Officials in attendance were Capt. Cameron Chen, commodore, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 68, and Command Master Chief Larry Sharpe, Croatian Rear Admiral Damir Dojkic Chief of Staff; Deputy Commander of Croatian Navy and Croatian MCPON Boris Skokic.
This construction project, to be carried out on the Croatian Naval Base at Lora, will enable further training of Croatian Armed Forces personnel in the ongoing efforts to clear and render safe the over 400 square kilometers of land mine fields in Croatia and the over 3,000 underwater mine contacts in Croatian territorial waters.
“This training center will greatly enhance the [United States European Command] EUCOM Humanitarian Mine Action (HMA) training by expanding the breadth and depth of our cooperation to ensure that others can walk the earth in safety,” said Mr. Mark Veneris, EUCOM J9 department, Humanitarian Mine Action Program Manager.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (Feb. 13, 2021) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) transits the Atlantic Ocean. Dwight D. Eisenhower is operating in the Atlantic Ocean in support of naval operations to maintain maritime stability and security in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cameron Pinske)
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Deploys Upon Completion of Historic COMPTUEX
February 24, 2021
On 20 January 2021, when he takes the oath of office, President Joe Biden will be dealt the worst hand of any president since Franklin Roosevelt. The COVID-19 pandemic is surging to record proportions and, worse, has been politicized. The nation is intractably divided politically with escalating tensions over race not seen since the 1960s. The economy is struggling. And relations with China and Russia are at their lowest point since the bad old days of the Cold War.
Against this background, while the U.S. military seems relatively unscathed by these crises, make no mistake: providing for the common defense is in trouble. Defense budgets, strategies, and organizations comprise the major reasons for concern. This means that the next administration must pay serious attention to these issues if a highly capable and ready military is to be maintained and ensure the next Secretary of Defense be well equipped and prepared to deal with each.