The Flagship 01.08.2026

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, January 8, 2026 1

IN THIS ISSUE

Eye on Innovation: NNSY’s Rapid Innovation Branch teams with RADIAC Laboratory to 3D print tools to ensure safety of workers Page A3 VOL. 34, NO. 1, Norfolk, VA | FlagshipNews.com

January 8-January 14, 2026

Capt. Jon O’Connor, prospective Commanding Officer, Information Warfare Squadron (IWRON) Two, renders a salute as he arrives with the official party during an assumption of command ceremony for IWRON Two in Norfolk, Virginia. IWRON Two, a first-of-its-kind unit designed to operationalize Information Warfare (IW) capabilities and provide decisive decision advantage to Carrier Strike Group Commanders, was established, Dec. 5. IWRON Two will serve as the pilot squadron on the East Coast, with another squadron being established on the West Coast in 2026 The establishment of IWRON Two marks a crucial step forward in ensuring the U.S. Navy remains the premier warfighting force – ready, capable, and unmatched. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY ROBERT FLUEGEL / RELEASED)

A Paradigm Shift: Navy establishes first Information Warfare Squadron Courtesy Story

“This isn’t just another ceremony, this is a paradigm shift in how we fight and win in the 21st century,” said Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza, commander, Naval Information Forces. “For too long, Information Warfare has been a collection of vital but often disparate capabilities. Today, we change that.

Today, we forge a unified force, a sharpened spear, ready to deliver the necessary decisive decision advantage to our Carrier Strike Group Commanders in any environment.”

The establishment of IWRON Two addresses the increasing complexity and sophistication of global threats, which actively seek to exploit vulnerabilities from

Naval Information Forces

NORFOLK, Va. — Information Warfare Squadron (IWRON) Two, a first-of-its-kind unit designed to operationalize Information Warfare (IW) capabilities and provide decisive decision advantage to Carrier Strike Group Commanders, was established, Dec. 5.

This command is being stood up as part of a 48-month pilot program that received unanimous approval at the Fleet Commanders’ Readiness Council (FCRC) in June of 2025. The FCRC is a forum where top Navy leaders develop integrated solutions to Fleet-wide issues necessary to support warfighting, mission effectiveness, and sustain readiness wholeness. This pilot program will be a period of learning, adaptation, and innovation, with a focus on improving readiness, refining doctrine, evaluating the effectiveness of integrated IW capabilities and increasing lethality across the Carrier Strike Group.

Turn to IWRON Two, Page 2 Capt. Jon O’Connor, Commanding Officer, Information Warfare Squadron (IWRON) Two, reads the names of plank owners as they receive their new command ballcaps during an assumption of command ceremony for IWRON Two in Norfolk, Virginia. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY ROBERT FLUEGEL / RELEASED)

JFK has a new Talk Boss to assist Sailors

By Petty Officer 1st Class Jacob Milham PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79)

Talk Boss Mr. Darren Brown, assigned to Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), arrived in Newport News, Virginia, in the spring of 2025. As the ship’s second Talk Boss, Brown joins Mr. Joe Eadar, in assisting Sailors with their mental health needs.

“My mission is to give support and give Sailors tools to achieve full advocacy,” said Brown.

A Talk Boss is a licensed professional that works with Sailors in a non-medical setting that is judgment-free and confidential. They work in fields such as clinical psychology,

psychotherapy, social work, mental health counseling, and marriage and family therapy.

“It’s 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical,” said Brown in reference to his experience of service members dealing with the challenges of military life. “A lot of my Marines would have benefited from these types of resources.”

Brown recounted that during his 20 years of military service as a U.S. Marine, he saw the hardships that many service members were faced with when the resources available to them were not utilized. Outside of his time as a Marine, Brown has prior experience as a military family life counselor and suicide prevention coordinator for public schools.

“Sailors should seek care with a Talk Boss if they are facing challenges,” said Eader. “If they have already tried coping either internally or using other strategies such as their natural support system, and if they are still having difficulty coping after making efforts, come talk about it.”

As a service provider, Brown trains Sailors on resiliency techniques, creating plans for managing stress and when necessary, and providing referrals to other professional that can give Sailors a higher level of care.

“There is a stigma about mental health,” said Brown. “But if you want to talk about some of the difficulties you’re having in life, that’s what we’re here for.”

Having a second Talk Boss gives Sail-

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ors more opportunities to have a private and professional conversation about what happens in and out of uniform. Brown encourages Sailors to use all resources available aboard the ship, such as talk bosses, embedded integrated prevention coordinators, command chaplains, and the psych boss.

“We’re always going to experience challenges,” said Brown. “How we prepare our minds to counter that by being positive helps a lot.”

Brown understands the challenges that are inherent to military service and ship life.

He hopes to help all Sailors aboard John F. Kennedy and to assist them in finding the resources they need.

USS Forrest Sherman returns to Naval Station Norfolk following 7-month deployment Page A4

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, January 8, 2026

NAVELSG marks change in senior enlisted leadership

By Chief Petty Officer Jose Hernandez Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG) held a turnover of responsibility ceremony Dec. 5, 2025, marking the transition between outgoing Command Master Chief (CMDCM) Chad Elliott and incoming CMDCM Anton Fitz, who now serves as the group’s senior enlisted advisor.

Fitz relieved Elliott during a ceremony at NAVELSG headquarters, where Sailors, civilians and command leaders gathered to recognize Elliott’s service and welcome Fitz to the team.

Elliott, the longest serving command master chief in NAVELSG history, guided the organization through the most dynamic period of growth, operational tempo and multiple large-scale mobilization events, said it was an honor to serve the command’s globally distributed expeditionary logistics force.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside the NAVELSG staff and our outstanding cargo handlers,” Elliott said.

“Their professionalism and commitment to the mission, whether mobilizing our force, sustaining distributed maritime operations have been the highlight of my tour. Sustaining distributed maritime operations or keeping the hook moving across the fleet, have been the highlight of my tour. I am incredibly proud of what this team has accomplished especially seeing the critical capability of REARM at- sea come to reality” Fitz joins NAVELSG following his most recent assignment at Navy Reserves Readiness Command at Great Lakes, bringing deep experience in enlisted leadership.

“I am grateful to Command Master Chief Elliott for his mentorship and for the strong foundation he has set across the command,” Fitz said. “NAVELSG plays a critical role in sustaining naval forces worldwide. I look forward to leading this exceptional team of cargo handlers and supporting their continued success in expeditionary logistics operations.”

As senior enlisted advisor, Fitz will provide counsel to the commander on enlisted readiness, professional development and quality-of-life matters. He will also help guide the command’s efforts to deliver fuel, ordnance, cargo handling and

IWRON Two from Page 1

seabed to space. The IWRON construct, modeled after the successes of Air Wings and Destroyer Squadrons, streamlines the chain of command, aligns warfare commander authorities, and consolidates responsibilities under a single accountable commander, thereby enhancing speed, agility, and decisive action.

“The IWRON construct represents a bold step forward,” said Vernazza. “We are integrating and employing advanced IW capabilities and delivering them as a unified force across the spectrum of conflict. We are employing IW warfighting effects in a way that has never been demonstrated before.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Dec. 5, 2025) Rear Adm. Charles Kirol, commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG), presides over a turnover of responsibility between outgoing Command Master Chief Chad Elliott and incoming Command Master Chief Anton Fitz at NAVELSG headquarters Dec. 5, 2025. NAVELSG re-arms, refuels and resupplies the fleet with ship-to-shore logistics capabilities in support of maritime operations. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY CHIEF MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST JOSE L. HERNANDEZ)

expeditionary port operations in support of the Navy and joint force.

Rear Admiral Kirol, commander, NAVELSG, expressed his gratitude to Elliott as he embarks on his next journey of retirement on March 20, 2026 and to Fitz as he takes his place at the helm as NAVELSGs new command master chief.

“Master Chief Elliott has guided NAVELSG through a monumental period of growth and transition. As the longest-ten-

ured command master chief in our history, his steady leadership and commitment to our mission have helped shape the force we are today.” Kirol said. “Master Chief Fitz brings his own dynamic strengths and a fresh set of tools that will build upon the strong foundation Elliott established. I’m confident in his ability to lead our cargo handlers forward, and I’m grateful to have both leaders contributing to NAVELSG’s continued success and legacy.”

NAVELSG enables joint and fleet operations worldwide by providing Sailors trained in cargo handling, port operations, fuel distribution and expeditionary logistics support. The command plays an essential role in sustaining naval forces operating in contested and distributed environments.

For more information about NAVELSG, visit https://www.necc.usff.navy.mil/ NAVELSG.

To get to outcomes we haven’t had, we need to do things we haven’t done…this is one of them.”

IWRON TWO brings together talent from across the IW community, including the Carrier Strike Group staff, the Strike Group Oceanography Team, the Fleet Intelligence Detachment DC, the Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command, the Navy Information Operations Command, and the Naval Information Warfare Training Group.

CAPT Jon O’Connor assumed command of IWRON Two. “IWRON-2 will not only meet, but exceed the standards of excellence because we must. Our mission demands it. We are here to strengthen the readiness, lethality, and survivability of our Carrier Strike Groups by integrating our advanced IW capabilities,”

said O’Connor. “This is about warfighting, pure and simple.

The Sailors who comprise the initial cadre of IWRON Two were recognized for their pivotal part of this new command.

“Your willingness to embrace this challenge, to be pioneers in this new frontier of warfare, is a testament to your dedication and your commitment to our Navy. You are the lifeblood and decisive warfighting advantage of our Navy. Your work here will pave the way for future generations of Information Warfare professionals for years to come.” said Vernazza.

IWRON Two will serve as the pilot squadron on the East Coast, with another squadron being established on the West Coast in 2026.

The establishment of Information

Warfare Squadron Two marks a crucial step forward in ensuring the U.S. Navy remains the premier warfighting force — ready, capable, and unmatched.

NAVIFOR’s mission is to generate, directly and through our leadership of the IW Enterprise, agile and technically superior manned, trained, equipped, and certified combat-ready IW forces to ensure our Navy will decisively DETER, COMPETE, and WIN. For more information on NAVIFOR, visit the command Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/NavalInformationForces/ or the public web page at https:// www.navifor.usff.navy.mil.

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Eye on Innovation: NNSY’s Rapid Innovation Branch teams with RADIAC Laboratory to 3D print tools to ensure safety of workers

By Kristi R Britt

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

In Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s Radioactivity, Detection, Indication, and Computation (RADIAC) Calibrations Laboratory (Shop 52), the team works daily to ensure equipment is tested and measured accordingly so that it works properly as well as does not pose any safety risks for those handling the equipment. It’s imperative to Shop 52 that when the electricians are working on the devices, they have what tools are needed so that they remain safe while working with the high levels of voltage. Though it is rare for shocks to happen in the workplace, to greater protect the workers so that such situations do not happen, Shop 52 turned to the Code 100TO.32 Rapid Innovation Branch to develop designs, as well as 3D print prototypes and final products to improve the way they do business.

“Our team is constantly working with hundreds of pieces of equipment, calibrating them and repairing them as needed.

We deal with high levels of voltage and though we are good about working safely and avoiding shocks in the workplace, there were still some risks that we felt could have been improved upon,” said Shop 52 RADIAC Electronic Measurement Equipment Mechanic Chris Burke. He and his supervisor went to the Rapid Innovation Lab with an idea in hand for a certain piece of monitoring equipment to provide the protective barriers needed to ensure the safety of the mechanics.

