U.S. Senator, MOH Recipient Visits USS Hawaii

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ronald Gutridge,

COMSUBPAC Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The U.S. Senator for Hawaii, visited Virginia-class submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) March 24 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

World War II combat veteran and Medal of Honor recipient, the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, toured the submarine and spoke with its Sailors.

"It is a great honor for us to have the Senator visiting our submarine," said Cmdr. Steve Mack, commanding officer. "The crew was excited to meet and talk to such a distinguished member of the U.S. Senate and a military icon."

During the tour, the crew of Hawaii explained basic submarine operations starting in the torpedo room where the Senator observed the latest submarine weapons operations. Next was the control room where sonar and visual observation techniques were explained.

Following the tour, the Senator talked with the crew about current events and commended them for their efforts.

"Your presence here in the Pacific, an area of major concern for all of us, is very important. I am extremely pleased and in a way, relieved that you are all here," said Inouye. "I want to congratulate all of you, so on behalf of the United States Senate, we thank you very much."

Inouye, the most senior member of the U.S. Senate and President Pro-Tempore, is known for his distinguished record as a legislative leader. He is the most senior member of the U.S. Senate and the second longest serving Senator in history. He was sworn in as President Pro-Tempore of the U.S. Senate on June 28, 2010 and is now third in line to the Presidency after the Vice-President and the Speaker of the House. He is also a World War II combat veteran with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, who earned the nation's highest award for military valor, the Medal of Honor.

Measuring 377 feet long and weighing 7,800 tons when submerged, Hawaii is one of the Navy's newest and most technologically sophisticated submarines.

The state-of-the-art submarine is capable of supporting a multitude of missions,including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, strike, naval special warfare involving special operations forces, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and strike group operations.

Secretary Meets with Egyptian Counterpart in Cairo

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT, March 24, 2011 – In a meeting in Cairo this morning, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates commended his counterpart’s leadership and the Egyptian military’s professionalism during the recent tumultuous events in that country, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.

Gates met with Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi to discuss issues that included the evolving government of Egypt, security in the Sinai and fighting in Libya, Morrell said.

In their meeting, Gates told Tantawi -- commander in chief and chairman of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces in Egypt -- that on the trip from the airport he noticed more Egyptian flags flying around the city than he’d ever seen since he first visited Egypt in 1978, the press secretary added.

“The secretary suggested that there is a new spirit of patriotism or nationalism on display,” he said, “and the field marshal agreed that was the case.”

Gates congratulated Tantawi on a successful March 19 referendum that marked the first in a series of constitutional reforms being implemented in the country, as well as on the impressive turnout of voters who weighed in on the measure.

“The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the military group that is running the country during this period of transition, convened a set of constitutional scholars and then developed a series of reforms that were put up to a popular vote,” a senior military official said. More than 40 percent of eligible voters turned out, and 77 percent voted in favor of the constitutional amendments, the official added.

Morrell said the secretary and field marshal also discussed Egypt’s upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.

“New elements of civil society in Egypt came to the fore during the past two months,” Gates told reporters at a briefing in Cairo yesterday, “and there is a new political space in Egypt.”

It is important to allow enough time to develop political parties and organizations, he added, so those who have become newly active in Egyptian politics “can play the same kind of leading role in Egypt in the future that they played in bringing about this change in the first place.”

Tantawi and Gates discussed security in the Sinai, Morrell said, and Tantawi updated the secretary on military efforts that include countersmuggling, an effort for which the U.S. military has offered technical assistance to the Egyptians.

“They discussed relations with Israel,” Morrell said, “and the field marshal in this conversation, as the Egyptian prime minister did yesterday, took it upon himself to reaffirm Egypt’s commitment to their peace treaty with Israel.”

The secretary noted Tantawi’s new responsibilities as interim leader of the Egyptian government, in addition to his “very large day job, which is running the Egyptian military,” Morrell said.

Gates said the U.S. military wishes to resume a more regular military-to-military relationship with the Egyptians. The U.S. military performs about seven major joint exercises a year with the Egyptians, Morrell said, including Bright Star, a series of combined and joint training exercises led by U.S. and Egyptian forces in Egypt that began in 1981.

The secretary and the field marshal also talked about U.S. military and economic aid to Egypt, the press secretary said.

Despite “serious economic pressures in our own country,” Gates said, the manner in which Tantawi and his military handled this period in Egyptian history “has put them in good stead back at home in America, particularly with the U.S. Congress.” Gates said he is committed to working to ensure military and economic support continues for the struggling nation, where tourism is down by more than 75 percent, Morrell said.

“They need us and others to continue to do what we can to assist them,” Morrell added.

The military leaders also discussed violence in Libya between the government and coalition forces in Operation Odyssey Dawn, Morrell said. Tantawi told Gates that Egypt is concerned about the large numbers of its citizens living in Libya, the press secretary said, and about potential reprisals from Moammar Gadhafi.

Between March 5 and March 17, the U.S. military airlifted 1,100 Egyptians from Djerba off the coast of Tunisia to Cairo, Defense Department spokeswoman Navy Cmdr. Wendy Snyder said.

“[If there is] anything we can do,” Gates told Tantawi as they shook hands after the meeting, “don’t hesitate to call me.”

Navy to Christen Amphibious Transport Dock Ship Arlington

The Navy will christen the newest amphibious transport dock ship, Arlington, Saturday, March 26, 2011, during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss.  The ship is named for the city of Arlington, Va., honoring the 184 victims in the air and on the ground who lost their lives when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon Sept. 11, 2001, as well as the military and civilian employees, emergency, fire and rescue personnel of Arlington County and surrounding communities who provided critical assistance after the attack.

