Flagship 07.11.2024

Ready at the Helm: NRMA Harbor Patrol units receive new boats and training

ByElizabethReisen

NORFOLK, Va On land and at sea, installations work tirelessly to ensure military assets located on Navy Region Mid-Atlanticbasesremainsecurefromthreats

These boats are part of a phased replacement program to upgrade and standardize the type of HSBs used for harbor security Thelasttimethishappenedwasin2010

Naval Station Norfolk was the first installation to receive the new vessels and

A drive onto base is met with tall fence lines and manned gates but across each shoreline, these water “fence lines” and “gateways” are patrolled by skilled harbor security forces who must rely on continuoustrainingandtheirharborsecurityboats (HSBs) to keep Navy warships safe while inport. Over the course of the next two years, harborpatrolunits(HPUs)atcoastalinstallations throughout the region will receive new V-shaped hull MetalCraft HSBs and tailored hands-on training led by NRMA PortOperations

ByCNRMAPublicAffairs

NORFOLK, Va Rear Adm. Carl A. Lahti, commander, NavyRegionMid-Atlantic(CNRMA),assumedcommandof CNRMAduringaceremonyheldatthePennsylvaniaHouse aboardNavalStationNorfolk,July3.

During the ceremony, Lahti spoke about CNRMA’s importantroleinsupportingtheChiefofNavalOperations’ priorities

“As we look at the CNO’s priorities of warfighting, warfighters, and the foundation that supports them we, at CNRMA, are a vital part of each priority by ensuring our basesarereadytodeliverhealthy,well-preparedwarfighters tothefleetonadailybasis.”

Lahti also stressed the importance of maintaining readiness and continuing to hire talented staff to support the Mid-Atlanticregion’smission.

“Remain prepared, at all times, to refuel, rearm, repair, resupply and revive our Navy forces,” Lahti emphasized. “We must align what we do ashore with the warfighting needs of our Atlantic Fleet to continue being successful at themission.”

AstheCommanderoverseeing13installationCommanding Officers (COs), Lahti made it a point to speak about the importanceofsoundleadership.

“Iwillempowerleadersateveryleveltotakeinitiativeand actwithconfidence, saidLahti.“OurCNOhaschargedusto deteraggressionanddefendournationalsecurityinterests thatstartswitheachofustakingholdofawinningmindset and maintaining the highest levels of integrity as we meet themissionrequirementseachday.”

CNRMA is the regional coordinator for all shore-based naval personnel and shore activities in the Mid-Atlantic region, which encompasses 20 states 13 installations and numerousNavyreservecentersfromMainetoVirginiaand asfarwestasIllinois

seven master-at- arms training supervisors attended this boat familiarization July 3 to learntechnicalboatdetailssopatrolsarenot halted by basic mechanical issues or accidentsthatcouldbeavoided.

According to NRMA Port Operations Training Specialist John Garcia, the goal of thisclassistoinstillspecificboatoperations measures that he described as the “rules of theroad.”

As each of the seven bases selected for the phased replacement receive their new boats Garcia will travel to each location to getcoxswainsreadybehindthehelm.

Part of the training held on NS Norfolk incorporated requirements from a new Commander Navy Installations Command instructionwithstandardizedstartup,shut downandoperationalproceduresthatsecu-

“That’s my big thing right there is I want all these Sailors to know the rules of the road,” said Garcia “Training on these boats isvery,veryimportant.Tosavelives,tosave money,[not]losingyourasset.”

USNS Burlington departs for Continuing Promise 2024 deployment

ByPettyOfficer2ndClass

AdrionesJohnson

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet

MAYPORT, Fla. The U.S. Navy Spearhead-class fast transport ship, USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10), departed from Naval Station Mayport for Latin America and the Caribbean in support of Continuing Promise2024

During this iteration of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S 4th Fleet’s ContinuingPromisemission,the14thsince 2007 BurlingtonwillstopinJamaica,Costa Rica, Honduras, Colombia, and Panama to share knowledge and provide side-by-side professional expertise with international partners

“Oneofthemajorbenefitsofbeingaboard theUSNSBurlingtonforContinuingPromise2024isthatthisshipisincrediblyversatile and has the ability to conduct a variety of mission types,” said Lt Cmdr Zachary Smith, mission commander for Continuing Promise2024

Christened in 2018, the USNS Burlington is the tenth Spearhead-class ship It is alsothefirstshipinservicenamedtohonor Burlington,Vermont,thestate’slargestcity The ship has an off-load ramp for vehicles tomoveonandofftheshipandaflightdeck rated to be capable of receiving U.S. Navy helicopters Operated by a crew of 22 it is capableoftransportingover300personnel. Of the U.S. Navy personnel onboard, there are18uniqueenlistedjobspecialtiesand10 unique officer specialties to support eight differentmissionareas

“Thebetterwecanlearntoworktogether during missions such as Continuing Promise the better we can work together as we respond to the real-world challenges that willinevitablycome,”saidSmith.

