Not exactly high tech news, but noteworthy nonetheless. In another move that signals how the machine is slowly sapping the elegance from the military experience, the Navy just released this message:
FM COMNAVAIRFOR SAN DIEGO CA//N43//TO USS KITTY HAWK
USS ENTERPRISE
USS NIMITZ
USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER
USS CARL VINSON
USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT
USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN
USS GEORGE WASHINGTON
USS JOHN C STENNIS
USS HARRY S TRUMAN
USS RONALD REAGAN
SUBJ/REMOVAL OF CAPTAINS GIGS FROM ALL AIRCRAFT CARRIERS//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. OPNAV N88 APPROVED THE NAVAL AVIATION ENTERPRISE (NAE) CARRIER READINESS TEAM (CRT) REQUEST TO REMOVE THE CAPTAIN'S GIG FROM ALL CV/CVNS. REMOVAL OF THE CAPTAIN'S GIG WILL REDUCE MAINTENANCE COSTS AND FREE UP VALUABLE HANGAR BAY SPACE.
2. PER REF A AND B, ALL CV/CVNS ARE REQUESTED TO PREPARE THEIR CAPTAIN'S GIG FOR DISPOSITION WITHOUT REPLACEMENT IAW REF C. SHIPS SHOULD COORDINATE THESE EFFORTS WITH THEIR TYCOM N43 MAINTENANCE PROGRAM MANAGER (MPM).
3. THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE CAPTAIN'S GIGS ASSIGNED BY SHIP AND ACTION REQUIRED (READ IN THREE COLUMNS):
SHIP CAPTAIN'S GIG ACTION REQUIRED
CV 63 10MPE9319 COMPLETE REF C REQUIREMENTS
CVN 65 12MPE9203 NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED
CVN 68 12MPE9201 COMPLETE REF C REQUIREMENTS
CVN 69 40PE9004 NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED
CVN 70 40PE761 NO FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED
CVN 71 40PE8514 COMPLETE REF C REQUIREMENTS
CVN 72 33PE8701 COMPLETE REF C REQUIREMENTS
CVN 73 13MPE9902 COMPLETE REF C REQUIREMENTS
CVN 74 33PE9006 COMPLETE REF C REQUIREMENTS
CVN 75 33PE9007 COMPLETE REF C REQUIREMENTS
CVN 76 10MPE9308 COMPLETE REF C REQUIREMENTS
4. REQUEST THAT CAPTAIN'S GIGS BE OFFLOADED AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.
5. CAPTAIN'S GIGS MUST BE OFFLOADED BY 30 JUN 09.
6. UPON COMPLETION OF OFFLOAD, SHIPS SHALL NOTIFY THEIR TYCOM N43 MPM AND POC.//
Ah, memories . . . it seems like just yesterday we'd join the old man for the ride to shore, full of the kind of excitement that always preceded a great liberty call.
So it's goodbye, trusty friend. Regardless of sea state, you always got us there and back.
-- Ward
