may 2013 newletter

FROM THE CO’S DESK

MAY 2013 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 5

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

USS MILIUS COMMAND NEWSLETTER

CMC’s Call

Ccc news

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

OMBUDSMEN MEMOS

SUMMER SAFETY

Milius frontline news

CREW PHOTOS

RAGNAR RELAY

Bravo zulu!

RESOURCES

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MILIUS Spouses,

May 10th is Military Spouse Appreciation Day, a day when we officially recognize the contributions of husbands and wives who serve our country alongside us.

Lauren and I would like to thank you for the personal sacrifices you make each day for your family and for your Sailor in support of MILIUS. Managing the home front while we answer the call of service to our nation is a tremendous and often thankless job. The easier job is sailing away on a ship. Making things happen back home, maintaining a sense of normalcy, is much tougher. You move, change jobs, deal with your kids changing schools, make new friends, and say ‘goodbye’ more times than you care to count. All the while, your reward is far from tangible. On behalf of the entire crew of MILIUS, we all appreciate your contributions to ensure that we remain the world’s greatest Navy.

You don’t deserve a day of recognition, you have earned a lifetime of recognition.

Thank you again for your service.

Sincerely,

CDR Steve Shedd

Commanding Officer

USS MILIUS DDG-69

MILIUS families,

Rebecca and I are both very excited to be joining this team, and we look forward to meeting all of you over the next several weeks. A little about me: I've been in the Navy for close to 24 years and have been stationed all over the place, from the Philippines to Adak, AK. Large deck amphibs and aircraft carriers. Having said that, this will be my first tour aboard a Destroyer so I'm counting on your Sailors to teach me as I, and the rest of our Chief's Mess, Wardroom and First Class Petty Officers, lead them.

Please join me in wishing CMDCM Lisa Thomas and her family farewell. I can't describe how valuable she was to me during our turnover and the positive influence she's had on our Sailors cannot be fully described in this short space. We all meet leaders over the course of our careers who we will never forget because they genuinely cared about us as people and professionals. I'd be willing to bet there are hundreds of MILIUS Sailors who consider Lisa that leader.

Again, I'm honored to be here and you have my word that your Sailors will continue to be challenged and well-led. That's a standard our CO, XO, and CMC Thomas have set and it will continue.

Sincerely,

CMDCM(SW/AW) Bill Houlihan

PAGE 2 USS MILIUS COMMAND NEWSLETTER

CMC’s CALL

FROM THE COMMAND CAREER COUNSELOR Greetings, MILUS Crew, Family & Friends, The month of May will be busy with Navy Wide Advancement Exam results posting, and we hope to have record number of advancements! Our Sailors have worked very hard studying and exceeding every opportunity they have been given. Summer is approaching and we have several community relations projects lined up, including assisting Habitat for Humanity, Women’s Shelters, and wounded veterans at the Surf Clinic. Make sure you check our Facebook pictures to see our MILIUS Sailors doing great things!

Mother’s Day is this month. Take the time to appreciate the women that have influenced and im-pacted your life. Something as simple as a phone call or card can make someone’s day.

Enjoy the beginning of a great summer and make sure you check out MWR for all the fun/family events being offered.

Sincerely, NC1 (SW/AW) D. Gutierrez

Friday, May 10 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Sunday, May 12 Mother’s Day Monday, May 13 - Friday, May 17 Command Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) Monday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 21 Makeup PFA Friday, May 17 MILIUS Motorcycle Safety Ride Saturday, May 18 Armed Forces Day Sunday, May 19 Navy’s 27th Bay Bridge Run/Walk Join in the Navy's 27th Original Bay Bridge Run/Walk. This annual Navy-hosted event includes the public in raising money for the Navy's Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs. MWR provides Quality of Life programs for our 500,000+ active duty and retired military, reservists, their family members and civilian employees who make up our San Diego Military Family. This unique 4-mile run/walk has a one of a kind spectacular panoramic view as par-ticipants make their way to Coronado's beautiful Tidelands Park from downtown San Diego over the Coronado Bay Bridge. During the finish line celebration, runners receive an event T-shirt, Padres ticket and complimentary trans-portation back to downtown via bus and ferry. To register, visit https://www.active.com/register/index.cfm?CHECKSSO=0&EVENT_ID=2077146. Monday, May 27 Memorial Day

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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS

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MAY MAY

The Ombudsman program is a command-operated program intended to improve communication between the command and its family members. The program was introduced to the U.S. Navy on September 14, 1970 by the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Elmo Zumwalt. Admiral Zumwalt adapted this program from a 19th century Scandinavian custom originally established by the King to give ordinary private citizens an avenue to express their grievances to high government officials. The primary focus of the Navy Family Ombudsman program is to provide information and referral services to the families. What is an Ombudsman? Selected by the commanding officer (CO), your Navy Family ombudsman is a spouse of a com-mand member who voluntarily serves as the official liaison between the command and its families. The ombudsman is a vital resource to assist the command in discharging the CO’s responsibilities for the morale and welfare of the command’s families. The ombudsman is the link between the command and the Navy family. This is especially true in deploying commands, where the ombuds-man is the primary point of contact between the families at home and the command during deploy-ment. As a spouse, it is important to get acquainted with your local ombudsman. The ombudsman is not a counselor or a social worker, but can show you a direct route to getting the assistance you need to find solutions and resources. Interested in volunteering as an Ombudsman? The command is currently looking to add to the Ombudsman Team. If you are interested in becoming part of the USS Milius Command Ombuds-man team, please email Jeri Nix or Teresa Tillman at [email protected] for further infor-mation. Your Ombudsman Team, Jeri Nix and Teresa Tillman

OMBUDSMAN MEMO

PAGE 4 USS MILIUS COMMAND NEWSLETTER

Ombudsman Info:

[email protected]

OMB Phone– 619.417.9980

Careline– 619.338.1754

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 5

SUMMER SAFETY

When the weather turns warm, everyone wants to be in or around the water. Hanging out at the pool or the beach on a hot day is a great way to beat the heat. Here are some safety tips!

"Buddy up!" That's what swimming instructors say. Always swim with a partner, every time — whether you're swimming in a backyard pool or in a lake. Even experienced swimmers can become tired or get muscle cramps, which might make it difficult to get out of the water. When people swim together, they can help each other or go for help in case of an emergency.

Know your limits. Swimming can be a lot of fun — and you might want to stay in the water as long as possible. If you're not a good swimmer or you're just learning to swim, don't go in water that's so deep you can't touch the bot-tom and don't try to keep up with skilled swimmers. If you are a good swimmer and have had lessons, keep an eye on friends who aren't as comfortable or as skilled as you are. If it seems like they (or you) are getting tired or a little un-easy, suggest that you take a break from swimming for a while.

Swim in safe areas only. It's a good idea to swim only in places that are supervised by a lifeguard. No one can an-ticipate changing ocean currents, rip currents, sudden storms, or other hidden dangers. In the event that something does go wrong, lifeguards are trained in rescue techniques.

Swimming in an open body of water (like a river, lake, or ocean) is different from swimming in a pool. You need more energy to handle the currents and other changing conditions in the open water. If you do find yourself caught in a current, don't panic and don't fight the current. Try to swim parallel to the shore until you are able to get out of the current, which is usually a narrow channel of water. Gradually try to make your way back to shore as you do so. If you're unable to swim away from the current, stay calm and float with the current. The current will usually slow down, then you can swim to shore.

Watch the sun. Sun reflecting off the water or off sand can intensify the burning rays. You might not feel sunburned when the water feels cool and refreshing, but the pain will catch up with you later — so remember to reapply sun-screen frequently and cover up much of the time. Don't forget your hat, UV protection sunglasses, and protective clothing.

Alcohol and water never mix. Alcohol is involved in numerous water-related injuries and up to half of all water-related deaths. The statistics for teenage guys are particularly scary: One half of all adolescent male drownings are tied to alcohol use.

Personal flotation devices (Life Jacket). It's always a good idea for everyone on the boat to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket, whether the boat is a large speedboat or a canoe — and whether you're a good swimmer or not.

Now Have Fun!

The pool and the beach are great places to learn new skills and socialize! So don't let paying attention to safety turn you off. Being prepared will make you feel more comfortable and in charge.

Your Command Ombudsman Team,

Teresa Tillman and Jeri Nix

FRONTLINE NEWS


MILIUS Sailors continue working alongside contractors in the BAE Systems Shipyard, making crucial repairs and upgrades to support the guided missile destroyer’s projected 35-year service life. The shipyard period presents a unique opportunity for Sailors to see many parts of the ship not normally accessible. It also offers the benefits of an extended time in port, giv-ing Sailors opportunities to participate in various activities outside of work. Many Sailors have attended service schools, taken college classes, focused on physical fitness, and most importantly, taken the time to give back.

During April, MILIUS Sail-ors demonstrated their sup-port for the San Diego community by volunteer-ing for several community service projects. Among their efforts, MILIUS Sail-ors worked at Rescue Mis-sion Center, serving meals to those in need and help-ing the center’s warehouse receive and sort donated goods.

MILIUS’ First Class Petty Officers observed Earth Day by volunteering to clean up a badly polluted portion of the San Diego River. Operations Specialist Second Class Trevor Smith volunteered for the San Diego River clean up. He said the event “was well organized and a really great oppor-tunity to help improve the community.” He explained the clean up team “pulled a ton of trash out of the river.” In total, the crew removed 107 bags of garbage from the river, as well as a discarded television and shop-ping cart.

