everyone attend this special event that you don t want to miss! God Bless you and God Bless America! President s Message

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1 Vol.41 Issue 80 January 2017 President s Message I hope that everyone had a Happy Hanukah, a great Christmas and I wish you a Happy New Year. It is an honor to be your newly elected 50 th President for the Fort Lauderdale Council of the Navy League. In 2008, I was invited to speak at the Fort Lauderdale Navy League and collect Toys for Tots for the Marine Corps toy drive. I have had the privilege of continuing to attend meetings for the last 9 years. I learned from all the past Presidents that I served under, including Chuck Black, Rudy Oetting, Lynn Drucker, and Oscar Romano. I have very big shoes to fill and I am humbled and honored to hold this position. The first thing I want to do is thank all the Council Officers, Directors, Members, Broward County Council and Broward Navy Days for their contributions to the common cause of our great organization. I also want to thank all the Navy League members that supported the Toys for Tots Marine Corps toy drive, which was a success at our December dinner meeting. Our guest speaker, Brigadier General Kevin M. Iiams, Commander of MARFORSOUTH, USMC, gave a great presentation on the missions of the service and in particular the tasks in the area of responsibility for U.S. Southern Command. I am looking forward to seeing everybody at our Seven Sea Gala: This years theme is, A Night in Hong Kong and the event will be on Saturday, January 21, 7 PM at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty Six Resort. Our guest speaker will be Rear Admiral Daniel B. Brian Hendrickson, USN. The Fort Lauderdale Sea Cadets Spruance Division will serve as the Honor Receiving line for our military guests, they will present the Colors and their Rifle Drill Team will perform for all of us. The Gala Committee has been working hard to make this a very special evening; I am looking forward to seeing everyone attend this special event that you don t want to miss! God Bless you and God Bless America! Abiud Abi Montes President Fort Lauderdale Council Navy League of the United States TABLE OF CONTENTS: Council Officers Page 2 Birthdays...Page 2 Seven Seas Gala Party at Blue Martini...Page 3 Winterfest Boat Parade...Page 3 Seven Seas Gala Invitation...Page 4 Seven Seas Gala Underwriting...Page 5 Seven Seas Gala Guest of Honor...Page 6 View From the Bridge...Page 7 Sea Cadet Activities...Page 8 Holiday Dinner Meeting...Page 9-10 News From NavyTimes...Page Day at the Races...Page 13 NRD Miami Awards Banquet...Page 14 Social Calendar...Page 15 Community Affiliates...Page 16

2 NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES FORT LAUDERDALE COUNCIL OFFICERS FOR 2017 President - Abiud Montes First Vice President - Elaine Hogg Second Vice President - David Werkentien Third Vice President - Alan Starr Secretary - Jenni Laubaugh Treasurer - Harvey Kovac Assistant Treasurer - Diana Molina Judge Advocate General - Richard Chosid Navy League of the United States Fort Lauderdale Council January Birthdays Jeanette Morgan 1/1 Carin Palcer 1/3 Tammy Lagman 1/5 Keith Walpole 1/5 Diana Molina 1/6 Leslie Leibowitz 1/8 Alan Stotsky 1/8 Elaine Nasta 1/9 Gail Choate 1/11 Barbara Greenfield 1/12 Yinlay Chang 1/14 Monika Lent 1/18 Lila Zedeck 1/19 Russell Bratt 1/23 Ben Koether 1/23 Margaret Russell 1/24 Carolyn Mulhern 1/25 Nicholas DiNunzio 1/27 Shirley Burtoff 1/27 Ed Antosek 1/29 NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 2

3 SPRUANCE DIVISION SEA CADETS AFLOAT AT THE DECEMBER 10, 2016 SEMINOLE HARD ROCK WINTERFEST BOAT PARADE NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 3

