Recognition for “above and beyond” IAs
August 9th, 2011 | Afghanistan Awards Fleet Forces Command individual augmentees Iraq Navy Personnel | Posted by Bill McMichael
More than 90,000 sailors have served in individual augmentee assignments — largely in Iraq, Afghanistan and environs — and Tuesday, Fleet Forces Command launched a web site honoring those who’ve “performed above and beyond the call of duty.”
The site pays tribute to the 1,416 IAs awarded the Bronze Star, the 10 given the Bronze Star with Combat “V” device, the 48 awarded Purple Hearts, the one sailor awarded the Silver Star and the 14 killed in the line of duty as of Aug. 9. The page also lists the totals, but not the IA recipients, for every meritorious service medal awarded.
“We are proud to launch this webpage to collectively thank our IA Sailors for their distinguished service,” said Adm. John Harvey, Fleet Forces commander. “And it is fitting that we honor the service members who paid the ultimate price during overseas contingency operations. Their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.”
Navy IAs have worked in a wide variety of combat service and combat service support roles in the fields of logistics and contracting, engineering, security assistance, detainee operations, headquarters staff, medical support, military training, Provincial Reconstruction Teams and many other roles.
Names in the Navy IA Hall of Honor were pulled from the official Navy Awards database, Defense.gov and the Defense Manpower Data Center. Unintended omissions from the site may be addressed via the “contact us” link on the webpage, Fleet Forces says.
(WORK SPACE AMBIENCE WARNING: If you haven’t gone to the site already, turn your speakers down first unless you want to stir your co-workers with a loud, brassy patriotic fanfare, the old bugle call “To the Color.”) Clicking on any of the links on the left mutes the music in mid-riff.
You tracking?
August 11th, 2010 | individual augmentees Life at Sea | Posted by Phil Ewing
As a matter of fact, OS2 Andres Yanez was tracking, yes -- tracking surface contacts. // PH3 Lowell Whitman / Navy
One of our regular commenters here on the Deck, salty blogger Sparky of The Modern Sailor, brought several important issues to light in a post this morning — responding to last year’s “ooh-rah” interrogative:
“Hoorah:” I get a lot of booters saying this crap so I guess they teach it to them up in Great Lakes now. Aside [from that], I hear the phrase “You tracking?” from a lot from people who have been on IA. The same people don’t like it when I reply by staring at them blankly and saying “I have no idea what you mean by ‘tracking’” until I force them to explain that it’s a term the Army uses. Then I hold my hands out, shrug and say “We’re not the Army” and walk away. I thought we had a cool way of talking about stuff but apparently it wasn’t tactical enough.
So, in short order:
1. Have you heard these young people saying “oorah” nowadays? Is the Marines’ beloved motivational nonsense phrase making inroads on the Blue Side?
2. Do you hear more sailors saying “you tracking?” It’s a pretty infectious ground-force phrase you hear in Afghanistan. It means, “are you aware and actively engaged? Do you comprehend what is transpiring?” You can say it if somebody is explaining something to you; instead of “I understand,” or “got it,” you say, “I’m tracking.” I’ve also heard people say it in response to: “Hey, how ya doing?” “We’re trackin’.”
What do you think? Creeping gruntism in the sea service, or a useful new phrase? What other non-naval terms are working their way into the sailor lexicon these days? Keep it clean.
Goodbye, shipmate
August 4th, 2010 | individual augmentees Photos | Posted by Phil Ewing
MC1 Brien Aho captured this image of a memorial service last week at sea aboard the amphibious transport dock New Orleans, where the ship’s culinary specialists — that’s them in their galley gear, complete with pens and meat thermometers — mourned a comrade who was killed in Afghanistan. Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Jarod Newlove, a member of New Orleans’ commissioning crew, was one of two sailors killed in a Taliban attack late last moth.
Newlove and another individual augmentee assigned to a NATO training school, Hull Technician 2nd Class Justin McNeley, were driving by themselves about 60 miles outside of Kabul for reasons that officials have not explained.
CNO wraps up Middle East tour
April 2nd, 2010 | individual augmentees leadership Morale Navy The Middle East | Posted by Lance Bacon
Adm. Gary Roughead, left, and Cmdr. Ed Devinney, commanding officer of the destroyer Cole, thank sailors for their hard work while deployed. (Photo by MC1 (SW/AW) Tiffini Jones Vanderwyst)
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead recently visited Africa and the Middle East to strengthen maritime partnerships and spend time with sailors in the region.
