From: NAVNEWS@nctamslant.navy.mil (Navy News Service)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: Navy News Service - 23 Dec 92
Date: 24 Dec 1992 16:51:56 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

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Navy News Service - NAVNEWS BY EMAIL - navnews@nctamslant.navy.mil 
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NAVY NEWS SERVICE - 23 DEC 1992 - NAVNEWS 066/92 
     Navy News Service (NAVNEWS) contains official news and 
information and is intended for distribution to all Navy people. 
Please help pass the word.  NAVNEWS is available: 
     -- by message to the NAVNEWS collective address  
     -- on the CNO bulletin board, 1-800-582-2355/6940 or (703) 
695-6198/6388  
     -- by electronic mail from NAVNEWS(at)NCTAMSLANT.NAVY.MIL  
     -- and on the BUPERS ACCESS bulletin board, 1-800-346- 
0217/18/27, 1-800-762-8567 or (703) 614-8070/6059/8076, (DSN) 224- 
8070.                                                             
                               -USN-  
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR NAVNEWS 066/92 
   Top News and Policy Stories 
NNS357.  Operation Restore Hope Moves into Kismayo, Somalia 
NNS358.  O'Keefe sworn in as Navy Secretary 
NNS359.  USS Omaha Visits Australia 
   Around the Fleet 
NNS360.  Notable Quotable:                                         
NNS361.  Salute to Excellence:  CINCUSNAVEUR Announces Leadership  
         Award Winners 
NNS362.  "Can Do" Spirit Gets Things Moving In Somalia 
NNS363.  Setting Up Housekeeping in Somalia 
NNS364.  Free Mail and Phone Calls For Restore Hope Deployers 
NNS365.  Outstanding Bachelor Quarters Announced 
NNS366.  Naval Station New York Sailors Help in the Wake of Storm 
NNS367.  Naval Weapons Facility St. Mawgan, U.K. closes 
NNS368.  U.S. Navy and Russian Ships Conduct Exercise 
NNS369.  Navy Corpsman Provides Assistance in Roadside Delivery 
NNS370.  This Week in the Navy: 
   Personnel Notes 
NNS371.  President Bush Sends Holiday Greetings 
NNS372.  Personnel Receiving BAQ, VHA Must Recertify Eligibility  
NNS373.  Career Opportunities Forecast For General Detail Sailors 
NNS374.  Sailors Can Cast Their Vote in Personnel Survey 
NNS375.  Health Care Survey Sent To Military Beneficiaries 
NNS376.  Navy League Announces Three Scholarships 
   Short Splices 
NNS377.  Navy News This Week                                    
                              -USN- 
         Top News and Policy Stories 
NNS357.  Operation restore Hope Moves Into Kismayo, Somalia 
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- As dawn broke over the Somalian port city 
Kismayo, six jets from aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) roared 
overhead providing air cover as American Marines and Belgian troops 
landed from the sea. 
     Encountering no resistance, the city was quickly secured.  The 
Marines returned to their ships turning security responsibilities 
over to Belgian forces and elements of the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain 
Division. 
     This was the first amphibious landing supported by the Kitty 
Hawk battle group and the second straight day of flight operations 
since it relieved the Ranger Battle group off the coast of Somalia.  
Since its arrival on Dec. 18, Kitty Hawk's air wing has conducted 
numerous photo reconnaissance, and close air support missions.  In 
addition, VAW-114, the air wing's airborne early warning squadron, 
has teamed with cruiser USS Leahy (CG 16) to play an important role 
in air traffic control (ATC).  With ATC radars not operating at 
Mogadishu's airport, Leahy and carrier-based E-2C Hawkeyes have 
provided the initial air traffic control guidance for incoming relief 
flights. 
     According to Pentagon spokesman Pete Williams, the next 
operations scheduled include the Marines going into Bardera on Dec. 
24.  The following day -- Christmas Day -- U.S. Marines and French 
Legionnaires will go into Oddur.  On the 27th, U.S. Army and Italian 
troops will enter Gialalassi and on the 28th U.S. Army and Canadian 
Troops will head into Belet Wen. 
