Flagship 07.15.2021

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, July 15, 2021 1

IN THIS ISSUE

New CO takes the helm of CENSECFOR

Capt. Douglas J. Pegher took the helm to become the eighth naval officer to serve as the Center for Security Forces commanding officer.

PAGE A7 VOL. 28, NO. 28, Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com

July 15-July 21, 2021

Naval Weapons Station Yorktown sailor crochets comfort for children at Langley Air Force Base Hospital

By Susanne Greene

NWS Yorktown Public Affairs

An MH-60S Knighthawk, attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 2, pours a Bambi Bucket onboard Naval Station Norfolk. (MC3 BONNIE LINDSAY)

Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk Naval Shipyard conducts waterfront fire exercise From Naval Station Norfolk Public Affairs NORFOLK — Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk recently hosted and participated in an integrated waterfront fire exercise.

The purpose of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) led exercise was to rehearse how Navy and local agencies would respond to a fire onboard a vessel in port. This particular drill simulated a fire in a berthing area aboard the NAVSTA Norfolk based submarine, USS John Warner (SSN785).

Navy response included ships force, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire & Emergency Services from Districts 1, 2, and 3, contracted tug boats, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 2 and numerous NAVSTA Norfolk departments. In addition to the Navy response, more than 80 mutu-

al-aid responders with assets participated from Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton and the Hampton Roads Maritime Incident Response Team.

NAVSTA Norfolk’s Emergency Operations Center was also activated during the drill and served as a central command and control facility, providing support to the on scene responders.

“We have been coordinating this exercise with NNSY for approximately nine months and all the planning and execution was well worth it and proved to be very successful,” said Anthony Sickell, district fire chief. “All of these units typically train separately and this exercise gave them all a chance to work together in a cooperative environment. The integration was seamless and has created a great foundation that we will continue to build upon.”

While every Sailor is trained to fight fires, when a fire or any other type of emergency escalades beyond the capability of the crew, outside agencies are called upon to assist.

This mutual aid agreement allows emergency responders to lend assistance across jurisdictional boundaries.

“This training exercise was a valuable and important opportunity for all participating entities,” said Capt. David Dees, NAVSTA Norfolk Executive Officer. “Exercising with our community partners enhances our proficiency and collective capabilities should an actual emergency take place. We are thankful for the outstanding support we received and look forward to more training evolutions in the future.”

Following the exercise, all entities conducted a debrief and discussed lessons learned which will be incorporated into future training for continual improvement.

YORKTOWN — Culinary Specialist 2nd Class David Ackley learned to crochet from his grandmother as a child. He was born premature and spent most of his youth indoors. His grandmother noticed that he enjoyed working with his hands and she taught him how to crochet. He was born in Florida and enlisted in the United States Navy June 2015 and has served onboard Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Yorktown since October 2020.

Recently, CS2’s wife was purchasing Girl Scout cookies from a friend whose daughter is undergoing treatment at Langley AFB Hospital. The mother asked if CS2 Ackley could make something for her daughter. He created a blanket for the young patient and his requests for blankets and characters have been on the rise ever since. It can take three to four weeks to complete each project depending on the complexity of the design.

He enjoys making blankets, hats and characters such as dragons, “Zero” and “Oogie Boogie” from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. At this time, he has only given a few items to the hospital patients but is hoping to donate more in the future.

“I make hats all the time but honestly, I cheat a bit on the hats,” stated Ackley. “I have a knitting machine that I picked up in Germany so it takes me about two weeks to complete a hat.”

CS2 Ackley has been married for nine years and when off-duty he enjoys spending time with his family and crocheting gifts for those in need of comfort.

Naval Weapons Station Yorktown’s Culinary Specialist 2nd Class David Ackley is providing comfort for children receiving treatment at Langley Air Force Base Hospital with his crocheted creations.

(SUSANNE GREENE)

Public invited to 2021 NAS Oceana Air Show From NAS Oceana Public Affairs VIRGINIA BEACH — Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana is inviting the public to attend its annual airshow Sept. 18-19 in person for the first time since 2019 now that Navy bases in Hampton Roads have shifted to Health Protection Condition (HPCON) Alpha, which means there’s limited community transmission of the coronavirus.

In HPCON Alpha, the daily average of new coronavirus cases must be less than two new cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days. If cases of COVID-19 in Turn to Air Show, Page 7

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Public Health Center changes command

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Command of the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) changed Friday when Capt. Brian Feldman relieved Capt.

Robert“Bob”Hawkins during a ceremony conducted at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, July 9.

PAGE A3

ESG2 achieves ‘fully operational capable’ Achieving FOC status means ESG2 staff are now able to provide a Command Element to lead a myriad of operations to include amphibious warfare as well as the traditional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. PAGE A6

PCU Massachusetts

Sailors assigned to the Virginiaclass attack submarine PCU Massachusetts traveled to Boston recently to participate in community relations events in their namesake state. PAGE A2

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, July 15, 2021

PCU Massachusetts (SN 798) Sailors stand World War II veteran Baker 2nd Class Phil Dorf and his wife Etta during a visit in Freehold New Jersey. (WILLIAM ADDISON)

PCU Massachusetts crew’s namesake visit leaves lasting impression

By Lt. Emily McCamy Submarine Force Atlantic Public Affairs

BOSTON — Sailors assigned to the Virginia-Class attack submarine Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Massachusetts (SSN 798) traveled to Boston recently to participate in community relations events in their namesake state.

Namesake visits serve as a unique opportunity for Sailors to connect with the local community, share their stories and learn about the culture, customs, history and heritage of the place their unit represents.

The Sailors began their visit by stopping in Freehold, New Jersey to honor Baker 2nd Class Phil Dorf, a World War II Veteran who served aboard Battleship Massachusetts (BB 59) and is part of the legacy of the ship’s namesake.

“Meeting Mr. Dorf was an honor,” said Seaman Michael Pacanins, a culinary specialist (CS) aboard PCU Massachusetts. “Being

the newest CS on the boat and meeting a [WWII veteran] who served on the same namesake was an honor. I feel like something meaningful has been passed on.”

The team met with Dorf, his wife, Etta, daughter, Geraldine and granddaughter, April, and spent time talking about the recipes that Dorf created while he was a baker aboard Massachusetts. The recipes were used to bolster the morale of the crew on particularly hard days during the war.

The submariners continued on to Fall River, Massachusetts, where they met with historians and toured Battleship Massachusetts to learn about the history of the ship during WWII. “The first stop on the tour was the bakery where we saw ‘P Dorf worked here’ written above the doorway,” said Chief Petty Officer Rishi Chhatpar, the leading yeoman for PCU Massachusetts. “Pacanins was thrilled to see that.”

The tour included the galley, chief ’s quar-

ters and offered the Sailors a chance to climb into the turret and manually adjust one of the six-inch guns with a wrench — a necessary task that was performed during WWII. “At first, it was physically challenging,” said Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class (Nuclear) Nicholas Silva, assigned to PCU Massachusetts.

“By developing a cadence, we created a teamwork system to ensure the wrench was snug before turning it, then bringing back to the reset position to turn it again, and again.”

When the team received word to “hold,” they exited the turret. They were excited to see the gun was lowered.

The Sailors continued to Boston where they toured Fenway Park and met with Boston’s Mayor, Kim Janey, during a ceremony in front of City Hall.

“When the emcee announced us and where we’re from, I got goosebumps,” said Chhatpar.

“Standing on the stage in the City of Boston on the 4th of July representing our boat and

the people of Massachusetts was a thrill.”

The final stop on their visit was aboard USS Constitution where they had the opportunity to sail with the crew, mingle with the crowd and talk about PCU Massachusetts.

Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class (Nuclear) Donovan London, assigned to PCU Massachusetts had the unique experience of climbing the shroud aboard Constitution.

“I felt the tension of each individual rope through my hands and could feel the strain on my body as I steadied myself against the slight rocking of the ship,” said London. “I reached the top and could see the Boston skyline, surrounding boats and all the people below on the gun deck.”

The team disembarked Constitution with certificates that named them honorary crew members.

“In the Navy, we’re bound by history and tradition,” said Chhatpar. “Visiting the state of Massachusetts, sharing our story of PCU Massachusetts and her historic namesake with the people we met, solidifies what history is about. This has been a trip I won’t soon forget.”

The submarine is the ninth ship to be named after Massachusetts and is currently stationed in Newport News, Virginia.

The commissioning date has not yet been announced.

Naval Weapons Station Yorktown wants you to make a SPLASH this summer

By Susanne Greene

NWS Yorktown Public Affairs

YORKTOWN — The King’s Pointe Pool is now open on Cheatham Annex and you can keep your kids safe with the SPLASH campaign.

The Navy fitness SPLASH campaign is designed to educate both parents and their children on swim safety. SPLASH stands for: Stay within arm’s reach — The first line of defense in preventing drowning is adult supervision and keeping your children close.

Drownings can occur in as little as one inch of water.

Protect your non-swimmers — Water wings and inflatable floats/devices will not keep your child safe and are not permitted in Navy MWR aquatics facilities.

Learn to swim — Make sure that you and your children know how to swim. Navy MWR provides swim lessons for all ages. The risk of drowning among children can be reduced by up to 88% for children age 1-4 who have taken formal swim lessons.

Assess swim skills — Make sure your child’s swim skills have been properly assessed. Lifeguards are available to provide the official Navy Youth Swim Test. Check with your local MWR facility.

Swim safely — Know where the safest depth of the pool is for you and your child’s skillset.

Stay in your designated areas. You can stay safe, by swimming safe.

Hang it up — Your child can drown in 20 seconds. No tweet, phone call or social media post is worth putting your child’s life at risk.

Put the phone down and keep 100% of your attention on your child or children.

There is a lifeguard on duty at the King’s Pointe Pool so make sure to ask them about the latest COVID-19 guidance when you arrive and let them know if you or your child do not know how to swim.

“We are not requiring guests to wear a mask,” stated Jennifer Neaderhiser, Yorktown MWR Program Fitness Director. “However, we are continuing to ask guests to social distance and when in the pool that they stay with their group.”

Although sunscreen is available at the pool, please make sure to bring your own, along with bottled water to keep you and your family hydrated. Alcoholic beverages and glass bottles or containers are not permitted at the pool. If while visiting the pool you, or a family member, begin to feel overwhelmed by the heat or display any other unusual symptoms, please notify the lifeguard immediately for assistance. All of the lifeguards are trained in CPR and First-Aid by the American Red Cross. Follow these helpful tips to have a fun and safe visit to King’s Pointe Pool on Cheatham Annex or any MWR managed pool in Hampton Roads. To get the current hours for the King’s Pointe Pool, call 757-847-7830 as it is primarily open weekends only. Installation access is required.

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Bring your family to King’s Pointe Pool for some great family fun this summer. (SUSANNE GREENE)

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, July 15, 2021 3

Public Health Center changes command

By Hugh Cox

NMCPHC Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH — Command of the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) changed Friday when Capt. Brian Feldman relieved Capt. Robert “Bob” Hawkins during a ceremony conducted at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, July 9.

Rear Admiral Darin Via, commander, Naval Medical Forces Atlantic, Portsmouth, Va. presided over the ceremony.

In his remarks, Via cited Hawkins’s leadership as well as the tremendous impact that NMCPHC’s contributions have on Navy and Marine Corps mission readiness.

“Navy Medicine made the right choice sending you here. You took control during what I believe has been the most complex and challenging time in Navy Medicine History,” said Via. “Through your guidance and leadership, the men and women of the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center responded with unbelievable resolve and determination. You have done above and beyond for our nation and we are better today as a country because of you.”

Via concluded his remarks by welcoming Capt. Feldman back to Hampton Roads as the incoming NMCPHC commander, and thanking the men and women of NMCPHC for their many contributions during the COVID-19 global pandemic to protect the warfighter and ensure mission readiness.

Via presented Hawkins with the Legion of Merit for his leadership in support of Navy Public Health and the Navy Medicine mission.

Hawkins’ spent the majority of his time as NMCPHC commander responding to the COVID-19 crisis and acknowledged the role of NMCPHC in his remarks.

“NMCPHC and all the filed activities, your ability to respond to the COVID crisis really solidified your reason to be,” said Hawkins, who will be assigned to the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery upon completion of his tour of duty as NMCPHC commander. “You have responded to hundreds and hundreds of shortfused asks and tasks. You and all the field activities have deployed to the all global combatant commands, guided policy decisions and actions to protect the Fleet and Fleet Marine Force - they relied on you, and you delivered. That effort in

Capt. Robert Hawkins, left, exchanges a salute and relinquishes his command of the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) to Capt. Brian Feldman ,in front of Rear Adm. Darin Via, commander, Naval Medical Forces Atlantic. (MC2 JESSICA DOWELL)

the midst of COVID required a lot of sacrifice both by many of you as individuals as well as collectively you as a group. Thank you.”

