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U. S. SUBMARINE VETERANS BREMERTON BASEP O Box 465, Silverdale, WA 98383-0465

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Gertrude Check: A universal navy term for requesting an underwater telephone check with another boat or skimmer .

Our purpose is: "Perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country...Lest We Forget: March

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Ens Joe Hanisko to USS Chancellorsville CG-62 as the Repair Officer(Posted: Mar 5, 2015) Submariner Joe Surfaces in Yoko. Vcdr Steve Corcoran Sends From: Steve Corcoran <stephenjcorcoran@gmail.com> Date:03/02/2015 16:38 (GMT-08:00) To: "J.C. Hanisko" <jchanisko@gmail.com> Cc: Subject: Re: Update

Outstanding Sir !! Great job, and thanks for the e-mail. I will forward to the e-board. Take care.

On Mon, Mar 2, 2015 at 6:14 AM, J.C. Hanisko <jchanisko@gmail.com> wrote:Hey Steve,

Wanted to pass the good word. I graduated from OCS this past Friday,February 27th, and was commissioned as an Ensign. I am currentlydown in San Diego where I will undergo 2 months of Basic DivisionOfficer training before reporting to USS Chancellorsville CG-62 as theRepair Officer. This summer this ship will change homeport toYokosuka, Japan.

Hope that everything is well up at the Bremerton Base. I’m planning onattending some meetings down here at the San Diego base. Alreadymade contact with them and asked for a ride as I don’t have a car here.

Best wishes, Joe Hanisko

PS Here’s a picture of me and my sister from after the ceremony in case you’d like to post it onGertrude Check.

A classic — the USS Bremerton — returns to namesake city By: Ed Friedrich | Kitsap Sun Posted: 4:46 PM, Feb 28, 2015

BREMERTON — USS Bremertonhas been commissioned longer thanany submarine in the Navy — butdon’t call it old.

“We’re a classic, like a 1967Mustang,” said Cmdr. WesBringham, the fast attack sub’saffable commanding officer.“We’re the most classic and themost classy.”

Pearl Harbor-based USSBremerton, commissioned 34 yearsago, arrived Wednesday morning atits namesake city for a weeklongvisit. It was last here in May 2012.

Several of its current crew members were aboard and remember being embraced by the city andNavy League chapter that adopted the boat in January 2011.

“We really value the relationship we have,” Bringham said. “When we come here, it’s almost likecoming to a second homeport.”

This week, the sub’s sailors will participate in a community relations project at Hal’s Corner, attenda crew function at McCloud’s Grill House, play a baseball game against Bangor-based USSNebraska crew members, and go to a mayor’s reception at City Hall. Read All with Video

Update on Bruce Loughridge(Posted Feb 28, 2015)\

Ralph Harris Sends:

Dutch and I went down. Had a good visit. Bruce was in good spirits and talking about coming homethe beginning of the week. Will have to get about a month of speech therapy. When he can eat anddrink again, he wants pizza and a beer. Told him we wanted to be with him for this great event. Said he would shoot for a soup down.

(Posted Feb 28, 2015)\

Welcome Aboard New Member Orville E Stoner Sr (Darter, Pasadena, Alabama)

Trident Deception Book Signing(Posted Feb 25, 2015)\ Bob Aronson Sends: Hello Everyone,

I thought I’d pass on information about a book signing event that you may be interested in. RickCampbell, author of The Trident Deception, is signing copies of his new book Empire Rising. Rick isa retired submariner and the books feature submarines and a lot of action. If you’d like to learnmore about Rick and his books, his website is http://www.rickcampbellauthor.com. He’s got a really nice section of the website called Submarine 101 that you may want to check outfor passing along. Great for non-dolphin wearers to learn a bit more about subs.

The book signing is at the Barnes & Noble in the Kitsap Mall on Saturday, 14 March at 2 p.m. He’dlove to meet NSL members, so try and stop by.

Thanks,Bob

Bob AronsonCAPT, USN (Ret.)President, Pacific Northwest ChapterNaval Submarine LeagueThe professional organization for submariners and submarine advocates

Base General Membership Breakfast Meeting Very Enjoyable(Posted Feb 22, 2015)

Photos by Dennis Nardone (Click for Big Picture)Opened with traditional ceremony. About 40 members and guests enjoyed a Saturday Morning Social meeting at the America LegionPost 149 (Bremerton), Feb 21st. We were hosted by members Doug and Allison McKay who put on a grand breakfast for all inattendance. Thank you, Doug and Allison. Then we got some laughs watching professional comic/magician Rick Anderson. His slight of handtricks with cards and napkins, were mixed with many comical comments he made, while bringingsome lady guests into the routine. Cdr Jim Demott and V Cdr Steve Corcoran made some brief general comments, words ofrecognition. Jim read a e-mail from life member Bruce Loughridge: "Just letting you guys know I'm going infor surgery Monday morning at Madigan. They are going to do a laryngectomy (larnix/ed) on mythroat. Hopefully it won't kill me. Won't be able to talk for awhile which will probably make a lotof people happy. Probably will be there a week." Bruce , keep up the fight!

