US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

MQ-25

acquisitions isn't a popular topic here, sorry for posting Armed With Data, Kendall Pushes Back at Congress Over AT&L Future

Frank Kendall, the Pentagon’s top procurement official, is pushing back at members of Congress who want to eliminate his job — and he’s bringing 224 pages of data to back him up.

Kendall today released an annual report on the health of the defense acquisition system, one which doubles as a summation of his tenure as under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics (AT&L).

At its simplest, the report shows that costs for major programs across the department are trending downward, as are major program delays, and Kendall told reporters at an Oct. 21 roundtable that there is a “30-year low” in cost growth among major acquisition programs. Various aspects of the acquisition process, such as sustainment and requirement stability, are given a deep-dive analysis inside the report.

But the details of the data may, in some regard, take a backseat to the political reality that Kendall himself acknowledged to reporters.

“I think abolishing my position in the face of that,” Kendall said while gesturing to a chart, “is probably a bad decision.”

As part of a wide-ranging plan to reform the acquisition system, the Senate Armed Services Committee put forth a plan to do away with Kendall’s position, splitting those responsibilities between a new undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, or USD(R&E), and the renamed undersecretary of management and support, or USD(M&S).

SASC aides at the time argued that the move was not a shot at Kendall’s work at AT&L but rather a plan that would delegate more responsibilities to the services in order to free up individuals at the Office of the Secretary of Defense level to focus on developing cutting-edge technologies needed for the future.

But both Kendall and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter — himself a former head of AT&L — have expressed concerns over that plan, arguing that a centralized acquisitions chief is needed to make sure costs don’t arise at the service level. The Obama administration has also threatened a veto over the AT&L provisions as well as other aspects of the SASC bill.

“I think it’s fair to say the services don’t always like the fact that I can change their plans, and I think that industry doesn’t always like the fact that I’m setting up incentives to make them work harder to earn the money they want to earn,” Kendall said. “But I think at the end of the day, it’s better for the taxpayers and better for the department” to have an office like AT&L with oversight responsibilities.

With negotiations surrounding the NDAA expected to begin shortly after the Nov. 8 election, Kendall is laying the groundwork to argue for his office’s existence. Kendall said he hadn’t “recently” met with Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who heads the SASC, on the issue.

“There is never in my career been a shortage of ideas for how to make acquisition better,” Kendall said. “What there has been is a shortage of data to support whether those ideas are good or not, and that’s why we did the report. I hope it will inform people in the legislature who are drafting provisions.”

There are other aspects of the SASC language that Kendall has expressed concerns about, including language to discourage the use of cost-plus contracts. McCain has been vocal in his belief that cost-plus contracts do not do enough to disincentive cost growth from contractors, but Pentagon acquisition experts have warned against Congress creating a one-size-fits-all series of regulations.

Several times during the roundtable, Kendall talked about the need to preserve “flexibility,” and the report defended the use of cost-plus contracting vehicles.

“We found that incentive contracts (cost-plus-incentive-fee and fixed-price-incentive) control cost, price, and schedule as well as, or better than, other types — and with generally lower, yet fair, margins,” the report read. “Each situation depends on risk, cost knowledge, uncertainty, and a number of other factors — so we should avoid dictating a single approach.”

Click to expand...

source:

Jura said:

acquisitions isn't a popular topic here, sorry for posting Armed With Data, Kendall Pushes Back at Congress Over AT&L Future
source:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Click to expand...

Oh gee, the dude who's trying to protect his empire has lots of data supporting his worth. What a surprise! I'm underwhelmed.

USS Wasp to Japan Next Year in Support of Marine F-35B Squadron Next Year; USS Bonhomme Richard to San Diego

FORBIN said:

USS Wasp to Japan Next Year in Support of Marine F-35B Squadron Next Year; USS Bonhomme Richard to San Diego

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Click to expand...

inside: "The deployment of Wasp to Japan will be the second for the big deck after failures in the ship’s combat system relegated the ship to test operations and did not deploy for more than a decade."
really?

now I read
SECNAV Mabus Reflects on Time in the Pentagon

The biggest surprise Navy Secretary Ray Mabus had when he took office was how slowly the bureaucracy moves and the different tactics it uses to kill a program it doesn’t want.

