Bluf 04 09

Bottom Line:
Up Front 04-09
This document is for information purposes and is designed to ensure that all personnel are aware of
the many issues/changes that occur in our Navy. Although not inclusive, it is a great venue to share
our best practices. If you have information, programs or best practices that you would like to share
Navy-wide, send them via your applicable ISIC or Force Master Chief for inclusion. Thanks for your
support and feedback.

MCPON RECOMMENDS:
INSIDE THIS ISSUE NAVY PERSONNEL COMMAND’S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER
2 What’s Hot 1-866-U-ASK-NPC WWW.NPC.NAVY.MIL
THIS IS THE BEST POSSIBLE RESOURCE FOR SAILORS WHO HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING
2 Navy IA iPhone App ANYTHING RELATED TO PERSONNEL ISSUES. 1-866-U-ASK-NPC IS A NUMBER THEY

3 PCS Policy Change SHOULD ALL HAVE MEMORIZED.

3 Upgraded Communication Just wrapped up my first Leadership Mess conference with our Force,
Tool for Navy Fleet, Numbered Fleet Master Chiefs and CMCs working for flag
Ombudsmen
officers. I’m very pleased with the frank and open discussion and
4 Warrior Care Month believe our three days spent down in Jacksonville are going to
5 Homeowner’s Assistance benefit every Sailor in our Navy.
Program

5 Military Family One of the subjects we discussed was the prevention of sexual
Appreciation Month
assault. The very thought of Sailors treating a shipmate in such a
6 Federal Leadership on way sickens me, as I know it does all of you. But it happens and
Reducing Text Messaging
While Driving unfortunately the statistics are trending up.
7 Feeding Families
I consider this a call to action for our Mess to put a stop to this. Put
7 SAT/ACT Software to
Military Families
an end to it now by stressing, more than ever, the true value of Ship,
Shipmate, Self. Sexual assault has no place on our bases, on our
8 Suicide Prevention
ships or anywhere in our midst. “Not in my Navy” is the only
8 Electronic Service Record acceptable position for us to take.
(ESR)

9 Family Care Plan
The holiday season is here and Bobbi and I wish all of you and yours
9 Career Information the very best. Please pass the same to our Sailors. Remind them to
Management System
use common sense on the roads, at home and on duty. Send them to
10 Year of the Seabee the safety website: http://safetycenter.navy.mil/ and tell them to
10 LS Rating do their TRIPS. It’s proven and it works.
11 Facts about Transferring
Post 9/11 GI Bill Career It’s been a successful, but stressful, year. Next year promises to be
Information Management
System
no different. I’m depending on you to lead our men and women just
as our nation depends on us all to defend this country from the sea.
11 Permanent Makeup

12 Navy Working Uniform HOOYAH Shipmates.
12 Links of Interest

Rick

Bottom Line: Up Front

What’s Hot
--As I mentioned above, sexual assaults have to stop. I expect the Mess to be
leading this effort. You’re going to be reading more about warning signs,
prevention and counseling. Take it all in and educate our Sailors.

--The first Senior Enlisted Continuation Board is complete and we asked 158
Chiefs, Senior Chiefs and Master Chiefs to retire no later than this June. 97
percent of you who were considered by the board were asked to stay. That’s a
remarkable testament to the quality of our Mess. Also, those we’ve asked to
leave dedicated at least twenty years to our Navy. They deserve our support
as they prepare to retire. Give that to them.

--One of the issues we discussed at the Leadership conference in Jacksonville
was warfare qualifications. They’re going to be mandatory for all hands and it’s
coming soon. I can tell you that 30 months is the max time allowed to
complete any qualification, but more to follow on that. Stay tuned.

--Alcohol related incidents/DUI’s remain a concern. And it’s not confined to
our junior Sailors. There have been too many DUI’s and alcohol related
incidents within the Chief’s Mess over the last year. One is too many, I expect
zero incidents and this problem to be fixed in the Mess or we can’t expect the
culture around our Navy to change. Get more information on this from CMDCM
Charles Blanks at the Safety Center: charles.blanks@navy.mil

Navy IA iPhone App
BLUF: We’re leveraging technology all over the Navy, especially in terms of
communication and social media. Learn this technology because we all know
our Sailors are doing the same.

