Tony

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 271617Z FEB 23 MID200080757107U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC CMC WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 018/23 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/FEB// SUBJ/ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE OR FUNDED TRAVEL FOR NON-COVERED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE// REF/A/SECDEF MEMORANDUM/20OCT22// REF/B/ALNAV 071/22// REF/C/USD-PR MEMORANDUM/16FEB23// REF/D/DODI 1327.06/15JAN21 REF/E/JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS// REF/F/SECNAVINST 1000.10B/16JAN19// REF/G/OPNAVINST 6000.1D/12MAR18// REF/H/MCO 5000.12F CH-1/10MAR21// NARR/REF A IS GUIDANCE FROM THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ENTITLED, "ENSURING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE." REF B IS ALNAV ENTITLED "REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND SUPPORT." REF C IS UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS GUIDANCE ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE FOR NON-COVERED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE." REF D IS DOD INSTRUCTION 1327.06 ENTITLED "LEAVE AND LIBERTY PROCEDURES." REF E IS JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS. REF F REF F IS SECNAV INSTRUCTION ENTITLED "DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY POLICY ON PARENTHOOD AND PREGNANCY." REF G OPNAV INSTRUCTION ENTITLED "NAVY GUIDELINES CONCERNING PREGNANCY AND PARENTHOOD." REF H IS MARINE CORPS ORDER ENTITLED "MARINE CORPS POLICY CONCERNING PARENTHOOD AND PREGNANCY."// RMKS/1. The Department of the Navy (DON) is committed to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of those who serve our country, and their families in an environment of safety, privacy, and respect. Our Sailors, Marines, and their families are often required to travel or relocate their households to meet our staffing, operational, and training requirements. Such relocations should not limit their access to reproductive health care. References (a) and (b) announced the intent to establish policies allowing Service Members authorization to either an administrative absence to obtain non-covered reproductive health care or provided travel and transportation allowances to facilitate official travel to access non-covered reproductive health care that is unavailable within the local area of a Service Member's permanent duty station. 2. It is the responsibility of the commanding officer (CO) or approval authorities to meet operational requirements and protect the health and safety of those in their care. COs or approval authorities are expected to continue to display objectivity, compassion, and discretion when addressing all health care matters, including reproductive health care matters, and have a duty to enforce existing policies against discrimination and retaliation in the context of reproductive health care choices. 3. Consistent with existing law and Department policy, COs will protect the privacy of protected health information received under this policy, as they should with any other protected health information. Such health care information shall be restricted to personnel with a specific need to know; that is, access to the information must be necessary for the conduct of official duties. Personnel shall also be accountable for safeguarding this health care information consistent with existing law and Departmental policy. 4. Administrative absence to obtain non-covered reproductive health care. a. Reference (c) authorizes the expanded use of administrative absence to include the ability for a Sailor or Marine to request administrative absence from their duties at their normal duty station for non-covered reproductive health care without loss of pay or being charged leave, thus ensuring access to lawfully available non-covered reproductive health care regardless of duty station. Reference (d) will be updated to reflect this change. b. Eligibility. Active duty Service Members, including Reserve Component members when on active duty orders for 30 or more consecutive days, may be granted an administrative absence to receive, or to accompany a dual- military spouse or a dependent who receives, non-covered reproductive health care as defined in paragraph 6. This administrative absence should be granted whether or not such care is available within the local area of the eligible Service Member's duty location as defined in reference (e), section 0206, "Travel In and Around the Permanent Duty Station (PDS)," or whether the dual-military spouse or dependent resides with, or are geographically separated from, the eligible Service Member. c. Duration. The administrative absence may be granted for a period up to 21 days per request. The period of absence will be limited to the minimum number of days essential to receive the required care and travel needed to access the care by the most expeditious means of transportation practicable. COs will limit health information required to the minimum amount necessary to ensure eligibility and be reasonably sure the duration of the time authorized meets this criteria. Should a Service Member or dependent decide not to proceed with the non-covered reproductive care, the DON will not charge the time away as leave and the member should expeditiously return to the unit. d. Approval Guidance. COs or approval authorities should grant an administrative absence to eligible Sailors and Marines when a non-covered reproductive health care need is identified by the eligible Service Member. Requests for administrative absence should be given all due consideration and should be granted to the greatest extent practicable, unless, in the CO's judgment, the Service Member's absence would impair proper execution of the military mission. If the CO denies the request, the Sailor or Marine may appeal the request to the next level of leadership. (1) It is essential that COs or approval authorities act promptly and with appropriate discretion when considering a Service Member's request for an administrative absence to obtain non-covered reproductive health care, with due regard to the time-sensitive nature of many non-covered reproductive health care services. To the greatest extent practicable, delay in granting an administrative absence should not result in an eligible Service Member being unable to access the non-covered reproductive health care that served as the basis for the administrative absence request. (2) In considering the mission impact of a Service Member's request for an administrative absence for non-covered reproductive health care - for example, where recurring care may be necessary over a period of time - COs or approval authorities should coordinate with the eligible Service Member to balance operational requirements and the reproductive health care schedule. (3) COs or approval authorities will not levy additional requirements on the eligible Service Member (including, but not limited to, consultations with a mental health provider or a chaplain, medical testing, or other forms of counseling) prior to approving or denying the administrative absence request. (4) Eligible Service Members shall not be granted an administrative absence if their intention is to sell, to offer for sale, or to receive proceeds from a sale resulting from an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedure while on, or in connection with taking, such absence (including, but not limited to, selling