A round the
Region
“Honoring our Sailors’ Service & Sacrifice”
May 2011
NAVY
HEADLINES Osama Bin Laden Killed
On May 1 at 11:34 p.m. EST, U.S. military forces kill the infamous terrorist in a firefight.
NEXCOM Program Helps Employment
NEXCOM has placed more than 1300 associated in Navy Exchange System positions thanks to its Continuity of Employment Program.
2011 Warrior Games Begin More than 200 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen opened the 2011 Games at the U.S. Olympics Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 16.
Sailors win 19th Annual Armed Forces Iron Chef Competition
Sailors from across the Pacific northwest competed in the 19th Annual Armed Forces “Iron Chef ” competition at Olympic College in Bremerton, Wash., May 14.
Volume I Issue 5
Greensboro Conference Prepares Reservists, Families
Story and Photos By MC2 Katrina Scampini
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Navy Operational Center (NAVOPSPTCEN) Greensboro hosted an annual Pre-Deployment Family Readiness Conference (PDFRC) at the Grandover Resort and Conference Center, May 7. More than 300 Navy Reservists and their family members attended the event, which is focused on informing participants about assistance available before, during and after a deployment. PDFRC’s provide a venue for selected Reservists and their families to get information from multiple resources, such as Military One Source, Tricare, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Red Cross, Department of Veterans Affairs and various other organizations to help prepare Sailors and families for deployment. NAVOPSPTCEN Greensboro Commanding Officer Cmdr. Timothy Wachendorfer encouraged attendees to actively engage in the resources available to them and to ask any questions they have. “This event is a two-way street; we put out the information but everyone needs to get involved and ask questions,” Wachendorfer said. “This is a great opportunity for individuals to go directly to the source of information.” Candice Branson, NAVOPSPTCEN Greensboro’s assistant Ombudsman, said that everyone should reach out and ask for the information they may need later. “Each military member’s service directly effects an average of two to five people; this includes your close family and friends,” Branson said. “Everybody needs a different level of support when
PDFRC participants take advantage of service’s offered during the conference, including the Red Cross.
dealing with deployments. You may not need all of this information right now, but you may need it down the road. Now is the time to get this information.” Operations Specialist 1st Class (SW) Ben Vanover, a Navy Reservist and event participant, said that all Sailors and family members should also use this event as a way to reach out to one another in order to create networks they can rely on later. “Networking is important because when we go on deployment our families need to know that other person who is also going through the same thing,” Vanover said. “They need that counterpart to know what they are going through. Networking before my deployment helped my wife out a lot.” Wachendorfer also agreed that networking is a great tool for
people to use before upcoming deployments. “The biggest benefit to this event is that the families can come out and interact and ask the questions,” Wachendorfer said. “The spouses and military members get to network and can build a support group, so if they need help they know who to call.” When Sailors leave for mobilization, it is critical that their families are well equipped with deployment information and points of contact. Many families of Reserve Sailors are not in fleet concentration areas, which means the support network may be sparse. Knowing the organizations that are available to assist families during difficult times is very helpful. “It is important for families to know what resources are out there and being able know where to go if problems arise during deployContinued on pg. 3
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NAVOPSPTCEN Schenectady PDFRC STRANGE
TIMES
Story and Photos by YN1 Teresa Bagorio SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Navy Operational Support Center (NAVOPSPTCEN) Schenectady hosted its annual Pre-Deployment Family Readiness Conference (PDFRC) for its Sailors and their family members April 2. During the conference, Sailors and their families were informed about support services offered to assist them before, during and after a mobilization. The mobilization process can be challenging for services and family members alike. The PDFRC focused on emotional health and welfare as well as military and local area resources and benefits. The highlight of the event was the attendance of Rear Adm. Scott Weikert, NAVOPSPTCEN Flag Mentor. Weikert spoke with Reservists and their family members; he acknowledged the spouses who attended, thanked them for supporting their Sailors and presented them with one of the NAVOPSPTCEN coins. Also in attendance were New York State Assemblymen George Amedor, Schenectady County Chamber President Chuck Steiner, and representatives from Senator
Centerpiece Toilet for Chelsea Show Garden
A toilet is the centerpiece of a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, based around the traditional Korean belief that emptying your body also means cleansing your mind.
