In 1981, the U.S. Navy began preparations for the introduction of the new F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter to replace older aircraft. The Navy also began a major overhaul of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga as part of its Service Life Extension Program. Additionally, the Navy established Submarine Squadron 17 at Submarine Base Bangor to support ballistic missile submarines homeported there.

1. 1981 events in the U.S. Navy
• The Navy began preparations for the introduction of the F/A-18 Hornet. The F/A-18, the
newest stride-fighter, replaced both the Navy A-7 and Navy/Marine Corps F-4.
• USS Saratoga CV 60 entered Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for a 2 ½ year overhaul--part of
the Navy’s Service Life Extension Program (SLEP). SLEP was designed to add 15 years to
the carrier’s normal 30 year life expectancy.
• Iranian Embassy hostages were released after 444 days of captivity.
• Ronald Reagan was inaugurated as President of the United States.
• John F. Lehman, Jr. was the Secretary of the Navy.
• Submarine Squadron 17 was activated at Submarine Base Bangor, Washington.
• The U.S. Navy manpower consisted of 530,000 Sailors.
• Summer Khaki Uniform was reintroduced for Officers and CPOs. The summer khaki
uniform was authorized for wear as uniform-of-the day for officers and CPOs. The
change made summer khakis a service uniform, to include ribbons, and authorized it to
be worn for liberty, watch-standing and other functions when the uniform-of-the-day
was required.
• There were 40 female pilots in the Navy. They were exempted by law from flying combat
missions.
• The Navy turned over the decommissioned USS Intrepid to become a museum in NYC.
• The U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation was granted approval to raise funds for construction
of the Navy memorial in Washington, DC.
• USS Dixie AD 14 was the oldest ship in commission in 1981.

2. • The CNO approved plans for a new Senior Enlisted Academy, in Newport RI, for senior
and master chiefs. The academy convened a pilot class in the September 1981.
• The Navy revised recruit training curriculum to toughen the regimen in order to make
recruit training more challenging and rewarding.
• The SSBN force marked the 2000th patrol. USS James K. Polk SSBN 645 completed the
2000th patrol by a fleet ballistic missile submarine. The patrol lasted 60 days and was
Polk’s 49th patrol.
• Navy strengthened the Drug Abuse Control program to include urinalysis results that
could be used as evidence in disciplinary proceedings. The changes also replaced the
drug exemption program with a drug abuse self-referral rehabilitation procedure.
• Commanding officers were authorized to announce the name, rate, offense and
disposition of personnel awarded nonjudicial punishment (NJP).
• USS New Jersey BB-62 began reactivation overhaul.
• The keel was laid for the first LSD-41 class ship.
• The Navy announced that more women would be assigned to sea duty starting in FY 82.
• The Navy’s newest Destroyer Tender, USS Arcadia AD 42 was commissioned on 6 June
1981.
• The ground breaking ceremony for the San Diego Naval Regional Medical Center was
held on 3 October 1981.
• The Navy announced the Enlisted Education Advancement Program which allowed Sailors
to receive full pay and allowances while enrolled full time in rating-related or
management curriculums as selected junior or community colleges.
F-A/18 Hornet to Replace Navy A7 and Navy and Marine Corps F-4 aircraft
The Navy announced that the F-A/18 Hornet, the newest strike fighter, was scheduled to be
introduced to the fleet in 1981. The Fleet Introduction Team (FIT), headquartered at NAS
Lemoore, CA was the first component of its kind whose sole responsibility was the Hornet. FIT
was responsible to monitor the progress of the development of ground support facilities and
equipment and to work with the manufacturer by providing enlisted subject matter experts
(SME). AH JAN 1981
USS Saratoga CV 60 Begins Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) at PNSY
USS Saratoga CV 60 entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for a 28-
month, $ 526 million overhaul that was designed to extend the original
30-year life expectancy to 45 years. The SLEP program involved
upgrading the ship’s radar, communications equipment, defensive
systems, aircraft handling hardware and berthing /engineering space
improvements. Saratoga’s sister ships-Forrestal, Independence, and
Ranger were also scheduled for SLEP over the next ten years. AH JAN
1981

