Tony

A Navy submariner who said she was sexually assaulted multiple times. An Army major who chose to never report her assault. A Marine Corps sexual assault response coordinator who worries she is being discriminated against because she’s a woman. A former Defense Department sexual assault victim advocate of the year. Over the past several weeks, The War Horse spoke with a dozen current service members across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines about their experiences with sexual assault in uniform—as survivors, advocates, and allies.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth will try to convince members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that he should be the next secretary of defense, following weeks of meetings with lawmakers who peppered him with questions about his character and views on a range of military issues. As author of several books and a former Fox News Channel host, Hegseth has been forced to defend himself against a long record of his own public comments, including in his most recent book, “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.”

The last time an American president deployed the U.S. military domestically under the Insurrection Act — during the deadly Los Angeles riots in 1992 — Douglas Ollivant was there. Ollivant, then a young Army first lieutenant, says things went fairly smoothly because it was somebody else — the cops — doing the head-cracking to restore order, not his 7th Infantry Division. He and his troops didn’t have to detain or shoot at anyone. “There was real sensitivity about keeping federal troops away from the front lines,” said Ollivant, who was ordered in by President George H.W. Bush as rioters in central-south LA set fire to buildings, assaulted police and bystanders, pelted cars with rocks and smashed store windows in the aftermath of the videotaped police beating of Rodney King, a Black motorist. “They tried to keep us in support roles, backing up the police.”

CFL/ACFLs, CY24 PFA cycle is officially closed! Any PFA data that didn’t get entered will require an LOC along with supporting documents emailed to PRIMS@navy.mil. Remember, applications for the CFL Certification Course are to be submitted to cfltraining@us.navy.mil. Do not submit applications to PRIMS. FAQ sheet has been updated.

Veterans Benefits Newsletter | Jan, 2025

The U.S. Navy’s next-generation DDG(X) is well underway in its design and feasibility phase, and the program office has gone through various renderings and conceptual designs as work is done to refine the ship’s broad design. Last year the U.S. Navy opened a land based test site at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division to support this effort. The first DDG(X) rendering, presented at SNA 2022, features a 5-inch Mark 45 Mod 4 main gun forward of the bow mounted 32-cell Mark 41 VLS. It also features three AN/SLQ-32(V)7 arrays on the superstructure next to the two forward AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar arrays. According to the U.S. Navy, this design was purely conceptual and rendered prior to a final decision.

