Swabbys doing their job!


PACIFIC OCEAN (March 23, 2009) Flight deck personnel scrub-down the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 are on a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Josue L. Escobosa .

RADM Christine S. Hunter welcomes your health care questions
Naval Medical Center San Diego Cordially invites all Military Personnel, Ombudsmen, and TRICARE beneficiaries from the San Diego area. The Admiral welcomes your direct questions and feedback regarding your health care services at NMCSD and clinics.

Wednesday, April 15, 4 p.m. Naval Medical Center San Diego, Building 5 Auditorium, Direct questions to Andrea L. Graves, Head, Patient Relations, (619) 532-6418.

DoD announces Recovery Act construction and repair projects
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Department of Defense (DoD) announced March 20 details of approximately 3,000 military construction and facility improvement projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The $5.9 billion budget for these construction and repair projects represents the bulk of the approximately $7.4 billion in defense-related funding provided by the ARRA signed by President Barack Obama on Feb. 17, 2009.
DoD Recovery Act funds will be spent at DoD facilities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The primary purpose of these funds is to create jobs and stimulate economic activity across the country. All projects focus on making much-needed improvements to military installations and include hospitals, child development centers, and housing for troops and their families.
The two largest DoD projects to be constructed under the ARRA will be new hospitals at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Fort Hood, Texas.
Representing less than 1 percent of the entire $787 billion ARRA package, the $7.4 billion investment in defense-related projects will further the legislation's stated goal of stimulating the American economy, while improving the quality of life for service members, their families, and DoD civilian workers.
ARRA funds are also being used to support DoD high priority programs such as care for wounded warriors and energy security. Facility improvement projects include many energy conservation measures. $300 million of ARRA funds will be used on military energy research programs so that the DoD can continue to lead the way in the national effort to achieve greater energy independence.
To view a complete list of the specific projects, visit http://www.defenselink.mil/recovery and http://www.recovery.gov. The DoD will continue to use these Web sites to post future announcements related to ARRA funding.



ARCTIC OCEAN (March 21, 2009) Personnel from the Applied Physics Lab Ice Station watch the aurora borealis light up the night sky over the camp in the Arctic Ocean. Two Los Angeles-class submarines, USS Helena (SSN 725) and USS Annapolis (SSN 760), will participate in the exercise with researchers from the University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory and personnel from the Navy Arctic Submarine Laboratory. U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Tiffini M. Jones. Click here for the story.

Safety, environment recognized again at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
by MC3 Damien Horvath
SEAL BEACH, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Weapons Station (NAVWPNSTA) Seal Beach received the 2008 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) 2008 Shore Safety award (small industry category) for improvement of base safety standards in a ceremony held March 18. The station will also be awarded the CNO's award for Environmental Quality (industrial category) for preservation of the ecosystem surrounding the base in a ceremony to be held in June.
Commanding Officer, NAVWPNSTA Seal Beach, Capt. Jonathan Kurtz, said his team has created a culture of continuous improvement specifically aligned with the Navy's mission requirements and community concerns. His team also includes outside organizations, such as Orange County Water District, South Coast Air Quality Management District and others.
"Winning is becoming a habit here at Seal Beach," Kurtz added. "Last year, we won several awards across a number of programs, including awards up to the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of Defense level. Many of our awards are reflections not just of the hard work of the program personnel, but of the entire workforce who comply with our winning discipline every day and make a conscious effort to do the right thing."
Sailors, DoD civilians and outside organizations participated in a multitude of voluntary environmental clean-up and preservation events and base safety projects, such as repaving roads and improving traffic conditions.
"For years, it has been a very high priority of ours to preserve the natural refuge surrounding Seal Beach and make the public aware of our efforts by hosting special tours of the station's marsh and upland habitat, and reaching out to local schools and organizations to discuss the importance of protecting the coastal salt marsh habitat," said David Baillie, installation environmental program manager. "We can directly attribute our successes to a cooperative effort between the Navy and civilians; each entity contributes significantly and presents a unique and valuable aspect to achieving our goals. We are proud of being CNO award recipients, but more so, proud of our accomplishments."
Commissioned in 1944, NAVWPNSTA Seal Beach is 5,000 acres and is the headquarters for Navy Munitions Command CONUS West Division, which provides a strategic munitions point for San Diego-based combatant ships. The station is also home to the 911-acre Seal Beach Wildlife Refuge and is one of the last natural wetland preserves in Southern California.

