CRG TWO Sailors Render Medical Aid, Receive Award

By Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Benjamin Wooddy

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- A routine drive on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story turned into a race to save the life of a fellow service member, May 8.

Hull Maintenance Technician 1st Class Christopher Wilson, Coastal Riverine Group TWO (CRG TWO) Training Evaluation Unit, was driving his motorcycle when he noticed a group of people standing around a service member on the ground.

"There were a lot of people looking at this person lying on the ground," said Wilson. "I looked down and that's when I noticed that he was blue. That's when I pulled over and started using what the military has taught me."

Wilson began to take control of the scene when a fellow CRG TWO Training Evaluation Unit Sailor, Electronics Technician 2nd Class Justin Thomas, pulled over to help. They were able to flag down a radio truck and contact emergency rescue.

"When I showed up, Wilson had already started CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation]," said Thomas. "He looked at me and told me to go to the office and grab an automated external defibrillator (AED) and one of the hospital corpsmen (HM)."

Wilson continued with CPR until Thomas returned with Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Adam Smith.

"When Thomas came and got me I didn't really believe him that something was going on," said Smith. "When we finally got to the spot, I realized it was a real situation."

Smith opened up the AED while Wilson and Thomas continued to administer CPR.

Once Smith was able to get the AED started, he applied the paddles to the man's chest and was able to send a pulse to his heart.

The three Sailors alternated giving chest compressions until medics arrived on scene.

Medics were able to stabilize the patient and get the service member into the ambulance.

"We just had our requalification for CPR, so most of this scenario was fresh in our heads and Smith was actually the one who trained us," said Wilson.

Cmdr. Raul Gandara, officer in charge CRG TWO Training Evaluation Unit says the training these Sailors received played an important role in their actions.

"These three sailors recognized a fellow Sailor in need, a shipmate that had collapsed and because of their training they knew exactly what to do," said Gandara. "It took the leadership and the initiative to get it done in a fast effective manner. They did an absolutely superb job."

The three Sailors were awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal by Capt. Erich Diehl, commodore Coastal Riverine Group TWO.

Hagel ‘Not Pleased’ About Budget Direction in Congress

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2014 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is not pleased about the House Armed Services Committee’s mark-up of the fiscal year 2015 Defense Department budget request, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said today.

The committee, he said, disregarded many of DOD’s recommendations, including proposing to continue funding for the A-10 Warthog and rejecting a department request to limit military pay and conduct a new round of base realignments and closures.

“Even before the threat of sequestration,” Kirby told reporters, “this department had to -- and was -- making some pretty difficult choices, as we knew we would have to when you come out of over a decade of war.”

The secretary led a budget process this year and used the Quadrennial Defense Review and codification of the new defense strategy to craft the department’s request, Kirby said. This made for tough, difficult and strategic choices that took into consideration the world today and possible future threats.

The budget as submitted calls for finding efficiencies and savings and preserving readiness, the admiral said.

“Without speaking specifically to pending legislation, [Hagel’s] hope is that the Congress will see the wisdom in the strategic choices, the hard decisions that he has made,” Kirby said. “And his expectation is that they’ll be willing to make the same ones.

“I can tell you that the secretary was certainly not pleased by the House Armed Services Committee mark-up of the budget,” Kirby continued. “He … resolutely stands by the budget that we submitted because it was strategic in tone and because it was tied to a defense strategy that made sense.”

Kirby noted the budget process is still in its early phases. A final bill will not emerge from both houses of Congress for months and could change significantly.

“The secretary certainly hopes that when it gets to the Senate and into conference, that the Congress will prove capable of seeing the wisdom, again, in the decisions that we’ve made and being willing to make those same tough choices and putting national security first over parochial interests,” he said.

Naval Hospital Bremerton Navy Nurses visit Navy Nurse Veterans

By Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class James Evans Coyle, Naval Hospital Bremerton Public Affairs

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. (NNS) -- Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) Nurse Corps officers visited the Washington Veterans Home in Retsil on May 8 as part of their week-long commemoration of the Navy Nurse Corps 106th birthday.

The nurses met and mingled with retired Navy nurses, took a tour of the facility and presented the veterans with bouquets of flowers. The majority of the time was spent sharing and reminiscing with the veterans about life in the United States Navy over the years.

Veterans home resident Tom Barry, who was an active duty Navy Nurse from 1976 to 1994 said he likes talking to younger Navy personnel and share his many sea stories.

"I had a very rewarding career in the Navy. I think being stationed at Subic Bay, (Republic of the) Philippines was my favorite tour but Naval Hospital Portsmouth Va., and former Naval Air Station Moffett Field in Mountain View, Calif., were also great. Everyone here has had so many things happen in their lives and for whatever reason, ended up here. I'm grateful to be here after I had a stroke and the options were getting more and more limited on what I was going to do. Everyone here is exceptionally well taken care of and it's a pretty nice place to live. It's extra special anytime we have visitors but especially when it is Navy Nurse Corps people," said Barry.

NHB Navy Nurse Corps President and coordinator of the visit Lt. Rachel Allnutt of the Multi-Service Ward said she looks forward to the interaction and re-connecting with people at the home.

"We come here every Christmas season and during Navy Nurse Week to be with the nurses who have served before us. It's amazing all the sacrifice and commitment these people have given to our country. The visit gives us a special chance to get together a talk about all the places we've been and provide friendship that makes for a distinctive bond which we'll always have together," said Allnutt.

