News 6 Mashup: July 25, 2022
Here is this week’s News 6 mashup of stories for the week of July 25th, 2022, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt:
Navy Struggles to Separate Sailors Efficiently
Each year nearly 37,000 sailors separate from the Navy which has recently been scrutinized for severe delays in issuing separation orders and DD-214 forms which provide proof of military service and determining eligibility for benefits. The separation orders are crucial for scheduling moves, breaking leases, finding new employment and more. Military.com investigated a complaint from Christopher Atkins, whose separation orders took 123 days – and were issued within days of Military.com asking for details. The Navy says part of the issue is that sailors are not submitting their paperwork within 60 days, but instead are submitting in a shorter window. Atkins did say that he submitted his paperwork at 41 days. Another sailor interviewed submitted her paperwork early, and it still took 121 days to receive orders. Atkins is still waiting on his DD-214.
Air Force Debuts Healthy Cooking Show
“The Air Force has launched an entertaining program to show its airmen and women, and their families, how to eat [healthier], and like it,” announced Federal News Network. The program is called Nutrition Kitchen where a chef from the Joint Culinary Center of Excellence at Fort Lee, Virginia, gives three Levels of a version of a recipe, suggests modifications and ingredient swaps to “level up” the nutrition. Following the chef, registered dieticians at Travis Air Force Base discuss the science and nutrition behind the chef’s choices. There are five episodes with more planned. The videos quick, a little silly and fun, with recipes that are easy to modify for your own kitchen!
Service Members of the Year Announced
The Military Times Foundation announced the Service Members of the Year awards for 2022. For the past 21 years, Service Members of the Year awards have honored one outstanding military member (active duty, Guard or Reserve) from each branch of service. They are selected based on exemplary military service that goes beyond the call of duty.
Army Soldier of the Year: Maj. Nicholas Dockery
Marine of the Year: Maj. Cory Jones
Airman of the Year: Staff Sgt. Duncan Copley
Sailor of the Year: AWS2 Cale Foy
Coast Guardsman of the Year: AST2 Joshua Carlson
Veteran of the Year: David Kim, who founded the charity Children of Fallen Patriots
This Week in History
On July 25, 1943 – The first Navy ship named for an African-American, USS Harmon (DE 678), was launched. USS Harmon was named in honor of Mess Attendant 1st Class Leonard Roy Harmon who posthumously received the Navy Cross for heroic actions trying to save a shipmate on board the USS San Francisco (CA 38) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on Nov. 13, 1942.
According to Wikipedia, on that fateful day, the USS “San Francisco was raked by Japanese gunfire during the battle, killing nearly every officer on the bridge. Harmon rushed in to evacuate the wounded. He was then assigned to assist Pharmacist’s Mate Lyndford Bondsteel in evacuating and caring for the wounded. While the ship was being raked by enemy gunfire, Harmon helped evacuate the wounded to a dressing station. While doing so he deliberately stood between Bondsteel and enemy gunfire in order to protect his wounded shipmate. This action resulted in his death.”
Photo by Alisha Hieb on Unsplash
