FROM THE CO S DESK

JANUARY 2012 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1

INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
CMCs Call
Ccc news
2
2
CALENDAR OF
EVENTS
OMBUDSMEN
MEMOS
3

4
FRG
Around town
5-6
6
CNO MESSAGE
Holiday party
pictures
7
8-9
MILIUS frontline
news
10

USS MILIUS COMMAND NEWSLETTER
I hope all families, friends, and crew mem-
bers the MILIUS Team had a great holi-
day! 2011 was an extremely busy and pro-
ductive year for MILIUS, we completed a
Shipyard availability, the preparations for
and completion of the Board of Inspection
and Survey Material Inspection (a.k.a. IN-
SURV), all our training requirements for
deployment including ULTRA-S and Strike
Group Operations with ABRAHAM LIN-
COLN Carrier Strike Group and CARL VIN-
SON Carrier Strike Group, San Francisco
Fleet Week, Santa Barbara Navy Week, and
so much more. MILIUS came home from
deployment, fixed and repaired countless
systems, and retrained the crew in 2011, so
we are ready to deploy again. This has in-
volved sacrifice from both Sailors and family
members, a sacrifice that is deeply appreci-
ated! MILIUS Team can take great pride in a
well run, ready, and sharp looking ship that is
prepared to deploy and accomplish any mis-
sion assigned!

We are quickly closing in on deployment
and MILUS priority is getting the ship, our
crew, and our families ready. Now is the
time to double check wills, powers of attor-
ney, legal paperwork, etc. Are your car tags
and drivers license valid through deploy-
ment? Are dependent ID cards good through
deployment? Do you have the Ombuds-
mans number and email? Do you know how
to get a hold of Red Cross in case there is a
family emergency? Do you know all the
services Fleet and Family Service Center can
provide while were gone?

Some of the tools we will use to communi-
cate with families and friends are the Om-
budsman emails (are you on their list?). For
Facebook users: the USS MILIUS (DDG
69) Facebook page (did you like it?), and
the USS MILIUS Command Families
Facebook group (have you asked the Om-
budsman to join this group?), and finally
friending the user Milius Command will
provide other information posted on their
wall (this will keep the posts on the Milius
Command Families page to just MILIUS
affecting items). Crewmembers will have
access to email and phones, but this access
goes down for various reasons throughout
deployment from tactical emissions control
purposes to equipment failures. Your Sailor
not answering emails not communicating
with you is something you must expect
routinely while we are gone and should be no
cause for concern. If you want to stay con-
nected with other crew members families,
have you signed up for and gotten involved
with the Family Readiness Group?

If this is your first deployment or your
tenth deployment you can expect while we
are gone that your Sailor will not be able to
tell you everything we are up to or every-
thing that is going on. In the Navy we call
this Operational Security (OPSEC), which is
controlling communications so that we dont
provide any adversaries information they can
use against us. The principle is that small
pieces of unclassified or seemingly unimpor-
tant information can be put together to paint
a picture of the overall mission or schedule
and can make us vulnerable to exploitation or
attack. This is why information that seems
inconsequential must be as closely guarded
as things that are clearly classified as fam-
ily members you have access to much more
knowledge than youd expect and must safe-
guard all of it dont email, post, blog, or
talk about the ships schedule, mission, or
your Sailors specific tasking. The Ombuds-
men and other spouses will talk about this
sometimes and remind us all not to publish
certain items always remember that nothing
on the internet is secured, definitely not
Facebook, blogs, or email!

Sincerely,
CDR Nikki Bufkin
PAGE 2 USS MILIUS COMMAND NEWSLETTER
oppy ew Veort
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I hope all of you had a wonderful Holiday season and thank you for supporting your
Sailors!

Sincerely,
CMC
CMCs CALL
FROM THE COMMAND CAREER COUNSELOR

Aloha and Happy Holidays MILUS Crew, Family & Friends,
This months topic I would like to touch on is Negotiating for new duty station orders.
A Sailors involvement is KEY in negotiating orders. A Sailors negotiation window is between 9-7 months prior to
their Projected Rotation Date (PRD) and an application phase opens each
month allowing enlisted Sailors to review and research jobs advertised in
CMS/ID. https://www.cmsid.navy.mil/
(A CAC login is required)
Once a Sailor is 6 months to their PRD, it is considered the Needs of the
Navy window, which means the detailer could release orders to the mem-
ber without negotiation.
Sailors may apply for up to five jobs each application phase as advertised on
the CMS/ID website or if interested in Special Programs, a Sailor may
work with their Command Career Counselor to ensure all prerequisites
and requirements are met.
Enlisted Sailors in pay grades E4-E6 with 14 years or less of service may
need an approved PTS quota to negotiate for orders if they do not have
enough time remaining on their enlistment contract to complete a mini-
mum activity tour of 24 months.
More information can also be found at: http://www.public.navy.mil/
bupers-npc/Pages/default.aspx

If you have any questions, please ask your Sailor.
Have a Great Holiday Season!


