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NAVY NEWS Kitsap
VOLUME 1, NO. 19 | 5 AUGUST 2011
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PSNS cyclists concerned about commute By TOM JAMES
tjames@kitsapnavynews.com
The state Department of Transportation will begin road work later this month on State Route 3, between Gorst and Bremerton, narrowing the lanes, lowering the speed limit, and for the first time in the department’s history providing unique “shadow vehicles” to protect cyclists during peak hours. Despite the use of the shadow vehicles, cycling advocates were worried about the safety of the project, during which no shoulders would be available for cyclists, some of whom commute along SR-3 to Puget Sound Naval Ship
SEE COMMUTE | PAGE 7
THIS EDITION
Almost over
Kitsap resident Michael Martinez is considering re-enlisting into the armed services, even after being discharged under the now-repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. TOM JAMES/STAFF PHOTO
Service members await the end of ‘Don’t Ask’ By TOM JAMES
tjames@kitsapnavynews
Anyone who works for the government knows what it means to wait. For ships to come in, for chow time, for the creaking bureaucracy to dispense everything from paychecks to uniforms to shore leave. For some Kitsap sailors, however, one long wait will come to an end in about a month, with the Sept. 20 repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. The policy, fully named Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue, Don’t Harass, was
passed amid controversy in 1993 by former President Bill Clinton. Under it, gays, lesbians and bisexuals were supposed to be allowed to serve in the military, so long as they kept their sexuality secret. In reality, nearly 14,000 service members were discharged, often dishonorably, under the policy during its 18 years as law, and while it provided some protection compared to the military policy it replaced, many say it was mostly used as a political tool for settling scores and satisfying bigots. Chris Mallgren is the domestic partner of a Navy E-4, currently deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis. Domestic partnership is a legal status allowed in Washington affording the same state rights as marriage, but not the same federal rights, a category into which all military benefits fall. “It comes down to a matter of principle,”
said Mallgren. “This is no different than not allowing blacks to go to a white school, or women not being allowed into the workforce, or not being allowed to vote.” Equality, said Mallgren, is an absolute. A congressional bill to repeal DADT was passed in 2010. The bill stated that the policy would remain in place until 60 days after the president, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and the secretary of defense all certified that the repeal would not affect military readiness. Those officials signed off on the repeal July 22. What is ending Technically, DADT prohibited investigations from being initiated without clearly articulable evidence of disallowed behaviors. Before the policy, military and department of defense guidelines prohibited
SEE ALMOST | PAGE 7
Navy Surgeon General, deal with spice ................pg. 2 First fish, then a dog, Sarah Smiley ....................pg. 4 Male spouses find ahrd fit in Navy life .................pg. 6 Hesperia largely missed hysteria of WW II pg. 14
Junior enlisted instructor of the year BREMERTON (NNS)– Missile Technician (Submarines) 1st Class Jordan Taylor is the TRIDENT Training Facility, Bangor 2010 Junior Enlisted Instructor of the Year, Junior Enlisted Sailor of the Year, and was recently selected as the 2010 Submarine Learning Center Junior Instructor of the Year. “In terms of recognition, the Instructor of the Year program is extremely important,� Taylor mentioned. “There are a limited number of incentives to assure top performance in the military in terms of financial rewards or personal recognition and this program is an important positive reinforcement.� Taylor, as the Strategic
Weapons Systems Formal School leading petty officer, is directly responsible for the maintenance and delivery of Taylor 11 advanced training courses for the missile technician rating which provide an annual throughput of 700 expertly trained technicians. “On a professional level, this recognition means that I am being held up as an example to my peers,� explained Taylor. “I am comfortable accepting
the scrutiny of this recognition as a new challenge. I know that being a more visible role model will not always be easy as growth is never without demand. If I am going to progress in my career, increased visibility-scrutiny is an inevitable part of the process. I welcome the early opportunity to experience this challenge.� Taylor was recently advanced to first class petty officer as a result of his outstanding performance on the March 2011 advancement exam. A master training specialist and member of the command training team, Taylor actively engages newly reporting personnel and sets the bar of
expectations very high for them. His thirst for excellence has yet to be quenched. “I believe recognition as the instructor of the year means doubling the effort in the year after receiving the award,� he said. Many of those efforts will be dedicated to overcoming the many obstacles that Taylor faces. “My biggest challenge has been communication and the public speaking aspect of an instructor’s job still intimidates me on a daily basis and is something that requires constant effort and focus,� Taylor said. Taylor’s students are as varied as they can get, teaching both
men and women, from officers to enlisted and even civilians. “This wide variety of students requires an equally wide variety of communication skills,� he said. “Building an adequate repertoire of teaching techniques has been no easy task.� In spite of the many challenges, Taylor remains motivated and committed to his role as an instructor. “The biggest reward of my current assignment has been witnessing the ripple effect that teaching has on students and in the Fleet. No reward can amount to the level of satisfaction gained from knowing my effort made a tangible, real world difference.�
Navy Surgeon General, local commands must be engaged in spice prevention
WASHINGTON (NNS) – The Navy Surgeon General cautioned his commanding officers, medical providers and personnel on the negative health effects and legal consequences of using synthetic marijuana like Spice and other designer drugs in a message sent to all of Navy Medicine Aug. 2. The purpose of the message was to educate and inform Navy and Marine Corps personnel about these drugs and the very real dangers associated with their use. “It is paramount all Navy Medicine personnel are aware of the adverse health effects of these drugs,� said Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson, Jr., U.S. Navy surgeon general and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. “Serious side effects have been reported after its use including tremors, panic attacks, delirium, impaired coordination, seizures, paranoid hallucinations, and
psychotic symptoms that can last for days, even months in some cases.�
“Commanding officers must be fully engaged in synthetic drug abuse prevention and do everything in their power to increase awareness within their commands of the serious health consequences and legal ramifications of its use.� – Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson, Jr. Spice looks similar to marijuana or oregano and is
used for its psychoactive and hallucinogenic effects. The products contain organic leaves coated with unregulated chemical compounds. Spice and other designer drugs are falsely marketed by manufacturers as a safe way to get high while avoiding drug testing. The synthetic chemicals in Spice-type products have a more potent effect on the brain than traditional marijuana and the unregulated compounds are often mixed with unknown effects, according to Robinson. These products are not approved for human consumption and there is no oversight of the manufacturing process. Similar to other drugs on the street, experts warn that you never know what mixture of chemicals could be present in the drugs and users are experimenting with the combination of multiple products which can dramatically change or increase its effects on a case
Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson Jr., Surgeon General of the Navy and Marine Corps and Chief of the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. OFFICIAL U.S. NAVY FILE PHOTO
by case basis. Robinson warns that rapid tolerance in some users can lead to increased dosage and addiction and the use of synthetic marijuana has led to a surge in emergency room visits and calls to poison control centers, according to the DEA. This spring, Navy Medicine treated multiple patients at Naval Medical
Center San Diego, Calif., for Spice usage, some resulting in months of inpatient treatment for persistent psychotic symptoms. “Commanding officers must be fully engaged in synthetic drug abuse prevention and do everything in their power to increase awareness within their commands of the serious health
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consequences and legal ramifications of its use,� wrote Robinson. Spice and other designer drugs fall under the Navy and Marine Corps’ Zero Tolerance policy and Robinson further emphasizes that commanding officers do not need a positive urinalysis to begin administrative separation. Personnel found to be using, possessing, distributing or who observe an abuse and do not report the incident can be charged with violating the Navy’s policies as well. As the Navy Surgeon General and Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Robinson leads 63,000 Navy Medicine personnel that provide healthcare support to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, their families and veterans in high operational tempo environments, at expeditionary medical facilities, medical treatment facilities, hospitals, clinics, hospital ships and research units around the world.
