Tony

The new year is here, so it’s important to take stock of your family’s overall health plan coverage. This is especially true when it comes to other health insurance (OHI). You may have had OHI last year, but now no longer. Or perhaps you’ve recently gained or changed OHI. In any of these cases, make sure your OHI information is current with TRICARE, so your health care claims are processed accurately. “It’s important to tell your doctor and other health care providers if you have coverage in addition to TRICARE,” said Shane Pham, TRICARE Health Plan policy and programs analyst at the Defense Health Agency. “This will help them send your bills to the correct payer and avoid delays.”

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 172042Z JAN 23 MID200080654429U FM CHINFO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 006/23 SUBJ/ANNUAL CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FROM QUALIFIED NAVY PERSONNEL FOR THE SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ADVANCED MILITARY VISUAL JOURNALISM TRAINING PROGRAM 2023// POC/MCCM TONY SISTI/CHINFO SEA/LOC: WASHINGTON DC/TEL: COMM: (703) 692- 4704/DSN: 222-4704/EMAIL: ANTHONY.B.SISTI.MIL(AT)US.NAVY.MIL// RMKS/1. The Navy is soliciting applications from Mass Communication Specialists (MC) for the Syracuse University Newhouse School's Advanced Military Visual Journalism (AMVJ) training program for academic year 2023- 2024. The class reporting date for both the photojournalism and graphic design programs is tentatively scheduled for 25 July 2023 with a projected graduation date of 14 May 2024. Specific portfolio requirements are in paragraph 2d. Applicants may apply to programs by submitting the appropriate portfolio as outlined in paragraphs 2d. and 2e. 2. Applications must be submitted via the CHINFO Portal no later than 10 March 2023. For complete directions and guidance for electronic submission, contact POC listed above and in paragraph 7. Applications must include the following: a. A command endorsement on letterhead summarizing the candidate's qualifications, including a statement certifying the portfolio is the sole work of the applicant, and recommendation for candidate's acceptance in the program. Parent commands are responsible for eligibility verification of endorsed candidates and submission of applicable waivers. Waivers of prerequisites (e.g., TIS, PG, TOS, etc.) will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Commanding Officers should address applicant's maturity, ability to work independently, financial security, and academic ability when recommending a nominee, particularly when requesting waivers. b. An essay explaining why a candidate is interested in the AMVJ program. Essay should include motivations, influences, expectations, and post-course desires. c. A portfolio demonstrating sufficient technical ability to successfully complete the course. An applicant must submit a portfolio with communication products from across the full-spectrum of media disciplines. d. Photojournalism program portfolio requirements. Candidates must submit a portfolio consisting of seven examples of their work. Portfolio must contain the following: (1) One writing product from the Individual Writing category. (2) One video product from the Individual Video category. (3) Four photo products from the Individual Photo category (must have one picture story, one portrait personality and two photos from the any other Individual Photo category). (4) One graphic design product from any of the Individual Graphic Design categories. e. Graphics program portfolio requirements. Candidates must submit a portfolio consisting of seven examples of their work. Portfolio must contain the following: (1) One animation product. (2) Two layout and design products. (3) Two digital art products. (4) One identity design product. (5) One writing product from the Individual Writing category. f. Each product must follow the rules listed in the category descriptions found within the standard operating procedures for the Navy Media Awards. g. Applicants are required to provide a biography as part of the submission process. The biography is not part of the selection process but will be used to identify and introduce the selectees to the faculty and staff at the University if selected. No biography photo required. 3. Prior to acceptance to the program and distribution of orders, applicants must: a. Be approved to reenlist or extend in the MC Rating through June 2028. b. Not reach high-year tenure before June 2027. c. Have a command endorsed 1306. d. Be within physical fitness assessment standards to include no PFA failures in the past three years. e. Not have any civil or Non-Judicial Punishment violations in the past three years. 4. Course scope, prerequisites and portfolio requirements are found in CANTRAC, which can be accessed via the Navy Education and Training Command website at https://www.netc.navy.mil/. Click on the CANTRAC icon at the bottom of the webpage and search for course information using the title, Advanced Military Visual Journalism. 5. Applicants in their orders window, and not yet selected for orders, must contact the detailer with your intentions. Applicants who have executed orders and are en route to their next command are not eligible. Navy Personnel Command has the final approval prior to final selection. 6. The selection board will convene in mid-March 2023. Selectees will be notified via Naval message no later than 14 April 2023. 7. Point of contact is MCCM Anthony Sisti who can be reached by email at anthony.b.sisti.mil(AT)us.navy.mil or by phone at (703) 692-4704. 8. Contact Master Chief Sisti directly for the submission process. 9. Request widest dissemination. 10. Released by RDML R. M. Perry, Chief of Information.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

