Navy Pride Blog

Navy Wife for McCain Palin

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:52:00 +0000

Say it with this great T-shirt. Navy Wife for McCain Palin in Red White and Blue with matching Nautical Stars. Available in Juniors, Womens, and Plus Size T-shirts. Also available in a V-Neck, Speghetti Tank, Tank Top, and Hoodie.

Register to Vote CONUS or OCONUS

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:30:00 +0000

In the CONUS you can visit your State's Election Website. Most sites now have the ability to fill out and print your voter registration online and mail it in to the address provided on your printout.

You can use this PDF Postcard Form and Guide no matter what state you are in. Or visit your State's Voter Registration site. I've complied a list of links for each state below.

Alright Here We Go...

ALABAMA, ALASKA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO,

CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSISSIPPI, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING

That took some time to compile, but if it helps one person register to vote it was more than worth the time :)

Finally,

If you are OCONUS (Outside the Continental United States) a great place to get started would be the Federal Voting Assistance Program.

All military units have voting assistance officers, and each American embassy or consulate can help U.S. citizens exercise their rights to vote.

LT Jason Watkins is the Navy's Service Voting Action Officer He provides assistance concerning unique questions and/or problems for navy personnel and their families that is covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

Contact your local installation Voting Assistance Officer. If you are unable to obtain information locally, contact the LT Jason Watkins, (901) 874-6647,DSN: 882-6647, Option 5, toll free: 1-866-827-5672, Option 6 or Fax: (901) 874-6844, DSN 882-6844

Another valuable resource is the 2008 Election Center on Military.com

September is National Preparedness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:43:00 +0000

“National Preparedness Month is an important reminder about each American’s civic responsibility to prepare for emergencies,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

Are there recourses specifically for Navy Families? What is Operation Prepare?

Operation Prepare, a fleet-wide education and awareness campaign on emergency preparedness, provides Navy family members with valuable tools and resources to help them be more prepared in the event of natural disasters.

Operation Prepare provides emergency preparedness tools and resources online at www.cnic.navy.mil. From facts sheets on various disasters—natural and manmade hazards, fast-spreading diseases and terrorist events—to planning forms and an emergency supplies checklist, preparing for all types of emergencies has never been easier. All materials are tailored for the Navy and are consistent with information from myriad sources such as the American Red Cross, Centers for Disease Control, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security.

Helpful Links~

American Red Cross
(www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_239_,00.html)- Preparedness guides and information for home, school, work, and community.

Preparing Makes Sense, Get Ready Now
Downloadable brochure with checklists and printable forms

Regional Information available on the CNIC (Commander Navy Installations Command) Website

Naval District Washington

OCONUS

Meet the DC Skate Team Allstars & Wee Man from MTV & Jack ASS

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:22:00 +0000

Check out the First Annual Subway Feast Saturday June 14th from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the San Marcos Civic Center Plaza. Watch the DC Skate team allstars featuring Danny Way & Colin McKay as they perform live demonstrations….NFL Players Shawne Merriman & Jacque Cesaine will be signing autographs and hosting the event to show their support of our troops as well as special guest Stan from MTV & Jack ASS – Wee Man. Come for Live music, food & fun with all proceeds going to benefit "Freedom Is Not Free" a foundation….. aiding wounded service members, their families & the families of the fatally wounded. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for active military, and children under 12. Tickets include admission, a 6" subway sub & a 21 oz drink. Pick up your tickets at the new Drucken Subway location at 133 N. Twin Oaks Valley Road in San Marcos. Tickets also available the day of the event.

For more information call 858-525-2596

FREE tickets to Sea World, Busch Gardens, Sesame Place...

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:13:00 +0000

We take advantage of this every year :) We simply show up at Sea World with our Military ID Cards and they give us our FREE tickets! As far as I know you may visit one park for free once a year. SeaWorld is in our neighborhood so that is where we go, but you can get a free ticket for ANY of the Anheuser-Busch Theme Parks.

