June 2010 Navy
by CAPT Elaine H. Allen, USN (Ret}; captallen1@gmail.com
Command Ombudsman, NOSC North Island / Ombudsman, NIOC, San Diego
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Navy Family Ombudsman Program, created by one of Admiral Elmo Zumwalt’s famous “Z-grams”– #24 of 14 September 1970. Derived from a plan instituted by King Charles XII of Sweden in 1713, the program eventually provided a means for ordinary citizens to present grievances to the King or his officials.
The present (Navy) Ombudsman is a volunteer, usually a (male/female) spouse; but waivers are available as in my case, as a parent (of LTJG Seth A. Allen). The Commanding Officer appoints the Ombudsman, who serves at his/her pleasure and tenure, and determines the scope, priorities, roles and relationships of the position and the extent of support.
The Ombudsman Manual says: “Few people help us maintain continuous readiness better than the Navy Family Ombudsman. They ease the strain of deployments so our Sailors can focus on the important work they must do for the Nation.” Although largely independent in executing the individual command program, the Reserve Ombudsman is far from alone. Beyond CO and Ombudsman Program instructions, he/she has the energetic support of the Warrior and Family Support Specialist (Kudos to the incomparable Susan Hare and staff at Region Southwest), the availability of other Fleet and Force Ombudsmen, plus the full resources of Fleet and Family Services, Military OneSource, Yellow Ribbon, and Operation Homefront, to name a few. Trained to be an information link, he/she can disseminate information up and down the chain of command, through newsletters, POM input, Captain’s Call, Chief’s Mess, care packages, phone calls, e-mails, and family events and creative “good deeds” to support his/her Warriors and their families. “The Ombudsman’s role in today’s Navy Reserve cannot be overstated,” said CAPT Dave DeSanto, CO NIOC San Diego. “The Ombudsman is the cog and the wheel that ties together the member with the families and supporting leadership to ensure our people are connected predeployment, during deployment and, as we are finding out, the critically important post-deployment reaffiliation and return to drilling status. The Ombudsmen fill the gap, providing resources for coping strategies and services, including promoting the Returning Warrior Workshops. They provide support during the uncertainty, for everyone involved, to ensure the care of the Navy Reserve family. There are currently 8,720 Navy Reservists under mobilization orders. The Ombudsman’s role is critical to the deployment of the citizen Sailors and their families.
Writing from Afghanistan, LTJG Jennifer Franco offered: “As a deployed Sailor, I found it helpful for the Ombudsman to contact me regularly and to listen to me as I navigated my way through being an Individual Augmentee. The Ombudsman helped me feel like I was still cared about back home and that my needs were still being looked after, professionally and personally, even though I was far from home. The value of a Navy Ombudsman is beyond measure; they work hard, volunteer hours beyond compensation, to care for Sailors and to match their needs, and their families’ needs, with available resources. Expanding the Ombudsman program was one of the best things the Navy did, especially during a time when we are deploying so many Sailors to support missions around the globe. They serve as our surrogate parents, our friend, and our biggest advocate for success.”
More than 4,000 Ombudsmen serve worldwide, with 248 active and Reserve Navy Ombudsman in San Diego alone. By utilizing volunteers, the Navy saved $1.4 million in 2009 and $605,772.24 to date. Twenty-five hours of basic and 18 hours of advanced training are required, supplemented by attendance at periodic Ombudsmen Assemblies. The most important mandate for the Ombudsman is confidentiality, with the exception of five mandatory “reportables”: suspected and known child abuse or neglect; incidents of spousal, drug or alcohol abuse; potential suicide, homicide, violence or life endangering situations; and any issue included by the CO.
The NOSC NI program reflects the categories of pre-deployment, current/ IA, and post deployment status. A package of books and information providing advice, programs, and referrals on most common concerns of the Sailor, spouse, or children is given to the Sailor upon check-in for preparation, departure, or return.
The Ombudsman as the “cog and the wheel” for “good deeds” is illustrated by an ongoing situation. A young naturalized American, Haitian-born Sailor learned his family barely survived the earthquake in Port au Prince. Their house split, spilling over and killing neighbors on both sides, and hurtling his sister from a shower into the street. This brings new meaning to “losing everything” and “the clothes on one’s back.” The Sailor’s desperation to get to Haiti to care for ill and now homeless family members reached the Ombudsman via his Chief, ABHC Michael Shaunessy. From a few inquiries, a wide variety of folks merged in support with tents, clothes, and unsolicited cash: CAPT Chris Hansen, NOSC NI CO and Command; CMDCM Fluvio Tamborini and the Chief’s Mess; VR-57, Equinox Publishing, Coronado, and their friends at Dirttime.com and Hoodswoods.net In a breathtaking gesture, an anonymous outdoorsman friend of Equinox purchased a new $250.00 ten-man tent (see picture) which our Sailor will carry with him upon return to Haiti mid-May. When our Sailor returns to Haiti mid-May, he will have clothes, shelter, and buying power seven times the U.S. dollar to care for his family.
Quoting again The Ombudsman Manual, “If it is likely to happen, or even unlikely, chances are an Ombudsman knows how to handle it.” It has been my honor to have been so trained; and to be a little cog to make the wheel of goodness, resident within our Navy family and its supporters, turn to provide for a NOSC, NI family in great need. Support your Sailor. Sustain the Warriors away and their families at home with their own crises. Volunteer to be a Navy Ombudsman.