Navy News Service 60/94 -- 05 Oct 94

[Navy News Service]

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NAVY NEWS SERVICE - 05 OCT 94 - NAVNEWS 060/94
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR NAVNEWS 060/94
Top News and Policy Stories
NNS654. Newest Officer Community Formed
NNS655. BQs to Get Telephones and TV Outlets in Each Room
Personnel Notes
NNS656. Aviation Department Head Screen Board Changes
NNS657. Breaking the Rules
NNS658. Ratings Merger Policy is Forthcoming
Around the Fleet
NNS659. Notable Quotable: ADM H. H. Mauz Jr.
NNS660. Salute to Excellence: Sabana Seca Sailors Good Neighbors
NNS661. HAZMIN Saves Navy Big Bucks
NNS662. Naval Ordnance Center System Assists Injured Motorist
NNS663. Joint Construction Training to be Consolidated
NNS664. Tracking System Protects Whales During Live-Firings
NNS665. Fire Fighting School to Be Built at Kings Bay
NNS666. It's Time For Go Navy, Beat Army Video Submissions
NNS667. This Week in the Navy: Oct. 10, 1845
Short Splices
NNS668. Marine Corps Marathon Closes Field
NNS669. Two San Diego Ships Win Energy Conservation Awards
NNS670. Navy Physician Recruiting Has a Successful Season
NNS671. USS Platte Refuels 11 Countries' Ships in Two Days
NNS672. Navy-Marine Corps News
-USN-
Top News and Policy Stories
NNS654. Newest Officer Community Formed
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy's newest officer community was
inaugurated Oct. 4. It's called Special Duty Officer (Fleet
Support) and officers will have designator 170X.
The community will be a gender-neutral restricted line officer
corps that will be initially staffed by officers from the former
General Unrestricted Line (GEN URL) designator.
The decision to form a separate Fleet Support Designator was
approved in concept by the Secretary of the Navy John Dalton and
Chief of Naval Operations ADM Mike Boorda in May and formally
approved by the Secretary of the Navy on October 4.
The new community is being formed as the role of women in the
Navy changes. Repeal of the section of the Combat Exclusion law
which prohibited women from serving in combat vessels opened
increased opportunities for Navy women. This caused a
reexamination of the role of the GEN URL officer community.
For the past 20 years, GEN URL officers have supported shore
commands and staffs, in positions from division officer to major
command and beyond. As the Gen URL community developed, the shore
establishment and fleet support requirements grew more complex.
The career path for the Fleet Support community will emphasize
development of professionals experienced in the requirements of the
support establishment. As the Navy's infrastructure changes, these
officers will continue to be invaluable and will provide the Navy
with experienced leadership. The Fleet Support Community will be
built around four core areas of expertise: Manpower and Personnel;
Space and Electronic Warfare; Activity Management, and Technical
Support.
More information will be available in a forthcoming NAVADMIN
or from the Fleet Support Officer Community Manager at DSN 223-2308
or (703)693-2308.
By LT Dan Bates, BUPERS Public Affairs
-USN-
NNS655. BQs to Get Telephones and TV Outlets in Each Room
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Bachelor Quarters (BQ) will be wired for
telephone and television service in the near future.
The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) has been assigned
responsibility to provide telecommunication service for every room
in BQ's. The current plan calls for awarding the first contracts
to civilian contractors in the summer of 1995.
Included will be internal/external wiring of buildings for
telephone and cable TV all done with appropriated funds.
The primary goal is to provide better service at lower cost.
The Sailor will pay less than or comparable to community monthly
service charges and long distance charges for day, evening, and
weekend rates.
More information is available in NAVADMIN 189/94.
By LT Dan Bates, BUPERS Public Affairs
-USN-
Personnel Notes
NNS656. Aviation Department Head Screen Board Changes
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- New procedures set for the FY95 Aviation
Department Head Screen Board now include a second look for
operational and special mission department head. The FY94 Board
convened under the guideline that every officer considered would
receive only one look and would not be considered by subsequent
boards.
Under the new procedures, an officer will be considered for an
operational department head screen on the first look. The
following year, an officer will receive a second look for
operational and also will be considered for a special mission
department head. This allows officers looked at in FY94 to have
their second look in FY95.
NAVADMIN 178/94 provides additional information. For any
other questions, contact the aviation detailers at (comm) (703)
614-8708 or (DSN) 224-8708.
By LT Dave Waterman, BUPERS Public Affairs
-USN-
NNS657. Breaking the Rules
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Sometimes the rules are meant to be broken --
or at least stretched a bit.
