TOPS Holds Graduation Ceremony for Class 24010

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

The Tri-Service Optician School (TOPS), a directorate of the Naval Medical Leader and Professional Development Command (NMLPDC), held its graduation ceremony for class 24010 in Yorktown, Virginia on Dec. 13th, 2024.

The graduating class was comprised of 13 Sailors and Soldiers from both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army.

“It was a great experience getting to know all of them and working with them,” said Cmdr. Joshua Keil, Dean, TOPS. “They were an exceptionally talented and disciplined group”

The ceremony included opening remarks from Capt. Katharine Shobe, commanding officer of NMLPDC, followed by closing remarks from Keil, as this was his first graduating class as the dean.

“My first class as Dean was a real treat,” said Keil. “Class 24-010 performed exceptionally well.”

Keil, Shobe and NMLPDC Command Master Chief Owen Hondorf presented each graduate with their certificates of completion as Opticians.

Hospitalman Apprentice Kevin Sadler
U.S. Army Specialist Jean Tobanda-Barragan
Hospitalman Andrew Boylan
Hospitalman Arthur Kim
Hospitalman Natalee Solis
Hospital Corpsman Third Class Lamartia Thompson
Hospitalman Apprentice Lukas Torres-Zawistowski
U.S. Army Private Second Class Clarence Brown
Hospitalman Apprentice Zack Hudson
U.S. Army Private Second Class Dani Lopez-Gomez
Hospitalman LaTavia Miller
U.S. Army Private Second Class Christopher Msezane
U.S. Army Private Elizabeth Saunders

“For the students, it wasn’t just about learning to fabricate and dispense eyewear or assist in treating ocular disorders,” said Shobe. “It was about sharpening skills that will save lives, boost mission readiness, and enhance the human weapon system. They now hold 29 of the 30 credit hours required for an Associate’s Degree from the Uniformed Services University’s College of Allied Health Sciences, a testament to the invaluable partnership between NMLPDC and USU, ensuring that their training is recognized both within the military and in the civilian world.”

Since its founding in 1995, TOPS has developed opticians to support clinics on sea and shore as well as the force preservation mission by supplying eyewear to the fleet as they bring sight to the fight. TOPS trains U.S. Army and Navy servicemembers in a rigorous 24-week program, ensuring the respective services have the technical expertise gained through optician studies.

TOPS is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupation Education and the Commission on Opticianry Accreditation and holds two iterations of training per year with a maximum of 30 students per class who earn degree credits through the Uniformed Services University.

U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella Welcomes First Baby of 2025

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

On January 6, 2025 U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella celebrated the birth of the first baby of the New Year. Baby girl Lisalei was born to parents Cecilia and Alexander, both active-duty members attached to a tenant command of NAS Sigonella.

This is the couple’s first child, and they are excited for the years ahead. Baby Lisalei came before her due date and the family feels lucky to share this extra time with her. They would like to thank their care team—through the beginning of the pregnancy to the day of delivery. U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella congratulates the family and thanks them for allowing us to be a part of this special moment in their family history.

We would also like to extend a warm thank you to the USNMRTC Sigonella Wardroom, USO Sigonella, and Fleet and Family Service Center Sigonella for their generous donations to gift our first baby of 2025.

U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella ensures maximum readiness by providing high-quality, safe patient and family-centered care to maximize force health protection for all beneficiaries, to included NATO and transient DoD forces in the U.S. Fifth Fleet and U.S. Sixth Fleet areas of operation.

A Commander-in-Chief’s Final Journey Led by Military Tradition

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

President Jimmy Carter, the nation’s 39th chief executive and the first U.S. Naval Academy graduate to serve in the Oval Office, began his final journey Saturday with a procession that intertwined the small-town rhythms of Plains, Georgia, and the weighty traditions of American military pageantry. His was a life well lived, one whose actions epitomized the motto of his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy: non sibi sed patriae — “not for self, but for country.” 

Decades after Carter resigned his naval commission to assume responsibility for his family’s peanut warehouse and farmland, an honor guard of service members and midshipmen escorted his flag-draped casket from Phoebe Sumter Medical Center in Americus. Former and current Secret Service agents, who had safeguarded him for nearly half a century, led the hearse past Plains landmarks that spoke to Carter’s Depression-era roots — the modest home where Rosalynn was delivered by a nurse in 1927, the old train depot that served as his 1976 campaign headquarters and the fields where he once worked side-by-side with Black sharecroppers. 