     As of Dec. 22, there were 8,400 U.S. military personnel on the 
ground in Somalia, and they are supported by about 9,000 sailors and 
Marines aboard Navy ships off the coast.  There are a number of 
countries in addition to the U.S. which have personnel on the ground 
in Somalia as part of the Joint Task Force coalition.  They are 
Belgium, Botswana, Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, 
Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. 
     Humanitarian flights continue and since the operation's 
beginning have delivered over 15,600 metric tons of food on 
approximately 1,360 flights. 
                               -USN- 
NNS358.  O'Keefe sworn in as Navy Secretary 
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Sean O'Keefe, Acting Secretary of the Navy since 
July 7, was formally sworn in as Navy Secretary Dec. 16 
following appointment to the position by President Bush. 
     Defense Secretary Dick Cheney presided at a Pentagon ceremony at 
which O'Keefe became the 69th secretary of the 217-year-old U.S. 
Navy.  Deputy Secretary Don Atwood administered the oath of office. 
     "Sean has done a superb job leading the Navy.  He has taken on 
some of the biggest challenges with great skill.  He deserves this 
honor," Cheney said. 
     The appointment was made under the President's constitutional 
authority to fill vacancies during Congressional recess. 
     Prior to serving as Secretary of the Navy, O'Keefe was 
Comptroller and Chief Financial Officer of the Defense Department. 
                               -USN- 
NNS359.  USS Omaha Visits Australia 
PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS 
Omaha (SSN 692) became the first nuclear powered warship to visit 
Melbourne, Australia in 13 years when it paid a six-day visit to the 
port city Nov. 30 through Dec 5. 
     The people of Melbourne greeted Omaha's crew with open arms as 
the boat sailed into Port Philip Bay. 
     During the visit, CDR R.W. Pohtos, commanding officer of Omaha, 
visited with the Victoria State Governor, the Premier and Melbourne's 
Lord Mayor. 
     "We consider the U.S. fleet friends of Victoria as obviously the 
Federal Government considers the friends of Australia," said Premiere 
Kennet, who presented Pohtos a Victorian coat of arms.  Seven members 
of the Victorian Parliament, the Lord Mayor, dozens of media 
representatives, and numerous others toured Omaha.  All who toured 
the ship came away with an appreciation for the crew's 
professionalism and commitment to safety. 
     Omaha's "ambassadors" also impressed other Australians 
throughout Melbourne and across the nation.  Twenty Omaha crewmen 
played basketball with local orphans and stuffed packages for the 
Salvation Army.  Additionally, Pohtos was interviewed on an 
Australian version of "The Today Show" which was broadcast 
nationally. 
Story by COMSUBPAC Public Affairs 
                               -USN- 
         Around the Fleet 
NNS360.  Notable Quotable:  "I very much believe that we stand at a 
crossroads in naval history, when the Navy and Marine Corps are in 
the process of reinventing themselves, much as we did in the naval 
renaissance at the end of the 19th century... we must rethink our 
strategic concepts and develop new approaches to the international 
security environment.  Historians will judge this era as comparable 
in momentous change -- the lingering question is whether we've 
tailored our forces properly for future challenges.  Only time will 
tell." -- Secretary of the Navy Sean O'Keefe, in an address to the 
National Security Industrial Association's Amphibious Warfare 
Conference, in Coronado, Calif. on Nov. 19. 
                               -USN- 
         Salute to Excellence  
NNS361.  CINCUSNAVEUR Announces Leadership Award Winners 
Commander in Chief U.S. Naval Forces Europe ADM Mike Boorda recently 
announced the winners of CINCUSNAVEUR's Leadership awards.  The 
winners were CWO3 Bernard Boston of Naval Station Rota, Spain 
representing the officer community, ATCS(AW) Michael Wolfe from NAS 
Sigonella, Italy was selected from the E-7 through E-9 community and 
AE1(AW) Charles Bergstol from helicopter combat support squadron four 
represented the E-6 and below community. 
     "These superb individuals were selected from a highly 
competitive field of impressive Navy and Marine Corps men and women 
nominated by virtually every command in the European theater," said 
Boorda in a message to all NAVEUR units.  "I extend my heartiest 
congratulations to the winners and all nominees for their proven 
outstanding leadership.  With men and women like you, our Navy is in 
great shape today and (will continue to be so) in the future." 
