The Signature | January 19, 2018

Sigonella Swordfish

Vienna in December

Take the Plunge

Travel Feature

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PAGES 8-9

AOSC Book Drive for the MWR Sigonella Library Donate your Children's Books Today!

Helping Kids DEFY Drugs

by MC2 Christopher Gordon NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Twenty-five years ago Bill Clinton was elected president, Johnny Carson retired from ‘The Tonight Show, gas prices were $1.05 per gallon, and the Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) program was created.

DEFY is a year-long, two-phased program where service members volunteer with youths aged 9-12 and teach life skills, leadership, and ways to stay away from drugs, scheduled to start June 23 on Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella.

N A S SIG O N E L L A

“It gets kids out of the house, away from any bad elements and it gets them into a structured program to help mitigate negative influences,” said Masterat-Arms 1st Class Jerry BrooksAlarcon, the operations officer for NAS Sigonella’s DEFY program.

“Really it’s just a chance for us as military members get to know the youth in the community that we’re serving and make a positive impact.”

The first phase of the program is an eight-day summer camp starting at the end of June where the kids are scheduled to do things like rock climbing, hiking and field trips, along with activities that encourage leadership and positive growth.

NORFOLK, Va. (July 13, 2017) Drug Education For Youth (DEFY) Mentor Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Mark Daen stretches DEFY participants from Naval Station Norfolk prior to a fitness challenge . DEFY is a program designed to provide students awareness about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rafael Martie/Released)

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JANUARY 19, 2018

Vol. 35 No. 2

“The success in the program really depends on the cooperation of the parents and the cooperation of the community to get the word out there and get these kids involved,” said BrooksAlarcon. “It’s something new and fun to get these kids out of the house and give them something to do during the summer. I think if we all work together it’ll make a big impact.”

After the summer camp, the program meets one Saturday every month for the rest of the year to continue with the mentorship and activities.

“I honestly believe that children are impressionable at a really young age and if you build those good habits now, if you build those routines now with the kids, then you’re going to produce a very productive adult,” said BrooksAlarcon. “Before I joined the Navy I was a preschool teacher’s assistant so I’ve worked with kids before and found it very rewarding.”

Sigonella’s DEFY program still needs volunteers to be squad leaders for the summer camp and the following monthly meetings. The success of the program greatly depends on that participation.

“It’s a great use of time to get to know the kids in the neighborhood and the island around you,” said BrooksAlarcon. “I think it’s something people will really enjoy doing and I know the kids are really going to enjoy the time and energy we put into it.”

DEFY began as one of several programs developed in 1993 by what was then the Secretary of the Navy’s Drug Demand Reduction Task Force. Over the years, DEFY has had more than 50 sites worldwide. This is the first time in recent years Sigonella has seen a DEFY program.

If you are interested in volunteering for the camp, you can contact Master-at-Arms 1st Class Franklin Klimek, the DEFY coordinator, at Franklin.Klimek@eu.navy.mil or BrooksAlarcon at Jerry.

Brooks@eu.navy.mil.

Trump Signs Order to Improve Mental Health Resources for Transitioning Veterans From Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Transitioning service members and veterans can now receive up to a year of mental health care from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Department after discharge from the service, according to an executive order President Donald J. Trump signed Jan. 10.

The order, "Supporting Our Veterans During Their Transition From Uniformed Service to Civilian Life," directs the Defense, Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security departments to develop a joint action plan to ensure the 60 percent of new veterans who now do not qualify for enrollment in health care -- primarily because of a lack of verified service connection related to the medical issue at hand -- will receive treatment and access to services for mental health care for one year following their separation from service.

"We look forward to continuing our partnership with the VA to ensure veterans who have served our country continue to receive the important

mental health care and services they need and deserve," said Defense Secretary James N. Mattis.

"We want them to get the highest care and the care that they so richly deserve and I've been working very hard on that with [VA Secretary David J. Shulkin] and with everybody. It's something that is a top priority," the president said. "We will not rest until all of America's great veterans receive the care they've earned through their incredible service and sacrifice to our country."

Shulkin noted that as service members transition to veteran status, they face higher risk of suicide and mental health difficulties. "During this critical phase, many transitioning service members may not qualify for enrollment in health care," he said. "The focus of this executive order is to coordinate federal assets to close that gap."

Three-Department Approach The three departments will work to expand mental health programs and other resources to new veterans in the year following departure from uni-

SIGONELLA, Sicily (May 27, 2017) President Donald J. Trump speaks to service members and their families onboard Naval Air Station Sigonella during an all-hands call. This visit marks President Trump's last stop of his first trip abroad since taking office. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon/Released)

formed service, including eliminating prior time limits and to: -- Expand peer community outreach and group sessions in the VA

Whole Health initiative from 18 Whole Health flagship facilities to all

"TRUMP" continued on Page 15

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JANUARY 19, 2018

Direct Line

Capt. Brent Trickel, NAS Sigonella Commanding Officer Happy Friday Sigonella!

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Holiday Season. Marla and I flew back to our home state of Missouri to visit our families. While there we witnessed our son’s graduation from college and then I had the honor to commission him as an Ensign in the Navy.

If you want to see pictures just stop me, and I’ll be glad to show you and brag about it!

Last week you may have seen or heard about the completely unexpected and abrupt change to the UEML (Unfunded Environmental Morale Leave) Space A (Space Available) travel policy.

I can assure you I had no prior knowledge of this change in policy and was caught off guard just as much as everyone else. In fact, the only reason I found out about the change in policy is due to the CO of Souda Bay mentioning it in a teleconference with our boss last week. Unbeknownst to me, and nearly everyone else in the region, the European Command Instruction 1501.01A was changed in August, 2017 to exclude CONUS (Continental United States) as a Space A EML destination. What does this mean? For civilians it means you can no longer utilize Space A flights back to CONUS since civilians can only

fly Space A using EML. Active duty and their dependents can still take advantage of Space A flights to CONUS, however, they will not be able to use EML which means active duty (and accompanying dependents) will travel as Category 3 and unaccompanied dependents will travel as Category 5. For travel not involving flights to CONUS; all previous EML and Space A regulations stay the same.

I assure you that I and the CO of Souda Bay have informed our leadership about the huge impact this policy change has on morale, and I can assure you that leadership at Navy Region EURAFSWA is engaged as well. Unfortunately, I can make no promises as to if or when the CONUS EML restriction will change.

