August 28, 2014 – Skywriter

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What’s Inside...

Public Affairs Officer

Greg A. Kuntz Assistant Public Affairs Officer

Learn to Sponsor incoming Sailors See page 4

Fall Time is School Time

See page 6

Courtney E. Pollock Leading Petty Officer MC1(SW/AW) Barry Riley

Editor MC3 Ryan G. Greene Skywriter Staff MC2 Kegan E. Kay MC3 Ryan G. Greene Host Nation Relations Masako Takakura Sumie Maruyama Ikumi Tanaka Webmaster Noriko Yamazaki Contributors

Powering Down Vulnerabilities

Let's Learn Happy Birthday!

O tanjobi omedeto!

MWR Marketing Fleet and Family Support Center Commissary Public Affairs Navy Exchange Public Affairs NAF Atsugi Tenant Commands

We want to spotlight people who are doing See page 8 good things for NAF Atsugi. If you have someone you’d like to recommend or to submit a photo, please e-mail:at-pao@fe.navy.mil

The NAFAtsugi Spolight

When is your birthday?

Anata no o tanjobi wa itsu desu ka?

How old are you now?

Ima nansai desu ka?

I’m 25 years old.

Watashi wa nijugo sai desu.

What do you want for your birthday?

O tanjobi presento wa nani ga ii desu ka.

ON THE COVER

Click the image to watch how to make a real meal in your barracks room. One part of the 21st Century Sailor program is nutrition and eating healthy. MC2 Kay demonstrates how to cook “Manly Chicken with Spicy Vegetables” from the Navy Bachelor Housing Barracks Cookbook. For more recipes from the Barracks Cookbook please visit here.

For more information regarding the 21st Century Sailor program click here.

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Machinery Repairman 1st Class Porfirio Yldefonso illustrates proper maintenance for the equipment used in the Airframe shop at Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) Atsugi. AIMD is responsible for mid-level repairs for U.S. Navy aircraft parts and equipment.

Photo by MC3 Ryan G. Greene.

CNO and MCPON Talk Leadership Story by CNO Public Affairs Office

Bangor, Wash.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens discuss leadership in the latest chapter of “Conversation with a Shipmate.”

During a trip to the Pacific Northwest region the two leaders sat for an interview with Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Fred Gray to talk about an essential aspect of military service.

“For well over the two hundred years of this great Navy of ours somebody has to lead, has to define the reality to people, their reality and why they are doing what they are doing and what the mission is,” said Greenert.

Leadership is the foundation of the Navy and its heritage, Greenert added.

During the interview Greenert made two main points about leadership, integrity and character. He said integrity is the foundation of leadership and Sailors have to believe and trust each other. Number two, leaders must have character with a foundation of good ethical behavior. And MCPON highlighted during the interview the need to develop leaders calling it his number one priority.

“If we hope to continue to get better as a Navy,” said Stevens, “we have a responsibility to always seek ways to improve leadership and leadership opportunities.”

Greenert and Stevens gave the interview Aug. 6, the day after the FY2015 Chief Petty Officer advancement list came out. They welcomed the opportunity to discuss senior enlisted leadership development.

Speaking on the controversy surrounding the changes made to the Chief’s training process with the inception of CPO365; MCPON thanked the worldwide Chief’s mess for implementing the program so effectively.

“I never asked it to be easy, I want it to be hard, testing and challenging,” said Stevens.

“I believe we can accomplish that while also treating one another with the dignity and respect I often talk about.”

Greenert recalled three Chief Petty Officers he has encountered in his over 40 years of naval service as instrumental leaders and mentors, as he called them out by name.

Photo by MCC Peter Lawlor

“You ask any officer, somebody sat them down at some time and brought them along,” said Greenert.

“The CPO Mess takes care of our officer corps, the lead the vast majority of the Navy and directs the work that gets done day in and day out.”

Both leaders stressed the fact that though senior enlisted and officers need to set the moral example, leadership is something that needs to be cultivated throughout every rank in a military member’s career.

“Where there are two Sailors, there will always be at least one leader,” said Stevens.

