The Gryphon's Beak
March, 2023Printable PDF
Flag Sends
Convention season is starting back up, and it’s time to get the Fleet front and center, reminding everyone that we are here, and we are ready for new members!
What does that mean today, though? I am going to poach directly from the United Church of Christ, and say that we need to be Open & Affirming (their website has their position on this, take a look to see the original).
O&A is an approach to membership that moves beyond ‘everyone is welcome’, and instead offers an active support to our members. Our approach is to not merely tolerate those who may be different, but to support their differences. Be those political, sexual, religious, whatever they may be, we support you, and want to include you.
That isn’t an invitation to abuse the welcoming attitude. If you insist on harming others, abusing others, etc. we can and will take action. To that end, if you, as a member, feel that someone had caused you harm, please let me, or your local leaders, know. This is supposed to be a fun group, made strong by our differences. If that fun becomes something negative, we need to help fix it.
So, get to your local convention, recruit, and remember that we are here for anyone and everyone, and welcome their uniqueness and difference. It makes us better.
The Tradition Lives!
Oak Forest
Comings & Goings
FORCEORDER 2302-B
Change of Command, Marine Detachment Interloper
By my hand, and by the authority of the Sovereign, Queen of Manticore Elizabeth III, I hereby authorize the following changes of command effective 13 February 2023.
Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel Brad Zeak Sr, RMMC for all you have done as the Commanding Officer for Marine Detachment Interloper, you have been relieved.
Major Emi Uhila-Zeak, RMMC is assigned as Commanding Officer for Marine Detachment Interloper.
Congratulations!
In Service to Her Majesty, the Queen!
••••
FORCEORDER 2302-C
Change of Command, Gryphon Highlanders Regiment
By my hand, and by the authority of the Sovereign, Queen of Manticore Elizabeth III, I hereby authorize the following changes of command effective 13 February 2023.
Thank you, Colonel Martin Tizura, RMMC for all you have done as the Commanding Officer of the Gryphon Highlanders Regiment, you have been relieved.
Thank you, Major Emi Uhila-Zeak, RMMC for all you have done as the Communications Officer of the Gryphon Highlanders Regiment, you have been relieved.
Thank you, Major Mark Lloyd, RMMC for all you have done as the Training Officer of the Gryphon Highlanders Regiment, you have been relieved.
Thank you, Regimental Sergeant Major Jayme Moore, RMMC for all you have done as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Gryphon Highlanders Regiment, you have been relieved.
The Officer of Marine Forces Command wishes you all the best with your next assignments.
Major Mark Lloyd, RMMC is assigned as Commanding Officer, Gryphon Highlanders Regiment.
Major Emi Uhila-Zeak, RMMC is assigned as Deputy Commanding Officer, Gryphon Highlanders Regiment.
I hereby authorize the following brevets under Corps Directive 02-2204 and Corps Directive 03-2204:
Mark Lloyd to Colonel, O-6.
Emi Uhila-Zeak to Lieutenant Colonel, O-5.
Congratulations!
In Service to Her Majesty, the Queen!
••••
FORCEORDER 2302-D
Appointment of Second Expeditionary Force Command Staff
As of the date of this Order, by my hand, and by the authority of the Sovereign, Queen of Manticore Elizabeth III, I hereby activate the Second Expeditionary Force and appoint the following Marines to the Command Staff, Second Expeditionary Force:
Colonel Martin Tizura is appointed Commanding Officer, 2nd Expeditionary Force.
Lieutenant Colonel Brad Zeak Sr. is appointed Deputy Commanding Officer, 2nd Expeditionary Force.
Regimental Sergeant Major Jayme Moore is appointed Expeditionary Force Sergeant Major, 2nd Expeditionary Force.
The following brevets are authorized:
Martin Tizura to Major General (F-2)
Brad Zeak Sr. to Brigadier General (F-1)
This order effective 13 February 2023.
In Honour of the Queen!