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Ships arrive for Seafair 2011
SEATTLE (NNS) –USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and USS Sampson (DDG 102) arrived in the Port of Seattle Aug. 2, for Seattle Seafair. Seattle Seafair is an annual summer celebration that includes hydroplane races and air shows where the
Navy’s flight demonstration team, the Blue Angles, perform. The U.S. Navy, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian navy, participate in the event, during which selected ships sail into Seattle. Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Amanda Mensing, of
Woodstock, Ill. said she had never been to Seattle before and is looking forward to visiting the local attractions. “I need to see the Space Needle. I always like to pick one thing out [to visit], so that’s the thing I need to see, then experience the people here,” Mensing said.
There are various activities held throughout the week for visiting Sailors including a Navy Night at Safeco Field during the Mariners game, a barbecue hosted by the United Services Organization and various sporting events. Sailors said they are pleased to have the oppor-
tunity to visit Seattle and to get a chance to not only show the colors of the U.S. Navy, but to enjoy themselves while in port. “There are a lot of cities and countries around the world that don’t have a large Navy contingent there, so it’s good for the people of
the city to see what the Navy does and what all we have at our disposal,” said Chief (select) Fire Controlman Morgan Kirkpatrick. Ships are open to free public tours Aug. 3 - 7 at the downtown Seattle Waterfront on Piers 25, 46 and 66.
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Global Force for Good
Shipmates, Our Navy and Marine Corps Team have incredible ships, aircraft, and other weapons as tools to succeed in their mission. But, without the men and women who serve this nation in the greatest maritime force in the world you might as well take our fleet, moor it to a pier, hangar the aircraft, and defuel our tanks. The people who develop that incredible force are the thousands of Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) instructors at more than 230 training commands, detachments and associated units around the world. These talented instructors take the civilians who volunteer to serve our nation and instill in them the skills and abilities required to succeed. From the South China Sea, to the sands and mountains of Afghanistan, and from the ice of Antarctica to the rivers of Africa, South America and Asia, the demand for our maritime forces is high, and we are responding with more agility and flexibility than ever before. We are able to succeed because our Sailors receive the best training in the world. There is no ORCE ASTER doubt that the men and women of HIEF ETTY the Naval Education and Training Command enable the Navy to be a FFICER Global Force for Good. Those who volunteer to return OHN to the schoolhouse from the fleet, NYDER AVAL to become instructors, are taking a natural step in their individual proDUCATION gression as leaders. Instructors develop the next generation of Sailors and AND RAINING the impact of their commitment to OMMAND excellence is felt far into the future as graduates deploy around the world. While developing others, instructors are also gaining valuable skills for their own career. As a specialist in a specific area, instructors are immersed in the knowledge, skills and abilities of their career field. The benefits are largely reflected in the promotion rates for Sailors on instructor duty. In 2010, almost 300 first class petty officers within the NETC domain were selected to become chief petty officers. When instructors
F M C P O (SS) J J. S ,N E T C
SEE SNYDER | PAGE 8
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First Fish, Then a Dog Lindell desperately wants a dog, so last week we bought him a fish. He’s still too young to realize this doesn’t add up. And anyway, the excitement of a new pet--any kind of pet--is enough. At the pet store, however, we met several obstacles. “You have to cycle the tank first,” the fish expert told us. “The water has to build bacteria for a week before you can put a fish in it.” “But I promised my son a fish today?” “Then I guess this is a good time to teach him patience.” I must have looked like a lunatic mother. In fact, I hadn’t had a chance to comb my hair that morning, and I was wearing the same clothes from the day before. “I’ve been trying to teach him that for four years!” I said. The clean-cut, 20-something boy looked scared. He backed away from me and glanced over his left and right shoulder. “Might I suggest a betta fish,” he said. A betta-what? Apparently betta fish can come to the surface and breathe oxygen, so high levels of ammonia and nitrites do not put them at risk during the tank’s initial “startup cycle.” But betta fish are kind of sleepy and boring looking. They live in plastic containers the size of a tub of butter. They have nothing on the see-through glass catfish or the the miniature shark fish my kids were eyeing. So we bought a pink betta and decided it would be
Publisher......................................................................... Sean McDonald Editor ....................................................................................Greg Skinner Reporter............................................................................Thomas James Administrative Coordinator .................................... Stella Chamberlain Advertising ............................Rita Nicholson, Wayne Nelson, Chris Olson Production .................................................Bryon Kempf, Bruce Pritchard Circulation Manager ...........................................................Jim Johnson
mine. In other words, I took one for the team. In a week, once AVY the ph levels in the water have settled, the boys, and in particular ISE Lindell, could pick out something cool like a bumble bee fish. ARAH “Now you need a heater, filMILEY ter, substrate and perhaps some live plants,” the expert said. All to keep the water in balance, of course. I was beginning to think a dog might have been easier. Then I remembered the border Collie we used to own. She once dug up a small tree in our front yard and ran down the street with it clenched between her teeth. Sometimes, sleepy is good. “Maybe we could get two betta fish,” one of the boys suggested. That’s when the expert told us that multiple betta fish will attack and kill each other. Note: do not tell three boys that two incompatible fish will fight each other if your intent is to decrease their enthusiasm. The five of us spent the next two hours at home setting up our new aquarium. Here are a few things I learned: Position the tank first; fill it with water second. Ten gallons is alot of water to spill on the floor. A four-year-old can’t carry a pitcher full of water. Betta fish get lively when they are out of the tub-ofbutter container. Next, Lindell named the betta fish, which was really
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ADMINISTRATIVE: Kitsap Navy News is a publication of Sound Publishing, and is a member of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, the National Newspaper Association and Suburban Newspapers of America. Advertising rates are available at the Kitsap Navy News office. While the Navy News endeavors to accept only reliable advertisements, it shall not be responsible to the public for advertisements nor are the views expressed in those advertisements necessarily those of the Kitsap Navy News. The right to decline or discontinue any ad is reserved. DEADLINES: Display Ads–4 p.m. Monday; Classified Ads – 4:30 p.m. Monday; News Releases, Letters and Columns – Noon Tuesday
ERB deadline soon MILLINGTON, TENN. (NNS) – Navy officials reminded Sailors Aug. 2 the deadline to submit conversion applications prior to the first Enlisted Retention Board is quickly approaching. “We have received approximately 1,000 conversion applications so far,” said Master Chief Navy Counselor David Duncan, who is responsible for the review of ERB conversion applications at Navy Personnel Command. To increase options for ERB-eligible Sailors, conversion waivers were introduced in NAVADMIN 160/11. The Chief of Naval Personnel message clarifies the process for ERBeligible Sailors to apply for conversion before going before the board. Applications for conversion are due Aug. 15.