“We worked with Shop 52 and prototyped a casing out of Plexiglas on either side to give it a basic shape,” said Code 100TO.32 Industrial Engineer James Martin. “Together we discussed the rules and specifics needed to work in these high voltage conditions and we were able to print out something to those specifications. After the prototyping, we tested it and were able to make adjustments — and had a final product in their hands within three days.”

With this success, the partnership continued as Shop 52 and Code 100TO.32 discussed other design opportunities, including making a wedge for a monitoring device to protect the wiring being tested as well as the employees working on it, as well as fittings on an extendable monitoring device that had intricate designs that would be difficult to

From left to right: Code 100TO.32 Rapid Innovation Lab Engineer Adam Seamster, Code 100TO.32 Industrial Engineer James Martin, Shop 52 RADIAC Electronic Measurement Equipment Mechanic Chris Burke, Code 100TO.32 Mechanical Engineer Dixie Cox, and Shop 52 RADIAC Electronic Measurement Equipment Mechanic Shane Wilson show off a RADIAC monitoring device with the developed fittings from the Rapid Innovation Lab. (PHOTO BY SHELBY WEST)

obtain without the use of additive manufacturing. Each job took between a few days to a few weeks to work through the process of development and testing — yet Shop 52 has noted that these devices will bring lasting effects to their workplace.

“Safety is paramount for our team and though there are layers of safety put into every job we do, if there’s a way we can better the way we do business and protect our teammates — we’re going to explore those options,” said Shop 52 RADIAC Supervisor Josh Brickhouse.

“These calibrations we do with this equipment take up to three hours each and it’s

vital that we as mechanics have the tools needed to ensure our safety so that we’re able to get that work done as safely and efficiently as possible,” added Burke. “I’ve been very happy with what’s been developed with the Innovation Lab — they were able to take my concept and made it into something that will last. Plus they made something that’s aesthetically pleasing and easy to use — so we’re able to get our jobs done better than ever before. We’ve been looking at other ways to benefit from their expertise and improving other calibration jobs and devices we use.”

Interested in working with the Innova-

tion Lab? Visit the NNSY SharePoint site at https://flankspeed.sharepoint-mil.us/ sites/NAVSEA\_NSY\_NORFOLK and click the Hot Links section to reach the 3D Print Request form. Provide your contact information and a description of what you need and the team will reach out to coordinate further details, files or designs, as well as schedule visits to the space to assess on-site. In addition, you can also visit the Code 100TO.3 Innovation & Tech Insertion Division in Bldg. 31 First Floor to bring your ideas to them firsthand.

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, January 8, 2026

Sailors assigned to Air Department aboard Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), participate in an aircraft firefighting training at Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services Station 29 in Chesapeake, Virginia, Oct. 24, 2025. Aircraft firefighting training allows Air Department Sailors the opportunity to fulfill training requirements for upcoming certifications.

John F. Kennedy is the second Ford-class aircraft carrier and is under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division in Newport News, Virginia. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST SEAMAN KAITLYN BAILEY)

JFK Sailors attend aircraft firefighting training

By Seaman Kaitlyn Bailey

PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79)

Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Air Department Sailors conducted evolutions of aircraft firefighting and stretcher bearer training that led to their certification as Builder’s Trials approach.

“This is the first step to getting us where we need to be,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Sean Deveraux, John F. Kennedy’s aircraft handling officer (air bos’n).

Aboard an aircraft carrier, Air Department is tasked with supporting flight oper-

ations, including safety and flight deck maintenance. It will be their responsibility to respond to any and all casualties on the flight deck, protecting the ship and its crew.

“It’s important [training] for Builder’s Trials with helicopters coming aboard,” said Deveraux. “This gets us in the mindset of being an operational flight deck.”

The training was split; experienced Sailors received a refresher in aircraft firefighting and junior Sailors received the initial training required to perform their role in the event of a casualty. The controlled environment ashore presented the less-experi-

enced Sailors the chance to ask questions on the entire process and building the team up throughout.

“It gives them the opportunity to perform their job,” said Deveraux. “It gives them a sense of pride.”

During this training evolution, Sailors used charged fire hoses to combat an aircraft fire using four hose teams. Amidst the firefight, a separate group was tasked with rescuing a simulated victim and safely placing them on a stretcher for medical assistance. Once the fire was presumed out, another team had the role of breaching the

plane and checking for hotspots.

“The biggest thing we can do as leaders is give them the big picture of what they’re doing,” said Deveraux. “The smallest task that we do amounts to a bigger task we complete later on down the line.”

Along with being Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic certified comes the responsibility for the flight deck firefighters to maintain their proficiency as the ship prepares to exercise real world flight deck operations.

USS Forrest Sherman returns to Naval Station Norfolk following 7-month deployment Courtesy Story

Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet

NORFOLK, Va. — Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) TWO, returned to Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations, Dec. 12, 2025.

Forrest Sherman departed Norfolk as part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (CSG 12) for a scheduled deployment on May 6, 2025.

The deployment underscored the U.S. Navy’s commitment to maritime security and stability. Since their departure, Forrest Sherman participated in eleven exercises, nine port visits and 301 flight deck landings with MH-60R SEAHAWKs from Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) 70.

“I am incredibly proud of all of the hard work put in by the Forrest Sherman crew over these past 7 months at sea”, shared Cmdr. Andrew Darjany, commanding officer, USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98). “For 250 years the Navy has sailed the globe protecting American interests and enhancing partnerships. Our crew is honored to be able to continue this proud tradition while serving both 6th and 5th fleet by implementing the Forrest Sherman’s motto of ‘Relentless Fighting Spirit’ ”.

Forrest Sherman is a multi-mission guided-missile destroyer capable of air warfare (AW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), naval surface fire support (NSFS), and surface warfare (SUW).

Commissioned on January 20, 2006, Forrest Sherman is the U.S. Navy’s 48th Arleigh Burkeclass guided-missile destroyer and was named in honor of Adm. Forrest Sherman, the 12th Chief of Naval Operations, and the youngest man to serve in that position.

“The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is the most capable, adaptable, and lethal organization in the world”, stated Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, commander, Carrier Strike Group 12. “With USS Forrest Sherman on our team, the Strike Group responded to world-wide tasking that the nation required. I am proud of their accomplishments while deployed in U.S. Fifth Fleet, protecting the homeland as a crucial part of America’s Away Team.”

U.S. Fleet Forces Command is responsible for manning, training, equipping, and employing 138,000 active duty Sailors, reservists, and civilians; more than 120 ships and submarines; 1,500 aircraft; seven task forces; and five carrier strike groups. USFFC directs training and readiness across the maritime domain, prepares forces for worldwide deployment, and provides combat-ready naval forces to combatant commanders.

For more U.S. Fleet Forces Command news and photos, visit https://www.facebook.com/ usfleetforces/, X - @USFleetForces, and https://www.linkedin.com/company/usfleetforcescommand.

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. (Dec. 12, 2025) – The Arleigh Burke-class guidedmissile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) Two, returns to Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment, Dec. 12, 2025.

Forrest Sherman departed Norfolk as part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (CSG 12) for a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations. The deployment underscored the U.S. Navy’s commitment to maritime security and stability in the regions. (U.S. NAVY PHOTOS

BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS KEITH FLEMING)

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, January 8, 2026 5

Winter Wonderland event harks in the holiday season at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown Courtesy Story

Naval Weapons Station Yorktown

YORKTOWN, Va. — Naval Weapons Station Yorktown’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Department harked in this year’s holiday season at The Depot on Tuesday, December 5th with the installation’s highly anticipated Winter Wonderland and Trees for Troops Event. This year’s event allowed over 100 service members and connected family members an opportunity to receive free freshly cut Christmas Trees as part of the Trees for Troops program and make merry and bright with festive family activities at their Winter Wonderland extravaganza.

Trees for Troops, a program sponsored by the Christmas Spirit Foundation, delivered hundreds of free, farm-grown Christmas trees to service members and their families just in time for the holidays. MWR staff, augmented by a contingent of volunteers from tenant commands toiled away at unloading the trees at approximately 1600 that afternoon. Command volunteers, including Culinary Specialist Ross Goodrich who is assigned to the installation’s award-winning Scudder Hall Galley, toiled away at unloading nearly 150 freshly cut Christmas Trees from a FedEx Tractor Trailer that arrived just in-time to beat rush hour traffic. The trees were neatly stacked outdoors at The Depot, and doors officially opened to the community at 1800 for families to pick out their own freshly cut Christmas tree.

As was the case in year’s past, NWS Yorktown was the only U.S. Navy installation on the Virginia Peninsula to serve as a distribution point. Southside installation included Joint Expeditionary Base Little CreekFort Story and Marine Corps Base Camp Elmore onboard Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads. Combined, these installations comprised over 80 installations across all of the armed services nationwide the distributed free Christmas Trees to service members and their families; enabling many to have a joyful and triumphant holiday season. The highly anticipated giveaway saw families, bundled up against the evening air, selecting fresh firs from the outdoor display.

Many were photographed carrying their trees—a tradition that helps relieve financial and logistical burdens for those serving the country.

Trees for Troops, as part of the larger Christmas Sprit Foundation, has delivered over 320,000 freshly cut Christmas Trees since this free program for service members started over 15 years ago. NWS Yorktown has been a much-anticipated distribution point for the program for the past several years.

While families picked out free Christmas Trees outside, the inside NWS Yorktown’s The Depot facility was transformed into a

Yorktown, Va. (December 5, 2025) Visitors to Naval Weapons Station Yorktown’s annual Trees for Troops event select free fresh cut Christmas Trees amid the installation’s annual Winter Wonderland event. The highly anticipated event attracted scores of attendees who received free fresh cut Christmas Trees. It also allowed an opportunity for attendees to partake in various holiday themed activities that were a delight for visitors of all ages. This year’s event was again coordinated by the installation’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Department and augmented by volunteers from various commands onboard the installation. The event was held at their MWR Recreation Center, The Depot.

(U.S. NAVY PHOTOS BY PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS MARIA ANGELA LORENZO/RELEASED)

joyful and triumphant Winter Wonderland.

Families were greeted with holiday music, activities, and photo opportunities with holiday characters. Santa and Mrs. Claus took their places on a festive throne, greeting children and posing for pictures. The facility also featured a photo booth area, complete with holiday props, and a visit from the Grinch, who was surprisingly full of holiday spirit while posing with young attendees. There was also a group of holiday Christmas carolers dressed in period specific holiday attire that was reminiscent of a scene from Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol.

The evening was filled with dancing and a palpable sense of community, allowing military families stationed at NWS Yorktown and nearby to relax and celebrate the season together. The event finally concluded shortly after 2000 when the last attendee departed allowing staff members and volunteers from the installations tenant commands an opportunity to reflect on a successful evening full of festive holiday cheer.

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, January 8, 2026

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. (Dec. 13, 2025) – The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) returns to Naval Station Norfolk following a four-month deployment, Dec. 13, 2025. Gravely deployed in support of U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) missions. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS ANDERSON W. BRANCH)

USS Gravely returns to Naval Station Norfolk from U.S. Southern Command missions Courtesy Story

Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet

NORFOLK, Va. — Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) returned to Naval Station Norfolk Dec. 13, 2025. The ship’s return comes after four months supporting U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) missions.

