Tony

UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 101648Z FEB 22 MID600051507740U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN CMC WASHINGTON DC COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 033/22 MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N2N6/FEB// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2021 COPERNICUS AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT// POC/SARAH FISCHETTI/CIV/AFCEA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION/TEL: (703) 631-6147 /EMAIL: EDFOUNDATION(AT)AFCEA.ORG// REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/302051Z AUG 21// AMPN/REF A IS NAVADMIN 195/21, FISCAL YEAR 2021 COPERNICUS AWARD NOMINATION// RMKS/1. The Chief of Naval Operations is pleased to congratulate the fiscal year 2021 Copernicus Award winners. The Copernicus Award recognizes individual contributions to Naval Warfare in the disciplines of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence, Information Systems or Information Warfare. Armed Forces Communication and Electronics Associations (AFCEA) International and the U.S. Naval Institute (USNI) have selected the following Copernicus Award winners for fiscal year 2021: a. Maj Ryan M. Ackland, USMC, Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity b. CWO2 Jonathan J. Anderson, USCG, Coast Guard Cyber Command c. IT1 Karsten S. Aurella, USN, USS CHAFEE (DDG 90) d. IT1 Franklin T. Barrett, USN, USS AMERICA (LHA 6) e. IT1 Trevor J. Brammer, USN, Naval Special Warfare Development Group f. ET2 Anthony T. Brickey, USCG, USCGC Robert Goldman (WPC 1142) g. CWO4 Bryan Broussard, USN, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command h. CAPT Ian A. Brown, USN, Naval Special Warfare Group TWO i. LCDR Mark W. Burgner, USCG, USCG Base Boston j. CWO2 Michael D. Butler, USMC, II Marine Expeditionary Force k. LCDR Stephen S. Cortez, USN, Commander, Task Force SEVEN ZERO/Commander, Carrier Strike Group FIVE l. Sgt Christopher J. DaSilva, USMC, Battalion Landing Team 1/5 m. LCDR Tebin H.T. Glebus, USN, U.S. SEVENTH Fleet n. CWO3 Keith Patrick Jarvis, USCG, U.S. Coast Guard Yard o. SSgt Randall I. Kardatzke, USMC, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command p. ET1 Sean A. Larson, USCG, Patrol Forces Southwest Asia q. LT Daniel B. Miller, USN, Naval Special Warfare Development Group r. CTI1 Benjamin B. Miller, USN, Naval Special Warfare Special Reconnaissance Team ONE s. Capt Nicholle M. Miller, USMC, Intelligence Division, Combat Development and Integration Command Quantico t. LTJG Hollie L. Parrish, USCG, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat System, and Interoperability Service Center u. CWO3 Christopher M. Port, USMC, II Marine Expeditionary Force v. LT Scott A. Pratz, USCG, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat System, and Interoperability Service Center w. CWO2 Michael W. Reinke, USN, Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command x. LCDR Richard C. Reyes, USN, U.S. SEVENTH Fleet y. Maj Erik C. Rye, USMC, U.S. Marine Corps Force Cyberspace Command z. Mr. Edwin Sanjurjo, Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command aa. LT Christopher J. Seedyk, USN, Amphibious Squadron ONE bb. IT1 Chase D. Spence, USN, White House Communications Agency cc. 1stLt Jackson T. Tears, USMC, Marine Air Support Squadron-2, Manpower Air Control Group-18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing dd. ITCS Joshua H. Torres, USN, USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC 20) ee. ITC Alexander C. Tucker, USN, Chief of Naval Operations Director, Navy Staff ff. Cpl Landon A. Wilks, USMC, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 gg. GySgt Zachary B. Williams, USMC, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit hh. Maj Clinton L. Woods, USMC, Marine Corps Communication-Electronics School ii. Capt Aaron E. Zack, USMC, Marine Corps Cyberspace Warfare Group 2. All Copernicus Award winners will receive an invitation from AFCEA and USNI inviting them, their spouse/guest, and their Commanding Officer to attend an awards reception and presentation ceremony held at the AFCEA International/USNI WEST 2022 Conference in San Diego, California at the San Diego Convention Center on 16 February 2022. If awardees are unable to attend the ceremony in San Diego, the awards will also be presented at the AFCEA International TechNet Cyber Conference in Baltimore, Maryland at the Baltimore Convention Center in April 2022. 3. Released by VADM Jeffrey E. Trussler, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare, OPNAV N2N6.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs compared rates of new cardiovascular problems in 153,760 individuals infected with the coronavirus before vaccines were available, 5.6 million people who did not catch the virus, and another 5.9 million people whose data was collected before the pandemic.

