Navy News Service 12/95 - 08 Mar 95

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NAVY NEWS SERVICE - 08 MAR 95 - NAVNEWS 012/95
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR NAVNEWS 012/95
Top News and Policy Stories
NNS165. New Evaluation and Fitness Reports Simplified
NNS166. Withdrawal of UNOSOM II Forces from Somalia Completed
Personnel Notes
NNS167. Boiler Technician, Machinist's Mate Ratings to Merge
NNS168. TERA Available for Enlisted TAR Personnel
NNS169. `Promises to Keep' Theme Highlights Women's History Month
NNS170. Scholarship, Parent Loans Available for College
Salute to Excellence
NNS171. LCDR First Female Naval Aviator in Space
NNS172. Navy Dentist Travels to South America to Brighten Smiles
Around the Fleet
NNS173. Notable Quotable: ADM Mike Boorda
NNS174. Bradley Makes First U.S. Navy Ship Visit to Slovenia
NNS175. Two Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadrons Merge
NNS176. USS Nassau Crewmembers Attend Papal Audience
NNS177. Status of U.S. Navy on March 6, 1995
NNS178. This Week in the Navy: March 9, 1862
Short Splices
NNS179. Jacksonville to Host Helicopter Association Symposium
NNS180. Tugs No Longer Leave Their Marks on Ships
NNS181. Navy-Marine Corps News
-USN-
Top News and Policy Stories
NNS165. New Evaluation and Fitness Reports Simplified
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations ADM Mike Boorda
has approved a revised fitness report and evaluation system that
will make the reports easier to use, easier to write and more
meaningful for individuals.
"The system we're using today grades people fairly, it's
understood by those who use it and it does allow selection boards
to use those reports in a way that makes sense," said ADM Boorda.
"But, to be as fair to people as we could, and to make sure the
right people get selected for things, it's time to change the
system."
The changes were recommended by a working group headed by
Chief of Naval Personnel VADM Skip Bowman.
There will be one form for E1 through E6 and one form for E7
through O6. The new reports will take care to avoid grade
inflation by limiting reporting seniors on the percentage of people
who can be rated in the top two groups.
"The key thing in these new evaluations -- and the enlisted
and officer evaluations share this feature -- is you can only group
a few in the top block," said ADM Boorda. "I think it is a good
system. The percentages will be high enough so that people can get
in the top categories if they rate it, if they truly do a good
job."
Both forms will share the same overall evaluation marks. The
new overall marks consist of five categories: Promote Early, Must
Promote, Promotable, Progressing and Significant Problem(s).
Both forms also will evaluate personnel on seven traits. For
E7 through O6, the graded traits are professional expertise,
leadership, equal opportunity, military bearing and appearance,
teamwork, mission accomplishment and initiative, and tactical
performance.
For E1 through E6, graded traits are professional knowledge,
quality of work, equal opportunity, teamwork, military bearing and
appearance, personal job accomplishment and initiative. For E4
through E6, leadership also is graded.
"A lot of hard work has gone into turning CNO guidance into a
useful, simple and improved system for all our Navy personnel,"
said VADM Bowman. "I am confident that we have taken a good system
and made it better."
Counseling will be required at the mid-term of evaluation,
semi-annually for those requiring annual reports, quarterly for
those who require semi-annual reports (CW02, ENS and LTJG). The
same form is used for counseling, but is not submitted to BUPERS.
More information is available in NAVOP 009/95.
by LT Dan Bates, BUPERS Public Affairs
-USN-
NNS166. Withdrawal of UNOSOM II Forces from Somalia Completed
ABOARD USS BELLEAU WOOD (NNS) -- Completing the first
amphibious withdrawal since the Battle of Inchon during the Korean
War, the final wave of U.S. Marines and Sailors left the beaches of
Mogadishu, Somalia, March 2 and returned to U.S. Navy warships
waiting off shore.
Less than 72 hours after the task force went ashore, all
United Nations Mission in Somalia (UNOSOM) II forces were safely
packed-up and out to sea on chartered U.N. shipping. The forces of
the Combined Task Force United Shield, including almost 2,000 U.S.
