july ombudsman newsletter
TRANSCRIPT
YOUR CONCERNS:
Q: I found out which party my Seabee will be coming home. How and when will I receive the information for the return flights? A: This is probably the best part of deployment, and can also be the most stressful. We currently do not have flights with confirmed dates. However, as soon as we get confirmation, the Ombudsmen will send out an email with the steps of where to go, and who to call to find out the details. Because our Battalion is transitioning to a new Skipper, Commander Simms will set up how and when the information will be released. And as soon as she receives our dates, she will pass it along to us! So please, stay patient.
Q: My Seabee and I had a child or have adopted a child this deploy-ment. Do we receive any special care at homecoming? A: New Daddy Seabees are always first off the plane. However, if we do not have the information, they will not be released off the plane first. Please contact Chief Cosper at 805 982-3612 to confirm that your Seabee is on the list for New Dads. Your Seabee must inform his chain of Command as well in order to be seated at the fronto f the aircraft. There will also be a special area for the new babies and Moms to stand at on the Flight Line at Mugu.
Free Military Pillows
Many people have heard of the Daddy Doll, or Hug a Hero.
We recently received information from a Seabee spouse who
found a website that allows you to order a pillow with the photo
of your favorite Seabee on it, AT NO CHARGE!!!! It’s true. To check
out the website, please visit http://www.pillowprojectusa.com/
to fill out the forms and upload your Seabee for the pillow.
Again this is done for free, however the company does
ask for a “donation” after the pillow is delivered. The donation
request is in the box along with the pillow in a pre-stamped enve-
lope. Again it’s a recommendation and is not required.
Special thanks goes to Chrissy Boyette for sharing this website with us!
MICROSOFT
JULY 2010 ON THE BUZZ
ON THE BUZZ
Ombudsman Contact Information:
Brenda Walker (805) 218-2323 Linda Mendoza (805) 218-4096
Subscribe to NMCB-4 Ombudsman Newsletter by
e-mailing us.
Check out our website:
http://www.orgsites.com/ca/
nmcb4fst/index.html
Facebook (link to Facebook
found at orgsites website)
Careline (805)-982-2200
Inside this issue:
CO’s Corner 2
CMC’s Corner 3
Up Coming Events 4
Calendar & Important
Numbers
5
Guess Who’s Coming 6
FRG Friends of Four 7
Greetings FABULOUS Friends and Families,
I am deeply humbled by the opportunity to serve with the family and friends of NMCB FOUR
and I’m looking forward to meeting you upon our return to Port Hueneme. As you know, your Seabees
have had an extremely successful deployment turning a green field into a fully functional forward operat-
ing base and adding to the Seabee legacy in four regions throughout Afghanistan. Having seen Deh Dadi
before NMCB FOUR arrived and seeing what your Seabees have done this deployment is absolutely im-
pressive. The battalion’s success here is directly connected to your selfless sacrifice at home. My introduction to what an amazing battalion this is started two years ago however, more re-cently my experience has been shaped by: watching FOUR step off the plane at Kandahar Airfield in
January, despite having experienced churn with an accelerated departure, they were professional and
poised to hit the ground running; meeting several spouses at this year’s Seabee Ball and again when Jenn
Cobbel and the FRG invited me to a monthly meeting; reading our Facebook page and this publication;
coordinating with Chief Lonnie Cosper on various logistics matters; meeting Brenda Walker and Linda
Mendoza to discuss our Ombudsman Program; and being set up for success by Skipper VanderLey and
XO Hendricks. All of these interactions are indications that the next two years are going to be out-
standing! XO tells me I’m supposed to use this space to introduce myself. There’s no doubt in my mind
that you may have already “Googled” my name (or will since I mentioned it) and have seen particulars
like my hometown and career path. What you won’t read is that honest to goodness, my favorite num-
ber is 4 and I believe in divine destiny. I enjoy listening to jazz, gospel and country music, playing basket-
ball and hiking when my knees are cooperating, and drawing and painting. And I have a 3-year-old dog
(Steve) with ADHD. As my close friends will tell you, I use the word “excited” sparingly, usually the conversation in-
cludes chocolate chip cookies and Disney World (my father wanted to be an Imagineer so we spent a lot
of time there). However, a third source of excitement has been added to my repertoire, joining the
best battalion in the Naval Construction Force. I thank the Creator in advance for the phenomenal two
years ahead and the wonderful people, like you, that I am honored to serve with.