eggs, embryos, sperm, or services as a surrogate). e. Convalescent Leave. COs or approval authorities may also grant a Service Member convalescent leave, as permitted under reference (d), following receipt of non-covered reproductive health care based on a recommendation from a Department of Defense (DoD) health care provider or a non-DoD health care provider from whom the Service Member is receiving care. 5. Travel allowances a. Eligibility, reimbursement amounts, and procedures for travel allowances to obtain non-covered reproductive health care services will be provided in reference (e). This policy does not apply to travel for covered procedures, such as when a pregnancy termination is covered because the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest, or where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term. b. Travel funding is the responsibility of the command authorizing the travel. Commands must adhere to fiscal regulations and may not authorize travel which is not required or for which funding is not available, but all levels of leadership are expected to support this policy and prioritize available resources accordingly. If funding is an issue, commands will work with their chain of command and budget submitting office to obtain additional funds. c. Should a Service Member or dependent decide not to proceed with non - covered reproductive health care after travel requested in good faith has commenced, the DON will not recoup travel funds and the Service Member should expeditiously return. 6. Non-covered reproductive health care consists of lawfully available ART and non-covered abortion. a. A covered abortion is an abortion, either medical or surgical, where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or in a case in which the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest. b. A non-covered abortion is an abortion, either medical or surgical, that is not a covered abortion. c. ART consists of only the following: (1) Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, including any needed medications and procedures required for retrieval, processing, and utilization for ART or cryopreservation. (2) Sperm collection and processing for ART or cryopreservation. (3) Intrauterine insemination (IUI). (4) In vitro fertilization (IVF) inclusive of the following procedures for beneficiaries when clinically indicated. (a) IVF with fresh embryo transfer. (b) Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). (c) Zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT). (d) Pronuclear stage tubal transfer (PROST). (e) Tubal embryo transfer (TET). (f) Frozen embryo transfer. 7. Tracking Mechanisms. The DON will be tasked to report cost and usage of the administrative absence and funded travel policies authorized by reference (c), changes to reference (e), and this ALNAV. a. The tracking requirements in this message apply to DON organizations and Service Members assigned to DON organizations. The cost and usage by Sailors and Marines assigned to organizations in other DoD components will be tracked using the mechanisms established by those components. b. The Navy and Marine Corps are directed to provide plans to track days used for administrative absence to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs (ASN (M&A)) by 27 March 2023. The number of days used will be reported by the Service of the member, regardless of whether assigned to a Navy or Marine unit. Reports will include no Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) information and will not disclose the type of non -covered reproductive health care. (1) The Navy will be responsible for reporting use by Sailors, regardless of whether assigned to a Navy or Marine Corps unit. (2) The Marine Corps will be responsible for reporting use by Marines, regardless of whether assigned to a Navy or Marine Corps unit. c. The Navy and Marine Corps are directed to provide their plans to track cost and usage of travel and transportation allowances to the Office of the ASN (M&RA) by 27 March 2023. (1) The Marine Corps will be responsible for reporting usage by Service Members whose travel was funded by Marine Corps commands, regardless of the branch of the Service Member. (2) The Navy will be responsible for reporting usage by Service members whose travel was funded by Navy commands, regardless of the branch of the Service Member. (3) The reports will not include PII or HIPAA information. The reports will not specify whether the travel was for ART or a non-covered abortion. (4) The Navy and Marine Corps will be responsible for tracking and reporting the following information for each TDY period authorized: (a) Command name. (b) Branch of the Service Member (e.g., Navy, Marine Corps). (c) Fiscal quarter in which the travel completed. (d) Number of travel days used by the Service Member. Note that the days authorized or used by a dependent on the same trip may be more or less than this amount. Days of travel by non-Service Members are not required to be reported. (e) Total cost. A single cost is to be provided for the entire trip and inclusive of all authorized travelers. Do not break down costs by traveler or by any other basis. Provide the actual cost of the trip after travel claims are completed. 8. References (f) through (h) will be updated to conform with this policy. 9. I encourage you to visit the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center's, "Women's Health Toolbox," at https://www.med.navy.mil/Navy-Marine- Corps-Public-Health-Center/Womens-Health/ for additional information and resources on myriad women's health issues. Additional information on these policies can also be found at http://www.health.mil/ensuringaccesstoreproductivehealth. 10. Rest assured that the DON's work to implement the DoD's new policy is a priority. I expect cooperation from leaders across the Navy and Marine Corps to ensure appropriate input and efficient implementation of this new policy. 11. Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 271542Z FEB 23 MID200080757062U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC CMC WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 017/23 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/FEB// SUBJ/PREGNANCY NOTIFICATION POLICY// REF/A/SECDEF MEMORANDUM/20OCT22// REF/B/ALNAV 071/22// REF/C/USD-PR MEMORANDUM/16FEB23// REF/D/NMCPHC TM-6260.01D/MAY2019// REF/E/DODI 6025.19/13JUL22// REF/F/SECNAVINST 1000.10B/16JAN19// REF/G/OPNAVINST 1300.20/25SEP18// REF/H/OPNAVINST 6000.1D/12MAR18// REF/I/MCO 5000.12F CH-1/10MAR21// REF/J/DODI 1332.45/30JUL18// REF/K/CNAF M-3710.7/15MAY22// REF/L/BUMEDINST 6200.15A/28JUL16// REF/M/MANMED, NAVMED P-117/06FEB23// NARR/REF A IS GUIDANCE FROM THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ENTITLED, "ENSURING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE." REF B IS ALNAV ENTITLED "REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND SUPPORT". REF C IS UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS GUIDANCE ENTITLED "CHANGES TO COMMAND NOTIFICATION OF PREGNANCY POLICY." REF D IS NAVY AND MARINE CORPS PUBLIC HEALTH CENTER TECHNICAL MANUAL 6260.01D - REPRODUCTIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL HAZARDS: A GUIDE FOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROFESSIONS. REF E IS DOD ISSUANCE ENTITLED "INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL READINESS." REF F IS SECNAV INSTRUCTION ENTITLED "DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY POLICY ON PARENTHOOD AND PREGNANCY." REF G IS OPNAV INSTRUCTION ENTITLED "DEPLOYABILITY ASSESSMENT AND ASSIGNMENT PROGRAM." REF H IS OPNAV INSTRUCTION ENTITLED "NAVY GUIDELINES CONCERNING PREGNANCY AND PARENTHOOD." REF I IS MARINE CORPS ORDER ENTITLED "MARINE CORPS POLICY CONCERNING PARENTHOOD AND PREGNANCY." REF J IS DOD ISSUANCE ENTITLED "RETENTION DETERMINATIONS FOR NON -DEPLOYABLE SERVICE MEMBERS." REF K IS CHIEF OF NAVAL AIR FORCES MANUAL ENTITLED "NAVAL AIR TRAINING AND OPERATING PROCEDURES STANDARDIZATION GENERAL FLIGHT AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS." REF L IS ENTITLED "SUSPENSION OF DIVING DUTY DURING PREGNANCY." REF M IS ENTITLED "MANUAL OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT."// RMKS/1. The Department of the Navy (DON) is committed to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of those who serve our country, and their families in an environment of safety, privacy, and respect. References (a) and (b) announced the intent to establish additional privacy protections for reproductive health care information, including standardizing and extending the time Service Members have to fulfill their obligation to notify commanding officers (CO) of a pregnancy to no later than 20 weeks unless specific requirements to report sooner, such as those necessitated by occupational health hazards, are set forth in policy. Reference (c) is newly-released policy that provides those privacy protections and associated procedures. 2. Policy a. Service Members shall be provided the time and flexibility to make private health care decisions in a manner consistent with the responsibility of CO to meet operational requirements and protect the health and safety of those Service Members in their care. b. To provide Service Members with appropriate privacy protections in the early months of pregnancy, in accordance with reference (c), DON health care providers shall follow a presumption that they are not to disclose to a Service Member's command authorities a Service Member's pregnancy status prior to 20 weeks gestation unless this presumption is overcome by one of the notification standards listed below. In making a disclosure pursuant to the notification standards established below, Department of Defense (DoD) health care providers shall provide the minimum amount of information required to satisfy the purpose of the disclosure, consistent with applicable policy. c. Any DON personnel required to make mandatory notifications, such as related to domestic abuse or sexual assault, in accordance with applicable DoD, DON, or Service regulations, will do so without disclosing the Service Member's pregnancy status. d. Consistent with existing law and Department policy, CO will protect the privacy of protected health information they receive under this policy, as they should with any other protected health information. Such health care information shall be restricted to personnel with a specific need to know; that is, access to the information must be necessary for the conduct of official duties. Personnel shall also be accountable for safeguarding this health care information consistent with existing law and Department policy. 3. Confirmation of Pregnancy, Procedures for Pregnancy Notification, and Assessment of Duties. a. A Service Member believing they are pregnant should confirm the pregnancy as soon as possible through testing and counseling by a DoD health care provider, or through a licensed non-DoD health care provider from whom the Service Member is receiving care, to receive the benefits of prenatal care and occupational health counseling. b. Pregnancy Notification. A Service Member who has confirmed pregnancy and intends to carry the pregnancy to term must make every effort to meet with a DoD health care provider at a military medical treatment facility, reserve medical unit, or with a TRICARE authorized provider, no later than 12 weeks gestation. The provider will assess whether the Service Member's duties could adversely impact their health, their pregnancy, or whether the pregnancy impacts the Service Member's ability to safely accomplish their mission using reference (d). The Service Member should also consult with appropriate public health officials, if available. While not all pregnancies will require significant alteration of the work environment, modification of job tasks may be required, based on medical advice and operational requirements, resulting in the need for light duty status. (1) Notification to CO Upon Confirmation. A Service Member intending to carry the pregnancy to term is encouraged to notify appropriate command authorities upon confirmation of pregnancy, validated through a DoD health care provider or licensed non-DoD health care provider from whom the Service Member is receiving care. This notification should include the DoD health care provider's assessment of whether the pregnancy impacts the Service Member's ability to safely accomplish their mission, the potential impact of their duties on their pregnancy, and any limitations recommended by the provider. A Service Member receiving care from a licensed non-DoD health care provider is required to submit any limitations recommended by the provider to appropriate command authorities. (2) Delayed Notification to CO. A Service Member who has confirmed their pregnancy and chooses to delay pregnancy notification to appropriate command authorities will notify the appropriate command authorities no later than 20 weeks gestation, unless notification must be made prior to 20 weeks gestation in the circumstances detailed in paragraph 4. (a) When a Service Member chooses to delay notification, the DoD health care provider will - after consultation with the Service Member - place the pregnant Service Member in a medical temporary non-deployable status and light duty status without making any reference to the Service Member's pregnancy status for up to 20 weeks gestation. A Service Member choosing to delay notification will be advised by their health care provider that such delay could result in delayed access to non-medical resources or assessments, related to their pregnancy or health, which may benefit the Service Member. (b) No later than 20 weeks gestation, the Service Member will be placed on a medical temporary non-deployable status with limitations specific for pregnancy in accordance with references (e) through (i). c. Pregnancy Termination. A Service Member considering terminating the pregnancy is encouraged to consult with a DoD health care provider or a licensed non-DoD health care provider from whom the Service Member is receiving care. The DoD health care provider will place the Service Member considering pregnancy termination in a medical temporary non-deployable status without reference to the Service Member's pregnancy status, until appropriate medical care and the necessary recovery period are complete. d. Resources for Service Members. Service Members may access Military OneSource and chaplain resources, if desired, to understand the reproductive health care and other resources available to them. e. Guidance for Remote Locations. Service Members assigned to remote locations, away from a military installation, and who receive care from a licensed non-DoD health care provider, are responsible for coordinating their individual medical readiness status with a DoD health care provider at the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command with medical cognizance, or reserve medical unit. 4. Special Circumstances Affecting Notification to a