FRIDAY, JULY 14, 2017
Eye on the Fleet
pearl harbor
VOL. 17 NO. 28
WWW.CNIC.NAVY.MIL/KEYWEST NAVAL AIR STATION KEY WEST, FLORIDA
Navy celebrates conclusion of Warrior Games From Navy Public Affairs Support Element (July 10, 2017) The future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113) is pierside at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in preparation for its commissioning ceremony. John Finn is named in honor of Lt. John William Finn, a chief aviation ordnanceman and the first member of the armed services to earn the Medal of Honor during World War II.
U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Justin Pacheco
inside: GOODBYE Special civilians leaving . . 3 MATERNITY CARE For incoming moms . . . . . . . 3 FAIR WINDS Kruppa retires . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 TOP OF PAGE ONE: A MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the ‘Island Knights’ of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 conducts a medical evacuation drill off the coast of Guam.
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fter all the fanfare, the crowds and the cameras, Team Navy joined their fellow competitors July 8 at a small event at Navy Pier in Chicago to celebrate the conclusion of the 2017 Department of Defense Warrior Games, hosted by the Navy. The event was closed to the public. Only the athletes and their loved ones gathered to say goodbye to new friends and to share the new memories they have made. The Games included teams from each of the U.S. military services, as well as teams from the United Kingdom and Australia. The teams competed in archery, cycling, track and field, shooting, swimming, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball. The Warrior Games introduced wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans to Paralympic-style sports. The event demonstrated the incredible potential of wounded warriors see games page 7
U.S. Navy photo by Jolene Scholl
Fleet and Family Service Center’s Danielle Martin, far right, discusses suicide awareness and prevention during an all-hands training session Tuesday at Boca Chica Field. Suicide can be prevented with intervention, she noted, which means paying attention, listening and responding to those who may be thinking of suicide.
Sailors urged to ACT to save lives, prevent suicides By Jolene Scholl Southernmost Flyer
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he stigma of suicide can be the impediment in preventing someone from taking his or her life. The fear of asking for help, the fear that asking will damage the career, the fear of what others might think. “There is an unfortunate stigma associated with mental health,” said Coast Guard Chaplain Lt. Derek Henson in an all-hands
training Tuesday at Boca Chica Field. “Nobody wants to be labeled as ‘that person.’ ” The Suicide Awareness and Prevention session was part of a continuing effort to educate Sailors on recognizing those who may be considering suicide and intervening to prevent it. It’s imperative to break down the stigma and publicly recognize and advocate the benefits of getting mental health counseling. “Thoughts of suicide are understandable, complex
and personal,” Henson said. “We’re all human; we all deal with the stress, the pain of life. We’re all at risk.” Sailors need to keep an eye on their shipmates and then have the courage to ask and intervene. Fleet and Family Support Center’s Danielle Martin told audience members to ACT - ASK the question, “Are you thinking of killing yourself?” Show that you CARE and listen without judgment. Most importantly, get immediate assistance
by escorting the person to nearest chaplain, trusted leader or medical professional for TREATment. And then there is the misperception that if you ask someone that question it will put the idea of committing suicide in his or her head, FFSC Director Theresa Burek told the audience. “The reality is that the question prevents suicide and does not cause it,” she said. see ACT page 2