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Stuff you won't see in the local fish wrapper

Rising Star in Navy Trying to Clear His NameNavy Deploys Drones Under Arctic Ice Ahead of Increased Ship PresenceUSS Thresher (SSN-593) (documentary)Admiral (Ret) James Lyons on Islam as a threat doctrineNavy Fires USS Mississippi Submarine Commander

Straight Talk on Forward PresenceGear to help you survive the first 24 hours after disaster strikesNavy's New Maritime Strategy Includes More Destroyers to Pacific

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The 34-year-old USS Bremerton, homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is visiting it’snamesake city this week

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BACK PAGE Issue/Date 20150302

AMERICAN SUBMARINERSU. S. SUBMARINE VETERANS BREMERTON BASE

P O. Box 465, Silverdale, WA 98383-0465Stuff you won't see in the local fish wrapper

Updated:March 03, 2015 05:41

Rising Star in Navy Trying to Clear His NameNavy Deploys Drones Under Arctic Ice Ahead of Increased Ship PresenceUSS Thresher (SSN-593) (documentary)Admiral (Ret) James Lyons on Islam as a threat doctrineNavy Fires USS Mississippi Submarine Commander

Straight Talk on Forward PresenceGear to help you survive the first 24 hours after disaster strikesNavy's New Maritime Strategy Includes More Destroyers to Pacific

Rising Star in Navy Trying to Clear His NameThe Virginian-Pilot | Mar 03, 2015 | by Dianna Cahn NORFOLK -- After completing commanding officer school last summer, Cmdr. Ed Handley traveled to Djibouti on his way back to theJames E. Williams.

Handley, who joined the Navy as a seaman, was about to reach the capstone of more than 30 years in uniform: command of a guided missiledestroyer.

He came highly recommended -- described by one of his bosses as a "superstar" and "one of our community's best and brightest."

But on Sept. 5, as Handley prepared to board the oiler that was to take him to his warship, orders came down to reverse course.

He didn't know it yet, but his time as executive officer aboard the Williams had come back to haunt him. By mid-October, he and two othersenior leaders on the ship -- the skipper he was about to replace, Cmdr. Curtis Calloway, and Command Master Chief Travis Biswell -- hadbeen found guilty of violations at commodore's mast, a nonjudicial punishment disciplinary hearing.

Handley is now fighting to clear his record, trying to get his punitive letter of reprimand rescinded, and hoping to resume his shot at command-- all of which would be a rare occurrence for an officer relieved of command for cause.

Handley declined to discuss the case, but his wife, Kate Handley, a retired chief petty officer, calls the proceedings against her husband deeplyflawed and says he is being held accountable for the climate on board the ship after he'd left.

"He can't speak out, but I can," she said. "My husband had a stellar 33-year career. [He was] days from reaching the pinnacle, and it's rippedfrom him and our family. This legal process has not been fair to us."

Handley was originally brought up on two charges, according to documents in his case, which was first reported by Navy Times. Capt. FredPyle, the commodore of Destroyer Squadron 2, acquitted him on one but found him guilty of dereliction of duty for failing to report a drunkenepisode by the command master chief, something that "jeopardized good order and discipline."

Kate Handley said the charges are unsubstantiated and the proceedings were unfair. Her husband's appeal, which included letters of supportfrom colleagues, was rejected by Pyle's boss, Rear Adm. Andrew Lewis, commander of Carrier Strike Group 12.

In a brief statement to the newspaper, Ed Handley said he believed that the nonjudicial punishment against him was initiated because ofunlawful command influence from senior leaders and not because the initial investigation called for it.

In an interview with The Pilot, Pyle said his determination to relieve Handley was based on a rigorous command investigation that foundsignificant leadership failures, and he made the decision to conduct a commodore's mast.

"We set conditions on board where sailors are treated with dignity and respect and there is a safe environment for sailors to work," Pyle said."There was not a climate of dignity and respect. There was not a climate of safety on board. There was a possibility of mission failure herebased on the climate on the ship."

