Navy.TogetherWeServed Newsletter - October, 2007 | ||
In This Issue
A Pearl of Leadership Wisdom... "Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things." - Peter F. Drucker FLEET HEADLINES RINGING-IN 232 YEARS AT THE CLOSING BELL - MCPON Joe R. Campa Jr. and RADM Michael A. LeFever, director of Military Personnel Plans and Policy Division, ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in celebration of the Navy's 232nd birthday. Sailors from the Bronx Naval Operational Support Center joined Campa and LaFever at the podium on the balcony that overlooks the stock exchange trading floor. Photo courtesy NYSE Public Relations - Sea Service Chiefs Present Strategy for New Maritime Era - Navy Divers Return to Twin Cities - Health Center Named For Navy Astronaut - SEAL Team 3 Honors Fallen Teammates - MCPON Campa's Birthday Message to the Fleet - Navy Launches Cutting Edge Rich-Media Web Site - Ike Sailors Meet Students in Namesake's Hometown - Blue Ridge Sailors Get Moneywise Advice - Nashville Sailor Visits White House New NTWS Military Book & DVD Store We have just launched our new NTWS Book & DVD Store which contains one of the largest selections of military-themed books and video sets available. Find what you are looking for here at lowest prices with fast delivery. The NTWS Book Store is available on the left hand Home Page as you log into NTWS or by clicking on this link: BROWN WATER, BLACK BERETS: Coastal & Riverine Warfare in Vietnam. by Thomas J. Cutler, LCDR, USN. An exciting blend of offical records with eyewitness combat descriptions of brave men in Swift boats and PBRs. An exceptionally well written history of the U.S. Navy's exciting and unusual small boat warfare on the rivers and coastal waters of Vietnam. Readers will find themselves in the midst of terrifying river battles and facing the terror & confusion of nocturnal firefights on jungle-lined canals. Ride the Swift boats and PBR's in Operations Market Time and Game Warden (Task Force 116) and with the units of the Mobile Riverine Force (Task Force 117). 426 pages with many photos and source notes. A exciting blend of offical records with eyewitness descriptions of brave men in fighting boats. Hardcover. OUR PRICE: $18.95 Enjoy browsing the "aisles" of our Store! We hope you find something of interest for yourself or as a gift. NTWS Forums - Your Sounding Board! What was your best duty station or shipboard assignment and why? What is the recipe for that wonderful dish you make for a holiday or other occasions? Do you have any tips about keeping healthy, or things to watch out for if you have a disease? These are but a few of the topics that are covered by the many Forums on NTWS. These forums provide you, the members, a variety of places to discuss with other members the many topics we have in common. Those members still on active duty would probably like to know about good assignments when they make out their "dream sheets" or talk to their detailers at BUPERS. Those who have worked as detailers might want to provide a few tips for members in preparing to talk about their next assignment. If you have a disease like diabetes, what tips can you give others about the disease and things to watch out for with diabetes? Encourage a shipmate on NTWS to keep on top of a health problem so he stays with us for a long time. These are but a couple of topics that are available for you to offer advice, warn others about, discuss with other NTWS members, or just vent your frustrations about. So check out the many Forums and start a lively discussion about a topic that interests you! NTWS JOB BOARD Recently left the Navy? Maybe you're looking for a new career, or just going "in a different direction"? Welcome to the NTWS Job Board which is on the left hand Home Page just as you log into NTWS and contains hundreds of positions! All positions, described in detail, are posted by fellow NTWS Members who are familiar with the credentials and experience offered by former Shipmates. Here is just a small sample of the many new jobs recently posted: Position Offered: Machine Operator Location: KY Salary Range: $25K-$31K Position Offered: Police Officer Location: VA Salary Range: Starting $32K Position Offered: Yard Laborer/Front End Loader Operator Location: SC Salary Range: TBD Position Offered: Test Technician Location: NY Salary Range: TBD Position Offered: Ammunition Inventory Manager Location: Southern IN Salary Range: TBD Position Offered: Water Survival Instructors/Managers Location: Various Salary Range: TBD Position Offered: Electricians & Mechanics Location: AR Salary Range: $18-$19/hr Position Offered: Offshore ROV Technician Location: TX, LA Salary Range: $65K+ Position Offered: I & C Technician I - II Location: TX Salary Range: TBD Position Offered: Trident Configuration Management Specialist Location: RI Salary Range: TBD To view additional job postings, please check our new Job Board in the LEFT-HAND column of the NTWS Home Page.
