Sailors and Marines assigned to the Iwo Jima (IWO) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) - 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Special Operations Capable (SOC) departed for a regularly scheduled deployment,August14
TheARG’sprimarymissionistoconduct presence operations and safely embark Marines ashore to conduct a wide variety of contingency missions worldwide. The IWOARG-22ndMEU(SOC)alsoprovides aflexible forwardnavalpresencebyoperatingclosetoshorewhichallowsthisspecialized Navy-Marine Corps team to conduct missions,uniquetotheamphibiousNavy,at
amoment’snotice
“The IWO ARG - 22nd MEU (SOC) is an integral part of advancing our nations’ interests abroad and is a dynamic representation of our Navy’s 250 years of lethality and warfighting excellence,” said Capt. Chris Farricker, commodore, Amphibious Squadron 8. “Our integrated Navy-Marine Corps warfighters are ready to execute the nation’sbusinessanddeliverquickanddecisive combat power no matter where we are tasked in today’s complex global environment.”
ThisdeploymentfollowstheARG-MEU’s final certification event, Composite TrainingUnitExercise theNavy’smostdemanding pre-deployment assessment, which concluded July 11. More than 4,500 Sailors andMarinesfromthe22ndMEUcomprise
the force aboard the ARG’s three amphibious ships: flagship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), and the San Antonio-class amphibious transportdockshipsUSSSanAntonio(LPD 17)andUSSFortLauderdale(LPD28).
“The IWO ARG - 22nd MEU (SOC) is readytoserveasthenation’sforceofchoice, prepared to decisively respond to any crisis insupportofournationalinterests,”saidCol. Tom“Banshee”Trimble,commandingofficer, 22nd MEU (SOC). “We are warfighters; manned, trained, and equipped to win anywhere,anytime.”
Iwo Jima serves as the flagship of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) which is capable of conducting global missions to accomplish U.S. strategic goals, deter adversaries, and ensure unimpeded commerce by keeping the high seas open
and free in accordance with international law. Embarked aboard ARG shipping is the 22nd MEU (SOC) which provides a forward-deployed, flexible sea-based Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) capable of conducting amphibious operations—to include enabling the introduction of follow-on forces and designated special operations to meet Combatant Commander’srequirements U.S.2ndFleetdevelopsandemploysmaritime forces ready to fight across multiple domainsintheAtlanticandArcticinorderto ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S. allied,andpartnerinterests. For more news and imagery from our deployment, follow the IWO ARG 22nd MEU(SOC)’s feature page on the Defense VisualInformationDistributionService
ByChiefPettyOfficerEvanThompson Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command
NORFOLK, Va Rear Adm. Dianna Wolfson, Fleet Maintenance Officer for U.S. Fleet Forces Command, stepped out of her office and into the water Aug. 8, joining active-duty and civilian divers for her first-everdive Hermission:toseefirsthand the work being done under the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USSSanAntonio(LPD17).
The dive, conducted alongside Mid-AtlanticRegionalMaintenanceCenterdivers, gaveWolfsonanup-closeviewoftheroutine underwater ship husbandry work vital to keepingthefleetatseaandmission-ready
“Every trip to the waterfront is time well spent,butgettingunderneathan[AmphibiousReadyGroup]amphibinthefinaldaysof herdeploymentprepswastrulyaonce-in-alifetimeexperience,”saidWolfson.
For the past month, ten divers from Navy ExpeditionaryCombatCommand’sMobile Diving and Salvage Unit have been work-
ing hand-in-hand with MARMC’s teams in Norfolk and Mayport, Fla., to keep regular, pre-deployment maintenance on track Those divers were on station during Wolfson’s visit, guiding her through the repairsite
“As a member of Navy’s Dive Executive Steering Committee, I engage frequently in matters critical to the operational readiness of our dive-enabled mission areas,” Wolfson said “Gaining personal exposure to an actual productive dive not only deepened my appreciation for our active-duty and civilian divers, it also gave me a unique perspective that could’ve only been gained by putting on the helmet and getting under thatship.”
Chief Warrant Officer Five Jason Potts, Fleet Diving Officer with USFFC, has been
participatingin,overseeing, and coordinating this kind of underwater maintenance for over two decades
“Friday’s familiarization dive on San Antonio facilitatedtheFleetMaintenance Officer’s direct exposure to theworld-classunderwatershiphusbandry capabilities that keep our fleet away from the dry docks and out to sea,” said Potts “ThisengagementuniquelycapturedGlobal Maritime Response in action and gave the Admiral a front-row seat to the complex, technicaloperationsofour[underwatership husbandry]teams.”
The Global Maritime Response Plan is a strategic framework the U.S. Navy is developingtohelpitquicklyshiftfrompeacetime readinesstofullwartimeposture.Itservesas aplaybookthatguideshowtheNavyramps
up operations, including deploying ships, submarines,aircraft,andpersonnelatspeed.
Potts called the dive a “massive win” for both the crews in the water and Navy leadership
“‘We dive the world over’ isn’t just a phrase on a blue t-shirt it’s a way of life for the quiet professionals who were proud toofferAdmiralWolfsonabriefglimpseinto a day in the life of a Navy Deep Sea Diver,” hesaid.
Theexperiencehighlightedtheteamwork and specialized skills that keep Navy ships ready to go, whether the work happens on deck,inadrydock,ordozensoffeetunderwater
U.S. Fleet Forces Command is responsible for manning training equipping and employing more than 125 ships, 1,000 aircraft, and 103,000 active-duty service members and government employees, and providing combat-ready forces forward to numberedfleetsandcombatantcommanders around the globe in support of U.S. nationalinterests
Rear Admiral Kavon Hakimzadeh assumes command of Norfolk Naval Shipyard
CourtesyStory
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Rear Adm. Kavon “Hak” Hakimzadeh relieved Capt. James P. “Jip Mosman by assuming command of Norfolk Naval Shipyard during a ceremony at the shipyard’s TrophyParkAug.8.
Hakimzadeh has assumed authority and responsibilityforNNSYanditssubordinate installationsandactivities’personnel,equipment and operations as the 112th shipyard commanderofthehistoricnavalshipyard
Hakimzadeh recently reported to the shipyard as part of a new pilot program focused on improving the Navy’s overall combat readiness and ensuring mission success The pilot will focus senior leaders on primary mission areas within NNSY’s large span of control, enabling improved performance in aircraft carrier and submarinemaintenance As Commander, Naval Shipyard, Norfolk, Hakimzadeh, will report operationally to Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command(USFFC)andadministrativelyto Commander Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).
Hakimzadeh graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Electrical Engineering and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps in May 1992 He holds master’s degreesfromOldDominionUniversity,the Naval War College, and the Johns Hopkins UniversitySchoolofAdvancedInternational Studies He was also a Massachusetts InstituteofTechnologySeminarXXIfellow.
He has served in five Pentagon assignments including the Joint Staff (J-3) readiness division. He most recently was assigned as the commodore of NNSY following a tour as Commander, Carrier Strike Group Two.
During the same ceremony, Capt Lawrence Brandon assumed command of the newly established NNSY Industrial Operations Command. As Commanding Officer,NNSYIndustrialOperations,Brandon will work closely with Hakimzadeh while focusing on nuclear work and the processes core to shipyard operations.
Brandon’s naval career began in 1993 when he enlisted as an Electrician’s Mate in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and Naval Postgraduate School with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Systems Engineering with a focus on Network-Centric Systems Since 2013, Brandon has held several positions at NNSY including Deputy Project Super-
From left to right: Capt.Lawrence Brandon,Commanding Officer,NorfolkNaval Shipyard (NNSY) Industrial Operations; Capt.James P.“Jip Mosman,111th Shipyard Commander NNSY; ViceAdm.James P.Downey,Commander,Naval Sea Systems Command; and RearAdm.Kavon “Hak”Hakimzadeh,112th
intendent,BusinessandStrategicPlanning Officer, and Operations Officer. He served asDirectorofAircraftCarrierMaintenance at Fleet Forces Command Chief Engineer aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), and Maritime Readiness Branch Head at OPNAV N83 Most recently, Brandon was thePrincipalMilitaryDeputyattheIndustrial Operations Directorate of the Naval Sea Systems Command Following a successful command tour, Mosman will assume the role of Chief of Staff at Commander Navy Regional Maintenance Center (CNRMC). Since Mosman took command in June 2023,NNSYachieveditsbestperformance in several years for a depot-level aircraft carrier availability with the early delivery of George H.W. Bush back to the Fleet in
November 2024, as well as the completion of the Navy’s first inactivation of a MooredTrainingShip SamRayburn(MTS 635). These accomplishments add further credence to the importance of availability planning Additionally, Mosman improved support to shipyard production personnel includingissuanceofindividualtoolkitsto mechanics and establishing distribution hubs stocked with consumable materials used daily in ship maintenance, helping to ensure the nonstop execution of work.
NNSY is one of the oldest, largest, and most multifaceted industrial facilities belonging to the U.S. Navy, specializing in repairing, overhauling and modernizing shipsandsubmarines,playingacriticalrole in supporting the operational readiness of the fleet.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va Rear Adm. Neil Koprowski relieved Rear Adm. David Walt as Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group TWO (ESG-2) during a ceremony in the hangar bay of Assault Craft Unit FOUR (ACU4),Aug.14
Vice Adm. John Gumbleton, acting commander U.S. Fleet Forces Command, presided over the event and served as the guest speaker Gumbleton presented Walt with a Legion of Merit in recognition of his time in command of ESG-2. Walt extended his thanks to Gumbleton for his leadership intheamphibiousforce,aswellasservingas amentortohimfornearly30years
“For over a year now, we’ve had the distinct privilege of witnessing the extraordinary leadership of Rear Admiral Walt,” said Gumbleton. “He didn’t just command Expeditionary Strike Group TWO, he led it tounparalleledoperationalmissionaccomplishment, a feat any commander would be
proud of accomplishing He cultivated an environment where readiness wasn’t just a goal,itwasanexpectation.”
