San Diego Council, Navy League Of The United States June 2015 No. 45-06 SEA SERVICES PRESENCE AROUND THE GLOBE FORWARD — ENGAGED — READY Breakfast Meeting June 5, 2015 7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m ADMIRAL BAKER CLUBHOUSE Guest Speaker: Captain Christopher Bolt Commanding Officer, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) Lunch Meeting Summer Break June July August Retreat hell! We just got here. —Capt. Lloyd Williams, USMC Belleau Wood, France June 2, 1918 IN THIS ISSUE Recognitions .................................. 2 President Message ......................... 3 On This Date ..................................... 3 Legislative Affairs .............................. 5 Welcome Home............................... 7 Pamela Ammerman VP of Communications T he Sea Services have released a new maritime plan – Strategy for 21st Century – Forward, Engaged and Ready, said Vice Adm. Kenneth E. Floyd, Commander, U. S. Third Fleet to the council members and their guests at the monthly breakfast meeting. The strategy describes how the Navy, Marine Corps and the Coast Guard will design, organize and employ the Sea Services in support of national defense and homeland security. It also describes how essential it is to strengthen alliances and partnerships by providing a secure environment for an open Commander, U.S. THIRD Fleet, VADM economic system. Kenneth Floyd briefs council member America is responding to the fast-changing and complex world at the May breakfast meeting. events that threaten the nation’s security and that of her allies and partners with this new strategy. It is important to operate jointly with these partners. Forward-deployed and forward-stationed naval forces protect America citizens abroad and Continued on page 4 CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER BOLT Commanding Officer, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) Breakfast Guest Speaker on June 5th A native of Springfield, Virginia, Captain Bolt graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1987 earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. His initial flight training in Pensacola, Florida, included carrier qualification aboard USS LEXINGTON, CV-16, in 1988. As an aircraft commander and instructor pilot in the E-2C Hawkeye and C-2A Greyhound, CAPT Bolt has flown with multiple VAW and VRC squadrons on both coasts and Japan and completed 9 deployments. He has accumulated more than 5500 flight hours in multiple aircraft types including the E-2, C-2, and F-14. He has successfully piloted more than 600 arrested landings on a combined total of fourteen aircraft carriers. He participated in Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt and was also forward deployed to Manama, Bahrain. In addition to being a fleet E-2C pilot, Captain Bolt was a Landing Signals Officer (CAG LSO) where he regularly flew the F-14A on deployment. He later became the Officer in Charge of the U.S. Navy’s Landing Signals Officer School at NAS Oceana, Virginia. he earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and graduated with distinction in June Continued on page 4 RECOGNITIONS San Diego Padres recognized spouses at Petco Park on May 3 and in particular the council’s recently selected Spouses of the Year, (l-r) Navy Spouse of the Year Nicole Palmer; Marine Corps Spouse of the Year Nicole Webb and Coast Guard Spouse of the Year Mary Amerson. (Photo courtesy of San Diego Padres taken by Scott Wachter) (l-r) LSC Raymond Muro, NRD San Diego; Richard Evert Council 1st Vice President; Raytheon awards sponsor representative Earl Wederbrook; NRD Recruiter of the Quarter CS2(SW) Marc Miranda; NRD Support Person of the Quarter LS1(SW) Carolina Gutierreznieto; NCC Daniza Kramer; VADM Kenneth Floyd, Commander THIRD Fleet; CMDCM Mark Bather Fleet Master Chief, Commander, U.S. Third Fleet and Bob Berman, VP Sea Services. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Cardenas tells members of his test piloting exploits at the May lunch meeting. Navy Leaguers toured the USS Chancellorsville CAPT Curt Jones, CO Naval Base San Diego; Raytheon awards sponsor representative Earl Wederbrook; MA1 Garret Chadek Senior Sailor of the Quarter; CS2(AW) Jessica Garcia, Junior Sailor of the Quarter; MM3(SW) Joshua Badard Blue Jacket of the Quarter and Bob Berman, VP Sea Services. Jason Suyra, Prudential, Manager, Financial Services, accepts their community affiliate plaque from council 1st Vice President Richard Evert www.navyleague-sd.com PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Jon Berg-Johnsen N early six months into 2015 and there has been so much happening with Navy League San Diego. To recap last month, we kicked off with VADM Kenneth “Pink” Floyd speaking at our breakfast, and recognized the exceptional talents of the local Navy Recruiters. Recruiting has never been an easy job, but these talented enlisted recruiters always find a way to bring in the best of America’s youth to ensure we have only the top personnel helping defend our freedoms. Joan Mitchell held her May Luncheon Meeting and hosted Brigadier General Robert Cardenas, USAF(Ret). For those whom had the pleasure of attending, including