Washington Veterans Home recreation specialist and events coordinator Gary Earl said some of the residents of the home may have lost some physical abilities due to age and various medical conditions but states that their memory of what life was like in the Navy years ago remains vivid. The semi-annual visit from NHB nurses acts like a portal through the past and they can reflect back.

"The residents here should feel important and be recognized for who they are. The NHB nurses visit is a wonderful opportunity to help someone realize that they are very much admired by others who are now living a life similar to what they once lived," said Earl.

Navy Nurse Lt. j.g. Amy Bene of Pediatric Clinic said being part of the Navy Nurse Corps means reaching out to former nurses and showing support for who they are and what they have achieved.

"It was excellent to come here and be a part of their day. The Navy Nurse Corps veterans are a huge part of our community and being here, talking and listening, lets them know that we truly care about them," said Bene.

There are approximately 165 active duty and civilian nurses assigned to NHB along with six American Red Cross nurse volunteers, out of the Navy's active and reserve Nurse Corps components that total more than 4,000 members.

NHB nurses continue their pivotal roles in providing quality health care at home and abroad. Nurse Corps staff members are preparing to participate in Pacific Partnership 2014 humanitarian assistance mission, as well as supporting Operation Enduring Freedom down range in Afghanistan.

The Navy Nurse Corps birthday also coincides with National Nurses Week, annually recognized and celebrated May 6 to May 12 commemorating the birthday of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), the founder of modern nursing.

On May 13, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Naval Appropriations Bill that authorized the establishment of the Nurse Corps as a unique staff corps of the Navy.

As was the case 106 years ago, NHB's Nurse Corps continues to provide care and support to those in need, especially those who came before them and reside at Washington Veterans Home in Retsil.

Hagel to Attend Middle East Defense Ministerial

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2014 – Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will attend a regional defense meeting in Saudi Arabia next week during what will be his third trip to the Middle East since taking office.

Hagel departs for Saudi Arabia May 12 where he will take part in a U.S.-Gulf Cooperation Council defense ministerial in Jedda before going on to Jordan and Israel, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. Kohn Kirby told reporters.

The trip is intended to advance America’s regional strategy, and to coordinate efforts among allies and partners to address common security challenges.

The meeting with the GCC will be the first since 2008, and it will provide an important and timely opportunity for the United States to step up cooperation with Gulf nations, “as we confront common regional security challenges related to Iran, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq,” Kirby said.

The ministerial is designed to strengthen multilateral security cooperation in the region and will focus on air and missile defense, maritime security and cyber defense.

“It is also an opportunity for the secretary to underscore U.S. security commitments in the Middle East and to reinforce the United States’ unstinting policy of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and further destabilizing the region,” Kirby said.

Hagel will then move on to Jordan. “This visit will highlight U.S. commitment to the defense of Jordan, where more than 1,000 U.S. personnel are on the ground working closely with Jordanian defense authorities,” the admiral said.

The final stop is Israel where the secretary will meet with President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon.

“The secretary and Minister Ya'alon will discuss critical regional and bilateral security issues, including the United States and Israel’s cooperation on rocket and missile defense,” Kirby said.

Marine Wife Selected as Military Spouse of the Year

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va., May 9, 2014 – Lakesha Cole, the wife of Okinawa-based Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Deonte Cole, was selected today as the Military Spouse of the Year.

The award, given by Armed Forces Insurance and Military Spouse Magazine, honors spouses who support and maintain the home front.

Cole thanked her mother, daughter and the Okinawa community, as well as her husband who is based at Okinawa’s Camp Butler. “He’s always been my biggest cheerleader for any crazy idea that I come up with.”

She said she was honored to represent military spouses all over the world and to help them bring their ideas and dreams to reality.

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James F. Amos presented Cole with a certificate of commendation and expressed his gratitude to her on behalf of all Marines.

“We couldn’t be more proud of you. You’re representing all of us in here -- all of the spouses and the services.”

“Your husband may wear this cloth,” Amos said of the Marine Corps uniform, “… but for today, we’re all part of the joint community.”

On hand for the event were members and spouses of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as well as each military service’s nominee for the award.

“It’s a great day to be a military spouse,” Deanie Dempsey, wife of Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. “And thank God, we now have a day designed to honor all military spouses.”

“The six spouses here today that we will be honoring -- representing each of the services -- has gone above and beyond what every great military spouse does,” Dempsey said. “They’re even greater if you can believe it.”

They represent all military spouses, she said, and while we’re only awarding six today, truthfully, there are many more out there that deserve this award.

“So those six of you have to feel pretty darn good,” Dempsey said. “You represent the best of the best. Congratulations to all.”

Mary Winnefeld, wife of Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, explained the criteria for the finalists.

“Our military community is perhaps one of the closest knit families stretched out all over the world,” she said. Each of our branch finalists separated themselves through efforts to better the community and give others the tools to do the same.

“These spouses truly distinguished themselves as great leaders in the military,” Winnefeld said, “and will continue to accomplish great feats.”

The 2014 Branch Winners are:

2014 Army Spouse of the Year – Reda Hicks

2014 Marine Corps Spouse of the Year – Lakesha Cole

2014 Navy Spouse of the Year – Tammy Meyer

2014 Air Force Spouse of the Year – Chris Pape

2014 Coast Guard Spouse of the Year – Danielle Medolla

2014 National Guard Spouse of the Year – Ingrid Herrera-Yee