The new NMCPHC commander, Capt. Feldman, a native of San Diego, graduated in 1997 from Duke University with a dual degree in biomedical and electrical and computer engineering. He was accepted to the Health Professions Scholarship Program and graduated from Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk Virginia in 2001.

Feldman completed his residency at the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth followed by one year as a staff pediatrician at the Halyburton Naval Hospital at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point. He was selected for specialty training in pediatric hematology-oncology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has also completed a two-year cancer prevention fellowship as well as a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology.

Feldman returned to the Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth serving in numerous leadership roles during his tour, and established the first clinical directorate of the Tidewater Multi-Service Market Pediatric Service Line expanding inpatient services and patient recapture throughout the Tidewater region.

Experienced in humanitarian assistance and disaster response, Feldman deployed with the USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) as the Pediatric Department head in support of Continuing Promise 2011, and served as the director

of medical services from 2011-2015, including extensive mission development for Continuing Promise 2013 and 2015.

From 2008-2014, he lead the Uniformed Services Oncology Consortium for over 50 research protocols for children and active duty patients with cancer to ensure that military dependents received cutting edge therapy.

He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and board certified in General Pediatrics and Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and holds an Associate Professorship of Pediatrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He remains active in the community as a two time President of the Tidewater Pediatric Society and champion of community partnerships in resiliency and care collaboration.

Feldman’s deployments include serving as the 5th fleet officer-in-charge of Fleet Surgical Teams FOUR and EIGHT, and Task Force Surgeon for the IWO JIMA (LHD-7) Amphibious Ready Group in 2018. He comes to NMCPHC having completed his tour as executive officer of the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory.

Upon assuming command, Feldman thanked Hawkins for his exceptional leadership and for instilling a culture of excellence. “Captain Hawkins, you have instilled a culture of excellence while sustaining operational relevance, all while rising to the challenge of a once in a lifetime pandemic this year,” said Feldman. “Your

leadership has never been more important — your staff thank you, and I thank you.”

Feldman also acknowledged while praising the entire NMCPHC enterprise for role it played during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

“NMCPHC played an impressive effort in the Navy’s effort to address the COVID-19 global pandemic that ensured the operational readiness of DON forces world-wide,” said Feldman. “You stood up an Emergency Operations Center that ensured public health expertise was available around the clock while sustaining all other aspects of your mission, such as providing rapid environmental preventative medicine units and their forward-deployed preventive medicine units, engaged with the fleet and the Marine Corps in their complex operating environments.”

NMCPHC is part of the Navy Medicine team, a global health care network of 63,000 Navy medical personnel around the world who provide high-quality health care to more than one million eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ship, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.

The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) develops and shapes public health for the U.S. Navy and Marines Corps through health surveillance, epidemiology and analysis, disease and injury prevention, and public health consultation.

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4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, July 15, 2021

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, July 15, 2021 5

Norfolk Naval Shipyard will be decreasing overhead positions in order to create more wrench turning positions. (ALDO ANDERSON)

Wrench turning vs direct support: Optimizing DSS to meet availability benchmarks

By Troy Miller

Norfolk Naval Shipyard Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH — Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s Strategic Framework is a tool to communicate the shipyard’s mission and vision statements, and shows how initiatives executed across the command tie together with why NNSY exists— to deliver warships. In order to bridge the gap between mission and vision, NNSY has identified four critical focus areas—our pillars. These pillars are the highest priority strategic focus areas we must urgently work to improve. They are Infrastructure; Dependable Mission Delivery; People Development; and Process Improvement and Innovation.

NNSY’s Mission Pillar Team (MPT) four focus areas were identified to help improve

the shipyard’s Dependable Mission Delivery.

They are: reduce overhead, optimize Direct Support Services (DSS), increase production efficiency, and inventory other direct work.

DSS are those personnel and positions that provide direct support to the mechanic performing the wrench turning work.

“We have less mechanics (wrench turners) today who perform the work on Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) availabilities than we did in 2013,” said Operations Officer (Code 300) Capt. Michael Oberdorf. “We need to raise the number of wrench turners in order to deliver the submarines and aircraft carriers back to the fleet on time and under budget.”

The efforts of the MPT are to make sure NNSY has the right level of support to opti-

mize value that the mechanics are generating for the Navy. In order to become a shipyard of dependable mission delivery, NNSY needs the right support in the right places to get the maximum overall result for the Navy and the nation.

“NAVSEA has benchmark standards for positions on any given project,” said Deputy Operations Officer Wallace Martin. “Regardless of how much work you have on a ship, there are fixed positions you must have to execute the functions of the Naval Supervising Authority (NSA), while other DSS positions are scalable with the amount of work.”

The Operations Department (Code 300) and the Production Resource Department (Code 900) comprise approximately 50 percent of NNSY’s workforce. Together, along

with the Business and Strategic Planning Office (Code 1200), the shipyard is taking a close look at all shipyard assignments to see how they will be most effectively balanced to deliver the ships on time and under budget to the shipyard’s customers.

“We have grown accustomed to work with a certain amount of people who directly support the mechanics who perform the actual work,” said Martin. “We as a shipyard rationalized why we needed more people in DSS, but that has come at a price of limiting the number of mechanics that we have on the deckplate. It’s time for us to look hard at the benchmarks that NAVSEA have provided us to ensure we are operating at maximum efficiency in order to deliver on time!”

Over the course of the next three months, the shipyard will study its number of personnel and set aggressive goals to reduce DSS to optimize NNSY to meet our mission.

“Shipyard personnel aren’t going to become unemployed during this process. But we will take the necessary steps in order to have the right balance between DSS and the mechanic,” said Oberdorf. “Change won’t come easy, but together we can do whatever it takes to build confidence with our customers and our nation that America’s Shipyard has to meet its mission of dependable delivery every time.

Our Navy and country are counting on us.”

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6 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, July 15, 2021

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks land on the flight deck of the Whidbey Island-Class Dock Landing Ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44). (MC3 COLBEY L LIVINGSTON)

ESG2 achieves ‘fully operational capable’ status From Expeditionary Strike Group 2 Public Affairs

NORFOLK — Expeditionary Strike Group 2 completed a major landmark in operationalizing its staff when its commander, Rear Adm. Robert Katz, declared the Echelon IV Maritime Command Element “fully operationally capable” following the recent completion of the Baltic Operations Exercise 2021.

Achieving FOC status means ESG2 staff

are now able to provide a Command Element to lead a myriad of operations to include amphibious warfare as well as the traditional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

“ESG-2 realizing its full operational capability as a Maritime Command Element afloat or ashore was the culmination of a two-year training effort,” said Katz. “Participating in both live and synthetic exercises, ESG2 proved it can project USMC, joint, and coalition power to the shore.”

The road to ESG2 achieving the FOC

milestone is especially impressive considering much of the coordination, planning, and execution took place while strict COVID-19 protocols demanded the staff innovate with new technologies and overcome a then unknown virtual work culture.

As part of their FOC criteria, in February strike group staff participated in USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) Carrier Strike Group’s Composite Unit Training Exercise. Staff from ESG2 and the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade planned

and executed a synthetic Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations in support of the exercise, a first for the East Coast.

The final dress rehearsal was BALTOPS, the diverse, multi-domain two-week exercise in 6th Fleet, which concluded June 18. Much of the staff, including Katz, embarked aboard Blue Ridge-class amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) during the exercise that brought together 16 NATO and two partner nations with more than 40 ships, 60 aircraft, and over 4,000 personnel. This diverse operational portfolio will help enhance naval integration and distributed maritime operations for the future.

“ESG2 and all assigned forces must be ready to answer a variety of missions,” said Katz. “My watchwords are Initiate, Communicate and Educate. We must be working with these in mind in order to strengthen and build highly effective teams.”

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, July 15, 2021 7

A close-up view of a fiber optic cable. (KIMBERLY KOONCE)

FRCE considers new robotic process to clean fiber optic cables

By Kimberly Koonce

Fleet Readiness Center East Public Affairs

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. — Advanced military aircraft rely on fiber optics to transmit massive amounts of data to avionics and flight control systems in real time. Like most other parts of an aircraft, the connectors at the ends of these critical cables and the ends of the fiber strands inside the connectors can get dirty with use in harsh environments, which can degrade their efficiency.

Currently, aviation maintenance professionals at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) use a manual process to clean grease, oil, dirt, and other contaminants that degrade the cable efficiency to ensure that light passes uninterrupted through the fiber strands inside of these cables. This process essentially runs a piece of floss across the end of each fiber strand one at a time to clean them, according to Chase Templeton, Robotics, Support Equipment,

and Wiring Technology Lead for FRCE’s Advanced Technology and Innovation (ATI) Team.

“Right now, we’re using a manual process in which you have to align the cleaning tool perpendicular to the face of the fiber optic cable connector, and the positioning of the tool dictates how clean you actually get the fiber strand,” Templeton said. “It’s time consuming and may take as many as three to five cleanings before each fiber strand is completely clean.”

That’s why the ATI Team recently hosted a demonstration of a robotic fiber optic inspection and cleaning system that has been used successfully in an aircraft manufacturing environment. Engineers and maintenance professionals from a number of platforms attended the demonstration to see how effectively the system could clean the cables in aircraft maintenance environments.

Templeton said the advantage of a robotic system is that it takes the guesswork out

of aligning the cleaning tool with the fiber optic cable.

“With the robotic system, it perfectly aligns the cleaning floss to the fiber strand end every time,” he said. “It usually only requires a single cleaning to meet specifications for cleaning those fiber optics.”

Representatives from FiberQA demonstrated their robotic fiber optic cleaning and inspection system on FRCE’s F-35 Lightning II maintenance trainer airframe to an audience of about 20 FRCE participants. Doug Wilson, founder of FiberQA, called the robotic system a first line of defense against contamination of the fiber optic cables.

“There are two parts to it. One, make it clean enough so it actually transmits the light to maximize the efficiency of the network,” Wilson said. “The second is to prevent damage due to that contamination. Our equipment verifies that it’s safe to connect.”

FRCE engineers who attended the

New CO takes the helm of CENSECFOR

By Darryl Orrell

Center For Security Forces Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH — Capt.

Douglas J. Pegher took the helm to become the eighth naval officer to serve as the Center for Security Forces commanding officer. The change of command ceremony took place at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, July 9.

“The opportunity to lead this command is humbling,” said Pegher in his remarks. “I would not be standing before you today if it were not for the support of many people.”

He thanked his wife and children for their endless love, support, and sacrifice when his call to duty required his absence from home. He also thanked his parents for giving him a solid foundation that put him on a trajectory for success.

Pegher is a 1993 Edinboro University of Pennsylvania graduate where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After working a few years in the commercial sector, he chose to pursue a career in the U.S. Navy and earned his commission in 1997.

He served in various operational assignments and on different ship classes, such as an aircraft carrier, an amphibious command ship, and two destroyers. During his tenure aboard USS Stethem (DDG 63), based in Yokosuka, Japan, he served as the executive officer from 2014 to 2016 and as the commanding officer from 2016 to 2017.

Under his command, Stet-

hem was the first U.S. Navy ship to visit Jeju-do in the Republic of Korea since the Joint Civil-Military Complex opened a year earlier in 2016. The ship also completed a seven-month patrol in the IndoAsia-Pacific region visiting various countries and participating in several military exercises. It also participated in the U.S. Navy’s Great Green Fleet initiative.

Pegher’s previous assignment was with Tactical Training Group Atlantic, where he served as the module head for surface, mine, and amphibious warfare. He oversaw the safe and effective delivery of ready, relevant learning to carrier strike groups, amphibious readiness groups, and Marine expeditionary groups. He played an essential role in revising the Maritime Staff and Planners Course to prepare tomorrow’s naval leaders for new emerging threats.

“To the Sailors and civilians who make up the Center for Security Forces worldwide, your professionalism, drive, and determination across the staff continually impressed me during my turnover,” said Pegher. “I look forward to working with each of you closely. We shall continue to excel at our mission to deliver the highest caliber of safe, effective, and leading edge training to our customers.”

The Center for Security Forces provides specialized training to more than 23-thousand students each year. It has 14 training locations across the United States and worldwide that carry the motto “Where Training Breeds Confidence.”

demonstration said removing the human factor from fiber optics cleaning would be beneficial to the rework process.

“It’s a highly subjective task and requires a lot of training to be able to inspect and clean our fiber optics effectively,” said Matthew Crisp, F-35 Joint Program Office site lead at FRCE. “We want to see what opportunities we have to remove the subjectivity and increase the speed of doing those inspections.”

The robotic cleaning and inspection system from FiberQA is used currently in aircraft manufacturing environments, but the company is looking to expand into aircraft maintenance. The next step for the ATI Team is to determine what changes might be necessary for the technology to be useful in the maintenance operations for the F-35 platform or any other platform that utilizes fiber optic systems.