myself, the General brought to life a time many of us only have watched on television or in the movies. He lived a in a time many of us could only imagine. Now 95 years young, he still can tell a great story and make you feel like you were there. It was a special event that I feel fortunate to have experienced. Joan’s luncheon meetings will take a short break for the summer and resume in September, so stay tuned for her next great guest speaker. May also included another tour set up by Bruce Renne, and this time it was on USS Chancellorsville (CG 62). This was also a special treat since the ship and her crew will shift to a forward deployed assignment in Japan in a few months. Naturally, we still have our Operation Homecoming events and Sea Services Recognition events last month as well. Hats off to Jay Rindler and Bob Berman respectively for managing those and making them look easy, which they are not! I also had the extreme honor to meet with many Past-Presidents of the San Diego and Women’s Councils on 19 May. We discussed their experiences and discussed the lessons they experienced while in the job. It was a humbling experience and a true honor to hear from them. I look forward to implementing the sage advice and helpful counsel they passed along to help make this an even better Council. Moving forward, June starts out quickly with the Inaugural Father of the Year Dinner on 3 June, a joint event that the Navy League Tri-City and San Diego Councils are hosting at Camp Pendleton. Our own San Diego Council Breakfast is on 5 June. Most of you will have undoubtedly signed up for this, and if you have not, you will have just a few days to do so, but it is another great opportunity for us to hear about a part of the Navy we read can only read about and imagine. CAPT Chris Bolt, Commanding Officer of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), will give us a glimpse into his world. The ship’s displacement is over 100,000 tons, nearly 1100 feet in length, and with over 5000 people and over 65 aircraft embarked, he is literally running a floating city and airport. There is no more powerful force in the world. Make sure you are there to hear him speak. The ship and crew will turnover in San Diego with USS George Washington (CVN-73) in a few short months as the Ronald Reagan moves to the Far East to take her turn as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. Looking to our next two breakfast meetings, our guest speakers will be: 10 July – VADM Tom Rowden, Commander, Naval Surface Forces 7 August – VADM Charles Ray, USCG, Commander Pacific Area, Commander Defense Force West. My last words for this President’s Message there are many people to thank for the efforts they make each day to help keep our Council running. I have not captured them all, and there are many more to name. One name I want to acknowledge is our one and only paid position in the Navy League Council, our Executive Director, Jay Lott, SgtMaj, USMC (Ret). I cannot say enough about his work. He is absolutely the force that keeps this Council moving forward and, I know for certain, this organization would not exist if it were not for his unwavering dedication and superior efforts that go far beyond his position description to make all the parts function. Thank you for doing your part to tell the story of the Navy League and get the word out to others that may not know what we do. Have you heard about America’s Strength? Look into it and find out more. —Jon Berg-Johnsen June 2015 ON THIS DATE IN… June June 1, 1813 – HMS Shannon captures USS Chesapeake. As the mortally wounded Capt. James Lawrence, was carried below, he ordered “Tell the men to fire faster! Don’t give up the ship!” June 1, 1946 – The Coast Guard returned to operation under the Treasury Department after the end of World War II. June 3, 1949 – Wesley A. Brown becomes the first African-American to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. June 4, 1934 – USS Ranger, the first ship designed from the keel up as a carrier, is commissioned at Norfolk, VA. June 6, 1944 – In Operation Overlord, Allied invasion fleet of over 2700 ships and craft land troops on Normandy beaches, the largest amphibious landing in history. June 8, 1990 – CDR Rosemary Mariner becomes the first Navy women to command a fleet jet aircraft squadron. June 8, 1995 – A Marine tactical recovery team from the 24th MEU rescued downed Air Force pilot Capt. Scott O’Grady from Bosnian-Serb territory in Bosnia. June 9, 1959 – The USS George Washington (SSBN598), the first nuclear powered fleet ballistic missile submarine, is launched at Groton, CT. June 10, 1854 – The U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD holds its first formal graduation exercises. June 10, 1922 – Congress readjusted pay and allowances of Coast Guard commissioned and enlisted personnel on basis of equality with other services. June 11, 1941 – Amendment to act creating Coast Guard (Jan 28, 1915) provided that the Coast Guard shall be a military service and Constitute a branch of the land and naval forces of the United States at all times. June 12, 1948 – President Harry Truman authorized the first women Marines in the regular