The board will look at only the most overmanned ratings and will examine the performance of approximately 16,000 Sailors, according to NAVADMIN 129/11. Approximately 3,000 Sailors will not be retained on active duty, but are encouraged to apply for Selected Reserve, if not accepted for conversion. Conversion applications will be held until the board has completed its deliberations. Only those Sailors not selected for retention in-rate by the ERB will be considered for conversion. Those Sailors subsequently selected for conversion will be retained in their new rating. “Sailors should understand a conversion package is a second opportunity to stay Navy,” said Duncan.
Sailors aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) attend an Armed Services Vocational Battery preparation course. The three-week course, taught by volunteer service members, is designed to improve ASVAB scores to maximize rating conversion options in the Perform-to-Serve program. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS
COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST SEAMAN TAMEKIA PERDUE
Sailors interested in conversion can submit an application for a maximum of three ratings. The following ratings will accept applications for conversions: CS (SUB), CTI, CTM, CTN, CTR, CTT, ET-NAV, ET-RADIO, FT, HM, ITS, LS (SUB), MM-WEPS, NC (COUNSELOR), YN (SUB)
A score of new Navy citizens swear allegiance
SEATTLE (NNS) – Twenty active duty and retired service members took the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony on board the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), Wednesday, Aug. 3. The ceremony was held during the parade of ships, an event kickingoff Fleet Week during the 62nd annual Seattle Seafair. Anne Corsano, Seattle district director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), administered the oath, highlighting the importance of U.S. citizenship during the naturalization and swearingin ceremony. “Each candidate has been examined by a USCIS officer and has been found to be of good moral character and attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States of America,” said Corsano. “Each of them have been found eligible in every respect for United States
citizenship.” Although you don’t have to be a citizen to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, the military can be a useful model for the new American citizens, said Cmdr. Marcus Fulton, commanding officer Naval Legal Service Office Northwest. “In the military you are accustomed to the concept that with privilege comes responsibility,” said Fulton. “You’re already off to a great start, with the privilege of liberty comes the responsibility of defending it.” Fulton said, the 20 new citizens now have all the privileges that come with being an U.S. citizen, but they also have the responsibility that comes with that privilege. “You have the right to vote and the responsibility to become an informed, thoughtful voter,” said Fulton. “You have the right to travel from and come back to the United States, and the responsibility to be good ambassadors of the United States overseas.” The new citizens originated from 15 different
countries including four from the Philippines, two from Micronesia and two also from Vietnam. Other countries represented were Chile, Kazakhstan, India, Israel, Jamaica, and American Samoa. “It was one of my goals, to be a citizen before the end of my career,” said retired Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) 1st Class (SW) Wilfredo Perez. “Twenty years, I’ve just finished. This tops it all off. I’m excited and a little relieved that I finally got it done. I’m just happy.” Perez continued, “My kids were born here, my wife was born here. I was the only one that wasn’t. It means a lot to them for me to be apart of the United States of American. At the same time my brothers and sisters all have their citizenship. I’m one of the last ones, and it means a lot to everybody.” According to USCIS, 68,974 service members have been granted their U.S. citizenship since September 2001
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Male spouses find tough fit in support system focused on Navy wives WASHINGTON, (AFPS) – Brian Campbell knew some challenges were in store for him after he left his Navy career to follow his military wife across the country. But what he didn’t count on were the additional challenges brought on not by his status as a military spouse, but by his gender. “I was the first [nonmilitary] male spouse in that command ever,” Campbell said in a podcast posted on Military OneSource. Seeking social connections, Campbell looked for a spouses’ club at their new installation, but instead, found a wives’ club. “I didn’t fit into that organization very well,” he said. “In a lot of instances, when you’re talking about a spouses’ organization, you’re going to be the only male in the room.” Campbell eventually found the social interaction he craved by reaching out to men within his wife’s command. These connec-
tions are vital, he said, and can “help build that social organization that can be lacking for you as a male spouse.” As a small segment of the overall military population, it can be difficult for service members’ civilian husbands to figure out where they fit in, but building strong support networks can help to ward off feelings of isolation, said Scott Stanley, a research professor from the University of Denver and a military family expert. According to the 2010 Military Family Life Project, just 5 percent of active duty service members’ civilian spouses are male. “While things have changed a lot in society and changed a lot in the military, it’s still more typical for people to think of the male as the warrior,” Stanley said in a Military OneSource podcast. “There’s a lot to work out and a lot to figure out, and
it’s clear that it’s difficult for some couples.” Stanley cited a study he’s part of that’s following Army couples over time to gauge how they’re doing. Evidence shows that civilian men married to a service member are twice or a little more than twice as likely to divorce, he said. “It’s really clear even in the divorce data that this is something that’s even trickier than what the average military couple is going through,” he noted. Part of the difficulty, Stanley explained, is people don’t understand the male role when it’s the female service member who is deployed. “A lot of these men are sort of swimming in a whole new part of the pool, if you will, without really knowing exactly
where to go or what to do or what sort of supports to seek.” Compounding this, some men may find their spouse role clashes with their sense of who they are as a male, or their perception of who they’re supposed to be. And in some cases, he said, men may be less inclined than women to seek support or to open up about their struggles. “They may feel extra uncomfortable, at least some men might, because of the nature of this: ‘Well, my wife is going off to war, and I’m here watching the kids,’” he said. Military families have access to a vast array of support programs, Stanley noted, however, many are focused on connecting with the service members’ wives. “You have all these support systems where it’s really easy for the wife of a service member to walk in the room, immediately see a lot of other people like her, and start connecting in an environment that’s been created to be female friendly,” he said. While service members’ husbands may feel out of place in these settings, they still can create a strong support network and social connections. Stanley suggested they develop friend-
ships with other couples who have the same dynamic. That way, he said, they’ll gain a friend with whom they can “blow off steam,” as well as someone who can relate to their complaints and concerns. Chaplains and counsel-
“You have all these support systems where it’s really easy for the wife of a service member to walk in the room, immediately see a lot of other people like her, and start connecting in an environment that’s been created to be female friendly.” – Scott Stanley
ors, he added, are other avenues of emotional support. People can connect with a counselor through the TRICARE military health care system or through their installation’s family support center. People who live away from
an installation can call Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647 to connect with a counselor. Campbell advised his fellow male spouses to look into installationsponsored trips or to find other men who share the same interests, such as bike riding or chess. The local community also can be a great source of support, he added. “If you can find an organization, a club, a church, a civic group, something in the local area that you can feel a part of, that’s what you need to do,” he said. “That’s what’s important: feeling like you belong in the community.” While male spouses may feel isolated at times, Stanley noted, they’re not alone. “They may or may not be talking about it with other guys, but there are a lot of men out there who are going through this and feeling it,” he said. “But you are really in this,” he added, “so you have to kind of figure out what’s going to work for you to cope with this in the best way you can at this time, because that’s going to be the best thing for your marriage, best thing for your family and the best thing for you down the line.”
