Tag: U.S. Navy

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Working Together for Mental Health: The Importance of Support and Prevention in the Navy

The Navy has released a mental health playbook to guide leaders on how to broach the subject of mental health with their sailors, and how to help them access resources for help. The playbook aims to address challenges sailors have expressed, including access to services, and encourages conversations with sailors to direct them to the available services. It also highlights the importance of preventative maintenance for people. Under the playbook, naval leaders are tasked with three roles: ensuring an environment where conversations can happen, being on the lookout for signs that sailors are at risk, and helping sailors get services while allowing them to stay in the fleet.

The aim of the Navy is preventing, mitigating, or addressing mental health issues within their commands. The playbook emphasizes the importance of creating a climate of trust and respect, recognizing mental health issues, and getting people the care they need. The three key roles of leaders are identified as setting conditions, recognizing mental health issues, and getting people the care they need, and keeping them in the team. The handbook is intended to be read thoroughly and incorporated into training, with a focus on preventative maintenance for personnel. The playbook encourages leaders to eliminate the stigma around mental health concerns and to provide warm hand-offs to clinical providers.

The members at Americans for a Stronger Navy salutes this effort and we sincerely hope the best for all.

One of the areas we feel we can help is with our “Tell Us Your Story” initiative aims to support mental health by promoting an added sense of purpose for those that serve and have served in the U.S. Navy in the past.

For examlle, the Tell Us Your Story initiative is a project launched by Americans for a Stronger Navy, which aims to shine a spotlight on the stories of those who have served or are currently serving in the Navy. The initiative provides a platform for Navy personnel to share their experiences, insights, and challenges with the broader community. By doing so, it seeks to foster a sense of connection and mutual understanding between Navy personnel and the general public.

One of the key objectives of the Tell Us Your Story initiative is to promote a sense of purpose among Navy personnel. By sharing their stories, Navy personnel can highlight the important role they play in the defense and security of the nation, as well as the broader impact of their work on society. This sense of purpose can be a powerful source of motivation and resilience, particularly in challenging times.

In addition to promoting a sense of purpose, the Tell Us Your Story initiative also seeks to raise awareness about the mental health challenges faced by Navy personnel. By sharing their stories of personal struggle and triumph, Navy personnel can help to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and encourage others to seek support when needed.

Overall, the Tell Us Your Story initiative is an important effort to support the mental health and well-being of Navy personnel by promoting a sense of purpose and fostering a greater sense of connection and understanding between the Navy and the broader community.

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This Week in Navy History – February 26 – March 3, 2023

USS Ranger departing for sea trials in 1957

February 26, 1991
During Operation Desert Storm, A-6E aircraft of VA-155 from USS Ranger (CVA 61) and Marine aircraft bomb Iraqi troops fleeing Kuwait City to Basra.

February 27, 1942
The Battle of the Java Sea begins, where the 14-ship Allied forces (American, Dutch, British and Australian) attempt to stop the 28-ship Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies colony of Java. The Japanese, during battles over three days, decimates the Allied forces, sinking at least 11 ships, killing more than 3,370 and taking nearly 1,500 prisoners.

February 28, 1844
An experimental 12-inch gun explodes on board USS Princeton, killing Secretary of State (former Secretary of the Navy) Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Gilmer, and five other dignitaries and injuring 20 people.

March 1, 1953
During the Korean War, USS Valley Forge (CVA 45) aircraft raid the No.1 power plant at Chosen, Korea and heavily damage the strongly defended industrial site.

March 2, 1973
Women begin pilot training to U.S. Navy.

March 3, 1915
The Office of Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is established by Congress with Adm. William S. Benson named the first CNO.