“We don’t want equipment that can be easily damaged, and we don’t want a lot of weight hanging off the aircraft connectors. Any extra weight that is hung on these wiring harnesses is not a good thing,” Templeton said. “We need to find a way to support this new tool, and we need to make sure it’s ruggedized enough to be used in a depot environment.”

FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers.

Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.

Air Show from Page 1

Capt. Douglas J. Pegher took the helm to become the eighth naval officer to serve as the Center for Security Forces commanding officer. (COURTESY PHOTO)

Hampton Roads exceed this criteria, attendance at the air show could be limited or canceled.

The 2021 air show will feature performances by a variety of civilian and military aircraft, including the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels.

This year’s air show theme is “The Blues Are Back.” The theme highlights the team’s first appearance at NAS Oceana since 2018, the Blue Angels’ 75th anniversary and their first year flying the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Other air show performances will include tactical demonstrations of the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the Air Force F-22 Raptor, and the Navy’s newest fighter jet, the F-35 Lightning II. “NAS Oceana is very excited to welcome everyone back to our installation in order to showcase our nation’s military capability,” said Capt. John W. Hewitt, commanding officer of Naval Air Station Oceana.

“As members of the great communities of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, we know that people look forward to attending our very popular air show every year.”

Last year’s in-person air show was canceled to help stop the spread of COVID19, and instead, a first-of-its-kind live broadcast air show was held. The in-person event has been held nearly every year since 1953 and typically attracts more than 250,000 spectators during the two-day show. The 2020 live broadcast air show was viewed by over 300,000 people from all 50 states and more than 49 countries.

Admission and parking are free. Gate opening times and the air show performance schedule are still under development. Additional information about the 2021 NAS Oceana Air Show will be released as it becomes available on www. oceanaairshow.com and on the installation’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/NavalAirStationOceana.

8 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, July 15, 2021

uarterdeck

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, July 15, 2021 1

7th Fleet conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation

On July 12, USS Benfold (DDG 65) asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands, consistent with international law. Page B3

UK, Dutch, U.S. naval forces conduct joint interoperability exercise in Gulf of Aden

Ships of the UK Carrier Strike Group, USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, and Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group operate in formation in the Gulf of Aden, July 12. (MCSN GRAY GIBSON)

From Task Force 50 Public Affairs GULF OF ADEN — The Queen Elizabeth (UK) and Ronald Reagan carrier strike groups (CSG), alongside the Iwo Jima amphibious ready group (ARG), conducted a large scale joint interoperability exercise in the Gulf of Aden, July 12.

The combined, bilateral surface, air and sub-surface exercise was designed to enhance UK, Dutch and U.S. maritime interoperability and demonstrate naval integration through a series of training scenarios.

“Our team was proud to operate alongside the UK Carrier Strike Group during this unique opportunity to hone the full scope of our mutual capabilities,” said Rear Adm. Will Pennington, commander, Ronald Reagan CSG and Task Force 50.

“By operating together at sea, we deepen

our coalition partnerships and extend our global reach throughout the region’s critical waterways.”

Participating forces focused on the full spectrum of maritime warfare operations, practicing anti-air warfare (AAW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) tactics and procedures.

The crews exercised their abilities to conduct precision maneuvering, hunt simulated enemy submarines, provide layered defense against simulated air and surface threats, and conduct long range maritime strikes against simulated adversarial forces.

“The aircraft carrier is the ultimate expression of global maritime power,” said Commodore Steve Moorhouse, commander, United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group. “Queen Elizabeth, Ronald Reagan and Iwo Jima symbolize the might

of the U.S. and UK partnership, and the ease with which our naval and air forces can combine here in the Gulf of Aden, or anywhere else in the world.”

This also marks the second time this year the Iwo Jima ARG has operated alongside the UK carrier strike group, following an exercise off the coast of Scotland in May. “The Iwo Jima ARG remains in a high state of readiness to support our partners and allies as an effective amphibious force,” said Capt. Darren Nelson, commodore, Amphibious Squadron Four. “Operating with the Ronald Reagan and UK carrier strike groups allows us to better address common threats to regional security.”

Participating units included aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R 08) with embarked F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters from Royal Air Force 617 Squadron

U.S., allied forces conduct Exercise Pacific Vanguard 2021 off coast of Australia

By MC1 Gregory Juday

CTF 71/DESRON 15 Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN — Maritime forces from Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the United States met in the waters off the eastern coast of Australia to conduct cooperative maritime exercise Pacific Vanguard (PACVAN) 2021, beginning July 5.

The Royal Australian Navy is hosting this year’s exercise, demonstrating shared trust and cooperation amongst the four nations. PACVAN is an opportunity for the four Indo-Pacific navies to strengthen their skills in maritime operations including anti-submarine warfare, air warfare, livefire missile events, and advanced maneuvering scenarios.

Representing Australia are the Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDG 41), Collins-class submarine HMAS Rankin (SSG 78), and aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force.

“Exercise Pacific Vanguard builds on the strong and longstanding relationship between the Royal Australian and United States navies and reflects our shared commitment to robust navy-to-navy relationships across the region,” said Cmdr.

Aaron Cox, commanding officer, HMAS Brisbane. “Our fleet has enjoyed multiple chances to work with the United States Navy this year and the crew of Brisbane is eager to test their skills with USS Rafael Peralta and show how our capabilities combine.”

Representing the U.S. Navy is the newest addition to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Raphael Peralta (DDG 115).

“Pacific Vanguard gives the U.S. and its allies a venue for high-end training that will contribute to our ability to effectively work together to face current and future threats,” said Cmdr. J. J. Murawski, commanding officer, USS Rafael Peralta. “Continuing to develop the bonds between each of our navies and our ability to operate together will help to ensure the stability of the

and U.S. Marine Corps Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211; aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) with embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and Destroyer Squadron 15; amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), anti-submarine frigate HMS Richmond (F 239); Dutch frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F 805); guided-missile destroyers USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) and USS Halsey (DDG 97); and guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67).

The Ronald Reagan CSG and Iwo Jima ARG are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.

U.S., Dominican Republic strengthen bonds

From U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) and the Dominican Republic Navy conducted a passing exercise (PASSEX) recently, following a three-day port visit to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

During the exercise, Billings worked with Armada de República Dominicana Swiftships 110’-class patrol boat Canopus (GC-107) and Justice Boston whaler-class boat Nunki (LI-163). Forces practiced a series of tactical shipboard movements, formations, and vectoring, as well as tested command and control capabilities.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) fires an SM-2 missile during Exercise Pacific Vanguard 2021. (MC3 DAN SERIANNI)

Indo-Pacific region.”

Representing the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) is Takanami-class destroyer JS Makinami (DDG 112).

“Pacific Vanguard 2021 is a high-end joint-action exercise against complicated high-risk threats to preserve stability and freedom of access to the global commons,” said Capt. Hirai Katsuhide, commander, JMSDF Escort Division 1. “It is a great honor to conduct this exercise with the enormous support of our host country Australia. This exercise enhances cooperation between all participants and contributes to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region toward the realization of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”

The Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer ROKS Wang Geon (DDH 978) participated in the exercise.

“Our Navy took part in Exercise Pacific Vanguard to enhance combined maritime operations capability and promote the goodwill and the partnership among our friendly naval forces.” said Capt. Lee Jeong-Ho, commander, Korean Maritime Task Group.

Under Commander, U. S. Pacific Fleet, 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

The training helped to improve interoperability and demonstrate the strategic partnership with the Dominican Republic that helps facilitate conducting naval operations against emerging threats in the region.

While in port, Billings hosted a reception onboard, welcoming the President of the Dominican Republic, His Excellency Mr. Luis Rodolfo Abinader, Vice President of the Dominican Republic Raquel Peña, Chargé d’Affaires of U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo, Mr. Robert W. Thomas, and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, Rear Adm. Don Gabrielson.

“We are doing important work in a complicated world,” said Gabrielson. “Every day, it would seem that the situation defies logic — and we awaken to yet another challenge. And yet, we persevere. Together.

Close friends, whose bond is the sea.”

Gabrielson met with senior U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo officials and Armada de República Dominicana leaders, including Turn to Bonds, Page 7

2

The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, July 15, 2021

Heroes at Home

Q: How do I request a particular neighborhood’s wait list?

A: You will need to speak with your local Navy Housing Service Center (HSC). Wait lists vary by installation, and some allow for specific neighborhood wait lists, others do not and instead offer the first available military house.

NAVY HOUSING Norfolk (757) 445-2832 JEBLCFS (757) 462-2792 Oceana/Dam Neck (757) 433-3268 Yorktown (757) 847-7806

Ocean front summer vacation rental, Outer Banks, North Carolina.(ISTOCK)

Vacationing with Geek Squad teaches unexpected lesson

By Lisa Smith Molinari This summer, our family’s annual beach vacation was the same as always, except that it wasn’t.

Aside from one summer when my husband and I couldn’t afford plane tickets to fly home from our duty station in England, I’ve been vacationing at the same North Carolina beach since I was a baby. Our extended family bought a small property there in 1979, so I’ve been staying at the same beach cottage since seventh grade. The cottage’s third floor bunk room, where I giggled late at night until my parents yelled, is the same room where our own three kids grew up getting yelled at.

Not much has changed. Every summer, we bonk our elbows on the uncomfortable wooden furniture, shuck corn on the screened porch, and nudge toads out of the sand shower.

Just like I did when I was old enough, our two daughters have invited friends on our summer vacations, compounding late night giggle-fests, grocery bills, and sand being tracked through the house. When they got older it was fun watching the gaggle of girls vie for the attention of boys on the beach. Their tactics ranged from coy to outright obnoxious. At night, they’d doll up and ride bikes, sing loudly from our deck, or go to the local dance club, coming home with dirty feet and stories to tell.

Our son, Hayden, never invited friends to our beach cottage until recently. As an “on the spectrum” Navy brat who moved ten times and attended three high schools, Hayden often struggled socially. He found his way in his new career as a software engineer, where he has formed real friendships.

“Can we take the third floor?” Hayden asked recently, after inviting two of his computer scientist friends to come on our summer vacation. We thought it a bit odd that twenty-something fellows would want to bunk together, but we knew Hayden was excited to finally have the kind of experiences that he’d seen his sisters have.

They arrived on Saturday night, spilling out of Hayden’s Nissan with their backpacks, bantering about video games. “So what did you do during the twelve-hour drive from Rhode Island?” I asked once they were settled in the cottage. “Listen to music? Play games?

Sleep?”

“We talked,” Hayden said.

“For twelve hours?” I asked, expecting clarification.

“Yep, the whole time,” Hayden responded, deadpan.

It didn’t take long for us to learn that talking, or rather, arguing was their favorite past time.

From sun up to sun down, they debated. Everything from computer coding to breakfast cereals. Although we often didn’t understand the

issues being addressed in their fast-paced repartee, we found it highly entertaining.

Unlike our daughters, Hayden and his friends weren’t interested in attracting attention or pushing limits. In fact, they had trouble maintain eye contact for more than five seconds, and avoided outdoor activities that might cause sunburn or insect bites. One afternoon, as two large groups of young women in bikinis passed by our cottage, Hayden and his friends sat on the couch, transfixed by YouTube videos featuring hands soldering wires onto motherboards. At night, instead of hitting the clubs, they’d play video games at the fishing pier or go to Walmart to buy surge protectors and adapters, driving through Sonic for slushes on the way home (too many mosquitoes at the boardwalk ice cream stand). On a perfect beach day, Hayden and his friends went to the Wright Brother’s Museum, learning about aerodynamics and the history of flight. Another day, they bought a kite and, after arguing how to launch it, finally got it airborne only to reel it in for fear that wind gusts might cause it to impale someone. Safety first.

In the end, our son and his friends “had a blast” on vacation, despite mini-golf sunburns. Certainly, their brand of enjoyment was unique and somewhat difficult to comprehend, but enjoyable nonetheless.

My husband and I learned that parenting individual children the same way, in the same environment (i.e., our summer beach cottage), will nevertheless produce unique individuals with distinct motivations, personalities and paths to success.

In other words, fun is in the mind of the vacationer.

FUNCTIONS AND/OR SERVICES FFSC PROVIDES: ClinicalCounseling(Individual, Couples,a nd Child Counseling) Personal Financial Management Information & Referral Family Employment Assistance Transition Assistance Family Advocacy Program Deployment and Mobilization Support Ombudsman Support Relocation Assistance Parenting Programs Stress and Anger Management Command Support Crisis Support

Special Needs Considerations When You Separate or Retire From the Military

SuicidePrevention SAPR Support

By Military Onesoucre As a military family with a family member with special needs, you probably have faced transition challenges like PCS moves, deployments and separations. The transition to civilian life will bring more change, but preparing ahead of time can help ease your family’s shift to new support systems, resources and services.