“So to me leadership has no rank. Leadership is something that everyone is responsible for, and must embrace.”

“I need our E-1s and O-1s to understand the foundational pieces, number one integrity. They have to understand integrity and understand the basics,” said Greenert who went on to highlight the importance of integrity, trust and good character in the Navy when people are watching and not watching. “You can’t go to sea, with 200 to 300 people and not have trust in them,” he said.

Revitalizing incremental leadership such as the Petty Officer leadership and the Senior Enlisted Academy requirements has been a priority for both Greenert and Stevens during their tenures as the top Navy leaders.

Lastly, both leaders answered the question, ‘are leaders born or bred?’

“You take someone who can communicate and you give them a foundation of character, understanding of integrity, teach them the importance of a professional skill and you’ve got a nice mixture of a great leader,” said Greenert.

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Sponsoring Sailo

Story by MC3 Ryan G. Greene

said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Steven Morones, of Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) Squadron 51.

“I didn’t have a very good sponsor when I first came to Atsugi, so to be able to go through the class now means I’m going to have the chance to set someone else up for success.”

It’s important for all Sailors to be knowledgeable and aware of what the process is for helping an incoming Sailor be prepared, Moore added.

The biggest hurdle to overcome before the prospective member arrives is housing, according to NAF Atsugi Assistant Housing Manager Ron Singer.

“It’s important that we know when someone is coming in, because when they get here, we need to make sure there’s a place for them to sleep,” said Singer. “The thing we stress most to our customers is if their Sailor isn’t going to be staying in the barracks, they need to get a statement of non-availability from Unaccompanied Housing in Building 1290. From there we can get the member set up in either the towers or at the Navy Lodge.”

If a member is going to be coming to the Navy Lodge, it’s important to make a reservation for the incoming member as soon as possible, added Navy Lodge General Manager Michelle Wicker.

“I can’t count how many times we’ve had Sailors just show up saying they’re in need of a room to stay in because their sponsor wasn’t able to get their paperwork done ahead of time,” said Wicker. “This means the member has to pay upfront and that can often be an expensive route to go.”

The Navy will reimburse a Sailor for up to 60 days through a program called temporary lodging assistance (TLA), whereby a member pays the costs upfront and turns in all receipts and expenses to their Personnel Support Detachment (PSD) for verification, submission and reimbursement.

According to Moore, it is important that people tell their incoming Sailors that they shouldn’t bring many, if any, of their house hold goods or pets.

“Japanese houses are smaller than the average house in the U.S. and many don’t allow animals,” said Moore. “That means that your eight person couch and Lazy Boy recliner isn’t going to fit through the

Photo by MC2 Felicito A. Rustique Jr.

NAF Atsugi Public Affairs Office

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves can often be daunting and challenging. For this reason the Navy has promoted the concept of sponsorship throughout the fleet.

For Sailors aboard Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, becoming a sponsor is not only easy, but can be completed in less than two hours at the Fleet and Family Service Center (FFSC).

“This is an important program. When our Sailors are leave this brief, they’re prepared to help the next wave of Sailors coming to [NAF] Atsugi,” said FFSC Sponsorship Program Director Maria Moore. “In two hours I’m able to teach and explain how to help calm the nerves and prepare everyone from first tour Sailors to the salty master chiefs for their arrival here in Japan.”

The brief, which is held monthly at FFSC, covers all the things a sponsor is required to do before and after the prospective member arrives.

“This was hugely helpful for me as a first time sponsor,” 4

ors for Success

Photo Illustration by MC2 Kegan E. Kay

well taken care of, adds Moore.

“There’s this concept that in the first 72 hours, a Sailor will basically make up his or her mind about their new command,” said Moore. “That’s literally the most critical time for the sponsors to be both active and energetic with their Sailors, getting them out to see Japan and all it has to offer really will make a night and day difference.”

I have no doubt that with a strong and knowledgeable sponsor, it would have been so much less stress for me and my family in trying to get to Japan and then get out on the town, said Morones.

