FIRST CALL: Notes & Ramblings From The Pilothouse

"Old Salt of the Sixth Fleet"
An oil painting by Frank E. Zuccarelli, depicting a "Salty Sailor" on board USS Strong (DD-758), while on duty with Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, July 1972.
Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington DC

I've gotta laugh...
...at the folks who take e-mails passed to them from friends -- who got it from another source -- as gosh-honest truth. It just amazes me how gullible they are. If they see it on the web or it lands in their email inbox, well, by cracky, it's gotta be the truth!

A friend of mine the other day forwarded me an email supposedly written by a Hollywood celebrity and his views which "hit the nail on the head." Those of you who have received this email know which one what I'm talking about.

Being the ever-nosy legacy JO, I checked my hoax-busting sources and learned that the certain A-list celebrity in-question didn't pen it, but a well-respected and published author, commentator and corporate CEO did. I sent him an email back with links to who actually wrote it. He replied that because he got it from a "friend of a friend of a friend, etc.," it just had to be the "truth." Or so he thought.

Good-intentioned folks always forward me emails just like that one almost daily. Most of 'em I send direct to the trash bin -- with the exception of a few...

So, I'm still waiting for my free Disney vacation, a dinner from Applebee's, a free flight on British Airways, and a new car from Honda.

My email inbox never lies to me...

Ouch in the wallet...
It wasn't too long ago we were all complaining when gas was running over two bucks a gallon. Now it's topped to $4 and some change in a lot of places...including gas stations on-base overseas.

As Americans, we're an automobile society and culture. In the last 100 years, the auto defined America -- the interstate highway system, hot rods, cruising the strip, coffee shops, family vacations, paved roads, drag racing, road trips, drive-thru burger stands...even NASCAR. And we enjoyed, to an extent, unlimited travel to every point on the highway map and cheap fuel.

Now we're faced with the fuel cost reality that folks in other nations experience day-to-day. Those that bought fuel-guzzling SUVs and pickups are really feeling the pinch now when they have to shell out almost double what they used to pay just to fill the tank. And they're pretty much strapped with them...pickups and SUVs are like Kryptonite for a trade-in toward a more fuel-efficient vehicle. Because of consumer demand, dealers of a certain brand of hybrid car have been tacking-on anywhere from $3000 to $5000 over the base price...and customers are willing to shell-out the cash to buy them.

Others who planned that cross-country vacation are now re-thinking their holiday plans to make it a "stay-cation" in-town. So long, family summer road trip. The nation's working poor, who live on extremely tight budgets and need a car to commute to work and run errands, are making the best of it. Often it becomes a choice between food, rent or fuel.

Is there anything we can do? Well, you can lead an oil company to an oil field...but you can't get them to drill for it. We're talking about an industry that holds a virtual stranglehold on the supply we depend on. In their minds, cheaper gas means less profits for the company -- even though they've made it about a zillion times over. Boycotts are also ineffective -- unless EVERYONE gets on the bandwagon.

Grousing and whining about it won't solve the problem. But as INDIVIDUALS we can be proactive and disciplined in our driving habits to stretch your fuel between fill-ups. Look for my article on how to get more miles from your tank of gas.

Changing of the guard
Unless you've been getting your news by carrier pigeon, it's been a tough month for the Air Force with the resignations of Air Force Secretary (SECAF) Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff (CSAF) General T. Michael Moseley over their performance and leadership of the nuclear weapons program. Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently said during an "all-hands" meeting with Airmen at Nellis AFB that "good leadership at all levels will fix what ails the Air Force."

Mullen admires SECAF Wynne and CSAF Moseley for taking responsibility for the degradation of nuclear program standards reported within the service, and said it will be a start in fixing the problems within its nuclear mission. Admiral Mullen emphasized that the fix does not set squarely on the shoulders of the senior leaders.

"This is not just senior leaders. You can lead from E-1 to O-10. You can lead from the front, the middle or the back," Mullen said. "Leadership is at the core of what makes us great."

Congratulations, graduates!
Yup, it's graduation time. There's a few NTWS members who've had their kids graduate from high school and/or college this month or back in May. My step-daughter, Leah, just graduated this month from DePaul University in Chicago with a degree in accounting. It took her over six years of hard work and sacrifice to get her diploma -- on top of her being a single mom with a full-time career.