~Anheuser-Busch is honored to salute the men and women of our armed forces and their families. Throughout 2008, members of the military and as many as three direct dependents may enter any one of Anheuser-Busch's SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Sesame Place parks with a single-day complimentary admission.

Any active duty, activated or drilling reservist, or National Guardsman is entitled to free admission under the Here's to the Heroes program. He or she need only register, either by clicking here and submitting his or her information or in the entrance plaza of participating parks, and show a Department of Defense photo ID. As many as three direct dependents of military personnel also are entitled to free admission. Dependents may take advantage of the offer without their service member, though an adult must accompany minor dependents, and dependent ages 10 and over must present valid dependent I.D.

Official Site for Hero Salute

Win a Miltary Dream Wedding

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:02:00 +0000

Planning on getting married? Enter the Military Dream Wedding Contest, for a lucky San Diego-Area Military Couple E-6 and below who has served in the Middle East!

The winning couple and up to 50 guests will be treated to a full-featured, all-inclusive ceremony and reception on Sunday, January 25, 2009.
The total value of the wedding package will exceed $25,000!

The wedding
will take place on Sunday, January 25, 2009.

The ceremony
will be held at Saint Francis Chapel, located on the South side of Balboa Park next to San Diego Museum of Man, at 4:00pm.

Map & Directions
Chapel website

The reception
will be held at the San Diego Art Institute in Balboa Park from 5:00pm - 9:30pm.

Map & Directions
Art Institute website: panoramic view

The menu
will include a 3-course meal with hors d'oeuvres tray provided by Personal Touch Dining

Hurry! Your entries need to be submitted by July 31st, 2008.
With the winning couple notified on or before August 14th, 2008.

For more info visit their website... Military Dream Wedding

Chick-fil-A Military Appreciation Night

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:45:00 +0000

Want to eat free at Chick-fil-A? Show up between
5pm and 8pm on THURSDAY JUNE 12th
at the following Chick-fil-A's with your military ID
and you and your immediate family eat for FREE!

Sports Arena (Unit #02014)
www.chick-fil-a.com/sportsarena
3570 Sports Arena Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92110-4919
619/758-1555

Eastlake Terraces (Unit #01514)
www.chick-fil-a.com/eastlaketerraces
2089 Olympic Parkway
Chula Vista, CA 91915
619/482-6719

San Marcos (Unit #01959)
www.chick-fil-a.com/sanmarcos
587 Grand Avenue
San Marcos, CA 92078-1234
760/736-8105

Quarry Creek (Unit #01507)
www.chick-fil-a.com/quarrycreek
3475 Marron Road
Oceanside, CA 92056
760/720-9199

One more note on H.R. 5658

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Wed, 28 May 2008 05:58:00 +0000

TRANSPORTATION OF FAMILY PETS DURING EVACUATION OF NONESSENTIAL PERSONNEL.

Section 406(b)(1) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting after subparagraph (H), as added by section 632, the following new subparagraph:

‘‘(I) In connection with an evacuation from a permanent station located in a foreign area, a member is entitled to transportation of not more than two family household pets, including shipment and the payment of quarantine fees, if any. As an alternative to the provision of transportation for the pets, the Secretary concerned may reimburse the member or provide a monetary allowance under sub paragraph (F) if other commercial transportation meansare used. A member is not entitled to transportation underthis subparagraph for horses, livestock, or pets weighing inexcess of 150 pounds or for animals that the Secretary concerned determines are exotic pets or endangered species.’’.

More FYI on H.R. 5658

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Wed, 28 May 2008 05:51:00 +0000

I read through bill H.R. 5658 and here are some of points of interest...