U.S. Fleet Forces Command has developed and posted the Navy Individual
Augmentee (IA) iPhone app to the iTunes store. It is now available free of
charge. The instructions for downloading are on www.ia.navy.mil/new.htm.

This app will allow IA Sailors and/or IA families with an iPhone or iTouch to
download into their device the entire content of the IA website for easy
reference anytime. USFF will keep the app current with the latest revisions to
the website.

Bottom Line: Up Front Page 3

PCS Policy Change

BLUF: This is critical as PCS moves are starting to open up again. Make sure
your Sailors are aware, particularly those preparing to make cross-country or
overseas moves.

OSD has directed a change to how funds are to be obligated for transfers. This
has caused the Navy to alter the method of executing funding for PCS orders.
Before the policy change, the cost of any transfer was deducted from available
monies at the time the individual actually transferred. This meant they could
get orders in the summer; move their families; find a home; and get the kids in
school before the transfer. The new rule has the cost deducted when the
orders are written. While this is more efficient from a budget management
process (very similar to leave days being deducted from one’s leave account
when the Sailor commences leave), Sailors need to know about this new rule as
it can cause some inconvenience especially for those moving in first quarter
FY10 because very few will receive their orders before 1 Oct.

Upgraded Communication Tool Links Navy
Ombudsman with Commanders, Families

BLUF: Outstanding tool. Make sure our Ombudsmen are aware of the registry
and know how to use it to its fullest extent.

Recent upgrades to the Ombudsman Registry include the addition of new services
for high-level senior leadership commanders. Commanding officers and Navy
omdudsmen now have a greater ability to have real-time communication with each
other and with senior Navy leadership so that they can keep Navy families up-to-
date on resources, information and program changes.

The Ombudman Registry is located at www.ombudsmanregistry.org. Navy families
are encouraged to use the “Contact Your Ombudsman” feature that will assist
them in finding their ombudsman quickly if they are getting ready to transfer and
want to reach the ombudsman at their gaining command.


Warrior Care Month

BLUF: Nothing defines a nation like the support we provide those wounded in
our defense. Visit a VA hospital this holiday season and let these warriors know
they’re in our thoughts.

NAVADMIN 069/09 announces November is Department of the Navy Warrior Care
month. More than 10,000 Marines and Sailors have been wounded since September
11, 2001. The Department of the Navy remains committed to supporting and
assisting our wounded, ill and injured service members and their families through
the Navy Safe Harbor Program and Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment. The
2009 theme is “Continuum of Care – Providing Services and Support Throughout the
Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Process.”

Throughout November, the Navy and Marine Corps will capitalize on existing
events to raise awareness. For more information on Warrior Care month activities
or about the Department of the Navy Wounded Warrior programs contact: Safe
Harbor toll free at (877) 746-8563 or on the web at www.safeharbor.navy.mil. One
misconception regarding Safe Harbor is that their services are available only to
Sailors wounded in battle. Not true. Visit their website to find out more.

Also…

I would also highly recommend you visit one of our Returning Warrior Workshops
(RWW). RWWs are scheduled through a private contractor to support up to 150
attendees per event and are conducted at various locations throughout the year
(~24 per year).

The weekend affords the Sailor and spouse (or significant other) an opportunity to
attend focused briefs and discussions over a two-day period designed specifically
to address the issues and concerns commonly associated with these non-traditional
deployments. In addition, all participants are also invited to attend a banquet at
the conclusion which specifically focuses on honoring the Sailors and families for
their service and support.

We have conducted 25 RWWs to date for the 1760 Sailors above with about the
same number of spouses (or significant others) for an overall utilization rate of
93%. This level of effort is reaching approximately 11% of the returning
population. Awesome experiences for our returning warriors and their families.
You need to know about this program.