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U.S. Navy SEALs train with Special Boat Team 12 on the proper techniques of how to board gas and oil platforms during the SEALs gas and oil platform training July 28, 2011. SEALs conduct these evolutions to hone their various maritime operations skills.. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS ADAM HENDERSON
COMMUTE| FROM PAGE 1
SR3 construction project to push cycle commuters into lanes Yard every day. Cliff Olin, a PSNS engineer who in planning meetings has represented some bicycle commuters at the facility, said that he had heard the state’s promise to use the shadow vehicles, but that he wondered if congestion would prohibit the shadow cars from actually being able to meet cyclists every 15 minutes. Olin also said he was worried the state, which had promised to adjust shadow car availability to meet demand, would pull them entirely midway through the project. Additionally, the shadow vehicle will be provided for cyclists traversing the section, including commuters to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard,
between 6 a.m and 9 a.m., and 3 p.m to 6 p.m. The vehicles – one for each direction – plan to meet cyclists at designated waiting areas at each end of the construction, then travel behind them in the right-hand lane through it, protecting them from vehicles attempting to overtake in the same lane. “In the bicycle community [at PSNS],� said Olin, “the majority of folks like to follow the rules. But we do have exceptions.� Jerry Moore, the WSDOT engineer in charge of the project, said that to his knowledge it would be the first time such shadow vehicles have been used in Washington State. The contract DOT had
ALMOST| FROM PAGE 1 homosexuality, but didn’t stipulate the type of evidence necessary to discharge someone for it, or when investigations could be launched. By prohibiting direct questioning of service members about their sexuality, and requiring either an unsolicited statement of homosexuality or clear evidence of a sexual act, DADT was intended to protect personnel who did not blatantly violate the policies. With its repeal, gay, lesbian and bisexual service members will be able to serve openly in all of the armed forces. Since gay marriage is not recognized by the federal government, however, even gay couples who have been legally married in a state like New York, or who have Washington domestic partnerships, will still not be able to access any of the benefits currently reserved for spouses. These benefits include on-base housing, the ability to enter and leave military bases without an escort, and survivors’ benefits on death. Mallgren said the repeal is a step in the right direction, but the fact that the government won’t recognize his marriage still makes him feel like a second-class citizen. “I have to go through the same things as every other military wife does. When
my husband leaves, I feel the same thing she feels when her husband leaves. When he leaves my house, my house is now empty. When her husband leaves, her house is now empty, there is no difference between us,� said Mallgren. In a war zone, Mallgren said, his husband would face the same risk as any other soldier, but would be denied
“I have to go through the same things as every other military wife does. When my husband leaves, I feel the same thing she feels when her husband leaves. When he leaves my house, my house is now empty. When her husband leaves, her house is now empty, there is no difference between us,� – Chris Mallgren the comfort of knowing his family would be taken care of just because he had mar-
awarded for the project specified that cyclists would not have to wait more than 15 minutes, and that he would enforce that. “If it takes longer than 15 minutes, the contractor’s going to have to add another vehicle there. The spec says every 15 minutes,� said Moore. “If we gotta use four, we’ll use four.� The only exception, Moore noted, would be if traffic were actually stopped, making it impossible to reduce the wait time. During the project, workers will be installing wire mesh fencing across the faces of two prominent cliffs beside the road just south of the 304 underpass and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard’s west gate to deflect falling rock debris into the ditch beside the road. On the affected section of the road, just over one-half mile long, the speed limit on the road will drop to 35 miles per hour, all lanes in both directions will be narrowed to 10 feet and moved
ried a man. The experience of living under DADT isn’t the same for all active-duty service members, either. Some refused to speak on the record at all, citing concerns that even now, after the repeal has been signed, the government could still go back on its word. Alex, an active duty Navy airman who asked that his last name not be used, and who only began to self identify as gay during his time in the Navy, said that even though he didn’t want a career in the military, being discovered was always a fear in the back of his mind. After realizing he was gay, Alex said, “I had to keep to a certain ideal of what the military is. I couldn’t just be myself.� Air Force vet For Air Force veteran and Kitsap resident Michael Martinez, that worry one day became something more real. Martinez was in many ways the ideal Air Force candidate. After taking part in ROTC for his last three years of high school, during which time he made drill team commander and unit commander, Martinez enlisted in the Air Force as soon as he graduated. Martinez said he knew he was gay when he enlisted, but that he had wanted to join the military since before he realized he was gay.
Two cyclists ride south on SR-3 between Bremerton and Gorst, just south of the sections slated to undergo two months of roadside construction beginning mid-August. TOM JAMES/STAFF eastward. Gabe Taylor, of the WSDOT’s geotechnical division, said that his office ranks and prioritizes all slopes near roads in the state. Included in the factors, said Taylor, are the stability of the slope, rockfall history in the area, and the level of traffic on the affected road. Most slopes, Taylor said, rank between 30 and 500. The SR-3 section ranked
between 435 and 455, at the high end of the spectrum, making it a very high priority, especially given the roughly 70,000 vehicles traveling through the area every day. As to the shadow car’s availability, Moore said he would be responsible for any adjustment. Moore said that a variety of factors would be taken into account, but that if only one cyclist were using the
“I knew I’d have to keep the big secret,� said Martinez, “but I thought it’d be worth it to gain a career.� After boot camp, Martinez went to technical training, where he learned how to repair and service the equipment used to test and maintain Air Force jets. Partway through, though, he let it slip to one friend that he was gay. Later, one
of his roommates, who had previously been friendly, started to distance himself from Martinez. Shortly after, Martinez learned he was under investigation. “If you’re gay and you’re in the military,� said Martinez, “you have to be quiet about it. I told one person.� Martinez is now studying aerospace engineering at Olympic College. Even after
car during a given hour, day after day, he would consider discontinuing it during that hour. Lee Derror, president of the Silverdale-based West Sound Cycling Club, said that her two largest concerns were the state pulling the shadow vehicle and frustrated cyclists taking unnecessary risks, such as leaving the pilot car behind in slow traffic and riding between lanes. Some, she said, might even try to negotiate the section without waiting for the pilot car, especially if it were delayed by heavy traffic. “We’ll protect the ones who will use the vehicle to their advantage.� said Moore. “As long as they travel as a pack, the system works.� As to cyclists hoping to travel outside of the commuter hours, Moore said, “They’re on their own. By law they have the right to travel in the lane, and they’re going to have to travel in the lane.�
