Tony

Justice Department attorneys filed formal notice with a federal appeals court on Friday, saying they’re challenging a Texas judge’s decision that prohibits the Navy from taking action against 35 special operators who’ve refused the COVID-19 vaccine because of religious objections. Meanwhile, the government has also filed a new challenge to the Texas court’s jurisdiction, and arguing that the case should be moved to a different federal district court, perhaps one more sympathetic to the Navy’s religious accommodation process.

An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, had a landing mishap on deck while USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) was conducting routine flight operations in the South China Sea, Jan. 24. The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft and was recovered via U.S. military helicopter. The pilot is in stable condition. There were seven total Sailors injured; three Sailors required MEDEVAC to a medical treatment facility in Manila, Philippines, and four were treated by on-board medical personnel. All three MEDEVACs are assessed as stable. Of the four Sailors treated by on-board medical, three have been released. Additional details and the cause of the inflight mishap is under investigation. 8:33 a.m. (HST) - Updated to reflect that all three MEDEVACed Sailors are in stable condition.

UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 212105Z JAN 22 MID200001403520U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 09/22 MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N2N6/JAN// SUBJ//FISCAL YEAR 2021 OCEANOGRAPHER OF THE NAVY AWARD RECIPIENTS// REF/A/MSG/OPNAV N2N6/212026ZOCT21// AMPN/REF (A) IS NAVADMIN 234/21, FISCAL YEAR 2021 OCEANOGRAPHER OF THE NAVY AWARD NOMINATIONS// POC/CRAIG HAWKINS/AGCS/OPNAV N2N6E/TEL: (703) 614-1840 /EMAIL: CRAIG.P.HAWKINS.MIL(AT)US.NAVY.MIL// POC/THOMAS MONEYMAKER/CAPT/OPNAV N2N6E/TEL: (703) 614-1864 /EMAIL: THOMAS.A.MONEYMAKER(AT)US.NAVY.MIL// RMKS/1. As announced in reference (a), the 2021 Naval Oceanography Awards program recognizes Naval Oceanography professionals for expertise, accomplishments, and leadership in the application of meteorology, oceanography, hydrography, and precise time and astrometry. The Oceanographer of the Navy takes pride in announcing the 2021 Naval Oceanography Awards selectees. 2. The 2021 Captain Richard C. Steere Award selectee is: LTJG Amanda C. Weber, USN. 3. The 2021 Commander Mary Sears Award selectee is: LCDR Darren L. Pastrana, USN. 4. The 2021 Chief Aerographers Mate John Dungan Jr. Award selectee is: AGCS(IW/EXW/AW) Abdul M. Kasimcarew Jr., USN. 5. The 2021 Matthew Henson Award selectee is: Mr. Austin D. Tubbs. 6. Released by VADM Jeffrey E. Trussler, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare, OPNAV N2N6.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan – Military and diplomatic personnel stationed overseas are eligible for free, at-home COVID-19 testing kits the Biden administration began offering every U.S. household on Wednesday. The administration is purchasing 1 billion of the rapid tests, and the first 500 million are now available for free online at COVIDtests.gov. Every home in the United States can order a set of four free tests that usually ships within seven to 12 days, according to the website. www.CovidTests.gov

The Navy has separated two more sailors due to continued refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The two separations are sailors who are within their first 180 days of service, according to the weekly Navy COVID-19 update. The Navy has separated 22 sailors so far for vaccine refusal, all of whom were in their first 180 days of service. The separations are for entry-level sailors, according to the update.

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order #44 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.

UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 141648Z JAN 22 MID600051439059U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 002/22 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/JAN// SUBJ/CHIEF PETTY OFFICER ASSIGNMENT OPTIMIZATION// REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/071453ZAUG17// REF/B/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/022009ZDEC19// REF/C/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/111604ZDEC02// NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 192/17, OPTIMIZING SENIOR ENLISTED (E7-E9) ASSIGNMENTS. REF B IS NAVADMIN 274/19, SEA SHORE FLOW ENLISTED CAREER PATHS UPDATE. REF C IS NAVADMIN 395/02, TRAINING AND ADMINISTRATION OF RESERVE SEA SHORE ROTATION TOUR LENGTH REVISION.// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN supports references (a) through (c) and announces the assignment optimization plan for active component and training and administration of reserve (TAR) chief petty officers (CPOs). Commander, Navy Personnel Command (COMNAVPERSCOM), Enlisted Assignment Division (PERS-40) will work with the Fleet readiness integrators (FRI), type commanders (TYCOMs) and budget submitting office (BSO) N1 staffs to evaluate all CPOs assigned to billets with incorrect paygrades or those who are not aligned to funded billet requirements. The goal of this optimization plan is to ensure our most experienced enlisted Sailors are aligned to billets which specifically need their training, leadership and experience. This plan will lead to the realignment of CPOs into billets appropriate to their skills and experience. 2. COMNAVPERSCOM will host a virtual senior enlisted manning summit in Millington, TN from 28 February to 4 March 2022. In person groups supporting the virtual summit will be governed by the applicable health protection condition restrictions, see local guidance for specifics. During registration for the summit, attendees have and will be provided with specific risk mitigation instructions. The aim of this summit will be to review all CPO assignments, with the goal of aligning the maximum number of chiefs to chief billets. This summit will allow Fleet and TYCOMs to work with COMNAVPERSCOM to fill their most impactful gapped billets. a. Enlisted Readiness and Placement Branch (PERS-4013) provided a list of misaligned CPOs to the FRIs. The FRIs distributed the list of misaligned Sailors to the TYCOM and BSO N1s. Prior to the summit, PERS-4013 will evaluate CPO billet requirements in MyNavy Assignment (MNA) and, if the billets are filled by Sailors outside of the billet paygrade, the incumbent may be realigned to an in-paygrade requirement or placed in excess aboard the current command. This will ensure that personnel assignment stakeholders have a clear demand signal of valid CPO requirements. After completion of the summit, if CPOs are identified for movement, PERS-4013 will submit personnel manning action requests via MNA. If there are no near-term movements required, Sailors may have their projected rotation date (PRD) adjusted to enter the order negotiation window earlier than their current PRD. (1) CPOs who have their PRD adjusted will be considered a sea or shore roller based on a ratio of sea and shore duty billets available within their paygrade. (2) CPOs should expect to negotiate for orders to fill an in-paygrade requirement in all follow on assignments. b. Enlisted manning stakeholders identified in paragraph 1 shall review misaligned personnel, as well as Fleet billet vacancies, and provide their recommendations for action at the manning summit. c. Fleet readiness concerns will guide all decisions and actions, but each move will be considered on a case-by-case basis to minimize impacts to our Sailors and their families. d. The movement of realigned personnel will begin in the April 2022 timeframe. 3. The summit precept requires participants to maintain integrity without prejudice or partiality for all Sailors evaluated. Each participant must pay particular attention to each Sailor and billet to ensure that they are meeting the intention of CPO optimization. During deliberations, participants may discuss any negative impacts a realignment may have on the command or the Sailor. Before any decisions are made, TYCOM/BSO and FRIs will provide their input. If the requested actions are within one FRI, the FRI will make final decisions. If the requested action involves more than one FRI and there is a disagreement, the manning control authority will make the final decision. A copy of the precept will be provided to the participants by the summit coordinators. 4. Fleet activities shall continue evaluating MNA alignments to ensure that Sailors are accurately aligned aboard the current activity. CPOs should be aligned to billets for their specific paygrades. If Sailors of any paygrade need to be realigned to another billet, the command activity manning manager (AMM) should submit a member realignment request in MNA. If the MRR is approved, PERS-4013 will update the alignment. AMMs should reach out to their command placement coordinator in PERS-4013 with any issues, questions or concerns. 5. Key messages a. Sailors. We are working to better align our enlisted supervisors to billets which require their skills and experience. The emphasis on operational readiness and unit prioritization reflect our identity as a sea service. We must preserve the readiness of the Fleet and ensure that CPOs are optimally assigned to meet mission readiness. We will take each Sailors personal considerations into account, but I know that this may induce additional hardship for some Sailors and their families, and I sincerely thank them for their service and sacrifice. b. Commands. Commanders, commanding officers, executive officers and command master chiefs must ensure their Sailors understand the intent of this message. 6. To register for the CPO manning summit, participants should contact one of the following summit coordinators: CDR Eric Lull, eric.h.lull.mil(at)us.navy.mil 901-874-4360 ITCM LaToya Bauman, latoya.m.bauman.mil(at)us.navy.mil 901-874-3753 NCCS Shanika Jones, Shanika.d.jones.mil(at)us.navy.mil 901-874-4583 7. Points of Contact. For specific questions, please contact your PERS-4013 placement coordinator, rating detailer or the MyNavy Career Center at askmncc(at)navy.mil or 1-833-330- MNCC(6622). 8. Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, Jr., N1.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//