Handley deployed with the ship when it left Norfolk in May but stayed aboard for just two days before his 14-month term as executive officerended. He left to attend prospective commanding officer school in Newport, R.I., and was scheduled to return in a few months to relieveCalloway.

Less than three weeks after Handley left the ship, a sailor committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills. Her death sparked a subsequentinvestigation into command climate, which found senior enlisted sailors had been abusive and corroded the crew's trust in them.

The report included an allegation that during a port call, in violation of military law against fraternization, several chiefs had sex with a juniorcrew member.

The investigation cited the three top leaders -- Calloway, Handley and Biswell -- for failing to change the corrosive climate.

Most of the incidents cited in the investigation occurred after Handley left or without his knowledge, his wife said.

The report said the sailor who committed suicide claimed retaliation after filing an equal opportunity complaint. Pyle charged Handley withrunning an ineffective equal opportunity program but didn't find him guilty on that.

It also detailed an allegation that Biswell had been seen drunk and shirtless at a bar in Norway during a multinational exercise.

The allegation, made by a sailor assigned to a different ship, wasn't handled formally, but Calloway eventually received an email about theincident. Read All ^ Navy Deploys Drones Under Arctic Ice Ahead of Increased Ship PresenceMilitary.com Mar 02, 2015 | by Kris Osborn

The Navy has deployed underwater drones beneath the ice in the Arctic Ocean to assess how quickly the ice is melting and understand howsoon the U.S. and Russia will be competing for strategic waterways in the region.

The drones are measuring the temperature and salt content to help scientists develop more accurate computer models with which to predict theanticipated future pace of melting ice, Martin Jeffries, science advisor to the Office of Naval Research, or ONR, told Military.com.

The Navy's unveiled its Arctic Road Map that explains how increasing water temperatures and decreasing ice layers mean the service will needto increase the number of ships in the region over the next 20 years, Jeffries told Military.com.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent aggressive stance in Ukraine has added to the urgency of this research as the Russian navy also hasplans to increase their presence in the region. More Arctic Ocean waterways mean quicker and more prevalent routes for Russian ships toNorth America. Read All ^ USS Thresher (SSN-593) (documentary)Published on Oct 2, 2014

The second USS Thresher (SSN-593) was the lead boat of her class of nuclear-powered attack submarines in the United States Navy. Herloss at sea in the North Atlantic during deep-diving tests approximately 220 miles east of Boston, Massachusetts, on 10 April 1963 was awatershed event for the U.S. Navy, leading to the implementation of a rigorous submarine safety program known as SUBSAFE. Judging bythe 129 crew members and shipyard personnel who were killed in the incident, historic context and significance, the sinking of Thresher wasthen, and remains today, the world's worst submarine disaster. As the first nuclear submarine lost at sea, its disappearance generatedinternational shock and sympathy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhPHCpeuLOg ^

Admiral (Ret) James Lyons on Islam as a threat doctrine

Read more at http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bc0_1423721020#9YSostkQtIlkeH3v.99 ^

Navy Fires USS Mississippi Submarine CommanderHonolulu Advertiser | Feb 28, 2015 | by William Cole

The commanding officer of the Pearl Harbor-based Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS Mississippi was relieved of his duties Friday dueto a loss of confidence in his ability to command, the Navy said.

Cmdr. Tory Swanson was removed from his position by Capt. Harry Ganteaume, commander of Submarine Squadron 1. A commandinvestigation into the circumstances leading to Swanson's relief is ongoing, the Navy said.

Cmdr. Brook DeWalt, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet submarine force, said he was limited in what he could say, but that the removal"was a matter of professional nature -- not a personal transgression or anything like that. It's issues revolving around operational decision-making." Read All ^

Straight Talk on Forward Presence | U.S. Naval InstituteBy Captain Robert C. Rubel, U.S. Navy (Retired) Here's what leaders and planners should do in an atmosphere of high demand and lower numbers of ships. In autumn 2014, the USS Carl Vinson(CVN-70) carrier strike group departed on a scheduled ten-month deployment. And the USS Harry S.Truman (CVN-75) will begin a cruise almost six months earlier than planned because of unanticipated delays in the USS Dwight D.Eisenhower (CVN-69) overhaul. These two events are just the latest illustrations of what has been happening to the U.S. Navy in recentyears. Combatant-commander demand for forward-deployed naval forces has been unremitting, while the number of ships available to deployhas been steadily shrinking. The Navy has been making up the difference through longer and more frequent deployments and deferredmaintenance. Now, the Department of Defense has begun to recognize that this state of affairs cannot continue. Deputy Secretary of DefenseRobert Work recently said that we are going from a demand-side model . . . to a supply-side model in which we are setting forces out thatkeeps the balance between readiness and the surge and forward presence, and then dynamically tasking it across the world.