Begin your separation journey by learning about transition assistance programs and resources. You can also schedule appointments with a Military OneSource consultant for transitioning veterans. Start early and contact your resources as often as needed to increase your post-transition success.

Build your plan.

• Take these steps as part of your transition from the military to make sure you cover all the bases for your family member with special needs.

• Meet with EFMP professionals. Get assistance from EFMP Family Support on your installation or a Military OneSource special needs consultant. They can help you develop your plan and guide you to resources in your current or future location.

• Review your finances and revisit retirement planning. Meet with a free personal financial counselor, talk to a financial consultant from Military OneSource and check out the resources on Financial Planning and Assistance for Families with Special Needs. You can also find financial info and tools from the Office of Financial Readiness to manage finances today and in the future.

• Take advantage of free legal services. Prepare and update your legal documents before you transition by contacting Legal Services on your installation. Review the legal checklists on EFMP & Me to learn more about estate plans, wills, trusts, guardianship and power of attorney. You can also get tips and information by listening to podcasts on legal and financial planning.

• Ensure continuity of medical care. Set up a meeting with your TRICARE representative to review your options. Remember to schedule your Separation History and Physical Examination between 90 and 180 days before you separate or

Mid-Atlantic Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) programs and services are designed to help you make the most of your military experience, and they’re all available to you at no cost.

(COURTESY PHOTO)

start terminal leave. Not eligible for TRICARE? Review the Health Insurance Coverage Considerations for Transitioning Families for alternatives.

• Review education needs and transition plans.

Connect with the school liaison officer on your current installation to review and guide you with your transition plan. Contact providers and schools in your new location directly if you have questions about their programs and services.

Capture and store necessary information.

Check out these tips to help you gather and keep information to have available when you need it.

• Use EFMP & Me. Create customized checklists to guide you through planning for separation and retirement, transitioning your medical care, moving and so much more.

• Contact the appropriate community agencies in your current or future location that provide services to support the disabled so you will have an understanding of available resources.

• Keep a list of all important contacts you make as you prepare for transition. Take time to update the appropriate Special Care Organizational Record, and have copies of all necessary medical and education records ready to hand-carry to your new location.

• Review the Transitioning From the Military With a Child With Special Needs fact sheet for an overview of support and resources available as you transition from the military.

• Use the Plan My Move tool and the Transitioning/Moving checklist from your SCOR for ideas on transitioning with a special needs family member.

Ease the transition.

You and your family members may feel the stress of military transition to civilian life due to the unknown and to fears you don’t recognize.

Some suggestions for easing transition stress when you separate or retire from the military include: • Review the Stepping Beyond videos on Military OneSource including Transitioning out of the Military with a Child with Special Needs.

• Use tools from Sesame Street for Military Families: Military to Civilian Life to start discussions about transition and lessen stress and anxiety that could cause emotional or behavioral issues.

• Relax with Chill Drills, a new app that helps lower stress levels as you refresh and recharge.

As you prepare for military separation, you may feel anxious about the new and unknown hurdles ahead. Every transition is different so the better prepared you are, the smoother your transition can be.

Use the wealth of available tools and resources to find the answers you need to create and execute your plan for a smooth, successful transition from military to civilian life. And remember, you have access to Military OneSource for 12 months after your military separation.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, July 15, 2021 3

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) sails through the South China Sea while conducting routine underway operations. (MC1 DEANNA C GONZALES)

7th Fleet conducts Freedom of Navigation Operation From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs 7TH FLEET AREA OF OPERATIONS — On July 12, USS Benfold (DDG 65) asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands, consistent with international law.

This freedom of navigation operation (“FONOP”) upheld the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea recognized in international law by challenging the unlawful restrictions on innocent passage imposed

by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam and also by challenging China’s claim to strait baselines enclosing the Paracel Islands.

Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade and unimpeded commerce, and freedom of economic opportunity for South China Sea littoral nations.

The United States challenges excessive maritime claims around the world regardless of the identity of the claimant. The international law of the sea as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention provides for certain rights and freedoms and other lawful uses of the sea to all nations. The international community has an enduring role in preserving the freedom of the seas, which is critical to global security, stability,

and prosperity.

The United States upholds freedom of navigation as a principle. As long as some countries continue to assert maritime claims that are inconsistent with international law as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention and that purport to restrict unlawfully the rights and freedoms guaranteed to all States, the United States will continue to defend those rights and freedoms. No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms.

China, Taiwan, and Vietnam each claim sovereignty over the Paracel Islands. All three claimants require either permission or advance notification before a military vessel or warship engages in “innocent passage” through the territorial sea. Under international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention, the ships of all States — including their warships — enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea. The unilateral imposition of any authorization or advance-notification requirement for innocent passage is not permitted by international law. By engaging in innocent passage without giving prior notification to or asking permission from any of the claimants, the United States challenged these unlawful restrictions imposed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam. The United States demonstrated

that innocent passage may not be subject to such restrictions.

The United States also challenged China’s 1996 declaration of straight baselines encompassing the Paracel Islands. Regardless of which claimant has sovereignty over the islands in the Paracel Islands, straight baselines cannot lawfully be drawn around the Paracel Islands in their entirety. International law as reflected in the Law of Sea Convention is both clear and comprehensive regarding the circumstances under which States can depart from “normal” baselines.

Straight baselines cannot be lawfully drawn in the Paracels under the international law of the sea as reflected in Article 7 of the Law of Sea Convention. Furthermore, international law does not permit continental States, like China, to establish baselines around entire dispersed island groups. With these baselines, China has attempted to claim more internal waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf than it is entitled to under international law. By conducting this operation, the United States demonstrated that these waters are beyond what China can lawfully claim as its territorial sea, and that China’s claimed straight baselines around the Paracel Islands are inconsistent with international law.

U.S. forces operate in the South China Sea on a daily basis, as they have for more

than a century. They routinely operate in close coordination with like-minded allies and partners who share our commitment to uphold a free and open international order that promotes security and prosperity. All of our operations are designed to be conducted in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows — regardless of the location of excessive maritime claims and regardless of current events.

The PRC’s statement about this mission is false. USS Benfold conducted this FONOP in accordance with international law and then continued on to conduct normal operations in international waters. The operation reflects our commitment to uphold freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea as a principle. The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Benfold did here. Nothing PRC says otherwise will deter us.

The PLA(N)’s statement is the latest in a long string of PRC actions to misrepresent lawful U.S. maritime operations and assert its excessive and illegitimate maritime claims at the expense of its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea. The PRC’s behavior stands in contrast to the United States’ adherence to international law and our vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region. All nations, large and small, should be secure in their sovereignty, free from coercion, and able to pursue economic growth consistent with accepted international rules and norms.

Summaries of U.S. freedom of navigation assertions are released publicly in the annual “DoD Freedom of Navigation Report.” Past reports are available online at https://policy. defense.gov/OUSDP-Offices/FON/.

Finding adventure in the Navy

By MC1 Meranda Keller

Navy Recruiting Command Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Within eight months of being onboard Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Golden Gate, Lt. Cmdr. Sam Chaing improved officer recruiting numbers and received recognition for the hard work it took to raise that bar.

As the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Coordinator, she put in countless hours getting future Sailors into the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate (NUPOC) Program and was awarded the General Officer (GENOFF) Recruiter of the Quarter award for Q2 of fiscal year 2021.

“It is important for me to put in good officers who I would want to serve with, and who will take care of their Sailors in the fleet,” Chiang said. “I also strive to be a positive representative of the Navy in the Bay Area and develop good community connections.”

As a San Jose, California, native and a former member of her high school’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Chiang has returned home to talk to applicants who are motivated to serve their country and help them start their Navy careers.

“As the NROTC coordinator for the Bay Area, it feels like my career has come full circle to where I started my Navy journey,” said Chiang. “I was not looking for a desk job; I was looking for adventure. I tell my applicants that when they are deciding between a desk job and the Navy. Corporate desk jobs will always be there after the Navy. I believe the best time to join the Navy is when you are young and able to live this lifestyle.”

Chiang found adventure during her naval career while serving aboard the Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG-72), Navy Operational Support Center Alameda,

Lt. Cmdr Sam Chiang, a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) coordinator assigned to Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Golden Gate, poses for a photo. (MC1 MERANDA KELLER)

and now recruiting at NTAG Golden Gate.

She is also active in cycling as well as volunteering in her community.

Three years ago, while attending the University of Oregon, Chiang’s roommate, a bike mechanic, helped her get started in biking to school every day. Both were in the Sustainable Business Program and biking was a way for them to limit their carbon emissions.

“I love cycling because it’s a good workout, lets me enjoy the outdoors, and it’s an environmentally friendly commuting option,” said Chiang.

Chiang currently is a part of a cycling club in Oakland called the Grizzly Peak Cyclists. To date, her longest ride completed

is 70 miles from San Francisco International Airport down the peninsula and up to Berkeley. Her personal goal is to complete a century bike ride (100-mile race) one day.

Chiang said her passion for cycling mirrors her passion for her naval career.

“We’re blessed to work with somebody like Chiang,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jack MeGee. “She has an unmatched combination of professionalism, customer service, and positive energy that has become the model for other recruiters to replicate. She’s committed to the success of her applicants as well as her community. She also volunteers in Oakland coaching cross country.

She personifies what it means to lead from the front.”

In addition to coaching, Chiang does college prep and free SAT tutoring for students. Most of the students are the first generation in their families to go to college.

“I joined the Navy to serve my country; to be a part of something greater than myself,” said Chiang. “I became an officer to lead Sailors every day and I am proud to wear the uniform.”

Navy Recruiting Command consists of a command headquarters, 3 Navy Recruiting Regions, 26 Navy Talent Acquisition Groups that serve more than 1,330 recruiting stations across the world. Their combined goal is to attract the highest quality candidates to ensure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.

4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, July 15, 2021

A discussion panel answers questions fielded from female Future Sailors across the nation during the inaugural Commander, Navy Recruiting Command Women’s Leadership Symposium hosted

by NTAG Houston. (MCC JOSHUA KEIM)

NTAG Houston hosts inaugural Navy Recruiting Women’s Leadership Symposium

By MCC Joshua Keim

Navy Talent Acquisition Group Houston Public Affairs

HOUSTON — Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Houston hosted the inaugural Commander, Navy Recruiting Command (CNRC) Women’s Leadership Symposium on July 8 at the Lone Star Flight Museum in Houston. Developed and organized by NTAG Houston, the symposium focused on empowering CNRC service women through mentorship, teambuilding and networking and emphasized themes like women’s empowerment, leadership and self-care.

“When I arrived in Houston, I thought it might be a great opportunity for some of my female command members to attend the Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium hosted by the Sea Services Leadership Association,” said Cmdr. Mary Decker, commanding officer of NTAG Houston.

“When COVID-19 prevented that opportunity, I thought, ‘why not host my own?’

I am fortunate to have a superb command trainer, Chief [Navy Counselor] Candilyn Gee, who shares my vision, and we put together an internal-to-Houston event.

I shared the idea with the region central commodore, and he suggested I open it to

all three regions. Our vision is to provide an insightful leadership experience and a day of connection to give our female team members an opportunity to connect with mentors and peers across our commands and across the CNRC enterprise.”

Service women from NTAG Houston gathered in person to host the event while hundreds of female officers and enlisted Sailors from the remaining 25 NTAGs and CNRC headquarters assembled in locations across the nation and engaged from a virtual platform online. The symposium featured keynote speeches by thought-provoking leaders like retired Rear Adm. Annie Andrews, retired Fleet Master Chief Petty Officer April Beldo, Rear Adm. Dennis Velez, CNRC, and Master Chief Heather Charara, the national chief recruiter, and included presentations by mental health experts and NTAG Houston leadership.

“Since the establishment of the Sacred Twenty and the Navy Nurse Corps in the early 1900s, women have played a pivotal role in the success of our Navy, and you continue to have a profound and influential impact on our force today,” said Velez.

“Many of our brightest and most accomplished leaders are women, and it’s up to each of you to continue to cultivate your leadership potential and curate the next

generation of Navy service members.

Recruiting the right talent to staff the fleet is challenging work, and it would not be possible without the effort and creative solutions you all bring to the field every day. For that, I thank you.”

The full-day event included a panel discussion with Sailors in diverse leadership and support roles and a team-building exercise that encouraged participants’ creativity, innovation, teamwork, and communication skills.

“During our last equal opportunity survey, some of my command females identified a desire to be more connected and included with the command,” said Decker.

“This symposium was designed to do just that because inclusion is a top priority for me. We had a wonderful discussion today between our panel and all the female Future Sailors in our [Delayed Entry Program] pools around the nation who logged in online. The panel focused on what we all wish we knew about the Navy before we joined and was geared toward answering questions from our Future Sailors.”

