SENATE NDAA STALLS 8 OCTOBER 2012 Brotheof rhood the Deeppage 18 5 Read National Convention Reports; Learn About NHQ Operations 10 Legislative Update: Agent Orange Reform 16 Improving Branch Meetings 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 October 2012 Volume 91 Number 10 1 Featured 18 FRA TOD A Y OCT 18 BROTHERHOOD OF THE DEEP O Since the mid-1800s, Navy divers have played a BER 2012 critical role in protecting Navy vessels and keep- ing them afloat and operational. Whether repair- ing hulls in stateside shipyards or clearing debris from foreign ports, today’s Navy divers continue that proud tradition, using their unique skills to ensure the stability and safety of U.S. ships and crew around the world. Departments 2 COMMUNIcatIONS 8 5 NED PERSPECTIVE Read National Convention Reports; Learn About NHQ Operations 6 SHIPMATE FORUM 8 ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL Senate NDAA Stalls 9 16 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Improving Branch Meetings 30 REUNIONS/ LOOKING FOR… 32 TAPS 34 NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES 36 FRA AUXILIARY NEWS Message from Southwest Regional President Deanna Lewandowski LOYaltY, PROTECTION AND SERVICE FRA IS A CONGRESSIONALLY CHartERED, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZatION ADVOcatING FOR CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE U.S. NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD ON CAPITOL HILL. FOR ON THE COVER MORE INFORMatION ON THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE VISIT U.S. Navy divers — past and present — share a WWW.FRA.ORG OR CALL 800-FRA-1924. unique bond of trust and respect for one another. COMMUNIcatIONS 2 NATIONAL OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS National President Jeffrey A. Gilmartin,Potomac Region Branch 207 Mark A. Kilgore, Pensacola Branch 22 National Vice President BER 2012 O National Executive Dir. Joseph L. Barnes, Navy Department Branch 181 Finance Officer Paul Rigby, Honorary Member OCT Y Junior PNP James W. Scarbro, Chesapeake Branch 40 A Readership Survey Eileen Murphy National Parliamentarian PRPNE William E. Starkey, Jr., South Jersey THANK YOU VERY MUCH to the more than 2,400 shipmates who partici- Branch 57 FRA TOD pated in FRA Today’s online reader survey! The survey established how National Chaplain Katherine Grey, Potomac Region Branch 207 loyal our readers are, with 94.8 percent stating that they read at least REGIONAL PRESIDENTS three out of every four issues (89 percent read 4 out of 4) and spend New England Philip A. Justin, Quonset Davisville, Branch 42 more than an hour on each issue. These statistics are extremely high for Northeast David Munday III, Lakehurst Branch 124 association publications. This is outstanding news for the editorial staff, East Coast Darrell F. McKinley, Jr., Elizabeth City Branch 293 and we are glad to be producing a product you consider so worthwhile. Southeast Frederick Bolz, Low Country Branch 269 We have some additional statistics from surveys last year that in- North Central Charles “Chuck” Neureuther, Wolverine Branch 298 dicated the magazine was valuable, and all shipmates surveyed were South Central Arthur R. McAvoy, Lone Star Branch 11 aware of it. On a scale of 1– 5 (1 being excellent, 5 being poor), the Southwest Stanley J. Lewandowski, Imperial Beach magazine rated a 2.1 (very good). Suggestions were made for increas- Branch 289 ing quality, and as many as possible have been incorporated, including West Coast Richard J. Fetro, Santa Clara Valley Branch 101 offering links to Action Alerts in the magazine related to specific leg- Northwest Pete Lazzaretti, Mt. Rainier Branch 104 islative issues. The highest rated benefit of the magazine was “Keeping you informed about legislation related to military pay, benefits and ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL quality of life issues,” which is unilaterally seen as very valuable. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West Our most recent survey indicates we have been successful in these Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Micheal Barrett improvements, but we continue to build on that, so any suggestions are Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Michael Leavitt welcome and should be directed to [email protected] or call me at 1-800- 372-1924 ext. 127. RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL In addition to striving to increase the value of the magazine, we Force Master Chief of the Navy Reserve Chris Wheeler are also working to make sure it meets the needs of ALL shipmates re- USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major James Booker gardless of physical limitations or reader preference. We know the vast Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force majority of our readers prefer a print version of the magazine, but we Mark Allen continue to also make the magazine available online in a rich text for- mat (RTF), which is compatible with audio readers for sight-impaired FRA TODAY MAGAZINE shipmates. This option is in addition to the pdf format which has been Publisher FRA available on www.fra.org for several years. (The pdf format can be mag- National Executive Director Joseph L. Barnes nified and is an exact replication of the print version, but does not con- Managing Editor Eileen Murphy sistently work with audio readers.) As vision trouble is on the rise for Contributing Editor Lauren Armstrong FRA shipmates, this is important. Additionally, please be aware that Design and Art Direction FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com NewsBytes, FRA’s weekly legislative update, is recorded and available by Design Director Scott Rodgerson phone at 1-800-372-1924 ext 112. Production Manager Sandy Jones Eileen Murphy is the Director of Marketing and Communications and serves as the Managing FRA TODAY (ISSN 0028-1409) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754. A MEMBER’S SUBSCRIPTION IS COVERED BY THE MEMBER’S Editor of FRA Today. Please contact her at [email protected]. ANNUAL DUES. PERIODICALS POSTAGE paid AT ALEXANDRIA, VA AND ADDITIONAL OFFICES. PUBLICATION OF NON-SPONSORED ADVERTISING IN FRA TODAY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE FRA OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MEMBER SERVICES, FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754. FRA TODAY IS PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE U.S. NavY, MARINE CORPS, AND COAST GUARD. ELIGIBLE NON-MEMBERS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SUBSCRIPTION RATES. ESTABLISHED 1 NOVEMBER 1923. TITLE REGISTERED WITH U.S. PATENT OFFICE. FRA ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS: 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754 PHONE: 703-683-1400, 800-FRA-1924 • FAX: 703-549-6610 • E-MAIL: [email protected] WWW.FRA.ORG VOLUME 91 NUMBER 10 MAN190-01_7.75x10_Layout 1 9/12/12 1:03 PM Page 1 How to Make a Splash Limited Without Getting Wet to Bring home 300 carats of aquamarine, the legendary the “sailor’s gem”. In tradition, it’s considered the most First precious of gemstones — now for under $130! 1,500 his is not a necklace. It’s the World’s Most Beautiful Personal Responders! T Flotation Device. Ever since ancient times, sailors have sworn by aquamarine for protection on the open water. For them, it was a sacred gem connected to Neptune. 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