Mahalo to all for your nominations.
By acclamation, Paul Jurcsak, Tim Sparks, Brett Kulbis and Carl Tatro will continue in their current positions.
Congratulations to our 2022-2023 Re-Elected Base Officers!
Reply
Category Archives: News
USSVI NEWS – Proposed Amendment Clarification
USSVI National Commander | August 2, 2022
Shipmates,
On this year’s national election ballot, we have a “PA” (Proposed Amendment to our National Constitution & BY Laws). It appears some of you have heard or developed the false belief that if this PA is implemented, it will impede the creation of additional bases.
I would like to explain why the National BOD’s and Constitution & Bylaws Committee felt it necessary to include this proposal on the ballot.
Everyone knows that trying to please everyone all of the time is an impossible goal.
In light of this, each of our Bases has occasionally had to deal with the ire of a small number of members who don’t agree with the majority.
In some cases, this has led to the disgruntled campers splitting off and asking their District Commander for permission to establish another base quite near their original primary base.
We know from previous experience that allowing this new Base charter to be issued without additional review by more than one person (District Commander) has resulted in some very unpleasant and unneeded issues, especially for the affected Regional Director.
Both bases enter with a competition goal of persuading the individuals in the near vicinity of the original Base to defect and join the new group.
Regretfully, in some instances the fierce rivalry reached a point where it was necessary to cancel one of the Base’s charters and shut it down.
Folks, this is not a National power grab. At the National level, we’re all working hard to build more Bases, but we want them to be solid, dependable Bases that don’t suffer from internal conflict.
This PA is primarily intended to develop a process that extends the scrutiny and permission of multiple parties before a Base is chartered, nothing more.
All the best to all of you,
Wayne Standerfer
NC
USSVI NEWS – August VSO Newsletter
USSVI VSO | August 1, 2022
Why You Should Get a Veterans Designation on Your Driver’s License
military.com/discounts/veterans/why-you-should-get-veterans-designation-your-drivers-license.html?ESRC=navy-a_220720.nl
Military Retirees and Dependents With ID Cards That Don’t Expire Need to Get Replacements Within 4 Years
military.com/daily-news/2022/07/14/military-retirees-and-dependents-id-cards-dont-expire-need-get-replacements-within-4-years.html?ESRC=navy-a_220720.nl
House Approves Higher Inflation Bonuses as Sweeping Defense Bill Advances
military.com/daily-news/2022/07/15/house-approves-higher-inflation-bonuses-sweeping-defense-bill-advances.html?ESRC=navy-a_220720.nl
The VA Just Changed This Home Loan Inspection Rule
military.com/daily-news/2022/07/15/va-just-changed-home-loan-inspection-rule.html?ESRC=navy-a_220720.nl
155,000 Military Health System Patients to Be Pushed to Civilian Care Starting This Year
military.com/daily-news/2022/07/12/155000-military-health-system-patients-be-pushed-civilian-care-starting-year.html?ESRC=mr_220718.nl
These Resorts and Hotels Are Just for Veterans and Military Members
military.com/travel/these-resorts-and-hotels-are-just-veterans-and-military-members.html?ESRC=mr_220711.nl
Senators Block VA Review of Hospital Closures, Upgrades
military.com/daily-news/2022/06/28/senators-block-va-review-of-hospital-closures-upgrades.html?ESRC=mr_220704.nl
Requirement for Women to Register for the Draft Back on thein Annual Defense Bill
military.com/daily-news/2022/06/27/requirement-women-register-draft-back-table-annual-defense-bill.html?ESRC=mr_220704.nl
New Defense Department ID Cards Are Finally Compatible With TSA Security
military.com/daily-news/2022/07/22/new-defense-department-id-cards-are-finally-compatible-tsa-security.html?ESRC=mr_220725.nl
House Panel Approves Expansion of GI Bill Eligibility After Sparring over COVID Vaccine
military.com/daily-news/2022/07/19/house-panel-approves-expansion-of-gi-bill-eligibility-after-sparring-over-covid-vaccine.html?ESRC=mr_220725.nl
Roughly 150 Patients Harmed by Flaw in the New VA Medical Records System, Watchdog Finds
military.com/daily-news/2022/07/19/roughly-150-patients-harmed-flaw-new-va-medical-records-system-watchdog-finds.html?ESRC=mr_220725.nl
Church that Allegedly Scammed GI Bill Benefits Is Proof More Oversight Is Needed, Advocate Tells Congress
military.com/daily-news/2022/07/20/church-allegedly-scammed-gi-bill-benefits-proof-more-oversight-needed-advocate-tells-congress.html?ESRC=mr_220725.nl
VA to Get First Permanent Official for Top Health Job Since 2017
military.com/daily-news/2022/07/21/va-get-first-permanent-official-top-health-job-2017.html?ESRC=mr_220725.nl
Disney Discounts for Military Families
military.com/discounts/disney-discounts-for-military-families.html?ESRC=navy-a_220727.nl
Fate of Historic Toxic Exposure Bill Unclear After Shocking Senate Defeat
military.com/daily-news/2022/07/28/fate-of-historic-toxic-exposure-bill-unclear-after-shocking-senate-defeat.html?ESRC=mr_220801.nl
Accepting Nominations for the 2022 Stanley K. Nicholls Award
CLOSED
Mahalo to all that participated and submitted nominations.