The good news for the Navy is that DOD leadership recognizes the problem and seems prepared to make the hard decisions required to takethe burden of a mismatch between mission and forces available off the backs of sailors. That said, DOD and Navy planners are facing seriouspolitical pitfalls as they calculate and manage risk when they attempt to implement policy and strategy with smaller forces and less frequentpresence, at least in certain areas. A hint of this can be detected in Secretary Works phrase dynamically tasking.; Perhaps a clearunderstanding of what this means lies within the cipher-locked offices of the Pentagon, but the danger is that reduced forward-presenceposture strategy will be based on euphemisms. Minimum credible deterrence; is another term that has been floating around. What does itmean? Can it be calculated? Some straight talk on forward presence is needed now to help ensure that well-meaning but fuzzy thinking doesnot lead to defective risk management.

From the start of the Cold War until today, the United States has pursued a consistent maritime strategy: ring Eurasia with sea power to deter,contain, and help defeat aggression, provide options for national leadership during crises, reassure allies and friends, and generally support theglobal system of commerce and security. It was one thing to execute this strategy with 1,000 ships (1950s) or even 500 or 350. It is quiteanother to attempt it with 280. However, not executing the strategy would portend a fundamental shift in the geopolitical environment; one notfavorable for the United States. If Congress were smart, it would ensure the Navy could maintain a force level adequate to execute thisstrategy with capable ships, say, 320 minimum. Read All ^

Gear to help you survive the first 24 hours after disaster strikesBy Allison Barrie | Published February 26, 2015 | FoxNews.com If disaster struck, how would you survive the first 24 hours?

A new, lightweight, rugged kit contains key tools that would certainly give you an advantage.

Taurus has created a solution to improve your chances in pretty much any crisis you could encounter; from a natural disaster to a zombieapocalypse. The First 24 Kit contains smart components to help people survive the first 24 hours of any crisis and make their way to safety.

The kit includes: a revolver, a knife, a flashlight, emergency signals, fire starter kit, a compass, some 550 Para cord, as well as a battery caddyand batteries � all contained in a robust, practical case.

Revolver

So many judges carry this revolver for self-protection into the courtroom that this weapon is known as the �Taurus Judge.� It chambersboth 45 Colt Ammunition for longer distances and .410 2-1/2" shotshell for short distances. As the company says, this "Taurus Judge is onedecision-maker that lays down the law.�This compact has a matte stainless steel finish and weighs 29 ounces. It is fully customized with fiber optic front sights, fixed rear sights andthe Taurus �Ribber Grips.� The barrel length is 3 inches and it has five round capacity.

The Taurus Judge also features the Taurus Security System designed to provide instantaneous defense. There�s also the option of simplyturning a key to render the pistol inoperable. In this mode, the pistol is secured and cannot be fired or cocked � even the gun's manual safetycan�t be disengaged.

Knife

The CRKT Sting Survival Knife, crafted by knife legend A. G. Russell, and customized by Aimpro Tactical, is a fixed blade tactical knife withtwo edges.

The 3.197-inch blade starts out as alloy, similar to that used in Samurai swords, but is then amped up even more by hot forging and precisiongrinding into its final, nearly indestructible, form. For corrosion resistance, a black non-reflective powder coat finish is added. The handle isalso hot forged 1050 carbon steel.

The handle is contoured for a comfortable fit for both gloved and bare hands. It weighs 3.9 ounces, and when the blade is open, the length is6.85 inches.

It comes with a custom nylon-stitched reinforced sheath and a strapping option for gear or a clip for belt, pack or boot attachment.

The knife is a smart choice for a survival kit. �Strap it down and take it into any situation. It's ready to battle with any environment,� saysCRKT.

Flashlight

Brite Strike�s EPLI (Executive Precision Lighting Instrument) flashlight won the NRA�s 2013 American Hunter Gear of the Year �enough said.

It looks like one of those expensive pens seen in boardrooms, but it functions as a water and shock-proof sate of the art flashlight.

Crafted from high-grade aircraft aluminum with a graphite-anodized finish, the EPLI is a slim, just over five-inch long, penlight.

