March 2016 Edition
OSTS Notes
Newsletter of the United States Naval Academy
Offshore Sail Training Squadron
FROM OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Spring is quickly approaching and we
are looking forward to getting back on
the water. It has been a busy winter so
far. The volunteer class of 2016 is
working hard, attending classes, and
hopefully getting through their Dqualification exams. The Cutter Shed,
our operational maintenance building
and staff the other side of Santee Basin
are working on minor maintenance on our large fleet of sailing
craft, and Small Craft Repair Department (SCRD), our full
service boatyard the other side of the Severn River, is working
on the major winter preventative maintenance projects.
As a few of you have noticed, six Navy 44s were in the Basin all
winter. We have a contract to inspect and repair about 2/3 of the
masts and rigging in the Navy 44s this winter, the rest will get
done next year. In order to ensure we have boats ready and
available for spring training, we left six boats in the water while
work is done on the rest of the fleet. We will cycle the last six
boats through their winter maintenance as soon as the other
boats are done. The varsity team will use the boats first, they
start practicing mid-March after spring break, to get ready for
their live, on-water demonstration of MOB recovery for the
Safety at Sea Seminar.
Another project completed over the winter was to fully clean all
of the holding tanks on the Navy 44s. This should be very
helpful during the year to help prevent clogs in the system.
Returning volunteers will notice that we have a new model of
VHF cockpit microphone. They no longer manufacture the radio
or microphone that we have on the boat, but we have found a
solution until we are able to phase replace the existing
radios. Please note that we will be changing the SOP regarding
the microphones. We are going to leave them connected at all
times to minimize the risk of damaging the pins from incorrectly
plugging them into the connector adapter.
SPRING NAVY 26 (COLGATE) TRAINING
We will offer training in the Navy 26s this spring, with a target
opening date of Friday, April 1st. If you started the program
late and need to get your B-level qualification, you will be able
Table of Contents
Program Director Message
Spring Navy 26 Training
Safety at Sea Seminar
First Aid and CPR/AED Training
Navy 44 Spring and Summer Training
Personnel Qualification Standard (PQS)
Spring and Summer Travel Orders
Nav Working Party Volunteers Needed
The Helmsman Publication
OSTS Facebook Page
E-Mail Opt Out
to sign up online and sail at your own convenience for two hour
training sessions. We will also offer some Saturday
sessions. Once you master the sailing skills and the standard
operating procedures that are specific to the Navy 26, you will
be recommended to take the check ride, and will need to pass a
comprehensive written test. You only need this do this Bqualification once for OSTS. If you are an active volunteer and
want to check the Navy 26 out for recreational sailing, you will
need to keep your B-qualification current (annual
basis). Volunteers who are interested in starting the training for
2016/2017 season may want to consider getting their Navy 26
qualification done this spring to help spread out the time
commitment over the year. You can then start on the Navy 44s
in October. We will be sending out an email with a link to the
training in a separate email. Additional information and the
Standard Operating Procedures for the Navy 26 (recommended
reading prior to training) is at the following link:
http://www.usna.edu/SailingTeam/recreational/index.php
SAFETY AT SEA SEMINAR
The Safety at Sea Seminar (SaS) is a requirement
for our volunteers, and is good for five years. We
offer the one-day course on Saturday, April 2nd for
free if you bring your own lunch, or you can sign
up for a boxed lunch for $10. If you want a U.S. Sailing
www.usna.edu/Sailing 1
Newsletter of the USNA Offshore Sail Training Squadron
certificate for having attended this seminar, that cost is
$25. Some organizers of offshore races in the United States
require these; however, the certificate in itself is not required by
OSTS. There is also an option to attend the Advanced Cruising
seminar on Sunday, April 3rd at a reduced cost. There are
lectures in the morning, and two options in the afternoon – for
either small group breakout discussions with the experts in
weather, cruise planning, medical, and boat systems, or personal
water safety in the pool with hands-on practice with liferafts,
lifejackets, and dewatering pumps. The pool session roster is
very limited, and we won’t know availability until closer to the
event. The link to sign up for our volunteers is:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EmxzOJ-Fwh5briXT3WPr3v8bv9PlRSUFrGZ_NJqYRI/edit?usp=sharing
Event registration link for the general public is at
www.mtam.org. Our very own VOST performs the mid-day real
MOB recovery demonstrations on the Severn River, and we are
also planning on a U.S. Coast Guard SAR helicopter
demonstration and flares demo. Definitely worth the price of
admission! Please sign up early.
