HowgozitFebruary 15, 2007

MEMORANDUM FROM VADM DUNN

This is a third howgozit for all ANA Wing Commanders and ANA Squadron Commanding Officers and Membership-At-Large. It would be much appreciated were you to pass this on to all your members.

ANA news continues to be good. While we are still experiencing the pains of reestablishing, we're making good progress. What's more, we continue on our mission.

While we have had only a little more than one month of the "New ANA", membership renewals are looking good and membership is on an upswing, albeit slower than we would like. We hope all you recruiters, and that means all of you, are out there beating the bushes. It's memberships that will sustain us. We cannot continue to rely on appeals such as that made by Admiral Holloway late last year. While that appeal was well received and produced vital "seed" money, we cannot continue to go to that well and simultaneously maintain a viable organization.

Beyond money and memberships, we've received a number of reports that tell us more and more of our squadrons are doing well, active in their communities spreading the good word about Naval Aviation. Even previously moribund squadrons are coming to life. Good on all of you. Special kudos go to Captain Ernie Snowden and his efforts with the Washington-Anacostia Squadron. A highlight is that on March 6 he has arranged a squadron luncheon at the Army-Navy Club featuring Admiral Holloway and Rear Admiral Bruce Clingan, Director Air Warfare, N88.

That luncheon with Rear Admiral Clingan is just one way where your temporary leadership is continuing to work at reestablishing contacts with senior key active duty Naval Aviators. That's one of our priority efforts and the sense is we're making good progress. More details on that effort in subsequent howgozits.

Meanwhile, we've been making progress on other fronts as well.

We have now a signed a contract with Howard Associates to provide administrative support. Among other things, they will handle membership applications and renewals for us. Their address is at the bottom of this howgozit.

By-laws for the new ANA have been reviewed by our legal counsel, approved by our temporary board of directors, and promulgated to all wing and squadron commanders by e-mail. If you didn't get a copy and want one, please let us know.

Among other things, the by-laws call for a vote by the membership for a more permanent board of directors. The required election will be conducted concurrently with the next issue of Wings of Gold. In that spring issue there will be a tear-out sheet ballot. Details will be covered in a future howgozit and in the spring issue of Wings of Gold itself. Suffice for now to say we're organizing the election in this fashion to save the cost of a special ballot mail out.

As for other communications, until our website gets back up, we will be depending very much on e-mail. That means two-way e-mail as we need to hear from you at least as much as you may need to hear from us. It also means that we must make special effort to reach out to those members and prospects who may not have e-mail. I ask your special attention to that.

Finally, I'm sure you know our active duty naval aviation forces are running at max throttle. When they are back home they understandably want and need to spend time with their families. But even so, with all the experience and talent we have in our ANA squadrons I'm sure you can find time to use all sorts of events, media and stratagems to let them know how much we appreciate and support them. That, after all, is one of the best thing we "old guys" can do for the young people following in our footsteps.

Lastly, some recent news to ponder.

"As the Iraq war nears its fourth anniversary, the Navy must compete for funds with the Army and Marine Corps, who get top priority because their personnel and equipment have been stretched thin."

"The Navy is as busy as ever, its carriers launching air strikes in Afghanistan and Iraq, its destroyers chasing pirates off the Horn of Africa, its frigates halting suspected drug runners in Latin American waters, its amphibious assault ships ferrying Marines and Special Forces to the Middle East and elsewhere."

"The aircraft carrier John Stennis and its Strike Group are headed west to provide support for U.S. and coalition forces operating in the U.S. 5th Fleet and will support Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, be prepared to take part in Horn of Africa operations, and conduct Maritime Surveillance Operations (MSO). Coalition forces conduct MSO under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that all commercial shipping can operate freely while transiting the region."

"The USS John F. Kennedy was decommissioned on March 23 after nearly 40 years of service."

"The Air Force and Navy each will receive six F-35 Joint Strike Fighters at $2.6 billion. Continued research and development for the F-35 is set at $3.4 billion in fiscal 2008.

The Navy will receive 24 F/A-18E/F Hornet jet fighters at $2.4 billion and 18 E/A-18G Growler aircraft at $1.3 billion. The Growler is the electronic warfare variant of the Hornet.

Shipbuilding will receive $14.4 billion under the request for a CVN-21 next-generation aircraft carrier, a Virginia-class sub, an amphibious assault ship and a logistics ship. The program funds three littoral combat ships and will continue funding for two DDG-1000-class destroyers and another amphibious assault ship."

"In the coming months, the Navy's PMA-263 acquisition program office intends to hold a full and open competition to fill the requirement for a small, tactical unmanned aerial system (UAS), to be utilized by both the Navy and Marine Corps. Experience with this size of UAS in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terror has validated the need for this capability. This small UAS is expected to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support for tactical level decisions and unit level defense, and protection for Navy ships and Marine Corps land forces. The draft request for proposal is expected to be released this fall."

"Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 1st Class Robert Reyes, along with 13 other formerly enlisted sailors Navywide, received his CWO bars as part of the Flying Chief Warrant Officer Pilot program. Ten candidate pilots and four candidate naval flight officers (NFO) were selected for the 2006 trial run of the program, and 10 candidate pilots and six candidate NFOs will be chosen in 2007."

Best regards,
VADM Bob Dunn, robtdunn@aol.com

Captain Dutch Rauch, svwindmills@erols.com
1446 Waggaman Circle
McLean, VA 22101

Captain Zip Rausa, zip@anahq.org
WINGS OF GOLD
2133 Freda Drive
Vienna, VA 22181

Membership applications and renewals:
Association of Naval Aviation
2550 Huntington Ave, Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 27303