Sincerely,
NC1 (SW/AW) B. Baraoidan
Reenlistments
GSEC (SW) Mark Urrutia
FC1 (SW) Timothy Jones
Advancements
FC1 Warford
Navy Achievement Medal
CSCS (SW/AW) Rodolfo Cipriano
ITC (SW) Joshua Shepherd
QM1 (SW) Justin Silva
IT1 (SW) Ray Ellison
EN1 (SW) Ioselani Pouesi
SH1 (SW) Jamie Ascenciocardenas
LS2 (SW) Mpeli Muyembe
FC2 (SW) Darin Overturf
CS2 (SW) Jesus Ron
Enlisted Surface Warfare Spe-
cialist (ESWS)
ET2 (SW) Jon Stump
DC2 (SW) Alec Horton
A big BRAVO ZULU to the fol-
lowing Sailors on their recent
Reenlistments, Advancement, and
Awards:

January 1 : New Years Day

January 3 : Back to School

January 9 : End 2nd POM

January 11 : D Day

January 11 : FRG PICNIC

January 16 : Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday

January 18 : FRG Meeting at Murphy Canyon

January 20: SOAR , New spouses to San Diego tour

January 26: Keeping your career on the Move

* Annotates in-port, away from home port
Blue highlighted boxes annotate underway periods
PAGE 3 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1
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USS Milius
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Happy New Year
MILIUS Families!

We hope everyone had a great holiday sea-
son this year with family and friends, especially with
deployment around the corner. The holiday season
can add stress and tension on top of everything else
so dont be surprised if you and your spouse have
been bickering back and forth; its part of the pre-
deployment cycle. Its quite common for couples to
have at least one major argument before deploying
because, consciously or unconsciously, some spouses
find it easier to say goodbye if theyre less connected
to their spouse emotionally. If we add in that this is
the time when many couples need to get their legal,
personal, banking and housing affairs in order, its no
surprise that tensions are at a high right now. Its im-
portant for your relationship that you try to carve out
some special time together and are engaged in activi-
ties unrelated to the nuts-and-bolts of deployment.
Spouses should be looking for ways to add to
their support network during deployment and for
some activities to keep busy or set a goal like going
back to school. Identify your existing support system:
friends, family and our MILIUS FRG. Now con-
sider how you can add to this network because the
more support you have, the better! You may want to
be careful about whom you bring into your inner cir-
cle of friends right now. The last thing you need are
people who make tremendous demands on your time
and energy or people who are chronically negative.
Remember that you cannot effectively care for any-
one else unless you take care of yourself first. As-
suming responsibility for your own well-being is vi-
tal to a successful deployment experience.
OMBUDSMAN MEMO
PAGE 4 USS MILIUS COMMAND NEWSLETTER
Ombudsman Info:
ombudsman69@gmail.com
OMB Phone 619.417.9980
Careline 619.338.1754
Care packages are amazing to your sailor!
The USPS will send you free care package materials.
You can get more information at www.usps.com/
supportingourtroops. While spouses generally send
care packages once a month, friends and extended
family members can do so as well!
If you have children, United through Reading
is a great program that allows your sailor to create a
DVD showing themselves reading a childrens book
and send the DVD home to your children. Our MIL-
IUS United through Reading home front coordinator
is Peg Harris, she will make sure all the videos are
mailed back and forth for us. Thanks Peg for volun-
teering!!
In case of an emergency, and you need to
get in touch with your sailor to send an AMCROSS
message, The American Red Cross is available 24/7
at 1-877-272-7337. Some examples of emergency
messages are death or serious illness of an immediate
family member, birth of a child or unanticipated and
time sensitive circumstances that require service
members presence. If you have questions, give them
a call or call/email Jeri and I at the Ombudsman
phone number or Ombudsman email so we can help
you.
It doesnt matter if this is your first deploy-
ment or your fifth deployment; its different and chal-
lenging for everyone. Please establish/utilize your
support system, Ombudsmen and most important,
take care of yourself.

Ombudsman are your guiding light!

Your Command Ombudsman Team
Teresa Tillman and Jeri Nix
PAGE 5 USS MILIUS COMMAND NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 PAGE 6
SOAR (Spouse Orientation & Area Resources ) tour will take place January 20
th
. This workshop is
for spouses new to San Diego. It includes a tour of San Diego (including all bases) as well as a San
Diego resource overview. Come meet people and make friends, while getting to know your sur-
roundings. Space is limited and reservations are required please call 858-277-4259 for more details.



The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) along with Blue Star Families will host a free
military spouse symposium and career fair at the San Diego Convention Center on Thursday, January
26, 2012.
The event, "Keeping a Career on the Move," will include opportunities for military spouses to engage
in discussion with employers, participate in a highly-acclaimed career workshop, and attend a
MOAA career fair produced in partnership with the San Diego chapter of the Armed Forces Commu-
nications and Electronics Association (AFCEA).

It is open to spouses and service members of all ranks, active duty, guard, reserve, retired or veterans.