4 O Online payment at: NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 4

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6 SEVEN SEAS GALA GuEST OF HONOr rear AdMirAL daniel B. BriAN HENdriCkSON director, THEATEr ENGAGEMENT (J7), u.s. SOuTHCOM Rear Adm. Daniel Brian Hendrickson holds a Bachelor of Science in English from the U.S. Naval Academy and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University. Additionally, he has completed courses at the Air Command and Staff College and Joint Forces Staff College and was a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Seminar XXI Fellow. Hendrickson received his commission from the United States Naval Academy in May After a tour as a division officer aboard the USS Aquila (PHM-4), he transferred to Naval Special Warfare and completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in Hendrickson s tours in Naval Special Warfare include assignments to SEAL Team 1, SEAL Team 3, Naval Special Warfare Support Activity 1, Naval Special Warfare Unit 4, Naval Special Warfare Group 1, Naval Special Warfare Group 10 and Naval Special Warfare Command. Joint assignments include United States Military Group Colombia, Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF)-Horn of Africa, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force (CJSOTF)-Arabian Peninsula, CJSOTF-Afghanistan, JSOTF-Philippines and United States Special Operations Command. His service overseas includes Operations Restore Hope, Desert Shield, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Previous flag officer assignments have included assistant to the vice commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, military deputy at the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental and deputy commander of Naval Special Warfare Command. NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 5

7 View From the Bridge december 2016 December was another very active month for the Cadets of the Spruance Division, and the League Cadets from the Radford Training Ship. The Cadets and Color Guard stood tall and proud alongside the Crew of the Fort Lauderdale Coast Guard Station for the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony, on December 4th. LCDR Starr was the Master of Ceremonies. Father Ron Perkins, Port Chaplain from Seafarers House delivered the Invocation and Benediction. LT Mark Ketchum, the Commanding Officer welcomed everyone to Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale. Commander Michael Fredie, Commanding Officer of TACLET South, at Coast Guard Air Station Miami, was our Guest Speaker, and together with youngest member of the Coast Guard Crew participated in the Wreath laying ceremony by throwing it into the waters of Port Everglades. Taps were played, and Piper Rob Latimer piped Amazing Grace, and Going Home. Our Very Special Guest of honor was Chief Machinist Mate Ed Hammond, one of the last Pearl Harbor Survivors in our area. He was only 17 the day of the Japanese Attack. Broward Navy Days sponsored the Ceremony and provided refreshments. LCDR Starr and the Color Guard attended another Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Pearl Harbor luncheon on December 3rd, at VFW Post 1966, sponsored by the VFW District Ladies Auxiliary. Our Cadets and Staff worked really hard to prepare and decorate our 41 foot Bayliner, Archer, to ready her for the participation in the Annual Fort Lauderdale Winterfest Boat Parade. It was quite an exciting event that is televised Nation Wide on Xmas and New Years Day. We have our fingers crossed, hoping to be one of the Award Winners in the Non-Profit Category. Special thanks to our Staff, Captain Todd Cooper, LTJG Randy Bieszczak, and Instructor Jim McCall. Instructor Sally Phanor cooked up a special meal for all hands. We had a special visit from members of the Hollywood Police special SWAT Team. They demonstrated their weapons, tactics, and their monster SWAT Vehicle. The parents committee held a wonderful holiday luncheon including a traditional Spanish roast pig donated and expertly carved by our X.O. Emeritus LT Jorge Perez. A Promotion and Awards Ceremony was held and our newest Cadet Chief Petty Officer Green went through the Traditional Navy/Coast Guard CPO Advancement and Pinning Ceremony, Command Master Chief Chris Ellis from Coast Guard TACLET SOUTH, and his parents pinned the NSCC Chiefs Anchors on, and SCPO Starr read the NSCC Chief Petty Officer s Creed. Several Cadets gave up their Xmas vacation and attended Sea Cadet Winter Training. For many of the Cadets it was their first time wearing the Navy Dress Blue Uniform. We ended the month with a very special private tour of Port Everglades, set up by our new X.O. CDR Todd Cooper, Port Everglades Harbor Pilot. The Cadets toured a Harbor Tug, and the Harbor Master s Office. They learned the significance of operations at the Port that is the second largest Cruise Ship Port in the Country, and the Commercial functions including the Petroleum supplier of all of South Florida, by the Tanker Ships. Holland America was gracious in providing a tour of one of their finest Cruise Ships. The Cadets were amazed by the tour to the Ships Bridge. The tour ended with a grand luncheon on the Lido Deck. We wished all of the Cadets, Families and Staff a wonderful safe, happy holiday season. We all have a lot to be thankful for in our lives, and we are especially thankful for the support given so willingly by our sponsor, the Fort Lauderdale Navy League Council. Happy New Year! Respectfully submitted, LCDR Alan Starr NSCC, Commanding Officer NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 7

8 SEA CADETS HOLLywOOd SwAT TEAM ViSiT TO SPruANCE division SEA CAdETS ON december 3rd PEArL HArBOr remembrance CErEMONy AT uscg STATiON FOrT LAudErdALE Spruance Division color Guard remembering Pearl Harbor Sea Cadets with Pearl Harbor Survivor SPruANCE division SEA CAdETS ON TOur AT POrT EVErGLAdES NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 8