The low setting is just right for your average camp needs. Its special design produces a very bright beam that creates light similar to naturaldaylight.

But in the event of danger, the third setting can emit a blinding strobe to help deflect the threat.

The strobe setting can also be used to set an SOS. It takes standard AAA batteries and uses state-of-the-art power management to maximizelight duration to more than six hours on lo mode. Read all ^ Navy's New Maritime Strategy Includes More Destroyers to PacificFeb 26, 2015 | by Kris Osborn | military.com U.S. Navy leaders' plans to forward deploy two more destroyers to Japan and base another attack submarine in Guam appear to be part of anew maritime strategy expected to be released by the Navy next month.

While most of the details of the new strategy for the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard will not yet be discussed by Navy officials, the effortdoes include a new examination of the sea-services' ability to forward deploy and project power in global hotspots such as the Pacific theaterand Middle East.

"The sea services have updated the maritime strategy in response to changes in the global security environment, new strategic guidance and achanged fiscal environment," said Lt. Timothy Hawkins, a Navy spokesman, told Military.com.

The new maritime strategy, called "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower: Forward Engaged Ready," will provide acomprehensive overview and build upon Navy priorities such as the need for deterrence, Hawkins explained.

"The principles of our maritime strategy largely remain the same from 2007. It continues to prioritize and value forward presence whileemphasizing the continued need for the primary functions of a maritime service which are � deterrence, power projection, sea-control andmaritime security," he said.

While Navy officials did not specify whether the new strategy takes up the issue of the Pentagon's Pacific rebalance, officials toldMilitary.com that the document does address the challenges maritime forces face when it comes to accessing and operating in more"contested" environments.

Regarding the Pacific rebalance, Hawkins did re-iterate that the Navy plans to base as much as 60-percent of its fleet in the Pacific region by2020. Read All ^ Three-Way Race For Lucrative Australian Submarine ContractRob Taylor, Wall Street Journal, Feb 20

Submarine builders from Germany and France to compete with Japan for defense contract.

BRISBANE, Australia � Submarine builders from France and Germany will vie with Japan for a contract to supply a new submarine fleet forAustralia�s navy worth at least A$20 billion (US$15.59 billion), Australia�s government said Friday, hoping to end controversy aboutwhether it had already struck a secret deal with Japan.

Australia�s Defense Minister Kevin Andrews said all three countries had emerged as potential international partners for one of Asia�slargest coming military contracts, with Australia requiring new conventional submarines that would at least match the range of its current agingfleet of six Collins submarines.

�France, Germany and Japan will be invited to participate in this competitive evaluation process that will assess their ability to partner withAustralia to develop a Future Submarine that meets our capability requirements,� Mr. Andrews told journalists in Melbourne, leavingSweden�s SAAB out of contention.

International partners would also be required to seek opportunities for Australian industry participation in the Future Submarine Program, Mr.Andrews said, reacting to criticism the conservative government hasn't done enough to protect endangered local shipbuilding jobs.

�The competitive evaluation process will take around 10 months, after which an international partner will be selected for Australia�s FutureSubmarine Program,� he said, meaning a decision will come at the end of this year after publication of a new defense strategy blueprint inJune.

Despite speculation in Australian media that Japan�s Soryu, or Blue Dragon, is the favorite after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe andAustralia�s Tony Abbott last year agreed to strengthen security and trade ties, the announcement on Friday could favor European builderslike Germany�s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, or TKMS, and French defense giant DCNS.

The new submarines would be equipped with a combat system and heavyweight torpedo jointly developed between the U.S. and Australia asthe preferred combat system and main armament, Mr. Andrews said. That would pose a challenge to Japan�s indigenous submarineindustry, which has so far been unused to working with international partners and systems.

The Soryu is the world�s largest diesel-electric submarine, jointly built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesLtd. German submarine builder TKMS has also offered 12 of its unproven Type 216, while French naval builder DCNS is offering aconventional version of its Barracuda nuclear submarine.

Among the issues that have hurt Mr. Abbott�s popularity is his about-turn on an election promise to build a new fleet of 12 conventionalsubmarines in Australia, to help protect thousands of local shipbuilding jobs. Many of the jobs are in the state of South Australia, which isalready suffering after major car companies closed in 2013.

