June 13, 2014 at 2:47 p.m.
Navy League recognizes Rhinelander's Christopher Towle
Navy League recognizes Rhinelander's Christopher Towle
Among them, Hospital Corpsman Second Class (Submarine Qualified/Fleet Marine Force) Christopher Towle, from Rhinelander, was honored as the CSG-9 2013 Junior Shore SOY; and was presented a soaring eagle statuette engraved with his name by Council President Larry Salter. Senior Navy leaders representing Towle's command, Submarine Development Squadron 5, were also present to praise the standout for his hard work and individual efforts.
CSG-9 is the flag-level organization overseeing all submarine activity in the Pacific Northwest, and each year selects top sea and shore command awardees at the senior and junior petty office level. All SOY competitors at the collective CSG-9 level are already top performers in their own right because they are nominated only after having been designated as the SOY within their own units.
According to his citation, Towle flawlessly managed the medical and dental care for 265 staff and detachment personnel, achieving 100 percent mission readiness. A superb medical administrator, he developed a Medical Department Standard Operating Procedure, garnered accolades from the Type Commander [Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC)] for its development, and set the operational standard for COMSUBPAC Medical Departments.
Towle's supervisor, HMCM(SS/SW) Paul Klahr, recalled a time when he had to cover for Towle's absence to attend a week-long training session. "He was selected as the CSG-9 Shore Junior SOY primarily because he does everything! [For that week,] he left me to run the office by myself. I've been an IDC [Independent Duty Corpsman] for 17 years, and I was just lost the first day. So you can tell I count on him a great deal."
Navy Captain Christopher Quarles, Commanding Officer, Naval Hospital Bremerton, was the luncheon guest speaker and capped the award presentation ceremony by praising the Council's efforts before his own talk. "Let me thank the Navy League for their generous support of us and our sailors. Your support is very much appreciated and we know you do things year 'round for sailors in this area. So for a change, let's have all Active Duty [military] in the room give you [Navy League] some applause!-
CSG-9 was established upon the arrival of the first TRIDENT submarine, USS OHIO (SSBN 726), in Bangor, WA on July 1, 1981, according to their official Navy website. CSG-9 reports to the Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and exercises administrative control authority for assigned submarine commands and units in the Pacific Northwest. CSG-9 provides oversight for shipboard training, personnel, supply and material readiness of TRIDENT submarines and their crews, and is also responsible for nuclear submarines undergoing conversion or overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. CSG-9 subordinate commands include Naval Submarine Support Center Bangor, Submarine Squadrons 17 and 19, and all assigned Pacific Fleet Trident submarines.
The U.S. Navy established SOY and JSOY programs to recognize superior performance of petty officers with emphasis on outstanding achievements, exemplary personal conduct and military bearing, and demonstrated initiative in performance. The recognition program starts at the unit level (ship, shore command, aviation squadron, etc.). Each winner then competes at the next higher organizational level until one Navy-wide SOY is selected for each of four areas: Pacific Fleet, Atlantic Fleet, Reserve Force, and Shore Support Commands.
Founded in 1902 with the encouragement of President Theodore Roosevelt, the NLUS is a civilian organization supporting the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and U.S.-Flagged Merchant Marine. It is a worldwide organization with 46,000 members in more than 250 councils, including more than 700 corporate and community affiliate members. The three main objectives of the NLUS are to educate national leaders and public about the vital importance of a capable and fully prepared Sea Services, to support the men and women of the sea services and their families, and to advocate maintenance of a strong U.S. industrial base to secure America's future.
Through its worldwide adoption program, the NLUS directly supports over 250 ships, 280 land-based military command, and 730 youth groups. More information about the NLUS and local chapters, as well as information about how to join the NLUS, can be found at http://bremolympicnlus.wordpress.com.
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