9 HOLidAy dinner MEETiNG & TOyS FOr TOTS COLLECTiON GuEST SPEAkEr: BGEN kevin iiams, usmc COMMANdiNG OFFiCEr, MAriNE FOrCES SOuTH By Lynn drucker Thank you to all of our members who attended our December 21st Holiday Dinner Meeting and Toys for Tots collection. We were honored to welcome BGen Kevin Iiams, USMC Commanding Officer, Marine Forces South. BGen Iiams gave an excellent presentation about the mission of the Marine Corps in the Marine Forces South Area of Responsibility, including the Caribbean and South and Central America. We welcomed several guests from Navy Recruiting District Miami, US Southern Command and Marine Corps Forces South. I am pleased to announce that our 2017 slate of officers were elected, as follows 2017 Officers President Abiud Montes 1st Vice President Elaine Hogg 2nd Vice President David Warkentien 3rd Vice President Alan Starr Treasurer - Harvey Kovac Assistant Treasurer Diana Molina Secretary Jennifer Laubaugh Judge Advocate - Richard Chosid 2017 Officers NLUS Fort Lauderdale Council BGen Iiams, USMC and Oscar Romano Cadet Phanor, BGen Iiams, Instructor Ivy Francis continued on page 10 NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 9

10 continued from page 9 HOLidAy dinner MEETiNG & TOyS FOr TOTS COLLECTiON GuEST SPEAkEr: BGEN kevin iiams, usmc COMMANdiNG OFFiCEr, MAriNE FOrCES SOuTH By Lynn drucker continued In addition to our elections and guest speaker, we also had the holiday Toys for Tots collection. Incoming President Abiud Montes collected the toys on behalf of the US Marine Corps, to be distributed to pediatric patients at local hospitals during the holiday season. It was a wonderful evening of holiday spirit. MSgt. Abiud Montes collecting toys from Spruance Division for Toys for Tots Spruance Division Executive Officer Capt Todd Cooper, USN, Council President Abiud Montes, Spruance Division Commanding Officer LCDR Alan M. Starr, NSCC Oscar Romano with Guest Speaker BGen Iiams, USMC NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 10

11 ratings restored: EFFECTiVE immediately, SAiLOrS will GET THEir JOB TiTLES BACk By: david B Larter and Mark Faram, december 20, 2016 Navy leaders are reversing their controversial decision to eliminate sailors ratings and will restore job titles across the fleet, according to a Navy message set for release Wednesday. Effective immediately, enlisted sailors will officially regain their ratings, the traditional job titles that have inspired a deep cultural loyalty and that have defined enlisted career tracks for generations, Navy officials said. The move comes three months after the Navy stunned sailors around the world in September by eliminated ratings titles, including those such as boatswain s mate that dated back to the founding of the service. The extraordinarily rare move comes after a fierce backlash from the fleet that became a distraction from the Navy s broader effort to reform the antiquated personnel system, Navy officials said. Adm. John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, called it a course correction and acknowledged the overwhelmingly negative reaction from the fleet was a key factor in the decision. We have learned from you, and so effective immediately, all rating names are restored, Richardson wrote in a Navy message set for release Wednesday. A copy of the message was obtained by Navy Times Tuesday. Cmdr. Chris Servello, Richardson s spokesman, confirmed Tuesday night that the Navy planned to restore ratings Wednesday and that a fleet-wide message from the CNO would be released online in the morning, along with more details from CNO and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Steven Giordano. Navy s top officer admits he misjudged backlash before dumping ratings Though the ratings have been restored, change still lies ahead as the Navy plans to press ahead with its broader effort to fundamentally change the rigid personnel system and make career paths more flexible in the future. The feedback from current and former Sailors has been consistent that there is wide support for the flexibility that the plan offers, but the removal of rating titles detracted from accomplishing our major goals, Richardson wrote. There is a way to have the benefits of the rating modernization program without removing rating titles, the CNO wrote in the message. This course correction doesn t mean our work is done rating modernization will continue for all the right reason, Richardson wrote. Modernizing our industrial-age personnel system in order to provide Sailors choice and flexibility still remains a priority for us. These changes will ultimately mean that sailors titles may have to change in the future, Richardson continues, but he s going to solicit sailor feedback. As early word of the restoration spread on social media Tuesday night, many sailors celebrated the news, both because they welcomed the return of the traditional titles but also because the decision showed that the Navy s leadership was responsive to the concerns of sailors. Nobody wanted to see ratings taken away. The traditions and identities associated with them are undeniable. My sailors will be relieved and gratified that their voices appear to have been heard, said one East Coast command master chief who spoke to Navy Times and asked not to be named to speak candidly about a high-level decision. And I m just glad I don t have to open a manual to find out what kind of Sailor I m getting the next time orders cross my desk, the command master chief said. The reversal did not surprise many sailors, though many believed it would come after a new Navy secretary takes over early in I genuinely believe sailors expected this. I think we ve all been waiting and watching to see if someone was going to take a step back and determine that an interesting idea had been pushed too quickly, the master chief said. continued on page 12 NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 11

