Semper Paratus: Always Ready! Abiud Abi Montes President, Fort Lauderdale Council Navy League of the United States TABLE OF CONTENTS:

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1 Vol.41 Issue 84 May 2017 President s Message In the month of April, we had a very special guest speaker at our Dinner Meeting, PO1 Jaime Vanacore, USCG, Rescue Swimmer. She captivated the audience with her story about going through this course 3 different times. She explained that the Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer training program is very challenging. It s 24 grueling weeks long, which includes intense physical fitness, long hours of pool workouts and instruction, extreme water confidence drills, and classroom instruction. Jaime is one of three female rescue swimmers in the entire Coast Guard and the last female to become a rescue swimmer since In her class, only two graduated the course. She spoke from her heart, and as I listened, I imagined a Steven Spielberg movie in the making. Her story is one of perseverance, courage, and commitment. Semper Paratus! Fleet Week Port Everglades 2017, May 1 st - 7 th, was a big success! The opening ceremony All Hands on Deck Welcome Aboard Party started out with the Fort Lauderdale Sea Cadets Spruance Division presenting the official colors. The Sea Cadets continue to do an outstanding job in the public eye. It was great to see all the Sailors, Marines, and Coastguardsmen at this event and throughout the week. I had the honor of visiting several area hospitals with Lynn Drucker and military members from all 3 service branches. It was great to see the smiling faces of the kids and veterans at the VA hospitals as we did our tours. I was able to visit some local schools as well. It was a great week that led to the Sea Services Enlisted Person of the Year Awards Banquet, put on by our Council, on Thursday, May 4 th at Hyatt Regency Pier 66. This event honored 22 Sailors, Marines, and Coastguardsmen from the visiting ships and local commands. I want to extend my personal gratitude to the sponsors and Committee members, Chair Lynn Drucker, Elaine Hogg, Denise Ingram, Elaine Nasta, Oscar Romano and Alan Starr. We would like to send out special thanks to Natalie Laing for doing a wonderful job singing our National Anthem at this event. Special thanks to the Navy Band Southeast for their performance during the event and to the Guest Speaker, Command Master Chief David Twiford, USN, Navy Region Southeast. It was a wonderful evening and an amazing celebration of the achievements of men and women in our Sea Services. We invite all members to bring a guest to attend our next dinner meeting, which will be on Wednesday, May 17th at 6 pm at the Coral Ridge Yacht Club. Our guest speaker will be Captain Joseph D. Femino, USN, Chief, Joint Operation Center, US Southern Command. Also, please join us at our Annual Sea Cadet Awards Banquet at Tropical Acres Restaurant on Saturday, June 3 rd, at 4:00 PM. I look forward to seeing many of you at these great events! I want to close with special thanks to all our members and friends for your continued support of the Sea Services. Semper Paratus: Always Ready! Abiud Abi Montes President, Fort Lauderdale Council Navy League of the United States TABLE OF CONTENTS: Guest Speaker May Dinner Meeting...Page 2 Birthdays...Page 2 Sea Cadets Awards Banquet Invitation...Page 3 Fleet Week Fort Lauderdale Page 4-6 Sea Services Awards Banquet...Page 7 EPOY Award Recipients...Page 8 USCGC Etheridge Sailor of the Year...Page 9 Fort Lauderdale Council Website...Page 9 April Dinner Meeting...Page Farewell to Chuck Black...Page 12 A Visit to the Pentagon...Page 13 Picnic at the Beach...Page 14 View From the Bridge...Page 15 Social Calendar...Page 16 Community Affiliates...Page 17

