How Are You Leading? By: LCDR Joseph Harrison Executive Officer Hope you all had a wonderful summer and are enjoying the cooler weather that fall has brought upon us. Breaking news: We are now releasing the transmitter bi-monthly, vice monthly, to allow for more information to be put into our great publication. This is our first bi-monthly and it’s jam packed so let’s get on with this months’ articles. Each time I draft an article I start out with three or four topics that I want to talk about and pair down to one. Well this month is no different. Given some recent thoughts and observations I decided to go with ‘How are you leading?’ I read a shipmate's blog every week and he recently wrote an article about leadership and mentorship which got me thinking about my leadership. How am I leading and shaping tomorrow's leaders? Do I actively seek out those that I can continue to develop and learn from? Do I pass this down to those that I lead? Well I certainly try and do that and you would think an XO has lots of time right? Well, some-times I do others, well, not so much. I do also look for others, junior and senior, whom I can learn from and develop my tools for my own professional development. You can trust me when I say, being in the leadership position and making the decisions is much harder than playing arm-chair quarterback and saying well, and if I was in charge I would do it this way or that way. I have been there and watched other leaders and have been the one arm chair quarterbacking it.
Now that I am that leader that others look to I constantly challenge my leadership and ask myself, “How am I leading and how can I do better?” I must say, our CO is a great leader who challenges us all to be “greater” everyday. You can tell a great leader from a good leader simply by how they lead and by simply watching their actions. Do they say we or I, team or my? These traits will certainly play into the results they deliver. We self-identify each time we talk, make a decision, or execute a task. How? By how we delegate a task, modify a job, and have more than one complete it or better yet, give it to someone you are trying to further develop and get them out of their comfort zone. That is true leadership development. I could certainly go on and on here about both good and bad leadership as I have experienced a lot in my 20 plus years of service. I wanted to share some recent thoughts as I have watched some of our team continue to develop our team, as well as themselves, and make us not only good, but great. Remember, leadership is about getting people to do things they don’t want to do, but doing it, and enjoying it. I challenge you to take a look at How You are Leading and ask yourself how you can become a better leader. Are you committed to lead your team in a way that allows them all to thrive or will you continue to lead within your comfort zone? Don’t be good, be great!! Happy Halloween and continue to enjoy the great fall weather here in Sicily and wherever you are, until next time, keep leading strong. 11
September 2013 GMT Awardees
LS1 Blanco IT1 Pauley CE1 Poe ET2 Ramus IT3 Amos
MOVSM NAM NAM NAM NAM
IT3 Barsana IT3 Llanes ET3 McGee IT3 Slizofski ET2 Carrithers
NAM NAM NAM NAM EIDWS
Mentor of the Month
Protégé IT3 Foggin Mentor IT1 Mundo
2
October 2013 GMT Awardees
3rd Quarter
Sailor of the Quarter IT1 Chaco
ETSN Burns LT Culbert LTJG Hazelbaker IT2 Dale IT2 Shanley YN3 Adams IT2 Bellavia
Advancement COM COM NAM NAM NAM LOC
ET1 Orlowski CM1 Leifeste IT1 Long EN2 Likes ET3 Olmedo ET3 Ialacci
EIDW EIDW EIDW EIDW EIDW EIDW
Mentor of the Month
Creighton Cup
Protégé ET3 Smiddy Mentor ET2 Butler
IT2 Bean
Junior Sailor of the Quarter IT2 Wiggins
Bluejacket of the Quarter YN3 Adams
3
LTJG Jeremy Hazelbaker By: IT2 Katie Dale LTJG Jeremy Hazelbaker. Everyone knows his name, and the N3 Department definitely knows his game. A driving force behind NCTS Sicily’s Operations Department, LTJG has not only inspired and motivated, but helped pave the way for a new watch station that has changed the way Operations, and NCTS Sicily as a whole, does business. His accomplishments, such as earning the AFCEA IT Leadership Award and his legacy of “One and Done” are just a small testament to his devotion to duty. Sadly, it’s time for LTJG to move on to bigger and better things. LTJG took some time out of his busy PCS’ing activities to sit down with for an interview with The Transmitter. Where is your next duty station? I am heading to the “Big