12 continued from page 11 ratings restored: EFFECTiVE immediately, SAiLOrS will GET THEir JOB TiTLES BACk By: david B Larter and Mark Faram, december 20, 2016 continued The inside story of how the Navy s top brass eliminated ratings - Changes ahead Despite the return of the rating titles, Navy officials say the underlying effort of the change in the first place to give sailors greater flexibility in their careers to go from job to job is still a top priority for Navy leaders. The broader goal is to allow more sailors to qualify for more skills and even advance in multiple ratings. To get there, the Navy is still planning to redraw community lines that distinguish skills by specialty today. Today we have 12 career fields that group the [over 90] Navy enlisted ratings we have today, Vice Adm. P. Burke told Navy Times in an October interview. Most sailors will be hard pressed to tell you what they are because they are outdated for the most part. The plan is to establish new career fields that are more broadly defined, Burke said, which should allow Navy leaders to tailor training within the fields and identify gaps that a sailor might need filled in order to take a specific billet that they would otherwise be qualified for, rating or no rating. For example, he gave a hypothetical example of a future career field that might be called aviation maintenance. We d like to get to the point in the first step where we can move sailors between types of engines, and then maybe move between engines and airframes and into avionics, too then possibly move between maintaining combat systems on an aircraft to combat systems on a ship. This system is being designed to offer training throughout a sailor s career, instead of in a lump at the beginning as many ratings have today. It s also designed so it could also be adapted to qualify sailors in new skills to cross them into a related field. You might have to go to a brick and mortar schoolhouse for a couple weeks, but it will be at a fleet concentration area so you are not going to have to leave home, Burke said. You might only need enough training that could be accomplished through an app on a smart device, or through a distance learning course or even by acquiring an additional certification at your current shop or at your squadron. It could even put more money in your pocket as you might qualify in something. It will open up more timing options maybe move into an NOS that has special or incentive pay or even a re-enlistment bonus. The changes could also radicalize the advancement system and has Navy leaders discussing to possibility of killing advancement exams all together. I think that s one possibility we re looking at, Burke said in the interview. But we re just getting started in deciding where we need to go with the advancement exams. 9NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 10

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14 Nrd MiAMi AwArdS BANQuET HOSTEd AT THE SHAdES OF GrEEN ArMEd FOrCES recreation CENTEr resort AT walt disney world ON december 17, 2016 NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 14

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16 FOrT LAudErdALE COuNCiL 2017 OFFiCErS President: Abiud Montes First Vice President: Elaine Hogg Second Vice President: David Werkentien Third Vice President: Alan Starr Secretary: Jenni Laubaugh Treasurer: Harvey Kovac Assistant Treasurer: Diana Molina Judge Advocate General: Richard Chosid EdiTOriAL STAFF Lynn Drucker, Editor Jim Black Elaine Hogg Elaine Nasta Rudy Oetting Oscar Romano H H H H H H H H H H H H H BOArd OF directors MEETiNG wednesday, January 18th, 2017 at 3:30 PM SEA CAdET HEAdQuArTErS Located at: 300 S.W. 25th Street Fort Lauderdale, FL H H H H H H H H H H H H H THERE WILL BE NO GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING IN JANUARY Please join us at the Seven Seas Gala Saturday, January 21st Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Resort For more information contact: Lynn Drucker or lynn@druckermail.com visit us on the web at FOrT LAudErdALE COuNCiL COMMuNiTy AFFiLiATES 5700 Griffin Road, Suite 200 Davie, Florida Main Line: Cell: Direct Fax: Gary@PirtleConstruction.com Gary Pirtle, LEED AP AssistantVice President Offices located in Broward, Dade & Palm Beach CGC