Peace and blessings,
CDR La Tanya Simms
Page 2 ON THE BUZZ
CO’S CORNER
NMCB 4 Careline
Want to know what’s going on with our Battalion? Please
call our careline at 805 982-2200! The Skipper updates the
careline every other week. If you would like to make an
announcement as well please contact the Ombudsmen at
“DET Khilaguy celebrated the national holiday with barbe-
cued ribs, provided by one of the friendly contractors on the
Camp who enjoys hosting the celebrations, particularly for
the Seabees. “ July 8th Careline update
Page 3 ON THE BUZZ
Hello Families of Four,
June is behind us and that means the deployment is soon coming to an end. But there is still a lot of work left to do here to get us ready for
turnover. The Seabees of NMCB FOUR have worked so hard on this deployment accomplishing all kinds of miracles and at times doing the
impossible. Every company, every Det, every department, and every Seabee has come together to make this a very successful deploy-
ment. None of us can do it all by ourselves, the teamwork and esprit de corps I see from your spouses and loved ones on a daily basis just
exemplifies what FOUR is made of and what they are capable of! It’s a tough job and Four is here to accomplish it! Another tough job we
have is when we return to our significant others/families/spouses.
As much as we want things to be the same as when we departed, that is far from the reality. Everyone has grown in their own way, you in-
cluded. There will need to be some time of understanding and adjustment between the two of you; be it your spouse, family, kids, or
friends. You have all changed while we were deployed. The stress of deployment often times carries over to homeport, be mindful of attitude
swings and increases in irritability. If you do experience some coping issues, involve the chain of command, the Chaplin, a counselor, or a
medical professional immediately. There is no shame in seeking assistance. That in itself makes you a stronger person in my book!
As you may know we had our Fourth of July bar-b-que. It was a great time, with great food, and some awesome camaraderie. Go Navy be-
cause we whipped the Army in Hockey!! Read more and see the pictures on our Facebook page. The link is:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=14942&id=107795319244863&saved#!/pages/Port-Hueneme-CA/NMCB-
FOUR/107795319244863
Don’t forget about the mail cut off dates: As we make our way to the end of our deployment, it is important that we make sure we have a
clean transition with mail services. The following will help to ensure packages are routed in the correct manner:
1. If your troops are having mail sent directly to a FOB (ie, Camp Spann-09354), they should not have anything else mailed to them.
2. If anyone is having anything mailed, they should utilize the following address:
Name of SEABEE
Unit 25284
FPO, AP 96601-4941
This will automatically reroute mail to where our battalion is located. It is not fast, but the package or letter will eventually arrive.
Some of the Seabees that were out front this month are from Regional Command East, Forward Operating Base Sharana, and Afghanistan:
CE3 Christopher Langley is currently busy constructing a 40’ by 90’ Tactical Operations Center as the lead electrician and doing a great job
leading his crew. He also spent some off-time in the gym increasing his bench press from 285 pounds to an impressive 365. The best part of
his deployment is being the proud father of a 9 pound, 5 ounce, baby boy named Hunter Ross Langley. Born within days of the over-the-hump
party. Spending time with his new son is his top priority after deployment.
Next is CMCN Nathan Gilbert, completing his first Seabee deployment. Although he is a mechanic by trade, he has been a heavy equipment
operator on four separate projects, preparing each site for the building construction of some much need facilities. He is anxious to get back
home after deployment, so he can share his experiences with his family and friends.
BUCN Michael Jones has had a very successful deployment in Kandahar and Sharana, Afghanistan. Working on six of our largest projects,
building three 40'X 90' SWA Huts, an air traffic control tower and three shower facilities. He also represented the Seabees in the local boxing
match, winning his bout by knockout. This is his second deployment and plans to take his wife and three fellow Seabees to Puerto Rico. He is
also focused on studying for his advancement exam and looks forward to starting college in the fall.
We can t forget the Convoy Security Teams, they are the “over the road convoy experts” that transport all of our equipment and personnel
from one location to the other. BUC Johnson the convoy commander runs a tight team of professionals. His assistant convoy commander is
BU1(SCW) Spradlin, this guy is doing a great job keeping it all together with the convoy prep and leadership of the team. Other notable mem-
bers are BU1(SCW) Corona, the Mister everything Guy, BU2(SCW) Olsen who runs the Blue Force tracker to keep us going in tdirection and
CM2(SCW) Crawley, the Mechanic that keeps it all running in top condition. It doesn’t matter what the mission, be it a long haul or a short
trip to the next camp, these Seabees are some of the most professionally focused that I have had the pleasure to worked with. When they leave
the perimeter it is nothing but business!!