March 2016 Edition
Google Doc Spring Training sign-up link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dP6lmLL4TUNW0F8I
BqvK3V1L31DOKf6YpnDjLi16skE/edit?pref=2&pli=1 gid=1940938673
PERSONNEL QUALIFICATION STANDARD (PQS)
Please review your PQS book for any signatures
you still need, and ensure you get those skills
signed off this spring. This book is commonly
referred to as the “Blue Book”.
Tally the hours you need in the logbook section
for each qualification level (senior crew, watch
captain) so we have a total. If you don’t have enough, sign up
for more sailing. The intention is that you finish Watch Captain
this spring, then get enough hours for your XO qualification
during DELMARVA.
Thanks to the efforts of Navy Offshore Sailing
JV Coach Nancy Haberland and OSTS
Volunteer Maureen Burt, are able to offer First
Aid and CPR/AED certification for free for our
volunteers and Midshipmen for the first time (in
recent history) this spring. This is HUGE, and we really
appreciate all of their hard work and the time required to do
this. Midshipmen and active duty military that work at the
Naval Academy can also take a free CPR/AED class through the
Hospital Point Clinic.
Review the PQS book – you will be responsible for signing off
qualifications for the midshipmen this summer, so it’s good to
be familiar with it. Each qualification should be complete before
you start signing off on the next qual. A midshipman should be
able to get through Senior Crew during the first week of
training, or into the next day or so of the second week. They
should be serving as a Watch Captain (for a day) before you
sign off on WC qualification items. Your upper class should be
able to get through the WC qualification by the end of the block
and 3/C can have some items signed off if you implement the
“WC for a day” training on the trip back. If they are able to
complete those qualifications (and not everyone will unless they
show aptitude and interest), and you recommend them for XO
training, that sets them up to finish their watch captain in the
fall/spring and get XO signed off during the DELMARVA.
We’re trying to get all this wrapped up with the training this
spring. We will offer more weeknight classes in April, you can
sign up once classes are finalized at the following link:
Finally, make a copy of your qualification Blue Book. For some
reason they like to go swimming, at the docks, on cruise, etc.
It’s much easier to recreate if you have a copy.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KmJOcAiXVR4ZXlDHjFKWf
RvOKV1yDSXm-_t3jLaD8hc/edit#gid=0
SPRING AND SUMMER TRAVEL ORDERS
FIRST AID AND CPR/AED TRAINING
NAVY 44 SPRING AND SUMMER TRAINING
If you haven’t signed up for spring training and a DELMARVA
sail yet, please do so at the training link so we can plan how
many boats and instructors we will need on a daily basis. We
are also starting to fine-tune the summer preliminary crew
assignments, so if you need to change what you have signed up
for, please do so on that training link. You can also sign up to
help out with our check-rides, and as extra instructors for some
of the hands-on training we do during Week 1 Training with the
Mids only. The Google Docs are an extremely useful tool for us
to manage all of our personnel, so please keep those lists up to
date. It doesn’t hurt to mention it to us as well, but the lists are
what both the staff and instructors use to know who to expect on
a given day.
All personnel who travel on behalf of the Naval Academy,
whether they are civilian or military, are REQUIRED to have a
profile entered in our Defense Travel System, or DTS. All new
program participants: please fill out the attached DTS
Profile Form and send it back to LT Francisco not later than
March 25th. All returning program participants, if there have
been changes to their personal information, must update their
previous profiles by the date above.
This allows official travel orders to be generated and provides
the mechanism to pay you via direct deposit upon your return
after filing a travel voucher. These entitlements can include, but
are not limited to, a per diem rate while underway outside the
local area, a per diem rate while in remote port, and possibly
other preapproved expenses. The rate is determined by
Government rules and varies depending upon where you are and
www.usna.edu/Sailing 2
Newsletter of the USNA Offshore Sail Training Squadron
what type of traveler you are (i.e., civilian volunteer, staff,
government employee, military, etc.).
OSTS FACEBOOK PAGE
March 2016 Edition
We are looking for a few volunteers to help with our navigation
working party. If you have experience preparing nautical charts
using our chart preparation checklist, our staff Lieutenants will
be working on our master copies for summer training in
April. Please coordinate with LT Osei Asante.