Australia�s government is urgently looking to replace its aging fleet of six Collins-class submarines, which have been plagued by reliabilityand noise problems since their 1996 introduction. Submarines are at the heart of Australia�s plans to beef up its military capabilities, drivenby worries over Chinese territorial disputes with its neighbors. ^ John P. Craven, Scientist Who Shaped Cold War Spying At Sea, Dies At 90William J. Broad, New York Times, Feb 19

John P. Craven, a former Navy scientist whose innovations in ocean technology and exploration led to some of the nation�s most celebratedfeats of espionage, died on Feb. 12 in Hawaii. He was 90.The cause was complications of Parkinson�s disease, his family said.

From 1959 to 1969, as chief scientist of the Special Projects Office, Dr. Craven led the Navy�s drive to expand its presence into thecrushing depths of the sea. Among other things, he turned submarines into spy machines that could reach down miles to inspect and retrievelost enemy mat�riel, including nuclear arms.

Dr. Craven liked to regale friends and journalists with as much of his personal history in the Navy as the nation�s secrecy laws would allow,resulting in books and articles that sought to illuminate his Cold War exploits.

�There�s a hell of a lot of stuff that went on,� he said in an interview in 1993 on the front porch of his home overlooking Honolulu. Afterall, he added philosophically, �the whole object of life is to adapt.�John Pi�a Craven was born on Oct. 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, coming from a long line of naval officers on his father�s side and a family thatreached back to Moorish pirates on his mother�s. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School and joined the Navy during WorldWar II, serving in Hawaii and earning two battle stars before he was sent to Cornell University for officer training.

After the war, under the G.I. Bill, he studied at the California Institute of Technology and the University of Iowa, where he met his futurewife, Dorothy Drakesmith, and received a doctorate in mechanics and hydraulics. Years later he received a law degree from GeorgeWashington University and became an expert on seabed legalities.

Dr. Craven�s naval career began in 1951, when, as a civilian, he investigated how to improve ships and submarines. He was promotedquickly after correctly predicting and helping to fix a structural problem with the Navy�s first nuclear-powered submarine, the Nautilus.

Dr. Craven was project manager for developing the Polaris, the world�s first intercontinental ballistic missile that could be fired from asubmerged submarine. It underwent test firing in 1960 and was in service for decades.

The Navy was eager to restore the nation�s confidence in its deep-sea abilities after the new attack submarine Thresher sank in 1963 duringa test dive east of Boston because of a mechanical failure, taking 129 lives. Officials gave Dr. Craven and his special-projects team leeway to devise a wide range of undersea gear for search, rescue, salvage andgathering intelligence from the sunless depths.

In 1965, he selected the nuclear submarine Halibut for conversion into an innovative spy sub, filling the vessel with electronic, sonic,photographic and video gadgets. Hovering beneath the waves, invisible to adversaries, the sub could lower a long cable heavy with lights,cameras and other gear for deep reconnaissance, recovery and manipulation. It was a technological first that begot a new kind of espionage.

Among the targets were ships, planes and spacecraft lost at sea, as well as functioning equipment, like undersea cables and listening devices.To build support for his top-secret endeavors, Dr. Craven met with senior Pentagon officials, showing them classified photographs of Sovietwarheads buried in muck on the seabed.

In March 1968, a rich new target materialized when a Soviet missile submarine bearing code books, encryption gear and nuclear arms sank inthe central Pacific. By all accounts, Dr. Craven and the spy sub located the wreckage more than three miles beneath the sea�s surface.

That May, the nuclear-powered attack submarine Scorpion vanished in the Atlantic with 99 men on board. Dr. Craven scrutinized recordingsfrom undersea microphones, found evidence of explosions, and drew on his knowledge of math and statistics to pinpoint the spot where thesubmarine was most likely to have sunk. Search teams discovered the Scorpion�s wreckage at a depth of nearly two miles.

The undersea fleet that Dr. Craven helped devise included the Navy�s NR-1, a nuclear submarine with crablike claws; the DeepSubmergence Rescue Vehicle, a cylindrical craft designed to evacuate up to 24 people at a time from a crippled submarine; and the bathyscaphTrieste, a vessel his team improved, which investigated the sunken Scorpion.

Dr. Craven twice received the Distinguished Civilian Service Award, once from the Navy and once from the Department of Defense.

After Richard M. Nixon won the presidential election in 1968, Dr. Craven, convinced that the new administration would have no room for anoutspoken Democrat, left the Navy and took a teaching post at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1970, lured to Hawaii by itsgovernor, he was named dean of marine programs at the University of Hawaii and the state�s marine affairs coordinator.