Mom and I are very proud of you, hon!

Until next time...

 

Jon Yim
Editor

Navy, Philippine Military Deliver Supplies to Typhoon Victims

Combined news reports

ILOILO, Republic of the Philippines -- Sailors from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and her escort ships teamed with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to deliver much-needed relief supplies to the victims of Typhoon Fengshen on the island of Panay.

Seahawk helicopters from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, embarked aboard Ronald Reagan; Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) 43, from the guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83); and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) 37; aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) delivered food and water to storm victims.

"We're assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines in helping deliver these critical supplies to the people of Panay," said Rear Adm. Phil Wisecup, commander of the Navy ships.

Inside the helicopters, Navy air crews paired with AFP officers and civilian government officials to make the deliveries. AFP officers embarked Reagan to help direct the effort.

"We're all connected," said Lt. Commander Rolo Garces, a pilot from HSL-43 who flew from USS Howard. "I have kids, so even in a part of the world I've never seen before, I'm really touched.

"I'm proud to work with the [AFP] on this mission," he added.

A Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 cargo plane loaded with food and other supplies arrived at Iloilo's Santa Barbara airport. In addition, two C-2A Greyhound cargo planes from USS Ronald Reagan arrived, loaded with water and rice.

During the course of two days, the carrier has provided nearly 30,000 bottles of water and nearly four tons of rice for the relief effort. American and AFP personnel loaded the supplies onto the helicopters for rapid delivery to storm victims.

"The helicopters are moving," said Philippine Army Brig. General Jorge Segovia, deputy assistant chief of staff for operations with the AFP. "They are flying, and we're good to go."

According to Wisecup, the relief flights will continue as supplies arrive from Ronald Reagan, the Philippine government and relief organizations.

"We're here as long as the government of the Philippines continues to request this support," said Wisecup. "The Filipino people are our friends, and we're trying to reduce their suffering."

BY THE NUMBERS:
The ships on station for the relief effort include the Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76); embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14; the guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62); and three ships of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7; the guided-missile destroyers USS Howard (DDG 83), USS Gridley (DDG 101) and the guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43). Also providing assistance to the AFP in their efforts are the maritime prepositioning ship USNS Gunnery Sgt. Frank Stockham (T-AK 3017) and the rescue and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50), which have been assisting in the recovery operations of the capsized ferry, Princess of the Stars.

Featured Upgrades this Month

Site Map
Top right (last tab) on the right hand page we have added a Site Map. This comprises a handy cheat sheet of all the most commonly needed site functions. If you can't remember how to do something on TWS just head to the Site Map!


Photo Gallery Improvements
We have made several significant improvements to the photo gallery features this month. The most apparent is that photos can now be rated (one to five stars) and you can choose to view photos ordered by ranking:

There is also a new denser browser view - if you select 64 or 128 photos per page you now get a display like this:

If you look at the shot above you will see that every photo now has a checkbox - that permits for fast delete of multiple photos at once as well.

We made some changes to the upload form as well - in addition to a new field where you can record the year that the photo was taken you can upload multiple photos to the same album at once:

Just keep clicking the Add File button to add multiple files to the list. They will all get the same title and other attributes so you may wish to edit them after uploading.

Video Library
We have also added a small library of military video's on the home page (bottom right, What's New section):

If you have any interesting video's with a military theme please send them in for consideration at admin@navy.togetherweserved.com.

Officer Insignia
We have added branch and cuff insignia for officers:


WW2 Posters
You may have noticed that on login we show a vintage WW2 era poster from a large collection - these can be browsed by following the link below the poster:

MCPON To CPO Selection Board: What I Expect of First Classes

Story by MCCS (SW/AW) Bill Houlihan
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, TN -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SW/FMF) Joe R. Campa Jr. recently addressed the active duty chief petty officer selection board and outlined his expectations of first class petty officers being considered for selection to chief.

"You are the gatekeepers to our [CPO] community," Campa told the selection board. "What you do in the next several weeks will impact our [chiefs] mess and our Navy for years to come."