A Republican lawmaker is accusing the government of a cover-up on UFOs, days after a declassified report revealed hundreds of new encounters with what the military now prefers to call unidentified aerial phenomenon. “This thing is a huge cover-up, for whatever reason,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) told NewsNation over the weekend. “And I just feel like America is ready, we need to know, and to stop with all the shenanigans.”

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 112139Z JAN 23 MID600052628036U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 005/23 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/JAN// SUBJ/REMOVAL OF COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATE// REF/A/DOC/NDAA-FY23/HR 7900// REF/B/DOC/SECDEF/10JAN23// REF/C/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/311913ZAUG21// REF/D/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/132050ZOCT21// REF/E/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/152239ZNOV21// REF/F/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/151203ZDEC21// REF/G/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/302215ZMAR22// NARR/REF A IS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FY-23. REF B IS SECDEF MEMO TITLED RESCISSION OF COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES. REF C IS NAVADMIN 190/21, 2021-2022 NAVY MANDATORY COVID-19 VACCINATION AND REPORTING POLICY. REF D IS NAVADMIN 225/21, COVID-19 CONSOLIDATED DISPOSITION AUTHORITY (CCDA). REF E IS NAVADMIN 256/21, CCDA GUIDANCE TO COMMANDERS. REF F IS NAVADMIN 283/21, CCDA EXECUTION GUIDANCE TO COMMANDERS. REF G NAVADMIN 083/22, CCDA INTERIM GUIDANCE REGARDING MEMBERS REQUESTING RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION FROM COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS. RMKS/1. On 23 December 2022, reference (a) directed the Secretary of Defense (SecDef) to rescind the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination mandate within 30 days. On 10 January 2023, SecDef rescinded the mandate for all branches of the armed forces in line with reference (b). The actions below align the Navy with this guidance. a. Cancel reference (c). b. All commands will immediately discontinue administrative separation processing of Navy Service Members solely for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, including those with approved separation letters. c. All commands will immediately suspend any new adverse administrative actions associated with refusing the COVID-19 vaccine as described in references (c) through (g). 2. Updated operational guidance will be promulgated in a follow-on standard operational guidance serial. 3. Additional detailed guidance regarding implementation of this policy will be promulgated via future NAVADMIN. 4. Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 101343Z JAN 23 MID600052600254U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 004/23 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/JAN// SUBJ/NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE SEAL/SWCC SENIOR ENLISTED RETENTION BONUS PROGRAM// REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/261355ZFEB20// REF/B/DOC/U.S.C./03JAN16// REF/C/MEMO/ASN MNRA/22AUG01// NARR/REF A NAVADMIN 049/20, RENEWAL OF NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE ENLISTED AND CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CRITICAL SKILLS RETENTION BONUS PROGRAM. REF B IS TITLE 37, U.S. CODE, SECTION 31, GENERAL BONUS AUTHORITY FOR ENLISTED MEMBERS. REF C IS THE CNP AUTHORIZATION OF THE NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE SEAL/SWCC SENIOR ENLISTED RETENTION BONUS.// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN cancels reference (a) and announces the authorization of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL)/Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) Senior Enlisted Retention Bonus (SSRB). The NSW SSRB is part of the overarching effort of the Navy to size, shape, and stabilize the force. 2. Program Overview. This bonus is authorized under references (b) and (c). The Naval Special Warfare Enlisted Community Manager (BUPERS-324) will act as the NSW SSRB program manager. All applications for this bonus will be submitted to the program manager for processing and tracking. By law, Sailors may receive no more than 360,000 dollars in retention bonus monies over a career. Selective reenlistment bonus (SRB) awards are included in that cap. The eligibility criteria stated in this NAVADMIN can be reduced at any time by the program manager based on the needs of the NSW community, with the approval of the Director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy (OPNAV N13). 3. Eligibility. NSW senior enlisted Sailors with the O26X or O52X Navy enlisted classification (NEC), in paygrades E-7 and above, who have between 20 and 28 years of active service (YOAS), will be eligible to apply for the NSW SSRB, but must also meet the following eligibility criteria: a. Be serving on active duty in the Active Component. b. Have the favorable recommendation of the commanding officer (CO) for receipt of NSW SSRB. 4. Ineligibility: a. Sailors serving under an existing critical skills retention bonus contract are not eligible to receive a SSRB for service outlined in the original contract agreement. b. Sailors who are approved for the High Year Tenure (HYT) Plus pilot are not eligible for SSRB payments past their HYT date. c. Sailors with documented misconduct or below standard performance may be removed from SSRB eligibility. 