The USS Hopper Ohana Newsletter for September 2011 provides updates from the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Command Master Chief, and Ombudsman. It recognizes Sailors who earned qualifications and awards. The Commanding Officer and Command Master Chief welcome new staff and thank families for their support. The Ombudsman provides resources for families and ideas for kids to count down the days until their Sailor returns home.

1. U S S H O P P E R
HOPPER Ohana News
Amazing Grace
“Dare and Do”
September 2011
Commanding Officer:
CDR Kevin Melody
Executive Officer:
CDR Al Lopez
Command Master Chief:
CMDCM(SW)
Rob Cuddeback
Ombudsman:
Kristin White
Ombudsman newsletter
CO’s CORNER
Aloha HOPPER Ohana, she is doing. Kristin, thanks very much for all that
you do for our families and loved ones back home
The arrival of September means Labor Day as well as all the Sailors here on HOPPER. You
weekend and the end of summer are just around are a fantastic Ombudsman.
the corner. Fortunately for our Ohana who live in A short welcome is in order here as well.
Hawaii, Labor Day is just another reason to go to Welcome to our new CMC, CMDCM(SW)
the beach or grill out for dinner while you still get Cuddeback. He has been the CMC for about 3
to enjoy warm sunny weather for the rest of the weeks now and is doing a fantastic job. Welcome
year. aboard Shipmate!
September also means Ombudsman Thanks to everyone back home for the cards,
Appreciation month. Our Ombudsman, Kristin letters, and care packages you send. Everyone
White, volunteers her time to be a connection eagerly awaits the word “mail call” over the
between the ship and the families back home. announcing system after the arrival of a helicopter
Her official responsibilities include being the point or replenishment ship. Please enjoy the Labor
of contact for family members, communicating Day weekend and know we are thinking of you
information between families and the command, back home.
identifying resources to help family members, and
advocating for command families within the CDR Kevin Melody
military support system. Kristin excels in this Commanding Officer
capacity and we are fortunate to have someone
like her who always has a smile on her face no
matter how complicated the task might be. If any
of you back in Hawaii see her while you are out
and about, please let her know what a great job
Ombudsman Newsletter September 2011
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2. U S S H O P P E R D D G 7 0
CMC’s CORNER
Aloha! Military Outstanding Volunteer Service
Medal.
CMDCM Rob Cuddeback here! I relieved
CMDCM Jay Stuckey 11 August. I am proud EM2 Labutong was selected as the MIDPAC
to be your new CMC and I am super Junior Sailor of the Quarter. He competed
impressed with the hard working Sailors against several other Sailors on the
onboard this ship. waterfront and won!! It is very hard to win
the Junior Sailor of the Quarter competition
Your Sailors are doing great things out here. onboard any ship, but when you compete
The following Sailors earned their Enlisted against the best of the best from other
Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) ships and win……WOW!!!
qualification:
We also frocked STGSN Martin to Third
OS3 Byun, CS3 Norman, CS3 Panado, Class Petty Officer! He is now STG3!
OS3 Raschka, OS3 Gundayao and
FC3 Irwin, BM2 Boyd, SH3 Lear, The reason our Sailors are performing so
GSEFN Hansen and OSSN Burge. well can only be attributed to the support
that they are receiving on the home-front
The ESWS pin is one of the most difficult from all of you! Family, friends, the FRG,
qualifications to obtain and a major and Ombudsman play critical roles in the
milestone in a Sailors career. It takes mission readiness of this ship, and you all
hundreds of hours of preparation and have delivered! Thanks!!! We are looking
studying to pass a rigid and challenging forward to our homecoming!