“He was an amazing man. He was held up and propped up and soothed by an amazing woman,” remarked son James Earl “Chip” Carter III, recalling both his father and mother, the late Rosalynn Carter. “The two of them together changed the world.”  

The local reaction along the funeral route displayed the deep reverence for a man who, despite rising to the highest office in the land, “never forgot where he came from.” 

Yet this final salute to Carter also showcased the institutional impact of his early years in uniform — a side of his story he always said shaped his public life. In 1943, the teenage Carter arrived at Annapolis as a “landlubber in every respect,” never having seen an ocean or stepped aboard a vessel larger than a fishing boat.

Entering what was then a largely insular academy, he encountered strict discipline from upperclassmen. Carter withstood weeks of “plebe summer” indoctrination before an accelerated wartime schedule designed to commission officers for a global conflict. He later recalled that the academy’s rigorous environment taught him self-control, quiet leadership and above all, a reverence for “absolute truth.” 

Graduating in the top 10% of the Class of 1947, Carter served briefly aboard experimental gunnery ships USS Wyoming and USS Mississippi before transitioning to the submarine force. Drawn to the emerging possibilities of nuclear propulsion, he joined Navy Admiral Hyman G. Rickover’s budding program.  

Known as the “Father of the Nuclear Navy,” Rickover put young Carter to work developing nuclear reactors at a time when fission technology was in its infancy. Carter later assisted with the emergency cleanup following a partial meltdown at Canada’s Chalk River Laboratories, where he and his small crew disassembled radioactive components in dangerous conditions.  

“They let us get probably a thousand times more radiation than they would now,” he would recall, noting the fledgling nature of nuclear science in the 1950s. 

Carter’s father died in 1953, bringing him home to Georgia and ending a promising naval career. Yet the legacy of service never left him. He often said Rickover had “more effect on my life than any other man besides my father.” Carter merged that influence with lessons from the Naval Academy’s Blue Jacket’s Manual, which instilled obedience, loyalty, energy and courage — values he carried from the submarine force to politics. Elected the 39th president in 1976, he became the only Annapolis graduate to occupy the White House.

On Saturday, those military bonds were clear at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, where a carefully choreographed tribute featured the 282d Army Band, part of Joint Task Force–National Capital Region. Band members performed “Hail to the Chief” and the hymn “Be Thou My Vision,” salutes for a commander-in-chief who had once been a newly commissioned ensign, then lieutenant, in the U.S. Navy.  

Grandson Jason Carter addressed the assembled staff, volunteers and Habitat for Humanity partners who had witnessed the former president’s hands-on approach to public service. “His spirit fills this place,” Jason said, thanking the men and women who would continue Carter’s humanitarian mission around the world. 

Following the Georgia observances, Carter’s remains are set to travel to Washington. The farewell schedule includes a 21-gun salute at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, a transfer to a horse-drawn caisson at the U.S. Navy Memorial and a funeral procession tracing the route that Carter famously walked as part of his 1977 inaugural parade.

At the Capitol, his body will lie in state, giving lawmakers and citizens another day to pay their respects before a service at Washington National Cathedral. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Yvette M. Davids are expected to honor him in Washington, reaffirming his place in the school’s storied lineage. 

Ultimately, Carter’s journey will end where it began: Plains. He will be buried next to Rosalynn, his partner of 77 years, near the house they built before his first run for state senate. Army Maj. Gen. Trevor J. Bredenkamp, commanding general of the Joint Task Force–National Capital Region, is charged with directing the soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, Coast Guardsmen and guardians along each leg of the route. The near-constant presence of uniformed service members throughout the ceremony reflects Carter’s lifelong devotion to his country — one forged in the halls of Bancroft Hall and tested on the decks of submarines. 

“For a ceremony of this scale, our teams must remain adaptive, thoroughly prepared and agile,” Bredenkamp said. “We’ve brought together every branch of the military, coordinated with many local, state and federal interagency partners, and balanced various protocols to ensure every element — from cordons and color guards to the body bearers and military bands — flawlessly executes their ceremonial duties and responsibilities in tribute to President Carter’s legacy.”

