Month: January 2024

Source: United States Navy

Called “Running Fix,” the initiative works to address programmatic and organizational issues not aligned with current priorities. It is a proactive approach to listen to Sailors and Marines, hear their concerns and ideas, and identify solutions to budget and acquisition inefficiencies.

“The Department of the Navy is a venerable and strong organization well-poised to address our Nation’s strategic needs,” said Secretary Del Toro in All Navy Message (ALNAV) 006/24. “We owe it to the American people to take a hard look at ourselves and be the best stewards of every tax dollar they provide. This process will enable us to demonstrate transparency and accountability, which will further strengthen our Navy.”

Assistant Secretary of the Navy (ASN) for Research, Development and Acquisition (RDA) Nickolas Guertin and ASN Financial Management and Comptroller (FM&C) Russell Rumbaugh will chair the project. They will conduct a formal process to identify and analyze issues with input from stakeholders across the DON, then incorporate those issues into the Fiscal Year 2026 budget development process.

Individuals can provide their submissions online at https://portal.secnav.navy.mil/orgs/FMC/Lists/RunningFix/ccs_NewForm.aspx.

Afterward, information will be gathered and analyzed by a working group in the Pentagon. Ultimately, commands whose ideas are selected will receive recognition and potentially to retain the savings associated with their respective nomination.

By maintaining fiscal responsibility, the DON ensures that our Sailors and Marines have the resources they need to carry out their missions effectively. We are committed to delivering the highest level of operational readiness while being good stewards of taxpayer funds.

ALNAV 006/24 can be found at https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Portals/55/Messages/ALNAV/ALN2024/ALN24006.txt?ver=ZIRXK9RLEja6a5R-Ga11Sw%3d%3d.

Source: United States Navy

“Our Micro Market offers convenience and accessibility to the men and women aboard this ship with the goal to drive up morale and mission readiness,” said Scott Gray, Vice President, NEXCOM’s Ships Store Program. “This new operation provides our Sailors with access to over 200 food, beverage and toiletry items. The functional ability for this store is to remain open 24 hours a day/seven days a week, giving the crew increased opportunity to grab a bite to eat or even a boost of vitamin C in between odd hours and duty.”

The 600 square foot Micro Market@Sea operation utilizes a self-checkout register. To checkout, Sailors insert their CAC cards, scan the items for purchase and pay with their Navy Cash Card. Like a ship’s store, profits generated from sales will to back to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to support its MWR program.

NEXCOM’s Ships Store Program launched the first Micro Market@Sea concept onboard the USS San Antonio (LPD 19) in November 2020. Worldwide, there are currently 77 NEX Micro Market ashore operations, located in Navy hospitals, aircraft hangars, office spaces and shipyards.                                                                       

Source: United States Navy

Once again this year, customers of the NEX and MCX will be able to support the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) by purchasing a $5 benefit ticket. This fall, the benefit tickets will be on sale Oct. 1 – Nov. 4 at select NEX locations and online at myNavyExchange.com/nmcrs and Oct. 4 – 21 at MCX locations.

The purchase of the $5 benefit ticket entitles customers to $5 off as well as a 5% discount applied to a one time in-store or online purchase from Oct. 29 – Nov. 4 for NEX customers and Oct. 19 – 21 for MCX customers. The discounts are good on regular, sale and clearance merchandise. Some exclusions apply. Customers purchasing the benefit ticket online at myNavyExchange.com will receive an email with a coupon code for 5% off along with an additional $5 off coupon.

In total, NEX and MCX customers have given over $7 million to NMCRS to help Navy and Marine families with financial and educational assistance.

Source: United States Navy

“Our 36 Navy Lodges and associates around the world work tirelessly to ensure guests receive exceptional hospitality, whether they stay one night or several weeks.” said Bianchi. ‘As the Navy’s single provider for all temporary duty and permanent change of station lodging, NEXCOM is an important quality of life benefit for our Navy warfighters, their families, as well as reservists, retirees and veterans,”

The Edward E. Carlson Award is given to the Navy Lodge that has the highest scores in guest and associate satisfaction, operations, quality assurance assessment and financial performance. The 2022 Navy Lodge of the Year grand winner is Navy Lodge San Diego. Navy Lodge North Island, California, is the large property winner and Navy Lodge Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, won in the medium property category. Along with the Carlson Awards, Navy Lodge General Manager and Associate of the Year award winners were also announced.