During his visit to the destroyer Cole, Roughead described the ship as symbol of strength. “Remember the special heritage that this ship has,” he said. “It represents the resiliency of our Navy, and it represents the spirit of our Navy – in ways that other ships simply do not.”
In Djibouti, he toured Camp Lemonnier, telling IAs / GSAs that “this is a different way for us to use our Navy.” The Navy has about 12,000 sailors on the ground.
Roughead also visited troops stationed at United States Military Training Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the amphibious transpodt dock Mesa Verde. “I believe that there is no more flexible, no more powerful, and no more effective source than the Navy and Marine Corps team,” he said.
ISAF: Enough of all this nice stuff
March 26th, 2010 | Chow individual augmentees leadership Morale The Middle East | Posted by Phil Ewing
Only God knows why: Rock-men such as American badass Kid Rock, here performing in Kabul, won't be seen as often in today's Afghanistan, where commanders are cutting back on USO performances. // Staff Sgt. Luis Valdespino Jr / Marine Corps
If you’re headed for Afghanistan, or you’re already there, get ready to say goodbye to Orange Julius. The Jules, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen and other Morale, Welfare and Recreation spots across the ‘Stan are going away, so U.S. and international forces there can focus on fightin’.
That was the word this week from ISAF Command Sgt Maj. Michael T. Hall, who put up a blog post saying there’re going to be some changes around Afghanistan: “This is a war zone — not an amusement park,” he wrote, with shades of George C. Scott’s initial headquarters tour in “Patton.” So the fun food is going away, there’ll be fewer USO appearances, and ISAF will focus only on “essentials.”
If it hasn’t died already, this probably means the end of the famous boardwalk at Kandahar Air Field. (Shame: Great, surreal memories of that place.) No word on whether this affects the Canadian Forces’ beloved Tim Hortons, although, let’s be honest, if they took Timmies away, Canada would pull out of NATO.
It’s also not clear how much the new austerity measures will affect to the already-austere provincial reconstruction teams where most sailors serve, but it’s a cinch that Seabees in places like Kabul and Kandahar will see their smoothie consumption drop off to nothing. If you’re over there — or you’re back from there — what do you think about the new No-Funistan?
Traveling with the CNO — Fort Jackson
March 24th, 2010 | individual augmentees leadership Navy Personnel | Posted by Lance Bacon
Scoop Deck blogger Lance M. Bacon took a day trip with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead this week. This is the play-by-play report.
1440
We’ve left Georgia and arrived in South Carolina. The scenery is much the same. The humidity is much the same. The bugs look a little bigger. But the biggest difference is the base – make that, the fort.
There is no open water for miles, yet no shortage of sailors here at Fort Jackson. We are at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Training Center. The school used to be in Rhode Island, but the ever “purplization” of the military has moved it here. At least it is a better choice than was made when they moved the Public Affairs school in the early ’90s to Fort Meade, putting a never-ending supply of aspiring journalists and photographers on the same base as the super-secret NSA.
The new chaplaincy schoolhouse opened Jan. 15, and classes started two days later. The smell of fresh paint still lingers, and a multitude of pictures and plaques stand ready for wall assignment.
Scoop Deck was treated to a tour by Cmdr. J. Hedges, the school’s executive officer. A 19-year veteran, Hedges has done 25 months in Iraq. His enthusiasm for his mission and calling are evident.
The school holds its heritage second only to the faiths it serves. On the quarterdeck stands a seven-foot wooden pulpit that predates the Rhode Island schoolhouse. In one of the rooms that hosts the various worship settings stands a 200-year old case containing a Torah, the first five books of the Bible. Also in a place of honor stands the “Capodanno Bell,” taken from the fast frigate named after Chaplain Father Vincent Robert Capodanno, a priest killed in Vietnam who later was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Scoop deck thought Capodanno was the only Navy chaplain to receive the Medal of Honor, but astute reader “Chaps” reminded us of Chaplain Joseph O’Callahan, who was awarded the medal for his actions during an attack on USS Franklin in 1945. Bravo Zulu, Chaps, and apologies to the honorable memory and sacrifice of O’Callahan.
Indeed, theirs is a heritage worth honoring.