In support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, MILIUS’ SAPR Advocates assisted with Naval Base San Diego’s sexual assault awareness training, held at the 32nd Street Theater. Additionally, several Sailors took part in the annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month 5-K run/walk. MILIUS’ Coalition for Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) Sailors also showed their support for the community by volunteering at San Diego’s Omegawave World Triathlon.

MILIUS Sailors continue to do great things onboard ship, and they have made great strides towards achieving MILIUS’ mis-sion readiness. Their dedication to the ship, as well as the community, serves as a testament to their upstanding values and incredible work ethic.

CSADD volunteers at the Omegawave World Triathlon.

MILIUS volunteers at Rescue Mission Center

Runners at the annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month 5K Walk/Run.

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 5

CREW PHOTOS

As the sun rose over Huntington Beach, CA hundreds of runners from across the country eagerly awaited the start of a 24-hour long re-lay race that would see them at a finish line in San Diego- 200 miles away. Among them, eleven runners, dressed in fluorescent green t-shirts, crowded near the starting line cheering as a twelfth runner sped by them. These run-ners, members of the USS MILIUS "Sole De-stroyers" cheered each other across vast miles of southern California to complete the 2013 SoCal Ragnar Race on Friday, April 20.

"I first thought it was definitely crazy," said FC3 Sarah Mercer. "I guess I decided to do it because I wanted to challenge myself. It turns out that it was a great challenge for everybody. It didn't matter if you were new to running or had been running for awhile. Everyone had the opportunity to push themselves."

The relay took runners over 36 exchange points, with each runner covering 3 individual legs of the race with one runner racing over 22 miles.

"I was just excited about it, I didn't focus so much on the intensity of the run, just the challenge," said FC1 (SW) Bryan Gaa. "The hardest part for me was the lack of recovery time between the legs you had to run. Also the lack of sleep because you had to run through the night. You started to get sore so you had to dig

deep to keep going."

After a day that had a heat index that topped 100 degrees, night fell on the runners who continued to race. Headlamps could be seen for miles as hundreds of runners ran through neighborhoods, nature preserves, golf courses and main roads to make it to the next check point. Waiting to meet them would be the next runner and a van full of their teammates who would offer water and support.

"Everywhere you went people were so en-couraging," said HM1 (SW) Kristilynn Badillo. "Every person you came in contact with, every runner you ran with, every van you passed, everyone was cheering you on.

It seems crazy when you're doing it, but it was a lot of fun and well worth it. You push yourself past what you thought you could do."

PAGE 8

RAGNAR


Article and photos by FC3 Ann Foster

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FC1 (SW) Robert Minnich, the command fitness leader, decided to put a team together for this race. Having previously completed a Ragnar relay in Chicago, FC1 Minnich felt it was a good idea to create a team aboard USS MILIUS.

“I wanted to show people at the command that run-ning could be fun,” said FC1 Minnich. “I have four kids, and I want to be a good role model with fitness and nutrition, not just for them but for the command. The thing I like the most about this event is the unity and enjoyment people get. Some people didn’t know they were able to do it and hopefully they can use that as a stepping stone.”

At the finish line at the Embarcadero in downtown San Diego, the Milius team waited for FC3 Mercer to arrive at the end of her last leg so they could all finish the race together. Amid cheers from specta-tors and friends, all twelve runners crossed the fin-ish line at the same time, completing the 200 mile Odyssey nearly 30 hours after the race began in Huntington Beach.

“It was pretty emotional. Everyone was so tired but we all came together to finish as a team,” HM1 Badillo said.

Medals in hand, the team talked about the next Ragnar race coming up, one they intend to train for and com-pete in this September.

“I would do it twice over,” said FC1 Gaa. “I think people should do it because it’s not about your times, it’s about finishing. It’s about having fun and being a part of a running community. I was so proud of myself and everyone on the team. We got to finish together it was an emotional release to the whole experience.”

The USS MILIUS “Sole Destroyers” team included ENS Adeimy, STG2 Balagtas, FC1 Minnich, FC1 Gaa, GM1 Lawrence, STG2 Perez, HM3 Guerrero, HM1 Badillo, FC2 Steyer, LS1 Guiterrez, FC2 Delmendo and FC3 Mercer.