Coast Guard, partners responding to aground cargo ship in Philadelphia

Source: United States Coast Guard

01/09/2025 08:10 AM EST

The U.S. Coast Guard and partners are responding to the aground 623-foot motor vessel Algoma Verity approximately a mile north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in the Delaware River, Wednesday night.

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Only School in DMZ Celebrates 56th Graduation Ceremony

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Daesongdong Elementary School, the only school located within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), held its 56th graduation ceremony on Jan. 3, marking a milestone for four students who completed their elementary education.

The ceremony drew dignitaries from the United Nations Command, UNC Military Armistice Commission, JSA Security Battalion, Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, Republic of Korea military officials, as well as local leaders from Paju City and Gyeonggi Province.

The graduates, who aim to become a kindergarten teacher, pilot, veterinarian, and film director, were congratulated by families, local leaders, and military officials. The event was safeguarded by UNC Security Battalion Soldiers, highlighting the school’s unique location within the DMZ and UNC’s role to provide security of the Daesongdong residents.

Since its establishment in 1954, Daesongdong Elementary School has produced 230 graduates, with 27 students currently enrolled across six classes.

“In one of the most geopolitically sensitive areas in the world, this school stands as a testament to what we can achieve when we prioritize security, peace and stability,” said Maj. Gen. John Weidner, United Nations Command Chief of Staff.

Weidner also commended the graduates on their milestone.

“Your achievements are extraordinary, not just because of where you are, but because of who you are. The world needs your voices, your talents, and your dreams to build a brighter future. And because of your experiences within the DMZ, you are extraordinary ambassadors of peace.”

Mr. Choe, Il-yong, the school principal, said the graduation ceremony was a significant moment for the students, who have demonstrated “remarkable resilience and dedication to their studies.” The official expressed pride in the students’ accomplishments and gratitude for the support of the community, military officials, and local leaders.

United Nations Command remains committed to providing a secure and safe environment for Daesongdong residents with education and supportive environment for its students, despite the challenges posed by its location within the DMZ.

USSF Honor Guard supports its first state funeral

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Joint Ceremonial Honor Guard members representing each military service are participating in the state funeral events honoring former President Jimmy Carter. The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Honor Guards have all participated in state funerals previously. However, this is the first state funeral for the newest U.S. military service – the Space Force.

Carter, the 39th president of the United States, died Dec. 29, 2024. His state funeral began Jan. 4, in Georgia, and continues in Washington, D.C., through Jan. 9. While some Honor Guard members were in Atlanta supporting the funeral events there, other members were in the nation’s capital, rehearsing for the local events.

The U.S. Space Force celebrated its fifth anniversary in December, and standing up its Honor Guard was an important part of creating its heritage. The first Guardians graduated from nine-week technical training with the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard in August 2024, and the Space Force Honor Guard currently has 43 Guardians assigned. Though the U.S. Space Force Honor Guard has some new recruits, some of the team transferred over from the Air Force, bringing years of knowledge and experience to share with the newer members.

Although the unit is new, the Guardians are as well-trained as their counterparts from other services. They’ve been involved in other high-profile events like the Super Bowl, and funerals for late First Lady Rosalynn Carter, and Senator Dianne Feinstein.

The Honor Guards from each service train together year-round, to ensure readiness and the Defense Department holds several state funeral training events each year to ensure its ready to respond at any time.

“While the state funeral seems like a quick turnaround, the reality is that all Joint Forces execute year-round training together with a validation exercise to show that our forces are ready for any state funeral that comes,” said Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Massoth, U.S. Space Force Honor Guard senior enlisted leader. “We constantly rotate people in to ensure wide-spread knowledge and practice the task during daily operations too.”

Though the Honor Guard members were preparing for the presidential inauguration scheduled for Jan. 20, they quickly pivoted to include state funeral events.

“The [U.S. Space Force Honor Guard] is about 17 months old and we are faced with two of the largest ceremonies possible, a state funeral and presidential inauguration, all within a 20-day window,” Massoth said. “This is an amazing opportunity to represent all Guardians to the American public and world as we perform two historic events.”