Marines and Sailors and 400 Italian Marines deployed forward from
the sea at midnight, Feb. 28, to provide rear guard security and
logistic support for the departing Pakistani and Bangladeshi
forces.
The Combined Task Force United Shield is comprised of U.S.
forces from each of the four armed services, as well as forces from
Great Britain, Pakistan, Italy, France, Bangladesh, and Malaysia.
In total, 23 warships and more than 14,000 service men and women
were involved in this operation.
The task force was assembled at the request of the U.N. under
U.S. leadership to assist with the safe and orderly withdrawal of
the UNOSOM II forces from Somalia. Italy and the United States
provided the largest contingent of forces.
(This story appeared on Navy Wire Service as NWSA333)
-USN-
Personnel Notes
NNS167. Boiler Technician, Machinist's Mate Ratings to Merge
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Once one of the largest and most
physically demanding ratings in the Navy, boiler technician (BT),
will be no more when the rating merges with the machinist's
mate-surface (MM) rating in October 1996.
Because of the similarity in the responsibilities and training
of BTs and MMs, and the reduction in split-room surface steam
propulsion plants, the Secretary of the Navy approved the merger of
the two ratings. This action will provide greater flexibility in
detailing and broader career opportunities for Sailors. It also
will improve operational and administrative efficiency.
Chief of Naval Personnel VADM Skip Bowman has set Oct. 1, 1996
as the effective date for the merger. This will give current BTs
20 months to make the transition to MM. Revised occupational
standards, rate training manuals and advancement handbooks will be
available by October 1996. Revised MM rating exams will begin with
the January 1997 E7 exam and the March 1997 E4-E6 examination
cycle.
More information is available in NAVADMIN 047/95.
by LT Dan Bates, BUPERS Public Affairs
-USN-
NNS168. TERA Available for Enlisted TAR Personnel
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- To achieve end-strength requirements and
to continue to ensure advancement opportunities, enlisted Temporary
Early Retirement Authority (TERA) is being offered to some enlisted
Training and Administration of Reserves (TAR) with 17 to 20 years
of service.
TERA is being offered only to first class and chief petty
officers in overmanned TAR ratings. There are a limited number of
quotas available and no additional requests will be approved after
quotas are filled.
Applications must be submitted by May 1, with only two
retirement dates being offered, Oct. 31, or Nov. 30, 1995.
More information is available from NAVADMIN 048/95.
by LT Dan Bates, BUPERS Public Affairs
-USN-
NNS169. `Promises to Keep' Theme Highlights Women's History Month
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The March 1995 Women's History Month
theme, "Promises to Keep," recognizes the legacy and contributions
of trailblazing women throughout American history. Building on
this theme, the Navy's observance of Women's History Month
highlights the pioneering work of Navy women, past and present.
Since the first women served as nurses on Navy ships in 1812,
the role of women in the Navy has been expanding. Upon her
enlistment in 1917, Loretta Perfectus Walsh became the first
active-duty Navy woman, and the first woman in any service of the
armed forces, to serve in a non-nurse occupation.
Today, women are represented in virtually all aspects of the
Navy including flying combat patrols from the deck of USS Dwight D.
Eisenhower. Thirteen women are command master chiefs, six of whom
serve at sea or with deployed squadrons.
More information about women in the Navy is available from the
Special Assistant for Women's Policy at DSN 225-9232 or (703)
695-9232, from BUPERS ACCESS under "Bull49.TXT" of RIBBS area or
from NAVOP 008/95.
by LT Dan Bates, BUPERS Public Affairs
(This story appeared on Navy Wire Service as NWSA343)
-USN-
NNS170. Scholarship, Parent Loans Available for College
ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- The Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society
(NMCRS) is offering the VADM E.P. Travers Scholarship and parent
loan program for the fourth year. Grants of $2,000 per academic
year and interest-free parent loans up to $3,000 per academic year
are provided to assist with the full-time undergraduate education
of children of active-duty Navy and Marine Corps service members.
Students must be enrolled or accepted at a post-secondary
undergraduate or technical/vocational institution which has
accreditation accepted by the U.S. Department of Education, and
have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better. All loans
and grants are based on financial need.