RAGNAR CON’T

MILIUS Sailors continue to do great things. Congratulations to all on your terrific efforts and accomplishments! BZ to FCC Hay for completing a year long Individual Augmentation (IA) in Afghanistan! We’re all thankful to have him back home safe! BZ to SAAM COMREL Participants. OS1 Pacheco, CS1 Ron, OS2 Di-manche, BM2 Carpenter, OS3 Moore, FC3 Foster, GSM3 Manabat, GM3 Smith, SN Sachs, SN Hayes, BMSN Farmer and SN Wilkinson for partici-pating in the SAAM COMREL’s at San Diego Rescue Mission Center feed-ing battered women and children and the homeless. Great job helping out our community! BZ to CTT1 Webb for selection in the Military Operational Elint Signals Analysis Program (MOSAP). MOSAP is an elite and highly competitive program where he will receive advanced training by the National Cryp-tologic School. Once trained, he will get a tailored assignment with the NSA. BZ to ENS Kelley for earning her Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer (SWSCO) pin this afternoon AND for her selection as Navy Supply Com-mand’s Navy Cash Sailor of the month for February. BZ to GSE2 O'Leary, GSE3 Dulski and GSEFA Brooks for providing excellent support to the Machinery Control System testing effort. The contractors wrote, "I just would like to express my appreciation to your GSE's (GSE2 O'Leary, GSEFA Brooks and GSE3 Dulski) for their continued support with our testing requirements. They have been extremely helpful and willing to learn from the test team and ISEA." Great job! BZ to FC3 Sirois for continued SPY FC support to USS HOWARD. The HOWARD CSO wrote, "FC3 Sirois is onboard and doing a great job as usual." BZ to BM1 Manalo for supporting USS KIDD's Pre-INSURV Assessment 1. DESRON 21 specifically noted his dedication, knowl-edge and work ethic in completing numerous checks in the Deck area. BZ to the SAAM 5K runners for supporting Sexual Assault Awareness Month by participating in the 5K run at NASNI. Way to rep-resent! BZ to FC1 Minnich, GM2 Montoya, FC2 Tanner, FC2 Modlin, GM3 Cruz, FC3 Crepensik for coordinating and executing four small arms gun shoots over the past several weeks. There efforts as range staff, coaches and Ship's Armorer led to the qualifica-tion of 221 of Sailors in small arms. These are critical qualifications for the ship. BZ to the MILIUS RAGNAR Team for particpating in and finishing the RAGNAR race two weeks ago. The following people ran RAGNAR and made me very proud! Runners: ENS Adeimy, FC1 Minnich, FC1 Gaa, GM1 Lawrence, HM1 Badillo, LS1 Gutierrez, STG2 Perez, STG2 Balagtas, FC2 Steyer, HM3 Guerrero, FC3 Delmendo, FC3 Mercer Drivers/Photographers: FC2 Skidmore, FC3 Foster RAGNAR Volunteer: FC3 Decembre

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BRAVO ZULU!


A view of USS MILIUS’ keel from the drydock floor.

Reenlistments LS2( SW) Salinas GSM1(SW) Hubbard STG2(SW) Balagtas BM2(SW) Mahoney Promotions QM1 Hall

Awards Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal IT1(SW) Ellison BM2(SW) Mahoney HTC(SW) Delrosario MM2(SW) Andrade STG2(SW) Miner OS2(SW) Salgado Flag Letter of Commendation CS1(SW) Ron CS3(SW) Paxton Commanding Officer Letter of Commendation: IC3 Wilson HN Doan

Sailors of the Year ET1(SW) Kelly LS2(SW) Salinas DC3(SW) Merkelbach Sailors of the Quarter FC1(SW) Minnich STG2(SW) Balagtas PS3(SW) Rodriguez

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 5 PAGE 11

Navy 311 1-855-NAVY-311 www.navy311.navy.mil

Naval Base San Diego FFSC (619) 556-7404 or (866) 923-6478

American Red Cross (877) 272-7337 www.redcross.org

Military OneSource (800) 342-9647 www.militaryonesource.com

FOCUS (619) 556-6075 www.focusproject.org

NBSD Legal (619) 556-2211 www.jag.navy.mil/legal_services/nlso/nlso_southwest.htm

Tri-West Healthcare Alliance (888) 874-9378 www.triwest.com

TRICARE Dental Program (800) 866-8499 www.TRICAREdentalprogram.com

NMCRS (619) 238-1587/88 www.nmcrs.org

USO Downtown Center (619) 235-6503 www.usosandiego.org

Naval Base Chapel (619) 556-2658 www.chaplincare.navy.mil

Armed Services YMCA (858) 751-5755 www.militaryymca.org

Child Development Center (619) 556-8491

Operation Home front (866) 424-5210 www.operationhomefront.net

211 www.211sandiego.org

Sitter city www.sittercity.com/dod

Women, Infant, & Children (WIC ) Program (800) 500-6411 www.sandiegowic.org

Monthly Bread Ministries & Monthly FREE Food Ministries (858)688-5015

Bring your ID card, bags to carry food items. Please contact them for locations and times.

We have plenty of other resources for you from Healthy Military Families and Toddler Time to Furniture and Used Items to Websites and Re Sale Goods Items.

Call the Ombudsman for more details.

RESOURCES

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