December 11, 2014 - Skywriter

Inside the Year-in-Review Issue: - Bon Odori and SpringFest - Squadron and Flightline Ops - Navy Ball and Liberty Trips 1

What’s Inside...

Public Affairs Officer Howard Samuelson

NAFA Summer Festivals Starting on page 12

Assistant Public Affairs Officer and Leading Petty Officer MC1(SW/AW) Barry Riley Editor MC3 Ryan G. Greene Skywriter Staff MC2 Kegan E. Kay MC3 Ryan G. Greene

Summiting Fuji, Liberty

Host Nation Relations Masako Takakura Starting on page 18 Sumie Maruyama Ikumi Tanaka Webmaster Noriko Yamazaki

The Airwing Returns

Starting on page 20

Let's Learn Nihongo The NAFAtsugi Spolight Excuse me. I lost my bag.

Suimasen. Kaban o nakushite shimai mashita.

What color was it?

Nani iro desu ka?

It was black.

Kuro desu.

It had a CD player in it.

CD pereuiya ga haitte imashita.

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

ON THE COVER

On this special edition of the NAF Atsugi Captain’s Call, Pacific Fleet, Fleet Master Chief Marco Ramirez brings you the latest news and updates from Atsugi. Be sure to check out the second part of Captain’s Call when Fleet answers your questions.

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The annual Christmas Tree is lit during the 50th annual tree lighting ceremony held aboard Naval Air Facility Atsugi.

The celebration kicks off the holiday season aboard the installation.

Holiday Wishes and New Year Expectations As we approach the holidays, I would like to wish the readers of the Skywriter and everyone onboard NAF Atsugi a happy, safe and memorable holiday season! As you will read inside this special “Year-End” Holiday Edition of the Skywriter, we all have reason to be proud of another successful year supporting the warfighters on the flight line, the flight deck and everyone operating forward.

Meanwhile, throughout 2014 – even as we bid farewell to our squadrons earlier this year, supported them in their absence and welcomed them home last month – NAF Atsugi’s team of professionals in every department ensured the continued flow of services throughout the year. I know many of you will recall many of the command’s most memorable moments captured by our great team of journalists, some of which are recaptured within the pages of this Skywriter. But I think we should all celebrate the day-to-day, 24/7, behind-the-scenes work by our departments that ensured we fulfilled our mission and continued to provide a safe and secure environment for our Sailors and their families. When you combine these operations: delivering crucial logistics and coordination support to our squadrons and tenant commands while providing quality of life for all our Sailors and families here on base, every one of our NAF Atsugi professionals have earned a well-deserved “BZ” for a year of great service and support.

Finally, as guests here in Japan – whether Sailors or family members – let me take this end-of-year opportunity to repeat how important it is we recognize and appreciate our role as Ambassadors of good will and friendship while residing in Japan. Upon assuming command, I was immediately gratified by the many stories of Sailors and families who are proud to serve in Japan, touring this great country and truly appreciating the people and culture. I appreciate everyone’s focus on fostering our alliance with our Host Nation, building community relationships, and dedication to serve as outstanding good-will Ambassadors of our Navy and our Nation.

Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year and happy holidays!

I am happy to wish all our Sailors and their families a safe and happy holiday season. When I review the pages of this “end-of-2014” edition of the Skywriter, I am reminded of the terrific events and memorable moments that defined 2014 here onboard NAF Atsugi.

All our Sailors have reason to be proud of the support they provided our primary customers out there on the flight line, in the fleet, and everywhere onboard NAF Atsugi.

While there are many events throughout the year for which we all have reason to be proud, I would like to single out those Sailors who exemplified professionalism and leadership as our Blue Jacket, Junior, Sailor and Senior Sailors of the Quarter and the Year an let’s not forget those who were advanced.

There is also another category of Sailor I’d like to recognize – those who reach out to the community and those who are less fortunate. This is a special class of Sailor – a Sailor whose commitment to duty is matched only by their commitment to one of our greatest, oldest and most nurturing institutions: our local communities.

So, to all our Sailors who aspire to leadership, I say thank you for continuing your ascent to greater responsibility and thank you for your support to your community, no matter where our community is in the world.

And – allow me to echo the Commanding Officer – by saying thank you to all of our Sailors this year that represented our Navy and our country well while going out and visiting Japan. I know the great majority of our Sailors recognize and understand the importance of maintaining good behavior while on liberty.

To these folks I say remain a good shipmate, help other Sailors be equally good shipmates and stand ready to intervene in the future if you see a liberty situation begin to escalate toward a negative scenario.

Let’s make 2015 a year of continued good will and friendship with our Japanese and American neighbors as well as foster our professional relationships in the work place.

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Weapons Training

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Combatives Training

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Off-Duty: Muay Thai

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Off-Duty: Command Involv

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vement

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Community Involvement

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Community Involvement

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Naval Heritage

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All-Japan Liberty

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CAG Returns

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Flightline Ops

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Construction Junction

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