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Vol. 38 No. 14
NAMRU-3 TESTS CLDJ PAGES 6 & 7
SEABEES SUPPORT CNE DET MAST REMEMBERING OPERATION HUSKY
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The Signature
DBIDS Rolls Out at NAS Sigonella ecurity at Naval Air Station Naval Air Station S Sigonella access gates became even stronger and faster. NAS Sigonella has joined other
Navy commands in implementing the Defense Biometrics Identification System (DBIDS) at all entry control points (ECPs). An enhanced identity authentication and force protection system, DBIDS is a global database which will streamline the flow of information to the gate-guard who is determining an individual’s authorized access to NAS Sigonella. The system allows the gate-guard to use a handheld wireless scanner to instantly identify who the person is and whether or not he or she is allowed on base. A major benefit of DBIDS is the increased security. The system notifies guards about lost or stolen I.D. cards; flags individuals barred from the base; recognizes fraudulent cards; and interfaces with criminal data bases to recognize any criminal charges filed against the individual named on the card. According to information published by the Office of the Department of the Navy’s Chief Information Officer (DONCIO), the system’s application is fairly straightforward: “The guard scans the card’s barcode and/or the individual’s fingerprints (depending on the Force Protection Condition (FPCON) level and installation policy) using a wireless handheld device. Then the guard reviews screen displays to verify that the ID card is an authorized DoD credential that is not expired, lost or stolen. It also verifies the individual’s identity and that he or she is not wanted, barred or suspended from entering the installation, and has access to the installation under the FPCON. If a restriction has been placed on the individual, the screen display will tell the
guard how to proceed.” The screen displays include color photo, identity information, color-coded message screens, audible sounds to quickly and easily alert the guard of the individual’s status and a variety of administrator capabilities. In addition, the text on the screens is multilingual. The biometrics identification element of DBIDS allows use of fingerprint scans when the FPCON or installation policy dictates that additional checks are required. The DBIDS validation occurs in a matter of two to three seconds of the scan, less time than it takes the guard to visually validate an ID card. For most personnel accessing NAS Sigonella, no new or additional registrations are required. All active duty, reservists, family members, DoD civilians, and military retirees - anyone enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, known as DEERS - as well as DoD contractors with Common Access Card (CAC) or other federal CAC equivalents are automatically enrolled in the system upon their first scan by a DBIDS scanner. After the initial scan, it will cache personnel information in the DBIDS system and subsequent scans will only take two to three seconds. For non-TESLIN card holders, such as local national employees and contractors, a visit to the Visitor Control Center at the NAS II ECP complex will be required to receive a new DBIDS card to replace existing NAS Sigonella I.D. cards. This can be done on weekdays between hours of 0830 and 1600. ITAF and non-US NATO personnel will continue to use their current credentials. If you have any questions, please contact MAC Billingsley andre.billingsley@eu.navy.mil.
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The New Senior Chiefs of NAS Sigonella Congratulations to MACS Howard Dixon, MACS Jonathan Walter, ABECS David Hooker and MACS Cole Schulz (not pictured)
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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
Commanding Officer Capt. Kevin Pickard Executive Officer Cmdr. Ronald Cappellini Command Master Chief CMDCM Anna Wood EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Drake Greer drake.greer@eu.navy.mil Assistant Public Affairs Officer Megan Mills megan.mills@eu.navy.mil Public Affairs Leading Petty Officer MC1 Kegan Kay kegan.kay@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writers \ Photographers MC2 Joshua Coté joshua.m.cote@eu.navy.mil MCSN Triniti Lersch triniti.lersch@eu.navy.mil CONTACT US
Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily thesig@eu.navy.mil DSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440 PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001
This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments, divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs Office via thesig@eu.navy.mil. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers.
