Tony

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — New imagery, supplied by the U.S. Navy Naval Sea System Command Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, shows the wreckage resting at the bottom of the river where the Francis Scott Key Bridge once stood.

WASHINGTON — The Navy today released a rare public accounting of major delays for key shipbuilding programs, with ships from nine programs running behind, in some cases up to three years.

The MQ-4C’s arrival to the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations marks the second forward-deployed detachment for VUP-19. A total of three detachments are planned when the program is fully operational. Deployments like this enhance U.S. Navy interoperability with NATO Allies and partners.

A fire broke out in the engine room of the USNS Sgt. William R. Button (T-AK-3012), leaving it stranded off the coast of Dauphin Island in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday. Sgt. William R. Button is a Military Sealift Command ship. It was conducting routine operations at the time of the fire, MST spokesman Thomas Van Leunen told USNI News in a statement.

The Navy should “go back to the front end,” thinking about the people needed for building, crewing and maintaining vessels, not just potential threats, a senior naval analyst advised Thursday. Speaking at the Woodrow Wilson Center, Ronald O’Rourke of the Congressional Research Service said “the Navy is facing challenges … in pretty much everything.”

Shifting Colors - Spring-Summer 2024

Retiree Newsletter - March 2024

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 010001Z APR 24 MID120000995358U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 068/24 MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/CNO/APR/ SUBJ/CPO BIRTHDAY MESSAGE// RMKS/1. Today is a time of reflection. As you go about your day, we ask that all of you wearing anchors contemplate and reflect upon yourself as a leader, a Sailor, and as a person. Our Navy depends on you to ensure that our Sailors are prepared to fight and win when challenged. The tone of your command and the tone on the deck plate is established by your actions and the standards you set and adhere to. You create a culture that breeds warfighting, professionalism, and positivity. You should always ask yourself, "Are your Sailors ready?" Are they prepared in mind, body, and spirit? Are you preparing our future leaders to answer our nation's call? Are you ready? 2. You are humble servants to our great Nation, our Navy, and your Sailors. You are the driving force that creates and empowers great people, great leaders, and great teams. You are relied upon to always be forward leaning, anticipate problems before they occur, and pivot at a moment's notice. Today is no different. 3. Today is a day for renewed dedication; to grade yourself, to correct weaknesses and build upon your strengths. Today of all days is the time to assess your technical skills, qualifications, foresight, and preparedness. It is critical to be honest with yourself both professionally and personally. Ask yourself if you are doing everything you need to be doing to self-assess, hold yourself accountable, and hold yourselves accountable as a collective Mess. 4. As you don your anchors today, take time to reflect on the 131 years of the privilege to serve. Take a brief moment to celebrate the enduring legacy of Chief Petty Officers and those that have gone before you, then get back to the deck plate and do what you all do best - lead. 5. Released by ADM L. M. Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations and MCPON J. Honea, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

American submarines will further extend their advantage in the undersea domain. In the first of a kind, the U.S. Navy has fitted a new form of propulsion, magnetohydrodynamic drive (MHD), to a Virginia class submarine. This promises to make the submarine virtually undetectable, the holy grail of naval warfare. The Magnetohydrodynamic drive is being developed under the PUMP program by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), first reported in 2023. Water passing through it is accelerated by means of a magnetic field using superconducting magnets. This is often likened to the way a caterpillar crawls leading to the colloquial term ‘caterpillar drive’.

Three Navy barges arrived Friday at Baltimore Harbor to assist in removing the remains of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge from the Patapsco River. The 1,000-ton lift capacity derrick barge Chesapeakem the 200-ton lift capacity revolving crane barge Ferrell and the 150-ton lift capacity crane barge Oyster Bay have been contracted through Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and are being used to remove submerged portions of the bridge, according to a Navy news release. The bridge collapsed early Tuesday following a freighter collision. Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2024-03-31/navy-barges-baltimore-bridge-collapse-13461242.html Source - Stars and Stripes

Late yesterday, the Missile Defense Agency, U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin successfully conducted an intercept of an advanced Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) test target utilizing the Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Dual II with Software Upgrade (SWUP). Flight Test Aegis Weapon System (FTM) 32, or Stellar Laelaps, demonstrated the capability to detect, track, engage, and intercept an MRBM target in the terminal phase of flight culminating in a live intercept by an Aegis Baseline 9 equipped ship.