Additional information and registration for the military spouse event, "Keeping a Career on the
Move," is available online at www.moaa.org. You may RSVP to this event, or direct questions to
Ms. Monique Rizer, Deputy Director of Spouse Programs at moniquer@moaa.org or 800-234-6622,
ext. 121.
Send your sailor some love for Valentines Day!
The Milius FRG will throw a Valentines Day note-making party starting at 6:15 p.m., Jan. 18 at the
Murphy Canyon Youth Center. Save the date and gather any card-making supplies you want to employ!
The Valentines Day love notes will be mailed to the Milius, and together they will be posted for your
sailor on a colossal Valentines Day banner to be hung in the Mess Deck. Supplies will be provided but
bring some of your own if youd like! Attach a picture of you and your sailor, or your family to your
heart note. Mingle with other spouses while enjoying some sweet treats. This is a great chance to get
acquainted with other Milius spouses and families. Your attendance will put you in the drawings for
First Kiss and First Hug! Hope to see you there! E-vites to follow.

Get connected with the Milius Family Readiness Group by being added to our email list! If youd like
to receive information about our upcoming activities shoot us an email at ussmilius69frg@gmail.com.
PAGE 7 USS MILIUS COMMAND NEWSLETTER
A message from the CNO

While stress is a normal life occurrence, holiday periods can be particularly stressful with addi-
tional travel demands, social activities, and family requirements. Given our operational tempo, the
uncertain economic environment and the recent release of the enlisted retention board phase I/II
lists and selective early retirement board results, I cannot over emphasize the importance of each
of you remaining connected with your people and being attuned to their plans and activities.

Junior and senior personnel often feel compelled to cram a year's worth of living into a few short
days of celebration manifested through excessive behavior (spending, shopping, fatigued driving,
and alcohol consumption). This is a recipe that can increase susceptibility to stress responses or
even suicidal behaviors; navy suicide rates have been unusually high during the last three months,
and I urge each of you as leaders to increase your personal awareness of signs of depression and
suicide and to intervene as necessary to save the life of a shipmate.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been releasing a series of stress mitigation messages
through multiple channels including; rhumblines, .mil stories, MCPON blog, and social media.
These messages focus on encouraging sailors to make healthy choices to manage their stress and to
be particularly observant for signs of stress on shipmates, family members and friends.

Here are some talking points to help in discussions with your sailors:

a. Shipmates always. Take time to notice signs that shipmates or family members may
be pushing the stress envelope. Show that you care, and be proactive in assisting them.
b. Exercise your body and mind - to gain energy, well-being and resilience.
c. Choose healthy food. Fuel for success.
d. Take time off. Participate in activities and hobbies you enjoy.
e. Stay balanced. Celebrate the season in moderation. Alcohol abuse accounts for many
problems that weaken our navy's mission readiness and damages relationships with loved
ones and friends.
f. Be mindful of a solid financial regimen. Make and follow a sound budget.
g. Stay connected with family, friends, and shipmates. A sense of belonging is a power-
ful stress mitigator.

It's not enough to focus on the health of our sailors. I also urge you to make your own well-being
a top priority. Take time to rest, relax, and reenergize. Strong and healthy leaders set the tone and
culture for mission success in our navy.


Admiral Jonathan Greenert
Chief of Naval Operations
PAGE 8 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1
MILIUS HOLIDAY PARTY
PAGE 9 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1
MILIUS CHILDRENS HOLIDAY
As MILIUS prepares for the New Year and de-
ployment, there are some important items neces-
sary to remember while your loved one is gone.

As always, and as stated by the chain of com-
mand, it is essential each person knows the OP-
SEC, Operations Security, policy for social me-
dia and other media outlets.

OPSEC is imperative to maintaining planned
movement while still upholding the element of
surprise in any course of action. According to
the OPSEC instruction, OPNAV Instruction
3432.1, the practice of OPSEC prevents the in-
advertent compromise of sensitive or classified
activities, capabilities, or intentions at the tacti-
cal, operational, and strategic levels.

So while your loved one is overseas and you
may have the privilege of knowing they are ar-
riving into a port soon, it is critical you keep that
sensitive information to yourself and not pub-
lished on social media websites or for any other
source.

It would be convenient to think MILIUS is not a
target, but we, as well as any other military unit
or entity can still be vulnerable to outside forces.

The instruction notes that, properly applied OP-
SEC contributes directly to operational effective-
PAGE 10 VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1
MILIUS FRONTLINE NEWS
By Ensign Rhianna Cole
If you have questions, comments or suggestions for MILIUS
FRONTLINE NEWS, please email the Public Affairs Officer
at PAO@ddg69.navy.mil. Also, please check the Facebook
page and contact our Ombudsmen for more information!
ness by enhancing the probability that an adver-
sary is surprised or makes bad decisions due to a
lack of critical information on friendly forces
and equipment.

You might not think a simple comment about
operational movement or plans on the private
Command Facebook page is safe and goes unno-
ticed but it is paramount to keep the guard up, be
prepared and keep secrets, secret.

Things to not talk about include destinations,
duration of time in port, individual names and
rates, job descriptions and classified ship charac-
teristics. Remember, loose lips, sink ships.
For more information on OPSEC please refer to
the OPNAV INST 3432.1.