Navy News Service 14/95 - 17 Mar 95

[Navy News Service]

From Navy News Service <nav...@opnav-emh.navy.mil>

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Navy News Service - NAVNEWS BY EMAIL - nav...@opnav-emh.navy.mil
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NAVY NEWS SERVICE - 17 MAR 95 - NAVNEWS 014/95
Editor's Note
This Navy News Service message follows NAVNEWS 013/95 DTG
152300Z MAR 95. NAVNEWS 014/95 is being released as a means of
providing more timely information to the fleet.
-USN-
NNS199. Sailors Punished for Sexual Misconduct Aboard Ship
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Three USS Dwight D. Eisenhower crew
members received non-judicial punishment today, and were removed
from the ship in connection with a case of sexual misconduct.
The United States Navy has an unambiguous policy -- sexual
misconduct will not be tolerated.
Action was taken within hours of the command's learning that
two junior Sailors (male E-2 and female E-1) had engaged in
consensual sexual relations in an isolated space aboard
Eisenhower. A third individual in the chain of command was held
accountable for failure to take proper action upon learning the
incident had occurred.
The misconduct was discovered and reported when the male
Sailor involved attempted to show a video of the event (taken by
him with a privately-owned video camera) to friends in his work
center. An enlisted member of the crew saw the video,
recognized the inappropriate nature of the content, and reported
his observation to the command.
A chief warrant officer, who viewed part of the video and
failed to report it, was determined at Captain's Mast to have
been negligent in his duty to report misconduct, and was awarded
30 days restriction and a punitive letter of reprimand. The male
E-2 and the female E-1 were found guilty of willfully disobeying
a lawful order from the commanding officer, and adultery. They
were each awarded 45 days restriction, 45 days extra duty,
reduction in rate to E-1 and forfeiture of $427 pay per month for
two months.
The Navy's zero tolerance for sexual misconduct, of any
sort, is briefed regularly to the entire crew of Eisenhower and
to each new crew member upon arrival. Every Sailor attached to
IKE signs a document confirming full understanding of the Navy's
policy. Neither the Eisenhower nor the Navy will tolerate those
who violate the rules.
-USN-
NNS200. Slatkin Testifies on Importance of Submarine Program
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy submarines' "unique
contributions" continue to be an essential ingredient to our
national defense, according to Assistant Secretary of the Navy
(Research, Development and Acquisition) Nora Slatkin. Slatkin
testified before the Subcommittee on Procurement of the House
National Security Committee March 16 on the FY96 Navy Submarine
Modernization Plan.
Slatkin, who is responsible for all research, development
and acquisition of defense systems for the Navy and Marine Corps,
discussed the importance of the Navy's attack submarine program.
During her testimony, she emphasized the importance of
maintaining undersea superiority in the post-Cold War era, the
benefits of the New Attack submarine, and the need to construct
Seawolf-class submarines as a "production bridge" to the New
Attack submarine.
The submarines' value cannot be understated, according to
Slatkin. "Their most enduring characteristic is stealth," she
said. "Today, and perhaps more so in the future, submarine
stealth will translate into two major warfare enhancements ...
(performing) its peacetime forward deployed missions in a non-
provocative fashion ... and (performing) these missions in the
midst of anticipated threats without a defensive network for
self-protection."
Slatkin pointed out to the subcommittee that these warfare
capabilities are as important now as they were during the Cold
War, because Russian technological advances continue to challenge
our superiority. "Their submarine research, development and
construction programs remain aggressive," she said. "As long as
other nations maintain the ability to launch ballistic missiles
from submarines, we will need attack submarines -- they are our
primary, and sometimes only, conventional means of holding this
threat at bay."
Chief of Naval Operations ADM Mike Boorda spoke of the
importance of silence to the "silent service" when he testified
before the Senate Armed Services Committee March 7. "At tactical
speeds the (Russian-built) Akula is quieter than the 688 (Los
Angeles-class attack submarines) and is very difficult for us to
detect."
"There are six Russian improved Akulas that are a match --
better than a match -- for our 688-Is," said ADM Boorda. "They
will not be a match for the Seawolf, nor will they be a match for
the New Attack submarine, and there will be 12 of those in the
next decade that the Russians will have."
Slatkin conveyed that the New Attack submarine, scheduled to
begin lead ship construction in FY98, "will remain the right
submarine far into the next century."
The New Attack submarine will feature the Modular Isolated
Deck Structure (MIDS), which isolates deck mounted equipment from
radiating noise into the water and protects the same equipment
from violent external shock. This feature also means the
submarines will be less expensive to build, as they will be able
to incorporate more commercial equipment, including electronics,
into their initial design and periodic upgrades.
The best way to maintain the industrial base needed to
construct the world's most advanced submarines, according to
Slatkin, is continued production of the Seawolf (SSN 23) class
attack submarines.
"There have been no construction starts (of attack
submarines) since 1991," she testified. "Additional SSN
construction is essential to bridging submarine production from
1991 to the planned authorization of the New Attack Submarine in
1998."
Slatkin was quick to point out that the Seawolf provides
more than necessary practice for the shipyards.
"The Seawolf class submarine not only addresses all current
warfighting needs, but introduces capabilities and technologies
that are lacking in today's forces," said Slatkin. "With its
superior speed and payload, the Seawolf is ideally suited to
deliver a rapid and decisive military response."
-USN-
NNS201. SECDEF Recognizes United Shield Participants
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of Defense William J. Perry
recognized several military participants of Operation United
Shield in an awards ceremony held March 17 at the Pentagon.
Operation United Shield was conducted by a multinational task
force to evacuate United Nations peacekeepers from Somalia.
Fourteen Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Italian
navy personnel were presented military decorations for their
contributions and achievements as members of Operation United
Shield. They represent more than 9,000 military people who
served in the Somalia area of operations during the evacuation.
Secretary Perry hosted the ceremony and gave the main
address. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff GEN John M.
Shalikashvili and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Central Command GEN
J.H. Binford Peay III also spoke.
The following personnel received awards:
VADM John S. Redd, U.S. Navy
LTGEN Anthony C. Zinni, U.S. Marine Corps
RADM Lee F. Gunn, U.S. Navy
RADM Elio Bolongaro, Italian navy
COL John W. Moffett, U.S. Marine Corps
COL Harry W. Peterson III, U.S. Marine Corps
COL John C. Latimer, U.S. Army
LCDR Harrison A. Heublein, U.S. Navy
CAPT Anne M. Moreland, U.S. Marine Corps
1stLT Kurt W. Buller, U.S. Air Force
Sergeant Major Henry M. Gallahan, U.S. Army
Chief Petty Officer Keith K. Jones, U.S. Navy
Staff Sergeant Jerry L. Bosworth, U.S. Air Force
Sergeant Travis M. Ernst, U.S. Army
(This story appeared on Navy Wire Service as NWSA391)
-USN-
Released by RADM K. Pease, USN.