ESWS board that is held in the confines of
the CPO Mess by our technical experts. CMDCM (SW) Rob Cuddeback
They were pinned 18 August. Command Master Chief
Several Sailors received awards in the
month of August. The Navy Commendation
Medal was awarded to CMDCM Stuckey
and LT O'Donnell. The Navy Achievement
Medal was awarded to LTJG Hawthorne,
LTJG Martell, LTJG Tran, SH1 Figueroa,
SH2 Alcova, DC2 Avery, IC2 Milton, LS2
NgaNga, GSM3 Halili, SH3 Lear, and GSM3
Noel. LTJG Roberts was awarded the
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3. U S S H O P P E R D D G 7 0
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Ombudsman’s Corner
Aloha HOPPER Friends and grasp the concept of time. This is a
Families! fun way to get the kids involved and Happy Counting Down!
help them to visualize when their
I trust that everyone is happy to be Sailor is coming home! A couple of As the Ombudsman, I am a volunteer
turning another page on their ideas are: appointed by the Command to serve
calendar, bringing us that much •Make a paper “chain” with one link as a liaison between the families and
closer to the the day we are all for each day remaining...take one link the command. I work as an advocate
counting down to! Although we still off each day and watch the chain get for the families and I can provide you
have a couple of months to get to that shorter. with many resources to address most
point, the excitement is beginning to •Count the number of days left and problems. I am always available for
build, as the end of deployment seems then count out that many pieces of a you, so please feel free to contact me
within our reach! favorite candy (M&M’s, jelly beans, at any time, for any concern. I can be
etc) and fill a small glass bowl or jar reached by email at
Our Sailors continue to work hard with them. Let your child eat one hopperomb@gmail.com or by phone
while they are away, which means each day, knowing that as the candy at 808.864.3199.
those of us here at home are working “disappears”, their Sailor is getting
hard also. Please remember to take that much closer to being home (you Take Care,
some time for yourself, if at all can also use marbles or pennies in Kristin White
possible, especially those of you place of candy.)
taking care of our HOPPER kids. •Give your child a calendar (or print
Just a few hours, or a day to yourself out monthly calendar pages from the
can sometimes give you a fresh Internet). Circle the day their parent
beginning and make a world of is coming home. Get some stickers
difference. and let them place a sticker on each
day that passes at the end of the day.
Have you started a countdown yet? It They will be able to watch as the
is difficult for younger children to “circle” day gets closer and closer.
Confidentiality & Reportables
Helpful Websites:
www.greatlifehawaii.com
www.militaryonesource.com
Ombudsman Newsletter September 2011
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4. U S S H O P P E R D D G 7 0
FRG Board
FRG Corner President: Sarah McClain
Hello Hopper Families, Vice President: Amy Norman
I hope you all are doing great and getting excited Treasurer: Sara White
about the homecoming. The planning for this great
event is going smoothly. I just want to say thank you to Secretary: Sandy Thompson
everyone who participated in our Scentsy fundraiser. It
went really well.
Coming up in September we will be having our
monthly meeting on September 6th at 6:30pm at the
Catlin Park Community Center. Hope to see you all
there. We will be starting our first kiss ticket sale. Each
ticket is $1.00 and a week before the homecoming we
will be doing a blind raffle and one lucky person will get
the chance to have their Sailor come off the ship first If you would like to be added to the
and receive the first kiss. I will also be starting to put FRG Email list in addition to the
together the guest list for homecoming, so if you do not
have a military ID and need to get on base, I will need Ombudsman Email list, please email
all the names of the people attending so I can put their frghopper
70@yahoo.com!
name on my list. Also this meeting the shoeboxes for
the shoebox fundraiser are due. We will be wrapping
them and sending them out on the 12th. Also the
squares for the sign are due on the 6th so please don't
forget to bring those so we can get the sign put together
and sent out. Thank you all for your participation and for
Upcoming Events:
supporting your Sailor. Have a great September. If you
have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me September 6, 2011~
at FRGhopper70@yahoo.com
FRG Meeting
Sarah McClain
6:30pm Catlin Park Community
USS HOPPER
FRG President Center
~Our spouses serve as we serve, every bit as much. They do not bear the arms, but their open arms provide
strength and comfort. They do not set the ship's course, but their internal compass keeps the family ready and on
track. They do not ford the stream or build the bridge, but the bridge they provide back to the home sustains and
improves the morale and performance of entire units.~
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5. U S S H O P P E R D D G 7 0
Celebrations & Congratulations!