“It’s so important that the sponsors we’re training here are ready to help their relief,” said Moore. “Without the sponsors here to help guide and direct their Sailors in what they do, and don’t need before coming over here, there would be so much more confusion and frustration in trying to get established here, I’m sure.”

Japanese doors.”

The NAF Atsugi housing office recommends leaving all major items like washing machines and dishwashers back home in the states, as they’re often too big and to fit into a traditional Japanese home.

It’s the same for on-base housing, Singer added.

The apartments and townhomes come equipped with standard washing machines and dryers and where furniture is concerned; it’s advised that it wait Stateside until all housing paperwork is finalized.

“Many people bring most if not all their stuff here to Japan, and I always ask why,” said Singer. “The response is often because they didn’t know not to and that’s a problem. People need to know that once they’re here and their settled in their home, then it’s a good idea to start bringing stuff over, but before then it’s going to spend a lot of time in storage bins.”

It’s also important to the Navy that its Sailors are being 5

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Tuition Assistance Policy Changing in FY-15 Story by NETC Public Affairs Office Virgina Beach, Va.

Effective immediately, commanding officers and officersin-charge may approve waivers to the one-year requirement that Sailors must be on board their first permanent duty station (PDS) to be eligible for Tuition Assistance (TA) according to NAVADMIN 190/14 released Aug. 21.

In addition to command triad waiver approval, Sailors must meet all existing requirements for participation eligibility.

The NAVADMIN also detailed changes to the grade and fee policy for TA for courses stating after 1 Oct. to align with recent Department of Defense TA policy.

Successful course completion will be defined as a grade of “C” or higher for undergraduate courses, a “B” or higher for graduate courses, and a “Pass” for “Pass/Fail” grades and must be attained to avoid reimbursement of TA funding. Reimbursement will also be required from Sailors

who don’t make up a grade of “I” (incomplete) by the educational institutions’ deadline or six months after the completion of the class, whichever comes first.

Also changing Oct. 1, only tuition directly related to the course of instruction - and not including fees - will be paid with TA funds. Fees no longer covered by TA include equipment, supplies, books/ materials, exams, admissions, registration, fines and costs associated with distance learning.

These changes align the Navy’s policy with Department of Defense Instruction 1322.25 for Voluntary Education (VOLED) programs covering policies for service members’ use of TA. “Historically, more than 85 percent of Sailors satisfactorily complete and pass their undergraduate and/or graduate level classes; this is a tribute

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to the focus and dedication of the Sailors using VOLED programs,” said Ernest D’Antonio, the Center for Personal and Professional Development’s (CPPD) Navy VOLED program director.

In Fiscal Year 2013, approximately 89 percent of courses paid for by TA were successfully passed, with 72 percent of those courses resulting in an “A” or “B” grade, according to D’Antonio.

Sailors not successfully completing courses using TA must reimburse the Navy for TA funds.

For more information Sailors can contact their local Navy College Office, Virtual Education Center (VEC) or the Navy College Program website here.

For more information about the Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD), visit here.

For more news from the Center for Personal and Professional Development, visit here.

Power Outages Prevent Power Vulnerabilities Story by MC2 Kegan E. Kay NAF Atsugi Public Affairs Office

Tips for what to do when the power goes off:

Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi has a unique power grid that requires preventive maintenance, power outages and upgrades to keep it in working condition.

The power lines are single feed, meaning if a fault happens anywhere on the line, the entire line goes out.

“In order to prevent that, we have to do regular maintenance on the relays, transformers and other components,” said NAF Atsugi Utilities Director Michael Gabiga.

“Due to a federal mandate we have to secure power to work on a line.

We are not allowed to work while there is electricity flowing through it.”

The older system requires more maintenance; because of this the Public Works department is carrying out multiple projects to best maintain the power needs of the installation.

The multi-year projects include upgrades to the grid and applying isolation switches to buildings to further reduce power outage times.

“We are trying to put switches between buildings,” said NAF Atsugi Construction Management Engineer Jose R. Arinaza.

“Right now all our buildings are interconnected so when we work on one, power for all the buildings on that line goes off. With the switches we can isolate one building turn off

power and leave the rest of line on.”

