Ombudsman Newsletter February 2008

CO’s Corner

Greetings JPJ Families,

We’ve safely departed on our four month surge deployment

with the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group. This time around we are in

company with Nimitz, Princeton, Chafee and Higgins. You should be extremely proud of your Sailor for the work they accomplished in preparation for our 24 January start.

As you read this, we should have already made our brief stop in Pearl Harbor and are enroute to our first port visit in Guam scheduled for mid February.

Due to the shortness of this deployment and the many varied operations we will participate in, JPJ will have a port visit every two to three weeks. The crew will work hard during those underway periods but will be rewarded with a few days of relaxation in between.

I’ve mentioned this to the crew a few times, but thought it worth mentioning to you as well. I have not experienced a schedule this demanding since I was a junior officer. The pride and professionalism in which your Sailor has succeeded over the last four to six months has been unbelievable. Everything the JPJ team has had to accomplish over this time frame has been done extremely well. That is one of the many reasons I am so proud of each and every one of them.

For the first few weeks underway, we’ve been very focused on getting our watch teams trained up. From the time we returned from our last deployment in September until now, we’ve had very little opportunity to conduct operational training, so it is important to get ourselves quickly up to speed for “real world” operations as soon as possible. We had the experts from the Aegis community onboard from Dahlgren, Virginia to get our combat systems equipment groomed and our watch standers trained. It was a very educational and fulfilling week. Additionally, we conducted training in both Engineering and Damage Control, as well as conducting the routine events of underway replenishment and shiphandling. Each day is filled with events for all of us to do.

While we are gone, be sure to use all the assets available to you whether it be the Family Support Group, the Ombudsman or the Fleet and Family Service Center. These people are all in place to help while your Sailor is deployed, so do not hesitate to call any of them if you need help.

Christopher K. Barnes

CDR USN

Commanding Officer

CMC’s Corner

Hello JOHN PAUL JONES Family and Friends,

We started deployment off with some bad weather and rough seas. A lot of the

new Sailors along with the old salty ones had to get their Sea legs going early! The closer

we got to Hawaii the better the seas and temperature got. We made a very brief stop in

Hawaii to pick up some of our shipmates that were going to school when we left San Diego; it's great to have them back.

MWR committee has plenty of fun things plan for the whole deployment, starting off with Super Bowl Sunday. The crew will be able to wear their favorite team's jersey, ball cap and enjoy some O'Doul's. Every Wednesday is crazy hat day and you should see some of the hats your Sailors wear! We have JPJ Idol schedule again along with Battle of the Band, 3 on 3 basketball tournament and so much more. I'll keep you informed on the events and all the winners.

Don't forget to email your Sailor's or snail mail will even work, Sailors love hearing from home!

Very Respectfully,

CMDCM(SW) Karol M. Kramer

OMBUDSMAN’S CORNER

Hello!

We are just about one week into our deployment cycle and already there is good news! What could

possibly be good about a deployment you ask? Well, for starters we are already one week closer to our sailors coming home. Our sailors are safe, although busy. We get to challenge ourselves. The best, however, is that we get to plan homecoming.

Deployments are a chance for those of us at home to challenge ourselves and try to surprise our Sailor with something. You could chose to lose weight, quit smoking, organize your house, take a class or even learn to relax. The latter is my goal for this deployment. I want to surprise my husband, Adam, by my ability to sit and relax. I am the first to admit that this is going to be quite a challenge for me-the woman who hates to just “chill”. Deployments are tough on everyone. The Sailors don’t like to be gone and we don’t like to have them gone, especially with the quick turnaround that the JPJ has experienced. If you dwell on the tough parts of deployments too much you could make yourself feel even worse. Think of this deployment as “Survivor:Deployment”. But you aren’t going to just survive-you are going to win and your reward is homecoming. If you feel you need or want help please let me know-I can assist you in finding the help you need.

During this deployment I am asking for your help. When you email or call me, please remember to include your sailor’s rank and name. I ask for this to help maintain security for our sailors. Also, I want to update both the mailing and emergency contact information.

While I am sure that nothing will happen, if for some reason I need to contact you, it will be make getting in touch with you much easier if I have the most recent information. If you have not already done so please forward me the following information via email at jpjombudsman@yahoo.com or through regular mail to 2843 Daniel Avenue San Diego, CA 92124.

Sailor’s Rank/Name

Your Name:

Address

Phone: (home)

(cell)

(work)

If you receive the newsletter but not emails also include your email. Thank you for your help with this.

Remember, stay positive and as always, let me know if you need anything. I am here to help!