A snowstorm hit Washington the day before Carter’s funeral procession was scheduled to arrive in the city. However, the Honor Guard didn’t let snowy, icy weather conditions stop them. Massoth said physical fitness, nutrition, and proper rest are stressed throughout the year to ensure service members are able to perform their duties in a variety of weather conditions. They train constantly in heat and cold weather and teach members to layer clothing properly. Although most of the city was still shut down Jan. 7, the state funeral continued without missing a beat.

A state funeral is a national tribute held for current or former presidents, or other officials as directed by the president. Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, on behalf of the Department of Defense, is supporting the funeral. Members of the public were invited to pay their respects during public viewings in Atlanta and Washington, during the funeral procession or along motorcade routes.

944th FW Joins Forces for Life-Saving Mission Following Hawaii Fireworks Explosion

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

In the predawn hours of New Year’s Eve, a deadly fireworks explosion in Hawaii sent shockwaves across the islands. Three people tragically lost their lives and 20 more were injured. Six survivors were airlifted aboard an Air Force C-17 from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii to Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 4, 2025, where they would receive specialized care at Valleywise Medical Center’s renowned burn unit. 

The mission to safely transport these patients, over extensive distances, exemplified joint effort between the Air Force Reserve’s 944th Fighter Wing, the active-duty Air Force’s 56th Fighter Wing, the Phoenix Fire Department, and civilian medical professionals.

“This is what we train for, and when the call comes, we’re ready,” said Capt. Paris Mandy, a clinical nurse with the 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron (ASTS), a specialized unit within the most diverse training wing in the Air Force Reserve. 

With their core mission centered on patient movement and stabilization, the 944th ASTS played an instrumental role in this high-stakes operation. From the moment the team was activated, they worked side by side with active-duty Airmen and civilian counterparts to ensure mission success.

The 944th ASTS, a unit known for its expertise in aeromedical evacuation, provided critical manpower for offloading the patients from the aircraft and transferring them to ambulances at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. 

Mandy described the mission as a real-world scenario where the unit’s extensive training could be directly applied. 

“Today, we’re not working with mannequins. These are real patients who need us,” Mandy said. “It’s both humbling and exhilarating to put our skills to work in such a meaningful way.”

For some of the reservists, including 944th FW ASTS Master Sgt. Elisabeth Yates, this was their first real-world operation. 

“This is why we train so rigorously,” Yates noted. “When you’re called at a moment’s notice, readiness is everything. This mission brought all our preparation into sharp focus.” 

Yates highlighted the critical role Exercise Desert Hammer 25-1, a rigorous annual training exercise conducted by the 944th FW in November 2024, played in preparing them for this moment. The exercise simulates high-pressure, real-world scenarios, requiring rapid adaptability and flawless execution. 

“Desert Hammer taught us how to operate at a real-world pace,” Yates added. “That training translated directly into our ability to respond effectively today.”

The joint nature of this operation was a testament to the power of collaboration. Capt. Eric Huff, 56th FW Medical Group Director of Tactical Combat Casualty Care, emphasized the importance of teamwork in ensuring patient safety. 

“We had to transfer patients from military litters to Phoenix Fire Department gurneys, which required precise coordination,” Huff explained. “It’s not just about physical strength – it’s about communication and synchronization among all teams involved.”

The mission also highlighted the human element at the heart of military operations. For 944th FW ASTS Staff Sgt. Nathan Espinoza the experience was profoundly meaningful. 

“Helping people who can’t help themselves – that’s why I joined,” Espinoza said. “Seeing the resilience of these patients and knowing that our efforts are making a difference is incredibly rewarding.”

The complexity of the operation, from the initial activation to the final patient transfer, highlighted the value of readiness and adaptability by all support involved, explained Huff. 

Mandy’s background as an emergency room nurse and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner brought an additional layer of expertise to the mission, bridging the gap between military and civilian medical care.

“It’s a team effort,” Mandy said. “Whether it’s our junior Airmen or senior officers, everyone has a role to play. The camaraderie and mutual respect we’ve built through training like Desert Hammer made all the difference today.”

As the last ambulance departed for Valleywise Medical Center, the gravity of the mission settled over the team. They had answered the call, proving that their training and dedication could rise to meet any challenge. 

For the 944th Fighter Wing, this mission was not just a demonstration of operational excellence but also a profound reminder of their collective purpose: to Forge Combat Airmen to Fly, Fight, and Win – in any scenario, at any time.