“Team Gravely takes pride in our continued service to maritime homeland defense,” stated Cmdr. Greg Piorun, commanding officer, USS Gravely (DDG 107). “This team has worked hard in the precision execution of a wide variety of missions aimed to underpin American security and economic prosperity in the Western Hemisphere. This upcoming return home is well deserved and comes with some much needed down time!”

Gravely was deployed from March to June of this year to the Gulf of America and Caribbean Sea in support of U.S. Northern Command tasking, then much needed August to December in support of USSOUTHCOM. Gravely worked alongside both the USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group and the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group while supporting USSOUTH-

COM missions.

Gravely is a multi-mission guided-missile destroyer capable of air warfare (AW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), strike warfare (STRIKE), information warfare (IW) electronic warfare (EW), naval surface fire support (NSFS), and surface warfare (SUW). The ship carries approximately 300 Sailors. Gravely is named after Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr and was commissioned at Wilmington, North Carolina on Nov. 20, 2010.

U.S. Fleet Forces Command is responsible for manning, training, equipping, and employing 138,000 active duty Sailors, reservists, and civilians; more than 120 ships and submarines; 1,500 aircraft; seven task forces; and five carrier strike groups.

USFFC directs training and readiness across the maritime domain, prepares forces for worldwide deployment, and provides combat-ready naval forces to combatant commanders.

For more U.S. Fleet Forces Command news and photos, visit https://www.facebook.com/usfleetforces/, X - @USFleetForces, and https://www.linkedin.com/ company/usfleetforcescommand.

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. (Dec. 13, 2025) – Lt. Cmdr. Erica Shaw, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107), greets her family following the ship’s return to Naval Station Norfolk after completing a four-month deployment, Dec. 13, 2025.

(U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS ANDERSON W. BRANCH)

First Christmas aboard PCU John F. Kennedy brings crew, families together

By Petty Officer 1st Class Theoplis Stewart II and Senior Chief Petty Officer Ryan Wilber PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79)

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Sailors assigned to Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) marked a historic milestone Dec. 25 as the crew celebrated its first Christmas aboard the ship, bringing together on-duty Sailors, families and leadership for a moment of connection amid the demanding work of bringing the aircraft carrier to life.

For many Sailors, the holiday represented a first, their first Christmas away from home, their first major holiday aboard a new ship and, for some, the first opportunity to share that experience with family members aboard.

The centerpiece of the celebration was a special Christmas meal prepared by the ship’s culinary team, who began preparations the night prior. According to Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Michael White, from Long Beach, California, work began around 11 p.m. and continued through the morning hours.

“This meal is different from a normal day because of the volume and the scale,” White said. “We’re talking turkeys that take days to thaw, a lot more prep and making sure we have enough food so nobody goes without.”

Serving as the watch captain, White was responsible for overseeing meal execution, ensuring food quality, line setup and service flow across the galley, including the main line, salad bar, dessert station, cake and eggnog bar.

Despite the long hours, White said the payoff came once Sailors and their guests began moving through the line.

“The end result is what matters,” White said. “The food was out, people were happy and that’s the goal.”

Logistics Specialist 1st Class Jessica Fitch volunteered to help serve food alongside the culinary team, calling it one of the highlights of her day.

“It was my first time serving and it was really fun,” she said. “Seeing people smile as they got their food made it worth it. I’d definitely do it again.”

For Machinist’s Mate (Nuclear) 2nd Class Alexander Weir, assigned to Reactor Department, the holiday carried additional significance. The Ann Arbor, Michigan, native was able to welcome his family aboard the ship,

an opportunity he said made the long hours worthwhile.

“Having my whole family aboard is really special,” Weir said. “I know how interested they are in what we do and getting to share this with them means a lot.”

Weir’s father traveled from Ann Arbor specifically for the occasion, marking his first visit aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.

“I’ve been fascinated by this ship,” he said.

“As soon as my son told us we could come, we were excited. This is something we’ll never forget.”

As the ship continues its transition from construction to crew-owned spaces, moments like the first Christmas aboard reinforce the culture being built aboard John F. Kennedy, one rooted in teamwork, sacrifice and shared pride.

While preparations to bring the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier into fleet service continue, the crew of PCU John F. Kennedy paused Dec. 25 to celebrate together, setting the tone for the many holidays and milestones still ahead.

A dessert station is set up during a Christmas meal aboard Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS THEOPLIS STEWART II)

Sailors and their family members share a Christmas meal aboard Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) in Newport News, Virginia, Dec. 25, 2025. The holiday marked the first Christmas celebration aboard the ship, bringing together crew members and loved ones during the ship’s transition from construction to crew-owned spaces. John F. Kennedy is the second Ford-class aircraft carrier and is under construction at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division in Newport News, Virginia. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS THEOPLIS STEWART II)

Capt. Doug Langenberg, commanding officer of Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), speaks with Sailors and their family members about the ship’s history and namesake in the commanding officer’s in-port cabin following John F. Kennedy’s first Christmas meal aboard the ship, Dec. 25, 2025. John F. Kennedy hosted families of on-duty Sailors for a traditional holiday meal as their loved ones stood the holiday watch. John F. Kennedy is the second Ford-class aircraft carrier, and is under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division in Newport News, Virginia. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS JACOB MILHAM)

This photo was altered for security purposes by blurring out identification badges.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, January 8, 2026 7

Kearsarge completes Role 2 Medical Capability Certification one year early

By Chief Petty Officer Erika Kugler USS Kearsarge (LHD 3)

NORFOLK, Va. — The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Medical department certified Role 2 medical capable one year early, Dec. 1, 2025.

Role 2 medical capabilities include emergency resuscitation and damage control surgery, evacuation and stabilization capacity, inpatient ward care and x-ray, lab, blood, and ancillary services.

“This accomplishment is not just ahead of schedule—it’s precedent-setting,” said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Matthew Garcia, Kearsarge Medical departmental

leading chief petty officer and independent duty corpsman. “Most ships spend the entirety of the training phases building toward medical readiness. This ship is exiting Basic phase [tier I] already able to receive, treat, and save casualties at the level expected much later in the cycle.”

With Role 2 capabilities onboard Kearsarge, the ship is not only meeting operational standards ahead of time, but reducing training risks across every mission area as it continues its certification phase.

“Role 2 is important because a secondary mission of the Kearsarge is a casualty ship, so we have to be prepared to care for sick and injured shipmates, and part of that is being able to provide this higher level of care that

is more than just the battlefield care of CPR and first aid,” said Capt. Greg Whaley, officer in charge of Fleet Surgical Team 8.

Teamwork and the close support of other commands have led to this monumental achievement.

“I’m incredibly proud of this team,” said Capt. Rosie Goscinski, commanding officer of the Kearsarge. “This would not have been possible without the support of our higher headquarters, as well as the support of the team, pushing forward, knowing what needed to be done, and doing it themselves.”

As a self-contain operating environment, the ship functions much like a small community and like small communities, medical conditions and injuries can happen

at any time. With Role 2 medical capability onboard, the ship can now provide enhanced emergency care, limited surgical intervention and patient stability.

“Bringing this capability online, over a year early, means the ship is medically ready for real-world tasking, closing critical gaps well ahead of the normal training timeline,” said Garcia.

As the ship continues integrating and training with more advanced certifications, the crew can rest assured at whatever comes their way, Kearsarge Medical is ready and able to respond to any emergencies at a moment’s notice.

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, January 8, 2026

DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF, JUST NAIL THE BIG STUFF. What’s another teeny, tiny stain? You’ve got more important things to think about—like making sure your kids are buckled correctly in the right seat for their age and size.

Check at NHTSA.gov/TheRightSeat

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, January 8, 2026 1

uarterdeck

Capt. Lawrence Brandon, Commander, Norfolk Naval Shipyard Industrial Operations, was the keynote speaker during the 2025 Apprentice Graduation Dec. 17.“Class of 2025, as you embark on this next chapter, remember the lessons you have learned, the friendships you have forged, and the legacy you now carry,” he said.“You are not just employees of Norfolk Naval Shipyard; you are guardians of our nation’s security. Embrace the challenges ahead, and never forget the vital role you play in protecting our freedom. I have no doubt that you will rise to the occasion and make a significant contribution to this shipyard, our Navy, and our nation.” (PHOTO BY DANIEL DEANGELIS, NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD)

A Legacy of Craftsmanship: Norfolk Naval Shipyard celebrates newest journeymen during the 2025 Apprentice Graduation

By Kristi R Britt

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Friends and family gathered in Norfolk’s Chrysler Hall theater Dec. 17 to celebrate the 88 graduates who turned their tassels to signify becoming journeymen during the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) 2025 Apprentice Graduation.

The graduates, representing 21 trades across the shipyard, have completed a fouryear training program combining academics, trade theory, and on-the-job experience, and are now promoted to journeymen within their respective trades.

“For over a century, since its official establishment in 1913, this program has been the lifeblood of this shipyard, transforming individuals from all walks of life into skilled artisans and leaders,” said Capt. Lawrence Brandon, Commander, NNSY Industrial Operations, during his remarks to graduates “Think about that: high school dropouts standing shoulder-to-shoulder with college graduates, teenagers learning along- Graduates are excited and ready for the Norfolk Naval Shipyard 2025 Apprentice Graduation side military retirees, men and women of Dec. 17. (PHOTO BY DANIEL DEANGELIS, NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD) every background, all united by a common goal mastering the skills vital to keeping Your work directly contributes to the read- Temple, a Shop 71 Preservation Mechanic our Navy’s ships sailing strong. For those iness of that Navy. Every weld you perfect, and Nansemond River High School graduof you who have overcome the challenges, every pipe you fit, every engine you maintain, ate, finished the NNSY Apprentice Program persevered through demanding training, ensures that our ships can sail, can defend, with a 3.963 GPA, which also earned him an and dedicated yourselves to mastering your and can protect our nation’s interests around early promotion. craft, congratulations! You have earned this the globe. The apprenticeship program has “When I started this program four years moment.” not only equipped you with technical skills ago, I knew it would be challenging. What Brandon pointed out this year’s gradu- to succeed but has also instilled in you the I didn’t know was just how much it would ates are becoming journeymen at a signifi- values of leadership, teamwork, and contin- shape the way I think, work, and lead,” cant time for the Navy. “We live in a complex uous learning. Never stop learning, never said Temple. “My trade is preservation but and challenging world,” he said. “Our nation stop seeking new challenges, and never today represents more than just one trade. It faces evolving threats, and the need for a underestimate the power of your influence.” represents every person in this graduating strong and capable Navy is greater than ever.

This year’s class valedictorian, Trevor class, from machinists to electricians, weld-

ers to pipefitters, and every specialty in-between. Each of us has put in years of hard work and dedication to reach this point. The apprenticeship program is not easy. We’ve all had long days, tight deadlines, and moments where things didn’t go as planned. But every challenge taught us something valuable — not just about our trades, but about perseverance, patience, and pride in what we do.”

He continued, “What makes this program special isn’t just work, it’s the people. It’s the coworkers who had your back when the job got tough, the instructors who pushed you to do better, and the mentors who took the time to teach you what couldn’t be found in a textbook. That’s what builds real experience — learning from those who came before us and paving the way for those who come next.”

This year marked the 112th anniversary of NNSY’s Apprentice Program, one of the most historic and honored apprentice programs in the nation. The program has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, in partnership with the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship (ACA), as a 21st Century Registered Apprenticeship Trailblazer and Innovator.

“Class of 2025, as you embark on this next chapter, remember the lessons you have learned, the friendships you have forged, and the legacy you now carry,” said Brandon.

