John Rodgers (DD 983) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commander, South Atlantic Force United States Atlantic Fleet - Commander of the United States Navy ' s South Atlantic Force (USCOMSOLANT) serves as the main line, between the U. S. Navy and the Navies of South America. USCOMSOLANT was established on 1 June 1958. The headquarters were first in Trinidad. West Indies; then in San Juan. Puerto Rico: and since December l c )73 have been located at U.S. Naval Station, Roosevelt Roads. USCOMSOLANT has participated in annual UN1TAS deployments since 1959 and in addition has deployed to Africa for Operation Amity , and the West African Training Cruise. As a naval sub-area commander, 1 S( OMSOLANT is responsible to the Com- mander in Chief. U. S. Atlantic Fleet for the At- lantic Command Area in the South Atlantic be- tween the Tropic of Cancer and the Antarctic Circle. He exercises mililars command and operational control of all assigned ships and units, and represents CINCFAN ' I III w ill) respect lo naval matters in the countries in South America and Africa which tall within the Atlantic Command Area. USCOMSOLANTs mission w ith respect to UNITAS deployments is to conduct operations in South American water with the combined forces of the U.S. Navy and participating South American Navies. The navies take part in exercises in the areas of anti-submarine warfare, naval control of shipping, surface and air gunnery, and ot her naval operations, promoting the continued capability oi those forces to ensure the security o( vital sea lanes of communications in the Western Hemisphere. The concept of UNITAS was started in 1959 w hen Rear Admiral Fdw aid C. Stephan. the first USCOMSOLANT. embarked on combined exercises which were held on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of South America. Plans lor the concept and continuation of UNITAS were made at the Second Inter-American Naval Conference, held in June I960. Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, then the Chief of Naval Operations, headed the U.S. delegation and nine I aim American countries were represented bj then senior naval leaders. UNITAS exercises have been held even year since then.

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Command Master Chief MMCM(SS) GARY L. SVVITZER United States Navy Master Chief Switzer is a native of East Palestine, Ohio and married to the former Ruth Martin of Cranston. RI. They have one daughter. Dawn. Switzer enlisted in the Navy on 2 October. 1967 and was assigned to the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion in Davisville. RI. Following two tours in Vietnam, he completed tours in Antarctica and NATO Command AFSOUTH. Naples. Italy. Following his tour in Naples, he cross - rated to Machinist Mate and volunteered for submarine duty, serving on the USS NATHANAEL GREENE (SSBN 636). USS PORTSMOUTH (SSN 707). and the USS HELENA (SSN 725). Staff assignments included: 31st Naval Construction Regiment; COMSUBGRU EIGHT: COMSUBRON SEVEN: COMSUBGRU FIVE; COMSUBRON SEVEN: and COMSUBPAC.

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USCOMSOLANT Staff CDR Gahan Operations Officer LCDR Cooper Asst. Operations Officer LCDR Peterson Logistics Officer LCDR Ramos Air Officer LCDR Griffin Public Affairs Officer LCDR Vazquez Flag Secretary