Afghan Waters: Us Navy Presence In The Landlocked Nation

The number of Navy sailors in Afghanistan has fluctuated over the years, with the country experiencing a constant threat of attack and a challenging geopolitical landscape. In 2010, two Navy personnel went missing in the eastern province of Logar, and one of them, Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin McNeley, was confirmed dead by the Pentagon. The Navy's presence in Afghanistan has been a dangerous endeavour, with sailors facing threats from adversaries such as the Taliban and operating under almost constant threat of attack. Adm. Mike Gilday, the Navy's top officer, wrote a letter to sailors in 2021, acknowledging their contributions and sacrifices in Afghanistan, stating that their service made a difference. While the exact number of Navy sailors in Afghanistan at any given time is not readily available, it is clear that their presence has been significant and crucial to the mission in the country.

Two US Navy sailors went missing in Logar in 2010

In 2010, two US Navy sailors, Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin McNeley and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jarod Newlove, went missing in Logar, Afghanistan. The pair had disappeared in the province on July 23, with McNeley's body being recovered on Sunday, July 25, and Newlove's body being pulled from a river on Wednesday, July 28.

The two junior enlisted men were driving alone in a heavily armored vehicle in the dangerous area of Logar province, which is largely controlled by the Taliban. The Taliban earlier stated that their fighters had ambushed the sailors, killing one and taking the other captive. However, they did not claim responsibility for over 48 hours after the incident.

The disappearance and deaths of the two sailors raised questions about what they were doing in such a dangerous area. U.S. and NATO officials were unable to explain why the sailors were in Logar province, and an investigation was launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The incident highlighted the dangers faced by U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan, even as the number of troops in the country had decreased over the years. The U.S. military's focus had shifted to other regions, such as the escalating war in Iraq, but the presence in Afghanistan remained significant, with troops conducting counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations against the Taliban and other militant groups.

The loss of the two sailors was a tragic reminder of the risks faced by those serving in Afghanistan, and it underscored the complexity and challenges of the U.S. military's mission in the country.

One sailor was killed, the other captured by the Taliban

On July 27, 2010, two U.S. Navy sailors went missing in Afghanistan. Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin McNeley, 30, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jarod Newlove, 25, had been travelling in an armoured SUV in the eastern province of Logar, a Taliban-held area. NATO officials were unable to explain their presence in such a dangerous part of the country.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for a firefight that ensued, saying they had killed one of the men and captured the other, who was being held in a "safe place". The bodies of McNeley, a father of two from Wheatridge, Colorado, were recovered by coalition forces after an extensive search. Newlove, from Renton, Washington, was still missing, and search and recovery efforts were ongoing.

The incident shone a light on the dangers faced by U.S. Navy personnel in Afghanistan. Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations, expressed his sympathy for the families of the two sailors and his pride in the thousands of U.S. Navy sailors serving in Afghanistan.

The family of McNeley released a statement, saying: "In our time of sadness and mourning we remember Justin as a loving father, son, brother and friend. He is our hero. We wish to thank the United States military and Justin’s chain of command for the support they have shown us. We greatly appreciate the public concern and support that has been demonstrated towards our family, but trust that our privacy and Justin’s memory will be respected during our time of grief. Our thoughts, prayers and support go out to the family of Jarod Newlove in their time of need."

The Navy's top officer wrote a letter to sailors about their service in Afghanistan

In a letter to sailors, the Navy's top officer, Adm. Mike Gilday, acknowledged the possibility of sailors questioning the worth of their contributions and sacrifices in Afghanistan. He reassured them that their service "was not in vain and it made a difference." Gilday emphasized that for two decades, sailors had tirelessly served on the ground, from the sea, and the air, playing a crucial role in safeguarding the homeland and upholding cherished principles.

Gilday encouraged sailors to reflect on their service, support those struggling, and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. He reminded them of the initial reasons for going to war in 2001, including protecting the nation, delivering justice, defending citizens, friends, and allies, and safeguarding freedom.

The letter was sent after the leaders of the Army and Marines had written similar messages to their troops. It comes at a time when the events in Afghanistan and the withdrawal of US forces have raised concerns among US allies about emboldening China and Russia.

The Navy's top enlisted sailor, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Terry Scott, also met with sailors serving in Afghanistan. MCPON Scott discussed emerging Navy programs and topics like joint professional training and newly approved uniforms. He emphasized the importance of these interactions in correcting misconceptions, gathering sailor feedback, and setting priorities.

The Navy's presence in Afghanistan, with nearly 1,000 sailors in a landlocked country, highlights the service's expanding mission beyond the maritime domain.

The Navy has been operating in the South China Sea since the end of WWII

The Navy has been operating in the South China Sea since the end of World War II, with the US Navy's Third Fleet conducting the South China Sea raid (Operation Gratitude) in January 1945. The raid targeted Japanese warships, supply convoys, and aircraft in the region to support the liberation of Luzon in the Philippines.

Following World War II, the South China Sea became the site of territorial disputes involving several sovereign states, including the People's Republic of China (PRC), Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. These disputes center around islands, reefs, banks, and maritime boundaries in the region, with the Spratly Islands and Paracel Islands being particularly contentious.

The South China Sea is a significant global trade route, accounting for a third of global maritime trade and facilitating a large portion of China's energy imports and trade. The vast natural resources in the region, including oil and natural gas deposits, have further fueled tensions among competing claimants.

In recent years, China has pursued a military expansion into the South China Sea, reclaiming land and constructing military installations and airstrips. This has led to heightened tensions with neighboring countries and the US, which has conducted freedom of navigation operations to challenge China's assertive territorial claims.

The US Navy's presence in the South China Sea demonstrates its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, ensuring the sovereignty and security of nations in the area. The complex web of overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea continues to be a source of ongoing negotiations and disputes among the involved parties.

Navy sailors regularly square off with Russian jets in the Baltic and Black Sea

In April 2016, Russian attack jets flew dangerously close to the US Navy destroyer USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea. The jets made multiple passes at a low altitude, in what the US Navy described as a "simulated attack". This was one of the closest and riskiest encounters between the two nations' armed forces in recent years. The incident occurred while the USS Donald Cook was conducting deck landing drills with a Polish helicopter. Similar incidents have taken place in the Black Sea, with Russian jets buzzing the USS Donald Cook in 2014 and the USS Porter in 2017.

The Black Sea is strategically important due to its limited access and the surrounding political dynamics. It is the only way in and out of the sea for Ukraine, whereas Russia can move its ships and submarines in and out and deploy its Black Sea Fleet into the Mediterranean Sea for local operations. Ukraine has been vulnerable to attacks from the sea, and in 2022, Russia launched an amphibious assault, pushing naval infantry from the Sea of Azov onto land west of Mariupol.

Since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, tensions have escalated in the Black Sea. The Black Sea Fleet, which was previously shared between Russia and Ukraine, is now a fleet of great historical and political importance for Russia. The fleet has its headquarters and main naval base in Sevastopol, Crimea, and Russia has been consolidating its military position in the region. The modernisation of Russian shore-based assets and the Black Sea Fleet has re-established Russian military dominance in the Black Sea.

Incidents between Russian and US forces in the Baltic and Black Seas have occurred since 2014, with Russian jets and ships approaching US vessels and aircraft at unsafe distances. These encounters have raised concerns about the potential for accidents and the unnecessary escalation of tensions between the two countries. Military experts and defence think tanks have called for agreements to be reached to set rules for military encounters and lessen the risk of uncontrolled escalation.

Frequently asked questions