Shamrock Up Periscope Centennial Marines don Kelly Here’s our picks Anniversary nearing green for run for NCAA hoops for World War I Page 4 Page 9 Page 5 2009 CHINFO Award Winner VOL. 43 • ISSUE 48 , FLORIDA Vol. 49 • Issue 11 www.cnic.navy.mil/kingsbay kingsbayperiscope.jacksonville.com Thursday, March 20, 2014 Change of Command for Sub Squadron 20 Commander, Submarine Group been superior,” Richard said. Capt. Christopher 10, was the guest speaker for the Harkins, a native of Pitts burgh, Harkins relieved by ceremony. praised the personnel at Kings He Bay Capt. William Houston com- and By MC1 Rex Nelson mend- “... I’ve had the pleasure ac- Submarine Group 10 Public Affairs ed of working with some of cred- Har- ited Submarine Squadron 20 held kins the highest caliber people his a change-of-command cer- for his in our submarine force.” suc- emony at the chapel on board excel- Capt. Christopher Harkins cess- Naval Submarine Base Kings lent Outgoing Squadron 20 commodore ful Bay, March 14. lead- tour Capt. William J. Houston ership. to Navy photo by MC1 Rex Nelson relieved Capt. Christopher “Chris, your performance in their perform-ance. Capt. Christopher Harkins looks on as Capt. William J. Houston L. Harkins as the Submarine direct support of our strategic “These past two years at Sub- salutes Rear Adm. Chas Richard, Commander, Submarine Group Squadron 20 commodore. deterrence mission as Com- 10. Harkins was relieved by Houston as Commander, Submarine Rear Adm. Chas Richard, modore of Squadron 20 has just See 20, Page 5 Squadron 20 during a change of command ceremony March 14. Post- Afghan options Full withdrawl or less eyed by end of year; election in spotlight By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr. American Forces Press Service The commander of the NATO- led International Security As- sistance Force in Afghanistan explained in detail March 14 his confidence in the ability to preserve mul- tiple options for a post- 2014 presence in Afghani- stan. Navy photo by EM1 Mark Treen During a Dunford Chief of Naval Operations visits NSB Kings Bay media round- Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations, and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Stevens, visited Naval table at the Submarine Base Kings Bay Tuesday, March 18. Greenert held an All Hands Call discussing the Navy’s budget priorities and how Pentagon, Marine Corps Gen. that impacts the quality of service in the Navy. They also filmed another episode of conversations with a shipmate where they Joseph F. Dunford Jr. discussed discussed submarine programs and efforts to maintain Undersea Dominance. a potential timeline for “preserv- ing decision space” while wait- ing for a signed bilateral security agreement with the Afghan gov- ernment for a post-2014 pres- ence. Hagel: Sequestration would ‘cripple’ President Barack Obama has directed the military to plan for ments to the growth in pay and a full withdrawal from Afghani- Defense secretary, benefits,” the secretary said. “All stan by the end of the year in the Joint Chiefs chair these savings will be reinvested absence of a signed agreement. in training and equipping our A national council of Afghan testify before House troops. And there are no pro- elders and community leaders posals to change retirement in endorsed the agreement, but By Jim Garamone Afghan President Hamid Karzai American Forces Press Service this budget.” The Defense Department will has refused to sign it. If sequestration begins again continue to recommend pay However, all primary candi- in fiscal year 2016, the U.S. mili- increases, Hagel said, but they dates for next month’s presiden- tary will not be able to carry will not be as substantial as in tial election in Afghanistan have out defense strategy, Defense past years. The department will said they will sign it if elected. Secretary Chuck Hagel told the continue subsidizing off-base “When you start to get to July, House Appropriations Com- housing costs, he added, but I feel we can still manage provid- mittee’s defense subcommittee not at 100 percent, as it is today. ing decision space for both op- March 13. DOD will pay about 95 percent, tions,” Dunford said. “In other A return to sequester would he said, and it will be phased in words, if we’re going to with- put at risk “America’s traditional DoD Photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo over the next several years. draw, if we’re going to have the role as a guarantor of global se- Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs The budget request includes NATO regional approach we’ve curity, and ultimately our own of Staff General Martin Dempsey, and Department of Defense a provision to reduce subsidies talked about a few times, or if security,” Hagel said. Comptroller Robert Hale testify before the House Appropriations for military commissaries. we’re going to have anything in Events in Europe