Tony

HONOLULU — A U.S. Navy officer stationed in Hawaii said in a lawsuit that he can’t get a gun permit because he sought counseling for feeling depressed and homesick. Michael Santucci’s lawsuit is the latest challenge to Hawaii’s gun ownership restrictions. His lawsuit focuses on a state law that allows access to an applicant’s medical records in determining whether someone should be allowed to own a gun, which his lawyers say is unique to Hawaii.

(Tribune News Service) — The Navy and Hawaii’s state Department of Health are working to validate the detection of lead contamination at a school and a house at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The first water sample found to have elevated levels of lead came from an indoor staff bathroom sink at the Montessori Center and was collected on March 22, the Navy said in a news release today. The Navy on Saturday notified the DOH of the contamination at the school sink.

UNCLASSIFIED ROUTINE R 071522Z APR 22 MID200001642168U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN CMC WASHINGTON DC INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 091/22 MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N2N6/APR// SUBJ/2022 NAVAL INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AWARDS SOLICITATION// REF/A/DOC/OPNAV/06DEC17// REF/B/DOC/COMNAVIFORES/21DEC18// NARR/REF A IS OPNAVINST 1650.26E, NAVAL INTELLIGENCE AWARDS PROGRAM. REF B IS COMNAVIFORESINST 1650.4P, POLICY AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING MILITARY AWARDS AND RECOGNITION PROGRAM.// POC/GREWE/CIV/NIA-N1/EMAIL: THOMAS.B.GREWE.CIV(AT)US.NAVY.MIL// POC/GUESS/CIV/NIA-N1/EMAIL: MICHAEL.D.GUESS.CIV(AT)US.NAVY.MIL// RMKS/1. Reference (a) is the Naval Intelligence Awards Program that recognizes excellence and outstanding achievement in Naval Intelligence, and covers recognition details for each award. This NAVADMIN builds on guidance provided in references (a) and (b) and solicits nominations. a. Rear Admiral Thomas A. Brooks Intelligence Junior Officer of the Year Award recognizes junior officers for their leadership, performance, special accomplishments, and overall contribution to command efficiency, morale, and welfare while serving on both sea and shore duty. Active and Reserve Component Naval Intelligence officers (183X/683X) O-1 through O-3 are eligible. Two Active or Reserve Component junior officers will be selected; one each for the sea duty and shore duty categories. b. Commander Dan F. Shanower Intelligence Specialist of the Year Award recognizes Intelligence Specialists for their performance, leadership, special accomplishments, and overall contribution to command efficiency, morale, and welfare. Active and Reserve Component Intelligence Specialists in pay grades E-1 through E-5 are eligible to compete for the Junior Intelligence Specialist of the Year award. Active and Reserve Component Intelligence Specialists in pay grade E-6, including those frocked to E-6 during the eligibility period, are eligible to compete for the Senior Intelligence Specialist of the Year award. A total of four Active or Reserve Component Intelligence Specialists will be selected; one junior and one senior Intelligence Specialist of the Year for each of the sea duty and shore duty categories. c. Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Award for Leadership recognizes leadership from deserving Active or Reserve Component officer, enlisted, or civilian personnel who exemplify excellence and exceptional dedication to duty within the Naval Intelligence Community. Active and Reserve Component Naval Intelligence officers (183X/683X) in grades O-4 through O-6, Intelligence CWOs (783X) in grades CWO-3 through CWO-5, Intelligence Specialists in grades E-7 through E-9, and civilians GS-13 through GS-15 (or equivalent) are eligible. Two candidates will be selected for this award; one Active or civilian candidate, and one Reserve Component candidate. d. Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Award for Excellence in Intelligence Instruction recognizes Intelligence instructors who embody the time-honored principles which Vice Admiral Taylor exemplified throughout his career: desire for professional knowledge, intellectual curiosity, initiative, enthusiasm, ability to command respect and motivate others, devotion to duty, effective communication skills, and personal and intellectual integrity. Active and Reserve Component U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps service members serving as instructors, faculty, or staff at Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC), Virginia Beach and IWTC, San Diego are eligible. Two candidates will be selected; one each from IWTC, Virginia Beach and IWTC, San Diego. e. Rear Admiral Edwin T. Layton Award for Leadership and Mentorship recognizes outstanding leadership and mentorship in the furtherance of Naval Intelligence performance. Active and Reserve Component Naval Intelligence officers (183X/683X) in grades O-4 through O-6, Intelligence CWOs (783X) in grades CWO-3 through CWO-5, and Intelligence Specialists in grades E-6 through E-9 are eligible. There is no set number of awards to be given each year. f. Herman Dworkin Award for Maritime Analytic Excellence recognizes a civilian or military analyst working maritime issues who displays an exceptional work ethic and analytical expertise. Active and Reserve Component Naval Intelligence officers (183X/683X) in grades O-3 through O-5, Intelligence CWOs (783X) in grades CWO-2 through CWO-5, and civilians GS-12 through GS-14 (or equivalent) are eligible. Nominees must have at least ten years of experience in the field of maritime intelligence analysis and be currently analytically active. One candidate will be selected for this award. 2. The eligibility period for all intelligence awards is 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. 3. Submission requirements are outlined in references (a) and (b). Nomination packages must be unclassified, and should strictly follow the nomination template that is posted to the Navy Information Warfare Outreach page on MilSuite at https://www.milsuite.mil/book/docs/DOC- 244835 (Common Access Card email certificate login required). This template accounts for all information and enclosures required per reference (a). The template does not require the use of social security numbers or other sensitive Personally-Identifiable Information (PII). Commands shall avoid including unnecessary PII in nomination packages. Recent fitness reports, evaluations, or awards are not required in nomination packages and shall not be included in submissions. 4. Submission instructions. All nomination packages must be submitted as a single .pdf file. With two exceptions (listed below), the nominees current command must forward all award nomination packages to Mr. Thomas Grewe at thomas.b.grewe.civ(at)us.navy.mil via encrypted email. Please copy Mr. Michael Guess at michael.d.guess.civ(at)us.navy.mil. All emails must have the award name and last name of the nominee in the subject line. If unable to send encrypted emails, utilize DoD Secure Access File Exchange (SAFE) website at https://safe.apps.mil/. a. Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Award for Leadership, Reserve Component nominations were solicited separately via ForceConnect and were due to Commander, Naval Information Force Reserve (COMNAVIFORES) on 15 February 2022. Questions regarding COMNAVIFORES Awards can be addressed to YNCS Shergala Brockett at NIFR_ALL_AWARDS(at)navy.mil. b. Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor Award for Excellence in Intelligence Instruction nominations. Forward all packages to appropriate IWTC POCs via encrypted email. POC for IWTC, Virginia Beach is Mr. Larry Banks, email: larry.l.banks.civ(at)us.navy.mil. POCs for IWTC, San Diego are LT Elizabeth Powers, email: elizabeth.h.powers1(at)navy.mil and LT Jonathan Hilzinger, email: jonathan.j.hilzinger.mil(at)us.navy.mil. 5. All packages must be submitted no later than 60 days from the release date of this message. 6. Incomplete packages or packages failing to meet all guidance as outlined in this message and reference (a) will not be considered. Late submissions will not be accepted. Classified nomination packages will not be accepted. 7. Released by VADM Jeffrey E. Trussler, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare, OPNAV N2N6.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aerial refueling is set to deploy on an aircraft carrier in 2026, a service official said on Tuesday. Vice Adm. Kevin Whitesell told a panel at the Sea Air Space 2022 symposium that the service was on track to reach initial operational capability for the MQ-25As by 2025 and deploy the aircraft on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) by 2026.