That is what happened recently when a married third class
Ocean System Technician-Maintainer had just completed more than
four years of his six-year obligation and had orders to the U.S.
Naval Facility, Keflavik, Iceland. But, because he was still on
his first term, and by the rules he was not eligible to submit his
ENCORE request, he could not extend to accept the normal 30-month
obligated service in Iceland.
Instead, he was told he would have to accept unaccompanied 18-
month orders. But once he arrived at Keflavik, a diligent career
counselor noticed he was Junior Sailor of the Year at his last
command and had earned the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist
(EAWS) designation.
A call to the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) highlighted
the problem and coordination with BUPERS Reenlistment Management
Branch, the ENCORE policy manager and the enlisted comunity manager
resulted in a six month extension for the petty officer. The petty
officer's spouse is now on her way to Iceland.
Bottom line: BUPERS would like to remind you to highlight
questions or issues that deserve special consideration, even those
that mean waiving an existing policy.
By LT Dan Bates, BUPERS Public Affairs
-USN-
NNS658. Ratings Mergers Policy is Forthcoming
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Details on the enlisted ratings mergers and
disestablishments will be released in a forthcoming NAVADMIN.
-USN-
Around the Fleet
NNS659. Notable Quotable: "Your devotion to duty and hard work
have been the key elements in our fleet's outstanding readiness.
The ships that are working up for deployment or are forward-
deployed today are in great shape, due in large part to the quality
of leadership exercised throughout the fleet -- from the signal
bridge to the fireroom, from officers and chiefs to newly promoted
petty officers and non-rated personnel on the deck plates. It was
a privilege for me to serve with you." ADM H. H. Mauz Jr., in his
farewell message to the Atlantic Fleet.
-USN-
Salute to Excellence
NNS660. Sabana Seca Sailors Remain Good Neighbors
SABANA SECA, Puerto Rico (NNS) -- Sailors at the Naval Security
Group Activity at Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico, have shown they
understand what it means to be good neighbors by caring about the
local school children and the environment.
The command recently dispatched its Sailors to the Francisca
Davila Semprit School, one of the island's largest schools, for a
rigorous cleaning of the grounds, fulfilling one pledge given to
the school when it was adopted by the command in March.
At the adoption ceremony, the Naval Security Group Activity
pledged to improve the physical appearance of the grounds. In
addition, it pledged to improve the education, fitness and
citizenship of the students.
The schoolyard isn't the only environment to receive attention
from the command. To the delight of nature lovers on base and
within the local community of Sabana Seca, three environmental
agreements were signed Sept. 2 by Naval Security Group Activity
commanding officer CDR R. T. Lyman, and Ms. Ana Maria Vera,
Director of the Puerto Rico Conservation Foundation.
The agreements encompass extensive study in three different
areas. One of the agreements will ensure the building of a nature
trail through the pterocarpus (tropical tree) forest for
recreational and educational purposes. The nature trail should be
completed and opened to the public for tours by June 1995.
-USN-
NNS661. HAZMIN Saves Navy Big Bucks
NAS JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- USS Saratoga's service to the
nation may be over, but hazardous material off-loaded from her
decks is seeing new life in a thousand places. Thanks to a
hazardous waste minimization (HAZMIN) initiative at Naval Station
Mayport, the ship's stores will likely serve the fleet for years.
Within a few days after the carrier's final homecoming on June
24, LT Tony Crusellas and Naval Station Mayport's HAZMIN staff had
inventoried as many as 285 pallets taken from the ship. By the
close of the official August decommissioning ceremony, the team of
16 Sailors and civilians had already found a home for most of the
carrier's leftover hazardous material.
Crusella says the project will eventually save the Navy almost
a million dollars by reducing hazardous material expenditures,
regulatory fines, and hazardous waste disposal costs normally
associated with large-volume off-loads.
He said most of Sara's HAZMAT, valued at more than $315,000,
has already been redistributed to several customers in the supply
system. He added that he expects to deplete the off-load supply
within the next few months. Crusellas said the Navy will save an
additional $211,000 as there is no requirement to pay expensive
disposal fees.
By Stuart Lee Johnston, Environmental Public Affairs, COMNAVBASE,
Jacksonville
-USN-
NNS662. Naval Ordnance Center System Assists Injured Motorist
INDIAN HEAD, Md. (NNS) -- The Defense Transportation Tracking
System (DTTS) was recently put to the test Sept. 6 by a DoD-
contracted Tri-State Trucking Company driver. While traveling
through Daingerfield, Texas, he came upon a serious automobile
accident involving injuries. He pushed the DTTS "panic button" and
help soon arrived on the scene for the injured motorist.