2 GuEST SPEAkEr FOr Our MAy 17Th DINNEr MEETING CAPT JOSEPh D. FEMINO u.s. SOuThErN COMMAND JOINT OPErATIONS CENTEr ChIEF A native of Beverly, Massachusetts, Captain Joseph Femino was commissioned through the Cornell University NROTC program. His division officer tours were CIC Officer on USS KLAKRING (FFG 42) and Training Officer on USS STOUT (DDG 55) with deployments to the 5th and 6th Fleets including participation in NATO s IFOR and Operation DESERT FOX. Following Department Head training, CDR Femino reported to USS OSCAR AUSTIN (DDG 79) as Operations Officer participating in Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. CDR Femino served as Operations Officer of Destroyer Squadron 50/CTF 55 in Manama, Bahrain executing AOR Maritime Security Operations including development and execution of defense of Iraq s offshore Oil Terminals. CAPT Femino commanded MCM CREW EXULTANT aboard USS DEXTROUS (MCM 13) and USS WARRIOR (MCM 10) operating out of Bahrain, Ingleside, Texas and San Diego, California through his tour and earning the Battle Efficiency Award. Continuing his overseas assignments, CDR Femino commanded USS CURTIS WILBUR (DDG 54) in Yokosuka, Japan executing theater BMD operations, countless exercises and eradicating years of deferred maintenance to execute INSURV Inspection resulting in above average for the DDG class. Ashore, CAPT Femino served as Department Head and Aegis instructor at Surface Warfare Officers School and completed a M.B.A. at the University of Rhode Island. He graduated from the Argentine Naval War College in Buenos Aires and U.S. National War College with a Master s Degree in National Security Studies. Finally, he served as the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Branch Chief for Integration, Validation and Testing for USEUCOM. CAPT Femino is presently the USSOUTHCOM Joint Operations Center Chief where he oversees and manages a 24/7 Operations Center with cognizance over the SOUTHCOM AOR working with 5 service components and 3 Joint Task Forces to execute AOR missions and be prepared for all contingency response requirements. CAPT Femino s personal awards include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and various campaign, service and unit awards. He is married to the former Ms. Soraya Alvarado of Lujan, Argentina and they have two beautiful children, Sophia (9) and Donato (8). Navy League of the United States Fort Lauderdale Council May Birthdays Jessenia Harris 5/3 Melissa Cooper 5/5 Nels Pearson 5/8 David Crane 5/9 Elizabeth Hopwood 5/11 Alicia Romano 5/12 Rosemarie Dezolt 5/17 Elsie Johns 5/18 Veronika Thorne 5/20 Barbara Graveson 5/21 NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 2

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4 H ALL hands WELCOME ABOArD reception AT ESPLANADE PArk H H FLEET WEEk hospital VISITS H USS New York sailors visit Miami VA Hospital Abi Montes and USCG visitors at Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 4

5 H SEA CADET ShIP TOurS H NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 5

6 H VIP reception ONBOArD ThE uss NEW york H Oscar Romano with Rear Admiral Babette Boliva Oscar Romano with Vice Admiral Jan Tighe NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 6

7 SEA SErVICES ENLISTED PErSON OF ThE year AWArDS BANQuET 2017 NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 7

8 FLEET WEEK PORT EVERGLADES Enlisted Person of the Year Awards Banquet Thursday, May 4, 2017 Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Fort Lauderdale, Florida AWARD RECIPIENTS SAILOr OF ThE year ET1 Thomas Burseth, USNR NOSC Miami IS1 (IW/SW/SCW) David Core III U.S. Southern Command GM1 Michael L. Davis, USN NOSC Miami PO1 William D. Joseph U.S. Navy Region Southeast AT2 Samuel Laurent NRD Miami BM1 (SW) Kristoffer Metcalf, USN U.S.S. New York (LPD-21) IT2 Aubrey Shirley, USN U.S. Navy Expeditionary Strike Group 2 JuNIOr SAILOr OF ThE year IS2 Erica F. Agosto, USN MArINE OF ThE year Sgt Gerardo Dehorta, USMC GySgt Edwin Jean-Francois, USMCR Sgt Joshua L. Menard, USMC U.S. Southern Command RSS South Dade SNCOIC 4th Civil Affairs Group, Hialeah 4th Civil Affairs Group, Hialeah ENLISTED PErSON OF ThE year BM1 Ronald Garcia, USCG USCGC Margaret Norvell (WPC-1105) MK3 Devin Gilbert, USCG Aids to Navigation Team, Fort Lauderdale BM2 Leonel Martin, USCG USCGC Richard Etheridge (WPC-1102) MST1 Isaiah J. Quinones, USCG U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami YN3 Bryson Santiago-Stephens, USCG U.S. Coast Guard District 7 ME2 Eric Spier, USCG U.S. Coast Guard TACLET South BM2 Jared Tidwell, USCG U.S. Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale AST1 Jaime Vanacore, USCG U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami MK3 Matthew L. Williamson, USCG U.S. Coast Guard Base Miami ENLISTED PErSON OF ThE QuArTEr DC1 Christina Dickhart, USCG USCGC Forward (WMEC-911) NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 8