••••
FORCEORDER 2302-I
Upgrade, Marine Detachment Demon
The Office of Marine Forces Command has conducted a review of past Corps Directives and found that per Corps Directive 04-1808, dated 26 August 2018, it was the intent of the Marshal of the Corps to upgrade Marine Detachments based upon the hull size of the RMN ship that the detachment was attached to.
Therefore, as of the date of this Order, by my hand, and by the authority of the Sovereign, Queen of Manticore Elizabeth III, I hereby order the upgrade of Marine Detachment aboard HMS Demon (CLAC-62) Captain (JG) Amy Louise Theisen, RMN commanding, and effective 15 February 2023.
The Demon Marine Detachment will be upgraded to a Company-sized echelon and designated as Rifle Company Demon.
The composition of the Command Triad is as follows:
Captain Thomas Paukstis Jr. – Commanding Officer
Vacant – Executive Officer
Platoon Sergeant Matthew Shultz – NCOIC/Gunny
Congratulations.
In Honour of the Queen!
Michael Houghtaling, KSK, KDE, MC, SC, OG, NS, DSO
General, RMMC
Deputy Commanding Officer, Marine Forces Command
Baron Sutherland
Imperial Andermani Navy Recipe Challenge
Food is great!
Honor Harrington would agree.
James McGinnis, her Steward is a featured character; it can’t be understated how important food is in David Weber’s Honorverse. The descriptions of tastes of food is a focal point. Sharing a meal is equally important as well, Honor uses dinner to bond with her officers and other characters. The Tarakovs hold a dinner for the crew and family’s of after each deployment. The Graysons lost a lot of technology and live on a planet that wants them dead but by Tester they kept the waffle irons working and HOT! We at the Imperial Andermani Navy want to honor this sentiment in a way that will allow us to share and engage with each other over distances. So…from February 1st to March 31st the IAN is collecting recipes from all members!
We are asking you to share recipes with us so they can be shared with our members. The Imperial Andermani Navy is asking you to submit recipes that will be published here https://andermaninavy.org/galley/. We are not simply asking for any recipes however, we are asking you to share foods that bring you comfort, happiness, contentment, and good memories. Our goal is to create a place where you can look up and see what other members are eating and enjoying, a new way to engage with each other in the kitchen and at the table.
What we need from you is:
Download and fill out this Recipe Submission Form
Fill out your information
Only your rank, name, branch will be shared
You can request to have this submitted anonymously
Convert recipe for both Metric and Imperial measurements
Including cooking temperature
Note hard to find ingredients
Include more common substitution or a link to purchase with international shipping
Directions broken into steps
A picture of the finished project is highly encouraged
Once you have filled out the form you can email the attached documents to rosebushoffice@gmail.com. Here they will be received and posted here https://andermaninavy.org/galley/. Allow 7 Days for the recipe to be posted longer if there are questions or it is sent back to you for missing information.
Recipes that will be not be posted are recipes that contain:
Recipes for making Alcoholic beverages Ie. Beer, Wine, and Spirits
Illegal ingredients (Foie Gras and Marajuana are illegal in a lot of places)
Dangerous techniques such as flambé, dry ice, or anything more dangerous: these can be quite dangerous without training.
If your recipe contains one or more of the above you will get a response asking you to substitute the questioned technique or ingredient. If another member points out after posting that a recipe contains such an item that we were not aware of, the recipe will be hidden and we will reach out to ask for the substitution so that it can be posted again.
You can submit breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, drinks, complex dishes, 3 ingredient dishes, old family recipes, something you found in a book or online, even your secret for perfect hard boiled eggs are game. All we ask are for recipes that have come to mean something to you, recipes that have become staples of your own table and that you are comfortable sharing. Something you would make for a tRMN Potluck/Covered Dish party. We encourage you to submit them.
The IAN wants to facilitate a new way of asynchronous interaction amongst us that honors the books in a different way. Also to add some variety to what we are making. So please consider sharing your table as Honor did, when she broke bread with her officers…that McGinnis baked.
We also want to see which chapters are eating the best. At the end of this the chapter that has submitted the most recipes will earn bragging rights as the “Most well fed chapter”.
