Tony

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – After a U.S. naval lieutenant was imprisoned over a vehicle crash that killed two Japanese citizens, U.S. Sen Mike Lee has made demands of Japan’s prime minister to return the soldier to U.S. soil. Lee said he will take to the Senate floor this afternoon, March 1, to call for a renegotiation of the U.S. – Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida failed to meet Lee’s deadline to transfer Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis to United States custody.

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 021545Z MAR 23 MID200080774932U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 062/23 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/MAR// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2023 TRAINING AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE RESERVE OFFICER IN-SERVICE PROCUREMENT PROGRAM BOARD// REF/A/DOC/OPNAV/26JAN23// REF/B/DOC/OPNAV/14DEC09// NARR/REF A IS THE TRAINING AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE RESERVE OFFICER PILOT IN-SERVICE PROCUREMENT PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION. REF B IS OPNAVINST 1420.1B, ENLISTED TO OFFICER COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS APPLICATION ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL.// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the convening of the Spring Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Training and Administration of the Reserve (TAR) Officer In-service Procurement Program (ISPP) Board on 24 April 2023. This board will send qualifying enlisted Sailors directly to Officer Candidate School (OCS) to commission as a TAR officer. Applications will be accepted for up to three TAR officer designators based on community health determinations prior to the board. For the Spring FY 2023 TAR Officer ISPP Board, Surface Warfare (1117), Human Resources (1207), Permanent Professional Recruiter (1287) (pending designator approval), Supply (3107), and Aerospace Engineering Duty - Aviation Maintenance (1527) will be open for applications. 2. This program is open to TAR enlisted Sailors possessing a baccalaureate degree who have completed at least six months of time in service and their initial training pipeline. TAR enlisted Sailors must be a minimum of 21 years old and must be able to be commissioned prior to their 42nd birthday for all relevant designators, with the exception of Surface Warfare (1117), who must be able to be commissioned prior to their 29th birthday. Applications should include a copy of the degree and official transcripts with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 for all relevant designators, with the exception of Surface Warfare (1117). All Surface Warfare (1117) applications must meet a minimum GPA of 2.75. The only designator that will require an officer aptitude rating (OAR) in order to qualify is Surface Warfare (1117). Each applicant applying for Surface Warfare (1117) will need an OAR score of 42 or greater. Schools should send official transcripts to the following address: Navy Personnel Command (PERS-92) FY-23 TAR OFFICER ISPP BOARD #316 5720 Integrity Drive Millington, TN 38055-0092 3. Application procedures and education requirements are in line with references (a) and (b). The OPNAV 1420/1 application form, interviewer's appraisal forms (NAVCRUIT 1131/5), and other relevant information can be found by going to MyNavy HR website under Career Management > Community Management > Officer > Reserve OCM > TAR > TAR In-Service Procurement at https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Community-Management/Officer/Reserve-OCM/TAR/TAR-InService-Procurement/ . Completed applications with associated enclosures, including an endorsement from the immediate superior in charge (ISIC) and an approved electronic personnel action request (NAVPERS 1306/7) must be submitted and received no later than 2359 central standard time on 16 March 2023. E-mail applications to cscselboard(at)navy.mil. The subject line of the e-mail should read: Spring Fiscal Year 2023 Training and Administration of the Reserve (TAR) Officer In-Service Procurement Program (ISPP) Board (#316) 4. Electronic submission of selection board documents (ESSBD) is the preferred method to submit a letter to the board. Candidates must access the document services application through MyNavy Portal (MNP) at https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/advancement-and-promotion/overview or the BUPERS Online main menu. Letters to the board must be received no later than 2359 central standard time on 13 April 2023. 5. In line with reference (a), applicants must meet the prescribed qualifications in line with this program and the Reserve program authorization (PA), or community requirements of the designator for which they are applying, with the exception of Surface Warfare (1117) who align with PA 100. Regardless of the selected designator, all applicants must submit three interviewer appraisals with the OPNAV 1420/1 application. Interviewer appraisals should be conducted by at least one officer in the designator(s) for which the Sailor is applying for. Specific rank requirements for interviews are outlined in the PAs. PAs can be found by going to the MyNavy HR website, https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/, and clicking on Career Management > Community Management > Officer Community. No waivers are authorized for the TAR Officer ISPP Board. 6. Officers will incur an 8-year obligation with a minimum active service obligation of 4 years, if selected. All TAR obligations will begin on the date the Service Member redesignates as a TAR officer unless otherwise stated in reference (a). Officers commissioned under this program will not be eligible for lateral transfer until minimum service requirements are met. 7. Upon approval of the board proceedings, the results of the board will be posted on the TAR redesignation board website. Applicants can expect to see the results posted within 30 days of board adjournment. Within two weeks of the board results being posted, selectees will receive an acceptance package and will have 10 days upon receipt to accept or decline selection to the program. 8. Points of contact: a. LCDR Sidney E. Larson, Director of Affiliation and Redesignation (PERS-92), (901) 874-4512/DSN 882 or sidney.e.larson.mil(at)us.navy.mil. b. PS1 Paula Ross (PERS-92), (901) 874-4599/DSN 882 or at paula.n.ross2.mil(at)us.navy.mil. 9. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or canceled, whichever occurs first. 10. Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