UNCLASSIFIED ROUTINE R 061652Z APR 22 MID200001639510U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 089/22 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/APR// SUBJ/UPDATE TO CAREER INTERMISSION PROGRAM// REF/A/DOC/SEC 521 PUBLIC LAW 117-81/27DEC21// REF/B/DOC/OPNAV/12MAR18// NARR/REF A IS SECTION 521 OF S. 1605, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022. REF B IS OPNAVINST 1330.2C, NAVY CAREER INTERMISSION PROGRAM GUIDELINES.// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces a legislative revision to the Navy Career Intermission Program (CIP). Reference (a) reduces the CIP service commitment, specifically, that CIP participants will payback one month, instead of two, for every month of program participation. This applies to all applications made after 27 December 2021. 2. The program changes announced by this NAVADMIN will be incorporated into the next revision to reference (b). More information can be found at https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career- Management/Reserve-Personnel-Mgmt/IRR/Career-Intermission/.aspx. 3. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or canceled, whichever occurs first. 4. Point of contact is the CIP manager at CIP(at)navy.mil. 5. Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, Jr, N1.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//

According to Northrop Grumman, the Mark 44 is slated to replace the Mark 38 25mm autocannons aboard select U.S. Navy ships and U.S. Coast Guard Cutters for the 30mm autocannon’s added benefits for increased lethality, range, programmable air bursting ammunition, an improved sensor, and gun automation, and to keep up with NATO and allied countries adopting the 30mm caliber. In addition, the Mark 44 is slated to arm the U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle in the form of a 30mm turret (ACV-30).

ATLANTIC OCEAN - USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) completed its Flight Deck Certification (FDC) and Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) certification on March 29. Once out to sea, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, E-2D Hawkeyes, and MH-60S Nighthawks assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 conducted operations to prove the ship’s and crew’s capabilities. To achieve certification, Ford conducted more than 400 day and night catapult launches and trap recoveries. Prior to getting underway, Ford’s air department was evaluated on its ability to respond to flight deck emergencies and firefighting. “Ford and Carrier Air Wing 8 were meticulous during the whole certification evolution,” said Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain Mate (Equipment) Carl Higdon, the air department’s leading chief petty officer. “Every Sailor aboard contributed to our success of the mission. I’m really proud to be a part of this team.” Following flight deck certification, flight operations continued to keep pilots’ carrier qualifications and proficiency current, demonstrating Ford’s contribution to air wing and fleet readiness through capabilities provided by the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launching System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG). “Flight deck certification is a significant milestone in preparation for our first deployment,” said Capt. Paul Lanzilotta, Ford’s Commanding Officer. “We have more tests and evaluations to complete during our next underway periods, and I have no doubt that our Sailors will rise to the challenge and accomplish the mission.” Ford will head underway again this month for additional milestone events that will prepare the ship for a scheduled deployment later this year. “We put our first-in-class warship to the test and our crew delivered,” said Lanzilotta. “From the air controllers and flight deck crews, to the catapult and arresting gear teams, our crew showed a level of professionalism that enabled a successful air wing integration with Carrier Air Wing 8. The best part, I think, is seeing our teammates from Carrier Air Wing 8 come aboard and fit right in with our enthusiastic and motivated approach to getting the job done. I look forward to seeing what we can do together in the coming months.” USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the first of the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers and represents the first major design investment in aircraft carriers since the 1960s. Ford’s flight deck certification and carrier qualifications are part of the basic training phase prior to the ship’s first deployment.