Heather Cox

Command Ombudsman

USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53)

(619) 743-5416 OMB line

1-866-310-4650 Careline

jpjombudsman@yahoo.com

http://jpjfamilynews.tripod.com

Family Support Group News

Dear JPJ Families and Friends,

By the time you get this newsletter we’ll all be about 2 weeks closer to homecoming, YEAH!! The FSG has so much planned for this deployment to keep us all busy and provide each other support. The first children’s event will be held Saturday February 2, at Boomers on Claremont Mesa Blvd from 1:30-4:30. This is paid for by the FSG and will be fun for all ages. The next event is our monthly meeting on February 12^th at 6:30pm at the Murphy Canyon Chapel. The FFSC will be at the meeting providing us with resume writing and building class. We will also be discussing homecoming and establishing a committee (can you believe it, planning for homecoming already!!). Our final February event will be our “Date Night” on February 23^rd. This event is also partially funded by the FSG and the theme is dinner and a movie out on town. We are also doing a couple of fund raisers during deployment including cookbooks, JPJ support magnets and a spring basket auction.

To get more info on any fundraising or events look for flyers to come through the FSG, ombudsman or from your sailor. Hope to see you all at our events and meetings throughout deployment.

Julie Gushlaw, FSG President

Fsg_53@yahoo.com-RSVP for date nights to this email or just to contact the FSG

jpjkids@yahoo.com-use this email to contact the children’s committee and RSVP for children’s events

jpjfundraising@yahoo.com-use this email to contact our fundraising committee including ordering magnets

United Through Reading

On this first month away from family, a Sailor feels the distance between themselves and their loved ones more than ever. That’s why the USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) is participating in United Through Reading, which provides deployed Active Duty personnel the opportunity to read stories aloud on DVD to the special children in their lives back home. Your Sailor can contact dennis.deleon@ddg53.navy.mil with any question he may have about recording times and locations.

Sailors either select a book from the Command’s children’s book library or read a book they have packed with them. They are recorded reading the book, and then the DVD (and book if owned by the Sailor) is sent home to the child who can watch and follow along with a copy of the book. One of the best parts of this program is the opportunity for your child to view the recording over and over again. According to research, reading aloud has been shown to be the single best predictor in a child’s future academic success. Encourage your Sailor to participate in United Through Reading and bring their face and voice into your home even when they can’t be there. I would love to hear your family’s reactions to your first DVD! Please feel contact me, your Home Front coordinator Jolene Mitchell, at annafia8@yahoo.com with any stories, question, concern or comments regarding the United Through Reading Program.

Navy Trivia:

What is Scuttlebutt?

A. Trash to be burned

B. OOD

C. Rumor

D. Toilet

Save the Date!

February is National Black History Month: Originally called “Negro History Week”, Black History Month has been recognized annually since 1926 due to the efforts of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard graduate who was disturbed by the lack on respectable presence in history books despite the presence and contributions of African American to the American government, society and way of life. After beginning both the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915, and the Journal of Negro History, a widely respected journal in 1916 Dr. Hudson began “Negro History Week”. Dr. Woodson initially chose the second week of February because the birthdays of two men who greatly influenced the African American population, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, are observed during this week.

February 3: The 15th Amendment was passed, granting blacks the right to vote in 1870.

February 4: Rosa Parks Birthday

February 14: Valentine’s Day

February 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day

Ask the Ombudsman!

Question: When will you put out the ship’s schedule?

Answer: The simple answer is: I won’t. There are several reasons for this. First, in order to help maintain the security of our sailors I will not disclose the schedule until it is safe to do so. Generally this means that when I get word that they have or are pulling into a port I will send out an email to those on my roster. Second, Navy schedules are in a constant state of flux. As some of you may already know from talking with your sailors, something will be scheduled one week and then cancelled the next, and then reinstated. If I were to put out that the ship will be in such and such place on this date and that day were to change everyone would be disappointed.

Question: What is OPSEC and why does this concern me?

Answer: OPSEC stands for Operational Security. OPSEC is how we keep potential adversaries from discovering the nation’s critical information, thus keeping the mission and our sailors safe. Enemies have long since tried to uncover information about missions, past, present and future, in order to gain insight into how our military works-and they don’t just try to target the military member, they will try to find the information out from the families as well. To keep our loved ones safe we need to ensure that others don’t get bits of information from us. Things that you want to be careful about include, but are not limited to, details of the arrival or leaving of the ship, detailed information about missions, and references to trends in unit morale or personnel problems. What can you do to help with OPSEC? You need to be careful and alert. Be aware of your surroundings and where you are speaking about the ship. Be careful of what you post on blogs or websites such as Myspace and Facebook. Don’t discuss ship’s movements or ports until after I have emailed that the ship has arrived at its next port. Remember that your sailor won’t be able to share certain things with you and that while underway, if he or she says that they aren’t going to talk about something or just doesn’t answer it could be because of OPSEC.

