In The Navy

Via the Navy Times:

Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Ted Carter issued a challenge to the 2018 plebe class Monday afternoon: Try to beat the 1 hour, 20 minutes it took his class of '81 to scale the Herndon Monument and replace the plebe Dixie cup with a midshipman's cover, signifying the end of the grueling plebe year. The fourth classmen came close at 1 hour, 38 minutes and 36 seconds, when 19-year-old Javarri Beachum stretched his 5-foot-7-inch frame to nudge the cover over the top of the obelisk as the few thousand spectators roared their approval. Beachum, a native of Port St. Joe, Florida, told reporters he knew he'd be the one to get to the top. "My sponsor was the first one — I told her, 'Don't worry, I'll be the one to put it up there,' " he told reporters.

The clip below is by the Naval Academy. Odd musical choice.

SAN DIEGO: Gay Submariner & Boyfriend Chosen For Ceremonial First Kiss

Via NBC San Diego:

A San Diego man and his partner were the first male same-sex couple to be chosen for the ceremonial first kiss during the homecoming of submarine warship USS San Francisco. The fast-attack submarine reunited with its home port at Naval Base Point Loma Monday afternoon while families lined the dock awaiting the arrival of husbands, sons, dads and brothers returning from a seven-month stint in the Western Pacific. Thomas Sawicki and his boyfriend Shawn Brier were the lucky couple chosen to share the first kiss off the ship. "Everyone was cheering for me when they announced it over email," Sawicki said. "Everyone was very excited, very supportive, very happy."

(Tipped by JMG reader Cricket)

US Navy Demonstrates Laser Weapon

TURKEY: Mob Of Anti-US Protesters Attack And Chase Three American Sailors

Via the Washington Post:

Three U.S. sailors were attacked in Istanbul by an angry mob on Wednesday, as a grew of about 20 nationalists threw objects at them, chased them and briefly threw a bag over one of their heads. The incident was publicized in a video online, and acknowledged by the U.S. Navy. The attack underscores the volatility in Turkey, a longtime U.S. ally that increasingly does not see eye-to-eye with Washington on foreign policy, especially over how to handle the Islamic State militant group in neighboring Syria.

In the video, one of the Turks said the Americans looked like members of the U.S. Army. They claimed to be members of the Turkey Youth Union, which is opposed to working with America and becoming members of the European Union.“We define you as murderers, as killers… and we want you to get out of our land,” one man said, seconds before the attack ensues. The Navy said the Americans were sailors assigned to the USS Ross, a destroyer, and in Turkey for a scheduled port visit. They appeared to be in their late teens or early 20s. They were able to get away without sustaining injuries, and are back aboard the Ross, Navy officials said.

The US embassy in Turkey has responded on Twitter: "The video showing an assault on three visiting American sailors is appalling. While we respect the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression, we condemn today’s attack in Istanbul, and have no doubt the vast majority of Turks would join us in rejecting an action that so disrespects Turkey’s reputation for hospitality."

US Navy Christens Ship For Sally Ride

The US Navy has christened its new ship named after late astronaut Sally Ride in a ceremony featuring her partner of 27 years.

Dr. Tam O'Shaughnessy, ship's sponsor for the auxiliary general oceanographic research (AGOR) vessel R/V Sally Ride (AGOR 28), breaks a bottle across the bow during a christening ceremony at the Dakota Creek Industries, Inc., shipyard in Anacortes, Wash. Joining O'Shaughnessy on the platform are Mr. Dick Nelson, president, Dakota Creek Industries, Inc., Matron of Honor, the reverend Dr. Bear Ride, Matron of Honor, Kathleen Ritzman, assistant director, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, Kathryn Sullivan, undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder, chief of naval research.

Ride died of pancreatic cancer in 2012 at the age of 61. (Tipped by JMG reader Rob)

Two Million Views

Buzzfeed reports today that the above military proposal photo has garnered over two million views since being posted on Facebook. Hit the link for a great interview with the couple.