As ESG-2 commander, Walt championed readiness and a warfighter ethos. He oversaw the deployment of an amphibious ready group (ARG), two major fleet outreach events, and served as an operationalcommanderforexerciseBalticOperations 2025, greatly enhancing combined deterrence and interoperability with internationalAlliesandpartners
Waltthankedhisstaffandrecognizedthe operational shift from force generation to force employment He acknowledged the 12,000SailorsandMarinesintheEastCoast amphibiousforceandthankedtheirleaders forshapingwhattheamphibiousfleetbrings tothefight.
“Youleadsailorsonmissionsthatmatter operating the most capable ships, surface connectorsandaircraftintheworld,standing watch on the bridge at sunrise, launching landing craft air cushions out of the well deck, enabling Marines to storm a
beach,” said Walt. “And like today, you get to watch with pride as the Iwo Jima ARG and embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit-SpecialOperationsCapabledepartsfor deployment—knowingthey’reready.”
Walt’s next assignment is to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as Director, Programming Division in Washington, DC He stated he was honored to pass the torch toKoprowski,whopreviouslycommanded theWasp-classamphibiousassaultshipUSS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and San Antonio-class amphibioustransportdockUSSSanAntonio (LPD17).Koprowskiservedhismostrecent flag officer assignment as Commander, U.S. NavalForcesKorea/NavyRegionKorea.
Koprowski is a native of Selden, New York,andagraduateoftheU.S.NavalAcademy. A career surface warfare officer, his earlier assignments include USS John Paul Jones(DDG53),USSJuneau(LPD10) USS Dubuque (LPD 8), USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60), USS Anzio (CG 68) and Carrier StrikeGroup10 KoprowskirecognizedWaltforhisleader-
shipatthehelmofESG-2,andforestablishing a legacy of excellence to build upon. He addressedtheSailorsandMarinesofESG-2 acknowledgingthehardwork,sacrificeand professionalismdemonstratedunderWalt’s command.
“Aswelookahead,wefaceanevolvingand complexgloballandscape,”saidKoprowski “The challenges we confront are multifaceted and require us to be agile, innovative and unified. I am confident in our ability to meetthesechallengeshead-on.Together we will continue to flex our operational readiness and maintain the highest standards of excellenceinallthatwedo.”
ESG-2istheU.S.Navy’sEastCoastleadfor amphibiousoperationsandexpertise,witha staffposturedtocommandorsupportoperationsinfiveseparatecombatantcommand areas of operation—across the spectrum of conflict and competition, ready to fight and winandatalltimespersonifyingitsmottoof Ready,Responsive,Resolute
ByLanceCpl.BraydonRogers
Marine Corps Base Quantico
MARINECORPSBASEQUANTICO,Va Inresponse to the Secretary of Defense’s emphasis on enhancing the warfighting capabilities of the U.S. Military, the Marine Corps has designed a program for those Marines selected for the rank of staff sergeant to meet those goals: The NationalCapitalRegionStaffSergeantTransitionSymposium. The first class was conducted here at Marine Corps University on Aug. 4-8.
Comprised of the Marine Corps’ fiscal year 2025 staff sergeantselectees thefive-daycoursewascreatedtoequip sergeantsselectedtobecomestaffnon-commissionedofficers with the tactical and influential capabilities to lead Marines into the conflicts of tomorrow.
“WearelookingatthoseSNCOstousetheirexperiences andthingsthey’vebeenexposedtoinordertogiveadvisementtotheirunit,”saidSgt.Maj.MichaelCroft,Command SeniorEnlistedLeaderofHeadquartersandServiceBattalion,HeadquartersMarineCorpsHendersonHall.“Instead of just a small level of platoon or squad, we are starting to look bigger,” he explained referencing how staff sergeants make impacts beyond their unit and possibly beyond the enterprise of the Marine Corps
This symposium challenges attendees to harness the values, expectations, and responsibilities central to the SNCOethosanddeliberatelyinvestintheethical,intellectual,andoperationaldevelopmentastheyassumerolesof greater leadership and institutional trust.
“It is our responsibility [as senior SNCOs] to continue to mold, grow and mentor our (SNCO) corps,” said Croft. “Understandwhattheyareteachingatouracademies,see where there are gaps, and then we fill those gaps—that is
our role.”
ThestudentswerebriefedbymembersofMarineCorps Intelligence Activity, United States Cyber Command, United States Space Command, Joint Interagency Task Force South, and Joint Task Force North, exposing them to strategic-level briefs intended to elevate their understanding of operations Amidst this, they were challenged in force preservation and warrior readiness, which included the Marine Corps Total Fitness framework. This framework helps leaders comprehendandimplementindividualriskandresiliency assessments across the physical, mental, social and spiritualspectrumregardinghumanperformanceandbehavior Warrior Athletes Readiness and Resilience partnered withtheStaffSergeantSymposiumtohelpbringawareness andgiveabetterunderstandingofthefitnessframeworkto Marines by leveraging and integrating capabilities across
Through this approach, Marines are better equipped to developandmaintainanoptimizedwarfightingmindset both for themselves and for those under their leadership, said Croft.
“This is more of an experiential education, where they are learning how a training session should be run, rather than a random event they pulled out of a bag the night before,” said Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Stich, a force fitness instructor trainer with Training Command.
As part of the physical human performance training students learned how to instruct and plan workouts through demonstration and practical application, gaining knowledge of resources along the way.
These resources consisted of WARR, Force Fitness, Semper Fit, physical trainers, and nutrition specialists.
“We use the term ‘concurrent training’ where the Marines are exposed to many different types of training, many different adaptations,” said Stich, “which is a really goodwaytogettheMarineswhattheyneed—awiderange ofphysicalcapabilities ratherthanpigeonholingtheminto one type of training.”
Bytheendofthecourse,theselecteeswalkedawaywith a clearer understanding of more ethically grounded leadershiproles,confidenceintheirknowledge,andreadiness toleadMarinesinchallengingandeverchangingenvironments, something Croft emphasized.
“Asastaffnon-commissionedofficer,it’snotaboutyou,” he said. “It says it right in the (SNCO) creed…”
From the Marine Corps SNCO Creed, “I am bound by duty to God, Country and my fellow Marines to execute the demands of my position to and beyond what I believe to be the limits of my capabilities.”
Manpower Management Enlisted
Assignments University welcomes largest onboarding class, strengthening the backbone of enlisted assignments
ByLanceCpl.DanielRuizdelgado
HQMC Manpower and Reserve Affairs
Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments (MMEA) launched its second annual onboarding course Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments University (MMEA-U), on July 21, 2025, welcoming its largest class to date The weeklong course brought together monitors, career counselors, and support staff fromacrossthebranchforin-depthtrainingand collaborationatMarineCorpsBaseQuantico
The Enlisted Assignments Branch plays a criticalroleinshapingthefutureoftheMarine Corps.AspartofthelargerManpowerManagementDivision,MMEAisresponsibleforassigning enlisted Marines to billets that match both their talents and the needs of the service. No assignment is made randomly or in isolation; they reflect a solid understanding of readiness demands, primary military occupational specialtyrequirements,andindividualMarines’ goals.MMEAalsosupportsretentionbyhelpingMarinesstayontrackwithcareerprogression,re-enlistmentopportunities,andpersonal developmentgoals.
BehindeverysetofordersisateamofprofessionalsworkingtoaligneachMarinetotheright path That is where MMEA-U comes in The course was created to give new and incoming MMEApersonnelthetoolsandknowledgethey need to do their jobs effectively Maj. Jennifer Miller MMEA3sectionhead saidthegoalwas to prepare monitors counselors and support personnel “to assign the right Marine in the rightplaceattherighttime.”
Over the course of five days, participants receive training on the systems, policies, and procedures that govern enlisted assignments. TheyarealsointroducedtoMMEA’s“Coaching Culture, a people-first approach that encouragesmonitorsandcounselorstothinkbeyond thespreadsheetsandquotas andinsteadfocus on mentoring, guiding, and truly understandingtheMarinestheysupport.Millerexplained MMEA-Uemphasizescoachingandmentoring askeystosuccessfulMMEAtours.
U.S Marine Corps staffnoncommissioned officers ofManpowerManagement EnlistedAssignments (MMEA) participate in a
This year’s MMEA-U included the highest numberofparticipantssincethecourse’sinception, showing just how much the program has grown in value. The increase reflects MMEA’s continued efforts to invest in its people and improvetheassignmentprocessthroughconsistenttrainingandasharedsenseofmission.
“The course was more than just learning aboutthesystemsandpoliciesthatareusedto manageourpopulations, saidMasterSgt.Justin T. Morphis, 65XX Monitor. The instructors really hammered home the concept that there isahumanbeingwhoisontheotherendofthe orderswe’llbewriting,andweneedtotakecare ofthemasbestwecan.”
MMEA-Uencouragesdialogue networking andidea-sharingacrossthebranch Participants are guaranteed to leave with a stronger grasp of their responsibilities and a clearer sense of how their roles fit into the Corps’ larger talent managementstrategy
MMEAisactivelylisteningtoMarines’needs. The monitors and counselors who help shape careers are not only trained professionals, but they are also proficient listeners, advisors and leaders.Witheveryassignmenttheymake,they aimtoputtherightMarineintherightplaceat therighttime
NAVFAC Atlantic names Stacin Martin Employee of the Year
ByMichaelMorris Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command
Stacin Martin, a senior physical scientist with Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, has been named the Employee of the Year for his exceptional leadership, technical innovation, and enduring contributions to the Navy’s munitions response and range sustainmentmissions Martin, a senior munitions response expert in the Vieques Restoration (EV31) division, is widely recognized across the Navy, Department of Defense and regulatory agencies for his subject matter expertise In 2024, he led efforts to improve explosives safety and quality assurance at dozens of high-priority sites—both on land and underwater—while mentoring junior staffandsupportingnationaltraininginitiatives He also assumed expanded responsibilities within the Navy and Marine Corps RangeSustainmentProgram,earningwidespreadacclaimforhisimpactfulandpracticalsolutions
“It is my honor and pleasure to congratulate these professionals whose dedication andachievementsmadeasignificantimpact tooursuccess,”saidRearAdm.JorgeCuadros, commander NAVFAC Atlantic. “Nothing makes my day more than hearing about youraccomplishments,smallandlarge,and whatyouaredoingtothink,act,andoperate differentlyforourNavy.”