3. Submarine Squadron 17 Activated
Submarine Base Bangor, Wash., moved another step closer to full
operations status when Commander Submarine Squadron 17 was activated
on January 5. The squadron was responsible for the refit and supply needs
of submarines home ported at Bangor, including the new Trident class
submarine. The squadron had a staff of 14 people that would eventually
number 50. Captain Thomas Fox assumed command of Submarine
Squadron 17, which included the submarines USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN
610) and USS Sam Houston (SSBN 609). AH MAR81
Tuition Assistance Increases
A revision to the Tuition Assistance Program, which became effective December 15, 1980,
increased the amount of tuition dollars from 75 to 90 percent for enlisted personnel E-5 and
above with less than 14 years of service. Other active duty enlisted service members could be
granted up to 75 percent of their tuition. Enlisted members working on a high school diploma
were authorized to receive up to 100% of their tuition. Officers were authorized to receive up to
75 percent of tuition for undergraduate work related to a specific subspecialty. AH MAR81
Summer Khaki Uniform Returns for Officers and CPOs
In March 1981, the summer khaki uniform was authorized for wear as uniform-of-the-
day for officers and SPOs. In a change to Navy Uniform Regulations, summer khakis were
reintroduced as a service uniform, to include ribbons. NAVOP 26/81 authorized khakis to
be worn for liberty, watchstanding or other functions when the uniform-of-the-day was
required. The service khaki shirt and trousers, and a skirt version for women, were
required to be made of the same fabric and distinguishable in quality and appearance
from the fabric used in the working khaki uniform. AH APR81
Navy Female Aviators Exempted From Flying Combat Missions
In 1981, there were 40 female Navy pilots. Under the laws of the day, they were exempted from
flying combat missions. AH APR81
Navy turns USS Intrepid over to New York City as a Museum ship
In April, the Navy transferred custody of the decommissioned Essex-class carrier Intrepid to the
Intrepid Museum Foundation to become a permanent tourist attraction at New York City’s Pier
86. AH APR81

4. Navy Memorial Donation Program Underway
A donation program to make commemorative gifts to the Navy Memorial was established by the
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation. Enactment of Public Law 96-199 in March 1980 authorized the
foundation to construct the memorial on public land in the District of Columbia. In March 1981,
the Navy Memorial Foundation was granted approval by the Pennsylvania Avenue Development
Corporation to construct a $10 million living memorial at Market Square Park on Pennsylvania
Avenue. AH APR81
New Generation of Barracks Barges improve quality of life in shipyards
The Navy introduced a new generation of barracks barges for
crews of ships in overhaul at Naval Shipyards. The new
generation barges were a mixture of ship and barge. The
barges, designated YRBM (L)--yardcraft, repairing, berthing,
messing, large-- were 140 feet in length, 46 feet wide and 3 ½
stories in height. They could accommodate 257 Sailors. The
barges were equipped with a barbershop, classrooms,
wardroom, laundry, general workshops, offices and storage areas for ship’s equipment. The
barges were also soundproofed. The first ship to make use of the new barges was USS Bronstien
(FF 1037) at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. AH AUG81
Senior Enlisted Academy Established
The CNO approved plans for a new Senior Enlisted Academy for senior chief and
master chief petty officers. The academy was scheduled to convene its first pilot
class in the fall of 1981. The plans included two pilot classes, one in September
1981 and the other in January 1982. Sixteen students were selected by the Naval
Military Personnel Command. Regular classes were scheduled to begin in March 1982 at the
Naval Education Training Center, Newport, R.I. The plan included having four classes per year,
nine-weeks in duration consisting of 50 students per class. AH AUG81
Tougher Life Slated for Navy Boots
Navy boot camp curriculum was modified to increase emphasis on military subjects. The training
requirements were reviewed at the three recruit training centers with the objective of
toughening the regimen to make recruit training a more challenging and rewarding experience.
The curriculum changes included increased training in military drill, physical fitness, seamanship,
wearing of the uniform, naval customs, mission and naval history. A seabag inspection, prior to
departure, was also added. AH AUG81

