CHANGI NAVAL BASE, Singapore (April 24, 2009) Sailors heave a mooring line on the forecastle aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) as the ship moors pier side at Changi Naval Base, Singapore. Kidd is part of John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group and is in Singapore for a port visit during a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Josue L. Escobosa

Rear Adm. Hering kicks off National Military Appreciation Month
by MCC Bill Gowdy
SAN DIEGO - Rear Adm. Len Hering, commander Navy Region Southwest, addressed the San Diego Navy League during their monthly breakfast at the Admiral Baker Field Clubhouse May 1. In support of National Military Appreciation Month, the League honored five Navy and Marine Corps recruiters from Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Diego.
After recognizing Navy and Marine Corps recruiters, Hering focused on diversity and education and the impact on the future of the sea services.
Through the tough economic times that the Nation is facing, the Navy is still recruiting a diverse group of people. “By 2020 one third of our nation’s population will be minority and it will (grow to) be half by the year 2050," said Hering. "Fitting the diversity goals of the CNO remains our key goal and maintaining the educational requirements of new recruits will become a growing challenge for recruiters such as those we honored this morning."

Dunford nominated for commanding general positions
CAMP PENDLETON - Lt. Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. has been nominated to serve as commanding general of the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and the Marine Corps Forces Central Command.
His nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. Dunford has been serving as deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations at Marine headquarters.
The current commander is Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland.

Gate closure may delay Coronado base access
Naval Air Station North Island Gate 5 will be closed throughout May in support of gate construction.
The gate, located at Sherman Ave. and Ocean Blvd., will be closed until May 26. This closure will also delay entry onto the base through the remaining access gates. Gate 2, at 1st and Alameda St., will serve as the primary access for fuel and ammunition delivery trucks.
Any questions regarding this closure should be routed to the Security Operations Chief at (619) 545-9093 or NBC Security Officer at (619) 307-2379.

NSWC Port Hueneme tests latest evolved Sea Sparrow
PORT HUENEME - Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Port Hueneme engineers successfully fired a test launch of the new production configuration of the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) April 24 from the U.S. Navy’s self defense test ship in Port Hueneme, Calif.
“These ESSM modifications increase both guidance performance and hardware reliability for our fleet and our NATO consortium partners,” said Mike Ryan, NSWC Port Hueneme test engineer. “Whenever we increase a missile’s guidance performance and reliability, we increase the probability of target kill, thereby helping the warfighter counter threats with more confidence and less ordnance.”
The new ESSM configuration includes both hardware and software modifications and was fired from a CVN-class combat system. The ESSM missile achieved a warhead kill against a low-altitude target. Testing missile capabilities from the self defense test ship allows NSWC Port Hueneme, a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command, to produce future technologies that maximize warfighter capabilities, which supports the nation’s maritime strategy.

Kilcline speaks at symposium
by MCSN Lex T. Wenberg
SAN DIEGO – Vice Admiral Thomas J. Kilcline, Jr., Commander, Naval Air Forces, spoke at the Naval Helicopter Association’s annual symposium here April 29. The theme of the four-day event is, “Helicopter Concept of Operations (Helo CONOPS): ‘Here and Now.’ The schedule for the symposium includes panel sessions on strategies to employ the new MH-60S and MH-60R Seahawks, as well as the MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV).
Kilcline praised the pilots in the naval helicopter community for their versatility in executing missions that involve all aspects of the U.S. Naval Maritime Strategy. “Beyond just the skill it takes to fly the aircraft and do the missions you’ve always done, you are also taking on new missions that I don’t think anyone would have expected 10 years ago,” said Kilcline.

Camp Pendleton lodging facility embraces environment
by PFC. Daniel Boothe
Mother Nature couldn’t ask for anything more from Camp Pendleton’s future lodging facility.
The $14.8 million Temporary Lodging Facility has employed hundreds in construction efforts and is predicted to be 100 percent recyclable itself upon demolition.
“This new facility will promote a healthy lodging experience for both patrons and employees by limiting adverse impacts to the environment,” said Frank Winter, pollution prevention coordinator, Assistant Chief of Staff’s Environmental Security Office, Marine Corps Base. “Everything from office equipment to alarm clocks will carry the Energy Star Label.”
The eco-friendly project is scheduled to open June 1 near the Staff Noncommissioned Officer’s South Mesa Club after more than a year of planning and design.

NBPL BQ to be renovated under Recovery Act contract
SAN DIEGO - Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest awarded Pacific West Builders of National City a $778,000 Recovery Act funded contract April 29 to renovate 13 bachelor enlisted quarters at Naval Base Point Loma.
“The NAVFAC Southwest team at Naval Base Point Loma is excited to contribute to the ARRA initiative,” said Lt. Mike McCain, NAVFAC director for Public Works Department at NBPL. “The bachelor enlisted quarters renovation project will improve quality of life for sailors, and have a positive economic impact on San Diego and the local community.”
Pacific West Builders will renovate 13 bachelor enlisted quarters at Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command at NBPL in San Diego. Installation work will include a fire sprinkler and fire alarm systems. Construction work will include demolition of existing plumbing fixtures, doors, cabinetry, floor finishes, wall finishes, and construction of new walls, cabinetry, fixtures, and finishes.

French slated as next NRSW commander
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced April 28 that Rear Adm. (lower half) William D. French, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as commander, Navy Region Southwest, San Diego. French is currently serving as commander, Navy Region Marianas/U.S. Pacific Command representative, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau/commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas, Guam.

