Team Nimitz Family Connections
Issue One In the FRG Spotlight. . .
The last year or so has been a time of semi-shore duty for us Nimitz families. We have been able to have our Sailors in the same time zone, which has been a lovely luxury indeed! Now, they are gearing up to train for their mission, to deploy. They will soon be pulling out of port, drilling and preparing for the upcoming deployment. Our Sailors use this time before the Big D to prepare for nearly anything and everything that they may encounter. It is an amazing thing to accomplish, to have so many Sailors; so many moving parts all working to one goal. While we may miss them, we have incredible pride in watching them excel with these evolutions, and along with this pride does come the realization, that much like the ship and it‘s Sailors; we must also prepare. The saying goes ―an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure‖, and this is very true when it comes to thriving during work ups, fast cruises, under-way periods and deployments. By preparing for any and all issues that may come up, you will find that there is less stress when they are gone. And thats what the FRG is here to help with! We have included a pre-deployment check list for you and your Sailor. Please take some time to go over this. Going through the check list now will help you to feel ready for the months to come. Each time they go out, evaluate your list and feel free to add to it and above everything; have these conversations with your Sailor. By the time the actual deployment is here, you can at least have those worries put to rest. Experience has shown us that money issues, ID cards/Base Decals, having a valid Power of Attorney, and communication
2012 Jan 05 U p c o m i n g E v e n t s!
expectations are the concerns that tend to cause the most stress among our families.
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Most importantly, in terms of communications, please be realistic and understand that there will be times that you may not hear from your Sailor. It is frustrating yes, but internet connections go down, sometimes they won‘t be near cellular phone towers, and at all times they will be extremely busy with the task at hand. One term that you may hear often is ―River City‖. It is simply another way to say that the ship is not allowing communication for a period of time during an exercise. It is not meant to hamper your ability to communicate with your Sailor. It is a tool that the ship will use for a variety of situations and is ultimately done with the safety of the Sailors or the mission in mind. In case of a true emergency, please reach out to the Ombudsmen team ( 360-340-7040 and via emailussnimitz ombudsman@yahoo.com). Another important thing to keep in mind is that the ship can be quite limited in being able to send Sailors home during an out to sea period, so be sure that you are aware of this detail when speaking with the Ombudsmen. We do have a great Helping Hands Team in place to help with some issues; such as driving high risk pregnancy patients to their appointments, meals for after a surgery, etc… This team is always in need of volunteers, so no matter which side of the sound you reside on; email us at teamnimitz@yahoo.com to sign up! Team Nimitz is here for you as we make the transition to Everett and beyond. This year will be filled with challenges, but along with those challenges comes with great opportunity to support your Sailor and thrive in this life that we call Navy!
TeamNimitz ContactInformation
What is a Power of Attorney? In a ―power of attorney‖ you
give another person (called your ―agent‖ or ―attorney-in-fact‖) the legal authority to act in your place and on your behalf in your absence. Every act your agent does within the authority granted in the document is legally binding upon you. Types of Power of Attorney: 1.General Power of Attorney: A general power of attorney provides your agent with all the power you possess to act with respect to any matter. It allows your agent the power to do all the things you could do yourself, such as sell or mortgage a home; deposit and withdraw money from accounts; borrow and sign contracts. E-3 and below requesting a general power of attorney will need to be escorted by a Chief Petty Officer.2.Special Power of Attorney: A special, or limited, power of attorney authorizes your agent to do a certain specified act, such as ship household goods or sell an automobile. If a special power of attorney can possibly accomplish your needs, it is advisable to give it rather than the general power of attorney. NIMITZ Legal Department (2-103-3-Q) offers this free legal service onboard. As with all services, please bring your ID card. Hours of operation In port: 0830-1030 At Sea: 0830-1030
Pre-Deployment Check
List
(Please print this out to check off and email us if you have questions!) OMBUDSMAN and SPOUSE SUPPORT GROUP: _____Do you know your Ombudsman‘s name and phone number? _____Does the Ombudsman have your spouse correct address and phone number? _____Do you know about the Spouse Support Group? _____Are you signed up to get the newsletter? SERVICE RECORD: _____Verify Page 2 _____Next of Kin up-to-date? _____ID Card in good repair? _____All dependents listed on Page 2? _____Dependents ID Cards to last through deployment? _____Family members on DEERS? _____BAQ/VHA verified? _____Insurance beneficiary is correct _____Dependent Care Plan up-to-date?