OSTS has its own Facebook Page! In addition to this
newsletter, we will post important information about
the program to this Facebook page. Please “Like” us
so you have the program information as it is
released. We have 189 “likes” to date and growing every week.
Help us get to “500” likes in 2016. Please encourage your
midshipmen to send photos and video from their summer block.
Anyone can post to our Facebook page. We are generating a
good following of OSTS family and friends that are following
your sailing experiences. Do not be shy and please post!
THE HELMSMAN PUBLICATION
Please “Like” us at:
Any questions, please contact LT Gabby Francisco.
NAV WORKING PARTY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
For the past two years during the Naval
Academy’s Safety at Sea Seminar we have
published the The Helmsman, which is
modeled after Naval Aviation’s Approach
publication. Naval Aviation has long
enjoyed a free exchange of ‘lessons
learned’. That tradition permeates every
post-flight debrief and is publicly revealed
in a bi-monthly Navy & Marine Corps
Aviation Safety Magazine Approach. Published by the Naval
Safety Center, Approach is a collection of first-person narrative
accounts of Naval Aviation mishaps, close calls, and lessons
learned. Such is the culture throughout the Navy and Marine
Corps that aircrew are encouraged and lauded for submitting
frank and honest articles that serve as lessons for us all.
It is our hope that this culture of open exchange can be spread to
the recreational sailing community throughout the country. We
hope the stories contained within The Helmsman can serve as
lessons in what to do and what not to do at sea.
We welcome submissions throughout the year of first person
narratives of events that have occurred at sea (anonymous
submissions are welcome). Articles should be approximately
two typewritten pages and pictures are encouraged. Deadline
for this year’s edition is March 21st. For more information
contact Mr. Jon Wright, Navy Sailing Vanderstar Chair, at
jnwright@usna.edu
http://www.facebook.com/USNAOffshoreSailTraining.
EMAIL OPT-OUT
If you are on this email newsletter and would like to be taken
off, please let us know. If you have any articles or information
you would like to share through this newsletter please email to
richard.robey@gmail.com.
As always, thank you for your support of OSTS.
THANK YOU!
Ms. Renee Mehl
Program Director
mehl@usna.edu
(410) 293-5610
LT Gabrielle Francisco
Fleet Operations Officer
francisc@usna.edu
(410) 293-5603
LT Osei Asante
Training Officer
asante@usna.edu
(410) 293-5604
Mr. John Formisano
Fleet Captain
jeformisano@comcast.net
(410) 991-1008
CAPT(ret) Rick Robey
Communications Officer & Editor
richard.robey@gmail.com
Let’s get the conversation started and keep safety foremost in
our minds as we enjoy our time on the water.
SCRD Hands-on Training
For Updates & More Information: www.usna.edu/Sailing
(703) 347-5094
Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NavySailing (@NavySailing) & Facebook at www.facebook.com/USNAOffshoreSailTraining
www.usna.edu/Sailing 3
OSTS 2016 Winter Training Schedule
Dates
19-Jan
28-Jan
2-Feb
4-Feb
9-Feb
11-Feb
16-Feb
18-Feb
23-Feb
27-Feb
1-Mar
3-Mar
5-Mar
10-Mar
12-Mar
24-Mar
2-Apr
Day
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Thurs
Tues
Sat
Tues
Thurs
Sat
Thurs
Sat
Thurs
Sat
Class
NAV Exam (MIDN only) - By Appointment
Leadership 1
Leadership 2
Leadership 3
Leadership 4
Medical
Contact Management / Rules of the Road
Operational Risk Mgmt / Radio Comms
Intro to NAV (optional)
VOST SCRD Training (OSTS Make-Up) - Limited Space
N44 Electronics/Radar
NAV 101
SCRD Training - Navy 44 Systems
NAV 102
NAV Exam
Teaching Methods/Working Party Updates
Safety at Sea Seminar
Time
1600-1800
1600-1800
1600-1800
1600-1800
1600-1800
1630-1800
1630-1800
1630-1800
1630-1800
0900-1700
1630-1800
1630-1800
0900-1600
1630-1800
0900-1200
1630-1800
0800-1700
Room
Robert Crown
TBD
Luce Planetarium
Luce Planetarium