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 101454Z JAN 25 MID320000729648U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC CMC WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 001/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/JAN// SUBJ/POLICY GOVERNING INVESTIGATION AND HANDLING OF FORMAL SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS STARTING JANUARY 1, 2025, UNDER 10 U.S.C. 1561// REF/A/10 U.S.C. 1561// REF/B/DODI 1020.03, HARASSMENT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE IN THE ARMED FORCES// REF/C/DOC/SECNAVINST 5300.26E, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY POLICY ON SEXUAL HARASSMENT, 28MAY20// REF/D/DOC/SECNAVINST 12735.1 DEPARTMENT OF NAVY CIVILIAN HARASSMENT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM// REF/E/SEC. 541 AND 546 PUBLIC LAW 117-263 (FY23 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT)// REF/F/10 U.S.C. 824a// NARR/REF A REQUIRES INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS. REF B IS THE DOD POLICY REGARDING SEXUAL HARASSMENT. REF C IS THE SECNAVINST SETTING FORTH SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY. REF D ESTABLISHES THE CIVILIAN HARASSMENT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE PROGRAM. REF E ADDS FORMAL, SUBSTANTIATED COMPLAINTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AS COVERED OFFENSES AS OF 1 JANUARY 2025. REF F DESIGNATES THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL TRIAL COUNSEL AS HAVING CERTAIN AUTHORITY OVER COVERED OFFENSES.// POC/MS. ANDREA VERDINO/DON OFR/LOC: WASH DC/TEL: (703) 697-8830// RMKS/1. As your Secretary, I am proud of the continued progress we have made toward ensuring a safe and inclusive work environment for all personnel that embodies our core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. A positive and respectful culture is a catalyst for readiness and sets the conditions necessary to ensure we are fully prepared to meet the global challenges of the future. Leaders at all levels must model appropriate behavior and epitomize our high standards of dignity and respect for all. 2. This ALNAV implements the requirements contained in reference (a), establishing how formal complaints of sexual harassment will be processed effective 1 January 2025 and effective 1 January 2025, cancels ALNAV 024/22. 3. A formal complaint of sexual harassment received by a Commander, Commanding Officer, Officer-in-Charge, or the civilian equivalent (collectively referred to as commander in this ALNAV) made against a Service member will be processed, in accordance with paragraphs 3.a. through 3.m. of this ALNAV. a. To the extent practicable, forward a copy of the formal complaint of sexual harassment to the next higher-level commander (in the grade of O-6) in the chain of command of the alleged offender within 72 hours of receipt of the complaint. If the next higher-level commander is not authorized to convene a general court- martial, the alleged offender's commander must assure notification is also made to the next higher-level commander who is authorized to convene a general court-martial by forwarding the complaint, with a detailed description of the facts and circumstances. Navy Command Climate Specialists (CCS) and Marine Corps Equal Opportunity Advisors (EOA) must document the notification of the next higher- level commander in the Misconduct Report Incident Tracking (MRIT) system. b. Commanders are responsible for ensuring all personnel involved in an incident of sexual harassment are advised of victim support resources available. c. To the extent practicable the next higher-level commander must refer the complaint to their servicing Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) office within 72 hours after receipt of the complaint. d. Upon receipt of a formal sexual harassment complaint, NCIS must review the complaint for the elements of sexual harassment, prior to assigning the complaint to an NCIS investigator. If the allegations included in the complaint do not contain a minimum factual basis or sufficient details supporting the elements of sexual harassment, NCIS will return the complaint to the referring commander. Once returned, the complaint will no longer be considered a formal sexual harassment complaint, and the command can take appropriate action not limited by this ALNAV. e. NCIS will provide the completed report of investigation to the next higher-level commander who referred the complaint to NCIS. f. Upon receipt of a completed investigation and in consultation with their servicing judge advocate, the next higher- level commander will determine whether the allegation is substantiated or unsubstantiated, by a preponderance of evidence. g. If the formal complaint is unsubstantiated the next-higher level commander will close the complaint. A decision to unsubstantiate a formal complaint of sexual harassment does not preclude the next higher-level commander from returning the matter to the commander who received the complaint for action on other alleged misconduct. h. If the formal complaint is substantiated and the incident (or, in a case involving a series of incidents, the most recent incident) occurred on or prior to 1 January 2025, the next higher- level commander who referred the complaint to NCIS will take administrative or disciplinary action. i. If the formal complaint is substantiated and the incident (or, in a case involving a series of incidents, the most recent incident) occurred after 1 January 2025, the next higher-level commander must forward the complaint to the servicing Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC) for consideration as a covered offense. Commanders must not take disciplinary action or initiate the administrative separation process, regarding a substantiated formal complaint unless or until the OSTC defers the offense back to the commander. j. If OSTC exercises authority and defers the substantiated offense back to the commander, the commander must initiate the involuntary separation process for the alleged offender. k. The next higher-level commander must advise the complainant and the alleged offender of their decision regarding the complaint and make them aware of their right to appeal the decision as defined in reference (c). A complainant and alleged offender are precluded from appealing the administrative finding until such time as the special trial counsel defers the offense in accordance with Rule for Courts-Martial 306A or 401A. If the special trial counsel decides to prefer charges, the administrative substantiated finding is final for all parties, and neither party has the option to appeal the administrative finding. Parties maintain the right to appeal an unsubstantiated finding in accordance with reference (c). l. All sexual harassment complaints that are reported directly to NCIS will be considered a formal complaint. (1) To the extent practicable, NCIS will notify the commander of the complainant and alleged offender within 72 hours of receipt of the report. (2) NCIS must follow the procedures outlined in paragraphs 3.d. and 3.e. of this ALNAV. (3) The alleged offender's commander is responsible for notifying the next higher-level commander as defined in paragraph 3.a. (4) The alleged offender's commander is responsible for fulfilling all service policy formal complaint administrative requirements. (5) The complainant's commander is responsible for ensuring the complainant is updated on the status of the complaint. (6) NCIS will provide the completed report of investigation to the next-higher level commander of the alleged offender, or if the next-higher level commander has not been identified, the offender's commander will receive the report and will forward the report to the next higher-level commander. m. Substantiation decisions, formal adjudication determinations and results, and/or administrative actions must be reported back to the servicing NCIS office for documentation in the appropriate NCIS databases. 4. In accordance with reference (e), OSTC exercises exclusive authority to determine whether a reported offense constitutes a covered offense and has exclusive authority to dispose of those offenses. This revised process is required by reference (e), as formal substantiated complaints of sexual harassment become covered offenses under the exclusive authority of the OSTC effective 1 January 2025. 5. If a commander receives a formal complaint of sexual harassment with a civilian alleged offender, the commander must forward the complaint to the next higher commander as outlined in paragraph 3.a. Presently, the next higher-level command, not NCIS, will investigate the complaint and must appoint an independent investigator. These complaints will be processed in accordance with Service policy. 6. Additional procedures and obligations for addressing complaints of sexual harassment made by civilian employees are found in enclosure (4) of both reference(c) and (d). 7. These important changes regarding the response to formal complaints of sexual harassment require knowledgeable leaders familiar with the above processes. Unit leaders and Military Equal Opportunity personnel (CCSs and EOAs) are directed to receive training on this revised process from their servicing Staff Judge Advocate, or, in the absence of an assigned Staff Judge Advocate, the supporting legal office prior to 1 January 2025, or as soon thereafter as practicable. Standardized training will be provided to all staff judge advocates and supporting legal offices. Questions about training should be brought to the servicing Staff Judge Advocate or supporting legal office. 8. I want to reiterate that DON policy, as reflected in reference (c), encourages early intervention at the lowest appropriate level before harmful behavior escalates. All DON personnel who witness sexual harassment are encouraged to intervene and address offensive and unacceptable behavior the first time it occurs. The informal resolution procedures developed by the Services, as directed in enclosure (6) of reference (c), can help to correct such offensive and unacceptable behaviors before they escalate and create a hostile work environment. I expect leaders at all levels to engage in early intervention, to immediately correct inappropriate behavior, to take all reasonable measures to avoid escalation, and to protect our teammates. Early intervention through the DON's informal resolution processes will improve command climates and command performance. 9. The DON remains committed to the principle of keeping faith with all who serve. Sexual harassment and other harmful behaviors constitute a betrayal of our responsibility to our teammates and our Nation. 10. Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