This was more than a monster truck trying to squeeze into a compact parking space. A Celebrity cruise ship that stopped in Key West over the weekend jutted out into a passageway used by the Navy. And the Naval Air Station Key West says the ship partially blocked the entrance to the Navy’s Truman Harbor. By exceeding the boundary line, the 1,004-foot Celebrity Apex’s mooring was more than a bad parking job at the privately run Pier B.

The Navy has 5,000 to 6,000 gaps for sailors at-sea billets, the service’s senior personnel officer told a House panel on Tuesday. The Navy currently has 145,000 billets at sea, Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. John Nowell said during a House Armed Services subcommittee on military personnel hearing. Following the fatal collisions of 2017, the Navy added 23,800 sea billets in an effort to buttress manning on surface ships. The service is in the midst of assigning sailors to the emerging positions but is falling short by 5,000 to 6,000, he said.

Leaked chat records and membership applications show roughly one in five people who applied to join the white supremacist group Patriot Front claimed to have current or former ties to the US military, according to documents published by Unicorn Riot and analyzed by the Southern Poverty Law Center. SPLC, a civil rights nonprofit that tracks hate groups, found that 18 of the 87 people who applied said they were either in the military or veterans, with a number highlighting skills picked up through the military.

The Navy Reservist

42% of service members of color in a new survey turned down an assignment or permanent change of station order because of concerns about racism and discrimination, even when they knew doing so could negatively affect their career because of perceptions of racism in the local community. The survey, organized by Blue Star Families, found that more than 40% of active-duty family respondents also factored in concerns about racial discrimination or safety when listing their basing preferences.

The Navy relieved the command triad for Amphibious Construction Battalion Two, citing a loss of confidence in the team’s abilities, the service announced Friday. Commanding Officer Capt. Jeffrey Lengkeek, Executive Officer Cmdr. Michael Jarosz and Command Master Chief Matthew Turner were relieved Thursday by Rear Adm. John Menoni, the commander of Expeditionary Strike Group Two, according to a Navy press release.

UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 041529Z FEB 22 MID600051491441U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 029/22 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// MSGID/GENADMIN/COMNAVREG EURAFCENT/N1/JAN// SUBJ/ORDER TO ACCOUNT FOR THE NAVY FAMILY IN UKRAINE, LITHUANIA, LATVIA, POLAND, BELARUS, MOLDOVA, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY, ESTONIA, BULGARIA// REF/A/DOC/OPNAVINST 3006.1/01MAR2011// REF/B/DOC/DODINST 3001.02/03MAY2010// REF/C/DOC/DODINST 1015.15/20MAR2008// REF/D/DOC/NAVSOP-1000/12DEC2002// REF/E/MSG/PTC WASHINGTON DC/171821ZMAR09// REF/F/MSG/PTC WASHINGTON DC/171846ZMAR09// NARR/REF A IS OPNAVINST 3006.1, PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY IN CONJUNCTION WITH CATASTROPHIC EVENTS, NAVY PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY POLICY. REF B IS DODINST 3001.02, PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY IN CONJUNCTION WITH NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTERS. REF C IS DODINST 1015.15, PROCEDURES AND SUPPORT FOR NON-FEDERAL ENTITIES AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE ON DOD INSTALLATIONS (ENCL 4). REF D IS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICY MANUAL. REF E IS ALARACT 070/2009, CONUS EVACUATION ALLOWANCES. REF F IS ALARACT 071/2009, NONCOMBATANT EVACUATION ORDER/OCONUS EVACUATION ALLOWANCES.// RMKS/1. THIS ORDER TO ACCOUNT APPLIES TO ALL NAVY ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE, DON CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, NAF EMPLOYEES, NEX EMPLOYEES, AND APPLICABLE DEPENDENTS WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF INTEREST (GAOI) DESIGNATED IN PARAGRAPH 2. ALL AFFECTED PERSONNEL SHALL ENSURE PERSONAL AND NFAAS DEPENDENT DATA AND RECALL INFORMATION ARE ACCURATE. ECHELON II COMMANDERS AND ALL REGIONAL COMMANDERS SHALL ENSURE WIDEST DISSEMINATION TO ALL SUBORDINATE AND TENANT COMMANDS AND DETACHMENTS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION UPON RECEIPT. ADDITIONALLY, US NAVAL FORCES EUROPE (NAVEUR) AND NAVY REGION EUROPE, AFRICA, CENTRAL (EURAFCENT) SHOULD BE PREPARED TO (BPT) TRANSITION ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING TO THE NATIONAL TRACKING SYSTEM (NTS) IN THE EVENT US EUROPEAN COMMAND (EUCOM) ACTIVATES THE SYSTEM FOR THEATER PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY. 2. EXECUTION. 2.A. THE FOLLOWING GAOI HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED: UKRAINE, LITHUANIA, LATVIA, POLAND, BELARUS, MOLDOVA, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY, ESTONIA, BULGARIA. 2.B. TASKS: 2.B.1. COMMANDING OFFICERS (CO) AND/OR COMMANDING OFFICER REPRESENTATIVES (COR) SHALL ENSURE THAT THEIR COMMAND'S NAVY FAMILY ACCOUNTABILITY AND ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (NFAAS) DATABASE IS CURRENT AND ACCURATE, TO INCLUDE PHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES. ENSURE ANY RECENT CHECK-INS TO YOUR COMMAND WHO HAVE NOT HAD THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION UPDATED IN NFAAS, COMMUNICATE RECALL INFORMATION TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CHAIN OF COMMAND. 2.B.2. MUSTER AND ACCOUNT FOR ALL NAVY ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE, DON CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, NAF EMPLOYEES, NEX EMPLOYEES, AND APPLICABLE DEPENDENTS IN THE GAOI NLT 16 FEB 2022. ALL CORS/SPONSORS IN THE AFFECTED GAOI WILL RECEIVE NOTIFICATION FROM NFAAS VIA TEXT/EMAIL TO MUSTER THEMSELVES AND DEPENDENTS IN NFAAS. COS AND/OR CORS WILL ENSURE WIDEST DISSEMINATION OF REQUIREMENT FOR ACCURATE AND TIMELY ACCOUNTABILITY VIA NFAAS. IF MEMBERS ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS NFAAS, COS/CORS WILL DETERMINE ACCURATE STATUS AND WHEREABOUTS OF THEIR PERSONNEL AND MUSTER AND ACCOUNT FOR THEM AT HOME, WORK, TELEWORK, EVACUATED, OR DISPLACED LOCATION, OR NOT IN THE GAOI WITH SPECIFIED CIRCUMSTANCE (DEPLOYED, TDY/TAD/IA, ON LEAVE, SEPARATED/RETIRED, TRANSFERRED, UA/DESERTER, OTHER). 2.B.3. COMMANDS SHALL DIRECT CORS/SPONSORS TO MUSTER IN NFAAS, AT https://navyfamily.navy.mil/cas/login . IF NFAAS IS NOT AVAILABLE, COMMANDS/MEMBERS ARE TO REPORT THE STATUS OF PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY (PA) TO THE AFFECTED REGION OPERATIONS CENTER (ROC) OR DIRECT CHAIN OF COMMAND. 2.B.4. NAVEUR, EURAFCENT AND SUBORDINATE COMMANDS BPT TRANSITION TO NTS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING PURPOSES IF DIRECTED BY EUCOM. 3. DO NOT DELAY REPORTING ON PERSONNEL UNTIL ALL INFORMATION IS COMPLETE. REPORT AND ACCOUNT MUSTERING INFORMATION WHEN OBTAINED, INCLUDING THE POSTING OF AMPLIFYING DATA IN THE NOTES AREA ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S ACCOUNTING LINE. 4. ALL CORS/SPONSORS ARE EXPECTED TO: 4.A. ACCOUNT FOR THEMSELVES AND DEPENDENTS IN NFAAS AT https://navyfamily.navy.mil/cas/login . 4.B. IF UNABLE TO ACCESS NFAAS, SPONSORS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR COR, COMMAND MUSTERING OFFICER, OR SUPERVISOR TO CHECK IN (MUSTER). 4.C. SPONSORS WILL PROVIDE COMMAND REPRESENTATIVES WITH CURRENT RESIDENCE, DISPLACED LOCATION, OR IF NOT IN THE GAOI, WITH SPECIFIED CIRCUMSTANCE (DEPLOYED, TDY/TAD/IA, ON LEAVE, SEPARATED/RETIRED, TRANSFERRED, UA/DESERTER, OTHER). 5. A NEEDS ASSESSMENT HAS BEEN INITIATED. 6. FOR NFAAS TECHNICAL SUPPORT, CONTACT THE NFAAS HELP DESK AT 866-946-9183 OR VIA EMAIL AT NFAAS(AT)SPAWAR.NAVY.MIL. 7. IF UNABLE TO MUSTER VIA NFAAS, YOUR COR, YOUR MUSTERING POC, OR YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND, CONTACT THE BELOW POCS (LOCATION/PHONE/EMAIL): 7.A. MYNAVY HR CALL CENTER/833-330-MNCC/ASKMNCC(AT)NAVY.MIL. 7.B. NFAAS PROGRAM MGRS/DSN 314-626-6736/ALEXIS.SIMS(AT)EU.NAVY.MIL. 7.C. NFAAS PROGRAM MGRS/DSN 314-626-2875/CHARLES.EMMERT(AT)EU.NAVY.MIL. 7.D. NFAAS PROGRAM MGRS/DSN 314-626-4302/JASMINE.DARRISAW(AT)EU.NAVY.MIL. 7.E. CNIC NFAAS PROGRAM MGR/202-433-9833/FELIX.CEPEDATAVAREZ(AT)NAVY.MIL. 8. RELEASED ON BEHALF OF NAVEUR BY MR. ANDREW S. HAEUPTLE, DIRECTOR, NAVY STAFF.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//

UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 032108Z FEB 22 MID600051489336U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 028/22 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/DNS/JAN// SUBJ/FY-23 CHAPLAIN CORPS ADVANCED EDUCATION PROGRAM// REF/A/DOC/COCINST/26DEC19// NARR/REF A IS COCINST 1521.1D, CHAPLAIN CORPS ADVANCED EDUCATION PROGRAM. RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN solicits applications and provides guidance for the FY-23 Chaplain Corps Advanced Education Program (CHC AEP). 2. The CHC AEP raises the level of Navy chaplain professional competency beyond the minimum professional and educational qualifications. Additionally, the CHC AEP provides knowledge, skills and abilities that complement training and education conducted through the Naval Chaplaincy School (NCS). Applicants should be available to commence their studies in the Fall term of CY -23. Pursuant to reference a, a CHC AEP selection committee will convene before 1 June 2022. 3. The FY-23 CHC AEP will consist of: graduate programs at civilian educational institutions (CIVINS) in Ethics, Religion in Culture, or Homiletics; graduate level programs at military service colleges and schools (MSCS); and, pastoral care residencies. 4. Eligibility: All applicants for CHC AEP must be in the AC and must be able to complete a utilization tour without waiver following completion of the program. See additional eligibility criteria in reference (a). 5. Application packages shall be submitted via physical mail to: COMMANDING OFFICER, NAVAL CHAPLAINCY SCHOOL ATTN: FY-23 CHAPLAIN CORPS ADVANCED EDUCATION PROGRAM 114 PORTER AVE NEWPORT, RI 02841 6. PII free PDF packages must be submitted via LT Cole Yoos at cole.yoos(AT)navy.mil,copy LCDR Wm. Edmund Newsome at william.e.newsome(AT)navy.mil, with the subject line: FY-23 Chaplain Corps Advanced Education Program. Completed packages must reach NCS NLT 15 April 2022. 7. Reference (a) is currently being revised to reflect the CIVINS shift from Pastoral Counseling to Homiletics and will be promulgated separately. 8. Point of contact is LCDR Wm. Edmund Newsome, Advanced Education Program Manager who can be reached at (401)-841-3935 or via e-mail at william.e.newsome1(AT)navy.mil. 9. Released by Mr. Andrew S. Haeuptle, Director, Navy Staff.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//

UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 071910Z FEB 22 MID600051498680U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 030/22 MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N2N6/FEB// SUBJ/FLANK SPEED UPDATE// POC/STARE/N2N6D3/TEL: (571) 256-8290 /EMAIL: ANDREJ.P.STARE.CIV(AT)US.NAVY.MIL// RMKS/1. In June 2021, the Navy began moving its workforce to a single unclassified Microsoft Office 365 (M365) cloud known as Flank Speed. This high priority effort is funded and moving out - check out the Flank Speed Hub for updates! 2. This new environment improved our ability to collaborate and access information more securely to support increased remote work requirements. Flank Speed security was designed using zero trust principles: never trust, always verify; assume breach; and verify explicitly. Access to each resource (e.g. application, data, or device) is verified to prevent malicious actors from accessing critical assets and moving between systems/networks. 3. Flank Speed Status. Over 90 percent of Navy users have varying degrees of access to the Flank Speed environment. a. 225K users have access to Teams, personal OneDrive capabilities, and SharePoint. Access for all remaining Navy-Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) and ONE -Net users is projected to occur by the end of 2022. b. 215K users have access to all capabilities, including email, in the Flank Speed environment. The goal is to migrate all NMCI/ONE-Net and 18 Excepted Networks users by the end of 2022. c. The use of calendar sharing and other email enabled tools requires users to be in the same email environment (e.g. Flank Speed, NMCI, ONE-Net, etc.). d. The complexity and varying performance of Navy networks require a deliberate approach to deliver a positive user experience. Actions required include updating network configuration, modernizing equipment, and increasing bandwidth in key geographical areas. 4. Next Phases of Flank Speed Deployment: a. Echelon II Command Information Officers (CIO) and their teams continue to lead the planning and scheduling required to provide access to Flank Speed and migrate user email accounts for users in their commands. b. In April 2022, users will have the capability to read encrypted emails on mobile devices. c. Efforts are underway to sunset the Defense Information System Agency hosted iNavy SharePoint sites, replacing it with a Flank Speed SharePoint Online (SPO) solution. Commands will continue working with the SPO development team to establish sites, move command data, and shift workflows. d. Flank Speed OneDrive will replace the current drives used for personal storage (e.g. "H" drives). Further consolidation of core enterprise productivity and collaboration capabilities will continue as legacy and excepted network users move onto Flank Speed. e. Process improvements will be disseminated to Command Flank Speed Champions as well as posted on the Flank Speed Hub. Updated process improvement guides will include items such as requesting a new user account, moving a user between commands, and ordering additional or changing existing user services. f. Beginning in March 2022, periodic Town Hall events will be scheduled, providing a forum for dissemination of updates and to answer questions regarding Flank Speed capabilities and deployments. g. Increased use of automation such as "Fathombot" will be implemented to help provide improved communication and awareness through a self-service model. The Fathombot can answer over 662 frequently asked questions, and more answers are added daily. h. A SPO site created within the Flank Speed environment allows commands to submit requests for exception to currently scheduled activity for the following actions: Email migrations, Public Teams generation, and Government Furnished Equipment mobile device account creation. i. All special exception requests to accelerate user access or migration require Echelon II CIO endorsement and OPNAV N2N6D approval. 5. Questions regarding Flank Speed planning and execution should be directed to Rajan Sharma, Digital Workplace Service (M365) and Unified Capabilities for Program Executive Office Digital Enterprise Services, at rajan.sharma.civ(at)us.navy.mil. 6. Request widest dissemination. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until cancelled or superseded. 7. Released by VADM Jeffrey E. Trussler, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare, OPNAV N2N6.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED//