UNCLASSIFIED ROUTINE R 051357Z APR 22 MID200001635592U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 087/22 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/APR// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2022 ENLISTED TO MEDICAL DEGREE PREPARATORY PROGRAM SELECTION BOARD RESULTS// REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/292140ZJUL21// REF/B/DOC/BUMED/7MAY15// REF/C/DOC/COMNAVPERSCOM/18AUG02// NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 162/21, FY-22 ENLISTED TO MEDICAL DEGREE PREPARATORY PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT. REF B IS BUMEDINST 1500.31, UNIFORMED SERVICES UNIVERSITY OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES ENLISTED TO MEDICAL DEGREE PREPARATORY PROGRAM. REF C IS MILPERSMAN ARTICLE 1306-604, ACTIVE OBLIGATED SERVICE FOR SERVICE SCHOOLS.// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the results of the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY-22) Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program (EMDP2) from reference (a), which solicited applications for the FY-22 EMDP2. 2. In line with reference (b), EMDP2 is a two-year undergraduate education program open to enlisted personnel of all ratings who meet eligibility requirements. EMDP2 is a partnership between the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) and the Armed Services to provide an opportunity for highly-motivated, academically-promising enlisted Service Members. EMDP2 consists of intensive coursework, preparation and mentoring to prepare students for application to medical school. Upon completion of the program, successful students will be competitive for acceptance to U.S. medical schools. 3. Congratulations to the following Service Members who were selected to participate in the EMDP2 beginning 1 July 2022: NameRate Crawford, KiiaCTM1 Cuestas, JoshuaHM2 Day, RyanHM2 Dhillon, AvkulHM1 Dimick, VictoriaHM2 Matthews, KevinHM2 Olmstead, Makinna CTI2 4. This message is not authority to issue appointments. Selectees will receive permanent change of station (PCS) orders to USUHS and all school expenses (i.e., books, tuition, labs, etc.) will be paid by USUHS for the entire length of the course. EMDP2 participants who complete program requirements but fail to obtain acceptance to a medical school, or who are disenrolled from the program, will be detailed at the discretion of Navy Personnel Command (NPC). 5. Commanding officers are directed to: a. Notify selectees. b. For selectees who decline, notify the point of contact provided in paragraph 8. c. Hold in abeyance execution of PCS for selectees in receipt of orders. d. Notify the enlisted community manager of the selection. e. Ensure selectees obligate service for 60 months from the convening date of the program, in line with reference (c). 6. Many superb applications were reviewed by the selection board and competition was robust. Those individuals selected shared the following common characteristics in their application packages as observed by the selection board: a. Met all program requirements. b. Competitive cumulative grade point average. c. Demonstrated outstanding performance on prerequisite standardized testing. d. Compelling appraisal recommendations. e. Strong, authentic commanding officer endorsement. f. Sustained superior professional performance. 7. Individuals not selected are strongly encouraged to continue working toward their professional goals and reapply as eligible. 8. Point of contact is HMCS Aimee J. Granger, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, at (703) 681-8944/DSN 664 or via e-mail at aimee.j.granger.mil(at)mail.mil. 9. Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell Jr., N1.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED// https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/NAVADMIN/NAV2022/NAV22087.txt?ver=Queue7k0wsv-oT4-kU-Ecg%3d%3d

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy released the names of the 24 ships it hopes to decommission in fiscal 2023, eight of which have reached the end of their planned service life and 16 of which would be retired early to save money on ships that the service views as not worth their rising costs. The Navy would like to decommission four Ticonderoga-class cruisers at the end of their 35-year service; two Los Angeles-class attack submarines at the end of their 33-year service lives; and two Kaiser-class oilers at the end of their 35-year service lives.

BREMERTON, Wash. — Two U.S. Navy personnel suffered non-life-threatening injuries in an accident aboard a nuclear ballistic missile submarine docked at a maintenance facility at Puget Sound in Washington state, the Navy said.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The state Department of Health and Navy are investigating after about 30 gallons of a fuel and water mixture was released from a maintenance line connected to a tank at the Red Hill fuel storage facility. The Navy said the release happened during a “maintenance activity” just after 12 p.m., and said that all leaked liquids were recovered with one of their sumps.