The symposium closed with an open dialogue among all the participants, debriefs about the team-building exercise, and a guided mentorship workshop tailored to the specific career ambitions of individual Sailors.

“The end of the symposium was really all about empowering the females of Navy recruiting in a way that prepared them to move forward in their careers with actionable steps they can take as soon as they walk away today,” said Gee, the command trainer at NTAG Houston. “We all come from different backgrounds, have varying experiences, and want different things for our futures, but at the end of the day, we’re all female Sailors in the United States Navy.

These guided mentorship sessions grouped women together based on their career aspirations and matched them with women who have the right skillsets and have already accomplished those goals to provide a truly customized experience.”

According to a survey conducted after the event, 82.5% of participants agreed their experience at the symposium positively impacted their attitude toward continuing their service in the Navy, and 97.5% of participants said the event positively impacted their personal and professional growth as a Navy leader.

NTAG Houston has 34 Navy recruiting stations covering more than 44,000 square miles in rural and metropolitan areas around Southeastern Texas and Western Louisiana. NTAG Houston has two Talent Acquisition Onboarding Centers — TOAC Space City and TAOC Bayou City — and employs more than 300 recruiters, support personnel and civilians. Follow NTAG Houston on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NTAGhouston) and Instagram (@NTAG_Houston).

Navy Recruiting Command consists of a command headquarters, three Navy Recruiting Regions, and 26 Navy Talent Acquisition Groups that serve more than 1,000 recruiting stations across the world.

Their combined goal is to attract the highest quality candidates to assure the ongoing success of America’s Navy.

NEX, MCX customers shopped to support NavyMarine Corps Relief Society

By Kristine Sturkie

Navy Exchange Service Command Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) and Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) have been supporting the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) over the years by selling $5 benefit tickets to NEX and MCX customers. NEX totals for the spring 2021 campaign totaled $292,320 while MCX customers donated $187,120.

“Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is honored to be the recipient of such generosity,” said LtGen Jack W. Klimp, USMC (Ret), NMCRS President & CEO. “NEX and MCX shoppers have shown, once again, their steadfast commitment to caring for our own. With hurricane season upon us and PCS season already in motion, this gift will be put to immediate use serving our Sea Service families in a time of need.”

From April 4 — May 9, customers were given the opportunity to purchase a $5 benefit ticket at select NEX and MCX locations and online at myNavyExchange.com.

The purchase of the $5 benefit ticket entitled customers to $5 off as well as a 5% discount applied to a one time in-store or online purchase made in early May. Since 2011, NEX patrons have donated nearly $3 million to the NMCRS while MCX customers have donated over $1 million since 2013.

The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) is comprised of 14,000 personnel worldwide facilitating six business lines, NEX retail stores, the Navy Lodge Program, Telecommunications Program, Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility, Ships Store Program and the Uniform Program Management Office. (KRISTINE STURKIE)

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, July 15, 2021 5

6 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, July 15, 2021

Sailors throw mooring lines to Landing Craft Utility 1633 (LCU 1633), as it enters the well deck of amphibious dock landing ship, USS Germantown (LSD-42). (MCSN NICHOLAS SKYLES)

America ARG-31st MEU team implements waterborne ambulance during exercise

By Lt. John Stevens

USS America (LHA 6) Public Affairs

OKINAWA, Japan — During a recent light armored reconnaissance raid exercise on Okinawa, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) employed a medical evacuation tactic not commonly used since World War II. With elements of their Shock Trauma Platoon, or STP, combined with Marine field medical training and tactics, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 7 came up with a way to evacuate casualties from a ground conflict and provide en-route care via waterborne ambulance.

“We knew it was going to take a while to get casualties from the mountain, to the coast, and then to the ship,” said Cmdr. Hamilton Tilley, Amphibious Task Force surgeon. “And we knew, if it was going to take three or four hours and they were bleeding, we were probably going to lose them.”

Marine forces were on the ground conducting a simulated raid on enemy-held positions.

As part of the exercise, casualties were imminent. According to Tilley, those casualties are typically evacuated by aircraft to the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), where they can receive resuscitative medical care until they can be sent to a Role III facility — a fully staffed hospital in friendly territory — for longer-term rehabilitation.

But residual storms from Typhoon Champi affected air evacuation (AIREVAC), so the team needed a backup plan to get injured Marines from a mountain battlefield to a

casualty collection point (CCP) on the beach six miles away, then to Germantown several miles offshore, and keep them alive the whole way.

“We needed a persistent medical capability that could provide treatment and casualty holding for up to seventy-two hours until the weather situation allowed us to transfer to the FST on America,” said Lt. Derek Witkowski, a medical planner with the 31st MEU. Tilley said this “chain of survival” depends on lifesaving care on the battlefield, starting with Tactical Combat Casualty Care, or TCCC (Marine Corps field first aid doctrine) and Valkyrie (a live, person-to-person field blood transfusion) to get patients to the CCP. “TCCC and Valkyrie is how we’re saving people in the field,” said Tilley, “and that en-route care is how we’re sending people on the transport back to the ship.”

Given Germantown’s capabilities, Tilley’s team knew the waterborne leg of the journey could involve amphibious craft, or even an 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat (RIB).

“We were going to need a resuscitative team on the ground somehow,” said Tilley, who voiced concerns to Capt. Greg Baker, commodore of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11. “The commodore said, ‘see if we can use an LCU, see if we can use a RIB.’ So that’s what we did.”

“As we train and operate with the 31st MEU, the weather often gets a vote. In this recent case, it filibustered,” said Baker. “Once again, innovation won the day as we used our organic capabilities to plan and execute a concept proven in amphibious battle space almost eighty years ago by another generation

of warfighters. Our modern medical capability, coupled with what we’ve learned from those who fought before us, helped us overcome this obstacle.”

An LCU is a landing craft, utility — one of the amphibious craft employed by the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which includes Germantown. LCUs are sturdy, rugged craft that can carry up to 400 troops or 140 tons of cargo from ship to shore or on the open ocean. LCUs have stood the test of time, operating with Navy and Marine amphibious forces since World War II. Seven decades later, in the same geographic environment but with new adversaries and impediments, the blue-green team channeled this legacy amphibious tactic with renewed purpose.

“In competition and in future conflict, we need to not only return to our naval roots, we need to demonstrate the ability to move forward to a new naval future,” said Col. Michael Nakonieczny, commanding officer, 31st MEU. “As an ARG-MEU team, we must maximize all available assets to expand our current capabilities and enable us to respond to any crisis, and if need be, fight in every clime and place. This is a great example of our medical staffs identifying ARG-MEU solutions to ARG-MEU problems, despite many obstacles, to preserve the life of our warfighters on the ground.”

Tilley said his team put one section of the STP, which was assigned to Germantown, on the LCU with as much capacity and capability as they could fit aboard the craft.

An emergency room provider, nurse, and

en-route care corpsman were outfitted with stored blood, chest tubes, and other essential supplies to resuscitate and sustain Marines from the battlefield to the ship.

“We tried to make it as much like an emergency room as we could,” said Tilley. While he said the floating ER could notionally care for up to 10 people at a time, Tilley said it supported 17 casualties during the exercise.

Witkowski said the team looked at the survival chain, from battlefield to beach to boat, “under the lens of EABO” (expeditionary advanced base operations), “which required small, mobile, and highly capable units to avoid targeting.”

Lt. Cmdr. John Haggerty, the 31st MEU surgeon, table-topped medical EABO as opposed to a forward operating base (FOB), saying it’s smaller and more mobile in concept.

“The command-and-control element is here,” said Haggerty, indicating a spot on a tabletop. “The next day it’s here, and the next day it’s here. You can break it down and go, instead of holding ground like a FOB would.”

Witkowski pointed out that it’s crucial for future medical and casualty planners to prepare for any eventuality, as it’s impossible to know the specific conditions of a mission they may be called upon to support.

“The waterborne ambulance shows the importance that creativity and ‘outside-thebox’ thinking will have in saving the lives of the warfighter in the future,” said Witkowski.

“The key ingredient was dynamic teamwork between the ARG-MEU team, and creativity when presented with a seemingly impossible challenge,” Witkowski added.

In a real-world scenario, Tilley said, this capability could be the difference between life and death.

“If any of the simulated serious casualties would’ve survived that raid, it was because of Valkyrie and a surface connector,” Tilley said.

Together, the forward-deployed ships of PHIBRON 11 and elements of the 31st MEU are operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners, and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

West Coast U.S. Navy installations conducting all hazard exercise Citadel Rumble 2021

By Destiny Sibert

Navy Installations Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON — Citadel Rumble 2021 (CR21), an annual all hazard exercise conducted by Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), is running July 7-16 in Navy Region Northwest and will occur onboard Navy installations in Navy Region Southwest, August 9-13.

“This exercise readies our personnel for response and recovery before, during and after a natural disaster or other all-hazard events,” explained Mark Sinder, Director of Operations for CNIC. “Installations in our West Coast regions face risk of damaging earthquakes and wildfire encroachment, so this training is vital to expedite recovery and maintain mission readiness should such events occur.”

A firefighter for Central Kitsap Fire Rescue’s Ladder 51 climbs a ladder to reach casualties on the fourth floor of Naval Hospital Bremerton during the Citadel Rumble 2018 exercise. (MC2 VAUGHAN DILL)

CR21 ensures Navy personnel’s continued ability to effectively respond to no-notice disaster events by simulating realistic scenarios including earthquakes, tsunamis and massive infrastructure damage. During these simulations, Navy personnel practice restoring operational capabilities, protecting and restoring infrastructure, supporting Navy families and civil authorities.

Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions within local communities and to normal base operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access.

Area residents may also see or hear unusual activities that are associated with the exercise.

CNIC oversees 53,000 employees located

across 70 Navy shore installations in 10 regions around the world and is charged with sustaining the Fleet, enabling the fighter and supporting the family. For more news from CNIC, visit www.cnic.navy.mil or follow the command’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram For media queries regarding Citadel Rumble, contact CNIC Public Affairs: cnic_ hq_public_affairs@navy.mil.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, July 15, 2021 7

Blue Angels announce 2022 officers

By MC2 Cody Hendrix

Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Public Affairs

PENSACOLA, Fla. — The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels, recently announced officers selected for the 2022 air show season.

The squadron selected three F/A-18 demonstration pilots, a C-130 demonstration pilot, and a supply officer to replace outgoing team members.

Many highly qualified Navy and Marine Corps officers submit applications to join the Blue Angels each year.

“This year offered an exemplary group of applicants from around the fleet, making our selection process very difficult,” said Cmdr. Brian Kesselring, commanding officer and flight leader of the Blue Angels.

“With these fantastic new additions to the Blue Angels team for 2022, we are all well equipped to head into our next show season.”

The Blue Angels select finalists to interview at the team’s home base of Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, during the week of the Pensacola Beach Air Show each year. The team makes selections at the conclusion of that week.

The selected 2022 officers include: F/A-18 Demonstration Pilots: -LT Scott Goossens, of San Francisco, California, is an F/A-18 Pilot currently assigned to the “Flying Eagles” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122. He graduated from George Washington University

in 2010.

-LT Griffin Stangel, of Madison, Wisconsin, is an F/A-18 pilot currently assigned to the “Flying Eagles” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122. He graduated from the University of North Dakota in 2012.

-LT Christopher Kapuschansky, of Yorktown, Virginia, is an F/A-18 pilot currently assigned to the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2012.

C-130 Demonstration Pilot: -Marine Corps Maj. Joshua Soltan, of Spokane, Washington, is a C-130 Hercules pilot currently assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252. He graduated from Central Washington University in 2010.

Supply Officer: -LT William Kruger, of Scottsdale, Arizona, is a Supply Officer currently assigned to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2017.

The new team members will officially begin their training for the 2022 show season following the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Nov. 6.

The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps through flight demonstrations and community outreach while inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country.

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, The Blue Angels, recently announced officers selected for the 2022 air show season. (MC2 CODY HENDRIX)

Bonds from Page 1

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) conducts a passing exercise (PASSEX) with Dominican Republic Navy Swiftship-110’-class patrol boat Canopus (GC 107) and Justice Boston whaler-class boat Nunke (LI 163), July 10. (MC2 AUSTIN G COLLINS)

Chief of Navy, Vice Adm. Ramón Gustavo Betances Hernández to discuss Sailor and professional development, opportunities for educational exchanges, and ways the two navies can integrate in the future for maritime operations.

Billings port visit marked the first time Sailors have been granted liberty in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The crew was able to experience the culture of the Dominican Republic, while adhering to regulations as set forth by the country to ensure the continued health and safety of the crew.

We are glad that we were able to safely execute liberty in this wonderful country; our crew is thankful that the people of the Dominican Republic welcomed us and we look forward to returning,” said Billings’ Command Senior Chief Aaron Wimberly.

