I guess he was the Duty Corpsman:
http://docinthebox.blogspot.com/2008/10/annual-airshow-duty.html

But he got some cool MAGTF photos:
http://docinthebox.blogspot.com/2008/10/miramar-air-show-2008-magtf-display.html

And some really sweet F-22 Raptor photos:
http://docinthebox.blogspot.com/2008/10/mcas-miramar-2008-airshow-f-22-raptor.html

Thanks for everything you do for us, doc. I hope our paths cross one day. The closest I’ve been to you is in Imperial Beach, CA with Group 1, look me up on Global if you ever come to VA.

First of all, c’mon people! Do you really think a site named “Gear Adrift” is going to have the latest advancement results? Secondly, why do you think google would lead you to the right place? It’s a great search engine but if you don’t know about the results, why would google? It’s not like google is in the Navy, after all.

So, here’s my bright idea to help you fellow rate-grabbers out. I’m going to compile a tracker of exactly when the various Navy advancement results have come out.

Navy Advancement Results Tracker

• Jan 2008, CYCLE 198 Chief (E7) Advancement Results - 01 AUG 2008
• Mar 2008, CYCLE 199 (E4, E5, E6) Advancement Results - 22 MAY 2008
• Sep 2007, CYCLE 195 (E4, E5, E6) Advancement Results - 16 NOV 2007

USS RONALD REAGAN….

When the Bridge pipes ‘Man the Rail’ there is a lot of rail to man on this monster: shoulder to shoulder, around 4.5 acres. Her displacement is about 100,000 tons with full complement.>

• 1. Top speed exceeds 30 knots, powered by two nuclear reactors that can operate for more than 20 years without refueling.
• 2. Expected to operate in the fleet for about 50 years. Carries over 80 combat aircraft.
• 3. Three arresting cables can stop a 28-ton aircraft going 150 miles per hour in less than 400 feet.
• 4. Towers 20 stories above the waterline 1092 feet long; nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall.
• 5. Flight deck covers 4.5 acres.
• 6. 4 bronze propellers, each 21 feet across, weighing 66,200 pounds, 2 rudders, each 29 by 22 feet and weighing 50 tons.
• 7. 4 high speed aircraft elevators, each over 4,000 square feet.
• 8. Home to about 6,000 Navy personnel.
• 9. Carries e nough food and supplies to operate for 90 days.
• 10. 18,150 meals served daily.
• 11. Distillation plants provide 400,000 gallons of fresh water from sea water daily, enough for 2000 homes.
• 12. Nearly 30,000 light fixtures and 1,325 miles of cable and wiring 1,400 telephones.
• 13. 14,000 pillowcases and 28,000 sheets. Costs the Navy approximately $250,000 per day for pier side operation.
• 14. Costs the Navy approximately $25 million per day for underway operations (Sailor’s salaries included).

USS BILL CLINTON…

The USS William Jefferson Clinton (CVS1) set sail today from its home port of Vancouver , BC.

The ship is the first of its kind in the Navy and is a standing legacy to President Bill Clinton ‘for his foresight in military budget cuts’ and his conduct while president.

The ship is constructed nearly entirely from recycled aluminum and is completely solar powered with a top speed of 5 knots. It boasts an arsenal comprised of one (unarmed) F14 Tomcat or one (unarmed) F18 Hornet aircraft which, although they cannot be launched or captured on the 100 foot flight deck, form a very menacing presence.

As a standing order there are no firearms allowed on board. The 20 person crew is completely diversified, including members of all races, creeds, sex, and sexual orientation. This crew, like the crew aboard the USS Jimmy Carter, is specially trained to avoid conflicts and appease any and all enemies of the United States at all costs!

An onboard Type One DNC Universal Translator can send out messages of apology in any language to anyone who may find America offensive. The number of apologies are limitless and though some may sound hollow and disingenuous, the Navy advises that all apologies will sound very sincere.

The ship’s purpose is not defined so much as a unit of national defense, but instead in times of conflict the USS Clinton has orders to seek refuge in Canada. The ship may be positioned near the Democratic National Party Headquarters for photo-ops and can be used extensively for social experimentation and whatever other worthless jobs the ex-commander-in-chief and his wife can think of. It is largely rumored that the ship will also be the set for the upcoming season of MTV’s The Real World.

The ship was renamed and commissioned ‘USS William J Clinton’ when someone realized the ‘USS Blowfish’ was already taken.

Subject: Fw: Boudreaux and Thibodeaux

Two Cajun hunters get a pilot to fly them to Canada to hunt moose.

They bag six. As Boudreaux and Thibodeaux start loading the plane for the return trip, the Pilot says “The plane can only take four of those.”

The two Cajuns object strongly. “Last year we shot six and the pilot let us put them all on board; he had the same plane as yours.”

Reluctantly, the pilot gives in and all six are loaded. However, even with full power, the little plane can’t handle the load and down it goes and crashes in the middle of nowhere.

A few moments later, climbing out of the wreckage, Boudreaux asks Thibodeaux , “Any idea where we are?”
“I think we’re pretty close to where we crashed last year.” says Thibodeaux.

Merry Christmas Mark!

https://www.bol.navy.mil/DefaultPub.aspx

1. EMMS is available to selected military post offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to your APO/FPO of address.

