Shot line ready to fire



PACIFIC OCEAN (March 13, 2009) Aviation Ordananceman 1st Class Timothy Horth fires a shot line to the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oilier USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan and Carrier air Wing (CVW) 14 are performing a sustainment exercise in the Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Gary A. Prill.

NAVFAC Southwest awards contract to build new Seabee museum
by Lee H. Saunders
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest awarded RQ Construction Inc. of Carlsbad, Calif. a $9 million contract March 11 to construct a new museum celebrating the rich history of the United States Navy Seabees from their inception on March 5, 1942 to present day.
This state-of-the-art facility will be located at Naval Base Ventura County in Southern California and will replace the existing building housing the museum built in 1947.
"The facility will serve as a fitting tribute to the U.S. Navy Seabees and will allow the Navy and the CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation to properly store and display the artifacts which reflect the proud and distinguished history of the U.S. Navy Seabees," said Capt. Steve Wirsching, NAVFAC Southwest commanding officer.
The new 31,013 square foot museum will include an entry hall and theme wall, lobby, quarterdeck, grand hall, north and south galleries, audio-visual room for exhibits, docent lounge and catering kitchen, retail store, kiosk area, and an administrative area.
The project schedule anticipates completion in September 2010. A separate contract award is planned for the exhibit spaces with a grand opening date to be determined.

Navy names littoral combat ship USS Coronado WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter announced March 12 that the fourth littoral combat ship (LCS) will be named USS Coronado. The announcement continues the practice of naming the agile LCS vessels after American mid-sized cities, small towns and communities. The ship is named in honor of the patriotic citizens of Coronado, Calif. Home to Naval Air Base North Island (NASNI) and Naval Amphibious Base (NAB), Coronado has been home to the Navy since 1917.

Official U.S. Navy file photo

More than 90 tenant commands reside at NASNI, including the Naval Aviation Depot, the largest aerospace employer in San Diego. The base is homeport to two aircraft carriers, USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).
NAB Coronado has approximately 5,000 personnel and more than 30 tenant commands including Naval Surface Force Pacific and Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Pacific. The base is also home to Naval Special Warfare Command including several SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) and special boat teams, and the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training center.
Two previous ships have been named for Coronado. USS Coronado (PF 38), a Tacoma-class patrol frigate, earned four battle stars for supporting landings in New Guinea and Leyte during World War II. USS Coronado (AGF 11) served as flagship for the Third Fleet and was decommissioned in 2006.
Designated LCS 4, Coronado will be designed to defeat littoral threats and provide access and dominance in coastal waters for missions such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare. There are two different LCS hull forms - a semiplaning monohull and an aluminum trimaran - designed and built by two industry teams, respectively led by Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics. These seaframes will be outfitted with reconfigurable payloads, called mission packages, which can be changed out quickly. Mission packages are supported by special detachments that will deploy manned and unmanned vehicles and sensors.

SECDEF recommends new terms, positions for senior officers
by Jim Garamone
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced March 18 his recommendations that President Barack Obama renominate Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright as the chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a second two-year term.
Gates also announced he has recommended new commanders for U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. European Command and U.S. Southern Command.
The secretary recommended Navy Adm. Robert F. Willard to become commander of Pacom, succeeding Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating. Willard is commander of the Navy's Pacific Fleet.
Gates also recommended the commander of U.S. Southern Command, Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, to be the commander of U.S. European Command, succeeding Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock. If confirmed, Stavridis would be the first naval officer to hold the command in Europe. The commander of U.S. European Command also is the NATO supreme allied commander for Europe, and he would have overall responsibility for the NATO effort in Afghanistan.
The secretary has also recommended Air Force Lt. Gen. Douglas Frazer to succeed Stavridis at U.S. Southern Command. Frazer is the deputy commander at U.S. Pacific Command, and if confirmed, would be the first Air Force leader of Southcom.
All of these moves require Senate confirmation.
"If confirmed, these officers would be taking up their commands over the next several months," Gates said at a news conference here today. "I would like to thank the outgoing combatant commanders ... for their decades of dedicated service."
The secretary said the officers he is recommending have the mix of "military acumen, strategic vision and diplomatic and interagency skill that their posts require."

