On the Horizon. View From The Bridge. Hello Navy Leaguers! v/r Michele Langford. Website

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1 NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES ALAMEDA COUNCIL PO BOX 1056 ALAMEDA, CA (510) On the Horizon Newsletter of the NLUS Alameda Council March 2016 Mar 20th Sea Cadet Annual Awards Ceremony May 21st: Memorial Day Cruise on the SS O Brien May 21st: Armed Forces Day Fly your flag May 30th: Memorial Day Flag at Half-Staff Sunrise to Sunset Flag at Half-Staff Until Noon Executive Board Michele Langford President Barb Day Vice President Kathy Bliven Treasurer Anne Gooch Secretary Board of Directors Michel Michel Membership Chair Pam Hodges Website View From The Bridge Michele Langford, President Message from the Navy League Alameda Council President Hello Navy Leaguers! I would like to thank our new slate of officers and board of directors for their dedication to the Alameda NL Council. We had our General Meeting on Feb 25th at which our slate was voted in. The time and energy that each person has dedicated to the Alameda NL Council is much appreciated! Especially by me! As the saying goes it takes a village! So I would like to thank Barb Day, Kathy Bliven, Anne Gooch,Michel Michel, Paul Norton, Veronica Whitehead and Pam Hodges. We are now in the process of planning our calendar of events as well as approving our new budget. As we move forward we hope to see all of you at our fundraiser's and meetings! If you have any ideas you would like us to pursue please send me a message. Paul Norton Veronica Whitehead Sea Cadets And as you may know we just had one of our biggest fundraiser's our Annual Crab Feed,the event was a success! I would like to thank the Oakland and Lake Merritt Councils for their hard work to make the event memorable and successful!! Inquiries: AlamedaNLUS@gmail.com Thank you for the opportunity to serve on the Alameda NL Council for another year. I am looking forward to meeting all council members and having a great year! v/r Michele Langford Website For more information, to join the Alameda Council NLUS, or to find a printable copy of this flyer please visit the Alameda Council Navy League s Website:

2 Membership There have been some announcements of changes in Navy League memberships and membership dues. Here is one in the January 20 th News & Notes from National President Skip Witunski: A Great Deal on Membership Much excitement has been generated with a new, lower dues structure. A one-year Premium Membership is now offered at $55, which includes the print edition of our acclaimed Seapower magazine and the annual Seapower Almanac delivered to your home. Even greater savings are available through multiple-year memberships, up to five years or life, based on age. We're also offering a new, fully digital E-Membership, an electronic membership for individuals who want to take their membership on-the-go for only $25 per year. Spouses, parents, students and other partnerships can mix and match multiple memberships to best suit the subscription/electronic access preferences of the family. The downloadable version of the Membership Application is available at ( membership/member_application_general.pdf). The new membership application can be printed from that link and mailed with a check, or completed online with credit card at ( index.cfm). As we endeavor to increase our membership, I want to acknowledge in each month's message every council that has a net positive membership growth. Let's share our positive growth with all. Anchors Aweigh for the Pacific Central Region Membership Drive and Contest! Phelps Phelps Hobart Vice President Membership, Membership Retention, and Marketing (916) The General Membership Meeting for the Alameda Council was held on February 25, The following slate of nominees was voted in for the coming year. Executive Board: Michele Langford-President Barb Day-Vice President Kathy Bliven-Treasurer Anne Gooch-Secretary Board of Directors: Board of Directors: Michel Michel Paul Norton Veronica Whitehead Pam Hodges Thank you to everyone for your willingness to serve the Navy League of the United States Alameda Council