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Name: William Chandler Command: NATO AGS Department: Imagery By MC2 Josh Cote, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
s “Hub of the Med,” Naval Air Station Sigonella A not only hosts service members from American and Italian military, but also supports the NATO Alliance
Ground Surveillance (AGS) system. NATO AGS contains a lot of moving parts involving multiple countries and branches of the military, so it can be hard to stand out to leadership. Intelligence Specialist 3rd class William Chandler from Cedar Bluff, Alabama was able to do just that. NATO AGS Force is comprised of five NATO RQ-4D Phoenix remotely-piloted aircraft and the associated European-sourced ground command and control stations. The AGS NATO RQ-4D aircraft is based on the U.S. Air Force Block 40 Global Hawk. It has been uniquely adapted to NATO requirements to provide a state-of-theart Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability to NATO. Chandler, is assigned to the imagery branch at NATO AGS. His daily routine usually begins with transferring over all the incoming imagery they received from the day before. From there, a tracker is built to see what is required from the received images. On top of his daily work routine, Chandler has just taken over as a high value property manager for where he works. As the high value property manager, he is responsible for all products in his department over a value of 5,000 dollars. “IS3 Chandler checked into NATO at potentially the worst time possible, as a global pandemic was unfolding,” said Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class David Stern, Chandler’s leading petty officer. “Exhibiting painstaking resilience, IS3 continued to remotely contribute to his unit in addition to augmenting 76 off-duty hours to keep NEX resources available to NASSIG’s population. As a leader, I am privileged to witness such an exemplary young
man growing broth professionally and personally.” Chandler grew up in a small town and took advantage of the Navy’s offer to get out and see the world. “I joined the Navy basically to leave my town,” said Chandler. “My town is in the middle of nowhere, where there aren’t many opportunities for some people. I picked the Navy because one of my best friends from high school joined the Navy, and he pretty much talked me into it.” Chandler has been in the Navy for a little over two years. After boot camp, an IS can spend a long time in training before being sent to their first command. Sigonella is Chandler’s first command in the Navy. “I was not expecting to be overseas for my first command,” said Chandler. “I was really expecting to get stationed in Norfolk or somewhere close first to be honest. It has definitely been a very interesting first command coming to Sigonella and especially working for NATO.” Growing up in a small town can mean that jobs for a young person can be difficult to find, and some can be very physically demanding. “My favorite part about my job is probably the fact that since I was 16, most of my jobs have been pretty physical,” said Chandler. “This job so far has been pretty different. We are not here busting our tails or breaking a sweat. Over all, it is a pretty relaxed job.” During his off-time, Chandler said he likes to unwind by playing video games. He chooses PC gaming over console and even has built his own. Right now he stated his favorite game is “Rust,” a survival game. In his short time here, Chandler has been to a few places around the island and is hoping to get out and see some more beautiful sites soon. He plans on hopefully being able to travel to mainland Italy to see Rome and Venice and really take advantage of his time here in Europe.
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Seabees Support CNE DET MAST By MCSN Triniti Lersch, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
eeing Seabees around Naval Air Station Sigonella S is nothing new, as they are a big part of our Public Works Department. However, visitors from a
distant hive are tucked away, diligently swarming and toiling—five Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 of Gulfport, Mississippi, here on deployment with Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe Detachment Maritime Ashore Support Team (CNE DET MAST). CNE DET MAST is a mobile communication detachment that stands ready to support full mobile command, control, communications and computer capability wherever needed. It provides Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, Africa and U.S. Sixth Fleet an expeditionary scalable command and control capability ashore. “They are a communications team that goes out in support of exercises and real world operations covering North Africa and Europe,” explained Utilitiesman 1st Class Steven Steinle, one of the five Seabees from NMCB 11. Steinle acts as the leading petty officer of the four other Seabees deployed to NAS Sigonella, and part of his job is to integrate his team into the DET MAST team. “It’s a very small command, very close knit,” said Steinle. “You get to know everybody that you work with and it makes the teamwork side of it a lot easier.” “We here at DET MAST can’t say enough great things about this team from NMCB 11,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Beuck, the assistant officer in charge of CNE DET MAST. “They have made an exceptional
impact on our readiness and they will be missed when they head back home.” The deployed Seabees’ main task here in Sigonella is to ensure the infrastructure, including generators that provide power to expeditionary camps, is ready for possible real world missions. “Right now we’re performing maintenance on everything, getting everything back up in case you have to deploy on short notice and everything has to work as advertised,” explained Steinle. “CNE DET MAST has been very welcoming,” said Construction Electrician (CE) Constructionman Cheyenne Hernandez. “The people are cool and I enjoy it a lot.” NMCB 11 is Hernandez’s first command, and though she didn’t know what she was getting into, she has enjoyed becoming a Seabee. “When I went for this rate I didn’t know what I was getting into,” said Hernandez. “My recruiter said undesignated airman or CE, and I didn’t want to do undesignated anything, so I went with CE. I did not know it was its own community within a bigger community.” Construction Mechanic 2nd Class Jim McCrery, another deployed member of NMCB 11, agrees. “Seabees are great,” he said. “The training that we get sort of sets us up for success in the trades later. It’s a nice spring board for later down the road.” After a month-long deployment to Germany, the five NMCB Seabees are back in NAS Sigonella and enjoying the rest of their time here. “They’ve all been just crushing it,” said Steinle. “I couldn’t ask for a better crew.”