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DISBURSING RECORD: _____Pay issues resolved? _____Is there a Direct Deposit? Approximate amount? Bank Name:_____________________________ Bank Phone: ____________________________ _____Are there Allotments? Type/Recipient/Amount _____________________________ _____Do you know your spouses Social Security Number? _____Is your spouses Emergency Data Page in their Service Record, current and correct? _____Last verified on ______ _____Next of Kin _________________________ _____Next of Kins Address:_________________________ _____Have you arranged for paperwork for an ID card for any child who will turn 10 before the service member returns? _____ Where is that paperwork located? _____________________ EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION: Discuss the following: _____American Red Cross _____Command Chaplains Assistance Team _____Needed information given to family (spouse, parents, in-laws, etc.) _____Name: _________________________ Rate/Rank: ___________________ USS NIMITZ CVN68 FPO, AP 96620-2820 FAMILY COMMUNICATION: _____Have you reached an agreement on frequency of letter-writing? _____Does your loved one know the complete ships address? Rate/Rank Name ____________________________ Division: _________________ Department: ______________ USS NIMITZ CVN68 FPO, AP 96620-2820 _____Have your children been included in discussions on where the ship is going? _____When will the ship leave? ________________ _____When will the ship return home? ___________ _____Why is the ship going? _____________________ Deployment calendar/map made: ___________ VEHICLE: _____Is the car in good repair and ready to be for use over the deployment or to be stored? _____If the car is to be used, has its care been discussed? _____If the title/registration is not in both individuals‘ names, a Special Power of Attorney is needed. _____Last oil change was done at__________ miles. _____Next oil change should be done at __________ miles. _____Where to have the service work done:_____________ Address: ____________________________ Phone: _________________ _____If stored, where? _______________________ _____How will storage fees be paid? _______________ HOUSING: _____Does your spouse know what to do or who to call if something in your home breaks? _____Military Housing trouble desk: _______________ _____Electrician: _______________ _____Plumber: _______________ _____Carpenter: ________________ _____Washer/Dryer repair? _______________ _____Heating/Cooling repair? _______________ _____Appliance repair? _______________ _____Lawn mower repair? _______________ _____Will you be moving PCS during deployment? ______ IMPORTANT PAPERS: _____ Organize all important/legal papers in one place _____ Adoption Papers/Birth Certificates _____ Budget _____ Car Titles _____ Divorce Decrees _____ Family Information Guide _____ Insurance Papers _____ Loan Papers _____ Marriage License _____ Mortgage _____ Power of Attorney _____ Will FINANCIAL: _____How much will you have to spend onboard the ship? Amount $__________________ _____Split Pay Option Established? ______ _____Budget prepared? _____Bills organized and payments planned? _____Car _____Credit Cards _____Rent _____Storage/Garage _____Utilities _____Phone _____Pre-approved loan authorization at Navy Relief?
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LEGAL ISSUES: _____Have you and your spouse made your wills? _____Are the wills current and in a convenient place? _____Date that the wills were last reviewed ________ _____Have you discussed a Power of Attorney? _____Do you need a Special Power of Attorney to sign any income tax forms or to cash a tax return check? _____ Where is the Power of Attorney located? ____________ HOME SAFETY/SECURITY: _____Have you given your home a safety/security checkup? _____Do all window locks work? _____Do all the windows open or are they painted shut? _____Do all the door locks work? _____Have you secured the outside buildings? _____Do you know the combinations or have the keys for ALL LOCKS? _____Does the smoke detector/fire alarm work? Batteries changed? _____Do you have a fire extinguisher in your home? _____Has the family practiced earthquake/fire drills? MISCELLANEOUS: _____Do you understand what the Ombudsman, Command Chaplains Assistance Team, Navy Family Service Center, Red Cross, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Chaplain, etc., can to for you and you and when to contact them? _____Do you have emergency numbers where you can contact the above agencies quickly? _____Have you reached an agreement on frequency of letter-writing? _____Do you know your spouses complete ships address? _____Have you located all important family documents in one place?
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Well, it‘s the time again Nimitz Families! With the excitement of the Homeport Change, also brings the reality that our loved ones will soon begin a very hectic underway/workup schedule, which will eventually lead to a deployment at the end of the year. So what better time than now to refresh our understanding of the do's and the don‘ts of Operational Security!
Within the Navy, the odds of making it through a deployment without hearing ‗Loose Lips Sink Ships‘ are improbable. Though the slogan is old, it is widely popular, and still embodies the basic principle of Operational Security. Some may not know it, but we all play crucial roles in ensuring our loved ones' safety just by what we know of the military's day-to-day operations. We can protect our loved ones by protecting the information in which we know. This is known in the military as, "Operational Security", or as we like to call it,
OPSEC.