"Sir - Just touching base to inform you that my Job Posting on TogetherWeServed resulted in a couple of fantastic applicants! After some time in other websites, your site provided us the applicants with the skills we were looking for fairly quickly. Thanks for the great service, not only for the job posting, but for the fantastic website!" - Mike Wesolowski, CRA Inc.
Useful Military Links OFFICIAL SERVICE BRANCH MAGAZINES: NAVY - All Hands MARINE CORPS - Marines ARMY - Soldiers AIR FORCE - Airman COAST GUARD - Coast Guard Defenselink -- The OFFICIAL source of news and information from the Department of Defense, related agencies and all military branches. The Pentagon Channel -- 24-hour broadcasts of official military news and information for members of the US Armed Forces through select stateside cable systems, and overseas via American Forces Network (AFN). Stars & Stripes -- The DoD-authorized UNOFFICIAL daily newspaper for US Forces overseas, printed in European, Pacific and Mideast editions. Department of Defense Educational Activity (DoDEA) -- DoDEA operates more than 218 public schools for grades K-12 in 14 districts located in seven U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Guam and 12 foreign countries to serve the children of military service members and Department of Defense civilian employees. "To provide an exemplary education that inspires and prepares all DoDEA students for success in a dynamic, global environment." Navy World Wide Locator -- For locating individuals on active duty, those recently discharged, and current addresses for retired Navy service members. Navy Retired Activities Branch -- Keeps the retired community informed of their benefits and provides customer service to Navy retirees and their families. Shift Colors -- The Magazine for Navy Retirees. UNIFORM REGULATIONS: NAVY - NAVPERS 15665I MARINE CORPS - MCO P1020.34G ARMY - AR 670-1 AIR FORCE - AFI 36-2903 COAST GUARD - COMDTINST M1020.6E Place your Website Link on NTWS! If you operate a Navy-orientated website and interested in trading links with NTWS, please contact our Links Manager, CPO Art Gazelle, at links@navy.togetherweserved.com. Include your URL, up to 100 words describing your website, and a 468x60 website banner in JPEG format, if available. For information on posting an NTWS banner on your site, please click here. Writing contest entries wanted to define today's "shipmate" PEARL HARBOR -- Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief (SW/AW) Tom Howard invites all Sailors throughout the Navy to enter a writing contest to redefine the term "shipmate" in today's fleet. Fleet Master Chief Howard will announce the winner in early 2008. The Sailor whose definition is selected will be presented a rendition of the winning entry by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Robert F. Willard. The winning entry will also be published in All Hands magazine, on Navy NewsStand (www.navy.mil), and on the Pacific Fleet Web site (www.cpf.navy.mil). The theme of the special event is, "What Being a Shipmate Means to Me" as written through the eyes of today's Sailors. The contest carries on the rich traditions of the Navy as it will tell the story of today's shipmate and at the same time, honor those who have served in the Navy the past 232 years as well as those who have yet to serve. "Sailors will be forever identified by their courage in the face of danger and the moral conviction to stand up for what's right," wrote Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SW/FMF) Joe R. Campa Jr. in his birthday message to the fleet. "The term 'ship, shipmate, self' was created at sea. To a United States Sailor, there is no better description of our culture and our character." Howard joins the U.S. Pacific Fleet chiefs mess and the Navy League of Hawaii in sponsoring the writing contest to honor Sailors past and present. In early October, Howard sponsored a Senior Enlisted Leadership of the Pacific symposium in Hawaii, which included discussions about what being a shipmate means. "It is our responsibility to our commanders and to our Navy to listen to our Sailors and to provide advice to Navy leadership," Howard said. "So, we thought, who better to define 'what being a Shipmate means' than our Sailors -- our Sailors who are willing to sacrifice everything. In an all-volunteer force, it's the personal sacrifices of today's Sailors who make the decision every day to fight for the freedoms of not only our own country, but also those countries that might not be able to fight for themselves." In 75 words or less, Sailors are encouraged to explain their personal definition of shipmate and what it means to be a shipmate in today's Navy. The contest is open to all Sailors, from E-1 to O-10. All work must be original and unpublished. The word "shipmate" must be CAPITALIZED in all entries. Please send e-mail entries to cpf.fleetfeedback@navy.mil. Be sure to put What Being a Shipmate Means to Me in your email SUBJECT line. Mail-in submissions should be sent to: What Being a Shipmate Means to Me Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet c/o FLTCM (SW/AW) Tom Howard 250 Makalapa Drive Pearl Harbor HI 96860-3131 