Cycle 259 - March 2023 Advancement Exam Dates E-6: 2 March 2023 E-5: 9 March 2023

Veterans who received care at non-VA emergency rooms since 2010 could now get some of their out-of-pocket costs reimbursed years later, even if their claims were previously denied. The VA is finalizing a new rule, published Feb. 22 and taking effect April 24, that would cover those past costs and reimburse veterans going forward.

The Navy Reserve is emphasizing benefits from medical care to transferability of education benefits to commissary and exchange privileges to attract exiting active-duty sailors to sign up, Vice Adm. John Mustin said Wednesday. The Navy Reserve is struggling with recruiting, its chief said. This falls in line with all the other services and reserve components reports on shortfalls they’re experiencing in attracting qualified recruits last year, and 2023 was not looking very promising. “I want 80 percent [of reserve recruits] to be prior service,” Mustin said, speaking at a Navy Memorial online forum.

According to reports, USS George Washington, which the USS Reagan replaced in 2015, is expected to be redeployed to Yokosuka with upgraded unmanned refueling capabilities to equip the US forces to repel a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Lt. Brian Cunningham, a spokesman for the US Pacific Fleet, who spoke to Nikkei Asia, said that plans are being made to replace the forward-deployed carrier. He continued that the details of the movement cannot be disclosed until proper coordination has been secured.

The Navy issued what it is calling a technical manual for Naval leaders to address mental health, starting with laying out how commanders should lead conversations with sailors. The Navy’s Mental Health Playbook, released a few days after the Department of Defense committee on suicide released its recommendations, gives commanders information on how to broach the topic of mental health with their sailors and how to help them find resources for help. It is meant to be read and used like sailors would a technical manual.

Veterans Benefits Newsletter

Unfortunately, the MWR Director, nor the Deputy Director contacted me after I left my contact information to make a formal complaint about the supervisor, Paul. So what I did was I sent a letter to the CO of NAS Oceana. Much to my surprise, the XO of N.A.S. Oceana called me regarding the incident at the car wash - I did not expect that. It was great to hear what he had to say, especially about the importance of moral on the base. It was obvious he read the letter and he had a few questions. As a reminder, I did try to get hold of the MWR Director but I did not get a reply. Also, my concern is how that supervisor may treat Sailors, Vets and their family members. On base, any contracted facility should not behave in the manner I witnessed. For the Executive Officer of NAS Oceana to reach out to me, when I know they are very busy is very commendable and I truly appreciate that. I can't say that much about the MWR Director but let's hope that things change for the better for what is supposed to be one of our military benefits. If you have any complaints about the MWR Auto Hobby Shop, or its other facilities on N.A.S. Oceana, you can call them at the contact below. You can also contact me if you wish via the contact form. MWR Oceana - (757) 433-2560 Director: Scott George Deputy Director: Vincent Spagnuolo And one more reminder that MWR stands for Morale, Welfare and Recreation

The Navy released a “Mental Health Playbook” Tuesday that aims to facilitate mental health conversations between commanders and their sailors and eliminate the oft-perceived stigma associated with seeking help. “This playbook is designed to assist Navy leaders in preventing, mitigating or addressing mental health issues within your commands,” it states. “This work begins well before a mental health issue occurs. It starts with the climate our leaders create and how you lead the people in your care.”

