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Read the Full Article from www.militarybases.com/navy

The Navy was founded under the authority of George Washington in 1775 as a means to disrupt British Supply ships. For decades to follow their necessity was a question in terms of being a financially sound investment, even after their successful engagement during the American Revolution. In 1794, with pirate ambushes on trade routes and growing international conflicts, the Navy’s value was then understood. The Navy guards the Nation’s interests both abroad and at home, reaching the furthest depths of the ocean and conquering the waters, above and below the sea. The Navy has a full set of service units (air, ground, and sea). The reach of the Navy can be seen as they are spread out to over 100 international ports and control over 285 deployable ships at any one time.

Today, the U.S. Navy still has the greatest global reach and firepower of any other naval force in the world – by a long shot.

We’re highlighting just two of the over 100 bases:

NAS Patuxent River Navy Base in Lexington Park, MD

Locally, the Naval Air Station at the Patuxent River covers 13,800 acres at the mouth of the Patuxent River, south and southeast of Baltimore and Washington D.C. It’s the area’s largest employer, employing over 20,000 on the base. The Patuxent Naval Air Station is the Navy’s full-spectrum acquisition, research, development, test, evaluation, and engineering and fleet support activity for manned and unmanned aircraft, engines, avionics, aircraft support systems, and ship/shore/air operations. For more information, see: http://www.militarybases.us/navy/nas-patuxent-river/

NSA Annapolis Navy Base in Annapolis, MD

The Naval Support Activity is the Navy’s strategic logistics hub. It’s Cumberland County’s largest employer having 40 tenant commands on the 806 Acre complex. Originally, the NSA was a Naval Supply Depot during World War I and became a full-fledged facility in 1953 with the assignment of its own commanding officer. In July 1996, the Naval Supply Systems Command moved to Mechanicsburg bringing and supporting Weapons System Support, Business Systems Center, and the Defense Logistics Agency. 

Read more articles from VOM Magazine here: https://www.veteransoutreachministries.org/vom-magazine/

An Article by U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs

An easy way to remember when to fly the United States flag at half-staff is to consider when the whole nation is in mourning. These periods of mourning are proclaimed either by the president of the United States, for national remembrance, or the governor of a state or territory, for local remembrance, in the event of a death of a member or former member of the federal, state, or territorial government or judiciary. The heads of departments and agencies of the federal government may also order that the flag be flown at half-staff on buildings, grounds, and naval vessels under their jurisdiction.

On Memorial Day the flag should be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon only, then raised briskly to the top of the staff until sunset, in honor of the nation’s battle heroes. 

In the early days of our country, no regulations existed for flying the flag at half-staff, and, as a result, there were many conflicting policies. But on March 1, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower issued a proclamation on the proper times.

The flag should fly at half-staff for 30 days at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president. It is to fly 10 days at half-staff after the death of the vice president, the chief justice or retired chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, or the speaker of the House of Representatives. For an associate justice of the Supreme Court, a member of the Cabinet, a former vice president, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the majority leader of the Senate, the minority leader of the Senate, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, or the minority leader of the House of Representatives the flag is to be displayed at half-staff from the day of death until interment. 

The flag is to be flown at half-staff at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels in the Washington, D.C., area on the day and day after the death of a United States senator, representative, territorial delegate, or the resident commissioner from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It should also be flown at half-staff on all federal facilities in the state, congressional district, territory, or commonwealth of these officials.

Upon the death of the governor of a state, territory, or possession, the flag should be flown at half-staff on all federal facilities in that governor’s state, territory or possession from the day of death until interment. 

The president may order the flag to be flown at half-staff to mark the death of other officials, former officials, or foreign dignitaries. In addition to these occasions, the president may order a half-staff display of the flag after other tragic events. The flag should be briskly run-up to the top of the staff before being lowered slowly to the half-staff position. 

For more information see:  https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/halfstaff.pdf

Read more articles from VOM Magazine here: https://www.veteransoutreachministries.org/vom-magazine/

 By Lishamarie Hunter

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has a long history of being a male-only institution. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was created in 1921 and is located in Arlington National Cemetery.  It started as a plain marble slab that held the remains of an unidentified soldier who served in World War I.  The Army began guarding the location in 1926 and 1937 the guard duty went to a 24 hours a day and 7 days a week rotation. This year it celebrated 100 years. 

“The Old Guard” offers soldiers one of the most special assignments in the Army. Not only do the sentinels guard the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier, but they also escort the president, provide military funeral services, and even protect Washington DC in times of emergency.  

The 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment has served this nation since 1784, making it the oldest active regiment in the military. It is a combat unit. SGT Heather Johnson become the first woman who earned the Tomb Guard Identification Badge. The following year SGT Danyell Wilson became the first African American woman to earn the Badge, 1998 Staff SGT Tonya Bell became the third woman and the first to serve as relief commander.  It wasn’t until 2015 that women were permitted to serve in most combat roles. Once that barrier was broken more women earned the the badge.  This led the way for the first sergeant of the guard,  SFC Chelsea Porter. Before this women in the early 1980s could only serve for ceremonial purposes, an example was playing in the Fife and Drum Corps. 

What does it take to become a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Honor Guard? Soldiers must meet strict standards to join the Army’s Honor Guard.

Because it is a highly visible position the soldiers must meet appearance and fitness standards, education, character, and Army requirements. The only distinction between the male and female requirements is the height standards. Males must be between 5’10 and 6’4” and females must be between 5’8” and 6’2”. They each must meet the height and weight standards must score at least 230 out of 300 on the Army Physical Fitness Test. All soldiers must not have any physical limitations that would restrict making sharp crisp movements while serving in The Old Guard.

Education standards are have a high school diploma or GED, officers must have a bachelor’s degree.  All soldiers must have GT of 110 or better.  Character qualifications must have a clean criminal record, no civil convictions or conviction under the Uniform Military Code of Justice.  They can not have been in involved in any drug or alcohol related issues. The 3rd Infantry Regiment has the critical security task of escorting the president of the United States. Army service requirement are they must be active duty Army. Must hold one of 35 MOS and have an exceptional service record to be selected. 

This year is the 100 year anniversary for the Tomb of The Unknown soldier and this year on 29 September 2021, SFC Porterfield made history. She took her final walk at the Tomb and conducted a changing of the guard ceremony. It was the first time ever in the history of the changing of the guard at the Tomb that an all-women shift change in 84 years, on 30770 day of the continuous guarding.  

This historical event is a sign of change.  Woman in the military are making gains throughout this country’s history.  This shows our youth that they can hold any position or job, accomplish anything if they are willing to just apply themselves. 

Read more articles from VOM Magazine here: https://www.veteransoutreachministries.org/vom-magazine/