Arlington County Fire Chief James Schwartz, the incident commander coordinating the rescue response efforts on the ground at the Pentagon during the Sept. 11 attack, will deliver the ceremony’s principal address.  Joyce Rumsfeld, wife of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, is the ship’s sponsor, and in accordance with Navy tradition, will break a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship.

Designated LPD 24, Arlington is the eighth amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio class.  As an element of future expeditionary strike groups, the ship will support the Marine Corps “mobility triad,” which consists of the landing craft air cushion vehicle, amphibious vehicles and the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.  Arlington will provide improved warfighting capabilities, including an advanced command-and-control suite, increased lift-capability in vehicle and cargo-carrying capacity and advanced ship-survivability features.  The ship is capable of embarking a landing force of up to 800 Marines.

Two previous ships have carried the name Arlington.  The first was a steel-hulled C1-B type cargo ship operating during World War II.  The second USS Arlington was a 14,500-ton Vietnam War era, major communications relay ship, which assisted with communications during a June 1969 conference between U.S. President Nixon and Republic of Vietnam President Thieu.

Cmdr. Darren W. Nelson of Rushville, Neb., is the prospective commanding officer and will lead a crew of 360 officers and enlisted Navy personnel and three Marines.  The 24,900-ton ship is 684 feet in length, has an overall beam of 105 feet, and a navigational draft of 23 feet.

To view the ceremony via live webcast, visit http://www.vistasat.com/ngwebcast.html.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at 703-697-5342.  For more information, visit http://go.usa.gov/2DU .

USS George Washington Sailors Train With PSNS Shipyard Workers

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Juan Manuel Pinalez

AT SEA (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) received specialized training from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (PSNS) workers at sea March 23.

PSNS workers are underway aboard George Washington following the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan March 11.

George Washington left Yokosuka, Japan March 21 as a precautionary measure to ensure sustained readiness in support of Japan.

"As conditions at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant deteriorated, it was crucial that we brought the skilled workers along with us to sea," said Capt. Kenneth Reynard, executive officer aboard George Washington.

"Over this maintenance period they have become our extended family and are now assisting us with upkeep and operational readiness while at sea," he said. George Washington's 10-day turnaround from homeport maintenance to underway is an unprecedented accomplishment, Capt. David A. Lausman , George Washington commanding officer.

The combined crew of Sailors and civilians is a golden opportunity, he said.

"These civilian shipyard workers bring to George Washington a lifetime of experience. While we are underway, we're taking full advantage of this unusual situation so our stellar Sailors can be even better at their jobs tomorrow, " said Lausman.

At sea, PSNS workers immediately began putting their years of experience and skills to use.

"I've really enjoyed passing down my knowledge to these young Sailors—they're like sponges. I'm happy to also be learning from them, too," said Jeff Messner, a PSNS machinery foreman.

"We've taught them new ways of using their equipment and some of their tools that'll make their lives easier from now on," he said.

PSNS workers and Sailors are working alongside each other; proving routine maintenance doesn't always have to take place in port.

"The PSNS guys are doing a great job assisting my crew with backed-up jobs that once cleared, would help make this ship a more enjoyable place," said Chief Machinery Repairman Robert Working.

Small Business Expo Offers Networking Opportunity

By Rob Anastasio, Office of Naval Research Public Affairs

ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- The Office of Naval Research (ONR) opened gateways to contracting opportunities with the Navy's science and technology provider, at the Small Business/Minority and Women Business Expo in Harrisburg, Pa., March 23.

Co-sponsored by the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) and Pennsylvania Departments of General Services and Public Welfare, the event provided federal, state and city agencies with a forum for explaining government programs supporting businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans and service-disabled veterans.

Scheduled speakers included NAVSUP Commander Rear Adm. Michael Lyden and Deputy Commander Rear Adm. Sean Crean; U.S. Sen. Robert Casey Jr., D-Pa.; Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett; and Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson.

Brenda Pickett, associate director of ONR's Office of Small Business, said the expo allows the command to expand its outreach and exposure across the country.

"Through this expo and similar events, we hope to expand our reach to find those creative, innovative ideas that will benefit the Navy and Marine Corps' mission," Pickett said.

Through its Office of Small Business, ONR maintains an active outreach program to ensure underrepresented businesses have access to information, so they can compete and participate in the organization's acquisition program—both as prime contractors and subcontractors.

The office provides advice concerning acquisition procedures; information about proposed acquisitions; instructions on preparing proposals, interpretation of standard clauses; certifications and representations; and instructions on obtaining payment and financial assistance within the procurement regulations.

The Department of the Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR) provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps' technological advantage. Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning and 914 industry partners. ONR employs approximately 1,400 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel, with additional employees at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C.

Chicago Educators, Leaders Visit the Fleet

By Lt. Jeffrey S. Gray, Chief of Naval Personnel-Diversity Directorate Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- A group of educators and community leaders from Chicago had an opportunity to tour various Navy commands and get underway aboard a fast attack submarine during an orientation visit in San Diego, March 8–10.

The group was comprised of educators from Chicago Public Schools, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the City Colleges of Chicago, along with influencers from the Chicago Defender Charities, the Chicago Community Trust, and the Society of African-American Professionals.

The visit was a result of a partnership between Navy Recruiting Command and Navy City Outreach designed to give influential educational and civic leaders a glimpse of life in the U.S. Navy so that they can be better prepared to discuss Navy opportunities with youth they come in contact with. The visit also served as a Navy awareness tool, ensuring these leaders see first-hand the training, equipment and facilities available to those in the Navy.