The bureaucracy can study the program to death “for second and third order of effects” inside the services or saying the question needs to be addressed Defense Department-wide.

Speaking Monday at a Center for a New American Security forum with the other secretaries, he added he had no idea what the issues were facing the sea services or preconceived notions about what he needed to do when he took office.

But the “Pentagon does well . . . in getting you ready” for the new job quickly.

“There can’t be a seam” in transition from one administration to another or from one secretary to another in an administration still in office, Mabus said at the Washington, D.C., think-tank event.

“We’re ready to transition today on big items”—from threats to acquisition to personnel when a new administration takes office in January, and the work of handing over responsibility begins right after the votes are counted.

Mabus said he realized early on in office, “we didn’t have enough ships” to meet the requirements of the regional combatant commanders. “You were having to make choices” of where to position vessels. Picking up on what the other secretaries said about the role of the service secretaries and chiefs in “giving the future a place at the table,” he said the Navy embarked on a shipbuilding program that now has 86 vessels under contract.

“You’ve got to do that not knowing what the threat is going to be” possibly from Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, the Islamic State or other state or unidentified terrorist group because “we’re not very good at foreseeing the future.”

Later, in answer to a question from the audience, Mabus said developing personnel policy and acquisition strategy “can’t be just one administration” over four years. “You can’t simply say, ‘we’re there'” when a goal is reached.

On personnel policy, he said the Navy and Marine Corps have set standards for performance for each specialty, ‘If you meet the standard, you get the job,” regardless of gender, race or sexual orientation. “No one is suggesting lowering the standards.”

Mabus added, “We have simply not done a good enough job of recruiting [and retaining] women.” The retention issue comes down to a decision of “service or family,” often at the 12-year mark. “It’s always the woman who makes the decision.” He wants the sea services to provide policy means so they do “not have to make” that choice but can take extended breaks, return and still be promoted.

He said he once used a chart that “looked like a plate of spaghetti” to explain to a congressional committee what the procurement process was like in the Navy to establish a “program of record,” a line item in the budget and how long it took to field it.

To meet immediate warfighting needs, Mabus said, the Navy has been using pilot programs, such as with laser weapons first placed on USS Ponce to determine effectiveness quickly and make a decision to kill or proceed. Because the six-month pilot showed favorable results, “we’re using it now to develop follow-on-weapons” four years later.

He said that the Navy and Marine Corps deployed forces are at “the top of readiness” levels as are the forces that would immediately follow them, but the “surge force” is not getting enough training and equipment, and ships enough maintenance.

“The value of naval force . . . is presence.” He cited the quick response to missile attacks launched by Houthi insurgents on Navy ships as an example of that value. “

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

,” he said.

“You have multipurpose platforms,” such as guided missile destroyers, and “train sailors and Marines to be flexible and adaptable” in responding to threats like the missile attacks and responding to them.

Mabus said, “We do this as a joint force.” Picking up on that, he added the Navy, like the Air Force, is capable of continuing operations against the Islamic State while also establishing a no-fly zone in Syria.

In addition, “We operate off sovereign U.S. territory” that does not require seeking another government’s permission to strike, as the Navy did in 2014 to combat the territorial gains the Islamic State was making in Iraq.

Click to expand...

source:
though I'll remember his Feb 9, 2016

Jura said:

indeed, "a group of small surface ships like LCS is still capable of putting the enemy fleet on the bottom of the ocean" since 21:14 in:

Click to expand...

FORBIN said:

USS Wasp to Japan Next Year in Support of Marine F-35B Squadron Next Year; USS Bonhomme Richard to San Diego

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Click to expand...

Well, the statement about not really deploying for ten years is completely inaccurate. Since 2006, over the last ten years, the USS Wasp's schedule has included:

2006

February 22, 2006 USS Wasp, commanded by Capt. Todd R. Miller, is currently conducting routine training operations in the Atlantic Ocean.

April 19, The amphibious assault ship is currently conducting routine training off the coast of Virginia. Underway again in early May.

July 21, More than 16,000 service members from five countries will participate in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 06-2 "Operation Bold Step," July 21-31. U.S. and coalition naval assets underway for the exercise include the 2nd Fleet flagship, USS Wasp, with embarked 2nd Fleet distributed staff, the aircraft carriers Dwight D. Eisenhower and Theodore Roosevelt with associated units, and units from the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group.