Arinaza said that the installation conducts at least one major power outage a year with the next one set for this October to conduct regular preventive maintenance and to move our above ground power lines underground.

Planned power outages are based on a variety of factors such as the number of contractors needed, weather, and the work required and must be planned for far in advance.

“There are a lot of variables involved in making it work out right and some challenges associated with it,” said NAF Atsugi Public Works Officer Cmdr. Jeffrey Sherwood.

“We try to be as flexible as possible to minimize impact to the base but there are some constraints we have to work from.”

Sherwood said the pain experienced from the planned power outages now actually reduce the difficulty experienced from an unplanned power outages such as

1) Prior to the power outage, unplug electronics to avoid powersurge damage when electricity is restored.

2) If the power is out longer than two hours, throw away food that has a temperature higher than 40°F. 3) Please keep your refidgerators and freezers closed through out the power outage as much as possible.

4) In cold weather, wear layers of clothing, which help to keep in body heat.

5) Please turn off air condictioning/heater prior to power outage.

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the one this past June caused by an electrical storm.

Overall the work involved in updating the power grid and planned power outages (both major and minor) are needed in reducing vulnerabilities and maintaining the installation’s power security.

Every maintenance project and power outage is conducted to maintain NAF Atsugi’s mission to support the combat readiness of Carrier Air Wing Five and the tenant commands, provide logistic support, coordination and services to units assigned to the Western Pacific and provide for the health, welfare and quality of life for all personnel at NAF Atsugi.

“The whole reason we are doing this is to maintain power security,” said Sherwood.

“Our job is the keep the power flowing so that when work is required on the jets, or people need their computers that power is available and to do that we have to do preventive maintenance just like squadrons do on their aircraft.”

NAF Atsugi Hosts Annual On-Base Bon Odori Festival Fri., Aug. 28: ICR: 8:30 a.m. - Noon (129) Mon., Sept. 1: Holiday: Labor Day Tues., Sept. 2: NPS Playgroup: 9:30 - 11 a.m. (220) Wed., Sept. 3: NPS Playgroup: 9:30 - 11 a.m. (220) Thurs., Sept. 4: Washi Craft: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (129) Anger Management 1/5: 1:30 - 3 p.m. (Conf. Room) Conv. Japanese Class: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. (217) Fri., Sept. 5: No Classes Scheduled Mon., Sept. 8: AOB: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. (129) TAP/GPS Workshop: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (216) Tues., Sept. 9: ICR: 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (129) TAP/GPS Workshop: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (216) NPS Playgroup: 9:30 - 11 a.m. (220) Welcome Coffee: 10 - 11 a.m. (Navy Lodge) Wed., Sept. 10: ICR: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (129) TAP/GPS Workshop: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (216) NPS Playgroup: 9:30 - 11 a.m. (220) Thurs., Sept. 11: Anger Management (2/5): 1:30 - 3 p.m. (Conf. Room) 9

Liberty Center Hours: Sunday & Thursday: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - Midnight

Fall Sporting Events

Flag Football rosters are due: Sept. 5 with a team meeting on the 9th and the event being held on the 15th.

Moonlight Madness softball rosters are due: Oct. 10 with a team meeting on the 14th and the event being held on the 17-18th.

Captain’s Cup 10K Run is taking sign ups at Ranger Gym. The run will take place on Oct. 10. For more information on the race or how to sign up call 264-9514.

Ranger & Halsey Gym Hours: Sunday & Saturday: 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Monday - Friday: 5 a.m. - 9 p.m.

ITT Photo Contest

If you’ve been on an MWR trip while stationed here at NAF Atsugi, then we’re looking for your photo! Call MWR at 264 - 3770 to submit your photo and enter to win a $25 tours gift certificate!

Bill Bellamy

Comedian Bill Bellamy, who has appeared on Comedy Central, MTV and serval movies, will be coming to Atsugi on Sept. 29. The show will be held at Cinema 77 starting at 7 p.m. and will be adults only.