March 4, 1991
Iraq releases 10 Desert Storm prisoners of war (six Americans, three of whom were designated MIA), including Navy Lt. Jeffrey Zaun, Lt. Robert Wetzel, and Lt. Lawrence Slade

*Source: Naval History and Heritage Command. https://www.history.navy.mil

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Who’s Who – Lieutenant James Earl Carter Jr., USN

Jimmy Carter

James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr. was the 39th President of the United States. Prior to his presidency, he served in the U.S. Navy and was a part of the team that worked on developing nuclear propulsion plants for naval vessels. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 and served on USS Wyoming before applying for submarine duty. He served as an executive officer, engineering officer, and electronics repair officer on the submarine SSK-1. After being selected by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover to join his program to create nuclear-powered submarines, Carter was assigned to the Naval Reactors Branch to assist in the design and development of these propulsion systems. He was preparing to become the engineering officer for USS Seawolf (SSN-575), but resigned from the Navy in 1953 to manage his family’s interests. Today, the Seawolf-class submarine Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) is named after him.

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Navy Academy Renames Building 105 to Carter Hall

On February 17th, the U.S. Naval Academy held a ceremony to officially rename Building 105 after former President Jimmy Carter, the only Naval Academy graduate to become president. The renaming was a result of the Naming Commission recommending that all Department of Defense assets named for individuals who served in the Confederacy be renamed. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro gave remarks on Carter’s career, which included his time in the Navy, during which he had several noteworthy experiences. Despite his short time in the Navy, there is reason to believe that he would have had a successful career had he stayed.

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US Navy learns costly lessons

The U.S. Navy appears to have learned its lesson after rushing new technology onto warships and speeding them into production, resulting in costly mistakes. In an article by David Sharp for ABC News, it was reported that the Navy is taking a more deliberate approach in the design and purchase of its next-generation destroyers to ensure new technologies, such as powerful lasers and hypersonic missiles, are mature before pressing ahead on construction.

Adm. Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations, acknowledged that the Navy has learned that when it moves too fast, big mistakes can be made. He stated, “Let’s be deliberate. Let’s not have our eyes become bigger than our stomach and get too far ahead of ourselves.”

The Navy is reducing risk by conducting more land tests and borrowing the radar and targeting system from the latest destroyers that’ll soon join the fleet. It’s also working with shipbuilders and designers to refine the ship’s blueprint, cost estimates, and workforce and supply forecasts.

While the Navy still plans to field new technologies on the destroyer, it’s balancing the best technology that’s reliable, affordable, and attainable. Matt Caris, a defense analyst with Avascent, said, “The Navy is trying to thread the needle with some potentially revolutionary capabilities in as low-risk and evolutionary process as possible. This was a lesson learned by the Navy’s laundry list of shameful acquisition programs.”

The Navy is trying to avoid repeating past shipbuilding mistakes, which have resulted in costly errors and early retirements of combat ships beset by problems. It’s juggling its priorities as it seeks not just a new destroyer but also a new attack submarine and a replacement for the F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet. The Navy is in a difficult spot because the Biden administration is not interested in dramatically increasing the military budget.

In conclusion, the Navy’s new approach to shipbuilding is a promising step towards avoiding past mistakes and ensuring new technologies are mature before construction. It shows a willingness to learn from costly errors and take a more deliberate approach to ensure the best possible outcome. Thank you David Sharp at ABC News for reporting on this important story.

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South China Sea – Chinese Fighter Jet Intercepted

A CNN crew aboard a US Navy reconnaissance jet witnessed a Chinese fighter jet intercepting their plane over the South China Sea. The Chinese fighter jet was so close that the CNN crew could see the pilots turning their heads to look at them. The Chinese fighter jet armed with air-to-air missiles escorted the US plane for 15 minutes before turning away. The incident reveals the tensions simmering between the US and China in the South China Sea. China claims historic jurisdiction over almost the entirety of the South China Sea, which is a major potential flashpoint in the Asia Pacific. Islands in the South China Sea, like the Paracels near which the US Navy plane was intercepted, are the subject of overlapping territorial claims from China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

