Returned Checks Commissary Changes Polic, Page 4 Veterinary Care Base Clinic Provides Quality Care Pages 6-7 Contamination Tainted Pet Food Killing Animals Page 9 THURSDAY, JANUARY Winter www.jaxairnews.com 12, 2006 becomes SecNav From the Navy News Service D onald Winter, Ph.D., was sworn in as the 74th Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) during a ceremony at the Pentagon Jan. 3. Deputy Secretary of Defense (acting) Gordon England administered the oath. In his first message as SEC- NAV, Winter outlined his five pri- orities: people, the global war on terror, shipbuilding, 2005 Quality Deficiency Report (QDR) imple- mentation and Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) implementa- tion. Winter also praised the Navy and Marine Corps team and expressed his pride in serving as secretary. Following is the full text of the secretary's message: Today, I was sworn in as your 74th Secretary of the Navy. At a time when we find ourselves at war, with Marines and Sailors in "harm's way" in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is a challenge that I accept with a keen awareness of the solemn responsibilities of this office. In the wake .of Sept. 11, 2001, Bailey Ye is Naval Hospital' f first delivery of 2006 From Naval Hospital Public Affair. Naval Hospital Jacksonville delivered its first baby of 2006 at 4:54 a.m. on New Year's Day. With the delivery, Jennifer Yee and her husband, GM2 Steven Yee, who serves aboard USS Hue City homeported at Naval Station Mayport became the proud parents of Bailey, a 9-pound, 14-ounce, 20-inch baby girl., Jennifer was followed through her first pregnancy by Nurse Midwife Nancy Yarnell at Naval Branch Health Clinic Mayport. Delivering the newborn at the Naval Hospital with the help of the hospital's Maternal Infant Unit (MIU) nursing staff was OB/GYN doctor Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Breazeale. Following Jennifer and Bailey in the MIU was OB/GYN doc- tor Lt. Cmdr. Ruth Duda. Although mom had a bit of a com- plicated delivery and stayed in the MIU a bit longer than expected due to an elevated temperature, both she and her husband said their experi- ence at Mayport and at the Naval Hospital was very positive. "It was great! They had a lot of great staff and a lot of nice people," said Steven. Jennifer echoed those sentiments saying, "It was wonderful! The MIU staff was very good, every- one was very nice and they were very hospitable and welcoming." Jennifer said she took advantage of Donald Winter Secretary of the Navy President Bush declared, "the best defense against terrorism is a strong offensive against terror- ists." The Navy/Marine Corps team is engaged in an aggressive cam- paign to defeat terrorist enemies not only in Iraq and Afghanistan, but globally. Protecting America against threats will remain our primary mission, a task that will require the service of warfighters who will never lose focus on the drive to victory. The world has seen momentous changes in recent decades, and the Navy and Marine Corps must adapt to changing conditions. Throughout history, nations have been surprised by threats that emerged without adequate warn- ing. Democracies, in particular, are reluctant to acknowledge the exis- tence of threats. But all of human history shows that weakness invites aggression and that strength deters war. We must remain prepared, strong and ready to meet the challenges of the future. In my confirmation hearings before Congress this past October, I mentioned five priorities: people, the global war on terror, ship- building, 2005 QDR implementa- tion and BRAC implementation. I will have much to say about all of these items in the months ahead. Today, I will only mention one: People our most valuable asset. Since the early days of the republic, Americans have relied on a strong Navy and Marine Corps team to defend them against her enemies. Nothing can Photos courtesy of Naval Hospital Jacksonville New parents Jennifer and GM2 Steven Yee with their newborn Bailey (left) are pre- sented a congratulatory certificate from the hospital commanding officer Capt. .