5. Contract Terms. NSW SSRB contract lengths, payments, and Active Component service obligations are outlined below. a. Sailors may sign a contract in their 19th year of active service. SSRB payments begin at 20 YOAS. Enlisted Sailors may contract to their HYT mark. E-7s are eligible to contract to 24 YOAS. E-8s are eligible to contract to 26 YOAS. E-9s are eligible to contract to 30 YOAS. If a Sailor serves a partial year, that year will be prorated pursuant to the bonus amount of that year. All payments must be completed before the Sailor reaches 28 YOAS, and all Sailors must contract prior to reaching 28 YOAS. Specific bonus amounts are graduated in line with YOAS. (1) Phase One NSW SSRB. The Sailor must be E-7 or above and carry the O26X/O52X NEC to apply for a phase one bonus. Phase one corresponds with E-7 HYT and encompasses 20 to 24 YOAS. Sailors will have the opportunity to receive up to 80,000 dollars in retention bonuses for phase one contracts. At a minimum, members must contract through 21 YOAS. YOAS Bonus Amount 20+ 20,000 dollars 21+ 20,000 dollars 22+ 20,000 dollars 23+ 20,000 dollars (2) Phase Two NSW SSRB. The Sailor must be E-8 (select) or above and carry the O26X/O52X NEC to apply for a phase two bonus. Phase two corresponds with E-8 HYT and encompasses 24 to 26 YOAS. Members will have the opportunity to receive up to 50,000 dollars in retention bonuses for phase two contracts. YOAS Bonus Amount 24+ 25,000 dollars 25+ 25,000 dollars (3) Phase Three NSW SSRB. The Sailor must be E-9 (select) or above and carry the O26X/O52X NEC to apply for a phase three bonus. Phase three corresponds with E-9 HYT and encompasses 26 to 30 YOAS. Sailors may not enter contracts after they reach 28 YOAS. Sailors will have the opportunity to receive up to 100,000 dollars in retention bonuses for phase three contracts, which must be paid before they reach 28 YOAS. YOAS Bonus Amount 26+ 25,000 dollars 27+ 25,000 dollars 28+ 25,000 dollars 29+ 25,000 dollars (4) SSRB Contract. SSRB contract phases may be combined as long as the Sailor is eligible to receive payments to the contracted end dates. b. NSW SSRB contracts will be for a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 years. Sailors under the SSRB contract will not submit a request for retirement with an effective date that is prior to the completion of the agreement. Sailors must reenlist or extend their enlistment contract, soft end of active obligated service, for a period of at least 2 years. Sailors are authorized early reenlistment in order to align SSRB and reenlistment contracts. Reenlistments and extensions may be combined to align service dates for the maximum opportunity, up to a reenlistment of 6 years and an extension of up to 12 months. 6. Program Execution: a. Sailors should submit requests for NSW SSRB to the program manager 60 to 180 days prior to entering into an NSW SSRB contract via their chain of command. If operational commitments limit the ability to submit SSRB applications via this manner, commands should submit requests through their immediate superior in the chain of command who can submit the request to the program manager. b. Upon acceptance of an agreement of the Sailor by the program manager, the amount of the bonus becomes fixed and the Sailor incurs a firm service obligation. c. Sailors will receive the bonus in a lump sum payment, effective from the date of contract execution. d. SSRB requests for personnel who are being processed for disciplinary action, NEC removal, or restoration will be held in abeyance pending final resolution. 7. Payment Processing. SSRB approval does not currently update the Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS) of the intent of the Sailor to reenlist. Until NSIPS can be programmed to accept SSRB reenlistment payments, manual processing is required. Payment should post to the account of the member by the second pay period following the day the SSRB program manager receives the notification of reenlistment. Master Military Pay Account (MMPA) must reflect contract or obligated service for enlisted Sailors and tax-free status (if applicable) must post to MMPA prior to final payment. 8. Application. The following documents are required: a. 60-180 days prior to contract: (1) Letter of the Sailor requesting a NSW SSRB contract. (2) COs endorsement letter. b. Prior to payment, Sailors will submit a copy of reenlistment contract and/or extension agreement with proof of tax-free status, if applicable. 9. Points of Contact: a. LCDR Andrew Parker, Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) and Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) Enlisted Community Manager, at (703) 604-5064 /DSN 664 or via e-mail andrew.j.parker78.mil(at)us.navy.mil. b. Mr. Frederick Wienbeck, Deputy, SEAL and SWCC Enlisted Community Manager, at (901) 874-3552/DSN 882 or via e-mail frederick.c.wienbeck.civ(at)us.navy.mil. 10. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or canceled, whichever occurs first. 11. Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