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 282123Z FEB 23 MID200080760144U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 059/23 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/FEB// SUBJ/NAVY MENTAL HEALTH PLAYBOOK AND 21ST CENTURY SAILOR OFFICE NAME CHANGE// REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/171540ZSEP21// AMPN/REF A IS NAVADMIN 205/21, ALIGNING TOUGHNESS, RESILIENCE, AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.// RMKS/1. As part of Navy's Get Real, Get Better movement, this NAVADMIN announces both the release of the Mental Health Playbook and the name change from the Navy 21st Century Sailor Office (OPNAV N17) to the Navy Culture and Force Resilience Office. 2. Download the Mental Health Playbook at https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/ or https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Culture-Resilience/Leaders-Toolkit/Mental-Health-Playbook/ . 3. Mental Health Playbook (MHPB): a. As a Navy, we must ensure that every member of our team - their minds, bodies, and spirits - are ready for combat, or for supporting those who go forward. For this reason, ensuring our people's health, especially their mental health, is paramount. b. A team of professionals from across the Fleet developed the MHPB to assist Navy leaders in preventing, mitigating, or addressing mental health issues. It defines roles and responsibilities (from triad to deckplate), describes how to have conversations that matter, and helps leaders understand how to identify and respond to a mental health related concern, navigate support systems, and understand available mental health capabilities and resources. c. Leaders at all levels should read the MHPB from cover to cover in the same way one would read a technical or tactical manual. In addition, the MHPB contains a point of contact list that should be filled in and kept current at every Navy command. d. The MHPB provides a link and QR code on page 24 to submit questions about the content, or comments about how to make the next version of the MHPB better. 4. Navy Culture and Force Resilience Office: a. Recognizing the challenge of adding the Get Real, Get Better mindset, leadership behaviors, and problem solving to an already complex set of personnel programs and policies, the Chief of Naval Operations tasked the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Personnel, Manpower, and Training, N1, to advance Navy culture. This work, led by OPNAV N17, will simplify, streamline, and align existing (e.g., Culture of Excellence) and new (e.g., Get Real, Get Better) standards into an integrated approach for how the Navy will build its people, leaders, and teams. b. The first step of this journey is the release of the MHPB and the change of OPNAV N17's name to one that more deliberately represents CNO's charge to advance Navy culture, ensuring we build a Force that is tougher and more resilient in how it comes together to solve our hardest problems, fight, and win. In addition, OPNAV N17 has assumed ownership of Navigation Plan (NAVPLAN) Integration Framework (NIF) within reference (a) task to align Navy's toughness, resiliency, and mental health programs into one continuum. c. Initial integration work will be developed, tested, and deployed by the end of calendar year 2023. In calendar year 2024, the Navy will further adjust its talent management system to reflect a culture that rewards its people not only for the outcomes they achieve, but also for the culture and teams they build in achieving these outcomes. 5. The OPNAV N17 section of the MyNavy HR website will be refined over the next year, but has been initially updated to reflect Navy's pivot towards more deliberately building great people, leaders, and teams: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Culture-Resilience/ 6. Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 282114Z FEB 23 MID200080760127U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 058/23 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/FEB// SUBJ/NAVY SUPPLEMENTAL GUIDANCE TO COMMAND NOTIFICATION OF PREGNANCY POLICY, ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE AND TRAVEL FOR NON-COVERED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE// REF/A/MSG/SECNAV/271542ZFEB23// REF/B/MSG/SECNAV/271617ZFEB23// REF/C/DOC/OPNAV/12MAR18// NARR/REF A IS ALNAV 017/23, COMMAND NOTIFICATION OF PREGNANCY POLICY. REF B IS ALNAV 018/23, ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE OR TRAVEL FOR NON-COVERED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE. REF C IS OPNAVINST 6000.1D, NAVY GUIDELINES CONCERNING PREGNANCY AND PARENTHOOD.// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN provides interim supplemental guidance to references (a) and (b) to ensure our Sailors and their families have access to reproductive health care, regardless of where they are stationed in service to our Nation. In doing so, this guidance ensures the privacy of protected health information. All hands shall be made immediately aware of this guidance. 2. Approval Timeline and Appeals. References (a) and (b) provide the methodology that must be applied for command notification of pregnancy and approval of administrative absence or funded travel for non-covered reproductive health care. a. Approval Timeline. Commanding officers (CO) or approval authorities must act promptly and with appropriate discretion when considering a request for administrative absence or funded temporary duty (TDY) travel. If a command structure does not have a designated CO, the approval authority is defined as the head of the unit, activity, or organization who holds command and control authority. Due to the time-sensitive nature of many reproductive health care, approval decisions should be made no later than (NLT) 5 days after the request is submitted. b. Appeal Process. If the CO or approval authority denies the administrative absence or funded travel for non-covered reproductive health care, the CO or approval authority must notify the first O6/GS15 or higher immediate superior in command (ISIC). The Service Member may appeal the request to the same O6/GS15 or higher ISIC. Appeal decisions should be made promptly, NLT than 5 days after the request is denied. 3. Administrative Procedures: a. Requesting administrative absence. The Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS) will be used for non-covered reproductive healthcare requests. NSIPS (to include NSIPS Web Afloat) will be updated to reflect administrative absence for non- covered reproductive health care. Until this update is completed, the following procedures will be used: (1) Select *Convalescent* in block 12a of the leave request. Input comment *Administrative Absence for Non-Covered Reproductive Health Care* in block 24. Do not input any Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) information into NSIPS. (2) Administrative absence requests will be limited to the lesser of 21 days, or 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. (3) Requests for convalescent leave following receipt of non-covered reproductive health care must be submitted as a separate convalescent leave period and may be approved 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. (4) Leave approvers are responsible for ensuring the duration of the administrative absence is the minimum amount required to receive the required care and requisite travel within the limits outlined in this NAVADMIN. b. Requesting funded TDY travel. If requesting funded TDY travel, the request shall be submitted in Defense Travel System (DTS) as a routine TDY. No HIPAA information will be uploaded into DTS as part of substantiating documentation for funded travel. 4. Command Tracking Requirement. Reference (b) guidance requires the Navy to track administrative absences and travel costs executed by all authorized travelers for non-covered reproductive health care. Until a permanent solution is implemented at a later date, the following is required: a. Commands shall send monthly reports to ALTN_pregnancyandparenthood(at)navy.mil. b. Reports shall use the template located at https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Culture-Resilience/Parenthood- Pregnancy/ which includes the required data in paragraphs 7.c.4(a) through paragraph 7.c.4(e) of reference (b). 5. Reference (c) will be updated to reflect new guidance and policies. 6. Additional resources. Additional fact sheets and frequently asked questions are located at the below addresses: a. https://www.health.mil/News/In-the-Spotlight/Ensuring-Access-to-Reproductive-Health-Care b. https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/References/Messages/ALNAV-2023/ c. https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/References/Messages/NAVADMIN-2023/ d. https://www.med.navy.mil/Navy-Marine-Corps-Public-Health-Center/Womens-Health/ e. https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Support-Services/Culture-Resilience/Parenthood-Pregnancy/ f. The Navy Fact Sheet will be available on the Navy Messages page at www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/References/Messages/NAVADMIN-2023/. 7. Point of contact for this matter is People and Culture (OPNAV N174) via e-mail at ALTN_pregnancyandparenthood(at)navy.mil. 8. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or canceled. 9. Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