Easy”, USS New Orleans (LPD-18) as the ISO\EKMS Manager. I have two schools en-route and report to the ship at the end of December or beginning of January. What was your favorite moment at NCTS Sicily? I have a lot of favorite moments at NCTS Sicily. When I first got to the command we were heavily involved with Operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector. Everybody was scrambling around to determine what needs to be done to provide services to our customers. Another event was the Server Farm Refresh and two major PC refreshes replacing approximately 85% of the PC's was a great opportunity to expand our knowledge for service delivery. Additionally, all the preps we did for the various NC3 and NATO exercises were very beneficial because it made us realize why NCTS is so vital and the impact if services cannot be delivered to our customers. Supporting Task Force personnel in response to real-world events was critical and I appreciate the hard work from all the Sailors that made it happen. Professionally I accomplished a lot during my time at NCTS. I finished my Master's Degree, earned 11 IT certifications, numerous qualifications, and was selected for the AFCEA IT Leadership Award. Ultimately, I enjoyed my time while at NCTS Sicily and all the hard work the Sailors did. We could not have accomplished the things we did without everybody's contributions. I am a strong believer that you can learn something from everybody and I learned a lot during my time at NCTS Sicily.
What was your favorite place to eat or visit while being stationed in Sicily? I enjoyed Hiking the most. There are a lot of great places to hike around the island. Also the food is great. What will you miss most about NCTS Sicily? I will miss the folks that I work with everyday. I really enjoyed being at NCTS Sicily and being a part of the N3 Team! What advice would you give to sailors on their future? Nothing good comes easy, you have to work for it! Enjoy your time at NCTS Sicily and the Navy and take full advantage of everything the Navy has to offer!
4
By: IT3 Jesse Roswell The Germans Regroup The main effort in the invasion of While the AVALANCHE invasion the Italian mainland was Operation force was moving ashore at Salerno, German AVALANCHE, at Salerno, where the US forces in southern Italy, as planned, were Fifth Army under General Mark W. Clark conducting a deliberate withdrawal northward came ashore. Fifth Army was composed of away from the Eighth Army landings. German the U.S. VI Corps, the British X Corps and General Vietinghoff was ordered to contain the the US 82nd Airborne Division, a total of Salerno beachhead until reinforced, to prevent about nine divisions. The plan called for a link up of the Allies. Clark's Fifth Army to come ashore and At first, Vietinghoff believed he could eventually link up with Montgomery's Britpush the invasion force into the sea. Eighth ish Eighth Army advancing north from Army was still 120 miles to the south beyond BAYTOWN. Its primary objectives were to difficult terrain. Montgomery had halted his seize the port of Naples to ensure resupply, advance on 9 September for two days, buying and to cut across to the east coast, trapping more time for the German counterattacks at the Axis troops further south. Salerno. In the early morning hours of 9 September, the approximately 450 ships of Operation AVALANCHE assembled off the Salerno coast. Elements had sailed from Sicily and from Tripoli, Oran, and Bizerte in North Africa, some at sea as early as 5 and 6 September. To achieve surprise, there was no preliminary naval or aerial bombardment. U.S. Rangers hit the beach unopposed at 0310, twenty minutes in advance of the main assault force, moving quickly inland to seize their objectives. British Commandos captured the town of Salerno against light opposition. The British X Corps landed under a heavy naval bombardment, meeting significant opposiThe Allied positions were becoming overextion as its soldiers fought their way inland. tended, and by 13 December the U.S. Army The untested men of the U.S. 36th Infantry 36th Infantry Division was occupying a 35-mile Division came ashore at 0330 without front, much broader than a full-strength division supporting fire, hoping to surprise the was expected to defend. The Germans rapidly Germans. reinforced the battle area, and the Allied Although the leading elements took situation continued to deteriorate. During 12 to heavy casualties, all six waves of the 36th 14 September, the Germans attacked the entire Division assault element were on the beach Allied Salerno front, searching for weaknesses, by 0610. The Americans encountered small hoping to throw the beachhead into the sea but intense resistance as they fought their before it could link with the Eighth Army. way off the beaches. German Luftwaffe Although heavy casualties were endured attacks against the beachhead were driven by the thinly spread Allied units, the German off by dawn as Allied aircraft from Sicily efforts were unsuccessful. and supporting carriers appeared. Continued on next page 5
