Jbj 072514

Joint Base Journal

www.facebook.com/jointbase JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING www.cnic.navy.mil/jbab

News and information for and about the premierJoint Base and its region

Vol. 5, No. 29 July 25, 2014

SHAWN MILLER

NDW PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Metro-area band JohnStoneheadlined the annual Reggae Festsponsored byWarfighter and Fam-ily Readiness (WFR) at Joint BaseAnacostia-Bolling (JBAB), July 18.

A summer rendition of the “po-lar vortex” brought cooler temper-atures and a crowd of fans to thedeck at the Slip Inn along the Po-tomac River for a night of originalmusic and covers of reggae hits.

Alice and Willy Brinkley trav-eled from Richmond, Va. for theirsecond Reggae Fest at JBAB afterenjoying last year’s event head-lined by Stable Roots.

“They sound great; they’re verysmooth,” said Alice. “We come uphere sometimes just to get awayand see something different.”

JohnStone guitarist and vocalistAndre White said it was the band’sfirst show at JBAB as a group, al-though some of the members hadplayedother events therepreviously.

“It’s a fantastic experience for theband to be able to come over here

JohnStone delivers roots-style reggae hits at Slip Inn

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY SHAWN MILLER

Andre White, guitarist and vocalist for JohnStone, performs during the annual Reggae Fest at the Slip Inn aboard Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB),July 18. JohnStone has been playing in the national capital region for more than a decade, and released their debut album, Eyes Open, in 2005.See REGGAE, Page 5

BY SHAWN MILLER

NDW PUBLIC AFFAIRS

As the “101 Critical Daysof Summer” reaches pastthe halfway point of theseason, boating and watersafety remain key to re-sponsibly enjoying vaca-tions and recreation beforeSeptember rolls around.

Whether on a boat orpersonal watercraft, orswimming at a beach or ina pool, safety experts urgeeveryone to use commonsense as a baseline.

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) Safety Spe-cialist Dean McKinseyhighlighted alcohol useas one of the main factorsleading to injuries and fa-talities.

“Balance is one of thefirst things you lose whenyou consume alcohol, andwhen you combine thiswith the rocking of a boat,the chance of falling over-board increases,” McKinsey

noted in a safety presenta-tion he provides to person-nel at JBAB.

Alcohol consumptionis particularly dangerouswhen combined with out-door activities in the sum-mer sun because perspira-tion removes water fromthe body while leaving thealcohol in, which can leadto quicker impairment anddehydration.

Wayne Walker, a safetyspecialist at Naval Air Sta-tion (NAS) Patuxent River,compared alcohol con-sumption on the water todrinking and driving.

“You don’t drink anddrive a boat, either; and lifejackets are like seat belts,”Walker said. “When you’reunderway, wear your lifejacket.”

Beyond refraining frommixing alcohol and boat-ing, the U.S. Coast Guard’sBoating Safety ResourceCenter (BSRC) offers anumber of tips for enjoying

a day on the rivers, lakes, orocean without mishap.

According to the BSRCwebsite, 70 percent of allboating incidents are causeby operator error. TheBSRC offers a number ofboating safety courses forusers to study before goingafloat. Before setting off, allboaters are encouraged tofile float plans to properlyprepare for emergencies,whether in a small canoe orlarge yacht.

For more information onresources or to downloadand print a float plan, visitwww.uscgboating.org.

“Safe boating starts be-fore your first trip out on thewater,” McKinsey stated inhis safety presentation. “Donot wait until an accidenthappens to educate yourselfas well as your family on therules and responsibilities ofsafe boating.”

