Top Navy Officers Fired Over Carrier Blaze
From the Virginian Pilot
WASHINGTON–The Navy’s Pacific commander fired the top two officers on the aircraft carrier George Washington on Wednesday after investigators concluded that a $70 million fire that damaged the ship in May probably was triggered by crew members sneaking a smoke.
Capt. David C. Dykhoff, skipper of the carrier, was relieved “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command and his failure to meet mission requirements and readiness standards,” the service said. His executive officer, Capt. David M. Dober, was sacked “for substandard performance.”
Both actions were ordered by Adm. Robert Willard, commander of the Pacific Fleet. A Navy spokesman said each man will get an as-yet-unannounced assignment ashore. The disciplinary action almost certainly ends their careers, however.
Sailors who may have been directly involved in starting the fire could be subject to administrative action later, said Lt. Cmdr. Charles Brown, a spokesman for the commander of the Navy’s air forces.
The fire occurred May 22 as the George Washington was headed from its former home in Norfolk to Yokosuka, Japan, where it will replace the carrier Kitty Hawk, which is being retired.
While the full report of the Judge Adjutant General investigation was not released, the Navy said it concluded that the fire likely was caused by “unauthorized smoking that ignited flammable liquids and other combustible material improperly stored in an adjacent space.”
The fire and its intensity “were the result of a series of human acts that could have been prevented,” the Navy summary added. It cited “the storage of 90 gallons of refrigerant compressor oil in an unauthorized space” as a factor in the fire’s severity.
The summary said the fire began in a boiler exhaust and supply area and spread quickly because of a “chimney effect” in nearby spaces and duct work. The 12-hour battle to extinguish the fire injured 37 sailors, one of whom received first- and second-degree burns.
The fire was the worst of 13 reported aboard Navy ships this year.
The George Washington has been undergoing repairs near San Diego since shortly after the blaze. It is to depart on Aug. 21 and arrive in Yokosuka sometime in September.
About 2,800 sailors have had to live on board the ship since it entered the shipyard in late May. They don’t have cars or off-ship housing because most of their families and household goods are headed to or already in Japan.
Helping with the repairs has helped maintain morale, said Lt. Cmdr. Bill Urban, a ship spokesman. Many sailors also have taken short vacations to visit family or sight-see; others have been bused to San Diego parks, concerts, Padres baseball games and comedy clubs, he said.
The fire forced the Navy to slightly delay the Kitty Hawk’s retirement and instead send that ship to participate in an annual Rim of the Pacific Exercise in the George Washington’s place. Urban said some George Washington sailors joined the Kitty Hawk’s crew for the exercise.
Wednesday’s actions marked the sixth time this year the Navy has relieved one of its commanding officers and the fourth time the discipline involved command at sea. Earlier this week, the skipper of the Pearl Harbor, an amphibious transport, was fired after the ship ran aground in the Persian Gulf.
Dykhoff, a West Virginia native, had been in command of the George Washington since December 2006. He is a former F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet pilot and squadron commander and a former executive officer of the carrier Nimitz.
Dober, a native New Yorker, also is a former F/A-18 pilot and squadron commander. He had been executive officer of the George Washington since March 2007.
To replace Dykhoff and Dober, the Navy tapped Capt. J.R. Haley to be the George Washington’s skipper and Capt. Karl O. Thomas to serve as executive officer.
Both men have ties to Hampton Roads from their service on carriers based in Norfolk. Haley commanded the Theodore Roosevelt from 2005 until last January. Thomas had been serving as executive officer of the Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Does Together We Served.com = OPSEC Risk?
If you haven’t heard about NTWS yet, here’s your chance before it may be too late. The parent website of the website “affectionately” referred to as “Navy Myspace” is being called out by Air Force officials as an OPSEC nightmare.
2007 Holiday Mailing Deadlines for Military
The post office has released it’s deadlines for getting packages delivered to the APO/FPO addresses. The below is from the following link: http://www.usps.com/mailpro/2007/septoct/page8.html
|
Military Mail Addressed to |
Express Mail Military Service (EMMS)1 |
First-Class Mail Letters/Cards |
Priority Mail |
Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL)2 |
Space Available Mail (SAM)3 |
Parcel Post |
|
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090–092 |
Dec. 18 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 4 |
Nov. 27 |
Nov. 13 |
|
APO/FPO AE ZIP 093 |
N/A |
Dec. 4 |
Dec. 4 |
Dec. 1 |
Nov. 27 |
Nov. 13 |
|
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094–098 |
Dec. 18 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 4 |
Nov. 27 |
Nov. 13 |
|
APO/FPO AA ZIPs 340 |
Dec. 18 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 4 |
Nov. 27 |
Nov. 13 |
|
APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962–966 |
Dec. 18 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 4 |
Nov. 27 |
Nov. 13 |
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.
|
International Mail Addressed to |
Global Express Guaranteed (GXG)1* |
Express Mail International (EMS)2* |
Priority Mail International (PMI)3* |
First-Class Mail International |
|
Africa |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 12 |
Dec. 4 |
Dec. 4 |
|
Asia/Pacific Rim |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 17 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 11 |
|
Australia/New Zealand |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 17 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 11 |
|
Canada |
Dec. 20 |
Dec. 18 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 11 |
|
Caribbean |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 17 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 11 |
|
Central & South America |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 12 |
Dec. 4 |
Dec. 4 |
|
Mexico |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 17 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 11 |
|
Europe |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 17 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 11 |
|
Middle East |
Dec. 19 |
Dec. 17 |
Dec. 11 |
Dec. 11 |
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.
