Navy CyberSpace Blog (4)

My Favorite Holiday

October 13th, 2009

July 4, 1983, I was awakened from a deep sleep by the deafening sound of someone dropping, then dragging, a large steal chain across the deck just above my head. It was a normal occurrence, and due to its timeliness, was proving to be quite a good alarm clock. The day was starting just like every other day, continuous hum of machinery, the smell of jet fuel, and the gentle rocking to port and starboard that I had become so accustomed. Those things were now becoming barely noticeable – you can acclimate to just about anything. You see, I was deployed aboard the USS Forrestal, a United States Navy aircraft carrier, 81,000 tons of steel crafted into one of the most powerful devices of war mankind had ever developed. It was my thirtieth day of, what happened to be, my first Mediterranean cruise, and it was that particular day which would cement my understanding of what it is to be an American.

At about noon, the ship stopped all engines (Read the rest of the story…)

234 Years Old

October 13th, 2009

The world’s most powerful and technologically advanced Navy turns 234 years old today.

Happy Birthday United States Navy! (Read the rest of the story…)

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 4th, 2009

The borders of Navy Cyberspace are pink! After all, it is October, which means it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Follow this breast cancer information link, and start to get yourself educated on a disease that is projected to kill about 41,000 Americans in the next year. (Read the rest of the story…)

College, Better Late Than Never

September 27th, 2009

In 1980, as my graduation from high school approached, I needed to make a decision about what I was going to do for the rest of my life; what was going to be my life’s work? I had many options I could have pursued. Certainly, I wasn’t the best student in high school, but I was far from the worst. Throughout my teenage years, I heard time and time again that the only real path to success was through institutions of higher learning, but due to my hard-headedness and stubborn ways, it would be years in my future before the realization of a college education’s potential would become clear.

Funny thing, as most (Read the rest of the story…)

Navy Recruiting Medical Waiver Process

September 17th, 2009

Over the past couple of years, I have received a large number of emails asking me about the waiver process for medical issues. The Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) may have already permanently disqualified the individual, or is concerned they may have a condition which force them to endure the process and anxiety of the medical waiver.

First of all, the approval of a medical waiver is the responsibility of the Commander, Navy Recruiting Command (CNRC). The Admiral makes a decision with input from a qualified medical authority.

To dispel a myth, Navy Recruiting does not (Read the rest of the story…)

Happy Birthday Computer Bug!

September 9th, 2009

I bet you didn’t know that it was a Navy Lieutenant who first coined the phrase “bug” for a problem associated with a computer!

You see, LT Grace Murray Hopper, while serving on active duty, and working at Harvard University found a moth had embedded itself in a relay in the Mark II Aiken Relay Calculator (we are talking about some pretty old technology ).

The operators taped the moth to (Read the rest of the story…)

Navy 27 Ohio State 31

September 5th, 2009

Navy 27 – Ohio State 31

First off, thank you to the Ohio State fans who showed an enormous amount of class before, during, and after the game. It was an entertaining and exciting football game to watch. You Buckeyes displayed your pride in our country and armed forces with a grace not seen enough in this day and age. BZ!

Good to see Vice Admiral Fowler on the sidelines wearing a huge smile just after the 85 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for Navy. I, like him, thought the Midshipmen would pull off the upset!!

Navy may (Read the rest of the story…)

FY10 SRB Levels Announced

August 27th, 2009

As expected, the Navy Selective Re-enlistment Bonus program (SRB) seems to be making a comeback for 2010. NAVADMIN 250/09 states without surprise, “Contingent upon receipt of congressional defense appropriations for FY10 or enactment of a  continuing resolution authority, levels listed in para 4 below are effective as of 01 October 2009 and pre-certification requests will be accepted 35-120 days prior to the desired reenlistment date.” Congress needs to ensure they get the 2010 Defense Budget in front of the President for signature prior to the beginning of FY-2010. So far the defense budget has hit only a few snags but should be ready in plenty of time making a continuing resolution unnecessary (my fingers are crossed ).

NAVADMIN 250/09 has been superseded by NAVADMIN 028/10 as of 22 Jan 2010. (Read the rest of the story…)

Overcoming Post 9/11 GI Bill Transfer Backlog

August 21st, 2009

Due to the overwhelming number of applicants for the transfer of Post 911 GI Bill benefits, the VA has fallen a little behind in getting out the certificates of eligibility – per the below NAVADMIN a number of colleges/institutions have agreed to accept a copy of the approved TEB web page and a completed VA FORM 22-1990E until the actual certificate arrives. Read the NAVADMIN in its entirety; (Read the rest of the story…)

Navy Aircrewman Program

August 12th, 2009

Navy Aircrew Wings

The Aircrewman Program is a six-year enlistment program guaranteeing an initial flying assignment as a flight crewmember in fixed wing or helicopter aircraft and provides for training via various Class “A” Schools for a specific service rating within the Naval Aircrewman (AW) general rating. You will undergo some of the most demanding physical training offered by the military services in this program. You must volunteer for flying duty, be capable of passing a Class II swim test, and pass an aviation flight physical. You must be made aware (Read the rest of the story…)