“Vieques is probably the biggest influence on my career,” said Martin. “I’ve been workingonthatprojectfor25yearsinvarious capacities. It allowed me to learn about every aspect of munitions response and workalongsidesomanypeoplefromdifferent backgrounds It’s been both a training groundandaplaceforrealaccomplishments inenvironmentalrestoration. Amonghismostsignificantcontributions, Martin highlighted improvements to the explosives safety submission (ESS) process as particularly meaningful. Prior to process changeshehelpeddrive,ESSreviewscould take six months to over a year and involve hundredsofcomments.
“WorkingwithNavalOrdnanceSafetyand Security Activity we integrated NAVFAC Atlanticintothereviewprocess Soonafter, we saw approvals in just a few months and dramaticallyfewercomments,”Martinsaid. “Ifsomeonequantifiedthetimeandmoney
saved,Ithinkitwouldsurprisepeople Every timeIreviewanESS Ithinkaboutthebenefitsofthatchangeandmycontribution.”
Martinalsoplayedakeyroleinmanaging the technical and organizational transition ofoperationalrangeclearanceworkwithin NAVFAC’s EV business line The technical elements were familiar, but navigating new customers, funding structures, and executionmodelsprovedchallenging
“It was an interesting challenge but not easy, Martinsaid “Fortunately Ihadexceptional support from my management and coworkers Thatmadeabigdifference.”
He underscored how his work directly supports Navy readiness: “When you know that a project you’re responsible for means atargetmaynotbeusablefortrainingoran impactbermcan’tbeusedforweaponsqualification,yourealizetheimportanceofwhat wedo.”
Reflecting on the skills that have supported his career, Martin emphasized broad knowledge across programmatic management, explosives safety, technolo-
gies andimplementationstrategies
“I wouldn’t consider myself an expert in any one area, but I know enough to put the piecestogetherandasktherightquestions,” he said “Also, soft skills matter—especially whenengagingwithregulatoryagencies.”
Martin expressed surprise and gratitude uponlearningoftheaward.“Iwashonored that my coworkers and leadership thought itwaswarrantedandtookthetimetonominate me,” he said. “It’s a reflection of the whole team. We talk about teamwork a lot, andEV31reallyisahighlyfunctioningteam with a lot of smart people and unique skill sets.”
He noted that the award gave his family a clearer understanding of his work. “I still don’t think they really know what my job entails,” he joked, “but this recognition helps.”
Looking ahead, Martin plans to focus more on mentoring and coaching “I’ll continuedoingwhatI’mgoodat,butIwant to help others become better than I am at thisjob.”
Healsoseescontinuedevolutioninunderwater munitions response and efforts to improvehowworkisdoneacrosstheenterprise “No one person has all the answers,” Martinsaid.“Butyoucangatherpiecesfrom differentpeopleandputthemtogethertoget where you need to be Listen, and don’t be afraidtotrysomethingnew.” Martincreditedhiswifeandtwosonsfor their ongoing support, saying their pursuit of challenges motivated him not to get too comfortable He also acknowledged his supervisor,DanWaddill,andhiscolleagues in EV31. “I don’t think I could have had a bettergrouptoworkwith,”hesaid. His final advice to those entering the field: “Build a network. Learn where to get information.Knowthetechnicaldisciplines involved And be a good project manager especially in operational range clearance where things can change quickly Success is in the day-to-day work. That’s where the realsatisfactionis.”
Washington Commanders hold Military Appreciation Day
ByOfficeoftheSecretaryofDefense
PublicAffairs
The NFL’s Washington Commanders paused their usual training camp routine yesterday to host thousands of service members and their families for a military appreciationday,aninvitation-onlysession attheteam’spracticefacilitythatculminated in a joint-service “Salute to Service” boot camponthefield. Approximately4,000peopleattendedthe event this year, which is organized through theclub’sWashingtonSaluteprogram.
The event, closed to the general public, gave troops and families a close-up view of practice at the OrthoVirginia Training CenterinAshburn,Virginia,andthenturned them into participants running drills, doing physical training and competing side bysideinNFL-styledrillsledbyclubstaff
The boot camp has become a recurring feature of Commanders’ camp and similar NFL engagements, designed to honor and connect the military community with the team.
“It was a really good time to get out there and connect with other [military] branches doalittlePT competealittlebitandshow ourMarinesarethebest, saidMarineCorps Cpl. James McGee assigned to 3rd Platoon, Guard Company, Marine Barracks Washington. “I joined the Marine Corps because alotofmyfamilyserved Theysetapositive exampleofwhatapersonshouldbe acall toduty anditinspiredmetodothesame.”
Army Staff Sgt. Francesco Romero a pianist with the U.S. Army Band, said the dayofferedadifferentkindofstage “ItwasamazingtrainingintheCommanders’ facilities with partners from all the branches,” she said. “Joining the Army for
mewasalast-minutedecisionbutrepresentingthiscountrythroughmusicisanincredible opportunity and stepping away from the piano to do PT with my fellow [service members] was just as motivating I’m excitedforthistohappenagain.Thankyou, Commanders.”
For the team, the session was part of a larger, year-round commitment to the region’s military community. Washington Salute billed as the NFL’s first dedicated, team-run military appreciation program hosts events throughout the year, from VIP practiceexperiencestogamedayactivations andUSOpartnerships.
Tickets for the military appreciation day were distributed through Washington Salute and this year’s training camp also included several public practices on earlier dates Theday’semphasisonfitnessandcompe-
titionechoedDefenseDepartmentpriorities laidoutbyDefenseSecretaryPeteHegseth, who has called for restoring a warrior ethos, raising standards including physical fitness and sustaining a merit-based, combat-credibleforce
“Everythingstartsandendswithwarriors in training and on the battlefield, Hegseth saidinrecentremarks,underscoringafocus on readiness, accountability and meritocracy Eventslike“SalutetoService”bootcamp aren’t unique to Washington; NFL clubs across the country have worked to bring uniformedpersonnelontopracticefieldsfor combine-stylecompetitions Inpastseasons participatingMarinesandsailorsdescribed thepurposesimply:tohonor empowerand connect service members and their families and to show appreciation in a tangibleway.
uarterdeck
NORFOLK,Virginia (August 7,2025) Sailors from Naval Station Norfolkassist Little CreekElementarySchool staffwith organizing materials during the
effort helped prepare classrooms and offices forthe upcoming academicyear
ByYeomanSeamanApprentice
KyaRobinson
NORFOLK Va Individual Sailors assigned to Naval Station Norfolk volunteered across Norfolk Public Schools as part of the annual Servicing Our Schools volunteer event and helped prepare classrooms and school grounds for the upcoming academic year Norfolk Public Schools educate over 4,000 military-connected students and in the weeks leading up to the start of school teachersandstaffoftenrequireextrahands tosetupclassrooms,beautifygrounds,and complete administrative tasks
During this year’s event, Sailors helped decorate bulletin boards, assemble furniture, touch up paint, and clean the school grounds to ensure a clean and welcoming
environment for students and staff
“It’s so helpful to have Sailors actually volunteer to help with making our school beautiful and ready for the first day of school, said Cheryl Coghlan, principal of Little Creek Elementary School. “It has definitely helped lessen the workload for staff.” she adds, “The bulletin boards are refreshed, grounds cleaned up, touched up paint and this will make the staff and students feel special.”
Master-at-Arms Second Class Lorraine Martinez assignedtoNavalStationNorfolk Base Security, shared her motivation for volunteering “IusedtoworkfortheDepartmentofEducationbackin2012,andIalways had a passion for kids by helping them and giving back, so I thought this was a good opportunityformetocontributewhilealso pursuinganewcareerintheNavy.”
Lorraine added, “Today we did administrative work, just organizing paperwork to send out to parents for notification of when school’s starting and doing school beautification around the building.” She believes the event fosters camaraderie among Sailors. “This brings camaraderie and morale with other Sailors; we get to obviously interact with other Sailors and learn about their rates It brings us together so we can learn about one another.”
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Third Class Dylan Powers, assigned to Naval Station Norfolk’s Emergency Operations Center, shared his motivation for volunteering “During mymilitarytime,I haven’t gone outside to help my community,” Powers said. “I’m kind of seeking more purpose since my time in the Navy ends soon. I just
feel like, why don’t I cater my time to helping the young ones get back to school and help out the community.” He added, “It feels good to be giving back to a community, especially one that supports so many military connected children. The fact I’m making an impact in some way, shape or form. I know military families can be busy I don’t personally have children, but if I’m able to help the schools get prepared for the beginning of their school year, by all means I’ll do it.”
TheServicingOurSchoolseventcontinuestobeameaningfulwayforNavypersonneltosupportmilitary-connectedstudents and their educators, reinforcing the strong partnership between Naval Station Norfolkandthesurroundingcommunityas students return to classrooms
NAVFAC team honored for transforming mentorship into a model of professional growth
ByMichaelMorris Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Atlantic
In a demonstration of teamwork, leadership,andinnovation,across-functionalgroup of human resources and program specialists from Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command(NAVFAC)AtlanticandNAVFAC Mid-Atlantic earned the Team of the Year: Silver,ProcessImprovementAwardforrevitalizingthecommand’smentorshipprogram. Their achievement set a new benchmark for professional development across the NAVFACenterprise LedbyTotalForceDevelopmentDirectors Kathlyn Weaver and Francisco Rodriguez, the team included HR specialists Melanie Decker, Kelly Fightmaster, Daja Bess, and Quandra Brinkley —each representing NAVFAC Atlantic’s Business Division (BD) code 17 (BD17) Total Force Development community—along with Emma Watterson, Environmental Management System (EMS) Program Coordinator with the Environmental Division (EV4). Together the team planned and executed a high-impact in-personmentoringinitiativethatovercamelogistical barriers, engaged the workforce across directorates, and laid the groundwork for sustainableleadershipdevelopment.