Mass Shooting At DC Navy Yard BaseUPDATE: Twelve Fatalities Now Confirmed

The Washington Post has the early report:

A D.C. police officer is among the people shot at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday morning. A police spokesman confirmed at 9:20 a.m. that the officer was shot near the room where a lone gunman has barricaded himself after allegedly shooting at least three people on the Navy Yard grounds in Southeast Washington. The U.S. Navy said that three shots were fired around 8:20 a.m. at the Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters building, where about 3,000 people work. Police said that at least three, possibly four, people were shot. All are in critical condition, authorities said.

A "shelter in place" order is in effect at the base. President Obama has reportedly been informed. Developing...

UPDATE: CNN reports twelve shooting victims.

UPDATE II: Russia's foreign affairs chief tweets: "A new shootout at Navy headquarters in Washington - a lone gunman and 7 corpses. Nobody’s even surprised anymore. A clear confirmation of American exceptionalism."

UPDATE III: The death toll has been raised to six.

The gunman, identified as a former Navy official in his 50s, was confirmed dead by a law enforcement official but police were looking into the possibility of two additional shooters. The D.C. police chief says a white male was last seen with a hand gun around 8:35 a.m. A black male, identified as a suspect in his 50s, was also seen with a long gun. Officials said both men were wearing military-style uniforms. D.C. Metro police confirmed that two officers were among the eight victims shot. One of them is a D.C. male police officer, and the other is from the naval base. Three of the victims were transported to MedStar Washington Center in critical condition. The Metro police officer was undergoing emergency surgery after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to his legs. A second female victim transported to MedStar was shot in the shoulder and a third suffered a gunshot wounds to her head and hand.

SAN DIEGO: Navy Grants OK For Sailors To Wear Uniforms In Gay Pride Parade

All of last year's screaming by the right wing was wasted because the Navy has again granted permission for active duty sailors to wear their uniforms at San Diego Pride. Via press release:

Following a historic week of marriage equality victories, the United States Navy, Region Southwest has authorized active duty Navy servicemembers under its command to wear their uniforms in the San Diego LGBT Pride Parade on Saturday, July 13 at 11 am. For the third year, servicemembers are invited to participate in the Military Contingent which leads the San Diego LGBT Pride Parade. Over 300 servicemembers are expected to participate, either in uniform or in a branch specific T-shirt. "San Diego has a strong military presence and a large LGBT community, and it is important to our LGBT servicemembers that we honor their full identity and service to our country. We are grateful to the Navy Region Southwest command for extending their support to our event and to these courageous servicemembers," said Stephen Whitburn, San Diego LGBT Pride General Manager.

The Navy stipulates that pride participants are not to embellish their uniforms with "unauthorized items" and that they may only carry the American flag.

Transgender Former Navy SEAL To Anderson Cooper: I Just Want Happiness

Warrior Princess: Former Navy SEAL Writes Memoir On Transition To Female

The Atlantic has the story:

In every Navy SEAL is a memoir, it seems lately. Retired SEAL Kristin Beck's new memoir, published on Tuesday and titled Warrior Princess, is a bit different, though. In it, Beck describes how, over the course of her 20 year military career, including thirteen deployments over the globe, she slowly became more and more aware that was she meant to live life as a woman — a vexing and often tormenting realization for a long-time member of an elite all-male unit that went on to capture and kill Osama bin Laden. Beck, who identified as a man (and went by the name Chris) while in the Navy, explains that she decided to undergo hormonal therapy some time after retiring in early 2011, and eventually came out to colleagues by posting a picture of herself dressed as a woman on LinkedIn earlier this year.

The Atlantic speculates that the memoir might help break down the military's ban on transgender service members.

NYC Fleet Week Canceled

Fleet Week has officially been canceled for New York City.

The United States Navy says it will not send any ships next month and no additional sailors or Marines will head to the city for the annual Fleet Week celebration. Cuts to the defense budget under the sequester are being blamed. But a spokesperson says any Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard members who happen to be in the city will be allowed to take part in any local events that still take place. City officials say Fleet Week was expected to generate about $20 million. In a statement, the city said, "We understand the Navy’s budgetary limitations and hope that the Fleet Week tradition can continue in 2014."