     Runners up included LCDR Paul Williamson of Personnel Support 
Detachment London, England, CTRCS Mark Gano Naval Security Group 
Activity (NSGA) Edzell, Scotland and CTM1 Robert Kilgo from NSGA San 
Vito, Italy. 
Released by CINCUSNAVEUR 
                               -USN- 
NNS362.  "Can Do" Spirit Gets Things Moving In Somalia 
MOGADISHU, Somalia (NNS) -- In the dawning days of the humanitarian 
relief effort, Operation Restore Hope, it became apparent that the 
third world airport of Somalia's capitol, Mogadishu, was not equipped 
to handle the massive cargo planes that would be flying there. 
     Noticeably absent were beacons to tell pilots where the end of 
the runway was.  In a hurry to get supplies flowing into Somalia, air 
traffic controllers from amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LPH 
10), who had been providing air control for the region, turned to the 
communication and navigation division of Tripoli's Aircraft 
Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD). 
     Since there were no beacons of the type needed, AIMD decided to 
build some.  Their first step was to figure out exactly what was 
needed.  With Mogadishu's short runway, heavily-laden cargo planes 
would have difficulty stopping if they weren't using all of the 
available runway surface.  However, in bad weather the runway was not 
clearly visible.  What was needed was a pair of beacons, one at each 
end of the runway, that would relay a signal back to Tripoli, telling 
controllers where the end of the runway was in relation to 
approaching aircraft. 
     This project was placed in the hands of AIMD on the afternoon of 
Dec. 10.  By dawn the next morning a functioning transmitter was 
ready to be taken ashore and set up.  Made up of aircraft components 
and a dry cell battery and with a casing of scrap wood from an ammo 
box, the transmitter might not have been a picture of state-of-the- 
art elegance, but it worked -- a testament to the ingenuity of 
Tripoli's AIMD and their dedication to the mission of feeding the 
starving people of Somalia. 
Story by USS Tripoli Public Affairs 
                               -USN- 
NNS363.  Setting Up Housekeeping in Somalia 
NORFOLK (NNS) -- As the number of U.S. forces in Somalia begins to 
rise the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFACENGCOM) is 
preparing to assist with the task of setting up housekeeping. 
     Using a contract awarded by the Army Corps of Engineers to a 
civilian contractor, NAVFACENGCOM's Atlantic Division (LANTDIV) has 
begun preparations to help the Joint Task Force (JTF) receive troops 
and provide camps which include all basic life support services such 
as shelter, sanitation, food and laundry. 
     The $4 million contract was originally awarded to Brown and Root 
Service Corporation in Aug. by the Army as a contingency to cover any 
area to which the U.S. might deploy troops.  When the operation in 
Somalia got underway, the Army turned the contract over to LANTDIV 
which is the Department of Defense construction agent for Africa. 
     Brown and Root should be mobilized in Somalia within 21 days and 
may also be called upon by the JTF commander to provide other 
Logistical support services as needed. 
Story by LANTDIV Public Affairs 
                               -USN- 
NNS364.  Free Mail and Phone Calls For Restore Hope Deployers 
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- On Dec. 18, Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney 
authorized members of the Armed Forces who are deployed in Operation 
Restore Hope on station in Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti and the adjacent 
waters to send mail at no cost. 
     The free mail is limited to letters, video or sound recording 
tapes that consist of personal correspondence sent to any place in 
the U.S., any possession of the U.S. or any military post office. 
     Mail to sailors and marines embarked aboard ships off the coast 
should still be sent through normal channels -- it will follow 
personnel who go ashore.  Mail destined to personnel assigned to 
commands deploying to the area should be sent to the FPO or APO 
address provided to each command before they deployed. 
     There are military postal workers on the ground now making 
preparations to stay ahead of the flow of mail.  In the meantime, the 
U.S. Postal Service and the Military Postal Service Agency are 
advising that mailing to Somalia should be restricted to those who 
have the actual names, unit numbers and FPO/APO zip codes of troops 
serving in the area. 