Boating, swimming responsibly key to summer safety

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY SHAWN MILLER

Boaters prepare for a day on the water at Point Patience Marina aboard Naval RecreationCenter (NRC) Solomons, June 30. Boating and swimming carefully play a key role in personalsafety during the “101 Critical Days of Summer,” running through Labor Day. See SAFETY, Page 3

2 Friday, July 25, 2014 Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling Joint Base Journal

This commercial enterprise Navy newspaper is an au-thorized publication for members of the U.S. military ser-vices, retirees, DoD civilians and their family members.Contents of Joint Base Journal do not necessarily reflect theofficial views of the U.S. government, Department of De-fense, U.S. Navy or U.S. Air Force and does not imply en-dorsement thereof. The appearance of advertising in thispublication, including inserts or supplements, does notconstitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, theNavy, Air Force, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling or Comprint

Military Publications of the products or services advertised.Published by ComprintMilitary Publications, a division

of Post-NewsweekMedia, Inc., 9030ComprintCourt,Gaith-ersburg,MD, 20877, aprivate firm innowayconnectedwithDoD, the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Air Force, under exclusivecontract with Naval DistrictWashington.

The editorial content of Joint Base Journal is editedand approved by the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling PublicAffairs Office. Tenant commands and others are encour-aged to submit news, high-quality photos and informa-tional items for publication. All submitted content mustbe received by noon on the Friday prior to publication.E-mail submissions to [email protected].

To place display advertising, call 240-473-7538.Toplace classified advertising, call 301-670-2505. Every-

thing advertised in this publication shall be made availablefor purchase, use or patronagewithout regard to race, color,gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical handi-cap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of thepurchaser, user or patron.

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLINGWASHINGTON, D.C.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE: PHONE: 202-767-4781EMAIL: [email protected]

Joint Base Journal Capt. Frank Mays, USN Col. Michael E. Saunders, USAFCommander Vice Commander

Joseph P. Cirone CMSgt Richard J. Simonsen Jr., USAFPublic Affairs Officer Senior Enlisted Leader202-404-7206

Lt. Cmdr. Jim Remington, USNPublic Affairs Projects

JOINT BASE JOURNALShawn MillerPhotojournalist

COMPRINT MILITARYPUBLICATIONS

Maxine MinarPresident

John RivesPublisher

Deirdre ParryCopy/Layout Editor

MFSC moves to Building 13The Military and Family Support Cen-

ter (MFSC) supports individual and familyreadiness through a full array of programsand resources which help military familiesto be resilient, well-informed and adaptableto the Navy-Air Force environment. Untilrecently these program and services wereavailable at two separate locations. Now ev-erything is conveniently located in Building13 on Brookley Avenue. To view a full list ofprograms and services or for more informa-tion visit www.mywfr.com or call MFSC at202.767.0450.

JBAB Cub ScoutsAttention all boys grades 1st through

5th interested in scouting. Please contactthe JBAB Cub Scouts, Pack 343, at [email protected] for more information.Each den holds their own meetings eachmonth along with one pack event. Boys willearn badges together and can work on indi-vidual achievements as well. Come join usfor popcorn, camping and so much more.

Air Force Wives’ Club Thrift ShopThe Air Force Officers’ Wives’ Club Thrift

Shop is located at 13 Brookley Ave and isopen Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Donations are acceptedduring business hours only. Profits fromthe AFOWC Thrift shop go toward collegescholarships and other military charitableorganizations. For more information aboutthe AFOWC or its Thrift Shop call 202-563-6666 or email [email protected].

Joint Base Gate HoursArnold (Main) Gate: 24/7South (Joint Visitor’s Center) Gate: 24/7Firth Sterling (North) Gate: Mon-Fri - 5

a.m.-7 p.m.Bellevue (Housing Area) Gate: Mon-Fri -

5 a.m.-9 a.m. and 3 p.m.-7 p.m.

Navy Wives Clubs of AmericaThe D.C. Metro chapter of Navy Wives

Clubs of America, Eleanor Roosevelt #37,hosts meetings every second Thursday ofthe month to discuss and plan volunteeractivities in the local military and civil-ian communities. Military spouses of allbranches are welcome to attend. For more

information, email [email protected] visit www.facebook.com/NWCA37.