his experiences, in which he faced a board, including former classmates who testified against him, Martinez said he is still seriously considering re-enlisting. “I want to finish what I started,� said Martinez, who isn’t worried about the military’s refusal to recognize same-sex partners. “It’ll probably change by the time I’m ready to settle down.�
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Navy looks at “waste to energy” WASHINGTON (NNS) – The first Navy Waste to Energy Forum met at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., July 29. Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment Jackalyne Pfannenstiel sponsored the forum with help from Naval Facilities Engineering Command . It was the initial step in the development of projects that will use solid waste to generate renewable energy for Department of the Navy installations. The forum’s purpose was to facilitate an exchange of information to aid future proposals for WTE energy plants on and off DoN
sites. Additionally, DoN renewable goals and WTE opportunities were discussed and industry recommendations were made on how to approach the delivery of renewable energy from waste. “I hope discussions today tell us where waste to energy makes sense as we explore the fit between your technologies and our installations,” Pfannenstiel told the audience in her keynote address. More than 160 government and industry representatives attended the event and 33 companies participated in the “pitch a principle” sessions with NAVFAC staff put together by forum organizer Jim Heller, Naval Facilities Engineering Service
Center (NAVFAC ESC) utilities and energy management division director. “There was very good attendance from a broad cross section of industry,” said Kevin Whitt, NAVFAC Atlantic utilities and energy management product line manager. “’Pitch a principle’ provided an opportunity for industry to present their technologies, many of which are proven and provide attractive opportunities to the Department of the Navy.” Speakers included moderator Mary Lingua, NAVFAC ESC public works business line manager; Dr. Eugene Tseng, University of California Los Angeles; Tom Barstow, NAVFAC Atlantic public works business line manager; Leslie McLaughlin, NAVFAC Southwest sustainable solid waste program manager; Bob Griffin, NAVFAC assistant commander for acquisition; Veneece McNeley, NAVFAC small business director; and Capt. Jake Washington, NAVFAC assistant commander for public works. “Today’s forum dem-
onstrates our commitment to engage with industry, and to embrace technology as we seek to address the energy and sustainability imperatives we see before us - and to do so in an affordable and responsible way,” Washington remarked. “The presentations and the dialogue were very informative and the pitch a principle sessions provided valuable insights that will help Navy identify the right conversion technologies and project opportunities to help meet the Secretary of the Navy’s energy goals.” This initiative is one of many throughout the Navy and Marine Corps which will enable the Department of the Navy to achieve Secretary Ray Mabus’ energy goals to improve our energy security and efficiency afloat and ashore, increase our energy independence, and help lead the nation toward a clean energy economy.
Sailors furl the mizzen topsail for sail training aboard USS Constitution Aug. 1, 2011. The crew of the Constitution is training to improve seamanship skills in preparation for possibly sailing for the bicentennial of the War of 1812. U.S. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST SEAMAN SHANNON HEAVIN
SNYDER | FROM PAGE 4 earn their Master Training Specialist (MTS) qualification, they are preparing themselves for the rigors of a military classroom and earning potential college credit. The Navy’s MTS program has been evaluated by the American Council on Education for recommended academic credit at the associate and baccalaureate levels in Instructional Methodology, and Educational Leadership. Each year NETC selects the, “Best of the best,” as our
Instructors of the Year are honored at a major event held at the Navy Memorial. Lt. David Tebbe, from the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center (NMITC), Dam Neck, Va., was selected as the 2010 Officer Instructor of the Year, and summed up his job this way: “It is truly a privilege to walk into the classroom every day and teach the future of naval intelligence. I have the opportunity to influence the lives and careers of these young men
and women who will go on to defend our great nation. It is a sacred duty.” Instructor duty is important to supporting the fleet, and potentially career-enhancing for an individual; therefore a very rigid screening process is in place for Sailors interested in becoming instructors. Start with a review of your service record with your command career counselor and discussions with your detailer. Among other criteria, prospective candidates must meet evaluation standards
and physical fitness requirements, and be willing to obligate service for 36 months. Finally, candidates must have their commanding officer’s recommendation. The U.S. Navy has many challenging and inspiring jobs that are crucial to the continued support and defense of our nation. Each and every one of those roles begins with the quality training Sailors receive. Are you up to the challenge?
SMILEY | FROM PAGE 4 my fish, but which I loaned to Lindell until he can get a different fish. He named her Puffy Fluffy. One by one, the boys carefully placed the ornaments they had selected for the aquarium into the substrate (fancy name for rocks). Ford’s was a piece of driftwood with a live plant growing on it. Owen’s was a tiki head that for some reason caused the children to erupt into a song: hoo, haa, hee, tiki, tiki. And the last ornament was Lindell’s: a bright yellow pineapple house and a tiny SpongeBob Squarepants figurine (it was like watching a touchdown in the Super Bowl when Puffy Fluffy finally, days later, swam through the holes of the pineapple house).
Everyone dreamed about what kind of fish they would get in a week. Ford wanted a glass catfish. Owen liked the lion fish, but, unfortunately, it is only suitable for salt water. And Lindell wanted the mysterious “skeleton fish” that no one else had actually seen at the pet store. I saw more tears in my future. “I guess I’ll get a bottom feeder,” Dustin said. “Because someone has to.” Dustin, taking the next one for the team. I wonder if he will let Lindell name his fish, too. And I wonder if Lindell will name it something like “Dave.” If he names it “Skinny Minny,” I might be offended. That first night, all three boys fell
asleep watching the fish tank. After we carried them to their beds, Dustin and I watched it, too. I remembered the fullness of having a family pet. Even if it is a fish. And then I remembered the heartache of watching our past pets leave us. I wondered, why do we set ourselves up like this? Why do we bring animals into our lives when we know someday we will have to say goodbye, or, um, flush them down the toilet? And, well, I decided that we do it because a boy needs a dog--to take to camp, to chase in the backyard, to sleep at the foot of his bed. And according to Dad, the boy has to start with a fish. We are off to a good start.
Navy sponsors summer X games LOS ANGELES (NNS) – The U.S. Navy sponsored the 17th annual summer X Games in Los Angeles last week. Thousands showed up to witness some of the world’s most extreme athletes as they pushed the limits of their own bodies against gravity, their equipment, and the laws of physics. The games feature some of the world’s best skateboarders, rally car drivers, BMX and motocross riders. According to Naval Aircrewman 1st Class David Matiola, a rescue swimmer instructor, assigned to Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 3, the Navy sponsorship had a strong presence at the games with more than two different recruiting booths, and demonstration booths set up for people to visit. The Navy’s goal is to introduce a younger generation to the many opportunities that a military career has to offer, he said.
