The White Falcon - 31.03.1978, Blaðsíða 3

March 31, 1978
White Falcon
Page 3
Chief Thomas Curry
Trades anchors for bars
under LDO program
(story by J02 Judy Johns)
Thomas V. Curry will leave his of-
fice at the Iceland Defense Force
headquarters today while wearing chief
petty officer collar devices. Things
will be different, however, when he
arrives at work Monday morning in the
uniform of a Navy ensign. Selected for
the Limited Duty Officer program,
Chief Curry will receive his commission
as an officer Monday.
A 17-year Navy veteran, the yeoman's
motivation to apply for the LDO pro-
gram came from two previous tours when
he filled officers' billets, both in
the analytical and intelligence field.
"I have always been willing to do
something beyond my normal job, some-
thing that I found challenging," he
says.
During his 20-month tour on the IDF
staff, Chief Curry has been the assis-
tant administration officer and the
command career counselor. His main re-
sponsibility concerns the J-l Admin
office. He reviews IDF instructions,
notices, outgoing and incoming corre-
spondence, and ensures that the command
files are properly maintained.
The four Navy yeomen and one Air
Force printer who work for Chief Curry
feel that he is an excellent supervisor
because he gives them as much responsi-
bility as they can handle.
Reflecting on his philosophy of
leadership, Chief Curry explains, "I'm
open to advice from the people who work
for me, and I let them do their jobs
with a minimum amount of direction, in-
terferring only when necessary. I'm
also willing to go to bat for my people.
These things develop a good working
relationship and establish trust between
a supervisor and his people."
The 34-year-old Pennsylvania native
has made formal education one of his
main’ goals. He received his associate's
degree from Northern Virginia Community
College, Annadale, VA, in June 1974,
through the Associate Degree Completion
Program. Upon taking five more classes
from the University of Maryland, he hopes
to complete a bachelor of arts degree in
psychology early next year.
photos by Kirk Fasking
ANSWERING a phone query concerning an IDF instruction is Navy Chief Petty
Officer Thomas V. Curry, an ensign (LDO) selectee and the assistant admin
officer and command career counselor on the IDF staff (bottom). IN HIS ROLE
as a supervisor, Chief Curry assists YN3 Nina M. Payton in finding information
on officers' service records in the Bureau of Naval Personnel Manual (upper
right). WORKING CLOSELY with YNCM Gerald L. Hansen, the IDF assistant person-
nel officer and master chief petty officer of the command, Chief Curry asks
about a message on the IDF afternoon board (lower right).
"I owe a lot to my wife, Lynda, who
has been very patient and understanding
while I've taken night college courses,"
he said.
When asked how he felt about being
selected as an ensign, he replied, "X
was very satisfied. I think having
been enlisted makes me well prepared to
be an officer...I'll know how it feels
on both sides."
Chief Curry has found his tour in
Iceland to be very rewarding. His Navy
job and night classes have kept him
busy, but he has spent some of his off
duty time hunting and fishing. "I'm a
trout fisherman, exclusively, and the
fishing has been excellent," he comments.
His plans for the future include at
least six more years in the Navy. After
that, he wants to retire and go into
either teaching or wildlife management.
On Monday, congratulations from his
friends and co-workers will be combined
with goodbyes. The new ensign will
leave Iceland Wednesday, bound for his
new assignment with Navy Mobile Con-
struction Battalion-Three at Port Hueneme,
CA. He will be the admin/personnel of-
ficer for the 700-man Seabee battalion.
MRS. FRANKIE SLOWEY demonstrates dripping crayons on plastic eggs (bottom).
Left ro right: Scott Miller, John Musgrove and Haddy Sigurdson make "leather"
vases (right), (photos by Major Maurice Cecchini)
O’wives luncheon slated
"Spring into beauty" at the Officers'
Wives Club luncheon April 11 at the Top
of the Rock.
The 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
Wives will feature its own beauty ex-
pert, Sue Dehne.
A social hour will be held at 11:30
a.m., followed by lunch at 12:15 p.m.
Door prizes will be awarded, and
everyone who attends will receive a
gift.
Reservations must be made by noon on
April 7. To make reservations, call
Gail Pringle at 5274 or Marge Benter at
6250.
The menu will consist of fruit
salad, chicken breast and curry on rice,
peas, rolls and butter, coffee or tea
and dessert.