The document summarizes various naval activities that took place in early April 2013, including the commissioning of the USS Arlington, a wreath laying ceremony for victims of the USS Thresher submarine disaster, and an aircraft carrier qualifying exercises. Engineering projects were conducted by Seabees in the Philippines and Djibouti, while medical outreach was provided by Navy and Air Force personnel in Cameroon.

1. A Day in the Navy
April 6, 2013
 Sailors and Marines assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD
24) man the rails and bring the ship to life during its commissioning ceremony. Arlington
was named for Arlington County, Va., and honors first responders and the 184 victims of
the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon.
 A wreath floats in the Piscataqua River off the Memorial Bridge to honor the 129 men
lost aboard the U.S. Navy submarine USS Thresher (SSN 593), which sank off the coast
of Cape Cod on Apr. 10, 1963 during sea trials. More than 700 Thresher family members
and former crew members attended the service.
 The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) completed carrier qualifications
for Carrier Air Wing 11 during a sustainment exercise (SUSTEX). This exercise is a
recertification designed to ensure the readiness of a strike group to deploy.
 An F/A-18C Hornet from the Golden Dragons of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 192
takes off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John
C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime
security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.
 The Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) transits the Pacific Ocean to reach
its new homeport of San Diego. Cowpens has been forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan
since 2000. “Mighty Moo” recently participated in the widely-lauded Operation
Tomodachi, assisting Japan following the devastating earthquake and the ensuing
tsunami in 2011.
 Navy ship and personnel assigned to Military Sealift Command operates in the
Philippines providing cargo support during exercises Freedom Banner and Balikitan
2013.
 Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 and Philippine Seabees build
a footbridge at San Pascual. The footbridge will allow farmers to transport produce across
the river to the village center. The footbridge is one of eight engineering civic action
projects in support of exercise Balikatan 2013.
 Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 and Philippine military
members work at the Looc Elementary School. The project is one of eight engineering
civic action projects in support of exercise Balikatan 2013.
 High-Speed Vessel HSV 2 operates in Puerto Castilla, Honduras, supporting Southern
Partnership Station 2013.

2.  Maritime Prepositioning Ship USNS Dahl operates in Agadir, Morocco, in support of
Exercise African Lion, a U.S. Africa Command exercise involving more than 1,400 U.S.
service members and 900 members of the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.
 Capt. Anthony Calandra, commander of Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, delivers remarks
during the Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival at Kastles' Stadium. The festival is
held every year as the signature event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and is
highlighted with performances by the U.S. Navy Band.
 Capt. Rex Curtin, commodore of Training Air Wing (TRAWING) 4, gets a hug from
Tina Garza, a Special Olympian from the Shining Stars of Victoria, Texas, during the
opening ceremonies of the 30th annual South Texas Special Olympics Spring Games.
TRAWING 4, which includes Training Squadrons 27, 28, 31, and 35; Marine Aviation
Training Support Group 22; and the base Medical Clinic volunteer as part of their service
to the community.
 More than 3,000 military and community members run past the USS Arizona Memorial
and Battleship USS Missouri Memorial as they cross the Adm. Bernard Clarey Bridge
during the 16th annual Ford Island 10k Bridge Run at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
The Ford Island Bridge Run is the largest 10k run in the state of Hawaii.
 In conjunction with Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Naval Support Facility Kamiseya hosts an
annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival features Taiko drumming and traditional
dance performances from local high school groups, food and merchandise booths, and
live entertainment from the Air Force Band of the Pacific.
 The U.S. Naval Academy’s special War of 1812 exhibit “Seas, Lakes and Bay” opened
for its first weekend in Annapolis. On the same day, the men’s and women’s track teams
both beat Army. Navy's 2012-13 overall record versus Army is 15-10-1 (.596), and Navy
is now 16-0-1 against Army over the last 17 years in the “Star series” and 30-3-2 over the
last 35 years. Also, USNA’s community service volunteer group, The Midshipmen
Action Group, join the Severn River Association for a Luce Creek environmental clean-
up project.
 A five-day combined U.S.-Cameroon medical outreach concludes at the Cameroon
Battalion Intervention Rapide (BIR) forward operating base near the village of Manoka.
Medical personnel with the U.S. Navy and Air Force teamed with the Cameroon Military
Health Services, BIR, and the Ministry of Health to provide care to over 1,300 people
providing healthcare in pediatrics, primary care, optometry, and maternal healthcare
education, while the Ministry of Health provids immunizations for vaccine-preventable
diseases.
 Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 construct a maternity ward in the
village of Kontali in Djibouti.