     In addition to free mail, service members serving in Operation 
Restore Hope may place free morale calls to the states during the 
holiday season, courtesy of Sprint. 
     The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines will have several Military 
Affiliated Radio System (MARS) stations in Somalia to support 
deployed personnel.  If a MARS station is not available, personnel 
may use any military high frequency (HF) radio to connect with one of 
over 150 MARS operators standing by throughout the U.S.  A MARS 
operator will transfer the call to Sprint, who will switch the call 
to anywhere in the U.S. free of charge.  Each call will last three to 
four minutes. 
     Another method of placing calls to the U.S. is through stateside 
amateur radio stations.  About 32 Amateur Radio operators will 
receive and process calls from any military HF radio utilizing 
frequency 14.200 MHZ or 14.313 MHZ.  The stateside amateur radio call 
sign is "WA5ORS HOPE." 
     Also, COMSAT Corp. will provide users of INMARSAT land and 
shipboard terminals free telephone service to the states on Dec. 26 
and 27 from 8:01 p.m. (Zulu) to 4:00 a.m. (Zulu).  Ships will be 
allotted different amounts of free air time depending on the size of 
their crew. 
     Finally, Sprint will provide free phone calls from Camp 
Pendleton to all Navy and Marine Corps personnel and their immediate 
family members through Dec. 26 during the hours of 11:00 a.m. (PST) 
to 6:00 p.m. (PST).  Unfortunately there are no phone lines to 
Somalia, however personnel may call anywhere else in the world. 
Compiled from official releases 
                               -USN- 
NNS365.  Outstanding Bachelor Quarters Announced 
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The recipients of the FY92 Admiral Elmo R. 
Zumwalt Award for Excellence in Bachelor Quarters Management have 
been announced by Secretary of the Navy Sean O'Keefe. This award 
recognizes the Navy's best managed and most comfortable bachelor 
quarters (BQs).  "Our sailors who reside in outstanding BQs are the 
real winners in the Zumwalt Award competition," said O'Keefe.  
     The award has four competitive categories -- Jumbo (2500 or more 
spaces), Large (1000 to 2400 spaces), Medium (300 to 999 spaces), and 
Small (up to 299 total spaces). This year a total of 20 commands 
(five in each category) competed in the finals.   
Winners are: 
First place -- 
     Jumbo category: Naval Station San Diego and Naval Construction 
Battalion Center, Gulfport, MS 
     Large category: Naval Shipyard, Puget Sound, WA 
     Medium category: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren, VA 
     Small category: Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, IN 
Runners up -- 
     Jumbo category: None (due to tie for first place) 
     Large category: Naval Station, Mayport, FL 
     Medium category: Naval Security Group Activity, Misawa, Japan 
     Small category: Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, 
          Washington, DC 
Third place -- 
      Jumbo category: Fleet Combat Training Center, Atlantic, 
          Dam Neck, VA 
      Large category: Naval Station Rota, Spain 
      Medium category: Naval Air Station, South Weymouth, MA 
      Small category: Navy Support Office, La Maddalena, Italy 
     In one of several actions to improve quality of life as the 
service becomes smaller, the Navy recently approved plans to improve 
bachelor housing with new BQ management guidance and training courses 
stressing customer service, a survey of BQ residents to identify 
needs and concerns, improvements in furniture and maintenance, and 
increased funding for BQ construction and renovation.  Announcing the 
1992 Zumwalt Award winners in ALNAV 130/92, SECNAV urged installation 
commanders operating BQs to bring their standards up to award-level 
performance. 
     The awards are named in honor of ADM Elmo Zumwalt, who served as 
Chief of Naval Operations from July 1970 to June 1974 and was known 
for his efforts to improve the lives of sailors.   
Story by BUPERS Public Affairs 
                                 -USN- 
NNS366.  Naval Station New York Sailors Help in the Wake of Storm 
NEW YORK, N.Y. (NNS) -- When New York City was hit by one of the 
worst storms in decades, the men and women of Naval Station New York 
were called to action. 
     As high tides, gale force winds and heavy rains assaulted the 
area Dec. 11, the Navy answered an urgent call for assistance.  