3 Council Activities Our Holiday Gathering The Alameda, Lake Merritt and Oakland Navy Leagues held a joint holiday gather in along with the East Bay Coast Guard Spouses Club at the Alameda Elks Club. It was a lovely evening of food and merriment topped off by a ornament exchange to celebrate the holiday season. A great time was had by all, so look to put this event on your calendar in Crab Feed The Sixth Annual Navy League Alameda, Lake Merritt, Oakland Navy League Crab Feed was a resounding success. Thanks to everyone who participated. We ate delicious crab with good company, bid on some really cool stuff, raffled off even more goodies. The Sea Cadets did such a great job serving, a big thanks to them. We more than met our fundraising goals so that we can continue to support our local sea services. A great time was had by

4 Council Activities Crab Feed (Con t)

5 Upcoming Event SS Jeremiah O'Brien Ship open daily 9am to 4pm Pier 45, Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, California The SS Jeremiah O'Brien is one of two remaining fully functional Liberty ships of the 2,710 built and launched during World War II. The O'Brien has the distinction of being the last unaltered Liberty ship and remains historically accurate. Moored at Pier 45, Fisherman's Wharf, she is a premier San Francisco attraction. World War II and Korean War Veterans sail free of charge on the Veterans Memorial Cruise on 21 May The Veterans Memorial Cruise on May 21 is an annual tradition for the SS Jeremiah O'Brien. Join us as we pay tribute to the Merchant Marines and The 4-hour cruise takes you out beyond the Golden Gate and along the San Francisco waterfront.continental breakfast, hot dog lunch and ice cream is included with the ticket, along with water and soft drinks. Call to register. The 2016 O'Brien cruise season kicks off with the Veterans Memorial Cruise on May 21 (sailing from 10am to 2pm); an annual tradition for the O'Brien to commemorate the gallantry of all veter-ans who have served in defense of America's freedom. Sponsored Units Sea Cadets Grey Ghost Division and Training Ship Kearsarge The Alameda Council is proud to sponsor the Grey Ghost and Kearsarge units of the Sea Cadets. They have been training for their upcoming annual inspection, cadets and officers alike have been preparing to be at 100% for their regional Director. The Grey Ghost and TS Kearsarge will hold their Annual Inspection and Awards, on the USS Hornet on March 20, If you are interested in attending please contact Commander Paul Norton at: Phone : E mail: pnorton@greyghostdivision.org

6 Adopted Units USCGC Waesche Underway on USCGC WAESCHE WMSL 751 On Sunday February 28 th Council President Michele Langford and I boarded USCGC WAESCHE (WMSL 751) in Alameda for her 30- hour transit to San Diego. San Diego was the first stop on a 100+ day southern patrol for the cutter. We witnessed firsthand the ship operations, drills, and duty section watchstanding. We saw whales breaching and a school of dolphins about five miles outside the Golden Gate Bridge. With WAESCHE on course to San Diego we participated in the man overboard, abandon ship, and fire drills. These drills are always done within the first few hours of all Coast Guard cutters leaving port. Crewmembers have a fitness center onboard with treadmills, elliptical machines, and free weights, which is a good thing after seeing what great meals the cooks whipped up. We ate very well. Lunch offered a choice of cheeseburgers, turkey or veggie burgers. Dinner was pork chops with parsley buttered potatoes and carrots. Breakfast the next morning was omelets made to order. This will be the last patrol on WAESCHE for both the Commanding Officer, Captain Robert Hendrickson, and the Executive Officer, Commander Michael Cilenti. Commander Cilenti is leaving mid patrol to attend a prestigious one year executive level graduate program at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Captain Hendrickson will have his Change of Command in July and report to his next assignment as Chief of Response for the 14 th District in Honolulu. Congratulations to both leaders for well-deserved assignments! We will miss them. As we sailed into San Diego Harbor on Monday afternoon a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier passed us on her way to sea. Despite being one of the Coast Guard s largest cutters, WAESCHE seemed small in comparison as the aircraft carrier sailed by! Thank you to the CO, XO, and their wardroom and crew for welcoming us as shipmates and making our underway experience a memory we will never forget. MIFC PAC Welcome MIFC PAC as a newly adopted unit to the Alameda Council!! Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center Pacific (MIFC PAC) is located on Coast Guard Island, Alameda, California. The unit is responsible for producing timely, actionable and predictive all-source national and law enforcement intelligence in general support of planning, decision making and mission execution by Coast Guard forces operating in the Pacific, Arctic, Indian and Southern Oceans; while supporting related requirements of the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Intelligence Community and our law enforcement and international partners. The current MIFC PAC CO is CAPT Ron Pailliotet,the XO is CDR Sam Stevens. We look forward to supporting the men and women of MIFC PAC as they serve us all.