Hawaiian Ribbon Crafts Fitness Conditioning Course Every Tues., stop on by the NAF Atsugi Library between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to learn how to create customized Hawaiian style ribbon crafts. A variety of projects are available. Fees range from $10 - $35.

Please call or email the instructor, Chiori Pyrett, to select and preorder your kit and reserve your seat at 080-3934-5056 or ribbonleimoakini@gmail.com.

Trying to get fit? Or want to learn basic fitness guidelines? Then head over to Ranger Gym to spend 4 weeks with our personal trainers for resistance, cardio-vascular and flexibility training.

There are two course options.

Option A: Mon., and Thur., 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at Ranger Gym. Option B: Mon., and Thur., 5 - 6 p.m. at Ranger Gym. The course fee is $50 and is limited to 8 people per course. To sign up for the course, please stop by Ranger Gym.

Late Night Liberty Movie Madness Outdoor Pool Closure Every Fri., and Sat., at Cinema 77 MWR is putting on a free movie The outdoor pool will continue operating and mini combo for the 10 p.m. show! Sign up at the Corner Pocket from Noon till 7 p.m. until Sept. 28.

The Indoor pool will open on Sept. 29.

Cash Cage or call 264 - 3750.

For more information on the closure, call MWR at 264-9514 or stop by Ranger Gym.

2014 Sprint Style Triathlon

Children’s Story Time

Sat., Sep. 6 NAF Atsugi MWR will host the annual sprint style triathlon. Registration is now open through Tue., Sep. 2 at Ranger Children’s Story Time at the Library Gym. Registration is: $25 for SOFA/MLC/IHA/JMSDF, $20 per (Bldg. 949, 2nd floor) will resume on Team Member (Max 3), $35 Guests.

Thursdays in Sept. at 10:30 a.m.

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Store Hours: Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Closed Mondays Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Story by Sallie Cauthers DECA Public Affairs

As summer fades, commissary shoppers will see plenty of cool sales events from Labor Day promotions and National Breakfast Month food samplings to Oktoberfest celebrations, with lots of coupons full of high value savings.

Throughout September, DeCA’s industry partners – vendors, suppliers and brokers – are collaborating with commissaries to offer discounts beyond everyday savings.

Overseas stores may have substitute events for certain promotional programs.

The “real” Oktoberfest in Munich runs from late September until early October and shoppers can stage their own celebrations if they can’t make it to Germany.

Commissaries have German products ranging from chocolates, cookies, sauerkraut, mustard, and red cabbage, to rich German coffee, and more.

With the worldwide Year of Balanced Products with Nestlé promotion, seven winners will receive a year’s worth of Nestlé products to help balance their diet.

They’ll receive 52 free coupons for the following participating

Your Commissary Offers Cool Savings This Fall brands: Lean Cuisine, Lean Pockets, Stouffer’s Family Size, Hot Pockets, DiGiorno, Nesquik and Coffee-mate.

Quaker and Tropicana present “Breakfast, It’s the Smart Way to Start Your Day,” highlighting the importance of a healthy breakfast and offering savings on participating products.

Look for displays Sept. 1-24 with booklets of recipe cards and high-value coupons and breakfast suggestions linking Quaker and Tropicana products with the commissary’s produce department.

Unilever’s annual “Italian & American Festival of Savings” runs through Sept. 10.

It features Unilever brands such as Ragu, Hellman’s, Lipton, Knorr, Bertolli and Breyers, as well as personal care brands including Dove, Dove Men, St. Ives, Vaseline and Tresemme.

Over 125,000 high-value, in-store coupon flyers will be distributed worldwide. A donation of up to $20,000 will be made by industry on behalf of the commissaries to the Fisher House based on the total commissary sales for this savings event.

“As we head toward the cooler days of autumn, commissary customers can rely on us offering plenty of promotions to help them save money and maximize their benefit,” said Tracie Russ, DeCA director of sales.

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The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones.

By shopping regularly in the commissary, patrons save an average of 30 percent or more on their purchases compared to commercial prices – savings amounting to thousands of dollars annually.

A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

Stay connected with the latest commissary news here.

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