The first leg of the trip afforded the group an opportunity to meet with Capt. Adam Curtis, commanding officer of the Navy Special Warfare Center. At the Special Warfare Center, the group was introduced to the U.S. Navy SEALs by way of a video entitled "Mental Toughness." The video portrayed initial SEAL training as extremely demanding, both mentally and physically, to produce the best maritime warriors.

According to Curtis, with the demand for unconventional warfare to counter terrorist threats, the need to increase the number of Navy SEALs is a high priority. However, he noted the Navy SEALs have traditionally had a high attrition rate in the recruitment and training process.

"We're always on the lookout for the talented athlete and have seen an increase in the number of volunteers wanting to become SEALs, especially due to our partnership with Navy Recruiting Command," said Curtis. "We've been targeting our outreach efforts to identify and encourage the right type of young men to pursue and become a part of our special group. Our outreach efforts have now made it competitive to become a Navy SEAL, both from inside and outside the Navy."

The group also visited the Pacific Beacon, a new resort-style residence hall for single Sailors that opened in 2009. The stop at Pacific Beacon provided the group an opportunity to glimpse into the quality of life young Sailors can experience.

The facility boasts a hotel-style lobby; Sky Terrace with resort-style heated pool and hot tub; and a rooftop lounge with fire pits and barbecues. Other on-site amenities range from three fitness centers totaling 9,000 square feet, retail and dry cleaning services to a Wi-Fi café; recreational and educational facilities, and storage units.

Rounding out the first day, the group toured the Submarine Learning Center. The Center is responsible for all submarine training curriculum, training delivery methodologies, and for developing and maintaining professional development continuums for undersea warfare job specialties. The group had an opportunity to experience what it's like to drive a nuclear submarine. In addition, they observed how submariners train to fight fires and fix leaks aboard ship, especially when thousands of gallons of water pour into various submarine spaces.

On the second day, the group embarked USS Albuquerque (SSN 706) for a day-long underway period. During their brief journey, the group experienced what life is really like on a U.S. Navy fast attack submarine and sampled the culinary fare Sailors eat while at sea.

According to Robert Howard, former president of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, the trip gave him an appreciation for the submarine crew.

"The cruise highlighted the complexities of operating a nuclear submarine, the education and training requirements, and the youthfulness of the crew," said Howard. "I now have an even higher level of respect for the Navy and its mission."

On the final day, the group visited and toured the state-of-the-art simulator used to train Sailors for the newest ships in the Navy—Littoral Combat Ships USS Freedom (LCS 1) and USS Independence (LCS 2), and also toured the USS Pinckney (DDG 91). The highlight of the day for many, however, was a visit with Chicago-native Vice Adm. D.C. Curtis, commander, Naval Surface Forces.

Curtis provided an overview of the mission and purpose of U.S. Naval Surface Forces, Navy surface forces currently deployment status, and local community outreach efforts.

He also addressed other fleet-wide issues including prioritizing readiness issues with current global issues, Navy support for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs, as well as diversity initiatives, among others.

For many in this group of educators and community leaders, it was the first time they had any direct experience with what the Navy does on a daily basis. The impact of the orientation visit was apparent from the two remarks educators offered of how they gained a new appreciation for the mission of the Navy, the opportunities it presents for young men and women looking for careers after graduation from their respective academic institutions.

"The U.S. Navy is an outstanding career option for major and minority college students providing them solid financial security and a life-long learning environment," said Gerald A. Smith, Associate Director of Minority Affairs, Minority Engineering Recruitment and Retention Program, at the University of Illinois, Chicago.

"The challenge will be communicating the opportunities in a way that makes sense. If I can identity academic and physical excellence in a student, I would want that student to be fully aware of their opportunities. With more than 100,000 diverse students in the City Colleges of Chicago, I feel that we have an opportunity to make an impact," said Mike Davis, Vice Provost for STEM at the City Colleges of Chicago.

The mission of Navy City Outreach is to build strong relationships and social networks with key influencers (educators, civic, government, and business leaders) within targeted cities across the country. The purpose for creating these social networks is to build a community of people who share an interest in the values and mission of the U.S. Navy, and a sincere desire to encourage youth from diverse backgrounds to pursue higher education and undergraduate degrees in the STEM fields.

Enterprise Conducts Underway Replenishment, Remains On Station

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alex R. Forster, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) loaded 128 pallets of mail during an underway replenishment (UNREP) with the fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8) March 24.

The mail, which totaled more than 35,000 lbs, came on the ship with hundreds of pallets of essential parts and supplies.

"It is sometimes challenging to efficiently navigate a logistics pipeline that spans several continents, but our fantastic team of professionals works feverishly each and every day to ensure that mail from loved ones arrives on this storied warship as quickly as possible," said Cmdr. Patrick O'Connor, USS Enterprise supply officer. "It is extremely rewarding to see the smiles on the faces of our great Sailors and Marines when they receive something from home."

More than 350 Sailors from departments throughout the ship worked for more than five hours to get the mail and supplies on board the ship and stored.

Two MH-60S Knight Hawk helicopters from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, embarked aboard Arctic, flew continuously between the two ships to transport the pallets of mail and supplies, while the bridge teams of both ships maintained proper course, speed and lateral separation to allow the UNREP teams to transfer 584,000 gallons of aviation fuel.

"This is the largest amount of mail I've ever seen in my time here," said Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Carl W. Sparks, USS Enterprise post office.

After the mail was brought aboard, each division sent Sailors to help sort the mountain of mail in the hangar bay in order to get it distributed quickly.

"I really enjoy helping sort the mail out," said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class (SW/AW) Cynthia Cordero, USS Enterprise transfer office. "It's nice to know that once this mail is sorted that it's going to make a bunch of people happy."