As I have said before, Seabees are out there every day, giving it their all, day in and day out making history for the Seabees. If you’re the
spouse or the family member of one of those mentioned above you should be justly proud of them. I’m proud of this group and very proud of
the NMCB FOUR Seabee Team!
“Sincerely”
Charles “Buck” Thomas
NMCB FOUR
Command Master Chief
CMC’S CORNER
ON THE BUZZ Page 4
ATTENTION DALLAS COWBOY FANS
The Dallas Cowboys Football Team will touch down at NBVC, Point
Mugu, at 3pm Aug. 13th and sign autographs in Hangar 34 for about 30
minutes before starting their 2 week training session in Oxnard. The
Cowboys usually visit the base when they practice in Oxnard. The Team
travels to San Diego to play the Chargers in an exhibition game on Satur-
day, Aug. 21. The team breaks camp and heads home August 27th.
FREE WELCOME HOME SIGNS
Who doesn’t enjoy hearing the word free, especially when it
comes to homecoming signs. Build-A-Sign is a company that
does free military welcome home signs. You simply have to pay
for the shipping and handling. Please visit www.buildasign.com/
troops to view the different templates for free vinyl homecom-
ing signs!!!
MUGU SURF CONTEST
The 2010 NBVC Point Mugu Surf Contest Presented by Quiksilver is
scheduled for August 21-22,2010,with Finals happening on Sunday August
23rd. This event is open to the public. Free admission and parking. There
will be categories for active duty Military, Women, Young Guns (17 and
under), Bodyboard, and Open. Hope to see everyone there for what
should be a great surf contest!
Mugu Air Show AUGUST 8TH AND 9TH
Its back!!!
The Mugu Air Show, featuring the Thunder-birds will be here August 8th and 9th,with a
special military only day on August 7th! See it,
before the rest of the county does! Doors open at 10am,and the air show with the Thunder-
birds starts at 3pm on Friday!
MUGU AIR SHOW 2007
Schedule of
Events
July 15-FRG Meet-
ing. Final meeting
to buy first kiss
tickets. 6-8pm at
Seabee Chapel
Please call the
CDCs to reserve
your spot for free
childcare on the
16th from 6-
9:30pm.
July 24-Free Food
Distribution Build-
ing 19, NBVC 9am-
1pm. Don’t forget
your laundry bas-
ket!
July 25-Meeting at
2pm to meet your
Secret Sister with
your final gifts! At
Bolles Field.
Page 5 ON THE BUZZ
NAVY MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY:
805-982-4409
Dispatch:805 982-4591
Fire Division:982-4595
FFSC:805 982-5037
American Red Cross:
Local:805 982-3074
Emergency Message:
1-877-272-7337
IMPORTANT NUMBERS TO HAVE ON FILE
July 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15FRG
Meeting
16 Free
Sitter
17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Free
Food
25 Secret
Sister
26 27 28 29 30 31
Remember these numbers can also be found in the NMCB 4 Calendar along with other impor-
tant contacts. If you do not own a calendar, please contact the Ombudsmen at nmcb4om-
You have missed your Seabee and they have missed you. However,
re-establishing relationships will take time and communication. Its normal for the returning service member to “need space”
upon their return. It’s normal to feel nervous and anxious about the homecom-ing. With your Seabee, make plans for homecoming day. After
homecoming, allow your Seabee to schedule the next few days or
weeks. Expect things to be different. Take time to understand how your Bee has changed. Be prepared and flexible. Remember that
you may have also changed. Take time to get reacquainted. Communicate your love to
each other. Tell each other how you feel-nervous, happy, that you loved
and missed him/her. Listen to each other. The best way to get through the initial
apprehension and regain closeness is to talk and actively listen.
Reassure your Seabee that he/she is needed, and that you are happy they returned safely.