The spy sub he devised made one of its greatest coups shortly after he left the Navy. In 1971, the Halibut stole into the Sea of Okhotsk northof Japan, found a telecommunications cable used by Soviet nuclear forces and succeeded in tapping its secrets. The mission, code-named IvyBells, was so secret that a vast majority of the submarine�s sailors had no idea what they had accomplished. The success led to a concealedworld of cable-tapping.

In 1974, Dr. Craven founded the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii, a state research center that investigated how to make electricity byexploiting the temperature difference between the Earth�s warm surface and cold water from the ocean�s depths.

Dr. Craven�s naval career has been profiled in several books. He recounted his own story in 2001 in �The Silent War: The Cold WarBattle Beneath the Sea.� In its prologue, he says he wrote the book to honor men whose sacrifices might otherwise go unacknowledged.

Dr. Craven is survived by Dorothy Drakesmith Craven, his wife of 64 years; a son, David; a daughter, Sarah Craven; and five grandchildren.

Once, at his Hawaiian laboratory, Dr. Craven described an energy project in terms that echoed his own life. �It seemed,� he said, �likeperpetual motion.� ^ From the Deckplates - The Paramount Duty of Us All | U.S. Naval InstituteProceedings Magazine - February 2015 Vol. 141/2/1,344By Senior Chief Jim Murphy, U.S. Navy (Retired) Countless writers, bloggers, and speakers are concerned with military policy and readiness. This column has sought to highlight overlookedissues, examine problems in different ways, and challenge generally accepted thought. The media, including this columnist, have coveredinstances in which changes in the military have been advertised as positive but have instead eroded the fighting spirit of the forces. We haveexamined examples of core leadership principles being ignored or discounted, authority being taken away from junior leaders whileexpectations were increased, bullies being allowed to serve too long, and lines between the ranks being blurred. Yet it seems that our combinedefforts have not resulted in changed minds or policy. A combination of decisions and indecision has resulted in a lack of trust in leadership,decreased morale among our forces, and a potential manpower crisis on the horizon.

In an article titled The Paramount Duty of the Army and Navy, Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske challenged service leaders to keep militaryissues in the foreground. If this be not done, the insistent requirements of business, society, and pleasure will monopolize the attention of thenation, military character will deteriorate, the martial spirit will be smothered, and this rich but unwieldy nation will meet disaster, through lackof martial power. Little has changed since his words appeared in the July August 1914 issue of Proceedings . While the armed forces remainvital to protecting this unwieldy nation, Congress and other senior leaders allow business, society, and pleasure to determine how and wherewe invest taxpayers money. Poor leadership and bad decisions smother the martial spirit of our fighting forces.

Congress today is fighting for acquisition programs that do not improve national defense. Two of the better known are annual, multi-milliondollar purchases of Abrams tanks the Army does not want or need, and recent efforts to force acquisition of a second engine for the F-35fighter, which then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates unnecessary and extravagant expense. Elected officials have a duty to protect interestsin their districts and opportunities for their constituents, but this duty does not supersede their obligation to act in the best interest of the nation.They argue that such purchases are vital to our national security, but in reality they are only important to the economy of their own regions. Invery real terms, members of Congress finance their own reelection campaigns with millions in wasted taxpayer dollars.

Another disturbing situation is the string of high-profile failures in judgment, sometimes professional but too often reflecting weak personalcharacter. One example of this is the prosecution of several military and civilian officials for the disclosure of classified information to andacceptance of bribes from Navy contractor Fat Leonard Francis.

Congress must renew its commitment to the principal responsibility of defending the Constitution and making decisions that are honestlynecessary for our national defense before its members seek to protect their personal interests. Continued acquisition of surplus equipment atthe expense of needed modernization or deficit reduction harms readiness and is bankrupting our nation. Members oath of office demandsbetter. Military leaders, veterans, and citizens must hold Congress accountable and speak out against exaggerated statements and self-servingspending. Senior military officials must make decisions based on readiness instead of social pressures, and must speak to Congress in morecompelling ways while respecting its oversight role. Citizens must call and write to elected and appointed officials to demand fiscalresponsibility and better leadership.

None of us can sit idly by and allow elected and uniformed leaders to financially and martially bankrupt our national defense. We must notforget yesterday&rsquo;s lessons lest they become tomorrow disaster. A hundred years after his article appeared, Admiral Fiske call remainsthe paramount duty of us all. Senior Chief Murphy retired from the Navy after 21 years of service. He is a contributing author to Everyday Leader Heroes. ^

The Military Retirement Systemmilitary.com If you are considering making the military a career � or you have already made that decision, and just want to know more about yourbenefits � then this will be of special interest to you.