Until 1980, each military service and government agency managed its own mail program. In 1980, the Department of Defense designated the secretary of the Army as the single military mail manager. The Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA) was created to perform this task. MPSA is required to adhere to United States Postal Service (USPS) rules, federal laws, and various international laws and agreements for movement of military mail into over 85 countries.

"Working in the post office gives me a firsthand look at how mail can affect the crew," said Sparks. "It makes me feel good when we get to pass out mail."

For the mail to get to the ship, it goes through many stages of long-distance travel and is always secured by federal laws governing movement, safety and costs.

Letters or packages mailed from the U.S travel through the Fleet Post Office in New York City. The bulk of the mail then transfers via AMC flights through Rota, Rome, Naples, Sigonella, Souda Bay, and Bahrain. Once in Bahrain, the mail is either sent to the ship by aircraft or loaded weekly to Arctic for transfer during UNREPs.

"Our mail is being protected and cared for by the skilled hands of the U.S. Postal Service every step of the way," said Scholl during a recent announcement. "Contrary to rumors that have said our mail has been damaged, it is on the way."

For more information about the MPSA or how the USPS supports deployed service members visit www.mpsa.mil or www.usps.com/supportingourtroops

Enterprise is conducting close-air missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Norfolk Supports Navy Families Returning from Japan, Bahrain

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class(AW) Tim Comerford, Commander, Navy Region Mid Atlantic Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Emergency management members and support personnel aboard Naval Station (NS) Norfolk, Va., are preparing to assist family members returning to the United States from overseas locations March 21, as part of authorized departures of DoD family members and non-emergency essential personnel living in Bahrain and Japan.

The Naval Station Norfolk Emergency Management Plan has a support annex for non-combatant evacuation or mass returning of families.

"The plan lays out what we would do in case a planeload of families is evacuated from Bahrain," said Eugene Lambert, NS Norfolk emergency management officer. "It doesn't take that long to get in place, we just have to make sure we have computers and phone lines ready. The repatriation team is set up on a phone alert system, and we just send out an alert with when the flight would be arriving, and how many people and when the team should report in.

"Our job would be to meet the plane at the AMC (Air Mobility Command) terminal when it arrives to greet the families and get them on buses and take them to a processing center that we would set up. We would take them through and provide any assistance that they may need," Lambert said.

Assistance could come in the form of information, money advances, travel fare, legal support, Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) assistance, travel claims and veterinary services.

"Once the family gets there they would fill out a 2585 form," Lambert said. "That form asks what needs they may have, where they expect to establish themselves … and information about the families."

Lambert said overall the family members will be provided with services and resources to help them check into the United States and get them to their final destination.

"For folks that are staying in the area, we will find a staff member to be their sponsor to ensure they are provided all the information and resources that are available," said Alex Ottaviani, FFSC Norfolk site manager. "We will check and make sure that the families are entered into (the) Navy Family Accountability System (NFAS) and do preliminary needs assessments if that has not been done. Then we will manage those cases, or we will hand off those cases. If this is only a stopping point we can hand them off to another Fleet and Family Support Center."

The Navy Marine Corps Relief Society will also be on location to provide assistance to returning family members.

"If they have financial needs in the process we can fill that gap," said Kathy Nelson, NMCRS Norfolk director. "The assistance offered in per diem and travel has about a three day process, so waiting for that can cause a hardship. NMCRS is in the position to meet the families coming from Japan and Bahrain and offer financial assistance.

NMCRS is also helping out where they can in regards to the other Armed Forces.

"Army relief and Air force Aid are collaborating with us to learn from each other and help where our footprint is not so large," Nelson said.

Lambert said NS Norfolk is prepared for any amount of returning family members.

"If we were to get a flight with just a few families on it we're are set up to establish the assistance at the AMC terminal," Lambert said, "We would do the same thing just on a smaller scale. If we had a plane load of 230 people and we were processing all of them, we would get them through the whole process, from plane landing to final processing, in about four hours."

Lambert said he is not anticipating a mass exodus coming through the naval station.

"So far it does not look like we will be getting any large groups coming in to our MAC terminal," Lambert said. "Naval Support Activity Norfolk plans to have a FFSC rep meet families that are flying into Norfolk International to ensure they are helped with any assistance they may need.”

USS Constitution Sailors Lend Helping Hand During Austin Navy Week

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kathryn E. Macdonald, USS Constitution Public Affairs

AUSTIN, Texas (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to USS Constitution volunteered to help those in need at Caritas of Austin in Austin, Texas, March 23.

Senior Chief Boatswain's Mate (SW) Anthony Costa, Logistics Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Benjamin Hanson, Gas Turbine Systems Electrician Technician 2nd Class (SW/AW) Jose Meza and Logistics Specialist Seaman Maria Escamilla, prepared lunch and handed out groceries as part of Austin Navy Week, March 19-26.

"A sense of pride that our Navy is big enough to help the community really makes me feel like I am a part of something much bigger than myself," said Escamilla.

Caritas is a non-profit organization that serves 20,000 homeless, working poor and documented refugees.

"It will be a good presence to have," said Melissa Demand, Caritas of Austin, development and faith coordinator. "To have a very positive and uplifting group with people who are willing to jump in and help in the kitchen will allow everything to run more smoothly."

Austin is the second of 21 Navy Weeks planned across America in 2011. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence.

Constitution participates in more than 50 volunteer projects annually. The ship is the recipient of the 2009 and 2010 President's Volunteer Service Award and Commander, Navy Region (COMNAVREG) Middle Atlantic (MIDLANT) Good Neighbor Flagship award for small shore commands in 2010.

COMNAVREG MIDLANT gives the award to commands that have the best year-round community service program or special project that encourages activities to provide humanitarian assistance to the less fortunate.

The ship is located in the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston. She is the world's oldest commissioned warship afloat and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors per year.

