Special Pay defined for Haiti operations
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy has clarified eligibility for Imminent Danger Pay (IDP) and Hardship Duty Pay-Location (HDP-L) for Sailors serving in support of Operation Unified Response providing humanitarian operations for Haitians following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Port au Prince on Jan. 12.
"Navy staffs have been collaborating on providing this guidance to ensure we are getting it right for our Sailors who are performing this vital lifesaving mission," said Jeri Busch, head of the military pay and compensation policy branch for the Chief of Naval Personnel. "The goal is to ensure that all commanding officers are using the same legal interpretation to determine the eligibility of their crews."
The land area of Haiti has been designated for payment of IDP at $225 per month, and will not be prorated for a partial month. The land area includes internal waters and waters landward of the baseline, in accordance with international law. The guidance memorandum provided by Busch's office further clarifies that for purposes of IDP entitlements involving operations in Haiti, the term 'internal waters' is defined as any waters landward of the low-water line. Waters landward of the outermost harbor works are also considered internal waters.
Only those Sailors on temporary duty to the land area of Haiti for 30 or more consecutive days will be eligible for HDP-L. Those who work intermittently on land would not be eligible. For example, flight crews or corpsmen who are frequently on land, but routinely return to the ship are not eligible. Those who are eligible will receive $100 per month.

PCU Mississippi progresses toward completion
2/2/2010
by Lt. Patrick Evans
GROTON, Conn. (NNS) -- Progress is ongoing for Pre-Commissioning Unit Mississippi (SSN 782), the latest Virginia-class attack submarine, in Groton, Conn.
The first 40 crew members took up office space in General Dynamics Electric Boat's shipyard Jan. 4, and they are establishing their normal daily routines.
When fully manned, Mississippi will have a crew of 134, 14 officers and 120 enlisted.
In December 2009, the crew was in training in Pittsburgh.
"Forming a new crew and establishing a ship's identity is an amazing process," said Cmdr. John McGrath, Mississippi's commanding officer. "While the crew was in Pittsburgh, we ran into a Navy retiree who had served as the command master chief of the USS Mississippi (CGN-40) when she was decommissioned. He gave us some great momentos and made us all honorary CGN-40 crew members."
According to McGrath, the submarine is more than 50 percent complete and is on schedule. Currently, there is a small section of the boat at General Dynamics Electric Boat's shipyard. In the coming months, additional sections will be floating up the Thames River to be joined together at the shipyard. Delivery and commissioning of Mississippi are set for early 2012.
The ship's sponsor will be Allison Stiller, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) Ship Programs.
In March 2010, McGrath plans to visit the state of Mississippi to meet with community members of the boat's namesake as momentum builds toward forming a commissioning committee.
The contract to build Mississippi was awarded to General Dynamics Electric Boat Aug. 14, 2003, and construction began Feb. 18, 2007. Mississippi is the fifth Navy vessel to carry the name of the Magnolia State. Upon completion and commissioning, Mississippi will join the other subs of her class as flexible, multimission platforms designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the submarine force: anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; special operations forces; strike; irregular warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and mine warfare.