The DTTS, managed by the Naval Ordnance Center, has a tracking
device in all of the trucks hauling ordnance. If a DoD-contracted
trucker has problems, he or she can push the "panic button" to
alert the Navy Management Transportation Office located in Norfolk,
Va., which then will immediately alert civilian medical and police
units in the local area to the exact location of the truck with the
accident/incident.
In this case, a motorist received assistance thanks to this
state-of-the-art system.
-USN-
NNS663. Joint Construction Training to be Consolidated
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (NNS) -- In an effort to increase efficiency and
reduce cost, the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marine Corps will
consolidate construction and construction engineer training at five
centers of excellence.
The Naval Construction Battalion Centers in Gulfport, Miss.,
and Port Hueneme, Calif., have been chosen as two of the centers of
training excellence. The remaining three centers will be located
at other services' bases. Navy will begin the consolidation of its
training in October 1994, with full implementation of the four
services by October 1995.
When consolidation is fully implemented, the annual student
load will increase by 1,305 students at Gulfport and 1,127 students
at Port Hueneme.
-USN-
NNS664. Tracking System Protects Whales During Live-Firings
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy is currently developing the Marine
Mammal Acoustic Tracking System (MMATS) designed to help protect
whales during live-fire tests against the hull of decommissioned
ships.
Over the past month, weekly live firings against the hull of
the ex-USS Raleigh (LPD 1) in the Caribbean have provided
information on the ability of the new LPD-17 to survive close-in
explosions.
The system, designed to detect and localize a variety of large
whales--including blue, humpback and sperm whales--by their
vocalizations, allows tracking of deep-diving whales that might
escape surface observation. If marine mammals are detected, testing
is postponed to ensure that none are injured.
The use of MMATS played a key role in a federal judge's
approval for the Navy to proceed with shock testing for the new
Arleigh Burke class Aegis destroyers in the Pacific in May and
June. During shock trials on USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) near San
Nicolas Island, a Navy P-3 aircraft crew deployed a precisely
aligned field of sonobuoys (underwater hydrophones) in the test
area to augment surface searches for marine mammals. In two
instances, blue whales were detected through vocalizations picked
up by the hydrophones. On one of those occasions the whales were
close to the originally planned test location which resulted in
relocating the test to another area where no marine mammals were
present. Detailed surveys following the shock trials confirmed no
animals were harmed by the tests.
-USN-
NNS665. Fire Fighting School to Be Built at Kings Bay
KINGS BAY, Ga. (NNS) -- A ground-breaking ceremony for a new
Trident Training Facility (TTF) fire-fighting team trainer was held
Oct. 4 at the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.
The fire-fighting trainer, the first-ever in Kings Bay, is
designed to enhance greatly the ability of submarine personnel to
combat and contain fires on board a submerged submarine. The
trainer, which costs $3.65 million, is a 9,026 square-foot building
consisting of three levels and a 5,850 square-foot support
building.
The facility is designed to provide realistic submarine
scenarios with items such as hatches and watertight doors
incorporated into the building design. Construction will take
about two years to complete. Training is expected to commence in
1996.
By JOC Stacey Byington NAVBASE Kings Bay Public Affairs
-USN-
NNS666. It's Time For "Go Navy, Beat Army" Video Submissions
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy has another exciting opportunity to
put our officers, Sailors and Marines showing their support for
Navy before millions of Americans during the annual Army-Navy
football game. ABC-TV Sports has requested "Beat Army" video spots
from Navy service members for broadcast during the game, scheduled
for Dec. 3 at Veterans' Stadium in Philadelphia.
The video message should include the group's identity,
command, location, "Go Navy" and/or "Beat Army." Avoid the use of
Navy jargon or acronyms. A sample message is "We're the men and
women of the cruiser USS Always Ready in Yokosuka, Japan. Go Navy-
-Beat Army!"
Spots should be broadcast quality, about 10 seconds in length.
While Betacam format is preferred, 3/4-inch, high 8 and Beta
formats can also be submitted. VHS recordings are usually
unacceptable due to poor broadcast quality. Emphasis is placed on
outdoor stand-up locations representing the command's location or
mission, such as the deck of a ship, the pier in front of the ship
or with palm trees in the background. All Sailors should have a
sharp appearance in the uniform of the day, with appropriate
headgear and no sunglasses.