5. SSBN Force Marks 2000th Patrol
USS James K. Polk (SSBN 645) completed her 49th patrol after 60
days at sea. Polk’s patrol was also the 2000th patrol made by the
fleet ballistic missile submarine force since it was established in
1960. USS George Washington (SSBN 598) made the first patrol. AH
SEP81
Navy Strengthens Drug Abuse Control Program
On 9 July 1981, The CNO promulgated an enhanced Navy drug abuse control program. The new
program added emphasis to prevention, detection, deterrence and enforcement while still
offering treatment to drug dependent service members. AH SEP81
NJP Results Authorized to be posted
ALNAV 85/81 authorized commanding officers to announce the name, rate, offense and
disposition of personnel awarded nonjudicial punishment as a result of a change to the Navy
Judge Advocate General Manual. NJP announcements were authorized to be published in the
plan of the day and could also be posted on bulletin boards within one month of the imposition
of NJP.NJP cases could also be announced at morning quarters. The publication of NJP results was
rooted in the belief that it would serve to inform and deter other service members from
committing similar offenses. AH SEP81
Navy announces plans to decommission seven ships
The Navy announced plans to retire seven ships from service in FY 82.
The ships included: USS Dixie (AD 14), USS Sperry (AS 120, USS Furman (TAK 280), USS Robert A.
Owens (DD 827), USS Vogelgesang (DD 862), USS Steinaker (DD 863) and USS McKean (DD784).
The average age of each of the ships was 36 years. AH SEP81
USS Vulcan goes over Forty
The Norfolk-based repair ship USS Vulcan (AR-5), the oldest ship in
the Atlantic Fleet, celebrated its 40th birthday on 16 June. Vulcan
was launched on 14 December 1940 and formally commissioned on
16 June 1941. In November 1978, Vulcan was the first Navy ship
other than a hospital ship to receive women as crew members. In
September 1979, it was the first ship to deploy to the
Mediterranean with female crew members. AH SEP81

6. USS New Jersey (BB 62) Begins Reactivation
On July 27, USS New Jersey BB 62 was towed from the Inactive Ship
Maintenance Facility in Bremerton Washington to the Naval Shipyard
at Long Beach CA for reactivation and return to active service with the
fleet. AH SEP81
Keel Laying Ceremony for New Amphibious Ship Class
Speaking at keel laying ceremonies for LSD 41 in Seattle, Secretary of the Navy John Lehman Jr.
said “The amphibious forces will be at the very front of the Navy in the decade ahead.” LSD 41
was the lead ship of a new class. The new class represented a large step in the revitalization of
the U.S. Navy.
FY 82 Assignments of Women to Ships
In an announcement to fleet commanders, the navy announced its plan for the assignment of
women to ships during fiscal year 1982. The plan called for assignment of 78 women officers,
primarily as replacement for women officers rotating ashore, and the addition of 824 enlisted
women. It was projected that by the end of FY 82 there would be 161 women officers and 1,895
enlisted women on sea duty. AH NOV81
BAS and Subsistence-in-kind for Enlisted on TAD Approved
Effective 19 September, enlisted members who were entitled to basic allowance for subsistence
(BAS) while on temporary duty orders were longer charged for meals in Navy enlisted dining
facilities. The change was a result of an interpretation of the existing laws and the BAS
amendment to the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act which provided for the payment
of BAS for enlisted members on temporary duty. As of 19 September 1981, enlisted members on
temporary duty were entitled to BAS at the ComRats level of $3.94 per day, as well as
subsistence-in-kind. The BAS amendment was provided to equalize entitlements between
officers and enlisted members performing TAD/TDY. AH DEC81
USS Arcadia Commissioned
On June 6, USS Arcadia (AD 42) was commissioned in San Diego.
Arcadia was the second of four new Yellowstone class tenders, a
modification of the Gompers class and specifically designed to serve DD
963-class destroyers, CGN-class cruisers and FFG 7-class frigates. AH
DEC81

7. New Hospital at San Diego
A ground breaking ceremony for the new San Diego Naval Regional Medical Center was held on
Oct 3 1981. The Surgeon General of the Navy, Vice Admiral J. William Cox, was the principle
speaker. The facility was built to serve more than 350,000 people in the area. The medical center
was designed to be one of the main treatment centers for casualties in the event of war or
conflict and would also serve the San Diego area in the event of major natural disasters. The 760-
bed hospital was the largest medical center in the Navy. AH DEC81
Enlisted Education Advancement Program
The Enlisted Education Advancement Program was announced in OpNav Notice 1510 on 24
September 1981. The program provided full pay and allowances to Sailors while enrolled in
rating-related or management curriculums at selected junior or community colleges. Individuals
were responsible for their own tuition and expenses. AH DEC81
USS Dixie AD-14 Honored as the Oldest Active Ship in the Fleet
USS Dixie (AD 14) was the oldest active ship in service during 1981. Dixie was commissioned on
April 25, 1940 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., in Camden, NJ. Dixie operated in the Pacific
during WWII servicing and repairing battle damage to destroyers. During the Korean War, Dixie
earned 5 battle stars. In 1981, Dixie was recognized as the oldest operational vessel in the fleet.
OPNAV NOTE 10520 of February 1981 directed that AD 14 be presented with a copy of the first
Navy Jack (“Don’t Tread on Me”). The jack was flown on the bow until the ship was
decommissioned. It was then turned over to the Navy’s next oldest operational vessel. Dixie was
decommissioned in 1982.