Divers from the Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity (SIMA) worked 
hand-in-hand with the Army National Guard and area firefighters 
evacuating residents from storm-ravaged Staten Island.  Using canoes 
and flat bottomed boats, Navy personnel travelled up and down city 
streets that were under as much as five feet of water rescuing people 
trapped in homes and cars. 
     The following day, guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), 
training frigate USS Bowen (FFT 1079) and guided missile frigate USS 
Clifton Sprague (FFG 16) provided dewatering teams to help local 
residents and agencies with flooding.  They worked throughout the 
weekend using P-250 and peri-jet eductors, pumping more than 950,000 
gallons of water. 
     The Navy's disaster relief efforts continued during the week 
following the storm, with sailors assisting the Red Cross with damage 
assessment, delivery of Red Cross clean up materials and dewatering. 
Story by JO2(SW) Marc McCormick, NAVSTA New York Public Affairs 
                               -USN- 
NNS367.  Naval Weapons facility St. Mawgan, U.K. Closes 
LONDON, England (NNS) -- On Dec. 15 the Stars and Stripes were 
lowered for the last time at Naval Weapons Facility (NWF) St. Mawgan 
in the United Kingdom. 
     For over 27 years the U.S. Navy received, stored, maintained, 
issued and transhipped munitions in support of U.S. Navy and NATO 
operations from Royal Air Force Base St. Mawgan.  The weapons 
facility, which had over 200 sailors and Marines assigned at its 
peak, was down to fewer than 15 sailors at the time of its closing.  
Located in the Southwest corner of England, the command had won the 
Ambassador's Award for having the best U.S. Navy community relations 
program for a small command in the U.K. for the past two consecutive 
years. 
     The command, which was also recently awarded a Secretary of the 
Navy Commendation for "unequalled performance of the Navy-Marine 
Corps team" mission, was closed as part of the Defense Department 
drawdown and the changing military climate following the end of the 
cold war. 
Story by CINCUSNAVEUR Public Affairs 
                               -USN- 
NNS368.  U.S. Navy and Russian Ships Conduct Exercise 
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- In yet another example of new world friendships, 
guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) one of the newest U.S. 
Aegis cruisers and the Russian ship Admiral Vinogradov one of the 
newest Russian destroyers, conducted a brief exercise while operating 
in international waters in the Bay of Bengal. 
     The exercise included communications drills using English and 
international codes, a simple vertical replenishment and an exchange 
of greetings as the two ships passed within visual range of each 
other. 
     Air operations in support of the exercise included flights by 
both of Cowpens' SH-60B Seahawk helicopters who got practice 
transferring supplies when they delivered two cases of American soda 
and several Cowpens ballcaps. 
     Communications were established early in the day and were used 
throughout the exercise to coordinate a rendezvous.  When the ships 
passed within visual range of each other, the crews of both ships 
came out on deck to take advantage of the excellent photo 
opportunity. 
     As the two ships parted, CAPT Edward Moore, Jr., Cowpens 
Commanding Officer, commented, "This represented an opportunity to 
further goodwill and understanding between our two navies and will 
provide a foundation (on which) to build future operations." 
Story by SURFPAC Public Affairs 
                               -USN- 
NNS369.  Navy Corpsman Provides Assistance in Roadside Delivery 
BEAUFORT, S.C. (NNS) -- While travelling on leave, Hospital Corpsman 
Apprentice Angela Holladay saw a man frantically waving his arms on 
the side of the road.  Sensing something was wrong, she stopped to 
hear him say, "My wife is having a baby!" 
     Holladay, who is assigned to the pediatric clinic of Naval 
Hospital Beaufort, S.C., sprung into action.  The woman was in full 
labor with the baby's head starting to show.  Together with another 
stopped passerby who had recently graduated from nursing school, 
Holladay helped deliver a healthy baby boy. 
     "The thought never crossed my mind not to stop," Holladay said.  
"If I had to, I'd stop for the next person." 
     Holladay, who ironically is 8 months pregnant herself, said the 
incident strengthened her for her upcoming big day. 
Story by Naval Hospital Beaufort Public Affairs 
                               -USN- 
NNS370.  This Week in the Navy: 
December 27, 1956 -- The keel of aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV- 
63) was laid.  Kitty Hawk, now on duty off the coast of Somalia, is 
the fifth in the Forrestal-class of ships. 
