Kitsap Navy News August 26, 2011

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COVERING PUGET SOUND NAVAL NEWS FOR BREMERTON | BANGOR | KEYPORT

NAVY NEWS Kitsap

VOLUME 1, NO. 22 | 26 AUGUST 2011

www.kitsapnavynews.com

Local Navy does little to curb spice use By TOM JAMES

tjames@kitsapnavynews

Naval Base Kitsap has implemented no new training in response to orders from the Navy Surgeon General that all commands be fully engaged in preventing the abuse of spice, also known as synthetic marijuana, even though at least one Navy officer has called it a problem in the area. The Surgeon General’s Aug. 2 instructions specified that all commands “Do everything

SEE SPICE | PAGE 8

THIS EDITION A player on the NSSC Raindevils flag football team loses his flags Tuesday. In flag football, tearing the flags from another player is the equivalent of a tackle, stopping the play. TOM JAMES/STAFF PHOTO

No Harm no foul

Navy flag football league preseason begins with jamboree By TOM JAMES

tjames@kitsapnavynews

“If you’re in the league,” a voice bellowed across the field, “get over here!” So began the 2011 Navy touch football league pre-season Tuesday, as a quick huddle to explain the rules kicked off the first series of scrimmages in a three-evening jamboree this week. Following the Jamboree, the season will begin next week, giving Navy personnel, families, and veterans the chance to play a favorite sport without the pads and helmets,

and without the potential injuries. “It stretches beyond the field,” said David Sitarski, coach of Team Michigan. named for the USS Michigan, “you’re out there with your command so you are really just hanging out and having some fun with the guys you work with.” While some teams chose to use the name of their vessels or commands, the lineup also includes teams with names like The Takers, Lou Blue Foo, The Illegal Motions, and The Secret Squirrels. Daniel Dean, coach of another creatively named team – Swab ‘Em and Stick ‘Em, a team of medical personnel – explained the game succinctly. “Basically, it’s like regular football, but with flags.” In the game, each player wears a belt from which three colored flags hang, and that attaches via velcro in front. Instead of tackling, players only have to grab an opponent’s flag and tear the belt off to ‘down’

him or her. There’s the inevitable brush or bump, but throughout the scrimmage the referees could be heard reminding the players that it was a no-contact sport. The priority in the preseason, Dean said, is to take it easy, familiarize everybody with the rules, and make sure no one gets hurt. “It’s good, friendly competition,” said Robert Rayon, coach of the HSB Heavy Hitters. “They really do a good job of keeping it friendly.” “It’s one of the coolest things we’re allowed to do,” said Greg Hurst, who said that because of deployment schedules he often misses the opportunity to take part in other team sports. Hurst said he also played in South Carolina, where his team won its league’s championship. The jamboree, said Hurst, “gives everybody plenty of time to just kind of check each other out, see who plays hard, see who

SEE FOOTBALL | PAGE 6

Bremerton Medal of Honor winner honored ......pg. 3 Navy fails on spice deterance .............pg. 4 NBK could see bio fuels from national program ...pg. 5 USS Renshaw, sees action in three wars.........pg. 13


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