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NAMRU-3 Tests Us Every DayStory by MC1 Natalia Murillo and MC1 Jacob Sippel; Photos by MC1 Natalia Murillo, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti
T
he gray paint on the sign is peeling a little. It sits on an old, faded yellow, double-stack tucked between the chapel and the Red Cross. ‘NAMRU’ is written in white. If you didn’t know what it was, you would walk right by it, never knowing who was inside or their importance to every resident of Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ). Last year, as COVID-19 crippled the world as we knew it, camp leadership realized they didn’t have capacity to meet what they saw was going to become a huge demand for testing. They called on the U.S Naval Medical Research Unit-No. 3 (NAMRU-3) for backup. NAMRU-3 was already here, but not testing for COVID-19. In March, 2020, NAMRU-3, regionally based in Sigonella, Italy, quickly answered the call to aid Camp Lemonnier’s Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. NAMRU-3 deployed a senior microbiologist and a hospital corpsman, sent additional equipment and supplies for COVID-19 testing, and realigned their research mission to primarily support the COVID-19 testing and mitigation mission. Since March, NAMRU-3 has rotated through four additional science officers to ensure continued testing operations. The Expeditionary Medical Facility (EMF) also dedicated two hospital corpsmen to be trained to conduct COVID-19 testing and to support NAMRU-3’s testing mission. In total, the small team in the faded double-stack has tested 20,000 samples for COVID-19 since the pandemic began in spring 2020, and also continued research and testing for other infectious diseases as well. The Camp Lemonnier NAMRU-3 laboratory is
unique in that it’s the only forward-deployed research platform in the Department of Defense. From here, NAMRU-3 provides state of the art laboratory research and analysis and forward-deployed military population research. They also quickly react to outbreaks, monitoring and detecting infectious disease threats before they get out of control. Before COVID, NAMRU-3’s focus was on longterm surveillance of enteric diseases, respiratory illnesses, acute febrile illness, and sexually transmitted infections in the Horn of Africa. “We primarily deal with research and surveillance in terms of infectious diseases,” said microbiologist Lt. Jae Dugan. “For example, we work in Djibouti to understand what infectious diseases are present and how to combat them in order to ensure mission readiness and force health protection.” He added, “Obviously, the focus has changed since last March.” In 2020, they added COVID-19 testing. Early on the number of swabs they received to test was low, but they did always had a 24 hour turn-around time. “What is notable and impressive is that our small lab was able to process large numbers of COVID-19 samples, comparable to large medical centers, with a less than 24 hour turn-around time,” said Lt. Cmdr. Stephen M. Eggan, who serves as Research Science Director at NAMRU-3. He was deployed to CLDJ through the winter months of 2020 into spring, 2021. “That is unrivaled even in the private sector.” “One-day turn around on COVID-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing is a keystone of EMF’s success in supporting operations in this AOR,” stated Cmdr. Brian Ellis, Michaud Expeditionary Medical Facility officer-in-charge. “Our ability to reliably and quickly detect the presence of SARS-
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and Looks to Days After COVID CoV-2 in large sample sizes allowed us to rapidly isolate those who were infected and trace contacts to contain the spread. Without this ability, every line of effort in East Africa would have experienced delays and interruptions that would have caused ripple effects well outside of Camp Lemonnier. This small, unassuming shop off the main street is one of the key reasons why, despite COVID-19 challenges base-wide, CLDJ is able to get troops back into the fight quickly. “What’s impressive is that our small lab is able to process large numbers of COVID-19 samples, comparable to large medical centers, with a 24 hour or less turn-around time. That is unrivaled even in the private sector,” said Eggan. “We are on call 24-hours a day, seven days a week supporting contingency operations and the thousands of people who live on and travel through Camp Lemonnier.” The lab is unique because they perform the CDC molecular PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test with pooled sample testing – a complex laboratory process being executed out of two metal containers. In pooled testing, respiratory samples from several people are combined into one and the combined pool of samples is tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus. This is done using a PCR machine that amplifies viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the samples, allowing the detection of extremely low levels of virus. If a pooled test result is positive, each of the samples in the pool is tested (re-tested) individually to determine which individuals are positive. The PCR machine used by NAMRU-3 and the pooled sample technique can screen 100 samples for COVID-19 in a single test that takes about three hours. This process allows the lab to do hundreds of COVID-19 tests daily.
