Navy Volleyball Player, Corpsman Is Proud of Her Samoan Roots

 May 21, 2021 | BY David Vergun , DOD News

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have shaped the history of the United States and have had their lives dramatically influenced by moments in its history. Every May the Defense Department joins the rest of the nation in celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Denise ''Tolo'' Atualevao was born in Honolulu. Her mother, Koroseta Ululima Atualevao, and father, Tafale Atoa Atualevao, are both from American Samoa.

Atualevao's mother grew up in the villages of Nua and Se'etaga and her father in the village of Leone.

"I am a proud full-blooded Samoan teine," she said, noting that teine means girl in Samoan.

Although she was born in Hawaii, Atualevao grew up in San Diego.

However, Atualevao said she was fortunate to have been able to visit American Samoa twice a year during summer and winter breaks, every year in college until 2014, when she graduated from Graceland University.

Atualevao said she is fluent in the Samoan language and is knowledgeable about the history and culture of the island.

Since enlisting in the Navy six years ago, Atualevao has worked as a hospital corpsman, stationed for her first two years at Naval Hospital, Pensacola, Florida, then three years on the USS Blue Ridge, an amphibious command ship, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. She is currently working at Naval Medical Center Point Loma Clinic in San Diego.

Besides working as a corpsman, Atualevao is also a member of the All-Navy Women's Volleyball team.

Playing volleyball has given her an added boost in competitiveness, teamwork, leadership and confidence — attributes that are so important to have in the Navy, she said.

"Being one of the team captains has definitely helped build my leadership skills and to not be afraid of whatever adversity we might face together," she said.

Making the cut for the team wasn't too difficult, because Atualevao said she's been playing volleyball continuously ever since she was in the third grade.

Since her team plays against other teams from around the world, Atualevao said she's made a lot of friends in other countries.

Atualevao said her future goal is becoming a health care administrator as a civilian, a Reserve naval officer as a health care administrator, and opening a club for Polynesian volleyball players.

Secure Swim

A soldier jumps into a pool while carrying a weapon to prepare for a jungle operation training course at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, May 14, 2021.

Plane Pushers

 

Sailors push a T-45C Goshawk toward the runway to prepare for takeoff aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Pacific Ocean, May 16, 2021.

Angels in the Air

 

The Blue Angels, the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, perform the low break cross maneuver during a training flight at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif., Feb. 26, 2021.

Navy to Commission Littoral Combat Ship USS Mobile

 May 21, 2021

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The Navy will commission its newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship, the future USS Mobile (LCS 26), at 10:00 a.m. CDT, Saturday, May 22 in Mobile, Ala.

Due to public health and safety concerns related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the commissioning ceremony is private with a limited audience.

Mr. James “Hondo” Geurts, performing the duties of under secretary of the Navy, and Vice Adm. John Mustin, Chief of Naval Reserve, will provide remarks.  Mrs. Rebecca Byrne, the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Community Foundation of South Alabama and wife of former U.S. Representative from Alabama Bradley Byrne, is the ship’s sponsor. The ceremony will observe a time-honored Navy tradition when Mrs. Byrne gives the order to “man our ship and bring her to life!”

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama will deliver the commissioning ceremony's principal address.

Cmdr. Christopher W. Wolff, a third-generation naval officer, is the ship’s commanding officer and leads a crew of 70 officers and enlisted Sailors.

“It has been an amazing experience to get to know our namesake city so well, while having the opportunity to live, work, and commission the ship right here in Mobile, where she was built,” said Wolff. “We have definitely felt welcomed into the community, and have created a strong connection to the area that I am confident will last. Mobile bills itself as a city that is born to celebrate and the crew has really adopted that philosophy as we celebrate our shipmates every day.”

The ship is 421 feet in length, has a beam of 103 feet, and a navigational draft of 15 feet.  It is powered by two gas turbine engines, two main propulsion diesel engines, and four waterjets to speeds up to 40-plus knots.

Built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., Mobile was christened Dec. 7, 2019 and delivered to the Navy on Dec. 9, 2020.

Mobile, the fifth ship to bear the name, is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments while capable of open-ocean tasking and winning against 21st-century coastal threats such as submarines, mines, and swarming small craft. LCS are are capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence.

USS Mobile will homeport at Naval Base San Diego, California.

The event will be live streamed at https://allhands.navy.mil/Media/Live-Stream/ to offer viewing by the general public. The link becomes active approximately ten minutes prior to the event (9:50 a.m. CDT).

Green Scene

 

A Marine aims an M240 Bravo light machine gun during a night raid rehearsal at Kin Blue Training Area, Okinawa, Japan, May 14, 2021.

Sunlit Sail

 

USS Curtis Wilbur conducts routine operations in the South China Sea, May 20, 2021.