First line leadership, rating expertise, professionalism, communication, loyalty and heritage are all mentioned in the CPO precepts, the governing document each selection board uses as they deliberate and select Sailors whose records appear in front of a board.

"Those expectations are the things we expect our first classes to be doing. We expect them to generate deckplate results. The most important factor I want you to consider is leadership, what they're doing for those they lead. No one should be wearing an anchor on their collar if they can't lead Sailors," Campa said.

Language taken straight from the guidance, "Expectations of the First Class Petty Officer" has been inserted into the selection board's precepts, and those Sailors who live up to them have the best chance of putting on anchors Sept. 16.

Campa introduced the Expectations in December 2007 and reinforced a number of characteristics effective first class petty officers have always demonstrated. Just seven months later, those expectations have been formally recognized as the most significant indicators of a candidate's potential to lead as a chief.

Campa followed a similar formula after he introduced the Chief Petty Officer's Mission, Vision and Guiding Principles. Within a year of their creation, they were inserted into senior and master chief selection board precepts.

"It's one thing to talk about what we expect from our leaders, it's a whole other matter to drive performance based on those expectations. That's what we do when we place the Guiding Principles or the Expectations into precepts.

"We're telling our Sailors that if they want to be advanced, the success of those they lead is what the board is going to look at," said Campa.

The results of the MCPON's message will be felt by the entire fleet when CPO results are released later this summer.

OUR ALLIES IN-ARMS

Beginning in this issue, The HOIST will spotlight photos and stories from our allied military partners.

Australia -- Sisters in Arms
Story & photos courtesy of Australian Defence Force Public Relations

The two young women on operations in Afghanistan have found a remarkable connection - one is an Aussie flying Apache attack helicopters for the Dutch; the other was brought up in Holland, and now leads Sappers (combat engineers) in the Australian Army.

Flight Lieutenant Daphne (left) was raised in Sydney but moved to The Netherlands when she was 10. Lieutenant Anneke Kerklaan (right) was brought up in Holland and joined the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) after her family moved to Sydney.

Their remarkable, near-parallel lives, finally intersected in the dusty, sun-baked forward operations base of Camp Holland in Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan in the summer of 2008, as both women play their part at the sharp end of the coalition campaign.

NTWS Ships Store - For All Your Navy Shipmate Swag!

Visit to our online NTWS Ships Store for all your cool Navy swag - Shirts, Jackets, Hats, Jewelry, Footwear, Medals, Patches and much, much more!

(The Ships Store can also be found under the "Navy Store" tab or on the left hand Home Page just as you log into NTWS)

Over 9,000 quality Items at the lowest prices...and a 30-day, money-back guarantee! Here's some new items that just arrived in our store:

• Navy Golf Shirts (Various logos and colors)
  
• Belleville US Army Insulated Combat Boot
• Jostens Classic Men's U.S. Navy Ring - Rectangle Stone
• US Navy Ship Art Prints (2000 ships to choose from)
  

Thank you for your support of the NTWS Ships Store. All Store proceeds go towards promoting the NTWS website, bringing more Sailors to the TWS Community.

PHOTO LOG: Views Around The Fleet This Month

 

TEARS OF JOY - Storekeeper Seaman Grace Geroche (center), a Sailor aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), and Iloilo, Philippines native, hugs her family upon arriving as part of Navy relief operations with Philippine military forces. Geroche's family survived the flooding caused when Typhoon Fengshen slammed into the islands.
- Photo by MC2 Joseph M. Buliavac

TOP CHEF VISIT - Former Bravo TV Top Chef contestant, Otto Borsich, lends a hand in preparing a meal during a recent visit to the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17). Chef Borsich, a former Navy mess management specialist who served aboard the submarine USS Patrick Henry, visited San Antonio's galley to offer advice and creative cooking ideas to the food service crew.
- Photo by MC2 Oscar Espinoza

HONOR AND TRADITION - High school cadets present the colors during the first graduation commencement at the Western New York (WNY) Maritime Charter School. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Joe R. Campa, Jr. was the guest speaker at the event. WNY is a college preparatory school that uses military structure and maritime traditions as part of its teaching curriculum.