All entries must be postmarked by midnight Dec. 16. Entries not received by Dec. 31 will not be judged. Questions about the contest should be sent to cpf.fleetfeedback@navy.mil. STORIES FROM COMFORT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Chief of Naval Operations, ADM Gary Roughead, speaks to the crew of the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) during a welcome home ceremony off the coast of Miami Oct. 12. Comfort completed a four-month humanitarian deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean providing medical treatment to patients in a dozen countries. Remembrance Profiles NTWS is a place for all Sailors, living and deceased. You can post and maintain Remembrance Profiles for your Shipmates by clicking on Remember a Shipmate on the left-hand side of the Home Page. This allows you to remember a Fallen, Deceased, MIA/POW, Unlocated Sailor/Aviator or to create an Assisted Profile for a living Sailor/Aviator who is unable to post their own profile. AROUND THE SERVICES NEW JCS CHAIRMAN VISITS BAGHDAD - ADM Mike Mullen, the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presents Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki a gift during a meeting with the Iraqi leader at the U.S. Embassy Annex in Baghdad, Iraq, this month. Mullen was on his first tour of the Central Command area of operations visiting with the leadership and service assigned to the region since becoming chairman. DoD photo by MC1 Chad J. McNeeley DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE - Mullen Visit to Iraq, Afghanistan Revealed "Noticeable" Improvements - Senior Official: Diplomacy Best Approach to Turkey-Iraq Tensions - Anyone Can Play Santa to Troops in Iraq - SECDEF: U.S. Prepared to Work with Russian Military - Services Attain Strong Recruiting Numbers for Fiscal 2007 SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE! - Lt. Gen. John F. Goodman, Commander U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC), pins corporal chevrons on actor, entertainer, and Hawaii resident, Jim Nabors to promote him to Honorary Corporal during a sunset ceremony at SSG Robert Kuroda Field, aboard Fort DeRussy in Waikiki, last month. Full story in Marine Corps headlines below. USMC photo by Cpl. R. Drew Hendricks MARINE CORPS - TV's "Gomer Pyle" gets honorary promotion to Corporal - 6th MarDiv Association remembers Battle of Okinawa - Refueler transport squadron transitions to new model aircraft - U.S., ROK Marines exchange cultural appreciation, develop camaraderie - Female Staff NCO Academy director makes history AIR FORCE - Famed Flying Tiger ace dies - Prime BEEF stamps hoof prints on Gitmo - Reaper UAV now flying in Afghanistan - Air Force's "navy": It's all about the ammo - B-2 Spirits set to soar over Pacific ARMY - Army Leaders Sign Covenant with Families - Grieving Parents Find Comfort in Each Other - Japanese Soldiers Fire HAWK Missile at New Mexico Range - Army Refitting More Humvees Faster with New Approach - Soldiers Train with Raven UAVs COAST GUARD Help NTWS Grow! For every five Sailors who join NTWS from your invitation, you'll be rewarded with 6 months FREE Full Membership allowing you special access to all the premium areas of the TWS website! Your support will also be recognized by a special "Recruiting Ribbon" placed on your LH Profile Page -- and a bronze star for every five new members you invite! By inviting other Shipmates to join this site you not only greatly increase the chances for Members to find others with whom they served, but the site becomes even more enjoyable through the increased interaction between Sailors from all eras and Navy communities. Inviting a Shipmate is simple: Click on the Invite tab at the top of your Profile Page, enter the name and e-mail address of the Sailor you wish to invite and a formal invitation, in your name, is instantly e-mailed to the recipient with full instructions on how to join. Also, all Sailors you invite will have your name on their Profile Page as being invited by you! REUNION ANNOUNCEMENTS Email your club/association reunion announcement as early as possible to: editor@navy.togetherweserved.com or ntws.editor@gmail.com. USS HAVERFIELD (DER 393) is having a reunion March 2008. If interested, contact Bill Hammond at billhammond@mchsi.com. USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN/CVN 65) Association Reunion Did you know that each year the USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN/CVN 65) Reunion is held in a different location around the US? The reunions are attended by Crew and Shipmates from the late 1950s to present-day. There are more than 800 current members but there should be nearly 100,000 since the ship's first Sailors reported aboard in 1958 and the Big "E" is still going strong. There were eight ships previously named ENTERPRISE and all participated in some of the greatest moments in American military history -- especially the current ship to bear the name. The Association does a lot to support current Crew Members through scholarships, home-coming support and in many other ways. We would love to have as many people as possible that served aboard this great