The CNO said he was especially pleased with the visit. “Chaplains in the Navy have a very, very special place. They take care of our people … our families, [and] they provide the spiritual support that our men and women need,” he said. “As a commanding officer and as a leader, on countless occasions I have turned to chaplains for counsel [and] advice.”
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SS/SW) Rick West speak with and answer questions from sailors from the 30th Naval Construction Regiment at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. (Photo by MC1 Tiffini Jones Vanderwyst)
1650
We have arrived at the Individual Augmentee Combat Training Detachment, which one sailor affectionately called “15 buildings out in the middle of way out there.” That may have been a slight exaggeration – I counted at least 20 buildings. But the spirit of the sentiment holds true. This place is a whole bunch of nothing. Of course, it’s meant to prepare these sailors for an even less-inviting environment.
Not much for Scoop Deck to see here. But the reason for this is certainly worth mentioning. CNO is having a private discussion with a few dozen sailors and officers who are shipping out at 0200. His schedule was built around them. The talk clearly motivated the admiral, who had a spring in his step after the meeting.
1900
Van pulled up to the aircraft at 1845. We were wheels-up at 1855.
Vinson sailor goes to Africa, comes back with novel
December 21st, 2009 | individual augmentees Shore duty The Middle East | Posted by Phil Ewing
Ships' libraries could add a novel by a Navy author, who wrote after hours during an IA stint this year in Djibouti // PH2 Kurtis Korwan / Navy
If serving ashore as an individual augmentee is going to stay a reality of sailor life for a long time to come — which is what service officials keep saying — here’s a good example of how to make the best of it: IT2 Angela Bryant, of the carrier Carl Vinson, was sent to Djibouti on an IA assignment this year. The multinational base there, Camp Lemonier, is one of the hottest and smelliest places in the world, but did that bother Bryant? No. She used her time on the Horn of Africa to write a book:
“I started writing when I was 15 for the fun of it,” said Bryant. “I wanted to become a writer to put more realistic books out there. There were variety of books I wanted to read out on bookshelves, and I didn’t see them out.”
As an IA, Bryant worked during the day and wrote four to five hours at night.
“You really don’t have the time, but I tried to allot a time,” said Bryant. “I love writing. It’s a passion and a hobby for me and to see my book published and on the shelves, it’s an accomplishment for me.”
Publishing the book was a long process for Bryant. She designed the cover, layout and pictures. Once the first draft was complete, she found a publishing company that bound and published the book, which is now available online.
You can check out Bryant’s self-published novel, “Love’s Triangle,” here, and even read an excerpt for free.
A sailor surge in Afghanistan?
December 2nd, 2009 | individual augmentees Morale Personnel Seabees Shore duty The Middle East | Posted by Phil Ewing
Could more sailors -- like these Seabees arriving in Helmand Province last winter -- be bound for Afghanistan? // MC2 Michael B. Lavender / Navy
At first blush, it might not seem like the Navy would be much affected by President Obama’s announcement last night that he is sending 30,000 more troops to land-locked Afghanistan by next year. But there are thousands of mountain sailors across Afghanistan, and it seems likely that more could begin deploying there as part of the president’s surge.
Just don’t call ‘em desert squids
November 3rd, 2009 | individual augmentees The Middle East | Posted by Andrew Scutro
At one point in the Navy’s recent history, sailors serving ashore in Iraq and Afghanistan, often as individual augmentees in Army units, took to calling themselves “dirt sailors.” The brass didn’t like that, we learned. Maybe it was due to the implied value of “dirt.” Sailors, accustomed to being at sea and surrounded by water were merely being observant, as their usual habitat had suddenly turned dry and ah, dirty.
Today however, a new light has been cast. In remarks during a ceremony for the Stockdale Award at the Pentagon, Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations, was describing the current duties of the winners, both ashore in Iraq. He said they are what he “affectionately” refers to as “sand sailors.” So, sand sailors it is.
A horse sailor
September 2nd, 2009 | individual augmentees The Middle East Uniforms | Posted by Andrew Scutro
Navy leadership says IA tours will be a fact of life for some time, even with the expected withdrawal of forces from Iraq.//Photo by Sheila Vemmer/ Staff
Here’s one that might throw you off. From a distance you’d think “soldier,” but in fact Scoop Deck found this sailor in Kuwait turning in gear after an individual augmentee assignment with the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division.
According to the latest information from 5th Fleet, there are 4,950 IAs throughout the Central Command area.