Navy CyberSpace Blog (2)

Heritage Language Recruiting Program

August 19th, 2008

The Heritage Language Recruiting Program (HLRP) is available for men and women who live in communities that hold true the heritage and speak the language of their native people to increase the Navy’s capacity in critical foreign languages. If you are eligible (it is available for active and reserve service) for this program you must understand that after your initial training your duty assignments may require regular interaction with the language/dialect-specific general population of your heritage. You will normally be stationed at a parent unit in a specific global area or be assigned as an Individual Augmentee (IA) to a unit identified for deployment to the area of your expertise.

You must meet all basic enlistment eligibility requirements (except for the ASVAB requirement, you may enlist with AFQT scores of 21 or higher). You must be an (Read the rest of the story…)

Updating, Changing and Adding

August 17th, 2008

I think I have now settled on the new color scheme for my web site. The gray background to the featured section of the page seemed the only color to use being this is a mostly Navy recruiting centric site - even the pay charts are easier to read, heck stats are showing people are spending a little more time looking at the pages and exploring even deeper into the web site.

I have had a number of people linking to pages on the site which is always good and I feel I should help out a bit by providing the code to make it easier; (Read the rest of the story…)

Fish On!

August 16th, 2008

Yup, we went camping again! This time I wanted to do a little fishing and not spend our life savings in gas to get there. After reviewing a few places within a half days drive from Memphis we settled on Bull Schoals - White River State Park.

We called ahead to make reservations and were able to get a site that was actually right on the fast moving river. Having only been trout fishing once in my life prior to this trip I was looking forward to the adventure. (Read the rest of the story…)

Do Not Attempt to Adjust Your Screen

August 15th, 2008

If you have been to this site before you would have noticed the dark background and the white lettering - I think I have been reading it so long I have started to go blind. My wife has been telling me for over a year that it is too hard to read and I should change it. Well, I’m starting to work on it. Problem is - I’m color blind, no not the color blind where you can make out the wire is red or blue - I am talking about what matches, what colors go together. I am “tone deaf” when it comes to colors. (Read the rest of the story…)

Medical Conditions Normally Waiverable

August 14th, 2008

Part two of the what will and what won’t keep you out of the United States Navy medically (provided in the cases listed a waiver is granted). Part one discussed conditions that normally would not qualify for a waiver - this installment discusses the conditions in which a waiver may be granted.

If you appear to be, in all other respects, qualified for enlistment but reveal a history of one or more of the following common conditions you must be advised that the treatment records or a written summary from your private or attending physician will be of value to the examining Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) physician during the pre-enlistment physical examination and may reduce the possibility of temporary medical disqualification.

If you are considering a future in the armed forces there is no time like the present to start gathering the records of your medical past. The medical records will be sent to the MEPS in advance for a medical review (Read the rest of the story…)

Medical Issues Not Normally Waivered

August 13th, 2008

Many people who are considering the United States Navy as an option wonder if there may be some mental or physical condition from their past which may preclude them from serving. This post is the first of a two part series which will talk about medical conditions and possibly answer your “would I make it with” questions. Today I will list the medical issues/conditions which will not be considered for a waiver.

For those issues with time conditions they are listed as such - like a severe head injury has a five year waiting period, the waiting period is in place to reduce the possibility there were no long term effects from the injury. Conditions that become aggravated while serving on active duty could in the long run be considered “service connected” which in turn could lead to future disability benefits. By restricting some known medical issues, (Read the rest of the story…)

Another Ban Recruiters Story

August 12th, 2008

According to The Eureka Reporter, “Recruiters exaggeration of the benefits of military service and a drive to meet recruitment quotas are two reasons why two ballot initiatives for November’s election will ask Arcata and Eureka voters whether they want to take away the U.S. military’s ability to contact youths under 18 years old for the purpose of recruiting.”

My question about the proposals would be if there is a high school within the city limits and Recruiters visit those schools to canvass for applicants - is each student going to be required to wear a tag or sticker displaying their age (Read the rest of the story…)

Navy Bean Soup Recipe

August 6th, 2008

The Navy bean is a white bean that is also sometimes known as the great northern bean - whatever the name you may see on the package at the store it is the small white bean one. Your going to need a bag of those, I think they are about a pound in weight (the bag, not the bean). You will also need some ham hock - make sure its smoked as it adds some great flavor, couple large carrots, a large yellow onion (not the sweet kind), 4 cloves of garlic, about 6 inches of a celery stalk, salt and pepper.

OK, empty the beans into a large pot half full of water. Soak the beans for about 6-8 hours - this accomplishes a couple of important things. First it helps reconstitute the bean and second it goes a long way towards making sure you don’t kill your pets (Read the rest of the story…)

Military Compensation Report Released

August 5th, 2008

Today the second volume of tenth quadrennial review of military compensation has been released for all to see. This document is a series of recommendations used to help form policy - volume one dealt with cash compensation areas such as pay comparability, special and incentive pays, pay for performance and housing.

Volume two deals with, among other things, military retirement and Tricare. Both are hot topics - the report suggests some changes that could/would be more costly to the service member.

One example for Tricare again figures to raise the premiums when in most retirees eyes there should not be a premium at all - “what happened to free medical (Read the rest of the story…)

Sailors Getting the Job Done

August 4th, 2008

This story published by the American Forces Press Service may not come as a shock to you, the Navy Seabees have been very involved in our overseas conflict since the beginning but what may surprise you is the fact that there are Sailors who are not a Seabee nor SEAL serving in harms way. Most Americans really don’t know how involved the United States Navy is in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa. Truth is thousands upon thousands of Sailors are making a difference every day be it from the sea, air or even landlocked in the middle of a desert, from all rates and ratings in the Navy! (Read the rest of the story…)