Top headlines
CNO Gilday issues new 'Charge of Command to commanders
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday issued a new "Charge of Command" to commanders Jan. 11, 2022. Read more...



USMC first to grant religious exemptions to servicemembers
The Marine Corps has granted two religious exemptions to the military's Covid-19 vaccine mandate as of Thursday, Jan. 13. This makes it the first and only branch of the military to grant religious exceptions since the requirement went into effect in August.
In a Covid-19 update, the Marine Corps said it had received 3,350 requests for religious exemptions and had processed 3,212 of them. There was no additional information about why these two specific requests had been allowed.
According to news sources, the Navy received 3,038 religious exemption requests, though the service does not say how many have been processed. The Army has received 2,128 requests and rejected 162 so far. The Air Force has received 2,387 and rejected 229.



Navy extends boot camp training to from 8 weeks to 10 weeks
GREAT LAKES, Ill. - Recruit Training Command (RTC), the Navy’s enlisted boot camp, has extended the duration of its basic military training (BMT) program from eight to 10 weeks.
Recruits who arrived Jan. 3 and thereafter will be enrolled in the 10-week BMT program.
“We’ve added more leadership and professional development to the basic training toolkit, which Sailors can rely on throughout their careers,” said Rear Adm. Jennifer Couture, commander, Naval Service Training Command. “This additional training reinforces character development with a warfighting spirit so our Navy is strong, lethal and ready.”
“Sailor for Life,” a new training phase in the additional two weeks, provides recruits with more training in mentorship, small-unit leadership, advanced Warrior Toughness training, and professional and personal development through the Navy’s MyNavy Coaching initiative.
“The additions were the result of fleet feedback and the hard work of all the staff here at RTC and throughout the Navy,” said Lt. Cmdr. Katy Bock, military training director, Recruit Training Command. “Every recruit now graduates with more tools and skills to make them more effective and combat ready Sailors.”
Recruit Training Command continually builds on what it means to be a basically trained Sailor. The 10-week BMT program enhances Recruit Training Command’s ability to supply the Navy with basically trained, engaged and connected warfighters.
For more information about Recruit Training Command, visit bootcamp.navy.mil.

First USMC F-35C squadron deploys with Carrier Air Wing Nine
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing has marked a key milestone for Marine Corps history as they departed San Diego Bay with Carrier Air Wing Nine aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as the first Marine squadron to deploy the F-35C on an aircraft carrier. Read more...



USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group deploys from San Diego
The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group departed on a regularly scheduled deployment Monday, January 3, in support of global maritime security operations. Read more...



New movie 'A Journal for Jordan' brings Soldier's story of love, legacy to life
When Dana Canedy gave Army 1st Sgt. Charles M. King a journal in late 2005 to write a few words of advice to their unborn son, she said she expected only a page or two from her shy, reserved fiance.
King, a nearly 20-year veteran of the force by this time, was heading off on yet another overseas deployment, his last before retirement. Canedy, who was a few months pregnant, wanted to have the words "I love you" written on a page beside King's name, just in case something happened.
Read more...



DoD releases 2022 Basic Allowance for Housing rates
The Department of Defense has released the 2022 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates. BAH rates will increase an average of 5.1 percent when the new rates take effect on January 1, 2022. An estimated $25.6 billion will be paid to approximately one million service members. The temporarily increased BAH rates, effective October 1, 2021 for 56 military housing areas across the country, will expire on December 31, 2021 and will be replaced by the 2022 BAH rates. Read more...

See rates here: https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bah.cfm



Dept. of Navy, California Energy commission partner on energy and water initiatives
SAN DIEGO - The Department of the Navy and the California Energy Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Dec. 1 that will help the Navy and Marine Corps and the state collaborate on energy and water-related projects at DON Installations. Read more...



California lawmakers pass bill for license reciprocity for military spouses
New state license reciprocity legislation was signed and passed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Oct. 8, 2021, easing restrictions for veterans and spouses of California active-duty service members to actively practice certain professions or vocations. Read more...



Department of Defense offers information about Domestic
The DoD’s 2021 Domestic Violence Awareness campaign is over but resources are available all year long. The campaign brought awareness to the military community’s responsibility to support victims, respond to abuse, and focus on prevention efforts this month and throughout the year.
Victims have two reporting options:
Unrestricted: those who want to pursue an official investigation report through the service member’s command, FAP or local law enforcement.
Restricted: those who do not want an official investigation but do want victim advocacy services, medical care and/or counseling should make a restricted report to a FAP victim advocate, clinician or supervisor, or a military health care provider. Read more...



First Littoral Combat Ship, USS Freedom, decomissioned
USS Freedom (LCS-1) was decommissioned in Sept. at Naval Base San Diego after 13 years in the fleet. The decommissioning service was limited to ship plankowners and former crew members due to safety measures in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more...



U.S. Naval Community College now accepting applications
QUANTICO, Va. — The U.S. Naval Community College is now taking applications for the first phase of its Pilot II program. Read more...



DoD says it's time to renew your extended ID card
The Defense Department is asking as many as a half-million ID card holders to go online now and make appointments to renew their IDs — many of which are past the expiration dates printed on them.
DOD extended the expiration dates electronically to account for the challenges of renewing them in an COVID-19 environment.
Read more...



Resources for struggling veterans
Veterans from all eras are reacting to the events in Afghanistan, such as the U.S withdrawal and the takeover by the Taliban, and may question the meaning of their service or whether it was worth their sacrifice. US Dept of Veterans Affairs in California offers the following information. Read more...


DoD announces 5G prototype testing at San Diego Navy base
The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)) has selected Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) to be one of five Tranche 1 sites for the Department of Defense’s 5G to Next G Initiative.
The NBSD site will utilize a Naval Base Coronado warehouse operated by Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center San Diego (FLCSD) to prototype a smart warehouse use case enabled by 5G technology and to perform at-scale experimentation using the developed prototypes.
The prototyping’s objectives are to create a proving ground for testing, refining, and validating emerging 5G enabled technologies and to increase the efficiency and fidelity of NAVSUP FLCSD logistic operations.
Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific will lead the technical assessment with NBSD, NAVSUP, and NAVSUP FLCSD, supporting the implementation and execution of the experiments, performing test and evaluation, and ensuring the deployed 5G technology and smart warehouse applications meet Navy and OUSD (R&E) expectations.
The desired outcome is a 5G enabled smart warehouse that improves the efficiency, accuracy, security, and safety of materiel and supply handling, management, storage, and distribution for NAVSUP FLCSD, and a prototype transition plan for NAVSUP.
Industry partners have been selected to design and build the 5G test bed, various network enhancements, and warehouse specific applications.







United Through Reading®
Service members invited to record stories for family
United Through Reading® (UTR) is a free program helping ease the stress of separation for military and veteran families by having the service members or Veteran read children’s books aloud for their family to watch at home during times of physical separation. It is available for any type of separation, including but not limited to, deployment, training, geobaching, or shift work.
UTR provides service members and veterans a chance to make lasting connections from afar through the power of shared storytime. The recording and the book are given to the child and family at home at no cost.
Being a parent is not required; service members can send the recording & book(s) to any special child in their life such as younger sister or brother, niece, nephew, grandchild, or godchild.
The recording can be made via UTR’s free and secure UTR App, at one of UTR’s story stations, or at the Mobile Story Station at a community event. For more information visit unitedthroughreading.org or e-mail military@utr.org