San Diego

This will cover all things San Diego, a national hub of military activity, with an enormous military population, several Marine and Navy bases, defense contractors, military families and retirees, and much more. We'll cover all of that and more here.

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RECENT POSTS

February 21, 2012 | 1:37 PM | By

More Than 1,500 Sailors Kicked Out of Navy in 2011 for Spice

US Navy Medicine / YouTube

Navy video on the dangers of Spice

The Navy announced today it discharged 1,515 Sailors in 2011 for using the synthetic drug Spice while in the service.

It was almost a year ago, on March 1 of 2011, that the Navy banned Sailors from using the
five synthetic cannabis compounds found in Spice. According to the Navy, the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System has developed a drug test that’s able to detect those compounds.

Lanorfeia Holder, deputy director of Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, says the side effects of Spice include hallucinations, panic attacks, and delirium:

“We have Sailors who are having mental conditions that they will never recover from. Using Spice is like playing Russian roulette; you never know what is in the package. As detection catches up with manufacturers, makers alter the ingredients in an attempt to avoid detection.”

Last October, Home Post reported that 49 Sailors assigned to the San Diego-based USS Carl Vinson were kicked out of the Navy for using or distributing Spice.

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, San Diego, USS Carl Vinson, Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Spice drug, synthetic marijuana, U.S. Navy, USS Carl Vinson
February 21, 2012 | 9:37 AM | By

USS Makin Island Crew Honors Fallen Pendleton Navy Corpsman

Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn / US Marine Corps

Lance Cpl. Kyle Draper kneels before a pair of boots and a rifle at a Feb. 17 memorial service aboard USS Makin Island honoring corpsman Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada

Members of the Marine Corps and the Navy came together on the San Diego-based USS Makin Island to honor Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada, 21, a Camp Pendleton-based Navy hospital corpsman who was killed February 14th.

Estrada, called “Doc” by those who knew him, died during a training incident in the African country of Djibouti. He was assigned to India Company, Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 3/1, part of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

According to the 11th MEU Public Affairs Office, more than 700 Sailors and Marines took part in the special memorial service held February 17th on board the Makin Island.

India Company, BLT 3/1 commanding officer Capt. Matthew McGirr told those gathered for the service:

“Doc died in the company of his brothers, brothers who trained and sweat with him, brothers who rushed to his side and would not give up on him after he fell.”

FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Capt. Matthew McGirr, India Company Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 3/1, Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada, U.S. Navy, USS Makin Island
February 17, 2012 | 2:23 PM | By

Check Out the USS Vinson’s Latest Shipboard Newscast (Video)

The latest edition of the shipboard newscast for the USS Carl Vinson has a lot of great stories to enjoy. We learn about the Sailor who was able to check off something big on his life’s “to-do” list by re-enlisting in a military helicopter. We get to see what it’s like to be an air traffic controller on an aircraft carrier. Then there’s story of a Sailor who works in the Vinson barber shop, and is admittedly learning on the job.

And, of course, the newest version of “The Most Squared Away Sailor On The Ship.” My favorite!

Here’s the latest edition of “The 70.” Enjoy!

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, USS Carl Vinson, "The Most Squared Away Sailor on the Ship", khaki barbership, MC3 Zachary Bell, shipboard newscast, SHSN(SW/AW) Shaun Regains, The 70
February 16, 2012 | 2:12 PM | By

How Does an Aircraft Carrier Restock Food While at Sea? (Video)

USSVinson70 / YouTube

Helicopter restocking USS Vinson

The USS Carl Vinson departed San Diego for deployment all the way back in November 2011. According to Vinson’s YouTube page:

One of the reasons we can stay out for extended periods of time is the Navy’s replenishment-at-sea capability. A supply vessel can pull alongside and deliver food, parts, equipment. In order to make that work onboard Vinson, our Sailors are assigned to “working parties” to help offload the the material we bring aboard.

Recently, the enormous aircraft carrier needed to be restocked with all sorts of supplies, from produce to chocolate-chip cookies. And during the restocking, their was also a delivery of mail. In fact, on February 14, the Vinson received roughly 45,000 pounds of mail. That’s a lot of Valentines!