Corps. June 12, 1961 – President John F. Kennedy signed a Presidential Proclamation calling for the American flag to be flown at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, VA “at all times during the day and night.” June 14 – HAPPY 241st BIRTHDAY UNITED STATES ARMY!!! June 14, 1777 – Continental Congress adopts design of the present day U.S. flag. Flag Day, fly your flag proudly. June 17 – HAPPY 117th BIRTHDAY NAVY HOSPITAL CORPS!!! June, 25, 1950 – North Korea invades South Korea beginning the Korean War. June 26, 1918 – Marine brigade captures Belleau Wood. June 29, 1950 – USS Juneau fires first naval shore bombardment of the Korean War. 3 MARK YOUR CALENDAR THE MONTHLY BREAKFAST & LUNCH MEETING DATES AT THE ADMIRAL BAKER CLUB HOUSE ARE LISTED BELOW: BREAKFAST DATES 2015 Dates June 5 Capt Chris Bolt, CO USS Ronald Reagan July 10* VADM Thomas Rowden, ...... Commander Naval Surface Forces August 7 Vice Admiral Charles W. Ray ..... Commander, Pacific Area Commander, Coast Guard .......... Defense Force West LUNCH DATES Summer Break June, July, August September 9 October 14 November 11 VOLUNTEER Volunteers are needed on committees for the upcoming year. If you would like to volunteer to help make one or more of these events successful, contact Jay Lott at 619 230-0301 Contact Information Change Have you moved? Changed your phone number, or Email Address? We Value Your Opinion The San Diego Navy League takes pride in its publications and seeks to continually improve upon them. We welcome your comments. Letters to the Editor Please send your letters on all subject matters concerning the Navy League or our brave service men and women directly to: .......... SD Navy League 2115 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 230-0301 Fax: (619) 230-0302 • jay@navyleague-sd.com. 4 Continued from Cover SEA SERVICES PRESENCE AROUND THE GLOBE prevent her adversaries from leveraging the world’s oceans against her. The ability to sustain operations in international waters far from her shores give her a distinct advantage. Today’s global security environment is endangered by the challenge of the continued threats from the expanding terrorist and criminal networks who manage to increase maritime territorial disputes and pressures to maritime commerce, particularly the flow of energy. The United States understands the rising importance of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. This is where the Sea Services engage with allies and partners for a global network of navies that bring together the contributions of like-minded nations to address these mutual maritime security challenges and responses to natural disasters. Forward naval presence is essential to accomplishing naval missions. The self-sustaining naval forces operating globally are to ensure the protection of all homelands far from their countries shores and requires that naval forces to be strong. Operating jointly and together the allies and partners address the threats to the mutual maritime security interests. Together they can maximize the capacity of the global network and have a better position to face new and emerging encounters. The oceans are the lifeblood of the interconnected global community and the combined naval forces support that free flow of commerce. The same forces that conduct a forward presence for a crisis response can quickly shift to provide assured access for all challenges and threats. The centerpiece of America’s naval capability is the Carrier Strike Group. A fleet of more than 300 ships and a forward presence of about 120 ships by 2020 is required to deter, have sea control and project power along with maritime security. Readiness is the Third Fleet’s moto, said Floyd, and the “Fleet is training at all times. The quality of the young men and women is better than ever.” He also said the “Sea Services need the people they have and the Navy thanks them for serving their country.” In the end the foremost priority remains the security of the American people, her territory and the countries way of life. The Sea Services will continue to protect its citizens and advance it interest as they have done for more than two centuries. Vice Adm. Floyd answered questions, was presented a copy of the History of the Navy League by 1st Vice President Richard Evert thanked by the Council for his service to his country. Continued from Cover CAPTAIN CHRISTOPHER BOLT 2002. After graduation, he reported to VAW-120 in Norfolk as the Executive Officer. Captain Bolt served as the XO and then commanded the Liberty Bells of VAW-115 flying from the deck of USS Kitty Hawk, home-ported in Yokosuka, Japan, from October 2003 to April 2006. While in command, CAPT Bolt was selected for the Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Training pipeline in Charleston, S.C. He completed Naval Nuclear Officer training at the Office of Naval Reactors in Washington, D.C. in September 2007. CAPT Bolt served as Executive Officer, USS Nimitz CVN-68, from December 2007 to November 2009. Captain Bolt commanded USS Dubuque, LPD-8, from February 2010 to April 2011 where he deployed to the 5th Fleet AOR. As part of CTF-151, his crew and embarked Marines captured nine