What began as an ambitious goal—to re-energize the mentoring culture within the organization—quickly evolved into a command-wide campaign. Faced with compressedplanningtimelinesandlast-minute venue changes the team remained agile They secured an outdoor pavilion, aligning withtheirstructuredplanofin-person“speed mentoring”formatthatconnectedmorethan 30 civilian employees and military personnel from directorates and divisions including but not limited to Planning, Design and Construction (PDC), Environmental (EV), Public Works (PW), Financial Management (FM), Human Resources (HR) Real Estate (RE),andOfficeofCounsel(OOC).
Weaver,aNavyveteranwithabackground in organizational management and business administration, described the initiative as a personal and professional milestone “Helping others succeed has always been central tomymission,”shesaid.“Thisawardaffirms that when we invest in people, we multiply successacrosstheorganization.”
Each team member brought unique strengths that enriched the initiative and contributed to its lasting success Melanie Decker, known for her passion for empowering others, helped shape the event’s content and facilitated meaningful connectionsbetweenmentorsandmentees “When people have the skills and confidence they need,they’rehappierandmoreengaged,”she said. “This effort showed how much value thereisinsimplytakingthetimetolistenand connect.
Providing technical leadership and operational insight, Kelly Fightmaster played a keyrolethroughherworkontheWaypoints traininganddevelopmentsystem.“Ourwork is about aligning people with the tools they need to succeed,” she said “The mentoring programwasanotherwaytoclosegaps build bridges andempowerourteam.
DajaBess,whoserved14yearsintheNavy,
ByPettyOfficer1stClass
MILLINGTON, Tenn. Sailors at Naval StationNorfolkandNavalAirStationOceana had the opportunity to connect in person with the MyNavy HR Talent Management Center of Excellence (TMCoE) during the NavyCareerDevelopmentSymposium(CDS) Mid-Atlantic,July15and16
Representatives from the Navy PerformanceManagementAdministration(NPMA) andMyNavyCoachingoperatedacombined booth that gave insightful presentations explaining how both initiatives can support Sailor development, improve feedback, and strengthen leadership at every level of the fleet.
TheTMCoEteam’spresenceunderscores theNavy’scommitmenttocultivatehigh-performing,high-potentialSailorsthroughclear expectations, consistent coaching, and a modernizedapproachtoperformanceevaluation.Sailorsaskedquestions,sharedexperiences,andwalkedawaywithactionabletools theycoulduseimmediately
NPMA introduces a structured, threephase approach to managing performance expectations:1)Settingcleargoals 2)Providing mid-term feedback, and 3) Conducting close-outcounseling KnownasPerformance Expectation Management (PEM), this process is designed to complement existing evaluation practices and build a culture of accountability, communication, and continuousdevelopment.
“TheCDSeventsinHamptonRoadswere a great success for both the Sailors in attendance and our team,” said Lt Cmdr Jason Hutchins of the NPMA team “Sailors in attendance expressed genuine enthusiasm about their futures in the Navy, and the service’scommitmenttoprovideopportuni-
With smiles all around,RearAdm.Jorge Cuadros,commanderofNaval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC)Atlantic,congratulates the NAVFACAtlantic and NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic mentorship team as he presents themwith theTeam oftheYear: Silver,Process ImprovementAward.Led byTotal Force Development Directors KathlynWeaverand Francisco Rodriguez,the group—Melanie Decker KellyFightmaster,Daja Bess,Quandra Brinkley and Emma Watterson—turned a big idea into a high-impact mentoring event that brought people together, sparked newconnections,and set a fresh benchmarkforprofessional growth across the NAVFAC enterprise.(PHOTOBYMICHAELMORRIS)
brought a deep understanding of structure, discipline, and service to the planning process. She helped design and coordinate theMentorshipMixer,ensuringitaddressed both logistical challenges and developmental goals “Empowering others has always felt like a natural extension of my service,” shesaid.“Thisinitiativeallowedustocreate meaningfulspaceforthattohappen.”
FrankieRodriguez,aveteranofNavalAviation and a workforce development leader at NAVFACMid-Atlantic,contributedbyaligningtrainingsystemsacrossplatforms Healso led the decision to strategically roll out the SF-182 training form in Waypoints until the system was fully functional. “We needed to get it right before we implemented,” Rodriguezsaid.“Thatkindofpatienceandprocess discipline ultimately benefits the whole command.”
Quandra Brinkley, who manages the New Employee Orientation program at NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic, provided logistical coordination and internal communication support. “Mentorship is about simplifying connection,” she said “I’m proud to have helped make this initiative accessible and inclusive foreveryone.”
As a participant in NAVFAC’s Leadership DevelopmentProgram(LDP),EmmaWatterson helped launch the initiative as part of a structured professional growth project. She ledacommand-widesurveytoassessmentorshipawarenessandcollaboratedwithBD17to developaresponsivestrategy “Itwasinspiringtocollaborateacrossdirectoratesandfind common purpose in supporting others,” she said “Mentorship isn’t just a program—it’s a cultureshift.
Watterson brought a systems-thinking
approach informed by her background in environmental compliance Her post-event feedback loop provided actionable insights to guide future mentorship efforts across NAVFAC SupportfromtheLeadershipDevelopment ProgramcadreandTotalForceDevelopment resources—such as the Waypoints mentoring tools and Lunch & Learn sessions—also strengthened the initiative. Together these elements produced a scalable adaptable modelforworkforcedevelopmentthataligns withNAVFAC’slong-termtalentstrategy
“This initiative demonstrated the power of collaboration, adaptability, and intent,” Weaver said. “It’s about more than a single event—it’s about building relationships that strengthenourorganizationandourpeople.”
Rear Adm. Jorge Cuadros, commander of NAVFAC Atlantic, praised their efforts and acknowledged the broader impact of their work.“Itismyhonorandpleasuretocongratulate these professionals whose dedication andachievementsmadeasignificantimpact on our success,” Cuadros said. “Nothing makesmydaymorethanhearingaboutyour accomplishments,smallandlarge,andwhat youaredoingtothink,actandoperatedifferentlyforourNavy.”
The mentorship initiative is now viewed as a model for implementation across other NAVFAC commands, offering a flexible framework to support mentorship at all levels—entry to executive, technical to administrative,civilianandmilitary
Reflecting on the experience, Weaver offeredafinaltakeaway:“Whenyoucombine strategicvisionwithcareforpeople youdon’t justmeetthemission—youelevateit.
ties to enhance the Sailor experience Their feedbackonPEMwasoverwhelminglypositive,andtheylookforwardtotherollout.” AlongsideNPMA,MyNavyCoachinghighlighted how peer-to-peer coaching skills suchasactivelistening,empathy,andasking powerful,open-endedquestionscanimprove communicationbetweenSailorsandleaders Theseconversationshelpbuildtrust,encouragegrowth andcontributetoanoverallmore engagedandeffectiveforce
“CDS was an outstanding opportunity to speak with Sailors in the fleet and gain their perspective on not just the initiatives we are working on but other issues that they need
addressed, said Command Master Chief Kenyatta M. Brown, the TMCoE senior enlisted leader “For any organization to be successful,agoodunderstandingoftheeffectivenessofeffortstosupportthoseexecuting themissionintheirwordsispriceless.” Byofferingface-to-faceaccesstoprogram leads and policy experts, CDS continues to serve as a valuable bridge between MyNavy HR initiatives and Sailors on the deckplates. TMCoE’s participation at CDS Mid-Atlantic reflected its core mission: to deliver the policies, tools, and support systems needed todevelop,evaluate,andpromotetheNavy’s mostcapablewarfighters
ByBoatswain’sMatePettyOfficer3rdClassJessicaNunes
NORFOLK, Va Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Aquatics team held a weekly adult swim lessons at the MWR Rec Pools (FRP-12) onAugust12 ThiscourseisavailableeveryTuesdayandisopentoSailorsandpatronsages 18andolder.
“I’ve been working here for 35 years,” said Lambert “We teach the basics of swimming based on ability level. Some learn from scratch while others are further along but it’s all at theswimmer’space.”
Atthestartofeachsession,participantsenteredthepooltogetcomfortableinthewater They then practiced skills they had already learned, followed by focusing on areas that neededimprovement.Theinstructorprimarilyhelpedwithcoordinationandstroketechniquessuchasbackstroke,breaststroke,freestyle,sidestroke,andoccasionallybutterfly
“I like to see people evolve and learn how to be safe in the water and get a lot out of life,” saidLambert.
Thecourseconcludedat12:30p.m.
“This has been good practice and exercise The instructor gives great feedback on what tofocusonwithtechnique,”saidAviationElectrician’sMate3rdClassChakaraRosa,from Airborne Command & Control Squadron 120 “It’s only once a week but every time you attenditgetsbetter.”
ByMichaelMorris Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Atlantic
Capt. Thomas B. McLemore, Civil Engineer Corps, U.S. Navy, was honored for 28 years of service during a retirement ceremony held July 25, 2025, at the Norfolk Yacht Club. He will officially retire from activedutyonNov.1,2025
Rear Adm. Jorge Cuadros, commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic, presided overtheceremony,withguestremarksdeliveredbyRearAdm.DeanVanderLey,Chiefof Civil Engineers The event featured traditional Navy honors, including the parading of colors, presentation of awards and the symbolicreadingof“TheWatch.”