TORONTO (AP) — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s comments that Canada should become the 51st state are no longer a joke and are meant to undermine America’s closest ally, Canada’s finance minister said Wednesday. Dominic LeBlanc, the country’s point person for U.S-Canada relations, said Trump was smiling when he first made the comment during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in late November. “The joke is over,” said LeBlanc. “It’s a way for him, I think, to sow confusion, to agitate people, to create chaos knowing this will never happen.”

A sailor assigned to carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) was charged on Tuesday with selling fentanyl in the 2023 death of another Lincoln sailor, according to a charging document filed in the Southern District Court of California. Bailey Szramowsk, whose rank and service status was unavailable as of this posting, was charged with knowingly and intentionally distributing fentanyl, which led to the death of another person, according to the charging documents. It is unclear if Szramowski has been arrested. PACER, the online database for federal cases, does not list a hearing or an appearance in court.

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Military aircraft from San Diego were on standby to help Los Angeles firefighters stop the spread of the major fires wreaking havoc on communities from the Pacific Coast to inland Pasadena. President Joe Biden announced 10 Navy helicopters would be deployed as part of the federal response to the disaster, but as of Wednesday evening, the Navy says it hasn't happened yet.

The Kremlin said Thursday that it’s keeping a close eye on President-elect Donald Trump’s ongoing pursuit of Greenland. Earlier this week, Trump said he would not rule out using military force to seize the strategically-important Arctic island that’s an autonomous territory of Denmark, saying it was in the U.S.′ economic and national interest.