August 25, USS Wasp departed Naval Station Norfolk for a surge deployment in support of the ongoing Joint Task Force Lebanon mission. A detachment from Mine Countermeasure Squadron (HM) 14, Assault Craft Units (ACU) 2 and 4, and a Fleet Medical Team left with Wasp to support a Request for Forces (RFF) from European Command. The Wasp will deploy to the eastern Mediterranean to provide support to the American embassy in Beirut and Department of Defense (DoD)-approved humanitarian assistance efforts.

September 6, LHD 1 became the command platform for the maritime component commander in the eastern Mediterranean. The arrival of amphibious assault ship also allows the forward-deployed Mount Whitney (LCC 20) to return to her Gaeta, Italy, homeport for the second time since being on station in the Joint Operation Area shortly after the crisis began in mid-July.

October 12, USS Wasp, commanded by Capt. Michael Hawley, arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland, for a scheduled port visit. It is the first U.S. Navy ship to visit Iceland after the closing of the Naval Air Station in Keflavik.

November 11, USS Wasp returned to homeport after two-and-a-half month deployment in support of Joint Task Force Lebanon.

December 6, LHD 1 is currently in transit to Norfolk, after visiting Philadelphia, Pa., for the Army-Navy football game.

2007

May 23, 2007 USS Wasp pulled into New York City to participate in Fleet Week 2007.

June 25, USS Wasp departed Halifax, Canada, after a three-day port call to participate in a joint exercise Frontier Sentinel 07-2, in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, about 100-150 miles off the coasts of northeastern United States and southeastern Nova Scotia.

June 28, The amphibious assault ship arrived in Boston Harbor for Navy Week.

July 29, USS Wasp is currently underway for routine training off the East Coast.

August 30, LHD 1 recently arrived in Colon, Panama, to participate in PANAMAX 2007, a U.S. Southern Command joint and multinational annual exercise in cooperation with the government of Panama to ensure the continued security of the Panama Canal and regional peace and prosperity. Nineteen nations have sent 30 ships, a dozen aircraft and more than 7,000 personnel to participate in the exercise from Aug. 29 through Sept. 7.

September 6, USS Wasp arrived off the coast of Nicaragua to assist with disaster relief efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Felix on Sept. 4.

October 4, Ten U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys, assigned to Marine Medium Tilt-rotor Squadron (VMM) 263, departed the USS Wasp in the Gulf of Aqaba, for its first combat deployment in Iraq.

November 1, Forty-eight Marines from 2nd Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FAST), 4th Battalion embarked the LHD 1 in Manama, Bahrain, for participation in a humanitarian assistance/crisis response exercise from Nov. 1-7.

December ?, USS Wasp returned to Norfolk after a four-month underway period.

2008

February 7, 2008 The amphibious assault ship pulled into Naval Station Mayport to drop off equipment and for minor maintenance.

February 22, Rear Adm. Kevin M. Quinn relieved Rear Adm. D.C. Curtis as Commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic, during a ceremony aboard the USS Wasp at Naval Station Norfolk.

September 18, USS Wasp, commanded by Capt. Daniel H. Fillion, departed dry-dock at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), one day ahead of schedule. The remainder of the eight-month DPMA work is being done by BAE Systems and the alteration installation team. Major jobs include a new local area network system, fuel oil compensation stability and MV-22 Osprey modifications which allow the ship to operate, maintain and transport the tilt rotor aircraft effectively.

2009

March 18, 2009 LHD 1 is currently underway in preparation for upcoming surge deployment which will include an on-load of an awaiting squadron of V-22 Osprey aircraft.

April 9, USS Wasp departed Naval Station Norfolk for the European Command AoO to support the redeployment of U.S. Marine Corps assets in theater.

May 13, The Wasp is supporting a relocation project for an EA-3B Skywarrior, transporting it from Rota, Spain, back to the United States. The amphibious assault ship is expected to unload the aircraft onto a barge from its pier once the ship arrives in Norfolk. From there, the barge will carry the "Whale" to its new home in Alabama. Retired in 1991, the Skywarrior is commonly called a "Whale" because, at one time, it was the heaviest type aircraft on board a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.

July 2, Capt. Lowell D. Crow relieved Capt. Daniel H. Fillion as CO of USS Wasp during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship.