Navy Names Third Expeditionary Medical Ship USNS Portsmouth (EMS 3)

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro named the future Bethesda-class expeditionary medical ship (EMS 3) USNS Portsmouth during a ship naming ceremony at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth on Jan. 8.
The decision to select Portsmouth was made to honor the legacy and commitment of the Navy doctors, nurses, corpsmen and staff of Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and the city of Portsmouth, Virgina.

“As Secretary of the Navy, I remain committed to the readiness of our Sailors and Marines and that readiness includes the crucial work to ensure the healthcare and vitality of our people,” said Secretary Del Toro. “I am proud to honor the city of Portsmouth and the Navy’s first operating hospital, Navy Medical Center Portsmouth, by naming the future USNS Portsmouth (EMS 3).”

The naming selection of the future USNS Portsmouth (EMS 3) follows the tradition of naming expeditionary medical ships after prominent military hospitals. Secretary Del Toro previously named USNS Bethesda (EMS 1) and USNS Balboa (EMS 2).

EMS 3 will be the fifth Navy vessel named Portsmouth. The four previous vessels were a full-rigged ship (1798–1801), a sloop-of-war (1844–1915), a light cruiser (1945–1970), and a nuclear-powered submarine (1983–2005).

Rear Adm. Darin Via, the U.S. Navy Surgeon General and chief, U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, who spent the majority of his professional military and medical life at the medical center, reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to military readiness and healthcare support.

“USNS Portsmouth, a symbol of our Navy’s progress, also carries the weight of our history. It represents a significant advancement in our Navy’s warfighting capability and will provide essential medical support across the maritime environment,” said Via. “Together with USNS Bethesda and USNS Balboa, USNS Portsmouth will deliver agile and responsive medical care, advanced trauma management, and support to naval operations and humanitarian and disaster relief missions.”

Representing the city of Portsmouth, Mayor and Navy Veteran Shannon Glover spoke about the honor and meaning behind the naming of the Navy’s newest expeditionary medical ship.

“Today, we stand united in pride and gratitude as we honor the incredible contributions of the dedicated medical professionals at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. For generations, they have provided compassionate care and unwavering commitment to our military families, veterans, and the Portsmouth community,” said Shannon Glover, Mayor of Portsmouth. “The USNS Portsmouth represents more than just a ship – it is a testament to the resilience, care, and service that define the heart of Portsmouth. And this is an appropriate and fitting tribute to the selfless men and women who serve at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.”

Located along the banks of the Elizabeth River in Virginia, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is a nationally acclaimed, state-of-the art Defense Health Agency military treatment facility (MTF), where 5,000 medical professionals provide quality healthcare to warfighters, veterans, and their families in the Hampton Roads area.

Originally established in 1830 as the Navy’s first and oldest continuously operating hospital, today it is home to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Portsmouth, which provides a skilled and combat-ready medical force to support warfighting requirements and enables the Department’s highly skilled personnel to maintain mission critical proficiencies through valuable training in a military treatment facility. Navy medical personnel lead pioneering research and teaching programs to prepare new doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and hospital corpsmen for combat operations and public health crises.

In addition to the medical center, the city of Portsmouth, Virginia, is home to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the Navy’s oldest shipyard (est. 1767) and one of its key facilities for overhauling and repairing its largest ships.

For every Navy ship named, a sponsor is chosen to advocate for both the ship and crew. Sponsors participate in key milestones in the life of their ship and form lifelong relationships that contribute to the well-being of the ship and her crew members. For the future USNS Portsmouth, Mrs. Terri Ann Via, spouse of Rear Adm. Via, Surgeon General of the Navy, was hand-selected for this important role.

“Portsmouth is more than just a name to me; it has been the cornerstone of my family’s life in the Navy. Portsmouth has been our home for as long as I can remember,” said Mrs. Via. “As the sponsor of the Portsmouth, I am committed to upholding the values of service, courage, and compassion that define both the Navy and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Having had the honor and opportunity to stand alongside my husband throughout his Navy career and now as the Surgeon General of the Navy, I look forward to sharing in the adventures, triumphs, and challenges that lie ahead for this ship and crew. May this ship always be a source of pride for our nation, a symbol of our strength and resolve, and a living tribute to the heroes of Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.”