                               -USN- 
         Personnel Notes 
NNS371.  President Bush Sends Holiday Greetings 
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- President Bush recently sent holiday greetings to 
the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces.  The text of the 
President's message follows. 
     QUOTE: "As Americans celebrate this season that includes 
Christmas and Hanukkah, we offer a special salute to our outstanding 
men and women in uniform.  Each of you has played an integral role in 
preserving our freedom and security -- blessings that are especially 
precious to us as we turn our hearts toward home and family and enjoy 
holiday festivities. 
     I consider it a great honor to serve as your Commander in Chief, 
and you can be very proud of America's achievements.  Thanks, in 
large part, to your courage and sacrifices, we have won the cold war 
-- communism has been thoroughly discredited, and the threat of 
thermonuclear war has been radically reduced.  Those of you who have 
served as part of NATO Defense Forces have helped to achieve a Europe 
whole and free.  Veterans of Operation Just Cause drove a ruthless 
dictator from Panama and participants in Operations Desert 
Shield/Desert Storm liberated a small defenseless country while 
promoting the stability of the Persian Gulf region.  Together, you 
have proved the wisdom of America's policy of peace through strength.  
In humanitarian operations from Bangladesh and Northern Iraq to the 
former Yugoslavia and Somalia, you have also shown Americans' deep 
sense of compassion. 
     While we have achieved great things for our country and for the 
world, we know that many challenges remain.  The security of the 
United States will continue to depend on the dedication and 
professionalism of our Armed Forces, and I am confident that you will 
maintain your shining commitment to excellence. 
     Barbara joins me in sending warmest greetings to you and your 
families during this joyous season.  God bless you. -- President 
George Bush 
                               -USN- 
NNS372.  Personnel Receiving BAQ, VHA Must Recertify Eligibility 
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- All Navy personnel who are receiving Basic 
Allowance for Quarters (BAQ) and Variable Housing Allowance (VHA) are 
reminded to recertify their eligibility by Jan. 1, 1993.  Failure to 
do so will result in the member's loss of BAQ/VHA entitlements.  See 
NAVADMIN 042/92 (DTG 021431Z Apr 92) for more details. 
Story by BUPERS Public Affairs 
                               -USN- 
NNS373.  Career Opportunities Forecast For General Detail Sailors 
Washington (NNS) --  "A" school quotas for more than 40 ratings will 
be available to General Detail (GENDET) sailors in 1993, giving these 
sailors an opportunity to learn a rating and earn advancement to 
petty officer third class upon graduation. 
     The Navy recruited 15,000 GENDET sailors in Fiscal Year 1991 for 
two-year enlistments, with the option to apply for "A" school after 
two years, as vacancies become available, and receive promotion to E- 
4 upon successful completion of school.  The Bureau of Naval 
Personnel (BUPERS) is encouraging top-performing GENDET sailors to 
take advantage of this option and "A" school openings in 1993.    
     GENDET's wanting an "A" school quota should submit their 
Enlisted Navy Career Options for Reenlistment (ENCORE) and "A" school 
requests together through their career counselor and chain of command 
up to 12 months before the sailor's end of obligated service (EAOS).  
All ENCORE requests should have at least one evaluation to ensure 
competitiveness.   
     Quotas are readily available for many "A" schools.  Currently, 
for qualified sailors, there are 29 wide-open ratings for males and 
11 ratings for females.  They are, for male GENDET's:  AD, AMH, AMS, 
AO, AW, AE, AT, BT, CTM, CTR, DC, DT, DS, FC, GM, HM, MM, MR, OS, MS, 
RM, YN, PN, RP, SH, SK, TM, STG and IS. 
     Ratings and "A" schools now open to female GENDET's are:  ABH, 
AD, AMS, AO, ET, DC, HM, DT, MS, SH and TM. 
     In some other ratings, "A" school quotas may be harder to come 
by. Even so, quotas often open up on short notice.  For that reason 
it is important for GENDET sailors to work closely with career 
counselors, who can check by telephone or computer modem and BUPERS 
Access for the latest quota availability.  If a desired rating is not 
available, a match to a similar rating may be available through the 
ENCORE process.   