Somali pirates aboard the Motor Vessel Magellan Star whereby freeing the international crew of eleven sailors. He served as the Senior Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration (ASD NII)/DoD Chief Information Officer from May 2011 to March 2013. Captain Bolt’s personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medals, Strike Flight Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medals (one with combat “V”), and Navy Achievement Medal. www.navyleague-sd.com LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS NEW MEMBERS Hillary Henderson VP Legislative Affairs Six Bills Related to Military Veterans Passed the House in May The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed six bills related to military veterans last month. The following bills that passed were: H.R. 1313, the Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Relief Act This bill will allow certain veteranowned businesses to retain government contracts if the owner dies. Under the Small Business Relief Act, any service disabled veteran-owned small business, or SDVOSB, would keep its SDVOSB status, and the government contracts and contracting advantages that go along with that status, for a transition period of three years after the owner’s death. This would be extended to 10 years if the deceased owner was either 100 percent disabled or died from a disability connected to their service. The death of such a totally incapacitated veteran business owner does currently qualify their families and business partners for a transition period, but only three years. June Adrian Aguilar Abner Betech Chole Cano Sameer Cena Bruce Churchill Bruce Renne Tyrone Cole James Flahive Samuel Hatcher Ara Kaloustian Bruce Renne Mihael Kerner Michael Kirk Glenn Kline-Casey Bruce Renne Ariel Perea * Life Members # Husband & Wife Members @ New Community Affiliate ^ Student + Active Duty Spouse H.R. 1038, the Ensuring VA Employee Accountability Act This bill will increase scrutiny and accountability for VA employees after recent scandals. The Employee Accountability Act would require the VA to place a copy of any official “reprimand or admonishment” received by any employee of the agency into that employee’s permanent record, for as long as they work for the department. H.R. 1382, the Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment Act This bill would allow the VA to give contracting preference to businesses that employ veterans, with the order of preferences to be decided based on the percentage of veterans they employ as part of their overall workforce. Businesses who intentionally misrepresent the veteran status of their employees would be barred from government contracting for at least five years. H.R. 474, the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act The Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act would extend for a further five years existing programs to assist the reintegration of certain veterans back into the labor force, as well as clarifying eligibility for those programs by extending the definition of those eligible for assistance to include not only homeless vets, but also those transitioning out of jail or prison or currently participating in VA rental assistance programs. H.R. 1816, the Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act The Vulnerable Veterans Housing Reform Act would exclude pensions paid to disabled war veterans from the calculation of income for the purposes of determining eligibility for public housing assistance. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY June We thank the following Corporate Members & Community Affiliates for their continued support: Northrop Grumman Corp 14 years Pacific Tugboat Service 13 years Town & Country Hotel 17 years H.R. 91, the Veteran’s I.D. Card Act This bill allows any honorably-discharged veteran not automatically eligible for a veteran identification card — which currently requires meeting a 20-year time-in-service requirement or receiving a medical discharge — to request one from the VA. How do you feel about these issues? If you feel strongly that these acts should or should not have been passed, please contact your Congressional representative and let them know where you stand on the issue. June 2015 5 LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS Pamela Ammerman House Votes to Approve Policy Bill for the Coast Guard WASHINGTON – The House voted on 13 May 2015 to approve a policy bill for the Coast Guard. The bill now moves to the Senate where it will be scheduled for floor action. Legislators remain hopeful the upper house will vote on the bill before it closes out this year’s session. The House bill is known as the Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill. Funding for the Coast Guard is included as part Department of Homeland Security budget request. But Congress, in an effort to give the service some specific attention, crafts an annual policy bill to address specific service issues. The bill seeks to restore the Coast Guard budget to 2014 levels, reversing the $800 million in cuts requested by the administration’s request. The House approved an $8.7 billion budget — the same as last year — while the