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Celebrating 20 years of serving the Hampton Roads Navy family
Vol. 21, No. 49 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 12.12-12.18.13
Public Health Center hosts World AIDS Day webinar By Hugh Cox Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center Public Affairs
PORTSMOUTH
NAVY BAND GIVES HOLIDAY SPIRIT TO MILITARY FAMILIES By MC3 Derek Paumen
MCSN Andrew Schneider U.S. Fleet Forces Band performs for military families during the annual Holiday Concert at JEBLCFS, Dec. 5.
Navy Public Affairs Support Element, East
VIRGINIA BEACH
U.S. Fleet Forces Band officially started the holiday season with a spirited performance for military families at the annual Holiday Concert at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story Gator Theater, Dec. 5. The free concert, which was open to all active duty and retired military, gave families a place to join together in a safe environment and celebrate the holidays with an impressive and authentic orchestra type show. “It’s something the kids see only once a year,” said retired Master Chief Logistics Specialist Howard Estrella, who brought his family to the event. “It’s a place you can bring your family and not worry about safety. Safety is number one.”
» see CONCERT | A9 ■ Navy band performs at JEBLCFS The U.S. Fleet Forces Band performed 14 different holiday songs, ranging from holiday classics to more contemporary modern holiday hits.
Retired SEAL announced as 2013 Still Serving awardee By MC1(SW/AW) Molly A. Burgess The Flagship Military Editor
NORFOLK
The Flagship and Military Newspaper of Virginia held their 3rd annual Still Serving: Military Retiree & Veteran Awards ceremony at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside in Downtown Norfolk, Dec. 4. The event honored all of this year’s nominees and the 10 individuals who were selected as the 2013 honorees based on their volunteer accomplishments and for going above and beyond working with the military and/or civilian communities. Still Serving is a recognition program that celebrates the service and achievements of dedicated individuals who have retired from the military, but are still serving the region by making significant contributions
Harry Gerwien | MNV Jason Redman, a former Navy SEAL and founder and executive director of Wounded Wear, was named this year’s Still Serving Veteran of the Year.
to the Hampton Roads community through their work, philanthropic and volunteer efforts. They do not ask for recognition, but contribute everyday out of their sense of service and commitment by improving
the quality of life in the region every day. In fact, the Hampton Roads area boasts one of the largest retired military populations in the U.S. “Just because they left the service, does not mean our retirees and veterans do not continue to serve. I think it is important to recognize what these men and women are doing in our communities,” said Adair Wells, founder of the Still Serving event. “They do not ask for recognition but contribute every day out of their sense of service and commitment. They understand and live by their principles of leadership, initiative and selflessness. It is part of their mission to make our country a better place to live and we are lucky that so many have chosen to make Hampton Roads their permanent home.”
SAPR SURVEY ESSENTIAL TO PREVENTING INCIDENTS By MC2 Dustin W. Sisco Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Hawaii
PEARL HARBOR
Feedback from Sailors in the fleet is vital to understand what problems are prevalent, what policies work and what needs to be changed in order to deter and prevent sexual harassment and asexual assault incidents. One way of gathering this information is a Department of Navy-wide, voluntary, anonymous sexual assault survey, initiated by Secretary of the
The Resident Energy Conservation Program (RECP) begins live billing in January. For more, contact: NAVY HOUSING SERVICE CENTERS NAVSTA Norfolk: 445-2721 NNSY: 445-2721 NSAHR: 444-2939 NAS Oceana: 433-3268 JEBLCFS: 462-2792 WPNSTA Yorktown: 637-9082 See The Flagship’s Home and Garden section (C4) for RECP tips!
Navy Ray Mabus. “We need as large a sample of our Sailors as possible to minimize data errors and to really understand trends that our Sailors are seeing day-to-day,” said Capt. Don Hodge, the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Officer for Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. The results of the survey, which began Oct. 15 and ends Jan. 6, will wrest the true frequency of sexual assaults involving Sailors and Marines, the circumstances surrounding those
LOCAL SHIP HONORS FALLEN CREW MEMBERS The crew of USS Mahan (DDG 72) held a memorial ceremony Dec. 6 in honor of the 69th anniversary of the Battle of Ormoc Bay in which six crew members from USS Mahan (DD 364) were killed. » see A3
incidents and the factors affecting their reporting. “We have not attempted a survey of this type for over two years – our Navy has pushed out a lot of training, education, and information related to Sexual Assault Prevention and Response since that last survey,” said Hodge. “This current survey will help us gauge the Navy’s efforts thus far and help shape additional policy and programs.”
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» see AWARDS | A9
We need as large a sample of our Sailors as possible to minimize data errors and to really understand trends that our Sailors are seeing day-to-day.” -Capt. Don Hodge
The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) hosted a webinar in support of World AIDS Day, Dec. 02, for Navy health professionals that addressed HIV prevention in the Department of the Navy (DON). The webinar was presented by Michael (Bob) MacDonald, manager, Sexual Health and Responsibility Program (SHARP), NMCPHC, and focused on HIV trends as well as tools and resources to help promote HIV prevention. According to MacDonald, the HIV epidemic is still present. Globally, more than 30 million people diagnosed with AIDS have died, including more than 600,000 in the U.S. More than 35 million more are living with HIV today, including more than one million people in the U.S. “World AIDS Day is an opportunity for each of us to remember that the HIV epidemic is still with us,” said MacDonald. “The HIV epidemic in the Navy is very similar to the epidemic among Americans in general. As Navy health professionals, this is where we must focus our HIV prevention effort if we ever hope to bend the curve.” The webinar occurred immediately following World AIDS Day, which is held annually on Dec. 1. Nearly 20 health professionals from military installations worldwide dialed-in for the webinar that included discussions on the incidence of HIV in the DON, along with the importance of developing and delivering key HIV reduction messages. “It is important that we get this information out to the troops,” said John Swett, Health Educator, Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune. “There seems to be a sense of security amongst many our troops that since ‘we are tested regularly, we don’t need to worry.’ We need to be frank and blunt about the discussion and not try to ‘candy coat’ the issue.” Social media has increasingly become vital in NMCPHC’s efforts to successfully reach health professionals as well as Sailors and Marines regarding HIV prevention and awareness. “Silence is not a proven public health promotion strategy,” said Cmdr. Connie Scott, Head, Health Promotion and Wellness, NMCPHC. “We must talk about HIV if we are ever to reduce the incidence of HIV.”
SECDEF VISITS USS PONCE Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel started his first full day in Bahrain by visiting service members and civilian mariners aboard USS Ponce, Dec. 6.
MYTHBUSTERS AT CHRYSLER “Mythbusters: Behind the MythTour,” a traveling stage show, will debunk a cavalcade of urban legends live on stage at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, Dec. 17.
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