A former Navy commanding officer of several minesweepers was sentenced to 19 years in prison Thursday after he was convicted for dealing meth and firearms offenses, the U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday. Lance Esswein, 58, left the Navy as a commander in 2006 and once commanded the minesweepers Ardent and Pioneer.

A Navy SEAL candidate died Friday and a second was hospitalized in San Diego after completing what is known as Hell Week, an initial, grueling phase of the training for one of America’s most elite military units. NBC News is withholding the name of the deceased trainee because the Navy said the family notification process is still ongoing. In a statement, Naval Special Warfare command said the death is under investigation.

A former Navy captain pleaded guilty to bribery on Wednesday for accepting nearly $68,000 in luxury hotel rooms, dinners, alcohol-fueled parties, and sex workers from a Singapore-based defense contractor. In his plea agreement, Donald Hornbeck, 61, admitted to accepting the gifts from Malaysian businessman Leonard Glenn Francis, nicknamed "Fat Leonard."

If you have an existing VA-backed home loan and you want to reduce your monthly mortgage payments—or make your payments more stable—an interest rate reduction refinance loan (IRRRL) may be right for you. Refinancing lets you replace your current loan with a new one under different terms. Find out if you’re eligible—and how to apply.

As we inch closer to the April 15 tax deadline, AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide is among the programs aimed at helping the military community and others file their state and federal tax returns. Tax-Aide is free and available (appointment only) to all Veterans, military personnel and their families regardless of age or whether they are AARP members.

QUANTICO, Va. - The U.S. Naval Community College selected Alexandria Technical & Community College for its Pilot II Nuclear Engineering Technology associate degree program. This agreement provides active duty enlisted Sailors an opportunity to earn a naval-relevant and nuclear engineering-focused associate degree which directly contributes to the readiness of the naval services and set them on a path of life-long learning. The USNCC worked with Alexandria College during the Pilot I phase of the USNCC’s development and was selected to continue to be a part of the USNCC consortium for the continued growth of the newly established institution. “We are excited to continue our relationship with Alexandria College,” said Randi Cosentino, Ed.D., president of the USNCC. “The education and support the Alexandria College team provided our Sailors during Pilot I were exactly what we were looking for from an institution in our consortium, and we hope to continue to work together to further develop our warfighters’ critical thinking and leadership skills.” “We are very honored to have been selected to be a partner with the USNCC Pilot II Nuclear Engineering Technology program,” said Michael Seymour, president of Alexandria College. “We are committed to serving the military community in new and effective ways. Our caring staff and faculty stand ready to ensure military members have a great experience here at Alexandria College.” Naval professionals who pursue the associate degree in Nuclear Engineering Technology through the USNCC will have an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of engineering principles and ethics, quality assurance, radiological and chemistry controls, and more. The degree will also have an established transfer path to four-year degree programs in nuclear engineering. “For the past year, I have had the opportunity to teach calculus to Sailors as part of the Pilot I project. I have enjoyed getting to know these students, and I am impressed by their ability to study and achieve excellent results in class while still performing their active-duty jobs,” said Justin Eberhardt, mathematics instructor at Alexandria College. “I look forward to the next phase of this project, which will increase the enrollment of the USNCC to further enhance the warfighting advantage across forces.” While talking about Alexandria College’s selection for this continued relationship with the USNCC, Tamara Arnott, Ph.D., Dean of Educational Services, said Alexandria College offers “the strength of its online programs, excellent student outcomes, a student-first mentality and unwavering commitment to student access and success.” Arnott said, “As a member of the Minnesota State system, we provide an extraordinary education to all students who select Alexandria College.” Minnesota State Colleges and Universities are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Active duty enlisted Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen can fill out an application on the USNCC website, www.usncc.edu . The first courses will start in the fall of 2022. The United States Naval Community College is the community college for the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. To get more information about the USNCC, go to www.usncc.edu . Click on the student interest form link to learn how to be a part of the USNCC Pilot II program.