- Photo by MC1 Jennifer A. Villalobos

THE HEAT IS ON - Fire team members from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) attempt to put out a controlled fire during the shipboard firefighting portion of the Damage Control Olympics at the Farrier Fire Fighting School in Norfolk.

- Photo by MC2 Kristopher S. Wilson

WORKING THE LINES - Sailors aboard the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ship Kirishima (DD 174), secure mooring lines after arriving at Naval Station Pearl Harbor for Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC ) 2008.
- Photo by MC2 Scott Taylor

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TRAINING OPPORTUNITY - US Navy and Army divers, along with Federal, state and local authorities make preparations to raise a sunken former Soviet "Juliett"-class submarine at Collier Point Park in Providence, RI. The Cold War-era diesel-electric sub sank at her moorings in April 2007. Her salvage and raising exercise is part of the DoD's Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program. Through IRT, military divers receive training by taking part in community-based projects.

- Photo by MC1 Eric Lippmann

HEALING HANDS - CDR Kenneth Kubis, director of surgical services aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), conducts an eye exam at Khanh Hoa General Hospital, Vietnam as part of the Pacific Partnership medical outreach mission. This is the first time the Vietnamese government is allowing the US military to screen patients and perform surgeries since 1975.
- Photo by MC3 Michael C. Barton

UNDER ABE'S GAZE - Boatswain's Mate Seaman Shannon Siegrist puts braided "fancy work" on the railing of a ladderwell aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), while a bust of the ship's namesake silently looks-on.
- Photo by MC2 James R. Evans

AN INFORMAL CHAT - Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), ADM Gary Roughead speaks with Israeli officer cadets visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. Roughead was recently in Israel visiting his naval counterparts to continue strengthening and developing global maritime partnerships and increase maritime security.
- Photo by MC1 Tiffini M. Jones

HAPPY BIRTHDAY US ARMY!

Since its birth on June 14, 1775, more than a year before the Declaration of Independence was signed, the U.S. Army has played a vital role in the growth and development of America. Soldiers have fought more than 10 wars, from the American Revolution through the Cold War, the Gulf War, to the current war on terrorism. This 233rd birthday is a recognition of the Army's history, traditions and service to the nation, a call to duty, 233 years of service to the nation.

YOUR SHOTS! Reader-submitted pictures

Got a great picture that you took and want to share it with your shipmates? Give us your best shot! Attach your JPEG or PNG picture files (at least 800x460 pixels) to an email to ntws.editor@gmail.com.

You asked for them...

Above is an actual photo of the coins. They are solid metal, 1 5/8" with an epoxy covering over the image.

We're keeping this simple. Coins are being offered for $10 each - which includes shipping. If you order more than one, just multiply the total number x $10.00

Orders are accepted by PayPal, or check/money order; the coins are shipped as soon as your order is received.

For PayPal, send an email payment (from within your PayPal account) to: merchandise@tws-advisor.com.

For check orders: Send checks payable to: TWS Events, P.O. Box 50, Bryantsville, KY 40410
[BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR SHIPPING ADDRESS]

Special thanks to LtCol. Pat Riley (USMC, Ret.), a member of Marines.TogetherWeServed.com, and proprietor of Lexington Metal Products Inc., for his design assistance and production of these coins.