For the latest installment in the webisode series “Vinson 101” HM3 [FMF] Jonathan Martin shows us exactly how the USS Vinson gets restocked. Class in session!

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, San Diego, USS Carl Vinson, HM3 [FMF] Jonathan Martin, Marine Corps, Social Media, St. Valentine's Day, U.S. Navy, Valentine's Day mail, Vinson 101, webisode
February 16, 2012 | 10:38 AM | By

Camp Pendleton Marines Killed in Car Crash Identified

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Cpl. Jason Chleborad

Military officials have released the identities of the three Camp Pendleton Marines killed early Tuesday morning when their Dodge Stratus crashed into a tree in Dana Point. They are Sgt. Jeremiah Callahan, 23; Cpl. Jason Chleborad, 22; and Cpl. Christopher Arzola, 21.

The driver of the Dodge survived the crash and is in extremely critical condition at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. His name has not been released. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department says alcohol and speed were the main factors in the fatal crash.

Sgt. Chleborad was from Rapid City, South Dakota. His parents, Brian and Amy Chleborad, spoke with the Rapid City Journal about their son. Jason, who was a strapping 6’8″ tall, surprised his family with a visit this past Christmas. Brian Chleborad said of losing his son:

“Jason is in a better place than the rest of us. I know that he is with God, because he was baptized and he believed. Now, he’s watching us all.”

Facebook

Sgt. Jeremiah Callahan

Sgt. Jeremiah Callahan, known as J.C., was a 2007 graduate of Chadron Senior High School in Chadron, Nebraska. On his Facebook page, Sgt. Callahan wrote the following quote:

“Life is too short but it’s the longest thing anybody will ever do!”

Cpl. Christopher Arzola was from Westfield, Massachusetts, according to television station WGGB-TV. Arzola was a data specialist with Camp Pendleton’s 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.
The accident is still under investigation.
FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, 3rd Battalion 5th Marines, Chadron Nebraska, Cpl. Christopher Arzola, Cpl. Jason Chleborad, Dana Point, Dodge Stratus, Marine Corps, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Rapid City South Dakota, Sgt. Jeremiah Callahan, Westfield Massachusetts
February 16, 2012 | 9:15 AM | By

Camp Pendleton Navy Hospital Corpsman Dies in Djibouti

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Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada

Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada, 21, was killed in a non-combat related training incident in Djibouti on February 14th, according to the Department of Defense. Estrada was a Navy hospital corpsman assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Pendleton.

According to the Marine Corps website, the 11th MEU is currently on deployment with the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group. Elements of the group are training at the United States Naval Expeditionary Base, Camp Lemonnier, which is in Djibouti.

On his Facebook page, Estrada identified himself as being from Queen Creek, Arizona, and graduating from Queen Creek High School in 2008. He was married to Alyssa Estrada, and both of the couple’s Facebook pages are filled with pictures taken together.

FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, San Diego, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Africa, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Horn of Africa, Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, Navy hospital corpsman, Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada, U.S. Navy
February 15, 2012 | 9:17 AM | By

Deputy’s Union Blames Deadly Shooting on Pendeton Marine’s Behavior

Loggins family photo

Sgt. Manuel Loggins Jr.

The union that represents the Orange County Sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed Camp Pendleton Marine Sgt. Manuel Loggins Jr. last week has come out with its own version of the deadly incident.

Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs president Tom Dominguez tells the Orange County Register that Loggins was behaving in a manner the deputy thought was threatening to Loggins’ two daughters, ages 9 and 14, who were in the car with him at San Clemente High School in the early morning hours of February 7.

The union’s statement to the media reports that after Loggins stopped his car in the school’s parking lot, he got out of his vehicle:

“The deputy began to follow Loggins on foot when he heard children’s screams coming from the car. Loggins, now in a darkened part of the adjacent field, could be heard yelling irrational statements. The deputy radioed for immediate assistance, informing dispatchers of a hit-and-run accident and child endangerment situation.”

The North County Times reports the additional Sheriff’s deputies who later arrived spoke with the Loggins girls, who told them their father was behaving “oddly.”

Then, according to the union statement, Loggins returned to the car:

“[Loggins] did not stop, ignoring the deputies who had their weapons drawn and got into the driver’s side of the car despite multiple warnings.”

One of the deputies then shot Loggins through the driver’s side window as he began to drive away. Loggins two daughters were still in the backseat of the car.

A final irony – the deputy who killed Sgt. Loggins was a former Marine.

FILED UNDER: Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, Veterans, Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, Camp Pendleton Marine shooting, Hawaii, Jim Armomino, Manny Loggins, Marine Corps, officer involved shooting, OIS, Orange County Sheriff's Department, San Clemente, San Clemente High School, Sgt. Manuel Levi Loggins Jr.
February 14, 2012 | 1:29 PM | By

Valentine’s Day Party for Military Families TODAY

San Diego Armed Services YMCA

2011 Armed Forces YMCA Valentine's Day Party

Is your husband or wife deployed overseas this Valentine’s Day? Well, if so, the San Diego Armed Services YMCA wants you!

The group is hosting a special party for the families of the deployed at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park this afternoon from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. If you’ve never been to the Reuben H. Fleet, it’s very kid friendly – in fact, there’s an exhibit called “Kid City” just for youngsters 5 and under.

The folks at the Reuben H. Fleet will also provide a free showing of the IMAX movie “RESCUE” – which is appropriate viewing for kids ages seven and older.

Click here for more information on today’s party.

FILED UNDER: Afghanistan, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, War, Balboa Park, Deployments, IMAX movie RESCUE, Military Children, Military Families, Military Spouses, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Armed Services YMCA, valentine's day, Valentine's Day party
February 14, 2012 | 12:11 PM | By

Happy Valentine’s Day from the USS Carl Vinson (Video)

For military husbands and wives whose Valentines are deployed far away, I’m guessing a video message from their sweeties tops a box of chocolate-covered strawberries or delivery of flowers any day of the week.

Well, good news. Crew members from the USS Carl Vinson have been videotaping Valentine’s Day shout-outs for their loved ones back home since last week. Home Post has put up a few on the blog. You can watch them all on the USS Vinson Facebook page by clicking here.

So, in honor of the big day o’ love, here’s today’s video shout-out from Vinson crew members:

FILED UNDER: Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, USS Carl Vinson, chocolate-covered strawberries, Deployments, flower delivery, hearts, military boyfriends, Military Families, military girlfriends, military husbands, Military Spouses, Military Wives, St. Valentine's Day, U.S. Navy, USS Vinson crew members, USS Vinson Facebook page, valentine's day
February 13, 2012 | 3:02 PM | By

Charges Dropped in Camp Pendleton Marine Friendly-Fire Case

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Lance Cpl. Benjamin Schmidt

The military has dropped charges of involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide, and dereliction of duty against Sgt. Jason Byrd in the friendly-fire death of Lance Cpl. Benjamin Schmidt. The Wall Street Journal reports the senior U.S. commander in southwestern Afghanistan decided against the court marital of Sgt. Byrd.

According to the WSJ:

The Marines dismissed the charges against Sgt. Byrd “without prejudice,” meaning they could be reinstated if new evidence surfaces. The notification letter, received Saturday by the defense team, didn’t give a reason for dropping the criminal charges, which are very unusual in friendly fire cases. It’s unlikely the case would be resurrected.

Lance Cpl. Schmidt, based at Camp Pendleton, was killed October 6, 2011 in Afghanistan. His parents, Dr. David Schmidt and Becky Whetstone, told the San Antonio Express News back in November 2011:

[T]roops who were at the scene have reported (Benjamin) was killed by machine-gun fire from a tank that came up from behind as his infantry platoon was engaged in a firefight on a ridge in Helmand province.

Sgt. Bird had been the tank commander in the incident.

The 24-year-old Lance Cpl. Schmidt grew up in San Antonio, Texas. His father was the team physician for the San Antonio Spurs.

FILED UNDER: Afghanistan, Camp Pendleton, Life in the Military, San Diego, Spouses & Families, War, Becky Whetstone, dereliction of duty, Dr. David Schmidt, friendly-fire, involuntary manslaughter, Lance Cpl. Benjamin Schmidt, Maj. Gen. John Toolan, negligent homicide, San Antonio, San Antonio Spurs, Sgt. Jason Byrd