Despite the policy change regarding CONUS EML travel, Space A is still an amazing benefit, and, when coupled with EML paperwork can bump active duty and dependents up one category in priority. I went into detail on Space A and EML in my October 28, 2016 article but will offer some highlights of the benefits here: Space A allows qualified personnel to utilize available seats on military flights based on what category you are in

at the time of signing up: 1-Active Duty Emergency Leave or official business, 2-Active duty on EML and their dependents or active duty and dependents on permissive TDY for house hunting, 3-Active duty on regular leave and their dependents, 4-Dependants on EML travel without their sponsor, 5-Dependants on travel (not EML) without their sponsor, 6-Retirees.

There are other guidelines but the above descriptions give you a rough idea of your category when you travel.

When you sign up for travel, your time/date entry in the system will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis within the category that you are eligible for. For example, if I sign up for EML travel to Germany today but you signed up for EML to Germany yesterday, you will have a higher priority than me when they do the roll call. However, if you signed up yesterday but are using regular leave vice EML (and are therefore category 3), then I will be a higher priority even though you signed up sooner since I am category 2.

Whatever type of travel you are taking (Emergency leave, EML, regular leave, etc.), you are not eligible for Space “A” travel until your leave officially begins. Therefore, if your leave begins at

1600 on 10 February, you cannot sign up until that time.

Environmental and Morale Leave: EML travel is a privilege given to service members and civilians in overseas locations. Personnel are allowed two EML trips a year (one every six months) and they can’t be taken inside of six months from your arrival or expected PRD. To get EML paperwork, take your leave papers to NASSIG Admin. They will help you fill out your EML paperwork (including desired destinations), stamp the EML papers, and get everything in order. If traveling with family members, take their passports so they

"DIRECT LINE" cont’d on Page 5

Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box The ICE/CO Suggestion Box is for our community and Commanding Officer to discuss, with an eye toward constant improvement, how we are excelling* and how we can improve**. The community is strongly encouraged to leave contact information when submitting comments. This ensures that a response will come directly to you. The Signature and NASSIG Facebook Page typically publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. Comments/suggestions are useful when objective, constructive, and specific. ICE/CO Sug-

gestion Box is NOT a forum for mean-spirited attacks.

Anonymous comments will be published only if they benefit the greater community at large. * If you submit a "BZ" about a specific person or department, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME in order to ensure comment authenticity and therefore publicly recognize employees or organizations. ** The Commanding Officer will ensure a response to all signed comments/suggestions and the vast majority of anonymous ones but reserves the right to disregard

those comments/suggestions disinterested in the spirit of the program!

There are two ways to submit; go to: 1) Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) home page on a One-Net computer at: http://ice.disa.mil, All Sigonella services are found under the Navy Europe Listing in the scroll-down menu.

– or – 2) NAS Sigonella's website www.cnic.navy.mil/Sigonella, go to the "About" drop down menu and click on "CO Suggestion Box".

Interactive Customer Evaluation Comment regarding “walking unleashed dogs on Marinai”:

Hello! Is there a way to reach out to individuals on Marinai housing who are walking their dogs without leashes? My daughter and I were taking a walk today and were greeted by two large, enthusiastic dogs. They were friendly, but they jumped on me and tried to jump on my daughter in her stroller. She was unhurt luckily, but if she had been walking instead of riding and they jumped on her, she could have been injured pretty badly as she is small. Also, while I do not have allergies, others do. The owner called their dogs, and continued walking and we did not interact. I do not know if this was a one-time occurrence, or something that is repeated frequently.

Sincerely, Kayla Straub

Response:

Dear Kayla, Thank you for your comment and your concern regarding unleashed dogs on Marinai. I would like to remind the community of the rules and restrictions of pet ownership in Marinai Family Housing. Per NASSIG Instruction, 5000.2 series, all pets must be under control at all times in front yards and when on walks, dogs must either be on a leash or be tethered in a secure manner without causing damage to the housing structure. Children under the age

of 12 are not authorized to walk dogs without an adult present. Pets must be held by a person capable of exercising physical control over them. Pets are prohibited on the tennis courts, basketball courts, or hockey rink. An adult must be present at all times if a dog is in the front yard. For safety reasons, the dog’s leash must restrict them at least three feet from the sidewalk. In the back yards, dogs are free to roam without a leash as long as the gate is secured. Housing is currently in the process of updating the Housing handbook, which will distributed to all residents once approved. For future incidents with unleashed dogs in Marinai please call Security at 624-5225 or contact the Marinai Housing office at 624-1731 or by email at NASSIGHousingMarinai@eu.navy.mil.

If you would like to discuss this further or have any other questions please feel free to contact the Housing Director, Mr. Peter Faulk at 624-4070 or by email at Peter.Faulk@eu.navy.mil.

Comment regarding “NAS 1 gym hot water”:

Dear Sir, Since I've arrived at NAS Sigonella, I have been a frequent visitor to the Fitness District on NAS 1. The staff there is incredibly helpful and friendly; however, there has been a recurring problem that I would like to see resol-

"ICE" continued on Page 3

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JANUARY 19, 2018

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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA

Name: Builder 2nd Class

Kenny Kirker Hometown: Sachse, Texas Department: Public Works

Every building in Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella has a zone manager who is in charge of all of the building’s maintenance needs, along with being a customer service representative to the occupants of the spaces. Builder 2nd Class Kenny Kirker works as one of the six zone managers on NAS Sigonella and is specifically in charge of the 38 flight line buildings, including all of the hangars and adjacent buildings.

“I’m constantly learning something new,” said Kirker. “Every project is different and so you’re always learning. I like to be on my toes and constantly have a challenge to work at, it keeps me on my toes.”

Outside of his normal duties, Kirker is the treasurer for Public Works’ 2nd Class Petty Officer Association as well as a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate.

Additionally, Kirker volunteers for the Sigonella Softball Association and is very passionate about softball and baseball.

“Baseball is a game that’s built on failure,” said Kirker. “It’s a challenging sport and you need to be mentally tough in order to play it. I love everything about it.”

On top of working with the Sigonella Soft Ball Association, Kirker is a board member, coach, and player for the Team USA War Dog Military Baseball Team, which is a military nonprofit organization. The organization sends a military-only baseball

"ICE" continued from Page 2 ved. Since the beginning of November, I have gone to the gym at 5:30 am every day; when I finish my workout, I do not know if there will be hot water in the locker rooms. Early mornings here on base typically are in the low 40 degree temperatures, and despite a robust workout, having a cold shower is not always something to look forward to.