VET TOPICS

Nat'l Guard praised for wildfire, flood relief efforts

By Air Force MSgt. Mike R. Smith and Army SSG Jim Greenhill Special to The HOIST

COLORADO SPRINGS – Assessing the National Guard’s California fire and Midwest flood-fighting efforts first-hand, the chief of the National Guard Bureau visited adjutants general and troops in affected states. Army LTG H. Steven Blum (left), chief of the National Guard Bureau, looks-over wildfire response operations of two North Carolina Air National Guard C-130s from the 145th Airlift Wing with the adjutant general of California, Army MG William Wade,  in Chico, CA. - USAF photo by MSgt. Mike R. Smith, National Guard Bureau “They’re handling very difficult and complex issues in a very competent and professional manner,” Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum said during a stop in Iowa. “The National Guard response has been generally superb, a benchmark case study in cooperation among the states for mutual support and cooperation during an emergency. They’ve achieved the correct balance between local, state and federal response in a coordinated and synchronized manner.” Blum had been scheduled to talk with officers participating in a Joint Task Force Commanders’ Training Course at U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs. With more than 280 citizen-soldiers and –airmen and 23 National Guard helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft helping California firefighters, and more than 2,100 troops and an abundance of equipment tackling Midwest floods, Blum adjusted his itinerary to assess both missions. “It’s important to get eyes-on so that we have a comprehensive operating picture of exactly what is being done and we have a clear understanding of what other personnel or equipment may be necessary to move to the area so that we don’t leave the adjutant general or the governor short of any capability presently required or foreseeable to deal with the emergency in the future,” Blum said. “We like to stay ahead of the emergency.” Blum’s questions for the California and Iowa adjutants general as he visited their states included whether they have what they need, how efforts could be improved and what results they are achieving. “In order to save lives, minimize destruction and assist recovery, we need the right capability, in the right quantity, where and when it’s needed,” Blum said. “The adjutants general assess the situation, identify immediate requirements and send the National Guard’s critical capabilities to meet our communities’ needs.” California faces hundreds of lightning-sparked wildfires. Parts of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin have been inundated with historic Mississippi River flooding. The National Guard has played vital roles in both domestic disasters. The Guard’s key contribution to the fires comes from above: OH-58 Kiowa, UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters spot fires and drop water to support civilian firefighters. RC-26 aircraft give state fire managers vital reconnaissance that improves their ability to effectively focus firefighting efforts. C-130 Hercules aircraft drop flame-retardant that halts advancing fire dead in its tracks. In the Midwest, the Guard’s contribution is on the ground – sometimes knee-deep in flood water. The Associated Press reported that one Missouri levee was so tenuous that only Guard members and firefighters in life vests could continue sandbagging efforts. Blum’s visit to California included a Sacramento stop for a face-to-face meeting with Maj. Gen. William Wade, the adjutant general. Then, the chief and the adjutant general met with troops and the state firefighters they are assisting at Chico Municipal Airport. The general thanked and debriefed citizen-soldiers, citizen-airmen and their CalFire, Butte County counterparts. During Blum’s visit, two C-130 Hercules planes were loaded with retardant and took off toward Whiskeytown, Chico’s Enterprise Record newspaper reported. Four of eight firefighting C-130s that exist in the United States are now in the Chico area. More are expected to arrive in the next week, Blum told crews. “The MAFFS were pre-positioned and ready,” Blum said. “All they need is favorable weather conditions, and they will make a significant impact on the fires. This will not be a case of piecemieling the capabilities – they’ll be able to mass the systems against the fire with good effect.” MAFFS are Modular Airborne Firefighting Systems. Initially, air crews were grounded by smoke that obscured visibility. When crises happen, Guard states team up to respond. C-130s from North Carolina and Wyoming have joined California’s own aircraft to suppress the flames, and the adjutant general was delighted to see the planes and their crews ready to roll. “These planes are as good as gold,” Wade said. “They really earn their money for what they do. The same combat skills these pilots accrue in combat are the same skills they use to suppress wildfires – so their techniques, skills and abilities are absolute gold in an environment like this.” “There’s a lot of fire out there,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Christian, 156th Airlift Squadron. “We love to get out here and fly every day and fly as much as we can. That’s why we’re here.” After Chico, it was on to Colorado Springs for Blum, the only stop he had originally planned, where he assessed Joint Incident Site Communications Capability equipment of exactly the kind vital to firefighting and flood responses before addressing officers who are training to command the joint task forces also so critical to domestic disaster responses. “The National Guard is the first military responder during natural disasters in the homeland,” Blum said. “The National Guard’s unique capabilities enhance the synchronization with Northern Command and the Department of Defense’s partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, ensuring a unity of effort.” Blum spoke to 80 officers being certified and trained to lead National Guard joint task forces on domestic missions like the California fires and Midwest floods. He continued to Iowa, where he planned to ask Maj. Gen. Ron Dardis, Iowa's adjutant general, the same sorts of questions as those he raised in California – only this time targeted at containing water rather than fighting fire. - MSgt. Smith and SSG Greenhill serve with the National Guard Bureau. Army LTC Robert Ditchey and Army MSG Katherine Perez, both of the National Guard Bureau, and the Enterprise Record (Chico, CA) contributed to this report.