CO. a. Duties, Hazards, and Conditions. There are military duties, occupational health hazards, and medical conditions where the proper execution of the military mission outweighs the interests served by delaying CO notification. In these situations, DoD health care providers will recommend the Service Member be placed in a light duty status, to include temporary non -deployable status, with limitations specific to a medically- confirmed pregnancy in accordance with references (e) and (j). These situations are: (1) Special Personnel. Many occupations in the DON are subject to occupational hazards that pose a risk to the Service Member and pregnancy. Service Members should consult their relevant occupational guidelines for pregnancy. The DON has identified the following personnel as having mission responsibilities or being subject to occupational health hazards that would significantly risk mission accomplishment should notification to a CO of the Service Member's pregnancy be delayed. (a) Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers, and Aircrew assigned to duty involving flight operations. These personnel shall adhere to the pregnancy regulations in accordance with reference (k). (b) Sailors or Marines assigned to diving duty must immediately report presumptive pregnancy to a diving medicine representative as outlined in reference (l). (c) Sailors on submarine duty must adhere to the guidelines outlined in reference (m), chapter 15-106. (d) Sailors or Marines assigned or selected to other special duty assignments requiring completion of a Special Duty Assignment physical exam must adhere to the regulations governing those programs. (2) Acute Medical Conditions Interfering with Duty. The treating DoD health care provider has determined that there are special medical circumstances related to the Service Member's pregnancy that would interfere with their ability to safely accomplish their military mission. (3) Other Special Circumstances. The notification is based on other special circumstances in which proper execution of the military mission outweighs the interests served by delaying notification, as determined on a case-by-case basis by a DoD health care provider (or other authorized official of the military medical treatment facility involved) at the grade of O-6 or higher, or civilian employee equivalent level. The DON has identified the following special circumstances as requiring earlier notification: (a) Sailors and Marines who intend to carry the pregnancy to term and are in receipt of orders to an officer accession program, to include the United States Naval Academy, Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, or Officer Candidate School, must inform the program offices no later than 90 days prior to the report date for the program. Commands will coordinate with the accession program to determine whether the orders can be executed or need to be deferred. (b) Sailors and Marines who intend to carry the pregnancy to term and are in receipt of orders to a training or educational program that will not be completed prior to the expected delivery date must inform their commands no later than 90 days prior to the report date for the program. Commands will coordinate with Service assignment offices and the schoolhouses to determine whether the training orders can be executed or need to be deferred. b. Required Pregnancy Testing. When pregnancy testing is included as part of health screenings for pre-deployment, specific job training, theater entry requirements, or other authorized reasons, test results will first be reviewed by the DoD health care provider, and will not be automatically sent to the appropriate command authorities. In the event of a positive pregnancy test, the DoD health care provider will consult with the Service Member to determine their preferred course of action, in accordance with this guidance. (1) If the Service Member intends to carry their pregnancy to term, the Service Member must notify appropriate command authorities immediately. The Service Member will immediately be placed on a medical temporary non- deployable status with limitations specific for pregnancy in accordance with reference (e), applicable Department and Service specific policy and procedures, and this guidance. (2) If the Service Member informs the DoD health care provider that they intend to or are considering pregnancy termination, the Service Member will be placed in a medical temporary non-deployable status without reference to pregnancy status, until appropriate medical care and the necessary recovery period are complete. Neither the Service Member nor the DoD health care provider shall be required to notify the appropriate command authorities that pregnancy is the basis for the restricted duty status, in accordance with this guidance. c. Deployed or Underway. If a Service Member is confirmed to be pregnant while deployed or underway, the treating DoD health care provider will consult with the Service Member to determine their preferred course of action. (1) If the Service Member intends to carry their pregnancy to term, the DoD health care provider will place the Service Member on a temporary non -deployable status with limitations consistent with reference (d). The Service Member will redeploy to their permanent duty station in accordance with references (h) and (i), and/or theater-level policy. (2) If the Service Member informs the DoD health care provider that they intend to or are considering pregnancy termination, the DoD health care provider will place the Service Member in a medical temporary non-deployable status without reference to the Service Member's pregnancy status. The Service Member will be redeployed to their permanent duty station if required by theater-level policy or based on the recommendation from the DoD health care provider. When the appropriate medical care and the necessary recovery period are complete, the Service Member may be eligible to return to the theater based on mission requirements and applicable theater-level policy. d. Provider Notification to the Service Member. For notifications made pursuant to sections 4.a., 4.b(1), and 4.c(1), DoD health care providers must provide the Service Member reasonable notice of no less than 1 business day, unless exigent mission requirements necessitate notification more quickly, prior to placing the Service Member on a medical temporary non-deployable status or light duty status with limitations specific to a medically- confirmed pregnancy. 5. References (f), (h), and (i) will be updated to conform with this policy. The Navy and Marine Corps will ensure regulations governing special duty assignments that trigger notification earlier than 20 weeks under paragraph 4.a.(1)(d) do so only when non-disclosure prior to 20 weeks would significantly risk mission accomplishment. 6. I encourage you to visit the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center's, "Women's Health Toolbox," at https://www.med.navy.mil/Navy-Marine- Corps-Public-Health-Center/Womens-Health/ for additional information and resources on myriad women's health issues. More information about the DoD policies can be found at https://www.health.mil/EnsuringAccesstoReproductiveHealth. 7. Rest assured that the DON's work to implement the DoD's new policy is a priority. I expect cooperation from leaders across the Navy and Marine Corps to ensure appropriate input and efficient implementation of this new policy. 8. Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