McLemore, a Suffolk, Virginia, native and 1997 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy,wasrecognizedforexceptionalleadership operationalexcellenceandunwavering dedicationacrossacareerspanningmultiple continents and critical Navy infrastructure initiatives
In recognition of his service, McLemore was awarded the Legion of Merit (gold star in lieu of second award) for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services from July 2023 to July2025 culminatinginhisroleasdeputy commander for operations at NAVFAC Atlantic.
McLemore began his Navy journey at Amphibious Construction Battalion TWO in Little Creek, where he served as planning officer and assistant Alfa Company commander He later became Officer in Charge of Construction Battalion Unit FOUR ONE FIVE at Naval Air Station Oceana.
He earned a Master of Science in civil engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa before reporting to the Resident Officer in Charge of Construction Pearl Harbor,whereheservedasassistantindefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts manager and outlying area team leader He then joined NAVFAC Hawaii as assistant publicworksofficer supportingFordIsland, U.S. Pacific Fleet and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command During this tour, he deployed to Iraq as an individual augmentee, helping rebuild infrastructure for Iraqi Security ForcesintheAnbar,Najaf,BabilandKarbala provinces.In2005,hewasnamedNAVFAC Pacific’sMilitaryEngineeroftheYear
Following his Hawaii tour McLemore served in Washington D.C. as executive assistanttotheassistantdeputychiefofnaval operations for fleet readiness and logistics HelaterservedatCommander,NavyInstallations Command as future basing action officer At NAVFAC Washington, he led the FacilitiesEngineeringandAcquisitionDivision and later fleeted up to serve as public worksofficerforNSAWashington,supportingtheWashingtonNavyYardandsixsatellitesitesacrosstheNationalCapitalRegion His overseas assignments continued in Japan,whereheservedaspublicworksofficer for Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka. He was later assigned as assistant regional engineer for Navy Region Japan,
Navy Region Korea and the Singapore Area Coordinator
McLemore returned to Amphibious Construction Battalion TWO as operations officer and later executive officer He then assumed duties as public works officer for Naval Station Norfolk and subsequently served as operations officer for NAVFACMid-Atlantic,overseeingdelivery ofNAVFACproductsandservicesacross13 NavyandfiveMarineCorpsinstallations
He later returned to Annapolis as public worksofficerforNSAAnnapolisandtheU.S. NavalAcademy,whereheledmajorprojects including construction of a new academic buildingforcyberandweaponsengineering and the replacement of the Naval Academy
Chapeldome Hisfinalassignmentbrought him back to Norfolk as deputy commander foroperationsatNAVFACAtlantic. McLemore is a registered professional engineer in Hawaii, a certified energy manager, and a member of the Acquisition ProfessionalCommunity.Hehasearnedthe SeabeeCombatWarfareOfficerdesignation. HispersonaldecorationsincludetheLegion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, six MeritoriousServiceMedals threeNavyandMarine CorpsCommendationMedalsandfourNavy andMarineCorpsAchievementMedals
The ceremony concluded with the traditionalpipingashoreandareceptionhonoring McLemore’s career and contributions totheNavyandtheCivilEngineerCorps
The roots of readiness: Setting the foundation for the Navy Dental Corps
ByAndréB.Sobocinski,Historian
U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Anniversariesaremorethanjustdateson a calendar. They offer a moment to pause and celebrate the contributions of individuals, both past and present. They also build esprit de corps by helping to define an organization’s origins and marking how far it has come Each year on August 22 Navy Medicine marks the anniversary of our Dental Corps from its humble beginningsasayet-to-berealizedconceptin1912 to a community of over 1,400 dedicated active duty and reserve dentists representing 17 specialized fields This official date, however,tellsonlypartofthestory Acorps isformalized,butitisnotborninavacuum. Navy dentistry’s beginnings were rooted in decades of discussion, the ripening of the dental profession, and with it, the critical realization that a Sailor’s oral health was inextricablylinkedtoreadiness
The roots of our Dental Corps date back to the beginning of the U.S. Navy in the age of sail when all of medical—including oral care—was in the domain of the shipboard surgeonsandsurgeon’smates Bloodletting blistering andpurgingwerestillincommon practiceforallmaladiesandtheSailor’soral healthwasatitsnadir Asidefromthelackof preventive dentistry, a typical Sailor’s teeth couldbedamagedbytheever-presenthabit of chewing tobacco, prolonged or exorbitant use of mercury-based medicines like calomel, and a daily diet of hard tack and salt beef And before the introduction of antiscorbutic rations, scurvy was a viable risktoone’steethandgums
Knowing this, odontalgia or toothaches were a regular occurrence aboard sailing ships in the first decades of our Navy And themostcommontreatmentfordentalpain wasextraction,aprocedureperformedwith gruesome tooth extractors that were the stuff of nightmares A fully equipped shipboard surgeon’s kit included these devices AccordingtooneNavysurgeon,“Ifthetooth be much decayed, extraction is the only sure remedy.” And when extraction proved “impracticable”becauseofthelevelofdecay, theNavysurgeonsusedopiumandcamphor, laudanum(alcoholwithatinctureofopium), butalsotheapplicationofpeppermintoil. Bythe1840s,apothecaries,andotherindividuals with dental knowledge or training often filled the role as an additional duty. This was a necessity because most naval medicalofficerslackedthetrainingforpractical work of dentistry As one naval medical officer related, “I had a practical dentist withmeas[an]apothecaryonthelastshipI servedon.Hedidagreatdealofdentalwork, forwhichhewaspaidbythoseonwhom[he] operated.Navymedicalofficersdonotknow anything about practical work of dentistry as far as my experience goes As it is we excludethosewhoseteetharebadfromthe navy, this doing away with the necessity of doingthiskindofwork.”
The lack of dental care in the Navy was anongoingissuethroughoutthenineteenth
FALLS CHURCH,Va Aphoto collage highlighting the founding ofthe NavyDental Corps ofthe U.S.NavyDental Corps.EachyearonAugust 22 NavyMedicine marks the anniversaryofthe Dental Corps from its beginnings in 1912 to over1,400 dedicated active dutyand reserve dentists representing 17 specialized fields.Collage features a dental operatoryused at Naval HospitalWashington,D.C.,earlymembers ofNavydentistry, and the sloop ofwarUSS Mohican (1883),a ship that regularlyemployed enlisted dentists priorto the establishment ofthe Dental Corps.All photographs except forimage ofUSS Mohican are from the BUMEDArchives The USS Mohican image is from the photographic collection ofthe NavyHistoryand Heritage Command (NHHC) (U.S.NAVYPHOTOCOLLAGEDESIGNEDBYANDRÉB.SOBOCINSKI)
century Adm. David Dixon Porter, whose career dated back to 1829, was quoted as saying, “I am in favor of anything that will enable the ‘old salt’ on shipboard to eat the ‘hard tack’ and tough beef furnished by the government If we had dentists in the Navy I should not have been compelled to liveonsoftfoodto-day.”
The field of dentistry came into its own by the mid-nineteenth century with the publication of the first professional dental textbookandfirstdentaljournals,theestablishment of the first dental school in the United States (Baltimore College of Dental Surgery), the invention of the first dental instrumentcase,theformationoftheAmericanDentalAssociationandthefirstethical code of dentists Dentists were also making names for themselves through pioneering theuseofetheranesthesiaandunlockingthe basis for dental decay. Among the notable dentists helping to advance the profession was Dr Edward Maynard, a Washington,
D.C.-baseddentistandinventor,whoisprobably best known for his role in improving firearms HisothercausesincludedadvocatingfortheinclusionofdentistsintheArmy andNavy AsaresultofMaynard’sadvocacy toPresidentMillardFillmore,theBureauof Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) received its first request for information about the practicalityofrecruitingdentistsintheNavy asmedicalofficers In 1853, Secretary of the Navy John P. Kennedy,wrotetoSurgeonThomasHarris, chief of BUMED stating, “[Fillmore] is impressed with the belief that more attention to this subject than is ordinarily given would be found to be usefully condusive [sic]tothehealthofofficersandmenonship board.”Although,Harrisacknowledgedthe value of having dentists assigned to naval squadrons, he helped table the issue by delineating the differences between medicine and dentistry stating that dentistry is an“artseparateanddistinctfromtheprofes-
sionofmedicine,andonerequiringamanual dexterity which can only be acquired by long and extensive practice” and “in so far as dentistry is not embraced in the curriculum of study now required by the medical schools of the country, it is essentially a Mechanicalart demandingalongandlaboriousapprenticeshiptoattainthemostordinaryskill. Dental care remained wholly a de facto duty in the Navy until the 1870s when Harris’s successor as the Chief of BUMED recommended that a trained dentist be appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy. On April 23, 1873, BUMED appointed Annapolis-based dentist Dr Thomas O. Walton as an“ActingAssistantSurgeon”intheMedical Corps and assigned him to the Naval Academy.WaltonwouldremaintheNavalAcademy’sdentistuntilretiringin1899 The Naval Academy may have had their
Page 5
Corpsman Up: Naval Medical Research Command
Medical Tech administers emergency aid mid-
Receives award for actions
ByTommyLamkin Naval Medical Research Command
SILVER SPRING, Md Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class
Alvin Ciasico, from Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC), was awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal on August 11th at an all-hands call and awards ceremony for actions he took in administeringemergencymedicalaid.
On July 12th, while aboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Narita, Japan, Ciasico responded to an unconscious passenger at the request of airline crew in search of a doctor or medical first responder Ciasico,aNavycorpsmanwithafieldmedicaltechnicianspecialty,wastheonlysuch responderaboardtheaircraft.
“I went on the back of the plane and saw an unconscious patient,” said Ciasico “She was laying on the ground and I immediatelyadministratedcare. WithlimitedsuppliesIprovided her IV fluid, oxygen and had an AEDdefibrillatoronstand-by.”
SILVERSPRING,Md.(Aug 11,2025) Hospital Corpsman 2nd ClassAlvin Ciasico,with Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC),receives the Navyand Marine CorpsAchievement Medal from Capt FrancaJones,Commander NMRC.
