Navy.TogetherWeServed Newsletter - August, 2009

In This Issue

GROWING STRONG FIRST CALL: Notes & Ramblings From The Pilothouse UM ADVERTISEMENT Featured Updates Did You Know? Obama: Health Care Reform Won't Affect VA, Tricare GI Bill transferability begins Sailors' Online Records Key for Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer Getting Your Reunion Notice (and noticed) in The HOIST VET TOPICS OUR ALLIES IN-ARMS TWS Coins, Coffee & More - the TWS Cafe! OIF & OEF Maps VOICES TO YOUR HEALTH! Remembering Operation PAUL BUNYAN Got discounts for Sailors? AMERICANS AT WAR OFF DUTY: INCOMING! AT EASE! Happy 219th Birthday, USCG! A sharp salute from all of us here at TWS to those who proudly serve -- or have served -- as Guardians.

Notable Quotes Your humble editor recalls that the Coast Guard traces its founding to Aug. 4, 1790, when the first Congress authorized the construction of 10 vessels to People ask the difference enforce tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling, and protect the collection of between a leader and a federal revenue. boss...The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. Responsibilities added over the years included The leader leads, and the boss humanitarian duties such as aiding mariners in drives. distress. The service received its present name in -Theodore Roosevelt 1915 when the Revenue Cutter Service (USRCS) merged with the US Life-Saving Service (USLSS) to form a single maritime agency dedicated to the safety of life at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws.

Joke if you will about Coasties being "shallow-water sailors" and "puddle pilots." But Guardians are tasked with responsibilities that aren't in the Navy's mandate. Guardians protect the environment, ensure the safety of recreational boaters and commercial shipping; maintain aids to navigation, they are on the frontlines in the war on illegal drugs and human trafficking. They perform missions for the public and other agencies; and protect our vital commercial ports. And the Coast Guard has the power to enforce federal maritime law -- something the other four branches of America's armed aren't equipped to do. They A CAPTAIN'S RETURN HOME - Honor guard Sailors are only service branch with a humanitarian, military and protective mission. carry the remains of Navy CAPT Michael Scott Speicher to All Saints Chapel aboard NAS Jacksonville, FL. Guardians have a glorious history to be proud of, with names ingrained in their Speicher was killed when his F/A-18 Hornet was shot legacy -- Adams, Hamilton, Bertholf, Munro, Stratton and Haley. Their service down over Anbar province, Iraq, on the first day of continually deserves the respect and support of not only the public, but our offensive operations during Desert Storm on Jan. 17, fellow military men and women and our federal lawmakers. And our continued 1991. thanks. - Photo by MC1 Leah Stiles So, here's to you Guardians for 219 years of exemplary service to our Nation! - MCPON Urges Sailors to Look out for Shipmates - Naval Chaplains School to Hold Last Graduation in Semper Paratus! Newport - Summer Safety Campaign Successful So Far Welcome Aboard to INCOMING! - Orders Negotiation Window Shrinking Beginning in this issue we welcome the cartoon "INCOMING!" to The HOIST! - SECNAV Remembers, Tours Iwo Jima - Future USNS Wally Schirra Completes Acceptance The product of the humor, imagination and pen of veteran John Sheppard -- who Trials served in AF Blue from 1969-1974 (AFSC 461 "Ammo"), INCOMING! spotlights - Proposed DoD Civ Leave Rule Would Provide for our military and honors currently serving troops and veterans of all services. Warrior Care "Without these men and women," John says, "our way of life would be much different."

He adds that there is no continuing plot or story line, but a series of single panel cartoons. Fun is poked at all branches with no harm intended. Combat troops as well as rear echelon types (REMFs) are highlighted and share the spotlight as well.

We hope you'll get a laugh every month in each issue of The HOIST!

Introducing... We're also proud to announce TWS's association with the Naval Institute (USNI), the independent forum that produces thoughtful periodicals, scholarly books, and stimulating seminars, which contribute to the FLAG HOIST DRILL - Quartermaster 3rd Class Alex professionalism of Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and the Sea Services Davis lowers a signal flag aboard the aircraft carrier they serve, and in turn plays a unique and vital role in our national security. USS George Washington (CVN 73) during a flag hoist In case you're still wondering who they are -- USNI's Naval Institute Press exercise on the ship's signal bridge. - photo by MCSA Marcos Vazquez publishes the Bluejacket's Manual for Sailors and the Coast Guardsman's Manual for Guardians. The Press published the first editions of Tom Clancy's novel, "The Hunt For Red October" -- the first piece of fiction published by the organization.

Starting in this issue, The HOIST will feature article excerpts (with continuing links) from USNI's monthly publication, Proceedings, and photographs from their extensive archives.

We hope you'll enjoy this new feature to our newsletter, and -- if you're not a member -- consider joining the US Naval Institute.

We want to hear from you!! This is YOUR newsletter, folks...

Got an interesting story to share? Had a brush with a historic figure in Navy history? Want to tell us about an assignment that beat all others? Do you have photos of what life was like when WITH MCPON - MCPON Rick West speaks with CPO you served in Navy Blue? selectees before a heritage training formal dinner aboard USS Constitution. Every year some 300 chief Why not share it with your buddies through The HOIST? petty officer candidates are chosen to spend a week living and training aboard Constitution. Drop us an email any time to [email protected]. We'll be glad to hear from you! - Photo by MC1 Jennifer A. Villalovos Until next time...

Jon Yim Editor

TWS on the Radio TWS on the Radio ADVERTISEMENT VFW's National Defense Radio Interview with Major Wes Prater

TWS is proud to announce the introduction of the new TWS Associations Support Program. This is a unique feature that provides specially constructed Association Profile pages that present a unique set of tools available for free to any Military Association to use for member/roster management, outreach to the TWS Community, and to publish news and information about the Association.

Of particular note, TWS is extremely proud of a growing partnership with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The VFW hosts The National Defense radio program and was kind enough to interview Maj. Wes Prater, TWS co- ADVERTISEMENT founder/administrator recently about the growth of TWS and the unique services provided. Click here to listen Featured Updates to the interview. Post a TWS Banner on your Website We now make it easy to put a TWS banner on your own website, MySpace page or elsewhere - just go to your profile and click Edit on the Account Details section (top left). Two banners are available - a general TWS one and a Navy specific one. Each has HTML code available for you to copy and paste:

Navy.Togetherweserved is your website - please help secure its future by upgrading to Full Membership.

There is no charge to join NTWS and remain a Free Member, however there are considerable benefits to becoming a Full Member. By upgrading to Full Membership, which is modestly priced and very simple to do, you not only have access to premium areas of the website but, in so doing, you also help support the ongoing development, maintenance and promotion of Navy.TogetherWeServed.com and keep it advertisement free.

Please invite a Shipmate and help more NTWS Members reconnect! Built into the HTML code is a referral ID so that if new members join the site as a result of seeing your banner you will be credited in the normal way, as our If every NTWS Member invites one or more active, thanks for your endorsement. reserve or retired Shipmate to join NTWS, this New Search Tab Options dramatically increases the chances of Members being You will notice some new options on the search tab to allow you to search for able to locate other Shipmates they served with. Photos, Associations and Units directly. For quick searches you can also search for Units and Associations directly from the quicksearch field in the binder. As a way of saying thank you, for every 5 (five) new Members who join from your personal invitations, we will Members who join from your personal invitations, we will extend your Full Membership by 6 months. Click here to invite an Shipmate.

Assignment Months We sort your Unit Assignments by date order, but where you had more than one Zone B PTS Results Due Out assignment in a year they sometimes appear in the wrong order. You can now Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs specify a month and year for more fine grained sorting if you have this problem. More Association Chapters MILLINGTON, TN -- Commands of the first group of We have been hard at work filling out our Military Association details including Zone B Sailors selected for retention through Perform- full details of all chapter where example. For example we have added the full list to-Serve (PTS) will receive results by Aug. 28. of VFW chapters (all 7900 or so) - luckily you can filter by state!

Based on the PTS results, some 11,000 Sailors will be retained in their ratings and over 300 will be converted to other more critical ratings.

"The PTS results show that we are on the right track in sustaining a performance-based ," said VADM Mark Ferguson, chief of naval personnel. "Less than one percent of those evaluated were separated as a result of PTS — an indicator that we largely have the right force with the right skills to accomplish our mission today and in the future."

Of the over 400 Sailors being separated, 192 indicated they did not want to reenlist, 213 are E-3s and E-4s facing their high-year tenure gate and 84 are E-5s serving in overmanned ratings, who were not rated as top performers in recent performance evaluations.

"We value the service of our Sailors," said Ferguson. "Those with over six years of service who requested to reenlist, but are denied reenlistment, may be eligible for separation pay."

In addition, Sailors who were separated because they are in an overmanned rating or applied to a closed field are encouraged to continue naval service through the Navy Reserve.

PTS is a centralized reservation system that helps the Navy manage reenlistments of Sailors. The program was expanded in NAVADMIN 017/09, from first-term Sailors to all E-6 and below with 10 years of service or less.