Big Mac
Sailors receive appreciation during the PDFRC. Hugh Farley, Congressman Paul Tonko and Congressman Chris Gibson’s offices. All presented Certificates of Recognition and Merit to the NAVOPSPTCEN Sailors mobilized in the last two years. The Schenectady County Chamber played a huge part in coordinating efforts with the local politician’s months in advance to make this ceremony happen. While the grownups were busy
listening to the presenters, the kids were busy too! They took a tour of the Empire State Aerospace Museum, sat in a flight simulator and learned about different military aircraft. The kids also made posters for all our recently mobilized members and enjoyed a bounce house. The event was a success and the CO hopes more families can attend next year.
A Wisconsin man downed his 25,000 Big Mac on the 39th anniversy of the first time he ordered McDonald’s signature sandwich.
AROUND THE REGION
S TA F F
CAPT Br i an T Smit h
RC C C ommanding Of f ice r
CDR Matt he w Jacks on
RC C C h i e f St af f Of f ice r
LT Ste ve Fran k lin
RC C Publ i c Af fairs Of f ice r C hi ef E d itor / D e si g n & L ayout
MC2 Kat r ina S c ampini
Family members explore military craft.
Children enjoy crafts during PDRFC.
USO Women of the Year Event NEW YORK CITY -(Pictured from Left to Right) NAVOPSPTCEN Fort Dix Commanding Officer Capt. Ken Skaggs and his wife, Former Navy Secretary and Secretary of Defense Gordon England, Cmdr. McAvoy (MEPS NYC), Chief Yeoman Katherine Hoffman (NAVOPSPT-
CEN NYC), and Culinary Specialist Seaman Judith Boyce attended the annual USO Woman of the Year event in New York City, April 26. One of the honorees was injured Sailor CSSN Boyce. Other USO Woman of the Year Selectees were Ms. Linda Hudson (President, CEO BAE) and Chief of Staff to the Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff Rear Adm. Michelle Howard. Photo by Capt. Sam Tate.
C ONTRIBU T I NG PE RSON NEL CAPT Sam Tate
NAVOPSPTCEN New York City Commanding Officer
YN1 Teres a B agor io
NAVOPSPT E N S che ne c t ady
EM2 (SW) Dwight Parker
NAVOPSPTC E N Gre e nsb oro
Pat r ick C ole Mi ke Simoncel li
Around the Region
‘Greensboro’
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This Month In
Continued from pg. 1
NAVAL HISTORY May 4, 1942
Battle of Coral Sea, first carrier vs. carrier battle, begins
May 6, 1909
Great White Fleet anchors in San Francisco
Participants attend a PDFRC brief. ment,” said Lt. j.g. Scott Miller, operational support unit executive officer. “This is a chance for everyone to interact with the ombudsman and put a face with a name for those people who you may need to contact in the future.” The event also gave attendees the opportunity to take advantage of additional services, including the preparation of identification cards, wills and powers of attorney. Wachendorfer said this event is a way to let families know that when their loved ones deploy, they are not alone. “That is the number one goal; to make sure the Sailors
and their families know they are loved and supported and have an open door to go through when they need help.” A family day picnic at the High Point City Park concluded the event on May 8, where participants were treated to family-oriented events, such as clowns and face painting for children, and was catered by Shane’s Rib Shack. Each NAVOPSPTCEN is entitled to Yellow Ribbon event funding to conduct PDFRCs. Their primary goal is to ensure Navy Reservists are aware of the wide range of available resources and support that are available to them and how to access it.
May 8, 1945
Ombudsman speaks with participants.
