SURFACE NAVY ASSOCIATION OLD TAR
RAAUZYUW RUENAAA7655 1232001-UUUU--RUCRNAD ZNR UUUUU ZUI RUEWMCE0554 1231946 R 031958Z MAY 07 PSN 536755K31 FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN ZEN/NAVADMIN @ AL NAVADMIN(UC) INFO ZEN/CNO CNO BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 113/07 MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/DNS/APR// SUBJ/SURFACE NAVY ASSOCIATION OLD TAR // POC/SIMONSEN MICHAEL/CTR/N861C1/-/TEL:703-692-4610// RMKS/1. THIS MESSAGE SOLICITS NOMINATIONS FOR THE SURFACE NAVY ASSOCIATION'S "OLD TAR" AWARD. 2. THE "OLD TAR" AWARD WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE SURFACE NAVY ASSOCIATION (SNA) IN 1996 TO RECOGNIZE THE ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED SURFACE WARFARE SPECIALIST (ESWS) WITH THE EARLIEST DATE OF QUALIFICATION. THE AWARD IS A REPLICA OF THE STATUE "THE CHIEF" WHICH STANDS AT THE NAVY MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE STATUETTE IS MOUNTED ON ORIGINAL PLANKING FROM THE USS CONSTITUTION AND REMAINS IN THE SACRED CUSTODY FOR DISPLAY BY THE "OLD TAR" AS LONG AS HE/SHE SERVES ON ACTIVE DUTY. THE STATUETTE IS SHIFTED UPON RETIREMENT TO THE NEXT "SELECTED" RECIPIENT. 3. THE CURRENT "OLD TAR" IS MASTER CHIEF ASHLEY SMITH, UNITED STATES NAVY WHO IS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED AS COMMAND MASTER CHIEF, USS KITTY HAWK (CV-63). MASTER CHIEF SMITH IS SLATED TO RETIRE IN MAY 2007. 4. THE CRITERIA FOR THE "OLD TAR" AWARD IS: ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED SURFACE WARFARE SPECIALIST WITH THE EARLIEST DATE OF QUALIFICATION AS RECEIVED BY THE SNA BEFORE THE ANNOUNCED CLOSING DATE FOR NOMINATIONS (NOMINEES MUST SUBMIT APPROPRIATE CERTIFIED TRUE COPIES OF PAGE 4 OR ESWS CERTIFICATE). NOMINATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE THAT ARE OF AN EARLIER DATE OF QUALIFICATION OF THE SELECTED AWARD WINNER WILL RECEIVE A LETTER OF RECOGNITION ONLY. IN THE EVENT OF MORE THAN ONE NOMINEE HAVING THE SAME ESWS QUALIFICATION DATE, THE RECIPIENT WILL BE DETERMINED FIRST BY THE MOST TIME AT SEA, AND SECONDLY, BY THE PAY ENTRY BASE DATE. IF A CANDIDATE IS QUALIFIED IN MORE THAN ONE SPECIALTY AREA, THEIR PRIMARY DESIGNATION MUST BE SURFACE WARFARE. 5. THE CHANGE IN CUSTODY OF THE "OLD TAR" STATUETTE IS RECOGNIZED AT THE SURFACE NAVY ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM HELD IN JANUARY IN WASHINGTON, DC. ALSO, A REPLICA OF THE CHIEF STATUETTE IS PRESENTED TO THE RETIRING "OLD TAR". THE REPLICA PRESENTATION SERVES TO RENEW KNOWLEDGE ON THE RECOGNITION; AND AS A REAFFIRMATION OF FAITH BY SNA NATIONALLY THAT BECOMING AN ESWS IS, WAS, AND WILL REMAIN IMPORTANT. THE REPLICA IS PROVIDED FOR HIS/HER RETENTION FOR LIFE WITH A "VERY WELL DONE". 6. IT IS REQUESTED THAT ALL NOMINATIONS BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE NAVY ASSOCIATION AT 2550 HUNTINGTON AVE., SUITE 202, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22302 NO LATER THAN 30 MAY 2007.// 7. RELEASED BY VADM J. W. GREENERT.// BT #7655 NNNN