VigilanteVigilanteRVAH NAVY NewsletterRVAH NAVY Newsletter January, 2017

Navy leaders are reversing their controversialdecision to eliminate sailors’ ratings and will restorejob titles across the fleet, according to a Navymessage set for release Wednesday.

Effective immediately, enlisted sailors will officiallyregain their ratings, the traditional job titles that

Ratings restored:Effective immediately, sailors will get their job titles back

Cmdr. Chris Servello, Richardson’s spokesman,confirmed Tuesday night that the Navy planned torestore ratings Wednesday and that a fleet-widemessage from the CNO would be released online inthe morning, along with more details from CNO andMaster Chief Petty Officer of the Navy StevenGiordano.

Though the ratings have been restored, change stilllies ahead as the Navy plans to press ahead with itsbroader effort to fundamentally change the rigidpersonnel system and make career paths moreflexible in the future.

“The feedback from current and former Sailors hasbeen consistent that there is wide support for theflexibility that the plan offers, but the removal ofrating titles detracted from accomplishing our majorgoals,” Richardson wrote.

Editors Note: This is amazing!! Common sense andtradition prevailed!!

regain their ratings, the traditional job titles thathave inspired a deep cultural loyalty and that havedefined enlisted career tracks for generations, Navyofficials said.

The move comes three months after the Navystunned sailors around the world in September byeliminated ratings titles, including those such asboatswain’s mate that dated back to the founding ofthe service.

The extraordinarily rare move comes after a fiercebacklash from the fleet that became a distractionfrom the Navy's broader effort to reform theantiquated personnel system, Navy officials said.

Adm. John Richardson, the chief of naval operations,called it a “course correction” and acknowledged theoverwhelmingly negative reaction from the fleet wasa key factor in the decision.“We have learned from you, and so effectiveimmediately, all rating names are restored,”Richardson wrote in a Navy message set for releaseWednesday. A copy of the message was obtained byNavy Times Tuesday.

tradition prevailed!!

The reversal came about in part due to a petition to theWhite House demanding the restoration of Navy ratingtitles. The words of the petition seemed to sum upmost sailors' complaints:“For 241 Years Navy personnel have been identified bytheir Job specialty, known as a 'Rating,' " the petitionreads. “The oldest rates such as Boatswain Mates, andGunners Mate predate the founding of this country.Being known by your job title was a sense of pride. Asign of accomplishment. The Secretary of the Navy andChief of Naval Operations just senselessly erased thistradition.”

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS!(Reprinted from Washington Post: Howard Bennett)

When I was a kid, the thing I enjoyed most about NewYear’s Eve was trying to stay awake until midnight. Myparents didn’t force me to go to bed early, but my heavyeyelids usually got the better of me well before the newyear arrived. It wasn’t until my 10th birthday that Ireached the finish line and was able to cheer with the restof the family. When I woke up the next morning, my momasked me if I wanted to make a New Year’s resolution.I had no idea what a New Year’s resolution was. After sheexplained it to me, I said I would try to fight less with myolder brother. This got me a smile and a pat on the headfrom my mom. Unfortunately, the resolution lasted onlyuntil dinnertime, when my brother and I got into anargument about who would set the table.A New Year’s resolution is a decision to do or not dosomething in order to accomplish a personal goal or breaka habit. It comes at a time when people look back at thepast year and make an effort to improve themselves asthe new year begins.Adults often make New Year’s resolutions to lose weightor exercise more. Kids make resolutions to get alongbetter with siblings or to do their homework right away.Like many traditions, New Year’s resolutions have a longand interesting history.New Year’s was first celebrated 4,000 years ago in ancientBabylon. Although the Babylonians did not have a written

If you would like to make a New Year’s resolution thisyear, here are some options to consider:● Volunteer at a church, synagogue or animal rescue organization.● Help out around the house and do your chores without complaining.● Be kind to your friends, teachers and family members.Remember that it takes work to keep a New Year’sresolution. Don’t worry if you slip up once or twice. If youstay committed to what you want to accomplish, you’ll beproud of yourself in the end. And you’ll be a better personat the end of the year than you were at the beginning.

Top 10 Commonly Broken New Year'sResolutions Promises, PromisesBabylon. Although the Babylonians did not have a written

calendar, historians determined that they observed thestart of the new year in late March with the arrival of thespring season.The month of January is named for the Roman god Janus.The ancient Romans imagined Janus as a two-faced god:one facing forward and one facing back. This symbolizedhis ability to look forward and backward at the same time.Janus was the guardian of arches, gates, doors, beginningsand endings.The Roman calendar went through a number of changesas different emperors came to power. In 153 B.C., theRoman Senate declared that the new year would beginJanuary 1. But it wasn’t until Julius Caesar took the thronein 49 B.C. that the calendar was adjusted so that Januaryfalls where it does today. To accomplish this, Caesar letthe previous year continue for 445 days!The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions beganduring the reign of Caesar. At the time, New Year’sresolutions were of a moral nature, such as being kind toothers.

