SANTA RITA, Guam -- Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group (CSG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 54/CTF 74, held a series of theater security cooperation (TSC) engagements at Polaris Point, Naval Base Guam as part of the fourth submarine staff talks with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) submarine force, Oct. 18-19, 2022.
During this year’s staff talks, Seif and RSN Col. Fong Chi Onn, commander, 7th Flotilla, discussed a wide range of issues, including upcoming opportunities to demonstrate increased interoperability as well as the submarine support infrastructure available at Naval Base Guam.
“The RSN is one of our leading regional partners, so I was happy that we were able to hold these meetings in-person for the first time since 2019,” said Seif. “Staff talks such as these are important relationship-building opportunities, and I look forward to working more closely with their submarine force to further strengthen regional peace and security."
Seif, Fong and RSN submariners toured the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), as well as Naval Submarine Training Center Pacific (NSTCP) Detachment Guam during their time in Guam.
The two leaders also held an office call with Capt. Carl Trask, commander, Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 15.
At the conclusion of the staff talks, the two Navy leaders reviewed and signed a set of action items, reaffirming their commitment to continued cooperation and integration of their submarine forces in the coming year.
Submarine Group 7 is responsible for coordinating a diverse fleet of submarines, surface ships and aircraft deployed to the Western Pacific and the Middle East; two forward-deployed submarine tenders and five attack submarines homeported in Guam; Submarine Squadron 21 in Bahrain; five ocean surveillance ships when tasked for theater anti-submarine warfare operations, and two oceanographic survey vessels. Under CSG 7 are two task forces: CTF 74 and CTF 54, which provide theater anti-submarine warfare support from the Red Sea to the International Date Line.
For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 7, visit www.csp.navy.mil/csg7/.