Posted on 08/10/2006 4:29:32 PM PDT by SandRat
PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN (NNS) -- Life has been full of surprises for Petty Officer Matthew P. Julian of Greece, Rochester, NY.
As a culinary specialist assigned to the submarine USS San Francisco, Julian didn’t expect the tour to include a rotation in the mountains of Afghanistan as an Individual Augmentee, pulled from his normal job to directly support Operation Enduring Freedom.
But despite being an IA deployed more than eight thousand feet above sea level and half a world away from his boat’s homeport of Bremerton Wash., Julian found that out of sight doesn’t mean out of mind. Julian was selected for the Command Advancement Program by Cdr. Dave Ogburn, the Commanding Officer of USS San Francisco, and on June 15 was promoted to Culinary Specialist Second-Class.
Learning of his CAP advancement, Julian said, “It is such an honor to be the only submariner CAP-ed in Afghanistan and recognized at such a high level. I am ecstatic about the promotion to Petty Officer Second Class and am grateful for the crew of the USS San Francisco.”
“When we sat down and reviewed his performance onboard, we saw that he was the right choice,” said Ogburn. “He is a Sailor who takes responsibility and takes charge. When I talked with Cdr. Varney in Afghanistan, that confirmed his performance is continuing out there.”
Cdr. Michael Varney, the commanding officer of the Sharana Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Paktika Province of Afghanistan, performed the ceremony and pinned on Julian’s second-class petty-officer crows.
“I think it is fantastic that the San Francisco recognized the importance of the job Petty Officer Julian is doing for his country, a job completely outside a normal submariner’s lane,” Varney said. “That the San Francisco commanding officer is willing to use a CAP-in-absentia sends a strong message to the rest of the force and the Navy, the importance of the Navy’s support to OEF.”
Each Afghan PRT works directly with a province, mentoring and assisting its relationships with towns and villages and with the national government. Currently 6 of the 12 US-led Afghan PRTs are commanded by Navy officers and populated largely by Sailors. Nine other Afghan PRTs are led by the international community.
Julian is the first Sailor to be meritoriously promoted through the Command Advancement Program while serving in a boots-on-the-ground billet away from his home ship. However, fifty Sailors have been meritoriously promoted under the Combat Meritorious Advancement Program for their leadership and heroism during combat, a program that began in August 2005.
At a recent all hands call with Sailors stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen said he wanted all Navy leaders to make sure good performance as an IA was properly reflected and recognized in a Sailor's career.
"This is very vital work our IA's are doing at an incredibly critical time in our nation's history, and I am committed to making sure the Navy gets it right when it comes to recognizing that fact," said Mullen.
A Navy Task Force is actively reviewing many elements of the augmentation process, including how to best take care of Sailors and their families. The goal is to ensure that serving in an IA billet provides Sailors with valuable experience that helps broaden and further their careers. Some options being looked at include follow on assignment options (selecting which coast) and providing precept language to boards to account for the deployed time.
Sailors who would like to serve in an augmented billet can indicate their desire through the Navy Knowledge Online website at https://www.nko.navy.mil, and should contact their chain of command.
New Proud Petty Officer
BZ, Sailor! Wonder what the liberty in Paktika is like?
In his wildest dreams.....a submariner humping around in Afghanistan.
Is that Navy for "Cook"?
PING
used to be mess specialist...or just MS.
Yep!
But does he loose his sea pay?
It is to laugh!
A sailor with a Combat Infantry Badge!!!
Gets Combat Pay
But a sailor can get combat pay anyway.
A ground pounder can't get sea pay.
The press laughed at such a moronic statement! It's a land-locked country! BWWWAAAAHHHAAA!
Of course, intelligence people understand the figure of speech isn't really a reference to water. But, in any case, I love the fact that we have a sailor in Afghanistan. Never misunderestimate our President!
Of course, intelligence people understand the figure of speech isn't really a reference to water. But, in any case, I love the fact that we have a sailor in Afghanistan. Never misunderestimate our President!
Right on. And never underestimate all our wonderful men and women in the military. These folks are protecting our freedom.
My question exactly!
I think those are Submariners Dolphins.
Oh yes he can....in this weeks Army Times a new Service Ribbon was just Authorized for Sea Duty and the Transportation Corps US Army has Sea craft.
This Second Class was receiving Sea Pay and Sub Pay.
These days that has to be worth a couple hundred dollars a month over his regular pay.
If he gave that up to go to Afghanistan he must have really want to go.
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