La Maddalena, Sardinia -- As part of a previously scheduled homeport shift, the USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) will permanently depart La Maddalena, as early as Sept. 29.

In 2006, the governments of the United States and Italy jointly announced that the United States will withdraw its forces from Naval Support Activity La Maddalena. The decision was a result of the ongoing transformation efforts of the U.S. Navy in the European theater and is part of a realignment of U.S. defense posture globally.

The first part of the withdrawal comes with the Emory S. Land leaving, originally scheduled for Oct. 1. Homeported in La Maddalena since 1999, the submarine tender and its crew of approximately 850 Sailors will now be stationed in Bremerton, Wash.