News Letter

Navy Physician Assistants, this was forwarded from the Specialty Leader for placement on the website. I would like to personally ask each of you to please give this oportunity strong consideration toward nominating yourself or a colleague for service with "Why We Serve". Occassions such as this shed light on the important role that you as a Navy Physician Assistant can bring to the Navy and Marine Corps forces operating throughout the Central Command Theater. Regardless who is selected to represent your corps please know that I feel privileged to have the opportunity to serve your community in this mannor. Sincerely, Webmaster  

"Why We Serve" is DOD's premier speakers outreach program intended to re-connect the men and women of the armed forces with those they serve: the American people.  It provides communities across America the opportunity to hear from service members about the nobility of service and to share in their personal experiences while in the military. Under the program, service members who have recently served in the CENTCOM area of responsibility spend about 90 days speaking to community groups, civic organizations, and schools across America. They do not address issues of DOD policy, but rather each member relates their own experiences in a manner that offers Americans a glimpse of military service as can only be seen through the eyes of our uniformed men and women.  Past iterations of the program proved enjoyable and successful for navy participants.

Nominations are now being accepted for second quarter calendar year 2008.  Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD/PA) will select three members from each service to participate in the program.  Selected members will be TAD for a period of approximately 90 days, reporting on or about 31 March 2008, to the Pentagon. OSD/PA bears all costs associated with program travel and provides training in public speaking.

Nomination requirements: Nominees should represent the very best the Navy has to offer and to be professional ambassadors of the Navy.  Members are not expected to have been decorated for valor, as Why We Serve is designed to communicate the day-to-day sacrifices made by every member of the armed forces in the GWOT.  However, it is highly encouraged to consider and nominate those who have recently received personal decorations (i.e.-Bronze/Silver Star recipients) during their deployed service in CENTCOM. 

Other requirements include:

• A. Range in grade from E-5 through O-4.
• B. Have served in the USCENTCOM AOR for at least 90 consecutive days within the past nine months.
• C. Possess a government travel card with an account in good standing.  Members should be financially stable, emotionally mature, and able to manage their own travel in execution of duties while assigned to OSD.  Note: Nominees should have an active GTC (from Bank of America) prior to being formally assigned to this program.
• D. Nominees should be up-to-date on service-required testing and training, as no provisions will be made to complete said training while assigned to OSD/PA.
• E. Nominees should possess solid interpersonal communication skills, be physically fit (meet service height/weight standards), and have no medical/psychological conditions that would prevent them from executing their duties during this period.
• F. Nominees must have a valid state driver's license.
• G. Nominees shall submit their package via their respective chain of command.
• H.  Nominees who are considered for participation in the WWS program must have: a) completed post deployment health assessment from most recent deployment, and b) not be scheduled to participate in a future unit deployment within 60 days of the last projected day of this TAD period.
• I.  Selected participants must report with at least one full set of seasonally appropriate service and/or dress uniforms. 

Nomination packages and process requirements.  Applications must include the following:

• A.  Page one: commanding officers endorsement containing comments on maturity, leadership skills, communication skills, and professional appearance.  This letter must include a statement that the nominee will be available to participate in all functions of the program during the duration of the program
• B.  Page two: a 500-word, third-person, narrative biography that includes hometown information, dates of service, assignments of note, combat tours, and personal decorations.
• C.  Page three:  full length photograph in service dress white or service dress blue uniform.
• D.  Page four: member's information including phone number and official and unofficial email.
• E.  Page five: command information including a command POC, preferably the nominee's department head or admin officer, with phone number and email.
• F. Packages must be received no later than 27 Feb 2008 by email with scanned pdf documents to john.m.daniels@navy.mil, or mailed to the following address:

        Navy Office of Information
        1200 Navy Pentagon
        Room 4B463
        Washington DC 20350-1200

OSD/PA will announce selections via message mid-March.  Reporting orders and additional information will follow selection message.

POC: LCDR John M. Daniels
(703) 697-3290
john.m.daniels@navy.mil