Question: I have Power of Attorney but I can’t file my sailor’s taxes. What happened?

Answer: The IRS changed the rules and are now requiring IRS Form 2848 in order to file taxes for your sailor. For information about your State’s requirements please contact your State Department of Taxation.

Resume Tips

The Family Support Group has a speaker who is speaking to us about resume writing. Here are some tips below for you!

Resume Do’s:

Be sure all information is accurate.
Include enough information to make the employer wants to interview you.
List only those jobs that demonstrate responsibility and leadership.
Omit discriminatory information such sex, age, religion, race, marital status.
Use information that is relevant to the job you are seeking. .

Resume Don’ts:

Don’t present yourself inaccurately
Don’t use wordy statements.
Don’t leave gaps in length of employment.
Don’t personalize the resume.
Don’t clutter the resume with information regarding former work history.
Don’t have someone else write your resume

. Resume Format Do’s:

Be sure the resume is attractive in format and easy to read.

· Be consistent in style and format.

· Use a format that is professionally appropriate for the position you are seeking.

· Include references on a separate reference sheet.

Keep the “bulk” or your resume content to one page.
Document work history by using powerful accomplishment statements.

Resume Format Don’ts:

Don’t try to make the resume unusual and artistic in appearance
Don’t mix print style or use excessive bolding and underlining
Don’t mention salary history or wage expectations.
Don’t use complete sentences or pronouns.
Don’t write in paragraphs or narrative.

Remember!!

· Margins: 1” Left, Right, Top and Bottom;

· Font Type: Arial or Times New Roman;

· Font Size: Preferably 12 and no smaller than 10;

· Bold: Name and all resume headings; Bullet: All accomplishment statements

This Resource is for You!

Military OneSource

Whether its help with child care, personal finances, emotional support during deployments, relocation information, or resources needed for special circumstances, Military OneSource is there for military personnel and their families... 24/7/365!

The service is available by phone, online and face-to-face through private counseling sessions in the local community. Highly qualified, master’s prepared consultants provide the service. Personalized consultations on specific issues such as education, special needs, and finances are provided. Customized research detailing community resources and appropriate military referrals are offered. Clients can even get help with simultaneous language interpretation and document translation services.

Our interactive Web site includes locators for education, child care, and elder care, online articles, referrals to military and community resources, financial calculators, live online workshops called Webinars, and “E-mail a consultant." Additional resources include brief videos of consultants addressing common issues such as communicating as a couple, budgeting and managing anger.

Face-to-face counseling sessions focus on issues such as normal reactions to abnormal situations (e.g. combat), couples concerns, work/life balance, grief and loss, adjustment to deployment, stress management, and parenting. Persons seeking counseling will receive up to six counseling sessions per issue at no cost to them. To access a counselor in their local community, individuals may call a Military OneSource consultant directly. Service is available in CONUS as well as Hawaii, Alaska, U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Military OneSource is provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to active duty, Guard and Reserve (regardless of activation status) and their families.

Military OneSource may be contacted at www.militaryonesource.com or (800) 842-9647.

Source: "About Military OneSource." Military OneSource. 27 December 2007. < http://www.militaryonesource.com/skins/MOS/display.aspx?moduleid=8cde2e88-3052-448c-893d-d0b4b14b31c4&CategoryID=00b057c2-b432-44e3-8a14-728cb5977125&ObjectID=514d1c5e-8b07-4644-b4ec-d7d4f7664b65>.

Disclaimer: The Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, and Navy Personnel Command do not endorse any commercial enterprise or their websites that may be found within this section. Information on any commercial enterprise or their websites are provided because of the useful information provided on these sites at no cost to the visitor.

Navy Trivia Answer: C

SCUTTLEBUTT is the Navy term for rumor. It comes from a combination of the word "scuttle" to make a hole in the ship's side, causing her to sink, and "butt", a cask used to hold drinking water. Scuttlebutt literally means a cask with a hole in it. Scuttle describes what most rumors accomplish if not to the ship, at least to morale. Butt describes the water cask where men naturally congregated, and that's where most rumors get started.

Source: Smith Sr., Daniel. "Navy Historical Facts and Trivia." State Guard Association of the United States. 27 December 2007. <http://www.sgaus.org/hist_fac.htm >.

CONTACT YOUR SAILOR:

Sailors love snail mail! Although we have the convenience of email, don’t forget to send letters and packages to your loved one at sea! Send mail to:

Service Member’s Name

USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG-53)

FPO AP 96669-1271

Remember…sailors love snail mail!

February 2008

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2

FSG

Children’s

Party

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

FSG Meeting

6:30 pm

13

14

Happy Valentine’s Day!

15

16

17

18

Presidents Day

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

LEAP YEAR!