(Tribune News Service) — A Coronado-based Navy sailor pleaded guilty Thursday to cyberstalking a woman, including posting sexually explicit videos of her on a pornography website. Sergio Reinaldo Williams, 36, also admitted to sending harassing and intimidating messages to the woman and some of her family members, including messages that contained screenshots of the videos he’d uploaded, according to his plea agreement.

WASHINGTON – A nearly $400 million program to retrain veterans who were forced into unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic has gone mostly unused, lawmakers said Wednesday. Congress created the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program last year as part of the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion relief package that sought to bolster the economy as the country struggled with pandemic-related closures and layoffs. The program, known as VRRAP, offers education and training for veterans who became unemployed during the pandemic and have already used their GI Bill entitlement.

The Naval Inspector General has launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct by the top enlisted sailor in the Navy, according to a defense official with direct knowledge of the probe. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell L. Smith is the second consecutive enlisted leader of the sea service to come under such scrutiny.

WASHINGTON — The pre-dawn raid Thursday by U.S. special operations forces in northeastern Syria was designed to capture the leader of the Islamic State group, who instead blew himself up along with members of his family rather than be taken alive, top Pentagon officials said. Elite American troops spent months planning and coordinating the operation, conducting tabletop exercises and dry-runs intent on avoiding civilian casualties and capturing ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, the officials said in separate briefings Thursday. But as the U.S. troops surrounded al-Qurayshi’s home and called through a megaphone for the occupants to surrender, the ISIS leader detonated a bomb that destroyed the building’s third floor, killing him and several others, including his own wife and children, officials said.

The Navy separated an additional 73 active-duty sailors for refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19, bringing the total to 118. The Navy has separated 22 active-duty sailors who were all within their first 180 days of service. An additional 96 sailors have been separated, with at least 23 of those sailors within their first six years of service, USNI News previously reported. No reserve sailors have been separated.

ATMEH, Syria (AP) — U.S. special forces carried out what the Pentagon said was a large-scale counterterrorism raid in northwestern Syria early Thursday. First responders at the scene reported 13 people were killed, including six children and four women. Residents said helicopters flew overhead and U.S. forces clashed with gunmen for more than two hours around a two-story house surrounded by olive trees. They described continuous gunfire and explosions that jolted the sleepy village of Atmeh near the Turkish border, an area dotted with camps for internally displaced people from Syria’s civil war.

(Tribune News Service) — Following the release in December of a study requested by Congress on noise from EA-18G jets, the Navy released last week a related technical report. The report includes more insight into where and when the Navy collected live jet noise data on the Growler jets during the study, which was conducted near Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and near a base in California between December 2020 and August 2021.