For the second day in a row, U.S. forces in the Middle East took out a wave of attack drones launched over the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. local time on Thursday, U.S. forces engaged and destroyed four attack drones that “were aimed at a Coalition vessel and a U.S. warship,” according to U.S. Central Command.

A group of Royal Navy sailors have been arrested on suspicion of stealing iPads, video games and laptops to order before selling them. The seven sailors were led away from their ship the HMS Middleton in handcuffs after being accused of raiding a duty-free electronics store on a US military base in Bahrain. The group, which includes a chef and a communications officer, allegedly used security alarm-proof bags to snatch the items.

Update: Leader of SEAL Group 8 fired after DWI arrest

Update: Navy lieutenant commander arrested, charged with paying for sex with 14-year-old boy Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2024-03-29/navy-lieutenant-commander sex-teenage-boy-13451876.html Source - Stars and Stripes

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 291550Z MAR 24 MID120000991800U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN COMMARFORCOM COMMARCORSYSCOM LCES QUANTICO VA INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS SUBJ/CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS FIRST QUARTER FY24 GOLD DISK AWARDEES// NAVADMIN 067/24// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC //N8//MAR// REF/A/JFMM VOLUME VI, CHAPTER 8// AMPN/REF A IS THE JOINT FLEET MAINTENANCE MANUAL 2M ELECTRONIC REPAIR CHAPTER// REMARKS/1. In 1997 the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Logistics) implemented a CNO Gold Disk Awards Program. This program was designed to encourage fleet personnel in the maritime community to develop gold disk test routines and repair circuit card assemblies and electronic modules. The resulting benefits have resulted in improved operational readiness of a wide range of C5I and HM&E systems in addition to significantly improved OPTAR cost avoidance. The award consists of a Letter of Commendation signed by Deputy CNO for Integration of Capabilities and Resources and a military cash award of up to five thousand dollars. 2. The cash award criteria is a graduated dollar value dependent upon cost avoidance thresholds. The award program not only rewards the top repair technician, but every technician that meets the following quarterly cost avoidance thresholds: $150K to $199K of cost avoidance yields a $2k award $200K to $249K of cost avoidance yields a $3k award $250K to $299K of cost avoidance yields a $4k award $300K and over of cost avoidance yields a $5k award 3. The CNO Gold Disk Awards Program is administered by the NAVSEA Miniature Microminiature Module Test and Repair (2M MTR) Program Manager. FLEET 2M MTR policy and responsibilities are contained in reference(A). Gold Disk awardees are selected by an awards board at NUWC DETACHMENT field engineering office in Norfolk. THE MTR engineering agents selection is based on 2M repair metrics submitted in the module test and repair tracking system or verification of recently submitted Gold Disk test routines. 4. I am proud to announce the 1st Quarter FY24 awardees: (read in two columns) ET1 ADAM BARBER USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER (CVN 69) ET1 NICOLE CARR SERMC JACKSONVILLE FL ET2 REESE CASTRO MARMC NORFOLK VA IC2 JUNIOR DUCATEL SWRMC SAN DIEGO CA ET2 KYLE HARMON MARMC NORFOLK VA ET2 ADAM HONG USS THE SULLIVANS (DDG 68) ET2 ALEXANDER MACKENZIE USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER (CVN 69) IC2 FERNANN MENDOZA USS WINSTON S CHURCHILL (DDG 81) ET2 GUILLERMO MENDOZA MARMC NORFOLK VA ET2 STEVEN PEREZ USS DONALD COOK (DDG 75) ET2 WINSTON WYLIE MARMC NORFOLK VA ET3 NATHAN ALBRIGHT USS GERALD R FORD (CVN 78) ET3 AZRIELLA CESTRO USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER (CVN 69) CPL JAMES DEFREESE ELMACO 2D MAINT BN CLR 25 ET3 BRADLEY DORTON MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL CAL CENTER CPL RENON VASH ELMACO 2D MAINT BN CLR 25 5. NUWC DET FEO Norfolk POC is Mr. Scott Doherty, 2M MTR and Gold Disk Fleet Coordinator, 757-396-0800 EXT 5308, DSN 386-5308 or via e-mail, SCOTT.P.DOHERTY2.CIV(at)US.NAVY.MIL The NAVSEA 2M MTR PM, is Mr. Richard R. Stark, COMM 850 207-6985 or via e- mail RICHARD.R.STARK.CIV(AT)US.NAVY.MIL 6. Released by Neil W. T. Hogg, SES, Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, N8B.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

The Navy rolled out a new effort this month to reframe Navy culture and provide leaders the right tools to understand their sailors better.

