June 4, 2021
Interactive Customer Evaluation Comments Regarding NEX Products: We have received multiple comments regarding product availability at the NEX Sigonella. Response: Thank you for taking the time to share your comments. The NEX takes pride in providing all customers with the essential day to day items they require and is constantly looking to update inventory to meet the changing needs of our customers. Unfortunately, the pandemic resulted in more than 250 manufacturing companies cutting their productions by more than 50% during the past year, which strained the industry worldwide. Navy Exchange Sigonella has been working diligently with other companies to fill this gap. We want to remind patrons that online ordering is available at mynavyexchange.com with an average wait time of three to four days depending on the size and weight of the product. If the item is not available on the NEX website, please feel free to reach out to the NEX manager, Teresa Goley, with any specific items you require or are looking for to place a special order. Comment Regarding CDC Hours The Child Development Center on base has required children 2 and over to wear masks. That’s good they are following guidelines but why are they not open regular hours? I pay full price for less hours of operation. Many of my co-workers and I start work earlier which makes it difficult to adjust times with mission requirements. The school on base is on regular hours, why is our Child Development Center not on board? Thank you. Response: Thank you for sharing your concerns. High-quality, reliable child care is important to the success of our mission, and Child and Youth Programs (CYP) is committed to providing this service to the community. Unfortunately, both the Child Development Center (CDC) and School Age Care (SAC) are currently understaffed. Simultaneously, the CNIC COVID-19 mitigation measures require smaller groups of children and increased time invested in cleaning and sanitization of CDC facilities. These contributing
factors result in the inability to offer more spots to families, stay open for longer hours, or offer expanded services such as drop-in hours or INDOC care. CYP is currently hiring for many positions at both the CDC and SAC, including part time, full time, and flex. If you’re interested in learning more about working at a rewarding job, gaining skills you can use at other CDCs at other bases, and filling this vital need for our community, please visit https://www.navymwrsigonella. com/job-opportunities or stop by the NAF Personnel Office, which is located in the Commons building (157) across from Midtown. If you have further questions or concerns, please contact Adam D’Amico, CYP Director, at adam.damico@eu.navy. mil. Comment Regarding Rotator Bookings: I learned tonight people have been calling directly to book their flights as soon as they have orders. No intervening travel clerk. No transfer package. No transfer date. No travel waiver when they were needed. Just orders and a phone call. It was not common knowledge enough for me and my family who are stuck flying commercial and selling our pets. Pets that came here on the rotator. Those of us following the rules cannot get a break. Response: Thank you for raising this issue to our attention. After further review, it is true that non-Navy service components and DoD civilians had an advantage when it came to booking transportation on the rotator. Due to their service-branch transfer process, non-Navy personnel were not required to submit transfer/ separation packages through PSD for review and processing. Rather, they only needed to submit their orders without an approved transfer package to book spots on the rotator. To make transportation booking fair (first come first served) across the board, PSD Sigonella changed the process for Navy personnel. Navy personnel were required to wait until their PCS transfer package was fully vetted and approved prior to booking a spot on the rotator. CPPAs will now submit two separate "ICE" cont’d on Page 11
3
THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
Commanding Officer Capt. Kevin Pickard Executive Officer Cmdr. Ronald Cappellini Command Master Chief CMDCM Anna Wood EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Karl Schonberg karl.schonberg@eu.navy.mil Assistant Public Affairs Officer Megan Mills megan.mills@eu.navy.mil Public Affairs Leading Petty Officer MC1 Kegan Kay kegan.kay@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writers \ Photographers MC2 Joshua Coté joshua.m.cote@eu.navy.mil MCSN Triniti Lersch triniti.lersch@eu.navy.mil CONTACT US
Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily thesig@eu.navy.mil DSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440 PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001
This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments, divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs Office via thesig@eu.navy.mil. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers.