While on well-earned shore duty. This sucks. JAM posted an article a month or so ago concerning the shortage of Army officers. Due to the overall shortage of Army personnel, approximately 11,000 sailors and Naval Officers have been tasked to augment other services, primarily Army. It is called Individual Augmentation. Naval personnel, on shore duty, are tasked to serve either 3, 6, or 12 month tours in the Middle East. Approximately 2/3 of all Naval Officers on shore duty will be a part of Individual Augmentation. As I have mentioned before, this is the primary reason that the CGO has been having an excessive turnover of personnel this year. I am sure some of you have seen LT Jone's blog of his African experiences. CDR Murphy-Sweet was one of approximately 100 Supply Corps officers participating in this program.
In case you hadn't heard about this, three sailors from Whidbey Island Naval Station were also killed in Iraq this last week. The were part of a bomb disposal unit. Story from our local news station: http://www.komotv.com/news/local/6943337.html
Every time I hear of another death my heart aches for the family.
