Whereas visiting, Seif was the senior U.S. Navy consultant for a number of distinguished customer excursions of Asheville. The excursions included visits by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, and Minister for Defence Trade Pat Conroy, in addition to leaders within the Australian protection trade and company of the U.S. Consulate Common Perth.
“The U.S.-Australia Alliance is ironclad,” mentioned Seif. “Our nations have lengthy put ahead a imaginative and prescient of peace and stability, and a dedication to the worldwide rules-based order. By demonstrating elevated submarine capabilities in Australia, we improve our built-in deterrence and assist preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
One alternative to reveal U.S. submarine capabilities was by an underway embark for a gaggle of Australian and diplomatic company, organized by the U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate Perth and CTF 74. Visitors have been allowed a uncommon likelihood to see what life is like at sea onboard a nuclear-powered submarine and work together with the Asheville’s Sailors.
Seif additionally met with senior RAN leaders, together with Vice Adm. Jonathan Mead, Chief Nuclear Powered Submarine Job Pressure, who toured the submarine with Marles, and Rear Admiral Matt Buckley, Head of Functionality, Nuclear-Powered Submarine Taskforce, who accompanied Seif on the underway embark.
“Having the chance to take key stakeholders on a nuclear-powered submarine at sea was an expertise few individuals get to see of their lifetime,” mentioned Buckley. “Seeing the operations up-close and the data and self-discipline of the U.S. submariners makes me excited for the Royal Australian Navy’s nuclear submarine future, and for the coaching our RAN officers and sailors will obtain over the approaching years.”
Whereas Asheville was moored pierside, Seif held an all-hands name for the crew. There, he offered Lt. j.g. Michael Nix a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his work onboard, and pinned the “dolphins” on two newly-qualified junior submarine officers, Lt. j.g. Scott Seel and Lt. j.g. Zach Cutter, who was aboard Asheville, however is completely assigned to a different Los Angeles-class submarine, USS Springfield (SSN 761). The submarine warfare insignia, often known as “dolphins” or “fish,” is a pin worn on the uniforms of enlisted and officers of the U.S. Navy to point that they’re certified in submarines. To earn the fitting to put on the pin, aspiring submariners should efficiently full a rigorous qualification course of.
Asheville is assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron (COMSUBRON) 15, which is positioned at Polaris Level, Naval Base Guam, in Apra Harbor, Guam, and consists of 4 Los Angeles-class assault submarines. The submarines are maintained as a part of the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed submarine drive and are readily able to assembly world operational necessities.
That is the third U.S. Navy submarine to go to HMAS Stirling up to now 12 months. The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Springfield visited in April 2022, and the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Mississippi (SSN 782) visited in November 2022.
Submarine Group 7 directs forward-deployed, fight succesful forces throughout the complete spectrum of undersea warfare all through the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea.
For extra information from Commander, Submarine Group 7, go to www.csp.navy.mil/csg7/.