October 4, USS Wasp departed Norfolk for a scheduled deployment in support of Southern Partnership Station (SPS).

November 19, The amphibious assault ship anchored off the coast of Ocho Rios, Jamaica, for a brief port visit.

November 24, Task Group 40.7 embarked on board the Wasp turned over approximately 39,000 pounds of medical and school supplies, text books, and toys to the government of Belize and various non-governmental organizations, during a ceremony in Belize City, as the ship steamed just off the coast of Belize.

December 22, USS Wasp returned to homeport after an 11-week underway period in the Caribbean Sea.

2010

May 3, 2010 USS Wasp pulled into Mayport Naval Station for a routine port visit. The ship is currently conducting training exercises in the U.S. 2nd Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR).

May 21, The Wasp departed Naval Weapons Station Earle, New Jersey, after ammo onload.

June 18, LHD 1 is currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting deck landing and engineering qualifications.

June 25, USS Wasp arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to celebrate the Canadian Naval Centennial and International Fleet Review (IFR), from June 28- July 2; Anchored in Harbour on June 29.

July 12, The amphibious assault ship departed Norfolk for engineering and flight deck qualifications n preparation for the upcoming unit level training assessment.

August 2, USS Wasp is currently conducting test flight operations, with the HMLA/T-303, VMX-21, HX-21 and HSC-22, off the East Coast and was chosen as the platform to evaluate the limits and capabilities of newer models of aircraft such as the MV-22 "Osprey", AH-1Z "Viper", MH-60S "Knighthawk" and the UH-1Y "Venom".

August 20, The Wasp is currently conducting routine training and flight operations in the Atlantic Ocean.

September 17, LHD 1 began an eight-month Continuous Maintenance Availability on Aug. 23 to undergo a series of modifications and assessments as it prepares to be the first ship to carry the new fighter F-35B. USS Wasp was selected this year to be the test platform for the F-35B Lightning II, the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the JSF, but is unlikely that will conduct scheduled initial at-sea testing in March 2011 because of slow progress with vertical landings.

October 8, Capt. Brenda M. Holdener relieved Capt. Lowell D. Crow as the 17th commanding officer of the Wasp during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship.

CONTINUED...

2011

January 13, 2011 USS Wasp arrived in BAE Systems Shipyard to begin a scheduled Phased Maintenance Availability (PMA).

May 2, The amphibious assault ship returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a five-day sea trials.

July 7, USS Wasp departed Norfolk for sea trials and air certifications off the coast of Virginia.

July 26, Trident Warrior 2011 (TW11) began aboard the Wasp, off the coast of Virginia, with the first in a series of numerous technological experiments. The annual fleet experiment, scheduled to run until August 1, is directed by U.S. Fleet Forces Command, sponsored by U.S. 2nd and 5th Fleets with a mission to improve and enhance the Navy's information dominance and policies, procedures and interoperability between U.S. forces and coalition partners during maritime war fighting. LHD 1 was selected for this experiment because the ships compatible network layout, which is somewhat unique in the fleet. Wasp workstations have 100 gigabytes, but the back-up servers are 10 times faster than other ships.

August 25, USS Wasp emergency sortied from Naval Station Norfolk to avoid the approaching Category 3 Hurricane Irene.

September 9, The Wasp is currently underway off the East Coast conducting sea trials and flight deck certifications.

October 3, The F-35B Lightning II test aircraft BF-2, piloted by Lt. Col. Frederick G. Schenk, landed aboard the USS Wasp at 3.12 p.m. successfully completing the first at-sea vertical landing of Joint Strike Fighter, aboard the amphibious assault ship, as part of a three-week sea trials off the coast of Virginia. LHD 1 returned to Norfolk Oct. 21.

November 28, USS Wasp departed homeport for sea trials and certifications off the coast of Virginia.

December 13, Capt. Gary M. Boardman relieved Capt. Brenda M. Holdener as CO of the Wasp during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship at sea.

2012

January 9, 2012 USS Wasp departed Norfolk to conduct qualifications in preparation fo an annual multinational amphibious assault exercise Bold Alligator 2012, from Jan. 30- Feb. 12.

March 2, The Wasp departed homeport to conduct routine operations in the waters of the southern Caribbean, and use the degaussing range in Mayport, Fla.