A list with the group's identity, the individual names (if a
small group), the command's name and location, and line art (unit
crest/patch) for a graphics display should be included. Original,
broadcast-quality tapes must be received no later than Nov. 15 at
Navy Office of Information East, 133 E. 58th Street, 15th Floor,
New York, New York 10022. For more information call ENS Maria
Hernandez at (212) 826-4653.
-USN-
NNS667. This Week in the Navy: Oct. 10, 1845 -- The U.S. Naval
Academy was established at Annapolis, Md.
Short Splices
NNS668. Marine Corps Marathon Closes Field on Oct. 12
QUANTICO, Va. (NNS) -- The Marine Corps Marathon organizers
announced that applications for the Oct. 23 race will be accepted
only until 5 p.m. on Oct. 12. This marks the first time in the 19-
year history of the event that the field will be closed before the
day of the race.
A record 15,500 people are expected to run. Anyone still
interested in running should request an application by Oct. 6 by
calling (703) 640-2225.
-USN-
NNS669. Two San Diego Ships Win Energy Conservation Awards
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Tripoli (LPH 10) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD
43) each took first place in competition for Secretary of the
Navy/Federal Energy and Water Management Awards.
USS Fort McHenry reduced lighting energy 70 to 80 percent by
placing all lights in passageways and berthing compartments in the
darken ship position during peak usage hours. USS Tripoli
installed spring-loaded shower heads and reduced flow faucets.
They also monitored laundry and scullery facilities to verify that
full loading was being conducted and ensured controlled water
temperatures were maintained.
The winning ships reported saving the Navy more than $386,700
and over one million gallons of water.
By COMNAVSURFPAC Public Affairs
-USN-
NNS670. Navy Physician Recruiting Has Successful Season
ARLINGTON, Va. (NNS) -- For the first time in a decade, Navy
physician recruiting reached a milestone goal, while breaking a
record at the same time. On Sept. 21, Colleen Counihan signed on
as the 40th Navy physician commissioned this year, recruited by LT
William Fallin at Navy Recruiting District Minneapolis, Minn. She
represents the last recruit required for the Navy to achieve goal.
The last time Commander, Navy Recruiting Command (CNRC) made this
goal was in 1983.
-USN-
NNS671. USS Platte Refuels 11 Countries' Ships in Two Days
ABOARD USS PLATTE (NNS) -- USS Platte (AO 186) recently contributed
to the United Nations peacekeeping efforts in the Adriatic Sea by
completing 12 underway replenishments with naval units from 11
different countries: the U.S., Canada, Britain, Germany, Turkey,
Greece, Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands, France and Denmark. These
NATO-member ships are tasked to maintain a continuous presence in
the waters off Yugoslavia, enforcing United Nations' efforts to
restore peace and order in the Bosnia-Herzegovinia region.
Many of the ships USS Platte refueled in the 30-hour operation
had someone on board that could speak English for coordination of
the events and for discussing safety issues.
-USN-
NNS672. Navy-Marine Corps News
The Oct. 7 edition of Navy-Marine Corps News -- a videotaped
newscast generated for broadcast to Navy-Marine Corps fleet and
shore units -- includes the following stories:
-- U.S. reduces military forces in Haiti
-- First Lady christens USS Columbia (SSN 771)
-- CNO visits sailors in New England
-- Rating merger matches people to Navy's mission
-- Opportunities expand for women in the Marine Corps
-- MSC supports Army operations in Haiti
-- Norfolk's WAVY-TV captures Ike's return from Haiti
-- U.S. and Romanian divers take part in exercise
-- Kathy Mattea, Sammy Kershaw entertain Norfolk Sailors
We need your input on the show, so call our HOTLINE
at (202) 433-6108 or DSN 288-6108 and leave a message or send us an
E-mail at: kane%med...@nbs-onet.navy.mil
If you have distribution questions contact Mr. John Morrissey
at (202) 433-5844 or DSN 288-5844, or write him at the address
mentioned below. Navy/Marine Corps News tapes must be returned each
week. Please use the enclosed return label.
Input from Fleet units ensures our most complete coverage of
global events affecting the Navy and Marine Corps. If you have
items that would be of interest to the Navy or Marine Corps
worldwide, please submit your original video contributions on
Betacam, Hi-8, Super VHS, or 3/4 inch videotape to the nearest
Navy Broadcasting Fleet Support Detachment or send by fastest means
possible to our Field Producer at:
Navy/Marine Corps News
Naval Media Center, Bldg. 168
2701 South Capitol St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20374-5081
(202) 433-6252, DSN 288-6252
-USN-
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-USN-
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