... OR ANY PET, AutoMatters & More Your FREE FOR THAT MATTER 1957-59 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner retractable hardtop June 25 convertible. weekly paper See page 9 Take one! Navy Marine Corps Coast Guard Army Air Force ARMED FORCES San Diego Navy/Marine Corps Dispatch www.armedforcesdispatch.com 619.280.2985 SIXTY-FIRST YEAR NO. 9 Serving active duty and retired military personnel, veterans and civil service employees THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 NEW BOSS AT EXPEDITIONARY STRIKE GROUP TO CONTINUE LEADING THE “WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL AMPHIB FORCE” by Lt. Christopher Swain leadership, ESG-3 Sailors and director for maritime headquar- Marines go over the horizon ters (N4/5/8/9) at U.S. Naval Rear Adm. Michael Baze re- equipped to deter our adversar- Forces Europe and Africa, and lieved Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck ies, assure our partners and, Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy. He as Commander, Expeditionary when directed, take the fight to commanded Helicopter Anti- Strike Group (ESG) 3 during a any enemy, and win.” Submarine Squadron Light 45 leadership turnover ceremony on and USS America amphibious board Naval Base Point Loma Baze most recently served as assault ship. June 21. Full Tenant Bill of Rights implemented Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, commanding general of I on Navy, Marine Corps installations Marine Expeditionary Force Military Housing Privatization Initiative, or MHPI, companies at (MEF), served as the guest all Department of the Navy installations have fully implemented all speaker for the event. “The 18 rights contained in the Tenant Bill of Rights. Navy and Marine Corps integra- Rear Adm. Michael Baze, center, re - “The team did tremendous work with our privatized housing op- tion has proven its innovative ports his assumption of duties as com - erators to arrive at full implementation of the Tenant Bill of Rights capabilities and concepts make mander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3 across the Department of the Navy’s installations,” said Todd Schafer, a lasting impact to our great to Vice Adm. Stephen Koehler, right, the acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations nation under Phil Sobeck,” said commander, 3rd Fleet, during a change and Environment. Heckl. “I’m grateful for his ex- of command ceremony. Baze relieved “Ensuring the implementation of the tenants’ rights is an important ceptional vision and significant Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, left, as com - step in our long-term plans to continue to improve transparency and leadership.” mander of ESG 3. Navy photo by MC1 communication for Service members and their families who live in Jason Kofonow public-private venture housing.” As commander of ESG 3, The MHPI Tenant Bill of Rights was created under the 2020 Na- Sobeck prepared all amphibi- tional Defense Authorization Act to ensure that Service members and ous units within Third Fleet for remarks and thanked those who MEF,” said Sobeck. “To have “Rear Adm. Sobeck has truly their families who reside in homes and communities on DoD instal- a multitude of integrated op- contributed to his success. 15,000 Sailors and Marines in elevated this globally responsive lations receive quality housing and fair treatment from the MHPI erations and Amphibious Ready unison as the world’s most pow- and scalable strike group to the companies that operate and maintain privatized housing. Group (ARG)/Marine Expe- “I’m honored to have had the erful amphibious force speaks next level of Blue-Green inte- The universal lease framework, a key common document across ditionary Unit (MEU) deploy- opportunity to serve the great volumes to the work ethic and gration,” said Vice Adm. Steve the DoD, will begin to be rolled out for renewing or prospective new ments worldwide. He reflected men and women of this strike dedication of the men and women Koehler, commander, Third tenants over the next several months. on his time at ESG 3 during his group and the Marines of I who serve our great nation.” Fleet. “As a direct result of his “We have privatized housing on 57 Navy and 19 Marine Corps installations. These installations are not only a workplace, but a home MCCS MIRAMAR TICKET EXTENSION NOTICE to many of our Sailors, Marines, DoN civilian employees and their families,” said Schafer. “We owe it to our personnel to ensure access Due to COVID-19, the fol- used through Dec. 16, 2021. GOLAND Water Park tickets that you have already sold and to safe, quality, and well-maintained homes.” lowing attractions have ex- Universal Studios Holly- that are dated or expire within are in your customer’s hands tended ticket deadlines for wood •This promotional tick- the closure period, expiration will be extended through May purchases that were made in et and options may be used dates have been automatically 5, 2022. 