For more information, please visit the NPC Web site or contact NPC's Customer Service Center by calling 1- 866-U-ASK-NPC (1-866-827-5672). Obama: Health Care Reform Won't Affect VA, Tricare Story by Donna Miles American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON -- In ongoing discussions about health-care reform, President Barack Obama offered assurance to those receiving medical care through Tricare If you forgot your User ID and Password, click on the or the Department of Veterans Affairs: Your benefits are safe. "Reminder" link found on the Login page, or follow this Link. Link. Eligibility for health care under VA or Tricare “will not be affected by our efforts at broader health-care reform,” Obama Your User ID and Password will be sent to you told military reporters at the White House earlier this month. immediately by e-mail. Obama said he also made that point clear after today’s meeting with the American Legion’s national commander, Dave Rehbein, and executive director, Peter Gaytan. A huge success! “I want to make sure that message gets out to our veterans,” New TWS Persons the president said. “I think it’s very important to get the message out: If you are Locator Service in the VA system and are happy with your care, great. We have no intention of changing your eligibility.” We recently announced the new TWS Persons Locator Service and we're happy to report that it's been a While a new, national program won’t force anyone to change health-care resounding success in a very short time! systems, Obama said it could offer benefits or geographic convenience that might make some veterans elect to join it. A national program “will actually give them There have already more choices, more flexibility,” he said. been dozens of "buddy finds" over the last few Obama cited problems in US health-care delivery systems, which he said cost weeks, from all more than other countries’ programs and too often deliver less. services, so we thought it useful to repeat the The VA “has probably made more progress than most systems out there in announcement this increasing quality” during the past 25 years, and could help shed light on better month to ensure ways of delivering health care, he said. maximum exposure.

But the cost of delivering that care is high even at VA, and Tricare consumes a This service is free for big piece of the Defense Department’s budget, he said. all Full TWS Members. Regardless With the fiscal 2010 budget reflecting the largest VA funding increase in 30 years, if the person you're looking for is registered on TWS or Obama told American Legion leaders he is committed to ensuring that VA not, odds are we can help you find them! Our TWS PLS provides America’s veterans the highest-quality health care possible. Team is headed by our staff veterans, Air Force SMSgt. Jim Franklin and Marine Cpl. George Reilly. Meanwhile, he told reporters VA will increase its outreach to more veterans to make sure they’re aware of their medical benefits and other entitlements. TWS' PLS uses only publicly-available information sources to conduct searches. “Although there are hundreds of thousands of veterans who are using our services, we know there are hundreds of thousands more who may not know that A special PLS form will be installed on the left-hand side benefits are available,” he said. of the Home Page shortly, but you can submit your request to [email protected] - “And we are working really hard to make sure that every single veteran – not please limit your request to only one submission at a just our active force, but also National Guard and reservists, are aware of the time. benefits that are available to them.

We ask that you supply the following information on the “Guiding them through that process, we think, is extraordinarily important.” person you are seeking as accurately as you can. Your submission will be acknowledged, along with an approximate turnround time for our response. Your GI Bill transferability begins Story by SFC Michael J. Carden search will be conducted as thoroughly as possible, and chances of a successful find depends on accuracy of WASHINGTON -- With the Post-9/11 GI Bill's option to transfer unused information supplied. educational benefits to eligible family members taking effect Aug. 1, it's no surprise that more than 25,000 servicemembers have pre-applied, a Pentagon PLEASE SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DETAILS TO official said recently. START YOUR SEARCH: 1. First name The wave of applicants has far exceeded the Defense and Veterans Affairs 2. Middle name (if known) departments' expectations, said Bob Clark, the Pentagon's assistant director for 3. Last name accessions policy. 4. Date of birth (if known) 5. City/state the person was born/raised in What's even more impressive is that the 6. Single or married Defense Department's Web site for 7. Name of spouse (if known) requesting the benefit has been live only 8. Year of last contact since June 29, he added. 9. Last known mailing address 10. Service branch "We've seen, roughly, a thousand 10. Service branch "We've seen, roughly, a thousand 11. Last known rank/paygrade applications a day for the past week or so, 12. MOS/AFSC/NEC/NOC and we expect that to continue," Clark said. 13. Home of record (If known) "Transferability of these educational benefits has been one of the most requested Please let us know how you like this service! provisions by family support groups, family advocacy groups and the troops out in the field and fleet, and we're just happy that it starts on the first of August."

The site, https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB/, is accessible using a common access card, Defense Department self-service user identification or a Defense Finance and Accounting Service personal identification number.

Spouses and family members must be enrolled under their servicemember sponsor in the Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System, also known as What was your best duty station or shipboard DEERS, to be eligible for the transfer benefit. Military members also can link to assignment and why? What is the recipe for that the site through http://www.defenselink.mil/gibill. wonderful dish you make for a holiday or other occasions? Do you have any tips about keeping healthy, With the Post-9/11GI Bill, servicemembers are eligible for 36 months of or things to watch out for if you have a disease? These educational benefits -- the equivalent of four nine-month academic years. To are but a few of the topics that are covered by the many qualify for the transfer benefit, servicemembers must have six years of service Forums on NTWS. These forums provide you, the on active duty or in the Selected Reserve on or after Aug. 1 and commit to an members, a variety of places to discuss with other additional four years of service. members the many topics we have in common. Servicemembers have the option to use or transfer as much of their benefits as Those members still on active duty would probably like they want to, and they can revoke or redesignate who receives the benefit at to know about good assignments when they make out any time, Clark said. their "dream sheets" or talk to their detailers at BUPERS. Those who have worked as detailers might He added that servicemembers can add names only while on active duty, and not want to provide a few tips for members in preparing to after separating or retiring from active-duty service. talk about their next assignment. The unused benefits can be transferred to a spouse, two children or any If you have a disease like diabetes, what tips can you combination, he said. But children cannot start using the benefit until they're 18 give others about the disease and things to watch out or have a high school diploma or equivalent. Clark noted that children enrolled in for with diabetes? Encourage a shipmate on NTWS to DEERS lose their military benefits at age 21 unless they are full-time students. keep on top of a health problem so he stays with us for a long time. Only eligible dependents' names will appear on the registration Web site, he explained. Once servicemembers register on the site and designate who the These are but a couple of topics that are available for benefits will be transferred to, the application will be processed through their you to offer advice, warn others about, discuss with appropriate service branch. other NTWS members, or just vent your frustrations about. So check out the many Forums and start a lively After the service verifies eligibility to transfer the benefits, the application will be discussion about a topic that interests you! forwarded and processed again through VA. And finally, when the selected dependent decides to use the benefit, he or she must go to the Department of Veterans Affairs Web site and fill out an online application to request a certificate of eligibility, Clark said.

The certificate then can be taken to the school to be processed by its Veterans Affairs representative and used to request tuition, payment for books and the living stipend, which varies by institution and location, he continued.

