Highlights in Yokosuko, Japan

 

Mikasa Historic Warship
Image: tripadvisor.com

A retired rear admiral (RADM) for the United States Navy, David F. Baucom served for nearly 35 years in different capacities all over the world. For a time, David Baucom was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan.

The naval base in Yokosuka is located approximately 30 miles west of Tokyo, Japan’s capital. The base is situated on the east coast of the island of Honshu in the Kanto Plain region. As the largest, most strategically important naval base in the Pacific, Yokosuka is home to over 24,000 military and civilian personnel.

When visiting Yokosuka, travelers can visit several interesting destinations. These include:

– The Mikasa Historic Warship. The Mikasa was commissioned in response to the Russian threat of aggression at the turn of the 20th century and was used throughout the Russo-Japanese War. Restored during the 1950s, it serves as a symbol of the nation’s pride and a reminder of the Japanese people’s quest for freedom.

– The Yokosuka Museum of Art. Drawing tourists from across the country, the Yokosuka Museum of Art beautifully displays the evolution of Japanese Art throughout the modern era. The museum features a special exhibition gallery and the Taniuchi Rokuro Pavilion which showcases examples of the acclaimed artist’s post-war paintings. Guests also enjoy dining at the museum’s open terrace restaurant.

– Sarushima Island. Visitors who wish to spend a day at the beach can catch a ferry at the Mikasa Pier to travel to Sarushima, or Monkey Island. There, they can swim, sunbathe, and picnic while experiencing the island’s beautiful views. History buffs can also explore the ruins of a number of military installations located on the island.

What is a White House Social Aide?

David Baucom

For nearly 35 years, David F. Baucom faithfully served his country in the United States Navy in a variety of positions around the world, honorably retiring in 2016 as a Rear Admiral (RADM). Serving as a White House social aide for President and Mrs. Reagan was a highlight of David Baucom’s career.

White House social aides play an important role in managing the thousands of guests that attend social events at the executive mansion. These young military officers stand by to assist diplomats, celebrities, and others who attend state dinners, teas, ceremonies, and myriad other social occasions. Though unpaid, social aides project an important image to the world regarding the United States’ armed forces.

Social aides assigned to the White House are an elite group of officers from every branch of the military. They must be single and hold the rank of major or lieutenant commander or lower. They also must have a relatively flexible schedule that allows them to attend evening social events one to two times per month. After a rigorous interview and background investigation, social aides begin attending small and large events, making visitors feel comfortable and welcome.

Since social events differ depending on the occasion as well as the preferences of the current administration, social aides undergo a thorough briefing that covers scheduling, protocol, customs, and formalities. Their responsibilities could include introducing honored guests, providing information to visitors, acting as a people-mover so that tight schedules can be kept, or easing the strain of guests who seem to be lost in the festivities.

The Six Core Areas of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation

 

Allied Command Transformation
Image: act.nato.int

Rear Admiral (RADM) David F. Baucom retired from the U.S. Navy after 34 years of active service. During his time in the Navy, David Baucom served three years in NATO’s Allied Command Transformation.

NATO’s Allied Command Transformation is one of NATO’s Strategic Command operations. It was established to identify risks and to prepare the alliance for international instability. To do this, Allied Command Transformation experiments with new defense concepts, conducts training exercises, and supports military interoperability between the alliance’s members.

Allied Command Transformation has six core areas of focus:

– Command and control – which sets the pace by which NATO plans and executes its operations.

– Capabilities – which develops military technologies to keep NATO’s arsenal top-of-the-class. It also identifies and provides solutions for military technology shortfalls.

– Future sustainment – which provides operational systems to support a resilient, agile, scalable, and cooperative Joint Force network.

– Human capital – which combines technological advances with proactive approaches to ensure NATO personnel remain prepared for any contingency.

– Collective training and exercises – which deters aggression by spearheading training and exercises to reinforce interoperability of NATO forces.

– Partnerships – which pursues joint efforts with partners and promotes interoperability to ensure shared objectives are achieved.

MOAA Preparing TRICARE Beneficiaries for New Vision and Dental Plan

 

TRICARE
Image: moaa.org

Retired Rear Admiral (RADM) David F. Baucom served in the U.S. Navy for over three decades. Previously a White House military aide, David Baucom is a member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

MOAA is working with the Office of Personnel Management to ensure the successful planning and administration of a new federal employees dental and vision benefits program for U.S. Department of Defense Military Health System (TRICARE) beneficiaries. The new plan will be administered by the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) starting Jan. 1, 2019, and will replace the current TRICARE Retiree Dental Plan.

The new program has removed waiting periods for dental services, deductibles for some vision plans, and maximum benefits for some dental plans while increasing the number of national dental networks.

All TRICARE retirees, together with their families, are eligible for the dental and vision insurance coverage. Active duty military members and their families qualify only for vision coverage. Eligible beneficiaries will be required to register for enrollment during an open period slated to run from Nov. 12 to Dec. 10, 2018.