Bethesda-class expeditionary medical ships are designed as a dedicated medical ship that optimizes hospital-level medical care in support of distributed maritime operations (DMO). EMS will feature a shallow draft enabling greater reach and allowing direct access to shallow austere ports, while also providing a flight deck that accommodates military helicopters. This design provides a full range of medical capabilities including triage/critical care, three operating rooms, medical laboratory, radiological capability, blood bank, dental, mental health, OB/GYN and primary care, rapid stabilization and follow-on evacuation of multiple casualties and combat search and rescue including recovery at sea.

The primary mission of the EMS as a high-speed forward-deployed medical ship is to provide rapid responsive sea-based and near-shore hospital level critical care, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, non-combatant evacuation operations and special operations. The EMS is designed to respond and provide care at a more rapid pace than their predecessors, USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort, sailing at speeds of at least 30 knots with a range of 5,500 nautical miles at 24 knots.

Navy Medicine – represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals – provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.
 

Lithuanian Chief of Defense visits Hawaii

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Lt. Gen. Joshua M. Rudd, deputy commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, hosts Lithuanian Chief of Defence Gen. Raimundas Vaikšnoras at USINDOPACOM headquarters on Camp H.M. Smith in Hawaii, Jan. 7, 2025.

Vaikšnoras assumed his role in July 2024 and has demonstrated a desire to enhance U.S.-Lithuanian communication and cooperation in combating threats across the Indo-Pacific region.

The visit to Hawaii builds upon Vaikšnoras’ meeting with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. at the Pentagon in Sept. 2024, where they discussed Baltic regional security, Lithuania’s defense modernization programs and U.S. force posture.

After Lithuania regained its independence in 1990, Lithuania has been committed to promoting democratic principles at home and abroad as a NATO Ally and European Union member.

USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win.

Superlative Sound: U.S. Pacific Fleet Band Shares Culture with Pacific Islands, Continues Proud Tradition

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

In 2024, the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band shared its music with 2.5 million people in nine countries and four Hawaiian Islands. Its 600 engagements included concerts for the community, performances for school children, official Navy events and ceremonies, and shows for Sailors. Band members also participated in the annual Pacific Partnership, the Navy’s largest multinational humanitarian and disaster relief mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific, taking them to Vietnam, the Philippines, Tonga, and across Micronesia for cultural exchanges.

It’s a rigorous schedule for the band, which has been representing the U.S. Navy in Hawaii for more than 75 years. The Pacific Fleet Band is one of 11 bands in the Navy that inspire patriotism, elevate esprit de corps, support recruiting and retention efforts, preserve the Nation’s musical heritage, and carry the Navy message around the world. Navy bands go where ships can’t go, expanding and strengthening the Navy’s network of partners. In a typical year, Navy bands travel to more than 40 countries, helping improve access and relationships abroad.

A musical ambassador for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the Pacific Fleet Band is led by Lt. Clint Mcclanahan, who was named Fleet Bandmaster in January 2024. He enlisted in the Navy in July 2003 and commissioned in 2015 after 12 years as an enlisted electric bass player. Prior to reporting as Fleet Bandmaster, Mcclanahan received a Master of Music in wind band conducting from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University as part of the Naval Postgraduate School Civilian Institutions Program. He also holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Morehead State University.

Like Mcclanahan, all 42 members of the Pacific Fleet Band are trained musicians. Most have a bachelor’s degree in music, while some have advanced degrees. To earn a spot on the band, musicians must audition, similar to auditioning for a spot in a major symphony.

Unique Musician Rating

After boot camp, musicians go to “A” school for 21 weeks in Little Creek, Virginia.

Unlike most other Navy ratings, which have identical roles after completing initial training, musicians also have a designator indicating what instrument they play. A Navy band needs an appropriate blend of flutes, clarinets, oboes to play a John Philip Sousa march, Mcclanahan explained.

The band also has other instruments that allow it to play more than typical military fare.

“We also have vocalists, we have guitar players, piano players, drum set players, bass players, so that we can perform not just military music of our past but popular music of the day,” Mcclanahan said.

Although the band has musicians who can play multiple instruments, it is not a Navy requirement.

The band’s song list includes “bread and butter songs that live in the soul of a military musician” such as the “National Anthem,” “Eternal Father,” “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” as well as “Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī,” which is unique to a Hawaii. Mcclanahan explained that musicians also have about 25 songs ready to go at any given moment, but the list is constantly evolving based on the time of year and the band’s different ensembles.

