Monday, May 28, 2012

Taps


Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.

Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.

Love, good night,
Must thou go,
When the day,
And the night
Need thee so?
All is well.
Speedeth all
To their rest.

Fades the light;
And afar
Goeth day,
And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well;
Day has gone,
Night is on.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
'Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Noteworthies with a Local Link

The Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert announced today the following assignment: 

Capt. Mark R. Whitney, who has been selected for the rank of rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as deputy commander, logistics, maintenance, and industrial operations, Sea-04, Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C.  Whitney is currently serving as commander, Puget Sound Navy Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Bremerton, Wash. 

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Master Mariner Chamber & Community Volunteer


Gary Coy, President of Sperry Ocean Dock, was recognized as the Propeller Club’s Master Mariner of the Year at the Maritime Day Luncheon.
Coy is a second generation Washingtonian who grew up in the family business – neighborhood movie theaters during the 1940’s and 1950’s – until he moved to Alaska, where he worked as a commercial fisherman for several years.  He returned to Washington as an employee of The Boeing Company and served for two years in the U.S. Army.

After his discharge, Coy returned to work in several fields.  For a number of years, he owned a restaurant and office products business.  His career path included commercial and industrial waterfront real estate and eventually led to co-ownership of the Sperry Ocean Dock.

Sperry Ocean Dock is comprised of state-of-the-art fendering with metered shore power in a fenced, lighted, clean and secure area for large, oceangoing vessels.  As such, Sperry Ocean Dock is a vital national security asset for Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
The two ships stationed at the Sperry Ocean Dock facility are controlled by the federal government’s MARAD department and provide critical sealift for military operations.  Firefighter schools along with local, state and federal government agencies use the vessels for unique training opportunities.  In addition, the ships are potential resources for the community during natural disasters capable of producing electricity, water, shelter and medical facilities.

Presenting the award, Rockney Nigretto, Past International President of the Propeller Club of the U.S. and Past President of the Tacoma Propeller Club, said: “(Gary Coy) has been a steadfast supporter of the military, from concern for the living condition for our troops to assuring that intermodal sealift is well supported.  By this June, he will have made 23 trips to visit Congress, seeking support for the maritime industry and the military in the Pacific Northwest.  He has made a unique and lasting impact on military readiness on the West Coast.  I quote from one source: ‘One could easily argue that, through his consistent interaction with government leaders - Congress, Transcom, Marad and others – he is responsible for the expansion of the Marad fleet berthed on the West Coast and the jobs that they have created.  His creativity and tenacity in support of military readiness and the national interest has distinguished him among his peers and has served our nation well.’”

Coy has greatly improved his site through removal of a multi-story building of approx 180,000 sq ft.  During a Phase 2, he's removed approx. 20,000 sq ft of rail loading dock/decking, that was directly along the upper shore line bank.  And, in the big Phase 3, he's removed approximately 88,000 sq ft. of over-water coverage, approximately 1,000 creosote piles, and restored 650 lineal feet of beach and tidal area.  To date, he has created approximately 100,000 sq ft of intertidal habitat area.  Plus, his company is looking to do two more phases, starting with a small phase this summer, removing additional over-water coverage and more creosote piles.  And the real praise comes from having never been offered, or even asked for any type of public funding.

Coy has been extremely active in the South Sound community as a utility commissioner and member of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber.  As a Chamber member, he is the record holder for attending the most Washington-to-Washington, D.C. Conferences in the nation’s capital where he advocates on behalf of the maritime community.  He is an active member of the HLNC, Association of the United States Army, Navy League, Transportation Club of Tacoma and, of course, the Propeller Club.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Evergreen Fleet Signs on Crew

Click on image for larger view.

HASC Action with Local Impacts

During the Chamber's Washington-to-Washington, D.C. 2012 Conference last week, the House Armed Service Committee passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013.  This week the NDAA will be considered on the Floor of the House.

Ranking (Minority) Member Congressman Adam Smith reports:

Military Construction Projects

The Committee’s report provides $580.9 million for military construction projects in Washington State, including $289.5 million for the following projects at Joint Base Lewis-McChord:

  • Readiness Center                                   $35,000,000
  • SOF Battalion Operations Facility          $46,553,000
  • SOF Military Working Dog Kennel            $3,967,000
  • Army Reserve Center                             $40,000,000
  • Battalion Complex                                  $73,000,000
  • Waste Water Treatment Plant                $91,000,000

Military Personnel

The legislation authorizes a 1.7% pay increase and extends bonuses and special pay for our men and women in uniform.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Fairchild In Competition for KC-46

The Air Force announced on May 14 the basing criteria for the candidate locations of the KC-46A tanker's formal training unit and first two main operating bases.