“You are not just employees of Norfolk Naval Shipyard; you are guardians of our nation’s security. Embrace the challenges ahead, and never forget the vital role you play in protecting our freedom. I have no doubt that you will rise to the occasion and make a significant contribution to this shipyard, our Navy, and our nation.”

From Deck Plates to Degree: Petty Officer’s path from enlisted to officer

By Cherish Gilmore

Office of Naval Research

A leap of faith and hopes of becoming a pilot set one Sailor on a path from enlisted ranks to officer candidacy.

For Petty Officer 1st Class Fonanti Sapee, an enlisted outreach coordinator at the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the dream of becoming a naval officer began not in a recruiter’s office or at a career fair, but through watching friends succeed.

Aboard his previous command, USS Columbus, Sapee, whose rate is Machinist’s Mate Nuclear, witnessed fellow Sailors apply for and gain acceptance to the Seaman to Admiral-21 (STA-21) program — the Navy’s commissioning opportunity for active-duty enlisted personnel.

By maintaining their active-duty status while receiving a scholarship to attend a top-tier university, STA participants advance their careers while contributing to the Navy’s operational excellence.

Now, Sapee himself has joined their ranks, earning his own acceptance to the competitive program that will send him to a six-week course in Newport, Rhode Island, a college of his choosing, and eventually back to the Fleet as a commissioned officer.

The Acceptance When the acceptance notification arrived, Sapee’s first emotion was relief.

“It was a lot of work, and I am glad that my efforts were not in vain,” he said. “The

months of preparation, the interviews, the paperwork — all of it led to this singular moment of validation.”

Sapee’s first call was to his mother, who has been a big supporter of his naval career.

The Process Sapee began working on his application several months before the deadline, but the intensity ramped up in the final weeks. “I really pushed hard the last month to get it all done,” he said.

The most challenging aspect involved coordinating interviews while maintaining his regular duties.

Sapee serves as the warfighter engagement lead for ONR Global’s TechSolutions department, which delivers rapidly prototyped solutions across the Fleet and Force from ideas submitted by Sailors and Marines to make their jobs safer and easier.

The position requires coordination with various commands across the Navy and Marine Corps, travel to Fleet concentration areas and other locations, and speaking engagements during collaboration visits with warfighters.

Therefore, finding time to complete application requirements while fulfilling daily responsibilities required careful planning and support from leadership.

ONR Global Commanding Officer Capt.

Eric Hutter and ONR Command Master Chief Joe Devore worked with Sapee to manage scheduling and logistics.

Sapee also credits ONR Chief Petty Offi-

cer Yeoman Jelissa Pollard, who ensured every document was properly completed and submitted on time. “I would have not made the deadline without her,” he said.

The Future For Sapee, college is uncharted territory, but he looks forward to studying aerospace engineering — a degree that points toward a future in naval aviation.

“I absolutely love aircraft and the engineering that goes behind it,” he said.

In five years, Sapee sees himself “as a graduate of naval flight school and flying a naval aircraft.”

The application process requires time and effort, but the reward for Sailors like Sapee is a college education, a commission and the opportunity to lead from a position of experience.

After years serving in the enlisted ranks, Sapee brings a perspective that cannot be taught in a classroom.

“I’ve witnessed firsthand the communication dynamics between enlisted Sailors and officers from both perspectives,” he said.

“My experience in the enlisted ranks has given me invaluable insight into the challenges and concerns of the Sailors I’ll lead one day. I understand their world because I’ve lived it — and that perspective will shape the kind of officer I hope to become.”

Cherish T. Gilmore is a contractor for ONR Corporate Strategic Communications.

Petty Officer 1st Class Fonanti Sapee, an enlisted outreach coordinator at the Office of Naval Research, earned acceptance into the Seaman to Admiral-21 (STA-21) program — the Navy’s commissioning opportunity for active-duty enlisted personnel. By maintaining their active-duty status while receiving a scholarship to attend a top-tier university, STA participants advance their careers while contributing to the Navy’s operational excellence. (COURTESY PHOTO)

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, January 8, 2026

Q: What types of family housing are available?

A: There are three types of housing available to families:

SAN DIEGO — Lt. Anna Bryant, left, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit TWO, stand with fellow competitors and winners of the 2025 Armed Forces Triathlon Championship in San Diego, Sept. 13, 2025. Bryant placed third in the Olympic-style triathlon, competing against 25 women across the Department of War. (U.S. NAVY COURTESY PHOTO)

Two worlds, one mindset

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jackson Adkins

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group Two

Silence comes first.

No crowd. No clock.

Just the sound of her own breathing as she approaches a threat that can kill her.

Days later, the silence is replaced by the roar of churning water, whirring bicycle chains, and pounding feet as hundreds of athletes surge forward at the start of a triathlon.

For Lt. Anna Bryant, the mindset required for both worlds is the same.

Bryant, from Franklin, North Carolina, is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officer assigned to EOD Mobile Unit TWO and recently placed third at the Department of War- sponsored Triathlon in San Diego.

Selected as the only EOD technician among 80 competitors, she represented not just herself, but a community defined by physical endurance, discipline, adaptability, and mental resilience.

“Doing the triathlon for the Navy was a big deal because I was able to represent EOD,” Bryant said. “It kind of puts all the things I care about into one.”’

Balancing elite-level training with the demands of EOD leadership is rarely easy. As a platoon commander, Bryant just completed a work-up cycle and deployment, while also balancing her competition preparation overseas. Training meant early mornings, late evenings, and careful planning around ever-changing schedules.

“It’s pretty complicated,” she said. “It’s trying to get workouts in before work. Then you work all day... Then after work I still have to get another workout in. It requires a lot of planning ahead of time and figuring out where I can fit it in based on my daily schedule.”

Bryant has served in the EOD community for five years and joined to be part of the tightknit, premier EOD force. A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, she competed in track and field as well as cross-country before commissioning, developing a competitive drive long before starting her Navy career.

That foundation carried into deployment.

While serving in Bahrain, Bryant trained daily using whatever resources were avail-

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.. — Lt. Anna Bryant, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit TWO, poses for an environmental portrait at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Dec. 18, 2025. Bryant, recently placed third in the 2025 Armed Forces Triathlon Championship race in San Diego and in the top eight percent of competitors at the Ironman World Championship. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS JACKSON ADKINS)

able. Some weeks, travel and operational requirements meant there was limited access to running trails or bikes. Instead of skipping training, she adapted. During that deployment, she competed in a Half Ironman where she set a personal record and finished 4th overall out of 137 women.

“We’d travel for [force protection] dives or whatever popped up, and I’d realize, ‘I won’t be able to bike this week, what can I do instead?’ Logistically figuring out workouts and seeing what you have to work with definitely made me a more flexible athlete and resourceful in adapting to my environment to continue training,” said Bryant.

ABOVE: SAN DIEGO — Lt. Anna Bryant, right, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit TWO, competes in the 2025 Armed Forces Triathlon Championship in San Diego, Sept. 13, 2025. Bryant placed third in the Olympicstyle triathlon, competing against 25 women across the Department of War. RIGHT: SAN DIEGO — Lt. Anna Bryant, right, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit TWO, stands with fellow competitors prior to racing in the 2025 Armed Forces Triathlon Championship in San Diego, Sept. 13, 2025.

Bryant placed third in the Olympic-style triathlon, competing against 25 women across the Department of War. (U.S. NAVY COURTESY PHOTOS)

On average, she trains 13 to 15 hours a week while also working in one of the Navy’s most physically and mentally demanding communities. To date, Bryant has completed nearly 30 triathlons, including 13 Half Ironmans, all while maintaining her responsibilities as a platoon commander.

While placing in a triathlon is a feat of its own, her long-term focus is earning a professional triathlete status-a goal she says her EOD career has uniquely prepared her for.

“I know what I can do in the endurance world, whether it’s running, swimming, or sitting on the bike for three-plus hours. I know my body can handle it, so when I go to a drill or an operation, I’m not worried about the physical aspect-I can focus on doing the job right.”

The overlap between an EOD operator’s mindset and triathlon training-discipline, focus, and mental resiliency-has become the common ground between Bryant’s two worlds.

She recently finished in the top eight percent of competitors at the Ironman World Championship in Marbella, Spain, placing 164th overall among 2,300 athletes-just two months after her podium finish in San Diego.

“I think about the hard things I’ve done, whether it’s triathlon-related or life-related, and just think, ‘Okay, I got through that-I can definitely get through this.’ Trusting in my training was the key to staying mentally focused,” Bryant said.

Bryant plans to return to the world competition next year, continuing to train between missions while leading Sailors within the EOD community. Her message to others is simple: invest in yourself so you can invest more into others and the mission.

“Being able to have interests outside of work… it’s beneficial for everyone on the team and yourself. You meet people that way and it opens up your circle. You’re happier because you’re doing hobbies you enjoy, and that only makes you stronger mentally and physically.”

Whether gearing up for a triathlon or leading her platoon while on deployment, Bryant relies on the same principles-preparation, discipline, and trusting your training.

Two worlds.

One mindset.

Public/Private Venture (PPV) Housing is also referred to as privatized housing in the Navy.

The Navy partnered with different private management companies to provide housing to Service Members. These companies are responsible for the construction, renovation, maintenance and day-to-day management of the housing. PPV housing may be located on or off government property and in most cases will be former military housing.

Government Owned (also known as Military Housing or Navy Managed Housing is what was formerly called on-base housing.

While only available in limited quantities CONUS, Government Owned Housing is still widely available OCONUS. Community Housing is any housing that a Service Member may choose that is not PPV or government operated. This is housing outside of the base that is privately owned and operated.

NAVY HOUSING

Norfolk: 757.445.2832 JEBLCFS: 757.462.2792 Oceana/Dam Neck: 757.433.3268 Yorktown: 757.847.7806

Mid-Atlantic Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) programs and services are designed to help you make the most of your military experience, and they’re all available to you at no cost.

FUNCTIONS AND/OR SERVICES FFSC PROVIDES: ClinicalCounseling – Individual, Couples and Child Counseling Personal Financial Management Information & Referral Family Employment Assistance Transition Assistance Family Advocacy Program Deployment and Mobilization Support Ombudsman Support Relocation Assistance Parenting Programs Stress and Anger Management Command Support Crisis Support Suicide Prevention SAPR Support

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, January 8, 2026 3

Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Anderson, an Information Warfare Training Command Virginia Beach instructor, displays the mock Lego insurgent compound and merchant shipping vessel he built for use in various intelligence courses at Naval Air Station Oceana’s Dam Neck Annex in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Nov. 19, 2025. The complex designs and creative process didn’t just produce a training tool – it sparked new ways to enhance learning for Navy and joint service information warfare professionals. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY LT. ISABEL SHAW)

IWTC Virginia Beach strengthening battlespace awareness, brick by brick Courtesy Story

Center For Information Warfare Training

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Anderson knew his students needed a clearer, more tangible way to grasp just how many variables emerge when assessing a target’s physical environment.

The intelligence specialist and Information Warfare Training Command Virginia Beach instructor started by building a simple cardboard model, but it lacked the depth, complexity and precision he needed to emulate operational intelligence concepts to students.

“It was really bad, but it led me to another idea,” he said. “Why not use Legos? Everybody understands Legos.”

For two weeks, Anderson meticulously built a mock insurgent compound, brick by brick. What began as a single structure designed to support a few learning objectives soon evolved into a sprawling vignette that mirrors the complexity of an urban warfare environment.

