Nimitz Five Star Report - June 2012

Volume 6, June 2012

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1–2 3 4 5–6 7

Grant me the courage not to give up what I think

CMC Teri McIntyre’s Message; Your Ombudsman Team Mailing Lithium Battery Restrictions; Mailing Address

is right even though I think it is hopeless.” ~Admiral Chester W. Nimitz~

Useful Information; Contact Information; Food Safety Tips Spiral of Deployment; Freedom Fest Youth Summer Camps

From the Command Master Chief CMDCM Teri McIntyre Good Day Team Nimitz. This month’s focus is Family Resilience and COMPASS.

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FAMILYGRAM 03-12 was released last week. THE NAVADMIN DISCUSSES TOOLS TO REGAIN BALANCE IN THE PRESENCE OF STRESS. NAVY'S 21ST CENTURY SAILOR AND MARINE INITIATIVE ENCOMPASSES FIVE FOCUS AREAS DESIGNED TO BUILD RESILIENCE AND WAR FIGHTING CAPABILITY IN OUR FORCE: READINESS, SAFETY, PHYSICAL FITNESS, INCLUSION, AND CONTINUUM OF SERVICE. IN THE NAVY, RESILIENCE IS DEFINED AS THE "CAPACITY TO WITHSTAND, RECOVER, GROW, AND ADAPT IN THE FACE OF STRESSORS AND CHANGING DEMANDS." THE FOLLOWING FOUR TOOLS PROVIDE TANGIBLE CHOICES TO IMPROVE YOUR RESILIENCE: A. MAINTAIN YOUR BODY FOR ITS UNIQUE OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE. B. DEVELOP POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS. C. MANAGE YOUR FINANCES. D. CONSIDER YOUR SPIRITUAL WELLNESS. Continued on page 2 Visit HTTP://WWW.FFSP.NAVY.MIL/ for more information.

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CMC’s Message: Continued from page 1

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COMPASS is a spouse-to-spouse mentoring program that introduces participants to all aspects of the military lifestyle. The program offers military spouses the opportunity to establish a peer network, acquire knowledge and develop skills necessary to successfully meet future challenges of military life.

The program was started by Rosemary Ellis, a Navy spouse, in the early nineties for submarine spouses, but quickly grew into a program for all Navy spouses.

COMPASS is a three day, 12-hour program with veteran spouses and a chaplain teaching seven separate classes.

The classes are: Navigating the Maze- Learning the benefits and services available to military member and their families Anchors Aweigh- Learning how to deal with deployments, separation and reunions Local Insights- Exploring the local community I$ that all there I$?- Learning some personal financial tips Changing Ports- Learning the moving process Getting Along- Learning healthy communication (Only course taught by a Chaplain) U.S. Navy- Learning about the history of the Navy as well as its traditions Visit compasseverett@nsfamilyline.org for more information.

Until next month, V/R CMC Teri McIntyre

Your Nimitz Ombudsman Team With the ship’s schedule this year being particularly vigorous, your ombudsman is an important resource to have. But who are these people and what exactly do they do?

Currently, the Nimitz has a team of three ombudsmen; Jeanine Neiman, Amy Cleghon and Lindsay Baldwin. We have been appointed by the Commanding Officer and are volunteer spouses of active duty sailors of the USS Nimitz. We are part of the chain of command and have the job of supporting the command mission by taking care of its families so the service members can focus on their jobs.

Our actions are guided by Navy Instruction (OPNAVINST 1750.1G) and a strict Code of Ethics. We are the information link between the Command and its families. A large part of our job is to disseminate official Department of the Navy and Command information up and down the chain of command. We are continually training to stay abreast of current issues affecting our families and resources we can use to help.

The ombudsman team has a close relationship with Fleet and Family Support Center and other Navy and local community agencies in order to provide families with information and appropriate resource referrals. The referrals we provide are in an effort to empower families to resolve issues on their own before they require command intervention. We cannot provide counseling, child care, transportation or money, but we refer to those who can.

To contact us, you may call 360-340-7040, email us at ussnimitzombudsman@yahoo.com, or find us on Facebook at USS Nimitz Ombudsmen. Our business hours are from 0900 to 2100, but we are available 24 hours for emergencies. When you contact us, you will be treated courteously and professionally and your call will remain confidential (unless you are reporting domestic violence, child abuse, a homicide or suicide). We do our best to answer calls as they come in, but, if we are unable to answer your call and you would like a return call, you must leave a voicemail. We will return your call as soon as possible. As always, it is our please to serve the Nimitz families!

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NAVSUP Announces Lithium Battery Mailing Prohibited by USPS

By Debbie Dortch, NAVSUP Corporate Communications MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (NNS) — Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP), which oversees Navy postal operations, announced May 11, it is providing guidance to the fleet about new United States Postal Service (USPS) prohibitions regarding lithium batteries.

According to the USPS announcement, beginning May 16, mail to or from APOs/FPOs are prohibited from containing lithium or products containing lithium. The prohibition also applies to international mail. The prohibition is in effect pending further USPS review of investigations for safety.

“Customers should understand that postal clerks at these locations have been instructed to question patrons and check customs labels for any declarations of lithium batteries or electronic equipment to determine whether lithium batteries are in the shipment,” said NAVSUP Navy Postal Subject Matter Expert Tom Rittle. “Upon identification of packages containing lithium batteries, customers will have the option to remove the batteries or not mail the package.”