An external evaluation of suicide in the U.S. military has produced a report calling for greater gun control restrictions for troops. The Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee (SPRIRC) was formed by the Department of Defense in March 2020 to help combat the rising rate of suicides among servicemembers.

When Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea took office last September, he promised to focus on the needs of sailors and their families. Sailors immediately voiced skepticism online.

WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced the availability of nearly $16 million in grants to qualifying organizations to help more than 13,000 Veterans and service members with disabilities participate in adaptive sports. This funding will help these organizations plan, develop, manage, and implement a variety of sports and equine therapy activities, including life-improving programs for Veterans and training for providers. More information about these grants can be found in the two Notices of Funding Availability. Adaptive sports are competitive or recreational sports and activities customized to fit the needs of persons with disabilities, including paralympic sports, archery, cycling, skiing, hunting, rock climbing, and sky diving. These activities allow Veterans to rehabilitate through recreation and encourage an active and fit lifestyle.

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 241503Z FEB 23 MID600052811750U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 054/23 MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N95/FEB// SUBJ/2022 EXPEDITIONARY WARFARE EXCELLENCE AWARDS (EWEA) SOLICITATION// REF/A/MSGID: DOC/DECISION PAPER/YMD: 20200610// AMPN/REF A IS THE DECISION PAPER FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EWEA// POC 1/T.A. LAIR/LCDR/OPNAV N95/ COM (703) 697 9801/TRAVIS.A.LAIR.MIL @US.NAVY.MIL// POC 2/J.E. MORRIS/LT/OPNAV N95/ COM (703) 614-0391/JACOB.E.MORRIS.MIL @US.NAVY.MIL// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. The Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration (DC, CD&I), and the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities (DCNO, N9) are pleased to solicit nominations for the annual Expeditionary Warfare Excellence Awards (EWEA). The EWEA recognizes those Marines and Sailors who have distinguished themselves through exceptional performance while serving in an expeditionary warfare assignment and have significantly influenced the future of naval expeditionary warfare and amphibious capabilities, doctrine and training through innovative concepts, leadership, and teamwork. The EWEA ceremony will take place at the 2023 Marine Corps Association Combat Development Dinner on or around 24 August 2023. 1.a. Inclusive dates for the awards are 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022. 1.b. The EWEA features four awards: Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare Officer of the Year (CWO3 - CWO4, O3-O4), Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare Staff Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year (E6-E7), Navy Expeditionary Warfare Officer of the Year (CWO3-CWO4, O3-O4), and Navy Expeditionary Warfare Enlisted Sailor of the Year (E6-E7). This awards program is applicable to the Active and Reserve components of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy. 1.c. An awards board convened by CD&I and OPNAV N9 will recommend eminently qualified packages for DC, CD&I approval. The award winners will be announced via MARADMIN and NAVADMIN. 2. Action 2.a. Commands with personnel meeting the criteria are highly encouraged to submit nominations via the first O-6 in the chain of command to the POCs listed in this message. 2.b. Nomination packages must be received no later than 31 March 2023. 2.c. Nomination packages shall be sent electronically via email and will include one file in Microsoft Word format and one file in Portable Document Format (PDF) per nominee. The subject line should read: "Calendar Year 2022 EWEA ICO Rank/Name." Nomination packages will include the following: 2.c.1. A nomination letter from the first O-6, or senior, in the chain of command. 2.c.2. Unit point of contact to include phone number and email address. 2.c.3. Phone number and email address for each nominee. 2.c.4. A summary of performance that provides a concise resume of qualifications, including the billet description and significant contributions, not to exceed two pages using 12-pitch courier new font. 2.c.5. A biography of the nominee. 2.c.6. A proposed citation not to exceed 20 typewritten lines using 12-pitch courier new font. 3. CD&I will fund travel for the individual awardee while the Marine Corps Association will fund travel for one guest per award winner to attend the Combat Development Dinner for the presentation of the award. Every effort shall be made by local commanders to ensure the presence of the awardee at the ceremony. Individuals other than the awardee and their guest who desire to attend must do so at their own expense. 4. Ensure widest dissemination of the contents of this message. 5. Release authorized by Brigadier General Marcus Annibale, Director, Expeditionary Warfare, OPNAV N95.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 241342Z FEB 23 MID600052811455U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 053/23 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC/N2N6// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N2N6// MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N2N6/FEB// SUBJ/2022 U.S. NAVY COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AND HUMAN INTELLIGENCE SUPERIOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS SOLICITATION// RMKS/1. Purpose. Solicit nominations for the first annual U.S. Navy Counterintelligence (CI) and Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Superior Achievement Awards. The CI and HUMINT Superior Achievement Awards consist of six separate awards: HUMINT Collector Award, Foreign Military Intelligence Collection Activities (FORMICA) Collector Award, CI Agent Award, HUMINT Team Award, CI Team Award, and CI/HUMINT Management and Oversight Team Award. 2. Eligibility. The eligibility period for all awards is 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022. These awards recognize U.S. Navy civilian employees, active duty personnel, and reservists in an active duty status, who performed CI or HUMINT activities and distinguished themselves during calendar year 2022. Activities performed by U.S. Navy Sailors and civilians while assigned or under the operational control outside of the U.S. Navy are also eligible. U.S. Navy contractors may not be submitted for awards. Nominations for team awards can include no more than twenty-five personnel. 3. Nomination Package Criteria. Nomination packages will be assessed according to significance/impact, relative difficulty and operational complexity, level of innovation, and resourcefulness. Individual and team awards may capture sustained performance throughout the calendar year or focus on individual operations, deployments, support activities, or other shorter-term actions that occurred during the calendar year. The target population for the FORMICA Collector Award are those Sailors and civilians who are graduates of the Navy's FORMICA Course and have no other HUMINT or CI training. The target population for the CI/HUMINT Management and Oversight Team Award are the Fleet N2X staffs, or similar oversight management staffs at Navy commands with organic CI/HUMINT personnel. 4. Submission Instructions. Nomination packages can be classified no higher than Top Secret//SCI. Packages must be submitted electronically via NIPRNET, SIPRNET, or JWICS depending on classification level. Commands should avoid including unnecessary personal identifiable information in nomination packages. Recent fitness reports, evaluations, or awards are not required in nomination packages and should not be included in submissions. a. Nominations should not exceed two pages. Use Times New Roman 12 point font and mark the document with the appropriate classification markings, per Controlled Access Program Coordination Office guidelines. List in order the award category, nominee/team name, job series, and rank/grade, nominee organization, location and point of contact, summary of achievements, and impact of achievements in the context of the criteria in paragraph 3. For all award nominations, submit an endorsement letter from the leadership chain of command for the individual or team being nominated for an award. b. The current command of the nominee(s) must forward all nomination packages to Mr. Stephen Carr at stephen.j.carr.civ(at)us.navy.mil. For classified package submissions, email Mr. Carr on SIPRNET at stephen.j.carr1(at)navy.smil.mil or JWICS at carrste(at)nmic.ic.gov. Nomination packages must be submitted no later than 30 days after release of this NAVADMIN. Award recipients will be notified by 30 June 2023. Awards will be forwarded to respective commands by 31 July 2023. 5. Released by VADM Jeffrey E. Trussler, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare, OPNAV N2N6.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