Brittany Alkonis is sharing her account of the "unimaginable" treatment her family received since her husband, Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis, suffered a medical emergency and lost control of their car while driving down Mt. Fuji. Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis, who is based out of Yokosuka Naval Base, was convicted of negligent driving by Japanese courts in October 2021 after he was involved in a vehicle accident that year that resulted in the deaths of two people. He is now serving a three-year prison sentence in Japan.

Timeline for submissions: The FY23 HR ISPP Professional Recommendation (PROREC) Board is tentatively scheduled for April 3rd, 2023. Completed packages can be emailed to Mr. Paul Celestin (paul.l.celestin.civ@us.navy.mil) no later than February 17th, 2023. The Human Resources (HR) In-Service Procurement Program (HR ISPP) provides a pathway to a commission in the Active Component (AC) Human Resource Officer community for active-duty enlisted personnel who meet eligibility criteria to better integrate HR Service Delivery. This ISPP, the first to directly commission Sailors to AC HR, provides a pathway for exceptional active duty enlisted Sailors to continue their service as commissioned officers leading HR Service Delivery to the Fleet.

I've added CMDCM Selection Boards (Active and Reserve) to the Advancement Results & Chief Selection Board page. Not sure why I did not have it in the first place. Advancement Results & Chief Selection Board

The Navy is testing an alternative crewing model that could apply to the entire fleet to improve manning shortages, but the service needs to somehow bolster recruiting efforts to remedy deficits, according to the commander of Naval Surface Forces. There are about 9,000 operational sea-duty gaps, with the highest gaps appearing in the most sea-intensive ratings, the service told Navy Times in November. These numbers fluctuate on any given day due to permanent changes in station, ship decommissioning and the movement of ships into maintenance phases.

These 34 Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen represent USNCC’s pioneers in naval education as the college has more than 1,300 students enrolled in degree-seeking programs that include the Naval Studies Certificate. “Use the knowledge you have gained this last year and create something greater,” said USNCC’s President Randi R. Cosentino, Ed.D. during her speech. "Push the boundaries of what we do as a naval force so that we can maintain that strategic advantage over our adversaries. You are the future of the naval forces."

The massive defense spending bill signed into law last month includes funding for a new breed of Navy medical ship with the speed and agility to serve more as ambulance than hospital. The vessels, dubbed expeditionary medical ships, will be built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.