Of the 25,000 who've already applied, more than 15,000 have been approved, and of those, 5,500 dependents already have NAVY - NAVPERS 15665I requested certificates to start their education. MARINE CORPS - MCO P1020.34G ARMY - AR 670-1 "It has been a very fast, long run-up to the first of August, which is upon us. I AIR FORCE - AFI 36-2903 see this as a wonderful opportunity for our veterans, our servicemembers, in COAST GUARD - COMDTINST M1020.6E particular, the families of our career members to give them the opportunity to further their education and reach their dreams," Clark said. Defenselink -- The OFFICIAL source of news and information from the Department of Defense, related Most servicemembers who have at least six years of military service as of Aug. 1, agencies and all military branches. and agree to serve an additional four years qualify, he said. Department officials Multi-National Force - Iraq -- Official website of MNF-I have proposed measures to support servicemembers who have at least 10 years Multi-National Force - Iraq -- Official website of MNF-I have proposed measures to support servicemembers who have at least 10 years Multi-National Corps - Iraq -- Official website of MNC-I of active service but can't serve the additional four because of service or International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) -- department policy. They would, however, have to serve the maximum time Official website for coalition forces in Afghanistan allowed before separating from the military, he said. The Pentagon Channel -- 24-hour broadcasts of official military news and information for members of the US Another provision will cover servicemembers who will reach the 20-year service Armed Forces through select stateside cable systems, mark, making them retirement-eligible, between now and Aug. 1, 2013. and overseas via American Forces Network (AFN). My AFN.mil -- American Forces Network (AFN) Clark explained how servicemembers who complete 20 years of service will be provides multi-channel, broadcast-quality radio and able to transfer the benefits: television services and expanded internal information -- Those eligible for retirement on Aug. 1, 2009, will be eligible to products to all DoD members and their families transfer their benefits with no additional service requirement. stationed overseas, on contingency operations, and onboard Navy ships around the world. -- Those with an approved retirement date after Aug. 1, 2009, and Military Homefront -- A DoD Web portal for reliable before July 1, 2010, will qualify with no additional service. Quality of Life information designed to help troops and their families, leaders and service providers. Whether -- Those eligible for retirement after Aug. 1, 2009, but before Aug. 1, you live the military lifestyle or support those who do, 2010, will qualify with one additional year of service after approval to you'll find what you need! transfer their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. myPay -- myPay allows you to manage your pay information, leave and earning statements (LES), W-2s -- Those eligible for retirement between Aug. 1, 2010, and July 31, and more...putting more information and services at 2011, will qualify with two additional years of service after approval to your fingertips. Brought to you by the Defense Finance transfer. and Accounting Service (DFAS). TRICARE Portal -- Information you need about your -- Those eligible to retire between Aug. 1, 2011, and July 31, 2012, will TRICARE health benefits. Includes details on eligibility, qualify with three additional years of service after approval to transfer. plans, medical, dental and vision coverage. Also details on TRICARE operations, guidance, manuals and policy. LINKS: Stars & Stripes -- The DoD-authorized UNOFFICIAL daily newspaper for US Forces overseas, printed in DoD Post 9/11/ GI Bill Website European, Pacific and Mideast editions. http://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2009/0409_gibill/ Department of Defense Educational Activity (DoDEA) -- DoDEA operates more than 218 public schools for VA GI Bill Website grades K-12 in 14 districts located in seven U.S. states, http://www.gibill.va.gov/ , and 12 foreign countries to serve the children of military service members and Department of Sailors' Online Records Key for Post 9/11 GI Defense civilian employees. Bill Transfer Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) -- The Story by Pam Warnken military's largest retailer. A mission-essential, and the Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs premier quality of life provider for all DoD military members, civilians, contractors and their families MILLINGTON, TN -- With the gate opened as of Aug. 1 for eligible Sailors to worldwide. transfer their GI Bill benefits to spouses or children, the Navy has processed Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) -- Delivering the about 7,500 applications with priority given to family members attending college premier quality-of-life benefit to military members this fall. worldwide. United Service Organizations (USO) -- The USO "We've taken care of approving the transferring of benefits for students attending supports U.S. troops and their families wherever they classes right away so our doors are open to those attending in the near or serve. Across the United States and around the world, distant future," said Kathy Wardlaw, GI Bill program manager at Navy Personnel the American military knows that the USO is there for Command. NPC added temporary staff for a few months to handle the influx. them. Until Every One Comes Home. Space Avaliable Travel fact sheet -- Answers to the Transferability requires an additional service obligation unless the Sailor is leaving most common Space A travel questions, courtesy of the due to a normal retirement or high year tenure limits, Wardlaw said, citing 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, CA. NAVADMIN 203/09. Otherwise, Sailors generally must have served at least six years in the Armed Forces and agree to an additional four years. See the NAVADMIN for exceptions.

Those who retired on or before Aug. 1 of this year are not eligible for the transfer NAVY - All Hands benefit. MARINE CORPS - Marines ARMY - Soldiers "The transferability benefit was designed as a recruiting and retention tool," AIR FORCE - Airman Wardlaw said. Another important requirement to note, is that Sailors who want COAST GUARD - Coast Guard to transfer must do so while they're still affiliated with the armed forces. Before submitting their transferability requests, their obligation requirement must reflect in their electronic service record (ESR), according to Wardlaw, or the request will be rejected until corrected. Sailors can review their ESR at https://nsips.nmci.navy.mil/.

Qualified active and Reserve Sailors may elect to transfer benefits to a spouse or children, with some or all benefits allocated to those named. In addition to the ESR, the Defense Eligibility Enrollment System (DEERS) is used to validate a Sailor's eligibility to transfer.

If you operate a Navy-oriented website and interested in Family members must be in DEERS and eligible for benefits in DEERS before a trading links with NTWS, please contact our Links Sailor can request transferability. This means those dual-military members whose Manager at [email protected]. children are reflecting under only one sponsor's record, must reflect under both Include your URL, up to 100 words describing your sponsors. For example, to establish a child as a family member under both website, and a 468x60 website banner in JPEG format, military parents, the children be enrolled in DEERS under one parent for benefits if available. and under the other parent as a child "drawing benefits from another military sponsor." For information on posting an NTWS banner on your site, please click here. Wardlaw said the most common error is Sailors failing to choose the number of months to transfer to each family member or not annotating the dates the transfer entitlement is to be used.

"If you have young children and are just guessing at what you will want to transfer to each, it's okay to put one month for each. Registration is what's important here," said Wardlaw.

The months transferred to each person or the dates of use can be changed later. Recently left the Navy? Looking for More importantly, a Sailor cannot add a new dependent after separation or a new post-military career, or retirement from the Service. Distributing the benefit among the children enables planning on going "in a different the Sailor to move the months of entitlement between children after separation. direction" from your present civilian job? "Remember, if you did not transfer entitlement to that child while in the armed forces, you can't add the child when you get out," Wardlaw explained. Welcome to the NTWS Job Board which is on the left hand Home Information Systems Technician 1st Class Vicky Gallagher, a drilling Reservist Page just as you log into NTWS and contains hundreds with the Office of Naval Intelligence unit in Millington, TN, "cracked the code" and of job positions! is drawing nearly $10,000 for her daughter.

All positions, described in detail, are posted by fellow "My daughter is attending Mississippi State University. Seventy percent of her NTWS Members who are familiar with the credentials entire tuition and fees of nearly $10,000 will be paid for by the VA. and experience offered by former Shipmates. Because she is going more than half time, she receives 70 percent of the basic Here is just a small sample of the many new jobs allowance for housing rate for an E-5 living in that area - more than enough to recently posted: cover her monthly housing costs."

Position Offered: Water Survival Instructor Because her daughter hopes to go on to veterinary school, Gallagher is ecstatic Location: HI, NC, , CA about the financial help. Salary Range: $40K - $100K "At first I wasn't sure I'd qualify, but the more I read the fine print, the more Position Offered: Area Rep excited I became," she said. Location: Ontario, CA (Inland Empire) Salary Range: $500 -$2000 PT The percentage of benefit is based on time on active duty after September 10, 2001. Gallagher advises people to pay close attention to the program rules and Position Offered: Contracts Manager instructions as they fill out the online forms. Location: North Charleston, SC Salary Range: TBD "And once you get your notice of eligibility and transfer benefits using the Transferability of Education Benefits (TEB) Web site, your work isn't yet done. Position Offered: Operational & Intelligence Subject Make sure the student contacts the [Department of Veterans Affairs] Matter Expert rep[representative] at the school and presents a copy of the TEB and their filled- Location: Herndon, VA out 'Application for Transfer of Entitlement,' VA Form 22-1990E, available on the Salary Range: TBD VA Web site," she said. Position Offered: Field Sales Rep, Latin America Sailors can request eligibility determinations for the Post 9/11 GI Bill at the VA Location: Norfolk, VA Web site, https://vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp/main.asp and sign up for Salary Range: TBD transferability of benefits at www.dmdc.osd.mil/TEB/. Visit the NPC Web site for all rules. Position Offered: DHS Positions Location: Various Locations ...word on the street Salary Range: TBD Getting Your Reunion Notice (and noticed) in The HOIST Position Offered: Combat Engineer Trainers Story by Jon Yim Location: Ft. Leonardwood, MO Editor, TWS Newsletters Salary Range: TBD -- Sooooo...your reunion group just tapped you to get the word out on the street about your upcoming get-together shindig. And you want your Position Offered: Telecom Account Reps announcement to appear in our monthly newsletter. Location: Houston, TX Salary Range: $55K - $95K Pull up a seat...Welcome to "How To Submit A Reunion Announcement to The HOIST!" To view additional job postings, please check our new We keep it simple over here at the NTWS Newsletter, folks...all you have to do is Job Board in the LEFT-HAND column of the NTWS shoot us an email following this simple format: Home Page. Information WE WANT: Post a Job on TWS! - WHAT is the name of the unit/organization organizing the event? If you've had success with finding employees, or locating To avoid confusion or mis-identification, please SPELL OUT the name of your employment on the TWS Jobs Board, please let us reunion group, such as "USS Neversail (TFFG-1)," "H Co., 1st Bn., 135th Armor know! This is a valuable FREE service to all TWS Bde" or "152nd School Training Squadron" Members and employers and we're always interested in hearing your success stories. Please email TWS Admin - WHEN is it happening? with the details: [email protected] Unless the event is in 2010 or 2011, just send us the month and the days of the event and omit the year.

- WHERE is it being held? Just give us the CITY and STATE; if it will be overseas, the CITY and COUNTRY; or the name of the CRUISE SHIP and its departure date from port. We do not publish the names of resorts, lodges, inns, restaurants, theme parks, entertainment venues or hotels.

- WHO is/are the point(s) of contact for this? The name(s), contact email address (if available), and a phone number in this format example: (890) 123-4567. You can also include a website address (URL) if your group has one.

Also, to be fair with space and to protect privacy, WE DO NOT PUBLISH POSTAL ADDRESSES unless it is the only way of contact.

