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WASHINGTON - Master Chief Petty Officer (SW/AW/EXW) Tracy L. Hunt relieved Master Chief Petty Officer (FMF/SW) Chris Kotz as Navy Reserve Force Master Chief during a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard, Oct. 12. Hunt is the 17th Navy Reserve Force Master Chief following his previous assignment as Command Master Chief for Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command in Norfolk, Va. With more than 30 years of service, including more than a decade since completing the Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat course in 2009, Hunt was carefully selected to assume his new role. “Force Hunt was selected from the most exclusive, competitive and talented field of Navy Reserve Master Chiefs our nation has ever known. His deep warfighting, leadership and Reserve experiences make him an important partner and strong champion for our Reserve Force,” said Vice Adm. John B. Mustin, Chief of Navy Reserve, and Commander, Navy Reserve Force. A native of Meherrin, Virginia, Hunt enlisted in the Navy in September, 1989. Following completion of basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, he completed seaman apprentice training in December, 1989. Hunt’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment in the history of the Navy Reserve. “For the entire force, I ask you to embrace change,” said Hunt. “The Reserve force is transforming, and we must position ourselves to answer when we are called to fight.” Kotz, who held the position since Oct. 2017, turned over the duties to Hunt immediately preceding his official retirement ceremony, finishing 30 years of dedicated and honorable service. “As we aggressively modernize our Reserve Force to address today’s global environment, building new capabilities and shifting capacity to meet the needs of long-term strategic competition, Force Master Chief Kotz has been front and center. His impact on the Navy, and our nation’s defense, will be felt for year and decades to come,” Mustin said. Hunt emphasized his ongoing commitment to supporting the evolving mission of the Navy Reserve and encouraged all Reserve Sailors to do the same. “Embrace this change, embrace the Navy Reserve Fighting Instructions, and focus on our number one priority — warfighting readiness,” Hunt said.

The Department of the Navy (“Navy”) has agreed to review the discharges of thousands of Veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), military sexual trauma (MST), and other behavioral or mental health conditions. The Navy has also agreed to change some of its administrative procedures for individuals who apply in the future to have their discharge statuses upgraded. This agreement follows a settlement reached in the nationwide class action lawsuit Manker v. Del Toro, 3:18-cv-00372-CSH. A federal court preliminarily approved the agreement on October 12, 2021. Under the agreement, the Navy will automatically reconsider certain discharge-status-upgrade decisions made by the Naval Discharge Review Board (NDRB) between March 2, 2012, and the effective date of settlement, which partially or fully denied upgrade relief to Navy and Marine Corps Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan era with General or Other-than- -Honorable (OTH) discharges. The settlement also expands reapplication rights for eligible applicants who were discharged and received an adverse NDRB decision between Oct. 7, 2001 and March 2, 2012. In addition, the Navy has agreed to implement certain procedures. These include a program to enable applicants to appear before the NDRB by video teleconference, more training for board members, and updated protocols for decision making in cases involving symptoms or diagnoses of PTSD, TBI, MST or other behavioral or mental health conditions. Veterans of the Navy and the Marine Corps, including the Reserve, who were discharged with a General or Other-than-Honorable service characterization while having a diagnosis of, or showing symptoms of, the conditions listed above may be eligible to benefit from the settlement. Discharge upgrades are not guaranteed, and applications will be decided on a case-by-case basis. A video teleconference hearing on the settlement agreement on December 16, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. will address whether to grant final approval of the settlement, whether to issue a final order dismissing the lawsuit, and related issues. Persons affected by the settlement may submit written comments and/or appear themselves or through counsel to be heard in support of, or in opposition to, aspects of the settlement. Persons wishing to object must follow specific procedures, which are outlined on the websites listed below. A court-approved class notice, the full text of the settlement, and information about the court’s hearing can be found at https://www.secnav.navy.mil/mra/CORB/ Pages/NDRB/default.aspx. and www.mankersettlement.com

UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 131542Z OCT 21 MID600051033451U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 226/21 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/OCT// SUBJ/ADVANCEMENT EXAMINATION READINESS REVIEW 1ST AND 2ND QUARTER FY-22 SCHEDULE AND IDENTIFICATION OF FLEET SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS// REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/151617ZSEP17// REF/B/DOC/COMNAVPERSCOM/5NOV18// NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 229/17, REALIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION OF FLEET SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS FOR ADVANCEMENT EXAMINATION READINESS REVIEWS. REF B IS MILPERSMAN ARTICLE 1401-020, ADVANCEMENT EXAM READINESS REVIEW (AERR).// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the Advancement Examination Readiness Review (AERR) schedule from October 2021 to March 2022. AERR events provide an opportunity for selected rating subject matter experts from fleet and shore- based commands to impact their respective ratings by updating and validating the examination question bank. Selected chief, senior chief and master chief petty officers on active duty, full-time support and reservists currently on active duty for operational support may take part in the process. AERRs enable the Navy to advance the most qualified and rating-knowledgeable Sailors. 2. AERRs are held at Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center (NETPDC) Pensacola, FL. Temporary Duty Travel (TDY) in support of AERR events is considered mission critical and is flag officer approved. All costs pertaining to TDY are funded by NETPDC. All travel will be in line with Department of the Navy regulations at the time of the scheduled AERR. 3. In line with reference (a), and normally no less than 45 days prior to the AERR convening date, Type Commanders (TYCOM)/rating sponsors will recruit rating fleet subject matter experts (FSMEs), select AERR attendees plus two alternate members, and work with NETPDC staff to provide the requested number of FSME names and contact information via e-mail to NETPDC_AERR_MAILBOX(at)navy.mil with the subject line of *AERR Selectees*. In cases where this NAVADMIN is within 45 days of the AERR convening date, coordination with TYCOM/rating sponsors is already in progress to ensure appropriate participation is confirmed as soon as possible. 4. The following AERRs are scheduled from October 2021 through March 2022 and are subject to change. AERR schedule is in the following format: Convene Date: Rating (number of FSMEs required) 17 - 23 October AE (6) 17 - 30 October AWO (6), FCA (6) 24 October - 6 November MN (6) 31 October - 6 November EOD (6) 7 - 20 November ITS(EW) (6) 14 - 20 November SB (6) 23 - 29 January ATO (6), SO (6) 23 January - 5 February AG (7), EMN (6), FC (6), MR (6) MU (8), PMK (6) 30 January - 5 February AWR (6) 30 January - 12 February ABH (6) 6 - 19 February BM (6), BU (6), HT (6), IC(6), STS (6) 27 February - 5 March LS (6) 27 February - 12 March AWS (6), CTT (6), EN (6), STG (6) 6 - 12 March EM (6) 6 - 19 March MMA (6), SW (6) 13 - 26 March ITS(RM) (6), MT (6) 20 - 26 March AE (3) 20 March - 2 April CE (6), CTR (6), EOD (6), MM (6) 27 March - 2 April AZ (6), IS (6) 27 March - 9 April CS (6) 5. In line with reference (b), nomination waivers with accompanying justification must be approved by NETPDC prior to TYCOM and rating sponsor selections. Due to financial considerations, outside continental United States applications will not be approved at this time. 6. To view the most up-to-date AERR schedule, locate a specific rating point of contact and download the AERR nomination package, log into MyNavy Portal https://www.mnp.navy.mil/ under Professional Resources/Navy Advancement Center/AERR. 7. Point of contact for this matter is the NETPDC Fleet Liaison, (850) 473-6169/DSN 753 or NETPDC_AERR_MAILBOX(at)navy.mil. 8. Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, Jr, N1.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//

WHITE BEACH NAVAL FACILITY, Okinawa – The newest addition to the 7th Fleet is a customizable command-and-control vessel that recently arrived on Okinawa to give Navy and Marine commanders a look at its capabilities. The USS Miguel Keith – a Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary staging base – pulled into White Beach Naval Facility on Oct. 5 and was open to tours by officers of the 7th Fleet and III Marine Expeditionary Force who may one day put the ship to work during humanitarian crises or in battle.

The Navy has recovered the bodies of five sailors who died Aug. 31 when their MH-60S Seahawk helicopter flipped off the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln off the coast of San Diego, Naval Air Forces announced Tuesday. The bodies of Petty Officer 2nd Class James P. Buriak, Petty Officer 2nd Class Sarah F. Burns, Lt. Bradley A. Foster, Lt. Paul R. Fridley and Petty Officer 3rd Class Bailey J. Tucker were recovered Friday with the wreckage of the helicopter about 5,300 feet below the surface, according to a Naval Air Forces statement.