Community Care

 

Army Sgt. David Miranda, left, and Spc. Kerri Jepson, both combat medics, work to vaccinate a patient at the Community Vaccination Center at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, May 12, 2021.

Raid Rehearsal

 

Marines complete an amphibious raid rehearsal at Kin Blue training area in Okinawa, Japan, May 13, 2021.

Maritime Fire

 

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Zavala Marcos fires a machine gun on a Humvee during training in Long Beach, Calif., May 12, 2021.

Ready Response

 

Alaska National Guard Sgt. Anthony Luiken and Staff Sgt. Jonathan Ramos respond to a simulated incident at the Anchorage Fire Training Center, Alaska, May 19, 2021, during Orca, a chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear threats response exercise.

Courageous Survivors, Leaders Are the Cornerstone of Sexual Assault Reform

 May 21, 2021 | BY Terri Moon Cronk , DOD News

Survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military are an important voice in building a culture that supports victims and holds perpetrators accountable. The DOD's Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military wants to hear from those survivors.

The IRC is in the midst of a 90-day mission to collect information and present recommendations to President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III to prevent and respond to sexual assault and harassment in the military. Through survivors, IRC members want to get to the heart of common themes and experiences. 

"The words and experiences shared with us by survivors underscore the importance of the opportunities created by the secretary of defense when he directed immediate actions and chartered this commission," Neil Irvin with IRC's prevention effort, said. "Sexual assault and harassment are preventable and are central to the opportunities for this commission, highlighted by survivors, to address DOD's enterprise-wide efforts to stop sexual assault and harassment before it occurs," he added.

We are indebted to all the survivors who have come forward with their candid assessments and ideas, and we hope they will continue to do so."

Kris Rose, Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault

IRC members are identifying potential gaps to inform targeted recommendations that can lead to systemic change. Recommendations will focus on four lines of effort: accountability; prevention; climate and culture; and victim care and support. Survivors — veterans, reservists and active duty are encouraged to anonymously share their experiences and suggestions here. The feedback form opened on March 24, the day the IRC officially began, and closes on June 2.

Kris Rose, who co-leads the victim care and support effort, explained that survivors provide the depth, context and reality of sexual harassment and sexual assault that's often missing when examining policy and practice. "We are indebted to all the survivors who have come forward with their candid assessments and ideas, and we hope they will continue to do so. We couldn't do this work without them," she said.

IRC members particularly want to hear from junior enlisted service members about their experiences. Statistically, they are the most impacted by sexual assault; they are also tomorrow's leaders who hold the key to long-term, sustained change.

As climate and culture in the military are concerned, IRC expert Army Lt. Col. Bridgette Bell said, "We are listening to these service members to understand how the climate of their unit affects their ability to feel safe and supported."

In addition to online feedback, members of the IRC are visiting installations — large and small, and speaking with troops overseas and stateside to connect with members of all the military services, including the National Guard and Reserves.

"Hearing from survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault allows us to better understand diverse experiences, including with their coworkers, chain of command and the military justice system," Sasha Rutizer with the accountability line of effort emphasized.

The IRC will make recommendations in late June.

Flag Folders

 

Airmen fold the American flag during a National Police Week retreat ceremony at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 14, 2021.

Naming Commission Chair Details Progress, Way Ahead

 May 21, 2021 | BY David Vergun , DOD News

The Commission on the Naming of Items of the Department of Defense that Commemorate the Confederate States of America or Any Person Who Served Voluntarily with the Confederate States of America, is more often referred to as the Naming Commission.

Retired Navy Adm. Michelle Howard, the chair of the Naming Commission, spoke to the press today about their mandate and the work they have been doing and what they will do in the future.

As to the work done thus far, Howard said they developed an initial charter to guide the process. They are currently developing the renaming criteria, which will include a meeting with local stakeholders to develop procedures and criteria to incorporate local opinions in regards to renaming assets.

The commissioners, she said, will also meet with installation leadership. "Many of them have already taken some level of planning, and, so we're looking forward to hearing about their work and their local assessments."

Their mandate, Howard said, includes assigning, modifying or removing anything that commemorates the Confederate States of America or any person who served voluntarily with the Confederacy. 

Currently, the services are developing and refining the inventory of what meets that criteria for assets such as names of installations, ships, streets and buildings, she said.

Initial focus throughout the summer and fall, she said, is going to be visiting the nine Army installations named, mostly, for those who voluntarily served in the Confederacy. They are: Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Bragg, Fort Lee, Fort Rucker, Fort Benning, Fort Gordon, Fort Hood, Fort Polk, Fort Belvoir and Fort Pickett. 

