NAVIFOR kicks off Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Active Duty Fund Drive

ByJoshuaRodriguez

Naval Information Forces

SUFFOLK,Va TheNavy-MarineCorps Relief Society Active Duty Fund Drive runs from March 1 to April 30 2023 and has two primarypurposes: To raise awareness ofthe programsandservicesavailabletoactiveduty Sailors and Marines, and to raise funds to supporttheprogramsandservicesofferedby NMCRS Thethemeofthe2023ActiveDuty FundDriveis“ByOurOwn,ForOurOwn.”

Leaders from Navy and Marine Corps commands across Hampton Roads gathered at U.S. Fleet Forces Command March 1 to officially kick off 2023 Active Duty FundDrive.ViceAdmiralKellyAeschbach Commander of Naval Information Forces, and Vice Admiral Jim Kilby, Deputy Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, as well as Ms. Dawn Cutler, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of NMCRS,spokeattheevent.

Aeschbach, who serves as this year’s Active Duty Fund Drive lead coordinator for all commands across Hampton Roads kicked off the event by highlighting the importanceofNMCRS’missiontothelives ofNavalfamilymembers.

“That work that every member and volunteer of the Society across the globe is doingissocriticaltoSailorsandMarinesin need, or who are dealing with unexpected challenges,” said Aeschbach. “I’m pretty passionate about what the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is focused on. When I wasacommandingofficerbackin2012and 2013, I found that the Navy-Marine Corps Relief [Society] provided vital support for the Sailors that were working for me They doitinaconfidentialway,andoftenareable to provide assistance to help Sailors from needing more serious intervention on the part of the Navy when it comes to pay challenges orfrankly justsomeofthechallenges that they’re facing while raising a family or takingcareoflovedones theNavy-Marine Corps Relief Society is always there. They always come through They’re always able torespondandhelp.”

Last year in Hampton Roads alone, the Navy-MarineCorpsReliefSocietyprovided more than $8.2 million of financial assistance to Sailors Marines and their families assisting7,500members

“WhenI’mreflectingontheNavyMarine Corps Relief Society, and thinking about these events, the services that they provide are significant: not only interest-free loans and grants for Sailors, but Budget for Baby classes, educational benefits, emergency travel funds, disaster relief, and providing Sailors who have a need the ability to go to aresource,”saidKilby.“Soitmakesadifference that we support this effort to help

ByNinoshkaBasantes, PublicAffairsSpecialist

Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic

From left to right Mr RickO’Rawe,directorofthe NorfolkNavy-Marine Corps ReliefSociety(NMCRS); Force MasterChiefPettyOfficerLaura Nunley,force masterchiefpettyofficerofNaval Information Forces (NAVIFOR); Col.Gabrielle Hermes,commanderofHeadquarters and Services Battalion,Marine Forces Command;ViceAdm.KellyAeschbach,commanderofNAVIFORand lead coordinatorforthe Hampton Roads area NMCRS fund drive;ViceAdm.James Kilby,deputycommanderofU.S.Fleet Forces Command; and Ms.Dawn Cutler executivevice president and chiefoperations officerofthe NMCRS cut the cake at the Hampton Roads NMCRSActive DutyFund Drive kick-offceremony.(U.S. NAVYPHOTOBYJASONRODMAN/RELEASED) ourselves,andIwanttoechomysupport.”

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society was founded in 1904 It is a nonprofit, charitable organization that partners with the Navy and Marine Corps to provide financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services and their familymembers.Thesocietyhasmorethan 200officeslocatedaroundtheglobe ashore andafloat,andmorethan3,000volunteers Cutler,whoservedintheNavyandretired in 2017, emphasized the critical role the annual Fund Drive plays in assisting Naval familymembersinneed

“The [Fund Drive] message is twofold. Number one, there are financial resources and education resources to help Sailors Marinesandtheirfamiliesdealwithtoday’s economy and just help them be financially

NORFOLK, Va Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic’s Fire Department answered a call to actionattheNavyFederalonNavalStationNorfolk, April27,2023

Thecallcameafter4-year-oldSabineBeangother arm stuck in a door crack during a game of peek-aboowithherlittlebrother

“Mama,I’mstuck, said4-year-oldSabineBean.

Nina Bean, Sabine’s mother, went to her aid and realizedherdaughter’shandwasstuckbetweenthe doorjambandthedoor Afterseveralfailedattempts to pull her daughter’s arm out, the fire department wascalledbyNavyFederalstaffmembers Thefirefightersarrivedatthesceneandassessed the situation. The only way to release Sabine’s arm from the door was by removing the door from the hinges They quickly removed the door, releasing herarm.

“Theywerereallyawesomewithher,andIknew shewasingreathands,”saidNina

As soon as she was released from the door, Nina said she was relieved Sabine was finally in mom’s arms and Navy Federal staff gave her candy Nina wants to make sure the Fire Department receives hergratitude

“Thankyousomuchforassistingwithmydaughterandmakinghercalmandgettingherfreeasfast aspossible,”saidNina.“Notallheroeswearcapes!” ready so that they can go serve our country in the job for which they were hired,” said Cutler “The second message is this is an opportunity to make a charitable contributiontotheSocietysothattheycanhelptheir fellow Shipmates and Marines and their familieswhenthey’rehavinghardtimes.”