For those applying for the FY-24 LDO & CWO program

There’s no doubt that serving in the military comes with some pretty good benefits and there’s a way to hang on to most of them, earn some extra cash and keep working towards a Navy retirement by serving part-time. Personnel officials released NAVADMIN 084/22 on March 31 with the specific purpose of educating all Navy Career Counselors and command leaders on the details of the Active Component to Selected Reserve Program (AC2SELRES). Reservists who drill part-time are Selected Reservists, or SELRES, and AC2SELRES will take enlisted Sailors straight into the Reserve without any break in service. No visit to a recruiter is needed because the Navy handles transferring you into the Reserve much like transferring to another command. The Selected Reserve (SELRES) has most of the same benefits their active component shipmates do, such as access to the commissary and exchange services, and on-base Morale, Welfare, and Recreation facilities. A significant benefit is qualifying for 180 days of premium-free Tricare Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) medical coverage. However, this benefit is only available to those who transition directly from the active component to the Reserve. After that, you keep going with Tricare by enrolling in Reserve Select medical and Tricare Dental programs. Both are premium-based and are available to qualified SELRES members and their eligible family members at prices you will be hard to find in the private sector. If you just came off of a deployment on active duty and the potential of a quick deployment in the Reserves worries you, it shouldn’t. If you ask for it, current policy allows for up to two years of deferment from mobilization from the date of separation from active duty. AC2SELRES Sailors may also qualify for an affiliation bonus, Post-9/11 GI Bill transferability opportunities, and the Montgomery GI Bill – Selected Reserve. Most Sailors start out applying for in-rate reserve opportunities first, but if you are willing to try something new and qualify, you could cross-rate into a new or related career field. Approval, however, is contingent on the Sailor’s qualifications and if manning levels in the new rating allow for the switch. Sailors selected for rating conversion get counseling on the details their conversion requires, such as required block learning, school completion deadlines, Navy Wide Advancement Exam requirements, drilling obligations, and the eligibility for and obligations of financial incentives. Those wanting to browse possibilities should contact their Command Career Counselor, who can review community health considerations in the SELRES with interested Sailors. Sailors must meet all eligibility requirements outlined in MILPERSMAN Article 1306-1501, Enlisted Active Component To Reserve Component (AC2SELRES/AC2FTS) Transition Procedures. Sailors interested in reenlisting into the Reserve apply through the Career Waypoints-Reenlistment module starting at 10-months before their end of service date but no later than 90 days before getting out. Those waiting until 90 days before their service expiration can still affiliate in the Reserve, but the handling of their applications goes through their Command Career Counselor. The Navy Reserve is hiring and in fiscal years 2022-23, there are enough openings for a majority of transitioning Sailors to have an opportunity to find a billet. Sailors approved for transition into the Reserve are then contacted by the Navy’s Career Transition Office (CTO) at Navy Personnel Command. The CTO introduces the Sailor to their assigned Navy Reserve Center (NRC). After that, the Sailor coordinates with the NRC to schedule their first drill weekend, complete onboarding requirements, and attend command indoctrination once orders are received. The CTO website has more information at: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Transition/. Complete details and procedures, including points of contact, are available in the NAVADMIN or from your Career Counselor.

Seaman Danyelle Luckey “didn’t die in combat or any military operation. She died from gross negligence of the medical providers on the ship she served, the USS Ronald Reagan,” said her father, Derrick Luckey. Danyelle Luckey died from sepsis on Oct. 10, 2016. The 23-year-old had been on the ship for two weeks, and had been going back and forth to medical from Oct. 3 to Oct. 9 with worsening symptoms. “Her death was very preventable. She died in excruciating pain, instead of being properly treated,” Derrick Luckey told lawmakers during a hearing about patient safety and the quality of care in the military medical system.

The Navy has stopped separating sailors for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds after a federal judge granted class-action certification in the case of Navy SEALs suing Department of Defense officials over the vaccine mandate, defense officials told USNI News on Wednesday. Judge Reed O’Connor Monday granted the class action in the case of 26 Navy SEALs and other members of the special warfare community who are suing Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and other Department of Defense officials to prevent being separated over the refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 due to their religious beliefs. O’Connor also granted the preliminary injunction for the class action, extending the Navy’s inability to separate any sailors who were denied religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate.