Today in the Department of Defense, Friday, March 25, 2011

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates is traveling.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn has no public or media events on his schedule.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen delivers remarks at 10 a.m. EDT at a ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor at the Pentagon, Hall of Heroes.  This event will air live on the Pentagon Channel and stream live at pentagonchannel.mil.

This Day in Naval History - March 24

From the Navy News Service

1783 - At the conclusion of the American Revolution, Congress orders all Continental naval vessels and privateers home.

1903 - George Dewey is commissioned Admiral of the Navy with the date of rank, March 2, 1899. He was the only person to hold this rank.

1918 - The battleship Idaho (BB 41) is commissioned.

1988 - William L. Ball III becomes the 67th secretary of the Navy.

Play Shares Emotions of Deployments, Reintegration

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

HAMPTON, Va., March 24, 2011 – The “F-bombs” fell fast and furiously yesterday at an otherwise perfectly proper gathering of military health care professionals here as they broke away from their lectures and academic exchanges to watch a documentary play about the challenges many of their patients struggle to overcome.

“ReEntry,” co-written by K.J. Sanchez and Emily Ackerman, is based on actual interviews with Marines and their loved ones, and it explores their raw, realistic and often tender experiences related to repeated combat deployments and redeployments. The playwrights spent hundreds of hours interviewing Marines returning from Afghanistan and Iraq as well as their families, then used their exact words in the play.

Navy Capt. Paul S. Hammer, director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, introduced the play at the first Armed Forces Public Health Conference. Before the actors took their places on the stage, he warned the audience not to be surprised by the play’s “salty” and “irreverent” humor.

“This is dialogue from real people and real characters. It is not a composite,” he said. “It’s about the very real human reaction to the stressful experiences of war and how that impacts the ability to integrate, all told in their own words. It’s the use of the arts in telling the story and helping understand the experience.”

Two of the major characters in the play are based on Ackerman’s brothers who served with the Marine Corps in Iraq. One suffered from post-traumatic stress and even contemplated suicide after returning home, but was saved when his family intervened. The other was wounded in a roadside-bomb attack that killed his best friend and blinded another Marine.

Sanchez initially hired Joseph Harrell, a former Marine Corps drill instructor, as a military consultant to bring realism to the play. She ultimately signed him on to play the part of the commanding officer – a role Harrell said helped him realize that he, too, had long-undiagnosed post-traumatic stress that wasn’t related to combat.

“From researching the character I played, from reading books, meeting clinicians, talking to people, I found out a lot about myself,” he said. “And through the process, I started to find healing. I started to find answers, and I mapped out my entire life as a result of this play.”

Harrell said he saw “ReEntry” have that same healing effect on the family of a friend as it helped them finally understand changes in him after he returned home from combat.

“That’s why I am attached to this play and why I will always be attached to it -- because I know what it can do for people,” he said. “There is not a person on this planet that can tell me this does not have healing properties. So I am in it. I am in it all the way.”

“ReEntry” explores the many aspects of military service – the sacrifice, the pride, the unity its members feel:

-- A wounded Marine sees his combat wounds as a failure -- “the gunfight I lost” – and shares the pain of being determined unfit for service. “It stings,” he said. “No matter how much you are expecting it, it stings.”

-- A sister tells of sending care packages to her deployed brother and trying not to worry about him. She admits to saving his phone messages on the voice recorder. “It might be the last time I hear his voice,” she said.

-- A commander worries that he’s become impervious to death and developed a “stone mask” that hides what’s really inside.

-- A mother shares her need to telephone the family of the fallen Marine who died in her son’s arms and the one who was wounded in the attack.

-- A gunnery sergeant’s wife says, “I am not just married to a Marine. We are a Marine family.” And although she maintains a poker face to the world, she admits to going into the bathroom to cry in private without being discovered.

-- A Marine tells a comrade he thinks he has post-traumatic stress and assures him it’s OK to go “straight to see the wizard.”

Sanchez emphasized during a panel discussion following yesterday’s performance that she doesn’t intend “ReEntry” to speak for everyone’s experiences. But Hammer called the very real human experiences portrayed in the play a valuable tool to help military members deal with conflict they may feel, and for others to better understand them.

“‘ReEntry’ is an example of the creative use of performing arts to further our understanding of the challenges faced by, as well as the strength and camaraderie of, our combat warriors and their families,” he told the gathering.

The show made its military debut in May at the Navy and Marine Corps Combat Operational Stress Control Conference in San Diego, and is making the rounds at military bases and Veterans Affairs hospitals. The troupe presented it in November at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., where it received a standing ovation, and in February at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., where it was mandatory viewing for all drill instructors.

In September, “ReEntry” will go to Camp Lejeune, N.C., and eight family-day performances are on the schedule for reserve units.

“ReEntry” also played at civilian theaters in Red Bank, N.J., and Baltimore. It is scheduled to run in October at a civilian theater in Bethesda, Md., also home of the National Naval Medical Center, to be redesignated as the Walter Reed National Medical Center.

“It resonates with them,” Hammer said. “It’s telling the story, and allowing audiences to interact with the story.”

One Army civilian health care provider fought back tears as she thanked Sanchez following yesterday’s presentation for giving her new insights into the men and women she cares for every day.

“You opened my eyes and let me get inside their bodies,” she said. “Now I will have a better understanding and appreciation of how they feel.”

Navy Helo Squadrons Join Forces in Support of Operation Tomodachi

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Devon Dow, U.S. Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan Public Affairs

MISAWA, Japan (NNS) -- Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 14 (HS-14) and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 51 (HSL-51) are continuing their humanitarian support for Operation Tomodachi from Naval Air Facility Misawa (NAFM), March 24.