Fort Belvoir was not named for a Confederate general like the others, but was named for a plantation that existed there with slaves that possibly commemorates the Confederacy. It was previously called Camp A. A. Humphreys, named for Civil War Union Army Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys.

"We have to look at when and where the installation or asset was named, and then what was the purpose behind the naming," she explained, in the instance of Fort Belvoir.

For an example of a ship, Howard said the USNS Maury, an oceanographic survey ship, will be looked at. It was named for Navy Cdr. Matthew Fontaine Maury, who resigned from the U.S. Navy to sail for the Confederacy.

The scope of the commission's mandate does not include items outside the Confederacy naming period, Howard said. For example, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson was named for a legislator who was a staunch segregationist. That is outside the scope. Camp Beauregard, an Army National Guard installation named for a Confederate general, is also outside the scope because it belongs to the state of Louisiana, rather than the DOD. 

The commission will brief the secretary of defense on its progress and recommendations. The commission will also brief the House and Senate Armed Services Committees on its progress by Oct. 1. Then on Oct. 1, 2022, the commission will present a final briefing and written report to the HASC and SASC.

More About the Naming Commission

The Naming Commission was mandated by Congress under Section 370 of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

Four of the commissioners were appointed by the secretary of defense and four were appointed by the chairs and ranking members of the HASC and SASC. All eight commissioners were sworn in on March 2. They meet biweekly.

Portland Arrival

 

Marines disembark from air-cushioned landing craft upon arriving aboard the USS Portland during training in the Pacific Ocean, May 11, 2021.

Flight of Four

 

Four U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft fly over Mont-de-Marsan Air Base, France, May 10, 2021. Aircraft and crew participated in multiple events, including Atlantic Trident 21, underscoring the steadfast U.S. commitment to the region and enhancing interoperability with NATO allies and partners.

DLA Ships Pfizer Vaccines Overseas for DOD Youth

 May 21, 2021 | BY Beth Reece , Defense Logistics Agency

The Defense Logistics Agency has shipped first and second doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 12-to-17-year-olds in the U.S. European, Central and Indo-Pacific Commands areas of responsibility.

This is the agency's first handling of the minus 80 degrees Celsius vaccine, which is now included in the Federal Drug Administration's emergency use authorization for adolescents. Employees at the DLA distribution center in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, packed and shipped more than 46,800 doses on May 14 to 10 service-operated distribution centers in Europe, Japan, Korea and Bahrain. DLA Distribution's Navy Cmdr. Chuck Mielkie said the centers were chosen based on proximity to dependent youth populations and cold-storage handling capability.

"Some already had the minus 80 degrees [Celsius] freezers and others had to procure them, but each site is best suited to further distribute to smaller [administrative] sites and treatment facilities," he said.

DLA has already shipped almost 600,000 doses of the minus 20-degrees Celsius Moderna and 2-to-8 degrees Celsius Johnson & Johnson vaccines for adults outside the continental U.S. or deployed on Navy ships.

"The intent is to provide a safe, authorized and viable vaccine to protect the adolescent population before the fall school year begins. We had a short timeline to get this done, faster than our normal process for flu vaccines or the other two COVID-19 vaccines," said Army Col. Anthony Bostick, head of DLA's operational planning team for COVID-19 vaccine operations. 

DLA and Defense Health Agency officials have worked since fall 2020 to plan and distribute Moderna and J&J vaccines to the services with DLA being responsible for shipping doses for Defense Department populations overseas and the Navy fleet. Both agencies have teamed with the services and combatant commands since spring to identify the number of dependent youth who would need the vaccine and assess cold-storage capabilities for Pfizer's version at DLA and military facilities.

Material handlers were also trained on special packing procedures for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, Mielkie said, noting that the agency has distributed 2-to-8 degrees Celsius vaccines like J&J's version of the COVID-19 vaccine and annual flu vaccines for more than 20 years.

An April 30 tabletop exercise involving more than 250 participants from DLA, DHA, the combatant commands, distribution facilities and administration sites helped finalize the DOD's overseas Pfizer distribution plan, Bostick added. The agency used its long-standing partnerships with organizations like U.S. Transportation Command to ensure contracted carriers like FedEx and UPS understood the special handling requirements, as well.

"DHA looked to DLA heavily to coordinate the process of getting all the vaccines overseas," he said. "We've also played a large role working with combatant commands to ensure they've been ready to receive and redistribute doses."

Mielkie said initial vaccine shipments to overseas DOD locations are almost complete, and operations will soon move from a push-to-pull-logistics model in which the services order from the available inventory.

"We're going to stop pushing vaccines forward because we're near saturation where the majority of folks [who are] willing to get the vaccines have already done so," he said. "The new approach will be for services to place weekly orders for folks who basically change their minds about receiving the vaccine or for new arrivals who haven't yet received it."