7 Adopted Units Navy Operational Support Center Alameda Sailor of the Quarter Change of Command Barbara Day and Michele Langford recognize the Sailors of the quarter at the NOCS Awards Michele Langford (Council President) attended the NOSC Change of Command where CDR Robert Merton took command from CDR Al Concepion. We wish CDR Conception Fair Winds and Following Seas and look forward to working with CDR Merton Welcome CDR Merton COMMANDER Robert S. Merton United States Navy Commander Robert S. Merton is a native of Calabasas, CA and a graduate of the University of Wyoming. After receiving his commission through Officer Candidate School, he completed primary flight training with VT-2 and intermediate/advanced helicopter training with HT-8, earning his Naval Aviator designation in Following H-46D Fleet Replacement Pilot Training at Helicopter Combat Support Squadron THREE (HC-3), he reported to HC-11 at Naval Air Station North Island for his initial operational tour. Between 2001 and 2003, he deployed aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN -68) and USS RAINIER (AOE -7) in support of Operations EN- DURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. His job assignments included Assistant Operations Officer and Quality Assurance Officer. In 2004, CDR Merton returned as Instructor Pilot to HC-3, which re-designated to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron THREE (HSC-3) and transitioned to the MH-60S. There he served in various capacities including Quality Assurance Officer. Following his tour at HSC-3, he re-designated and transitioned into the FTS community. In 2007, he reported to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron EIGHT FIVE (HSC-85), where he served his department head tour as the Safety Officer, Training Officer, Tactics Officer, and Operations Officer. In 2010, CDR Merton began a GSA at United States European Command as the Naval Air Planner within the Crisis Response Branch of the EUCOM Plans and Operations Center (EPOC). In 2011, CDR Merton was assigned to Commander Naval Air Forces, where he was responsible for managing Training and Readiness and reporting for all U.S. Navy squadrons. He also managed the SHARP/ADW readiness tracking programs and the Air Combat Training Continuum Program, which provides graduate-level tactical training for Fleet aviators and aircrewmen. In 2014 CDR Merton was selected to spearhead the establishment of Maritime Support Wing, where he served as both Director of Operations and Chief Staff Officer. CDR Merton has flown over 3,000 mishap-free flight hours in Navy aircraft. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, as well as numerous unit awards. CDR Merton is married to Elizabeth and has three children, Cale, Gillian, and Conlan.

8 NAVY LEAGUE OF THE UNITED STATES ALAMEDA COUNCIL PO BOX 1056 ALAMEDA, CA TIME DATED MATERIAL RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED The Navy League of the United States Alameda Council supports the following units and organization: Adopted Units: USCG District 11 USCGC Waesche USCG Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center Pacific (MIFC PAC) USN Naval Operations Support Center Alameda USMC 4th Force Reconnaissance Company Alameda Sponsored Units: US Naval Sea Cadet Corps Grey Ghost Division US Naval Sea Cadet Corps Training Ship Kearsarge Partnerships: Alameda Naval Air Museum The Navy League of the United States was founded in 1902 with the encouragement of President Theodore Roosevelt. The Navy League is unique among militaryoriented associations in that it is a civilian organization dedicated to the education of our citizens, including our elected officials, and the support of the men and women of the sea services and their families. You need not have served in the military to be a member of the Navy League. Information contained in this newsletter is intended only to convey information to the members of the Alameda Council, and does not reflect opinions nor official positions of the Council officers, Board of Directors, nor the National organization.