Ya' know... I'm only enlisted but I could have told the upper chain about that before they went on a rampage. ("Let's build something and install future technology that doesn't exist yet.") BATH, Maine (AP) — The U.S. Navy appears to have learned from its costly lessons after cramming too much new technology onto warships and speeding them into production as it embarks on building new destroyers, which are the backbone of the fleet. Military officials say they’re slowing down the design and purchase of its next-generation destroyers to ensure new technology like powerful lasers and hypersonic missiles are mature before pressing ahead on construction.

Kadena Air Base, Japan — The US Navy reconnaissance jet flies at 21,500 feet over the South China Sea, 30 miles from the contested Paracel Islands, a group of about 130 small atolls, the biggest of which are home to Chinese military bases. A voice, saying it’s coming from a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) airport, crackles over the radio of the US Navy P-8 Poseidon as a CNN crew, given rare access aboard the US flight, listens in. “American aircraft. Chinese airspace is 12 nautical miles. Not approaching any more or you bear all responsibility,” it says.

Every global U.S. military mission, both successful and unsuccessful, has resulted in unintended—or perhaps unavoidable—consequences both for U.S. service members and local populations and communities. The U.S. military’s next greatest weapon may not be a new weapon system, or a new class of submarine, but instead be more culturally aware, intelligent, and cross-discipline service members willing to accept nuance and complicating factors into their understanding of the world.

WASHINGTON —Boeing will end the F/A-18E-F Super Hornet production line in 2025 and will not accept any more U.S. orders beyond the eight aircraft Congress added to the fiscal 2023 budget. The company, describing the move as a “pivot,” will refocus its people and facilities on other projects and look ahead at future work, it said in a Feb. 23 statement.

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — Three sailors aboard the USS Ronald Reagan attempted suicide over a three-month period last year, according to a Navy spokesman.

WASHINGTON — Veterans can now access their disability benefit claim decision notice letters electronically on VA.gov, empowering them to quickly and easily see their disability decisions. Before this option was available, Veterans had to wait for a paper copy of their decision notice to be mailed to them. While previous iterations of VA.gov allowed Veterans to access benefits summary letters, they could not access the full copy of these decision notification letters from their electronic claims folders. This service became available to Veterans on VA.gov on Jan. 17. Since launching, nearly 280,000 decision notice letters have been downloaded.