James Woods, a retired Navy SEAL assigned to the U.S. Navy parachute demonstration team, the Leap Frogs, performs at Knott’s Berry Farm theme park to cap off Los Angeles Navy Week 2011, one of 21 Navy Weeks this year across the country. Navy Weeks are designed to showcase the investment Americans have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY CHIEF MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST STEVE JOHNSON
Trident Warrior 2011
USS WASP, AT SSEA (NNS) – Trident Warrior 2011 ended with all 70 of the planned experiments which involved testing new technologies, tactics and procedures August, 1 aboard USS WASP (LHD 1). Trident Warrior’s goal is to assist the war fighter in combating the ever present threats of terrorism on the high-seas and in the cyber arena. While operating off the coast of Virginia, July 25 to August 1, Sailors from Wasp and engineers from United States Fleet Forces Command and Naval Postgraduate School, Monterrey, Calif. conducted research and experiments ranging from testing artificially controlled unmanned surface vessels to sensory inter-operability between joint military aircraft. “This was the best Trident Warrior we’ve ever had,� said Mr. Brad Poeltler, deputy director of Trident WarriorFleet Experimentation. “The data that was collected was phenomenal and I believe it’s going to take us in a direction far exceeding our expectations.� During their time aboard Wasp, the ship’s crew worked
with TW11 engineers to conduct explorations into the feasibility of using a computerized ‘brain’ to enhance vessels that could be used to protect ships within foreign harbors and ports. “We are implementing the same ‘brain’ that the Mars Exploration Rover is using to do this,� said Poeltler. “The ‘brain’ will control all functionality of the vessel while simultaneously providing it with concise computations on how to assess and engage a possible threat to the ship it is protecting. We’ve also prepared this mechanism on a variety of small boats to see whether it will be practical to employ lethal or non-lethal applications later this year.� As to the “brain’s� ability to function only as a singular module, the system will allow itself to be used on multiple platforms in a form of sequencing called “Sliding Autonomy.� “This technology will provide better efficiency when safeguarding assets,� said Poeltler. “Four boats equipped with the ‘brain’ will be able to communicate with one another that there is a target in the vicinity. The first boat will challenge
[the target], if it doesn’t think it has a high chance of defeating the threat, it will communicate with the next vessel in line to move in and do its job and so forth.� Executing this exercise wasn’t just about applying weapon systems to ships traveling on the oceans; it also gave an opportunity for all services to build upon existing systems. “We’ve looked at the possibilities digitally connecting aircraft with their own unique brand of data collection abilities and called the method ‘Netted Sensors,� said Poeltler. “We’ve used the E-2C Hawkeye, an airborne command and control center with a very unique long range surveillance radar, and coupled it with the existing real-time visual optics of the Predator, an unmanned aerial vehicle.� By enveloping these two systems together, it will not only bring about effective command and control for the troops on the ground, but will provide the commanders a better picture of what’s going on in the battle space, therefore eliminating the need to wait on information that is hindered by each system’s own technical
“Our ultimate idea is to provide people the opportunity to know that we are just as hardcore as the athletes that participate in the events,� said Matiola. “We are out constantly putting our lives on the line.�
Matiola, along with several other Sailors spent four days of the event working booths and interacting with civilians who were curious about the lifestyle of the military. Professional motorsport athlete Brian Deegan said there is nothing more admirable than the service members that serve in today’s military. “In life what’s the most hardcore thing,� asked Deegan. “I have always thought that it was the action sports. To me however, it’s being in the military, putting your life on the line for something that you believe in,� he continued.� Going over and serving and laying it down for your country. That’s hardcore.� With the amount of people who attended the four-day event, it was a prime time for the Navy to show its face, support the community, and offer
a chance for anyone interested to join up and serve in the military. “I think it’s perfect,� said professional rally car driver Tanner Foust. “There is a time in our young lives that we have all shared. Going into the Navy and service is such an interesting option to have, which can open the doors to so many things you never thought were possible. It’s a great connection, the Navy and the X Games.� The weekend came to a finish with both the athletes and recruiters accomplishing their goals. The Navy contacted hundreds of potential future Sailors, while the athletes did their best in the events set forth. “Being here at the X Games really puts the Navy out there,� added Matiola. “It lets everyone know what we are about, and what we do for this country.�
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Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Theo Hill directs the transfer of ordnance aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is on its way to the western Pacific Ocean and the Arabian Gulf for a scheduled deployment. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS BENJAMIN CROSSLEY
Sailors provide line tension during a replenishment at sea aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) July 30, 2011. The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is on its way to the western Pacific Ocean and the Arabian Gulf for a scheduled seven-month deployment. Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Hector Espinosa, from Newark, Del., fires a .50-caliber machine gun at a target during a training exercise aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) July 31, 2011. The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is on its way to the western Pacific Ocean and the Arabian Gulf for a scheduled sevenmonth deployment. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION
U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS BENJAMIN CROSSLEY
SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS BENJAMIN CROSSLEY
Members of the rifle guard aboard the Nimitzclass aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) bow their heads in prayer during a burial at sea Aug. 1, 2011. The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled western Pacific Ocean and Arabian Gulf deployment. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS CHASE CORBIN
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Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Andrew Del, from Mission, Texas, removes the main landing gear tire and wheel assembly of an F/A-18C Hornet in hangar bay two aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Aug. 2,2011. The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled western Pacific Ocean and Arabian Gulf deployment. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION
Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Tia Squires, from Missoula, Mont., signals the approval to launch an E-2C Hawkeye aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) July 29. The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is on its way to the western Pacific Ocean and the Arabian Gulf for a scheduled deployment. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS
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Seaman Chase Fritzie, from Cathlanet, Wash., prepares to lower a rigid-hull inflatable boat aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Aug. 2, 2011. The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled western Pacific Ocean and Arabian Gulf deployment.. U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS WALTER M. WAYMAN
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Nevada Gov visits state’s namesake BANGOR, WASH. (NNS) – Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and members of the Reno Navy League recently visited Naval Base Kitsap Bangor to visit their state’s namesake submarine, the ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada (SSBN 733). Cmdr. Alan Schrader, Nevada Blue Crew commanding officer, accompanied Sandoval and Navy League members throughout their visit with the Blue and Gold crews of Nevada, helping to forge new bonds between the submarine and the citizens of the state it represents. “The Sailors of the USS Nevada were honored to host Governor Sandoval for a tour of his state’s submarine,” said Schrader.
“Our strong relationship with the state of Nevada through the Reno Navy League and Governor Sandoval motivates our Sailors to do great things every day. We are blessed to have this relationship with our namesake state.” The Gold Crew’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Peter Hudson, hosted Sandoval and Navy League members aboard Nevada. “The crew of Nevada (Gold) was truly honored that the governor of Nevada was visiting the ship for the first time since commissioning in 1986,” Hudson said. “Seeing his interest in the ship and enthusiastic support of her crew was a real boost to morale as we prepare for our first strategic patrol post-engineered refueling
overhaul.” Sandoval said he had been anticipating his visit to Washington to meet with the Nevada for many months, and his excitement was evident in his smile as he met with Nevada’s officers and crew. “I heard that no Nevada governor had ever visited, and it was important to me to show respect for the boat and her crew and pay respects from the people of Nevada,” Sandoval said. “We are very proud of our namesake’s storied past.” As part of his visit to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Sandoval was given an opportunity that few people even inside the Navy have ever experienced – the chance to walk the decks of a ballistic missile submarine and experience
by August 17 (myFFR #4411231B). 360-315-2137
AUGUST 5
MULTI-DAY INTRO TO SEA KAYAKING, includes all equipment, qualified instructor and transportation to the open-water portion of the class. 360-535-5919. SOLVING THE MYSTERY OF CREDIT REPORTS, 10 a.m. to noon, Bldg. 2901, Bangor.