2. PAL is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Parcel Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight and 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface rate of postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.

3. SAM parcels are paid at Parcel Post rates with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.

1. GXG is available to more than 190 countries via an alliance with Federal Express. See a retail associate at participating locations for a complete list of countries and money-back guarantee details, or go to pe.usps.com, and click International Rates and Fees, then Country Listing. You can also see the March/April 2007 issue of MailPro at usps.com/mailpro. Some restrictions apply. Free shipping supplies are available. Purchase postage online and receive a 10 percent discount.

2. EMS is available to more than 190 countries with delivery in three to five average business days. Guaranteed, money-back service is available to Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea (Republic of South). Flat-rate shipping options and free packaging are available. Purchase postage online and receive an 8 percent discount.

3. PMI is available to more than 190 countries with delivery in six to 10 average business days. Flat-rate shipping options and free packaging are available. Purchase postage online and receive a 5 percent discount.

*Average number of days may vary based on origin and destination.

MailPro
News for Mailing Professionals

FYI

Keep in touch with our troops overseas. Go to usps.com/supportourtroops for mailing guidelines.

This parka, shown to the left, is part of the foul-weather working uniform.

How much extra money?

To replace an entire set of uniforms, Navy enlisted men in paygrades E-6 and below would pay $1,203.64, which is $28.99 more than last fiscal year. Navy enlisted women in the same paygrades would pay $1,432.15, which is $22.14 more than last year.

For male sailors (E1-E6), the Navy’s standard replacement allowance is $662.40, a jump of $270 from last fiscal year, and the basic allowance is $464.40, an increase of $190.80.

For female sailors (E1-E6), the new standard replacement allowance is $680.40, which is $277.20 more than last year, and the basic allowance is $475.20, up $194.40 from last year.

Navy chief petty officers in grades E-7s and above have their own seabag list. A complete set of uniforms costs $1,172.20 for male chiefs, an increase of $130.10 over last fiscal year, and $1,042.10 for female chiefs, an increase of $90.30 from last year.

As with lower-ranking sailors, chief petty officers will see large hikes in their standard annual clothing replacement allowances. The allowance for chiefs is now $871.20, an increase of $226.80 over last fiscal year, and $939.60 for women, up $270 from last year.

To get a head start on your seabag check out some Navy Uniforms for sale at places online.

I’m proposing a new recruiting poster for the type of sailor the new Navy is attracting.

It’s a new Navy, everybody knows that. Today’s wars are no longer fought with two battleships, side-by-side, taking blows at each other with sailors swinging from the masts and fighting with swords. That’s for Hollywood movies and historical archives. Today’s wars are high-tech and most sailors are trained like technicians and don’t even know the difference between rope and line.

Consider the following brief article and feel free to comment below with your thoughts on “The New Navy”.

Dying Traditions

Let’s look at Navy traditions for a moment, those are either gone or fading away, too. Navy Shellback Initiation (Wog day) is basically a joke. The scariest thing about my last wog day was the jollyroger flying next to the Union Jack, lol. It was also the toughest thing about the day. Wog day used to be a way for sailors to prove themselves while out to sea. This is a tradition that is dying in our generation.

But what about those traditions that died a long time ago. How many people know what a lubber’s hole is? Or why it’s called that? Experienced sailors would go up the Jacobs ladder to get to the crow’s nest instead of using the ladder on the mast and climbing through the hole in the bottom of the crow’s nest. This hole was called the lubber’s hole and was reserved for land lubbers and inexperienced sailors.

Some Traditions Belong in the History Books

How about flogging? The Navy’s History site has an interesting page on flogging in the Navy. I don’t know about you but I know a couple of sailors who could probably benefit from a good flogging.

Only kidding.

Sort of.

• As far as I know, the uniforms are supposed to be issued by Summer 2008. However, knowing how things sometimes go, it could possibly be delayed.
• Boot Camp is “supposed” to be issued these uniforms late this year, early next year.

And, as mentioned in the previous post, they DEFINITELY look like Marine uniforms and I’m DEFINITELY NOT the only one who feels this way.
//end rant

The New Navy Uniforms are set to roll out Summer 2008 and have already been tested in many areas.

From the official Navy website:

The new Navy service uniform for E-6 and below is comprised of a short-sleeve khaki shirt for males and an over-blouse for females, made from a wash and wear 75/25 polyester and wool blend, with permanent military creases, black trousers for males with belt less slacks for females and optional belt less skirt, and a black unisex garrison cap. Silver anodized-metal rank insignia will be worn on shirt/blouse collars and cap. The service uniform will also include a black relaxed-fit Eisenhower-style jacket with a knit stand-up collar and epaulets, on which petty officers will wear large, silver anodized-metal rank insignia. Those entitled to wear gold chevrons will continue to wear gold chevrons on the large metal rank insignia on the jacket.

And from MCPON Scott on the reason for the New Navy Uniforms:

“In our research, we found the group most dissatisfied with their present uniforms were E-6 and below,” Scott said.

Most sailors I’ve talked to disagree with this statement and are unhappy with the new navy uniforms appearance. This is either from a fear of change or a fear of not wanting to look like a Marine.

Myself, personally, I’m not a big fan of the khaki ones but the blue ones seem ok. I’m keeping an open mind on the subject.