Comprehensive 70pp booklet Quick Start 20pp pamphlet

US Navy officials are already laying the groundwork for the next generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines, drawing on the current fleet to develop a fearsome new boat. "We are looking at the ultimate apex predator for the maritime domain," Vice Adm. Bill Houston said of the new program at a Navy League event in July. Houston is now the head of Naval Submarine Forces, Submarine Force Atlantic, and Allied Submarine Command.

Military Retiree Newsletter

Oct Family Connection Newsletter

The move to Hampton Roads didn’t go that easily for the Bernabe family, and it got worse when their twin son and daughter started kindergarten, virtually, in September 2020. “Within 20 minutes of his first virtual session, there was a loud noise. That was because of another student’s speaker system not being quite calibrated right, and it was very high pitch, and he covered his ears and he hit the floor,” Tosha Bernabe recalled. “He just completely melted down, he freaked out screaming, yelling kicking. It was the first time that he ever got violent with me he began hitting me trying to rip my hair out.”

Nicolas Chaillan served as the US Air Force's software chief and worked on Pentagon security. He quit in September and told the FT last week that the US is far behind China on AI. "We have no competing fighting chance against China in fifteen to twenty years," he said.

We have the thread for FY 23 board going already if you want to check it out. -> https://forum.navyadvancement.com/topic/6652-fy-23-cpo-e7-selection-board/

A Navy nuclear engineer and his wife have been charged with repeatedly trying to pass secrets about U.S. nuclear submarines to a foreign country, in an alleged espionage plot discovered by the FBI, according to court documents. Authorities say Jonathan Toebbe, who has a top-secret clearance, “has passed, and continues to pass, Restricted Data as defined by the Atomic Energy Act . . . to a foreign government . . . with the witting assistance of his spouse, Diana Toebbe,” according to a criminal complaint filed in West Virginia and unsealed Sunday.

Hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members remain unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated against the coronavirus as the Pentagon's first compliance deadlines near, with lopsided rates across the individual services and a spike in deaths among military reservists illustrating how political division over the shots has seeped into a nonpartisan force with unambiguous orders. Overall, the military's vaccination rate has climbed since August, when Defense Department leaders, acting on a directive from President Joe Biden, informed the nation's 2.1 million troops that immunization would become mandatory, exemptions would be rare and those who refuse would be punished. Yet troops' response has been scattershot, according to data assessed by The Washington Post.

WASHINGTON — A U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine that was damaged in a collision with an unknown underwater object in the South China Sea last weekend has arrived in port at Guam, the Navy said Friday. No further details about the circumstances of the collision or the extent of damage to the USS Connecticut were available, but China's Foreign Ministry expressed "serious concern" about what happened.

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Navy League and Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) announced the requirements on Oct. 8, 2021 for applications for the Alaska Sea Services Scholarships for academic year 2022-2023. The program awards up to four $1,000 scholarships annually for undergraduate education to dependent children and spouses of Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel who legally claim Alaska as their state of residence. The scholarships are possible through funds raised by Alaskan citizens for a war bond as a gift to USS Juneau (CL 52) during World War II. After the sinking of Juneau, the governor of the territory of Alaska and the secretary of the Navy agreed to keep the bond monies on deposit until an appropriate application was found. In 1986, the Navy established the Alaska Sea Services fund. “Alaskan citizens originally raised these funds for the Atlanta-class light cruiser USS Juneau,” said Ryan Donaldson, Navy League executive vice president for business operations. “Juneau was integral to the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands but was later sunk at the Battle of Guadalcanal prior to the gift being presented to her crew. Honoring the loss of Juneau’s crew could not be better achieved than through supporting the education of students within her sponsoring state.” Applicants must be the child or spouse of a legal resident of the state of Alaska who is, or was at the time of death or designation as missing-in-action, a Regular or Reserve U.S. Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard member on active duty, inactive duty or retired with or without pay. The Navy League will screen all applications and submit their recommendations to NETC for final consideration and awarding. Selection criteria includes academic proficiency, character, leadership ability, community involvement and financial need. “It is an honor to be a part of the Alaska Sea Services Scholarship,” said Al Sharlow, NETC’s advanced education program coordinator. “We look forward to any opportunity to provide educational opportunities to develop the future of our great nation.” Students must provide proof of acceptance at an accredited college or university for full-time undergraduate study toward a bachelor’s degree. An individual cannot receive more than two scholarship awards during the pursuit of a four-year degree. The Navy League is accepting scholarship applications from Oct. 11, 2021 to March 11, 2022. For additional information and a link to apply for the Alaska Sea Services Scholarship, visit https://www.navyleague.org/programs/scholarships or email scholarships@navyleaque.org

UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 081819Z OCT 21 MID600051024044U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 222/21 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N7// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N7// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N71/OCT// SUBJ/ANNOUNCEMENT OF PHASE II OF THE US NAVAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE PILOT PROGRAM// REF/A/MSG/SECNAV/171700ZJAN20// NARR/REF A IS ALNAV 009/20, SECNAV VECTOR 7.// POC/US NAVAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE/UNIT: ADMISSIONS/TEL: (703) 784-4018// POC/A.GARRETT/CIV/UNIT: /TEL: (703) 784-4018// RMKS/1. Reference (a) directed the formation of the first cohort of Navy and Marine Corps students for enrollment in the United States Naval Community College (USNCC) Pilot program. This NAVADMIN announces phase two of the US Naval Community College (USNCC) pilot program (Pilot 2). The USNCC offers enlisted Sailors and Marines the opportunity to participate in world-class, naval relevant education programs. No tuition fees, mandatory course fees, or other course material costs are incurred by either participating students or parent commands. The FY-22 degree program application window opened on 1 Oct 2021 and will close on 31 Oct 2021. Future application windows will be published on the USNCC website (https://www.usncc.edu/) and on USNCC social media sites. 2. Background: a. Starting in FY22, Pilot 2 offers seven professional concentration areas and the USNCC Naval Studies Certificate. USNCC will continue to evaluate academic programs, learning delivery systems, and student performance while providing students the opportunity to complete online college courses and earn college degrees. The seven professional concentration areas are: (1) Military Studies (2) Cyber Security and Network Administration (3) Nuclear Engineering Technology (4) Data Analytics (5) Organizational Leadership (6) Maritime Logistics (7) Aviation Maintenance Technology b. The USNCC Naval Studies Certificate includes the following five USNCC delivered courses that are incorporated into all USNCC degree programs: (1) Leadership and Ethics (2) Modern Naval History (3) Naval Force Design and Concepts (4) Military-Civil Organization (5) Introduction to the Geopolitical Environment c. Classes will be taught online in an 8 to 15 week course format, depending on the participating colleges schedules and the complexity of the course material. 3. Criteria: a. The USNCC will accept program applications from all enlisted Sailors and Marines subject to the following eligibility preferences: (1) Applicants must be active duty enlisted members of the sea services (Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) in the paygrades of E-1 through E9. First-term service members will be prioritized. All applicants must be available to participate in the college courses online. (2) Applicants must not have previously earned an associate or higher academic degree except as noted in paragraph (3). (3) Students that have previously earned a college degree may apply for the USNCC Naval Studies Certificate. b. Applications of qualified individuals require Commanding Officers (or designated command representative) endorsement. 4. Application Process: More information is available and applications must be submitted via the USNCC website at (https://www.usncc.edu/). The initial application submission period will remain open until 31 October 2021. 5. Selection Notifications: The USNCC will contact accepted applicants regarding their selection status via email in November 2021, with courses to begin in January 2022. 6. The USNCC primary point of contact is Mr. Alphonso Garrett, USNCC Director of Enrollment, at admissions@usncc.usmcu.edu. 7. Request widest dissemination of the above information. Regional and installation Education Specialists are requested to pass this information to all interested personnel at home stations. 8. This message will remain in effect until 30 Sep 2023 or until superseded. 9. Released by VADM J. W. Hughes, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development, N7, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//

The Navy estimates that more than 100,000 sailors served aboard the USS Enterprise during the aircraft carrier's five decades of service. The world's first nuclear-powered flattop, the "Big E" was commissioned in 1961 at Newport News Shipbuilding and was the eighth Navy vessel to bear the name Enterprise. Its service life included nearly every US conflict from the Cold War through the global war on terror. It responded to the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 and was the first to launch strikes in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001.

