Four Years After The Navy
July 28th, 2010
I received an email from my oldest son, Tommy, today. He mentioned that today has marked four years post Navy for him. I wanted to share a portion of the email to demonstrate what the GI-Bill combined with lessons learned in the Navy could do.
Tommy is currently completing an internship with Senator Alexander (R-TN) in Washington D.C., and will be starting his second year of law school at Penn State.
A portion of the email; (Read the rest of the story…)
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Temporary Disability Retired List
July 21st, 2010
Over my years in recruiting, although rare, I have helped reenlist a handful of people who were placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL). The process can be confusing; I hope this post may answer some of the more common questions.
TDRL is a program that a servicemember of the United States Armed Forces who have temporary medical issues that precludes them from being a functional member of a command may be placed if so determined by a formal Physical Evaluation Board (PEB).
Title 10 of the U.S. Code requires physical examinations to be conducted every 18 months while on the program (more frequently if diagnosed with PTSD). The intent is too ensure documentation of conditions in reference to stability, progression, and remission. All examinations are reviewed by the Physical Evaluation Board when attempting to make a decision of stability of medical conditions.
For Navy Veterans (NAVETs) who are in the TDRL program, (Read the rest of the story…)
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Operation Sea Orbit
July 8th, 2010
Nuclear Task Force ONE
I am currently in Florida visiting my parents, and just like when I was a young boy, I pulled the Operation Sea Orbit cruise book off the book shelf. My Dad’s USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) cruise book of 1964 details the ship’s participation in Operation Sea Orbit, and the Mediterranean cruise that preceded it. Operation Sea Orbit was an around the world cruise completed by Nuclear Task Force ONE which consisted of the USS Enterprise, USS Long Beach (CGN-9), and the USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25).
Besides all the various photographs of the ship and aircraft from the time and all the pictures from the numerous port visits the ship enjoyed during this historic venture, I found the following information interesting. The deployment was essentially two cruises in one; the normally scheduled 6 month Mediterranean cruise and the two month around the world cruise.
Only once previously had a similar role been assigned to ships of the United States Navy when, some fifty five years ago, sixteen first line battleships were sent around the world to test their capabilities and to attract international attention to the range and modern design of American seapower. This Great White Fleet, as is was called, sailed 46,000 miles in fourteen months. On its cruise, Task Force ONE steamed 31,000 miles in sixty-five days, conducting underway air shows around Africa, through Southern Asian and Pacific waters and up the east coast of South America.
The cruise, named Operation Sea Orbit, was a conclusive demonstration of the special global mobility and self-sufficiency of nuclear powered surface ships… a display of the advanced design of contemporary American seapower around the world serving as striking evidence of the enormous power for peace possessed by the United States. It was a great diplomatic gesture as well, for the Task Force acted as a roving ambassador whose actions and abilities spoke for all the people of its country, and whose hand of welcome was extended around the world….
Enterprise’s extensive list of anchorages during the 1964 Mediterranean cruise portion (Read the rest of the story…)
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Navy Recruiting Slogans
June 27th, 2010
Join Them - Enlist in the Navy
For just about the entire time the United States Navy has been in existence, we have had slogans that were used to help recruit Sailors, but it wasn’t until 1973, that the need for a focused recruiting campaign became a true necessity. It was in 1973 that the draft had ended. It was the first year in modern times that our military had to recruit an “all volunteer force.” Each service could no longer count on conscription as a means to fill the ranks. True, the Navy really never counted on the draft, but it benefited greatly from the amount of people who sought out a Navy Recruiter before their draft number was announced, a good chunk in an effort to avoid service in the Army. Amazingly, every once and a while, when I was serving as a Recruiter in the mid-80′s, someone would walk into the recruiting station and announce that they wanted to join the Navy “before they got drafted.”
In 1973, competition between the services for finding the best qualified applicant was on. It was time for the Navy to hire a full time advertising agency. The advertising company would have to research the (Read the rest of the story…)
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Boston Maggie Has Put Out the Call!
