USNI News | August 23, 2024

USS Hawaii (SSN 776) and its U.S. and Australian crew pulled into Australia’s western naval base HMAS Stirling on Thursday August 22 for a maintenance period with submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS-39). It’s the first time a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine will undergo an overhaul on foreign soil. 

Read more HERE.

Stars & Stripes | August 21, 2024

An American submarine tender recently arrived in Western Australia, where sailors are training to service U.S. and British nuclear-powered fast-attack boats under a mutual defense pact.

The USS Emory S. Land, a Guam-based tender crewed by American and Australian sailors, pulled into naval base HMAS Stirling, near Perth, on Aug. 16, the Navy announced in a news release that day.

The crew will perform maintenance on a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine over several weeks, the release said, without naming the boat. 

Read more HERE.

Stars & Stripes | August 10, 2024

A U.S. submarine recently trained with American and allied forces in the Mediterranean Sea as the Pentagon bolsters its forces in the Middle East amid deepening worries of an Iran-Israel conflict.

The guided-missile submarine USS Georgia finished a series of training events with Force Reconnaissance Marines from the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion and special operations forces on Monday, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet said in a statement posted to its website on Friday. 

Read more HERE.

Stars & Stripes | August 3, 2024

The Navy will beef up its submarine squadron on Guam in the coming months by homeporting one of the service’s most advanced fast-attack subs there.

The Virginia-class USS Minnesota is expected to arrive in the U.S. territory sometime during the next fiscal year that begins October 1. 

Read more HERE.

Bowfin | July 18, 2024

Your primary ballot packet has been mailed out today, if you don’t get your’s by July 23, contact your County Elections Division HERE to get a replacement ballot.

Earlier this week the State Office of Elections announced the availability of the 2024 Digital Voter Guide. To be prepared to make an informed vote, please click HERE to not only download your copy of the voter guide but to also see and download a sample of your ballot. Be sure to compare your online ballot sample with the one received in your ballot packet to ensure they are the same.

Vote Smart Best Practices

1. Do your research about the candidates! Check out their social media, websites, email or call them if you have questions (https://olvr.hawaii.gov/Controls/CandidateFiling.aspx?elid=92), and read responses to public surveys like on Civil Beat (https://www.civilbeat.org/category/candidates-2024/).
2. Make your voting plan to include how you’ll vote, when you’ll vote, and where you’ll vote. Then faithfully implement it!
3. Fill out your ballot by following the directions on your ballot closely:
   (a) Completely fill in the box to the left of your choice with a black or blue pen;
   (b) If you vote for more candidates than allowed in a contest, your votes for that contest will note be counted;
   (c) If you make a mistake, request a replacement ballot immediately from your County Elections Division or go vote in-person, DO NOT USE WHITE OUT. I also encourage you to take a picture of your completed ballot;
4. If voting via mail: Be sure to mail in your voted ballot, using the security sleeve and return envelope, in sufficient time to ensure your ballot arrives before 7pm on Saturday August 10th.
5. If voting via a dropbox: I strongly encourage you to use a dropbox that is covered by security cameras or in a USPS facility (https://histategis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=40a88743b85b4fbfb8cf6128bacfedcf).
6. If voting in person which I strongly encourage:
   (a) Early voting is July 29th to August 9th at a County Voting Service Center, times vary but is usually 8am to 4:30pm. Some Counties will have satellite Voting Service Centers (https://elections.hawaii.gov/voter-service-centers-and-places-of-deposit/);
   (b) Primary day voting on Saturday August 10th is from 7am to 7pm at each County’s primary voting service centers.

Key Dates to Remember

July 23: Look for your Primary Election ballot packet to be delivered in the mail.
July 29: Voter Service Centers are open through Election Day for voter registration and accessible in-person voting. Visit elections.hawaii.gov for locations, dates, and hours.
July 31: Final day for first-time voters to submit a paper Voter Registration Application for the Primary Election.
August 10: Primary Election Day. ALL voted ballots must be received by 7:00 PM.

Defense One | July 11, 2024

The move follows two other pilot efforts with Naval Submarine Forces, said Vice Adm. Kelly Aeschbach, the service’s outgoing “I-boss.”

The Navy has been experimenting with embedding information warfare officers and sailors on submarines, starting with two pilot efforts off the East Coast. Later this year, it wants to expand the idea to the Pacific, said the service’s IW chief. 

“We have been piloting having a permanent integration of an IW officer—as well as IW sailors—on submarines,” Vice Adm. Kelly Aeschbach, leader of Naval Information Forces, told reporters Wednesday. 

Read more HERE.