The model’s success quickly sparked interest across enlisted and officer intelligence courses at IWTC Virginia Beach, prompting a growing demand for his Legobuilt training tools. In just the past two weeks, he has engineered a second model of a detailed merchant shipping vessel, now slated for use in the Basic Shipboard Intelligence Course and Maritime Secu-

rity Intelligence Operations Course.

The Lego model is riddled with operational dilemmas and opportunities for intelligence analysts to sharpen their battlespace awareness. Overgrown weeds on the ground encircle a dry well, hinting at low activity or poor upkeep.

Throughout the scene, visual cues prompt students to weigh humanitarian considerations and the laws of armed conflict that shape strike operations. The principle of distinction, for example, is reflected in a protected religious site’s inclusion.

Weaponeering questions are also embedded within the model’s design.

The compound buildings and walls are constructed of distinct materials such as reinforced steel, exposed brick and composite pieces — each presenting its own challenges and opportunities. Three structures share a single power line, prompting students to identify a small gas generator as a potential center of gravity.

Within this scenario, they’re tasked with identifying kinetic effects that are both proportionate and effective.

Outside the compound walls, Anderson installed myriad traces of adversary capabilities and intentions, beckoning the viewer to closely examine and scrutinize details. Students can peer inside the battered shell of a small building and note destroyed utilities and the remains of a roof, indicating limited feasibility for

long-term use.

A pockmarked roadway raises several important questions about maneuverability and the potential presence of improvised explosive devices. Farther up the road, a pickup truck fitted with a gun mount offers yet another clue for students to dissect.

Anderson’s creative process didn’t just produce a training tool; it sparked new ways to enhance learning across courses.

The Lego compound is now used in IWTC Virginia Beach’s K-10A Imagery Course to help illustrate complex techniques that students often struggle to visualize.

“The computer systems don’t always demonstrate concepts in a way students understand, so the Lego model helps bridge that gap,” Anderson explains.

None of Anderson’s complex designs come from kits or instructions; each one is built entirely from scratch. He selects every individual brick with a clear vision and rare talent for translating operational realities into a medium that resonates with students at multiple levels.

Instructors say his models reflect an uncommon degree of creativity and innovation, one IWTC Virginia Beach is proud to foster.

“When everything revolves around simulation and modeling, IS1 Anderson’s work delivers a classic, back-to-basics visual approach,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Karl Barnes, who utilizes the models

for his courses. “He is also demonstrating how Sailor ingenuity will always be the standard by which all others are measured.

It’s refreshing to see a Sailor valuing innovation and initiative while training information warfare teams for a future strategic competitor fight.”

IWTC Virginia Beach, part of the Center for Information Warfare Training, offers more than 70 specialized courses in fields such as information technology, cryptology and intelligence. The command is staffed by about 330 military, civilian, and contractor personnel and trains over 6,500 students a year at locations across the U.S., including Jacksonville and Mayport, Florida; Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia; and Groton, Connecticut.

CIWT’s network of four schoolhouse commands and multiple training sites around the globe delivers worldclass instruction to more than 26,000 students annually. It ensures the Navy, Marine Corps and Department of War are equipped with the highest caliber of intelligence professionals, ready to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Marine Corps launches new drone training program

By Staff Sgt. Claudia Nix

U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Command

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.– The Marine Corps has launched a training program to rapidly increase the number of small Unmanned Aircraft System operators for commercial off-the-shelf attack drones.

Announced in MARADMIN 624⁄25, the program addresses a critical need for standardized training as the service integrates new systems, including the Neros Archer first-person view attack drone, and prepares for this significant investment in various drone technologies. This initiative builds on the service’s success over the past few months in beginning to scale FPV attack drones across the Fleet Marine Force. It also aligns directly to the Office of the Secretary of War’s plans to field initially tens of thousands and then hundreds of thousands of attack drones, across service components starting in March 2026 and continuing over the next several years.

The new framework, established by Training and Education Command, establishes six pilot courses and eight certifications to create a force-wide standard for drone operators. These initiatives are designed to provide foundational skills for a variety of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

“We are fielding these courses as pilot programs to move quickly while maintaining our commitment to quality training and safety,” said Lt. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson, Commanding General, Training and Education Command. “This allows us to validate all aspects of the training, from prerequisites and instructional methods to resourcing needs and certification standards, ensuring that we refine and perfect the curriculum before it becomes part of our long-term training framework.”

Six approved pilot courses will certify Marines while testing instructional methods and curriculum. These courses include training for drone operators, payload specialists, and instructors, with specific prerequisites such as simulator experience on TECOM-approved systems. The courses aim to ensure proper integration and supervision of new drone capabilities. TECOM has also established a process to grant certifications to Marines who have existing qualifications and experience through a “grandfathering” exception to policy.

U.S. Marine Corps riflemen with Light Armored Reconnaissance Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/6, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), load a simulated warhead onto a Neros Archer first-person view drone during attack drone training on Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico, Nov. 19, 2025. 22nd MEU(SOC) Marines are being trained and certified by the 2nd Marine Division and the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team on first-person view drone systems to enhance combat readiness. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO)

Seven organizations have been designated as regional training hubs with the authority to immediately begin conducting the pilot courses, including schools within Training and Education Command, 1st Marine Division and 2d Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and Marine Forces Special Operations Command.

Weapons Training Battalion on Marine Corps Base Quantico will serve as the interim central hub, responsible for standardizing training, certification, and safety across the force. It will consolidate lessons learned and function as the Marine Corps’

focal point for adapting training to emerging platforms, payloads, and evolving operational requirements.

This service-wide effort to scale standardized FPV attack drone training has been shaped by lessons from recent certifications, including two Marine Corps Attack Drone Competitions, one in the National Capitol Region and the other in Okinawa, Japan. These efforts certified 19 Attack Drone-Operators, 5 Attack Drone-Instructors, 7 Payload Specialists, and 2 Payload Specialist-Instructors. In mid-November, the MCADT also supported the certifica-

tion of 22D Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines, resulting in 14 Attack Drone-Operators and 11 Payload Specialists fully trained, equipped, and ready for contingency operations.

Over the next few months, the MCADT, alongside Weapons Training Battalion and regional hubs, will certify hundreds more Marines. By May 2026, all infantry, reconnaissance battalions, and littoral combat teams across the Corps will be equipped to employ FPV attack drone capabilities.

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, January 8, 2026

U.S. Marine Corps recruits with Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion conduct the run portion of an initial strength assessment at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, Sept.

6, 2025. The ISA is a baseline test for new recruits to ensure they meet the physical requirements to begin the 13-week transformation to earn the title United States Marine. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY CPL. SARAH M. GRAWCOCK)

Marine Corps announces updated physical fitness standards

By Staff Sgt. Claudia Nix

U.S. Marine Corps Training and Education Command

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine Corps is implementing changes to its Physical Fitness Test and body composition standards in accordance with the Secretary of War’s Military Fitness Standards memorandum issued on Sept.

30, 2025. These changes, announced in MARADMIN 613⁄25, will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

The Marine Corps will institute sex-neutral scoring for the Physical Fitness Test for Marines in with a combat arms Primary Military Occupational Specialties. The PFT will require combat arms Marines to achieve a minimum score of 210 points

(70% of the total possible points) using the male, age-normed scoring standard outlined in Marine Corps Order 6100.13A. The PFT will continue to be administered annually, from Jan. 1 to June 30. Non-combat arms Marines will continue to follow existing sex- and age-normed standards.

The new PFT standards reflects the unique physical demands of combat arms roles, ensuring Marines are prepared for the sustained physical performance required in direct combat. Those who do not meet the 210-point requirement by the end of the reporting period will be assigned to remedial physical training and may be subject to PMOS reclassification and / or promotion restriction.

“Our combat arms MOSs require rigorous physical readiness for direct ground

combat,” said Col. James Derrick, Director, Training Standards Division at Training and Education Command. “These changes ensure all combat arms Marines meet the same high sex-neutral standards.”

The Marine Corps is also revising its body composition evaluation process.

The current height and weight standards, along with the tape test, will be replaced by a waist-to-height ratio methodology. The Marine Corps will publish service-specific standards upon receipt of additional SECWAR guidance. In the interim, the current height/weight and tape tests will continue, with bioelectrical impedance analysis used for additional assessments when necessary.

Although the new PFT standards will begin on Jan. 1, 2026, updates to Manpower

Information Systems are expected to take six to eight months, with full implementation projected within a year. The Marine Corps is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will continue to coordinate with stakeholders to support these changes.

Units are required to follow interim administrative guidance until full implementation of system and policy revisions as outlined in MARADMIN 613⁄25.

These changes ensure that the Marine Corps’ physical fitness standards continue to support operational effectiveness and combat readiness. The Marine Corps will continue to assess guidance and execution to ensure compliance with higher headquarters.

Irregular Warfare Center achieves milestone growth in FY25, pivots to homeland resilience and the Indo-Pacific in FY26

By Pedro Rodriguez

Irregular Warfare Center

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) has concluded an exceptionally productive year dedicated to advancing the understanding and application of Irregular Warfare (IW) across the defense community and its global network of partners. The IWC has cemented its role as the central hub for innovation and synchronized effort in irregular warfare, focusing its efforts on refining educational standards, providing expert subject matter input to the Joint Staff, and fostering meaningful collaboration across sectors and borders.

The Center’s digital education footprint expanded dramatically throughout the year, making foundational and advanced IW knowledge more accessible than ever before. The flagship course, IW 101, saw phenomenal success with over 2,300 enrollments and is now a mandatory prerequisite for all special operations force’s students attending the Army Command and General Staff College. Building on this success, the IWC successfully deployed the self-paced IW 110: Approaches for Homeland Security and Defense Course for DoW personnel and international partners, pivoting essential IW knowledge to professionals focused on the homeland.

IW 201 began making waves by offering sophisticated comparative analysis and timely case studies, including China’s gray zone strategy and Russia’s use of IW in Crimea. Specialized training programs, including the Transformational Irregular Warfare Leaders Thought Courses (TILT-C) and the IW Analysts Course for the Army’s 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), were conducted globally, actively synchronizing cutting-edge IW content across diverse units.

“The success of this past year is a testament to our commitment to institutionalizing Irregular Warfare knowledge. By

dramatically expanding our digital catalog from over 2,300 enrollments in the now-mandatory IW 101, to deploying the more advanced IW 201 with timely case studies on gray zone strategy, we are not just educating, we are actively synchronizing and professionalizing the IW community,” said IWC Director Dr. Dennis Walters.

This ensures that every practitioner, from our newest students to our senior analysts, is equipped with the shared, cutting-edge expertise required to face tomorrow’s complex challenges across the joint force and with our global partners.”

Beyond the classroom, the IWC served as a catalyst for critical IW research and strategic discourse. It successfully hosted its third annual University Research Colloquium, which brought together junior scholars and senior practitioners to strengthen the vital bridge between academia and the operational community.

The Center relaunched PRISM: The Journal of Complex Operations, which continues to serve as the leading scholarly journal for irregular warfare. Strategically, the IWC engaged in complex analyses ranging from examining China’s maritime gray zone operations to supporting the development of actionable foresight products, such as the Taiwan Occupation Foresight Workshop.

Collaboration also grew significantly, with the annual symposium on Total Defense bringing together over 300 experts from across five continents.