Research Ship Named For Sally Ride

An oceanography research ship to be operated on behalf of the US Navy has been named for astronaut Sally Ride, who died last year of pancreatic cancer.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said in a statement, “Sally Ride’s career was one of firsts and will inspire generations to come. I named R/V Sally Ride to honor a great researcher, but also to encourage generations of students to continue exploring, discovering and reaching for the stars.” It is common for a research vessel to be named after an explorer or scientist. Scripps’ current fleet of Navy-owned ships includes the Roger Revelle, which bears the name of the late UC San Diego scientist who helped pioneer the study of global warming. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Cape Cod, Mass., is getting a ship named R/V Neil Armstrong.

Ride became the first female American astronaut in 1983. After her passing it was revealed that she had been in a decades-long relationship with a woman.

NYC's Fleet Week Is Underway

The weather continues to be dark and drizzly, but the parade of "tall ships" from around the world rolls on as NYC launches its 25th annual Fleet Week. The streets of midtown have been crowded in white bell-bottoms for a couple of days. Event slideshow here.

SAN DIEGO: Gay Sailor's Homecoming

Yesterday JMG reader Aaron Heier accompanied his Navy veteran friend Lee to the San Diego homecoming of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, where Lee was reunited with his longtime boyfriend Trent, who'd been at sea for six months.

Climbing The Greasy Pole

Lots more photos at Buzzfeed.

Navy Jet Crashes Into Virginia Apartments

Elaine Donnelly Sues U.S. Navy

Ever since the repeal of DADT, we haven't much from Elaine Donnelly and her so-called Center For Military Readiness. Probably because all those gay rapes and soldier defections never happened. But here she comes with a new angle of asshattery.

Via World Net Daily:

A federal Freedom of Information Act lawsuit has been filed against the U.S. Navy over the manipulation of “gay” data used to convince Congress to overturn the centuries-old ban in the U.S. military on open homosexuality. It was the military’s original and now-suspect report that famously was quoted as affirming “70 percent” of the nation’s military members believe the repeal of the long-standing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” practice of allowing homosexuals to serve as long as they kept their sexual lifestyle choices to themselves would have either “a neutral or positive impact on unit cohesion, readiness, effectiveness and morale.” However, the IG in documents uncovered by Elaine Donnelly of the Center for Military Readiness revealed the actual figures for military members were: those who believed the change would impact units “very positively” (6.6 percent), “positively” (11.8 percent), “mixed” (32.1 percent), “negatively” (18.7 percent), “very negatively” (10.9 percent) and “no effect” (19.9 percent). The only way the 70 percent figure can be reached is to combine “very positively,” “positively,” “mixed” and “no effect.” But this combination counts people with “neutral positions” as favoring the change, Donnelly reported.

Donnelly is being represented by the Thomas More Law Center, an outfit of pro bono nutjobs that regularly sues school boards to force Christian prayers upon unwilling children.

Quote Of The Day - Porno Pete

"Under Obama’s Navy, lesbians get the first traditional kiss; the sailor comes off the boat greeted by his spouse which is a woman usually, man-woman, woman-man, but now under Obama this political correctness we’re going to pretend that homosexuality belongs in the military. And actually Obama posted the photo of these two women kissing on his Flickr page which to me is another first—a president posting an indecent photo on his Flickr page because homosexual sex and homosexual practice is still indecent. It doesn’t matter what the trends say what the political correctness says, it matters what the truth is, and we go by the word of God and that’s indecent behavior. And to see our president glorifying it and saying this is one of his greatest accomplishments is really a sad day." - Porno Pete LaBarbera, speaking on Christian radio. (Via - Right Wing Watch)

AFA's Poll Of The Day

Tea Party Nation Condemns Navy Over Lesbian Kiss Homecoming Ceremony

"When a photo of a homecoming kiss between Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta kissing her 'partner', Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell went public on December 22, it set gay and lesbian hearts atwitter. What the predominantly heterosexual population thought of it was unreported. [snip] Gays and lesbians play on the inherent sense of fairness and tolerance that is a hallmark of American society. The result is that homosexuality is now widely represented in popular culture to the point of being accepted as 'normal.' It is not 'normal.' It is a sexual aberration involving a very small portion of the overall population, perhaps no more than four percent. Always was, always will be." - Alan Caruba, writing for Tea Party Nation.