Jan 2022 Sailor to Sailor

Has everyone checked to see if their PMK-EE is documented?

President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he has ordered a new deployment of some 120 active-duty military medical troops into hospitals overwhelmed with coronavirus patients in six states as the United States faces its highest-ever spike in cases and hospitalizations. The deployment of mostly doctors and nurses is part of an increased federal response to the omicron variant of the coronavirus, the most infectious version of the disease since the pandemic spread worldwide in early 2020. The new military medical teams deploying will go to hospitals in Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island and New Mexico — joining another 350 medical troops sent into U.S. hospitals across the nation since Thanksgiving, the president said.

RTTUZYUW RHOIAAA0001 0121702-UUUU--RHSSSUU ZNR UUUUU R 121701Z JAN 22 MID600051416389U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 06/22 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/JAN/ SUBJ//CHARGE OF COMMAND// RMKS/1. In the CNO's January 11th remarks at the 34th Surface Navy Association (SNA) Symposium, he issued a call to accelerate our competitive edge as the world's strongest Navy by scaling the Get Real and Get Better approach consistently used by our best units and organizations: "History shows the navy which adapts, learns and improves the fastest gains an enduring warfighting advantage. The essential element is fostering an ecosystem a culture that assesses, corrects, and innovates better than the opposition." 2. In concert with this call to action, the CNO released an updated Charge of Command for our Commanding Officers, characterizing it as "a clear statement of what I value in our leaders, what we should expect our teams to embody, and the mindset we need to win the future fight." 3. In his implementation guidance to the Flag and SES Wardroom, CNO removed the requirement for Commanding Officers to sign the Charge, asking that it be used to inspire and mentor Commanding Officers. He also set the expectation for Senior Leaders to take pride in executing the Charge's mandate to measure themselves by how well they remove barriers and create opportunities for improved subordinate Commander performance. 4. The Charge directs Commanding Officers to lead their team in "Get Real, Get Better behavior and problem solving our self-assessing, self-correcting, and learning culture." The Get Real Get Better approach brings to life leadership and problem-solving best practices demonstrated in our best organizations and refined over the past four years. It's a proven approach for empowering our people and achieving exceptional outcomes. 5. As he closed his SNA remarks, CNO asked each of us on the Navy team to read the Charge of Command and apply the principles of continuous Self- Assessment and Self-Correction, measuring ourselves, our team, and our commands by Get Real Get Better principles. Best practice is to do this transparently and with others, sharing our ideas and enhancing our learning. 6. CNOs SNA speech, the Charge of Command, and Get Real Get Better reference materials are available on the Navy.mil website. Additional material will be released over the remainder of 2022. 7. Released by ADM Bill Lescher, Vice Chief of Naval Operations.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Service members and veterans can get ready for life after the military by using the DOD’s Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) programs, MilGears, United Services Military Apprenticeship Program and DOD SkillBridge. Many Sailors gain unique logistics-related skills during their naval service, making the civilian trucking industry a viable future career choice. Managed by the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Education and Training, these tools include the DOD’s Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) programs, the MilGears Platform Suite of Tools, the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program (USMAP) and the SkillBridge program. “For the Navy, these online tools are all great opportunities for Sailors and Navy veterans,” said Keith Boring, Navy Credentialing Programs branch head at Naval Education and Training Command (NETC). “We recognize and value the contributions Sailors and our service members continue to make in their careers after the service, and these programs are available to help them navigate achieving their professional goals.” Service members and veterans can capture their military