VetResources Newsletter - Small Business Training | Therapy Helps Veteran Restore Her Inner Peace

France and Germany on Wednesday warned Donald Trump against threatening "sovereign borders" after the US president-elect refused to rule out military action to take Greenland, an autonomous territory of European Union member Denmark. "There is no question of the EU letting other nations in the world, whoever they may be... attack its sovereign borders," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told France Inter radio.

The first thing I learned about Japan was that the summers are hot. Extremely hot and extremely humid. I learned this in August 2022 the hard way—pushing an overweight suitcase and backpack up steep hills, navigating from the vague directions on my phone. The second thing I learned is that Japan isn’t big on street signs. The third thing? It’s the perfect place to be thrown into the deep end when you are brand-new to being a military spouse.

President Jimmy Carter, the nation's 39th chief executive and the first U.S. Naval Academy graduate to serve in the Oval Office, began his final journey Saturday with a procession that intertwined the small-town rhythms of Plains, Georgia, and the weighty traditions of American military pageantry. His was a life well lived, one whose actions epitomized the motto of his alma mater, the U.S. Naval Academy: non sibi sed patriae — "not for self, but for country."

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday refused to rule out invading Greenland or Panama when asked if the U.S. could use military force to acquire the Arctic island or the canal in the Central American country. Asked if he would rule out economic or military coercion to gain control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, Trump said, “I’m not gonna commit to that. No. It might be that you’ll have to do something.”

District Judge Aileen Cannon on Tuesday blocked the release of special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on his investigations into President-elect Donald Trump. Her order prevents Smith and the Justice Department from moving forward with releasing the report until the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals has time to review the emergency motion by Trump’s codefendants to block the report’s release.

Aviation Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Trevor Lamoreau exemplifies the Navy’s "Street to Fleet" philosophy, showcasing the transformative impact of Naval Education and Training Command (NETC). Inspired by his grandfather’s service, Lamoreau joined the Navy in 2012, advancing through rigorous NETC training that prepared him for pivotal roles in Naval Aviation, including as a troubleshooter and member of the Blue Angels. Now a SERE school instructor, he leverages his experience to train service members in critical survival skills, contributing to fleet readiness. Lamoreau’s journey highlights the Navy’s dedication to building resilient, skilled leaders ready for any challenge.

Each year, as directed by the Congress, the Department of Defense submits a report with the President’s budget describing the Navy’s plan for its future fleet for the next 30 years. In this report, the Congressional Budget Office analyzes the Navy’s 2025 plan and estimates its costs. Overall, the Navy wants to build a larger fleet whose firepower is distributed among more ships than it is today

The Navy says it is continuing to investigate what led to the USS Gettysburg firing at a Navy fighter in the Red Sea in the early hours of December 22. The Pentagon has released few details of the accident, but the two F/A-18 crew members ejected seconds before the missile struck. They suffered minor injuries. The USS Gettysburg is part of a strike group engaged in an attack on Houthi rebel positions in Yemen. The terrorist group has been disrupting international shipping since the start of the war in Gaza in 2023.

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, MD -- The U.S. Navy announced today that it has awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. a $3.5 billion contract to conduct the mission-systems integration for the E-130J, which will be the successor to the E-6B Mercury for the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission.

Michigan police are investigating the mysterious drowning death of a father of two and Navy veteran who was last seen with family at a popular vacation spot in Frankenmuth – a Bavarian-inspired town between Saginaw and Flint. The Frankenmuth Police Department (FPD) and its dive teams found and recovered Robert Loren Bacon, 52, from the Cass River near Heritage Park on Jan. 4.

Many U.S. military service members anticipate significant increases to their pay and allowances in 2025, such as a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted troops and an average 5.4% bump in Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates, varying by location and other factors.

Under the Navy’s 2025 shipbuilding plan, total shipbuilding costs would average about $40 billion per year (in 2024 dollars) through 2054, CBO estimates, as the Navy built a fleet of 390 battle force ships.

WASHINGTON — Chronic pain, sleep disorders and increasing health challenges were identified as risk factors that veterans most frequently reported to doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs prior to their deaths by suicide from 2020-2022, according to a new VA report. Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2025-01-02/veterans,-suicides,-chronic-pain,-sleep-disorders-16353382.html Source - Stars and Stripes