In Service of the Emperor
Imperial Andermani Navy
Chapter Reports
This is a reminder that your Chapter and MarDet reports are due between the 1st and 10th of every EVEN numbered month. One thing I found amazingly helpful when filling them out was to use an online document (Google Docs, Word Online) to keep things organized as they happened. Then, when the reporting month hit, I could just copy and paste them into the reports form, and be done. No trying to remember what happened two months ago at the last minute!
And a reminder that Marksmanship submissions are due the 20th of the month, so we have time to correlate and get things set for the award issuance.
Marines – you now have a new online form to fill out for Bi-Monthly reports. The link is below. It will send the reports to your command triad, your Ship’s CO and to ComForceCom. Please use this form to send in your report that is due on the 5th.
There is only one stipulation with the form at this time. Please do not use autofill. Autofill does not work properly and that information is deleted in the report. You can copy and paste information into the report but forgo the autofill function.
https://buships.trmnbureaus.info/rmmc/
MARCON 2023
From one running convention promotion to another! It’s all about the conventions in Second Fleet these days.
MARCON 2023 will be held in Columbus, OH over Memorial Day weekend, and is being run by a member of HMS Vixen. Honestly, this is kind of something I was wanting to explore for several years – a non-TRMN convention run by a TRMN member, so this is great!
What is Marcon? The simplest answer is a weekend of fun. It is where everyone that enjoys movies, books, music, art, science, and everything in between comes together in one place to watch, talk about, dress like, sing, and/or learn from like minded people, be they writers, actors, scientists, artists, professionals of all kinds, or simply fans. MARCON has been running since 1966, and I hope it keeps going.
Of special interest to us is David Weber as GoH. He was last the Guest of Honor 20 years ago, so it is time to return to Columbus for the weekend and show our support!
JUST ANNOUNCED! Register using the code TRMN and the convention will donate $5 towards our party room! Click below to get registered!
Upcoming Events
All members of TRMN and the public can view upcoming conventions and TRMN events in ConStack at:
https://constack.trmnbureaus.info/
If you see that an event is missing or has incorrect information, contact your Fleet’s BuPlan Intel Agent or Branch Liaison and they will get it updated.
Additionally, the Bureau of Planning is eager to get your feedback on conventions you attend. Please fill out an After Action Report (AAR) here.
Remember to record your convention and event participation in your Medusa promotion points record, under the Events tab.
Marksmanship Update
By order of CO 2nd Fleet, the following marksmanship awards are issued effective 1 March, 2023:
GRAYSON MARKSMANSHIP CERTIFICATE:
- PO3 Laurie DAVENPORT, GSN HMS Death Claw
GRENADE MARKSMANSHIP CERTIFICATE[RMA]:
- PFC Dan H WIRE II, Westmarch Rifles
PISTOL MARKSMANSHIP CERTIFICATE:
- S2C JJ BRUTSMAN, RMN HMS Hexapuma
- PO2 Marcia Kathryn HERO, RMN HMS Demon
- Omaat Richard J RILEY, IAN SMS Scharnhorst
- CPO Tammy Lynn STRAYER, RMN HMS Vixen
- S1C Alexis Jeanne TAYLOR, RMN HMS Hexapuma
- CAPTJG Amy Louise THEISEN, RMN HMS Demon
- CDR Lisa Ann WIEDEMANN, RMN HMS Vixen
- S1C Terra R. CHAMBERS, RMN HMS Interloper
- S3C Elijah FISHER, RMN HMS Interloper
- PSGT Dirk KOTTENHAHN, RMMC HMS Hexapuma
- S2C K`Tetch DUREEK, RMN HMS Interloper
- S3C Terrence BUCHHOLZ, RMN HMS Interloper
PISTOL SHARPSHOOTER AWARD:
- S3C Valerie Marie BALOG, RMN HMS Valkyrie
- CAPTSG Zachary MCCAULEY, RMN HMS Valkyrie
RIFLE SHARPSHOOTER AWARD:
- Clerk Kacie Rae LLOYD, CIVIL HMS Interloper
- CR2 Kassandra CHAMBERS, SFC HMS Interloper
PISTOL EXPERT AWARD:
- COL Mark Edward LLOYD, RMMC MARDET Vixen
- S2C David WILLIAMS, RMN HMS Interloper
RIFLE EXPERT AWARD:
- COL Mark Edward LLOYD, RMMC MARDET Vixen
The Tradition Lives!