March 13, LHD 1 pulled into Naval Station Mayport for a three-day port call.

April 17, USS Wasp arrived in New Orleans, La., for a six-day port visit to commemorate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 during the Fleet Week.

April 25, The Wasp pulled into Port Everglades, Fla., for a five-day port visit to participate in the 22nd Broward Navy Days' Fleet Week.

May 23, USS Wasp moored at Manhattan's Pier 90 for a week-long visit to participate in the 25th Fleet Week New York.

June 28, The amphibious assault ship moored at Massport's Marine Terminal/North Jetty in Boston, Mass., for an eight-day port visit, as part of the city's July 4th celebration and the U.S. Navy's "Navy Week" activities, after participating in a multi-national War of 1812 Commemoration Fleet Exercise (FLEETEX), from June 21-28.

August 25, USS Wasp is currently underway for routine training in the VACAPES Op. Area. Underway again on Sept. 15; Underway to conduct burials at sea and routine training on Oct. 21.

November 3, The Wasp recently arrived off the coast of New York and New Jersey, with an embarked Marines and sailors from the 26th MEU, along with detachments from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 366 and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 467, in support of Hurricane Sandy disaster relief efforts.

November 12, LHD 1 returned to Naval Station Norfolk after a 22-day underway period.


2013

June 3, 2013 The Wasp departed Naval Station Norfolk for a four-day sea trials after a six-month Continuous Maintenance Availability (CMAV), installing modifications to increase its capability in support of the F-35B Lightning aircraft.

From June 24-28, the Wasp was underway for Afloat Training Group (ATG) Atlantic Aviation Certification (AVCERT) 1.4 Bravo.

July 18, Capt. Brian T. Teets relieved Capt. Gary M. Boardman as CO of the USS Wasp during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship in Norfolk.

July 21, The amphibious assault ship recently departed homeport for a two-week underway to conduct amphibious training exercise.

August 12, USS Wasp departed Norfolk for an 18-day underway to conduct Developmental Test 2 (DT-2) with the F-35B Lightning II aircraft.

September 10, Rear Adm. Richard P. Snyder relieved Rear Adm. Ann C. Phillips as Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2 during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the Wasp.

September 18, LHD 1 entered the Titan Dry Dock at the BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair for a Drydocking Phased Maintenance Availability (DPMA).

2014

January 8, 2014 BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Norfolk, Va., was awarded a $13,9 million modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-11-C-4407) for the USS Wasp's DPMA. Work is expected to be completed by November.

May 20, USS Wasp undocked and moored at BAE Systems shipyard's Pier 1; Returned to Naval Station Norfolk on Sept. 30; Underway for sea trials from Nov. 19-21; Underway again from Nov. 24-30.?

2015

January 23, 2015 Capt. Kurt A. Kastner relieved Capt. Brian T. Teets as the 20th CO of USS Wasp during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship at Naval Station Norfolk.

February 18, The Wasp departed homeport for a six-day underway to conduct Combat System Ship's Qualification Trials (CSSQT) Phase 2A in the Virginia Capes Op. Area; Underway for CSSQT Phase 2B and Aviation Certification (AVCERT) from March 16-26; Underway for well deck certification from April 6-12; Underway again on April 19.

April 23, USS Wasp moored at Julia Street Wharf in downtown New Orleans, La., for a six-day port visit to participate in Fleet Week festivities.

May 3, USS Wasp moored at Berth 19/20, Pier 5 in Port Everglades, Fla., for a six-day port visit to participate in annual Broward County Navy Days Ft. Lauderdale; Returned to Naval Station Norfolk on May 12.

May 18, LHD 1 departed homeport for a three-week underway to conduct first Operational Test (OT-1) with four F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 201, and two from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501 and also to conduct deck landing qualifications with the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 467.

June 16, The Wasp departed Berth 2, Pier 11 for an 11-day underway to conduct routine training off the coast of Virginia; Underway for INSURV Preps. from Sept. 21-26 and Sept. 28- Oct. 7; Moored at Berth 6, Pier 11 after a day-long underway for a Board of Inspection and Survey assessment on Oct. 19.

2016

February 19, 2016 USS Wasp departed homeport to conduct sea trials in the Virginia Capes Op. Area; Underway for burials at sea on March 5.