     CWO4 Jack O'Leary, head of the BUPERS Schools Management Branch 
(PERS-291), said that some GENDET's may not realize that there are 
opportunities to reenlist for "A" school, even though the Navy is 
reducing in size.  Others may believe that low ASVAB scores, for 
which the test can be re-taken, disqualify them for entry into a 
particular "A" school or a rating.  "Neither are true," said O'Leary.  
"ASVAB qualifications play an important role for selection to "A" 
schools, but if a good sailor does not have the necessary ASVAB 
scores to qualify, the JOBS [Jobs Oriented Basic Skills] program can 
provide prerequisite skills training on the way to 'A' school."  JOBS 
prepares sailors for Navy technical schools and follow-on assignments 
by enhancing education and eliminating skill deficiencies.   
     "A" school seats in six basic skills are guaranteed to JOBS 
program graduates.  Those skills, called "strands," are offered in 
engineering, operations, administration, electronics, electrical and 
navigation areas.  A new strand will be opened in January 1993 for 
aviation mechanical skills. 
     More information on JOBS, ENCORE and "A" schools for GENDET 
sailors is available from command career counselors, BUPERS Access 
(1-800-352-0217/8) or CWO-4  Jack O'Leary at (DSN) 223-1326 or (703) 
693-1326. 
Story by BUPERS Public Affairs 
                              - USN - 
NNS374.  Sailors Can Cast Their "Vote" in Personnel Survey 
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The third annual Navy-wide Personnel Survey is 
giving Navy personnel the chance to voice their attitudes, concerns 
and opinions.  
     Mailed recently to a randomly selected sample of officer and 
enlisted personnel, the survey requires about 30 minutes to complete.  
Individuals can take more time if they choose to make written 
comments in optional sections. 
     The survey gives one out of every twenty Navy personnel the 
chance for a direct input on a number of personnel programs and 
issues.  First conducted in 1990, previous surveys have helped the 
Navy justify increased money and effort for family and bachelor 
housing, child care and relocation assistance.   
     New to this year's survey are questions on Navy exchanges, Navy 
fitness and health promotion, and possible uniform changes.  In the 
area of detailing, there are new questions about the desirability of 
homesteading, the overseas tour extension incentives program, and 
communications with detailers at the Bureau of Naval Personnel.  
Questions on qualify of life, pay and benefits, rotation policies and 
organization climate are included again in this year's survey. 
     In cover letter from the Chief of Naval Personnel, VADM R.J. 
Zlatoper explained the importance of the survey adding, "Help us to 
serve all the Navy better by letting us know what you think."  The 
questionnaires are to be completed and returned to the Navy Personnel 
Research and Development Center within two weeks of receipt. 
Story by BUPERS Public Affairs      
                               -USN- 
NNS375.  Health Care Survey Sent To Military Beneficiaries 
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Department of Defense Health Care Survey has 
been mailed by the office of the assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Force Management and Personnel to 42,000 active duty members and 
retirees worldwide.  The sample of active duty members and retirees 
was scientifically drawn to be representative of beneficiary families 
among the Armed Forces and retirees. 
     The purpose of the survey is to evaluate access to and use of 
inpatient and outpatient medical care services and beneficiaries' 
attitudes and knowledge regarding the military medical care systems 
policies benefits and costs.  The questionnaire asks beneficiaries 
for their opinions about their health care benefits and their recent 
medical and dental history.  Active duty members and retirees are 
urged to discuss the questionnaire with their spouses and dependents.  
Spouses may fill out all or parts of the questionnaire. 
     The Department is conducting the survey as part of a 
comprehensive two-year review of the military medical benefit, which 
was directed by the Congress in the FY92 Defense Authorization Act.  
In his letter to survey participants, Assistant Secretary Christopher 
Jehn states, "As the Department of Defense reduces the size of its 
military force, the quality of health care benefits for military 
members, retirees and their families is a top priority.  We are 
undertaking a special survey to learn how beneficiaries view the 
quality and availability of their health and dental care." 