by Allied bombers. The outer perimeter of the Allied With the Salerno beachhead fully se- position was withdrawn, to make a more comcure, the Fifth Army could begin to attack pact defense. Allied heavy bombers were northwards. The Allies gathered their diverted from strategic targets in Germany, to strength in anticipation of the attack toward attack German positions and interdict Naples. From 9 September through 1 German units and supplies flowing toward the October, 190,000 troops, 30,000 vehicles, beachhead. A fierce defense plus the and 120,000 tons of supplies came ashore naval, strategic and tactical air support kept the across the Salerno beach. The remainder of Germans from reaching the beach, although the British 7th Armored Division, the U.S. they came close in some areas. 3d Infantry Division, and the last of General Allied reinforcements came in by paraRidgway's 82d Airborne Division chute drop and by further landings on the disembarked along with the supplies which beaches. By the evening of 14 September, with would facilitate the attack northward. more supplies ashore and The Eighth Army had been making reinforcements arriving, the crisis had passed. quick progress from the 'toe' in the face of On 15 September, with the British German delaying actions. It united its front Eighth Army still some fifty miles to the south, with the Fifth Army on 16 September, and Kesselring ordered a final effort against the captured the airfields near Foggia, on the east beachhead. But his attacks on 15 and 16 Sepcoast, on 27 September. These would give tember failed, the Allies could not be disthe Allied air forces the ability to strike new lodged. Kesselring directed German forces to targets in France, Germany and the Balkans. begin an orderly delaying action and a withThe Fifth Army captured Naples on 1 drawal north. October (the first major European city to be liberated during WW II), and reached the line of the Volturno River on October 6th. This provided a natural barrier, securing Naples, the Campainian Plain and the vital airfields on it from counterattack. Meanwhile the British Eighth Army had advanced to a line from Larino to Campobasso. The whole of southern Italy was now in Allied hands, and the drive northward could begin. The capture of Naples and the Foggia airfield formally ended Operation AVALANCHE. The Allies suffered approximately 12,500 casualties (2,000 killed, 7,000 wounded, and 3,500 missing). Foggia, captured intact, would soon be used Continued from page 5
6
By: IT2 Joshua Hearndon NCTS Command Fitness Team ETC De LeonHorton NCTS CFL ITC Flanagan NCTS ACFL IT1 Stanley ACFL IT2 Fowler ACFL
You don't have to be a celebrity chef to make your meals visually appealing. Presenting a pleasing plate is a bit like creating fine art Balance a palette of different colors, shapes, textures, and flavors — it's the key to effective food presentation! Experts offer these guidelines: Keep It Simple Keep your food arrangements simple while providing as much contrasting color and texture as possible. Add Color With Fruits and Vegetables If you follow the U.S. government's recommendations for healthy eating (at least 2 cups each of fruit and vegetables every day), you'll have a variety of colors and textures on your plate. And remember that, in general, the deeper the color of the food, the richer its nutrients. Experiment With Shapes Pay attention to the shape of the main food on your plate. Cut accompanying foods into different forms to provide variety. For example, carrots can be cut in long strips or as small circles. Beat "Bland" by Mixing and Matching Use contrasting color or texture to make foods that look bland more interesting. Sprinkle seeds or nuts over cooked vegetables for visual interest, crunch, and flavor. Drizzle fruit puree over vanilla pudding or white cake. Top an omelet with salsa. Make Servings Look Bigger With Small, Simple Plates Plates that have a small food basin but a large rim make a serving appear up to 50% larger than it really is, helping to keep portion sizes "in check." For best results, use plates that are white or off-white and have limited patterns. Above all, use your imagination and have fun! When a nutritious meal is presented in an appealing way, family and friends are more likely to enjoy their food and stick with a healthy eating regimen. 7