Post Office weekday closure 2-3 p.m.Due to fiscal challenges, the Joint Base

Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) Post Office is op-erating with one postal agent and will beclosed for lunch from 2-3 p.m., Monday-Friday. Saturday hours remain unchanged.If you have questions, comments or com-plaints please contact the U.S. Postal Ser-vice.

JBAB Cyclists on FacebookBasically a forum for all JBAB riders to

get together. We organize group rides overlunch and during commuting hours. Visit usonline at www.facebook.com/groups/jbab-cyclists. For more information, email [email protected].

Boys and Girls Club volunteersThe Boys and Girls Club of Greater

Washington needs volunteer coaches fortheir youth baseball league for 10-year-oldsand 12-year-olds. For more information orto sign up, call 512-560-5548 from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. or email [email protected].

Immunization ClinicThe 579th Medical Group Immuniza-

tion Clinic will be open Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.On Thursdays, the clinic will be open from 8a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:15p.m. The clinic closes at 12 p.m. for train-ing the first Wednesday of each month. Formore information, call 202-404-6724.

Toastmasters Club seeks membersThe Bolling Toastmasters Club is avail-

able for everyone on JBAB as a place topractice your leadership skills. Toastmas-ters clubs are where leaders are made, andleadership starts with good communication.The program is self-paced, and it works. TheBolling Toastmasters Club meets Wednes-days from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. at the JBABChapel Center. Visitors are welcome. Formore information, call Jim Queen at 301-452-6931.

JNOTESMiscellaneous items related to your health, your career,

your life and your community

Chaplain’s Religious Enrichment Development OperationsCREDO offers a variety of programs aimed at improving the quality

of communication, adding resiliency, and training service members invaluable life skills. Open to all Active Duty Service Members and theirimmediate family members, the following workshops and retreats areavailable in July:

MER - Marriage Enrichment Retreat - Couples enjoy a free weekendat the Hilton Hotel in Crystal City where they learn and apply marriageskills such as communication and problem solving in a fun, small groupatmosphere. Using personality inventories, participants learn that thedifferences in our marriages can be ways to enhance and complete oneanother in the marriage journey. Marriage Enrichment Retreats on July25-27, Aug. 8-10, Aug. 22-24 and Sept. 5-7.

PREP -Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program givesprospective and married couples effective and proven communicationand relationship skills needed for the stresses of today’s military rela-tionships. PREP is offered in partnership with the Military and FamilySupport Center covering such topics as Communication Danger Signs,Fun and Friendship, Forgiveness, and Supporting One Another. TTheseclasses will be held at the Chapel Annex aboard JBAB, Aug. 20 and Aug.27.

For more information or to register, please contact the CREDO officesat 202-767-5901or 5900, e-mail at [email protected], or dropby the JBAB Chapel and inquire within.

DAWN POWELLMWR MARKETING

Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR)and Harley-Davidson of Washington, DC are gearing up this summer to give awaya brand new 2014 Sportster 1200 Custom! Yes, it’s true and it’s free! Enter nowthrough Sept. 12. The Harley-Davidson will be given away on stage, Sept. 20 at theFreedom Live Concert featuring Little Big Town.

There are numerous ways to enter to win throughout the summer!1. Participate in the following MWR special events:- Acoustic Nights: July 27 & Aug. 29, Slip Inn- Operation Magic: Aug. 8, Bolling Club- Club Member Appreciation: Aug. 8, Slip Inn- Jazz Fest: Aug. 15, Slip Inn- Millie Jackson; Aug. 30, Bolling Club2. Download the free MWR Smartphone Application, ABSalute, available at

Apple and GooglePlay Stores3. “Like,” “Follow” and “Retweet” through our social media channels4. Visit the Harley-Davidson Fort Washington Showroom located at 9407 Liv-

ingston Rd. Ft. Washington, DC 20744You will also receive free automatic entry into the giveaway with a race entry

for the 2014 Navy-Air Force Half Marathon & Navy 5 Miler and with every Free-dom Live ticket purchase.