June 27th, 2010
Boston Maggie’s Senior Chief Boatswain’s Mate has found a particular problem in Khandahar. His unit has come across a group of wounded Marines who have slipped through the cracks so to speak. They come in straight from the field with the clothes on their back. In most cases, these Marines have suffered a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). They are in this location to see the doctors at the nearby facility, which is top-notch, before being shipped out to other facilities.
So, what’s the problem? Get yourself over to her blog and find out how you can help! (Read the rest of the story…)
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The FID Made it to Philly
June 19th, 2010
USS FORRESTAL (CV-59)
Thursday, I received an email from a friend of mine with whom I attended ET school, many years ago. After school we both went to different commands, he to the USS Impervious (MSO-449), and I to the FID – both of which were ported at Mayport. When I arrived, shortly after C school, I had 8 days until we were to deploy to the Med. During that short time, we toured each other’s vessels, and remembered the good times we had up in Glakes.
Anyway, his email told me that his daughter, who is in the Coast Guard, escorted my old ship, the USS Forrestal, from Rhode Island to Philadelphia. It is great to hear from him. Small world.
Update! He was kind enough to forward a couple of pictures taken from the United States Coast Guard Cutter Mako (WPB 87303) as they escorted the Forrestal to Philly. The CGC Mako, an 87′ coastal patrol boat, is homeported at Cape May, New Jersey.
USS Forrestal in-tow to Philadelphia, PA. Photo by: SN Kris Metzler aboard CGC Mako
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Father’s Day Present
June 13th, 2010
My family and I have always had a hard time keeping presents a secret. Father’s Day 2010 has turned out to be no different.
Today, my wife gave me a new lens for my camera; a 55-250mm lens, so I can take close up shots of the animals at the zoo, and as it turns out, the animals that happen to roam our back yard in the middle of the day. We named him “Ranger.” (Read the rest of the story…)
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Bucket List
June 6th, 2010
DEP Time Bucket List
A popular movie of 2007, The Bucket List, staring Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, and Sean Hayes, had two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and try to complete a list of things they always wanted to do before they “kicked the bucket.”
Lately, I have been hearing the term thrown around more and more. Mostly by my parents, who are still pretty young and energetic. One example is just this last Christmas, my father booked a North Atlantic cruise and they will see such countries as Estonia, Russia and more. The card he used to surprise her had written, “Mark this off the bucket list!” Incidentally, they are on the cruise right now – we haven’t heard anything yet, but I assume they are having the time of their lives.
Just the other day, I received an email from (Read the rest of the story…)
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Honor Those Who Gave Their All
May 31st, 2010
To a large part of the American population, Memorial Day is just a paid day off from work that traditionally we fire up the backyard grill, and enjoy time with our family and friends.
Countless heroes have died while in the service of this great country, we should be honoring them everyday, but Memorial Day does provide a focus. At 1500, your local time (3pm), take a moment to remember the supreme sacrifice of our fallen heroes. During that moment, take the time to tell the stories of men like;
HM3 Wayne M. Caron, “…HM3 Caron was hit in the arm by enemy fire. Although knocked to the ground, he regained his feet (Read the rest of the story…)
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LT John Finn USN
May 30th, 2010
Medal of Honor Citation:
CPO John Finn USN
For extraordinary heroism distinguished service, and devotion above and beyond the call of duty. During the first attack by Japanese airplanes on the Naval Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, on 7 December 1941, Lt. Finn promptly secured and manned a .50-caliber machinegun mounted on an instruction stand in a completely exposed section of the parking ramp, which was under heavy enemy machinegun strafing fire. Although painfully wounded many times, he continued to man this gun and to return the enemy’s fire vigorously and with telling effect throughout the enemy strafing and bombing attacks and with complete disregard for his own personal safety. It was only by specific orders that he was persuaded to leave his post to seek medical attention. Following first aid treatment, although obviously suffering much pain and moving with great difficulty, he returned to the squadron area and actively supervised the rearming of returning planes. His extraordinary heroism and conduct in this action were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
LT Finn passed away on 27 May 2010, he was 100 years old. He was, and will continue to be, a great inspiration to the Sailors of our Navy. There is a petition, (Read the rest of the story…)
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