"Year of the Seabees, Civil Engineer Corps: Can Do!" kicks off soon
by MC1(SW) Kurt Riggs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- "The Year of the Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps: Can Do!" kicks off April 4 at the Naval Heritage Center in Washington, in conjunction with the Navy Memorial's Annual Charging of the Fountains and fleet blessing.
Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command and Chief of Civil Engineers Rear Adm. Greg Shear will be the guest speaker at the 18th annual Blessing of the Fleet, which begins at 1 p.m. at the Navy Memorial.
"We are extremely proud to be part of this annual fleet blessing, and welcome the public to the Heritage Center to learn about the role of the Seabees, Civil Engineer Corps and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command," Shear said. "To be part of a naval tradition so steeped in history and rich in heritage is just a tremendous honor," he said. Both the ceremony and year-long exhibition are free and open to the public.
The exhibition will feature the history of the Civil Engineer Corps, Seabees and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Seabees and CEC officer training, static displays, World War II and current day uniforms, a simulated combat outpost, as well as graphics and storyboards highlighting Seabee, CEC and NAVFAC support to Navy and Marine Corps units around the world.
The Seabees rose to fame during World War II when the Navy's construction battalions or "CBs" performed heroic feats of combat support for the Allied war effort. They assisted in constructing an artificial harbor at Normandy after D-Day, supported Marines on Iwo Jima, and transformed countless islands and outposts into workable bases for the Allied march to victory, just to name a few examples.
Led by CEC officers, the Seabees official motto "Construimus Batuimus" translates to English as "we build, we fight." They are perhaps better known by their shorthand motto, "can do."
NAVFAC manages the planning, design, construction and provides public works support for U.S. Navy shore installations around the world. With approximately 18,000 employees worldwide, it maintains facilities in the Far East, Europe, Southwest Asia and executes an annual workload of $13 billion. NAVFAC was originally established as the Bureau of Yards and Docks in 1842.

Navy to participate in National Society of Black Engineers conference
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy will be out in force at the 35th annual National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) conference in Las Vegas March 25-29 to foster diversity while attracting technical talent into the Navy.
Attendance of the nearly 100 Navy reps -- including nine admirals -- at this conference is part of an overall Navy strategy to attract, recruit and retain the brightest minds the nation has to offer. By 2020 demographic projections indicate minorities will make up more than a third of the nation's workforce, and indications are by 2050 minorities will comprise half of the nation's workforce. The Navy hopes to harvest some of this diverse, rising talent.
"Like any organization in a time of change, we thrive on the infusion of new ideas and diversity of thought," said Capt. Ken Barrett, director, Navy Diversity.
"This is particularly true today when the mores, customs and ideals of diverse cultures are critical to winning the war against terrorism."
During the conference, NSBE and the Navy will recognize Lt. Cmdr. Wesley Brown, the first African-American graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Other highlights include admirals, senior executives and other Navy members participating in events, including judging a science fair, participating in a Try-Math-A-Lon, presenting Navy scholarships and offering mentoring sessions in support of local NSBE chapter presidents.
As part of the overall mentoring continuum, the Navy provides significant support to mentoring and training organizations such as NSBE to ensure the professional and personal development of its Sailors. NSBE is dedicated to the academic and professional success of African-American engineering students and professionals and regularly highlights blacks excelling in the field of engineering. It has 30,000 members, with approximately 9,500 people scheduled to attend the annual conference.

U.S. 3rd Fleet hosts Women's Summit
by MC3 Sandra DeMunnik
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet's Multicultural Committee celebrated Women's History Month by hosting a Women's Summit and social event at the base auditorium March 12.
Chief Religious Program Specialist LaShawn Williams brought together spokeswomen from the command and the community to educate her counterparts on women-specific concerns, programs and expectations in the Navy.
"Fifteen years ago, I attended a summit like this," explained Williams. "It had an impact on me, and I'm excited to return the favor. If just one Sailor leaves inspired, it was worth it."
Deanna Schmidt, a 1972 Olympic gold medalist, shared her life story with attendees, including her battle with breast cancer.
"The reason I had the freedom to pursue my career as an athlete is because of you," said Schmidt as she addressed the primarily active-duty military women and passed around her 1972 gold medal in swimming.
Summit attendee, Chief Master-at-Arms Amanda Davis, expressed her appreciation for the guest speaker.
"Deena knows first hand the hardships that come with surviving cancer. Statistics are just that, but it can affect anyone at any time. She understands that when she speaks to groups of cancer victims that not everyone in the room will live and see remission," Davis added.
Schmidt, the spokesperson for the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation, spoke about the great strides women in the military have made for women in other career fields, including athletics. She encouraged the audience to pass on the confidence they gain each day from a job well done to the women around them.
Guest speakers talked about issues ranging from women's health to Navy uniform regulations. Briefs also focused on the programs available to women in the military including women's retreats provided by the Chaplains' Religious Enrichment Development Operation (CREDO); financial, education and post-military career counseling offered through the Fleet and Family Support Center; and sexual abuse assistance available through Sexual Assault Victims Intervention (SAVI).
In addition to Schmidt, guest speakers included Capt. Nancy King-Williams, 3rd Fleet's N-6 assistant chief of staff; Aimee Cason, Naval Training Center Women's Health Care nurse practitioner; Chief Religious Programs Specialist Mona Royal, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton; and various Sailors from the command.
U.S. 3rd Fleet's Multicultural Committee sponsors events throughout the year to promote cultural awareness, command morale and support equal opportunity education.

