Kitsap Sun - March 6th 2015 edition

6 | MARCH 6, 2015 NORTHWEST NAVY LIFE | KITSAP
NWNAVYLIFE.COM
Sequester degrades Navy, Marine Corps readiness, officials say
By NICK SIMEONE
DEFENSE MEDIA ACTIVITY
Fundingcutstriggeredbythe2011Budget
Control Act have negatively impacted
NavyandMarineCorpsreadiness,leavingsailorsandMarinesinadequatelyprepared
to fight and increasing the dangers
tothemiftheydo,thechiefofnavaloperations
told Congress today.
“Thismeanslongertimelinestoarrive,
lesstimetoprevail,ifwedo,moreships
and aircraft out of action when in battle,
more sailors, Marines and merchant marineskilled,”NavyAdm.JonathanGreenert
told the House Appropriations CommitteeaslawmakerstookupthePentagon’s$534billionbasebudgetrequestfor
fiscal year 2016.
Greenert, along with Navy Secretary
Ray Mabus, described the sequestercaused
damage to readiness and warned
ofwhatcouldoccurifitreturnsinthe
coming fiscal year.
“The overall impact of budget shortfallsinthepastthreeyearshasmanifestedinthecontinueddeclineofourrelative
warfighting advantages in many areas,”
Greenert told the House panel. For example,hesaid,theNavyisnowlessable
to satisfy contingency response requirements
around the world.
“Our combatant commanders require
threecarrierstrikegroupsandthreeamphibious
ready groups ready to deploy
within 30 days to respond to a major crisis,”
he said. “However, on average, we
have been able to keep only one carrier
strike group and one amphibious ready
groupinthisreadinessposture.”
TheNavy’stopuniformedofficersaid
the administration’s 2016 budget request,
which proposes defense spending above
sequester limits, “represents the absolute
minimum funding levels needed to execute
our strategic guidance.”
Anyfurthercuts,hesaid,woulddamage
national security.
Also testifying was Marine Corps Commandant
Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., who
described his service as having to make
tough choices to deal with the effects of
years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan in
addition to reduced budgets.
“As a result,” Dunford said, “approximately
half of our non-deployed units —
and those are the ones that provide the
bench to respond to unforeseen contingencies—aresufferingpersonnel,equipment
and training shortfalls.” This situation,
he added, will delay response times
andputAmericanlivesatriskunnecessarily.
The effects of the automatic across-theboard
cuts known as the sequester — imposed
after the White House and Congressfailedin2011toagreeonaplanto
reducethebudgetdeficit—weremitigated
by legislation last year that restored
somemilitaryspending,butwithoutcongressional
action the sequester law is set
to take effect again Oct. 1.
Nutrition 101
By SHARON MCINTYRE
NHOH PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Does your lifestyle encourage
healthy food choices?
Different lifestyles dictate
varying nutritional requirements.
During the
monthofMarch,Navyand
MarineCorpshealthpromotion
focuses on how to
best fuel your body so you
can accomplish your fitness
goals.
Your physical activity
will dictate your nutritionalneeds.Ifyouarean
athlete, your diet will offer
a higher caloric need
that that of an individual
who has a moderate
plan. Moderate activity
consists of a minimum of
one and one-half hours of
vigorous cardio activity,
plustwodaysofstrength
training weekly.
Make it a goal to increase
physical activity
everyday.Itcanbeaseasy
as parking in the furthest
spot away from your workplace,
or taking the stairs
instead of the elevator.
Following a strenuous
workout, it is important to
replace the nutrients lost
during exercise. Ensure
your meal includes carbohydrates,
protein, sodium,
andpotassium.Thismeal
should be consumed within
15 minutes to an hour
following an intense workout.
Skip the fast food and
bring healthy lunches
to work or school. Use a
smaller plate at dinner.
Fill half your plate with
vegetables, no more than
a quarter of your plate
should have potatoes, rice
or other starches, and the
remainderofyourplateis
reserved for a lean meat
or another protein. After
you have consumed
themaincourse,andyou
crave something sweet,
how about fruit. A couple
of strawberries dipped in
chocolate or yogurt may
satisfy that craving. Sharingadessertorcuttingit
into smaller portions before
serving, can help cut
downonthoseextracalories.
Be choosy with your beverages.
Read the label.
Thereisalotofsugarin
soft drinks, fruit punch,
andenergydrinks.These
beverages can add to your
caloric intake quickly. A
tallglassoficewateristhe
best choice and water has
zero calories.
Portion size is the key.
Enjoy those ‘feel good’
foods in smaller amounts.
Remember to slow down
when you are eating. Focus
on vegetables, lean
sources of protein, and
small amounts of whole
wheat grains for your
weekday meals. This will
give you some freedom to
enjoy a special dining occasion
on the weekend.
Do not skip meals. It may
cause you to binge later on
in the day.
Remember there are
many ways to lighten up
on the calories. Use yogurt
instead of sour cream and
wean yourself from whole
milk. Start using 2 percent
milk products to ease the
adjustmentto1percentor
even skim milk. This will
eliminate unnecessary
calories in your daily diet.Thereisawealthofinformation
on the internet.
Search ‘low calorie’ alternative
recipes to make adjustments
to your meal
planning.