The Tailhook Association/Educational Foundation News Letter

Administrative Notes:

Update My Address

Centennial of Naval Aviation: The winter issue of The Hook closes out our coverage and celebration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation.  Tailhookers have participated from the opening ceremony and the parade of flight to the closing gala and dinner in Washington D.C. We look forward to another 100 years of growth and innovation in the Tailhook Association and in Naval Aviation.

Membership and Recruiting: We continue a slow decline in total membership.  Our recruiting efforts bring in new members every year and during this year we have recruited 528 new members.  At the same time our losses exceed our gains and the numbers below reflect our declining status.  We will reach out to all of our former members in an attempt to reverse the trend. In total we have seen a loss in membership in each of the last five years.

Total Membership in 2007 = 11273
Total Membership in 2008 = 10645
Total Membership in 2009 = 10500
Total Membership in 2010 = 10148
Total Membership in 2011 =   9905

At the beginning of each year we look back over the last three years at those members who have failed to renew their membership.  Our active duty members are always on the move so we will review the national change of address database to make contact with lost members.  We appeal to each suspended member to return.  Another of our membership initiatives is sponsorship of “patching” parties as new Naval Aviators graduate from the readiness squadrons and move on to fleet squadrons.  Lastly we continue to conduct recruiting drives at active US Navy and Marine Corps bases.  You can help by recruiting new members, sponsoring a school library or giving a gift membership.

Scholarship Season:

Applications for the 2012-2013 school years will be available on 15 December and the application, transcripts and any recommendation letters are due back at the Tailhook headquarters by 15 March 2012. This year we plan to award grants in amounts from $1,500 to $22,000. Our goal is to provide undergraduate educational scholarship grants the best and brightest students.

We will select two Tailhook/Wagner College Presidential 4 year scholarship grants of $22,000 per year for 4 years. Applicants for this grant must also be accepted to Wagner College.

There are three different applications for scholarships. Please pick the correct application.

  • High School Student
  • College Student
  • Former or Current Enlisted

Scholarship Eligibility: To be eligible for consideration for a Tailhook Educational Foundation scholarship, an individual must be a high school graduate and the natural, step, or adopted son, daughter or grandchild of a current or former (U.S. Navy / U.S. Marine Corps / U.S. Coast Guard) Naval Aviator, Naval Flight Officer, or Naval Aircrewman. Also eligible are individuals or children of individuals who are serving or have served on board a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in ship’s company or the air wing. Eligible applicants must be accepted for undergraduate enrollment at an accredited college or university.
Naval Aviation News
111130-N-DR144-982 CORONADO, Calif. (Nov. 30, 2011) Sailors man the rails as Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) departs Naval Air Station North Island for a Western Pacific Deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James R. Evans/Released)
111203-N-BT887-416 ARABIAN GULF (Dec. 3, 2011) Sailors prepare to launch aircraft aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and support missions as part of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Benjamin Crossley/Released)
111203-N-BT887-079 ARABIAN GULF (Dec. 3, 2011) A Sailor wipes down an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the Black Aces of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.  (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Benjamin Crossley/Released)
111203-N-BT887-402 ARABIAN GULF (Dec. 3, 2011) An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Golden Dragons of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 192 launches from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). John C. Stennis is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Benjamin Crossley/Released)
111205-N-OP638-011 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 5, 2011) Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) fight a simulated class bravo fire during a flight deck drill. Enterprise is conducting air operations and flight deck qualifications in preparation for her 22nd and final deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jesse L. Gonzalez/Released)
The Tailhook Educational Foundation

Donate a Vehicle

If you have a vehicle that you are thinking of trading in or selling, consider donating it to the Tailhook Educational Foundation Donate a Car Program.

When your vehicle is sold, the proceeds will go to the Tailhook Educational Foundation to help fund our scholarship program. You may also be able to deduct your vehicle as a charitable contribution for income tax purposes.

We have partnered with Car Program, which accepts most vehicles, including cars, trucks, trailers, boats and RVs. The donation is tax deductible and the process is easy. There’s free towing, and the vehicle does not need to run or pass current inspections.

If you have any questions, or would like to submit a donation by phone, please call Car Program toll-free, seven days a week at 1.800.240.0160. 

Growing Scholarships:

Kenneth Christian Robb – USNA ‘98 Scholarship

31 January 1976 – 03 November 2011

Ken passed away peacefully in St. Louis on Thursday, November 3, 2011, surrounded by his family and life-long friends.  He was an F-18 pilot in the United States Navy and a beloved son, brother and friend to all who had the privilege to know him.  He lived his life on the edge and to the fullest.  We will miss his smile, his laugh and the joy he brought to everyone around him.  

Ken’s family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Tailhook Educational Foundation in the name of the “Ken Robb Memorial”. This can be done at the Tailhook Educational Foundation website www.tailhook.org/Foundation.html.  Please include “Ken Robb Memorial” in the “country” field of your address when checking out.

Diz Laird Continuing Scholarship

The Tailhook Educational Foundation is sponsoring a scholarship campaign for this coming year and our 2012 reunion in Reno.  We are going to honor one of our own with a continuing annual scholarship.  The CDR Dean "Diz" Laird, USN (Ret) Scholarship will benefit your dependents.

Commander Laird is the only Navy ace to shoot down both German and Japanese aircraft. Flying F4F Wildcats off the coast of Norway, he participated on the destruction of two German airplanes in October of 1943. A year later he was flying F6F Hellcats off the USS Essex in the Pacific Theater, where he killed the remainder of his 5¾ confirmed victories.

The fund raising campaign will conclude during this 2012 Convention as we celebrate the 56th anniversary of The Tailhook Association and The Tailhook Educational Foundation. The objective is to raise $40,000 to ensure the perpetual funding of the CDR Dean "Diz" Laird, USN (Ret) Scholarship.

Visit our web site to donate: http://www.tailhook.org/Foundation.html Please include “Diz Laird” in the “country” field of your address when checking out.

John Ascuaga’s Nugget (reservations) (800) 648-1177 – www.janugget.com

Hook Reunion Coordinator (Marc Ostertag): (800) 322-4665
The Tailhook Educational Foundation (CFC #10251): (800) 269-8267
The Tailhook Ship’s Store: (800) 322-4665

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