✴GM2 Henson, Coty - Happy Anniversary! Love you.... - Britt
✴IT2 Thompson We met in the 6th grade then we started dating after High school, and now
we are celebrating our 1st anniversary as husband & Wife; Happy 1st year sweat heart I can't
wait to spend the many more years to come! I love you forever & always! Sandy Thompson
✴ FCCS White~ Happy 10th Anniversary (September 2nd) to the man of my dreams! I love
you more with each passing day... xoxo Love always, Kristin
✴FCCS White~ Happy 35th Birthday on September 13th OLD MAN! We love you to pieces!!
Love, Kristin, Kaia and Layla.
✴ENS Hammon Happy Birthday (September 24th) Felicia, we love you and can't wait for you to
be back at home again. Have a wonderful birthday. Love, Mom and all the family
✴CWO2 Young and his family will celebrate their half way point on August 31st!
✴CWO2 Young..congrats to Brendan for surviving the Sports Endurance class.. way to go
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BUBBA!
✴I would like to wish my wife Dolly a happy 15 anniversary on September 7th. I love you.
(submitted by: CWO2 Joe Young)
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nisl, vel consectetuer eros mi sit amet lorem.
✴CWO2 Young.. happy 15th wedding anniversary on Sept 7th and 14th!!! Love you!
✴We honor the memory of Mrs. Lavonne Baker, grandmother to FC2 Baker. Her passing is a
— Quisque Massa
tremendous loss for her family and community.
✴Happy 30th Birthday to my wifey Paulette Prince. Looks like you’re moving on up in the
World! Anyways, I wish I could be there babe. I Love You! (submitted by: ITC Clarence
Prince)
✴Happy Two year Anniversary Britt it has been a great two years I love you and I miss you.
(submitted by: GM2 Coty Henson)
✴HAPPY 5th Birthday Mr. Maddox Cooper!! I can't wait to give you BIG hugs and Kisses!
Love you ALL the way to the moon and back! (submitted by: YN1 Jennifer Archuleta)
✴September 23- Happy Birthday to my amazing husband- FC1 Gabriel De La Paz. I love you
and miss you and can't wait to celebrate your birthday when you return. Gemma sends you
baby cuddles and she can not wait to meet her daddy, she says HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! We
are eagerly counting down until our family is complete again. Enjoy YOUR day and know that
your family sends all of their love and support. Besos y abrazos - Your wife, Jessica and Baby
girl Gemma
✴DCFN Toquero, Steven Happy Birthday Hunny!!! May all your wishes come true.Wish I could
be with you on this special day. I can't wait to see you soon ;)...I love you hunny!!!Muah
Ombudsman Newsletter September 2011! 5

6. U S S H O P P E R D D G 7 0
✴Happy 9th birthday to my son, Grant! (AUG 25) Mommy loves you and misses you a lot! I
will see you soon.....Love, MOMMY (submitted by: SH2 MEDINA)
✴FCCS Kevin White Birthday: September 13. Happy 35th Birthday Son. Guess you were
always meant to be a Sailor!!! Love you, Mom and Dad
✴Happy 10th anniversary to my wonderful wife Kristin, you are the love of my life. I look
forward to many more years together! (submitted by: FCCS White)
✴Happy 6th Anniversary baby; miss you ‘n Mack so much!! Be home soon!! (submitted by:
ENS Tyler Kelley)
✴Happy 1st Birthday, Easton! Daddy is so proud of the big boy you've become. I hope that
you have a great first birthday and that Mommy and Dayton take extra-good care of you.
Don't forget to share your cake with everyone else. I love you buddy. - Daddy (submitted
by: LT Brandon Booher)
✴Happy Birthday (September 28) SR Janice Taylor- 21 yrs you have come a long way! We
love you! Mom, Dad, Mel and Leah.
✴IT1 McClain September 14th Happy Birthday Bobby we love you and miss you bunches!