over the past Committee for Defense March 13. “We are not shutting down between.” few weeks underscore the need commissaries,” Hagel ex- In July and August, the general for American involvement, ment of values. It’s a statement form. The department is com- plained. “We recommend said, he can set up for success no Hagel said. President Barack of priorities. It’s a statement of mitted to providing service gradually phasing out some matter what decision is made. Obama’s fiscal 2015 defense our needs. It’s a statement of our members fair compensation, subsidies, but only for domestic “So we’re preserving [that] deci- budget request reflects that re- responsibilities.” he emphasized, “as well as the commissaries that are not in re- sion space until September,” he ality, he added, and sustains The budget request is realis- training and the tools and the mote areas.” added. U.S. commitments and leader- tic, Hagel said, and prepares the edge they will always need to Finally, the secretary said, the The general Check us out Online! ship at a very defining time. military to defend the nation at succeed in battle and return Defense Department recom- described a “I believe this budget has to a time of increasing uncertainty home safely.” mends simplifying and mod- 102-day time- be far more than a set of num- throughout the world. “To meet those obligations ernizing the three TRICARE bers or just a list of decisions,” From the troop side, Hagel under constrained budgets, military health plan systems by See Afghan, the secretary said. “It is a state- discussed compensation re- merging them into one. Page 3 we need some modest adjust- kingsbayperiscope.com 2 THE PERISCOPE, NSB KINGS BAY, Thursday, March 20, 2014 Local news and views Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Ga. Now hear this! Navy League to award scholarship From the Camden–Kings Bay Council, Navy Apri1 21 to receive consideration. Marine Corps League drive on League of the United States The scholarship winner will be an- The Kings Bay Detachment No. 1229 of the Camden Navy League nounced May 20 at Camden County Marine Corps League is looking for mem- The Camden–Kings Bay Council, High School’s Scholarship Night, bers. Meetings are the second Tuesday of each Navy League of the United States kingsbaynavylegue.org, and from and presented during the Coun- month. The league volunteers aid and assis- is is offering its 2014 Navy League the Camden County High School cil’s June 13 St. Marys River Sunset tance to Marine and Navy Corpsman widows Youth Scholarship. Scholarship Web page. Cruise. The scholarship recipient and and orphans and observes historical Marine The $1,000 scholarship is open to Applicants are required to submit his/her parents will be guests of the anniversaries. For more information, e-mail graduating seniors in the NJROTC a 500 to 750 word maximum original Navy League for the event. [email protected]. program and dependents of Sail- essay on The Importance of Ameri- For more information, contact ors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen or can Sea Power, and obtain a recom- David Burch at (912) 674-4252. Merchant Mariners, active duty or mendation from a teacher or from The Camden–Kings Bay Council Navy-Marine Relief Golf March 28 retired, attending Camden County their NJROTC or Sea Cadet unit of the Navy League of the United The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society will High School, and to graduating se- commander. States supports the commands and have a 4-man Scramble Golf Tournament be- niors in the Kings Bay Division of The scholarship winner will be the men and women of the sea ser- ginning with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., Fri- the United States Naval Sea Cadet chosen based on the quality of the vices and their families stationed at day, March 28 at Trident Lake Golf Club. Entry Corps, who plan to further their ed- essay and the teacher/unit com- Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay fee is $40 per person, $160 per team, which ucation after high school. mander recommendation. and in St. Marys. includes cart, green fees, lunch. Prizes for lon- The application, available as an The complete application must be Additional information can be gest drive on No. 17 and more. To sign up, on- interactive PDF, can be downloaded received by the Navy League Schol- found on the council Web site at tact Kevin at 753-8475/8476 or kevin.doetch@ from the Council’s Web site at www. arship Committee no later than kingsbaynavyleague.org/. navy.mil. The tournament is hosted by the NSB Kings Bay Chief Petty Officers Association. Youth Job Fair set for March 26 Officers’ spouses offer civic grants The Georgia Department of Labor and sev- From the Kings Bay Submarine Officers quest a grant application, send an eral other local organizations will participate Spouses Association e-mail to [email protected].