A Navy warship took out four long-range air drones that were headed toward the vessel early Wednesday in the Red Sea, according to U.S. Central Command. The command did not identify the ship involved, and multiple Navy destroyers have spent recent months there intercepting drones and missiles on a near-daily basis that were fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

U.S. Naval War College (NWC) offers four professional military education (PME) courses delivered via the My Navy Portal (MNP) for officers, enlisted and Department of Navy civilians. These courses are designed to provide learners with a 24/7 worldwide PME experience at milestones in their careers. Introductory PME Enlisted - E1 to E4 Basic PME Enlisted - E5 to E6 Primary PME Senior Enlisted - E7 to E9 Online Professional Military Education

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 282028Z MAR 24 MID120000989890U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 065/24 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/MAR// SUBJ/NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE ACCESSION BONUS FOR CHIEF WARRANT OFFICERS IN DESIGNATORS 7151 AND 7171// REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/231313ZMAR20// REF/B/DOC/TITLE 37 U.S.C.// REF/C/DOC/ASN MRA/23FEB24/ REF/D/DOC/OPNAV/1APR19// REF/E/DOC/DOD/16JUL16// NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 081/20, RENEWAL OF THE NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER ACCESSION BONUS FOR DESIGNATORS 7151 AND 7171. REF B IS TITLE 37, U.S.C., PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES. REF C IS THE ASN MRA AUTHORIZATION OF THE CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER ACCESSION BONUS PROGRAM. REF D IS OPNAVINST 1160.8C, SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS PROGRAM. REF E IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION 7000.14, VOLUME 7A, CHAPTER 2, REPAYMENT OF UNEARNED PORTION OF BONUSES AND OTHER BENEFITS.// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the renewal of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Accession Bonus (AB) and this NAVADMIN supersedes reference (a). Accessing NSW CWOs is a priority for the Navy. The NSW CWO AB is part of the Navy's overarching effort to size, shape, and stabilize the NSW force. Special warfare operators and special warfare combat crewmen selected for CWO that meet the eligibility criteria in this NAVADMIN may apply. 2. Program Overview. This bonus is authorized under Section 332 of reference (b) and reference (c). Effective 23 February 2024, eligible CWO selectees may apply for a bonus level of $45,000 for accepting a commission and serving on Active Duty in designators 7151 and 7171 for a 4-year bonus obligated service period. The initial commissioned service obligation for CWO is 6 years and will run concurrent with the bonus obligation. The Naval Special Warfare Plans and Policy Branch (OPNAV N137) is designated as the NSW CWO AB Program Manager. Applicants should submit applications for this bonus to the program manager for approval, payment processing and tracking prior to their commissioning date. The eligibility criteria stated in this NAVADMIN can change at any time by the program manager if a bonus reduction is warranted based on the needs of the NSW community. 3. Eligibility. Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria: a. Applicants must be Active Duty Service Members selected by a Navy CWO selection board for commissioning in designators 7151 or 7171 and accept an appointment to CWO. b. Applicants must receive their Commanding Officer's (CO) written endorsement. COs must ensure applications are accurate and verify applicants meet eligibility requirements. c. CWO selectees who accept an appointment to CWO, and who are currently on a NSW Critical Skills Retention Bonus (CSRB) contract or SEAL/SWCC Senior Enlisted Retention Bonus (SSRB) contract are ineligible to receive or apply for a NSW CWO AB. d. Upon release of Navy CWO selection NAVADMIN, Special Warfare Operators and Special Warfare Combat Crewmen selected and have contracted service under a Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) will have future SRB payments suspended in line with reference (d). If an application is accepted for CWO appointment, all suspended and future SRB payments are forfeited. The command must coordinate with the servicing Transaction Support Center to submit a defense workload operations web system transaction to defense finance and accounting services to suspend all future SRB annual installments effective the date of commissioning. This action must be taken no later than 45 days prior to the commissioning date to ensure adequate processing lead- time to prevent overpayment. Any SRB annual installments disbursed after the commissioning date will be recouped. e. If applicable, the NSW CWO AB service obligation for the Service Member will start after completion of their SRB obligated service period for which they were previously paid. 4. Contract Terms. Qualified applicants will receive a $45,000 bonus and will incur a 4-year Active Duty bonus service obligation from the date of commission, or from the end of SRB service obligation, whichever is longer. NSW CWO AB agreement obligations will run concurrently with any obligated service the officer has incurred for education or fellowships such as higher education. 5. Program Execution a. Applicants must submit their NSW CWO AB request letter, via their chain of command, to the program manager prior to their commissioning date. b. Upon acceptance of an officer's agreement, the amount of the bonus becomes fixed and the officer incurs a firm service obligation. c. Service Members will receive the bonus in a lump sum payment. 6. Application Process a. Eligible NSW CWO selectees may apply for the NSW CWO AB via their CO to the NSW CWO AB program manager. Submit application via encrypted e-mail at SEAL_OCM@navy.mil. b. Applicants may submit their application early. However, payments will not be made until all eligibility criteria are met. 7. Recoupment and Repayment Policy. Repayment policy is governed under Section 373 of reference (b), and reference (e). A Service Member of the uniformed services that enters into a written agreement with specified service conditions for receipt of a bonus is entitled to the full amount of the bonus if the Service Member fulfills the conditions of that written agreement. If the Service Member fails to fulfill the service conditions specified in the written agreement for the pay, then the pay may be terminated, and the Service Member may be required to repay an amount equal to the unearned portion of the pay. 8. Point of Contact. The primary point of contact for NSW CWO AB program management is OPNAV N137 at (703)604-5008 or via e-mail at SEAL_OCM@navy.mil. 9. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or 23 February 2028, whichever occurs first. 10. Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