The squadrons are providing additional rotary force to Navy ships off the eastern-Japanese coastline by transporting humanitarian aid. Their repositioning to NAFM has decreased their time in transit and increased their number of daily missions.

HS-14 and HSL-51 are performing their maintenance and operations from the same hangar bay at NAFM. While it is a unique environment for the squadrons, they say they are happy to be of service.

"It's great to be in Misawa," said Cmdr. Geoff Moore, commanding officer of HS-14 and a native of Middletown, Conn. "The base has been very supportive in receiving us. The base commanders for NAFM and Misawa Air base have been doing a superb job working hand-in-hand helping us get what we need to maintain our aircraft, and accommodating lodging for our people."

"Coming together here, our squadrons are combined on every level. The crews are briefing together, and departments are working in the same office space, we are seeing unparalleled cooperation," he added.

Based out of Naval Air Facility Atsugi, the squadrons' have a cooperative history providing support for the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group and Destroyer Squadron 15. Cmdr. Sil Perrella, commanding officer of HSL-51 and native of Fountain Valley Calif., said he and his crew have received tremendous support since their arrival to NAFM and look forward to their ongoing support of Operation Tomodachi.

"This has been a fantastic opportunity for us to assist in this mission," he said. "In Atsugi, our squadrons work in separate hangars, here that is not the case. We are all one team one fight, pulling together to get the job done and that has my crew excited. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Increasing their productivity and teamwork while at NAFM, Master Chief Aircraft Maintenanceman Gregory "Woody" Behrends, maintenance master chief for HSL-51, said the two squadrons working together has created a bond that will strengthen both sides efforts.

"Integrating the two squadrons had its hiccups at first, but we are molding like a unit now, brothers and sisters, working together for a common good. We know our mission and we are supporting to the best of our abilities, he said. "The support we have been receiving from the Japanese and the base here has been nothing short of outstanding."

For some crewmembers the proximity of working together had its challenges, but according to Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Christian Evangelista, assigned to HSL-51, overcoming those challenges was easy because of the task ahead of them.

"This is a new experience for some of the crewmembers, it is good to see everyone adjusting and making it work" said the Passaic N.J. native. "We all share one common goal, to get humanitarian relief to the Japanese people as fast and safely as we can.

Aviation Electrician's Mate Airman Apprentice Alvin Witt, assigned to HS-14, said he could relate to the needs of the Japanese people affected by the recent natural disaster.

In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the community of the Beaufort, Miss. native, leaving behind a path of destruction. Witt said working alongside HSL-51 to provide humanitarian aid is something he is proud to be apart of.

"This is my first command, and I feel really good about being here," he said. "I feel good to know that I am here helping better the situation the Japanese are going through. It is much worst than what I went through. For me to give back after something like this happening makes perfect sense."

America's Navy is committed to Operation Tomodachi and supporting our longtime ally. Humanitarian assistance and disaster response is a core competency of the maritime strategy.

DOD Issues Stop Work Order on the JSF F136 Extra Engine Program

The Department of Defense (DoD) today issued a stop work order in connection with the Joint Strike Fighter extra engine program.

The administration and the DoD strongly oppose the extra engine program, as reflected in the President’s fiscal 2012 budget proposal that was recently submitted to Congress, which does not include funding for the program.  In our view it is a waste of taxpayer money that can be used to fund higher Departmental priorities, and should be ended now.

The House of Representatives has recently expressed its own opposition to the extra engine in its passage of H.R. 1 including the adoption of the Rooney Amendment which removed all fiscal 2011 funding for this program.  In addition, funding for the extra engine was not authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2011, enacted in January.  In light of these recent events, Congressional prerogatives, and the administration’s view of the program, we have concluded that a stop work order is now the correct course.  The stop work order will remain in place pending final resolution of the program’s future, for a period not to exceed 90 days, unless extended by agreement of the government and the contractor.

Misawa Kennel Ready to Receive Voluntary Departure Pets

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jose Lopez, U.S. Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan Public Affairs

MISAWA, Japan (NNS) -- Misawa Air Base Pet Kennel is caring for pets, while families participate in the Department of Defense–authorized voluntary departure of Japan, beginning March 22.

The kennel workers will provide care services for pets of departing family members, and ensure that their beloved pets are safe and secure as they travel back to the U.S.

"Many pets will stay with the service member while the family has (voluntarily) departed," said Tanesha Wilcox, animal caretaker lead at the Misawa Pet Kennel. "But those service members have to work, so they will bring in their pets for us to look after. Many of them have been on long shifts since the earthquake and don't want to leave their pets alone."

The kennel has a capacity for 61 dogs and 18 cats, which was not enough to take care of Misawa family pets. Kennel personnel worked with the Post Exchange to acquire more kennels to keep the pets in.

"The flight could only take 100 pets, so we prepared to receive about 200 animals," said Meghan Skelton, a pet caretaker at the kennel. "We got new kennels, set up and we are prepared if [pets] do come in."

Animals that arrive at the kennel can expect good treatment. The kennel operators say the dogs get boarding, three daily walks and play time. They also get a bath and normally get a night walk.

Kennel workers say that in crisis situations like these, people have a tendency to leave their pets with friends. While they don't say it is a bad idea, they do add that pets will act abnormal when they are away from their family members. In some cases, the animals may feel the stress.

"While they are here, we make them comfortable and we provide food and water," added Wilcox. "If the pet experiences any problem, we will take them to a veterinarian if needed. They are completely safe here. Not that they are not safe with friends, but people do get busy."

Currently there are ten volunteers who assist the kennel operators with walking the dogs. The dogs, along with cats, also get play time. Kennel personnel are on site from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

"We also leave the radio on for them so it doesn't feel like they are alone," concluded Wilcox.