Navy's newest aircraft carrier goes cashless
2/2/2010
by MC3 Joshua D. Sheppard
NORFOLK, Va., (NNS) -- USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) recently became the Navy's latest ship to begin using the Navy Cash Card as the sole form of payment for goods on board.
Bush unveiled its Navy Cash Card system in a ceremony held at the main ship store Jan. 12. Commanding Officer Capt. Chip Miller made the first purchase; Navy Working Uniform turtle-neck sweaters. The launching of the Cash Card System is the culmination of many months of work by the ship's Supply department.
"The roll out process started with the initial mass enrollment done on the mess decks late last year," Ensign Michael Park, Bush's disbursing officer said.
This system is designed to reduce the need for carrying cash for daily expenses while at sea. After the initial issue of Navy Cash Cards, cashless automatic teller machines were installed throughout the ship.
"There is always a learning curve to every new process," said Ensign Daniel B. Monteith, Supply Department's S3 division officer. "Getting our ship up to speed with Navy Cash has probably been an easier process than with other ships since there are many on board who have previously worked with it on other platforms as both user and operator."
The Navy Cash Card system is designed to streamline purchases for Sailors both aboard ship and ashore. It allows Sailors two separate methods to purchase goods. The cards have an embedded reloadable chip for purchases on board and a magnetic stripe for purchases in town. Money can be added to the card by allotment, bank account transfer or by bringing cash to the disbursing office for deposit.
"Disbursing is still issuing cards out to the crew and will continue until the whole crew and the air wing has cards," Park said.
Sailors still needing a Navy Cash Card can report to the Disbursing office at 2-124-2-Q and fill out the request form. Disbursing will issue a temporary Navy Cash Card to allow Sailors to make purchases until their permanent card arrives. By early February, Navy Cash will be the only means of payment on board Bush, Park said.
With the institution of the Navy Cash Card System aboard USS George H.W. Bush, all Navy aircraft carriers are now cash-free environments.

Navy Recruiting District Los Angeles Sailor named Navy Recruiter in Charge of the Year
2/2/2010
by MC (AW/SW) Anthony Briggs Jr.
LOS ANGELES (NNS) -- A recruiter assigned to Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Los Angeles was selected Jan. 13 as a 2009 Navy-wide Recruiter in Charge of the Year.
Gas Turbine Mechanic 1st Class(SW) Rudy Lopez, a 1999 graduate of Glen A. Wilson high school in Whittier, Calif., represented NRD Los Angeles and Navy Recruiting Region West.
"Petty Officer Lopez embodies the best," said NRD Los Angeles Chief Recruiter Master Chief Tyrone Parker. "He's a shining star with unlimited potential. His hard work and dedication earned him this very special honor."
After his selection at the district level, Lopez was selected as the Navy Recruiting Region West Recruiter-in-Charge, which earned him a trip to Washington, D.C. where he was selected as a 2009 Navywide Recruiter in Charge.
"The trip to Washington was an honor," Lopez said. "Everyone there was the best of the best, and I was humbled to be in that company."
Currently assigned to the El Monte Recruiting Station, Lopez oversees three recruiters and works as a liaison between his station and NRD headquarters in El Segundo.
"I was incredibly overwhelmed," said Lopez upon learning of his selection. "I am still in disbelief that I was actually chosen for this award. I am very thankful for all the effort and hard work that my station and I did as a team to get me here."
Lopez plans on converting from his current rating as a gas turbine mechanic to become a member the Navy's Career Recruiting Force.
The son of Jose and Maria Lopez, Lopez joined the Navy to provide himself a stable future. He is currently pursuing a college degree in business management for the hospitality industry.

Navy modifies sexual assault reporting procedures
1/26/2010
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- The Navy announced new requirements Jan. 26 for commands reporting sexual assault.
Updated sexual assault reporting policy requires commanders to consult with a judge advocate general officer in any alleged sexual assault or sexual harassment case.
Additionally, commands must now reference the date/time groups of related reports when filing follow-up reports. Complete guidance is available in OPNAV Instruction 1752.1B.
"Sexual assault is a safety and readiness issue that requires the attention, focus and awareness of all commanders. It is an affront to our Navy core values and ethos and cannot be tolerated," said Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson, to Navy leaders.
In 2009, the Navy renamed the Sexual Assault Victim Intervention program to Sexual Assault Prevention and Response to align with the mission of the program, underlining the importance of both prevention and response.
"Prevention requires proactive leadership involvement to shift from a reactive to proactive mentality," said Ferguson. He stressed the need for leaders to review the instruction and comply with its requirements.