Seabee earns Stethem Award for work, mentorship in Afghanistan
by MCC(SCW/SW/AW) Steve Bansbach
NAVAL BASE VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (NNS) -- The chief of civil engineers awarded the 2008 Robert Stethem award during the Seabee Ball in Washington March 21. The award presented annually by the Civil Engineer Corps/Seabee Historical Foundation, recognizes individual contributions to the Seabees' and the Civil Engineer Corps' legacy.
Rear Adm. Wayne "Greg" Shear Jr. recognized Utilitiesman 1st Class Leslie Cowan, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4, for his moral courage during his deployment to Afghanistan and his contributions to NMCB 4 while in homeport.
During this period, Cowan illustrated unparalleled leadership and superior technical competency while serving in numerous key roles for the battalion and Joint Detachment Afghanistan - to include platoon commander, project supervisor, quality control officer and safety officer.
Cowan credited his troops for his success.
"My troops deployed and did what had to be done," Cowan recalled. "They performed outstanding under a great deal of stress, working seven days a week from sun up to sun down."
Within weeks of the battalion's deployment, NMCB 4 was tasked with a short-fused Afghanistan priority engineering support mission. Cowan was hand-picked by the chain of command to assist in the execution of this critical mission. His phenomenal efforts during this period enabled the detachment to deploy into an active war zone in preparation to execute crucial tasking at four forward operating bases.
"A chief once told me to succeed you need to do your job to the best of your ability and teach others to do your job. Mentor your troops to replace you and provide them all your knowledge for them, and that was my goal on this deployment."
Cowan was one of the key construction subject matter experts in Afghanistan, assisting in the completion of a brigade tactical operations center, a battalion tactical operations center, two fuel points with more than a 900,000-gallon capacity, three helicopter landing zones, four 155 millimeter firing points, an ammunition transfer and holding point, supply support activity, battalion and unit motorpools, an entry control point, and more than 15,000 meters of Hesco barriers.
"[NMCB] Four gave me the opportunity to excel. Without all the responsibility they gave me, I would have never been able to show my true potential," Cowan said.
Cowan will transfer from NMBC 4 to public works in San Diego.

USS Chinook makes first overnight U.S. ship visit to Iraq
by Lt. Nathan Christensen
UMM QASR, Iraq (NNS) -- USS Chinook (PC 9) departed Umm Qasr, Iraq, March 25, marking the first overnight port visit to Iraq by a U.S. ship.
"The U.S. Navy has operated in the region for more than 60 years, and Chinook's visit marks the first time a U.S. ship has remained overnight in Iraq; that's extremely significant," said Rear Adm. T.C. Cropper, deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT).
"Chinook's visit exemplifies the great confidence we have in our Iraqi partners and reflects the excellent improvements in security that they have achieved. It also demonstrates our commitment and partnership with the Government of Iraq, its people and the Iraqi Navy."
While in port, the ship's crewmembers were able to participate in friendship-building activities with several senior Iraqi officers as well as conduct a logistics' replenishment, where the ship took on fuel and other various supplies.
"This is an important day for us and for Iraq," said Lt. Allen Maxwell, Chinook's commanding officer.
"Our visit gave us a chance to interact with senior Iraqi Navy leadership and further enhance cooperation with the Iraqi Navy and Marines. Today was an extraordinary opportunity, and I am proud to have made a positive difference in Iraq's future."
USCGC Aquidneck (WPB 1309)'s daylight-only port visit to Umm Qasr Dec. 15, 2008, marked the last visit by a U.S. ship to the Iraqi port. Cropper was pierside for Chinook's arrival to Umm Qasr and said he hopes more coalition ships will visit the Iraqi port in the months and years to come.
"Visits like this are important because they help reinforce the strong ties that already exist between our two navies," said Cmdr. Thomas Cawley, NAVCENT's country engagement officer to Iraq.
Coalition maritime forces in the North Arabian Gulf maintain a naval and air presence to safeguard the region's vital links to the global economy. These key maritime infrastructure nodes are the foundation for the region's economic growth, stability and prosperity as well as significantly impact the global economy.