Face of Defense: Marine Finds Way to Help Tsunami Victims

By Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Cindy Fisher

Marine Corps Bases Japan

CAMP COURTNEY, Japan, March 24, 2011 – Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Yamile Brito is proving the truth of former President John F. Kennedy’s statement that “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.”

Brito, with Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, is the driving force behind a food drive at the commissary here on the Japanese island of Okinawa for victims of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck mainland Japan on March 11.

Reading news reports of the devastation in mainland Japan affected her deeply, Brito said, and she knew she needed to help. One article she saw hit her particularly hard, she added, as it detailed the experience of a Japanese man who had been in the water for four days and saw his wife die in the tsunami.

“It made me feel horrible, terrible,” she said, admitting she’s come close to tears several times reading some of the articles and seeing the images of destruction. The news stories and photographs burned into her memory also created in her a strong desire to provide some kind of aid to those in need, she said.

“Half the platoon left that weekend, and I was really frustrated, because I wanted to go with them,” she said. “I kept thinking that there has to be something I can do.”

Brito told her fiance, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Cameron Perry, also with Headquarters Battalion, that she was disappointed at being on Okinawa and unable to help. “He suggested I do a canned food drive,” said Brito, from New York City.

Perry, of Natchitoches, La., said he got the idea for a food drive based on what people in New Orleans needed following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. While he wasn’t in Louisiana for the hurricane, he said, he has clear memories of the devastation and the shortfalls that ensued.

“I knew Katrina victims, and I knew what they needed when they were in shelters,” he said.

Brito said she had never coordinated a food drive or done anything like this before, but she jumped on the idea and brought in Perry and another friend, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Erin Hollingsworth, from New Virginia, Iowa, to help. By March 12, Brito had contacted the commissary for approval to place donation boxes at the store’s entrance. Michael E. Shannon, the store administrator, said he gave the go-ahead and by the next day, donation boxes were in place requesting canned food for mainland victims.

Shannon said he was surprised someone was willing to give time out of an already busy schedule to spearhead this effort, but that he admires Brito and the Marines helping her for what they are doing. Brito and Hollingsworth remind him of his daughter, who is about the same age, he added, and he found it heartening to see them start the effort to help others.

He also was amazed by the generosity of the people in Camp Courtney’s military community. “We were overwhelmed at the response of our customers,” he said.

More than 15 grocery carts of food and other items were donated by March 18, Shannon said. That’s more than $4,000 worth of goods, and the donations are still coming in, he added.

The response has been unbelievable, Brito said. In addition to canned food, people also have donated diapers, hygiene items, boxes of rice and other foods, she said. After the Kadena Air Base youth center announced March 15 it could no longer accept donations due to space issues, people also began donating blankets and other items, she added.

Brito and her assistants have been collecting the donations from the commissary and boxing them up for shipment to the mainland.

The operational tempo of Brito’s unit has increased, as Marines are being sent to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. And the canned food drive is consuming more of Brito’s off-duty hours. But all the extra work is worth it for the peace of mind it has given her, she said.

“I needed – for me – to be OK with not being there. I needed to do something,” Brito said.

She said she thinks others felt that way as well, as evidenced by the donations she has received. For some, she explained, “this is the only opportunity we have to make a difference. It could have been us but it wasn’t, and there are thousands of people that will really appreciate the help.”

Brito said she hopes to continue the food drive throughout March and then reassess to see if there is still a need before continuing the food drive in April.

One-of-a-kind Navy Ship Participates in US/Korean Exercise

By Edward Baxter, Military Sealift Command Public Affairs

ANMYEON, Korea (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command offshore petroleum distribution system ship MV Vice Adm. K.R. Wheeler (T-AG 5001) participated in a combined, joint military exercise off the coast of Anmyeon, Republic of Korea, March 23.

Combined Logistics Over the Shore 2011 demonstrated the U.S. Navy's ability to project power over the sea in coordination with host nation military forces.

Part of the annual Korea peninsula defense exercise Foal Eagle 2011, this year's CJLOTS was the first conducted in partnership with the Republic of Korea and the first conducted off the peninsula's west coast.

The one-day exercise included demonstrating portions of both the at-sea and ashore operations involved in pumping fuel from a tanker to shore, as well as the deployment of military cargo aboard barges onto the beach .

More than 200 U.S. Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Marines worked side-by-side with 26 civilian mariners aboard Wheeler, to simulate delivering fuel to military forces operating ashore from a tanker at sea - a vital capability for sustaining operations where port facilities are inadequate. While CJLOTS was conducted in a single day, exercise planners have been on the ground at Anmyeon for the past week making final preparations.

Wheeler, which is specially designed to serve as a pumping station capable of transferring fuel from a tanker at sea to shore through eight miles of flexible pipe stored on the ship's weather deck, trained with a South Korean fuel tanker for the first time.

Operating about 3.5 miles off the coast of Anmyeon, the 165-foot Fast Tempo, a powerful offshore supply vessel designed to support Wheeler in real-world operations, ran a tow line to the tankers' stern, securing the ships together the same way they would be during a real-world scenario.

While neither the float hose connecting Wheeler to the tanker, nor the flexible pipe connecting Wheeler to shore were deployed, hooking up with the South Korean tanker provided valuable training for the ship's civilian mariners working for a private company under contract to MSC.

"In real-world operations, we may work with a South Korean tanker, so this training validates that we are ready if tasked," said Wheeler's civilian Master Capt. Jon Skoglund.

