‘Torah for Our Troops’ supporter nominated for 2nd star
March 13th, 2012 | Admirals Carriers Navy | Posted by Jenn Rafael
A flag officer who has led the effort to supply all aircraft carriers with Torah scrolls just got nominated for a second star.
Rear Adm. Herman Shelanski is commander of Carrier Strike Group 10.
Shelanski also will receive the Jewish Military Leadership Award at the JCCs of North America Biennial in May 7. In its announcement, the organization noted Shelanski’s support for Torah for Our Troops, a Jewish Welfare Board/Jewish Chaplains Council initiative to commission lightweight Torah scrolls for chaplains to use in the field and as they move throughout the fleet.
The Torah is Judaism’s holy book. The Torah scroll includes the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, numbers and Deuteronomy.
When he was commanding officer of the carrier Harry S. Truman in 2007, Shelanski received a Torah recovered from the Holocaust on the ship’s behalf. The scroll was dedicated to the carrier in honor of the 33rd president’s decision to recognize the newly-formed state of Israel in 1948.
In June 2007, Capt. Herman Shelanski, left, and Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., bow their heads at the commencement of a Torah dedication ceremony aboard the carrier Harry S. Truman. The larger Torah scroll was presented to the ship by the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. The smaller Torah in the foreground, known as the Truman Torah, was presented to President Truman by Israel's first president in gratitude for America's diplomatic recognition of the state of Israel in 1948. // MC2 Kristopher Wilson/Navy
Ex-sailor dreams of making it big on NBC’s ‘Fashion Star’
March 13th, 2012 | Navy | Posted by Jenn Rafael
The reality series “Fashion Star,” which debuts Tuesday night on NBC, features 14 fashion-designer hopefuls competing to launch their brands.
Among the contestants is former sailor Ronnie Escalante. According to his bio on the show’s website:
“Growing up in the Philippines, Ronnie Escalante spent most of his days on an agricultural province. At a young age, Escalante was surrounded by fashion, as his cousin worked as a ‘beader’ in a local fashion house. However, it was in grade school that his knack for fashion design flourished. Escalante would sketch clothing designs in the back of his school notebooks. At the age of 17, Escalante and his family moved to the U.S. and soon after, he joined the U.S. Navy where he served for four years.”
Promotional material for the show features a boot camp graduation photo of Escalante wearing his service dress blue uniform and dixie cup hat.
Following his service, Escalante went to fashion design school in San Francisco, followed by internships at big fashion houses.
The show, which airs at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, features star power in the form of host Elle Macpherson and mentors Jessica Simpson and Nicole Richie. Also serving as a mentor is menswear designer John Varvatos.
The prize? A $6 million contract for the winner’s creations to be sold at Macy’s, H&M and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Let us know what you think about the first episode in the comments area.
Mullen honored at SWO School
March 7th, 2012 | Admirals Chief of naval operations Navy Training | Posted by Jenn Rafael
The Adm. Michael G. Mullen Auditorium was dedicated March 1 at Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, R.I. Here, Mullen, wife Deborah Mullen and son Lt. Michael Mullen Jr. unveil the auditorium's dedication plaque. // MMC Aurain Rodriques/Navy
He may have retired in September, but retired Adm. Mike Mullen’s legacy lives.
An auditorium was dedicated in his name March 1 before a graduation ceremony at Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, R.I.
In speaking to Department Head Class 215, Mullen reflected on his own department head graduation and the training he received throughout his career, according to a Navy news release.
Mullen, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs and former chief of naval operations, also had kind words for the school: “Newport has always been a great Navy town and a big part of our family’s life. Likewise, SWOS is at the heart and soul of my Navy career. Both Deborah and I were excited to be back home.”
Naval Academy’s ‘South Pacific’ is a secret
January 24th, 2012 | Naval Academy Navy The Pacific World War II | Posted by Jenn Rafael
The Naval Academy Glee Club is putting on Rodgers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific," but apparently isn't allowed to say so. // Amazon.com
Next month, Naval Academy midshipmen will perform possibly the most nautical musical ever to hit Broadway — but you wouldn’t know it by reading the school’s announcement of tickets for the winter musical.
It’s South Pacific, but “licensing restrictions prohibit releasing the name of the production in this announcement.”
The story is set on a South Pacific island during World War II, featuring two love stories threatened by prejudice and war. Nellie, a spunky nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with a French planter, while Lt. Joe Cable finds himself denying his love for an island native.
The songs are familiar: “There Is Nothin’ Like a Dame” and “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Younger Than Springtime” and “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair.”
“The performance will be a fully realized Rodgers and Hammerstein production, complete with dancing, costumes, and a live pit orchestra made up of midshipmen musicians,” according to the news release.
The show will be performed Feb. 24, 25, and 26 and March 2, 3, and 4 in Mahan Hall. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets go on sale Jan. 24 and can be purchased online, by calling the Music and Theatre Box Office at 410-293-8497 or at the door.
Elves in orange vests
November 29th, 2011 | Coast Guard Entertainment Historical Traditions | Posted by Jenn Rafael
Crew members of the seagoing buoy tender Alder load pallets of Christmas trees Monday in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Alder will deliver the trees to needy families in Chicago. // PA3 George Degener/Coast Guard.
The seagoing buoy tender Alder has a new mission: spreading holiday cheer.
The cutter is carrying hundreds of trees to needy Chicago families as the city’s “Christmas ship.” On Monday, the cutter’s crew took on the holiday cargo in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Curt Barrett operates Alder's buoy deck crane to load pallets of trees Monday. // PA3 George Degener/Coast Guard.
The seagoing buoy tender/icebreaker Mackinaw normally does the honors. Its crew delivered more than 1,200 Christmas trees to Chicago families last year. But for this holiday season, Mackinaw is headed to a Wisconsin shipyard for repair of a leaking bow-thruster.