Ciasicowas recognized forresponding to an unconscious airline passengerwhile traveling to the Philippineswith his daughterinJuly and providing emergencyfirst response care NMRC headquarters ofNavyMedicine Research & Development is engaged in a broad spectrum ofactivityfrom basic science in the laboratoryto field studies in austere and remote areas oftheworld to investigations in operational environments.In support ofNavy,Marine Corps and joint U.S.warfighterhealth,readiness and lethality,researchers studyinfectious diseases,biologicalwarfare detection and defense,combat casualtycare environmental health concerns,aerospace and undersea medicine,operational mission support and epidemiology.(U.S.NAVYPHOTOBYSIDNEYHINDS/RELEASED)
After a head-to-toe assessment, he asked others who witnessed the incident about possible injuries checked the individual’s airway and vital signs and discovered that she did not have a radial pulse Her headhadbeenvisiblybruisedbyherfall,so Ciasicostabilizedherheadandnecktoavoid furtherinjury
“I was travelling to the Philippines with my daughter to see my family that I haven’t seen in a while I would like to thank God for giving me the courage and to be able to Corpsman up on a medical emergency midflight, Ciasicosaid.
medical/emergency treatment, stabilize her vitals, familiarize emergency medical equipment, even administer IVs and safely turn her over to medical emergencyservices.”
Ciasico,whoworksinNMRC’s administrative department, receivedhissecondachievement medalforhisactionsaboardthat flight. In a letter to Ciasico the flight crew stated “Our crew is endlessly grateful to have your assistance during the medical emergency in the air We know thatthepatientwillhavethebest possibleoutcomethankstoyour care. It has been an honor to fly withyou.”
“I am deeply proud to serve alongside HM2 Ciasico, whose professionalism and compassion reflect the very best of our Navy’s medical community”, addedJean-Gilles “Hiswillingnesstostepforwardinamoment of need, regardless of personal plans highlightsthetruespiritof theHospitalCorpsman—always prepared to care for others no matter where duty calls HM2 Ciasico’sexemplaryconductnot onlysaveslives,butalsoinspires all who wear the uniform to uphold the enduring tradition of excellence and service that definesourcorps.”
Aircraft crew made a call to emergency services Ciasico provided a medical status report, and services determined the situation to be a medical emergency. The flight was diverted mid-flight to Seattle, where first responders were waiting. Once on the ground, Ciasico assisted emergency crews andaidedinamedicalevacuation.
“Evenwhiletravelingtoseehisfamily,HM2 Ciasico did not hesitate to answer the call to provide medical care to those in need, embodying the core values of selflessness and readiness that have been the hallmark ofcorpsmenthroughouthistory.”
“HM2 Ciasico’s actions aboard the flight exemplify the unwavering dedication and compassion that define the proud tradition of the hospital corpsman,” said Master Chief Hospital Corpsman Phillip JeanGilles, NMRC’s command master chief
“I’m grateful for the Navy for the skills I developed from corpsman school and field medical training,” Ciasico added. “Without thosemedicalskills attentiontodetail,being able to adapt in stressful situations, I don’t think I would be able to do a head-to-toe
NMRC headquartersofNavy Medicine Research & Development, is engaged in a broad spectrum of activity from basic science in thelaboratorytofieldstudiesinaustereand remote areas of the world to investigations in operational environments In support of Navy,MarineCorpsandjointU.S.warfighter health, readiness and lethality, researchers studyinfectiousdiseases biologicalwarfare detectionanddefense combatcasualtycare environmental health concerns aerospace andunderseamedicine,operationalmission supportandepidemiology
Trained and ready, Truman returns from two-week underway
CourtesyStory
USS Harry S Truman
NORFOLK, Va
The Nimitz-class aircraftcarrierUSSHarryS.Truman(CVN 75) returned to Naval Station Norfolk Aug. 15 following a two-week underway in the Atlantic Ocean that powered readiness and proved the crew’s sustained operational proficiency through a variety of events, including ammunition offload, aviation-focused maintenance and preservation, damagecontroltraining,andmore.
“Harry S. Truman is trained and ready,” said Capt. Daniel “Prozac” Prochazka, Truman’s commanding officer. “From safely moving more than a thousand tons ofordnance,toexecutingtraininganddrills toensurewecanrespondtoanysituationat sea or inport our Sailors are committed to keepingthisshipreadyforthefight.Truman Sailors continue to prove why they set the standardforwarfightersintheFleet.”
During the underway, Truman Sailors worked with the “Dragonslayers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 11, the embarked helicopter detachment, and
Navy Dental Corps from Page 4
own means of addressing their dental care needs, elsewhere oral hygiene remained an ongoingissue InhisbookPracticalSuggestions in Naval Hygiene (1871), Medical Inspector Albert Gihon noted dental care was still wholly neglected aboard ships, writing: “The hair, beard and teeth are all neglected on board ship It would be a difficult matter to compel old sailors to cleanse theirteeth,butalltheboysshouldbeobliged to purchase tooth brushes, and use them regularly.”
After 1898 dental care was regularly provided in the fleet by hospital corpsman and in decade to follow the Annual Reports of Surgeon General of the U.S. Navy, regularly included shipboard dental statistics Forexample,thehospitalapprenticeaboard the steam sloop of war USS Mohican, who had dental training, performed 340+ fillings, 52 root canals, 38 tooth extractions, removed 36 salivary deposits, and capped 26 teeth with gold crowns over a seven and a half month period From Sept. 1, 1903 to Jan. 1, 1904 hospital corpsmen assigned to the receiving ships USS Franklin and USS Richmond, performed over 500 fillings, extracted 176 teeth, and conducted 28 root canals Aboard USS Wabash, a receiving ship processing new recruits, based in Boston,Massachusetts,thehospitalsteward performed“1,454operationsofalmostevery characterofdentaldisorder.”
It was becoming increasingly clear that the numbers of hospital corpsmen serving as dentists were inadequate to the growing needfororalhygieneanddentalcareacross the Navy, especially with a service that had grown under President Teddy Roosevelt. By 1907, BUMED began assigning these enlisted dentists to Olongapo, Philippines, NavalTrainingStationsinNorfolk,Virginia, Newport, Rhode Island, and aboard the hospital ship Relief on its voyage with the Great White Fleet, and planning for additional duty at prison ships in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Mare Island, California, Puget Sound, Washington, and Boston, as
the crew of the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5) to safely transfer 1,307 tons of conventional munitions The multi-day operation required close coordination between the ship’s Weapons Department, Air Department, Deck Department, bridge watchstanders,andHSC11.
“Ammooffloadisoneofthemostcomplex evolutions we do outside of combat,” said LCDR Jason O’Neal, Truman’s weapons officer “It takes every department working together from the helo crews to the bridge watchstanders to make it happen safely Withtheutmostconfidence,OurSailors executed with competence, precision, andpride.”
Laser focused on sharpening casualty response readiness shipboard firefighting remained a top priority over the two weeks at sea as Truman prepares for a fall validation exercise that assesses the crew’s ability to prevent fires, protect personnel and the ship, and rapidly respond to a fire in an industrialenvironmentastheshipisscheduledforanupcomingmaintenanceperiod.
In his annual report to the Secretary of the Navy, Rear Adm. Presley Rixey, Navy Surgeon General, framed the issue, stating: “Liketheeyes,theteetharecomingproperly toberegardedasintimatelyandwidelyassociatedwiththevariousorgansandfunctions of the body and that defective teeth may be responsibleformuchillhealthisrecognized by all who keep in touch with the accumulatingtruthsofmedicalscience.”
Bills for establishing a naval dental corps were introduced in 1898, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, and 1911, the year the U.S. Army established its own Dental Corps (March3,1911).Finally ayearlater theNavy was finally granted its own corps dentists Theyearsoftheadditionaldutydentistwas over!
After August 1912, the job of building the Dental Corps from its foundations fell to Drs. Emory Bryant and William Cogan, who were appointed Navy dentists on Oct. 23and24,respectively,andwhosetaskitwas to build the foundations of the Navy Dental Corps.Bothwerewell-establishedfiguresin the Washington D.C. dental scene Bryant, a successful private practitioner counted President Roosevelt among his patients, while Cogan had been the first dean of Georgetown’sdentalschool.Together,they developed the criteria for the first Dental Corps appointees, requiring prospective candidatestopassarigorousseriesofphysical and competitive professional examinations Interestingly the contributions of BryantandCoganaresymbolizedbythetwo acorns that stem from the spread oak leaf devicewornbyallNavydentiststoday.
In November 1912, Bryant, Cogan and Navy physician Lt Cmdr Richmond Holcomb (later author of A Century with Norfolk Naval Hospital) convened the first dentalexaminingboardinWashington,D.C. Practical portions of the examination were conducted at Georgetown University and The George Washington University The physical examinations were administered on the second floor of the Isolation Building at the Naval Hospital Washington, D.C., whichwasthenlocatedintheneighborhood
ines the ship’s in-port emergency teams medical department, and integration with Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and EmergencyServicesinaccordancewithNavalSea Systems Command (NAVSEA)’s Industrial ShipSafetyManualforFirePreventionand Response, also known as the 8010 manual
The crew expects various casualty scenarios as part of the exercise including simulated firefighting flooding hazmat spills andtoxicgas.
“I gave Sailors hands on training for different types of emergencies, showing them everything from flooding response to contingency firefighting procedures, said DamageControlFiremanJohnEscandon.A SailorwhojoinedtheNavytofindasenseof purpose,hesaid,“Ifsomethinggoeswrong, we all have to respond to protect the ship and that’s why we train so intensely It’s bettertoknowit[shipboardfirefighting]and notneeditthantoneeditandnotknowit.