Introduced by Rep. Ike Skelton from MO (D) & Rep. Duncan Hunter from CA (R)
$124,500,000 for the refueling and complex overhaul of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (home port VA). It is the 1st increment in the planned three-year funding.
Applicability of a previous Teaming Agreements between Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman Newport News with contracts to build 30-ship Virginia Class submarines.
Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, a new breed of focused mission ships. Designed and built by a team led by Lockheed Martin -- will help the U.S. Navy defeat growing littoral, or close-to-shore, threats and provide access and dominance in coastal water battle-space.
Increased maximum authorized payment or reimbursement amount
for temporary lodging expenses from $180 a day to $290 a day.
Bonus and Special Pay Extensions. Some include, Aviation Officer Retention Bonus, Asignment Incentive Pay, Reenlistment Bonus for Active Members, Enlisted Bonus, Special Pay for Nuclear-Qualified Officers Extending Period of Active Service, the Nuclear Career Accession Bonus, and the Nuclear Career Annual Incentive Bonus extended.
Increased weight allowance for transportation of baggage and household
effects for certain enlisted members. Effective October 1, 2008.
{paygrade-with dependents/without dependents}

E–9 13,500 /15,500

E–8 12,500 /14,500

E–7 11,500 /13,500

E–6 8,500 /11,500

E–5 7,500 /9,500
Chiropractic health care for members on active duty who are entitled to care under section 1074(a) of title 10, United Stated Code
The military department designated as the Department of the Navy is redesignated as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps.
$1,401,553,000 for the National Defense Sealift Fund.

2009 Pay Raise Approves House

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Wed, 28 May 2008 03:19:00 +0000

The House Armed Services Committee approved H.R. 5658. The bill authorizes a 3.9 percent pay military pay raise in addition to $70 billion to support ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan during fiscal year 2009. A detailed summary of H.R. 5658 as reported by the House Armed Services Committee is available.

For an E-4 with four years' military service would receive an increase of $79.86 a month. For an O-4 with four years, it would be $189.25 a month. Find your proposed pay for 2009.

Free Phone Cards for Military

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:12:00 +0000

Created by the VFW, Operation Uplink is a unique program that keeps military personnel and hospitalized veterans in touch with their families and loved ones by providing them with free phone cards. To learn more about how you can help support Operation Uplink and our heroes abroad, go to: http://www.operationuplink.org.

Operation Uplink: Let Freedom Ring

Know someone that would like to learn about VFW Operation Uplink? Help spread the word by sending an e-mail message.
Tell A Friend
(will take you to www.operationuplink.org)

2,530 pounds of mail...

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:15:00 +0000

On average an Aircraft Carrier receives about 2,530 pounds of mail in a single day! Just thought I would pass on a little info and some news to me about shipping care packages to our loved ones underway.

Be sure to scroll down to see what the United States Postal Service does for us.

A few tips & ideas for your care packages.

Breakfast bars. Granola, cereal and power bars, cliff bars
Glade Stick-Up
Blanket from home.
A big fluffy towel
Instant coffee. You can get it in many different flavors.
Powdered Hot Chocolate
Calling cards
Pictures of you
pictures of family
Zip Drive with a "Mix Tape" of MP3s
Send pocket electronic games. About $10 each
Make and send a miniature scrapbook
Prepackaged Brownies & Rice Crispie Treats
Snack mixes like Chex Mix
Nuts - Cashews, peanuts, etc.
Pretzels
Rolls of quarters

ALL items which contain liquids and pastes (even in cans), put in a zip-lock bag, and a second one up-side-down from the first one. If an item can leak, it will.

Did you know that you can send the Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate Box for a FLAT RATE, regardless of weight? PACK IT FULL! Its that same price to ship a box full or cotton balls or a box of magazines and books :)

~Plus you can go to USPS.com and get a pack of 10 empty boxes delivered to your home for FREE! If you're anything like me, every little bit helps :) Unloading three children to go in the Post Office to get one box then going home filling it and taking it back... Ya, one less errand is always welcome here :)

From the site...
Introducing a quick, easy, convenient and NOW 50% larger way for you to ship Priority Mail packages to military personnel serving overseas. The Priority Mail APO/FPO Flat Rate Box features predetermined rates regardless of weight (domestically) or destination, similar to our other Flat Rate products.