occupational data, map it to civilian occupations, find associated civilian career pathways, earn apprenticeships and certifications, and partner with industry employers to begin new careers in many fields such as the trucking industry. “With COOL, a service member or veteran can pursue at least two relevant credentials that are directly tied to the trucking industry, as well as credentials related to the logistics side,” said Mike Talley, the director of Navy COOL. “The Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) relates to 27 broad military occupations, and the Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) relates to over 120 broad military occupations. Navy COOL can help you discover and understand pathways to this kind of credentialing and potentially how to fund the credentials.” The MilGears Platform Suite of Tools is a newer tool initially developed by the U.S. Navy and then further expanded by DOD for all the services. Powered by the extensively detailed data contained in COOL, such as military, civilian and federal occupations and industry-recognized credentials, MilGears considers the entirety of the individual service member’s or veteran’s unique military and civilian career background, as well as on and off-duty qualifications and credentials. “MilGears lets you upload formal documentation, capture military training and experience, and add any additional uniquely obtained qualifications from your service,” said Boring. “If you were driving in convoys during deployments in Iraq or Afghanistan, those skills relate to driving experience that contribute towards the CDL and the TWIC.” The formal military training program USMAP allows Sailors to earn a nationally recognized journeyman certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). Active-duty and Full Time Support (FTS) Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Coast Guard service members have the opportunity to improve their job skills and to complete their civilian apprenticeship requirements while serving. “Occupational career fields, such as heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving, are approved registered apprenticeship trades through USMAP, so service members can complete the journeyman apprenticeship trade as part of their daily military job,” said Tom Phillips, USMAP director at NETC. “Your military supervisor provides monthly validation for the list of required military occupation competencies. You demonstrate the competency and fulfill any time-based requirements, and depending on the trade, it could take as little as a year to complete or may require up to four years to complete.” Over the last few years, USMAP has assisted more than 60 DOD service members in earning the heavy truck driving registered apprenticeship journeyman certificate. More than 340 personnel across the services are currently enrolled in this apprenticeship. During their last 180 days of service, Sailors can take advantage of the DOD SkillBridge program. Before separating from the military, they can gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry internships, job training, employment skills training and DOL-registered apprenticeship programs. SkillBridge connects service members with industry partners in real-world job experiences and provides an invaluable chance to work and learn in civilian career areas. While industry partners have access to and can leverage the world’s most highly trained and motivated workforce at no cost, service members continue to receive their military compensation and benefits. To participate in the SkillBridge program, the industry partner programs must offer a high probability of post-service employment with the provider or other employers in a field related to the opportunity. With more than 1,600 partnerships developed between industry and the DOD, over 70 are in the transportation and material moving industry. More than 700 service members have graduated from SkillBridge trucking industry partner programs in the last few years. For more information about these programs, visit: • MilGears: https://milgears.osd.mil/ • DOD COOL: https://cool.osd.mil • USMAP: https://usmap.osd.mil • DOD SkillBridge: https://skillbridge.osd.mil NETC, as the largest shore command in the U.S. Navy, recruits, trains, and delivers those who serve our nation, taking them from street-to-fleet by transforming civilians into highly skilled, operational, and combat ready warfighters.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday issued a new “Charge of Command” to commanders Jan. 11. 2022.