Both my fellow early morning gym mates and I have mentioned this to the MWR staff who have diligently turned in work requests for the boiler to be repaired. Yet when we follow up, we were told that there was no timeline for when to expect to have this repaired correctly and to completion. Hence this problem has become a daily and/or weekly reoccurrence.

The Armed Forces holds physical fitness as part of our daily mantra to help alleviate stress at work, to maintain physical standards as Sailors/Soldiers/Airmen/Marines, and to ensure a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. However maintaining peak physical standards requires us to also have good personal hygiene. The idea of not knowing if we will have hot or cold showers at the gym is unnerving and unsettling. I appreciate the base looking into this further since we all love going to the gym here on NAS 1.

Sincerely, LCDR Corinne Devin

Response:

LCDR Devin, thank you for your patronage and feedback concerning the NAS 1 Fitness Center. It's great to hear that the fitness center staff is helpful and friendly. As a result of your complaint about no hot water in the women's showers on or around 24 November, MWR placed a trouble call with the public works department and received the work order #BP3GZW the same day. Some background on that instance: the morning of Friday, 24 November, the BOS Contractor

team around the U.S., from San Diego to Illinois, to 38 different cities to play against the best collegiate wood bat leagues across the nation.

“It’s been in the works a couple years now but it’s finally stood up and is taking off,” said Kirker. “We are in contact with Major League Baseball and they’re actually supporting us with a $537,000 check to guarantee that we have our tour happen between May and July.”

Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Executive Officer Cmdr. Patrick J. Moran Command Master Chief CMDCM Nancy Estrada EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Andriana Genualdi andriana.genualdi@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil Editor MCC Jessica Vargas Jessica.Vargas@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writer \ Photographer MC2 Christopher Gordon Christopher.Gordon@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 PUBLISHER Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity Capodichino (Naples), Italy stampagenerale@tin.it Tel. 081-568-7884 Fax 081-568-7887

notified public works that the boilers indicated there was no gas. The HVAC supervisor reset the boilers and they were restored to working condition by the afternoon that same day. Currently, the water in the women's shower room takes between 5–15 seconds to heat to a comfortable temperature for showering. Management will also continue to monitor the water temperatures. If you have further concerns, please contact the Fitness Director (Acting), Mr. Joshua Burkhard at 624-4301 or via email at joshua.burkhard@eu.navy.mil.

Comment regarding “Bravo Zulu for NEX employee”:

Huge GRAZIE to the staff of the NEX for their great everyday customer service, but an especially appreciated THANK YOU to Cristina! On Black Friday I stopped in on my way to work to purchase a three piece sheet set. I was told it had not arrived in time for the sale. Approximately three hours later I received a call that the shipment had arrived and two sets were put aside for me since I was still at work.

Nowhere else would you expect this level of customer service except here in Sigonella. The girls at the customer service counter are always cheerful and helpful and this experience was no exception.

Response:

Thank You very much for your comment regarding the service you received at the Navy Exchange by Cristina. Cristina and her customer service teammates pride themselves in delivering Top Level Premiere Customer Service every day and are great examples to associates and managers alike within our organization. I have passed along your appreciation for her efforts and I appreciate you bringing her service to my attention so she can be recognized. Thank You again for your comment and for your patronage.

This civilian enterprise (CE) 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. The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD or Stampa Generale S.r.l., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factorof the purchaser, user or patron.

A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected.

The Signature is published weekly by Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity, Capodichino (Naples), Italy.

Tel. 081-568-7884. Fax 081-568-7887.

E-mail: stampagenerale@tin.it.

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, guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered to our office no later than the close of business on the Friday proceeding the expected publication date. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers.

The Signature will not publish any anonymous articles. All advertisements in this publication are the property of Stampa Generale S.r.l. Any reproduction of advertisements in The Signature is unauthorized without the written consent of the publisher.

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JANUARY 19, 2018

Sigonella Swordfish Take the Plunge Story by Brice Goodwin

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - Listening to the poolside banter these past few weeks you’d be forgiven for confusing it with a boot camp-style indoctrination. Questions about mental and physical toughness, having what it takes to succeed, and overcoming fears related to cold temperatures were being tossed back and forth among swimmers and parents as everyone prepared for the Polar Bear Plunge this past weekend. And little wonder, the year before saw temperatures hovering at 44° F for much of the day, with everyone bundled up in clothing better suited for northern European temperatures, but which still didn’t seem warm enough after standing poolside for a few hours. The other teams in the European Forces Swim League know this well; even though it’s a sanctioned competition, they politely decline the invitation knowing they are unaccustomed to the colder temperatures that come with swimming in an outdoor pool during the winter months. The Swordfish, on the other hand, practice year-round outdoors, and have accepted and acclimated to this starkcold reality. And so, as the date for the meet approached, swimmers began to realize that this motivational banter

was intended as much to steel their parents’ resolve as it was for them to prepare for the colder than normal temperatures.

But oh, what a difference a year makes. Saturday morning dawned on blue skies and rising temperatures that reached 68° F and lifted everyone’s spirits as winter jackets were shed and sunglasses donned. Because this was the first meet since the holidays began, swimmers were eager to pit themselves against a stopwatch to see how they’d improved with their continued practices and skill refinements made by Head Coach Molly Fuselier, Coach Matthew (Dick) Young, Coach Colton Dean and Coach Christian Flores. The combined dedication of coaches and swimmers brought truth to the quote by Michael Phelps that “Everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and put the work and time into it.” Eight Swordfish achieved new qualifying times that guaranteed them a swim lane at Individual Championships in London later this Spring. Isabel Berdugo and Kale VanWagner exemplified this motto by channeling their mental and physical fortitude to capture triple qualifying times in their respective 9-year-old girls and 8-year-old boys 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-me-

Kale VanWagner approaches the final lap in his 100-meter freestyle. (Photo by Brice Goodwin.)