Help more Shipmates reconnect! Hand out our You can see examples of how announcements are formatted in the left-hand Invitation Cards to other Sailors you know and earn Full column of the REUNION ANNOUNCEMENTS section. Membership Credits -- 6 months of Full Membership for every 5 Sailors who join from your invites and complete You only need submit your announcement details once. That's right -- ONCE. their Profile (be sure to enter your member number on each card). Your submitted example to us should look like this: Click here to order. To print out your own invite cards, "USS NEVERSAIL (TFFG-1), Dec. 23-27; Anytown, USA. Contact: Rick Recruit, click here. (619) 555-1212, or [email protected]; website URL: www.neversail.org As it's received, it will be published in the following issue of The HOIST, and repeated up to the month before your event. That's plenty of time to get the word out on the street. On the other hand, information WE DON'T NEED:

"LOOKING FOR" POSTINGS SCANS OF ANNOUNCEMENT FLYERS ACCOMMODATION RATES, PACKAGES & TARIFFS POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS & PDFs REUNION COSTS BANQUET/CATERING MENUS PLANNED EVENTS, TRIPS, GOLF TOURNAMENTS, MEMORIALS, SHOPPING EXCURSIONS, TOURS TWS supports the mission of the Real Warriors PHOTOS Campaign initiative COMMAND CRESTS, SHIELDS, LOGOS and the National Suicide Prevention Helpline LINKS TO HOTELS, RESORTS AND ATTRACTIONS BECAUSE ONE SUICIDE IS ONE TOO MANY... Save all that for our REUNIONS AND GET-TOGETHERS FORUM on the NTWS National Suicide Prevention Lifeline board. You can post expanded reunion details with all the stuff we've listed For Crisis Intervention above...and we give you lots of room to do that!

1-800-273-TALK Any questions? Drop us an email, and we'll be happy to assist you.

(8255) Press "1" REMEMBER: THE FURTHER IN-ADVANCE YOU SUBMIT YOUR REUNION DETAILS, THE MORE "FACE-TIME" IT GETS IN THE HOIST!

Class dismissed... MEMBER COMMENTS This is just a sample of some of the comments we receive at TWS on how we help reconnect Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Guardians.

This site is jam packed! I see this will be a great place to work with to fill and share memories. I shall indeed DFAS announces changes to Retiree Recall work on this, make some time for this,very soon! THANK Tours YOU, for your time and brains to set this up. I am sure Defense Finance and Accounting Service the servicemen who are and will be using this will be grateful the rest of their lives. I appreciate you, and your LONDON, KY -- Due to the US Army achieving its "Grow the Army" End staff (?), very much. May you, too, have blue skies and Strength, Army leadership is implementing various tools to shape the force. safe flying. Accordingly, the service is implementing revised management guidelines under 10 - Lt.Col. Joe Brezovic, USAF (ret.) USC 688 for Retiree Recall Tours. They are as follows:

I've been onboard about an hour so far and I have to 1. Voluntary recall of Retired soldiers serving 10 USC 688 is suspended. Limited say this is a very squared-away site. There's is as much exceptions will be approved on a case-by-case basis (i.e. AMEDD, linguists, information here as a 782 gear locker and as well Catholic chaplains and aviation). organized as a wall locker inspection. All the work that went into the development and maintenance of TWS 2. Any retiree recall order that expires before 31 May 09 will be automatically deserves a 96 hour pass - Carry On! extended to 31 May 09 by HRC and additional extensions will not be granted. - GySgt. Ric Rincon, USMC (ret.) 3. Serving 10 USC 688 retiree recalls can remain on Active duty until their current orders expire and commands can request consideration IAW item (1).

At this time, DFAS' Retired Pay Operations keeps record of an estimated 900 retirees that have been recalled to Active Duty. Additionally, we currently experience between 40 and 60 Army service members transferring between Active Duty and Retired status on a monthly basis. Due to the change in policy, in the coming months we anticipate an additional 60-70 Retiree Recalls leaving Active Duty to return to the Retired list each month. By September 30 a total of about 400 should have returned to the Retired list.

Because normal transition processing for finance and other issues are not standard in these cases, this category of Soldier is unique. Retired Pay Operations has an effort planned to fully support the Army's team approach and has designated a team with the requisite skills to work with the Army HRC team to ensure that these soldiers' transition to retirement is smooth. The below shows the essential list of paperwork needed in Recall-to- Active Duty/Reversion to the Retired rolls cases.

Retired/Retained (Navy and Marine Corps only *Retirement Orders *Modification orders indicating retention on active duty *Statement of Service *DD2656 *Verification of release (DOS posted to active duty or reserve system)

If you are or will be involved with any of the above 10 USC 688 recall action, please have these materials available and ready to make available to us either by fax to 1-800-469-6559 or by mail to:

Defense Finance and Accounting Service US Military Retirement Pay P.O. Box 7130 London, KY 40742-7130

Notification approximately 30 days prior to retirement date or reversion date on NTWS is a place for all Sailors, living and deceased. all account types is requested. You can post and maintain Remembrance Profiles for ------your Shipmates by clicking on Remember a Shipmate on the left-hand side of the Home Page. This allows you DFAS suspends VSI/SSB recoupment to remember a Fallen, Deceased, MIA/POW, Unlocated Sailor/Aviator or to create an Assisted Profile for a living INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Recoupment of military retirees' Voluntary Separation Sailor/Aviator who is unable to post their own profile. Incentive (VSI), Special Separation Benefit (SSB) and separation payments by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) has been temporarily suspended pending a formal policy and legal review by the Department of Defense (DoD).

According to DFAS officials, the suspension of recoupment actions is being taken for military retirees in an active pay status effective for the May 2009 retired pay entitlements. Military retired pay for these members received on June 1, 2009, will not be reduced by any recoupment amounts.

VSI, SSB and certain other separation payments, such as severance pay, were offered to active duty military members in an effort to reduce manpower in certain career fields, primarily during the 1990s. Those receiving these payments were also required to maintain an affiliation with the Ready Reserve of a military Reserve component. Provisions of these programs also included repayment should an individual remain with the Ready Reserve and earn status as a military retiree

The federal statutes governing these programs do not allow the Department of Defense or DFAS to alter repayment ratios or provide alternative repayment plans for these military retirees regardless of the financial hardships a retiree TROOP TRANSPORTERS - A US MRAP and French many be experiencing. tactical armored vehicle brings troops back from a mission in Shpee Valley to Combat Outpost Belda in The policy and legal review will allow DoD and DFAS to determine what options, Kapisa Province, Afghanistan. The mission was part of a if any, may be available to allow DoD to meet its statutory responsibilities while three-day operation involving Afghan, French and providing relief to military retirees impacted by recoupment actions. coalition forces. - US Army photo by 1LT Lory Stevens Letters to military retirees in a SSB, VSI and Separation Payment recoupment status will soon be mailed advising them of the suspension of recoupment COAST GUARD payments. Upon completion of the review, these members will receive a letter - Coast Guard continues mission in the Arctic prior to recommencement of repayment reductions to their retired pay advising - CG awards Good Samaritans for role in rescue them of the review conclusions. - Navy, CG conduct joint exercise in Cumberalnd Sound To view a sample of the letter being sent to military retirees affected by this - Coast Guard to host West Coast aids-to-navigation action, click here. olympics olympics - USCGC Tate gets new skipper - Follow interagency Arctic awareness trip via social networking sites

News from our allied military partners No more beards for seagoing Canadian Navy sailors Story by Darlene Blakeley Department of National Defence Public Affairs Photo by MCpl Robin Mugridge, CF

OTTAWA -- Seagoing sailors and beards -- they just seem to go together like salt and pepper, rum and coke, burgers and fries -- but no more.

On July 14 the Navy announced that effective immediately all persons serving in HMC ships and are to be clean shaven. The decision was made for HILLSIDE SCAN - A Soldier and Airman scan the rocky operational reasons -- to ensure the safety of sailors using respiratory protection hillside as fellow members return fire at insurgents systems employed onboard naval vessels. during an early morning gun battle in the Korengal valley in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Both are assigned to the “I know this decision may be difficult to accept, but it was not made lightly,” 4th Infantry Division's Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th says Command Chief Petty Officer (CCPO) Robert Cleroux. “It was absolutely Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team. necessary for operational reasons. Facial hair, beards in particular, prevent a International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) across proper face-to-face-piece seal when wearing respiratory protection systems. Afghanistan have increased operations to ensure safety When the argument boils down to safety versus tradition, the safety of our and security during Afghanistan’s elections. sailors must remain paramount in all of our decisions.” - Photo by SGT Matthew Moeller The practise of sailors wearing beards at sea dates back to the era of wooden ships when there wasn’t DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE enough fresh water for sailors to shave properly, - Operation Aims to Secure Southern Afghanistan for CCPO Cleroux explains. “On modern warships there Elections are almost always sufficient quantities of fresh water - Patience Needed to Beat Taliban, McChrystal Says for sailors to shave, and our sailors wear beards - Kuwaitis Foil Attack on US Logistical Hub mostly for the sake of tradition. For hundreds of - ‘Family Matters’ Blog Offers Support to Military years sailors wore beards and put tar in their hair to keep it together -- those Families days are long gone.” - Potential Recruits ‘Experience’ Army - Summer Recruiting Remains Strong Across “This decision doesn’t affect all Navy personnel,” CCPO Cleroux stresses, “but it Services does affect seagoing billets where sailors are expected to participate in ship borne firefighting duties that necessitate the use of a self-contained apparatus. A sailor must be able to wear the apparatus to protect themselves and others.”

