NNOA Member Promotions
Congratulations to our NNOA Members on their nominations.
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Black History Month 2023 Spotlight
The Medal of Honor (MoH) is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. Conferred only upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal of Honor was established on December 21, 1861 and is the nation’s oldest continuously awarded decoration. The naval forces version of the MoH may be awarded to a member of the United States Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, (and to members of the Coast Guard when operating under the authority of the Department of the Navy).
3,525 Servicemen have been awarded the MoH. Of that, 93 are African American. The first U.S. Serviceman of African descent to be decorated was Sergeant William Harvey Carney, U.S. Army during the U.S. Civil War. And although 1050 Marines, Sailors and Coastguardsmen have been awarded the MoH, only 18 Sailors, 6 Marines and no Coastguardsmen of African descent have been awarded this distinction. Click on the MOH icon below to access the link to the 93 African American Naval MoH recipients.
In August 2021, the Secretary of Defense directed a review of all African American and Native Americans previously awarded the various Service Crosses, to ensure that all Americans received equitable treatment, and to determine if they possibly rated the Medal of Honor instead. Many valorous acts worthy of the two highest decorations, this nation can bestow upon its Servicemen, likely were not properly recognized and awarded, due to systemic racism.
https://www.cmohs.org/recipients/lists/black-african-american-recipients
Military Spouse Opportunity
Important new pilot program all spouses need to be aware.
Military spouses of currently serving members of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Space Force, to include active, reserve and National Guard components, are invited to apply to the new Military Spouse Career Accelerator Pilot, a competitive multi-year program that provides spouses with paid 12-week fellowships at employers across various industries and locations.
https://myseco.
Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In the 60th anniversary year of the March on Washington and Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, NNOA is honored to recognize and celebrate the birth of one of the greatest champions’ for civil rights, nonviolent protest and equality the world has ever known, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, he stated what still rings true today, “So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
NNOA embodies Dr. King’s vision in its endeavor to ensure that all men and women in the Sea Services have an equal opportunity to succeed, advance and live up to the best of their abilities. This nation is strongest when we stand together. And as Dr. King profoundly noted, the nation’s freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. And as so, success of the Sea Services is also inextricably bound to the equality and success of all of its members, regardless of race, sex, creed or sexual orientation.
Please take a moment to reflect what part you can or do play to honor his legacy and ideals, as we celebrate the 94th year of the birth of this great man and leader for equality. Happy Birthday Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Happy Holidays – December 2022
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Dear Members, Family, and Friends of NNOA,
Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings! On behalf of our Board of Directors, I wish each of you and your families excellent health, enduring happiness, and abundant prosperity throughout the season and the upcoming year. As I reflect on the many successes of 2022 for our association, I am humbled by our collective accomplishments, which will be captured in my upcoming State of NNOA and Strategic Guidance message
Our expectations continue to rise since 2023 will be the 75th anniversary of the signing of Executive Orders 9980 (Fair Employment Practices of the Federal Government) and 9981 (Desegregation of the Forces). Next year will also mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our All-Volunteer Force. Those documents serve as the foundation for NNOA’s very existence and, in many ways, moved our nation towards a more perfect union.
In recognition of those anniversaries, I ask that you acknowledge those documents in any NNOA-related speaking engagement, such as Black History Month programs, scholarship banquet speeches, or professional military education events, where appropriate. My objective is to educate, inspire, and remind members and non-members of the positive aspects of our country’s history as we get better in 2023. Additionally, those documents will contribute to developing the theme of our 51st National Symposium which will be held at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California July 31-August 4, 2023.
In closing, as you make resolutions for 2023, I ask that each of you to do the following…reflect, reconnect, and renew:
First and foremost…reflect. Please reflect on the many good things that NNOA has done for you and your career and think about how you can pay it forward to help others. Additionally, let us never forget our founders and their servant leadership that paved the way for us. We especially remember Captain Claude A. Williams, one of the founding members of NNOA, and Captain Harold R. Wise, former NNOA president, who recently passed.
Second…reconnect. Please get the word out about NNOA to both members and non-members, as well as to co-workers, friends, and family. There are too many officers who need our mentoring and coaching but are unaware of the power of our organization. Reach out to them and invite them to a local meeting and connect them with someone who can advise and assist accordingly.
Third…. renew. Renew your effort to support NNOA! Volunteer your time and your talents to be a mentor or a protégé at your local chapter and continue to support our mission of Recruitment, Retention, and Career Development. NNOA has come a long way, but greater work is yet to be done. Our calling is to keep pushing forward into the next 50 years!
Again, thank you for all that you do and please “…do not become weary in doing good.”
Enjoy your holidays and stay safe!
Cedric E. Pringle
RDML USN, Retired
25th President NNOA
Captain Harold R. (Bob) Wise
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of former NNOA president, Captain Harold R. (Bob) Wise on November 20, 2022.
During his 30 plus year career in both active and reserve duty assignments, he served in several leadership positions including Commanding Officer, Auxiliary Floating Drydock Medium 104, Trenton, NJ; Assistant Programs Officer, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Four, Philadelphia, PA.; Plans Officer, CINCEASTLANT 108, Atlanta, GA; Communications Officer, SACLANT Det. 205, Buffalo, NY; Director of Training, Naval Reserve Center, Buffalo, NY; Management Information and Retention Officer, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Eight, Jacksonville, FL.; Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Voluntary Training Unit 0801, Atlanta, GA; Assistant Inspector General and Assistant Director of Plans for Readiness, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Eight, Jacksonville, FL.; Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Readiness Unit “C”, Atlanta, GA; Director of Selected Reserve Training, Naval Reserve Readiness Center, Atlanta, GA; and Explosives Safety Inspector, Naval Ordnance Center, Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC.
Captain Wise attended the Naval War College, served as a member of the Secretary of the Navy’s National Naval Reserve Policy Board for three years, served on the Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Eight, Jacksonville, FL’s Reserve Policy Board for three years, completed the Reserve Components National Security Course presented by the National Defense University, attended the Armed Forces Staff College, attended the Naval War College War Gaming course and served on several Navy Reserve Officer line and staff selection boards.
Captain Wise was awarded the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy “E”, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two stars, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Expert Rifle Medal, the Sharpshooter Pistol Ribbon, and Command Ashore Pin.