For CO 2nd Fleet:
Issued by:
KEVIN WALSH, NS
Senior Chief Petty Officer, RMN
2nd Fleet Range Officer
Gryphon’s Wings Fleet Relief Project
On May 23rd we launched the Gryphon’s Wings Fleet Relief Project. The response has been overwhelming, and I am humbled by the generosity of our members.
We are currently in the midst of a Global pandemic. However, while we are all in the same storm, we are navigating the waters on different ships. Sometimes these waters will be more than we can handle on our own, and we need an extra hand on deck. We want you to know that the 2nd fleet is here for you.
To that end, we are asking for donations to create an emergency relief fund to be used for TRMN 2nd Fleet members. This fund’s target is to provide immediate short term relief of an urgent crisis. For example: Sending someone grocery money for a weeks worth of groceries (as a lot of food banks are running out of food, short on volunteers, and closing), providing gas money for a week so someone can still travel back and forth providing care-giving to a family member, covering the co-pay cost of a doctors visit, and other small emergency expenses. Anything helps. I am asking for a $5 monthly commitment – the cost of a Starbucks coffee – to assist. Please join me, and those who have already donated, in making TRMN more than just a fan group. Click here, or the banner below, to donate. Meet the Test.
At the same time, we know some are being affected by the effort to combat the virus,including job loss, other reduction of income, medical difficulties, etc. This can result in a tough choice between shelter, transportation, food, or medical care. That is an impossible choice no one should be required to face, and we want to help how we can.
To apply for a Visa Gift Card for you or another member, please click here.
Only the 2nd Fleet CO will see who the requester and/or the potential recipient is. This will never be held against you in any way. We don’t ask for or expect repayment. This is not charity, we are simply keeping the RMN tradition of seeing that a Queen’s Navy is well rested, well fed, and healthy before going into battle. And this is a battle where victory will be measured in not just survivors but in the quality of that survival.
To request assistance, please click here.
February Honors – Awards
Knight Commander, Order of Queen Elizabeth
LTJG Robert B HALL Sr, RMN HMS Interloper
Manticore Cross
RADM Geoffrey STRAYER, RMN HMS Demon
Knight, Order of Queen Elizabeth
CPO Buzz RYAN, RMN HMS Vixen
Member, Order of Queen Elizabeth
S2C Eric Thomas MORANG, RMN HMS Enterprise
Monarch's Thanks
RADM Geoffrey STRAYER, RMN HMS Demon
Prisoner of War Medal
CPO Buzz RYAN, RMN HMS Vixen
Manticoran Combat Action Medal
1st & 2nd Award
PSGT Dirk KOTTENHAHN, RMMC HMS Hexapuma
Non-Commissioned Officer Senior Course Ribbon
CPO Danielle E OSTACH, RMN HMS Demon
Enlisted Space Warfare Pin
CPO Buzz RYAN, RMN HMS Vixen
PSGT Dirk KOTTENHAHN, RMMC HMS Hexapuma
Ranks on awards are listed at the time of award, and may have changed by publication.
February Honors – Promotions
Congratulations are extended to the following members on the occasion of their promotions as noted.
