Tony

Three weeks after President Donald Trump’s extraordinary purge of inspectors general across the federal government, a document arrived in Navy Lt. Cmdr. Shannon Bencs’ email inbox. It was the day before Valentine’s Day, but what was detailed in the 64-page report under the official seal of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense was a relationship gone sideways:

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/ ROUTINE R 041705Z MAR 25 MID180001651690U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO CMC WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC SECNAV WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 021/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/MAR// SUBJ/2024 VICE ADMIRAL ROBERT F. BATCHELDER AWARDS DEADLINE EXTENDED// POC/AWARDS BOARD/NA/CALLSIGN: NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES/LOC/ARLINGTON, VA/TEL: (703)312-1565/ EMAIL/AWARDS(AT)NAVYLEAGUE.ORG// REF/A/GENADMIN/SECNAV/20SEP2024// AMPN/REF A IS 2024 ANNUAL NAVY LEAGUE PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS ALNAV, DTG 201544ZSEP24// RMKS/1. The deadline for the Vice Admiral (VADM) Robert F. Batchelder Awards in reference (a) has been extended to 31 March 2025. 2. The VADM Robert F. Batchelder Awards recognizes five Navy officers in the Supply Corps levels O-1 through O-4 who have made the most significant personal contributions to the supply readiness of the operating forces. 3. Nominations: a. Nomination criteria. Nominations must be fully substantiated and reflect a careful and conscientious evaluation of the nominee for accomplishment 1 December 2023 through 30 November 2024. Each nomination package shall include: (1) A cover page with nominee's full name, rank/rate, current duty station and address, home address, work and home phone numbers, e-mail address, home of record, length of service, name of award being nominated for, point of contact name, rank/rate, address, commercial phone number (this cannot be a DSN number), fax number, e-mail address, and signature of commanding officer. (2) A nomination achievement/justification section in paragraph or bulletized format. It should explain in a manner easily understood by the general public and should avoid acronyms, generalities, or excessive use of superlatives. (3) A proposed citation in standard paragraph form. (4) The total submission packet, excluding the proposed citation, must not exceed four pages. (5) A template for the required format is available on the Navy League website at [https://www.navyleague.org/programs/awards/sea-services/ b. Submission. The requested method of submission is via website to [https://www.navyleague.org/programs/awards/sea-services/ with all attachments in Microsoft Word format or Adobe Acrobat. Nominations must be received no later than 31 March 2025. 5. Additional information regarding the awards and nomination process may be found on the Navy League website, [https://www.navyleague.org/programs/awards/sea-services/ 6. Awards will be presented at the Navy League Convention held in (location TBD), June or July 2025, or another appropriate event. The Navy League will cover expenses for lodging and meals of award participants, plus one guest. Travel costs will not be covered by the League. Using this message as a reference, commands are encouraged to issue temporary additional duty orders so award recipients may attend the Navy League's Annual Convention. For additional logistics information about this program, point of contact is the Member Engagement Team of the Navy League at email: awards@navyleague.org. 7. Released by Mr. Terence G. Emmert, Acting, Secretary of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/

LONDON — President Donald Trump’s decision to pause American military aid to Ukraine is handing Russia's Vladimir Putin the upper hand on the battlefield and on the world stage, former officials and experts warned Tuesday. * "Two White House officials said the defense assistance was being reviewed to make sure it was contributing to the administration's goal of being “focused on peace.”" - That is an absolutely ridiculous statement. Ukraine, a democracy, got invaded by Russia and its dictator Vladimir Putin. That specific goal does not align with reality. The reality is that Ukraine wants peace by having Russian troops get out of their country and their borders respected. What trump is more focused on is Ukraine's surrender.

Office of Servicemembers: Financial resources for serving servicemembers, veterans, and military families. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) helps servicemembers, veterans and military families navigate the unique financial challenges of service through financial resources, monitoring complaints, and holding companies accountable. * The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) was ordered to open back up after the trump administration tried to shut it down.

NAVY MEDICINE IN THE AGE OF SAIL - THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1775-1783

NAVY MEDICINE IN THE AGE OF SAIL - THE SIX FRIGATES

Among the challenges: a serious shortage of skilled workers, poor shipyard employee retention, last-minute design changes, and the Pentagon's shifting priorities.

