Team Nimitz Family Connections

Issue One 2012 Jan 05 I n t h e F R G S p o t l i g h t . . .

The last year or so has been a time of semi-shore

duty for us Nimitz families. We have been able to have our Sailors in the same

time zone, which has been a lovely luxury indeed! Now, they are gearing up to

train for their mission, to deploy. They will soon be pulling out of port, drilling

and preparing for the upcoming deployment. Our Sailors use this time before

the Big D to prepare for nearly anything and everything that they may encounter. It is an amazing thing to accomplish, to have so many Sailors; so

many moving parts all working to one goal. While we may miss them, we have

incredible pride in watching them excel with these evolutions, and along with

this pride does come the realization, that much like the ship and it‘s Sailors; we

must also prepare. The saying goes ―an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of

cure‖, and this is very true when it comes to thriving during work ups, fast cruises, under-way periods and deployments.

By preparing for any and all issues that may come up,

you will find that there is less stress when they are gone.

And thats what the FRG is here to help with!

We have included a pre-deployment check list for you and your Sailor. Please take some time to go over this. Going through the check list now will help you

to feel ready for the months to come. Each time they go out, evaluate your list

and feel free to add to it and above everything; have these conversations with

your Sailor. By the time the actual deployment is here, you can at least have

those worries put to rest. Experience has shown us that money issues, ID

cards/Base Decals, having a valid Power of Attorney, and communication

U p c o m i n g E v e n t s!

expectations are the concerns that tend to cause the most stress among our

families.

Most importantly, in terms of communications, please be realistic and

understand that there will be times that you may not hear from your Sailor. It

is frustrating yes, but internet connections go down, sometimes they won‘t be

near cellular phone towers, and at all times they will be extremely busy with

the task at hand. One term that you may hear often is ―River City‖. It is simply another way to say that the ship is not allowing communication for a period of

time during an exercise. It is not meant to hamper your ability to communicate

with your Sailor. It is a tool that the ship will use for a variety of situations and

is ultimately done with the safety of the Sailors or the mission in mind.

In case of a true emergency, please reach out to the Ombudsmen team ( 360-340-7040 and via emailussnimitz

ombudsman@yahoo.com). Another important thing to keep in mind is that

the ship can be quite limited in being able to send Sailors home during an out

to sea period, so be sure that you are aware of this detail when speaking with

the Ombudsmen. We do have a great Helping Hands Team in place to help with

some issues; such as driving high risk pregnancy patients to their appointments, meals for after a surgery, etc… This team is always in need of

volunteers, so no matter which side of the sound you reside on; email us at

teamnimitz@yahoo.com to sign up!

Team Nimitz is here for you as we make the transition to Everett and beyond.

This year will be filled with challenges, but along with those challenges comes

with great opportunity to support your Sailor and thrive in this life that we call Navy!

What is a Power of Attorney? In a ―power of attorney‖ you

give another person (called your ―agent‖ or ―attorney-in-fact‖) the legal

authority to act in your place and on your behalf in your absence. Every act

your agent does within the authority granted in the document is legally binding

upon you. Types of Power of Attorney: 1.General Power of Attorney: A

general power of attorney provides your agent with all the power you possess to act with respect to any matter. It allows your agent the power to do all the

things you could do yourself, such as sell or mortgage a home; deposit and

withdraw money from accounts; borrow and sign contracts. E-3 and below

requesting a general power of attorney will need to be escorted by a Chief Petty

Officer.2.Special Power of Attorney: A special, or limited, power of attorney

authorizes your agent to do a certain specified act, such as ship household goods or sell an automobile. If a special power of attorney can possibly

accomplish your needs, it is advisable to give it rather than the general power

of attorney. NIMITZ Legal Department (2-103-3-Q) offers this free legal service

onboard. As with all services, please bring your ID card. Hours of operation In

port: 0830-1030 At Sea: 0830-1030 Pre-Deployment Check

List

(Please print this out to check off and email us if you have questions!)

OMBUDSMAN and SPOUSE SUPPORT GROUP:

_____Do you know your Ombudsman‘s name and phone number? _____Does the Ombudsman have your spouse correct address and phone number?

_____Do you know about the Spouse Support Group?

_____Are you signed up to get the newsletter?

SERVICE RECORD: _____Verify Page 2

_____Next of Kin up-to-date?

_____ID Card in good repair?

_____All dependents listed on Page 2? _____Dependents ID Cards to last through deployment?

_____Family members on DEERS?

_____BAQ/VHA verified?

_____Insurance beneficiary is correct

_____Dependent Care Plan up-to-date?

Find us on F A C E B O O K!