Some key benefits:

Only $10.95 when used to send to APO/FPO addresses; $2.00 less than our domestic pricing.
Box features the “America Supports You” logo and APO/FPO addressing block.
The U.S. Postal Service offers free Package Pickup from your home or office at a time and place convenient for you. To schedule Package Pickup and for other pickup options and availability, visit usps.com.

Reagan Strike Group and American Idol have something in common...

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:57:00 +0000

There are more than 7,000 sailors on the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan and the six ships in its strike group! There were 7100 fans in the audience last night at the American Idol Finalle.

Not sure of the exact quote but on the American Idol finale last night, David Cook mentioned that he was singing to 7000 people. That is still LESS than there are in the Ronald Reagan Strike Group! And that crowd was huge! It really opened my eyes to all the families that are going through the same thing we are.

I wish strength, courage, and happiness to all of my fellow Reagan Strike Group Families and to all our families with a loved one deployed!

USS Ronald Reagan & Stike Group Leaves for 6 Month Deployment

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:52:00 +0000

More than 7,000 sailors, 5,000 of them aboard the Reagan, are serving on the ships. Navy officials have not announced where the Reagan Strike Group is heading, but the deployment is scheduled to last six months.

The carrier strike group includes the guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville; guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur, USS Gridley and USS Howard; guided missile frigate USS Thach and fast combat support ship USNS Rainier.

Excerpt from NBCSandiego.com

~Sorry I've been MIA (but I'm sure those of you who have done this), you can understand that we were spending our last moments together before my Husband left on his WestPac. This is our 4th Pac together, one as a Newly Wed, one Pregnant with twins, one with 2 toddlers & a baby and finally this one, with 3 toddlers. Our 4th Pac in 7 years together, it feels like we just got back from our last deployment last year with the USS John C. Stennis.

While this one was the hardest yet to say goodbye, I am optimistic that this deployment will be the easiest. I am back down in San Diego by a really great friend and my Brother. I have a sitter (my brother's girl friend), and I DON'T live out in the middle of nowhere. Another bonus positive is that the twins are old enough to be in activities (ballet & piano).

Usually WestPacs find stir crazy women leaving for road trips and vacations to see family across the country, but I really love being here in San Diego. At this moment I can think of another place I'd rather be. I am a woman and have the prerogative to change my mind if I like so I may make a trip or two to AZ and if I REALLY feel like being adventurous I could take the kids to CO or TX, to see family and friends.

I channeled my energy yesterday with designing a few new items for the Navy Pride Store. A shirt that instead of saying Navy Brat (I've always disliked that term), I designed one that says Navy Princess. I also designed license plate frames for the USS Ronald Reagan.

Thanks for stopping by :)

ANOTHER April Desktop Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:09:00 +0000

I had to make another one LOL. I was inspired, I couldn't help it. So here is my second attempt. This time I used Shabby Princess' Promise Free Kit and Ida's Calendar 2008 and a template from Racketty Scrappety. Saved in PSD layers so all you have to do is place you pictures in, save and load up your new desktop background. It is the standard 1028x768 pixels made to fit most monitors beautifully, but I am biased.

Preview

Here is what I did with it...
If you like it you may download it here.

April Desktop Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:58:00 +0000

Alright so this has NOTHING to do with the Navy but I had to share... I put together this desktop background for this month (APRIL) and I just couldn't keep it to myself...

Here's how I used mine...
pics from Easter on the beach (Woods Cove) with the kids & my SIL Janet

I used the Festival free kit from Shabby Princess, Ida's Calendar 2008, & template from Rackety Scrapety. It is a layered PSD file so all you have to do is insert your own photos. Oh yea, it is made to fit most monitors {1028x768} Download it here.