On the global stage, the IWC provided leadership to international bodies, including the European Hybrid Center of Excellence, and enhanced NATO Integrated Deterrence by embedding critical IW insights into scenario development alongside more than 20 allied nations. The Center also successfully co-hosted the Intelligence Support to Irregular Warfare Symposiums and saw its digital reach expand, growing its social media presence. Its “Spotlight” newsletter continued to succeed with a subscriber base

of over 10,700 and increasing.

Looking ahead to Fiscal Year 2026, the IWC has announced a dynamic slate of upcoming events designed to tackle the most pressing IW challenges and strengthen collective resilience. The second quarter will feature the pivotal Maritime & Rail Transportation Working Group, a cross-sector forum dedicated to identifying vulnerabilities, mapping critical gaps, and developing integrated, actionable solutions to counter gray-zone activities, insider threats, and sophisticated cyber-attacks across U.S. ports and global shipping.

The Annual IWC Symposium, the Center’s premier annual event, is scheduled to take center stage in June 2026 and will shift its focus to the foundational topic of Homeland Defense, featuring a powerful keynote and targeted panels for practitioners, allies, interagency, industry, and academia.

The third quarter of 2026 will also include a dedicated Critical Infrastructure Working Group, a crucial forum dedicated to identifying and mitigating IW threats targeting the systems and networks that keep the nation running. Building on a prior year’s success, the IWC will co-host the next IW Intelligence Symposium with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security (USD(I&S)) in the third quarter, which will provide a detailed, global examination of adversary capabilities and the complex convergence of threats, including how transnational criminal organizations and state-sponsored criminality are leveraged in the gray zone.

Capitalizing off the success of past colloquiums, in the fourth quarter. The colloquium brought together junior and senior scholars, as well as practitioners, to discuss a range of topics related to modern irregular warfare.

In the Indo Pacific, the IWC is focusing on strengthening regional alliances to counter malign influence. In the spring of

2026, the IWC will host several events with partners and allies, focusing on Foreign Interference and Malign Influence and a strategic communications course. Leveraging the IWC’s functional area networks (FANs) to empower allied forces in countering disinformation. The Center will expand its footprint to East Asia in the third quarter of FY26, collaborating with the Joint Interagency Task Force West and the Drug Enforcement Agency. This joint training will provide international border officials with the tools to identify irregular threats and transnational criminal networks, a critical security step as the U.S. and partner nations explore the opening of new direct air routes.

The Center will also continue its virtual “Lunch & Learn” Lecture series with timely topics such as Chinese Cognitive Warfare, Building Societal Resilience Against Hybrid Threats, Mapping the BRICS+ Cryptocurrency Ecosystem, and Measuring Impact of Messaging. The IWC remains committed to ensuring U.S. irregular warfare priorities are integrated into multinational planning as it works to secure the future.

“Looking ahead to FY26, our focus is crystal clear: to strengthen our nation’s resilience against the most complex irregular threats. From safeguarding our essential supply chains at the Maritime & Rail Transportation Working Group to dedicating our premier annual Symposium to Homeland Defense, the IWC is driving the hard work that matters,” said Walters. “We will continue to serve as the vital coordinating body, bringing together the best minds from defense, interagency, industry, and our allies, to collectively stay ahead of the curve and secure our future.”

For more information follow us on: Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/ company/irregularwarfarecenter/?viewAsMember=true X https://x.com/IrregularWarCtr Check out our website https://irregularwarfarecenter.org/news/

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, January 8, 2026

Access virtual mental health care with TRICARE

Courtesy Story

health emergency.

The provider follows all local health care and virtual health rules.

TRICARE will cover your virtual health care if you meet these requirements. Contact your TRICARE Overseas Program Regional Call Center to see if you need a referral and to find a provider who offers virtual visits.

Defense Health Agency

Note: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. This resource connects you with trained counselors who can help you get the help you need, 24/7.

Did you know that you can get virtual mental health services with TRICARE? These options are a great way to get care when you can’t visit a provider’s office in person. Virtual mental health visits take place through secure technology platforms.

“Virtual mental health services offer you the flexibility to get the mental health care you need, when you need it,” said Thomas Turnbaugh, LCSW-C, a behavioral health specialist at the Defense Health Agency.

“You have several different options for seeking this care, regardless of which TRICARE plan you have or where you live.”

Keep reading to learn more about getting virtual mental health care with TRICARE. TRICARE-covered services TRICARE covers a variety of mental health services.

These include: Outpatient Inpatient Emergency Nonemergency Substance use disorder services Virtual mental health services have the same referral and pre-authorization requirements as in-person mental health care.

Getting virtual mental health care Are you seeking virtual mental health care in the U.S.? You can contact your regional contractor to find a provider who offers these services: East Region: Call Humana Military at 800-444-5445.

West Region: Call TriWest Healthcare Alliance at 888-TRIWEST (874-9378).

TRICARE For Life and Medicare

TRICARE remains committed to helping you unlock your health through accessible mental health care options for you and your family members. (COURTESY PHOTO)

Military hospital or clinic mental health services If you get care at a military hospital or clinic, you may be able to get virtual mental health services there. Contact your provider for more information. If you’re an active duty service member, you need a referral and pre-authorization from your primary care manager.

Behavioral Health Resources and Virtual Experience In certain locations, the Defense Health Agency’s Behavioral Health Resources and Virtual Experience, or BRAVE, helps get patients quicker access to mental health resources. BRAVE supports local mental health services with video appointments at facilities where mental health services may

be in short supply.

BRAVE is primarily for active duty service members. Overseas, it’s also available to adult active duty family members. BRAVE began with 16 military hospitals and clinics and has since expanded to 84 locations in the U.S., Europe, and Indo-Pacific, with plans to add more.

Overseas Do you live outside the U.S.? You can still use virtual mental health services if: The care is a TRICARE-covered benefit and is appropriate for virtual health.

The country where you get care allows virtual health.

The provider is TRICARE-authorized and has a license to practice in the country where you get care. (Note: U.S.-based providers aren’t eligible to provide virtual health visits overseas.)

The provider knows your location and how to contact help in a medical or mental

Do you have TRICARE For Life? You may have heard that Medicare has recently changed its virtual health coverage. As of Oct. 1, 2025, you must be in an office or medical facility located in a rural area (in the U.S.) for most virtual health services. However, you can still get virtual mental health services (including substance use disorder services) from your home.

Remember to check what Medicare and TRICARE cover before scheduling an appointment. TRICARE pays first if Medicare doesn’t cover a service.

What you need To use virtual mental health services, you need: A computer or smartphone (for video care) A telephone (for telephone-only care) A secure phone or internet connection Referrals or pre-authorizations (if required)

Costs Virtual health costs are similar to in-person costs. Your costs depend on who you are, your health plan, and your type of appointment. Note that you’ll need to pay your usual cost-shares and copayments for virtual visits.

TRICARE remains committed to helping you unlock your health through accessible mental health care options for you and your family members.

Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center earns and maintains an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

By Reese Brown

Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — The Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center (ATAMMC) announced that it has once again received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for Fall 2025, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement in providing high-quality care to its patients.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized with an ‘A’ grade from The Leapfrog Group, reflecting our team’s unwavering commitment to patient safety and high-quality care,” said Col. Gina Adam, ATAMMC Director.

“Achieving our third A in a row is a testament to our dedicated healthcare profes-

sionals, whose daily efforts ensure a safe environment for our patients and community. At ATAMMC, we prioritize continuous improvement, rigorous safety protocols, and a culture of excellence to meet and exceed national standards. We are honored to serve those who serve our nation, and this grade reaffirms our pledge to excellence in all aspects of care.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade program allows all participating hospitals to benchmark their safety efforts on a national level. Updated twice per year, the grades evaluate 22 evidence-based measures of patient safety and make it easier for patients to understand the safety standards of their local health care facilities. In the Fall

2025 ratings, 32% of participating hospitals nationwide received the highest grade. Of the eligible military hospitals participating in the grading assessment, 90% received an “A” grade.

“We hope these latest Hospital Safety Grades inspire our patients’ confidence in the quality and safety of care they receive,” said Dr. Paul Cordts, DHA’s Deputy Assistant Director for Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer. “This distinction belongs to the entire team of professionals at ATAMMC who are dedicated to meeting the highest safety standards in the United States.”

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade program is run by the Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog that advocates

for improved patient safety in health care.

The program is peer-reviewed, fully transparent, and free to the public.

The Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center is a 120-bed, 1.3 million-squarefoot military medical center serving a regional population of 250,000 personnel with 90,000 enrollees receiving inpatient and specialty care services supported by 55 specialty clinics, a Warrior Pavilion (for combat injured/wounded/ill), Inpatient Addictions Program, DiLorenzo Pentagon Health Clinic, and two satellite family health centers at Dumfries and Fairfax, Va.

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, January 8, 2026

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Kick off the new year with nutritious, energyboosting, egg-inspired breakfasts Page C4

U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. David Cox, assistant drum major,“The Commandant’s Own”, United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, marches with the band during the Navy and Marine Corps“Homecoming 250”Parade in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 13, 2025. The event honors 250 years of Marine Corps legacy, tradition, and service by giving Philadelphia residents and visitors the opportunity to connect with Marines and Sailors, learn about the Corps’values of honor, courage, and commitment, and experience community engagement events, static displays and performances from the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 250. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY CPL. CHRISTOPHER PRELLE)

Navy and Marine Corps “Homecoming 250” Parade marches through Philadelphia

U.S. Marines with the official United States Marine Corps Color Guard march and display the colors during the Navy and Marine Corps“Homecoming 250”Parade in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 13, 2025. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY CPL. CHRISTOPHER PRELLE)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Cameron Holmes, rifle inspector, left, and Cpl. Jacob Brown, right, rifleman, both with the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, Marine Barracks Washington, execute the“double inspection”sequence during a performance for the Navy and Marine Corps“Homecoming 250”Parade in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 13, 2025. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY CPL. CHRISTOPHER PRELLE)

Recruit Military is hosting two upcoming hiring and career events for the military community on Jan 15 & 16 Joint Base Langley-Eustis & Hampton Area Military Community Hiring Event Hampton Roads Convention Center 1610 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA 23666 Thursday, January 15, 2026 | 11:00 AM — 3:00 PM This hiring event is open to all members of the military community, including transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, National Guard and Reserve members, and dependents. Employers will be hiring across a wide range of industries, offering local, national, remote, entry-level, and senior-level opportunities.

Registration and event details: https://my.recruitmilitary.com/events/jb-langley-eustis-area-veterans-job-fair-january-15-2026

JEB Little Creek Retiree Summit — Career Fair & MWR Expo Rockwell Hall Gym, JEB Little Creek (On-Base Event) Friday, January 16, 2026 | 9:00 AM — 1:00 PM This is an on-base event; base access is required to participate. All individuals with authorized base access are welcome to attend, including military retirees, transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, and dependents with military IDs. The event features employers, veteran and retiree resources, and a health fair (including flu shots). RecruitMilitary is proud to sponsor the Career Fair portion of the summit, supporting meaningful employment connections for the military community.

Additional information and registration: www.navylifema.com/Summit

INSIDE: Check out Flagship Values, your source for automobiles, employment, real estate and more! PAGE C6

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, January 8, 2026

Community SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS, NEWS AND PHOTOS

The Flagship welcomes submissions from our readers online.

Please submit events here: www.militarynews.com/users/admin/calendar/event/ Please submit news and photos here: www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/submit_news/

Virginia Arts Festival announces its 2026 season – Dozens of performances including classical music, dance, theater, film, rock, family, and more in venues throughout Hampton Roads Press Release Virginia Arts Festival will light up stages throughout Hampton Roads in 2026 as they celebrate their 29th anniversary season, bringing acclaimed artists from around the world.