Ashore, U.S. soldiers practiced setting up equipment used to receive, distribute and store the fuel that Wheeler would pump to shore. The key piece of equipment is a receiving device called a Beach Terminal Unit that would hook up to Wheeler's flexible pipe, and relays the fuel pumped ashore to inflatable bladders used to store large quantities of fuel. No fuel was pumped during this exercise.

Five Reserve Sailors from Bronx, N.Y.-based Expeditionary Port Unit 102, one of MSC's highly mobile units that set up port operations even under the most difficult situations, deployed to Anmyeon.

"Our mission is to ensure that Wheeler had everything it needed to complete the mission," said Lt. Sean Strawbridge, EPU 102.

Marines and Sailors from Task Force 76; U.S. Naval Forces, Korea; MSC Office Korea; and Expeditionary Strike Group 3 also participated. Personnel from the Korea-based U.S. Eighth Army established a living support element and set up the Beach Terminal Unit, while U.S. Air Force members provided weather information services.

Simultaneously, 270 South Korean army and navy personnel deployed cargo to the beach from commercial barges and military landing craft. A crane lifted palletized cargo onto the beach, while wheeled and tracked vehicles, including armored personnel carriers, rolled down the barge's ramp onto the beach.

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, U.S. merchant mariner-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships at sea, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces.

USMAP Serving 50,000 Active Apprenticeships

By Ed Barker, Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- After 35 years of providing sea-service military members with journeyman-level certifications that document their skills through the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) reached the milestone of 50,000 current active participants on March 18.

The USMAP team works closely with DOL to provide nationally-recognized apprenticeship programs that result in journeyman-level Certificates of Completion for members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. During their apprenticeship, service members document their military duties while working in their rating or military occupational specialties (MOS). Earning the DOL certificate costs the service member nothing and does not normally require working additional off-duty hours.

"We've made significant upgrades to the program, making it easier for service members to sign up, manage and complete the program," said Cmdr. Mitzi Ellis, Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) Detachment Saufley Field site director. "With the recent improvements, we've seen an increase in weekly program completions of 68 percent over the last two years and an increase in the interest level, bringing us up to 50,000 service members actively working toward their USMAP certificates."

One Sailor who has embraced the program is Chief Hull Technician (SW/AW) Jonathan Purvis, Executive Department leading chief, aboard USS Stout (DDG 55). Purvis currently holds five DOL certifications, ranging from Plumber to Welder.

"I started working on USMAP apprenticeships during my first enlistment, when I wasn't sure whether I was going to stay active duty, and I knew that it could help me get a job in the civilian sector," said Purvis. "But throughout my career, working on several apprenticeships has helped me focus on different skill areas and made me a better technician. That focus and knowledge has also helped me train my junior Sailors."

USMAP enables documentation of a Sailor's formalized and structured training. It combines on-the-job training (OJT) and related technical instruction. All the individual is required to do is regularly document the hours worked in the various skill areas either in a hard-copy log or electronically through the Web and have it verified by their supervisor. In addition, the service member submits a report every six months and a final report once their required OJT hours are complete.

"Each apprenticeship requires anywhere between 2,000 and 10,000 hours of on-the-job work and training," said Marybeth Whitney, USMAP senior registrar. "Working a typical 40-hour week, many individuals can complete an apprenticeship within a year. There are 123 trades available, ranging from aircraft mechanic to x-ray equipment tester. More than 96 percent of Navy enlisted rates, 85 percent of Coast Guard enlisted rates, and 232 Marine Corps MOS' are eligible for these trades."

USMAP trades apply to virtually all members of the services, including those who have been serving for several years.

"Pre-registration credits can be awarded to those who have time-in-service and can even be applied toward college credits," said Tom Phillips, USMAP Certifications and Credentialing Program lead. "The maximum credit a service member could possibly receive is 50 percent of the required OJT. For example, an E-6 with ten years of service interested in an apprenticeship requiring 8,000-hours can receive a maximum of 4,000 credits toward their certificate, cutting their requirements for hours of logged OJT in half."

"It's about quantifying what you've accomplished," added Phillips. "Service members are already doing the work; it's just a matter of documenting what they do. Now they have their work 'on the record' and a completed apprenticeship shows significant professional development, and can look good to promotion boards. Certificates can also open doors once a service member decides to hang up the uniform."

Any active duty Sailor, Marine, or Coast Guardsman can become an apprentice as long as they have been designated in a rating, have sufficient time to complete the program while on active duty and possess a high school diploma or GED. The selected trade must be their primary job at their current command.

Ho-Chunk warrior, Guard member promoted

By Tech. Sgt. Sarah Ellis

Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office

In a ceremony complete with ceremonial Native American raiment and music, a Ho-Chunk Nation warrior was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the Wisconsin Army National Guard Saturday (March 19) at Joint Force Headquarters in Madison.

David James Whitehorse Klauser of Madison, an assistant staff judge advocate assigned to Joint Force Headquarters and a state public defender in Janesville, was lauded for his 14 years of service to the Wisconsin Army National Guard.

"He is a good example of a Ho-Chunk warrior and officer in the Wisconsin Army National Guard," Robert Mann, veterans service officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation, said of Klauser. "He served his people, his country, and the Wisconsin National Guard proudly. He has earned the status of warrior ever since he signed up and went into the military."

Brig. Gen. Mark Anderson, commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, agreed.

"It was not hard to realize his tremendous effort and dedication, what he has already accomplished, what he has done, what he has been, and the value he has provided to this organization and nation," Anderson said.

Klauser is one of 74 Wisconsin National Guard members of Native American or Alaskan native heritage. Mann related how, during a 2007 deployment to Iraq with the 332nd Rear Operations Center, Klauser raised the Ho-Chunk Nation flag over the headquarters building.

"That just shows the type of person he is," Mann said. "He is very proud of his heritage."