Getting the most out of your tank of gas

Story by Jon Yim
Editor, The HOIST

By now, a lot of us are feeling the pinch at the pump. Regardless of where you are, it's costing more and more to keep the ol' set of wheels filled-up and on the road.

But you don't have to think about buying a hybrid or an alternative fuel vehicle. You can save gas between fill ups with just a few simple tips. According to San Diego auto expert Dave Stall, you can ease the petroleum pinch to your wallet with these simple suggestions:

- Accelerate gradually, drive smoothly and with care and you could see as much as a 20 percent gain in fuel economy compared with what you'd get with an aggressive driving style.

- Skip those jackrabbit starts, sudden pedal-to-the-metal maneuvers if you want to save gas. In other words, "Lose the lead-foot!"

- Keep your speed CONSTANT at 65MPH or lower. Even driving at 55MPH will save you gas.

- If your car is equipped with a cruise control, use it as much as you can.

- Check your tire pressure. When drivers do check them, it's all too infrequent. Keep your tires inflated to the specs molded on the sidewalls. It's all about rolling properly that saves you gas.

- Unless you're actually toting motorbikes, surfboards, bicycles or skis, get the racks off your vehicle if you're not using them -- they add wind resistance!

- Check your car's owner's manual -- make sure you're getting your vehicle serviced at the manufacturer's suggested intervals.

- Don't top off your tank when you fill up. When the delivery nozzle clicks off, stop fueling. The more you click it to top it off, most of the gas you thought was going in YOUR tank is streaming back to the GAS STATION's tank!

- A washed and waxed car isn't just a show of vanity -- a clean, shiny car moves through the air smoother than a dirty, grubby one. It's all about aerodynamics.

- CHEAP GAS isn't necessarily GOOD GAS. If you can afford to buy mid-grade on-occasion, get it!

- Ditch the junk in your trunk and rear cargo area! Get the golf clubs, toolbox and beach umbrella OUT! Shave weight whenever you can INSIDE your vehicle.

- Don't idle your car for long periods. Unless you're made of cash, you waste fuel by sitting in that drive-thru lane at McDonald's or Taco Bell. Park and go inside instead. Don't let your vehicle idle as you wait outside the school to pick up your kids. Idling uses more fuel than turning the engine off, waiting for your youngsters and then restarting the engine.

- When you're in slow city traffic, keep the air conditioner off, if possible. That air conditioner puts a strain on the engine and uses fuel.

- Look at alternative transportation options - even if it's just for one or two days a week. Walk, bicycle, carpool or take public transportation and leave your vehicle at home, whenever possible.

Most Common Fuel Wasters:
- Loose or missing gas caps. 17 percent of US vehicles have a loose or missing gas cap. This allows an estimated 147,000,000 gallons of gas per year to evaporate into thin air.
- Under-inflated tires
- Faulty thermostats
- Worn spark plugs
- Malfunctioning engine controls
- Poor wheel alignment

With a little driving discipline, some minor maintenance and common sense, you can save yourself a little grief before your next stop at the gas station.

NTWS Membership Growth

Since its launch on Navy Day, October 27, 2006, Sailors from WWII to the present-day, have joined this website. As a result, many Members have reported reconnecting with Shipmates from the past; and as the site continues to grow beyond 300,000 Members by the end of the year, this will be an increasingly common occurrence.

NTWS does not permit public access, and therefore has one of the highest percentages of Navy Members of any Navy community website - as most have been invited by existing NTWS Members. Please help our unique Navy Community continue its strong growth and invite other Sailors that you know.

To go directly to the Navy.Together WeServed.com website click on the hypertext.

Enjoyed This Newsletter?

Please forward this link to other Sailors you know, and your friends and family!

http://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/
newsletter2/22/newsletter.html

As NTWS continues to grow, so does its potential to find old Shipmates and new friends; as well as creating a vibrant and enjoyable Naval Community representing all eras, from WWII to present-day.

Sincerely,
The NTWS Administration Team
http://navy.togetherweserved.com