This decision only affects the wearing of beards; moustaches and sideburns can still be worn in accordance with CF dress regulations. Reasonable accommodation will also be made for personnel with religious and medical exemptions.

Other navies, including the British and US navies, already have this policy in place.

CCPO Cleroux admits that for those who have worn beards for most of their naval careers, the new policy will be difficult. But he is leading by example -- he recently shaved off the beard he has been wearing for over 25 years. “I did it in GETTING THEIR BEARINGS - Cadet 2/C Dave Nielsen support of sailors at sea, but also because it is getting very grey!” (left) of Middletown, CT, learns how to be a navigation evaluator with the help of PO2 Katie Flynn (center), from His wife, who is currently away tending to their daughter and a newborn baby, Burlington, VT, and briefs the bridge every three minutes has not seen his newly shorn face yet. “She’s going to be surprised,” CCPO about changing navigation conditions while the crew of Cleroux laughs. the USCGC Eagle transits out of Portsmouth, NH. Portsmouth was the last port call before homeport for So will many of the other wives and girlfriends who may be seeing their sailors’ the crew who has been underway since mid April. clean shaven faces for the first time. However, as CCPO Cleroux notes, “safety - USCG photo by PO2 Etta Smith must come first.” AIR FORCE AIR FORCE - Airmen hand over visitation operations at Camp Bucca - Air Guard director: Character, values needed in future leaders - Monument to honor AF first sergeants at Enlisted Heritage Hall - Robins maintainers give pilots unobstructed vision - AETC takes first step into Facebook - Enlisted Airman diagnoses, treats patients - COMMENTARY: Step back and re-evaluate: What can I do to fix this?

MOVING SPIRIT - The B-2 "Spirit of Missouri" taxis on the north ramp as part of the wing's nuclear operational readiness exercise on Whiteman AFB, MO. The exercise Download Iraq and Afghanistan maps here. tests the skills and operations of the 509th Bomb Wing You must have Adobe Reader to view the documents. Download Adobe Reader here. on Whiteman. - USAF photo by SrA. Jason Hudleston VOICES Your responses in the Navy TWS forums

THE SUBJECT: "Are Petty Officers NCOs?" What was posted: Service differences aside, as POs we ARE NCOs, too. There are concepts and ideas we can all borrow from the sister services.

As the US Army has designated 2009 as the 'Year of the NCO," are Navy petty officers up to par as their Army, Air Force and Marine Corps NCO counterparts?

YOUR RESPONSES: UNFORTUNATELY... Being a prior Marine, I can vouch for the fact that the Navy does not instill the kind of training and mentorship that the Army and Marine Corps do for their TAIL TEST - As seen through a night-vision device, NCOs. I had more responsibility as a Lance Marine Sgt. Zachary Ritter test fires the tail gun in a CH- Corporal in the Marine Corps than I did as 53D Sea Stallion helicopter during a night flight over an MA2 in the Navy...and why? Because the Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Ritter is assigned to Navy does not look at you somewhat Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362. - USMC photo by Sgt. Timothy Brumley seriously until you are E-6 or above. There are many times where I have been the DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND subject matter expert as an MA2 but I got SECURITY overlooked because the only thing the Navy looked at was the rank on my collar...not - SECDHS Napolitano Announces Additional $30 the experience and dedication I had. Million to Secure SW Border - Updated Federal Guidelines for 2009 H1N1 The other thing too is that the Army and Influenza in Schools Offer Many Options Marine Corps have NCO academies...the - SECDHS Announces $42M in Recovery Act Navy's version is NKO. Leaders need other leaders to grow and mentor Funding for Explosive Detection Systems at Three under...not a frickin' computer. That is why there have been so many leadership Airports FUBAR's over on the different IA assignments. You cannot take the standard - DHS Public Assistance Arbitration Process for Navy chief and send him to a combat zone to lead other sailors...talk about - DHS Public Assistance Arbitration Process for Navy chief and send him to a combat zone to lead other sailors...talk about Hurricanes Katrina and Rita taking a fish out of water. Especially if he/she has never been on an operational - Global Entry Initiative Expanded to 13 Additional platform before. You can however take a Sergeant of Marines and put him in Airports this position and he will be quite comfortable... - ICE Returns $2.4M to Mexico From Stolen Oil Revenue So therefore I disagree with you...there is a HUGE difference between NCO's and - TSA VIPR Team Members Save Life of Transit Petty Officers ...one is trained to go into combat and negotiate it somewhat Passenger successfully and the other is trained to manage a group of people. - MA1 Mick Kruger

POs are NCOS... I would have to disagree with MA1 on this one. Although he may be correct in regards to many commands, this is not completely true.

I am an HM2 attached to 2d Battalion, 9th Marines of the 2d Marine Division. I have been around NEW YORK RESPONSE - New York Governor David the FMF for 5 years now and Marine Paterson holds a press conference in Gowanda, NY, to infantry for 3 of those years. The other 2 were with Drill Instructors on Parris announce the mobilization of the New York National Island. Although he is correct that a Lance Corporal (LCpl.- E3) has far more Guard's 152nd Engineer Support Company to help with responsibilities than most E3s in the Navy, I don't agree with the statement made recovery efforts following recent flooding. Also joining about POs. the governor during his announcement were (from left to right): 2LT Kevin Kopec, 152nd ESC; BG Patrick As Corpsmen of Marines and more importantly as Petty Officers, we are held to Murphy, director of New York Guard Joint Staff; and the same standard as NCOs in the Marine Corps. Although unlike the "blue side" John Gibb, director of the NY State Emergency Navy, PO1s are held to the same standards and respect as SNCOs (this normally Management Office. doesnt happen until E7 in the blue side Navy). I know several HM3s who can - US Army photo by LTC Paul Fanning lead a fireteam of Marines into combat or a HM2 who can do the same with a squad (whether they should or not). I know this is mostly due to the FMF MARINE CORPS training and Marine influence, but it proves that the leadership dilemmas the - Legacy lives aboard USS Jason Dunham Navy may have is not representative of the entire Navy. - Helmets to Hardhats opens service members eyes to future careers The main problem I see on the blue - NCOs Enhance Leadership Skills At Sea side is that the CPO community just - Devil Dog couple meritoriously promoted together may not always put enough faith or - HQMC: CFT will be scored, taken once a year responsibility into the hands of their - Crossfit helps Marines stay fit to fight POs. If it were entirely true, why would we have PO2s as RDCs? It takes an extraordinary amount of leadership for any Sailor to push recruits as a RDC. Either way, I think (former MCPON) Joe Campa was on the right track. He said that CPOs need to return the authority back to the 1st Class mess like it was in the old days. There is no reason why PO1s should not receive the same amount of respect and responsibility as Staff/Technical Sergeants do in the other services.

And the "glorified Seaman" status of a PO3 needs to go away...they are PO3s! It starts with the higher ups. If they give junior POs the chance, they WILL succeed! OPEN CHUTE - Army Rangers parachute from a USAF - HM2 Michael Schaffer MC-130 Combat Talon II aircraft during Ranger Rendezvous over Fort Benning, GA earlier this month. A matter of stepping-up... More than 1,000 Rangers assigned to four Ranger It's just a matter of that Petty Officer stepping up and filling those shoes of the battalions from across the country participated in the NCO. I'm currently serving in Afghanistan as an Explosive MWD handler. I have mass tactical jump. The aircraft crews are assigned to and continue to see plenty of combat the 15th Special Operation Squadron, Hurlburt Field, FL. in Korengal Valley and a lot of the - USAF photo by SrA. Jason Epley other sh**** places on the Pakistani border. ARMY ARMY - Educated Soldiers win wars, TRADOC tells Recently a fellow E5, an Army SGT, educators fell in the middle of a firefight. I was - Wounded warrior promotes his hero to sergeant attached to his team since we were - Army on track to power Fort Irwin with sunshine clearing for caches, I took over his - ANCOC students help Annapolis homeless position and started directing Joes - Army developing master resiliency training out of the town and where to direct - Mother, son serve together in Afghanistan fire and ensuring my FO (forward observer) was getting grids in for indirects (for artillery fire missions).

Why and how? Because as a GOOD petty officer and NCO when I got in-country, I found a GOOD infantry SSG (staff sergeant - E6) and learned every damn thing I could from him. In addition, I currently supervise an outlying kennel with one MA3, one SGT (E5), and two SPCs (Specialists - E4). I'm currently helping my SPCs make points and prepare for their SGT boards.

And NO, I have never served in the Army.