Slideshow from the Shop

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:07:00 +0000

Made a slide show with some of the items you can find at the
Navy Pride Store. Stop by and look around if you get the chance.
http://www.cafepress.com/navypridestore

Carrier Lincoln leaves on 7-month tour

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:56:00 +0000

The aircraft carrier deployed Thursday from Everett, WA where they are home ported and came on down to sunny San Diego to pick up their air wing and another 1,500 crew members. They are headed toward the Persian Gulf to support the global war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 3,600 crew members are expected to be gone for the standard six to seven month deployment.

~~~Good Luck and God Bless to all the crew and their families that are left behind.

~~~ Please stay safe!

We are up and running again!

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:53:00 +0000

Its good to be back :-) Missed writing my little blogs. The trusty old PC is now set up in the main living space of our place. Its actually kinda nice to be back on the ol' PC. Keys are a little clunky and its nice to be back on Windows XP and Mozilla. {The laptop had Vista}

TTYL

Laptop + Coffee = Fried Laptop

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:16:00 +0000

Sorry about the lack of posts in the past few days. I (not the kids believe it or not), spilled my coffee on the laptop the other day. I tried to keep faith that after it dried out it would work, but no. Its a goner. I do have a personal computer, but it is secluded away from the rest of the family in a room full of boxes, children's clothes, and other random stuff we don't want the kids to getting into. We call it "the office". So as I type I have a baby gate across the doorway of "the office" and I can hear the kids quietly watching Micky Mouse Clubhouse.

I'll keep you posted, (as much as I can).

Take Care,
~Steph

My Sailor Is My Hero

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:44:00 +0000

What a great way to tell everyone how proud you are of your sailor!
With "My Sailor Is My Hero" across the chest with a Nautical Star on the front AND on the back. Available in pink, 100% fine jersey cotton.

Find it (and more navy pride wearables) here.

Tax Information for Members of the Armed Forces

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:56:00 +0000

Just some FYI to help you through this years tax season...

Questions & Answers on Combat Zone Tax Provisions — Military Pay Exclusions, Deadline Extensions and Miscellaneous Provisions for Qualifying Taxpayers; Employers.

Also be sure to read ~
Publication 3, Armed Forces' Tax Guide, it addresses a wide range of issues that may affect members of the military:

Online — browse the publication to find specific information;
Portable Document Format (PDF) — download a copy to read later or print select pages;
Hardcopy — order a paper copy by calling 1-800-829-3676.

Source Internal Revenue Service United States Department of the Treasury (Offical Site)

Helping Families During Military Deployment

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:12:00 +0000

Being a part of a military family can be a challenge. This bilingual DVD kit is designed to help military families with children ages 3-5 cope with feelings, challenges, and concerns experienced during various phases of deployment: pre-deployment, deployment, and homecoming. The kit includes a DVD featuring the beloved Muppets from Sesame Street, and a parent/caregiver magazine and poster. Created through a partnership with Sesame Workshop and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., with additional support from the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) and the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC).

Individuals requesting single copies may order online through Military OneSource, or they may call 1-800-730-3802. Military organizations requesting bulk orders may order by phone or e-mail at MOSEmailAConsultant@ceridian.com. In your e-mail, please include the following information: your full name, the shipping address where you'd like the DVDs sent, and the Branch of the military you are associated with.

The Sesame Street video and parent/caregiver materials are also available for download at http://www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc

Navy To Sink 15 Decommissioned Ships

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:52:00 +0000

By Zachary M. Peterson - Staff writer Posted : Monday Feb 25, 2008 9:47:25 EST

The majority of the ships the Navy plans to sink — 11 vessels of the 15 — are auxiliary ships. These ships will be replaced by T-AKE dry cargo and ammunition ships. The Lewis and Clark-class T-AKE ships replace three auxiliary ships: the Kilauea-class ammunition ships, the Mars-class combat stores ships and — when operating with a Henry J. Kaiser-class oiler — the Supply-class fast combat support ships.

Read more here.

USS Enterprise CVN-65 '06

noreply@blogger.com (Steph :o)) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:12:00 +0000

Really great video I found on Youtube.com