administration requested $7.9 billion, plus another $220 million in supplemental funding. The House also supports military pay raises for the Coast Guard at the same levels as the other armed services. The bill directs the Coast Guard to submit a mission need statement (MNS) covering all its major acquisition programs each year from 2016 to 2019, and every four years thereafter. Hill sources indicated the current investment plan was last updated in 2005. The bill grants multiyear procurement authority to buy new Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), the largest Coast Guard acquisition planned in the coming decade. The new OPCs, are expected to begin deploying in the late 2020s. Another provision in the bill would prevent the Coast Guard from providing North Atlantic iceberg information to foreign-flagged vessels who don’t pay for the service. The provision is aimed at third party, flag-of-convenience registrations such as Panama or Liberia who do not reimburse the Coast Guard for the costs of the iceberg warning effort. “The Coast Guard has spent more than $40 million over the last five years providing this service to foreign flagged vessels,” the bill notes. Such payments are required by signatories to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. With the small fleet of icebreakers sorely in need of replacement, the bill requires the Coast Guard to analyze “the cost effectiveness of acquiring or leasing new icebreaker assets,” and prohibits the service from spending for capabilities on a new icebreaker if those capabilities are requested by another federal agency. The Coast Guard would be authorized, however, to accept transfers of funds from those agencies. The bill also seeks to bring the Coast Guard in line with the other armed services by submitting to Congress an annual authorization request. Mcee’s for Navy Birthday Ball October 17, 2015 then headed to the West Coast working in San Francisco and San Diego. This August, Jagger & Kristi are thrilled to celebrate their 10th Anniversary doing mornings at San Diego’s premier Urban AC, MAGIC 92.5! Jagger and Kristi have been entertaining San Diego radio listeners since 1996 and they also happen to be one of the few married radio teams in the country. Before being paired up on the air in San Diego, they pursued individual careers in radio. Jagger worked in lots of small markets before heading to Los Angeles then San Francisco. Kristi worked in her hometown of Milwaukee Their listeners play along with this down-to-earth pair and get passionately involved in their many community endeavors. Over the years, Jagger and Kristi have helped to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for many San Diego charities. This last December they raised $17,000 in a 14 hour broadcast marathon for their Christmas Wish Foundation. They were able to help many families in need over the holidays. Jagger & Kristi are dedicated animal lovers and work in the community saving orphaned animals. At home they live a happy, married life with their Surf Dog Bodie and two Himalayan cats Sammy and Kacy. On the air you may hear tales of their San Diego trail rides on their horses. Happy Trails!!! MIRAMAR AIR SHOW | October 3, 2015 THERE WILL BE A COUNCIL CHALET MORE INFORMATION ON PRICES TO FOLLOW 6 www.navyleague-sd.com www.navyleague-sd.com WELCOME HOME HMH-465 WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT Corporate Gold BAE Systems Booz Allen Hamilton DRS Technologies, Inc. General Atomics Northrop Grumman Corp. Raytheon Company Corporate Members Barry Controls General Atomics Harris Corporation HP Enterprises L-3 Communications Rockwell Collins Sabtech Industries June 2015 Sprint Nextel TASC USAA Business Associate Johnson Controls Federal Systems Z Microsystems Community Affiliates Boeing Company Car 2 Go San Diego CNRSW Morale, Welfare & Recreation CSC Falkner Winery Flagship Cruises & Events Loews Coronado Bay Resort San Diego Corporate Members & Community Affiliates Manchester Grand Hyatt San Dieg Maritime Museum of San Diego San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina Navy Federal Credit Union Next Level Sailing North Island Credit Union Northrop Grumman Corp. Pacific Marine Credit Union Pacific Ship Repair & Fabrication Pacific Tugboat Service Prudential Financial Raytheon RCP Block & Brick, Inc. Reno Contracting, Inc. SAIC San Diego Copy San Diego Gas & Electric San Diego Medical Federal Credit Union San Diego Marriott Hotel, Mission Valley Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina The Declan Suites San Diego The Marine Group Boat Works Town & Country Hotel United Through Reading USAA USS Midway Museum Vets Caring For Vets Veterans United Home Loans San Diego Zeiders Enterprises 7 Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID San Diego, CA Permit No. 1698 San Diego Council, Navy League Of The United States 2115 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101 Return Service Requested Please enroll me as a NAVY LEAGUE Member Today! Type of Membership (please check one) Membership is open to U.S. citizens who are not on active duty with a military service. 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