| Established in 2011, the Stanley K. Nicholls Award is awarded to the Base Member who, by his personal individual efforts and participation during the preceding years contributed the most to the advancement and embodiment of the USSVI Creed and Agenda, and by his dedicated service and support to the Bowfin Base Pearl Harbor and his fellow Submarine Veterans exemplifies the meaning and spirit of the word, “Shipmate.” Send your nomination to Secretary Brett Kulbis bkulbis@startmail.com or complete our online nomination form HERE NLT July 15, 2022. |
USSVI NEWS: Website Bulletin
| To all Base Members here is the link to the reconstituted New (Old) Website ussubvets.org that will be used in the interim between today and when the new more modern Blackbaud Website becomes active which is tentatively set for a timeframe between the end of August or first part of September. All updates to member profiles will be done on this site ussubvets.org “not the old ussvi.org site” which will be shut down completely on June 30th. The New (Old) Site ussubvets.org still has a couple of areas (example – American Submariner Page) that need to be reworked, so be patient and we will get to them as time permits. As also mentioned in todays earlier National Bulletin, We will be conducting our 2022 National Election on this refurbished website in lieu of using third party software. The process and button locations will be identical to previous national elections. More detailed Instructions will be sent out under separate cover a few days before the election ballot is opened on Friday, June 24th. Pride Runs Deep! Thank You, Timothy W. Carlisle, CISSP, PMP, DTM2 District 4 Director |
Honorary Submariner
On April 1, 2022 Base Commander Paul Jurcsak issued an “Honorary Submariner” certificate to Barry “Crazy Ivan” Crow.
Julian Medina, RMCS(SS) Retired, better known as Chingas, was stationed onboard USS Bremerton (SSN-698) and one of the squadrons here in Pearl Harbor.
He presently lives in Ingram, TX, and has some health issues mostly from agent orange exposure during two tours in Nam.
His golfing buddy Barry Crow (a retired railroad engineer) lives about fifty miles away from Chingas, but he picks him up for doctor appointments at the VA and anything else he needs, as Chingas has trouble driving.
Barry is crazy about submarines, reads everything he can about them and is referred to as Crazy Ivan. Chingas is so grateful to Barry so he asked Karl Dye for honorary submarine certificate from the Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base knowing it would mean the world to Barry.
Welcome to the “Brothers of the Phin” Barry!
Happy 122nd Birthday U.S. Submarine Force
Today, is the 122nd birthday of the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Force. As U.S. submariners celebrate their birthday around the world this month, they honor the heroes who have served past and present.
Submarines have a long history in the United States, beginning with Turtle, during the American Revolution. The world’s first combat submarine, invented by David Bushnell, was devised as a means of breaking the British blockade of Boston Harbor but was unsuccessful on multiple attempts. The U.S. Navy officially joined the undersea world when it purchased USS Holland (SS-1) on April 11, 1900, and commissioned her on October 12, 1900. The boat, designed by John P. Holland, proved valuable for experimental purposes during her 10-year career.
Although submarines did not play a large part for the U.S. during World War I, submarines such as USS K-5 (Submarine No. 36), one of the first U.S. diesel-electric submarines, deployed to the Azores patrolling for German submarines. World War II was when the submarine force became the workhorse of the U.S. Navy. Assessments indicated that U.S. submarines sank 540,192 tons of Japanese naval vessels, and 4,779,902 tons of merchant shipping during the course of the war, accounting for 54.6 percent of all Japanese vessel losses. World War II submarine operations paved the way for most of today’s submarine missions.
