2500 Posts

This is my 2500th post on this blog. In celebration, here's a cool picture of USS Chicago (SSN 721) at PD:

Expect light posting this week -- we've got family coming into town and our youngest is graduating from High School (yes, the two events are related). Please feel free to discuss amongst yourselves about pretty much anything.

Memorial Day

While we honor all who have paid the ultimate price to maintain our Freedoms, my heart turns especially towards those Submariners still on Eternal Patrol. (Links to the Wikipedia article on each lost boat can be found here.)

Sailors, Rest Your Oars.

Memorial Day 2010

Memorial Days and Armistice Days keep coming and going, yet we're still in two wars with few signs of ceasing. Honoring veterans and those who are currently serving is only right, as is remembering the fallen. However, it's also crucial not to allow war to be portrayed as bloodless and glorious. Perhaps some realistic consideration of the actual consequences of war may enter current political

The Slutty Mary Todd Lincoln

"And here's the slutty Mary Todd Lincoln" is the best line I've read all day, perhaps all week. Head over to read Digby's post, "Cleavage And Crossed Legs," for the full context.Since all roads lead to The West Wing, in the words of First Lady Abbey Bartlet to C.J., "Showing a little décolletage wouldn't kill you dead." ( If only Abbey could smite the Beltway press corps...)

Submarine Department Head Retention Goal Met

Navy Times is reporting that PERS-42 met their submarine Department Head retention goals for FY09. Excerpts:

Annual goals call for the submarine service to retain roughly 110 department heads. The force came up short from fiscal 2004 through 2008, with the exception of fiscal 2006, when it exceeded goals by seven officers, according to Navy Personnel Command data. The silent service exceeded fiscal 2009 goals by two officers and has sustained this success eight months into this fiscal year, said NPC spokesman Mike McLellan.
The data shows the service retained 100 department heads, 11 short of goal, in fiscal 2008. Retention was boosted to 113 department heads, two more than the goal of 111 the next year. McLellan said the increase can be attributed “to the combination of a number of factors including leadership focus, an increase in nuclear officer continuation pay in [fiscal 2009] and the state of the economy.”

The article goes on to discuss the current size of the Bonus ($17.5K for 3 year contract without DH experience, $30K for serving or served DHs ). I for one fully support the Bonus. I realize some may disagree. Discuss away...