6 Jan Daily Shipmate

Tuesday, 6 January 2026

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1776 - The Continental Congress authorizes the appointment of surgeons and surgeon's mates in the naval service, the beginning of Navy medicine.

 

1916 - The first class of enlisted men begins flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

 

1943 - During a patrol off Brazil, a PBY Catalina of VP-83 sinks the German submarine U-164.

 

1945 - LT George Cottrell '31, USNR was killed in action when USS California (BB 44) was struck by a kamikaze while providing shore bombardment at Lingayen Gulf. Forty-three others aboard were also killed. He resigned from the Naval Academy in June 1928 at the end of his plebe year. He enrolled at the University of Nebraska and graduated with a degree in engineering aeronautics in 1932. He moved to Freemont, California, where his father ran a grocery store. Cottrell joined the naval reserve in August 1941. It's unclear what his wartime service was like, though he was aboard California at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. He was survived by his wife, son, parents and two brothers.

Academy & Graduate happenings

You can opt out of the printed Shipmate Magazine and switch to the digital edition only. You'll still get every story and feature, just in a more flexible, interactive format you can enjoy anywhere. It's an easy way to reduce mail, save paper and stay connected to the Academy. Making the switch is simple—just opt out at the link below. Start 2026 with a small change that makes reading Shipmate easier, faster and more convenient for you.

From the Podcast Fleet

Join us for an insightful discussion about disordered eating and its roots with USNA alumna Lauren Narducci Symmes '00 and her daughter Lorelai Symmes! Lorelai is a first-year doctoral student whose research broadly focuses on the psychosocial factors that influence the development and maintenance of body image disturbances and disordered eating, particularly during childhood and adolescence. She is especially interested in how disordered eating behaviors are developed and transmitted, including through familial influences. Her prior research has explored the role of psychological inflexibility in disordered eating, the comorbidity of eating disorders and substance use disorders, and the efficacy of in-person versus virtual body image interventions.

Government & Military News

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy's deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of 5 January 2026, based on Navy and public data. In cases in which a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

The Navy's highest-ranking officer, Chief of Naval Operations ADM Daryl Caudle talks to Defense News about the near future of American seapower.

A federal appeals court upheld a ruling that the Department of Veterans Affairs must expand housing for unhoused and disabled veterans at the West Los Angeles VA campus. Judges found the VA violated federal law by failing to provide adequate supportive housing and access to care, in part by leasing campus land to private entities instead of using it for veterans. The court affirmed the lower court's authority to require the construction of up to 1,800 permanent and 750 temporary housing units to remedy discrimination. The case will return to the district court for a revised judgment consistent with the appeals decision.

At the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, a pre-game parachuting demonstration went awry when one of the jumpers got entangled in a wire/netting near the end zone and fell into the crowd area before kickoff. The parachutist, part of a veteran parachuting team, was able to walk off the field under his own power, and no spectators were injured. Of the five scheduled jumpers, three landed safely on the field and one landed outside the stadium. The individual's name has not been released, and the football game proceeded as planned.

Local, Education & other academy news

Join the Service Academy Career Conference (SACC) on 19–20 February in Atlanta, where leadership meets opportunity and career goals take flight. SACC connects Service Academy graduates with top employers, industry leaders and academic institutions for two days of seminars, networking and a career fair designed to unlock new possibilities. Attendees gain access to expert sessions, professional headshots, resume reviews and dynamic career-building interactions. Start your year with purpose and engage face-to-face with organizations ready to hire proven leaders. Don't just set goals — make them happen at SACC!

The U.S. Air Force Academy is restoring its iconic Cadet Chapel, much like the preservation underway in Memorial Hall at Annapolis, to ensure it continues shaping future officers. The project addresses long standing structural issues, water damage, aging systems and historic elements like stained glass, pews and the pipe organ, all while protecting the Chapel's landmark design. This is not just construction. It is an investment in character, reflection and resilience, the same foundations every service academy depends on. For alumni, it is a reminder that stewardship matters, so the places that formed us can keep forming leaders for generations to come.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

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USNA and AA&F Events