Isabel Berdugo swims towards her qualifying time in the 200-meter freestyle. (Photo

by Brice Goodwin.)

ter Freestyle events. Isabel carved off a combined total time of over 2.27 seconds to put her in fan-club status range, and Kale’s steady kick and rhythmic arm strokes rewarded him with a 6.76 second drop in combined times, a first-attempt qualification in his 200-meter event, and a round of “high fives” from coaches and teammates. In a sport where fractions of a second determine who gets Gold and who gets Silver, Sydney Edwards performed her own impressive display of qualifying speed from one end of the pool to the other, chopping 3.42 seconds off her 50-meter Freestyle time. She followed this up with an encore performance in her 200-meter Individual Medley, earning her a second qualifying time and erasing any doubts about her finesse in swimming all four strokes. Josh Jarosz and Nicholoas Schlosser also added their names to the list of qualifiers in the 50-meter Freestyle, along with Ella Andre to the 50-meter Breaststroke, Gabriella Goodwin to the 50-meter Backstroke, and Teagan Rhodes to the 200-meter Freestyle event.

In some ways, the best was yet to come in terms of fun and laughter. As the official meet formally ended, Head Coach Molly, Coach Young, Coach Dean, and Coach Flores hopped up on the starting blocks to compete in a friendly 100-meter Individual Medley event. Like race horses straining before a start, Starter Chad Davis was “forced” to have the coaches stand up on the blocks and allow them another chance to shake out those last-minute pre-race jitters before having them

retake their marks. The competition proved intense, and seemed to be fueled by a determined pride not to be the one left in the other’s wake. As the coaches entered each turn they were greeted with thunderous cheers and applause that reached its peak during the final stretch as everyone sprinted for the bragging rights to claim hitting the wall ahead of the others. Coach Young raced into the wall first, with Coach Molly hot on his heels, and Coach Dean just a glide behind her.

Once the congratulatory handshakes were completed, the finale of the day was a family swim. This event paired swimmers with their parents, with each person swimming 25-meters of a 100-meter “any stroke to keep you afloat” relay. Swimmers with parents too shy, or perhaps too afraid of drowning, paired up with other swimmers and parents to fill the relay spots. With the press of the final starting button, the pool transformed from a smooth and tranquil surface to a churning, foaming, fury of water as bodies crashed, thrashed, and battered between the lane ropes to reach the end wall. And while most parents completed their 25-meters with satisfied, and slightly surprised, smiles, it was evident that they all gained greater appreciation and respect for their kid’s skills and endurance displayed on a daily basis during practices.

As this sun and spirit-filled day came to a close, families returned home with warm memories of a Polar Bear Plunge that ended up being anything but polar. Oh, what a difference a year makes!

JANUARY 19, 2018

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The Hunt is On: VP-5 Participates in Exercise Huntsman Lt.j.g. Mary Carter Jordan VP-5 Public Affairs

KEFLAVIK, Iceland –The ‘Mad Foxes’ of Patrol Squadron (VP) 5 traveled to Iceland’s Keflavik International Airport to participate in Exercise Huntsman, a multilateral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise with American, British, and French forces Dec. 09 -17. VP-5 sent two Combat Air Crews (CACs), CAC-6 and CAC-12 on the detachment to conduct seven ASW flights with NATO allied forces. The exercise was an excellent training opportunity for VP-5 to perform coordinated operations with different countries and to strengthen relationships between the U.S. Navy and its NATO partners.

The CACs operated in the North Atlantic Ocean along with three nuclear submarines from three different NATO countries, including an American Los Angeles-class (SSN) submarine, a French Rubis-class submarine, and a British Trafalgar-class submarine. The exercise also incorporated VP-5’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft, the Navy’s newest patrol aircraft, capable of extended range operations to conduct its missions.

As the host nation, Iceland provided support for VP-5 operations out of Keflavik while CAC6 and CAC-12 conducted flights in which they were able to practice realistic and well-planned scenarios. Throughout these mission flights, VP-5 was partnered with the British and French

forces to locate and track the U.S. submarine.

“The target submarine was very evasive while we were tracking it but this exercise was an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how multiple platforms working together can provide positive results,” said Naval Aircrewman Operator 1st Class Xavier Page. “We operated seamlessly with the other platforms to successfully execute each mission.”

The complex nature of the flights during Exercise Huntsman tested VP-5’s ASW acumen, while working with NATO allies during this exercise proved successful in further advancing security, safety and stability in the region.

“Exercise Huntsman provided an excellent opportunity for the crews to enhance their interoperability and increase their proficiency in ASW skills,” said Lt. Eran Wilson, officer in charge of the VP-5 detachment in Keflavik. “We look forward to any opportunity to return and participate in more exercises with our NATO partners.”

QUICK FACTS: VP-5 is on a dual deployment to Sigonella, Italy and El Salvador and on its first deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations with the P-8A. U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of Joint and Naval operations, often in concert with allied, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

KEFLAVIK, Iceland (Dec. 16, 2017) Co-tactical Coordinator, Lt.j.g. Sage Turner of Combat Air Crew (CAC) 12, assigned to of Patrol Squadron (VP) 5, enjoys coordinating communication between his aircraft, the P-8 Poseidon, and the other NATO forces during a joint anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise in the north Atlantic. U.S. 6th Fleet, headquarted in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt.j.g. Ridgely Riggs/)

"DIRECT LINE" cont’d from Page 2 can ensure you have a SOFA stamp and put the passport numbers on the EML document. Although you can’t sign up for Space “A” until your leave begins, you can begin the EML paperwork beforehand.

You can choose more than one destination for EML travel (i.e. you can pick both Spain and Germany as your ultimate destination). However, if you travel EML, your first destination is the only one you can use for that EML travel.

Dependents can also utilize EML travel without the sponsor which bumps them up from Category 5 to Category 4. In order to do this, they need to visit NASSIG Admin with their passports and a copy of their command sponsorship or family entry approval letter.

When my family and I were stationed in Japan we used Space A flights on four different occasions. Based on those experiences I’ll offer some of my “tips” on Space A travel: -Sign up for travel with the AMC Terminal the second your leave begins.

-Have a copy of leave papers, EML paperwork, passports, etc. and put them in a checked bag. Keep originals in carry-on bag.

-Ensure you have all military ID cards (sponsors and dependents).

-Open toed shoes (sandals, flip flops) are not allowed on military flights.

-Pack light but take adequate clothing for differing climates. You never know where you will end up with Space A so prepare for an adventure. Additionally, most military aircraft don’t have the comforts of civilian jets and can get quite cold during travel.

-Check the terminals proposed travel schedule early and often -Have a list of phone numbers for the AMC terminals at all your possible destinations.