“It’s amazing and gratifying to see how much we have grown since 1997 and most of all, it is inspiring.” said the Festival’s Perry Artistic Director Rob Cross. “We look forward to bringing you great performances of classical music and dance, alongside jazz, rock, folk, world and more. And this season marks one of our busiest years yet.”

Throughout southeastern Virginia, Virginia Arts Festival will fill the calendar from November 2025 through June 2026. Tickets for all performances are on sale now at vafest.org, 757-282-2822, and in person at Virginia Arts Festival box office (440 Bank Street in Norfolk).

Macon & Joan Brock Dance Series Always innovative and rooted in technical excellence, athleticism, emotion, and grace, BalletX performs March 5 for the Festival’s Connie & Marc Jacobson Opening Night Celebration. The uniquely American art form of tap dance explodes April 21 & 23 as Dorrance

century composers, Borromeo String Quartet has been hailed for its “edge-of-the-seat performances” by the Boston Globe. They perform here April 13 at Chrysler Museum with the Verona Quartet, hailed as an “outstanding ensemble…cohesive yet full of temperament” by The New York Times, in a special octet collaboration.

The electrifying Australian Orava Quartet was founded in 2007 by brothers Daniel Kowalik (violin) and Karol Kowalik (cello), and friends Thomas Chawner (viola) and David Dalseno (violin). Known for their engaging performances, catch them June 3 & 4 with the Festival’s Director of Chamber Music and Van Cliburn gold medalist, pianist Olga Kern.

Alexandre Da Costa is renowned for his passionate violin as well as his roles as Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Orchestre Philharmonique du Québec and Principal Guest Conductor of the Orquesta Sinfónica Sinaloa de las Artes. He performs June 9 - 11 with Cuban-American cellist Tommy Mesa, whose dazzling performance style is “a masterclass in virtuosic playing” (Tucson.com).

Passion and fire—the perfect complement to the thrilling performance style of Olga Kern.

Virginia Arts Festival’s annual Coffee Concerts Series returns, showcasing chamber music as it was meant to be heard - the communion of gifted artists in intimate, beau-

Virginia Beach with Brent Havens, conductor and MiG Ayesa, vocalist.

Four musicians destined to be seminal pioneers of popular music — Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash — gathered, impromptu, in a recording studio.

April 24 in the Perry Pavilion, One Night in Memphis captures that historic session, performed live and starring former Broadway stars.

Musical Theater Cabaret favorite Meow Meow returns to Virginia Arts Festival March 30 - 31. “There are not many women who can stun an audience into pin-drop silence with an exquisitely delivered torch song one moment and rock the rafters with laughter the next” (The Evening Standard UK).

Two-time Tony® Award winner Adrienne Warren (Shuffle Along, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical) grew up right here in Hampton Roads.

May 16, catch this hometown superstar in an evening of song from Broadway, pop and beyond!

Jazz Nine-time GRAMMY® Award winner Christian McBride is a prolific bandleader; his ensembles are each distinctive extensions of his

tor May 9, bringing the fire and beauty of Miles Davis and John Coltrane to life in a night of swing, innovation, and fearless creativity.

World Born in Oujda in the East of Morocco, The Leila performs June 6 in a passionate performance of music inspired by the many musical styles of Morocco. Kayce Laine will bring her Elevated Soundbath to the Festival April 25 featuring crystal bowls, gong, ocean drum, synth bass, and live ambient vocals. This immersive journey will guide you to release tension, reset your energy, and relax on a deep, cellular level.

Tattoo The Virginia International Tattoo returns April 16 - 19. The Tattoo summons more than 800 performers from the U.S. and abroad each year, including fife and drum corps, bagpipers, military bands, precision drill teams, and performing ensembles ranging from step dancers to motorcycle stunt drivers. The Tattoo has become a number one U.S. destination for travelers (American Bus Association’s Best of the Best and a Top 100 Event in North America).

Theater The original rom-com! A rapturous, fresh take on one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays, The Acting Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a captivating, coming-of-age story that will surprise and delight in this pre-season performance January 16! Then, be inspired March 29 by the bio-play about groundbreaking Supreme Court Justice, All Things Equal: The Life & Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Family In Peppa Pig: My First Concert April 12, families will see Peppa Pig, along with Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig, George and baby sister Evie, learn all about the different sounds that instruments make together. Family audiences will enjoy some of their favorite music from the show played by a live orchestra and discover some other exciting orchestral pieces perfect for children.

Dance leads “a visual, auditory, and rhythmic delight from beginning to end” (LA Dance Chronicle) led by MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Michelle Dorrance.

Dance Theatre of Harlem returns to the Festival, this time bringing one of the company’s most beloved signature works: Firebird, to Norfolk March 20-22; the piece has been re-mounted and will be performed in Norfolk for the first time in over 20 years. With John Taras’ masterful choreography, Igor Stravinsky’s iconic score (1945 version) performed live with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and Geoffrey Holder’s dazzling costumes and sets, Firebird is a feast for the senses. The company will also perform a mixed repertory program on March 24 in Newport News.

Classical Music With a career spanning almost four decades, GRAMMY® Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell is one of the most celebrated artists of his era. He has performed all over the world, and is Music Director of the legendary chamber orchestra The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. This master violinist and superb ensemble perform together March 7 in Newport News and March 8 in Virginia Beach.

In his solo program, GRAMMY® Award-winning mandolinist, singer, composer, and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Chris Thile brings his signature blend of virtuosity, humor, and heart to the stage for A Solo Evening of Music with Chris Thile at the Perry Pavilion June 12.

Virginia Arts Festival and Virginia Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the music of one of Hampton Roads’ finest artists, composer Adolphus Hailstork, in celebration of his 85th birthday April 30. To make this special evening even more spectacular, GRAMMY® Award winner JoAnn Falletta returns for one night only to conduct a performance that includes pianist Stewart Goodyear and the acclaimed Norfolk State University Chorus.

Finding Peace at Potsdam May 29 & 30 is a musical journey through history with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Eric Jacobsen, conductor. In 1945 Potsdam, the fate of post-World War II Europe would be decided, in an Allied summit that included President Harry Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin. At that momentous meeting, music was performed and became a uniting factor in the tense negotiations. Experience the music of Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Kreisler, and more, woven together with insights that reveal the surprising role Hampton Roads played in this pivotal chapter of history.

Chamber The Festival’s Connie & Marc Jacobson Director of Chamber Music, pianist Olga Kern will perform throughout the spring season and once again curate an incredible Chamber Music Series. The series features the Borromeo String Quartet, the Orava Quartet, and the Virginia Arts Festival Chamber Players in beautiful venues and settings around the region.

Admired and sought after for both its fresh interpretations of the classical music canon and its championing of works by 20th and 21st

Guitar Brazilian-born brothers Sérgio and Odair Assad have created a new standard of guitar expression, with exceptional artistry and uncanny ensemble-playing informed by a deep family musical tradition. March 12, savor a compelling blend of styles, periods and cultures including classical, folk, jazz and Latin music in the duo’s farewell tour.

Recital First Prize and Audience Prize winner of the 2022 American Guild of Organists BalletX (above) will perform as part of the Virginia Arts Festival’s Macon and Joan Brock Dance Series on March 6, 2026. The Virginia International Tattoo (right) will have several performances in Norfolk April 16-19, 2026. (VIRGINIA ARTS FESTIVAL PHOTOS)

tiful settings, among music lovers and friends. After each performance, audience members can mingle with the performers, a lovely postscript to a perfect concert experience. Olga Kern will perform May 21 - 22 in Coffee Concerts I & II with the VAF Chamber Players; Orava Quartet will perform June 5 in Coffee Concert III; and the series will be rounded out by Alexandre Da Costa, Tommy Mesa, and Olga Kern June 10 - 11 in Coffee Concerts IV & V. This season, the Virginia Arts Festival Chamber Players features Brendon Elliott, violin; Elizabeth Vonderheide, violin; Beverly Kane Baker, viola; Michael Daniels, cello; Debra Wendells Cross, flute; Alexander Mayer, oboe; Christopher Creviston, saxophone; and Barbara Chapman, harp.

Film with Orchestra Feel the need for speed as the Festival partners with Virginia Symphony Orchestra June 13 on a thrilling screening of the film Top Gun: Maverick with the film score performed live by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The original score was done by Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga and Hans Zimmer, and produced

by Lorne Balfe. A Royal Albert Hall production.

With thanks to esk film.

Rock “We Will Rock You”, “We Are The Champions”, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, the list of Queen anthems goes on and on and on… and now you can relive the thrill of a live Queen concert with full symphony orchestra as the Virginia Symphony Orchestra performs in this unforgettable concert from Windborne Productions: Music of Queen: A Rock Symphony May 15 in

creative inspiration, which span jazz, funk, soul, Latin, hip hop and rhythm and blues. His newest group Ursa Major performs May 17, emphasizing his role as an early presenter of rising stars.

For more than 30 years, GRAMMY® Award winning vocal ensemble New York Voices has set the high bar for jazz vocal artistry. June 4, they perform at Virginia Arts Festival in their much-anticipated final tour. Hear jazz standards, big band classics, and more in a poignant, unforgettable tribute to the art of jazz.

Reflecting a blend of cultures, Mexican singer Lucía performs April 7. She has captured the hearts of audiences and critics, mixing a virtuosic jazz sensibility with deep Mexican traditional and folk music roots.

Considered Europe’s best, Danish Radio Big Band will be here February 22 in a pre-season Virginia Arts Festival debut! This storied big band has a rich history of powerhouse performances. They are joined by conductor Miho Hazama and one of today’s most sought-after and style-setting jazz vocalists, the always-thrilling Cécile McLorin Salvant.

A virtuoso gathering of some of the best jazz players you’ve ever heard join to form the Attucks Jazz Orchestra with Todd Stoll, direc-

National Young Artist Competition in Organ Performance, James Kealey is a young lion of the organ and performs here May 10. A recent recital was hailed by The American Organist: “A deeply satisfying performance.

Kealey used the organ beautifully, finding its color.”

Williamsburg Live Williamsburg Live returns in 2026, this time adding a fourth night: June 25 — 28 on the Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.

Under the shade trees on the lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, what will you find? A music-filled stage, fresh local food, regional craft beers and more. Come early to enjoy local food trucks, craft beer & wine. Southeastern Virginia’s craft beer scene is hopping, and the local food trucks will enhance your Williamsburg Live experience. Current lineup includes Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, with special guest Theo Lawrence. Additional headliners to be announced.

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, January 8, 2026

Food

Kick off the new year with nutritious, energy-boosting, egg-inspired breakfasts

By Family Features

Source: American Heart Association

When planning meals, particularly breakfasts, there are a few critical factors many families consider: taste, simplicity and nutrition. Eating healthier doesn’t have to be complicated or out of reach. With the right inspiration, healthy food can be delicious, nutritious and convenient.

By choosing ingredients like eggs, which are easy to use and versatile, you can make healthy living fit into your life at the breakfast table as part of a balanced diet. For example, these egg-inspired recipes are part of the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good Eat Smart initiative, nationally supported by Eggland’s Best.