Participants must be a Department of Defense (DoD) ID cardholder, 18 yearsof age or older and must be present to win.

Spend the summer with MWR and you could drive away on a New 2014 Sport-ster 1200 Custom! For complete rules and details visit www.mywfr.com or Face-book.com/mywfr.

Win a 2014 Harley-Davidson!

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3Friday, July 25, 2014Joint Base Journal Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling

Movie Under the StarsJuly 25 | 8:30 p.m. | Marina Parking LotBring your lawn chairs and comfy blan-

kets and enjoy a family friendly movie! Castyour movie vote at Facebook.com/mywfr.

Pool SplashAug. 1 | 8-11 p.m. | Base PoolParty poolside with live music by KERQ, a

full cash bar and free hot dogs and burgers!Patrons are welcome to bring their own

food and beverages to the pool area. Pleaserefrain from any glass containers.

Millie Jackson ConcertAug. 30 | 7 p.m. & 10 p.m. | Bolling Club

BallroomEnjoy an intimate concert with Millie

Jackson! Tickets are on sale now at the Bol-ling Club. $50 per person, includes dinnerbuffet & show. Seating is limited.

Bolling ClubTheisen St., Bldg. 50

202.563.8400

Happy Hour TriviaJuly 30 | 6-8 p.m. | Bolling Club, Wings

Bar & GrillTest your trivia skills and win prizes!

Champagne Sunday BrunchJuly 27 | 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Bolling Club –

Washington Dining RoomEnjoy the BEST Champagne Brunch

in the Capital Region, featuring mimosas,bloody marys and screwdrivers.

Daily Lunch BuffetTuesday – Friday | 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. |

Bolling Club – Washington Dining RoomClub

Members: $9.95; Non-Members: $12.95For parties of 10 or more, $1 will be addedto each person’s meal

Slip InnArnold Ave., Bldg. 2482

202.767.5840Hours of OperationMonday – Friday: 11 a.m.*Kitchen closes at 8 p.m.Tiki Bar Hours: Wednesday - Friday: 4

p.m.-Close

July Lunch SpecialSpicy Italian Sausage - $8The cousin of our sweet Italian sausage is

here every Wednesday in July from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Party on the PatioAug. 1 | 5-9 p.m. | Slip Inn PatioGather with old friends and new as we

rock the Potomac with DJ entertainment.

Potomac Lanes Bowling CenterMcChord St, Bldg. 1310

202.563.1701/1702

Summer SundaysEvery Sunday in July$1.50 games from 12-5 p.m. (price per

person)Bowl 2 games, shoe rental, pizza and

drinks for only $20. 5-8 p.m. Available to allactive military personnel and their families.Each additional person is $5.

Fall Bowling LeaguesFall leagues are now forming. There are

leagues every day of the week. Call PotomacLanes for more details.

Vote for your Favorite DogIt’s back! Potomac Lanes EATZ will in-

troduce a new gourmet hot dog every weekin July. During the fourth week, vote foryour favorite and you’ll be entered to wina free meal! The winning dog will also beadded to the menu.

Information, Tickets and TravelChappie James Blvd. Bldg. 4570

202.404.6576New Hours of OperationMonday – Friday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.Saturday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.Sunday & Federal Holidays: Closed

Liberty CenterDefense Blvd, Bldg. 72

202.685.1802ELIGIBILITY: E1-E6 Single and

Unaccompanied Active Duty Military

Liberty Paintball TripAug. 2 | 9 a.m. | Pev’s Paintball ParkPull out a camouflage suit, grab a gun

and get ready for some paintball action! JoinLiberty as we head out to Pev’s PaintballCenter for some action where you will haveto duck, roll and run for your life as you fireback at the opposing team. $45 (IncludesGun, Mask, Air and Extra Paint)

$25 w/ Personal gun (Includes ExtraPaint, Mask and Air)

Stay Connected with Social Media!Facebook: www.facebook.com/mywfrTwitter: @mywfrInstagram: @jointbase

WFR Events

Walker advised boaters to always keepan eye on the weather, both before and dur-ing a trip. He advised using radar applica-tions, whether by larger equipment on ves-sels or on a phone or tablet for individuals.