ship, affectionately known as the Big "E". So, come join us in Galveston next October, and join the ENTERPRISE Association by visiting www.cvan-cvn-65.org. Dues are only $15 annually and anyone who served on Big "E" is eligible to join. USS MARVIN SHIELDS (FF/DE-1066) Second reunion in Fall 2008. For further details go to ussmarvinshields.org. USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD 44), 1995-1999 Those interested in attending a reunion for those who served aboard the "G Hall" from 1995 to 1999, please email Katina Robertson at KATINAGOALS@Yahoo.com. USS GREENLING (SS-213 & SSN-614) A joint reunion for crew members from both subs in Branson, Missouri Sept. 19-23, 2008. The reunion website is reunionproregistration.com/ussgreenling.htm. For more information, contact BU1 Jeff Stone at jstone40@austin.rr.com. (512) 352-7034 USS ROBISON (DDG-12) The Robie is having a reunion in Branson, MO Sept. 11-14, 2008. This is will be the first reunion and formation of the association. For more info and to get listed on our roster, contact RM1 Chuck Siedschlag (71-74) at ddg12assn@frontiernet.net or call (715) 787-4559. VA/VFA-113 We are trying to get a reunion together for any and all shipmates in VA-113/ VFA-113 from 1980 to 1985 who made the transition from A7e's to F/A-18's. Please contact Michael Noonan at mnoonan3@aol.com. USS COGSWELL (DD-651) Reunion October 9-11, 2008, Boise ID. Contact: George H. Overman, P.O. Box 6098, Oceanside, CA 92052-6098. (760) 889-2216 uss-cogswell@cox.net www.destroyers.org/uss-cogswell USS WHITE PLAINS (AFS-4) 40th Anniversary Reunion for crewmembers of the one and only "Orient Express!" June 21-28, 2008; Handlery Hotel & Resort, San Diego, CA (the birthplace of all Mars-class AFS). For details and registration, contact Steve Edmison at sgedmison@hotmail.com, or visit the AFS-4 Association website at usswhiteplains.org. USS CONCORD (AFS-5) We are looking for all shipmates who have served on this great ship. If you are interested please respond to garrysea@insightbb.com or ben.barresi@premiereglobal.com with your name, address, years on board, rate/rank and we will place your information in our database. USS SAN DIEGO (AFS-6) Reunion planned for May 2008 in Norfolk, VA. We are looking for all shipmates who have served on this great ship. If you are interested please respond to wvcox915@aol.com with your name, address, years on board, rate/rank and we will place your information in our database. Please check out the ship's website at afs-6.org. We look forward to hearing from you soon! ASWOC Misawa, Japan Plans in the works for a 2009 Las Vegas reunion for those who served at the ASWOC in Misawa, Japan. Contact AW3 Jeff Blankenship (ASWOC Misawa, 1990-1992) at jeff@fam5.com, or visit fam5.com for more information. Stay Connected -- Keep Your E-mail Addresses Current! There are two ways in which an old friends and Shipmates can contact you via the NTWS website: the first is via your "public" e-mail address displayed in your Personal Details on your Profile Page; and the other is by leaving a message in your Message Center Inbox. The latter triggers an advisory e-mail, sent to your "private" e-mail address to inform you that you have received a message and who it's from. Your "private" e-mail address, which is the one that TWS uses, is contained in your Account Details at the top of your Profile Page which you can modify at any time. NTWS Members' "private" and "public" e-mail addresses are usually the same. So, please regularly log-in and update any changes to your e-mail addresses both in the Account Detail and Personal Detail sections of your Profile. An NTWS Member's Brush With Greatness! Commander Ed Taylor (Medical Corps) had the pleasure of meeting Katie Couric, anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News, during a visit to Camp Fallujah last month. "She's a very nice lady," he recalled. "I think she got to see first hand what we are doing out here and the great progress that we have made in Al Anbar province." Going back in time to the 1950s, former Damage Controlman Fireman C.V. "Bud" Norris (left), and his buddy FN Dussold, pose with screen and TV actor Fred MacMurray. The pair ran into the actor while on liberty in Acapulco, Mexico in 1953. MacMurray played Lieutenant Thomas Keefer in The Caine Mutiny (1954), and a series of Disney films ("The Absent-Minded Professor," "The Shaggy Dog"), but was best known for his role as a TV dad in the 1960's CBS show "My Three Sons". "A very nice guy," Bud recalls. "Just as humble off the screen as he was on." Did you experience a brush with a celeb while you were in-uniform? Got a personal photo to show-off? Send your pictures to ntws.editor@gmail.com, and tell us where and when it happened! THE HOIST- Editorial Guidelines For Submissions Want your command or unit in an edition of The HOIST? Here's our editorial submission standards for submitting items for online publication: DEADLINE FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS IS THE 15th OF EACH MONTH! TIPS FOR SUBMITTING NEWS ITEMS: - Keep your submission under 500 words in length. - Avoid, or explain, military jargon or acronyms that other Navy communities