BUDGET FIX STILL NEEDED 8 MARCH 2013 eveloping DStrong Enlisted Leaders 18 2 NED Position Opening 12 FRA Honors Outstanding Marines 29 FRA’s Book of Memories MESOTHELIOMA You don’t have to ght this alone. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with, or died from asbestos related lung cancer or mesothelioma, we may be able to help you get monetary compensation from the asbestos companies. With over 65 years of collective experience in asbestos litigation, the professionals at Bergman Draper Ladenburg welcome the chance to provide you with the highest quality representation and the individual attention you deserve. Call for information and a free consultation. The Northwest’s Leading Asbestos Litigation Firm 614 First Avenue 4th Floor We accept cases Seattle, WA 98104 throughout the 206.957.9510 United States and 888.647.6007 Toll Free www.bergmanlegal.com Canada March 2013 Volume 92 Number 3 1 Featured 18 FRA TOD A Y MARCH 2013 18 DEVELOPING STRONG ENLISTED LEADERS MCPON Mike Stevens is calling for daily demonstrations of leadership by example in preparing the Navy’s future Chief Petty Officers. Departments 2 COMMUNICATIONS 5 FROM THE BRIDGE NP Mark Kilgore Visits Pearl Harbor 6 SHIPMATE FORUM 8 ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL Budget Fix Still Needed 12 16 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS 29 HISTORY & HERITAGE FRA’s Book of Memories 30 TAPS 31 REUNIONs 13 32 LOOKING For… 34 NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES 36 FRA AUXILIARY NEWS Message from Southeast Regional President Babe Kilgore LOYALTY, PROTECTION AND SERVICE FRA IS A CONGRESSIONALLY CHARTERED, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION ADVOCATING FOR CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE ON THE COVER U.S. NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD ON CAPITOL HILL. FOR Navy Chief Petty Officers are often referred to as the “backbone of the Navy” and new initiatives MORE INFORMATION ON THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE VISIT are being implemented to prepare First Class Petty WWW.FRA.ORG OR CALL 800-FRA-1924. Officers for their future responsibilities as Chiefs. COMMUNIcatIONS 2 NATIONAL OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS National President Mark A. Kilgore, Pensacola Branch 22 National Vice President Virgil P. Courneya, High Sierra Branch 274 National Executive Dir. Joseph L. Barnes, Navy Department Branch 181 Finance Officer Paul Rigby, Honorary Member MARCH 2013 Y A NED Position Opening Mark A. Kilgore Junior PNP Jeffrey A. Gilmartin, Potomac Branch 207 National Parliamentarian PNP Bob Beese, Volusia County Branch 335 FRA TOD I AM BORROWING THIS space this month in addition to my “From the National Chaplain Earnest Reed, Tallahassee Branch 34 Bridge” article (page 5) to announce the opening of the National Executive Director (NED) position at the end of October following REGIONAL PRESIDENTS the 86th National Convention in Chattanooga, Tenn. In January, NED New England Paul F. Loveless Jr., Pinetree Branch 156 Joe Barnes notified me by letter that he would not be seeking another Northeast David Munday III, Lakehurst Branch 124 three-year term. Therefore, the NED position will be open for nomina- East Coast Donald A. Hoover, Annapolis Branch 24 tions and election by delegates at the 86th FRA National Convention in Southeast James E. Robbins Jr., First Coast Branch 91 accordance with the FRA Constitution & By-Laws (C&BL). North Central John W. Partin II, Greater St. Louis Branch 267 Related to this, the newly-established Future Planning Committee South Central Robert A. Holcomb, Capital Area Branch 201 is in the process of writing several resolutions to change the NED posi- Southwest Charles Baker, Fabulous Vegas Branch 90 tion from the currently elected three-year term as it now appears in Sec. West Coast Shane S. Dunstan, Salt Lake City Branch 185 Northwest Margret A. Burke, Inland Empire Branch 38 808, FRA C&BL, to a National Board of Directors (NBOD) “interview and hire” position. This is not a new idea and this change was recom- mended by the National President’s Special Organizational Committee ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL in its 2002 report to the NBOD and, since then, it has been on the “back Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Michael Stevens burners.” The Committee also recommended, and delegates approved, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Micheal Barrett changing the position of National Financial Secretary (NFS) from an Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Michael Leavitt elected, three-year term of office to our current hired Finance Officer in 2005. In addition, the Committee resolutions may also change some RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL of the NED duties in the future. Force Master Chief of the Navy Reserve Chris Wheeler This issue will be discussed during the upcoming NBOD mid-year USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major James Booker meeting and how the next NED is selected will ultimately be up to the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force delegates in Chattanooga this fall. Either way, we have an extremely Mark Allen important and vital position opening up and all qualified candidates FRA TODAY MAGAZINE are welcome and encouraged to apply, including our Member-at-Large (MAL) Shipmates. In addition to Sec. 808, FRA C&BL, a copy of the Publisher FRA Joseph L. Barnes NED job description is posted on our website in the Current News sec- National Executive Director Communications Director Lauren Armstrong tion at www.fra.org. Managing Editor Eileen Murphy MALs desiring to run for the NED position would also need to af- Design and Art Direction filiate first with an FRA Branch in order to be nominated by resolu- FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com tion to fully comply with the FRA C&BL. All candidates should also Design Director Scott Rodgerson be prepared to submit a resume. Regardless of the action taken by the Production Manager Sandy Jones delegates at the 86th National Convention, the Shipmate selected as the next NED must relocate to the metropolitan D.C. area at his/her own FRA TODAY (ISSN 0028-1409) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., expense, if not already residing there. ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754. A MEMBER’S SUBSCRIPTION IS COVERED BY THE MEMBER’S Resolutions regarding the NED position as well as all other resolu- ANNUAL DUES. PERIODICALS POSTAGE paid AT ALEXANDRIA, VA AND ADDITIONAL OFFICES. PUBLICATION OF NON-SPONSORED ADVERTISING IN FRA TODAY DOES NOT tions will be promulgated to the branches in accordance with the FRA CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE FRA OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MEMBER SERVICES, FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, C&BL Article 6, Section 611, usually the first week in August via NED VA 22314-2754. FRA TODAY IS PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CURRENT AND Memorandum. FORMER ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE U.S. NavY, MARINE CORPS, AND COAST GUARD. ELIGIBLE NON-MEMBERS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SUBSCRIPTION RATES. ESTABLISHED For more information and/or to submit questions, please contact 1 NOVEMBER 1923. TITLE REGISTERED WITH U.S. PATENT OFFICE. me at [email protected], or questions can to be directed to NVP Courneya FRA ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS: 125 N. 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