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 222033Z FEB 23 MID600052801495U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 052/23 MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N2N6/FEB// SUBJ/2023 ASSOCIATION OF OLD CROWS OUTSTANDING NAVY UNIT AWARD NOMINATIONS// POC/NORTHROP/CTTCM/OPNAV N2N6WT/TEL: (571) 256-8542/ EMAIL: JAMES.E.NORTHROP.MIL(AT)US.NAVY.MIL// REF/A/LTR/AOC/17JAN23// AMPN/REF A IS THE ASSOCIATION OF OLD CROWS LETTER TO CNO FOR ANNUAL AWARD NOMINATIONS.// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN solicits for the annual Association of Old Crows (AOC) Outstanding Navy Unit Award nominations. Per reference (a), the AOC awards one Navy unit from each of three categories (air/sea/shore) that have shown significant contributions in Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) and Information Warfare/Cyber Warfare. 2. Nominations should outline specific contributions made by each unit. All nominations must be submitted using the AOC Community Awards submission form located online at either the AOC Awards page (https://www.crows.org/page/awards) or the EW/ELINT Community INTELINK documents page (https://intelshare.intelink.gov/sites/ctt/SitePages/Home.aspx). Contact the point of contact (POC) via email for question or if unable to access either website. Endorsement letters will be accepted as attachments. Classified supplements may also be submitted via GENSER email. 3. Email nominations, via echelon 2 command to Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) POC no later than close of business Friday, 14 July 2023. echelon 2 commands submit a total of three nominations, no more than one per award category. Immediate Superiors in Command should make every effort to submit at least one unit to their Type Commander taking into account EW readiness. 4. Released by VADM Jeffrey E. Trussler, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare, OPNAV N2N6.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 222101Z FEB 23 MID200080752928U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC CMC WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 015/23 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/FEB// SUBJ/INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL READINESS ELEMENTS, GOALS, AND METRICS POLICY UPDATE// REF/A/DOC/DOD/13JUL22// REF/B/DOC/DOD/MAY17// REF/C/DOC/BUMED/16JUL12// NARR/REF A IS DODI 6025.19, INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL READINESS PROGRAM. REF B IS DODI 6490.03, DEPLOYMENT HEALTH. REF C IS BUMEDINST 6110.14, DOCUMENTING AND REPORTING INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL READINESS DATA. RMKS/1. Individual Medical Readiness (IMR) is an ongoing assessment of a Sailor's or Marine's health and fitness level. This is an essential component of force health protection, which represents an individual's medical readiness for rapid deployment and unit support. IMR is a military service, command, and individual Service Member responsibility. Service Members in the Active Component (AC) and Reserve Component (RC), as a condition of continued participation in military service, have a responsibility to maintain their health and fitness, meet IMR requirements, and report medical issues (including physical, dental, and mental/behavioral health) that may affect their readiness to deploy, ability to perform their assigned mission, or fitness for retention in military service to their chain of command. IMR requirements are directed by reference (a). The 2019 Coronavirus disease pandemic hindered the ability to assess IMR across the Department of the Navy (DON). This message sets new DON goals and metrics to return IMR to pre-pandemic levels. The new DON goals are targets for unit commanders to work towards as they continually assess their unit's medical readiness for deployability. 2. The Health Assessments element of IMR is inclusive of the annual Periodic Health Assessment (PHA), and any Deployment-Related Health Assessments (DRHA) when required for a qualifying deployment. The PHA is DD Form 3024. To support force distribution and tracking guidelines, DON Service Members will complete their PHA during their birth month, unless operational requirements preclude its completion. The PHA is due 365 days from the prior year's record date in the Medical Readiness Reporting System (MRRS), and overdue if not completed within 90 days of the due date. DRHA completion and timelines are directed in reference (b). DRHAs include the Pre-Deployment Health Assessment (Pre-DHA) DD Form 2795, the Post Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA) DD Form 2796, the Post-Deployment Health Re-Assessment (PDHRA) DD Form 2900, and Deployment Mental Health Assessment DD Form 2978. Only overdue PHAs and PDHRAs will impact IMR calculations. Pre-DHAs cannot become overdue because the Service Member has already deployed. PDHAs cannot become overdue because the PDHRA takes precedence. 3. Dental Readiness IMR element includes the annual assessment of dental health. A type II dental examination is due 365 days from the prior year's record date in MRRS, and overdue if not completed within 90 days of the due date. 4. The DON has new IMR goals for commanders to strive toward in the following areas: Total Force Medically Ready (TFMR), Partially Medically Ready (PMR), Health Assessments IMR element, and Dental Readiness IMR element. TFMR is defined by reference (a). The TFMR goal is greater than or equal to 90 percent of the command's or unit's total force. PMR is defined by reference (a). The AC PMR goal is less than or equal to 15 percent of the command's or unit's total force. The RC PMR goal is less than or equal to 25 percent of the command's or unit's total force. The Health Assessment IMR element goal is less than or equal to five percent of the command's or unit's total force, including only overdue PHAs and overdue PDHRAs. The Dental Readiness IMR element goal is to maintain a sum of Dental Readiness Classification 3 and 4 at a rate of less than or equal to 5 percent of the command's or unit's total force. 5. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) will publish, at least annually, the Surgeon General's Medical Readiness Report. Commanders can pull command deficiency reports at the individual level from MRRS. Additionally, BUMED has created an IMR dashboard for command tracking at the unit level. The IMR dashboard is available via a CAC-enabled website: https://carepoint.health.mil/sites/BUMEDANLYT/SitePages/IMR.aspx. The IMR dashboard can only be accessed via Google Chrome with a CAC-enabled device. 6. BUMED is required to provide clarifying medical department guidance to support the implementation of these requirements and incorporate these changes into reference (c). This ALNAV serves as interim guidance until updates are published for reference (c). 7. The Chief of Naval Operations and Commandant of the Marine Corps are required to implement the above requirements with Service-specific guidance and incorporate procedures aligning with the BUMED updates to reference (c) once published. 8. All entities are required to implement these updates within 6 months of the release of this message. 9. BUMED representatives for Medical Readiness can be reached at usn.ncr.bumedfchva.list.m34@health.mil. 10. This ALNAV remains in effect until replaced or cancelled. 11. Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 222140Z FEB 23 MID200080752987U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC CMC WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 016/23 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/FEB// SUBJ/CONSOLIDATION OF ELECTRONIC PERIODIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ASSESSMENT WEBSITES// REF/A/DOC/DOD/13JUL22// REF/B/DOC/DOD/19JUN19// REF/C/DOC/DOD/05FEB10// REF/D/DOC/DHA/17DEC19// REF/E/DOC/BUMED/28MAR12// REF/F/DOC/OPNAV/10NOV14// NARR/REF A IS DODI 6025.19, INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL READINESS. REF B IS DODI 6490.03 DEPLOYMENT HEALTH. REF C IS DODI 6490.07, DEPLOYMENT-LIMITING MEDICAL CONDITIONS FOR SERVICE MEMBERS AND DOD CIVILIANS. REF D IS DHA-PI 6490.03 DEPLOYMENT HEALTH PROCEDURES. REF E IS BUMEDINST 6110.14A, DOCUMENTING AND REPORTING INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL READINESS DATA. REF F IS OPNAVINST 6100.3A DEPLOYMENT HEALTH ASSESSMENT PROCESS.// RMKS/1. Per references (a) through (f) each Service Member is required to maintain their medical readiness requirements, including the completion of the Periodic Health Assessment (PHA), Pre-Deployment Health Assessment, Post -Deployment Health Assessment, Post-Deployment Health Re-Assessment, and Mental Health Assessment. 2. The electronic Periodic Health Assessment (ePHA) and electronic Deployment Health Assessment (eDHA) websites have been consolidated into a single Common Access Card (CAC)-enabled website called the electronic Health Assessment (eHA) site, located at https://eha.health.mil/eha. The eHA website was established in August 2021. On 1 October 2022 the legacy ePHA and eDHA websites were taken offline and are no longer accessible. Consolidation to a single CAC-enabled platform improves Service Member access and completion of medical readiness requirements and enables Navy Medicine to implement electronic versions of other, currently paper-based medical readiness assessments. 3. Medical readiness assessment questions are defined by Department of Defense (DoD) requirements and cannot be changed without DoD approval. Both Part I and Part II of the medical readiness assessment must be complete so that Service Member's eHA can be certified. a. Part I: In order to complete this part of any eHA assessment, Sailors must log in to the new eHA website using their Common Access Card. Service Members enter their information by selecting Start New Assessment for the assessment(s) for which they are due or overdue. PHAs are listed under the ePHA portal, and the deployment-related health assessments are under the eDHA portal. b. Part II: Upon completion of the Service Member's portion of an assessment on the eHA website, Service Members must contact their medical department or identified point of contact to schedule the record review and Provider portion of the assessment. 4. User feedback/user experience about eHA website functionality can be submitted to usn.hampton-roads.navmcpubhlthcenpors.list.nmcphc-pha1 @health.mil. User recommendations for U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery eHA website development can be submitted to usn.ncr.bumedfchva.list.m34 @health.mil. 5. This ALNAV remains in effect until superseded or cancelled, whichever comes first. 6. Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – You’ve likely heard the term “referral” in connection with health care. But what exactly is a referral—and how do you know if you need one? A referral is when your primary care manager (PCM) or primary care provider sends you to another provider or specialist for care. “When you receive a referral for care, your provider has determined the care will benefit your health,” said Tonya Utterback, referral and authorization expert with the TRICARE Health Plan at the Defense Health Agency. “Once your referral is approved, it’s important to use it in a timely manner. For example, if you’re referred to a cardiologist to evaluate a heart problem, diagnosing and treating the problem as soon as possible may result in a better health outcome.” Read on to learn when you need a referral and helpful tips for using them.