Social Networking By: IT1 Shelly Espin
What is a social networking site? A social networking site (SNS) is a web-based service that allows communities of people to share common interests and/or experiences. Rather than using direct point-to-point communication to stay in touch (e.g., face to-face, phone, text/video messages), SNS’s allow users to publish information that can be read later by other users (a one-to-many form of communication) and follow their friends’ postings and provide comments. SNS’s provide innovative methods for interacting with friends through third-party applications, such as simple games (tic-tac-toe, paper-rock-scissors), interactive maps to show places visited across the world, and quiz/trivia games which allow for score comparison with others. Many SNS’s also allow users to logon from mobile devices that have web browser access to the Internet, allowing them to check and update their accounts from virtually any location with a Wi-Fi or cellular signal. What are the security concerns? OPSEC – SNS’s promote “social behavior” and encourage users to share information and inherently trust the information from those they are connected to within the SNS. Once information is posted or uploaded onto an SNS, it should no longer be considered private. Even if the SNS has strong privacy settings, that privacy is completely dependent on the security of the web application. On some SNS’s, third-party add-ons have elevated privileges, giving them access to additional private information such as home addresses or birthdays. Savvy attackers may also aggregate information from multiple sites to gain access to private information (e.g., online banking records, email). For example, personal information posted to an SNS (e.g., birthday, pet’s name) could be used to compromise security credentials (e.g., password, pin, security questions) for that site or other sites, giving an attacker access to private information Some of the best practices to keep in mind is NEVER to post any sensitive information, such as unit missions, or even your phone number, do not accept “friends” you don’t personally know and be selective of what third-party applications you add to your profile. Someone is always looking and listening…..don’t make yourself a target! 8
Address PSC 812 BOX 3290 FPO AE 09627-3290
Command Numbers
NCTS Activities Committee is an organization dedicated to improving morale in and around the community. Past events have included car washes, monthly potlucks, BBQs, and bake sales. ACTCOMM volunteers services and donates to programs supporting education advancement. We also present various fundraising opportunities to all command members to encourage overall unit cohesion. ACTCOMM is very proud to sponsor events that contribute to these causes while raising funds for the command's annual Christmas Party. ACTCOMM is always in need of volunteers for our events. Please let a member know if you're interested and Thank You for your support! We want to hear from you on what types of gifts you would like to see at the Christmas Party?
CWO: COMM: 011-39-095-86-5553 DSN: 314-624-5553
Quarterdeck: COMM: 011-39-095-86-5521 DSN: 314-624-5521
Please send your inputs to IT2 Williams at rose.williams@eu.navy.mil.
Upcoming Events: 25-26 OCT: 1700-2300 AUTUMNFEST @ NAS 1 31 OCT: 1100-1300 FOOD SALE @COMSTA 06 DEC: NCTS COMMAND HOLIDAY PARTY
Editors ET3 Stefani Vallejos IT2 Joshua Hearndon IT3 Jesse Roswell IT3 Karina Yoshimitsu ET3 Jocelyn Ialacci
Photographer IT1 Daniel Enderle ET3 Stefani Vallejos Questions or comments?
IT1 Espin: 624-5551
It’s that time of year! The Combined Federal Campaign has kicked off their 2013 run! The CFC is a great way to give to a variety of charitable organizations, or simply back to the NAS Sigonella Community! Feel free to contact one of our NCTS representatives for more information. IT1 Espin ET2 Carrithers
Representatives IT2 Reim IT3 Richards
IT3 Hassler IT3 Kontinos
Visit our website! www.public.navy.mil/fcc-c10f/navcomtelsta/Pages/default.aspx 9