AUGUST 6
DIABLO LAKE BOAT TOUR Register online by July 29 (myFFR #5411218B). 360-476-3178/315-2137
AUGUST 8
SUMMER SLAM TENNIS Registration deadline for Captain’s Cup event. Tourney starts week of August 15. Singles, doubles and mixed divisions.360-315-2132/2141. WELCOME ABOARD, 1 p.m.to 3 p.m. Bldg. 2901, Bangor.
AUGUST 10
MISERY POINT TO STAVIS BAY EVENING PADDLE KAYAK, cards NOT required. Register by August 8 (myFFR #4411222B). 360-315-2137 THE KITSAP CHAPTER OF THE MILITARY OFFICER’S ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA will hold its Annual Picnic 11 a.m to 2 p.m., on Wednesday, August 10, at the Elks Lodge, 4131 Pine Road NE, Bremerton.All members and family are invited to attend for an
afternoon of fun. Please bring $14 per person to cover the cost of the meal. INDIVIDUAL AUGMENTEE/ DEPLOYMENT WORKSHOP, 1 p.m to 2 p.m., Postdeployment Discussion Group, Bangor; 2-3 pm, Pre-deployment for Active Duty and Reserves, as well as the Family Workshop, Jackson Park Community Support Facility
AUGUST 13
VICTORIA DAY TOUR, register online by Aug. 11 (myFFR #5411225B). 360-315-2137/476-3178
PADDLE PEDAL PACK Includes kayak, bicycle, helmet, guides and transportation. Register by Aug. 11 (myFFR #4411225B). 360-535-5919
AUGUST 15
MULTI-DAY LEARN TO BOWL Bangor Olympic Lanes, FREE bowling clinic for ages 5 and over. 360-535-5917. SAC SUMMER CAMP, Dramarama, multi-day, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Litehouse/Jackson Park Youth & Teen Center.
AUGUST 16
AUGUST 22
what life is like for a submariner. “I was impressed by the dedication of the crew and how proud they were of their watch stations, their willingness to serve, their integrity, and positive attitude, as well as their courtesy to me,” Sandoval said. “The memories of my visit to USS Nevada will stay with me as long as I live.” The visit by Sandoval and the Reno Navy League also included a tour of the state-of-the-art Trident Training Facility (TTF), which houses numerous trainers and simulators that allow Nevada’s crews to keep their skills honed and ready. “The tour of TTF was a distinct highlight,” said Craig Williams, the Reno Navy League’s liaison to the
Nevada. “The technological aspects, reliability and destructive capability of the [Trident D5 missile] are at the very least remarkable. The facility was most impressive to those who had never thought about how the time in port is used. Skills atrophy if not used, and these Sailors must be ready at all times.” The Reno Navy League has cheered on and supported Nevada and her crew during her recent accomplishments – the sub’s return to service after leaving the shipyard on time and under budget; the March 2011 test launch of a Trident II D5 missile which officially signaled Nevada’s return to service; and the boat’s July 3 return following Nevada’s first strategic deterrent patrol in
Mega rocker in the driver’s seat
SAC SUMMER CAMP, Creatures of the Planet, multi-day, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Litehouse/Jackson Park Youth & Teen Center
AUGUST 24
WASHINGTON NARROWS EVENING PADDLE, Kayak cards NOT required. Register by August 22 (myFFR #4411236B). 360-315-2137
AUGUST 27
BACK TO SCHOOL FIREBALL BOWLING Bangor Olympic Lanes, 6:30 pm. Cool door prizes and school items. 360-535-5917 MYSTERY BAY DAY KAYAK TRIP, Kayak cards NOT required. Register by August 25 (myFFR #4411239B). 360-476-3178/315-2137 MT. RAINIER TOUR, register online by August 25 (myFFR #5411239B) 360-476-3178
Chief Electrician’s Mate Dan Britt, from Elizabethtown, N.C. explains the ship’s control panel to Dave Mustaine, lead singer of the band Megadeth, in the control room aboard the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Helena (SSN 725) Aug. 1, 2011. Members from the band made a brief stop to visit the submarine at Naval Station Norfolk before their concert in Virginia Beach, Va., Aug. 2. U.S. NAVY
PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS TODD A. SCHAFFER
OPENING SOON!
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, 9 a.m. to noon, Bldg. 2901, Bangor.
AUGUST 19
SAN JUANS KAYAKING AND WHALE WATCHING KAYAK, cards ARE required. Register
three years. “The Council has had a long and close relationship with the crews of the USS Nevada since her commissioning in 1986 and has had many activities with them both in Reno and in Bangor,” said Kai Wallis, president of the Reno Navy League. “Everyone came away from this tour with a deep appreciation for the crews and their families, particularly for the sacrifices they make on a daily basis.” Nevada is one of eight Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines homeported at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, providing the survivable leg of the nation’s strategic deterrent forces.
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Hesperia largely missed hysteria of World War II Cargo ship sailed less than two years before the mast. Kitsap Navy News
The stores cargo ship USS Hesperia (AKS-13) was originally named the Sam Dale when it was built under a Maritime Commission contract by Delta Shipbuilding of New Orleans. Completed Nov. 18, 1944, the ship was acquired by the Navy and went to Norfolk, Va., where it was converted to Navy specifications and commissioned April 1, 1945. The Acubens-class ship displaced 12,672 tons and was 442 feet in length. With a draft of 27 feet, 7 inches, Hesperia could attain a top speed of 12 knots and had a crew of 195 sailors on board. To defend itself the ship had one, 5-inch and one, 3-inch gunmount. Following a period of training and shakedown cruises, the ship took on a full load of general cargo for the fleet and departed Norfolk May 16,
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1945 for Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal, arriving June 13, 1945. The ship then proceeded into the Western Pacific for the important job of supplying operating units with thousands of items from clothing to spare parts that were needed in the final months of the war in the Pacific. Arriving at Ulithi July 6, Hesperia outfitted the ships in port and then sailed for Okinawa, arriving just months after the fiercest battles of the war in the Pacific had raged. Dropping anchor in Buckner Bay July 21, Hesperia began issuing supplies of all types to both ships and shore installations. With the exception of occasional air attacks where the ship would have to steam further out to sea, the ship continued operating as a mobile supply base off Okinawa until hostilities ended in
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USS Hesperia (AKS-13), off the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, 26 April 1945. COURTESY OF CHARLES
N. DRAGONETTE. OFFICIAL U.S. NAVY PHOTOGRAPH, FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER.
mid-August. Having spent all of its issuable supplies, the ship departed Okinawan waters and steamed to Manus in the Admiralty Islands arriving Sept. 7 where it took on a full load of supplies and sailed again Sept. 22. En route to Korea, the ship encountered the typhoon that earlier had brutally ravaged Okinawa. After altering its course to miss the typhoon, the vessel continued on to Jinsen, Korea, arriving Oct. 17. During the next month, USS Hesperia serviced nearly 100 ships and small craft engaged in the Korean and Chinese occupations.