✴IT1 McClain My son's September Birthday will be spent on a ship far away. We send to
him happy wishes as he sails away with all the fishes. Love mom
✴IT1 McClain Happy Birthday Big Bro.... from your lil sis!
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Ombudsman Newsletter September 2011

7. U S S H O P P E R D D G 7 0
Helpful Courses Offered for our Navy Families:
SEPT 2011
Your Military and Family Support Center, offers a variety of classes to help meet the unique demands of the military lifestyle.
Classes are held at our convenient MFSC locations, 4827 Bougainville Drive, Moanalua Navy Services Center, or 655
Vickers Avenue, JBPHH (Hickam). For more information contact the MFSC-Pearl Harbor at 474-1999 or MFSC-Hickam at
449-0300.
6 SEPT 1100-1230: MANAGING MONEY AND CREDIT (MFSC PEARL HARBOR)
Learn the basic skills and techniques for managing your money and budgeting; gain awareness of credit cards and loans;
and learn how to plan savings goals.
8 SEPT 1700-2000: TILL DEBT DO US PART (MFSC-PEARL HARBOR)
Financial class for couples. Class discussions include the differences in thinking about money situations and exercises for
couples to see if they really know their spouse’s spending habits. Attendees will work with their spouses to come up with
short and long term goals, planning out a budget together, and deciding on savings and investment goals. REGISTRATION
IS REQUIRED.
12-13, 14-15, and 21-22 SEPT 0730-1530: MILLION DOLLAR SAILOR / AIRMAN (MFSC PEARL HARBOR /
WAHIAWA / HICKAM AFB / KBAY)
This two-day class covers everything that one will need to know to be financially informed. Topics include; Pay and
Allowances, how to read the LES, the importance of knowing they are responsible for that information being correct,
Savings and Investments, Thrift Savings Plan, Insurance (all types, car, home, renters, umbrella, etc), 2 Hours of Car
Buying strategies, consumer information to include pay day loans, spending plan (budget), how that effects a security
clearance, establishing credit, maintaining credit, credit reports, and credit scores. We also offer a great program that
includes a budget as well as how to get debts paid off quickly. For most people it's a real eye-opener. Attendees are allowed
to wear civilian clothes to this class.
21 SEPT 0900-1300: JEMS JOB FAIR (PEARL HARBOR)
Come network at Club Pearl with more than 100 companies. Open to members of the military community with base access.
For more information visit www.JEMSjobs.com (No children or strollers admitted)
General Military Training (GMT) and RETURN AND REUNION (R&R)
Our experienced staff will also go to your Command or Family Readiness Group meeting and present a General Military
Training (GMT) or conduct an R&R for any command within two months of returning from deployment at a time and place
convenient for your crew on a variety of topics.
Ombudsman Newsletter September 2011
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8. U S S H O P P E R D D G 7 0
OPSEC
Don't discuss future destinations or ports of call!
Don't discuss future operations or missions!
Don't discuss dates and times of when we will be in port or conducting exercises!
Don't discuss readiness issues and numbers!
Don't discuss specific training equipment!
Don't discuss people's names and billets in conjunction with operations!
Don't speculate about future operations!
Don't spread rumors about operations!
Don't assume the enemy is not trying to collect information on you so he can kill
you, he is!
Be smart, use your head, and always think OPSEC when using email or phone!
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Ombudsman Newsletter September 2011

9. U S S H O P P E R D D G 7 0
ON ISLAND FAMILY FUN
MWR's annual DAY FOR KIDS Saturday, Sept. 17 3-6 p.m. Ward Field FREE
This year's theme is FLASHBACK TO THE '80S.
• Bounce houses, crafts and games
• Entertainment
• Sponsor tents sharing goodies
• Have your photo taken in ’80s-style with retro costumes provided
“Build-Your-Own” Snackbar Station Experience
Fall Camp will be held on
October 3-7.
See www.greatlifehawaii.com for
more details.
Joint Employment
Management Service
Annual JOB FAIR
Wednesday, Sept. 21
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Club Pearl
FREE
Ombudsman Newsletter September 2011
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