VE-Day, Germany’s unconditional surrender to the allies
May 12, 1846
U.S. declares war against Mexico
May 28, 1980
55 women become first women graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy Reservist takes advantage of vendor materials.
May 31, 1900
USS England sank a record 6th Japanese submarine in 13 days.
PMK
Question of the Month
CAREER COUNSELOR’S CORNER Comparing the GI Bill Education Programs If you are eligible for another benefit program as well as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you should review the side-by-side comparison of benefits under each program. While each individual’s situation is different, this may help you determine which of the programs provide the most benefit for your individual situation. You should now have enough information to decide whether you want to apply for the Post-9/11
GI Bill or another benefit program. Remember, if you give up another program to recieve the Post-9/11 GI Bill, is an irrevocable choice - this means that once you have selected the Post-9/11 GI Bill, you cannot switch back to the programs you gave up. SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON CHART http://www.gibill.va.gov/documents/Benefit_Comparison_ Charts.pdg
What was the first aircraft carrier to see servive with the U.S. Navy? Check out
AROUND THE REGION
next month for answers! Last month’s answer: Holding your rifle in the exact same position to ensure your eye stays the same distance from the peep hole.
Around the Region
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NAVOPSPTCEN New York City attends Robin Hood Foundation By Patrick Cole NEW YORK CITY -- The Robin Hood Foundation gala, Wall Street’s largest single-evening fundraising event, had Lady Gaga onstage and took in $47.4 million last night at its annual New York dinner. The sum, which fell short of last year’s record of $87.8 million, will go to groups fighting poverty in the city. The total included $11.9 million raised at tables for a new program that will assist veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and National Reservists, as well as $400,000 for an auction item to fly to Los Angeles and record a song with Black Eyed Peas front man will.i.am. The 2010 total included a matching gift from billionaire George Soros and Robin Hood board members. The night’s event, held at the Jacob K. Ja-
vits Convention Center, sold out in mid-April after the foundation announced that Lady Gaga would perform. Founded in 1988, the Robin Hood Foundation raises money for 200 of New York’s poverty-fighting organizations. Its board -- which includes Paul Tudor Jones II, Greenlight Capital’s David Einhorn, SAC Capital Advisors LP’s Steven A. Cohen, film producer Harvey Weinstein and actor Gwyneth Paltrow -- covers the gala’s cost so that all proceeds go to the beneficiaries. The mega-party, hosted by NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, got more onstage action when Tony Bennett performed a couple of ballads. Kid Rock later sang about making the world a better place as uniformed military personnel marched into the center of the dining area.
NRMA RCC Interactive Customer Evaluation http://ice.disa.mil/index.cfm?fa=site&site_id=1001
Web-based customer feedback is replacing the old paper-based business practices with the Department of Defense’s Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) system. ICE uses Internet technology in the form of an interactive Web site, which allows customers to give commands direct and immediate feedback about their experiences concerning the command. With the click of a mouse, a customer’s ICE suggestion, com-
pliment, or complaint is sent to the appropriate Service Provider. To access ICE, all that is needed is an Internet browser. An ICE comment card can be sent from any computer, at any time. Comment card information is confidential and viewed only by the Service Provider getting the feedback. The feedback is used to continuously review, improve and provide the highest quality service possible. The system automatically calcu-
lates the customer service rating and reports trend data. ICE provides the following benefits: * Allows DoD customers to quickly and easily provide feedback * Customers can make submissions anonymously or can include contact information *Gives leadership timely data on service quality * Encourages communication across organizations by comparing
best practices to increase performance reuslts NRMA RCC’s ICE site can be located at the following link. Thank you for taking the time to rate us and provide us with your comments and suggestions. Your feedback will help us maintain the quality of excellence you expect as well as assist with out continuous process improvement measures. http://ice.disa.mil/index. cfm?fa=site&site_id=1001
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Chief Petty Officer Leadership Training NAVOPSPTCEN New York City hosted the Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Leadership Training Continuum for CPOs from NAVOPSPTCEN New York City and NAVOPSPTCEN Long Island, April 9-10. The CPO Leadership Training Continuum has been a part of the training curriculum at NAVOPSPTCEN NYC since 2004. Topics of instruction from this year’s Continuum included Brilliant on the Basics, awards and recognition, evaluations and fitness reports, TRICARE, Veteran Benefits, Alcohol and Drug Control Management and many other Navy programs pertinent to enlisted Sailor’s career. The keynote speaker for the training was Deputy Navy Special Warfare Rear Adm. Garry Bonelli. Photo courtesy NAVOPSPTCEN New York City.