The prohibition applies regardless of quantity, size, watt-hours, and whether the cells or batteries are packed in equipment, with equipment, or without equipment.

For more information about the prohibition, see USPS Postal Bulletin 22336 at http://about.usps.com/postalbulletin/2012/pb22336/pdf/pb22336.pdf.

The NAVSUP and Navy Supply Corps team share one mission-to deliver sustained global logistics capabilities to the Navy and Joint warfighter. NAVSUP/Navy Supply Corps’ diverse team of more than 25,000 civilian and military personnel oversee a diverse portfolio including supply chain management for material support to Navy, Marine Corps, joint and coalition partners, supply operations, conventional ordnance, contracting, resale, fuel, transportation, security assistance, and quality of life issues for our naval forces, including food service, postal services, Navy Exchanges, and movement of household goods.

The NAVSUP/Navy Supply Corps team forms a vast network of professionals who deliver unparalleled products and services to customers in the Fleet and across the world.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsup/.

Article source: http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=67116 Short URL: http://militaryfeed.com/?p=28435

Hearing rumors?

Call the Rumor Busters (Nimitz Ombudsmen) at 360340-7040!

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Important Contact Information Naval Hospital Bremerton

USEFUL INFORMATION NAVAL BASE KITSAP FLEET AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER (NBK FFSC): 1.866.854.0638

Tricare Regional Appointment Center: 1-800-404-4506

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY (NMCRS): www.nmcrs.org

Hospital Information Desk: 360-475-4000 Pharmacy Refills: 360-475-4217

NAVY LEGAL SERVICE (NLSO): www.jag.navy.mil

Primary Care Clinics: Family Medicine: 360-475-4379 Internal Medicine: 360-475-4206 Pediatrics: 360-475-4216 Link to Website or Visit NHB's Official Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/pages/NavalHospital-Bremerton/163929576969000

MILITARY ONE SOURCE: www.militaryonesource.com AMERICAN RED CROSS – NATIONAL: (877)272-7337 AMERICAN RED CROSS – BREMERTON :( 360)377-3761 SAFE RIDE TAXI - BDCC BREMERTON :( 360)782-2378 SAFE RIDE TAXI - YELLOW CAB: (206)622-6500

SPOUSES & FAMILIES: PLEASE HELP US “GET THE WORD OUT!” IF YOU KNOW A NIMITZ FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS NOT RECEIVING THE NIMITZ FIVE STAR REPORT MONTHLY NEWSLETTER, FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS COPY WITH THEM. PLEASE REMIND THEM TO CONTACT US VIA EMAIL AT USSNIMITZOMBUDSMAN@YAHOO.COM AND ASK TO BE ADDED TO OUR DISTRIBUTION LIST! THIS EMAIL TREE IS ALSO HOW WE IMMEDIATELY DISTRIBUTE IMPORTANT UPDATES FROM THE CO TO OUR NIMITZ FAMILIES. PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE THE SAILOR’S NAME & RATE SO WE CAN VERIFY ELIGIBILITY.

FOOD SAFETY TIPS FOR SUMMER MONTHS Follow food safety precautions to help protect you and your guests from food borne illness.

Food borne illnesses tend to increase during the summer months for two reasons. One reason is that bacteria tend to multiply faster when it’s warm. Another reason is that people are cooking outside more, away from the refrigerators, thermometers and washing facilities of a kitchen. The United States Department of Agriculture has several simple guidelines for cooking outdoors and grilling food safely: • Purchase cold food like meat and poultry last • Thaw meat and poultry before grilling • Marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the counter • Keep food cold when carrying it to another location • Keep everything clean; bring water for preparation and cleaning • Precook food partially in the microwave, oven or stove to reduce grilling time • Cook food to a safe minimum internal temperature to destroy harmful bacteria • Keep cooked meats hot by setting them to the side of the grill rack • Transfer food to a clean platter when taking it off the grill • Refrigerate leftovers promptly in shallow containers, or place on ice in a cooler if you’re grilling away from home (From Naval Hospital Bremerton)

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Deployment Readiness Part Five: The Emotional “Spiral” of Deployment—Stage 5 In our February edition of the Nimitz Five Star Report, we started a series discussing the Emotional Spiral of Deployment with a focus on Stage One, Anticipation of Departure. This month we will be looking at Stage Five, Anticipation of Homecoming.

From the OBT Manual: Stage 5: Anticipation of Homecoming Time Frame: Homecoming preparation begins at different times for those at home and those on deployment. It also depends on the length of the deployment. Typically, it is about four to six weeks before the command is due to return home.

Emotion/behaviors: For couples, spouses and partners who remained at home realize that they have not finished everything they wanted to do during the separation. There is a feeling of joy and excitement in anticipation of being together again. Feelings of apprehension surface as well at the prospect that the service member may not like some of the changes and decisions made during their absence. Service members in the relationships are excited and anxious, too, wondering if they will be accepted or needed by their families and if their children will remember them. Younger children will take their cues from their caregiver. Older children may have similar feelings as their parents. They will be excited, joyous and may feel anxious if they believe they did not live up to their deployed parent’s expectations.

It is normal to have mixed feelings during this stage of deployment. Your ombudsman team has additional information on reunions and homecoming. Please reach out to us for these resources.

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