The US Navy conducted its annual “Blessing of the Fleet” last month, hosted by the US Navy Memorial.
The blessing of the fleet is a ceremony created centuries ago in Europe and is a common practice by Sailors and navies around the world intended to guard ships and crews from the hazards of the sea. Read more
The US Navy reported that a T-34C Turbomentor crashed in the Gulf of Mexico last Thursday:
A U.S. Navy T-34C Turbo Mentor aircraft assigned to Training Squadron 28 (VT-28) with two pilots aboard crashed today while conducting a routine training mission over the Gulf of Mexico…
The T-34 does not have ejection seats; instead, Read more
Update: General Welsh announced the Mustache March winners. Retired Naval officer Sara Zak published her own commentary in the Air Force Times, calling it all a “setback for AF’s strong women.” US Air Force Major Deirdre Gurry begged to differ in her Air Force Times column, saying she’s “proud to say that since World War II women have been invited to join” the military “boys’ club.”
Besides the Air Force Times letter written by the disgruntled female officer, it seems the attempt at a little fun by Air Force Chief of Staff General
Mark Welsh generated some grief as well — including a concerted effort to get him fired:
Retired Navy Commander Sara Zak [sent] a complaint to the Air Force inspector general’s office, she asked that Welsh step down and rescind the challenge, saying the activity was “contrary to his Chief of Staff of the Air Force message to airmen he issued in January, [that] it perpetuated an environment conducive to sexual harassment, and that the Air Force should acknowledge [that] traditions that denigrate or fail to show proper respect to all airmen will not be accepted as part of the Air Force culture.”
Zak — whose retired Navy status makes her interest unclear — was pretty much told to pound sand, so she tried every other avenue she could think of: Read more
The crash a year ago of a US Navy EA-6B Prowler was caused by pilot error according to a recent report. In essence, the Navy determined Read more
The US Marine Corps has identified the pilot who was killed in the crash of his F/A-18C Hornet March 1st:
Captain Reid B. Nannen, 32, of Hopedale, Ill…died March 1 from injuries resulting from an F/A-18C Hornet crash on the Fallon Range Training Complex, approximately 70 miles east of Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev.
The reports also indicate Capt Nannen — “Eeyore” — was a TopGun Read more
The US Navy will soon be deploying 21 “Deployed Resiliency Counselors” (DRCs):
The counseling and support services provided by the DRC are preventative in nature, aimed at addressing life challenges such as adjustment to deployments, separation from friends and family, relationship and family issues, and other challenges to military life. The DRCs are also fully trained to provide an extra layer of support to any victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, assuring that there are no gaps in support services.
In addition, the DRC will provide psycho-educational training on a variety of topics as suicide prevention, stress reduction and substance abuse prevention.
That is, of course, essentially the role of military chaplains — without the provider having an officially religious background. The press release notes Read more
The Stars and Stripes covered a ‘drag fundraiser’ held at Kadena Air Base, Japan:
Servicemembers here may have been the first to take to the stage and perform as drag queens on a military installation in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops…
Six servicemembers — gay, lesbian and straight — donned heavy makeup to dance and lip sync songs…
(The previous drag show on a military base apparently did not include military members.) Navy Lt. Marissa Greene, who helps lead the local chapter of the homosexual advocacy OutServe-SLDN at Kadena, reported she’d hoped to sell 75 tickets — and ended up selling 400.
It is a leap to assume that all 400 people were Read more
Update: The Navy announced the pilot died in the crash. The name of the pilot has been withheld until 24 hours after notification of next-of-kin.
A US Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet crashed on Saturday while supporting the Naval Strike and Warfare Center “Top Gun” course.
The Navy has issued several releases since then on the follow-up:
Initial reports from the scene indicate the aircraft is a total loss. It took Navy personnel several hours to reach the crash site as it was located in remote, rugged, mountainous terrain…
The reports say they are “continuing to search” for the pilot. Having located the aircraft, that is not a good omen.
Also at the Marine Corps Times, CNN, Christian Science Monitor, and the Stars and Stripes.
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