“In this part of the country, a storm cancome up the river and get you in a minute,”Walker added.

Besides personal safety, boaters and per-sonal watercraft users are also urged to lookout for the safety of wildlife and the envi-ronment in the diverse ecosystems of localwaterways by using caution along shoresand shallow sections where wakes from wa-tercraft may cause erosion and damage tovegetation and natural habitats.

For those who prefer a dip in the poolor at the beach, the Navy Safety Center of-fers guidance for swimmers. When accom-panying children, parents or guardiansare advised to always have a designatedwatcher or lifeguard who knows CPR andhas emergency supplies readily available.

For personal pools, ensure that properfencing, gates and drain guards are in-stalled, and remove portable ladders whennot in use. When on a trip to the beach,the National Weather Service encouragesvacationers to plan for local weather andsurf forecasts, as well as being aware ofbeach hazards such as rip currents. Formore information, visit www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.

For more safety news, tips and links toresources, visit www.safetycenter.navy.mil.

SAFETYn continued from 1


BY MASS COMMUNICATIONSPECIALIST 2ND CLASSASHANTÉ HAMMONS

NSAB PUBLIC AFFAIRS

STAFF WRITER

Imagine a world filled withschools of fish, sea turtles, sharks,coral reefs and other amazingsights around you. It is a breath-taking and absolute change fromwalking on shore. Instead of won-dering what lives in the ocean,you are in the ocean, among thesecreatures. How can you visit thiswondrous place in person? Bylearning how to scuba dive withthe Morale, Welfare and Recre-ation (MWR) program at NavalSupport Activity (NSA) Bethesda.

“After my initial training in1979, the first time I got to re-ally scuba dive was down in KeyWest,” said Joe Lodmell, MWRscuba instructor at NSA Bethesda.“To jump in the water, and see theschools of fish in every imaginablecolor was incredible! We spent 45minutes swimming between thecoral heads, [and I was] absolutelyamazed at the color and variety ofsea life. There were lobsters, nursesharks, anemones and all kinds ofcritters [in the ocean]!”

That enthusiasm for diving in-spired Bryan Jackson, NSA Bethes-da MWR aquatic fitness managerand fitness trainer, to ask Lodmellto be an MWR scuba instructor.Jackson described Lodmell as a‘dive master’ since “he’s beenteaching scuba for 15 years.”

Jackson said he wanted an in-structor who would teach a longercourse for three weeks instead ofweekend courses, off base.

“All the classes off base wereweekend classes,” said Jackson.

“The instructors sent the studentsbooks for the course and theystudied all week. On Saturday, thestudents showed up to do class-room [work] for eight hours. Then,on Sunday, they went to the poolfor eight hours and they’re done.That was it.”

“I didn’t learn that way and Ihave never been a fan of that wayof teaching,” Jackson explained. “Imean, that’s not really my idea oflearning. When Joe came in to teachthe class, people just loved it,” saidJackson, smiling. “I said to Joe, ‘Aslong as you are willing to teach here,let’s continue [scuba courses].’”

For the past three years, Lod-mell has taught scuba diving atNSA Bethesda for active duty, de-pendents, Department of Defenseemployees and contractors everyTuesday and Thursday eveningstarting at 6 p.m. Students hearabout the course through Jackson,MWR events or emails.