Meanwhile, the Air Department conducted intensive maintenance and preservation work on the 1,096-foot-long flight deck a survivable, agile and resilient airfield— in addition to its catwalks
ofFoggyBottom. Atotaloffifteendentistsappearedbefore the examination board in November and December 1912; of this number, only four passed and received the first appointments onJan.3,1913
Dr Harry Harvey, a former “hospital corpsman-dentist” and graduate of the Georgetown Dental College was among the first to be selected Over that inaugural year (Aug 22, 1912-Aug. 22, 1913), a total of 15 candidates were approved for appointments in the Dental Corps. These dentists each held the same rank—“Acting Assistant Dental Surgeon,” which was equivalent to Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Until 1916, there were no provisions for the promotion of Dental Corps officers Each were alsorequiredtoservethreeyearsofreserve status before transferring into the Regular Navy
ThesameactthatcreatedtheNavyDental Corps in 1912 also established a Medical Corps Reserve Remarkably—since a separate Dental Reserve (or for that matter a formal Navy Reserve) did not exist at that time the Navy’s first dentists were initially considered part of this Medical Corps Reserve. A separate Dental Corps Reserve wasestablishedonMarch4,1913
In 1913, an additional nine dentists came into the Navy on temporary duty under the provisionsofthenewDentalCorpsReserve. Like Bryant and Cogan these dentists were each well-established in their practices, most were quite senior and one long past retirement age. Dr Vines Edmunds Turner of Raleigh, North Carolina, was a Civil War veteran who was 76 years old at the time of hisentryintotheNavyandstillremainsthe oldestNavydentistonrecord.
The Navy’s first dentists were required to go through a period of indoctrination at the Naval Medical School in Washington, D.C., before being sent into the field. The first duty stations were selected based both on a population requiring dental services (e.g recruits)andtheaccessibilityofdental equipmentatthatlocation.
OnMarch5,1913,ActingAssistantDental Surgeon Harry Harvey was ordered by BUMED to the hospital ship USS Solace
and the hangar bay. The flight deck repair teamalsorebuiltthreestrippingpumpsand changed372filterelements,providingclear, clean,andbrightfuelforaircraftandground support equipment. Together, Air Department ensured Truman’s sustained power andprojectioncapabilities.
“Keepingourshipmissioncapableisalot ofwork,butweknowhowcriticalitis,”said ABHC Maria Lopez, V-2 Division maintenance chief “This underway gave us the time and focus to get ahead, so when the flight schedule picks up again, we will be ready to launch and recover aircraft withoutmissingabeat.”
USS Harry S. Truman, the flagship of the Harry S. Truman Strike Group, is a Nimitzclass aircraft carrier homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Carrier Strike GroupsremainthecornerstoneoftheNavy’s forward presence through sea control and powerprojection.
For more information, visit Truman’s social media at facebook.com/CVN75, on Instagram @harrystruman75, or check out its DVIDS page at https://www.dvidshub net/unit/CVN75
becomingthefirstdentalofficerassignedto a ship or to serve at sea. One month later— onApril5,1913—JosephMahoneyreported aboard the armored cruiser USS Saratoga (ACR-2,formerlyUSSNewYork)asthefirst official Navy dentist aboard a warship Two yearslateroveraquarterofallNavydentists wereservingatsea.
Among the first shore establishments to receive dentists were the Naval Training StationsinNewport,RhodeIsland,andSan Francisco, California; stationary receiving ships—wherenewrecruitswereprocessed— at Brooklyn, N.Y., and Mare Island, California; and Navy Yards in Charleston, South Carolina, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and PugetSound,Washington.
In April 1913 James Lee Brown earned the distinction as the first dentist assigned toanoverseasbasewhenhereceivedorders to Naval Station Guam. In that first year of NavyDentistry’sexistenceonlytwodentists served overseas, Brown and USS Saratoga’s Joseph Mahoney—who also doubled as the dentistfortheAsiaticStation.
Finally, on Aug. 4, 1913, Acting Assistant DentalSurgeonLucianC.WilliamsofTexas, reported to Parris Island, South Carolina becoming the first Navy dentist to serve with the United States Marine Corps Just two years later, Navy dentists were regularly embedded with Marine Corps units in Haiti and in 1917 were deployed to active battlefields in World War I. Among them, theNavy’sownWeedonOsborneandAlexanderLyle—thefirstdentistsinhistorytobe awardedMedalsofHonor
The Navy Dental Corps’ history is truly a richone Itsofficialfoundingin1912marked anewchapter,butitsrootsextendfardeeper—a testament to the decades of advocacy, innovation,anddedicatedservicethatpaved the way. Today, Navy Dental Corps officers continuethislegacy,deliveringworld-class care that ensures the readiness and health of our Sailors Marines and their families aroundtheglobe.Andtheirworkandservice remainavital,fundamentalpartoftheNavy MedicineEnterprise
NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic awards contract for water treatment plant upgrades at Naval Station Great Lakes
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command
NORFOLK Va Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic (NAVFAC MIDLANT) awarded Joseph J. Henderson & Son Inc., Gurnee, Illinois, a $25,339,799 firm-fixed-price contract for water treatment plant repair and replace-
ment at Naval Station Great Lakes, Great Lakes, Illinois
Work is anticipated to be completed by August 2028
Fiscal year 2025 operations and maintenance (O&M) (Navy) funds in the amount of $25,339,799 are obligated on this award andwillexpireattheendofthecurrentFY
This contract was competitively procured via the www.sam.gov website,
with three offers received
NAVFAC MIDLANT is the contracting activity (N40085-25-C-0005).
NAVFAC MIDLANT provides facilities engineering publicworksandenvironmental products and services across an area of responsibilitythatspansfromSouthCarolina to Maine, as far west as Illinois, and down to Indiana. As an integral member of the Commander, Navy Region Mid-At-
lanticteam,NAVFACMIDLANTprovides leadership through the Regional Engineer organizationtoensuretheregion’sfacilities and infrastructure are managed efficiently and effectively
For additional information about NAVFAC MIDLANT on social media, follow our activities on Facebook at www facebook.com/navfacmidatlantic and on Instagram @navfacmidatlantic.
ByKristineSturkie
Navy Exchange Service Command
With the cut of the ribbon on August 5, 2025,theNavyExchangeServiceCommand opened its 100th NEX Micro Market Located in unaccompanied housing at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, the self-service, self-checkout NEX Micro Market is open 24 hours a day, seven days a weektosupportthemorethan1,300young enlistedSailorslivingthere.
“As a worldwide Navy command, NEXCOM is always in lockstep with the needs of the fleet,” said retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, Chief Executive Officer ofNEXCOM.“Ourcoremissionistoenable
warfighter readiness and enhance Navy quality of life for our men and women in uniform who are out there defending our freedom.Inaddition,ourrangeofinnovative and agile products and services are continually evolving, allowing us to support the Navy as it executes its mission around the globe.”
TheNEXMicroMarketatNSBKingsBay stocks a broad array of fresh, healthy food suchasyogurt,fruit,saladsandsandwiches as well as snacks and beverages Because of its location, the NEX Micro Market also stocksanassortmentofhealthandwellness items and cleaning supplies that allow Sailors to quickly run in and pick up what they need.
“We get great feedback from customers when we open our NEX Micro Markets,” said Roanna Hatfield, Senior Services SpecialistatNEXCOM.“Customersappreciate having access to food, snacks and beverages conveniently located near them and accessible 24/7. To ensure we have the items our customers want to purchase, we tailor the assortment specifically to the location Here in Kings Bay, that means it’s stocked with popular favorites and healthy grab-and-gooptions NEX Micro Markets are located in Navy facilities where there are a large number of people, but not a lot of food options availableortimeislimited.Currently,NEXMicro MarketsareopeninNavyhospitals,aircraft
hangars barracks unaccompanied housing office spaces Navy Inns and shipyards aroundtheworld.
The first NEX Micro Market opened at theSoutheastRegionalMaintenanceCenter in Mayport, Florida, in 2015 NEXCOM’s Ship’s Store Program opened two Micro Market@Sea locations, onboard USS San Antonio(LPD19)in2020andonboardUSS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in 2023 SimilartoashoreNEXMicroMarkets these self-service afloat locations provide Sailors
On iberty
PressRelease
WILLIAMSBURG, Va
Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown willmakehistoryforhomeschoolstudentswithspecial admission September 6-14 during Homeschool Family Days anannualopportunity to discover the sights and sounds of early America. In time for America’s 250th anniversary, homeschoolstudentscandiscover a variety of educational and engaging experiences with unlimited visits to both history museums where visitors connect with the storiesofoursharedhistory AspecialkickoffonSeptember6attheAmericanRevolutionMuseumatYorktown willfeatureAmericanRevolution and STEM activities presented by regional organizations including George Washington’s MountVernon,HamptonHistoryMuseum, Virginia Master Naturalists Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands, York County Historical Museum and Fort Monroe
Tickets to Homeschool Family Days are $10 for students (Grades K-12), $19 for adults and free for children under age 4, withunlimitedadmissiontobothmuseums for two weeks September 6-14 Tickets can be purchased online or in person at either museum and include admission to:
JamestownSettlementexhibitiongalleries, short films and outdoor living-history areas with re-creations of a Paspahegh town, one of the 1607 ships and an English fort.
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown exhibition galleries short films and outdoor living-history areas with re-creations of a Continental Army encampment and Revolution-era farm
Educationstationsateachmuseum,available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates, will allow families to explore a variety of historical topics and build skills of critical thinking, primary source analysis and an understanding of how historians use clues from the past to put together a historical narrative
styles of the three cultures that converged in 1600s Jamestown, inspiring an understanding of how their environment shaped their culture. An activity area for students ages 8 and up will engage learners in a game about historical eventsandperspectives
Homeschool Family Days tickets & other annual offers
Education stations at both museums with unique opportunities for families to interact with museum educators.