Tricare Bulletin - How TRICARE Covers Durable Medical Equipment

Three years after Secretary Denis McDonough promised that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs would begin covering gender-affirming surgery, that commitment has still not been met. And as anti-trans legislation continues to sweep the country, transgender veterans say they see the latest delays by VA as further evidence of politically motivated bias against their community. “The community has done our job, we have served our country, we have earned the benefits that we have through VA; it’s not our fault that Congress and Capitol Hill can’t stop fighting about whether or not we should even be alive,” said Lindsay Church, executive director of Minority Veterans of America. “All we want is access to care.”

The military’s approach to preventing fatigue is fragmented and requires greater oversight to prevent potentially fatal accidents and help sleep-deprived service members, a government watchdog agency said this week. Dedicated leadership at the Pentagon and in each service is needed to oversee progress combatting the issue, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released Tuesday. Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2024-03-27/fatigue-crash-accountability-report-13438970.html Source - Stars and Stripes

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 281442Z MAR 24 MID120000988535U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 063/24 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/MAR// SUBJ/FY-25 ACTIVE-DUTY NAVY NUCLEAR LIMITED DUTY OFFICER IN-SERVICE PROCUREMENT SELECTION BOARD RESULTS// REF/A/DOC/MANMED/20FEB19// AMPN/REF A IS NAVMED P 117, MANUAL OF MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.// RMKS/1. Congratulations to selectees of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Active- Duty Navy Nuclear Limited Duty Officer (LDO) In-Service Procurement (ISP) Selection Board. 2. For LDO selectees, read name, commissioning month/year. All appointments are effective on the first day of the commissioning month. Members are directed to verify their select status via BUPERS Online. LIMITED DUTY OFFICER ENSIGN NUCLEAR POWER - 620X Abbott Brennan A 0925 Abernathy Tabitha Maria 1224 Aponterosa Jon L 0825 Barrantes Thomas A 1124 Bradley Christopher E Jr 0525 Bradleymoore William A 1224 Brown Brent Daniel 1024 Bryson Ammon Lee 1124 Burkhart Kaitlynn Rae 0925 Campbell Timothy Scott 0525 Cassidy Taylor Joseph 0825 Collins Dominic R II 0825 Conwell Branden Michael 0525 Cook Jacob Lee 0825 Escobar Godofredo E 1124 Fitzgerald Jeremy Don 1224 Gathof Cory Alexander 0825 Gimmarro Nicolas Tyler 0825 Huber Cole Harrison 0425 Kaisi Zachary Ryan 0525 Lewis Beau David 1124 Lewis William M Jr 1024 Lord John Michael 0525 Mah Zachary James N 0325 Markel Christopher D 0225 Mather Scotie Lyn 1124 Metcalf Donald John 1124 Mitchell Tyler John 1224 Morrell Matthew R 0225 Oneil Tyler Michael 0425 Pierce Joseph W 0925 Raybon Noah Thomas Jr 1123 Ridgley Easton R 0325 Rios Marcus Anthony 1024 Ritter Travis Lane 1224 Sackmann Allan R 0225 Schauer James Joseph 0925 Schmitt Jamie Paul 0425 Shelton Jeffrey E Jr 1024 Sloan Stefan Bryan 1224 Thole Isaac James 0325 Williams Luke Gipson 0425 3. Each applicant should take pride in knowing that the superior performance documented in the evaluations reviewed by the board required the members to dedicate long hours in making hard choices to ensure only the best and fully qualified applicants were selected. I am confident that each selectee will justify their selection time and again in their new career as naval officers. Those not selected are highly encouraged to seek out an LDO/Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) in your area for advice on ways to grow professionally and improve opportunity for future