The Virginian-Pilot
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NORFOLK
Three Norfolk-based destroyers will relocate to a U.S. base in Spain in coming years to help provide ballistic missile defense in Europe.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced Thursday that the guided missile destroyers Ross, Donald Cook and Porter would join the destroyer Carney from Mayport, Fla., in Rota, Spain. The vessels are equipped with the Aegis ballistic missile defense system, which is designed to intercept and shoot down missiles. Each ship has a crew of about 275 sailors.
The Navy refers to the move as "forward deploying" the ships. By operating from the base, on Spain's Atlantic coast near the Strait of Gibraltar, instead of from the East Coast of the United States, the ships can spend more time patrolling the Mediterranean Sea and less time transiting the Atlantic.
The Ross and Donald Cook will transfer in fiscal year 2014, with the Porter and Carney following in fiscal year 2015, Mabus said. A Navy spokesman said sailors assigned to the ships would be able to move their families to Spain.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced last fall that four ships would be forward-deployed to Spain in support of President Barack Obama's pledge to improve European security, but didn't provide specifics.
"We welcome Spain's partnership," Mabus said in a news release. "We have a long history of cooperation between our two countries and we have developed significant interoperability between our naval forces."
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Part of Democrat Barack Obama's excuse for missile defense...
...of our allies in Europe and the US. Obama canceled the land-based defenses necessary to thwart existing and imminent nuclear missile threats with the promise the Navy's Aegis-equipped ships would have the proper upgrades to combat the threat. Then Obama and the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate have refused to fund the required Aegis upgrades. These ships aren't up to the task, and, without the land-based defenses, Europe and America both are much more vulnerable. All thanks to Democrat Barack Obama.
Great place to be stationed
Been stationed there a couple of times as a Cryptologist and my wife is from there and my children were both born there. It is truly a fantastic duty station. You have the opportunity to go anywhere in Europe from there via the AMC military flights. Italy, Germany, and France are very easy and very economical to get to from Rota. The base has basically been redone and is all very new. Yes there will have to be life style changes as it is not the same as America and Hampton roads. You won’t have to deal with as much crime and such as you do here. But pretty sure if you go with an open mind and take advantage of all that is offered it will be the best duty station of your carrier.
Good location for singles and those with family
Rota is a great location, never been there myself, but I've read about it and know the surrounding locations. I think its close enough to surrounding areas like Cadiz and Malaga that it seems like there will be plenty of things to do during downtime for singles and for families. Also you can probably take a quick trip to Morocco just crossing the Straight in the south. Good luck to the folks who will be part of it, and thanks for serving!
yup!
While I've been hoping to go to Japan for a few years (lived in Yokosuka for a couple years when my dad was AD), I was just telling my husband this morning that I would LOVE for him to get stationed in Rota as a result of this move. It'll have to wait until after his stint on shore duty coming up, but he said he'd look into it when the time came for new orders. He was just in Spain a few times during the Bataan Group deployment. He loves it there and said I would love it as well. Would love, love, love the opportunity to spend some time in Spain and explore Europe!
GEEZ
Wow... what's up with the thumbs down on all the posts talking about what a great place Spain is?
Apparently
They don't agree that Spain is a great place. Is disagreement not allowed?
not my point.
No, but I'm not sure how people can disagree with someone's personal assessment of a place. And someone clearly went through and gave a thumbs down to every single positive post about Spain. Everyone I've ever met who has lived/traveled there has given nothing but positive feedback. If someone disagrees with moving ships there, that's one thing. But disagreeing with people because they had good experiences with Spain is just stupid.
Outstanding Port Rota, Spain
The Naval Base Rota Spain is an excellent place for us the U. S. Fleet. We have access to the North Atlantic, Med and the 5th Fleet OPAREA. The base is modern and has a lot of excellent housing opportunities for our troops. Much better than anything offered here in Hampton Roads. Has new NEX and the Spanish people really do like us, unlike a lot of the population in the area. They treat us with respect and welcome us. The economy is pretty equal to ours so there shouldn’t be any economic shook for the troops. Oh and it wasn’t Obama’s plan either as I noticed in another post.
GOOD COMMENTS
Where is all the angst about 3 ships moving to another country?
I guess all of the "arm chair" warriors out here ONLY want to deal with carriers?
Keep the politics out of National Defense please.
Years ago Norfolk didn't want Sailors on the lawn; now they wet their trousers if they think they're departing the area.
Keep defense out of politics
Our nation can not afford to maintain a military state or police the world. From all the comments there is the impression this is just one happy vacation on the taxpayers dime.
Some top military brass making more in pension than pay, yearly pension $219,600.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-01-26/military-officers-pensions/52939598/1
Why is the military engaged in the $50 billion a year drug war? What does the drug war have to do with defense?
"Does $50 billion a year for a 90% failure rate seem like a good investment to you?"
http://www.stanford.edu/class/e297c/poverty_prejudice/paradox/htele.html
Ron Paul is the only republican who makes sense, close all the foreign bases.