UNCLASSIFIED ROUTINE R 302215Z MAR 22 MID200001622241U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// TO NAVADMIN INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 083/22 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/CNO/DEC// SUBJ/CCDA INTERIM GUIDANCE REGARDING MEMBERS REQUESTING RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION FROM COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS// REF/A/MSG/CNO/311913ZAUG21// REF/B/MSG/CNO/132050ZOCT21// REF/C/MSG/CNO/152239ZNOV21// REF/D/MSG/CNO/151203ZDEC21// REF/E/DOC/SECDEF/24AUG21// REF/F/MSG/SECNAV/302126ZAUG21// REF/G/DOC/BUMED/20OCT20// REF/H/MSG/COMNAVSPECWARCOM/241857ZSEP21// REF/I/DOC/US DIST CT N DIST TX/28MAR22// REF/J/DOC/BUPERINST 1730.11A/16MAR20// REF/K/DOC/OPNAV/15AUG20// REF/L/MSG/CNO/152351ZJAN22// NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 190/21, 2021-2022 NAVY MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION AND REPORTING POLICY. REF B IS NAVADMIN 225/21, COVID-19 CONSOLIDATED DISPOSITION AUTHORITY (CCDA). REF C IS NAVADMIN 256/21, CCDA GUIDANCE TO COMMANDERS. REF D IS NAVADMIN 283/21, CCDA EXECUTION GUIDANCE TO COMMANDERS. REF E IS THE SECRETARY OF THE DEFENSE MEMO MANDATING CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 VACCINATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SERVICE MEMBERS. REF F IS ALNAV 062/21, 2021-2022 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY. REF G IS MANUAL OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, NAVMED P-117, ARTICLE 15- 105(3)(n)(9). REF H IS TRIDENT ORDER NUMBER 12, MANDATORY VACCINATION FOR COVID-19. REF I IS U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS ORDER ON MOTIONS FOR CLASS CERTIFICATION AND CLASS-WIDE PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION. REF J IS BUPERSINST 1730.11A, STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE ACCOMMODATION OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICES. REF K IS MILPERSMAN 1730-020, IMMUNIZATION EXEMPTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. REF L IS NAVADMIN 07/22, U.S. NAVY COVID-19 STANDARDIZED OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE 5.0. RMKS/1. Purpose. To provide interim guidance regarding the actions directed in references (A) through (H) for Navy service members who requested religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement and who were certified by the U.S. District Court order in reference (I) as members of a class action in the case of U.S. Navy SEALS 1-26, et al., versus Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, III, et al.. 2. Policy. To ensure immediate compliance with the court order in reference (I), this NAVADMIN suspends separation processing and adverse administrative consequences of COVID-19 vaccine refusal for Navy service members who submitted requests for religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. IAW a recent decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, the Navy may continue to consider the unvaccinated status of Navy service members when making deployment, assignment, and other operational decisions. 3. Applicability. This NAVADMIN applies only to Navy service members who submitted requests for religious accommodation from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement IAW references (J) and (K). Adverse administrative consequences and separation processing described in references (A) through (H) continue to apply for personnel who did not submit requests for religious accommodation. 4. Action. All adverse administrative consequences of refusing the vaccine, described in references (A) through (H), including involuntary administrative separation, are hereby suspended for personnel who submitted religious accommodation requests IAW references (J) and (K), pending further guidance. 4.a. In cases where commands have received formal direction to involuntarily separate members within ten days based on misconduct (vaccine refusal) and those members have not yet separated, DD-214s shall not be issued and members are directed to remain on active duty, pending additional guidance. Commands must communicate with the servicing Personnel Support Detachment or equivalent in order to halt processing. Additionally, commands shall inform Navy Personnel Command PERS-832 (enlisted), PERS-834 (officers), or PERS-913 (SELRES) in cases where service members awaiting separation still desire to separate. 4.b. Voluntary resignation, retirement, regular service expiration (EAOS), or other involuntary separations on bases other than misconduct for vaccine refusal may continue. Members who submitted requests for religious accommodation may cancel or amend previous voluntary retirement requests or requests to transfer to the Fleet Reserve. Time is of the essence for updated requests. 4.c. Additional guidance for other adverse administrative consequences described in references (A) through (D) will be provided at a later date. 5. The Navy may continue to consider the unvaccinated status of Navy service members when making deployment, assignment, and other operational decisions. Navy service members who are not vaccinated, regardless of exemption status, may be temporarily or permanently reassigned based on mission requirements IAW previous guidance. Reference (L) (series) regarding the assignment of unvaccinated personnel to operational or deployable units continues to apply. 6. All unvaccinated Navy service members remain subject to screening testing against COVID-19, where required. 7. If in doubt as to how to adjudicate issues related to separation of a Navy service member consistent with this interim guidance, Commanders should seek guidance from their chain of command, their staff judge advocate, and/or the CCDA before acting. Commands without an assigned legal advisor may seek legal advice from a Region Legal Service Office. In all cases, Commanders are accountable to ensure the health and safety of their command while treating every Navy service member with dignity and respect. 8. Points of contact. PERS-8 Active/FTS enlisted separations: *832vaccineadseps.fct(at)navy.mil* PERS-8 Officer separations: *PERS-834(at)navy.mil* PERS-8 Active/FTS/TAR enlisted retirements: *Enlisted_Active_Duty_Retirements(at)navy.mil* PERS-8 Active/FTS/TAR officer retirements: *pers_835_retirements(at)navy.mil* PERS-8 Officer and enlisted promotion delays: NPC_promotionwithholds.fct(at)navy.mil* PERS-92 Officer and enlisted definite recalls: *PERS-92(at)navy.mil*. PERS-9 Reserve enlisted separations: *913vaccineadseps.fct(at)navy.mil*. PERS-97 Officer transitions: *cto.officer(at)navy.mil* PERS-97 Enlisted transitions: *cto.enlisted(at)navy.mil* OPNAV POC: CAPT Jason Grizzle, *ALTN_N1_NAVY_SCR.FCT(AT)NAVY.MIL*. 9. Released by VADM John B. Nowell, Jr, COVID Consolidated Disposition Authority. BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//