Active Duty units will lead the FTU and first main operating base (MOB 1), while an Air National Guard unit will oversee MOB 2, said service officials. The FTU and MOB 1 are scheduled to begin receiving aircraft in Fiscal 2016; MOB 2 will get its airplanes in Fiscal 2018, they said.

The FTU basing criteria include: mission (proximity of aircraft available to support air refueling training, student throughput, aircrew training systems, fuels considerations, and potential to establish an association), capacity (hangars, runway, ramp space, and facility considerations), environmental requirements, and cost factors. The MOBs' basing criteria include mission (proximity to refueling receiver demand; airfield and airspace availability; fuels considerations; and potential to establish an association), capacity, environmental requirements, and cost factors.

Based on the results for Fairchild AFB and about 60 other Air Force bases, the Air Force plans to announce KC-46A preferred and reasonable alternatives and begin the environmental impact analysis process (EIAP) for the FTU and MOB 1 in December 2012. Likewise, the Air Force plans to announce the preferred and reasonable alternatives and begin the EIAP for MOB 2 in the spring of 2013.

Once service officials have identified and announced the candidate bases, Air Mobility Command will conduct site surveys at them. The Air Force plans to announce the preferred locations and alternatives for the FTU and MOB 1 in December 2012, and for MOB 2 in spring 2013.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Awards for I Corps NCO and Soldier of Year

Volunteer Carlene Joseph is currently seeking gifts and gift cards for the I Corps NCO and Soldier of the Year awards.

If any business is interested in donating two gifts, please email her directly.  A good example for a gift would be an overnight stay at a hotel, a gift card to purchase items, or simply a gift for the two soldiers.

She will be presenting the items to the two soldiers during the Lacey Chamber, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, the Lakewood Chamber, and the Puyallup Chamber’s Military Affairs Committee meetings. The gifts will be presented in June.  

Noteworthies with a Local Link


The chief of staff, Army announced today the following assignment: 

Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza, chief of public affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Army, Washington, D.C., to Commanding general, 7th Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash. 

BRAC Dead For Now

Not only will there not be a new base closure round in the immediate future, but the Pentagon will not be permitted to plan for one.

The House Armed Services Committee could have simply ignored DOD’s request for BRAC rounds in 2013 and 2015 - as the Readiness Subcommittee did when it marked up its portion of the fiscal 2013 defense authorization bill on April 27.

But instead -  it passed an amendment precluding the department from using FY 2013 appropriations “to propose, plan for or execute an additional BRAC round.”

Noteworthies with a Local Link


Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta announced yesterday that the President has made the following nominations: 

Navy Capt. John D. Alexander has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half).  Alexander is currently serving as commanding officer, the USS Abraham Lincoln, Everett, Wash. 

Army Reserve Col. Phillip S. Jolly has been nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general and assignment as commander (troop program unit), Army Reserve Sustainment Command, Birmingham, Ala.  Jolly is currently serving as commander (troop program unit), 364th Sustainment Brigade, Marysville, Wash.

Monday, May 7, 2012

TriCare Protest

Late last month TriWest protested the Department of Defense's (DoD) decision to award the TRICARE West Region Contract to UnitedHealthcare.
This protest is currently being reviewed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).  During this time, a new website—SaveMyMilitaryHealthcare.com—has been created by TriWest to give beneficiaries a voice and allow them to express their thoughts on the DoD’s decision. 

 Included in this website are easy links to write and submit electronic letters to members of Congress, ways for to share information and a form to subscribe to email updates. For more information, please go to: http://savemymilitaryhealthcare.com/

UPDATE #4:  TriCare announces decision not to appeal. http://www.triwest.com/en/beneficiary/news/2012/07/A-Letter-to-Our-Customers/

UPDATE #3:  TriCare loses protest. http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/07/07/2207334/total-force-drill-pay-hit-triwest.html

UPDATE #2:  Within the next week or two, the Department could make a decision about whether TriWest Healthcare Alliance will continue providing access to quality health care in the West Region.  By using this link, you can send an email directly to Secretary Panetta.

UPDATE #1:  The GAO is expected to issue their decision on TriWest's appeal by July 5, 2012.