Latest news with #JamesHonea
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Navy Top Enlisted Sailor Announces Early Retirement
The Navy's top enlisted sailor, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea, announced that he is retiring from the post -- a year ahead of schedule -- in a statement released late Tuesday. "I will carry with me the countless memories of meeting sailors across the fleet, hearing about your remarkable achievements, as well as the level of trust you placed in me to advocate for you and your families," Honea said in his statement. Honea's retirement comes amid shake-ups in other top leadership posts within the military and days before Adm. Daryl Caudle heads to Capitol Hill for confirmation hearings to become the sea service's top officer. Read Next: Air Force Command Pauses Use of M18 Handguns After Security Airman's Death Speaking to in his office, Honea described his exit as a personal decision that he was making voluntarily and a year ahead of the end of his term as MCPON. "It's the right time to go," he said, amid a few jokes and jabs -- an attitude that has been a hallmark for the top enlisted sailor who began his career as a boatswain's mate 38 years ago. However, the timing of Honea's decision to retire also coincides with the growing certainty that a new chief of naval operations will walk onto the job soon. In January, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth abruptly and without explanation fired then CNO Adm. Lisa Franchetti. Just over a month ago, Caudle was finally nominated to replace her. It is not unusual for top officials to insist on changing the subordinates who support and advise them upon taking office. A similar situation occurred recently with the top enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. When Gen. Dan Caine replaced Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown as the Joint Chiefs chairman, he decided to not keep Sgt. Major. Troy Black in the top enlisted adviser post, instead choosing Navy Master Chief and SEAL David Isom for the job. Caudle's confirmation hearing is set for Thursday. Navy officials who spoke to about the retirement did not dispute that a new CNO presented an opportunity for Honea to close the book on a long and storied Navy career. Honea's tenure as the Navy's top enlisted sailor, which began in the fall of 2022, was largely characterized by a focus on advocating for junior sailors, their families and their quality of life. Honea pushed to become more reachable to the fleet by offering a direct email address to his office at the Pentagon. He also broke ground for the office of the MCPON by hosting an "Ask Me Anything" session on the social media platform Reddit. His office has maintained a presence on the platform to this day. "However you feel about chiefs as a whole or the Mess as an institution, there isn't any question that Honea rolled up his sleeves and went in swinging for the common sailor," said one top comment on the site after news of the retirement became public. In 2023, Honea also used his influence to try and combat hazing and "counterfeit behaviors" among his fellow chief petty officers amid the famed induction season. The season is a roughly six-week affair that sees current chiefs welcome sailors who were just selected for the rank. This process is a decades-old tradition that has become shrouded in mystery in the last half-century as it became more debaucherous and abusive to the recruits, and Honea was the latest MCPON to take steps to rein in some of the excesses. Honea also repeatedly testified before Congress, where he advocated for better pay and living conditions for sailors. "Military pay and compensation reform is going to be one of those big problems that we need to start taking a bite at today," Honea told lawmakers in 2024. "As I embark on the next chapter of my life, I will forever cherish the impact you've had on me and look forward to crossing paths with you again in the fleet," Honea wrote in his statement. Related: The Navy's Top Enlisted Sailor Is Ready for You to Ask Him Anything Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Troops need better health care access, top enlisted tell lawmakers
Senior enlisted leaders called on lawmakers to help address ongoing problems with health care access for troops and their families during a congressional hearing on military quality-of-life challenges this week. Funding shortages in the Military Health System and Defense Health Agency continue to affect the care available to beneficiaries and provider recruitment, said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea during testimony before the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. 'I ask for your continued support for the Military Health System and finding innovative ways to ensure that DHA funding doesn't compete with our warfighting priorities,' Honea told lawmakers. When care isn't available in the military treatment facilities, beneficiaries rely on civilian networks. However, limited resources have affected care delivery, provider recruitment and Tricare's ability to compete in the civilian insurance market, Honea said, adding that Tricare's reimbursement rates are tied to Medicare rates and are often too low for providers. Honea also noted complications with the new Tricare contracts have delayed claims processing and damaged civilian medical providers' trust in their timely payment. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., said the continued payment problem could result in some providers leaving the Tricare network. He cited one provider who is owed about $100,000 from Tricare. 'Our family members in Jacksonville deserve to have these outside providers available,' he said. Tricare snafus cause medical shortfalls for military families Military families have reported extensive issues with health care access since the new Tricare contracts began in January, which have caused medical shortfalls for some families and some providers dropping Tricare patients because of the difficulties, Military Times previously reported. West Region beneficiaries and health care providers have reported a number of problems with the contract transition from Health Net Federal Services to TriWest Healthcare Alliance. Meanwhile, Humana Military has remained the East Region contractor, but a number of providers have reported difficulty getting paid since Jan. 1. 'I've taken a number of complaints from those providers,' said Honea. 'They're not being reimbursed on time. Defense Health Agency has worked with me to have those bills paid as quickly as possible.' Medical provider shortages in the military health care system isn't unique, as it is affecting communities across the country. However, with little to limited control over their assignment locations and providers, service members and their families are dependent on the Military Health System and local care. When that access to health care doesn't happen, Honea said, 'It's going to have detrimental effects to our family readiness and possibly to our military readiness, especially if we end up having to spend military readiness dollars toward making that account whole.' Health care access is a pressing issue across all of the service branches, leaders said Tuesday. For instance, some Marines are having to seek out mental health care from civilian providers because there aren't enough mental health providers in military treatment facilities, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz told lawmakers. Because there are few providers and appointments available in the civilian community, they may have to wait 45 to 60 days to get the help they need, Ruiz said. 'I can't solve that problem, so I'm looking for you to help us bring attention to it,' he said.