In addition to parade, ceremonial and concerts bands, there are also smaller chamber groups like brass and woodwind quintets that perform at military ceremonies, public concerts and music education clinics.

Two musical groups perform contemporary tunes that appeal to audiences of all ages: Pipeline, a rock band that plays music from the early days of rock and roll to the latest pop and country hits; and Pau Hana Sound, which plays popular music with a nod to local instrumentation and musical styles.

December is a particularly busy time for the band with Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremonies on Dec. 7, free holiday performances for the public at Ala Moana Center and Hale Koa Hotel and marching in community Christmas parades.

In January, the band heads to Hawaii Island as part of Music in School, a public school outreach program where band members host music clinics for students and perform concerts. In April, the band plans to support the Merrie Monarch Festival, the week-long festival held in April in Hilo that features an internationally acclaimed hula competition and showcases Hawaiian art and culture following the ideals of King Kalākaua. The band will travel to American Samoa later that month.

History of the Band

The U.S. Pacific Fleet Band has a unique history. It first formed in February 1941 when Pacific Fleet Headquarters was established at Pearl Harbor.

In September 1941, the band participated in the Battle of Music, a competition among Navy bands from capitol ships homeported in Pearl Harbor and bands attached to shore installations in Hawaii. However, the final round was canceled after the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. In previous rounds of the competition, bands played one swing number, a ballad, a specialty tune, and a song performed for a jitterbug contest.

On the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the entire USS Arizona band was at battle stations passing ammunition under gun turret number one. All band members were killed during the attack. The Battle of Music participants later decided to posthumously award that year’s tournament trophy to the band that had perished, Navy Band Unit 22. The award was renamed the Arizona Trophy.

Although Navy Bands don’t compete in official competitions in modern times, Mcclanahan said each band is proud of its performance.

“There is the usual organizational pride between each of the service bands,” he said. “We all believe that WE are the ones playing the right notes, the right way.”

In the decades after the attack on Pearl Harbor, band members have performed across Asia and the Pacific including in South Korea, Guam, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Australia.

On May 21, 2001, the band performed aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) for the premiere of the movie “Pearl Harbor.”

More recently, Mcclanahan shared how adjustments made during COVID-19 in 2021, created changes that are still delighting audiences. Since the band couldn’t perform in front of live audiences, the band needed another way to reach music goers, so they turned to video and social media.

A recent example of this is the “Let it Snow” music video, featuring music by Pau Hana Sound. Navy Music, U.S. Pacific Fleet Band’s higher command that governs all fleet bands in the District of Columbia and Annapolis, started an initiative to create music videos during COVID-19 when bands were unable to perform in-person for audiences. After social isolation requirements ended, the push for music videos continued with 12 Days of Navy Music, “an online musical extravaganza” of sacred and secular music performed by Navy Bands stationed at home and around the world that is released on YouTube and Facebook.

This year’s lineup featured “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” “Mele Kalikimaka,” “Carol of the Bells,” “Run, Run, Rudolph,” “O Christmas Tree,” “Must’ve Been Old Santa Claus,” excerpts from “The Nutcracker,” “Let It Snow,” and more.

Mcclanahan shared that many band members are from the continental U.S. and they decided to capture the feeling of a cold winter with an unexpected Hawaiian twist. The result was a new version of “Let It Snow” that mixes snow, nostalgia, and blue ocean backdrops of Pearl Harbor with a warm holiday sound that might have some pining for a cup of hot chocolate despite Hawaii’s balmy weather.

Reflecting on this and the ongoing work of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band, Mcclanahan said he appreciates the steadfast dedication and professionalism of the band members, who inspire him and the American public – and he recognizes what a distinct privilege and incredible responsibility the band enjoys every day.

“I admire the skill and dedication that every Navy Musician brings to their jobs. It’s exciting to see these Sailors engage with audiences, especially the international audiences, and strengthen international relationships through cultural exchange,” said Mcclanahan. “They are ambassadors for the Navy and the United States of America. In many cases, the only Americans that our audience will ever meet is a Navy Musician. The members of the Pacific Fleet Band understand that is a huge responsibility and amazing honor.”