September 6, 9 and 11: American Revolution Museum at Yorktown education stations designed for learners ages 3-7 will explore what children would have been responsible for on a farm before the Revolution and what would have changed after the colonies declared independence in 1776. An activity area for students ages 8 and up will allow learners to make choices through gameplay about historical events andwhethertheywouldsupporttheLoyalists,Patriotsorremainneutral.
September8,10and12: Jamestown
Settlement education stations designed for learners ages 3-7 will compare clothing
When Homeschool Family Days are not in session, homeschool families can visit the museums with a special homeschool daily rate throughout the year Families mustshowvalidhomeschoolidentification at check in. For more information contact GroupReservationsat(757)253-4939ortollfree(888)868-7593
Aboutthemuseums,cafés&shops
Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown are administered by the Jamestown-Yorktown
Foundation, an educational agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and a commemorative partner of the Virginia AmericanRevolution250Commission. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Jamestown Settlement is located on Route 31 just southwest of Williamsburg and the American
offer cafés and
with merchandise perfect forgearingupforAmerica’s250thanniversary Parkingisfree Formoreinformation,call(757)253-4838 or visit jyfmuseums.org Follow the museumsonsocialmedia@jyfmuseums Homeschool Family Days return September 6-14 to
From left: Guests oftheAmerican Revolution Museum atYorktown
Setsail fromthe Virginia Aquariumon aTwilight Cruise this September 6th
PressRelease
VIRGINIABEACH,Va ThisSeptember6thenjoyarelaxingnightoutonthewaterwiththeVirginiaAquarium’sTwilight Cruise.The evening willbebeautiful with afull moon in the west,and sunset on the water. TheAquarium’sboat, Atlantic Explorer,willcruisealongtheiconicVirginiaBeachOceanfront, whilegueststakeinthebreathtakingviewandsaltyair
The boat will have beverages,food,and abar availableonthe boatforpurchase
Tickets areonsale nowathttps://virginiaaquarium.com/ featured-events/twilight-cruise.Memberscan purchasetickets for $43.95 per ticket and thenon-memberprice is $48.95 perticket. Please arriveby6:00pmfor check-in at the Virginia AquariumBoatDock(attheNorthBuilding,totherightoftheoutdoor HarborSealexhibit).Thecruiselastsfrom6:30pm-8pm.Spaces arelimited,andthistripisweatherdependent.
TheAquariumislocatedat717GeneralBoothBlvd.,Virginia Beach, VA 23451.For more information call(757) 385-3474or visitVirginiaAquarium.com
NORFOLK,Va. —Broadway in Norfolk and SevenVenues arepleased to announce thatsingleticketsfortheupcomingengagement of MRS.DOUBTFIRE in Norfolk, VA go on sale today, Friday, August15. MRS. DOUBTFIRE will playeightperformances from Tuesday, March31, to Sunday, April5, atChryslerHall.
Individual tickets areonsale nowatthe ScopeArenaboxofficeandatTicketmaster. com. Tickets for groups of 10 or morecan bepurchasedbycallingGroupSalesat(757) 664-6418 or emailing groupsales@sevenvenues.com. Visit SevenVenues.com for moreinformation. Everyone’s favorite Scottish nannyis headed to Norfolk in this internationally acclaimedhit musical criticscall“wonderful, heart-warming,and laugh-out-loud funny” (Manchester Evening News)and “a feel-good,family-friendly comedy that delivers”(TheHollywoodReporter).Based on the belovedfilm, MRS. DOUBTFIRE tells the hysterical andheartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids.It’s“the lovable,big-hearted musical comedy we need right now,”raves the ChicagoTribune —one that proves we’re bettertogether Out-of-work actorDaniel Hillardwill do anythingforhiskids.Afterlosingcustodyin amessydivorce,hecreates thekindly alter ego of Scottish nannyEuphegenia Doubtfireinadesperate attempt to stay in their lives.Ashis new charactertakes onalife of itsown,Mrs.Doubtfireteaches Daniel more than he bargained for about howto be afather.Ahysterical and heartfelt story about holding ontoyour lovedones against all odds,MRS.DOUBTFIRE is the musical comedyweneedright now— onethat proveswe’rebettertogether Based on the original directionbyfourtime Tony Awardwinner Jerry Zaks,the newmusical comedy features abook by Karey
ByFamilyFeatures
Source: Culinary.net
Stun
Recipe
TRICARE coverage for National Guard and Reserve members: Know your options
ByTRICARECommunications
FALLS CHURCH, Va Are you or your sponsor in the National Guard or Reserve? Your health coverage changes when activatingordeactivating Here’swhatyouneed toknow.
“National Guard and Reserve members have different TRICARE coverage options when they transition between active and inactive status,” said Brian Smith, senior health system specialist, TRICARE Health Plan, at the Defense Health Agency “TRICARE encourages you to review your healthcoverageoptionstoensureyoumaintain continuous health coverage Do this prior to coming on active duty orders for morethan30daysanddeactivating.”
What are my TRICARE options when I activate?
You get the same health care benefits as active duty service members when you’re activatedformorethan30daysonqualifying orders YourserviceupdatesyourTRICARE eligibility in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System. Your service does thiseachtimeyourdutystatuschanges
Did you receive delayed effective-date, active duty orders for more than 30 days in supportofacontingencyoperationorunder 12304b?ThenyougetearlyTRICAREeligibilityupto180daysfromthedateyouractive dutybegins Doyouwantmoreinformation? Visit TRICARE Pre-Activation Benefits (online at https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/ Eligibility/NGRMandFamilies/Activated/ PreActBenefits). Herearethingstoconsider:
Your TRICARE health plan You’ll be automatically enrolled in TRICARE Prime as an active duty service member You’ll have an unassigned primary care manager This means you can see any TRICAREauthorized provider You’ll follow your command’s guidance on any additional enrollment requirements when you arrive to your final duty station. The following TRICARE Prime health plans may be an option:
TRICAREPrimeOverseas
TRICAREPrimeRemoteOverseas
Yourfamilygetscoverage,too.Eligible family members may enroll in a TRICARE healthplan Thisdependsonwheretheylive atthetimeofyouractivation.Theymustact andenrollinoneofthesehealthplanswithin 90daysofyouractivation.
TRICAREPrimeOverseas
TRICAREPrimeRemoteOverseas
TRICARESelect
TRICARESelectOverseas
USFamilyHealthPlan
TRICAREYoungAdult
Dentalcoveragechanges Didyouhave TRICAREDentalProgramcoveragepriorto activation? You’ll be automatically enrolled in the Active Duty Dental Program. This is described in the TRICARE Active Duty DentalProgramBrochure(onlineathttps:// tricare.mil/Publications/Brochures/active duty_dental) Yourenrolledfamilymembers keeptheirTDPcoveragewithlowerpremiums Family members who aren’t enrolled canjoinanytime Areyouwonderinghowtogetcarewhile
They don’t need referrals in most situations Theymayneedpre-authorizationsfor somehealthcareservices
Doyouliveandworkmorethan50miles from a military hospital or clinic? Your family members may enroll in TRICARE PrimeRemote Youcanchecktoseeifyou’re in a remote location—use the TRICARE PlanFinder Yourfamilymembersgetmost of their care from a TRICARE-authorized providerwithTRICAREPrimeRemote
What about line of duty care?
Line of duty care is limited to ailments incurred or aggravated during a period of qualifiedduty30daysorless Thisincludes injuries sustained while traveling to and fromandstayingovernightatadutystation. YourunitisresponsibleforinitiatinganLOD determinationrequest.
LOD isn’t a government lifetime health plan. It’s a special eligibility status to treat a specific condition for up to one year The process for getting LOD care depends on where you’re located Check out Line of Duty Care for Service Members to learn
more (online at https://tricare.mil/Plans/ Eligibility/NGRMandFamilies/LODCare/ Service-Members).
How about when I deactivate?
Once your active duty period ends, your TRICARE coverage options depend on the typeofordersyouwereunder. Were your active duty orders more than 30 days in support of a contingency operation or under 12304b? If so, you’d be eligibleforTransitionalAssistanceManagement Program coverage for 180 days You and youreligiblefamilymembersarecoveredas activedutyfamilymembers.YourTRICARE health plan options depend on where you livewithTAMPcoverage TRICAREPrime Remote isn’t available during TAMP You must act and submit your new enrollment request within 90 days from your last date onactiveduty Ifyoufailtodoso,you’llonly be eligible for coverage at a military hospitalorclinic. After TAMP coverage ends or if you weren’t eligible for TAMP and your active dutyperiodends,youmayhaveoptions.You may buy TRICARE Reserve Select coverageifyouqualify Oryoumaybeeligiblefor Continued Health Care Benefit Program coverage You may also seek health care insurancethroughyourstate’sHealthInsuranceMarketplace YoumaintainTRICAREpharmacybenefitsduringTAMPorotherTRICAREhealth planoptions
Is there dental coverage after deactivation?
Active duty dental benefits continue duringTAMP YourTDPcoverageandpremiumsreturn to regular rates when TAMP or other TRICAREcoverageends Your family members’ TDP coverage continueswithoutinterruption. Do I get retirement coverage?
You may keep TRICARE coverage after retirement. This is if you complete 20 qualifyingyearsofservice Are you retiring from the National Guard or Reserve? Are you under age 60? You may buy TRICARE Retired Reserve if you qualify TRICARE Retired Reserve is a premium-based health plan. For more information,visitTRICARERetiredReserve (onlineathttps://tricare.mil/trr). Have you turned age 60 and are drawing retirementpay?YoumayenrollinTRICARE PrimeorTRICARESelect. Areyouunderage60anddrawingretirement pay due to active duty segments? You aren’t eligible to enroll in TRICARE Prime You may buy or continue coverage under TRICARERetiredReserve.
Wanttomakesureyourfamilykeepstheir health coverage during these transitions? ReviewallyourTRICAREoptions Youcan contact your regional contractor with any questions. You can also visit the TRICARE websitetolearnmore.
Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit TRICARE Subscriptions to get benefit updates, news, andmore.