One day after the Department of Veterans Affairs celebrated an estimated $2 billion in savings on canceled contracts, the agency began reversing some of the cancellations that may have affected veterans' medical care and other benefits, according to multiple sources familiar with the contracts and agency records reviewed by ABC News. Some of the contracts marked for termination on Monday included contracts to provide employee and workplace benefits services to tens of thousands of VA employees and their families. Others included work overseeing hazardous waste disposal, conducting safety inspections at VA medical facilities, supporting cancer programs and burial services, according to agency records review by ABC News.

China is flexing its military muscle in the region to show that it will not wait for the Trump administration to decide how hard it wants to counter Beijing.

NAHA, Okinawa — A civilian employee of the U.S. Navy was taken into custody after a bullet was discovered in his baggage at an airport security checkpoint, a police spokesman said Monday. Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2025-03-03/bullet-naha-airport-okinawa-17016230.html Source - Stars and Stripes

From the Moscow Times, makes me sick to my stomach what is happening to our democracy. The Kremlin said in remarks aired Sunday that the United States' sudden shift in foreign policy "largely aligns" with its own position. "The new administration is rapidly changing all foreign policy configurations. This largely aligns with our vision," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a reporter from state television.

Russia is not a significant cyber threat to the U.S. anymore, Trump's new Defense Secretary says. It appears that the U.S. no longer considers Russia a significant cyber threat, according to multiple new reports on a drastic policy reversal that has taken hold under the new Trump administration.

During his first six weeks in office, President Donald Trump has embarked on a dizzying teardown of the federal government and attacks on long-standing institutions in an attempt to increase his own authority. “Trump is using the classic elected authoritarian playbook,” said Brendan Nyhan of Dartmouth College, who joined more than 800 other political scientists in signing a letter warning that Trump is undermining the rule of law and the basic constitutional principle of checks and balances. “It’s almost embarrassing how crude it is.”

The 24-year-old sailor smashed a beer stein into some college kids' head after staff told him the bar was closed.

A Norwegian petrol company has taken a stand against the US military presence in Norway, following President Donald Trump's controversial encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Haltbakk Bunkers has reportedly declared an immediate halt to fuel supplies for all American forces in Norway, making its position clear with a resounding "No fuel to Americans!".

Kyle Babiak, 31, faces up to life in prison for attempting to coerce a 14-year-old girl — actually an undercover officer — into sex.

Shame on that "commander-in chief" and his lackey vance for their disgraceful, uncivil behavior and lack of protocol. LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer embraced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday and told him he had the nation's unwavering support a day after the blowout at the White House with President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy arrived to shouts of support from people who had gathered outside of 10 Downing St., where Starmer gave him a hug and ushered him inside.

Nearly 6,000 military veterans who worked for the federal government have been fired and the number is only expected to grow as President Donald Trump’s administration and its Department of Government Efficiency initiative, led by Elon Musk, press ahead with slashing the federal workforce. Democratic lawmakers critical of the cuts have sought to highlight the fact that veterans are being disproportionately affected by the job losses.

Foreign adversaries including Russia and China have recently directed their intelligence services to ramp up recruiting of US federal employees working in national security, targeting those who have been fired or feel they could be soon, according to four people familiar with recent US intelligence on the issue and a document reviewed by CNN. The intelligence indicates that foreign adversaries are eager to exploit the Trump administration’s efforts to conduct mass layoffs across the federal workforce – a plan laid out by the Office of Personnel Management earlier this week.

All Department of Defense civilians will need to respond to an email from the Office of Personnel Management requiring them to list five things they did in the past week, according to Thursday Pentagon guidance, reviewed by USNI News. The OPM email will come on Monday, and civilian employees will have 48 hours to respond with their five things and copy their supervisor, according to the guidance, signed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

President Donald Trump selected Navy veteran Hung Cao to serve as the Department of the Navy’s number two civilian.