might not understand. - Keep the writing CONVERSATIONAL, like you would tell the folks back home. A news story is not a Navy memo or formal letter generated by the admin department. - When identifying shipmates in a story, use their rate/rank and FULL NAME. For example, there's a few hundred "PO3 Smiths" in the Navy, but identifying "MC3(AW) Harlan Smith, a native of Indianapolis, Ind." makes that person stand out. - Include the writer's name, email address and phone number (if applicable), should we have any questions. Submit them by email as a PLAIN TEXT (.txt) attachment to: editor@navy.togetherweserved.com or ntws.editor@gmail.com. All submitted news stories will be reviewed and edited for clarity, grammar, spelling and punctuation. NEWS PHOTOS: We love getting pictures from the fleet and field, so send us your pictures in LARGE FORMAT (at least 1024 pixels wide) as an email attachment to: ntws.editor@gmail.com. PHOTOS WE DO WANT: - Candid photos of Sailors on-the-job, in all situations - Interesting/artistic pictures of Navy people and equipment (within security regulations) - Navy families (we can't get enough of them -- kids, parents, relatives) - Action photos (candid pictures of Sailors during drills, evolutions or operations) PHOTOS WE CAN'T USE / DON'T WANT: - "Firing squad" photos (People lined up by rows, facing the camera) While most military organizations like this kind of photography, it doesn't work well on a webpage when the picture will be cropped and reduced -- making the faces of the people into blurry little pixels. Save those for the trophy case. - "Grip 'n grin" photos (The bane of all military photography - the receipient grips the presenter's hand while smiling for the camera and showing their award) Better idea: If a Sailor gets an award for being the best left-hand wrench turner, show the Sailor at-work turning the wrench! Readers like seeing people at-work, doing a top-notch job! - People out-of-uniform, not within grooming standards Ensure your subject(s) are in proper uniform (including proper safety gear) and within grooming regs if they're in a work/duty environment. - Exposed security badges/classified material If your subjects work in an environment where ID/security passes are worn, ensure they remove them before taking the picture or blur/black them out before submitting them. Same goes with any area where classified material may be on desks or in a workshop. If you're unsure, ask your security coordinator or PAO. - Obviously posed/manipulated ("PhotoShopped") shots, mugging for the camera We won't print shots of people hamming it up for the lens, nor shots that depict sailors in unfavorable or unprofessional situations. These are just some tips to keep in-mind. Don't be discouraged if we don't immediately use your submission, we might find some use for it in a later edition! If you have questions concerning photo submissions, contact us at editor@navy.togetherweserved.com or ntws.editor@gmail.com. NEWS FOR VETS Schwarzenegger Signs Bills to Benefit California Veterans, Military Personnel SACRAMENTO -- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he has signed legislation that will benefit California veterans, military personnel and their families. One proposal provides important protections against predatory lenders; another one requires employers to allow the spouse of a service member, when he or she is on leave, to take up to 10 days of unpaid leave. Also included are bills that expand educational opportunities, waive certain vehicle fees, make voting easier, increase access to state retirement benefits and make it a crime to misrepresent a military medal. “These bills demonstrate California’s commitment to those who currently serve, those who have served and the families who have sacrificed so much to support them,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Our military community deserves strong consumer protections, continued educational opportunities and as much support as we can give their families.” The following bills have been signed into law: AB 7 by Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance): Provides armed service members and their families a number of consumer credit services protections against predatory and deceptive lending practices and unlawful financial and investment schemes and allows California to enforce federal law. AB 392 by Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance): Requires employers to allow the husband or wife of a soldier serving to take up to 10 days of unpaid leave while their husband or wife is home on leave. AB 1528 by Committee on Banking and Finance: Prohibits false and deceptive marketing of financial services or products to service members, veterans and their families. AB 282 by Assemblymember Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley): Makes it a crime for any person to falsely represent himself/herself to have been awarded any military decoration or medal with the intent to defraud. AB 223 by Assemblymember Sharon Runner (R-Lancaster): Allows a person called for military service after the absentee ballot application deadline to vote absentee by fax. AB 950 by Assemblymember Mary