HMS Interloper
- Steve Galpin to Lieutenant Commander, effective 11
February, 2023 - K`Tetch Dureek to Spacer 2nd Class, effective 21
February, 2023
HMS Vixen
- Geoff R. Dziura to Private First Class, effective 10
February, 2022 - Blake Barnett to Spacer 2nd Class, effective 14
February, 2023 - Michael M Del Garbino to Spacer 2nd Class, effective 14
February, 2023 - Daniel Rodgers to Private First Class, effective 14
February, 2023
Fleet Command & Staff Information
CO, Gryphon Fleet
co@gryphonfleet.org
Rear Admiral of the Green Geoffrey Strayer, GCE, KR, SC, OG, CGM, GS
Baron Oak Forest
XO, Gryphon Fleet
VACANT
Bosun, Gryphon Fleet
bosun@2ndfleet.trmn.org
Senior Master Chief Intelligence Mate
Kevin Walsh, NS, QBM
Chief of Staff
cos@gryphonfleet.org
Captain, Senior Grade Kerry Kuhn
Flag Captain
co@hmsgryphon.trmn.org
Captain, Junior Grade Christina Swanson
Flag Lieutenant
flaglt@gryphonfleet.org
Captain Senior Grade Kerry Kuhn
Fleet Medical NCOIC
medical@gryphonfleet.org
PO2 Steven Bobula
Intelligence Specialist
intel@2ndfleet.trmn.org
JAG Ombudsman
Vacant
Legalman
Vacant
Operations Officer
operations@gryphonfleet.org
Lieutenant Commander Patrick Giese
Personnel Officer
Captain (SG)
Jamey Salsberg
KDE, MC, OC
Range Officer
marksmanship@2ndfleet.trmn.org
Senior Master Chief Intelligence Mate
Kevin Walsh, NS, QBM
RMACS Liaison
ascl@gryphonfleet.org
Captain, Junior Grade Christina Swanson
Training Officer
bosun@hmsgryphon.trmn.org
Senior Chief Petty Officer
Derek Firehawk Sauls
Gryphon Fleet Order of Battle
Task Force 21
Covering Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Task Group 21.1
Destroyer Squadron 265
HMS Javelin (DD-264), Big Lake, MN
HMS Lodestone (DD-64), Elk River, MN
HMS Merlin (CA-270), St. Cloud, MN
Independent Commands
HMS Hellhound (DD-446), St. Paul, MN
HMS Invincible (SD-455), Plymouth, MN
HMS Intrepid (SD-463), Willmar, MN
HMS Leonidas (BC-584), Grand Forks, ND
HMS Valkyrie (SD-355), Minneapolis, MN
Task Group 21.2
Independent Commands
HMS Borzoi (DD-438), River Falls, WI
HMS Gawain (DD-481), Madison, WI
HMS Musashi (BC-775), Milwaukee, WI
Task Force 22
Covering Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and the Lower Peninsula of Michigan
Task Group 22.1
LAC Wing 62
GSNLAC Lilla Björn, Marquette, MI
HMLAC Scythe, Portage, Indiana
Independent Commands
HMS Apollo (CL-80), Lafayette, IN
HMS Gryphon (SD-153), Indianapolis, IN
HMS Menelaus (BC-569), Rantoul, IL
HMS Samurai (CL-356), Goshen, IN
HMS Wolfhound (DD-437), Mt. Prospect, IL
Task Group 22.3
Cruiser Division 711
HMS Sabrepike (CA-417), Franklin, OH
Independent Commands
HMS Ajax (BC-545), Windsor, Ontario
HMS Beowulf (BC-739), Lansing, MI
HMS Enterprise (BC-480), Rochester Hills, MI
HMS Helen (BC-570), Fruitport, MI
Task Group 22.4
Independent Commands
HMS Galahad (DD-478), Columbus, OH
HMS Hexapuma (CA-412), Rockford, IL
HMS Interloper (SD-460), Muncie, IN
HMS Vixen (DD-174), Chicago, IL
Echelon Commanders
Task Force 21
VACANT
Task Group 21.1
CAPTSG Jill McTavish
Destroyer Squadron 265
CAPTSG Paladin Meyer
Task Group 21.2
CAPTJG Timothy Bailey
Task Force 22
CDRE Justin Dupras
Task Group 22.1
CAPTSG Michael Flanagan
Task Group 22.3
CAPTSG Jackie Snedden
Cruiser Division 711
CAPTJG Kevin Johnson
Task Group 22.4
CAPTSG Samuel Dietzmann