Resolutions Promises, PromisesLose Weight and Get FitQuit SmokingLearn Something NewEat Healthier and DietGet Out of Debt and Save MoneySpend More Time with FamilyTravel to New PlacesBe Less StressedVolunteerDrink Less

The Funny Page – New Years Edition

Welcome to Our NewMembers!

Welcome to our new members of RecceNet!

THE GEAR LOCKER IS MOVING!!Please keep an eye out for the new location

on the RecceNet website.Until then, the Gear Locker is temporarily

closed!

Something to remember ifyou’re throwing a New Year’s

Eve Party…Just sayin…

Steve LelleMike Honegger

Welcome aboard shipmates!Sweepers, sweepers, man your brooms. Give

the ship a clean sweep down fore andaft. Sweep down all lower decks, ladder and

passageways. The fantail is open!

Greetings to ALL former "Heavy 5" shipmatesRVAH-5 decommissioned September 30, 1977.Thinking all former Savage Sons, family and friendsshould gather September 30, 2017 (30th is a Saturday)for a 40 year reunion. Possible locations Key West orPensacola. Each location has its own advantages. I willinvestigate which location can provide the bestfacilities based upon availability, costs, etc......If interested in attending please let me know. Also letme know if you have a preference for a reunionlocation.Please help spread the word about the (possible)reunion. God willing and the river don't we can makethis happen. I can be reached via email:josephaalleman@gmail.comRemember, no slack in heavy attack!

January Birthdays!We’re sorry that your January birthday means that you mayhave been conceived on April Fools Day…Congratulations… you are officially too old to die young!

Happy Birthday,Ya Swabs!

F. Dainer 1-JanuaryRaymond D. Jones 1-January

Keith Dennis 1-JanuaryDave Shaffer 1-JanuaryDave Fiack 1-January

Ronald Duval 1-JanuaryStephen F. Bokros 2-January

David Bickel 4-JanuaryJohn Eckel 5-JanuaryM. Monroe 5-January

Osker Dugger 5-JanuaryRodney D. Chapman 5-January

Tom Gillespie 6-JanuaryKen Witherby 7-January

Dan Vander Meer 7-JanuaryJames W. Staton Jr. 7-January

David W. Gerdes 7-JanuarySean Mullaly 7-JanuaryJoe Nelson 8-January

Steve Josephus 8-JanuaryRick Adams 8-January

Jack L Weber 8-January

Paul R. Williams 16-JanuaryBilly Smith 16-January

Scott (Goatroper) Moses 16-JanuaryBill Usher 17-January

Charles Ziliani JR 18-JanuarySanford A. Mullet 19-January

Michael A. Perryman 19-JanuaryTerry D. Wickland 19-January

Keith W. McMullen 19-JanuaryPhillip Calkins 20-January

Robert J. Young 22-JanuaryJeffery J. Robertson 22-January

John Vermillion 22-JanuaryJames W. Caulder jr 22-January

H Steve Hazelton 22-JanuaryDonald Hawk 23-January

Michael Rosselle 23-JanuaryGehl Benjamin Brabant 23-January

Eric D. Peterson 23-JanuaryGeorge P. Duport 23-January

Arthur "Mike" Standridge 24-JanuaryGreg Fussell 24-JanuaryJack L Weber 8-January

Michael Kitson 9-JanuaryJames O. Miller II 10-January

Laura Klein 10-JanuaryRotten Ralph Feeback 10-January

David H. Small 10-JanuaryJohn Meyer 11-January

Rickey B. Martin 12-JanuaryPhilip J. Mulberry 12-January

Bob Bruno 12-JanuaryWalter E. Sudol 13-JanuaryRobert Harker 13-January

Michael McInnis 14-JanuaryThomas W. Flowers 14-January

Philip L. O'Brien 14-JanuaryDavid I. Mackie 15-JanuaryJohn M Huckno 15-January

Keene Little 15-JanuaryJames E. (Jay) Langley 15-January

Jeffrey Amick 16-January

Greg Fussell 24-JanuaryTravis Pence 24-January

Alain (Frenchie) Boniec 25-JanuaryMark B. Lamprey 25-JanuaryMerle (Pete) Dack 26-January

John Ciffone 27-JanuaryBasil F. (Woody) Woodard 27-January

David A. Turner 27-JanuaryGeorge Shattuck 28-January

Lee Schoonmaker 28-JanuaryAndy Shupe 28-January

Donald Kisker 29-JanuaryChris Nozzarella 30-January

Dennis Kimberlin 30-JanuarySteuart N. Hall (Nick) 30-January

John Highland 30-JanuaryKevin Pruitt 31-January

Jay Krall 31-JanuaryJohn Blum 31-January