CORONADO, Calif. (May 11, 2009) Basic Crewman Training candidates tread water in a pool while waiting for instructions during their first physical screening test at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado. The candidates are in their first week of Basic Crewman Training which is the first phase of Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman training. SWCCs operate and maintain the Navy's inventory of state-of-the-art, high-performance boats used to support SEALs in special operations missions worldwide. U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Shauntae Hinkle-Lymas

Chief of Naval Personnel holds E-8, E-9 board results
WASHINGTON - Following completion of the fiscal year 2010 Navy Reserve E-8 and E-9 board, an allegation was made that the board process was not conducted in a fair and impartial manner regarding one of its panels. Because upholding the integrity of the selection board process is paramount, the chief of naval personnel is withholding the board results pending further inquiry and resolution.
It is Navy policy not to comment on the conduct or deliberations of the board.
For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnp/.

New commander in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (May 11, 2009) - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates named Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal to replace Army Gen. David D. McKierna as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, citing the need for fresh leadership as the U.S. takes a new approach to the region.
Gates recommended that McChrystal, currently the director of the Joint Staff, replace McKiernan as commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
The defense secretary said he reached the decision following consultations with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command; and after gaining approval of President Barack Obama.

Stavridis to head NATO, Euro Command
WASHINGTON (May 12, 2009) - President Barack Obama nominated Adm. James Stavridis to serve as NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe and as commander U.S. European Command, Pentagon officials said.
The dual command is responsible for the overall charge of NATO military operations, which includes identifying and requesting forces from NATO countries for wartime needs and peacetime joint training exercises. The alliance includes 42 member countries and 22 partner countries.
The appointment has no set length; the position previously has been held for as little as one year and for as long as eight. Supreme Headquarters Allied Power Europe has its headquarters at Casteau, north of Mons, Belgium.
Pending U.S. Senate confirmation, Stavridis will succeed Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock, who assumed the commands in December 2006. NATO’s Defense Planning Committee already has agreed to Obama’s request to relieve Craddock and appoint Stavridis, according to a statement released by NATO.

New Orleans underway from Bahrain
MANAMA, Bahrain - USS New Orleans (LPD 18) returned to sea the evening of May 12, fully mission capable after completing repairs at the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) Shipyard dry dock here.
While underway in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility, New Orleans is scheduled to conduct maritime security operations. The ship was damaged in a collision with USS Hartford (SSN 768) March 20 in the Strait of Hormuz.
At the ASRY Shipyard, dry dock repairs were made to the ship’s damaged hull, ruptured fuel tank and ballast tanks.

Gate closure may delay Coronado base access
Naval Air Station North Island Gate 5 will be closed throughout May in support of gate construction.
The gate, located at Sherman Ave. and Ocean Blvd., will be closed until May 26. This closure will also delay entry onto the base through the remaining access gates. Gate 2, at 1st and Alameda St., will serve as the primary access for fuel and ammunition delivery trucks.
Any questions regarding this closure should be routed to the Security Operations Chief at (619) 545-9093 or NBC Security Officer at (619) 307-2379.

Defense Department plans MWR survey
by Samantha L. Quigley
WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials are preparing to conduct the first militarywide survey to assess morale, welfare and recreation programs. “We’ve established standards for all the services,” Arthur Myers, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family policy, said. “Now we want to get feedback from the [servicemembers] on how we’re doing with our programs.”
Myers’ office is conducting the survey with the help of CFI Group, an international customer-satisfaction consulting firm with headquarters in Ann Arbor, Mich. The survey will be e-mailed to about 150,000 randomly selected servicemembers in the near future and will appear as being from CFI Group “on behalf of DoD.”
“So, remember, when you get that, it’s not spam,” Myers said.
Though the survey will collect data on participants’ service branches and, if they choose to provide it, their ethnicity, the responses will be completely anonymous, Myers emphasized.
It’s also important, he added, that those selected participate in the survey to ensure the best level of accuracy in the results.
Though the survey will be sent only to active-duty servicemembers, Myers encouraged those selected to take their families’ opinions into consideration when responding. As more data is gained, future surveys will be open to the reserve components, he added.
Those receiving the survey will have about three weeks to participate. When the responses are collected and analyzed, the findings will be published on the Defense Department Web site, as well as on Military Community and Family Policy’s Military OneSource and MilitaryHomefront sites.
“This survey will actually tell us what [servicemembers’] needs are so we can meet those needs,” Myers said. “We really believe our programs are a key thing in keeping our military ready and [in helping to retain them].”

Navy takes delivery of carrier George H.W. Bush
WASHINGTON - The Navy took delivery of its newest aircraft carrier, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), from Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding May 11. George H.W. Bush is the 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
“ George H.W. Bush has been eight years in the making, with its keel laid in 2003, followed by christening in 2006 and today’s delivery. It’s a testament to the dedication and professionalism of both the Navy and our industry partners,” said Capt. Frank Simei, Navy program manager for in-service aircraft carriers.
George H.W. Bush is the most advanced ship of its class. Relative to the last aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan substantial design features were modified and new technologies inserted. Examples include a new vacuum marine sanitation system, a new jet fuel distribution system and numerous other new control systems and piping materials. These new features will reduce the lifecycle cost of the carrier.