SAN DIEGO (Jan. 25, 2010) Fire Controlman 1st Class Raenna Roberts, left, explains the Phalanx Close-in Weapons System (CIWS) to Sailors. U.S. Navy photo by Steve Vanderwerff

Palm Springs Navy League Council 'adopts' USS Mobile Bay
1/26/2010
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Palm Springs Navy League Council (PSNL) and USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) formally recognized their new partnership during a cermony in the Aegis guided-missile cruiser's helicopter hangar Jan. 22. PSNL also supports USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), USS Jefferson City (SSN 759), and USCGC Hamilton (WHEC-715).
"It was an honor and a privilege for the Palm Springs Navy League to adopt USS Mobile Bay," said David Whitson, president of PSNL.
Capt. James Housinger, commanding officer of Mobile Bay, extended his thanks and gratitude for PSNL's involvement with Mobile Bay.
"Adoption of specific units like Mobile Bay brings the Navy League into direct contact with the Sailors they are supporting" said Housinger. "The Navy League's value is not only in the direct tangible support of visiting the ship or inviting Sailors up to the Palm Springs area for weekends, but the community support and awareness that the Navy League creates."

New tool puts rating conversion Data at your finger tips
1/25/2010
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- The Navy released new guidance for the Career Reenlistment Objectives (CREO) program Jan. 22, providing a more timely and reliable method of distributing data to Sailors interested in rating conversion.
According to NAVADMIN 024/10, CREO and Navy enlisted classifications (NEC) data is now available online via a new tool called the Career Opportunity Matrix (CARMAT). CARMAT is a read-only spread sheet updated monthly that provides career counselors a single source for locating advancement and conversion opportunity information for their Sailors. It is accessible at the Perform to Serve Web page http://www.npc.navy.mil/CareerInfo/PerformtoServe.
"The career reenlistment objectives are important because it identifies advancement and conversion opportunities for active duty, full time support (FTS) and selected Reserve Sailors," said Senior Chief Navy Counselor (AW) Jermaine Rawls, Perform To Serve (PTS) Help Desk leading chief petty officer.
CREO reflects the manning levels for all Navy ratings and is a consideration for Sailors requesting PTS approval. CREO categories are identified in one of three levels.
CREO 1 rates are undermanned
CREO 2 rates are manned at desired levels
CREO 3 rates are overmanned
Changes in rating will be considered for Sailors in CREO 2 or CREO 3 ratings seeking entry into CREO 1 ratings. Requests for change in rating to CREO 2 or 3 ratings will be on a case-by-case basis only.
"Sailors who want to advance in rank, take advantage of training, and stay Navy will have more of these opportunities in undermanned ratings," said Rawls.
Commands may request to be added to the CARMAT distribution list for monthly updates. Send requests to pts_help_desk.fct@navy.mil.
For more information read the NAVADMIN, http://www.npc.navy.mil/ NR/rdonlyres/E55DDF31-6539-4A39-9C71- 1B6D3FC28694/0/NAV10024.txt.

USS Boxer (LHD 4) conducts change of command
USS Boxer (LHD 4) conducted a change of command aboard the ship located in drydock at General Dynamics NASSCO Shipyard, San Diego on Jan. 22.
Capt. Frank J. Michael relieved Capt. Mark E. Cedrun as USS Boxer’s Commanding Officer during the ceremony.
During Cedrun’s tenure aboard Boxer, the ship conducted a seven-month Western Pacific deployment with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The team deployed to the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Red Sea to engage in counter-piracy operations during which Boxer’s role in the rescue of Maersk Alabama captain Richard Phillips made international headlines.
Cedrun was relieved by his own executive officer who served with him during this time.
Michael, a native of Dallas, Pa., graduated from College Misericordia in 1986 and was commissioned a Naval Aviator through Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1988.
In addition to his previous tour on USS Boxer, Michael’s tours of duty include USS Guam (LPH 9), HSL 43 at NAS North Island, Calif., and HSL47 on board USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) where he served as squadron commanding officer.