Welcome

To: Prospective Firewalkers and Families of USS PINCKNEY (DDG 91)
Subj: WELCOME ABOARD!

First and foremost, welcome to the one of the most beautiful cities in the country – sunny San Diego! Secondly, welcome to the most advanced and lethal warship in the United States Navy’s superior naval fleet. Aboard PINCKNEY, we are led by three guiding principles – technical excellence, mastery in war, and unwavering professionalism. From the moment you step aboard, you will be challenged to become a technical expert regarding your equipment and your craft. You will have opportunities to push the envelope in putting that expertise into practice and develop innovative solutions to our most pacing warfighting challenges. Your application of that in-depth knowledge will enable you to become a master in warfighting. This warfighting culture is nurtured through mutual respect, honor, pride, and hard work – in short – unwavering professionalism!

As you will discover in navigating the website, PINCKNEY’s namesake is Messman First Class William Pinckney. A native of Beaufort, SC, Pinckney, while aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CV 6) experienced firsthand the famed Doolittle Raid of Tokyo, the Battle of Midway, and the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. After repairs in Pearl Harbor, ENTERPRISE was badly damaged in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. Surviving a blast on the flight deck, in the ammunition handling room, Pinckney regained consciousness and braved third degree burns, electric shock, and heat to rescue Gunners Mate James Bagwell. When asked about the events, Pinckney stated simply that he was only, “Proud to Serve!”

Rooted in service, we on the mighty ship PINCKNEY, take pride in humble service. We do not get caught up in the bravado of being the most premier warship; however, we pride ourselves on serving one another and those that are protected by the nation’s cloth. We are honored to have you as a valued addition to this team and family, and we promise that while this will be an incredibly challenging tour characterized by hard work and grit, we can assure you that you will feel welcome and as if you are a part of something great! To the families of those chosen to be a part of the Firewalker family, we can assure you that your sons, daughters, or otherwise will be taken care of and that they will forever be positively changed by the experience they have on this formidable warship.

I, as well as the executive officer and command master chief, am happy to answer any questions that you may have throughout your pipeline. You can also email the command sponsor program (sponsor_program@ddg91.navy.mil) with any questions as well. They are standing by to connect you with your parent division and ensure that your transition to PINCKNEY is as smooth as possible. Again, we are extremely happy to have you as part of the team!

Proud to Serve!
Dustin T. Smith
Commanding Officer
USS PINCKNEY (DDG 91)

 

 CO Welcome Aboard Letter pdf


 

Ombudsman

As the USS PINCKNEY Command Family Ombudsman, I am the wife of a crewmember and an official volunteer appointed by the Commanding Officer to serve as a representative to establish and maintain communication between the Command and their families. Our sailors with their spouses and parents are welcomed to benefit from the support and assistance of the Command Family Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman is designated by the Command to serve as communication links between the Commanding Officer and Command family members, as well as trained information and referral specialists. I am your advocate ready to support, direct, and empower you with all the resources available. Please be assured that as Ombudsman I follow the guidelines of the confidentiality as required by the Navy Family Ombudsman Program. As Ombudsman, I am available to assist you during your transition to San Diego, CA and your tour onboard the ship.

I am PROUD TO SERVE as your Ombudsman and am looking forward to assisting you in making your transition and stay in San Diego an enjoyable one. Should you or your family members have questions or concerns, I may be contacted either by e-mail or telephone between 7 am and 9 pm (Pacific Standard Time). For emergency situations, I am available 24 hours a day. I look forward to meeting you!

With warm regards,
Gladis Magarelli
Ombudsman
USS PINCKNEY (DDG-91)
(619) 629-7755

1. What is an Ombudsman?
Every Command has an Ombudsman who is a spouse of a sailor at the Command. The Ombudsman serves as the liaison between the command and the families. The Ombudsman is the point of contact for the families. He or she can assist families with navigating through Navy life through resources and information.

2. How can an Ombudsman help me?
Navy Family Ombudsmen are key resources for family members, particularly during deployments. Ombudsmen maintain current resource files with information on military and civilian community agencies that can help families solve a variety of problems, and successfully meet the challenges they face before, during, and after deployments. In addition to providing referral information, Ombudsmen can facilitate communication between the Command and family members. Ombudsmen may publish or contribute to command newsletters or maintain care lines, which have recorded messages with information for command families that can be accessed 24 hours a day. Ombudsmen can also assist families in contacting the Command for a variety of reasons.

3. What is the role of the COMNAVSURFPAC Force Ombudsman?
The Force Ombudsman provides oversight and guidance for all the Surface Ship's Ombudsmen in the Pacific Fleet Area of Responsibility. You can contact the Surface Forces Ombudsman at (619) 301-6983 or send an email to surfaceombudsman@gmail.com

4. What is an IA assignment or tour?
An IA is an Individual Augmentee. A Sailor may receive orders to go IA and this means that he or she will deploy as an Individual, not with their command. Sometimes an IA will deploy and be stationed with another branch of the Military. http://www.ia.navy.mil/

5. What is NFAAS?
Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System. This is how the Navy will track your family and assess your needs during an emergency. https://www.navyfamily.navy.mil

6. How can I find out more about medical, dental or Navy family resources?
Contact your Command Ombudsman. He or she will guide you to your resources.