News Briefs
Golf with Billy Hurley
Morale, Welfare and Recreation is sponsoring a raffle for your chance to be one of 18 military golfers picked to play with Billy Hurley III from Navy golf clubs across the country.
Raffle entries must be made in person by filling out an entry form at the completion of a round of play at Gulf Winds Golf Course and participating courses between now and June 3, at 12 noon.
Entries must be made by active-duty members who are willing to use personal leave in order to attend the tournament event.
The Billy Hurley Foundation is a non-federal entity and not endorsed by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy and Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation.
For more information, contact the Gulf Winds Golf Course at 961-3250.
Secure PII shredding
Shredders used to destroy personally identifiable information (PII) should be destroyed using a cross-cut shredder rated Level 5 or higher to satisfy the Dept. of the Navy requirement. Level 5 will meet the 1x5 millimeters in size requirements. Strip shredders are not authorized.
If you plan to order shedders for your office or department and not sure which shredders will meet the criteria, contact your Information Systems Security Manager.
For more information, call (361) 961-2620.
2nd Fleet established
Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. John Richardson, announced the establishment of U.S. 2nd Fleet during a change of command ceremony for U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) in Norfolk, May 4.
Second Fleet will exercise operational and administrative authorities over assigned ships, aircraft and landing forces on the East Coast and northern Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, it will plan and conduct maritime, joint and combined operations and will train, certify and provide maritime forces to respond to global contingencies. Commander, 2nd Fleet will report to USFF.
“Our National Defense Strategy makes clear that we’re back in an era of great power competition as the security environment continues to grow more challenging and complex,” said Richardson. “That’s why today, we’re standing up Second Fleet to address these changes, particularly in the north Atlantic.”
Second Fleet was disestablished in 2011 and many of its personnel, assets and responsibilities were merged into USFF.
(Navy Office of Information)
Gentle fitness
MWR is offering “Gentle Fitness Group Fitness Class” on Wednesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. at the E Street Gym. Enjoy a gentle stretch and strengthening workout to get your day started right.
The class will improve your balance, flexibility and overall condition with a gradual and mild style, and is free of charge.
Call 961-2014, for more information.
2018 MAP quotas announced
The Navy released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP) plan, May 2, in NAVADMIN 109/18, increasing quotas and expanding commanding officers’ ability to recognize and advance top performing Sailors.
The updates to MAP are based on recommendations from senior enlisted leaders throughout the Fleet and include:
*Commands can use MAP E-4 quotas to advance E-1 to E-3 Sailors.
*E-6 time-in rate requirement (TIR) is now one year. However, nuclear trained Sailors must still complete at least two years as an E-5. Commands can select an E-5 Sailor for advancement with less than one year TIR through their Budget Submitting Office (BSO) / designated echelon II (Ech II) endorsement.
*Commands can submit multiple MAP Certification Letters (MCL) during the MAP season. This ensures no command is holding up a MAP advancement in order to finalize all MAP command selects.
This year, MAP will account for approximately 15 percent of all E-4 through E-6 advancements, with 7,012 MAP quotas, an increase of 2,795 quotas from 2017.
Units will have 6,809 quotas with 203 quotas designated for the BSO. Advancement quotas by paygrade (Unit Identifier Code (UIC) and BSO) are:
* E-4 - 2,977
* E-5 - 2,512
* E-6 - 1,523
MAP open season will last from July 1 - Aug. 31, but commands are encouraged to begin the MAP selection process and submit their MAP Certification Letter (MCL) as early as possible.
The redistribution of unused MAP quotas will take place during the month of September.
For more information on MAP, including quotas by UIC, controlled rates information, forms, points of contact, and answers to frequently asked questions go to http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/career/enlistedcareeradmin/Advancement/Pages/MAP.aspx
MAP is one of Navy’s continuing efforts to modernize personnel systems and processes under Sailor 2025, the Navy’s program to improve and modernize personnel management and training systems to more effectively recruit, develop, manage, reward, and retain the force of tomorrow
(CNP Public Affairs)
Women’s uniform undergoing fit evaluation
The Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCTRF) conducted a fit evaluation of women’s uniform slacks and skirts at Naval Support Facility Arlington, April 25-26.
The fit evaluation captured feedback on the fit, appearance, comfort, and cut of the new prototype design of women’s slacks and skirts for officers and chiefs. The evaluation consisted of 32 women trying-on the updated design of the skirts and slacks.
“We listened to feedback from women wearing the uniform and have been working to make improvements to the fit and feel of the slacks and skirts,” said Louise Caulfield, business development manager, NCTRF.
“The fit evaluation was necessary for the design team to do an assessment on the modified design of skirts and slacks.”
Design changes for the slacks include a shortened zipper length and a lowered fit at the waist allowing them to sit on the hip. Updates to the skirt consist of a straightened profile from the A-line design that removed the welt pockets and added a waist line pocket.
“Overall we received positive feedback,” said Robert Carroll, Head, Navy Uniform Matters Office. “We expect to do additional modifications to the pattern before the new slacks and skirts are available for purchase.”
Once input and recommendations from the NCTRF is approved by Navy leadership, the newly designed skirt and slacks will be contracted for production with the goal of availability in select uniform centers, at the earliest, during the fall of 2018. (Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs)
Navy revises policy regarding for Sailors PCSing with school-aged dependents
Effective immediately, to minimize the disruption to the education of school-aged children and increase family stability, Navy has revised the delayed dependent travel policy for Sailors who are undergoing a permanent change of station (PCS) and have school-aged dependents.
In lie with Joint Travel Regulations, when PCS orders have been issued, a Sailor’s dependents may perform PCS travel at a different time. The Sailor may also be authorized a housing allowance based on the location at which the dependents maintained a permanent residence, at the previously approved designated place or the old permanent duty station.
Sailors with school-aged dependents frequently request delayed dependent travel. Under the old policy, approval for requests to delay dependent travel were normally limited to the end of the current school term, which is usually the end of June or December (depending on the member’s detach date). The new policy allows Sailors with school-aged dependents to request delayed dependent travel until the end of the school year.
For questions on this updated policy, contact the Military Pay and Compensation Policy Branch via e-mail at Nxag_n130c@navy.mil. (Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs)
Teen Trip to Hurricane Alley
Teens, would you like to go to the water park with friends?
Sign up for the “Teens on the Go! Trip to Hurricane Alley Water Park” at the Youth Activities Center.
The trip is Saturday, June 9 and will leave from the YAC at 10 a.m. and return at 4 p.m. Cost is $12 per teen.
For more information, call 961-2355.
Suicide prevention
What can you do to help someone who may be suicidal?
Take it seriously.
The common myth is that people who talk about it don’t do it.
Studies have found that more than 75 percent of all the people who completed suicides did things to indicate to others that they were in a deep despair in the few weeks or months prior to their deaths.
Anyone expressing suicidal feelings needs immediate attention. Do not assume that because you feel something is not worth being suicidal about, that the person who are with feels the same way. It is not how bad the problem is, but how badly it is hurting the person who has it.
Contact Lt. Kevin Jackson, CHC, suicide prevention officer, at (361) 961-3751 or (361) 533-1394 for information.