New Navy PT Uniform
Adm. Mike Mullen, Chief of Naval Operations, approved the first Navy physical fitness uniform for all Sailors E-1 through O-10 this week.
“The goal was to design a uniform for wear during command directed group and unit PT activities and that our Sailors will be proud to wear,” said Vice Adm. John C. Harvey Jr., Chief of Naval Personnel. “What CNO has delivered more than meets that goal.”
The uniform consists of a gold short sleeved shirt and Navy blue shorts. The shirt is moisture wicking and odor resistant polyester with Navy in reflective lettering on back with and front.
The nylon moisture wicking and odor resistant Navy blue shorts come in six and eight inch lengths, providing standard appearance among different height Sailors, it also has reflective piping and reflective Navy lettering. The shorts have side pockets with a hidden ID card pocket inside the waistband.
“We carefully evaluated the materials, styling and functionality in designing this uniform,” said Harvey. “We looked at the lessons learned from the other services and got feedback from our Sailors – young, mature, male, female, officer and enlisted – and arrived at this design.”
“This is a high quality, high performance product that I know our Sailors will be proud to wear, because we asked them,” Harvey added.
Upon delivery to the fleet, anticipated to be spring 2008, all command directed physical training and semi-annual physical fitness tests will be performed while wearing the PT uniform. However, the uniform does not have to be worn during individual exercise.
“Sailors may still wear personal PT gear when not participating in command PT activities or the semi annual fitness tests,” said Robert Carroll, Head, Navy Uniform Matters Office.
Uniform availability at uniform centers and command uniform distribution activities will be phased in beginning with major Fleet concentration areas in spring 2008. Reserve enlisted will be issued uniforms by their commands.
Sailors’ clothing replacement allowance will be adjusted starting October 1, 2007 to allow for the purchase of two sets of short sleeve shirts and shorts.
“We have designated optional items including a long-sleeved shirt, compression shorts, head gear and running shoes which can be worn during these events,” said Carroll. A Navy wind suit is also in the works.
Lou Holtz Visits USS Abraham Lincoln
Legendary football coach Lou Holtz paid a visit to the Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) July 24-25. Holtz, also a best-selling author and motivational speaker, visited the aircraft carrier to meet the crew and to give his thanks for their service.
Holtz observed flight deck operations, toured Lincoln spaces, and delivered a speech in the wardroom regarding the importance of leadership and teamwork. He spent the evening in the first class mess talking to the crew and signing autographs and had breakfast with the chief petty officers the following morning.
“I’m not here because of me, I’m here because of the sacrifice you people make,” Holtz said. “I can live a free life and have freedom of choices and sleep safely and not worry about my family because of the sacrifices our armed services make.” This isn’t the first time Holtz has shown his appreciation for service members. Just last year he visited seven military posts in Iraq over the course of a week. “I try to show the military how much I appreciate them,” Holtz said. “I just wish everybody could come and see the commitment and the talent and the ability of these young people.”
Holtz is renowned for his inspirational speeches and his dedication and belief in teamwork. Holtz led six college football teams to bowl games within two years of joining each program. To date, Holtz is the only coach to ever guide four different programs to final top 20 rankings. “If you want to fail you have a right to fail,” Holtz said. “But you don’t have the right to cause other people to fail. I mean if you want to fail by yourself, go do it, but nobody has the right to cause other people to fail. So any time you’re part of the team, part of a family, part of an organization, you have an obligation to other people. And you must honor that commitment to other people.”
“That’s what’s made our armed services great,” he continued. “Commitment to your fellow [service members] and your fellow human beings is what motivates you to do that job to the best of your ability even though you’re tired, unappreciated, overworked, underpaid. You still feel that obligation and that’s what keeps you going and that’s what keeps us free, safe, and makes our military the best in the world: the obligation and commitment we have to other people.”
Holtz said he was astounded by the sheer magnitude of Lincoln, and realized the importance of each and every Sailor’s role on board. “The commitment of people here is great. You go up on the flight deck and everybody has a role and everybody does it. The magnitude of 5,000 Sailors on [board] when it’s fully equipped, that’s bigger than the city I was born in. Just to see how big this is, how well run it is, how efficient it is and how important it is.” “I love this country, I love our way of life [and] I love our freedom. But, you have to be willing to defend it,” Holtz said.
Holtz said his father was in the Navy and when he was asked what he did he said, “I did my duty.” Holtz said only much later in his life did he find out that his father was at Midway, Iwo Jima, and all the various major battles in the Pacific after 1942. “That was his duty, I just appreciate what you do. Not many people will say that. It’s never been more important than it is at the present time, amidst the dangers that we face.”
Secretary of Defense Accounces CNO Nomination
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced Aug. 2 that President George W. Bush has nominated Adm. Gary Roughead for reappointment to the grade of admiral and assignment as chief of naval operations, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Roughead is currently serving as commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Va.
Navy Pilots Headed to Space
Three Navy astronauts are on the crew of the 12-day NASA Discovery shuttle mission set to launch Thursday night from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
If the launch goes off, Capt. Robert L. Curbeam Jr., Cmdr. William A. Oefelein, Cmdr. Sunita L. Williams and their four fellow astronauts will travel to and work on the International Space Station. During the 12-day mission, the astronauts will continue construction on the station, rewiring the orbiting laboratory and adding a segment to its integrated truss structure, according to the Defense Department.