9 uscg CuTTEr richard EThErIDGE SAILOr OF ThE year BOATSWAINS MATE SECOND CLASS (BM2) LEONEL MArTIN Born in Havana, Cuba, Petty Officer Leonel Martín migrated to the United States in October of 1996, at the age of ten, with his mother, sister, and step-father. He grew up in South Miami, FL where he graduated from Miami South Ridge Senior High School. He embarked on his Coast Guard career attending basic training in Cape May, New Jersey. Upon graduating in 2003, Petty Officer Martín returned home to complete his High School education and reported to USCGC VALIANT (WMEC-621) in Miami, FL. In 2004, while assigned to USCGC Valiant, he served as a Deck Captain for ship evolutions and as a member of the Damage Control Training Team, a position primarily reserved for personnel of rank E-6 and above. Before departing USCGC VALIANT in July, 2007, Petty Officer Martín assumed the rank of Petty Officer after striking the Boatswains Mate rate. Petty Officer Martín s next unit was CG Station Fort Myers Beach, in Fort Myers, FL where he served as a small boat Coxswain for the station s 25 Response Boat Small, 41 Utility Boat, and Pursuit Coxswain for the station s 33 Special Purpose Craft. He completed over 1,000 underway hours responding to Search and Rescue and Pursuit cases, as well as the protection of Living Marine Resources. After Station Fort Myers Beach, he served as a member of the Port Services Division, in Sector Key West, FL, for before transferring to Tactical Law Enforcement Team South, Detachment 404, from 2012 to 2015 in Opa-Locka, FL. As a member of LEDET 404, Petty Officer Martín served in seven deployments, aboard Navy and allied ships. He also served as a Pursuit Mission Commander for the attached Air-borne Use of Force Team. Petty Officer Martín s most notable contribution to the unit was a seizure of 1,017 kg of cocaine as the Team s Boarding Officer while on deployment aboard USS Halyburton (FFG-40). Petty Officer Martín is currently attached to USCGC RICHARD ETHERIDGE (WPC-1102) in Miami Beach, FL. As a member of team ETHERIDGE he serves as the unit s Law Enforcement Petty Officer. He holds the qualification of Deck Watch Officer, Boarding Officer, Pursuit Coxswain and Assistant Training Officer. While onboard USCGC RICHARD ETHERIDGE, Petty Officer Martín has performed five small boat interdictions, three of which resulted in the seizure of over 1,000 kgs of cocaine. He has also assisted in the interdiction and care of over 500 migrants and 38 detainees. His personal awards include the Coast Guard Achievement Medal with one Gold Star, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Commandant s Letter of Commendation ribbon with one gold star, and various service and unit awards. Petty Officer Martín is a Permanent Coast Guard Cutterman, and has earned the privilege to wear the Tactical Law Enforcement insignia. Petty Officer Martín is married to Daimara Roque, his wife of eight years, and is the proud father of his five year old son, Ean. ThE FOrT LAuDErDALE COuNCIL WEBSITE The Fort Lauderdale Council website can be found at To access the Council Roster online use UserName: ftlaud, and Password: gonavy to log in. Please send suggestions, changes, or corrections to Elaine Hogg at hovermotherfl@aol.com or call her at NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 54 9