“The events in the Dominican Republic were the first benchmark we were looking towards when planning for deployment.

It affirmed we are in theater and ready to operate.”

Billings’ visit to the Dominican Republic supports 4th Fleet mission of employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations in order to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships that foster regional security and stability. In the past four months, the U.S. and Dominican navies have conducted five bilateral maritime exercises, strengthening tactical readiness.

“Billings is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.”

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/ U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

8 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, July 15, 2021

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, July 15, 2021 1

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PAW Patrol ™ Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure” in Norfolk From Seven Venues NORFOLK, VA — Nickelodeon and VStar Entertainment Group present PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure,” an action-packed, music-filled production. The PAW Patrol is back and on a roll in person and LIVE on stage! Ryder and your favorite pups have been working hard to get back on the road and they are ready to roll to Norfolk.

In this production, the heroic pups from the top-rated animated preschool series PAW Patrol, produced by Spin Master Entertainment and airing on Nickelodeon, embark on a pirate-themed adventure to uncover hidden treasure. Do not miss this PAWsome opportunity to see the whole pack in this live touring stage performance. Tickets for all

four performances are on sale Friday, July 16 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and pawpatrollive.com.

In PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure,” Mayor Goodway is getting everything shipshape for a big Pirate Day celebration in Adventure Bay. When Cap’n Turbot falls into a dark and mysterious cavern, it’s PAW Patrol to the rescue! Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky and Zuma save Cap’n Turbot and discover a secret pirate treasure map that leads them on an epic adventure. Things get ruff when Mayor Humdinger wants to find the treasure first for Foggy Bottom. The pups need all paws on deck for this pirate adventure, including help from the newest pup who’s all ears…

Tracker! Using their heroic rescue skills,

problem solving and teamwork, the pups set sail to save the day. No job is too big, no pirate pup is too small!

PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate Adventure is the perfect way for families to create lifelong memories and provides kids the opportunity to experience in-person theater. Since its debut in the Fall of 2016, PAW Patrol Live! has been seen by over 4.3 million people, providing fans in over 40 countries with an unforgettable Broadway-style production. The performance is an interactive live stage show, encouraging audiences to learn pirate catchphrases, dance the pirate boogie and help the pups follow the treasure map and solve picture puzzles throughout their mission!

What: PAW Patrol Live! “The Great Pirate

Adventure” is back and on a roll to Norfolk!

When: Saturday, November 27 - 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.

Sunday, November 28 - 11 a.m. & 3 p.m.

Where: Chrysler Hall 201 East Brambleton Avenue Norfolk, VA 23510 Tickets: Tickets start at $17 and are available for purchase at the Scope Arena box office Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-653-8000. Prices are subject to change. Additional fees and special offers may apply.

V.I.P: A limited number of V.I.P. (Very Important Pup) Packages are available, starting at $120. The VIP package includes a premium seat and exclusive Meet & Greet with PAW Patrol characters after the show.

Each adult & child (age 1 & up) in a group must have a VIP ticket.

For more information or to join the Tail Mail mailing list for presale and other exclusive offers, visit www.pawpatrollive.com.

Follow PAW Patrol Live! on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @pawpatrollive, and the hashtag #pawpatrollive.

Downtown Norfolk Refreshes First Fridays as a 16-Block Party From Downtown Norfolk Council NORFOLK, Va. — Under a new Virginia ABC local special event license, Downtown Norfolk Council has put 16 blocks under a special bubble for a refreshed First Fridays season. The first event will be August 6 from 5 to 8:30 pm. The other dates are September 3 and October 1.

The new rule means most of Downtown Norfolk from Granby Street to Main Street and from Bute Street extending east to Monticello Avenue and west to Boush Street will be part of this newly designated area during First Fridays. For guests, it means you can take it with you from restaurant to entertainment throughout the First Fridays event as long as you stay within the defined area. This is the first event to use this new ABC event license in the region and only the second one in Virginia to date.

Areas throughout Downtown will be activated with entertainment, music and experiences throughout the evening. Downtown Norfolk restaurants will have special food offerings in addition to creative cocktails, wine and craft beers.

“We like to think of this as a bigger, better, bubblier First Fridays,” said Downtown Norfolk Council Director of Market-

ing & Communications Jessica Kliner. “It’s a moving party throughout this 16-block area. And, it’s a great way to support our local businesses and let them get creative with this event.”

Access points will be controlled with a combination of Downtown Norfolk Council staff, volunteers and off-duty police and/ or sheriff officers. There are no ticket sales, and all purchases will be made directly to Downtown businesses. Consumption of alcohol will not be permitted outside of the event bubble.

First Fridays is sponsored by Wells Fargo Center and S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. The event is produced by Downtown Norfolk Council. For more information, visit DowntownNorfolk.org.

Downtown Norfolk Council is a private, not-for-profit membership organization comprised of businesses and individuals working toward a dynamic, attractive and prosperous Downtown. DNC also manages the Downtown Norfolk Improvement District, a 50-block special services district with enhanced services that keep Downtown friendly, safe and spotless. Connect with Downtown Norfolk on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit DowntownNorfolk.org.

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INSIDE: Check out Flagship Values, your source for automobiles, employment, real estate and more! Pages C6-7

2

The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, July 15, 2021

Community Submit YOUR events, news and photos

The Flagship welcomes submissions from our readers online.

Please submit events here: www.militarynews.com/users/admin/calendar/event/ Please submit news and photos here: www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/submit_news/

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Slover Library Encourages Book, Sketch, Plant and Watercolor Enthusiasts to Enjoy the Elizabeth River Trail From The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation’s NORFOLK, Va. — A new partnership between the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation, Slover Library and the Weyanoke Bird and Wildflower Sanctuary ensures that there really is something for everyone to do on the Elizabeth River Trail this summer.

Programs have been developed to encourage the community to participate in a wide range of activities from reading to sketching along the trail. A special Storywalk installation for families also provides additional programming for people of all ages.

All art supplies will be provided by the 757 Creative Reuse Center. For a full calendar and details, visit sloverlibrary.com/trail.

Bring your own sunscreen!

Storywalk Enjoy this do-on-your-own art installation along the shaded outer fence of the Weyanoke Bird Sanctuary at Jeff Robertson Park. The first book is Summer The Firefly, by local author Vikki Lynn Smith, a frequent trail user. This story is available at all times through July. Stay tuned for a

second story that will be installed in the same location and available in August.

Plant Exploration Fun! July 9, 2021 at 10:30 am Learn from a Master Gardener and see what is in bloom at the Weyanoke Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary. Space is limited. Register online.

Storytime in the Weyaoke Sanctuary August 6, 2021 at 10:30am Join us for an exciting family story time for all ages inside the Weyanoke Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary with Slover librarians.

Participants will learn about local birds and plants as well. Space is limited. Register online.

Outdoor Watercolor Fun July 16 at 10:30am Be creative with the wildlife and floral painting at the Weyanoke Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary located at Jeff Robertson Park.

Limited supplies (paint, brushes, paper) will be provided by 757 Creative Reuse Center. Or, bring your own and something to sit on. Students can sign up to join Ms. Carly to learn basic painting techniques and enjoy all the inspiration the sanctuary has

to offer.

Stop n’ Sketch July 10 and August 14 at 2pm This urban sketching program is provided

by Sarah Taylor-Glaser from Slover Library.

July 10- Jeff Robertson Park parking lot at the end of W. Armistead Bridge Rd.; August 14Lochhaven in front of Hermitage Museum Playground on North Shore Road. Limited supplies provided by the 757 Creative Reuse Center.

“We are so excited to work with the Elizabeth River Trail and Slover Library to expand children’s experience with the natural world,” said Deborah Moser, Weyanoke Bird Sanctuary project chair and Norfolk master gardener. “The sanctuary programs give them the opportunity to see and interact with things they may not encounter in their backyards, schoolyards or other public parks.”

The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation’s mission is to promote, enhance and transform the Elizabeth River Trail into the most iconic urban riverfront trail in the country.

The ERT runs 10.5 miles and connects businesses, historic attractions and 28 neigh-

borhoods within a five-minute walk. The multi-use trail is designed for walking, running and biking. It comprises 11 sections from Norfolk State University to NIT Terminals along the Elizabeth River. In 2020, the Foundation was able to build multiple new unique and award winning amenities, including a kayak launch, play sculpture and double turbo challenge course in Plum Point Park. Major sponsors include Sentara and the City of Norfolk. For more information, visit www.elizabethrivertrail.org.

Slover Library blends traditional library functions with the best of contemporary library resources and services. The innovative space design creates a vital and dynamic center of community learning, leading-edge technology and civic engagement, available to all citizens of the region, and it is known as an attraction for residents and visitors alike. Slover Library is located in beautiful downtown Norfolk on the corner of Plume and Atlantic Street near MacArthur Square and the MacArthur Memorial. Call (757) 431-7491 for more information.

The mission of the Weyanoke Bird and Wildflower Sanctuary is to protect the forest, meadows, marshlands and creek and to preserve the native plants within its boundaries — thereby creating an environment where wildlife will flourish and people can experience and be nourished by the natural world. Our stewardship is conducted in cooperation with the Nature Conservancy, the Cape Henry Audubon Society, the local Master Gardeners, other organizations and community volunteers.

U.S. Navy SEAL’s Pointman Planner Points the Way to Conquering Obstacles and Crushing Goals From Eagle Rise Speaker CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer and New York Times bestselling author Jason Redman points te way to conquering the obstacles and crushing your goals with his new Pointman Planner. (Two Hampton Roads book signings, free and open to the public, set for Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, July 17 and 18, respectively. Details below.)* Incorporating core principles of Redman’s special-ops-inspired Overcome and Pointman for Life personal and professional leadership and peak-performance training, mentoring and coaching programs, this daily/weekly/quarterly hardcopy planner is more than an attractive motivational journal. It’s a clear, no-nonsense tactical leadership tool for lasting personal transformation and achievement.

How it’s different from the others The Pointman Planner is best described as a work-life compass, a practical and inspirational self-help guide to defining personal and business objectives, committing proper attention to them, charting the best paths, avoiding or overcoming the obstacles that stop others in their tracks, and strategizing and tracking progress as users move the needle toward their ultimate goals.

What’s even more unique is the merging of Redman’s nearly 30 years of elite-performance and leadership training, experience and missions accomplished, including during his 21-year Navy SEAL career, with his understanding of and ability to assist with the plights of people struggling with common everyday challenges such as: defining purpose, choosing direction, goal-setting, focus, time and stress management, balance vs. burnout and more.

Redman gets users focused on the right things from the start, staying on course, and reaping the rewards of the strength, balance, productivity and accomplishments they desire in key areas of life.

Why “Pointman”?

“The Pointman Planner is a practical leadership tool for business, school and personal life that transfers the proven strategies of military point men to everyday life,” Redman explained.

“In military terms, the point man or woman is the leader, the navigator and even the danger seeker on whom the team relies to navigate their mission, identify the most efficient ways to meet their objectives, and recognize and avoid potential danger points along the way. The Pointman Planner is all about that leadership, and more, applied to self-leadership.”

The inspiration As a Navy SEAL, Redman had been a point man and also depended on point men. Once retired to civilian life in 2013, he became a business owner. Amid all the demands and distractions of personal, family and professional life, he thought, What if I had a point man for my life?

What if we all had point men for everyday life?

•We’d be more focused, prepared, efficient, decisive and effective.

• We’d decrease our odds of quitting or failing unnecessarily.

• We’d increase our chances of satisfaction and success.

• We’d increase our ability and readiness to deal with adversity and chaos.

• We’d greatly reduce or eliminate the dangers, struggles, and pitfalls into which others walk blindly.

Redman can’t assign to everyone a point man.

But he can teach people the tools he has used and refined over decades for how to lead themselves.

Simple, effective and easy to use, the Pointman Planner features core functional components of Redman’s signature Overcome, Pointman for Life, Pentagon of Peak Performance and Get off the X programs to help guide and support users’ strategies and success in: • Mission definition and goal setting.

• Time management, focus and efficiency.

• Health and stress management and maintaining work-life balance as a leader.

• Building an Overcome Mindset in preparation for identifying, mitigating, managing and/ or adapting to any adversity on the path of the mission.

• The ability to R.E.A.C.T. and quickly Get off the X! when necessary and continue moving the needle in life and business.

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• Personal and professional relationship building.

• Direction and command of one’s own daily focus, activities and responsibilities despite external demands, circumstances and influences.

• Situational-awareness, risk- assessment and leadership strategy for critical insights and reinforcements for staying on course, well-informed, distraction-free and properly directed — no matter what.

“The Pointman Planner inspires visionary, big-picture thinking and outlines the fine details for accomplishing the missions and realizing the vision,” Redman said. “Best of all,” he concluded, “it’s a personal road map for defining, setting, pursuing and accomplishing goals for life.” *Two local events set for this month:

Going?