(Dr.) Raquel Bono (second from left) and Maternal Infant Unit (MIU) Division Officer Lt. Cmdr. Elizabeth French as well as gifts from the nurses, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department and Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society after deliv- ering the hospital's first baby of 2006. Bailey Yee all the prenatal classes that the hos- pital offers and they were a big help. "They covered all the basics of baby : care," she said, "things like how to comfort your baby, helping with the latching on, and they gave me some great help learning to breastfeed while I was in the MIU." The new family of three 0 was presented a congratu- latory certificate from .' Naval Hospital Jackson- ville Commanding Officer Capt. (Dr.) Raquel Bono as well as a gift basket from the MIU nurses. They also received -*S- Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) dis- count coupons good for such things as bowling, golf and other MWR programs. ? And the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society pre- sented them "Baby's First Seabag," which contains a layette, sheets, a receiving blanket and a crocheted blanket. Both parents are originally from Reno, Nev. Steven has served in the Navy since June 1997. Photo by JOC Craig Strawser Donald Winter, Ph,D., takes the oath of office as the 74th Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) in a ceremony held in the SECNAV's office at the Pentagon Jan. 3. Deputy Secretary of Defense (acting) Gordon England, left, administered the oath as Winter's wife, Linda watches. play so decisive a role as well- country safe. You have chosen a trained, highly motivated Sailors noble profession, and you join a and Marines who believe in their long honored tradition as mission. You should feel honor guardians of our liberty, and honor in knowing that today, dur- defenders of a great nation. I am ing this time of war, the American honored to serve you as your sec- people turn to you to keep our rotary. SBeware tax refund anticipation loans By LIFELines Research Staff Income-tax refund anticipation loans (RALs) are nothing more than a costly version of a payday loan. Hundreds of military families that would never consider a payday loan are participating in RALs at interest rates from 40 up to 700 percent depending on the size-of their expected refund. A recently conducted nationwide survey found that two-thirds of those who had signed up for an advanced same-day payment, from a tax-preparation company, did not realize that they had entered into a loan agreement with exorbitant interest rates and administrative fees. The most recent government analysis, indicates that consumers paid more than $1 billion in RAL loan inter- est fees and an additional $389-million in administra- tive or application fees on top of the loan interest rate. Of particular concern, nearly 80 percent of these interest rates and fees were squeezed out of taxpayers with $35,000 annual income or less which covers a large segment of the junior enlisted population of the military. But even more disturbing are the thousands of military taxpayers who qualified for the earned income tax credit (EITC) who took these loans. The EITC is for people who work, but do not earn high incomes. If they qualify and claim the credit, they pay less federal tax, pay no tax or even receive a refund beyond the amount of tax withheld. EITC is intended to boost the income of those who work and qualify. Yet, over half of those who are enticed into taking these return anticipation loans, are recipients. of the EITC. With check cashing fees and loan interest rates these citizens paid more than three-quarters of a billion dol- lars to get access to this government sponsored benefit. A benefit distributed through our income-tax system and funded by the rest of the taxpayers. As a result, many states including Maryland, Connecticut, Arizona, New York, Ohio and Texas have passed laws or introduced legislation restricting rates or outlawing refund anticipation loans. To protect a loss to the American taxpayers and the U.S. Treasury, a bill has been introduced in the U.S. Congress that would totally outlaw RALs if any portion of the loan is secured by EITC proceeds. According to the National Consumer Law Center 53 percent of those using RALs have a high school educa- tion or less. HBSC/Household has reported that a majority of their RAL participants have an average annual income of less than $18,000. Jackson Hewitt reported that 73 percent of RAL consumers made less than $30,000 annually. Conversely, less than 10 per- cent of those who earned $75,000 annually and/or were college educated have ever participated in return antici- pation loans. TOlUeHIf t Influenza vaccine available here The vaccine is available in all outpatient clinic areas: OB/GYN, TOUCHING Naval Hospital Jacksonville is now administering influenza vaccine to Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and Branch Health -- A-- Clinics. E TRICARE beneficiaries. The vaccine is offered to all TRICARE Prime, The vaccine is offered in injectable or mist forms. Patients will be Plus and Standard subscribers, regardless of hospital enrollment. Just screened for specific contraindications for both forms of the vaccine at B AS present your military ID card. tth clinics before it is administered. v ~ ~------- 7, - u iii~r ^ .11 1 ?, 'iiiiiiiilil~illiillliiii~iii'|;~~li~~i. l llllll..-..-..- .".