selection. Bravo Zulu to all who were willing to answer the call. 4. This message is not authority to issue appointments. Frocking is prohibited. COMNAVPERSCOM (PERS-806) will deliver appointments to MyNavy Career Center (MNCC) Millington approximately 60 days prior to the commissioning date. MNCC will forward appointments to the Transaction Service Center (TSC) Great Lakes, who will distribute directly to the respective CPPAs. TSC Great Lakes will also process the conversion from enlisted to officer status for LDOs and CWOs, for all commands other than those who have the ability to process their own (CVN, SPECWAR, etc.). TSC Great Lakes can be contacted directly at the below email address. 5. Commanding Officers are directed to: a. Notify selectee. b. Notify PERS-803 via official correspondence no later than 10 days following release of this message of selectees who do not accept appointment. Selectees who decline their commission within this 10 day period will be considered by the FY-25 Enlisted Selection Boards. After the 10 day period, PERS-802 will invalidate all FY-25 Active-Duty Navy Nuclear LDO ISP Selection Board selectees eligibility for the FY-25 Active-Duty Enlisted Selection Boards. c. Per reference (a), ensure LDO selectees obtain a commissioning physical within 90 days preceding the appointment month. Notify the Nuclear LDO detailer (PERS-422B) upon completion. d. Hold execution of all permanent change of station orders in abeyance, if applicable, and immediately notify PERS-40 of member's selection. e. Administer an official Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) within four months of commissioning date. Selectees must hand carry test results to Officer Indoctrination School, Newport, RI. If selectee fails to achieve satisfactory medium, notify Nuclear LDO detailer (PERS-422B). Hold commissioning in abeyance until successful completion of PFA. f. Hold appointment in abeyance if it is determined that a selectee is no longer mentally, physically, morally, or professionally qualified or if they fail to meet current PFA requirements. Immediately forward documentation citing reason to PERS-803. 6. If a Nuclear LDO selectee's enlistment (including any extensions) expires after the date of appointment, they are not reenlistment eligible unless appointment is declined. 7. Each selectee should contact the Nuclear LDO officer detailer (PERS-422B) for submission requirements in regards to personal information and history cards, and inform PERS-806 of address changes to facilitate appointment delivery. 8. Points of Contact a. PERS-422B point of contact for Nuclear LDO ISP Selection Board, issues/questions is LT Karl Martin at (901) 874 3938/DSN 882. b. PERS-806 point of contact for issuance of oath and commissioning documents issues/questions is Mrs. Alda Boster, at (901) 874 4374/DSN 882 or email at officer_appt.fct@navy.mil. c. MNCC point of contact for distribution of oath and commissioning documents is askmncc@navy.mil. d. TSC Great Lakes point of contact for oath of office distribution and conversion questions is M_GRLK_TSCEOPP@navy.mil. 9. Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

The Navy is leading salvage efforts to clear and re-open the channel leading to the Port of Baltimore following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, service officials told USNI News on Thursday. Naval Sea Systems Command supervisor of salvage and diving is supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Unified Command, led by the Coast Guard, reads a statement provided to USNI News. The Coast Guard and its multiple Maryland and federal partners established the Unified Command Wednesday after cargo ship MV Dali, struck Baltimore’s Key Bridge Tuesday morning, causing the bridge to collapse. Six construction workers who were on the bridge died.