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January-February 1999 HAPPY NEW YEAR GREAT 98!!! Maybe, just maybe, the 99'ers are as excited about the new year as we were last year, when we welcomed in our own graduation year. I hope everyone had a nice holiday season with family and friends, and that the new year is good to you all. Before I tell you about everyone else, a quick note on our fundraising: I spoke with the Alumni Association, and they are almost done putting our database together so they can keep track of us all. To make sure we are financially set for our future as a Class, we need to be able to reach you. Please take the time to give your phone number and/or email address to Sally Gingell. She will help us get to our goal. She can be reached at sally.gingell@usna.com or 410-263-4448, ext. 205. Thank you for taking the time to do this. A huge thanks and BZ to all who have sent me info about our classmates. It's great to hear what is going on, and even better to be able to pass it on to everyone else. Here in Charleston, the first NPS class will be graduating in February, so congrats to them. My class is hitting the halfway point by now, and Tim Clark, A.D. Bonakdar, Herman Reed, Titus Fortner, and Jason Paulsen just got started a few weeks ago, back in December. B-Nak was teaching at NAPS, and it looks like he spent some free time in the weight room. He's going to have to inhale to pass anyone in the p-way once he gets to his boat. Forget submariner stereotypes. On Veteran's Day, NPS Class 9807 had the day off, and decided to have a good time at Cat-Daddy's: a fine institution of piano music and beverages in downtown Charleston. We packed the place, relatively speaking, and all got to hear Jesse Balboa's Spanish recital of the song "Rocket Man." We were all enlightened afterwards. Leighton Pitre, Pete Andrews, Tim Clark, Gabe Cavazos, Jake Porter, Mike Breen, Justin Anderson, Sinclair Ahn and Carlos Jativa were just some of the "Ensigns" in attendance. A good time was had by all. The days are flying by, and it's the little things that help us all get by. For example, Ian Schillinger's witty, yet often "nonsensical" humor continually keeps my section entertained. "It's all about the yin and the yang." Time for some R and R: Ryan Erdman, Shawn Gee, and Arny Stankus take some time to unwind after a long week in the classroom. Elsewhere in the Navy...Rick Ullman is having a great time in Coronado. I spoke with him on the phone, and they've made it through the worst, and now they get to start doing the fun stuff. All 11 USNA guys in that class are still in there. Jason Lavarias, Mike Wisecup, Brooks Holland, and Jason Hull, had various injuries which got them rolled back, but they are still in training, so good luck to them. Curt Cronin, Rick Ullman, David Silverman, Coleman Ruiz, Brandon Roach, Joe Femenia, and Chris Irwin, '97 are still in their original class. I know we had more SEAL selectees from our class, but I guess they are in a different class, and I have not heard from them yet. BZ to all, Go NAVY! Going where we belong (under water), future submariners went on a dive trip off the coast of Charleston. Back- L to R: Dave Bonfili, Dave Forman, Dale Matheny, and LTjg Dan Branch '96 (SWO). Front- L to R: Tanner Puckett, Ed Hanley, Mike Breen, and Brian Hogan. Lots of news from the SWOS category: Phil Dana writes: Greetings from Newport!! SWOSDOC 130 Graduated this past Friday (30 October) and we are now headed off to follow-on schools. Four classmates graduated with distinction led by Luke Radlinski, Steve Aldridge, Chris Savage, and the old married man (me). Other than a couple people having problems with Phase One and getting another shot with Class 131, no major problems. Many of us ventured to B-town to watch the guys kick some Eagle tail. What a game!! Chris Curtis flies out to his ship in the Gulf tomorrow morning (2 November) leading the way for '98 swarriors. Talked to Micah Smith at the BC game and his struggles with MIT leave me thinking that going to SWOS isn't all that bad. That's about it for now. I'll be in Newport until February. Beat ARMY!!! SWOSDOC Class 131, Section 13. "SWO-DADDY" Day. Back- L to R: Rob Sutton, Greg Stepler, Derek Solon, Will Stout, Sarah Rollings, Elisa Lanciault, Matt Shearin, J.P. Sevilla, and Ralphahel Smalls. Middle- L to R: Frank Sanchez, Sean Simmons, Samantha Stahl, Misty Steele, Misty Steinberger, Miranda Sherbs, and Joel Rodriguez. Front- L to R: Seth Riggins and LTjg Ryan Norris '96. Samantha Stahl is in the next SWOSDOC class (131) and sent me the picture that you see below. Will Stout created what they call "SWO-DADDY" day: whoever does best on the weekly exam has to buy the section donuts the following week. Derek Solon was named the resident "SWO-DADDY" after he got his frequent shopper card at Dunkin' Donuts. He's is in a heated race for Top SWO, and that class graduates in January, so hopefully I'll be able to tell you that he made it. Good luck. From the Green side of the house: Doug Thumm and I (Rob Whalen) thought that we would give you the scoop on the '98 guys and girls here in Quantico. Delta Company just received their MOS assignment (early November) and will be beginning their War shortly. They graduate on 17 Dec. Echo company has just finished Squadathon and are working up to their patrolling package. As for Fox, we got off the range a week ago and are finishing up the land nav package. Semper Fi! From overseas, I got a line from Melissa Plean. She graduated CEC school in October, now she is the AOIC of Construction in Iwakuni, Japan (1/2 hour from Hiroshima). Wow, and I'm still only 500 miles from USNA. It's great to see that some of us are already out there doing the real thing. In the aviation category, news from Chris Keith: The first round of NFO's have graduated from Primary Flight Training from VT-4 down here in Pensacola. Derrick Dudash and Brian Vanyo will be staying in VT-4 after graduation for intermediate flight training and Katie Baldwin, Joel White and myself, Chris Keith, will be heading off to Randolf Air Force Base in San Antonio for Nav Training in January. In places other than the fleet, I got word from Tullio Celano. He is having a ball in Berkeley windsurfing, mountain biking, skiing, and, oh yeah, getting his graduate degree too. He says the work is challenging, but he has enough time to get it all done. Scott Grossman is also getting his degree at University of Maryland. His academics are tough enough that when he comes to Charleston in January, NPS will actually be easier than what he is doing now, or so he hopes. Finally, on the civilian side, Phil Duba is working for Lockheed, playing on their hockey team, and was recently awarded for his work. I don't know exactly what he is doing, but it's good to know that he's doing it well. Bill Bradley is currently living in Foxboro, Mass. He wanted all the computer science majors to know that he landed a job programming COBALT and is enjoying life. On the personal side, Kathleen McDermott got engaged, Scott Hughes got engaged, and Gabe Mauldin got married. Congrats to these three, and to everyone else who took the leap. Best of luck and happiness to you all. Keep up the good work Great '98, and keep the info coming my way. Fair Winds... -DSF.