-Don’t make hotel reservations until you are manifested on a flight if possible. Have phone numbers handy for places you intend to stay and you can call from the terminal if you are lucky enough to get manifested.

-Have an adequate amount of cash on hand as well as a credit card with an adequate spending limit. To overstate the obvious, Space “A” travel is not guaranteed!!

-Ensure you have signed up for an adequate amount of leave in case you get stuck longer than anticipated at your destination waiting for a return flight.

-Have ear-plugs available as some transport aircraft (e.g. C-130) are quite loud.

Additional information can be found at the following locations: http://www.spacea.net/ https://www.facebook.com/Sigonella-Passenger-Terminal-332837856791726/?fref=ts http://www.takeahop.com/signup/form.htm

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Saint Sebastian Festival to be held in Acireale tomorrow Story by Alberto Lunetta

"Evviva Sam Mastianu! Evviva lu rizzareddu, Vàddatilu quant’è beddu, li miraculi ca fa” (Long live Saint Sebastian!

Long live the curly-headed, look at his beauty and the miracles he performs). This ancient prayer shows how the devotion towards San Sebastiano (Saint Sebastian) is deeply embedded in the religious history of Acireale, an elegant town in the Catania province. Every year, thousands among pilgrims and tourists swarms the streets of the historic center to show love and respect to their celestial patron. Despite being just the town’s compatrono (co-patron saint) along with Santa Venera, whose festival is celebrated on July 26, Sebastiano still gets most of the attention from Acireale’s religious community. The festival honoring him will be held tomorrow (Jan. 20) at the Saint Sebastian Basilica.

The celebration will be repeated in a smaller scale on January 27 - when a new day of festivities called “ottava” (8-day period of observances beginning with a festival day) - will once again pay homage to the saint. This ancient festival dates all the way back to 1571!

Life of San Sebastiano

San Sebastiano is probably one of the most famous martyrs in the Christian tradition. His martyrdom was a favorite subject of Renaissance painters who depicted him as a handsome young man who kept his dignity and beauty through the pain of terrible arrow wounds and eventually triumphed over physical suffering.

Sebastiano was born in northern France around 300 AD. He served as an officer in the Roman army under Diocletian, the Emperor who issued an edict prohibiting Christianity. As Sebastiano was discovered to be a Christian, he was martyred in 288 AD. He was tied, pierced with arrows and left for dead; but tradition holds that he survived the arrows, which miraculously failed to pierce any vital organ.

Thus, the arrow, a symbol of the plague, became his identifying attribute as well as his wounds that resemble plague boils. Tradition holds that he was eventually beaten to death.

A true hero of Catholicism, San Sebastiano is also worshipped almost everywhere in Sicily, but particularly in the province of Siracusa and in Maniace. Acireale townspeople consider him as a protector against the plague as he reportedly saved the city during times of trouble on several occasions, especially during plague epidemics. According to one tradition, the city was spared by the plague in 1466, and therefore, devotees built a church to thank him.

However, the church was heavily damaged as a result of a catastrophic earthquake that struck the Catania province in 1693. But the Acireale devotees did not give up and erected a new magnificent basilica dedicated to San Sebastiano in the 17th century. The Basilica Collegiata di San Sebastiano is among the most beautiful Baroque buildings in Acireale, as well as the most requested church for wedding ceremonies.

Gian Battista Marino, a sculptor from Catania, decorated its façade in the second half of the 17th century in a Baroque style. The church’s interior was frescoed with some paintings

by Paolo Vasta depicting scenes from the life of the saint and other masterpieces telling the story of Christ by Venerando Costanzo.

San Sebastiano is still invoked by pilgrims to help people heal from illnesses and thanked for surviving a natural disaster or accident.

If prayers were answered, devotees would offer tall wax candles, money and small golden objects. Sometimes, they would tape these objects on red ribbons that are tied on the branches of the stump against which the statue depicting San Sebastiano is placed. Tradition also holds that, in the past, one

It takes Acireale townspeople a whole year to prepare for the spectacular annual festival honoring San Sebastiano or Saint Sebastian, the town's co-patron, taking place tomorrow January 20 and on January 27. Hundreds of devotees swarm the streets of the historic center to pay homage to their beloved saint.

The festival will also feature fireworks and arts and crafts. PHOTO by http://www.fancityacireale.it/

who would miraculously survive plague epidemics would offer white linens to the saint.

At that time, an infected person was indeed required to wear white linen around their neck to show that they carried the disease.

Once the epidemic was over, these linens were

taped on the pillars that support the carriage on which the statue of the saint is carried in procession. Even nowadays, devotees still wear the linen around their chest and head.

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Surface Force Commander Directing the Future of the Surface Fleet From Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Commander, Naval Surface Forces (CNSF), Vice Adm. Tom Rowden is taking a holistic approach to implementing recommendations from the Comprehensive Review of Surface Force Incidents (CR) to ensure safe and effective ship operations at sea, the safety of our Sailors and the readiness of our surface forces.

In the wake of three collisions and one grounding involving U.S. Navy ships this year, Vice Chief of Naval (VCNO) Operations Adm. Bill Moran assigned Adm. Phil Davidson, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, to lead a thorough review of surface ship mishaps over the last decade in order to inform improvements Navywide.

"The comprehensive review found that over a sustained period of time, rising pressure to meet operational demands led those in command to rationalize declining standards - standards in fundamental seamanship and watchstanding skills, teamwork, operational safety, assessment and a professional culture. This resulted in a reduction of operational safety margins," said Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm.

PACIFIC OCEAN Sailors conduct aviation firefighting drills on the flight deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1).

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Levingston Lewis/Released)

John Richardson during a November press conference when he announced the release of the CR. Davidson's report states, "Going forward, the Navy must develop and

formalize 'firebreaks' into our force generation and employment systems to guard against a slide in standards."

Based on the recommendations, Rowden and his staff continue to take

Navy Asks for Feedback through Personal and Professional Choices Survey From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

WASHINGTON -- The Navy announced Jan. 12, that is it soliciting feedback from Sailors through the biennial Personal and Professional Choices Survey set to open Jan. 17.

This secretary of the Navy-directed survey collects data and comments from Sailors across the Fleet to gauge the present-day impact of Navy policies on Sailors and their families. The survey touches on a wide variety of issues, including career development, work-life balance, adoption leave and family planning.