March 8, The amphibious assault ship recently moored at Pier 3 on Naval Weapons Station Earle, N.J., for ammo onload; Commenced Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 6/Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training (PMINT), with the 22nd MEU, on March 14; Returned home on March 25.

April 24, USS Wasp moored at Berth 1, Pier 9 on Naval Station Norfolk after a 17-day underway for ARG/MEU Exercise (MEUEX).

May 26, The Wasp moored at Berth 5, Pier 11 on Naval Station Norfolk after a 22-day underway for a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).

June 25, USS Wasp departed Norfolk for a scheduled seven-month deployment, its first after nearly eleven years; Anchored in Onslow Bay, N.C., for onload from June 27-28.

July 8, LHD 1 arrived in the Gulf of Cadiz in support of President of the United States (POTUS) security operations.

July 12, USS Wasp recently arrived off Cap Draa, Morocco, in support of a bilateral training exercise African Lion 2016, between the United States and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.

July 16, The Wasp moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 in Naval Station Rota, Spain, for a brief port call; Transited the Strait of Gibraltar on July 17.

August 1, AV-8B Harriers and AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters, assigned to the Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 542 and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HML/A) 467 detachments, embarked aboard the USS Wasp, commenced air strikes against Islamic State positions around Sirte, in northern Libya, in support of Operation Odyssey Lightning.

September 20, Aviation Boatswain's Mate Airman Devin M. Faulkner died aboard the USS Wasp of a non-combat related injury, while the ship was underway in the Gulf of Sydra.

October 24, USS Wasp moored at Berth K10, East Refueling Wharf in Souda Bay, Crete, for an eight-day upkeep after 99 consecutive days at sea.

Maybe they meant she had not been to Japan in ten years...but her home [port was Norfolk.

Jeff Head said:

Well, the statement about not really deploying for ten years is completely inaccurate. ...

Click to expand...

... I'm sorry, Jeff: "For various reasons, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) has not deployed since 2004. ..." is the official:
USS Wasp Is Back In the Fight
Story Number: NNS150326-01Release Date: 3/26/2015 7:34:00 AM

Jura said:

... I'm sorry, Jeff: "For various reasons, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) has not deployed since 2004. ..." is the official:
USS Wasp Is Back In the Fight
Story Number: NNS150326-01Release Date: 3/26/2015 7:34:00 AM

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Click to expand...

Well, it is all in the wording.

For example, in May 2015 when she was testing the F-35Bs it is not considereded a "deployment." nonetheless, she was out at sea landing and launching and testing this aircraft.

INn 2013 she had a six month overhaul for specific items, and then a nine month one in 2014. After each of these there are extensive tests and trials where she goes to sea to test those things that have been worked on called Afloat Training, Combat System Ship's Qualification Trials, Aviaition Training, etc.

In 2012 she performed Trident Warrior aboard the Wasp, off the coast of Virginia, with the first in a series of numerous technological experiments. The annual fleet experiment, scheduled to run until August 1, is directed by U.S. Fleet Forces Command, sponsored by U.S. 2nd and 5th Fleets with a mission to improve and enhance the Navy's information dominance and policies, procedures and interoperability between U.S. forces and coalition partners during maritime war fighting.

So...going back what you find is the Wasp being used for all sorts of training and experiments that benefit ass LHDs and have the ship at sea operating her systems and improving them...but not what you would "officially" called being deployed.

But then the people on the left and those who want to see the US military drastically cut then take these things and their wording as use them as an excuse to say that the ships are not needed or under utilized.

Just be careful not to get sucked into that. One of the reasons the US Navy stays as effective as it is because we recognized and find all of these types of tings for continuous improvement for all of the fleet...which are then used by those who want to cut back (some of them knowing full well what they are doing, others being, in essence, "useful idiots" used by those people to try and get the force structure cut back.

And they have been successful in many places . I view the RN, the Italians, the Spanish and other navies that have been drastically cut as victims of this type of mischaracterization.

We have to always be vigilant of such things to ensure that the bastion of freedom that the US represents does not fall prey to the same tactics.

Hope you take no offensive...it's just that I have been fighting this type of thing all o my life and now as I get older I hope there are those who will take up and continue to educate others where necessary, and carry on the fight.