So yes, POs can be great NCOs. But it starts with pride. Too many POs want to DINNER MEETING - Afghan National Army Capt. Saki be "friends" and not leaders with the seamen. It's sad because what I expect Dadd (left), Abdul Manaf, the governor of Nawa district; from my guys in my deparment equals "a-hole"; that same demeanor and and Marine LtCol. William McCollough talk over dinner attitude here, though, just shows strength. during a key leader engagement on Patrol Base Jaker in Nawa district in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. I "demand" and take charge until a chief tells me to back-off. But that is just McCollough is assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine that I have great chiefs and MA1s. Chiefs at my command know they need to Regiment. stay in their office and do chief stuff, and should only come out when s*** hits - USMC photo by SSgt. William Greeson the fan. My MA1s know their place is at the desk and on the road if only needed.

What needs to happen, now, is for PO3s and PO2s to step up; and at the same time PO1s and chiefs need to step back and observe, as much as they want they fingers in the system and "do it their way." They need to let their "frontline leaders" -- their "NCOs" -- do their job and let them do it their way. No one likes to be told to get it done, but you have to always do it "my way," it undermines, ingenuity and motivation.

I think (the Army's) Year of the NCO is awesome, and A LOT of E4s -- all the way to master chief -- should take a look at this and realize power, trust, and responsibility must be relenquished to those junior to them.

Or else, how will they ever learn? - MA2 Reuben Davis

- Photos by: MC2 Kevin S. O'Brien, MCSA Robert Winn, SGT Matthew Moeller, MC2 Cynthia Briggs

New Community Vet Centers to be Added VA's Shinseki Announces Counseling Expansion for Combat Veterans

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced that combat Veterans will receive readjustment counseling and other assistance in 28 additional communities across the country where the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will establish Vet Centers in 2010. Affairs (VA) will establish Vet Centers in 2010.

“VA is committed to providing high-quality outreach and readjustment counseling to all combat Veterans,” Secretary Shinseki said. “These 28 new Vet Centers will address the growing need for those services.”

There are two ways in which an old friends and The community-based Vet Centers -- already in all 50 states -- are a key Shipmates can contact you via the NTWS website: the component of VA’s mental health program, providing Veterans with mental health first is via your "public" e-mail address displayed in your screening and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) counseling. Personal Details on your Profile Page; and the other is by leaving a message in your Message Center Inbox. The existing 232 centers conduct community outreach to offer counseling on The latter triggers an advisory e-mail, sent to your employment, family issues and education to combat Veterans and family "private" e-mail address to inform you that you have members, as well as bereavement counseling for families of servicemembers received a message and who it's from. killed on active duty and counseling for Veterans who were sexually harassed on active duty. Your "private" e-mail address, which is the one that TWS uses, is contained in your Account Details at the Vet Center services are earned through service in a combat zone or area of top of your Profile Page which you can modify at any hostility and are provided at no cost to Veterans or their families. They are time. NTWS Members' "private" and "public" e-mail staffed by small multi-disciplinary teams, which may include social workers, addresses are usually the same. So, please regularly psychologists, psychiatric nurses, master’s-level counselors and outreach log-in and update any changes to your e-mail addresses specialists. Over 70 percent of Vet Center employees are Veterans themselves, a both in the Account Detail and Personal Detail sections majority of whom served in combat zones. of your Profile. The Vet Center program was established in 1979 by Congress, recognizing that many Veterans were still having readjustment problems. In 2008, the Vet Center program provided over 1.1 million visits to over 167,000 Veterans, including over 53,000 visits by more than 14,500 Veteran families. More information about Vet Centers can be found at www.vetcenter.va.gov/index.asp. Communities Receiving New VA Vet Centers:

American Email your announcement as early as possible to: Arizona -- Mohave and Yuma Counties [email protected] or -- San Luis Obispo County [email protected]. Delaware – Sussex County Florida -- Marion, Lake, Collier, Okaloosa and Bay Counties USS BREMERTON (CA-130/SSN 698) reunion, Sept Georgia -- Muscogee and Richmond Counties 13-17; Rapid City, SD. Contact: Norma Polanowski, -- Western Oahu (585) 365-2316/9296 (fax) Indiana -- St. Joseph County -- Rapides Parish USS BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (SSBN-640), Sept. 13-19; Michigan -- Grand Traverse County, also serving Wexford County San Diego, CA. Contact: Len Exelby, (877) 257-7986, or Missouri -- Boone County email: [email protected] Montana -- Cascade and Flathead Counties Ohio -- Stark County USS LONG BEACH (CGN-9), Sept. 14-20; Tuscon, AZ. Oregon -- Deschutes County Contact: Don Shade, [email protected], or (866) 352- Pennsylvania -- Lancaster County 2469 South Carolina -- Horry County Texas -- Jefferson and Taylor Counties USS ESSEX (CV/CVA/CVS-9 & LHD-2) 40th reunion, Utah -- Washington County Sept. 14-19; Branson, MO. Contact: GeraldMcDonell, Washington -- Walla Walla County, also serving Umatilla County, Oregon (734) 455-1341 or [email protected] Wisconsin -- LaCrosse County, also serving Monroe County

USS FLOYD B. PARKS (DD-884), Sept. 14-21; San Antonio, TX. Contact: Bill Birdsong, (951) 789-5309, or Remembering [email protected] Operation PAUL BUNYAN On August 18, 1976 during a routine tree trimming operation within the DMZ, PATROL SQUADRON 11 (VP-11 Neptune Assn.), North Korean border guards bludgeoned two American officers to death in a Sept. 15-17; Freeport, ME. Contact: S.E. Colby, melee in the Joint Security Area (Panmunjom), what resulted is known as [email protected] Operation PAUL BUNYAN. Killed in the attack were company commander CPT Arthur Bonifas, and platoon leader, 1LT Mark Barrett. AE SAILORS ASSOCIATION 2009 annual ships AE SAILORS ASSOCIATION 2009 annual ships reunion, Sept. 16-20; Norfolk, VA. AE & AO Sailors, families and guests are invited. Contact: Jerry King (626) 339-9793, or [email protected]

USS EATON (DD/DDE 510) reunion, Sept. 16-20; Fall River, MA. Contact: Tom Weiss (815) 848-1878; or Fred Hinze: [email protected], (631) 589-7456

USS EUGENE A. GREENE (DD/DDR-711) reunion, Sept. 16-19; San Antonio, TX. Contact: Glenn Herman, (559) 732-1766, or [email protected]

USS SIERRA (AD-18), Sept. 17-20; Branson, MO. For The "Ax Murder Incident" led to one of the largest military build-ups on the info: (732) 849-4657 peninsula by the United States since the end of the in 1953, and brought the peninsula to the brink of another war. PATROL SQUADRON 22 (VP-22), Sept. 17-20; Cocoa Beach, FL. Contact: 'Bud' White, [email protected], or In the days that followed, the United States sent the aircraft carrier USS Midway (321) 723-5544 to the waters off the , fighter jets and bombers were sent to South from bases in Okinawa and the United States, and troops throughout the region USS PAUL F. FOSTER (DD 964), Sept. 17-20; Port were put on alert. Hueneme, CA. Contact: Byron Sayre, [email protected] or (805) 302-3473

USS NORTHAMPTON (CA-26/CLC-1/CC-1), Sept. 17- 21; Norfolk, VA. Contact: Ron Groft (765) 430- 6535, or [email protected]

USS BAUSELL (DD-845), Sept. 20-24; San Antonio, TX. Contact: Eugene D’Arezzo, [email protected], or (928) 854-2205

USS SOUTHERLAND (DD/DDR-743) reunion, Sept. 21- 24, 2010; Branson, MO. Contact: John Jones, [email protected] or (401) 431-1661. Web: USSSoutherland.com

USS HAVERFIELD (DE/DER 393), Sept. 21-23; San The United States retaliated on August 21 with Operation Paul Bunyan, when US Diego CA. Contact: Rhody Brooks (619) 448-1640, or Army engineers, flanked by a company of infantrymen and protected by AH-1 [email protected] Cobra helicopters, F-111 fighters and B-52 bombers in the air and nearby field artillery units on the ground, went back and cut down the tree. USS FORRESTAL (CVA/CV/AVT-59), Sept. 21-27; Virginia Beach, VA. Contact: Hugh McCabe, (757) 340- This month, American and South Korean military officials and civilian dignitaries 1105, or [email protected]; or Jim Stewart, commemorated the 33rd anniversary of the "Axe Murder Incident" in ceremonies [email protected], or (215) 943-8909 at the Joint Security Area.