Salas (D-Chula Vista): Extends the period of time in which non-California members of the Armed Forces are entitled to pay the lower in-state fees at California State University and the University of California. SB 14 by Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Montclair): Allows members of the California National Guard to qualify for membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and to purchase additional PERS service credit. SB 272 by Senator George Runner (R-Antelope Valley): Gives members of the armed services priority enrollment for California State University and California Community Colleges classes and requests the University of California to do the same. SB 386 by Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto): Waives various fees on vehicles owned by the surviving spouse of a former prisoner of war (POW) or Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and allows the family to keep a special interest license plate as a remembrance of the deceased. Grant to Enhance VA Services for Returning Combat Veterans INDIANAPOLIS – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will augment its world-class health care to local veterans with a $9.9 million grant received today from the Lilly Endowment Inc. The Indianapolis-based philanthropic foundation is providing the funds to the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center to support a new clinic for injured service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and other projects, including a "comfort home" serving families of hospitalized service members while their loved ones undergo rehabilitation. "The generosity of the Lilly Endowment will help VA to continue to provide our wounded warriors with the best in rehabilitation medical care," said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. Michael J. Kussman, who accepted the grant on behalf of VA. The grant will provide $5.8 million for a 24,000-square-foot Seamless Transition Integrated Care Clinic where returning troops will receive comprehensive multidisciplinary health care. Another $3.5 million will be used to build a 28-suite comfort home that will provide accommodations for veterans’ families during extended periods of care. In addition, the endowment is funding retreats at which veterans and their spouses or loved ones can reunite and learn to work through readjustment issues typically associated with returning from deployment. Another $500,000 is designated for rehabilitation events, including the National Veterans Golden Age Games, which the Roudebush VA Medical Center will host in the summer of 2008. This senior adaptive rehabilitation program is designed to improve the quality of life for older veterans, including those with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. VA provides a comprehensive array of benefits and services tailored to meet the unique needs of America’s latest generation of combat veterans, including special access to VA health care for two years for those having no service-connected illnesses or injuries; polytrauma centers caring for the most severely injured that are setting new standards for multi-disciplinary treatment of complex medical problems; world-class clinical care and research for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and aggressive outreach program to help veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan access the benefits they have earned. The Lilly Endowment was established in 1937 by members of the Lilly family as a vehicle to pursue their personal philanthropic interests. It is separate from the Eli Lilly and Co. pharmaceutical firm and is independently managed. Free Maps of Iraq and Afghanistan Free, downloadable full color maps of Iraq and Afghanistan in Adobe PDF format, courtesy of the military's only UNOFFICIAL daily newspaper, Stars and Stripes. THE MAIL BUOY: Your E-mails, Letters and Comments Last Month's "First Call" Hooray! Someone else who feels that language should be clear and free of "25 cent words" to fill a "2 cent explanation". One of my pet peeves, which I inherited from my father, is the word "basically", as in 'Well, basically, my job as a gunner is to maintain and fire this gun, and that's basically the job I do.' Spell check is wonderful, but it's not perfect, especially for those people who add misspelled words to the spell check dictionary. I have a paper-and-ink dictionary/thesaurus that I can refer to at any time. The article from CNO about new CPOs to "Get Out There and Lead!" was great. My congratulations to ADM Mullen on recognizing the jobs that CPOs are required to perform, and the difference between an outstanding CPO and one who is merely filling the position until he transfers to the Fleet Reserve. - Joseph A. Clark, RMC(SW) (ret.) Man oh man, do I agree with you (re: deterioration of language skills of present day "journalists" and "broadcasters"). Hardly a day goes by that I don't find some newswriter/broadcaster misusing syntax, misuse of common wordings or pronunciations. I just grit my teeth and ascribe it to the new "accelerated education" they received in high school (or beyond). (I especially abhor the (mis) pronunciations