“I got information from him,”said Air Force 2nd Lt. Logan Clem-ons, Uniformed Services Univer-sity of the Health Sciences (USU),pointing to Army 2nd Lt. DeanMiller, who was with Clemons. “Weare getting stationed in Hawaii.”

“That’s how I found out aboutthis course, too,” said Air Force2nd Lt. Armando Aguilera, USUstudent. “I’m also getting sta-tioned in Hawaii. I thought thiswould be a good time to learnscuba before I go.” Aguilera andMiller agreed.

While in class, students askquestions about assigned readingor the scuba experience. Lodmelleven reviews information not cov-ered in the book.

“You go down to Hawaii andyou sign up with a scuba shop

and you want to go on a dive trip,”said Lodmell. “You ask yourself,‘What’s my experience goingto be like? What should I thinkabout when I go on my first divetrip? How should I prepare? Whatshould I pack?’”

Lodwell added that studentsand instructors often discus thesequestions and other necessitiesfor a dive trip. He emphasized thatdivers should be rested, nourishedand hydrated before going on adive trip. Divers should also beaware of sea sickness because aboat ride to some dive spots couldtake a couple of hours.

“Once we’re done with classtime, we go to the pool and do thereal stuff,” said Lodmell. “The firstweek of class is for swim evalua-tion and some snorkeling skills.After that, students move right

into scuba: tanks, regulators,buoyancy compensator and all theway through.”

Before the students dive intothe water, each person checkstheir gear several times. Then, stu-dents and instructors check eachother’s gear. One by one, they stepoff the diving board and dive intothe pool. They surface and face theinstructors standing on the deck.As each diver takes one arm toform a half circle in order to placetheir fingertips on the crown,they signal that they’re okay andsubmerge deeper into the water.Finally, the instructors join themin the water. They have joined theranks of scuba divers worldwide.

“Being a scuba instructor is fan-tastic!” said Lodmell. “I tell my stu-dents on the first night about howexcited I am for them, because they

still get to see their first sea turtle!They still get to see their first shark!How exciting is that? I love to sharethose firsts with my students.”

According to Jackson, scubadiving can change your life as wellas your travel plans. It is not justanother hobby; rather, it becomesa lifestyle.

“When you become scuba cer-tified, every vacation after that be-comes a dive vacation,” said Jack-son. “You realize you spent thetime, the effort [and] the moneyto have the equipment. Now youget to explore this new world andyou want to take advantage of it asmuch as you can.”

For more information aboutMWR scuba courses, contact Bry-an Jackson at [email protected].

Just dive in! MWR scuba program introduces first-time divers to ocean wonders

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS ASHANTÉ HAMMONS

Air Force 2nd Lt. Armando Aguilera, left, dives into the pool as Army 2nd Lt. Dean Miller waits his turn to divein the Building 17 Fitness Center pool at Naval Support Activity Bethesda.

FROM DEFENSEMEDIA ACTIVITY

The United States Navy pro-moted Michelle Janine Howard tothe rank of four-star admiral July1 during a ceremony at the Wom-en in Military Service for AmericaMemorial at Arlington NationalCemetery.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Ma-bus presided over the ceremonyand administered the oath of of-fice.

Adm. Howard is the first fe-male four-star in the 238 year his-tory of the United States Navy.

“Michelle Howard’s promo-tion to the rank of admiral is theresult of a brilliant naval career,one I fully expect to continuewhen she assumes her new role asvice chief of naval operations, butalso it is a historic first, an eventto be celebrated as she becomesthe first female to achieve this po-sition,” said Mabus. “Her accom-plishment is a direct example ofa Navy that now, more than ever,reflects the nation it serves — anation where success is not borneof race, gender or religion, but ofskill and ability.”

“Michelle’s many trailblazing

accomplishments in her 32 yearsof naval service are evidence ofboth her fortitude and commit-ment to excellence and integ-rity,” said Chief of Naval Opera-tions Adm. Jonathan Greenert. “Ilook forward to many great thingsto come from the Navy’s newest

4-star Admiral!”Howard, the Deputy CNO for

Operations, Plans, and Strategy,will relieve Adm. Mark FergusonIII as the 38th Vice Chief of NavalOperations.