USS HOLLISTER (DD-788), Sept. 23-27; San Diego, CA. Contact: Ed Gundersen, [email protected], or (518) 842-7126

USS EDMONDS (DE 406), Sept. 23-27; Oklahoma City, OK. Contact: Norm Bewley: [email protected], (405) 794-5374; or Ken Poggenburg: [email protected], (760) 635-2573

USS LEYTE (CV-32), Sept. 23-27; New London, CT. Open to all who served onboard from 1946-1959. Contact: (732) 727-5993, or email: [email protected]

USS MARKAB (AD-21/AR-23), Sept. 24-27; Dearborn, USS MARKAB (AD-21/AR-23), Sept. 24-27; Dearborn, MI. Contact: Ida McCollum, [email protected], or (330) 337-8873

USS ALBERT T. HARRIS (DE-447), Sept. 27-30; Newport, RI. Contact: Charles Cook, (918) 749-8434, or [email protected]

USS JOHN R. PIERCE (DD-753), Sept. 28-Oct 4. Contact: Cecil Thompson (337) 537-7533, or [email protected]

USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CV-47), 1946-1958 eras, Oct. 2009; Tucson, AZ. Contact: Chuck Davis, (941) 743- 5460 or (941) 391-1509. Email: [email protected] A ROK Marine renders a salute to the plaque erected in the exact location where the poplar tree stood during the North Korean attack on a joint US and ROK Army work crew in 1976. USS LYMAN K. SWENSON (DD-729), Oct. 1-4; Memphis, TN. Contact: Don Snider (615) 325-0222; email: [email protected], or homepage: www.DD729.com

USS SEVERN (AO-61), Oct.1-3; Colorado Springs, CO. Contact: Wayne Williams, (570) 675-3151

USS SARGO (SS-188/SSN-583), Oct. 1-4; San Antonio, TX. Contact: Mike Hacking, (858) 495-0562 or [email protected]. Web: www.ssn583.com

USS MAUNA KEA (AE-22), Oct.1-4; San Antonio, TX. Contact: Jerry Mouton, [email protected] Main gate of Camp Bonifas, Korea -- formerly Camp Kitty Hawk. The camp, USS YANCEY (AKA-93), all years, Oct. 1-4; Mobile, situated some 400 meters from the southern boundary of the Military AL. Contact: George Clifton; Phone (708) 425-8531, or Demarcation Line (MDL) was renamed on August 18, 1986 in honor of CPT Arthur [email protected] Bonifas; killed while supervising a tree-cutting crew at the Joint Security Area.

USNTC BAINBRIDGE ASSOCIATION, Oct. 1-4; Norfolk, VA. Sailors & WAVES from all eras, family & friends. Contact: [email protected], or visit www.USNTCB.org

USS FOX (DLG/CG-33), Oct. 1-4; San Diego, CA. Contact: Wes Moore, (360) 692-7207, or [email protected]

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Oct. 2-5; San Diego, CA. Contact: John Bedford (925) 768-4702, or www.sonarshack.org

USS ANGLER (SS/SSK/AGSS-240), Oct. 4-8; Branson, MO. Contact: [email protected], or A rusted sign and blue road stanchion denote the Military Demarcation Line on [email protected] the South Korean side of the infamous "Bridge of No Return."

- Photos courtesy US Army: Wayne Johnson, Edward N. Johnson, Dan Thompson USS POLK COUNTY (LST-1084), Oct. 5-8; Reno, NV. Contact: Lloyd King (661) 589-1757, or [email protected]. Web: usspolkcounty.com/

USS BORDELON (DD/DDR-881) reunion, Oct. 7-11; Myrtle Beach, SC. All years, all crews. Contact: Barney Oursler, (410) 789-2281, or [email protected] The list of Free and Discounted Service providers on TWS continues to grow! USS CANBERRA (CA-70/CAG-2), Oct. 7-12; Baltimore, These are Free listings and discounts coordinated for the benefit of TWS Members, not paid MD. Contact: Ken Minick, These are Free listings and discounts coordinated for the benefit of TWS Members, not paid MD. Contact: Ken Minick, advertisements. [email protected], or (740) 423-8976

AIR TRANSPORT SQUADRON 22 (VR-22), 20th annual reunion, Oct. 7-11; Lake Wright (Norfolk), VA. Contact: Gene Shonkwiler, (863) 969-3850, or [email protected] TWS is proud to announce the addition of AFLAC benefit eligibility for TWS Members at a discounted rate not available to the general public. This is the same coverage available from USS MAURY (AGS-16), Oct. 8-12; Seattle, WA. For employers nationwide, offered to you by virtue of your TWS Membership! info, visit ussmauryags16.org Do you have a Plan B? No one likes to think about getting seriously ill or injured. That’s why it’s USS EVERETT F. LARSON (DD/DDR-830), Oct 8-12; so crucial to have a Plan B. Your Plan B has a name: AFLAC. Myrtle Beach, SC. Contact: Tom Flynn, [email protected] Click the banner above to find out how AFLAC can protect you and your family.

MOBILE CONSTRUCTION BATTALION ONE (MCB-1), Oct. 9-12; Las Vegas, NV. Contact: Peter Dowd: [email protected], or (781) 837-0393

USS YORKTOWN (CV-10), Oct. 8-10; Mt. Pleasant, SC. Contact: (843) 849-1928, or [email protected]. URL: www.USSYorktown.net

NAVY AMPHIBIOUS FORCE ASSOCIATION reunion, Oct. 11-16; San Antonio, TX. Contact: John J. Walsh, Among others... (732) 367-6472, or [email protected] If you or someone you know provide a product or service that you are willing to offer for Free or at a deep discount to the Sailors of TWS please let me know so that I can add you link on the NAVY VETERANS of AMERICA, national TWS Home page and possibly feature it in a future Newsletter. Please email the link to me at convention and reunion, Oct. 12-16; Gulfport, MS. Visit [email protected] NSVAGULFPORT.org, or email: [email protected] From the archives of the US Naval Institute

PATROL SQUADRON SIX (VP-6) "Blue Sharks", Oct. 13-18; Honolulu, HI. Contacts: Steve Ellis: [email protected] or (706) 202-7105; Frank Lueder: [email protected] or (808) 728-6348; Larry St. Pierre: [email protected]. For details, visit PatronSix.com

USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA/CV 62), Oct 14-19; Oklahoma City, OK. Contact: Denis Bagley (609) 585- 1452, or www.ussindependencecv-62.org

USS CHEWAUCAN (AOG-50), 6th annual reunion, all crews 1945-1975; Oct. 15-18; Charleston, SC. Contact: [email protected], or (412) 897- 3402

USS HAYNSWORTH (DD-700), Oct. 15-18; Independence, MO. Open to all who served aboard from 1944 to 1970. Contact: Jim Horn, [email protected], or (717) 263-8090

USS DAVIS (DD-937), 12th annual reunion, Oct.15-18; Mystic, CT. Contact: Pete Lennon, [email protected]

USS FLETCHER (DD-992), Oct. 17-18; San Diego, CA. OFF DUTY: Contact: www.dd992.org, or E.V. (Rick) Schroder: Soldiers add authenticity, expertise to 'GI [email protected], (619) 434-2434 Joe' movie Story by Gary Sheftick and Grafton Pritchartt USS CONSTELLATION (CVA/CV-64), Oct.18-23; Norfolk, VA. Contact: Jack Kilcrease, (210) 590-9190, or WASHINGTON -- One of the Soldiers in the opening scene of "GI Joe: The Rise [email protected] of Cobra," wasn't able to see the film's debut when it hit theater screens earlier [email protected] of Cobra," wasn't able to see the film's debut when it hit theater screens earlier this month. USS KIMBERLY (DD 521), Oct.19-22; Myrtle Beach, SC. Contact: George Scott, [email protected], or (321) CWO John "Buzz" Covington was with the 21st Cavalry Brigade when he helped 676-2307/8351 film an Apache attack helicopter scene at Fort Hood, TX. He's now in Iraq with the 4227th Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and is scheduled to be there until USS TATTNALL (DDG-19), Oct. 19-23; Charleston, May. SC. Contact: Dick Harmon, [email protected], or (386) 235-8723 "I unfortunately won't be able to see the movie for some time," Covington said, but he added that his wife, MAJ Darcy Saint-Amant, was excited about going to USS BANG (SS 385), Oct. 19-23; Virginia Beach, VA. the film's opening. Contact: Gene Lockwood (757) 340-8488, or [email protected] Covington, an AH-64D Apache pilot, said he actually appears on screen with a few lines USS WALTON (DE 361), Oct. 21-25; , LA. in the movie. He and other members of the Contact: Jerry Hudson, (573) 291-1922, or 21st Cavalry Brigade helped film the Apache [email protected] scene in an empty hanger the unit was maintaining at Hood. USS WHITEHURST (DE-634), Oct. 22-24; Tucson, AZ. Contact: Jake & Annie Houser: [email protected], or The Army provided director Stephen www.de634.org/reunions.htm Sommers and his crew with an Apache helicopter, extras and help with uniforms USS HENRY L. STIMSON (SSBN 655), Oct. 23-25; and the script. King's Bay, GA. Contact: Jim Kinney, [email protected], or visit www.ssbn655.org "I was asked to look over the script and the director was very receptive to all of the USS ASPRO (SSN 648), Oct. 25-28; Las Vegas, NV. changes I suggested to ensure a more Contact: [email protected] authentic portrayal of an Apache combat flight," Covington said. USS ORISKANY (CV/CVA 34), Oct. 25-28; Pensacola, FL. Contact: Mike Hajek, [email protected]; The Apache scenes were filmed in August (609) 886-3995, or web: ussoriskany.com 2008 at Fort Hood. The crew filmed an Apache helicopter behind a green screen and filmed two other Apaches taking off for an actual training mission. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NAVAL PHOTOGRAPHY, Oct. 26-29; Pensacola Beach, FL. "It was a VERY long day, and most of us ended up working about 18 hours that Contact: Bob Devore, [email protected], or (850) day," Covington said. 455-3907 Chief Warrant Officer Santiago Torres helped ensure that all of the support USS POLLUX (AKS-2 & AKS-4), Oct. 28-Nov. 1; San elements from the 21st Cavalry Brigade were in the right place at the right time Diego, CA. Contact: Glen Broxson, (850) 994-0416, or to keep the shooting schedule on track. [email protected] In the movie, the elite GI Joe team uses not only the latest in military PATROL SQUADRON 8 (VP-8), Oct. 28-Nov.2; equipment, but also "next generation" weapons. The film stars Channing Tatum, Tempe, AZ. Contact: Santo Adams, (480) 365-8421, or Marlon Wayans, Dennis Quaid and Sienna Miller among others. They battle the [email protected] corrupt arms dealer Destro and the rising Cobra organization.