Being a trusted and collaborative leader with a focus on PREMIER guest service resulted in Ruben Rodriguez, maintenance worker, Navy Lodge Fort Worth, Texas, being selected as NEXCOM’s Navy Lodge Program Associate of the Year.

“Ruben embodies the true spirit of hospitality by creating a caring atmosphere and memorable experiences for all our guests,” said Secelia Donovan, General Manager, Navy Lodge Fort Worth. “In addition, his drive to improve work methods has resulted in real cost savings to our lodge as well as the Navy Lodge Program. Ruben truly goes above and beyond every day to support our Navy Lodge and our guests.”

NEXCOM’s Navy Lodge Program General Manager of the Year is Dominic Lewis, Navy Lodge Mayport, Florida. Lewis’s very high standards and expectations for taking care of his associates as well as providing PREMIER guest service to his guests attributed to his winning the award. 

In 2022, Lewis and his team achieved an occupancy rate of 90.5%, the highest in the past 20 years. Moreover, for two years in a row, Lewis’s positivity, encouragement and support of his team, resulted in Navy Lodge Mayport achieving an impressive Associate Satisfaction Index score of 97.

“Dominic is an incredible ambassador for Navy Lodge Mayport,” said Karla Hardy, Regional Vice President, NEXCOM Hospitality Group. “Dominic can always be counted on to provide assistance when asked and gives his best effort on every assignment. His professionalism, friendly demeanor and attention to detail has earned him great respect from not only his associates and guests, but also from Navy leadership.”

Source: United States Navy

The arrival of USNS Mercy to Chuuk marks the final stop of Pacific Partnership 24-1, the largest multinational humanitarian and disaster relief mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific.

Mercy’s arrival to Chuuk marks the seventh time Pacific Partnership has worked side-by-side with the Federated States of Micronesia, with an earlier stop in Pohnpei in December 2023.

At the invitation of host nations, Pacific Partnership’s mission partners conduct tailored humanitarian civil action preparedness activities in areas such as engineering, disaster response, public health, and host nation outreach events.

The U.S. Pacific Partnership Band, comprised of musicians from the U.S. Pacific Fleet Band and the Royal Australian Navy, will perform in a variety of community engagements.

“The Pacific Partnership’s visit to Pohnpei last month reached FSM citizens through health and community service outreach—from eye and dental care to subject matter expert training to medical procedures,” said U.S. Ambassador Jennifer Johnson, ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia. “Seeing people of all ages enjoy the talented musicians of the Pacific Fleet Band was a great highlight of the visit. We look forward to this second phase of the mission in Chuuk, where the Mercy can provide an even greater range of medical assistance.”

In addition to activities aboard the hospital ship, Pacific Partnership medical providers will work shoulder-to-shoulder with providers at Chuuk State Hospital, ensuring that information exchanges result in more sustainable medical practices once USNS Mercy leaves Chuuk.

This year’s mission will also feature nearly 1,300 personnel from allies and partner nations including Australia, Chile, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, and New Zealand.

Born out of the devastation brought by the December 2004 tsunami that swept through parts of South and Southeast Asia, Pacific Partnership began as a military-led humanitarian response to one of the world’s most catastrophic natural disasters. Building on the success and goodwill of this operation, the United States helped spearhead the inaugural Pacific Partnership mission in 2006.

Pacific Partnership, now in its 19th iteration, is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Each year the mission team works collectively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific.

For more information about Pacific Partnership visit www.facebook.com/pacificpartnership, www.instagram.com/pacific_partnership/ or https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/PacificPartnership. Pacific Partnership public affairs can be reached via email at cherylcollins.pp24@gmail.com.