Howard is a 1978 graduate ofGateway High School in Aurora,

Colo. She graduated from theUnited States Naval Academy in1982 and from the Army’s Com-mand and General Staff Collegein 1998, with a Masters in MilitaryArts and Sciences.

Howard’s initial sea tours wereaboard USS Hunley (AS 31) andUSS Lexington (AVT 16). Whileserving on board Lexington, shereceived the Secretary of theNavy/Navy League Captain Win-ifred Collins award in May 1987.This award is given to one wom-an officer a year for outstandingleadership. She reported to USSMount Hood (AE 29) as chief en-gineer in 1990 and served in Op-erations Desert Shield and DesertStorm. She assumed duties asfirst lieutenant on board the USSFlint (AE 32) in July 1992. In Janu-ary 1996, she became the execu-tive officer of USS Tortuga (LSD46) and deployed to the Adriaticin support of Operation JointEndeavor, a peacekeeping effortin the former Republic of Yugo-slavia. Sixty days after returningfrom the Mediterranean deploy-ment, Tortuga departed on a WestAfrican training cruise, where theship’s Sailors, with embarkedMarines and U.S. Coast Guard

detachment, operated with thenaval services of seven Africannations.

She then took commandof USS Rushmore (LSD 47) onMarch 12, 1999, becoming thefirst African American woman tocommand a ship in the U.S. Navy.Howard was the commander ofAmphibious Squadron Sevenfrom May 2004 to September2005. Deploying with Expedition-ary Strike Group (ESG) 5, opera-tions included tsunami relief ef-forts in Indonesia and maritimesecurity operations in the NorthArabian Gulf. She commandedExpeditionary Strike Group Twofrom April 2009 to July 2010. In2009, she deployed to CENTCOMtheater, where she commandedTask Force 151, Multi-nationalCounter-piracy effort and TaskForce 51, Expeditionary Forces.In 2010, she was the MaritimeTask Force commander for BAL-TOPS, under 6th Fleet.

She was the 2011 USO MilitaryWoman of the Year, and the 2013NAACP Chairman’s Image Awardrecipient.

Navy promotes Michelle Howard to 4-Star Admiral

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY CHIEF MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST PETER D. LAWLOR

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, left, and Wayne Cowles, husband ofAdm. Michelle Howard, put four-star shoulder boards on Howard’s servicewhite uniform during her promotion ceremony at the Women in MilitaryService for America Memorial. Howard is the first woman to be promotedto the rank of admiral in the history of the Navy and will assume the du-ties and responsibilities as the 38th Vice Chief of Naval Operations fromAdm. Mark Ferguson.


and show some love to people whoare in the military and give theirlives to keep us safe,” said White, anative of Kingston, Jamaica. “Thiscouldn’t have gone better.”

JohnStone has been playing inthe national capital region formorethan a decade, and released theirdebut album, “Eyes Open,” in 2005.

WFR is scheduled to host anumber of other upcoming eventsat the Slip Inn, including AcousticNights, July 27 and Aug. 29, and aJazz Fest, Aug. 15. Other nearbyevents on the base include a “Mov-ie Under the Stars” night at theMarina Parking Lot on July 25, Op-eration Magic at the Bolling Club,Aug. 8, and Millie Jackson in con-cert at the Bolling Club, Aug. 30.

For country music fans, generaladmission and VIP tickets are nowon sale for the Little Big Town andCeeLo Green concert presented byFreedom Live at JBAB set for Sept.20. For prices and ticket informa-tion, visit www.freedomlivendw.com.