The 2018 iteration of the survey is scheduled to begin Jan. 17, and close Feb. 23. The survey will be sent to 80,000 randomly selected active-duty Sailors. Notification emails will be sent to participants from the survey platform Max.gov, urging Sailors to use this opportunity to provide their feedback to the Navy. Although participation is anonymous and completely voluntary,

Official U.S. Navy file photo.

Navy leadership strongly encourages the selected Sailors to participate.

Results from previous surveys are available at www.public.navy.mil/bupersnpc/support/inclusion/Pages/Resources.aspx.

The 2018 survey results are expect-

ed to be released in August and will be posted on Navy's Inclusion and Diversity website.

Questions on the survey may be addressed to the Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OPNAV N1D) at ALTN_ N1D@navy.mil.

decisive action to make the Surface Force safer, more proficient and more effective.

Many of the CR recommendations fall within the scope of CNSF and are connected with the surface warfare community. However, the CR Oversight Board (OSB) is not only focused on implementing the recommended changes from the CR, but also broader initiatives to refine Navy policies, procedures, culture and training. This process will enhance the readiness of surface combatants.

Rowden serves as one of the members of the OSB, which the CNO tasked the VCNO to lead. "The oversight board is going to make sure that we properly prioritize the recommendations in a framework that gets after the great needs of the fleet, and looking at it from the commanding officers' perspective," Moran said. The panel, which includes senior leaders like Davidson and Rowden, meets monthly to evaluate the progress toward implementing the CR recommendations.

Taking this holistic approach, the Navy and its Surface Warfare community are moving quickly to implement immediate actions, as well as moving mid- and long-term initiatives into planning phases for the entire Surface Force. The efforts made today will set

"Surface Fleet" continued on Page 14

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Vienna In mid-December I went to Vienna, Austria for a three day weekend. It is a great time of year to visit because the city has an abundance of Christmas markets!

The day we arrived we went straight to the city center for a Vienna Christmas Market and History walking tour. The tour was awesome and allowed us to visit five of the bigger Christmas Markets throughout the city! In addition to visiting the markets, we also ate and drank there (Glühwein of course).

On the tour we got to see some of the main sights of Vienna, the impressive main church, St. Stephan’s, stumbled upon a classical music concert in St. Peter’s, walked the bustling main shopping streets, and saw the Belevedere Palace.

The city is amazingly beautiful dur-

Story and Photos by L ing the Christmas season because almost every main street is bedecked with lights.

The central shopping street, “The Graben,” had huge chandeliers made from Christmas lights all along its length.

Coupled with Christmas tree sellers and decorated shops and restaurants it certainly lent a festive air.

One of the largest Christmas Markets in the city is located right in front of the town hall, or Rathaus. The Rathaus is a very intricate building that has high towers, initially I thought that it was a church. At night, lit up and with the Christmas market in front of it, it looked

JANUARY 19, 2018

in

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D ecember

Lt. Andriana Genualdi

magical. It is definitely a sight to see in Vienna, both during the day and at night!

We also visited the Albertina museum while we were there. It was hosting a Raphael exhibit, but that’s not all it has. It has amazing art from many time periods and an entire section of it is dedicated to showing what the royal family in Vienna lived like around the turn of the century.

The rooms are furnished and decorated as they were when Maria Christina, mother of Marie Antoinette, lived there.

We also made sure to visit the Vienna Museum of Military history, it houses the car that Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand was

riding in in Sarajevo when he was assassinated. It also has the uniform he was wearing at the time. In addition it houses an extensive collection of weapons, fortifications, and uniforms from the multiple periods when Austria was involved in wars.

The last thing we did before leaving was make our way out to Schönbrunn Palace on the outskirts of the city. This huge palace is also furnished in the rococo style that was popular in Maria Christina’s time. Also, along with the palace there is the greenhouse, or Palmenhaus, that still houses plants from around the world.

All in all, Vienna is a beautiful city that has a lot to offer for people with different interests.

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JANUARY 19, 2018

NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin:

DoDEA EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

PREVENT T2 - DIABETES PREVENTION CLASS

DoDEA is replacing existing or establishing a new emergency notification system throughout DoDEA. The DoDEA Emergency Alert Notification System will ensure our school's ability to communicate to you using email, voice, and text messaging. The DoDEA Emergency Alert Notification System establishes a very important communications capability for our community and I highly encourage all parents to ensure to ensure contact information is current. If you are unsure whether the contact you provided at the start of the school year, please visit the school's front office or call 624-4281 or email Irene.larson@eu.dodea.edu. In late January, the school will begin testing the new system to ensure parents are able to receive messages (via phone, email, text messages). The DoDEA Emergency Alert Notification System commercial name is "AtHoc." This is the same company, but not the same alert network used by the U.S. Army and Air Force in Europe. Parents must be enrolled with the DoDEA Alert Notification System to receive DODEA alert notifications.

Command, Department or Organization: Health Promotion and Wellness Center Date of Event: January 24, 2018 Time of Event: 1300-1400 Location of Event: NAS 1 Midtown MWR Classroom Point of Contact Name: Giuseppe Licari • Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-4710 Point of Contact Email Address: usn.sigonella.navhospsigonellait.mesg.hp@mail.mil Additional Information: 86 Million American adults have prediabetes. Having prediabetes means you are at increased risk for developing serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

Health Promotion and Wellness Center is offering PREVENT T2, a course focusing on diabetes prevention.

Learn with the support of the base dietitian, registered nurse and wellness coach how to prevent diabetes and how to build a healthy lifestyle.

Class starts on Wednesday January, 24, 1300-1400 @ NAS 1 Midtown MWR classroom For more information and to sign up call U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella Health Promotion at 624-4710.

Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services NAS 1 Mondays AA Meeting:

1800-1900

Tuesdays Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0900-1100 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 AWANA: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1645-1900 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . . . . . . . . . 1200-1430 Wednesdays Protestant Men of the Chapel: .0600-0700

Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Catholic Ladies' Guild (3rd Wednesday): . . . . . . . . . . 1600-1800 Thursdays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1200-1530 Choir Practice: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1630-1800 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2030

Phone Numbers: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049, Chaplain Duty: 335-831-4493, RP Duty: 335-786-1950.

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Naval Air Station Sigonella Chapel

Saturdays First Saturday Rosary and Mass: . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Liturgical Protestant Service NAS I Chapel - . . . . . . . . . . . 1800 Sundays Catholic Mass: . . . . 0900-1000 Catholic Religious Education (DoDDS):.