of "nuk'lear" and figures {i.e. one thousand AND 75 dollars}). BUT it should never happen to USN Journalists - who should know better! - George Marshall, JOC (ret.) Thanks for the comments! I was primarily a broadcaster during my Navy career, and penned a few clinkers on-occasion, but I'm a firm believer in the art and craft of writing. I'm not saying the entire MC rating is severely lacking in basic news writing skills, but from what I've seen in the Navy News Stand, it can stand a LOT of improvement. My suggestion: Senior MCs who were legacy JOs, along with FULL-TIME PAOs (165Xs), need to be teaching and reinforcing the basics of good news writing to those MCs from cross-over ratings. It won't be Pulitizer Prize writing -- but it can get darned close to it. PA khaki should NEVER pass-off stories for release that are "just good enough." By the way -- when I last stopped-by the News Stand, I found "approximately" used in five news releases. - Ed. DECK LOG: USS Tennessee feature HM1 (Sandi) Dunlap (did an) excellent job on the storyline! (However,) the first CO was CAPT Albert Gleaves Berry, USNA c/o 1869, not Albert O. Perhaps HM1 can add the Commanding Officers of the ship as well? Edward L. Beach, Sr. was the last CO when she hit the rocks. I knew a crewman off the ship them when it was called the Memphis, and he told me all about it. Too bad I didn't get an oral history from him, and Beach's son wrote a book about the tragedy, "Wreck of the Memphis." Excellent site too, I might add. - Ron Reeves, HTC (ret.) We'll pass the kudos along to Sandi, who's a military history buff. The final segment of her article appears in this issue. - Ed. NTWS Membership Growth Since its launch on Navy Day, October 27th, 2006, more than 280,000 Sailors of all eras, from WWII to present-day, have joined this website. As a result, many Members have reported reconnecting with Shipmates from the past; and as the site continues to grow beyond 300,000 Members by the end of the year, this will be an increasingly common occurrence. NTWS does not permit public access, and therefore has one of the highest percentages of Navy Members of any Navy community website - most Members have been invited by existing NTWS Members. Please help our unique Navy Community continue its strong growth and invite other Sailors that you know. To go directly to the Navy.Togetherweserved.com website click on: Navy.TogetherWeServed SHIPMATES FOUND! NTWS Success Stories Each edition, we'll feature some of the success stories NTWS members have enjoyed as members of the best Navy website online. Submit your testimonial in the "Shipmates Found Success Stories" header in the MESS DECKS forum. Twenty-two years worth of friends SCPO Sherry Sanders It's amazing, I have found people from Boot Camp, Cecil Field, Pax River, Dallas, Albuquerque, Amarillo, Miramar. I've found people I forgot all about. Whoever came up with this site idea will have a special place in Heaven for bringing so much joy into our lives. AWESOME! Thank You NTWS PO1 Patrick Polus A heartfelt thank you to SCPO (Mad Dog) Madriaga! It is really an honor to know that in my Naval career that I was guided by the best the Navy had to offer. I salute you all. Thank you. Public thanks SCPO Don Lewis I would like to publically thank Lt. Tom Jessen for helping me get in touch with a pilot I was involved in a helo crash in while in Viet Nam in 1968 . He got me Lt. Oftendahl's phone number and Steve and I had a long chat hashing over many memories. Would also like to thank TWS for making this possible. A small world CPO Denis Dubus Today I found an old shipmate of mine, NCC(SW) Dan McKenna. I haven't seen Mac since I left the USS Gettysburg (CG 64) in '97 after my father's burial at sea. Thanks Guys... FN Diane Ruth (Harding) I've reconnected with shipmates I haven't seen in 31 years. It's made me want to find all of them! Profile Assistance The NTWS profile pages are very detailed, so we've created a list of tips and pointers to help you navigate and use the features of the site more easily. You may visit the "Member Assistance" section at the bottom left of the Home Page under the "Home" tab or e-mail profilehelp@navy.togetherweserved.com for assistance. THE HOIST - NTWS Newsletter A monthly online publication of Navy.TogetherWeServed.com, a commercial entity in no way affiliated, authorized or endorsed by the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, or any of its agencies. Opinions and views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Navy.TogetherWeServed.com, the U.S. Government, Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense. The HOIST - NTWS Newsletter is published for informational purposes only and should not be considered official command policy, regulation or doctrine. All photos used in this online publication are official U.S. Navy/Department of Defense property, unless otherwise indicated. Please send any comments, quality improvement suggestions or story ideas to: editor@navy.togetherweserved.com or ntws.editor@gmail.com. Jon Yim - Editor LaShayla Brown - Correspondent |
FIRST CALL: Notes & Ramblings From The Pilothouse RANDOM NOTES: HAPPY 232nd BIRTHDAY, Shipmates!