In addition to the social and emotional benefits of dining together, shared family meals can help promote healthier choices at the table. Backed by expert nutrition guidance, recipes such as Turkey Bacon and Spinach Quiche with Sweet Potato Crust are wholesome, flavorful and fast, perfect for busy weekdays or anytime you need a nutritious boost. The sweet potato crust offers a betterfor-you twist on ready-made or traditional crusts made with butter, and it can be served with slices of honeydew or berries for an added touch of sweetness.

For a protein-rich dish any day of the week, Broccoli and Cheese Egg White Scramble on Whole-Wheat English Muffins can help you solve the morning rush.

Or for a true timesaver, these Egg “Muffin” Cups with Turkey Sausage and Mushrooms can be made over the weekend and frozen or refrigerated for quick, go-to meals throughout the week.

Remember, healthy eating isn’t just about one food - it’s about a combination of wholesome ingredients to make well-rounded meals. For example, eggs can be included as part of a heart-healthy diet that emphasizes vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and seeds, whole grains, lean protein and fish, according to the American Heart Association.

Eating eggs alongside foods high in saturated fat - like bacon - is different than eggs eaten with steamed veggies, whole grains or a side of fruit.

To find more healthy eating tips and recipes that help you eat smart, move more and live healthier, visit Heart. org.

Turkey Bacon and Spinach Quiche with Sweet Potato Crust Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association with support from Eggland’s Best Servings: 5 Nonstick cooking spray 1 medium sweet potato, peeled 1 teaspoon canola or corn oil 1 medium yellow onion, diced 6 slices uncured, nitrate-free turkey bacon, thinly sliced 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed ¾ teaspoon dried dillweed, crumbled ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper 4 large egg whites 2 large eggs ¼ cup fat-free milk 1 ½ tablespoons fat-free feta cheese Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly spray 9-inch pie pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In medium bowl, using box grater, grate sweet potato.

Measure out 2 cups. Gently press sweet potato on bottom and up sides of pan, forming crust. Sweet potato will be loose but will hold together once cooked.

Bake 20 minutes, or until crust is cooked. Remove from oven. Let stand to cool. Reduce oven temperature to 350 F. In medium skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat, swirling to coat bottom. Cook onion 6 minutes, or until almost translucent, stirring frequently. Add turkey bacon.

Cook 3-4 minutes, or until onion and bacon begin to brown, stirring frequently. Add spinach, dillweed, salt and pepper. Cook 1-2 minutes, or until water from spinach is released. Remove from heat. Transfer mixture into sweet potato crust.

In medium bowl, whisk egg whites, eggs and milk. Pour over mixture in crust. Sprinkle feta over top.

Bake 35-40 minutes, or until knife inserted into center comes out clean. Transfer to cooling rack. Let cool 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.

Broccoli and Cheese Egg White Scramble on Whole-Wheat English Muffins Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association with support from Eggland’s Best Servings: 4 Nonstick cooking spray 1 ½ cups finely chopped fresh or frozen broccoli florets, thawed if frozen ¼ cup water 8 extra-large egg whites ½ cup fat-free milk ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper ¼ cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese 2 whole-wheat, low-sodium English muffins Lightly spray large skillet with nonstick cooking spray.

Heat over medium-high heat. Cook broccoli and water 4-5 minutes, or until broccoli is tender. Remove from heat.

Transfer broccoli to dish. Using paper towels, wipe skillet clean.

In large bowl, whisk egg whites, milk and pepper until combined.

Lightly spray skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Pour in egg white mixture. Cook 2-3 minutes, or until almost firm, stirring constantly with spatula. Stir in broccoli and cheddar cheese. Remove from heat.

Just before serving, split and toast English muffins.

Transfer to plates. Spoon egg mixture onto muffins.

Egg “Muffin” Cups with Turkey Sausage and Mushrooms Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association with support from Eggland’s Best Servings: 6 Nonstick cooking spray ½ tablespoon canola or corn oil 1 yellow onion, finely chopped

1 package (8 ounces) sliced white mushrooms 1 package (6.4 ounces) frozen, cooked, nitrate-free turkey sausage links, thawed 7 large eggs ¼ cup fat-free milk ¼ teaspoon pepper 1 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly spray 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In medium nonstick pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onions and mushrooms 10 minutes, or until soft, stirring occasionally.

Warm turkey sausage according to package directions.

Chop turkey into bite-size pieces. Stir into onion mixture until well blended. Spoon into muffin cups.

In small bowl, whisk eggs, milk and pepper. Pour egg mixture into muffin cups. Top with cheddar cheese.

Bake 25 minutes, or until eggs are set. Remove from oven. Let cool slightly. To easily remove muffins from pan, run knife around edges of each muffin.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, January 8, 2026 5

Health

Getting married? Here’s what you need to know about your TRICARE benefit

By TRICARE Communications FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Getting married is an exciting milestone in your life! It’s also a time when many changes come along, including changes to your health coverage.

Whether you’re a service member, a retiree, or marrying someone who is, it’s important to understand how marriage can affect your TRICARE eligibility and coverage.

“There is sometimes a misconception that TRICARE benefits will update automatically after you get married, but that’s not the case,” said Shane Pham, an analyst with TRICARE Policy and Programs at the Defense Health Agency. “If you don’t add your spouse to the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, they won’t be able to use TRICARE. A small step makes a big difference.”

Marriage is a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event, meaning that you have 90 days from the date of marriage to make any changes to your TRICARE health plan. Spouses of service members are eligible for coverage, including active duty spouses, retiree spouses, and National Guard and Reserve spouses.

Stepchildren are also eligible for TRICARE if the parent of the child and the sponsor are married. The sponsor doesn’t need to adopt the stepchildren. But if the sponsor does adopt stepchildren, they may be eligible to keep their TRICARE coverage even if their parent divorces the sponsor.

Update DEERS After getting married, one of the most important steps is to update your information in DEERS in person. DEERS is a database that TRICARE uses to determine eligibility. You must update DEERS within 90 days of your marriage to make changes to your TRICARE plan.

Although there are many changes you can make online in DEERS, you must add your spouse in person. You can visit any Uniformed Services ID card office to add your spouse and any stepchildren to DEERS. Make sure that you bring your: Marriage certificate Spouse’s birth certificate Spouse’s Social Security card Spouse’s photo ID

Choosing the right health plan for your family Once you’ve added your spouse and any stepchildren to DEERS, you can enroll them in a TRICARE plan. The options available depend on your status and where you live.

Options include: TRICARE Prime TRICARE Select US Family Health Plan

Marriage is a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event, meaning that you have 90 days from the date of marriage to make any changes to your TRICARE health plan. Spouses of service members are eligible for coverage, including active duty spouses, retiree spouses, and National Guard and Reserve spouses.

TRICARE Prime Demo (available only in Atlanta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida areas) TRICARE Select Overseas TRICARE For Life (Note: Enrollment isn’t required for TFL. Your coverage is automatic if you have Medicare Part A and Part B and you’re eligible for TRICARE.) For active duty families, other options may include: TRICARE Prime Remote TRICARE Prime Overseas TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas If you and your spouse are both active duty service members, you’ll each have your own DEERS profile. If you and your partner have children, you’ll need to choose one parent to be their sponsor in DEERS.

Dental coverage Your spouse is also eligible for dental coverage. This isn’t automatically covered in TRICARE medical plans. As described in the TRICARE Dental Program Brochure, the TRICARE Dental Program is available for family members of ADSMs and National Guard and Reserve members. In some cases, retirees and their family members may be

eligible for dental insurance through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program.

Vision options Eligible beneficiaries who are enrolled in a TRICARE health plan can also enroll in a vision plan through FEDVIP. Eligible beneficiaries include: Active duty family members National Guard and Reserve members and their family members Retirees and their family members

When marriage may mean loss of coverage In some cases, getting married may actually mean that you’ll lose TRICARE eligibility. In the following situations, getting married causes your eligibility to end: A surviving (widowed) spouse remarries A former spouse remarries An adult child using TRICARE Young Adult gets married (unless they marry a service member)

If any of these applies to you or a family member, it’s important to plan ahead. Losing TRICARE eligibility means you’ll need to explore other health coverage options to avoid a gap in care.

Take steps to safeguard your growing family Marriage is a major life milestone—and it’s also a TRICARE Qualifying Life Event.

Within 90 days from your date of marriage, add your spouse in DEERS and make any necessary changes to your TRICARE plan.

For more information, check out Marriage.

Getting married means building a life together, including making sure your spouse has health benefits. With a few simple steps, you can make sure that your TRICARE benefits support your growing family from day one.

Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit TRICARE Subscriptions to get benefit updates, news, and more.

Keep your pet safe this winter with these helpful tips

By Family Features While some dogs prefer to be outdoors regardless of the weather, the cold and often snowy and icy conditions winter brings can pose serious threats to their health.

Much like the well-publicized challenges of keeping your four-legged family members healthy during the warmer weather, it’s important for pet owners to be aware of the unique threats that can arise during colder conditions.

Recognizing Cold Weather Hazards Winter weather can pose various hazards to pets, including frostbite and hypothermia. Dogs left outside for extended periods, particularly those with short coats or pre-existing health conditions, are at greater risk. It’s essential to limit exposure to extreme cold, provide adequate shelter and recognize the symptoms of winter-related illnesses.

Signs of hypothermia include shivering, lethargy and pale gums. Frostbite may present as discolored, cold skin, particularly on extremities like ears, paws and tails.

Protecting Your Pet’s Skin and Paws in Winter Cold, dry air can cause pets’ skin to become dry and flaky. Regular grooming and moisturizing can help maintain their skin’s health. Consider using pet-safe moisturizers and avoid bathing them too frequently, as it can strip natural oils.

Additionally, be cautious of salt and de-icing chemicals, which can irritate dogs’ paws and skin. Protect their paws by using booties or applying a pet-safe balm to help prevent cracks and irritation caused by ice, salt and cold surfaces. If not covering paws, always clean them after walks to check for any signs of injury or discomfort and consider using pet-safe ice melters.

(SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO)

Adjusting Diets for Winter During the winter months, dogs may require a different diet to maintain their energy levels and body heat. Consult with your veterinarian about adjusting your fourlegged friend’s food intake, especially if his or her activity level changes. Monitor your pet’s weight and adjust feeding portions as needed to prevent obesity or malnutrition.

Also ensure your pet has access to fresh water, as dehydration can still occur in cold

weather. In fact, warm water may encourage pets to drink more.

Keeping Pets Safe Indoors If your winter pet safety plan includes keeping your dog indoors more often, ensure you provide him or her a warm and comfortable place to rest. Avoid placing your pet’s bed near drafty windows or doors, cold tile floors or uninsulated areas.

Also be mindful of potential hazards such

as space heaters, fireplaces, holiday decorations and chemicals such as antifreeze, which is toxic to dogs. Keep them out of reach to prevent burns or accidental ingestion.

If you notice any unusual behavior or symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. Early intervention can prevent severe complications and ensure your furry friend remains healthy throughout the winter months. Find more tips to help keep your pets happy and healthy all year long at eLivingtoday.com.

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, January 8, 2026

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, January 8, 2026 7

Crossword

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, January 8, 2026

RAIN OR SHINE, MY MEDICATION SUPPLY WON’T RUN DRY.

BEFORE A DISASTER STRIKES, TAKE CONTROL. ASSESS YOUR NEEDS

MAKE A PLAN

ENGAGE YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK

When it comes to disasters and emergencies, it’s not a matter of if, but when. Let’s prepare so we all have a better story to tell.

Get started at Ready.gov/OlderAdults