Warrior Care Month Cont…
Dates and locations are as follows:

Jan 22-24 Norfolk
Jan 29-31 San Antonio
Jan 29-31 San Francisco
Feb 19-21 Sarasota
Feb 26-28 San Diego
Mar 05-07 Kansas City
Mar 12-14 Denver

Force Master Chief Ronney Wright (ronney.wright@navy.mil) has more information
on the RWW program. Highly recommend you contact him to arrange visit
opportunities or to just find out more about this great initiative.

Homeowner’s Assistance Program

BLUF: Absolutely critical that our Sailors know whether they’re eligible for this or
not. Too many of our men and women have lost money on homes through no
fault of their own. Help them by learning about this program.

The Department of Defense (DoD) announced details for the temporary
expansion of the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP). Using the $555 million
in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), this
program is designed to partially reimburse eligible military personnel, surviving
spouses and federal civilian employees whose service to the nation has
required them to relocate and see their primary residence at a loss.

Potential eligible personnel who have sold a primary home for a loss or are
considering selling their home are encouraged to visit the DoD HAP website
(http://hap.usace.army.mil) to check specific program criteria and if eligible,
apply online.

While the HAP expansion is not designed to pay 100 percent of losses or to
cover all declines in value, it can help protect eligible applicants from financial
catastrophe due to significant losses in their home values.


Military Appreciation Month

BLUF: Great opportunity to thank our families for their support. Keep your ears
to the ground for great deals offered to our Sailors by local and national
businesses, too.

NAVADMIN 314/09 announces November as Military Appreciation month. November
marks the beginning of the holiday season and gives us the opportunity to honor
our Navy families during National Military Family Apperciation month.

Today’s Navy is a Global Force for Good. Forty percent of our ships are sailing the
world’s oceans on any given day, and 52,000 Sailors are deployed globally – 14,000
of whom are on the ground in the middle east. Carrying out our Navy mission is
made possible through the support and dedication of our Navy families.

Federal Leadership on Reducing Text
Messaging While Driving

BLUF: Safety issue, plain and simple. I don’t have to tell you how dangerous this
is because you see the same people I do driving and texting. Make sure it’s not
our Sailors making this mistake. Now, aside from the hazards of it, it could cost
them some cash.

In an Executive Order from the White House, Federal employees shall not
engage in text messaging when driving GOV or when driving POV while on
official Government business.

Every day, Federal employees drive Government-owned, Government-leased,
or Government-rented vehicles (GOV) or privately-owned vehicles (POV) on
official Government business and some Federal employees use Government-
supplied electronic devices to text or e-mail while driving. A Federal
Government-wide prohibition on the use of text messaging while driving on
official business or while using Government-supplied equipment will help save
lives, reduce injuries and set an example for State and local governments,
private employers and individual drivers.


Feeding Families

BLUF: The economy affects all of us, especially during the holidays. Know each
and every one of your Sailors. Keep an eye on them and determine who needs
assistance in this area.

Though current military compensation is equal to or exceeds the private
sector, military families may still encounter challenges during these difficult
economic times. Several benefits are available to assist, including the Family
Subsistence Supplemental Allowance (FSSA) Program. For questions about this
program or any other assistance, contact your family support center,
command, or community services financial management counselors.

NFL & MLB Players Support eKnowledge
Donation of Free $200 SAT/ACT Software to
Military Families

BLUF: There has never been a better time for military families to take advantage
of educational opportunities. This is just one of many.

In alliance with the USO, eKnowledge is offering SAT and ACT test prep programs
valued at $200, free to Military Service Members and their extended families. The
eKnowledge Sponsorship Alliance includes Veteran Service Organizations such as
AMVETS, the American Red Cross and DANTES, as well as a group of professional
athletes from the NFL and MLB including Warrick Dunn and Chipper Jones. The
eKnowledge Sponsorship Alliance had provided over 120,000 SAT/ACT Prep
Programs to military families worldwide.

Families interested in obtaining the FREE $200 v6x SAT/ACT PowerPrep Programs
may order online www.eknowledge.com/nfl. Enter Sponsorship Code: 15E41DB9A6
or by telephone, 951-256-4076.


Suicide Prevention

BLUF: Know your Sailors. Know every aspect of their lives and be there to help
them if you see the signs that they need it.