T e a m N i m i t z

C o n t a c t I n f o r m a t i o n

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DISBURSING RECORD:

_____Pay issues resolved? _____Is there a Direct Deposit? Approximate amount?

Bank Name:_____________________________

Bank Phone: ____________________________

_____Are there Allotments? Type/Recipient/Amount _____________________________

_____Do you know your spouses Social Security Number?

_____Is your spouses Emergency Data Page in their Service Record, current and

correct? _____Last verified on ______

_____Next of Kin _________________________

_____Next of Kins Address:_________________________

_____Have you arranged for paperwork for an ID card for any child who will turn 10 before the service member returns? _____

Where is that paperwork located? _____________________

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION:

Discuss the following:

_____American Red Cross _____Command Chaplains Assistance Team

_____Needed information given to family (spouse, parents, in-laws, etc.)

_____Name: _________________________

Rate/Rank: ___________________ USS NIMITZ CVN68 FPO, AP 96620-2820

FAMILY COMMUNICATION:

_____Have you reached an agreement on frequency of letter-writing?

_____Does your loved one know the complete ships address? Rate/Rank Name ____________________________

Division: _________________

Department: ______________

USS NIMITZ CVN68

FPO, AP 96620-2820 _____Have your children been included in discussions on where the ship is going?

_____When will the ship leave? ________________

_____When will the ship return home? ___________

_____Why is the ship going? _____________________ Deployment calendar/map made: ___________

VEHICLE:

_____Is the car in good repair and ready to be for use over the deployment or to be

stored? _____If the car is to be used, has its care been discussed?

_____If the title/registration is not in both individuals‘ names, a Special Power of

Attorney is needed.

_____Last oil change was done at__________ miles. _____Next oil change should be done at __________ miles.

_____Where to have the service work done:_____________

Address: ____________________________

Phone: _________________

_____If stored, where? _______________________ _____How will storage fees be paid? _______________

HOUSING:

_____Does your spouse know what to do or who to call if something in your home

breaks? _____Military Housing trouble desk: _______________

_____Electrician: _______________

_____Plumber: _______________

_____Carpenter: ________________ _____Washer/Dryer repair? _______________

_____Heating/Cooling repair? _______________

_____Appliance repair? _______________

_____Lawn mower repair? _______________

_____Will you be moving PCS during deployment? ______ IMPORTANT PAPERS:

_____ Organize all important/legal papers in one place

_____ Adoption Papers/Birth Certificates

_____ Budget _____ Car Titles

_____ Divorce Decrees

_____ Family Information Guide

_____ Insurance Papers _____ Loan Papers

_____ Marriage License

_____ Mortgage

_____ Power of Attorney _____ Will

FINANCIAL:

_____How much will you have to spend onboard the ship?

Amount $__________________

_____Split Pay Option Established? ______ _____Budget prepared?

_____Bills organized and payments planned?

_____Car

_____Credit Cards _____Rent

_____Storage/Garage

_____Utilities

_____Phone _____Pre-approved loan authorization at Navy Relief?

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★ ★ ★ ★ ★

LEGAL ISSUES:

_____Have you and your spouse made your wills? _____Are the wills current and in a convenient place?

_____Date that the wills were last reviewed ________

_____Have you discussed a Power of Attorney?

_____Do you need a Special Power of Attorney to sign any income tax forms or to cash a tax return check? _____

Where is the Power of Attorney located? ____________

HOME SAFETY/SECURITY:

_____Have you given your home a safety/security checkup? _____Do all window locks work?

_____Do all the windows open or are they painted shut?

_____Do all the door locks work?

_____Have you secured the outside buildings? _____Do you know the combinations or have the keys for ALL LOCKS?

_____Does the smoke detector/fire alarm work? Batteries changed?

_____Do you have a fire extinguisher in your home?

_____Has the family practiced earthquake/fire drills?

MISCELLANEOUS: _____Do you understand what the Ombudsman, Command Chaplains Assistance

Team, Navy Family Service Center, Red Cross, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society,

Chaplain, etc., can to for you and you and when to contact them?

_____Do you have emergency numbers where you can contact the above agencies quickly?

_____Have you reached an agreement on frequency of letter-writing?

_____Do you know your spouses complete ships address?

_____Have you located all important family documents in one place?

O P S E C Well, it‘s the time again Nimitz Families!

With the excitement of the Homeport Change,

also brings the reality that our loved ones will soon begin

a very hectic underway/workup schedule, which will

eventually lead to a deployment at the end of the year.

So what better time than now to refresh our understanding of the do's and the don‘ts of Operational Security!

Within the Navy, the odds of making it through a deployment without hearing ‗Loose Lips Sink Ships‘ are improbable. Though the slogan is old, it is widely

popular, and still embodies the basic principle of Operational Security.

Some may not know it, but we all play crucial roles in ensuring our loved ones'

safety just by what we know of the military's day-to-day operations. We can

protect our loved ones by protecting the information in which we know. This is known in the military as, "Operational Security", or as we like to call

it, OPSEC.

OPSEC is keeping potential adversaries from discovering critical Department Of

Defense information. As the name suggests, it protects US operations -

planned, in progress and those completed. OPSEC is a multi-faceted concept

that strives to prevent the inadvertent compromise of sensitive or classified

activities, capabilities and or intentions.