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US Navy Can’t Keep Up says Carlos Del Toro

According to CNN, the head of the US Navy, Carlos Del Toro, has stated that China has a significant advantage over the US navy in terms of shipbuilding capacity and fleet size, which they are using to project their power across oceans. He added that China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy could be fielding up to 400 ships in the coming years, compared to the US fleet, which currently sits at under 300 ships. Del Toro said that the US needs a larger and more modern fleet to meet the threat, but US naval shipyards cannot match the output of Chinese ones. Furthermore, he claimed that China has a numerical advantage in terms of workers due to the country being free of the restrictions, regulations, and economic pressures that affect labor in the US, and added that China uses slave labor in building their ships, which gives them a significant advantage. However, analysts express doubt about such a claim, as China has a large pool of available manpower and would not resort to using slave labor in a high-tech sector vital to its national security. Despite these challenges, Del Toro noted that the US still has an inherent advantage over China, which is its people, whom he believes are better-trained and have the ability to think more critically. The US Navy has taken steps to address the gap with China, including assigning more of its fleet to the Pacific and using newer and more capable ships in Pacific roles, according to a US Congressional Research Service report from November said CNN.

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American Presidents in the Navy – Honoring Presidents Day

As America celebrates Presidents Day today February 20, 2023, the editors and staff for the Americans for a Stronger Navy salutes those that have served our country with honor and distinction.

The United States Navy has a long and storied history, dating back to the American Revolution. Over the years, many Americans have answered the call to serve in the Navy, including several who would go on to become President of the United States. In this article, we will explore some of the U.S. Presidents who have served in the Navy.

John F. Kennedy
Perhaps the most famous Navy veteran to become President, John F. Kennedy served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was commanding officer of PT-109, a patrol torpedo boat, when it was struck by a Japanese destroyer in the Pacific. Despite suffering injuries himself, Kennedy was able to lead his surviving crew to safety. This experience helped shape his leadership style and informed his foreign policy decisions during his presidency.

Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson also served in the Navy during World War II, where he was assigned to the South Pacific as a lieutenant commander. Johnson was part of a team responsible for planning and executing bombing missions against Japanese targets in the region. He was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery during a mission in which he flew as an observer on a B-26 bomber.

Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon served in the Navy during World War II as well, though his experience was somewhat different from Kennedy’s and Johnson’s. Nixon was initially rejected by the Army and Navy due to a knee injury, but he persisted and was eventually accepted into the Navy. He served as a supply officer in the South Pacific, where he earned the rank of lieutenant commander.

Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford served in the Navy during World War II and was a decorated veteran. He was commissioned as an ensign and served on the aircraft carrier USS Monterey in the Pacific. Ford was present at several major battles, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and was awarded several medals for his service.

Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter graduated with distinction from the Naval Academy in 1946 and served on the USS Wyoming before applying for submarine duty. He then served on the submarine SSK-1 as executive officer, engineering officer, and electronics repair officer. He was selected by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover to join the program to create nuclear-powered submarines and served on temporary duty with the Naval Reactors Branch in 1952-1953 to assist in the design and development of nuclear propulsion plants for naval vessels. Carter was promoted to lieutenant during this time.

George H.W. Bush
George H.W. Bush is perhaps the most distinguished Navy veteran to become President. He enlisted in the Navy on his 18th birthday and became the youngest pilot in the Navy at the time. He flew 58 combat missions during World War II and was shot down over the Pacific. He was rescued by a U.S. submarine and went on to serve as a Navy pilot during the Korean War. Bush went on to serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Vice President before being elected President in 1988.

In conclusion, the U.S. Navy has played an important role in shaping the lives and careers of many Americans, including several who went on to become President of the United States. From John F. Kennedy to George H.W. Bush, these Navy veterans brought their leadership skills and military experience to the highest office in the land. Their service to their country in the Navy undoubtedly helped prepare them for the challenges they would face as President.