Alder’s mission is the continuation of a Chicago tradition. The original Christmas ship, the Rouse Simmons, brought fresh evergreens and wreaths to Chicago during holiday seasons in the early 1900s. The three-masted schooner entered port with a Christmas tree tied to its mast each year until it was lost in 1912.
Alder is due to arrive in Chicago on Friday morning; trees will be distributed Saturday.
We’re No. 10!
November 16th, 2011 | Army Family housing Life at Home Navy | Posted by Jenn Rafael
The Naval Academy's neighborhood is the 10th most expensive college town for home-buying. // California State Controller's Office
A survey of home prices in college towns by Coldwell Banker shows that Annapolis, Md., home to the Naval Academy, is the 10th most expensive college town for home-buying.
The College Home Listing Report compared the average listing price for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in the towns and cities of the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools. The average list price for an Annapolis home was $522,420, according to the report, and was 10th behind such cities as No. 2 Palo Alto, Calif. (Stanford University, average listing $1,232,0700); No. 3 Honolulu (University of Hawaii, average $779,419) and No. 8 Seattle (University of Washington, average $570,535).
Enlisted members and officers assigned to the academy or neighboring Naval Support Activity Annapolis might experience sticker shock when moving to the pricey shore locale. But basic allowance for housing rates take real estate and rental prices into account, giving a chief with dependents $2,196 a month, while a lieutenant commander with dependents gets $2,763 a month — enough to cover payments on a $400,000 30-year mortgage, depending on interest rates.
So how did Army and Air Force do? West Point, N.Y., home to the U.S. Military Academy, clocked in at 19th, with an average listing of $293,791. Colorado Springs, Colo., near the Air Force Academy, was 45th, with an average listing of $193,968.
The homes compared were listed between August 2010 and August 2011 in 117 markets. (The company noted that Tuscaloosa, Ala., was not included because of damage caused by a tornado in April, and that Bowling Green, Ohio, and Bloomington, Ind., did not meet minimum listing requirements.)
Did you survive the ERB?
November 15th, 2011 | Navy Personnel | Posted by Jenn Rafael
Staff writer Mark D. Faram reported Monday that results of the first enlisted retention board have hit the streets, and petty officers third and second class in 31 overmanned ratings are finding out their fate.
And this is only the first round: Those considered by the second ERB, sailors E-6 through E-8, won’t be notified of the results until after Thanksgiving.
In a blog post Monday, Fleet Forces Command’s Adm. John Harvey stressed the fleet’s role in supporting those who must leave:
On a final note, I want to say that it’s never easy to see our Shipmates leave. I take great pride in having served with so many talented men and women who all volunteered to serve their nation. Although we cannot change the results of the ERB, we can very much control how we support our Sailors who will be separating. I ask that all of you who know someone being affected by this ERB reach out and offer your assistance.”
Navy Times wants to know how sailors are taking the news. Did someone tell you that you have to leave by next September? Did your request to convert to a new rating come through?
And if you supervise junior sailors, did the board get it right, or was a top performer tapped to go?
Send an email with your thoughts.
Shipping over in style
November 14th, 2011 | Chiefs Navy Personnel | Posted by Jenn Rafael
Do you have a favorite re-enlistment ceremony?
Maybe a family member or VIP swore you in. Maybe the location was historically significant.
Or maybe you were being circled by sharks at the time.
Although he wasn’t defying death while raising his hand, Senior Chief Aviation Electrician’s Mate (AW) Mukunda-Krishna Tyson of Patrol Squadron 1 likely won’t forget his ceremony before Sunday’s Seattle Seahawks game.
In the photo below, Tyson is sworn in by Lt. Thomas Madera, also of VP-1, as tens of thousands of fans watched. VP-1 is based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash. (And the hometown Seahawks beat the Baltimore Ravens, 22-17.)
In the comments section, tell us about your most memorable re-enlistment ceremony and what made shipping over that day so special.
Senior Chief Aviation Electrician's Mate Makunda-Krishna Tyson, right, is sworn in by Lt. Thomas Madera on Sunday. // The Associated Press
A battleship of your very own
November 1st, 2011 | Battleships Historical Navy Photos World War II | Posted by Jenn Rafael
Pretend to be Adm. Bull Halsey with this 20-foot replica of the battleship New Jersey, up for auction for $80,000. // ebay.com
With the battleship Iowa being prepared for its debut next year as an interactive museum near Los Angeles, you might be thinking, where’s my battleship?
The car enthusiast website jalopnik.com has the scoop: For a mere $80,000, you can own your own replica of the battleship New Jersey.
The ebay auction description notes the ship is powered by a 120 HP Sea Doo jet drive. Also: “Two of the main guns are fully articulating and fire streams of high pressure water. The vessel also contains a 4000 watt generator, air compressor and high pressure stainless steel water pump.”
And since the listing notes that there’s room for a two-man crew, you and a shipmate can split the cost.
Quarters K closes up shop
November 1st, 2011 | Arlington National Cemetery Navy Pentagon Photos | Posted by Jenn Rafael
If you’ve worked at the Pentagon, you’ve probably bought gas at Quarters K.
The Navy Exchange gas station and Quikmart near the Navy Annex in Arlington, Va., closed for good Friday, as part of a plan to expand neighboring Arlington National Cemetery.
Quarters K served military members, retirees and drivers of government vehicles, as well as members of the public using compressed natural gas and ethanol pumps.
A brochure given out at the station notes that the nearest Navy Exchange gas station is at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., about 30 minutes to the north.
Those looking for other alternative fuel options can search the Energy Department’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator.
Did you buy gas or alternative fuel at Quarters K? What’s your new commuting strategy?