Enlisted leaders help build resilient Sailors by promoting physical, financial,
mental and social health. Each sailor contributes to our Navy missions. Show
your Sailors how they fit into the fabric of your command. The economy, force
stabilization measures and worldwide missions can wear on people.

- The suicidal state of mind is often temporary and reversible.
- Depression, anxiety, perfectionism and stress affect how we see
situations, but there really are solutions.
- Reach out. Use our resources to make individual Sailors and the Navy a
stronger force. In sum…ACT:
- Ask what is bothering the person and press them to overcome any
reluctance to talk about it. Don’t judge.
- Care – Listen, offer hope. Suicidal feelings are temporary, depression
can be treated.
- Treat – Take action, get assistance, and follow up. Take the person to
get help. Do not leave them alone until help is available. Take action.

Electronic Service Record (ESR)

BLUF: No excuse for our Sailors not to be up to speed on this. Potentially, they
could be hurting themselves because the time is rapidly approaching when
boards no longer use or accept paper records.

NAVADMIN 043/09 directed all commands to use NSIPS/ESR as the single field level
data entry point for all Sailors. It all also requires for all active duty and Reserve
personnel to establish and maintain a self-service ESR account. Despite the
written command, many Sailors have yet to comply. Self-service accounts can be
created at https://nsips.nmci.navy.mil or on the Navy Standard Integrated
Personnel System (NSIPS)/ESR server on board ship. Having this account
established with updated information will become more important next year as
Navy Personnel Command phases out the Enlisted Field Service Record.


Family Care Plans

BLUF: This is one we’ve let slip in the past and we all know when and how it
comes back to haunt our Sailors and their commands. When we talk about
Brilliant on the Basics, keeping an eye on something like this is a prime example.

Sailors who are married to a civilian and have children from a previous
relationship where the civilian spouse is not the adoptive parent must have
Family Care Plans. Also, dual-military parents with primary or shared physical
custody of the child must submit a family care plan that includes court orders
or written agreements. These ensure appropriate care of dependent family
members. Sailors who refuse to provide a workable family care plan may be
separated from the Navy. This, combined with essential paperwork: SGLI
Beneficiaries; Page 2 and DEERS will take care of Sailors' families.

Career Information Management System

BLUF: Received a brief on this in Jacksonville during the Leadership conference.
One takeaway was that our Sailors don’t know this program well enough. Learn
this and make sure they do, as well.

Career Information Management System (CIMS), combined with OPNAVINST
1040.11C and the Career Counselors Handbook
http://www.npc.navy.mil/ReferenceLibrary/Publications/NPCCareerHandbook/
provide the tools to manage a strong career development program for Sailors.
CIMS mentors and career managers a way to track, conduct, and document
Career Development Boards. CIMS allows access to each Sailor’s electronic
service record, providing leaders background for a professional Career
Development Board. CIMS remains current through Navy Standard Integrated
Personnel System updates.

Leadership engagement and mentorship is key to a Sailor's career development
and value to our Navy missions.
The Command Master Chief and Command Career Counselor are responsible for
running the command's career development program. Career Development Boards
are required for all Sailors upon reporting on board, after six months on board, at
12 months on board and annually thereafter.


Year of the Seabee at the Navy Heritage
Center

BLUF: If you are a Sailor and find yourself in the Washington area stop by and
see the Navy Memorial and this exhibit.

Currently on exhibit at the Navy Heritage Center is “The Year of the Seabees and
Civil Engineer Corps (CEC): Can Do!” The Navy Heritage Center is located in
downtown Washington, D.C. adjacent to the Navy Memorial.

At any given time Seabees are deployed around the world to perform contingency
construction, provide humanitarian relief, and to accomplish important
construction tasks. The Seabees’ motto, “We Build, We Fight” sums it up. The
exhibit will be on display through March 2010.
For more information please visit: http://www.navymemorial.org/

Merge of the Storekeeper and Postal Clerk
Ratings

BLUF: Both the SK and PC communities have long and meaningful histories in
our Navy. This merger will combine two great ratings and we’ll all be the better
for it.