OPSEC is keeping potential adversaries from discovering critical Department Of Defense information. As the name suggests, it protects US operations planned, in progress and those completed. OPSEC is a multi-faceted concept that strives to prevent the inadvertent compromise of sensitive or classified activities, capabilities and or intentions. Examples of Violating OPSEC/PERSEC • Your sailor‘s exact location overseas. • Any information on command movements – this includes any movement while they are deployed, in transit to/from. • Do not ever give dates of departure or homecoming and do not post countdowns
online. • Do not • Do not • Do not • Do not
discuss discuss discuss discuss
future destinations or ports of call, and or ops or mission. Readiness issues. specific training equipment. names and billets in conjunction with operations.
Helpful Tips • Be vague about your personal information on the Internet. • Do not give out your sailor‘s name and rank. • Be very careful how you display your patriotism; shirts, bumper stickers or any kind of fashion that states you have a loved one overseas. OPSEC: A systematic, proven process by which a government, organization, or individual can identify, control, and protect generally unclassified information about an operation/activity and, thus, deny or mitigate an adversary's/competitor's ability to compromise or interrupt said operation/activity (NSC 1988). 2. OPSEC is a process of identifying critical information and subsequently analyzing friendly actions attendant to military operations and other activities to (a) identify those actions that can be observed by adversary intelligence systems, (b) determine indicators adversary intelligence systems might obtain that could be interpreted or pieced together to derive critical information in time to be useful to adversaries, and select and execute measures that eliminate or reduce to an acceptable level the vulnerabilities of friendly actions to adversary exploitation (DOD JP 1994; JCS 1997).
If you have any questions or concerns in regards to a possible OPSEC violation, or want further clarification on OPSEC/PERSEC, please contact your FRG team or any Team Nimitz Ombudsman.
Helpful
Resources!
USS NIMITZ Ombudsmen Ombudsmen are volunteers, appointed by the commanding officer, to serve as an information link between command leadership and Navy families. Ombudsmen are trained to disseminate information both up and down the chain of command, including official Department of the Navy and command information, command climate issues, and local quality of life improvement opportunities. Phone: (360) 340-7040 Email: ussnimitzombudsman@yahoo.com USS NIMITZ Web Site The command has put together a comprehensive site. Here is a link to the contact numbers you may need. The site also has the famous Dry Dock series and Home Port Change information. http://www.nimitz.navy.mil/pages/contactpage.html Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society The mission of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is to provide, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need; and to receive and manage funds to administer these programs. The Society provides need based financial assistance to eligible recipients in the form of: •Interest-free loans and grants •Scholarships and interest-free loans for education. In addition, the Society offers the following services: •Financial Counseling •Budget for Baby Workshops •Thrift Shops •Visiting Nurse Services http://www.nmcrs.org/ American Red Cross The American Red Cross links members of the U.S. Armed Forces with their families during a crisis. Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, the Red Cross quickly sends
emergency communications to deployed service members on behalf of their family. The American Red Cross also has access to financial assistance in partnership with the military aid societies, information and referral and assistance to veterans. http://www.redcross.org/ TRICARE Your medical benefits http://www.triwest.com/en/ United Concordia Your dental benefits http://www.tricaredentalprogram.com/tdptws/home.jsp Everett Navy Housing Office They will help you with the process of applying for the housing available in Everett. They also have a Rental Referral Program. This program will help with in town rentals. The partnership with community rentals can mean little or no deposit/application fee and overlooking bad credit. Phone: 425-304-3402/3403 Email: everett-housing@navylifepnw.com COMPASS COMPASS is a spouse-to-spouse mentoring program that introduces participants to all aspects of the military lifestyle. COMPASS offers military spouses the opportunity to establish a peer network, acquire knowledge and develop skills necessary to successfully meet future challenges of military life. I HIGHLY recommend attending a class. They offer free childcare/lunches and some of the best information out there. There are classes in Everett and Bremerton and near most Naval Stations. Sign up! http://www.gocompass.org/ Child Care Navy Region Northwest Child & Youth Programs (CYP) offers developmental child care for eligible children, 6 weeks to 12 years of age, and has many options available from center-based and home care to school-age care. Child Care Registration Phone: (425) 304-3951/3952 Email: childcarerequest.cnrnw@navy.mil Military One Source Military OneSource is a free service provided by the Department of Defense to service members and their families to help with a broad range of concerns including money management, spouse employment and education, parenting and child care, relocation, deployment, reunion, and the particular concerns of families with special-needs members. They can also include more complex issues like relationships, stress, and grief. Services are available 24 hours a day — by telephone with professionally trained consultants and online. Many Military OneSource staff members have military experience (veterans, spouses, Guardsmen, Reservists), and all receive ongoing training on military matters and military lifestyle. The program can be especially helpful to service members and their families who live at a distance from installations. https://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/Navy.aspx?MRole=Family&Branch=Navy&Co mponent=Active
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