Parachuting Accident Claims Life of Navy SEAL (Updated info)

COMPLETE UIC LIST/MAP QUOTAS Season One of CY23 as of 18 Feb, 23

The Navy is offering more than $100,000 in surface warfare bonuses as the service contemplates new ways to boost retention within the community. Active duty officers could earn as much as $105,000 to become SWO department heads, while active duty lieutenant commander SWOs may earn up to $46,000 after signing on for another three years — the same amounts offered to officers last year, according to Navy data.

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - The Navy confirms the death of a sailor in Marana. A Naval Special Warfare Command spokesperson says Chief Special Warfare Operator Michael T. Ernst died in a military training free fall accident Sunday. He was assigned to a Naval Special Warfare East Coast-based unit. The Navy is investigating the cause of the accident.

DJIBOUTI 02.16.2023 Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Maria Olvera Tristan Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti Subscribe18 CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti (Feb. 16, 2023) Forward-deployed enlisted Sailors from the ranks of E-4 to E-5 took the Navy-wide advancement exam for cycle 112 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Feb. 16. The advancement exam is a test that allows Sailors to demonstrate their rate-specific knowledge and qualify them for promotion. “This is important for a Sailor’s career progression,” said Chief Damir Cerkez, CLDJ Educational Services Officer and Career Counselor. “(Sailors) will be able to take the advancement test, show their knowledge on their specific rate, (and) for that pay grade.” The exam provides an unbiased factor for the final multiple score or FMS algorithm that helps rank order qualified candidates for advancement consideration. All Sailors who take the exam have met necessary eligibility requirements, like knowledge and time in rate, for advancement and have been recommended by their Commanding Officer/Officer in Charge. While, CLDJ is an operational installation that enables security operations in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia, these advancement exams and professional opportunities ensure Sailors are best prepared to successfully complete their mission. “We administer exams each Navy advancement cycle, spring or fall,” said Cerkez. “SELRES is administered in February and August, active duty in March and September.” Active duty, full-time support, and recruiters take the active duty enlisted Navy-wide advancement examination. Navy Reserve personnel, including all candidates serving on voluntary recall or mobilization, take the SELRES enlisted Navy-wide advancement examination. The biggest change in 2023, according to NAVADMIN 274/22, is that the Navy has officially cancelled E-4 advancement exams for active component and TAR Sailors. Instead, all qualified E-3s will be selected for advancement using the alternate rank order to determine who advances without the exam score. “The difference between exams is that we do not administer E-4 exams anymore, this is Navy-wide,” said Cerkez, “Sailors are still required to complete the enlisted advancement worksheet in NSIPS.” Exams for E-7 and LDO purposes are not administrated in combat designated zones, such as Camp Lemonnier. The Education Service Officer provides a transmittal letter to Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center to make those Sailors’ selection board eligible. The opportunity to take an advancement exam or have dedicated Navy career counselor in a combat zone, like at CLDJ, is unique and often isn’t the case in other forward deployed assignments or billets. Further, the ability to take advancement exams doesn’t detract from mission, but it enhances a Sailors abilities and knowledge. “Bottom line is that ensuring our Sailors who are qualified, ready, and already working at the next level are recognized and promoted - even in a combat zone,” said Cerkez. “At CLDJ, we care about giving our Sailors the opportunity to advance.”

Rather than consider the U.S. Pacific fleet’s agglomeration of older aircraft carriers and attack submarines an embarrassing sign of American weakness, the old nuclear combatants of the of Indo-Pacific Fleet deserve recognition for being as dangerous as they have ever been. With little to lose and nothing to prove, the relative combat value of nuclear-powered platforms increases as they age.

Uniform Newsgram Winter 2023

WASHINGTON – Back away from the baked goods, Doughboy. That's the warning from the Pentagon to its 1.3 million active-duty soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines amid fresh concerns that tainted poppy seeds could prompt troops to pop hot on drug tests for codeine after eating bagels or muffins. "Recent data suggests certain poppy seeds varieties may have higher codeine contamination than previously reported," said the warning from Gilbert Cisneros, the Pentagon's top official for personnel.