MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE
LOCATIONS
02 Jan 09. The Department of the Navy announced today its decision to provide facilities and functions to base five fleet squadrons of the P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) with a fleet replacement squadron (FRS) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Fla., four fleet squadrons at NAS Whidbey Island, Wash., and three fleet squadrons at Marine Corps Base Hawaii Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, with periodic squadron detachment operations at NAS North Island. This decision implements the preferred homebasing alternative 5 identified in the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the Introduction of the P-8A Multi-Mission Aircraft into the U.S. Navy Fleet (published November 2008). Introduction of the P-8A MMA squadrons is projected to begin no later than 2012 and be completed by 2019.
30 Dec 08. A further four years of operational service are ahead for HMS LIVERPOOL after a £6m contract for her upkeep was awarded to BVT Surface Fleet. The Type 42 destroyer has docked in Portsmouth for a maintenance programme of up to 10 months which will ensure that she is able to continue to deliver her operational role as one of the Royal Navy’s Air Defence Destroyers. Defence Equipment and Support’s Director of Capital Ships, Tony Graham said: “This upkeep will add two years to the life of HMS Liverpool, enabling her to continue providing crucial capabilities to the Front Line. We have worked closely with BVT to agree the scope of this work package under the Surface Ship Support programme, helping us to deliver the capabilities the Front Line needs.” As well as routine maintenance, the ship will be fitted with a new Transom Flap for greater fuel efficiency and work to the Reverse Osmosis plant will improve fresh water production. Safety and certification work meanwhile will ensure
compliance with the latest legislation and enable her continued service until 2012. (Source: ASD Network)
30 Dec 08. The Navy’s newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George H. W. Bush will be commissioned Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, during an 11 a.m. EST ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. President George W. Bush will deliver the principal address. Dorothy “Doro” Bush Koch, daughter of the ship’s namesake, is the ship’s sponsor. In the time-honored Navy tradition, she will give the order to “man our ship and bring her to life!” The lastNimitz-class aircraft carrier is named to honor World War II naval aviator and America’s 41st president George H. W. Bush. Born on June 12, 1924, in Milton, Mass., Bush began a lifetime of service to America when he joined the Navy on his 18th birthday as a seaman. He became the youngest pilot in the Navy at the time, receiving his commission and naval aviator wings before his 19th birthday.
PLANT CLOSURES, JOB LOSSES AND STRIKES
30 Dec 08. Serbian president Boris Tadic on Dec. 30 fired the country’s top military official who had publicly criticized the defense minister as being clueless. A presidency statement said Tadic had used his right under the constitution as commander of the armed forces to dismiss the chief of army general staff Gen. Zdravko Ponos. (Source: Defense News)
29 Dec 08. Dire warning over 2009 job cuts. At least 600,000 jobs could go in the UK in 2009, according to a report by a personnel managers’ professional body. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development says even those who escape redundancy face pay freezes. It says that while total unemployment will not hit three million, the time between New Year and Easter will be the worst for job losses since 1991. According to official statistics, there were 1.86 million people out of work in the UK in October. That figure was the highest since 1997, taking the overall unemployment rate to 6%. (Source: BBC)
29 Dec 08. Thousands of workers in the north-west have spent a long Christmas break worrying what the new year may bring. The region is second only to the West Midlands as a centre f