Application deadline for the Travers Scholarship is March 15,
and the deadline for the loan program is Oct. 31. You can get
applications and information on other education programs by
visiting your nearest NMCRS office or by writing to NMCRS
Education Programs, 801 North Randolph St., Arlington, VA 22203-
1978, or by calling DSN 226-4904 or (703) 696-4960.
(This story appeared on Navy Wire Service as NWSA328)
-USN-
Salute to Excellence
NNS171. LCDR First Female Naval Aviator in Space
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- LCDR Wendy Lawrence became the first
female Naval Aviator in space, when she launched as a crew member
and mission specialist on the space shuttle Endeavor March 2.
LCDR Lawrence is also the first female Naval Academy graduate
astronaut. A 1981 graduate of the Naval Academy, she is qualified
as a pilot for H-46 and H-2 helicopters and screened for command in
1994.
LCDR Lawrence was the Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic
Fleet Woman Pilot of the Year in 1990 and has a master's degree in
ocean engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Commanding the mission is another Naval Academy graduate,
Stephen Oswald, class of 1973. Oswald left active duty in April
1993, and joined National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) in November 1984. He has piloted two missions aboard the
Space Shuttle Discovery.
by USNA and BUPERS Public Affairs
-USN-
NNS172. Navy Dentist Travels to South America to Brighten Smiles
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- LCDR Amy Counts is an orthodontist
stationed at Naval Dental Center Norfolk, Va. Her military duties
take her to Naval Hospital Portsmouth, Va., where she assists in
the Oral Surgery Department. Her after-hours work takes her much
farther from home.
As a volunteer with the Norfolk-based group, Operation Smile,
Counts spends two evenings a month providing dental care to
indigent residents of Norfolk. Recently, she joined a team which
included plastic surgeons, dentists, nurses and support personnel
for a two-week mission to Columbia, South America.
Although the work days are long during an international
mission, and the daily patient load extremely tiring, the sense of
accomplishment and "the children's smiles make it all worthwhile,"
said Counts.
The typical patient treated during an Operation Smile
International mission is under 6 years old. The non-profit
organization coordinates volunteers to provide dental treatment to
those who may not have the access or finances to receive routine
dental care. On their South America trip, Count's team screened
more than 650 patients during the first week and more than 300 were
scheduled for surgery -- 35 to 55 surgeries daily. During the
second week, a total of 216 patients received 300 procedures.
-USN-
Around the Fleet
NNS173. Notable Quotable: "I want each of you to know how proud I
am of the contributions you are making to this Navy and nation.
Although the Naval Reserve is only 80 years old, the concept of
serving our nation as a "Citizen-Sailor goes back to the very
foundation of our nation." -- Chief of Naval Operations ADM Mike
Boorda in NAVOP 00795, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the
Navy Reserves on March 3
-USN-
NNS174. Bradley Makes First U.S. Navy Ship Visit to Slovenia
ABOARD USS ROBERT G. BRADLEY (NNS) -- The guided missile
frigate USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) became the first-ever U.S.
Navy ship to visit Slovenia March 2, when it pulled into the
Northern Adriatic sea port of Koper for a four-day port visit.
During the course of the Charleston-based frigate's visit to
Slovenia, the crew hosted U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia Allen Wendt,
senior members of the Slovene military staff, and other local
dignitaries. They also conducted general visiting aboard the ship
for the people of Koper.
USS Robert G. Bradley is forward deployed to the U.S. Sixth
Fleet as part of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Battle Group,
now conducting a six-month Mediterranean deployment.
(This story appeared on Navy Wire Service as NWSA341)
-USN-
NNS175. Two Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadrons Merge
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron
(HM) 18 became part of HM 14, March 4, in a ceremony at Naval Air
Station Norfolk. The merger will reduce operating costs by
combining the assets of both squadrons while increasing the Navy's
capability to rapidly conduct airborne mine countermeasures
operations worldwide.
The merging of the Vanguards of HM 14 and the Norsemen of HM
18 combined 702 active-duty and reserve force personnel and 12
MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters, down two from the previous
inventories.