Luce Planetarium
Luce 101
Michelson 110
Luce 101
TBD
SCRD
Luce Planetarium
Michelson 110
SCRD
Michelson 110
Luce 101
Michelson 110
Alumni Hall
Time
1600-1800
1600-1800
1600-1800
1630-1800
1600-1800
Room
Luce 3rd floor TBD
Luce 3rd floor TBD
Luce 3rd floor TBD
VOST Classroom
Luce 3rd floor TBD
Optional Training (Advanced)
Dates
27-Jan
3-Feb
17-Feb
17-Feb
24-Feb
Day
Weds
Weds
Weds
Weds
Weds
Updated: 18 January 2016
Course
Advanced Celestial Navigation #1
Advanced Celestial Navigation #2
Advanced Celestial Navigation #3
Advanced Sail Trim (VOST)
Advanced Celestial Navigation #4
2016 USNA Safety at Sea Seminar
Saturday Alumni Hall
Speaker
0800
Naval Academy Opening Remarks
CDR Marisa McClure, DIR Sailing
0815
Introduction
Chuck Hawley
0830
Newport-Bermuda Preparation
Rives Potts
0910
Care and Maintenance of Safety Equipment
Chuck Hawley/Kip Louttit
0950
Break
1005
MOB Prevention and Recovery
Jahn Tihansky
1045
Damage Control
Steve D'Antonio
1125
USCG Communications and SAR
LCDR Steve Bonn USCG (ret)
1215
1330
1410
1450
1535
1550
1635
1715
1730
On-the-water MOB Recoveries
Hawley/Wright
Lunch
Weather Forecasts and Features
Dr. Gina Henderson/Sienkiewicz
Storm Sails and Heavy Weather
Dave Flynn
Break
Marine Electronics
Capt. Matt Benhoff (ASOS)
Emergency Medical Care and Hypothermia
Dr. Michael Jacobs
Closing Remarks
Chuck Hawley
Reception Bo Coppedge Room
Sunday
Advanced Cruising Seminar
Alumni Hall/ LeJeune Hall
Speaker
0830
Opening Remarks
Chuck Hawley
0845
Navigation as a Seamanship Issue
Ralph Naranjo
0930
Ocean Currents and Wind/Wave Dynamics
Dr. Frank Bohlen
1015
Break
1030
Communications and Electronics
Chuck Hawley
1115
Cruise Preparation
Beth Rooney
1200
Lunch
1300 -1600
Interactive round table discussions
1300 - 1600
1-Engines and systems
Jim Mumper, Mitchell
2-Weather and Oceanography
Bohlen, Sienkiewicz
3-Cruise planning and preparation
Jacobs, Rooney
In Pool- Life Raft and Safety Gear Training
Hawley, Martino, Mehl, STC
HERE ARE THE DETAILS FOR ARRIVAL to the ANNAPOLIS SEMINAR:
Due to continued security measures at the USNA, parking on the Yard is limited to cars with
Department of Defense parking stickers. Therefore we suggest the following option for parking in
Annapolis.
The closest parking garage outside the Academy is the Bladen Street Garage located between Rowe
and St. John's Street. Parking at the Bladen Garage is FREE on the weekends. The other parking
garages in Annapolis are not FREE. The walk to Alumni Hall is ½ mile, approximately 5-10 minutes. To
get to the Bladen Street Garage from Route 50, take Exit 24A Rowe Blvd. Follow Rowe Blvd to Calvert
Street, turn Left and enter the garage on your Left.
USNA Security will ask to see a picture ID when you enter
Naval Academy grounds. Please Be Prepared!
From the Garage you can choose to walk: Follow St. Johns Street. To College Ave, turn Left. Follow
College to King George Street, turn Right. Follow King George to Maryland Avenue, turn Left. Follow
Maryland Ave. into the Academy at the Gate 3 security checkpoint, go straight to Decator, turn Left.
Alumni Hall is on your Right.
Or, watch for a Shuttle Bug. Small electric vehicles will be running from the parking garage to Gate 3.
If you are staying in one of the areas hotels, they may provide a shuttle to Gate 3 if reqeusted.
Everyone must check in – Registration begins at 7:00 a.m.
The US Sailing Certificate will be
mailed to those who check in on the morning of April 2nd. The Certificate will be sent directly from
US Sailing and will arrive in 3-4 weeks. The seminar begins at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday and 8:30 a.m. on
Sunday. Coffee will be available in Alumni Hall both days.
WHAT TO BRING AND BE PREPARED:
Please dress appropriately for the weather and be prepared to walk. Parking is located outside the
Academy, approximately 1/2 mile from Alumni Hall and in addition, you will walk to the on-water
demonstrations on Saturday, approximately a ten minute walk.
