug. 14. This operation aims to eliminate al-Qaida's presence within the Diyala River Valley. Photographer: Staff Sgt. Martin Newton, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Terry Hitchrick from B Troop, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division provides direction while his Soldiers search a home for contraband during Operation Pericles in Abu Garma, Iraq, Aug. 14. This operation aims to eliminate al-Qaida's presence within the Diyala River Valley. Photographer: Staff Sgt. Martin Newton, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

U.S. Army Spc. Cameron Wolterstorff from B Troop, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, performs an explosive residue test on an Iraqi man during Operation Pericles in Abu Garma, Iraq, Aug. 14. This operation aims to eliminate al-Qaida's presence within the Diyala River Valley. Photographer: Staff Sgt. Martin Newton, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

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Minneapolis Bridge Operations Continue

Video: Aerials of Minn. Bridge Collapse
B-roll of a military videographer shooting aerial footage of the Minneapolis bridge collapse. Scenes include several angles from an aerial view of the collapsed bridge.

Military Support Continues in Minneapolis Bridge Recovery Operations

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2007 (AFPS) -- Defense Department forces assisting with search-and-recovery operations at the site of the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis are continuing their efforts around the clock.

The westbound span of the Interstate 35 bridge across the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis collapsed Aug. 1 during the evening rush hour. Eleven people are confirmed killed, and two more still are missing. Divers are continuing to search for remains in the river beneath the rubble.

Recovery operations are ongoing as U.S. Navy divers conduct rigging operations with onsite contractors, U.S. Northern Command officials said. The contractors, hired by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, are using heavy equipment to cut through the debris, which will provide access to remaining vehicles. The divers continue to assess their best access points to remaining vehicles as debris is removed, officials said.

"Recovery operations will continue as part of a larger team effort, with safety being a paramount concern during debris removal and dive operations," said Army Col. Michael Chesney, the defense coordinating officer and on-scene commander for Defense Department assets involved in the recovery efforts. "We are here to help and provide support to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office as long as we are requested."

Chesney said he is impressed with the spirit of cooperation among agencies participating in the recovery operations.

"As I observe the (Navy) divers working in partnership with the contractors removing debris, it demonstrates the joint effort being put forth by everyone as we continue 24/7 recovery operations," he said.

Defense Department assets assisting in this effort include a Defense Coordinating Element augmented with personnel from U.S. Army North, at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2, from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va. They have been in Minneapolis since Aug. 6, at the request of the U.S. Department of Transportation and in support of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.

(From a U.S. Northern Command news release.)

Official Web Site: U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)

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Combat Camera: 45th Medical Company Air Ambulance

U.S. Army Maj. Robert A. Kneeland (right), 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) commanding officer and Chief Warrant Officer Kevin W. Jordan, both UH-60A Black Hawk pilots, prepare to do a run up aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Aug. 6, 2007. Run ups for the UH-60A Black Hawk are done to ensure that all the equipment, and the helicopter itself, is working properly before going out on missions. The company is deployed as part of Multi National Forces-West in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Al Anbar province of Iraq to develop the Iraqi Security Forces, facilitate the development of official rule of government reforms and continue the development of a market based economy centered on Iraqi reconstruction, Aug. 6, 2007. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Maryalice Leone

U.S. Army Maj. Robert A. Kneeland, commanding officer of 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) also a UH-60A Black Hawk pilot writes down information after landing aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Aug. 6, 2007. After landing, pilots will write down information about the flight, equipment problems inside or outside, and other pertinent information that other pilots need to know. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Maryalice Leone

U.S. Army Spc. Bryan J. Lowney, a crew chief assigned to the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) sits atop a UH-60A Black Hawk as he checks the main rotor blades while stopped at Al Taqqadum, Iraq, Aug 6, 2007. These checks are done to ensure that the UH-60A Black Hawks have not sustained any damages and that they are ready at any moment to take off. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Maryalice Leone

U.S. Army Spc. Megan M. McKinzie, a crew chief assigned to the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) straps her helmet in preparation for a run up aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Aug. 6, 2007. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Maryalice Leone

U.S. Army Spc. Megan M. McKinzie, a crew chief assigned to the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) stands by in preparation for a run up aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Aug. 6, 2007. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Maryalice Leone

U.S. Army Spc. Megan M. McKinzie, a crew chief assigned to the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) looks out the window of a UH-60A Black Hawk as they take off during a run up aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Aug, 6, 2007. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Maryalice Leone

U.S. Army Spc. Bryan J. Lowney, a crew chief assigned to the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) sits atop a UH-60A Black Hawk as he checks the main rotor blades while stopped at Al Taqqadum, Iraq, Aug. 6, 2007. These checks are done to ensure that the UH-60A Black Hawks have not sustained any damages and that they are ready at any moment to take off. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Maryalice Leone

U.S. Army Sgt. Ryan P. Zimmerman, a crew chief assigned to the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) checks the engine hoses of a UH-60A Black Hawk while at Al Taqqadum, Iraq, Aug. 6, 2007. Equipment checks are done often on UH-60A Black Hawks to ensure that they are ready at any time to take off for a mission. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Maryalice Leone

A flight medic assigned to the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) stands by as a UH-60A Black Hawk shuts down on the flight line in Balad, Iraq, Aug. 6, 2007. The flight medic will standby until the aircraft is entirely shut down to ensure that the area around the Blackhawk is clear, and that the main and tail rotor are slowing down properly. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Maryalice Leone

U.S. Army Sgt. George C. Young III, a crew chief assigned to the 45th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) looks towards the rear of a UH-60A Black Hawk to ensure all clear before taking off from Balad, Iraq, Aug. 6, 2007. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Maryalice Leone

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