Serving the NATO, Naples and Gaeta Military Community in Italy Russell Egnor Navy Media Awards – 2016 Best Newspaper in the Navy
63rd year, No. 3
Friday, January 26, 2018
The Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) recently hosted U.S. Ambassador to Malta, Honorable G. Kathleen Hill, Adm. James Foggo III, commander, Naval Forces Europe/Naval Forces Africa, and Maltese officials for a dinner and tour, while the ship was in Valletta, Malta. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mike Wright By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael Feddersen
The Blue Ridge-class command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) hosted U.S. Ambassador to Malta, Honorable G. Kathleen Hill, Adm. James Foggo III, commander, Naval Forces Europe/Naval Forces Africa, and Maltese officials for a dinner and tour, January 19 while in Valletta, Malta. The official party also included Maltese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Carmelo Abela, Maltese Minister for Home Affairs and National Security, Mr. Michael Farrugia, Maltese Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Mr. Keith Schembri, and
Rear Adm. Thomas Ishee, commander, Submarine Group 8. The visit allowed Mount Whitney to showcase the ship to the ambassador and officials, and provide insight of what capabilities the ship brings to the region. “It was a pleasure to show Ambassador Hill and our high level delegation of Maltese leaders the capabilities of the newly refurbished U.S. 6th Fleet command ship,” Mount Whitney Commanding Officer Capt. Kavon Hakimzadeh said. The visit also gave Adm. Foggo the opportunity to discuss the importance of U.S. and Maltese relations. “We had a very interesting discussion about the key strategic location that
Malta occupies and why it is important to us to be able make port visits with ships like USS Carney, and now Mount Whitney,” Foggo said. “It gives our Sailors a little rest and recreation, and also provides the opportunity to have key access to the Mediterranean for naval exercises.” Mount Whitney is currently conducting routine training in the region in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Asia. 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.
DSACEUR Sets Bar High in Naples By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark Patton JFC Naples Public Affairs
U.K. Army General Sir James Everard, the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, visits the NATO Strategic Direction South Hub, Jan. 24. The NSDS Hub is under the roof and lead of JFC Naples. Photo by Photo by French Navy Petty Officer Sébastien Laurent
U.K. Army General Sir James Everard, the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, looks forward to seeing progress made this year as concepts and plans are brought to fruition at Allied Joint Force Command Naples and NATO.
“I think commanding, directing, supporting and serving troops on NATO’s missions, operations and activities is, and always will be, the priority,” Everard said. “But, more broadly, in 2017 we saw the year of Alliance solidarity. I think 2018 is the year of action.” DSACEUR SETS BAR HIGH Page 6 CAPTAIN’S CORNER. . . . . . . . . 2 BASE NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 HISTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 FFSC CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SOUND OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 MOVIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 JOBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
VOLUNTEER TAX PROGRAM LAUNCHING . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5
CIRCUS FUN FACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 14
USO TOURS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 WORD SEARCH / COLOR ME 14
By Jim Garamone DoD News
The new National Defense Strategy is a good fit for the times, emphasizing the return of great power rivalry, yet still addressing other threats that abound in the world today, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said January 19, 2018, in Washington, D.C. The secretary unveiled the strategy at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies and stressed that the strategy is not merely a defense strategy, but an American strategy. The school is a division of the Johns Hopkins University based in Washington. The strategy – the first new strategy in a decade – is based on the National Security Strategy President Donald J. Trump announced in December. New Strategy Reclaims ‘An Era of Strategic Purpose’ “Today, America’s military reclaims an era of strategic purpose and we’re alert to the realities of a changing world and attentive to the need to protect our values and the countries that stand with us,” the secretary said. “America’s military protects our way of life and I want to point out it also protects a realm of ideas. It’s not just about protecting geography. This is a defense strategy that will guide our efforts in all realms.” Threats have changed since the last strategy. There is increasing global volatility and uncertainty with challenges from Russia and China coming to the fore. “Though we will continue to prosecute the campaign against terrorists that we are engaged in DEFENSE STRATEGY
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