Northeast Florida Councils Honor Individual Augmentees

Read the Jax Air News story

Navy League Councils in Florida have launched an ambitious program to thank and honor the many Sailors in their area who have answered the call to serve in combat zones as Individual Augmentees or “IAs.”  The inaugural awards ceremony to pay tribute to Sailors and officers from Naval Air Station Jacksonville who recently returned from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan was held on April 23rd, and was hosted by five Navy League Councils from the northeast Florida area.  Turnout was spectacular, with 149 IA’s and 56 spouses present for the ceremony at the NAS Jacksonville Officer’s Club, which featured Navy League National President Mike McGrath as the keynote speaker. 

Pictured are Bill Dudley, HN Anthony Rivera and his wife, Elizabeth, and Capt. Jack Scorby Jr.

Council Presidents and members from Mayport, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, and Space Coast Councils as well as Joe Daigneault, Florida Region President, Pat Du Mont, National V.P. Public Affairs, and Phil Dunmire, Public Affairs Chairman, were on hand to congratulate and honor these deserving sailors and their spouses.

Capt. Jack Scorby, Base Commanding Officer for NAS Jacksonville, his Executive Officer, Capt Steve Holmes, and Bill Dudley, Northeast Florida Area President, orchestrated the presentation of plaques and certificates to each of the IA’s and spouses in attendance, while the Navy Southeast Band provided outstanding patriotic music for the ceremony.

National President Mike McGrath thanked these great Sailors for their service so far from home and often outside their normal field of training, noting that “we are all familiar with the fanfare and ceremony that mark a Battle Group’s return to port... and the memorable fly-ins at our Naval Air Stations. But all too often... the comings and goings of these dedicated Individual Augmentees go unnoticed.” McGrath also praised the initiative of the Florida area Councils, and encouraged all Navy League Councils to pursue such appreciation events for IAs in their area.

The luncheon was covered by local affiliates from all major networks, including ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, as well as National Public Radio and the local newspaper.

A presentation on the IA Program will be made by Capt. Jack Scorby and Bill Dudley at the National Directors meeting in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, 24 May 2008, during the Public Affairs committee meeting.