Accept that your Bee may be different. Many people occasionally need help to handle tough challenges in their lives. So seek help if its needed. The Fleet and Family Service Center ,(805)982-5037, is a great place
to go for help. Free counseling and support groups are offered for families of returning service members. If you have children, take time to prepare them for the upcoming homecoming. If you have little ones try
to not bring up the homecoming day until a day or two before the event. Your toddler does not need or
desire a lot of specifics. Details are often confusing to small children, so answer the questions that are
asked by your toddler and try not to go into too much detail. School aged children have a better sense of time, so its fair to tell them about the reunion pretty soon af-
ter you adults know. A child this age is more likely to ask serious questions and may even get repetitive. Be patient and answer their questions while also having them understand that dates and times can still change.
Instead of giving a time, maybe say “daddy will home on this day in the afternoon”. We all know how flights can change by one two or several hours. So the less details you give the easier it will be to prepare your
school aged child for homecoming. For adolescents, you know your teen better than anyone. Talk openly with them about their parent’s re-
turn. Be sure to listen to what their worries or concerns may be. Each teenager responds differently to homecomings. Again keeping the conversations simple and allow for questioning will help your teenager
begin to adjust to the homecoming day. For many families the best friend is keeping a routine!! What are the most important things to your family?
With some families, the thing that matters most is spending their free time together; for other families, it’s their church activities. Whatever your priority is, its important to stick to it through the times of separa-tion and reunion. Its important for you, but even more so for the children, because keeping up the routine
adds stability and security to daily life. The “little things” of daily life in a family include children’s bedtime routines, mealtime routines, regular
chores and responsibilities, homework, bathing, and tooth brushing, older children’s curfews, and so on. Eight months is a long time to be apart. So its not just a matter of stocking up the fridge and spring cleaning the home. Mental preparation is also a requirement. So take time to prepare yourself and your family for this excit-
ing day!! Be prepared that an adjustment time may be needed, and enjoy the fact that soon, you will be one big
happy family again.
Page 6 ON THE BUZZ
GUESS WHO’S COMING HOME?
Important FRG Board
Contacts:
2010-2011 NMCB 4 FRG President Jenn Cobbel [email protected] Vice-President’s Anna Richardson [email protected] Yeisy Balmaceda [email protected] Treasurer Nicole Ostrowske [email protected] Secretary Bridget Harmen [email protected] Hospitality Deanna Maddox [email protected] Fundraising Chair Christine Velez Advisors Jennifer Lampman Cyndee Thomas Allison Ramberg [email protected]
FAMILY READINESS GROUP
Friends of Four Hello NMCB 4 Families and Friends!! Well, we are almost to the end of Deployment. YEAH!!! I hope that eve-ryone is as excited as Bailey and I are to have Dave home. We have one more FRG Meeting that is going to be on Thursday, 15 July from 6-8pm at the Port Hueneme Chapel. This will be a meeting not to miss. The reasons why you should not miss this meeting is that we will have a speaker to talk about things to look for and to help our Seabees get use to being back at home and getting them back into the routine that we have been doing. We will be drawing First Kiss Tickets. You’ll have about 10 minutes to get any last minute tickets or get the ones that you already have into the box before we draw them. Michelle, our Treasurer, is mixing the tickets everyday before the meeting. They will be very well mixed up. This meeting will also be catered. The Ameri-can Red Cross will be bringing desserts for us again too. The last, and I think, the most important reason to come is Chief Cosper might have some information about our guys coming home. So, make sure that you are there for our one last meeting before the Home Coming Picnic on Friday, 10 September. Now, I know that you are thinking “How will I keep myself occupied be-tween now and hubby coming home?” Well, your NMCB 4 FRG does have a couple of things going between now and then. On Sunday, 25 July from 2-4pm at Bowles Field we will have our Secret Sister reveal. If you would like to bring a snack to share that would be great. We’ll have a great time seeing who every-one’s Secret Sister has been for the last few months. Your NMCB 4 FRG is also going to have a booth at this years’ Air Show at Point Mugu. We are still in need of a few folks to fill in some time slots. For more information about helping out, please see Jenn at our next FRG Meeting or send an email. The money have we receive from the Air Show will help to benefit us for the Homeport coming up. The last thing that we will be helping with is the making of beds and dropping off goodies to the barracks rooms that some of our guys will be coming home to. I’ll be sending out an email with more details about helping with this when I get the information. Well, I think that that covers everything that your NMCB 4 FRG has go-ing on. I hope that everyone has a great rest of the summer and we’ll see you on Thursday!! Jenn Cobbel NMCB 4 FRG President [email protected]
Thursday, 15 July
Thursday, 19 August
MEETING DATES:
Military Appreciation Day
Thursday August 12th
More information:
www.venturacountyfair.org