USS JULIUS A. FURER (DEG/FFG-6), Nov. 2-7; "The Army is the good guy in this movie," said Army Film Liaison Officer LTC onboard Carnival cruise ship Destiny. Contact: Paul Gregory Bishop. "It shows a fantasy version of the Army, but it captures the Croteau, [email protected] Army's values of duty, honor and country."

USS FIREDRAKE (AE-14), Nov. 6-8; Jacksonville, FL. Bishop and other members of Army Public Affairs' film and TV liaison unit in Los For details: [email protected], or Angeles provided technical advice as scenes were being filmed at Fort Hood and www.USSFiredrake.org at various locations in California.

EDSALL CLASS DE Veterans Day ceremony & Technical advisor LTC Paul Sinor, a retiree who was recalled to active duty last reunion. Hosted by USS KOINER (DE/DER 331/WDE year, worked extensively with the GI Joe cast in Simi Valley, a location about 30 431), Nov. 9-11; Galveston TX. Contact: Mac Christy, miles from Hollywood occasionally used by the film industry because it appears (785) 255-4368 or [email protected] remote.

USS CHARLES R. WARE (DD-865), Nov. 11-15; Cape Sinor previously served as Department of Defense military advisor or project May, NJ. Contact: John Bailey, (609) 884-0431, or officer to the box office hits "I Am Legend," and both "Transformers" movies; the [email protected] HBO movie, "Taking Chance"; and the CBS TV series from the late 1980s, "Tour Of Duty." Of Duty." 2010 GATHERINGS: USS MEDREGAL (SS 480), Apr 17-20, 2010; Portland, Among other things, Sinor helped teach the GI Joe actors how Soldiers handle OR. Contact: Ron Bell, (360) 254-4564, or weapons. [email protected] "I don't want somebody who has just gotten out of the Army to look at this film PATROL SQUADRON 90 (VP-90), Apr. 23-25, 2010; and say 'Oh, that's just another actor,'" Sinor told Paramount Pictures for their NAS/JRB Fort Worth, TX. Details @ www.vp-90.com production notes.

USS POWER (DD-839) 14th Shipmates Reunion (1945- "We (DoD) might request changes, say to dialogue, when there might be an 1977 crews), May 15-19, 2010; Chattanooga, TN. exchange between a sergeant and officer that isn't exactly correct," Sinor said. Contact: John Pinto, (352) 527-2352, "Or there might be a reference to jeeps. Everybody thinks the Army still drives [email protected] jeeps, but we haven't driven them since the mid-1970s. So we have it changed to the appropriate vehicle." USS WHITE PLAINS (AFS-4), May 27-June 1, 2010; Washington DC. Contact: (801) 985-3665, or AFS- When a Humvee rolled over in Simi Valley and actor Chatham Tatum was filmed [email protected] carrying a "wounded buddy" away from the vehicle, MSG Kanessa Trent intervened to fix the scene. She showed Tatum how to do a correct fireman's USS VREELAND (FF 1068), June 10-13, 2010; New carry. She even let Tatum to practice carrying her until he got it right. Orleans, LA. Contact: Mark Smith, [email protected], or (817) 454-5051 Trent, though, won't be viewing the results of her work on the film for some time, either. She's currently serving in Kabul, Afghanistan. PATROL SQUADRON 47 (VP-47) 62nd Anniversary (Jacqueline Hames contributed to this report, and information was also obtained from the Paramount Reunion, June 16-20, 2010; Oak Harbor (Whidbey Is.), Pictures Web site for the film.) WA. Contact: James "Soupy" Campbell, -Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures [email protected], (360) 679-3697, or web: www.vp-47reunions.com

USS SAMUEL GOMPERS (AD-37), Oct.1-3, 2010; Reno, NV. Contact: Mary Snider, [email protected], or (510) 520-3047

The NTWS profile pages are very detailed, so we've created a list of tips and pointers to help you navigate and use the features of the site more easily.

You may visit the "Member Assistance" section at the bottom left of the Home Page under the "Home" tab or e-mail [email protected] for assistance.

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'Full Metal Jacket's' Ermey Discusses Career, Technology Story by Judith Snyderman Special to The BAYONET Canadian Navy (CN) - www.navy.forces.gc.ca/ Royal Australian Navy (RAN) - www.navy.gov.au/ WASHINGTON -- Retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey -- a Vietnam Royal Navy (RNZN) - www.navy.mil.nz/ veteran, film actor and TV host -- shared observations about modern military Republic of Navy (RSN) - technology and his visits with American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq during a www.mindef.gov.sg/ “DoDLive” bloggers roundtable recently. (PN) - www.navy.mil.ph/ Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) - “They’re just as ready to eat their own guts out today as they ever were back in www.mod.go.jp my time,” he said. “The only difference is we’ve got better equipment, better www.mod.go.jp my time,” he said. “The only difference is we’ve got better equipment, better (RTN) - www.navy.mi.th/ gear, better toys, and I spend as much time as I can with them.” Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) - www.navy.mil.kr UK (RN) - www.royal-navy.mod.uk/ Ermey said he’s surprised by the enduring popularity of his 1987 acting role as a Israel Navy (IN) - www1.idf.il/ quintessential drill sergeant in the film “Full Federal German Navy (Bundesmarine) - Metal Jacket.” www.marine.de/ (German only) Irish Naval Service (Seirbhís Chabhlaigh na hÉireann) “When I go to the military bases and make - www.military.ie an appearance, I just go hang out with the (Marine Nationale) - www.defense.gouv.fr guys and give them a good talking-to and Italian Navy (Marina Militare) - www.marina.difesa.it/ tell them my corny jokes, and then I’ll sit (Italian only) down and sign autographs,” he said. “And (Armada Espanola) - every time, thousands of copies of “Full www.armada.mde.es/ Metal Jacket” pop up from somewhere – Swedish Armed Forces/Navy (Marinen) - www.mil.se/ they’re still selling these damned things.” Indian Navy (Bharatiya Nau Sena) - indiannavy.nic.in/

Though Ermey retired from the military in 1971, he’s continued to work with fighting forces as a member of the Marine Corps Drill Instructor’s Association. He also appears in films, and is widely known as the exuberant host of cable television’s ‘Lock N Load,’ a documentary about robotic equipment, and the former host of ‘Mail Call.’

Please forward this link to other Sailors you know, and “I have some of these future weapons on the show ‘Lock N Load,’” he said. “We your friends and family! just did a non-line-of-sight canon; it’s a 155 mm howitzer, and you can push a button and 27 miles away an enemy tank disappears,” Ermey said. http://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/ newsletter2/36/newsletter.html Another show features a new type of unmanned aerial vehicle that has the potential to stop pirates operating off the coast of Somalia. “We highlight this As NTWS continues to grow, so does its potential to find helicopter, and we talk about the fact that it doesn’t require a pilot to put his life old Shipmates and new friends; as well as creating a on the line and take risks,” he said. “It can go out 100 miles from a ship and vibrant and enjoyable Naval Community representing all land on a bow of a ship.” eras, from WWII to present-day. But so far, technology hasn’t made war casualty-free, Ermey acknowledged. “It’s always going to be dangerous; there’s no question about it,” he said. “But the objective is to make it as safe as we possibly can for the young people.”

Ermey said his television shows aim to build public appreciation for the military.

“It kind of wakes people up as to who the military is,” he said. “They are very honorable, upstanding young American citizens out there, doing the dirty job that nobody else seems like they want to do in America.”

The actor adopted his drill sergeant-style movie persona to make another point. “People need to wake up, pull their heads out of their posteriors and get with the program!” he barked. “Support the troops!”

Ermey has been to Iraq four times and to Afghanistan twice, and said he plans to return to Afghanistan in December. His television program, “Lock N’ Load With R. Lee Ermey,” airs on the History Channel.

- Photo courtesy History Channel

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