The USS Orleck, a former U.S. Navy destroyer that saw combat in the Korean and Vietnam wars, is heading to Jacksonville to begin a new life as a floating military museum. The Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association announced Tuesday that it has acquired the ship and that it will soon be Jacksonville-bound after passing a seaworthiness inspection last month in Texas.

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To the editor: There are at least a couple of problems with the logic used by those in the military refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. I find it hard to understand why many are worried that the shots "were too new for their risks to be fully understood." It's a tough argument to make when roughly 9.37 billion doses have been given worldwide.

Starting with the new year, the Navy is requiring senior enlisted sailors and some officers to use a government travel charge card to pay for a permanent change of station. A PCS can cost thousands of dollars for travel, lodging and vehicle rentals, along with an untold cost in stress. Paying those expenses with a government card is designed to reduce the burden on sailors and improve government accounting, according to a Navy financial specialist.

The Navy has separated 20 sailors, all of whom were in their first 180 days of active duty, for continued refusal of the COVID-19 vaccine. The sailors are the first that the Navy has separated, the sea service announced Wednesday evening. No other active-duty sailors have been separated due to vaccine refusal, although the executive officer of USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81) was separated in December for failure to follow a lawful order. A Navy official told USNI News that the officer would not get vaccinated against or tested for COVID-19. The 20 entry-level separations were done during initial training periods, according to the Navy’s COVID-19 update Wednesday.

MILLINGTON, TENN. – Sailors interested in rate conversions may now see the availability of positions prior to applying. This is a new feature of the latest MyNavy Assignment (MNA) release, launched Dec. 3, 2021. Sailors can now determine their potential fit in a rate conversion depending on the available positions advertised in MNA for Sailor application. Previously Sailors had to apply without knowing the positions available, but they can now shop for positions and see the availability of both in-rate and out-of-rate jobs. Most conversion requests will be initiated, reviewed, and adjudicated within MNA. If quotas out of the Sailor’s current rate are not available, Sailors will not normally be able to submit conversion applications.

TOKYO — The U.S. military in Japan accounted for another 242 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday as the winter coronavirus surge continues, according to military and Japanese reports. Marine Corps installations reported the bulk of those increases. The total at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, 25 miles south of Hiroshima, grew to 240 with another 50 counted on Monday and 47 on Tuesday, according to base news releases. That cluster started with eight confirmed cases on Dec. 27.

PMK-EE Deadline for Cycle 255 - Active Duty/ Full-Time Support PMK-EE COMPLETION DEADLINE: for Cycle 255 (March 2022 E-4 through E-6 Active Duty/ Full-Time Support) is 31 January! Don't wait until the last minute. Remember PMK-EE completion is required only once per pay grade and can be taken on the PMK-EE mobile app or on Navy eLearning. See NAVADMIN 260/21 for more information.

Washington (CNN)A federal judge in Texas on Monday ruled against the Biden administration's vaccine requirement for members of the military in a decision that took aim at how the Navy's policies handled those who sought religious exemptions from receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. US District Judge Reed O'Connor issued a preliminary order blocking the Navy from taking adverse action against 35 Navy Seals who sued in court because they are seeking exemption from the vaccine requirement for religious reasons. The order blocked the Navy from implementing policies that would allow those religious objectors to be deemed non-deployable or disqualified from Special Operations.

OKLAHOMA CITY (Tribune News Service) — The adjutant general for the Oklahoma National Guard said Thursday that unvaccinated airmen may not participate in drills after Jan. 1, 2022. In an emailed statement, Adjutant Gen. Thomas Mancino informed members of the Oklahoma Air National Guard that due to the state's loss in court on Tuesday, members must be vaccinated or they cannot participate in the National Guard. The message is an about-face from Wednesday, when a spokesperson for the Guard said unvaccinated airmen would not face repercussions.

COVID ADSEP Checklist and NAVADMINs