ND-MilitaryNews

General Information

Navy Facts
Having military personnel and commands in San Diego is no small gesture -- as the Department of Defense brings about $9.6 billion annually into the county. Much of that money comes from the large U.S. Navy presence in the area. Sixty-nine Navy ships call San Diego home -- nearly one-sixth of the Navy's entire fleet and about one-third of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Close to 90,000 Navy personnel live in San Diego County with about 87 percent of the military population being male and about 13 percent female. Of the Navy personnel in San Diego, close to 40,000 are married and the total U.S. Navy family member count is 129,000. There are another 57,900 retired military personnel in San Diego County, just over 35,000 Marine Corps personnel and 22,500 Department of Defense civilian personnel. Most of the Navy personnel in San Diego are attached to ashore commands in San Diego.

Navy housing is at a premium in San Diego due to the large number of personnel and limited amount of military housing in the county. On average, there are about 5,000 families at any given time on the military housing list with an average wait of about 18 month. However, San Diego does have the largest housing complex in the Navy and Commander Naval Base, the lead command for military housing in San Diego, has several housing units currently planned or under construction with many other military housing units undergoing renovation. About $138 million is allotted for military housing replacement units in San Diego from fiscal year '96 through fiscal year '99.

Where To Go In Time Of Need
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, a non-profit charitable organization assists Navy and Marine Corps personnel and their families in time of need by providing emergency transportation, funeral expenses, medical/dental bill assistance, food, rent and utilities, disaster relief assistance, child care expenses and essential vehicle repairs.

There are four Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Offices in San Diego to aid military and families, staffed by well-trained volunteers. The Relief Society can also provide loans for education, budget counseling, visiting nurse services and more.

Contact one of the local offices for assistance or referral services:
Naval Station Auxiliary, (619) 556-8283, Bldg. 270
MCRD Branch, (619) 293-3730, Bldg. 26
North Island Branch, (619) 435-8786, Bldg. 607
Miramar Auxiliary, (858) 537-1807, Bldg. M273

TRICARE
TRICARE is the managed health care program of the Department of Defense, which provides health care services for members of the Uniformed Services and their families, Medicare eligible, non-Medicare eligible retirees, their families and survivors. Developed in conjunction with the Civilian Health and Medical programs of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), TRICARE is meant to utilize the best resources possible for DoD beneficiaries. This is carried out through managed care support contracts with civilian health care providers.

CHAMPUS beneficiaries have a choice of four health care plans under TRICARE:
TRICARE Standard: This was formerly called Standard CHAMPUS -- a pay as you go option which requires annual deductibles based on the military member's paygrade and cost shares. This option gives beneficiaries the most leeway in choosing a provider, but is also the most costly plan for the beneficiary.

TRICARE Extra: The beneficiary can choose any CHAMPUS certified provider, however, there is a discount from the TRICARE Standard cost if a network provider is used. Also, the CHAMPUS deductible must be met before cost share begins.

TRICARE Prime: This enrollment option guarantees expedient access to care with the most benefits by offering lower costs, less paperwork and a Primary Care Manager to coordinate health care needs. By enrolling in TRICARE Prime, the beneficiary must designate a civilian health care provider, such as NAVCARE or another approved doctor/clinic, or a military treatment facility as his or her primary health care provider.
TRICARE For Life: 65 and older A and B eligible. Medicare-eligible retirees,including retired guard members and reservists, Medicare-eligible family members and widows and widowers-,dependent partents and parents-inlaw are excluded.
Non-CHAMPUS eligible beneficiaries are still able to use military treatment facilities on a space-available basis.

Fleet and Family Support Center
The Navy formed the Family Service Center to help improve the quality of life for military members and their families -- a major priority of the service today. The Family Service Center, commonly referred to as FSC, offers various workshops, programs and services to assist the static lifestyle of the Navy member and his or her family.

Services include counseling, family advocacy education, life skills development, relocation assistance, financial and consumer education as well as employment assistance. San Diego is home to the Navy's second largest FSC in the world, employing close to 60 civilian and military personnel. The Family Service Center at Naval Station San Diego is located in the quality-of-life complex in buildings 259 and 263 on Corbina Alley, between 28th and 32nd Streets. Call the Naval Station Family Service Center at 556-7404.

Other Family Service Centers in San Diego include:
North Island, Bldg. 318, 545-6071.
Camp Pendleton, Bldg. 16124, 725-5361
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Bldg. 26, 524-0916
MCAS Miramar, Bldg. N49, 537-4099
Naval Submarine Base, Bldg. 212, 553-7505

Transition Assistance
About 13,000 military personnel will separate from active duty in San Diego County in fiscal year 1997. While many of these individuals have technical training, leadership job skills and varied experience gained through military service, transitioning into the civilian community can often be a difficult process.

Through the Family Service Center's Transition Assistance Management Program, separating military personnel are able to receive individualized job search and transition assistance.
Several programs for prior enlisted and officer personnel are available including a seminar on starting a second career with help in resume writing, cover letters and interview techniques. Also, VA assistance programs for those released from active duty for physical disabilities are offered through the Family Service Center.
Combined Federal Campaign
Commander Naval Base spearheads the San Diego County Combined Federal Campaign each year, raising funds through military, DoD civilians for human health care agencies, national and international agencies and San Diego County and California agencies. During the 1995 fund drive, about $5.5 million was raised for CFC. The drive runs from September to December each year. To contribute, contact your local CFC coordinator at your command, or call (858) 636-4114.

Sexual Harassment
A toll-free sexual harassment advice and counseling telephone line is staffed by trained Navy personnel at the Bureau of Naval Personnel from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (EST) on government working days by calling 1-800-253-0932. During off hours, there is an answering machine. The line was established in 1992 to arm those military and DoD personnel who feel they have been sexually harassed, those who have been accused of harassment and others, with information on military policies on the subject of sexual harassment.
Navy Lodges
Miramar: (858) 271-7111
Naval Station: (619) 234-6142
North Island: (619) 435-0191
Reservations in Continental U.S.: (800) NAVY-INN

TRICARE Out Patient Clinic
Although not run by Naval Medical Center San Diego, TRICARE clinics in San Diego see military beneficiaries, if CHAMPUS eligible and if all TRICARE requirements are met. Contact each clinic individually for more information:

TRICARE Out Patient Clinic South Bay: (619) 585-0099
TRICARE Out Patient Clinic Clairemont Mesa: (858) 569-6664