In 2021, they have already completed over 10,000 tests. With the world looking ahead to the next chapter of the COVID-19 pandemic, NAMRU is looking ahead as well. “Our team was very well prepared for COVID-19 testing, we just had to put some of our other studies on hold for COVID,” said Dugan. “The research and surveillance of all infectious diseases is something that we hope to come back to real soon. There’s a few studies we have for COVID that we’ll move forward with, as well as other infectious disease studies we can resume.” One COVID-19 effort NAMRU-3 is moving forward with is identifying the COVID-19 variants that are circulating in Djibouti. This information could support the potential development of vaccines and add to an understanding of how the virus mutates within a geographical region. “Besides respiratory and enteric studies, we are working on tick and mosquito surveillance, militaryto-military engagements with countries in the AFRICOM and CENTCOM AORs, and increasing partnerships with host nation agencies,” explained Dugan. All of the research done at CLDJ NAMRU-3 provides significant data to commanders both locally and up the chain. Dugan went on to say that though COVID is still ongoing, they are a better unit because of the challenges COVID forced them to overcome. “With all the testing, it has improved our testing efficiency and overall training. If another outbreak were to occur, we’re much more prepared because of everything we’ve been through during COVID.”
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Villa Palagonia: A Bizarre Architectural Wonder By Dr. Alberto Lunetta, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
looking for a unique spot to visit on the island, Ifyouyou’re can’t miss Bagheria and its “Villa of Monsters.” “The amazing crowd of statues that surround his house appear at a distance like a little army drawn up for its defense; but when you get amongst them, and everyone assumes his likeness you imagine you have got into the realm of delusion and enchantment… the inside of this enchanting castle corresponds to the out; it is in every respect as whimsical and fantastical, and you cannot turn yourself to any side, where you are not stared in the face by some hideous figure or other.” --Patrick Brydone,18th century Scottish traveler, describing the palace of the Prince of Palagonia in“A Tour through Sicily and Malta”
Bagheria is a picturesque town located a dozen miles from Palermo. In the 18th century, Sicilian aristocracy viewed it as the ideal coastal retreat to escape the heat of the summer. Noblemen competed in building the best and most amazing villas and furnishing them with the finest examples of art of the time. “Sometimes in the middle of that crowd of small houses, a sudden vision, a rose-colored mansion in a marine tuff, its decorations cut into the stone, the statues of the roof top, and the majestic flight of stairs open like a fan. All of this to amuse the restless eyes of the gentlemen of centuries gone by.” --Dacia Maraini, Sicilian contemporary novelist All those villas are absolutely must-see Bagheria highlights, but the most striking is undoubtedly “Villa Palagonia.” The owner, the seventh Prince of Palagonia Ferdinando Gravina e Alliata, was himself a very eccentric man, and he commissioned the construction of this unique palace in 1715. Modern visitors can still sense that this palace exerts a mysterious fascination. According to historic sources, Prince Gravina e Alliata, who was nicknamed “the necromancer” and considered a madman by 18th century German poet and playwright Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, loved to play pranks on his guests. According to stories, he would eavesdrop on the visitors’ conversations while hiding behind a mirror, or invited them to sit on a chair with nails sticking out. The design of his enchanting holiday residence was entrusted to the Dominican friar Tommaso Maria Napoli, an assistant architect to the Senate of Palermo with the title of “military engineer.” Agatino Daidone, another esteemed Sicilian architect, was appointed as collaborator to Fr. Napoli. The
prince also employed an army of local craftsmen and artists to carve 200 statues that led to the nickname “Villa of Monsters.” These statues depict grotesque animals, imaginary creatures and human beings, but also musicians, knights, and the prince himself. Only 62 statues out of 200 have survived. Tradition has it that the idea of building a gallery of grotesque statues stemmed from the prince’s readings of the works of ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus, who speculated that the sun’s rays could create monstrous creatures out of the mud of the Nile River. There are also some spooky legends about the villa. One claimed that the monstrous stone statues would cause miscarriage to pregnant visitors. Historians still debate the meaning of these statues, which make fun of Greek gods and cost the prince a fortune. Some believe that the prince was a visionary nonconformist who sought shelter in an imaginary world to escape from the conformity of both religion and the age of enlightenment in which he lived. On the palace main façade, there is a magnificent double marble staircase. Inside, scenes of the “Labors of Hercules” decorate the ceiling of the adjoining dancing hall called “Sala degli Specchi” (Hall of Mirrors). This hall has unique scenic effects which are unique in the world. The hall has also precious colored glass windows and an inlaid 18th century Sicilian marble floor. The many mirrors create incredible visual effects
The enchanting Villa Gravina di Palagonia, located in the heart of Bagheria, is one of the most imaginative and mysterious noblemen’s residences in the province of Palermo which has been attracting visitors and artists from all Europe for about three centuries. It features numerous spooky monstrous-looking sculptures, which reflect the bizarre character of a prince who lived there. Photo by: https://www.italiani.it
"Italian News" cont’d on Page 11
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HITTING THE BEACH: PART 2 A Quick Guide to Beaches (Sort of) Near Sigonella
By NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
n our last installment, we highlighted beaches that are perfect for a day trip from Sigonella. But what if you want IHere to get a bit farther away from base? are a few beaches that require a little more driving and an overnight stay!