NAVADMIN 326/08 announces the official merger of the Storekeeper (SK) and
Postal Clerk (PC) ratings into the Logistics Specialist (LS) rating as of 1 October
2009. Today, more than 11,000 active and reserve Postal Clerks and Storekeepers
are now designated Logistics Specialist.

The Logistics Specialist rating brings the valuable work Storekeepers and Postal
Clerks perform in line with the Logistics requirements needed in today’s global
logistics environment.

The ‘crossed keys’ of the Storekeepers rating badge will be retained for the new
Logistics Specialist rating.

An additional 2,500 reserve component E1 to E5 Storekeepers and Postal Clerks
will officially merge into the Logistics Specialist rating 1 April 2010.


Transferring Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

BLUF: You are doing yourselves and your families a disservice if you don’t learn
everything there is to know about this Bill. It was created for you. Make sure you
and your Sailors take full advantage of it. Run to get this done!

On December 31, the Post 9-11 GI Bill Transfer Eligibility Benefits (TEB)
exception to policies granted by NAVADMIN 203/09 will expire.

Sailors with 90 days of active duty after 10 Sep 2001 have earned education
benefits under the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, with
no buy-in costs. Plus, this benefit can be transferred to certain family
members shown in DEERS. However, a recent informal web poll showed 62
percent of Sailors responding think they can wait until after retirement to
transfer their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. Wrong! Sailors, both active and
SELRES, wanting to transfer must do so before their Armed Forces service
commitment ends at retirement or EAOS, even if the intended recipient is only
a baby at that time. Encourage Sailors to consult career counselors to fully
understand requirements.
1. To transfer benefits please visit the DMDC Website to apply:
http://bit.ly/5oSQA
2. For frequently asked questions and transferability information please visit
the BUPERS Website: http://www.npc.navy.mil/CareerInfo/Education/GIBill/
and the Dept of Veterans Affairs Education Website: http://www.gibill.va.gov/
3. Navy Transferability Policy is detailed in NAVADMIN 203/09
http://bit.ly/1505du

Permanent Makeup

BLUF: This has caused some chatter on the waterfront and around the Navy.
Know the reg.

NAVADMIN 304/09 says effective 1 November 2009, cosmetic permanent
makeup is authorized for female sailors for eyebrows, eyeliner, lipstick and lip
liner only. It must blend naturally with the skin tone.
A request chit to the Sailor's commanding officer is required. A Sailor who
elects such a procedure must pay for it herself, be prepared to take recovery
leave if necessary and be available for shore-based medical care for two weeks
after the procedure.


Navy Working Uniform

BLUF: This is a big win for our Sailors. Keep the press on in terms of standards
and training to this new uniform.

Thanks to feedback from our CMCs, we’ve notified the NEX that our regions are
ready for an accelerated rollout of the NWU. They’ve complied and the
revised schedule is as follows:

Southwest and Northwest: 16 Nov 2009
Capital Region and Hawaii: 30 Nov 2009
Europe/Japan/Guam: 15 March 2010

Useful Links
Navy.mil has added a social media directory to its webpage. This directory is a one-stop shop of
Navy social social media pages across various social media sites. Links to facebook, twitter,
YouTube, flickr and webblogs for commands registered for this directory can be found at:
http://www.navy.mil/media/smd.asp

Chaplain Care: http://www.chaplaincare.navy.mil/index.htm

Navy Housing: http://www.housing.navy.mil/index.cfm?CFID=3020307&CFTOKEN=63898686

Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL): https://www.cool.navy.mil

Navy Office of Community Outreach: http://www.navy.mil/navco

Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center: http://www.ecrc.navy.mil

Thrift Savings Plan: http://www.tsp.gov/

H1N1 Information:
https://www.cnic.navy.mil/CNIC_HQ_Site/OperationPrepare/FluInformation/index.htm

Uniform Newsgram: http://www.navy.mil/features/Newsgram%20Nov%202009.pdf

Navy For Moms : http://www.navyformoms.com/

Resource of the Month, the RP Facebook Page : http://www.facebook.com/pages/Religious-
Program-Specialist/217319430612?ref=ts

Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions:
https://www.cnic.navy.mil/cnrma/Programs/CSADD/index.htm

Bluf 04 09

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