LN2 Samantha Ayers
LN2 Earl Brown
LN2 Vincent Brown
LN2 Sarina Celaya
LN2 Lesley Cruce
LN2 Angela Elizondo
LN2 Erin Forsythe
LN2 S. Kelly-Alston
LN2 Amanda King
LN2 Sundae Lewis
LN2 Christopher Newham
LN2 Amanda Pelham
LN2 Ryan Pickens
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LN2 Victor Rolling
LN2 Adam Schulze
LN2 Tiffany Stacy
LN2 Amanda Tweedy
LN2 Geneva Young

Personnel holding a Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) account may make third-party transfers to Navy Legalman Association Account #7002653181 by calling NFCU at 888-842-6328 (press 0, then 6).  After making deposits, e-mail confirmation to edward.l.holland@navy.mil or fax to (619) 437-9430.  Those paying by check or money order make payment to  Navy Legalman Association and send to:  LN1 Holland 1541 Inchon Ct. #C Coronado, CA 92118.

All NLA members please correspond with your regional treasurer and directors regarding membership applications, renewals, updates to your address, PCS/TAD, or independent duty moves and copy LN1 Holland.

When sailors get into trouble, they go before a disciplinary review board, then to executive officer screening and eventually to captain’s mast, if the offense warrants it. At mast, a sailor may receive nonjudicial punishment and a permanent blot on his record.

Campa and his leadership mess have created an alternative.

The new standards and conduct board will be the first line of Navy discipline — and the responsibility of the chiefs’ mess. In it, chiefs will screen every potential captain’s mast case and have the authority to provide alternative or lighter punishments that will not go on a sailor’s permanent record. Think of it as a cop giving a speeding driver a warning, instead of writing him a ticket.

“Calling it a standards and conduct board, I think, sends a clear message to the chiefs that this responsibility lies squarely in the mess,” Campa said. “The standards we hold our sailors to in their daily conduct are up to them to enforce, to uphold and to get our sailors on the right track.”

According to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations draft instruction near approval, these boards will be made of a minimum of three chiefs, with the command master chief as the chairman. Commanding officers can designate other “senior enlisted leaders” to fill that role.

When a sailor gets in trouble, the board will interview him and any “relevant witnesses, advisers and supervisors” the board chairman thinks the situation warrants, according to the instruction.

There are many serious crimes that will always end up at mast, Campa said, such as drug use and driving under the influence.

But for many offenses, the board can recommend the sailor receive a “voluntary diversion.” These punishments include extra military instruction, surrendering civilian clothes privileges or even being restricted to the ship or base. Mast is averted.

The punishment comes as part of an overall plan designed to fix behavioral or performance issues through counseling, extra training or even outside the command. But to avoid mast and take the punishment, the sailor must agree to the board’s recommendations.

“Voluntary diversion gives the sailor the opportunity to recognize and accept responsibility for their actions and be held accountable without it being a detriment to their career,” Campa said. The punishment stays off the sailor’s record.

“Young people make mistakes, and it allows them to recover from those mistakes without staining their record and the possible consequences of that — not being able to stay in,” Campa said.

Read the rest of the article at NavyTimes.com

“Here’s an idea.  You know how the chapel has a program to provide junior Sailors a food basket for the holidays. I was thinking that maybe we could do something like that for our legalmen.  We have seven regions, so maybe we can sponsor one family from each Region and provide a basket to them (each Region would nominate one family).  I know it may be a little late for Thanksgiving, but maybe we can do this for Christmas (that’s if every one agrees to it).”

A national board meeting will be held via teleconference at 1600 EST on Thursday, 23 Oct 08 to  discuss the results of the NFPA’s annual convention, upcoming elections, the By-Laws, and our current status as an association regarding membership. 

If you have any questions or concerns about the time and/or date of the meeting, please contact LN1 Adams at melissa.adams1@navy.mil.