^The Tailhook Association
Newsletter

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Unisex Black Fleece Jacket

Full Hooded Sweatshirt

Challengers Jackets

Long Sleeve Dress Shirt

Holiday sale items are now available for sale in the
Tailhook Association Web Store

JR Davis Executive Director Comments

After 19 years and three months, I am turning over to our current President and new Executive Director Captain “Chaser” Keithley. The time has flown by and in the words of the great poet, Jerry Garcia “what a long strange trip it’s been.” Some of my successes are rebuilding our annual reunion, maintaining the quality of our publication, The Hook, building an active informational web site, executing our strategic plan, and following our mission values statement – Vision, Purpose and Objectives. Several other changes are taking place at the same time. Our archivist Doug Siegfried retired in November and he has been replaced by Mark Aldrich. On December 31st Marc Ostertag and Patty Borich will retire. Patty is being replaced by Janet Warren and Marc is being replaced by Rodger Welch. With new staff in 2017 our future looks bright.

Financial Stability:

Over the last 20 years we have seen growth in corporate sponsorship, Hook advertising, merchandise sales and reunion income. However, there is one area where we have fallen short of our goals. In 1997 we had 10,215 members with a goal for membership growth to 13,000. We missed our goal and have been in slow decline. Currently we have 8,618 members and we need to reverse this trend. Please consider bringing in a new member or supporting a subscription to your high school or college in the Foundation hook to school program.

With your support our Tailhook Educational Foundation (TEF) has seen tremendous growth. In 1997 we awarded 6 scholarship grants and in 2016 we awarded 102 scholarship grants. The continuing goal is to maintain 100 scholarship grants and the increase the dollar amount for each scholarship.

Scholarship Eligibility:

To be eligible for consideration for a Tailhook Educational Foundation scholarship, an individual must be a high school graduate and the natural, step, or adopted son, daughter or grandchild of a current or former (U.S. Navy / U.S. Marine Corps / U.S. Coast Guard) Naval Aviator, Naval Flight Officer, or Aircrewman. Also eligible are individuals or children/ grandchildren of individuals who are serving or have served on board a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier in ship's company or the Air Wing. Eligible applicants must be accepted for undergraduate enrollment at an accredited college.

The scholarship grant applications are posted on our web site on 15 December. There are three different applications so please use the correct application.

• The High School application for current high school seniors - Apply Now
• College application for current undergraduate college students - Apply Now
• Former enlisted application for undergraduate college students with prior service
  - Apply Now

Applications will be available on 15 December and due back at the Tailhook Educational Foundation headquaters by 01 March, 2017.

A complete application package will include proof of eligibility, transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, recommendation letters and a letter of acceptance at an accredited college or university. The TEF scholarship review committee consists of Foundation board members and educators. In their review of applications, they consider the complete record of achievement from grade point average to SAT/ACT scores and to intangibles like leadership and service to the community. To increase chances of receiving a scholarship grant students can retake the SAT/ACT for best scores and remember to fill in all the blocks on the scholarship application. Our goal is to provide undergraduate educational scholarship grants to the best and brightest students.

Reunion Schedule:

• Symposium: 7-10 September 2017 - JA Nugget, Sparks Nevada
• Symposium: 6-9 September 2018 - JA Nugget, Sparks Nevada

Important Phone Numbers:

Nugget Hotel Registration | Toll free number: 800-648-1177
Hook Reunion Coordinator (Greg Keithley): (800) 322-4665
The Tailhook Educational Foundation (CFC #10251): (800) 269-8267
Tailhook Ship’s Store: (800) 322-4665

Tailhook Life Membership

Our life membership endowment is healthy with 3,065 life members. Now is the time to convert to life membership. For those of you younger than age 60 the cost of a life membership is $795, Part of your payment will be invested for the future, and part of the payment goes into general operating fund. For more mature members the following reduced payment schedule applies:

• Age 60 to 65 Special price $680
• Age 66 to 70 Special Price $570
• Age 71 to 79 Special price $460
• Age 80 to 84 Special price $195
• Age 85 and above               Free - if you are a current member in good standing

PACIFIC OCEAN
(Dec 2, 2016)
Sailors salute as USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) passes the Arizona Memorial and arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to participate in National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day events. Dec. 7, 2016, marks the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. The U.S. military and the State of Hawaii are hosting a series of remembrance events throughout the week to honor the courage and sacrifices of those who served Dec. 7, 1941, and throughout the Pacific Theater.

ATLANTIC OCEAN
(Dec 2, 2016)
An MH-60S Sea Hawk from the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 flies astern of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) as the ship transits the Atlantic Ocean. Bush is underway conducting a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group in preparation for an upcoming deployment

MEDITERRANEAN SEA
(Dec 5, 2016)
An EA-18G Growler assigned to the Zappers of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Eisenhower, currently deployed as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe.

Suez Canal (Dec 4, 2016)
The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) conducts a routine, scheduled transit through the Suez Canal. The ship and its carrier strike group are deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. The tests will evaluate the full spectrum of joint strike fighter measures of suitability and effectiveness in an at-sea environment. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyle Goldberg/Released)

Please update your current address information by calling (800) 322-4665 or visit our website by clicking here Address Update.

The Tailhook Association Membership Database is maintained at our corporate headquarters:
9696 Businesspark Ave
San Diego CA 92131
Visit us: www.tailhook.org or www.tailhook.net

Dates and Telephone Numbers to Remember:
Symposium: 7-10 September 2017 The Nugget, Sparks Nevada
Symposium: 6-9 September 2018 The Nugget, Sparks Nevada

Hook Reunion Coordinator (Marc Ostertag): (800) 322-4665
The Tailhook Educational Foundation (CFC #10251): (800) 269-8267
The Tailhook Ship’s Store: (800) 322-4665