This article looks at the current Military Retirement Systems and the choices facing most today's active duty members. The following is asummary of what you need to know regarding Military Retirement Systems: Military Retirement OverviewFactors That Determine Your PensionThe Similarities and Differences of Retirement SystemsThe Basis for Calculating Your Basic PayCalculating Retired PayThe MultiplierThe Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)The Bonus and the BIG Decision

Military Retirement Overview

The military retirement system is arguably the best retirement deal around. Unlike most retirement plans, the Armed Forces offer a pension,with benefits, that starts the day you retire, no matter how old you are. That means you could start collecting a regular retirement pension asearly as 37 years old. What's more, that pension check will grow with a cost of living adjustment each year.

Factors That Determine Your Retired Pay

However there are many factors that determine exactly how much your pension (technically a reduced payment for reduced service) will be.Over the past twenty five years, the government has made some significant changes to the military retirement system.

If you entered the service:

Prior to September 1980 you are eligible for the Final Pay retirement system.

Between September 8th, 1980 and August 1986 you are eligible for the High 36 system.

After August 1986 you are under the REDUX system, which means you have the option to choose either the High 36 retirement system, orthe Career Status Bonus/REDUX (CSB) retirement system. If you decline to make a choice you will automatically receive the High 36 retirement plan. Read details! ^ Road Show Scouts Female Submariners By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joe Bishop, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Capt. Rod Hutton, deputy commander for the Enlisted Women in Submarines Task Force, led the Enlisted Women inSubmarines Road Show to different military bases in the San Diego area Feb. 9-11.

The road show is spreading the word that the submarine force is now open to female enlisted Sailors from E-1 to E-8. Speakers discussedhow junior female Sailors could convert to rates in the submarine force and the type of candidates the force is seeking. In addition, theyprovided an insight of the lifestyle aboard submarines.

"Up until 21 January all the enlisted billets in the submarine force were previously closed to women," said Hutton. "That policy has nowchanged and there is an opportunity for our female Sailors to cross the fleet and conduct rating conversions into the submarine force."

Currently, more than 60 female officers are serving throughout the Navy's 76 submarines. They serve aboard guided-missile nuclearsubmarines (SSGN) and ballistic-missile nuclear submarines (SSBN). They are also slated to be integrated aboard the Virginia-class fast attacksubmarines (SSN).

In January, three officers reported aboard USS Minnesota (SSN 783), homeported in Groton, Connecticut. USS Virginia (SSN 774),homeported in Groton, will be integrated in calendar year 2015, and the Pearl Harbor, Hawaii-based USS Texas (SSN 775) and USSMississippi (SSN 782) will be integrated in Fiscal Year 2016. Read all & Check Comments! ^ Panetta to New Defense Secretary: Largest Challenge is DC DysfunctionMilitary.com Feb 15, 2015 | by Richard Sisk

New Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will officially take office Tuesday facing a growing list of global crises to include ISIS and Russia, buthis most pressing challenge will be the political gridlock at home, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Sunday.

"The total dysfunction in Washington" is "the greatest threat to national security," Panetta said on CNN's "State of the Union" program.

Panetta and former Defense Secretary Robert Gates have complained in books that they not only had to deal with the inability of Congressand the White House to get on the same page on defense issues, but also to contend with the tendency of the White House staff to"micromanage" the military.

Panetta expressed confidence that Carter could avoid the micromanagement. "I think the president would not have nominated him to beSecretary of Defense if he wasn't going to listen," Panetta said. But Carter will still have to depend on Congress and the White House reachingconsensus on a range of issues.

The 60-year-old Carter was expected to take the oath Tuesday at the White House as the nation's 25th defense secretary and Obama's fourthin six years.

He will then go to the Pentagon to outline his vision for the military in what will likely be less than two years as manager of the DefenseDepartment, as Obama makes way for a new president in early 2017.

However, Obama broke precedent in his first term by having Gates, who served as defense secretary under former President George W.Bush, stay on at the Pentagon.

Outgoing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel left the Pentagon for the last time on Friday after roaming the building to say goodbye, to include anoff-the-record session with Pentagon reporters. Hagel has said previously that he had no immediate plans for the future but will maintain anoffice near the Pentagon for a while to clear up paperwork.

Hagel was the only combat enlisted veteran to serve as defense secretary. He went to college on the GI Bill and served two terms as aRepublican senator from Nebraska.

Carter is a Yale graduate who holds a doctorate in physics from Oxford University. He has never served in the military and has never heldelective office. (No skin in the game/ed) Read All ^

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