A US Navy nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine struck an object underwater in the Indo-Pacific earlier this month. The Seawolf-class submarine USS Connecticut was damaged, and an unknown number of sailors were injured. The incident is under investigation.

The US Navy sold two aircraft carriers to a ship-breaking company for 1 cent each after decades of service. The cut-price fee reflects the fact the company will profit from selling the ship metal for scrap, officials said.

Membership list is out and is posted with the quotas, results and other good stuff...

The Biden administration is temporarily relaxing the rules for a student loan forgiveness program that has been criticized for its notoriously complex requirements — a change that could offer debt relief to thousands of military members, teachers, social workers and other public servants. The Education Department said Wednesday it will drop some of the toughest requirements around Public Service Loan Forgiveness, a program that was launched in 2007 to steer more college graduates into public service but, since then, has helped just 5,500 borrowers get their loans erased.

A Marine lieutenant colonel jailed last month after Corps officials said he violated a gag order for issuing social media videos disparaging top American officials and generals has been released from the brig, the service announced.

Senior enlisted Sailors are needed to step up and fill critical billets both at sea and ashore, where their training, leadership and experience are needed right now. This need means many senior Sailors will find themselves packing their seabags very soon to help the Navy raise its warfighting readiness across the fleet. For senior Sailors, now’s the time to act to ensure you have a voice in the process. Announced Sept. 9 in NAVADMIN 202/21, the Navy is now evaluating roughly 2,500 E8 and E9 Sailors currently who are “misaligned” with the billet they are filling. This includes those above their billet paygrade – an E9 in an E8 billet – or those aligned to unfunded billet requirements. The plan is to move misaligned Sailors into billets across the fleet, matching their paygrade expertise and leadership abilities while improving the senior enlisted fit to billets on the deckplates. “This is completely geared toward ensuring our force is ready to fight by placing the right leaders in the right jobs,” said Navy Personnel Command (NPC) Force Master Chief Chris Detje. “Optimization is not simply looking at our newly initiated chiefs and moving those in excess. We are examining operational gaps and we are going to place the right leaders in those jobs, based on paygrade alignment.” Wasting no time, personnel officials plan to begin this migration with transfers early in Fiscal Year 2022. Underway is a billet scrub that will locate all misaligned senior enlisted Sailors around the fleet and identifying the critical billets where their skills are needed. Navy Personnel Command is not doing this alone, but with the full help and support of the fleet commanders. Also working hard on the issue are personnel staffs from the FleetReadiness Integrators, Type Commanders and Budget Submitting Offices. “Sailors who know they’re in a misaligned status can step up and take a role in determining where they will go,” Detje said.” They can also step up and be a part of the process. “If a Sailor knows they are in a misaligned billet, they need to start preparing as if they know they are headed back to sea or an operationally critical shore billet.,” he said. “A proactive approach would be to have that conversation at home now so that no one is surprised around the beginning of the new year – we will be placing our senior and master chiefs where they are needed.” Navy chief petty officers have traditionally been considered the “Backbone of the Fleet.” Command Master Chief (SW/AW) Bill Houlihan, senior enlisted Sailor in NPC’s Career Management Department (PERS-4) said there is a risk of those words ringing hollow if, during the Strategic Competition, the Navy isn’t placing its most experienced leaders in the jobs they are needed most. “We, as a Mess, can’t rally around the CPO Creed and refuse to acknowledge one of the most important parts of it. More is expected of our senior enlisted leaders. More is demanded, by our Navy and our Sailors,” he said “There are gaps at sea and jobs billeted for master chiefs and senior chiefs currently being filled by chiefs or first class petty officers. Technical and institutional expertise is one of our CPO guiding principles -- we need that expertise at sea where it belongs – and being provided by leaders earmarked for those jobs.” For more details or to register for the manning summit, read NAVADMIN 202/21 at www.mynavyhr.navy.mil

WASHINGTON — All Defense Department civilian employees must be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by Nov. 22, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said in a memorandum issued Monday. While seven weeks remain until the deadline, Defense Department employees only have until Nov. 8 to receive their final shots. The Pentagon does not consider a person fully vaccinated until two weeks after the last shot in the series is administered.