Remember: While “spiaggia” is the word for beach in Italian, “lido” in Italy generally refers to a private beach that you must pay to enter. Most lidos have chairs, umbrellas, and other equipment you can rent for the day, as well as a bar or café that has food for purchase. Most beach areas have both public access portions as well as multiple lidos along the coast, so you can choose what best suits your needs. CEFALU On the north side of the island, Cefalu is a popular and delightful town about two hours’ drive from Sigonella. Nestled between the Tyrrhenian Sea and a 270-meter high rock formation, the old town boasts quaint streets, a lovely cathedral, a medieval washhouse, and excellent restaurants, including many with an ocean view. Several lidos and a public beach are a main draw of the town, but hikers and history buffs can also enjoy trekking to the top of the rock and visiting the ruins of the Temple of Diana. THE SOUTHERN COAST
near the Scala dei Turchi
Marina di Ragusa "Beaches" cont’d on Page 11
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"Operation Husky" cont’d from Page 9
tyranny over mankind, NCTS Sicily draws resolve and focus from the memory of these men,” he said. “As we each swore during our oath in service to our Navy and nation, we remain steadfastly committed to the principle of individual liberty.” The memory of those who participated in Operation Husky, and especially those who gave their lives at Ponte Dirillo, is important to both Americans and Italians. “We are here today because we are called not to forget what has been, and to pass it on to the new generations, year after year, anniversary after anniversary, ceremony after ceremony,” said Greco. Evans also expressed appreciation for the commemoration of the day and collaboration between countries. “It is our shared belief and devotion to liberty for all mankind that will prevail against authoritarian competition now and in the future,” he said. “It is why the Navy and NCTS continues to operate here in this beautiful country. We could not accomplish our mission otherwise, and certainly not without our Italian allies by our side.” "Italian News" cont’d from Page 8
of multiplied images as you walk under them. The symbolic meaning of the multiplying images is related to the concept of birth and life. However, if you move to a different angle of the hall, your image will disappear, reminding you about human vanity and frailty. The palace complex also hosts a small chapel housing a crucifix on which was placed the miniature of a man, resembling the prince, kneeling in prayer. The palace, whose construction lasted 80 years, features five architectural styles. Its symmetric, massive and regular structure, enclosed by walls, comes from the Renaissance style. The Hall of Mirrors and the tuff grotesque statues are built in Baroque style. The dining room is richly decorated in Rococo style, and there are also features of neoclassical and Eastern styles. In 1885, Palermo family Castronovo bought this beautiful villa and turned into a museum that gives modern visitors the chance to admire one of the masterpieces of Sicily’s Baroque architecture. Bagheria is also the birthplace of Sicilian social realist painter Renato Guttuso, whose works are permanently displayed at Villa Cattolica, another magnificent mansion which houses Museo Guttuso (# 9 Via Consolare - https://www.facebook.com/ museoguttuso/). Villa Palagonia is located in # 3 Piazza Garibaldi. Opening Hours: daily from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m. For more information, directions and tickets visit https://www.villapalagonia.it/ "Beaches" cont’d from Page 10
Several small beach towns line the long southern edge of Sicily, including Pozzallo, Selinunte, and Sciaccia. Marina di Ragusa’s exceptionally clean Blue Flag beaches boast a large shallow area great for younger children, and the famous Scala dei Turchi (Turkish Steps) near Agrigento are an impressive sight. If you’d like to swim in the Mediterranean Sea, take a look at these towns—each has its own charms and attractions, and you can pick one that suits your needs! SAN VITO LO CAPO Although this town is one of the farthest spots from Sigonella on the island, it is one of the favorites of the community. The four-ish hour drive will take you past Palermo and the Zingaro Nature Preserve, and you’ll be rewarded with a beach that’s still undiscovered by many tourists. Enjoy the view of the Tyrrhenian Sea and a large rock formation from one of the several lidos or public beach, and don’t forget to try some of the foods that are a specialty of the western side of the island, like panelle (chickpea flour fritters), sfincione (a cross between pizza and bread), and arancine (similar to the arancini on this side, just spelled differently!).