What: Book signing at Young Veterans Brewing Company in Virginia Beach: Meet Jason Redman, purchase books, get them signed, enjoy the venue!

When: 3 — 8 p.m. Saturday, July 17, 2021 Where: YVBC’s taproom, 2505 Horse Pasture Rd., Suite 104, Virginia Beach, 23453 Info: Free, open to public; no registration required.

What: Book signing at Pale Horse Coffee in Chesapeake: Meet Jason Redman, purchase books, get them signed, enjoy the venue!

When: 9 a.m. — 1 p.m. Sunday, July 18, 2021 Where: Pale Horse Coffee, 1296 So. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake Info: Free, open to public; no registration required.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, July 15, 2021 3

Norfolk Scoots to 1 Million Miles From The City Of Norfolk

NORFOLK, VA — The pandemic may have delayed the one million mile-stone by a couple of months, but within two years of launching the scooter program with Lime, the City of Norfolk’s riders have surpassed one million miles.* This means less cars on the road while providing residents and visitors quick and convenient ways to get around. With data showing most trips equaling less than a mile, riders are using this form of micromobility as an easy way to get to their destinations.

With over 1100 scooters available on Norfolk streets and the installation of parking corrals, the City reminds users to follow the rules and stay safe while riding. Creating safe streets for all users is the goal of Norfolk’s Vision Zero initiative.

1. Don’t drink and scoot/drive/ride. No matter what form of transportation you use— car, bike, scooter or walking— leave the driving to someone else if you’ve been drinking.

2. Protect your head and wear a helmet.

Like cyclists, scooter riders are encouraged to wear helmets while riding.

3. Share the road, not a scooter. Electric scooters are designed for one rider at a time.

If your pal needs a ride, get them their own scooter for optimal fun and safety.

4. Share the road and obey all traffic laws.

Be respectful of those around you. Obey

(COURTESY GRAPHIC)

all traffic signals and go with the flow of traffic. Scooters belong in the bike lane or on a street under 25 mph. Scooters are not allowed on sidewalks downtown.

5. Park responsibly. You can leave your Lime in designated parking spaces/corrals, near any public bike rack around the city or

curbside. Do not block sidewalks or pedestrian curb ramps.

6. Riders 18 and over. Parents, scooters are not a toy but a transportation option. With speeds up to 20 mph, adults only please!

Major issues can be reported to Lime using the Customer Support Form, at 1-888

-546-3345 or emailed to support@li.me.

For more information on how to ride Lime in Norfolk, visit www.norfolk.gov/lime. *June data is not yet available. Scooters were removed from Norfolk during the height of the pandemic (part of March 2020 through May 2020).

4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, July 15, 2021

Food

Croissant Chicken Salad Sandwich with Sprouts (COURTESY PHOTO)

An Elevated Sandwich for Any Occasion From Culinary.net They might not be the fanciest of foods, but when you eat a filling, protein-packed sandwich, you are usually left satisfied and full of energy. From ham and turkey to mayo and mustard, the possibilities are nearly endless when sandwiches are on the menu.

With so many customizable options for bread, meats, toppings and more, it’s easy to create the perfect sandwich. For example, this Croissant Chicken Salad Sandwich

is served on a fluffy, light, mouthwatering croissant and features a hearty mixture of chicken, bacon and veggies to give you that boost you have been craving.

To make the sandwich, line six slices of bacon in a skillet. Cook until slightly crispy. Drain over a paper towel and crush into pieces.

On a cutting board, cut cherry tomatoes in half and chop green onions.

In a mixing bowl, combine chicken, mayonnaise, chopped green onions, pepper, bacon crumbles and halved cherry

tomatoes.

Cut croissants in half and scoop a generous amount of chicken salad onto the bottom of the croissant. Top with sprouts and replace top croissant.

The chicken is creamy, the bacon crumbles are crispy and the green onions give it crunch, making this sandwich perfect for nearly any occasion. Whether it’s a bridal shower, picnic at the park with family or just lunch on a weekend afternoon, it can give you the energy to go forward and finish your day strong.

Find more recipes at Culinary.net.

If you made this recipe at home, use #MyCulinaryConnection on your favorite social network to share your work.

Croissant Chicken Salad Sandwich with Sprouts Servings: 6 6 strips bacon 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded ½ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup green onions, chopped ½ teaspoon pepper ½ cup cherry tomatoes, quartered sprouts In skillet, arrange bacon and cook until slightly crispy. Drain bacon over paper towel; allow to dry. Crush into pieces.

In large bowl, stir chicken, mayonnaise, green onions and pepper until combined. Add bacon and tomatoes; stir until combined.

Cut croissants in half. Spoon generous portion of chicken salad over bottom croissant. Top with sprouts. Replace top croissant.

Betterfor-You Summer Snacking From Family Features For many families, the summer months offer a break in routine, and that extra time around the house or gathering with loved ones can lead to increased snacking opportunities. However, that warmer weather can also be accompanied by a desire for sweet treats.

To satisfy that sweet tooth without sacrificing nutrition, consider an option like Crunchmaster Protein Brownie Thins. The bite-size snacks — available in Dark Chocolate, Homestyle Milk Chocolate and Salted Caramel — pack the warm and gooey taste of baked brownies with a boost of 8 grams of protein per serving plus black bean and quinoa nutrition. Plus, they are free of gluten, artificial flavors, colors, cholesterol and trans-fat, and are non-GMO and kosher.

You can elevate your summer snacks by pairing them with this Peanut Butter Chocolate Chickpea Cookie Dip. Made using only eight ingredients, including chickpeas and peanut butter, it’s a healthier alternative to help satisfy those warm weather cravings.

Find more nutritious summer snack recipes that pack a crunch at crunchmaster.com.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chickpea Cookie Dip 1 can (19 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chickpea Cookie Dip (COURTESY PHOTO)

½ cup peanut butter ¼ cup packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons maple syrup 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup chocolate chips 1 package (4 ounces) Crunchmaster Protein Brownie Thins Homestyle Milk Chocolate In food processor or blender, puree chickpeas, peanut butter, brown sugar,

maple syrup, olive oil, vanilla and salt until smooth.

Stir in chocolate chips. Spoon into serving dish. Serve dip with brownie thins.

Substitution: Nut butter or nut-free butter can be used in place of peanut butter.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, July 15, 2021 5

Health

CHAMP uses more predictive analytics to improve beneficiary healthcare

By Janet A. Aker

MHS Communications

[July is the month to highlight military health innovations, and Total Force Fitness (TFF) plays a strong role in military inventiveness. This article is the second in a series about the culture of military inventiveness and how it is driving the Defense Health Agency in its role as a High Reliability Organization.]

The holy grail of Total Force Fitness (TFF) is the ability to find predictive analytics about service members.

These analytics must be focused on the service member throughout the course of their careers from induction onward based on the TFF eight domains of fitness, which connect to optimize health, performance, and readiness holistically.

“Being able to have a great dataset, which we have, and being able to look longitudinally from service members’ entrance into the military onto their careers, this helps us to find signals up front” about their fitness in the eight domains, said Patricia Deuster, executive director, Consortium for Health and Military Performance, (CHAMP), Defense Center of Excellence for Human Performance Optimization Translation, Bethesda, Maryland.

“Predictive data analytics are being conducted in the realm of musculoskeletal care, and we would like that in mental health,” said Deuster, who holds a doctorate in nutrition science and physiology and is a master of public health with a specialty in public health and epidemiology.

“Medical data are not good enough; we need all pieces of data collected in one place from all the services,” she said. Currently, data are collected individually by the services, and their measurements vary.

“We are looking at each person as a whole,” she said. “We look at them from their totality.”

“CHAMP has already been contacted

by Walter Reed National Military Medicine Center” to gather a dataset for chronic kidney disease (CKD); such an analysis would “inform upstream health signals that could mitigate downstream effects,” she said.

CKD can be present in people long before there are symptoms or a crisis.

Sickle cell trait is another dataset that would be useful, she added. The Army has announced that it will now screen for sickle cell trait in inductees, as do the other services.

Said Deuster: “The possibilities are limitless.”

Enhancing just one domain, or even two or three, like physical fitness, preventive care and nutrition, misses the connections

Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Georgia, compete in a tug-of-war event during Marne Week on Fort Stewart, Georgia, May 17, 2021. Marne week events, such as sporting competitions, are designed to connect and celebrate the proud lineage of the Dogface Solder and the“Rock of the Marne.” (ARMY SGT REVA CATHOLIC)

that collectively lead to wellness. All the domains play a role in optimal health and performance.

CHAMP plans to present some promising results to Military Health System personnel and “show what can be done” with such a dataset, she said.

An impactful CHAMP program forthcoming is a web-based application to improve the “military nutrition environment.” The military Nutrition Environmental Assessment Tool, or m-NEAT, will be deployed within the next several months, Deuster said.

CHAMP will beta test m-NEAT, which aims to evaluate access to high-quality, nutritious foods, health messaging, policies, and economics parameters of the nutrition environment on military installations, she explained. The goal is to improve the availability of healthy food choices across the enterprise, which “the nutrition community has been working on for a long time,” Deuster said.

Another area of innovation that would be helpful is training of embedded Human Performance Teams (HPTs). For example, -social workers, physical fitness specialists, clinical psychologists, mental performance specialists, chaplains and dietitians all work together, Deuster said. “We need optimize their abilities to most effectively work as a team to sustain warfighter performance,” she suggested.

“We need to have a good training program to work effectively as members of a team and not independently. If we want to improve cognitive function, we need the HPT working together from the Total Force Fitness perspective,” she said.

In other words, “what are best practices for teamwork and how are they eval-

uated?” Deuster said. “It’s not just a matter of putting resources in [the team] but providing the resources needed by the unit to optimize their effectiveness,” she said.

Another example of health innovation within TFF, Deuster said, is the work of Navy Cmdr. (Ch.) David Alexander, at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.

“He’s working with other chaplains to bring spiritual fitness in a proactive, rather than reactive, fashion to optimize human performance. It’s a change in culture” for the chaplains in their outreach, Deuster said, adding the project wants chaplains to have service members “improve their ability to discuss difficult topics, such as stigma and relationships.”

Alexander’s team has developed and published the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) Spiritual Fitness Scale, which features 17 questions designed to measure commitment to three distinct spiritual traits: connection with a Higher Power, pursuit of purpose and meaning, and sacrificial service to others. A specific ‘screening’ question allows non-theists to exempt themselves from questions containing specific language about God or a Higher Power, while still taking questions that will generate results for the other two spiritual traits.

The CHAMP/SOCOM Spiritual Fitness Scale (the SFS) is a “multi-dimensional, reliable and validated quantitative metric,” Alexander said.

“The SFS can generate individual spiritual profiles that easily bridge to individual chaplain coaching,” he said, adding that group baseline profiles also can be created.

Doing so helps chaplains to “aggregate the data and save it for later data-driven decision-making,” Alexander said.

Chaplains also can isolate the SFS subscales for use in quantitative and mixed-methods assessment strategies tailored for their programs and services.

Lastly, Alexander explained, “chaplains can use the SFS for program planning by aligning existing services with the three attributes, conducting pre-assessment activities, proposing disciplined and tailored programs informed by pre-assessment, and continuously assessing those eventual programs for impact on spiritual growth.”

The survey is designed to be compatible with the framework for SF as described in the 2011 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction.

The instruction defines SF as “the ability to adhere to beliefs, principles, or values needed to persevere and prevail in accomplishing missions.” SF “should neither preclude no presume any particular theistic orientation,” based on the Instruction, Alexander stated in an article in the Nov. 23, 2020 “Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling.”

The idea is to take the SOCOM survey outward into other areas of the military by the end of the current fiscal year, Alexander said. His team is developing a public-facing web page on the Health Performance Resources by CHAMP part of the CHAMP website.

The page will take chaplains through the scales of the metric, how to understand it, score it, and apply it to assessments, Alexander explained. The page will also include a book as a resource.

Avoid summertime food poisoning with these easy tips

By Janet A. Aker

Mhs Communications

Summertime heat and outdoor events can put everyone at increased risk of contracting severe foodborne illness so it’s more important than ever to stick to a few key safety guidelines to make sure you and your guests don’t get sick.

“A simple rule of thumb is: Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold,” said Navy Lt. Cmdr.

Melissa Amescua, a registered dietitian and nutrition program manager for the Navy’s 21st Sailor Office in Millington, Tennessee.

“Letting these foods get outside of their allowed temperature ranges will increase the odds for one to get sick,” Amescua said.

“This range is called the ‘danger zone,’ ” she explained.

Other important tips for summer barbeques include using a food thermometer along with tongs and spatulas when you’re cooking.