-30- Jon Yim Mullen Takes Helm As JCS Chairman By Donna Miles Featured Upgrades this Month Shooting Medals New CNO Delivers First Message To The Fleet WASHINGTON -- Admiral Gary Roughead offered his first message to the fleet since assuming duties as the 29th Chief of Naval Operations on Sept 29. The text of his message is provided below: The opportunity to continue to serve and to lead our Navy is the highest honor for any naval officer. Assuming the leadership of our Navy from Adm. Mike Mullen is a great privilege. His vision, drive, and commitment to those who serve have positioned us well today and for tomorrow. I know all of you join me in wishing him and Deborah every success as he takes up his new responsibilities as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. SECNAV's Birthday Message To The Fleet Two hundred thirty-two years after the Continental Congress voted to commission a swift sailing vessel with ten carriage guns and an appropriate number of swivels, the United States Navy now reigns supreme as the most powerful Navy in the world. But a Navy is only as good as the people who train, maintain, and operate the fleet that the nation has built. CNO's Birthday Message To The Fleet As we celebrate and commemorate the 232nd birthday of our Navy, I thank all who are serving today, military and civilian; to our families who stand by and support us; and to our fellow sea service, the U.S. Marine Corps. We are a great team ready today and preparing for tomorrow. TAPS: ADM William J. Crowe Jr. WASHINGTON -- Former Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, retired Admiral William James Crowe Jr., died Oct. 18, at Bethesda Naval Hospital. He was 82. Navy SEAL Awarded Medal of Honor By MCSN Michelle L. Kapica The History of an American Family -- A Story of Heroes (Part 2) By LaShayla Brown NTWS Ships Store - For All Your Navy Shipmate Swag! Visit to our online NTWS Ships Store for all your cool Navy swag - Shirts, Jackets, Hats, Jewelry, Footwear, Medals, Patches and much, much more! Over 9,000 quality Items at the lowest prices...and a 30-day, money-back guarantee! Here's some new items that just arrived in our store:
"I'm, a new customer, and a satisfied one at that. Your service is excellent, and so are your prices - talk about time to receive items! Its service like the old days. Roger Alexandre (Gunner) Thank you for your support of the NTWS Ships Store. All Store proceeds go towards promoting the NTWS website, bringing more Sailors to the TWS Community. PHOTO LOG: Faces of the Fleet In honor of the U.S. Navy's 232nd birthday, The HOIST features the faces of people that make up our fleet. They come from all colors, faiths, and cultures. They hail from towns, cities and states from around the nation -- some from other parts of the globe. The reasons why they joined are varied, just as the winds that billowed the sails of the first ships that went into harm's way to defend the nation. It is with great pride and honor that we present the faces of shipmates currently serving in our Navy. Senior Chief Aviation Electrician's Mate Steven Cobb cools off under the wing of an aircraft on the flight deck of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). - Photo by MC3 McKinley Cartwright Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Elizabeth Garcia-Vargas mixes brownie batter in the commanding officer's galley aboard amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7). - Photo by MCSN Christopher L. Clark Musician 2nd Class Kelly Dacosta, attached to the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), plays the saxophone with the U.S. Navy Showband at the Cultural Center in Paramaribo, Suriname. - Photo by MCSN Jeff Hall Machinist's Mate 1st Class Jeff Peterson, of Navy Customs Battalion Sierra, hugs his children after returning home to Naval Base Norfolk. - Photo by MCSN Seth Scarlett Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) 3rd Class Bryan Oliveria takes a JP-5 fuel sample aboard nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). - Photo by MCSN Sarah E. Bitter Mineman 1st Class Courtney Haralson, assigned to the High Speed Vessel (HSV 2) Swift, briefs and checks the members of Number One hose team before an engine room fire drill. - Photo by MC1 David Hoffman DECK LOG: USS Tennessee (ACR-10) & USS Memphis (CA-10), A Tragic End By HM1 Sandra A. Dunlap (vet.) A Tragic Ending 'Tis The Season To Mail Early! By Jon Yim Enjoyed This Newsletter? Please forward this link to other Sailors you know, and your friends and family! WARBOOK In honor of the U.S. Navy's 232nd Birthday, this month's WARBOOK features one of our original -- and historic -- weapon systems, USS CONSTITUTION. DESCRIPTION: Pride In The Past - Faith In The Future
Sincerely, |
|
Copyright © 2007 TogetherWeServed | All Rights Reserved. |