10 GuEST SPEAkEr AT Our APrIL 19Th DINNEr MEETING AST1 JAIME VANACOrE, uscg rescue SWIMMEr At our April Dinner meeting we welcomed AST1 Jaime, Vanacore, USCG, AST and Helicopter Rescue Swimmer, as our guest speaker. She told the inspiring story of her quest to become one of very few female Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers. Despite failing to complete AST A School the first time, she persevered, and eventually succeeded. She did all of this while being married to a BM1 Paul Vanacore, USCG, and taking care of her family, including two children, Dominic, 10 and Victoria, 8. We were honored to have guests attending from USCG Sector Miami, Navy Recruiting District Miami, and USCG Station Fort Lauderdale. It was a very enjoyable and educational evening. NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 10 continued on page 11

11 continued from page 10 GuEST SPEAkEr AT Our APrIL 19Th DINNEr MEETING AST1 JAIME VANACOrE, uscg rescue SWIMMEr continued NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 11

12 FArEWELL TO ChuCk BLACk AT ArLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETEry By Oscar romano On April 28, we we honored to attend the Arlington National Cemetery burial ceremony for our friend Chuck Black, Council Past President and retired Senior Chief Petty Officer of the United States Navy. Family and friends met at the burial site where Reverend Ronald Perkins, Chaplain of Seafarer House at Port Everglades, presided over the ceremony. It was a service with full military honors. Chuck s widow, Lynn Elsasser, received the ceremonial flag. She was accompanied by Chuck s son Johnathan, daughter-in-law Chan and grandson Andrew. There were many other family members and friends in attendance, including many Navy League members. Written condolences from the Chief of Naval Operations were read by Mrs. Sharon Sciretta, a Lady of Arlington Cemetery. After the funeral, we met at National Navy League Headquarters where the Navy League National President Skip Witunski presented an In Memoriam Certificate to Lynn Elsasser, in recognition of Chuck s life of service. NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 12

13 A VISIT WITh CAPTAIN SCOTT SCIrETTA, usn AT ThE PENTAGON Captain Scott Sciretta, USN and Oscar Romano Captain Scott Sciretta, USN and Patricia DuMont NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 13

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15 VIEW FrOM ThE BrIDGE April 2017 April was an incredible training month for the Cadets of Spruance and Radford TS. We held an overnight Mini-Boot Camp weekend, with Ceremonial Honor Guard and Rifle Drill Team Training at Birch State Park. LCDR Starr gave a safety brief about the environment they were in and the upcoming training plan, closely adhering to the new Recruit Training Requirements. The purpose of the weekend training is to ensure that our Recruits are ready mentally, physically and spiritually for the Recruit Training experience at Belle Glade, Florida. The Cadets all successfully completed Mini-Boot Camp, but some Cadets were struggling and needed to work to pass their Physical Training Test. We took the Cadets onto Fort Lauderdale Beach where we had a two-hour Physical Training Program in the sand, led by Navy Chief Mike Pendergraft, from Naval Recruiting District Miami. Bravo Zulu to our Staff Cadets and our Adult Staff who worked very diligently to make this an outstanding and successful training event. The heavens opened up with torrential rain an hour before parent pick-up was scheduled. The Cadets learned that, in the military, they pay you to be wet! The Cadets participated in an all-day High Ropes Team Building Program at Broward College. They climbed the rock wall and 60-foot telephone poles. It was an incredible day of confidence building. It required great team work to complete the exercises. LCDR Starr is Chairman of the Board of Broward Navy Days, the host organization for Fort Lauderdale Fleet Week, which took place May 1-7. The Cadets had almost daily interaction with the Sailors and Marines from USS New York, Coast Guard Medium Endurance Cutter Forward, Fast Response Cutter Margaret Norvell, and Coast Guard Buoy Tender, Joshua Appleby. LCDR Starr arranged a special After Hours Ship Tour, only for Sea Cadets, and invited our neighboring Units to participate. Respectfully submitted, LCDR Alan M. Starr, NSCC, Commanding Officer NAVY LEAGUE NEWS 15

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17 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, June 7, 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 NEXT GENErAL MEMBErShIP MEETING Wednesday, May Coral ridge yacht Club 6-7PM Cocktails 7-9 PM Dinner Captain Joseph D. Femino, usn u.s. Southern Command Joint Operations Center Chief rsvp required! Call no later than noon, Monday prior to the meeting. 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