     A report analyzing the survey results is scheduled to be 
completed and available in December 1993. 
Story by OASD (Public Affairs) 
                               -USN- 
NNS376.  Navy League Announces Three Scholarships 
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy League of the United States will make 
the financial burden of college a little lighter for three college 
students this year when it awards three different scholarships. 
     The Renee and Earnest G. Campbell Scholarship and the Stanley 
Levinson Scholarship are available to students who will enter college 
in the fall of 1993.  In order to qualify, the prospective student 
must be a citizen of the U.S. and a high school senior under the age 
of 25, demonstrate a financial need, be of good character, well 
motivated and possess an excellent academic record.  He or she must 
also demonstrate an appreciation of the laws, traditions and values 
of the United States. 
     The Subic Bay-Cubi Point Scholarship offers an opportunity for 
the sons and daughters of personnel who were permanently stationed in 
the Subic Bay-Cubi Point area of the Philippines from 1980 through 
1992.  Awards under this program may be made for post high school 
education at any level. 
     All these scholarships will be awarded with preference given to 
those who express an interest in and an intention to continue their 
education in mathematics, engineering and/or the sciences.  Children 
of current or former (including deceased) members of the U.S. sea 
services will also be given preference. 
     Application forms and instructions for the three scholarships 
are obtainable by sending a self addressed, stamped, business-size 
envelope to Navy League of the United States, ATTN: Scholarship,  
2300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. 22201. 
Story by Navy League of the United States 
                               -USN- 
         "Short Splices" 
NNS377.  Navy News This Week 
     The Dec. 23, 1992 edition of Navy News This Week -- a videotaped 
newscast generated for broadcast to Navy/Marine Corps fleet and shore 
units -- includes the following stories:      
HEADLINES: Amphibious Assault Ship USS Okinawa Retires, Navy 
Commissions USS Pioneer, USS Barry Joins the Fleet, Navy Christens 
Submarine USS Santa Fe, Children Get Early Christmas at Bureau of 
Naval Personnel, Electronic Engineer Chief Gets Community Service 
Award, Imminent Danger Pay Authorized For Sailors in Somalia, 
Variable Housing Allowance Set To Increase, Some Airlines Offer 
Refunds For Somalia-Deployed Sailors, Navy-Wide Survey Gives Sailors 
a Voice in Personnel Matters, U.N. Forces Continue to Widen Supply 
Lines in Somalia, Marines From Kaneohe Bay, Hi. Join Operation 
Restore Hope, Chief of Naval Personnel Discusses Navy of '92, '93, 
Sailors Aboard USS John F. Kennedy Save Navy Money, Earn Award, 
Environmental Team Protects Waters of Hampton Roads, Va., Montgomery 
G.I. Bill Adapts to Sailors' Education Needs, Montel Williams Talk 
Show Focuses On Military Families, New NEX Opens At Oceana, Local 
Radio Station Helps Marine Corps Toys For Tots Program, Hurricane 
Iniki Victims Benefit From Toys for Toys Program, CH-53E Pilots 
Support Somalia Off USS Tripoli. 
     QUESTIONS?  Contact Navy Broadcasting Service, Navy News This 
Week, Bldg. 168, NAVSTA Anacostia, Washington, D.C. 20374-1682 or 
call (202) 433-5844, (AV) 288-5844. 
     Input from fleet units ensures our most complete coverage of 
global events affecting the Navy and Marine Corps.  Your video 
contributions, on 3/4-inch, 1/2-inch or Hi-8 videotape, are needed.  
                               -USN- 
     Feedback on this issue, inputs for the next issue, questions 
about distribution, and suggestions for improving NAVNEWS are 
invited.  Help us make NAVNEWS better.  Contact NAVNEWS 
     -- by message to NAVINRELACT WASHINGTON DC//NNS// 
     -- by electronic mail to NAVNEWS(at)NCTAMSLANT.NAVY.MIL 
     -- by U.S. mail to Editor, Navy News Service, Pentagon 2D340, 
Washington, D.C. 20350-1200 
     -- by fax to (703) 695-6180 or DSN 225-6180 
     -- or by calling us at (703) 695-1888; (DSN) 225-1888. 
                               -USN-