Navy returns to ARG deployment construct
NORFOLK - Navy and Marine Corps leaders recently announced the return to the amphibious ready group/Marine expeditionary unit (ARG/MEU) deployment construct as the routine, rotational amphibious force deployment package supporting geographic combatant commanders.
The change results from a study kicked off in January, during which the Navy and Marine Corps reviewed amphibious deployment plans to ensure U.S. naval forces were efficiently supporting geographic combatant commander requirements.
“This new approach will change the way amphibious forces are requested and packaged within the joint global force management process,” said Vice Adm. Pete Daly, deputy commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
“The change will ensure the most efficient and effective employment of amphibious combat assets while supporting geographic combatant commanders.”
The ARG/MEU routine amphibious force packages will include an amphibious squadron (PHIBRON), an amphibious assault ship (LHA/D), an amphibious transport dock (LPD), a dock landing ship (LSD), embarked naval support elements and an embarked MEU, totaling approximately 5,000 Sailors and Marines.
When deploying as an expeditionary strike group (ESG), the combat forces effectively supported combatant commander requirements but rarely as a single ESG unit. Now, ARG/MEU force packages will be referred to as an expeditionary strike group only when mission requires a flag or general officer lead an ARG/MEU.
ARG/MEUs and surface combatants will continue certifying to conduct integrated operations through their regular training and pre-deployment certification process. The flexible nature of U.S. naval forces enables the ARG/MEU to still deploy and operate with surface combatants, submarines or a variety of other capabilities depending on the identified mission requirements.
Existing ESG staffs -- ESG 2, 3, and 7 -- will retain a combination of amphibious warfare and Navy composite warfare expertise while serving as the Navy’s amphibious operational experts. Additionally, a key mission for ESG staffs will be ensuring Navy and Marine Corps amphibious warfare equities through direct coordination with their Marine Corps counterparts.
The Navy and Marine Corps ESG Working Group conducting the review will continue to define the roles, missions, capabilities and training applicable to this force structure. The chief of naval operations and commandant of the Marine Corps retain final approval of all recommendations.

Navy decommissions USS Kitty Hawk
BREMERTON, Wash. - Aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), once stationed in San Diego, was decommissioned May 12 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard after more than 48 years of service.
Members of the final crew lowered the ship’s commissioning pennant from the main mast and the U.S. Flag and First Navy Jack from their staffs after Kitty Hawk skipper Capt. Todd Zecchin closed out the ship’s deck log.
“It’s hard to capture the feeling in words,” said Zecchin. “This is the second aircraft carrier that I’ve decommissioned, and it doesn’t hit you immediately until you’ve lowered the commissioning pennant for the last time.”
Kitty Hawk’s officers of the deck have used the log to track shipboard activities since commissioning April 29, 1961.
Zecchin then transferred the ship to the control of shipyard commander Capt. Mark Whitney during a small ceremony aboard the ship.
“She has served her country for almost 50 years – 48 years and 13 days, across the globe,” said Zecchin. “There have been a lot of Sailors that have crossed her decks, a lot of airmen that have flown off and on her decks.”
Kitty Hawk arrived in Bremerton Sept. 2, 2008 to prepare for its eventual decommissioning. The ship spent the previous 10 years operating from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan.
While operating from Japan as the Navy’s only forward deployed aircraft carrier, Kitty Hawk took part in dozens of exercises and operations, including being the first aircraft carrier to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom in the Arabian Sea, and her aircraft took part in the opening strikes of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
She was replaced by USS George Washington (CVN 73), which is only the fourth U.S. aircraft carrier to be forward deployed from Yokosuka.
Kitty Hawk’s voyage to Bremerton started when the ship left Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, May 28, 2008. Since then, the ship made her final port visit to Guam, then on to Hawaii, where it took part in the 21st biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise with nine other nations.
On her way to Bremerton, Kitty Hawk made a final stop at NAS North Island, where she was homeported for more than 25 years. Dozens of former crewmembers, including 38 plankowners - members of the 1961 commissioning crew - rode the ship from San Diego to Bremerton on its final at-sea voyage.
The decommissioning brings back a lot of memories for the 100,000 or so Sailors who served aboard Kitty Hawk as part of ship’s company or air wing.
“In January of 1965 at the young age of 17, I came on board USS Kitty Hawk right out of boot camp,” said Kitty Hawk Veterans Association President Jim Melka. “Being from a small town in Iowa, I had never seen anything so massive. Kitty Hawk was home for me for the next 32 months. I learned a lot in those 32 months.

French slated as next NRSW commander
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead announced April 28 that Rear Adm. (lower half) William D. French, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral, will be assigned as commander, Navy Region Southwest, San Diego. French is currently serving as commander, Navy Region Marianas/U.S. Pacific Command representative, Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau/commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas, Guam.

Dunford nominated for commanding general positions
CAMP PENDLETON - Lt. Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. has been nominated to serve as commanding general of the Camp Pendleton-based 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and the Marine Corps Forces Central Command.
His nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. Dunford has been serving as deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations at Marine headquarters.
The current commander is Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland.

Rear Adm. Hering kicks off National Military Appreciation Month
by MCC Bill Gowdy
SAN DIEGO - Rear Adm. Len Hering, commander Navy Region Southwest, addressed the San Diego Navy League during their monthly breakfast at the Admiral Baker Field Clubhouse May 1. In support of National Military Appreciation Month, the League honored five Navy and Marine Corps recruiters from Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Diego.
After recognizing Navy and Marine Corps recruiters, Hering focused on diversity and education and the impact on the future of the sea services.
Through the tough economic times that the Nation is facing, the Navy is still recruiting a diverse group of people. “By 2020 one third of our nation’s population will be minority and it will (grow to) be half by the year 2050," said Hering. "Fitting the diversity goals of the CNO remains our key goal and maintaining the educational requirements of new recruits will become a growing challenge for recruiters such as those we honored this morning."

INDIAN OCEAN (May 3, 2009) The Amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) is underway in the Indian Ocean at sunrise. Boxer is deployed as part of the Boxer Amphibious Readiness Group/13th Marine Expeditionary Unit supporting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by MC2 John J. Siller. More news from USS Boxer.