Jenn Rafael

'Torah for Our Troops' supporter nominated for 2nd star

By Jenn Rafael on March 13, 2012 Admirals, Carriers, Navy

A flag officer who has led the effort to supply all aircraft carriers with Torah scrolls just got nominated for a second star. Rear Adm. Herman Shelanski is commander of Carrier Strike Group 10. Shelanski also will receive the Jewish Military Leadership Award at the JCCs of North America Biennial in May 7. In its announcement, the organization noted Shelanski’s support for Torah for Our Troops, a Jewish Welfare Board/Jewish Chaplains Council initiative to commission lightweight Torah scrolls for chaplains to use in the field and as they move throughout the fleet. The Torah is Judaism’s holy book. The Torah…

Ex-sailor dreams of making it big on NBC's 'Fashion Star'

By Jenn Rafael on March 13, 2012 Navy

The reality series “Fashion Star,” which debuts Tuesday night on NBC, features 14 fashion-designer hopefuls competing to launch their brands. Among the contestants is former sailor Ronnie Escalante. According to his bio on the show’s website: “Growing up in the Philippines, Ronnie Escalante spent most of his days on an agricultural province. At a young age, Escalante was surrounded by fashion, as his cousin worked as a ‘beader’ in a local fashion house. However, it was in grade school that his knack for fashion design flourished. Escalante would sketch clothing designs in the back of his school notebooks. At the…

Mullen honored at SWO School

By Jenn Rafael on March 7, 2012 Admirals, Chief of naval operations, Navy, Training

He may have retired in September, but retired Adm. Mike Mullen’s legacy lives. An auditorium was dedicated in his name March 1 before a graduation ceremony at Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, R.I. In speaking to Department Head Class 215, Mullen reflected on his own department head graduation and the training he received throughout his career, according to a Navy news release. Mullen, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs and former chief of naval operations, also had kind words for the school: “Newport has always been a great Navy town and a big part of our family’s life.…

Naval Academy's 'South Pacific' is a secret

By Jenn Rafael on January 24, 2012 Naval Academy, Navy, The Pacific, World War II

Next month, Naval Academy midshipmen will perform possibly the most nautical musical ever to hit Broadway — but you wouldn’t know it by reading the school’s announcement of tickets for the winter musical. It’s South Pacific, but “licensing restrictions prohibit releasing the name of the production in this announcement.” The story is set on a South Pacific island during World War II, featuring two love stories threatened by prejudice and war. Nellie, a spunky nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with a French planter, while Lt. Joe Cable finds himself denying his love for an island native. The songs are…

Elves in orange vests

By Jenn Rafael on November 29, 2011 Coast Guard, Entertainment, Historical, Traditions

The seagoing buoy tender Alder has a new mission: spreading holiday cheer. The cutter is carrying hundreds of trees to needy Chicago families as the city’s “Christmas ship.” On Monday, the cutter’s crew took on the holiday cargo in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The seagoing buoy tender/icebreaker Mackinaw normally does the honors. Its crew delivered more than 1,200 Christmas trees to Chicago families last year. But for this holiday season, Mackinaw is headed to a Wisconsin shipyard for repair of a leaking bow-thruster. Alder’s mission is the continuation of a Chicago tradition. The original Christmas ship, the Rouse Simmons, brought…

We're No. 10!

By Jenn Rafael on November 16, 2011 Army, Family housing, Life at Home, Navy

A survey of home prices in college towns by Coldwell Banker shows that Annapolis, Md., home to the Naval Academy, is the 10th most expensive college town for home-buying. The College Home Listing Report compared the average listing price for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in the towns and cities of the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools. The average list price for an Annapolis home was $522,420, according to the report, and was 10th behind such cities as No. 2 Palo Alto, Calif. (Stanford University, average listing $1,232,0700); No. 3 Honolulu (University of Hawaii, average $779,419) and No. 8 Seattle (University…

Did you survive the ERB?

By Jenn Rafael on November 15, 2011 Navy, Personnel

Staff writer Mark D. Faram reported Monday that results of the first enlisted retention board have hit the streets, and petty officers third and second class in 31 overmanned ratings are finding out their fate. And this is only the first round: Those considered by the second ERB, sailors E-6 through E-8, won’t be notified of the results until after Thanksgiving. In a blog post Monday, Fleet Forces Command’s Adm. John Harvey stressed the fleet’s role in supporting those who must leave: On a final note, I want to say that it’s never easy to see our Shipmates leave. I take…

Shipping over in style

By Jenn Rafael on November 14, 2011 Chiefs, Navy, Personnel

Do you have a favorite re-enlistment ceremony? Maybe a family member or VIP swore you in. Maybe the location was historically significant. Or maybe you were being circled by sharks at the time. Although he wasn’t defying death while raising his hand, Senior Chief Aviation Electrician’s Mate (AW) Mukunda-Krishna Tyson of Patrol Squadron 1 likely won’t forget his ceremony before Sunday’s Seattle Seahawks game. In the photo below, Tyson is sworn in by Lt. Thomas Madera, also of VP-1, as tens of thousands of fans watched. VP-1 is based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash. (And the hometown Seahawks…

A battleship of your very own

By Jenn Rafael on November 1, 2011 Battleships, Historical, Navy, Photos, World War II

With the battleship Iowa being prepared for its debut next year as an interactive museum near Los Angeles, you might be thinking, where’s my battleship? The car enthusiast website jalopnik.com has the scoop: For a mere $80,000, you can own your own replica of the battleship New Jersey. The ebay auction description notes the ship is powered by a 120 HP Sea Doo jet drive. Also: “Two of the main guns are fully articulating and fire streams of high pressure water. The vessel also contains a 4000 watt generator, air compressor and high pressure stainless steel water pump.” And since…

Quarters K closes up shop

By Jenn Rafael on November 1, 2011 Arlington National Cemetery, Navy, Pentagon, Photos

If you’ve worked at the Pentagon, you’ve probably bought gas at Quarters K. The Navy Exchange gas station and Quikmart near the Navy Annex in Arlington, Va., closed for good Friday, as part of a plan to expand neighboring Arlington National Cemetery. Quarters K served military members, retirees and drivers of government vehicles, as well as members of the public using compressed natural gas and ethanol pumps. A brochure given out at the station notes that the nearest Navy Exchange gas station is at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., about 30 minutes to the north. Those…

Author Jenn Rafael