REGGAEn continued from 1

A crowd of fans pack the deck of the Slip Inn aboard Joint BaseAnacostia-Bolling (JBAB) for the annual Reggae Fest, July 18. Metro-area reggae band JohnStone performed original songs and covers ofother hits as part of the show sponsored by Warfighter and FamilyReadiness (WFR).

U.S. NAVY PHOTOS BY SHAWN MILLER

Alice Brinkley of Richmond, Virginia dances along to reggae music as John-Stone lead guitarist and vocalist Andre White gets the crowd going during theannual Reggae Fest at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB), July 18.

JohnStone guitarist Andre White plays roots-style reggae hits during theannual Reggae Fest at the Slip Inn aboard Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling,July 18. White said it was the band’s first show at JBAB as a group, al-though some of the members had played other events there previously.

BY SHAWN MILLERNDW PUBLIC AFFAIRS

For spouses and families ofactive duty and reserve Sailors,adjusting to a military routine re-quires a support network.

The Navy Family OmbudsmenProgram, a Navywide initiativeto improve mission readinessthrough family readiness, fulfillsthat role and helps to connectcommanding officers with familymembers of Sailors in their units.

“Ombudsmen are trained toassist Navy families to successful-ly navigate the unique challengesof the Navy lifestyle,” said PaulGrossman of the Naval DistrictWashington (NDW) Fleet andFamily Support Program (FFSP).“The service provided by anombudsman in support of Navyfamilies enables service membersto focus on mission readiness,knowing that their families havea reliable safety net.”

Ombudsmen are commandvolunteers who are spouses ofactive duty or selected reservemembers, Grossman explained.Once appointed, they serve as aliaison between the commandand other families, and regularlydistribute information to andfrom commanding officers andfamily members regarding health,morale and welfare.

Each ombudsman also has anappointed point of contact, whichis generally the command masterchief. The ombudsman shouldmeet monthly with their point ofcontact and commanding officer,

Grossman added.“This allows the command-

ing officer to be informed of anypotential issues within the com-mand so they can be correctedquickly,” he said. “This is also anopportunity for the commandingofficer to inform the ombudsman

of any events coming up that mayimpact the families, including ex-ercises or command family gath-erings.”

Beyond serving as an informa-tion hub, ombudsmen also offerreferrals for families and otherspouses, act as spokespersons

and often facilitate smoothertransitions for Sailors and fami-lies during permanent change ofstation (PCS) moves.

“A spouse may call the om-budsman looking for a job, need-ing an emergency babysitter, orwondering where they can board

a pet for the weekend,” saidGrossman about some of the ev-eryday issues ombudsmen helpsolve. “The ombudsmen havea strong network among them-selves. If there is a question or aneed that an ombudsman can’tanswer, they look to other om-budsmen or the ombudsman co-ordinator for assistance.”

Ombudsmen are also trainedin dealing with issues such assexual assault, domestic violence,child abuse, and suicide, Gross-man said. “It is rare an ombuds-man has to answer these calls, butthey are prepared if the time evercomes,” he added.

Ombudsmen coordinators arelocated at each Fleet and Fam-ily Support Center, and provideoversight of the program for eachinstallation. If a military spouseis interested in becoming an om-budsman, he or she should con-tact the local command masterchief.

The Navy Family OmbudsmanProgram was introduced in 1970by then-Chief of Naval Opera-tions Adm. Elmo Zumwalt, whoadapted the program from a 19thcentury Scandinavian custom de-signed to give private citizens anoutlet to express concerns to gov-ernment officials.

To learn more about the om-budsman program, visit http://1.usa.gov/1w0XQ0m. For morenews and information fromaround JBAB, visit www.facebook.com/jointbase.

Navy ombudsmen connect commands, families

COURTESY PHOTO

The Navy Family Ombudsman Program trains volunteer military spouses to act as liaisons between commandingofficers and families of Sailors. Ombudsmen communicate and distribute information to and from commands andfamilies on a variety of issues, such as health, morale and welfare.

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