Examples of Violating OPSEC/PERSEC • Your sailor‘s exact location overseas.

• Any information on command movements – this includes any movement while they

are deployed, in transit to/from.

• Do not ever give dates of departure or homecoming and do not post countdowns

online.

• Do not discuss future destinations or ports of call, and or ops or mission. • Do not discuss Readiness issues.

• Do not discuss specific training equipment.

• Do not discuss names and billets in conjunction with operations.

Helpful Tips

• Be vague about your personal information on the Internet.

• Do not give out your sailor‘s name and rank.

• Be very careful how you display your patriotism; shirts, bumper stickers or any kind of fashion that states you have a loved one overseas.

OPSEC: A systematic, proven process by which a government, organization, or individual can identify, control, and protect generally unclassified information about an

operation/activity and, thus, deny or mitigate an adversary's/competitor's ability to

compromise or interrupt said operation/activity (NSC 1988). 2. OPSEC is a process of

identifying critical information and subsequently analyzing friendly actions attendant

to military operations and other activities to (a) identify those actions that can be observed by adversary intelligence systems, (b) determine indicators adversary

intelligence systems might obtain that could be interpreted or pieced together to

derive critical information in time to be useful to adversaries, and select and execute

measures that eliminate or reduce to an acceptable level the vulnerabilities of friendly actions to adversary exploitation (DOD JP 1994; JCS 1997).

If you have any questions or concerns in regards to a

possible OPSEC violation, or want further clarification on OPSEC/PERSEC,

please contact your FRG team

or any Team Nimitz Ombudsman.

H e l p f u l R e s o u r c e s !

USS NIMITZ Ombudsmen

Ombudsmen are volunteers, appointed by the commanding officer, to serve as an

information link between command leadership and Navy families. Ombudsmen are

trained to disseminate information both up and down the chain of command, including official Department of the Navy and command information, command climate issues,

and local quality of life improvement opportunities.

Phone: (360) 340-7040 Email: ussnimitzombudsman@yahoo.com

USS NIMITZ Web Site

The command has put together a comprehensive site. Here is a link to the contact numbers you may need. The site also has the famous Dry Dock series and Home Port

Change information.

http://www.nimitz.navy.mil/pages/contactpage.html

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

The mission of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is to provide, in partnership with

the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when

in need; and to receive and manage funds to administer these programs.

The Society provides need based financial assistance to eligible recipients in the form of:

•Interest-free loans and grants

•Scholarships and interest-free loans for education.

In addition, the Society offers the following services: •Financial Counseling

•Budget for Baby Workshops

•Thrift Shops

•Visiting Nurse Services

http://www.nmcrs.org/

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross links members of the U.S. Armed Forces with their families

during a crisis. Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, the Red Cross quickly sends

emergency communications to deployed service members on behalf of their family.

The American Red Cross also has access to financial assistance in partnership with the military aid societies, information and referral and assistance to veterans.

http://www.redcross.org/

TRICARE

Your medical benefits

http://www.triwest.com/en/

United Concordia

Your dental benefits http://www.tricaredentalprogram.com/tdptws/home.jsp

Everett Navy Housing Office

They will help you with the process of applying for the housing available in Everett. They also have a Rental Referral Program. This program will help with in town rentals.

The partnership with community rentals can mean little or no deposit/application fee

and overlooking bad credit.

Phone: 425-304-3402/3403

Email: everett-housing@navylifepnw.com

COMPASS

COMPASS is a spouse-to-spouse mentoring program that introduces participants to all

aspects of the military lifestyle. COMPASS offers military spouses the opportunity to

establish a peer network, acquire knowledge and develop skills necessary to

successfully meet future challenges of military life. I HIGHLY recommend attending a class. They offer free childcare/lunches and some of the best information out there.

There are classes in Everett and Bremerton and near most Naval Stations. Sign up!

http://www.gocompass.org/

Child Care

Navy Region Northwest Child & Youth Programs (CYP) offers developmental child care for eligible children, 6 weeks to 12 years of age, and has many options available from

center-based and home care to school-age care.

Child Care Registration Phone: (425) 304-3951/3952

Email: childcarerequest.cnrnw@navy.mil

Military One Source Military OneSource is a free service provided by the Department of Defense to service

members and their families to help with a broad range of concerns including money

management, spouse employment and education, parenting and child care, relocation,

deployment, reunion, and the particular concerns of families with special-needs members. They can also include more complex issues like relationships, stress, and

grief. Services are available 24 hours a day — by telephone with professionally trained

consultants and online. Many Military OneSource staff members have military

experience (veterans, spouses, Guardsmen, Reservists), and all receive ongoing training on military matters and military lifestyle. The program can be especially

helpful to service members and their families who live at a distance from installations.

https://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/Navy.aspx?MRole=Family&Branch=Navy&Co

mponent=Active

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