It took some deep breaths for one former sailor in Congress to set aside some salty words and politely say what she thought of President Biden’s proposed Navy budget. Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Virginia Beach, was blunt: “In the face of current threats, we are gutting the Navy now to say we’re going to rebuild it in 10 or 20 years,” she said Wednesday.

Bill Mulcrevy’s search had come to an end. Gregory Williams, the Navy Corpsman who had saved his and so many other Marines’ lives in Vietnam

Marine Corps Veteran Bill Mulcrevy faced a long recovery from his injuries in Vietnam. After Navy Corpsman Gregory Williams loaded him onto the MEDEVAC that day in 1966, Mulcrevy was transferred to various hospitals throughout Vietnam before eventually completing physical therapy in San Francisco 18 months later.

Bill Mulcrevy had just dug in. He and 23 others from Mike Co., 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment (3/5) – including close friends Jim Johnson and Navy Corpsman Gregory Williams – were the first wave...

WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Texas is barring the Navy from taking action for now against sailors who have objected to being vaccinated against COVID-19 on religious grounds. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor had in January issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Navy from disciplining or discharging 35 sailors who sued over the Navy's vaccine policy while their case played out. On Monday, O'Connor agreed the case could go forward as a class action lawsuit and issued a preliminary injunction covering the approximately 4,000 sailors who have objected on religious grounds to being vaccinated.

The military failed to keep up with the mushrooming number of measures that Congress has required the armed services to implement to address sexual assault, a government watchdog revealed. As of October 2021, the Defense Department had not fully implemented 18% of the nearly 200 unique requirements imposed in legislation since 2004, the Government Accountability Office found in a report published this week.

THE PENTAGON – The nine Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships currently in Navy service – the youngest of which commissioned in 2020 – have been marked for disposal as part of the Department of Defense’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposal, USNI News has learned. The ships – USS Fort Worth (LCS-3), USS Milwaukee (LCS-5), USS Detroit (LCS-7), USS Little Rock (LCS-9), USS Sioux City (LCS-11), USS Wichita (LCS-13), USS Billings (LCS-15) and USS St. Louis (LCS-19) – are part of the 24 ships the service has chosen to decommission in FY 2023 for an estimated $3.6 billion in savings.

Alrighty then, 11 EST is passed and gone...

On Friday afternoon, the Supreme Court froze an injunction that would have required the Navy to deploy SEALs who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The decision suggests that SCOTUS has little patience for lower courts’ efforts to seize authority from the armed forces by inserting themselves into the chain of command. One such recent ruling barred the Navy from reassigning the commanding officer of a guided-missile destroyer, an anti-vaxxer who repeatedly defied lawful orders and recklessly exposed dozens to the virus. High-ranking military officials testified that decisions like these undermined military readiness and threatened national security.