1045-1200

Fridays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour:. . . . . . . . 1700-1830

Protestant Service: . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1330-1600

NAS 2

Wednesdays Knights of Columbus (1st Wednesdays): . . . . . . . . . . . 1700-1800 Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2100 Thursdays AA Meeting: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-1900 Sundays Protestant Service and Fellowship: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2000

Weekly Traffic Report: Jan. 8 - Jan. 15, 2018

As a reminder to everyone: There are no PTUs allowed at the Galley. Appropriate athletic gear is authorized at the discretion of the Galley staff. Please remember that for sanitation purposes and for the consideration of other customers, if you have been out for PT, been working out at the gym, or have just been engaged in any physical activity where you and or your clothing has become soiled or sweaty you will be asked to turn around.

JANUARY 19, 2018

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AOSC BOOK DRIVE FOR THE SIGONELLA LIBRARY

Sigonella's All Officers' Spouses' Club (AOSC) is currently sponsoring a Book Drive for the MWR Sigonella Library. The AOSC is requesting Board Books and books for ages 7 and under. Donations will end the week of January 22nd. For more information about this event please visit the AOSC Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SigonellaAOSC/

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GAMEZONE DOVER (Delaware) FRANKFORT (Kentucky) HARRISBURG (Pennsylvania) HARTFORD (Connecticut) HELENA (Montana) HONOLULU (Hawaii) INDIANAPOLIS (Indiana) JACKSON (Mississippi) JEFFERSON CITY (Missouri) JUNEAU (Alaska) LANSING (Michigan) LINCOLN (Nebraska) LITTLE ROCK (Arkansas) MADISON (Wisconsin) MONTGOMERY (Alabama) MONTPELIER (Vermont) NASHVILLE (Tennessee)

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oklahoma) OLYMPIA (Washington) PHOENIX (Arizona) PIERRE (South Dakota) PROVIDENCE (Rhode Island) RALEIGH (North Carolina) RICHMOND (Virginia) SACRAMENTO (California) SALEM (Oregon) SALT LAKE CITY (Utah) SANTA FE (New Mexico) SPRINGFIELD (Illinois) ST. PAUL (Minnesota) TALLAHASSEE (Florida) TOPEKA (Kansas) TRENTON (New Jersey)

MEDIUM

ALBANY (New York) ANNAPOLIS (Maryland) ATLANTA (Georgia) AUGUSTA (Maine) AUSTIN (Texas) BATON ROUGE (Louisiana) BISMARCK (North Dakota) BOISE (Idaho) BOSTON (Massachusetts) CARSON CITY (Nevada) CHARLESTON (West Virginia) CHEYENNE (Wyoming) COLUMBIA (South Carolina) COLUMBUS (Ohio) CONCORD (New Hampshire) DENVER (Colorado) DES MOINES (Iowa)

EASY

Find and circle all of the state capitals.

The remaining letters spell a quote by Theodore Roosevelt.

DIFFICULT

USA State Capitals

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"ITALIAN NEWS" continued from Page 6 mana, via P. Vasta, via R. Margherita, ManFestival schedule

After 21 cannon shots announcing the beginning of the celebrations, the festival starts on Jan. 20 at 7:30 a.m. at the Saint Sebastian church with the opening of the little chapel that houses both the statue of the Christian martyr and his relics. This event is celebrated by a shouting crowd of excited devotees waiving white handkerchiefs.

Acireale Bishop Antonino Raspanti then performs holy mass at 9:30 a.m. Later at 11 a.m., the statue of San Sebastian begins its procession through the following streets and squares of the town’s historic heart: via R. Settimo, Piazza Duomo, via Cavour, piazza San Domenico, via Musmeci, via San Carlo, via San Biagio, piazza San Biagio, via Gozzano, via J. Da Todi, piazza San Francesco, via Petrarca, piazza Dante, Manzoni, via Gozzano, piazza San Biagio, via Collegio Pennisi, piazza San Michele, via Ponchielli, via Mascagni, via S. Vigo, via Dafnica, piazza San Giovanni, via Lanzafame, via Turchia, via L. Da Vinci, via S. Vigo, via Mascagni, via Ponchielli, via Dafnica, San Martino, piazza G. Marconi and via Meli.

In the afternoon, the procession will stop around 3:30 p.m. outside the Basilica of Saint Sebastiano and later the procession will continue throughout following streets and squares: via Vittorio Emanuele, piazza Carmine, via Vittorio Emanuele. viale Libertà, piazza A. Pennisi (old railway station where a train will pass through around 4:30 p.m. in honor of the saint, and a special prayer for peace in the world will be said), S. Vigo, via San Girolamo, via Archimede, quartiere (neigborhood) Mandorle, via S. Vigo, Church Madonna della Fiducia, via S. Vigo, Rossini, piazza Madonna della Pace, via Verdi, via San Martino, via San Francesco di Paola, via del Popolo, via Maddem, via Scaccianoce, via Galatea, via Roma, corso Umberto, largo Giovanni XXIII, via Currò, piazza porta Cus-

cini, corso Umberto, piazza Indirizzo, corso Italia, via Veneto, via Principe Amedeo, via SS. Salvatore, corso Savoia, Caronda, via M. di Sangiuliano, via Atanasia, corso Savoia, piazza Duomo, via Davì, via Musmeci, and back to the Basilica of Saint Sebastiano.

The “fercolo” or float, on top of which the statue depicting the saint is placed, will be taken around by a group of 60 “divoti" (devotees) who perform spectacular maneuvers even running and going up steep climbs. The divoti who carry the float around the city belong to a confraternity boasting an ancient tradition handed down for centuries from father to son.

Their votive dress consists of a brown sweater symbolizing the color of the saint’s skin with red neck and cuffs that remind of the blood that the saint shed during his martyrdom, a white sash which used to be worn by devotees to hide the wounds caused by the plague and a headscarf which showed that one was healed of the plague and gained access to the town.

The procession lasts all day and ends at midnight when the statue is brought back to the San Sebastiano Basilica.

Firework shows and ringing church bells are performed all day long and throughout the city.

The Jan 27 festival will feature Holy masses to be performed at 9:30/10:30 a.m., noon, 5 and 7 p.m. at the Saint Sebastian church where the statue of the Christian martyr and the relics are kept. Later at 6 p.m., a group of devotees coming from Siracusa will perform the “Nuri di Sammastiano” pilgrimage.