(WHNT) – A Navy petty officer living in Decatur has been charged with production of child pornography after a 13-year-old in Pennsylvania had sexually explicit communication with him, according to court documents. Court records show that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Allentown, Penn. was contacted after a complaint was made stating a 13-year-old girl in Lehigh County had been communicating with 39-year-old Patrick Scott Otwell.

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 281213Z FEB 23 MID200080758964U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 057/23 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/DNS/FEB// SUBJ/2023 MRS. SYBIL STOCKDALE OMBUDSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS// REF/A/DOC/OPNAVINST 1750.1G CH-2/2SEP14// AMPN/REF A is OPNAVINST 1750.1G CH-2, (The Navy Family Ombudsman Program)// POC/Littler, Brandy CIV/CNIC N9/BRANDY.B.LITTLER.NAF(AT)US.NAVY.MIL/TEL: (202) 433-4701// RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the annual Mrs. Sybil Stockdale Ombudsman of the Year Award nomination/selection process and presentation requirements for Calendar Year 2023. Navy Ombudsman who have served in good standing for at least one year, culminating no later than the due date in paragraph 6.a, are eligible to be nominated for the 2023 award. 2. This award was inspired by Mrs. Sybil Stockdale, who set an unflagging example for her support for families of other prisoners of war during the seven year internment in Southeast Asia of her husband, Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale. The Ombudsman of the Year Award is presented to four ombudsmen who have served their command and Navy families with selfless dedication and commitment to family readiness in the following categories: a. Afloat command (Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (COMUSFLTFORCOM)). b. Afloat command (Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Command (COMPACFLT)). c. Reserve command (Commander, Navy Reserve Force Command (COMNAVRESFOR)). d. Ashore command. The following commands are authorized to submit one nomination to Director, Navy Staff (per paragraph 6b) to compete from their ashore commands. (1) Each Echelon 2 Navy Shore Activity (direct report to OPNAV) (2) COMUSFLTFORCOM (3) COMPACFLT (4) U.S. Naval Forces Europe/U.S. Naval Forces Africa (CNE-CNA) 3. Criteria for Ombudsman of the Year: a. Must have demonstrated the ability to effectively communicate between the Navy family and the command. b. Must have maintained the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality while providing a positive example for command members and families. c. Must have facilitated and promoted a healthy sense of community among command families by assisting and supporting Navy families to include emergencies, mobilization, or deployment. d. Must have demonstrated consistent compliance with training, data collection, and required reports per reference (a). 4. Eligibility requirements for Ombudsman of the Year: a. Award nominees must be registered in the Ombudsman Registry, https://ombudsmanregistry.cnic.navy.mil, and have distinguished themselves in supporting Navy families. b. Must have served as an Ombudsman in good standing for at least one year and embody the core values of the Ombudsman Program. 5. Submit nomination packages in the following format: a. Cover letter to category sponsors via the chain of command, with the following enclosures. b. Enclosure (1) Summary of action, not to exceed two pages, addressing each of the criterion set forth in paragraph 3 (above). c. Enclosure (2) Short biography of the nominee. d. Enclosure (3) Letter from the Fleet and Family Support Center Director or Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) validating involvement in Ombudsman assemblies and advanced training. e. Enclosure (4), as needed: Additional supporting information (e.g., a letter of support for nomination from former Commanding Officers, Command Point of Contact, or Command Support Team; letters of appreciation presented by Commanding Officers or family members). 6. Nomination and selection process: a. Packages are due no later than 12 May 2023. Submit Afloat and Reserve Command nomination packages to the appropriate organizations in paragraphs 2a, 2b, and 2c (above). b. Ombudsman of the Year representatives from Echelon 2 Navy Shore Activities (direct report to OPNAV), COMUSFLTFORCOM (Shore), COMPACFLT (Shore) and CNE-CNA (Shore) submit nomination packages to OPNAV Command Master Chief, CMDCM Michael Carbone, at michael.g.carbone2.mil(AT)us.navy.mil. c. COMUSFLTFORCOM, COMPACFLT, and COMNAVRESFORCOM will select a finalist for their respective category and provide awardee information to Director, Navy Staff no later than 16 June 2023 for inclusion in a NAVADMIN announcing all four winners. 7. Type Commanders or designated representative will present awards in September 2023, during an Ombudsman Appreciation event. 8. Additional information is located at https://www.cnic.navy.mil/OmbudsmanOfTheYear. 9. Released by Mr. Andrew S. Haeuptle, Director, Navy Staff.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//

The Department of Defense reminded members of the military that although jumping out of a plane with a parachute and an American flag in tow may seem patriotic to some, it is not acceptable. In a memo sent to the public affairs offices of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and National Guard on Feb. 10, the DOD provided clarification on a policy requiring all uniformed service members to show proper respect to the U.S. flag while at community events.

QUANTICO, Va. — The U.S. Naval Community College officially began accepting applications for its Associate of Science in Aviation Maintenance program Monday, Feb. 27. USNCC worked with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to provide a naval-relevant degree program focused on those who maintain aircraft for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. “We’re excited to further the lifelong learning process of the naval aviation community,” said USNCC’s President Randi R. Cosentino, Ed.D. “These Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen will develop a set of skills and earn credentials that set them up for success for the rest of their lives.”

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.