2020. through Dec. 18, 2021. extended until Jan. 31, 2022 For specific questions about Disneyland and Disney Cali- Legoland •For guests who with the blackout dates ticket extensions, call the MCCS fornia Adventure • This promo- have unused LEGOLAND, Knott’s Berry Farm •All Miramar Ticket Office at (858) tional ticket and options may be SEA LIFE Aquarium and LE- unused 2020 admission tickets 307-4126 or (858) 307-4141. 2 www.armedforcesdispatch.com THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 National Military Navy is struggling to retain surface warfare officers, according to watchdog report examining at-sea collisions by Sarah Cammarata, released June 17. struck by a chemical tanker off the surface warfare officers. SWOs are trained to serve on Stars and Stripes coast of Singapore and Malaysia. all ship departments and all ship The Government Account- Ten U.S. Sailors died as a result Specifically, Wittman pointed types. This training provides a WASHINGTON - Navy offi- ability Office’s report also found of the crash. out a statistic from the report that generalist career path spanning cers who focus on the safe opera- only 12 percent of female surface found by a factor of four to one, across disciplines such as ship- tion of surface ships are switching warfare officers stay in the job, Some changes came after two surface warfare officers believe driving, engineering and combat jobs or leaving the military at compared with 39 percent of male internal investigations into the root specialized career paths would systems. But other Navy officers higher rates than other service offi- SWOs. Overall, 33 percent of causes of the 2017 collisions found better prepare them for their specialize in specific ship depart- cers in similar positions, according SWOs remain in the position com- A Sailor receives his challenges with training, qualifica- job than the current generalized ment areas. to a government watchdog report pared with 45 percent of officers surface warfare officer tions and assignments as officers career path. pin during a ceremony progressed throughout their career, “According to the commander, aboard littoral combat according to the GAO report. “Without periodic evaluations Naval Surface Forces, a generalist Navy of current approaches, including approach is the best career path •USS Laboon Conducts Passing Exercise with British ship USS Freedom on Jan. 15, 2014. File photo The Navy has taken small steps alternative career paths, and the for SWOs because commanding Royal Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy by Donnie W. Ryan to improve officers’ career paths, use of those evaluations, the U.S. officers must know how to drive, •Naval Forces Rescue Mariners from Stranded Ship in such as extending training and Navy may miss an opportunity fight, and lead on their ship, and Gulf of Aden who are in similar Navy jobs. tours of duty to give more time to to develop and retain proficient SWOs with specialist career paths •BALTOPS 50 Comes to a Close earn qualifications, but it has not SWOs,” the GAO wrote. are less prepared for this respon- •Navy Seeks to Unleash the Po- Though Naval Surface Forces fundamentally changed career sibility than are SWOs with a tential of Unmanned Systems Command tracks separation rates paths for more than a century, the Surface warfare officers are generalist career path,” according •HSM-60 “Jaguars” Save Two for surface warfare officers by GAO said. “screaming for change,” Wittman to the GAO report. gender, it hasn’t developed a plan said during the hearing of the Lives in Four Days HEADLINES to improve retention rates, ac- Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., said House subcommittee on seapower Air Force However, the GAO found a ma- cording to the report titled “Navy last Thursday during a House and projection forces to discuss jority of surface warfare officers •Air Force announces availability Readiness: Actions Needed to Armed Services Committee sub- the Navy’s budget proposal for want a specialized career path. An of final environmental study on Ground Based Strategic Evaluate and Improve Surface panel hearing that the “lack of fiscal year 2022. estimated 65% of surface warfare Deterrent ICBM recapitalization Test Program Warfare Officer Career Path.” leadership” among the surface officers want a specialized track, •UIPE protective gear completes ground compatibility testing warfare officers “continues to Kilby said he couldn’t speak to compared with 16 percnt who •F-35A Demonstration Team storms over Deke Slayton The GAO report is part of an haunt” him. June 17 was the the specific data from the study think a generalist model is best. Airfest ongoing response to two colli- four-year anniversary of the USS released publicly after the hear- •Air, Space Forces leaders discuss, defend budget re- sions at-sea that killed 17 sailors Fitzgerald crash. ing ended. The GAO recommended the quests in congressional hearings in 2017. That spring, guided-mis- Navy develop a plan to improve •Under Secretary of the Air Force nominee testifies dur- sile destroyer USS Fitzgerald During the hearing, Wittman However, he said: “We’ve done retention, including female reten- ing Senate Armed Services Committee hearing collided with a merchant ship off pressed Vice Adm.