If you are participating in Sunday's in-the-pool demonstrations, please bring: clothes or bathing suit to
wear in the pool, a towel, waterproof plastic (trash) bag or provisions for taking home your wet
gear. Also please bring: Inflatable or harness type PFD, foul weather gear, boots and a tether. This
equipment is not mandatory but will be reviewed for how it will assist or impair your safety. Therefore
please bring if possible.
Parking at stop (#10),
the Bladen Street
Garage is FREE on
Saturday and Sunday.
It is a 5-10 minute walk
to Alumni Hall from
the parking garage.
On foot from the
garage: Follow St.
John’s Street to
College Ave, turn Left.
Follow College to King
George Street, turn
Right. Follow King
George to Maryland
Avenue, turn Left.
Follow Maryland Ave.
into the Academy at
the Gate 3 security
checkpoint, go straight
to Decator, turn Left.
Alumni Hall is on your
Right.
CREATING EMPLOYEES (MILITARY AND CIVILIAN) IN DTS
(* Indicates Required Fields)
(**Fields to be filled in by DTA)
Privacy Act Statement –
Authority: 31 USC 3511, 3512, and 3523; 5 USC Chapter 57; and implementing Federal Travel Regulations (41
CFR parts 301-304).
Principal Purpose(s): Used to establish a beginning-to-end travel services system containing information to enable
travel service providers to authorize, issue, and account for travel and travel reimbursements provided to individuals
on official Federal government business. SSN is used to maintain an identification of an individual. This
information is confidential and is needed so as not to confuse individuals with same or similar names.
Routine Use(s): To provide travel documents for individuals on official Federal government business and
substantiate claims for reimbursement for official travel.
Disclosure: Voluntary; however, failure to furnish information requested may result in denial of official travel
orders.
Common Data
*Social Security Number:
________________________________________________
**Is this person going to travel?
________Yes
_______No
*First Name:
______________________________________________________
Middle Initial:
______________________________________________________
*Last Name:
______________________________________________________
**Organization Name: _____________________________________________________
*Email:
______________________________________________________
General Traveler Data
*Civilian: ________
Military: ________
*Title/Grade/Rank:
_________________________________________________
*Mailing Address Line1:____________________________________________________
Mailing Address Line 2:_____________________________________________________
*City: ___________________________________________________________________
*State/Country: ___________________________________________________________
*Zip/Postal Code: _________________________________________________________
**Routing List Name: _______________________________________________________
**Self-AO Approval: _______________________________________________________
**Default LOA Label _______________________________________________________
USNA NNB 4650/3(2-07)
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Personal Data
*Gender:
_______________________________________________________
*Resident Mailing Address Line1:_____________________________________________
Resident Mailing Address Line 2:______________________________________________
*Resident City: ____________________________________________________________
*Resident State/Country: ____________________________________________________
*Resident Zip/Postal Code: __________________________________________________
*Resident Phone Number: ____________________________________________________
*Emergency Contact Name: _____________Quarterdeck___________________________
*Emergency Contact Phone Number:______410-320-9734__________________________
Duty Station Data
*Printed Organization Name: _________________________________________________
Present Duty Station Name: ____ US Naval Academy
__________________________
*Service/Agency:
_____United States Navy _________________________________
*Number of Work Hours/Day: _________ *Time Zone:___EST______
*Duty Station Address Line 1: ________________________________________________
Duty Station Address Line 2: _________________________________________________
*Duty Station City: _______________________________________________________
*Duty Station State/Country: _________________________________________________
*Duty Station Zip/Postal Code: _______________________________________________
*Stop #/Mail Code: _________________________________________________________
*Duty Station Phone Number: ________________________________________________
*Duty Station Fax Number: __________________________________________________
**Number of Miles to Closest Airport: _______________________________________
**Unit ID:
______00161____________________________________________
Government Charge Card (GOVCC) Data
*Gov’t Charge Card Holder: __________Yes
_________No
**Advance Auth: _________No advance _________Card Holder
**Mandatory Use of GOVCC: _____Exempt
___X__Non-Exempt
*Account Number: ______________________________________________________
*GOVCC Exp. Date: ______________________________________________________
Electronic Funds Transfer Data
*Checking Routing Number: ________________________________________________
*Checking Account Number:________________________________________________
____________________________________
Employee Signature
USNA NNB 4650/3(2-07)
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