At 8:30 p.m., the statue of San Sebastian will be taken outside the church to piazza Leonardo Vigo where it will be displayed for about thirty minutes. Firework shows will end the festival around 10 p.m.

The San Sebastiano Basilica is located in piazza Leonardo Vigo next to the Acireale Cathedral. For more information and detailed schedules visit http://www.sansebastianoacireale.it

JANUARY 19, 2018

"Surface Fleet" continued from Page 7 the surface warfare community on the right course to address issues identified in the CR and improve the surface fleet for decades to come.

"I owe it to our Sailors to provide them the tools they need to be the most capable mariners and warfighters possible," said Rowden.

A combined effort between Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific (CNSP) and Atlantic (CNSL) fleets will lead implementation of recommended changes and track those changes throughout the surface fleet. Their teams consist of representatives from Naval Sea Systems, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Personnel Command, Naval Education and Training Command, and other commands that have a role in making changes for current Sailors and how to develop future officers and Sailors to drive their ships, fight and win at sea.

CNSP and CNSL serve as the central node for both realizing recommendations on the deckplates and relaying progress to senior leadership.

At the time this article was submitted for publication, 11 CR recommendations had been accomplished by the Navy. The Surface Force continues to focus on completing all CR initiatives.

Examples of other initiatives under consideration are a bridge resource management workshop, a junior officer of the deck course, officer of the deck assessments and prospective commanding officer competency checkpoint assessments.

These initiatives were framed using the CR recommendations as well as Sailor feedback from when Rowden visited with commands and ship crews in Japan, Singapore, and Everett, Washington, following the incidents.

"We need to revisit basics and these initiatives are a look at how to do and train the fundamentals correctly," said Row-

den. "If we can't master the basics, it will be challenging to be proficient operating at the tactical level."

While the CR was gathering its information, Rowden, in concert with U.S. Pacific Fleet, commander, Adm. Scott Swift, took immediate action to address needed changes and improvements to the surface fleet at every opportunity. Following an operational pause directed by the CNO, Rowden recognized a need to improve confidence and competence in the surface Navy.

To that end, the CNSF commander issued guidance directing a concerted focus on the basics upon which safe navigation rests: contact management; bridge resource management; subject to the cognizant policies of fleet commanders, the transmission of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) while operating in restricted waters and high-traffic areas; the aforementioned circadian rhythm watchbill and shipboard routine implementation; and ready for sea assessments. Additionally, subordinate commanders were directed to take specific actions such as ensuring more personal involvement with manning, watchbills, training and certification pillars in order to ensure increased safety and readiness of their units and ships - at sea and in port.

"We've already implemented a number of the recommendations from the CR, and we will continue to address all of the remaining recommendations, ensuring all our initiatives put sharp focus on building better mariners, enhancing our ability to safely operate at sea and ultimately strengthening our warfighting capability," said Rowden. "The one thing that remains constant as we implement these initiatives is the dedication of the young Sailors that serve aboard our warships.

They take great pride in their profession, as they should."

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Sigonella First Class Petty Officer Association Gives Back to the Community Story by Sigonella First Class Petty Officer Association

During the Holidays, the Sigonella First Class Petty Officer Association (FCPOA) went to Casa Del Fanciullo, a foster home in Catania, to give the foster children and their caretakers a Christmas they would be sure to remember. The FCPOA began sponsoring the foster home in November 2017 and since then it took non-stop planning and organizing to facilitate this event.

First, the FCPOA conducted a fund raiser during Black Friday by bagging goods at the Navy Exchange, which raised over $500 within two hours! Next, they held a donation drive on NAS I, where they received overwhelming support, and $1,000 in donated goods. Aside from the donations of gifts and necessities, the FCPOA was also able to provide a delicious and plentiful feast for the children and staff courtesy of our wonderful Marinai Home Cooks!

“This event has been, by far, the best example of the charitable spirit the United States Navy embodies,” said MA1 Gerald Provost, President of the Sigonella FCPOA. The FCPOA ensured all the children at the foster home had a designated sponsor. The list of children started at 20, but due to the overflow of support, the staff members decided they were able to bring in five additional children from a different facility for a total of 25.

“What made this event special was

the fact that the entire community came together to ensure it was a success,” said MA1 Byron Hunt, FCPOA Public Affairs Officer. Aside from the members of the FCPOA, there were also civilians, junior Sailors, Chiefs and Officers who sponsored children.

Each sponsor put together a set of gifts for their sponsored child which included new outfits, new shoes and toys. With the funds raised at the Black Friday bagging event, the

FCPOA was able to donate a huge, brand new smart TV and the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS) FCPOA donated a Playstation 4 for good measure.

“The children were so excited to receive their gifts, they had ear to ear smiles,” said Hunt.

After a gracious thank you from the staff and the children, everyone shared a holiday meal of delicious eats provided by the home cooks of Marinai including breads, lumpia

"TRUMP" continued from Page 1 facilities. Whole Health includes wellness and establishing individual health goals.

-- Extend DoD's "Be There Peer Support Call and Outreach Center" services to provide peer support for veterans in the year following separation from uniformed service.

-- Expand the DoD's Military OneSource, which offers resources to active duty members, to include services to separating service members to one year beyond service separation.

Serving Their Country "The Department of Homeland Security is where many veterans find a second opportunity to serve their country - nearly 28 percent of our workforce has served in the armed forces, in addition to the 49,000 active-duty members of the United States Coast Guard," said Home-

and pancit, macaroni and cheese, and various desserts.

“I am absolutely overwhelmed with gratitude for everything we were able to give to these 25 foster children and 10 staff members who work at the organization,” said Hunt.

“The generosity of Sigonella is nothing short of remarkable! The Sigonella FCPOA looked to exceed all expectations and, with the support of our community, we were able to do that!”

land Security Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen.

"This critically important executive order will provide our service members with the support they need as they transition to civilian life," she added. "These dedicated men and women have put their lives on the line to protect our nation and our American way of life, and we owe them a debt we can never repay. We look forward to working with the VA and DoD to implement the president's [executive order]."

In signing this executive order, Shulkin said, the president has provided "clear guidance to further ensure our veterans and their families know that we are focusing on ways to improve their ability to move forward and achieve their goals in life after service."

For more information information on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, visit www. va.gov/.

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