Welcome to Connections, a monthly email newsletter for our entire Navy League membership that replaces the News & Notes email. Each month, we will highlight opportunities for our members to connect with councils and our Sea Services. We’ll be publishing benefits of membership, “feel good” stories and opportunities to connect with each other through regional activities and events. Have something you want to share? Send it tocommunications@navyleague.org.
September is Naval Sea Cadet Month
Are you looking for a youth organization to share your time, talent and resources?
For more than 50 years, Navy League councils having been sponsoring Sea Cadet units across the nation. The Naval Sea Cadet Corps and Navy League Cadet Corps need you! Connect with your council to see how you can become involved. The program:
■ Is led by unpaid volunteers.
■ Helps young men and women develop into productive, well-rounded citizens.
■ Has instructors who provide supervision, guidance, leadership, and administrative and logistical support.
We are very proud of the service that the Naval Sea Cadet Corps provides to our country and to our Navy and Coast Guard, but the true merit of our program is seen in the success stories of our cadets, who go on to seize the limitless opportunities that are available to them.
Ship Commissionings in the News
Gala and Auction on Sept. 17 in Lone Tree, Colo., to support the commissioning. USS Colorado (SSN 788) is the 15th Virginia-class submarine and is currently under construction at the General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Conn. It is expected to be commissioned in the summer of 2017.
The Secretary of the Navy has selected Coronado, Calif.,
to be the site of the commissioning of USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) in early 2018. The Coronado Council will arrange the commissioning activities and ceremony.
USS Michael Monsoor is named after Michael Monsoor, a U.S. Navy Seal who was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq. The ship is the second Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer.
Connecting With Our Sea Services
Ship tours and flyovers are planned at the inaugural
Los Angeles Fleet Week, Sept.
2-5! Hurry on over to San Pedro, Calif., this Labor Day weekend to participate in all the activities featured at the inaugural Los Angeles Fleet Week, where you will see:
■ Historic WWII aircraft.
■ Reliance-class U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active.
■ USS America amphibious assault ship.
■ USS Champion Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship.
■ USS Wayne E. Meyer guided missile destroyer.
United States Marine Corps Reserve Centennial
This year marks the centennial of the Marine Corps Reserve. The USMC Reserve comprises more than 109,000 men and women and has deployed more than 85,000 Reserve Marines and Sailors across the globe within the past five years. The men and women who serve in our Reserve forces are dedicated to the Marine Corps while also serving and excelling in their communities and civilian jobs. Reservists are battle-tested and embody the ethos of “Always Faithful.” A special tribute at the MCAS Miramar Airshow will honor Reservists.
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels demonstration team will continue their 70th anniversary celebration at the MCAS Miramar Airshow, Sept. 23-25. They will be performing MCAS Miramar along with the Breitling Jet Team for their second U.S. tour. The San Diego Council is offering Navy Leaguers the opportunity to view the aerial demonstrations from a private location.
This year marks the 20th anniversary as a member of the Navy League staff for Oscar M. Arrieta, who is the Mail Room and office supply manager at Navy League Headquarters. Oscar started working for the Navy League in Decem-
ber 1996 as a Mail Room assistant, helping the mail room manager and doing mailing and printing.
Today he is responsible for mailing and shipping, managing all Postal Service accounts and permits, P.O. boxes and other related activities. He also is responsible for purchasing of office and break room supplies and servicing office equipment.
In the last few years, Oscar has been working to improve efficiency and reduce cost of Mail Room operations, as well as implement new software that improves printing capacity in-house at a lower cost. He also does design work for programs, flyers, posters and other documents for in-house printing.
Born in Lima, Peru, Oscar was educated at Saint Agustin Catholic School in Lima, graduating in 1968. During his time in school, military instruction was required for the last three years of high school, and he enrolled in the Navy Reserve.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in business from Federico Villarreal University of Lima.
When he’s not running a tight ship at Navy League HQ, Oscar says he’s a weekend warrior, photographer aficionado, an autodidact auto mechanic and world traveler.
Grass Roots Program Makes a Difference!
Though things may be quiet in Washington, D.C., this summer, activity is the field is heating up! Your fellow Navy League members have been taking advantage of the August recess, when congressional leaders are back in their home districts, to advocate for the needs of the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and U.S.-flag Merchant Marine.
■ Empire Region President Roger Bing briefed Rep. Pete King, R-N.Y., in Long Island.
■ Don Giles, the region vice president for Legislative Affairs for the South Atlantic Coast and the co-chairman of the Legislative Affairs Committee, has briefed the office of Rep. David Scott, D-Ga.
■ Atlanta Council President Lamar Cheatham and Don Giles briefed Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga.
■ Mike Spence, the Northwest Region vice president for Legislative Affairs, briefed Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash.
We need more Navy Leaguers speak up for the sea services. Email Sara Fuentes to learn more about briefing your member of Congress.
From Executive Director Cari Thomas
Ahoy and aloha! I hope each of you are well, and enjoying the summer.
Thanks so much to everyone in the field and HQ who have made my first two months busy and challenging. Great kudos to the Sea Cadets in Richmond and the Hampton Roads Council who helped me learn about their great work!
The Ship’s Store is being revitalized! We are in discussions with Vanguard on what products they can manufacture for us. At the latest, we’ll be ready to sell items at the National Convention. I also hope to have some small items in time for Christmas.
Thanks for your continued support, and know that you can always call or email me directly at cthomas@navyleague.org, or call 703-312-1550.
Warmest regards,
Cari Thomas