Sea King helicopter celebrates 50th anniversary of first flight PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (NNS) -- The H-3 Sea King helicopter community celebrated the 50th anniversary of the aircraft's historic first flight March 11. The Sea King is a twin-engine, all-weather, amphibious helicopter used for numerous roles that include anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, search and rescue, transport, communications, airborne early warning and executive transport.

The Sea King was the Jack of all trades and master of all," said Capt. James Wallace, Support and Commercial Derivative Aircraft (PMA-207) program manager. "It's saved thousands of lives, protected fleets of ships, recovered astronauts and has flown the President of the United States from 1961 to today."
The Sea King was built in four countries, the United States, England, Italy and Japan and is operated by more than 20 countries around the world. More than 1,500 military and commercial versions have been built worldwide.
Currently, there are three Sea Kings still in the Navy inventory, all based here for search and rescue missions.
"Once the Sea King is finally retired from U.S. Navy service, it will still continue to serve for years to come," said Wallace. "We've received many queries from countries wanting to buy our retired Sea Kings for their own fleets."
PMA-207 continues to support many active H-3 Sea King foreign military sales customers around the world.

Military child care takes top quality spots in national report
by Gerry J. Gilmore
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Defense Department's stateside military child care system took first place in the categories of quality oversight and standards for a second time as part of a national child care advocacy group's report, a senior official said in Washington March 16.
The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies recently examined child care practices in 50 states and the District of Columbia for its most-current report and awarded the Defense Department the highest marks for quality for child care oversight and standards, Barbara Thompson, director of the Pentagon's Office of Family Policy, Children and Youth, told Pentagon Channel and American Forces Information Service reporters.
The association twice has reported on child care licensing standards to assess their quality of oversight and standards, Thompson said. The Defense Department also earned the same honors in the group's 2007 report, she said.
"This is the second time that we were No. 1 in both oversight and standards," Thompson said. "No other state has ever reached that, so we're very, very proud of this achievement."
Two-time recognition by the association reinforces the fact that military families can rest assured that the Defense Department provides top-quality child care, Thompson said.
"I think it gives you the satisfaction and the peace of mind that the Department of Defense is very committed to quality and that children who are in our child-development system receive very high quality care across their development," Thompson said.
Military families that enroll their children in [Defense Department]-sponsored child care facilities should know "that your child is safe and is in a learning environment," Thompson said. Such knowledge, she added, helps military members focus on their jobs.
Quality child care is important, Thompson said, because the key formative development years for children takes place between ages one through five.
"When we do the right mix of quality care-giving, learning activities, opportunities for physical play, ... these children are thriving," she said. Such an environment "really does set the tone for their future in elementary school and further on," Thompson said.
Care-givers employed at Defense Department-sponsored child care facilities receive stringent training and are required to meet the highest standards, Thompson said.
"We lead the way in the country of setting the standards and oversight of what constitutes a good early childhood program," Thompson said.

ATG Ingleside disestablishes
by S.L. Standifird
INGLESIDE, Texas (NNS) -- Afloat Training Group (ATG) Ingleside held a disestablishment ceremony March 6 on the Naval Station Ingleside waterfront.
ATG will be moving to San Diego later this year as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure announcement to close Naval Station Ingleside.
"Today's ceremony serves not only to mark the end of the Afloat Training Group Ingleside, but also as a closing to the mine warfare chapter of the proud military history of Texas," said Cmdr. Todd C. Wobig, ATG Ingleside commanding officer.
"One constant in this diverse group," Simmons said, "has been the mentorship these Sailors have provided. The Sailors training Sailors, raising them to a higher level of professionalism. These Sailors have given the best to make the best."
ATG Ingleside provides Sailors training in mine warfare, combat, combat systems, supply and 3M (material, maintenance management), engineering, damage control, seamanship, medical, navigation and anti-terrorism/force protection to 14 mine warfare ships homeported in Texas, Japan and the Persian Gulf.

