DoD, Navy and Wind Farm Developer Release Historic Memorandum of Agreement

By Kenneth Hess, Chief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental Readiness Division Public Affairs

NAVAL AIR STATION (NAS) KINGSVILLE, Texas (NNS) -- The Navy released today a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by officials from the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of the Navy and Texas Wind Group (TWG) that outlines a mutual approach to enable a renewable energy developer to build and operate wind turbines at planned locations in Kleberg County, Texas, while reducing the potential for those turbines to affect flight operations at NAS Kingsville.

"Sustaining military readiness is the number one priority of everyone in the Navy chain of command," said Capt. Mark McLaughlin, commanding officer of NAS Kingsville. "This agreement helps preserve NAS Kingsville's capability to train naval aviators, while enabling the compatible development of new energy sources."

Signing for DoD was David Belote, director of the DoD Energy Siting Clearinghouse. Signing for the Navy were Roger Natsuhara, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment; John Quinn, acting director of the Chief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental Readiness Division; Vice Adm. William French, commander, Navy Installations Command; Rear Adm. John Scorby, commander, Navy Region Southeast; Capt. Douglas Edgecomb, commanding officer, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, and McLaughlin. Dru Steubing signed on behalf of Texas Wind Group Managing.

"The Navy recognizes the strategic and fiscal importance of developing domestic sources of energy for use both ashore and at sea," said Quinn. "As we develop new sources of energy, it is critical that we not create a new problem as we solve another. This agreement with the Texas Wind Group is proof that when energy developers and the military work together, it is possible to achieve a win-win for both national security and energy security. This agreement allows the military mission and alternative energy production to co-exist in South Texas, and may pave the way for similar agreements elsewhere."

TWG's Riviera I wind farm project will be comprised of 83 turbines between nine and 11.5 nautical miles south of NAS Kingsville's radars and navigation aids. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the turbines has the potential to impact those systems. However, the MOA describes technical solutions for this, such as connecting NAS Kingsville's air surveillance radar system with the radar at Corpus Christi International Airport and optimizing radars to "ignore" signals received from wind turbines. TWG will contribute $500,000 to help pay for these technical upgrades to Navy radar systems. Under the MOA, TWG also agreed to reposition certain turbines that would have caused interference with the Kingsville precision approach radar. TWG also agreed to temporarily curtail the operation of certain turbines if the precision approach radar is negatively affected.

"The Texas Wind Group is delighted to be the first wind energy company to finalize an agreement of this type with the Navy," said Steubing. "We are fully committed to protecting the capability of our nation's military, and we appreciate the opportunity to work with the Navy to make our development compatible with the Navy mission in South Texas."

The Navy and the Department of Defense will continue working closely with renewable energy developers and local communities in South Texas to ensure local wind turbine projects can coexist with the Navy mission.

The MOA is available for download at http://greenfleet.dodlive.mil/files/2012/04/TWG-MOA.pdf.

Transition Benefits: NAS Kingsville Sailors Take Advantage of Available Help

By Fifi Kieschnick, Naval Air Station Kingsville Public Affairs

NAVAL AIR STATION KINGSVILLE, Texas (NNS) -- Four Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville Sailors not selected for retention by the Enlisted Retention Board (ERB) are now looking at their options, and what the Navy is doing to help with that process.

"The ERB looked at 31 ratings and Sailors in those ratings that had more than seven years service, but less than 15, as of Oct. 1, 2011," said Chief Navy Counselor (AW/SW) Minerva Verley, NAS Kingsville's career counselor.

The first step for separating Sailors is to obtain a DD Form 2648, Preseparation Counseling Checklist for Active Component Service Members from their command career counselor. The counselor goes over the form with the Sailors to ensure they are aware of the assistance and benefits available to them.

The checklist covers employment assistance, relocation assistance, education, training, health and life insurance, finances, and veterans benefits among other items.

The next stop is the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC).

The FFSC offers transition assistance classes, among other services for departing service members. Transition assistance is one of Ramon Panganiban's chief responsibilities, at the NAS Kingsville FFSC.

"Many of the Sailors I see are really stressed out, especially the ERB Sailors," Panganiban said. "Many of them came into the Navy straight from high school and have spent the past 12 to 14 years in their current career field. This, the Navy, is all they know. I prepare them to become a civilian."

Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Natascha Josey entered the Navy out of high school and was not selected for retention.

"I don't take it personally," Josey said. "But it's hard to absorb. It feels like I'm standing on rocky ground and that everything I have been working for has been taken away from me."

Josey said she is not sure what she wants to do or where she wants to go when her enlistment ends in September.

Helping to reduce that uncertainty is what Panganiban says is one of the objectives of the FFSC.

"We ensure they know what resources are available to them and that they go to TAP class," Panganiban said. "I continue to touch base with them, too, sending them vacancy announcements, as I see them, and referring them to job fairs and counseling, if needed."

The FFSC offers transitional assistance that includes resume writing, financial counseling and relocation counseling. They also answer questions about veterans' and educational benefits.

Panganiban says everyone's circumstances are different; from their rating, to marital status or education, to whether they rent or own a home. He says its his job to guide them to varying resources based on their circumstances.

For example, Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) 1st Class Nathan Jones, would like to move to Georgia where he owns a home. He'd like to work for the military there in his chosen career field. However, he may have to consider other options.

"Because of the economy, Sailors may have to relocate to find jobs," Panganiban added, "and not necessarily where they were looking to move to.

"My heart goes out to these Sailors who are getting caught in this (ERB)," Panganiban said. "But, we're here for them, the FFSC. We not only offer transition assistance, but have two counselors on staff available to talk to. We'll send them information about job fairs and job opportunities, but the rest they have to do on their own."

Both Panganiban and Verley believe the Navy and the command are doing everything possible to support ERB-affected Sailors. That includes offering opportunities to receive one-on-one counseling, as little or as much as they need, so they are as prepared as possible to depart the military and enter the civilian workforce.

"After I give them pre-separation counseling," Verley said. "They can come back anytime as questions come up."

"I have the resources I need (because of command support), I just need to decide what I want to do and put it in resume format," Josey said.

"I'm trying to look at it like this could open the door for better opportunities," Jones said. "Things happen for a reason. I may not like how it happens, but when one door closes, another opens."