Keep N.C. Clean & Green Adopt a Highway Program
Sailors assigned to NAVOPSPTCEN Wilmington, N.C. collect trash in conjuction with the Keep N.C. Clean & Green Adopt a Highway program to maintain the quality of the landscape along the stretch of road near the center. Photos courtesy NAVOPSPTCEN Wilmington, N.C.
Reserve Retirement Benefits Seminar Personnel Specialist 1st Class Donald Tillack, a reserve retirement benefits facilitator assigned to NAVOPSPTCEN Newport conducts a seminar for approximately 120 Reserve Sailors at Naval Station Newport, May 14. Representatives from TRICARE, Military One Source, Veterans Administration, Social Security Administration, Department of Labor and Navy Mutual Aid were on hand to provide the latest information about programs and services available to veterans. In addition, a representative provided information about the post 9/11 Montgomery
G.I. Bill. The seminar was created by Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Reserve Component Command (RCC) to provide retiring Selected Reservists with a program similar to the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). The information is important to all personnel thinking about retirement, their spouses as well as members already retired. Past attendees level of knowledge increased dramatically after the seminar. The program was adopted by the other RCCs and is currently conducted in areas within a day’s drive for many Reserve Sailors. Photo courtesy NAVOPSPTCEN Newport.
Around the Region
SU B S C R I B E If you would like to receive this monthly newsletter, please send an email to RMARCC_PAO@navy.mil
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WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NRMARCC ‘LIKE’ us on FaceBook! Our page is always being updated with new
photos and information. Don’t forget to upload your NAVOPSPTCEN’s photos to keep everyone informed on the great things you are doing! This month we would like to thank NAVOPSPTCEN New York City for their active campaigning and keeping us informed on all their recent community events and ceremonies! https://www.facebook.com/pages/NOSC-NEW-YORK-CITY/116130211759097
FEEDBACK
This newsletter is for YOU Help us make Around the Region better for you! We need your input on what you’d like to see in future issues, so send us your ideas, photos and stories to highlight the great things you and your shipmates are doing! Email or call: MC2 Scampini
katrina.scampini@navy.mil 757-444-7295 ext. 2015
We look forward to hearinig from you! Dont’ forget to check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ NRMARCC
SUDOKU
How to Play: The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in the game with the correct numbers. There are three very simple constraints to follow. In a 9 by 9 square Sudoku game: Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 GOOD LUCK!!
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Around the Region Photos of the Month
h to start the first pitc s w ro th h it an Sm 5. Photo by CO Capt. Bri ball game May se ba s at B NRMA RCC e ill isons vs Louisv the Buffalo B . lli Mike Simonce
NAVOPSPTCEN New London SELRES visited the Conneticut State Veterans Home. Photo courtesy NAVOPSPTCEN New London.
NAVOPSPTCEN New York City Sailors parti cipate in the Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festi val. Photo courtesy NAVOPSPTCEN NYC.
YN2 Parks, assigned to NRMA RCC, reenlists for six years. Photo by MC2 Katrina Scampini.
essful
fter a succ
CMC (SCW) Victo r J. Brown’s wife puts Senior Chief on his lapel follow anchors ing his promotion . Photo courtesy SPTCEN Rocheste NAVOPr.
d lunch a joy a catere n e rs e b m family me t Parker. Sailors and M2 Dwigh E y b to o h PDFRC. P