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/ ROUTINE R 281339Z FEB 25 MID180001641155U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO CMC WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC SECNAV WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 019/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/FEB// SUBJ/ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE OR FUNDED TRAVEL FOR NON-COVERED ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY// REF/A/EXECUTIVE ORDER 14182/24JAN25// REF/B/PTDO USD-PR MEMORANDUM/3FEB25// REF/C/ALNAV 071/22// REF/D/ALNAV 018/23// REF/E/DODI 1327.06/15JAN21// REF/F/JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS 033013// NARR/REF A IS EXECUTIVE ORDER TITLED, "ENFORCING THE HYDE AMENDMENT." REF B IS UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS, PERFORMING THE DUTIES OF, GUIDANCE: "NON-COVERED ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY." REF C IS ALNAV "REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND SUPPORT." REF D IS ALNAV "ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE OR FUNDED TRAVEL FOR NON-COVERED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE." REF E IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION (DODI) 1327.06 "LEAVE AND LIBERTY PROCEDURES." REF F IS THE JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS SECTION "TRAVEL FOR NON- COVERED ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY." RMKS/1. References (a) and (b) establish policy that taxpayer dollars will not be used to fund, promote, or reimburse Service Members or dependents for elective abortion-related travel expenses. Accordingly, references (c) and (d) are rescinded. Reference (b) maintains access to non-covered Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). This ALNAV should be read in its entirety. 2. 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. Sailors, Marines, and their families should be permitted access to lawfully available non-covered ART. Reference (b) announced revised policies that allow a Service Member to be authorized either an administrative absence to obtain non-covered ART or provided travel and transportation allowances to facilitate official travel to access non-covered ART that is unavailable within the local area of a Service Member's permanent duty station. Non-covered ART includes only the following: a. Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, including any needed medications and procedures required for retrieval, processing, and utilization for ART or cryopreservation. b. Sperm collection and processing for ART or cryopreservation. c. Intrauterine insemination. d. In vitro fertilization. 3. 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. 4. Consistent with existing law and Departmental policy, COs 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 will 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 will also be accountable for safeguarding this health care information consistent with existing law and Departmental policy. 5. Administrative absence to obtain non-covered ART a. Reference (b) authorizes the use of administrative absence to include the ability for a Sailor or Marine to request an administrative absence from their duties at their normal duty station for non-covered ART without loss of pay or being charged leave. Reference (e) 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 ART as defined in paragraph 2. 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(f), section 0206, "Travel In and Around the Permanent Duty Station," 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 of 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 ART, 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 ART 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 ART. 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 ART 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 ART - 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 health care schedule. (3) Eligible Service Members will 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 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 (e), following receipt of non-covered ART 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. 6. Travel allowances a. Eligibility, reimbursement amounts, and procedures for travel allowances to obtain non-covered ART are provided in reference (f). 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 ART after travel requested in good faith has commenced, the DON will not recoup travel funds and the Service Member should expeditiously return. d. Eligible Service Members will not be granted travel allowances if their intention is to sell, to offer for sale, or to receive proceeds from a sale resulting from an ART procedure. 7. Accounting and Reporting. The DON will continue to be tasked to report cost and usage of the administrative absence and funded travel policies authorized by reference (b), reference (f), and this ALNAV. a. The accounting and reporting 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 recorded using the mechanisms established by those components. b. The Navy and Marine Corps will continue to use their previously established recording mechanisms for administrative absence. 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 ART. (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 will continue to use their previously established tracking mechanisms for cost and usage of travel and transportation allowances. (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 what type of non- covered ART was the basis for travel. (4) The Navy and Marine Corps will be responsible for tracking and reporting the following information for each temporary duty travel 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. Secretary of the Navy Instruction 1000.10B, "Department of the Navy Policy on Parenthood and Pregnancy," Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Instruction 6000.1D, "Navy Guidelines Concerning Pregnancy and Parenthood," and Marine Corps Order 5000.12F, "Marine Corps Policy Concerning Parenthood and Pregnancy" will be updated to conform with this policy. In the meantime, the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps will issue additional implementation guidance as necessary. 9. Released by Mr. Terence G. Emmert, Acting Secretary of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/

A Navy reservist has been jailed over charges he tried to bribe a former shipmate in Jacksonville to help two Chinese immigrants ― one in America illegally ― get bogus Navy ID cards.

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill. (WLS) -- A former Navy sailor pleaded guilty in federal court to plotting to attack the Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois.

John Phelan, a businessman with no prior experience in the military or defense policy whom President Donald Trump tapped to be Navy secretary, said Thursday he will lean on his business experience to fulfill Trump's priority of "shipbuilding, shipbuilding, shipbuilding."