USS Nautilus (SSN-571) — developed by Hyman G. Rickover — was the first nuclear-powered submarine, and the first submarine to cross the North Pole under the Arctic polar ice pack. USS George Washington (SSBN-598) made history on July 20, 1960, when she successfully launched the first Polaris from a submerged submarine. The Tomahawk land-attack missile was later developed, and was first used by, submarines in combat during Operation Desert Storm by USS Louisville (SSN-724) and USS Pittsburgh (SSN-720).
The submarine community is a small force which delivers a major impact and provides unique capabilities to operational commanders. As the maritime security environment has evolved into an asymmetrical warfighting scenario, we now face new weapons systems that can threaten our joint forces at over-the-horizon ranges. These long range challenges underscore the demands on the submarine force to meet their growing and increasing scopes of responsibilities.
Today’s submarine force is the most capable force in the world and the history of the U.S. Navy. The men and women of the U.S. Submarine Force are the most highly trained, dedicated and professional sailors performing some of the most difficult jobs during stealth deployments around the world.
Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Birthday Message
“Of all the branches of the men in the forces there is none which shows more devotion and faces grimmer perils than the submariners.”
Sir Winston Churchill
USS Delaware (SSN 791) Commissioned
A ceremony to celebrate the commissioning of the nuclear-powered USS Delaware (SSN 791) submarine took place at the Port of Wilmington on Saturday.
It marked the first time in nearly a century that the name of the First State has been used for a U.S. Navy vessel and the first time it’s ever been used for a submarine.
While the Virginia-class submarine was administratively commissioned underwater due to COVID-19 complications in April 2020, Saturday’s event was to commemorate the ceremonial inauguration of the 7,800-ton vessel.
President Joe Biden and Jill Biden were guests. The first lady is the sponsor of the submarine, an honorary role in which she participates in the milestones of the vessel’s life. A sponsor’s spirit is meant to protect and guide the ship and its crew during its lifetime.
Sen. Tom Carper, a Navy veteran himself, was the keynote speaker. He was joined by Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, Gov. John Carney, Rep. Lisa Blunt-Rochester, Sen. Chris Coons and high-ranking Navy officials.
Navy Finalizes Plans for Next Rim of the Pacific Exercise
The U.S. Navy and 26 partners and allies have concluded a final planning conference for this year’s Rim of the Pacific exercise, the largest international maritime exercise.
“This conference represents one of the last steps to making this exercise a reality and is the perfect opportunity here in Hawaii to allow participants the opportunity to see where we will all be operating in July,” RIMPAC Coordinator Royal Australian Navy Lt. Cmdr. James Dobson said in a U.S. Navy news release. “The level of teamwork, planning and cooperation between participants has been fantastic, ensuring that this exercise will be executed safely and professionally.”
The exercise will take place in July and August in and around Hawaii.
Nominations Open for 2022 National Awards
We have many individual Members and Bases that contribute untold hours working to help their shipmates, advance our organization and follow the directives of our Purpose/Creed. Unfortunately, too many of these efforts and accomplishments go unnoticed because they take place at the local level and remain under National’s Radar.
Please don’t procrastinate, read the individual award requirements and submission procedures described in the 2022 USSVI Awards Manual and take the painless steps to recognize these Shipmates, Bases and Newsletters.
The USSVI Awards
Joe Negri Award (Submarine Veteran of the Year)
Robert Link National Commander’s Award
District Commander of the Year Award
Meritorious Award Golden Anchor Award
Silver Anchor Award
Ben Bastura Historical Achievement Award
Newsletter of the Year Award
2022 Awards Submission Timeline:
FEBRUARY 1: Award Nomination period opens and all USSVI Members in good standing submit Award nominations to the National Awards Chair.
APRIL 30: All Award nominations (with exception of Newsletter Award) must be received by the National Awards Chair at the close of business on this date.
MAY 15: All Newsletter Award nominations must be received by the National Awards Chair at the close of business on this date.
MAY 17: The National Awards Chair submits nominations to the respective Award on Committee Chair for voting and on of recipients.
JUNE 15: All Award Sel-Committee Chairs report selections to the National Awards Chair.
Please submit questions and nominations to the National Awards Chairman, Harold W (Bill) Scott II at hscottss242@gmail.com or mail to the following address:
National Awards Program Chair
Harold W (Bill) Scott II
901 Busleigh Castle Way
Pflugerville, TX 78660-7474
Bowfin Pearl Harbor Base 