(This story appeared on Navy Wire Service as NWSA335)
-USN-
NNS176. USS Nassau Crewmembers Attend Papal Audience
ABOARD USS NASSAU (NNS) -- During a recent port visit to
Naples, Italy, 90 Sailors and Marines assigned to USS Nassau (LHA
4) attended a Papal audience at the Vatican.
The group loaded onto buses from the Naples USO for the three-
and-a-half hour trip. Upon arriving in Rome, the group met at
Saint Peter's Basilica and were ushered into the auditorium to join
over 5,000 people.
Among those who made the journey was Signalman First Class
(SW) Edward Dupont from Baltimore. "It was a once in a lifetime
experience," he said. "I never thought I'd get the chance to see
the Pope."
Pope John Paul II arrived to the cheers of the crowd. He
spoke to his visitors in seven different languages for half an
hour. It was the highlight on the cruise for many of Nassau's
Sailors and Marines, who recently completed the fourth month of a
six month Mediterranean deployment.
by JO3 Christopher Mann, USS Nassau
-USN-
NNS177. Status of U.S. Navy on March 6, 1995
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The status of the U.S. Navy on March 6
Personnel: approximately 454,100 active duty
approximately 100,700 selected reserves
Ships: 378
Aircraft: approximately 5,400
Underway: 156 ships (41%)
Deployed: 78 ships (21%)
Exercises: 12
Port Visits: 14
Carriers/Air Wings Deployed:
USS Constellation/CVW 2 - Operation Southern Watch
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower/CVW 3 - port visit Antalya, Turkey
LHAs/LHDs/LPHs Underway:
USS Nassau - port visit Haifa, Israel
USS Essex - en route Perth, Australia
USS Belleau Wood - en route Phuket, Thailand
USS Tarawa - local operations, Eastern Pacific
USS Tripoli - local operations, Eastern Pacific
USS Boxer - en route Mazatlan, Mexico
USS Wasp - Exercise Strong Resolve, Eastern Atlantic
(This story appeared on Navy Wire Service as NWSA344)
-USN-
NNS178. This Week in the Navy: March 9, 1862 -- The Monitor, the
first warship with a revolving gun turret, met the Confederate
Virginia (ex-Merrimack) in world's first battle of ironclads. The
battle ended in a draw, but the Virginia never fought again.
-USN-
Short Splices
NNS179. Jacksonville to Host Helicopter Association Symposium
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard
helicopter pilots and air crews will gather in Jacksonville, Fla.,
March 21-24, for the 47th annual Naval Helicopter Association (NHA)
Symposium.
Chief of Naval Operations ADM Mike Boorda will be the
keynote speaker during opening ceremonies for the four-day event.
The symposium will be held at the Marina Hotel and Conference
Center in Jacksonville and is open to all members of the NHA. For
more information call LT Chris Schaier at DSN 960-6639 or (904)
270-6639, or LT John Freeburg at DSN 942-2581 or (904) 772-2581.
(This story appeared on Navy Wire Service as NWSA327)
-USN-
NNS180. San Diego Tugs No Longer Leave Their Marks on Ships
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Naval Station San Diego
ships may find themselves spending less time covering black marks
made by tugboats. Gray non-marking rubber bumpers are now on six
San Diego Bay tugboats.
The original black rubber bumpers were replaced to reduce the
number of skid marks left on ships after tugboats move them. Only
the tugs' two upper bumpers were replaced, as the lower bumpers
have not caused any marking problems.
(This story appeared on Navy Wire Service as NWSA342)
-USN-
NNS181. Navy-Marine Corps News
The March 10 edition of Navy-Marine Corps News -- a videotaped
newscast generated for broadcast to Navy-Marine Corps fleet and
shore units -- includes the following stories:
-- Marines evacuate U.N. forces from Somalia, and return home
-- Promotion numbers for Senior and Master Chiefs on the rise
-- Camp Lejeune Marines send a shock wave through their base
-- CNO discusses the strength of today's Navy with Navy League
-- Sailors and Marines work and play hard at New Orleans Mardi Gras
-- Seabees practice cold weather combat skills in the Pyrenees
-- New York Sailor earns Recruiter of the Year title
We need your input on the show, so call our HOTLINE
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-USN-
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-USN-
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-USN-
Released by RADM K. Pease, USN.