WASHINGTON – Starting Jan. 17, Veterans in acute suicidal crisis will be able to go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost – including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit. This expansion of care will help prevent Veteran suicide by guaranteeing no cost, world-class care to Veterans in times of crisis. It will also increase access to acute suicide care for up to 9 million Veterans who are not currently enrolled in VA.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Suspending enlisted high-year tenure for two years aims to keep experience in the fleet — but the service must simultaneously find ways to prevent it from obstructing younger people from advancing, according to the Navy’s top enlisted sailor. The previous high-year tenure policy required active duty sailors to move into the Fleet Reserve if they didn’t advance within certain benchmarks. But the new High-Year Tenure Plus pilot program prevents commands from separating or involuntarily transferring active component sailors to the Fleet Reserve.

The US government has received over 350 new reports of what the US government terms “unidentified aerial phenomenon,” commonly known as UFOs, since March of 2021 – roughly half of which are so far unexplained, according to a report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released on Thursday. According to the report, the Pentagon office responsible for tracking and studying the sightings has preliminarily identified 163 of the reports as “balloon or balloon-entities.” A handful of other reports have been attributed to drones, birds, weather events or airborne debris like plastic bags.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – What will happen if doctor visits, medical tests, or even hospital stays start to pile up this year? How will it affect your family’s finances? Fortunately, there’s a set maximum amount you’ll pay out of pocket each year for TRICARE covered services. This amount is known as the catastrophic cap, and it resets every year on Jan. 1. “The TRICARE catastrophic cap is an important part of your health care coverage to understand,” said Debra Fisher, TRICARE Health Plan policy and programs analyst at the Defense Health Agency. “The catastrophic cap helps protect you because it limits your annual out-of-pocket costs for TRICARE covered services.”

NAPLES, Italy — Some active-duty service members who refused the COVID-19 vaccine and faced expulsion from the military say a recent Defense Department announcement rescinding the mandatory inoculation order is a hollow victory. The action, which was announced this week by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and is required by the defense authorization bill passed last month, doesn’t address damage to military careers or restore the faith of service members sidelined by their refusal to take the vaccine, said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Caroline Crumbacker.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy could deploy the aluminum hull, Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship to the Middle East as part of a future mine-countermeasures force in U.S. Central Command, service officials said. Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener, the commander of Naval Surface Forces, said the Navy could send up to two of the Independence-class to Bahrain with a variant of the LCS MCM mission package in the same way the service’s Avenger MCM are deployed now.

An American Navy veteran who has been detained in Russia for nearly a year was released from Russian custody on Thursday, his family’s spokesperson told CNN, after months of negotiations spearheaded by former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs bulletin - 01/11/2023

Top Navy leaders are sounding the alarm over what they see as the defense industry's failure to deliver enough ammunition to both meet the demands of the sea service as well as aid shipments to Ukraine. "I am not forgiving of the fact they're not delivering the ordnance we need," Adm. Daryl Caudle, the service's Fleet Forces commander, told an audience at the annual Surface Navy Association conference held in Arlington, Virginia.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – What do recent changes to the TRICARE Pharmacy Program mean for you and your family? Do you need to take any action? Learn more during a webinar, “What’s New in the TRICARE Pharmacy Program,” on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. Sign up now to attend.

All Cycle 258 (E-7 Active Duty/ Training and Administration of the Reserves) candidates will take their advancement exam Jan. 19, 2023. Remember that EAWs will close one week after the exam date listed on the worksheet. For more information, see NAVADMIN 226/22.

The Navy's top uniformed officer told a packed crowd of largely fellow Navy leaders and retired officers that one of the biggest problems that keeps him up at night is not Ukraine or Russia but the service's suicide problem. "I think it's the same thing that keeps [the master chief petty officer of the Navy] awake at night: It's suicides," Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations, told an auditorium of more than a hundred people at the annual Surface Navy Association conference held in Alexandria, Virginia.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon formally dropped its COVID-19 vaccination mandate Tuesday, but a new memo signed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also gives commanders some discretion in how or whether to deploy troops who are not vaccinated. Austin’s memo has been widely anticipated ever since legislation signed into law on Dec. 23 gave him 30 days to rescind the mandate. The Defense Department had already stopped all related personnel actions, such as discharging troops who refused the shot.

The Navy's new top enlisted sailor said he wants to be a problem solver for the fleet in his first remarks to the press since taking office in September of last year. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea came out with a clear message to reporters Tuesday at the Navy's annual Surface Naval Association conference, a gathering just minutes from the Pentagon in Virginia.