Always try to keep ice that cools food separate from ice used for beverages. And, after outdoor summer events: Beware of any leftovers that have been sitting out.

“Researchers have found at least 250 types of foodborne illnesses that can make us sick or, even worse, put us in the hospital, and, for all people that fall into a high-risk category, it could even cause death,” Amescua said.

Amescua said those at higher risk for contracting a foodborne illness include: The elderly Pregnant women Young children, typically under 5 years of age People who are already ill or have an illness that compromises the immune system “In the summer months, the very hot temperatures create an environment that

Make sure your grilling temperatures cook food properly. Use a thermometer to determine if safe temperatures are reached for grilled foods.

Keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot (SCOTT FENAROLI).

makes it easy for bacteria and germs to thrive,” Amescua said.

Food experts point to several key resources to help reduce the risk of food poisoning.

Amescua recommends using the CDC website. There, you can view everything from the four steps to food safety — Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill — to tips and alerts on contaminated foods.

Michael Dombrowski, chief sanitarian for Fort Carson, Colorado’s department of public health, has these tips for a safe outdoor summer cooking experience: 1. Keep things clean. Wash and rinse fresh fruits and vegetables before packing. Wash hands, surfaces, and utensils frequently with soap and water, and follow up with sanitizing sprays or wipes on food contact surfaces.

Clean and rinse coolers before adding ice and products.

2. Cold food should be stored at 40 F or

below, using coolers with ice or frozen gel packs. Keep coolers out of the direct sun and avoid opening the lid too often. This keeps the contents cold longer. It helps to keep beverages in a separate cooler. Everything should stay chilled until immediately before it will be cooked or consumed.

3. Do not cross-contaminate. Keep cooling ice and drinking ice separate - Don’t use ice for drinking if it has been used to keep food or beverages cold. Keep raw meat/poultry/seafood in separate containers to avoid contaminating other picnic foods. Never use the same plate, cutting board, or utensils for cooked food that you used for raw food.

Bacteria in the juices of raw meat and poultry can contaminate safely cooked food.

4. Remember to thaw meat and poultry slowly in the refrigerator before cooking never at ambient temperature. Never partially grill meat or poultry and finish cooking later.

A food thermometer is as important as tongs and spatulas in your equipment list. Always use a food thermometer to be sure grilled food has reached a safe internal temperature: chicken and turkey in all forms to 165 F; ground meats (other than poultry) such as burgers, and bratwursts/sausages to 160 F; and solid cuts of beef, pork, veal, and lamb to 145 F. 5. After cooking, keep meat and poultry at 140 F or warmer until eaten. If cooked items need to be reheated, grill them to 165 F. Refrigerate any hot or cold leftovers promptly in shallow containers. Do not keep any leftover food such as salads, meat/poultry, cut fruit, or cooked vegetables if they were left out at ambient temperature. Be sure to clean up the area before you depart, disposing of all food and trash in pest-proof containers.

Stick to these rules to ensure you have a happy, healthy summer.

6 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, July 15, 2021

Estate Sales Estate Sales

Garage/Yard Sales, etc.

HAMPTON - MEGA GARAGE SALE Multi-Family Friday 7/15 Saturday 7/16 9am-5pm.

HAMPTON - MEGA GARAGE SALE 152 Chickamauga Pike. Friday 7/15 - Saturday 7/16 9am-5pm. Top quality - dishes, appliances, jewelry, furniture, toys, and clothes. FREE STUFF ICC 2969 HOLLAND ROAD Sat July 31, 2021 at 8 am. Vendors sign up w/ admin@iccvirginia.com

INDIAN RIVER PLANTATION 3185 Stonewood Dr VB Sat-Sun Jul 17 & 18, 10-4.Gorgeous home w/ eclectic style & designers flair!

Custom furniture: classic/modern & antiqs, crystal, glass, collectibles, china, sterl, jewelry, generator, patio furn. Pix on Blvd Treasures FB

Cockatoo, too.

Pick a pet in the CLASSIFIED MARKETPLACE.

Call 757-446-9000 or go to PilotOnline.com

Dogs, Cats, Other Pets

ENGLISH SETTERS

MASTIFF BULLDOG CROSS

FDSB registered puppies. Ready July 11th. Excellent nose and temperament. $500-600 M/F. Call 757-6157465

Strong, smart sensitive, shots & training started, come meet your new best friend. $950. 757-274-2381.

Dogs, Cats, Other Pets

Misc. Merchandise For Sale VARIOUS LAWN EQUIPMENT, 6 Lawnmowers, 2 Generators, 4 Bicycles, 1 Contractors Workbox, Various Tool Boxes, Various Battery Operated Tools, & Welding Tools, + Trailer, $50 - $800 Call: 757-462-6214

BOXER 7 registered pups, 5 females, 2 males, all Brindle, call and leave message for more information. $1000 firm 757-567-5994 DOODLES

AntiquesSales & Collectibles Estate ESTATE SALE Estate Sale 4124 Maple Dr. Ches., VA 23321 7/9 - 7/11, 8 am - 4 pm. Furniture, Jewelry, Designer Bags, Banks

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Dogs, Cats, Other Pets

Shots and training started, grab a ball & give us a call, $950. 757-274-2381.

LABRADOR RETRIEVER 8wks old Chocolate, SHots, Wormed, Health Guarantee, Breeding Program Emphasizes Brains & Cooperative Nature. Excellent companion, Hunters & For Hunt Test. $1000.

Call: 757-710-8458

LABRADOR RETRIEVER PUPPIES AKC REGISTERED, shots, wormed, vet checked, 8 weeks old, chocolate males/females, $700 434-294-6897

MULTI GENERATIONAL LABRADOODLE

Labradoodles standard 55lbs. $1300. Registered, vaccinated and dewormed. Year Health guarantee.

9103036932

757.622.1455 | placeanad.pilotonline.com Handyman Services ★GENERAL REPAIRS★ AFFORDABLE. All Handyman, Int & Ext: Flooring, Bathrooms, Small Jobs, Remodel, Rot Repair. 30 Yrs. Exp. BBB A+ Rating.

757-430-2612.

Home/Office Cleaning SWEET & DISCREET CLEANING LLC offers home, office, & move in/out cleanings. Individually owned with no time limit or multiple cleaning crews! Call (757) 828-4588

Home Improvements Hauling ADDITIONS, SUNROOMS, ROOFS, Decks, more. Member BBB. 757-986-3777. www.builderscorporation.com

Concrete/Asphalt Estate Sales S & H ENTERPRISE 20 YRS. Concrete Exp. All types of concrete work driveways, stamped & exposed.

We accept credit cards. 757-652-4050. www.shabazznva.com

(A) FAMILY TRASH MAN-HOUSEHOLD, Demo inside & out, construction sites, dumpster drop off, backhoe work. We haul it all! 20 yrs. exp., lic & ins. 485-1414

Early home delivery. 757-446-9000 or PilotOnline.com

B & J MOVING Reasonable Rates, Licensed & Insured. bandjmoving.com 757-576-1290

FRANK’S SIDING & REPAIRS Repairing Siding & Trim. Small jobs.

Lic/Ins. Low Prices. BBB A+ RATING 757-227-8964

Lawn and Tree Service

ALL HOME IMPROVEMENTS Custom Home Repairs & Renovations.

Patrick Ellis Ent. Inc. Lic. & Ins. BBB A+ 757-635-6609

GODWIN TREE SERVICE 25yrs. Trimming, Topping, total removal. Free est. Winter Pandemic Discount; Lic’d & Ins’d 757-2371285 or 757-816-3759 BBB Member

BEST PRICE EXTERIORS 757-639-4692 Siding, Windows, Trim, Roofing. FREE ESTIMATES! Lic. & Ins’d. Lowest Prices & Top Quality Work. No Repairs. BBB A+ Rating

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YOUR PERFECT

JOB

BRICK & STONE REPAIRS Steps, Walls, Foundations, etc. Virginia Beach Native.

Masonry Contract. 40+ yrs Known As Stone Smith USA. Semi-Retired - A Legend In His Own Mind! Earl Smith 757-2700578. Please Leave Message.

You Won’t Find A Better Man!

IS WAITING

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LANDSCAPE SPECIALIST For all your landscaping and lawn care needs give us a call.

Renovations, monthly maintenance, mulching, shrub trimming. Buddy 757-535-0928 LEAF RAKING AND CLEANUP Grass cutting, Weed Control, Mulching & Trimming, Planting. 25 yrs exp. 918-4152 PARKER TREE SERVICES Mulch, trim shrubs, landscaping. Free Estimates. 757-620-9390 YARD CLEAN UP - GRASS CUTTING, WOOD FENCE REPAIR & BUSHES Weed Eating, Blowing, Reasonable prices.

Call 757-477-2158

Plumbing ★ HONEST PLUMBING ★ ALL YOUR PLUMBING NEEDS Drains♦Fixtures♦Sewer 510-5970 or 837-6903

Professional Services BUYING WATCHMAKER ITEMS Private collector buying old Pocket & Wrist Watches in any condition. Buying Watch Parts, Watch Tools and anything related to the trade. 30 Year Member NAWCC, References Available, Please Call David 314-779-7380 I am Vaccinated Specializing in Large Collections & High Value Accumulations. Paying Cash

Roofing CALVIN’S ROOFING REPAIR LLC Specializes in roofing repair, also guttering, Free estimates, roofing of all types, reasonable prices, Shingles, metal, slate, rubber.

Over 30 yrs -business, BBB 757-377-2933

ROOF REPAIR Shingles, tar, rubber, slate, metal, asbestos removal. 757-718-1072

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, July 15, 2021 7 Dogs, Cats, Other Pets

Motorcycles and ATVs

Wanted Automotive

POODLE PUPPIES Miniature, various colors, CKC registered, shots, vet checked. $1500, ready now. 757-534-8503

2018 KAWASAKI NINJA 400 Like new, elderly owner retiring from riding, 11.5k miles. $5,000.

757-547-7738

ABSOLUTELY ABLY ACQUIRING AUTOS All Makes & Models, Best Price Paid!!

FREE TOWING. 757-749-8035

VIZULAS

FRANKENSTEIN 1200 CC HARLEY DAVIDSON TRIKE Excellent Condition, runs great, beautiful bike, comes with many spare parts and tools, $9000 757483-8098

AUTOS ACCEPTED-ANY YEAR Make or Model. Top Dollar, Fast, Free Towing. 757-737-2465, 252-232-9192

Autos for Sale

USED TRAILER SALE!!!

OVER 100 Avail. For Boats 12’-38’ BUDGET BOATS: (757) 543 -7595

High-energy, smart, a great pet! Call 757-274-2381.

WESTIE PUPPY’S 2 girls, 2 Males westie puppy’s born on June 3, 2021 Ready July 29th for forever homes 1st Shots AKC registered 1200.00$ 252-473-5619 YORKIE PUPPIES Date of birth June 10th 2021, two females and one male. AKC registered, 757-776-7607.

HONDA 2001 ACCORD

Boats & Watercraft

EX. Runs great, 4 dr, sunroof, good insp sticker. $2,150. 757-343-0270

Good news.

VOLKSWAGEN 2018 JETTA

GTI, auto, AC, power windows & locks, cruise, tilt, back up camera, 38mpg, warranty, 18k miles, like new. $15,995. 757-351-5611. No fee.

Classic, Antique Cars

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VOLKSWAGEN 1973 BEETLE

4 Spd, Dual Exhaust, Good condition, $5995. Call 757-495-7960

Trucks and SUVs

GMC 2016 ACADIA

Jump start your day.

Denali, FWD, Automatic, 61,050 mi, White & CoCoa Interior, Leather & Loaded, $29,500. Call For Appt: 757620-3707

LEXUS 2019 RX 350L

Travel/Camping Trailers CONSIGNMENTS WANTED! Let us clean, sell, & finance your RV. Snyders RV 499-8000.

Motorcycles and ATVs 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON 1200 SPORTSTER MODEL 48 1600 actual miles, Like New Condition. Must See $7500 757-373-5707 Early home delivery. 757-446-9000 or PilotOnline.com

26K orig. mis., factory warranty, 3rd row seat, fully loaded, 1 owner, all serviced/inspected, showroom new. $49,900. 757-620-7570. Va dlr

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MINI 2014 COOPER S

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NISSAN 2014 MURANO

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Subscribe to The Virginian-Pilot today.

Fun & Games

Call 757-446-9000 or go to PilotOnline.com

Sudoku

CryptoQuip

Last week’s CryptoQuip answer

Xxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxx xx x xxxxx xx xxxxxx xxxx xx x xxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxx xx x xxxxx xxxx xxxx xxx x xx x xxxxx xx

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

Religious Serivices For your installation’s religious service times visit www.flagshipnews.com⁄ base_information⁄ religious_services

8 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, July 15, 2021