“Historically theActiveDutyFundDrive hasbroughtinabout60percentoftherevenuethatwebringintoruntheSocietyandto supportSailors,Marinesandtheirfamilies,” continuedCutler “Iencourageallofthosein uniform to learn more about the programs and services of Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society that help them become financially self-sufficient,andgiveeveryonetheopportunitytohelpaShipmateoutbytheircharitablecontributions.

Duringthefunddrive,SailorsandMarines in commands across Hampton Roads are encouraged to learn more about NMCRS and to consider donating Sailors and Marines can contribute to NMCRS quickly and easily through military pay allotment, cash, check, or credit card. More informationisavailableatwww.nmcrs.org

NAVIFOR’s mission is to generate, directly and through our leadership of the IW Enterprise, agile and technically superior manned, trained, equipped, and certified combat-ready IW forces to ensure our Navy will decisively DETER, COMPETE, andWIN.

FormoreinformationonNAVIFOR,visit the command Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/NavalInformationForces/ or the public web page at https:// www.navifor.usff.navy.mil.

Take the lead and inspire to read: Norfolk Naval Shipyard volunteers participate in annual Read Across America Day

ByKristiRBritt

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) partneredwithChurchlandElementarySchool inPortsmouth,VirginiafortheannualRead AcrossAmericaDayMarch2,anobservance ontheschooldayclosesttotheanniversary ofDr Seuss’birthday

This annual celebration is part of a yearlong program focused on motivating childrenandteenstoread.Theprogramisledby the National Education Association (NEA), with its focus on building a nation of readersonestoryatatime.Thisyearmarkedthe fifthyearNNSYhasparticipatedwithinthe localcommunity,andthefirsttimereturning to schools since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic

ChurchlandElementarySchoolPrincipal Dr JamillJonessaid,“ReadAcrossAmerica celebrates diversity, inclusivity, the enjoymentandthepleasureofreading.”

“We believe that reading will encourage students to be successful in life and instill firm foundations for their future in everything that they do,” said Misty Conkel, Parent and Family Engagement Liaison for ChurchlandElementarySchool.“Todayisa greatwaytocelebrateandbringthecommunitytogetherfortheimportanceofreading.”

Among NNSY’s volunteers was Business and Strategic Planning Office (Code 1200) Management Analyst Janel Hofler who’s also a member of the shipyard’s Science, Technology Engineering, Arts and Mathematics(STEAM)EmployeeResourceGroup (ERG).“Ithinkit’simportanttogivebackto the community and help the kids develop and feel confident about themselves and their education,” she said. “Today’s event was a huge success I think the kids were very engaged with us as an organization, came with a lot of enthusiasm and questions I enjoyed working with my fourth gradeclassanditwasalotoffun.”

“Any time you can emphasize reading to the next generation, I think we should take the time to do that and have that impact on the community especially as members of America’s Shipyard with the knowledge, skills, and abilities that we can use to help inspire the next generation,” said SupervisoryPhysicalScienceTechnicianandNNSY volunteerEricStaten.

“Thankyousomuchforthesupportfrom NNSY wereallyappreciateyourpartnership,” said Conkel. “My heart is community Itrulybelievethatwearebettertogether and we all have something to offer Having everyonecometogetherforacommoncause makesmesohappy.”

“As Dr Seuss once said, ‘The more that youread,themorethingsyouwillknow.The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.’ Today was a step for these students’ futures, providing us all a moment to come together and celebrate the joys of reading and working together,” said Public Affairs Training Coordinator and STEAM-ERG LeadEricaMiranda “WeatNNSYarehappy wecouldsupportthisgreatcausetodayand look forward to continuing our outreach efforts within our community We aid the students as they learn and grow, inspiring themtofollowtheirpathsofchoice SoasDr SeusswhimsicallysharedinOh,ThePlaces You’ll Go! ‘You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so getonyourway!’”

TolearnmoreabouttheSTEAM-ERGor tolearnaboutfutureoutreachopportunities please email erica.s.miranda2.civ@us.navy. mil TolearnmoreaboutReadAcrossAmerica Day, visit https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/ read-across-america

Editorial Staff

MilitaryEditor | MC1 Maddelin Hamm

757-322-2853 | maddelin.v.hamm.mil@us.navy.mil

AssistantEditor | MC2 Leo Katsareas

757-322-2853 | news@flagshipnews.com

GraphicDesigner | TeresaWalter teresa.walter@virginiamedia.com

Contributing Staff

Ninoshka Basantes Travis Kuykendall Kaitlyn Hewett MC3 Jordan Grimes 757-322-2853 | news@flagshipnews.com Flagship, Inc. MNVMilitary Manager | Ski Miller ski.miller@virginiamedia.com

| 757-622-1455