Navy Region Southwest saves energy, money with solar project
by Rhonda Stewart
CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- Navy Region Southwest (NRSW) is taking advantage of their greatest natural resource — sunshine. In an effort to fully utilize this abundant resource and to confront accelerating electricity rates, they've installed solar panels on six carports and a helicopter simulation building.
These photovoltaic systems will collectively produce 700,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity.
On the helicopter simulation building at Naval Base Coronado, workers installed a Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system — the Navy's first. This system is unusual in that its photovoltaic (PV) components do not sit on raised glass panels. Instead, these thin-film panels are integrated into the roof itself.
"The photovoltaics come in big rolls, like rolls of carpet," said Bernard Lindsey, utilities and energy program manager at NRSW. They are heat-welded onto the roofing membrane, where they are part of the watertight roof structure.
"It's just another kind of roof, except that it makes electricity," Lindsey said.
Connecting the system to the building's voltage completes the line from the sun to the roof to the light switches. The BIPV occupies approximately 14,000 square feet of this 50,000 square foot roof.
"It's more efficient to do it this way," said Lindsey. Workers can incorporate photovoltaics as they replace the roof, completing the project in one fell swoop.
With a traditional PV system, the roof would be finished first, and contractors would attach the glass panels and supporting framework later. Non-integrated systems also incur extra work when the roof needs replacing before the panels do. The BIPV is part of the overall roof system warranty.
The roof's efficiency extends to energy use. Building 352, where the new system resides, consumes three million kWh of energy annually. The new system will produce about nine percent of the building's peak summer electrical demand.
NRSW considers its new BIPV system a success.
"It works well; the building occupants are happy and it's making electricity," said Lindsey. "We should do more of them."
Innovative new roofs are not the only items soaking up rays in NRSW. In 2007, the region introduced six new solar carports.
Three naval bases, Coronado, Point Loma and San Diego, added a total of five carports, each generating approximately 80,000 kWh of energy per year. Each of these carports will offset the annual energy consumption of 14 homes.
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake recently built a solar carport as well, to gain renewable energy and offer shade to cars of base personnel. Located in the parking lots of the Combined Bachelor's Housing and the Paradise Community Center, the new carport is estimated to save approximately 230,000 kWh of energy and $56,000 per year. It was part of a $1.4 million project funded by the Department of the Navy Energy Program through the Energy Conservation Investment Program.
NRSW's interest in these projects began two years ago when the region put in place a Renewable Energy Action Plan that provides for significant research, future planning and project development.
NRSW has identified short-, mid- and long-term opportunities to help it meet the federal energy goals, which require 25 percent of electricity at Department of Defense facilities to come from renewable sources by 2025.

Military monitors H1-N1 virus, focuses on protecting force
by Donna Miles
WASHINGTON - The Defense Department is monitoring the H1-N1 virus situation closely, with its primary focus on protecting the military population, a senior Pentagon official said April 27. As the Department of Health and Human Services leads the U.S. effort, the military is posturing itself to respond if required, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters Monday.
“We certainly have a number of contingency plans for dealing with health incidences like this, because our primary goal is preservation of the fighting force,” he said. “So we obviously have plans and take measures to ensure that we can preserve the fighting strength of the military in the event that there should be a greater crisis with respect to a health situation like this.”
Two prescription anti-viral drugs, relenza and tamiflu, already are standard stock at U.S. military treatment facilities, and larger quantities are stockpiled at several sites in the United States and overseas, Whitman said. President Barack Obama told the National Academy of Sciences today the emerging incidence of swine flu in the United States “is obviously a cause for concern and requires a heightened state of alert, but it’s not a cause for alarm.”

Operation Purple Summer Camps accepting applications
The National Military Family Association is now accepting applications for its popular Operation Purple Summer Camps. Each camp is “purple” and open to children of any uniformed service member, active duty or reserve component.
This year the National Military Family Association will host more than 9,000 military children at Operation Purple camps in 62 locations in 37 states and territories: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, the Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Information about specific camp locations is available at http://www.operationpurple.org/. Registration will be open until midnight EDT April 20th. Priority is given to military children with a parent deployed or deploying anytime between September 2008 and December 2009 and have not had the opportunity to attend an Operation Purple camp in the past. Camps are free to all participants thanks to support from the Sierra Club and the Sierra Club Foundation.
The National Military Family Association understands these are trying times for our youngest heroes. Operation Purple camps bring together kids in similar situations and teach them coping skills to better deal with their feelings. At the same time, camp helps build their confidence by introducing new experiences like learning to be stewards of the environment.
The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of military families. Our 40 years of service and accomplishments have made us a trusted resource for families and the Nation’s leaders. As the only non profit organization that represents the families of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Association protects benefits vital to all families, including those of the deployed, wounded, and fallen. For more information, visit http://www.nmfa.org/.
For more information or to apply online, visit www.operationpurple.org/.

Three more ships on their way to new homeport, San Diego!
Three of the eight mine countermeasure ships will continue the transfer from 2nd Fleet's Area of Responsibility to 3rd Fleet.
The three ships will depart Naval Station Ingleside's waterfront and begin a month-long journey to their new homeport in San Diego.
USS Champion (MCM 4), USS Devastator (MCM 6) and USS Pioneer (MCM 9) are set to leave for a permanent change of duty station in accordance with the Department of Defense Base Relocation and Closure Commission's directed closure of Naval Station Ingleside. One of the three remaining ships will set sail once maintenance and upgrades are complete. Two other MCM ships will be heavy lifted.
This is the second phase of ships moving to San Diego. USS Warrior (MCM 10) and USS Chief (MCM 14) arrived at their new homeport at Naval Base San Diego April 17.
The moves are part of the consolidation of mine warfare surface assets in to align resources, consolidate expertise and increase cost savings in maintenance, training and operations.
In addition to the MCM ships changing homeports, other mine warfare commands moving to the West Coast include: MCM Crews, MCM Class Squadron, MCM Squadron 1, MCM Squadron 3, Mobile Mine Assembly Group and Mobile Mine Assembly Unit 15.