Freedom Concert offers free tickets to military, veterans, police and fire
by Emily Butcher
Get your ticktes now for the upcoming Freedom Concert April 4 at 7 p.m. at the new Pasadena Convention Center, in collaboration with Pasadena based redwhite+bluezz, LA’s premier Jazz Club and Pasadena Entertainment. This concert is an opportunity to thank the men and women of the armed services, as well as those who serve in our police and fire forces, for their commitment and dedication in protecting our country and local communities.
The concert will be the first event in the new Grand Ballroom at the recently renovated Convention Center, located at 300 East Green St. in Pasadena, and will feature some of the world’s most renowned musical artists. Doors will open at 7p.m., where guests will be invited to enjoy a full service food and beverage bar, with the concert kicking off at 8 p.m.
As the official launch of the redwhite+bluezz alubm “The Experience,” the first half of the concert will feature redwhite+bluezz artists showcasing their songs from the album. The second half of the program brings to the stage an all-star line-up of some of today’s most talented artists of all musical genres including Sheila E, Montell Jordan, Molly Ringwald, James Tormé, Karen Briggs, Angel Blue, USC Trojan Marching Band and the Gold Coast Pipe Band.
We kindly ask you to be part of this inaugural concert as well as joining this All Star line up, but more importantly showing your presence to all of these men and women who serve and protect our country.
Free tickets to the Freedom Concert are available to members of the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Gaurd, police force and fire fighters.
For more information or to register for free tickets call the Soldiers’ Angels at (626) 529-5114 or visit www.freedomconcert2009.com/ and click on the “tickets” link at the top.
systems they employ overseas regardless of branch of service."

Families’ wishes drive new media guidelines at Dover, Gates says
by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON – The wishes of the families will be the overriding principle guiding any media coverage of fallen warriors’ remains arriving at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said March 18.
Gates directed a working group to come up with a plan to change a ban on such coverage imposed during the Gulf War in the early 1990s.
“The working group I tasked to come up with an implementation plan has reported back, and we will put a number of its recommendations into action starting next month,” Gates said during a Pentagon news conference.
If several remains return to Dover on the same flight, for example, “the media will be permitted to cover only the dignified transfer of individuals whose families have given permission,” he said.
“Further, should immediate family members wish to be present for the arrival of their fallen hero at Dover, and this can be done without unduly delaying a fallen’s return to his or her own hometown, we will facilitate that travel, and we will fund it,” Gates said.
The study began with a survey of the groups concerned with the process. Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael J. Basla chaired the Defense Department's working group. He said his group spoke with Gold Star Mothers, Gold Star Wives, veterans groups and senior enlisted advisors. “What we heard were two sides of the story,” Basla said during an interview. “Some were very in favor of media access to the dignified transfers when the families agree, and some had concerns.”
The concerns were all around wanting to put the fallen heroes in the best of light. “They were concerned that that may not happen if we lose control,” Basla said. On the other hand, he said, many family members wanted to tell the stories of their loved ones.
Officials at Dover will work out how the process will work. If families do not want media present, then officials at Dover can accomplish the dignified transfer of remains for those fallen warriors before allowing the media out to the tarmac.
Media professionals will have a strict protocol to follow when covering the story, Basla said. “If any part of the media violates those protocols, then their access would be restricted in the future. We’re going to preserve the privacy of these families, and we’re going to maintain the dignity of these transfers.”
In making his announcement, Gates echoed those sentiments.
“We are committed to seeing that America's fallen heroes are received back to their loved ones and their country with the honor, respect and recognition that they and their families have earned,” he said.

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 6, 2009) Helicopter Control Officer Lt. j.g. Trinity Phillips, from Mars Hills, N.C., observes an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the "Eightballers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 as it lands on the flight deck aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100). Kidd, as part of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, is on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Dmitry Chepusov.