Operating from Jinsen and later Taku, China, this allowed ships to remain on station. After its support duty was completed, Hesparia returned to Guam for a fresh restock, arriving Nov. 29, 1945. With the loading of cargo completed, the ship sailed Dec. 20 for Yokosuka, Japan. After arriving,
the ship issued stores to more than 500 ships and small craft and the shore activities connected with the occupation of Japan. The ship sailed March 2, 1946 for San Francisco arriving 28 days later. After a brief rest and repair period the ship made two more voyages into the Pacific to resupply the fleet during a
three-month period: one to Pearl Harbor and back, and another to Pearl Harbor and Kwajalein. Returning to San Francisco Dec. 23, 1946, the ship was decommissioned Feb. 27, 1947, and delivered to the Maritime Commission who placed it in the National Defense Reserve Fleet until it was sold for scrap.
MOVIE TIMES NAVAL BASE KITSAP CINEMA PLUS THEATER BANGOR Movies are open to all active duty, retirees, reservist, DOD civilians, base contractors, families and guests. Movie schedules are subject to change depending on availability. Call the 24-hour movie line for recorded information (360) 535-5923 or see the line up at navylifepnw.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 5 Double Feature Night 6:00 pm - Bad Teacher (R) 7:45 pm - The Hangover Part II (R) SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 FREE Matinee 1:00 pm - Rio (G) Double Feature Night 6:00 pm - Monte Carlo (PG) 8:05 pm - Mr. Popper’s Penguins (PG) SUNDAY, AUGUST 7 5:00 pm - Transformers: Dark of the Moon (PG-13)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10 FREE Movie 6:00 pm - Water for Elephants (PG-13) THURSDAY, AUGUST 11 6:00 pm - Cars 2 (G) FRIDAY, AUGUST 12 Double Feature Night 6:00 pm - Horrible Bosses (R) 7:50 pm - Bad Teacher (R) SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 FREE Matinee 1:00 pm - Mars Needs Moms (PG) Double Feature Night 6:00 pm - Zookeeper (PG) 8:00 pm - Mr. Popper’s Penguins (PG) SUNDAY, AUGUST 14 Double Feature Night 5:00 pm - Larry Crowne (PG-13) 6:55 pm - Green Lantern (PG-13) WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 FREE Movie Night 6:00 pm - The Lincoln Lawyer (R) THURSDAY, AUGUST 18 6:00 pm - Transformers:
Green Lantern. PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES. ™ & © DC COMICS. Dark of the Moon (PG-13)
BREMERTON RECREATION CENTER MOVIE LOUNGE Located in the Bremerton Recreation Center, Building 502. Free family friendly movies are shown Friday and Saturday nights at 6 p.m. Wednesdays are Premier
Movie Nights; $5 gets you in the door for the show and covers Pizza and bowling. Call 467-3178 for more information. FRIDAY, AUGUST 5 6:00 pm - Hop (PG) SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 6:00 pm - Hop (PG) THURSDAY, AUGUST 11 Premier Movie Night Movie, Pizza & Bowling! 6:00 pm - The Lincoln Lawyer (R)
Open to ages 18 and up only. FRIDAY, AUGUST 12 6:00 pm - Soul Surfer (PG) SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 6:00 pm - Soul Surfer (PG) THURSDAY, AUGUST 18 Premier Movie Night Movie, Pizza & Bowling! 6:00 pm - Your Highness (R) Open to ages 18 and up only. FRIDAY, AUGUST 19 6:00 pm - Rio (G) SATURDAY, AUGUST 20
6:00 pm - Rio (G) THURSDAY, AUGUST 25 Premier Movie Night Movie, Pizza & Bowling! 6:00 pm - Madea’s Big Happy Family (PG-13) Open to ages 18 and up only. FRIDAY, AUGUST 26 6:00 pm - Hoodwinked Too! Hood VS. Evil (PG) SATURDAY, AUGUST 27 6:00 pm - Hoodwinked Too! Hood VS. Evil (PG)
Joint Forces Command cases its colors More than a decade of joint command serves the nation’s military mission well WASHINGTON (AFPS) – The need for a joint force hasn’t gone away, but the need for a specific command dedicated to “jointness” has, and the U.S. Joint Forces Command furled its colors today. The command, established in 1999 to champion getting all branches of the military to work together more closely, cased its colors at a ceremony in Suffolk, Va. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, awarded Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the organization’s last commander, with the Defense Distinguished Service Medal for his service in shutting down the command. Odierno will succeed Gen. Martin E. Dempsey -- who will become Joint Chiefs
chairman upon Mullen’s retirement as chief of staff. Mullen acknowledged that many in the crowd may have had bittersweet feelings at today’s event. “You can take genuine pride in [Joint Forces Command’s] essential role in transforming and guiding the separate branches of our military into a truly joint force,” he said. The U.S. military has made tremendous strides since the early 1980s, when operations in Grenada and Lebanon pointed to gaps among the services, Mullen noted. “Through the course of two wars, we have built an incredibly joint force in ways that many of us could not have imagined,” he said. “In fact, your efforts have permeated every level of our military, and just two days ago in Baghdad, I fielded not one, but two questions from troops who are focused on earning joint qualifications and on the lessons we have learned from fighting and operating jointly.” Operating jointly now is embedded in military thinking, and the practical experience that soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines gain from joint service in the wars returns to their services
with different perspectives, the chairman said. “In Afghanistan, for example, the highways, byways and flyways are patrolled, protected and nurtured by a joint and coalition team, including explosive ordnance removal crews along the Ring Road, provincial reconstruction teams from Helmand to Kunduz to Khost, and persistent joint close air support that is available anywhere at any time throughout the country,” the admiral said. “These efforts and our evolution as a joint force remind
me of Henry Ford’s words that ‘Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.’ If that is so, then everyone here has indeed succeeded as we post [Joint Forces Command’s] colors one last time.” Joint Forces Command put in place procedures and techniques that help at the highest levels of strategy as well, the chairman said. This year, he noted, procedures the command put in place and tested allowed the United States and allies to save countless lives in Libya
by quickly putting together the operation to stop Moammar Gadhafi’s forces from driving on Benghazi. The lessons learned also allowed the United States to turn over operations to NATO seamlessly, he added. “While I believe our experiences in Libya and elsewhere validate our past investments, I believe they also speak to the nature of future joint operations, for they will not be joint for the sake of jointness. They will be joint and combined because the international, economic and threat envi-
ronments demand we work together in order to be successful,” Mullen said. The push toward closer cooperation will continue, moved in part because of tightening defense budgets, Mullen said. “No one can do it alone,” he added, “and quite frankly, no one can afford to do it alone, either.” Mullen cited Air Force and Navy cooperation on the air-sea battle concept, setting aside parochial interests to overcome emerging 21st century threats.
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