The first mission stop for Burlington will be Kingston, Jamaica. While there, embarked medical personnel will work with local medical practitioners to provide enhanced direct patient care, share knowledgeandexpertise,andstrengthenpartnershipbetweentheU.S.militaryandJamaican civilianandmilitaryofficials

“It’s important to contribute to other countries and help out any way we can, said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Ricardo Maldonado, a dental technician from Navy Medical Readiness Training Command

Portsmouth. While providing assistance to thedentalofficeronboard,heexpectstoput smiles on people’s faces by providing them withthemedicalattentiontheyneed.

Pharmacists, optometrists, nurses, biomedical technicians, optometrists, dentists, and general practitioners will be amongthe30U.S.Navymedicalprofessionalssharingtheirexpertiseandworkingwith localpatients

Just as in past iterations of Continuing Promise, an integral part of the mission is the United Nations’ (UN) Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) initiative. WPS is derived from a UN resolution signed in

2000thatrecognizeswomenaredisproportionally affected by crisis and conflict and aims to provide better support and protection to provide a safer environment in their communities

“ContinuingPromise2024willfeatureat least two multi-day seminars in each location discussing the prevention of genderbased violence in addition to discussions with the military forces of each partner nation regarding women in the military as itrelatestotheinitiative,”saidSmith “WPS isacornerstoneoftheUSSOUTHCOMand U.S. 4th Fleet mission because they believe thatsocietiesaremorepeacefulandprosper-

ouswhenwomenandmenhaveequalrights liberties,dignities,andaccesstoresources.”

These seminars are an important way to share knowledge on and provide tools to preventgender-basedviolenceandimprove cooperationonstoppinggenderinequality USNAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT is the trusted maritime partner for Caribbean, Central and South America maritime forces leading to improved unity security and stability Learn more about USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet at https://www.fourthfleet.navy.mil, https://www.facebook.com/ NAVSOUS4THFLTand@NAVSOUS4THFLT

Pensacola Blue Wahoos to wear ‘call sign’ jerseys

ByGarrettDipuma

Naval Air Station Pensacola

PENSACOLA,Fla. ThePensacolaBlue Wahoos issued ‘call sign’-themed jerseys to theirplayersJuly2.

Inwhat’sbecomingatradition,members oftheBlueWahoosbaseballteamwillwear call signs on the back of their jerseys for theirJuly3SalutetoServicegame,thisyear againsttheMontgomeryBiscuits

“The Wahoos are an outstanding organization and sharing the naval aviation tradition of giving out call signs reinforces the close ties we share with our community,” said NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt.Terry‘Village’Shashaty “There’soften alight-heartedstorybehindacall-sign,and sharingthistraditionwiththeBlueWahoos is a great way to continue partnering with the community which has embraced the Navyformorethanacentury.” Call signs are a method of identifying and communicating with aviators over radios, withthe‘CallSignReview’becomingasquadronmainstay.Newaviatorsareassignedacall sign by senior personnel a nickname they’ll takewiththemthroughouttheircareer The nicknames can be humorously related to an aviator’s habits or characteristics, somethingShashatysaidreinforcesteamworkand acceptancetoanorganization

Some of the call signs Blue Wahoos players received include “Yearbook,” “Late Night,”“Mozzarella,”and“Mr.Clean.”

“I’m grateful to the military and all of the things they’ve done for us,” said Blue Wahoos player Dale ‘The Hornet Stanavich.“It’samazingthatwegettodothis.

Shashaty explained the history of call signs to the gathered players, likening the camaraderie U.S. Navy Sailors and officers maintaintotheteamworktheBlueWahoos employ “It’s a lot of fun for us to participate in eventslikethis andprovidingthemtoseethis light-hearted Navy tradition can show the teamworkNASPensacolahas,”hesaid “I’m honored to impart some of our Navy traditionsonthesegreatplayersandcelebrateour nation’sbirthdaywithourcommunity.”

Editorial Staff ManagingEditor | MCC Amanda Kitchner

PENSACOLA,Fla.– Pensacola BlueWahoos’Tanner‘Yearbook Allen and NavalAirStation (NAS) Pensacola

‘Village’Shashatyposewith the BlueWahoos call sign-themed jerseyJuly2.Forthe secondyearin

The Wahoos’ July 3 Salute to Service game designed to honor and celebrate the thousands of service members from each branchofthearmedforcesinthePensacola, Florida, area, is also a partnership between thebaseballteamandPensacolaHabitatfor Humanity Additionally, a fireworks show to celebrate the Fourth of July is planned

757-262-2852 | amanda.s.kitchner.mil@us.navy.mil

MilitaryEditor | MC1 Maddelin Hamm 757-322-2853 | maddelin.v.hamm.mil@us.navy.mil

thatevening

Shashaty is scheduled to throw out the firstpitchoftheJuly3game NASPensacola referredtoasthe“Cradle of Naval Aviation, is designed to support operational and training missions of tenant commands, including the Naval Aviation TechnicalTrainingCenter(NATTC);Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC); the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT);MarineAviationTrainingSupport Groups (MATSG) 21 and 23 and serves as the headquarters for Naval Education and TrainingCommand(NETC).

By Jayna Legg Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center

GREAT LAKES, Ill.

— Navy Medical Corps

Capt. Chad Roe assumed command of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC)

Great Lakes July 2, in a ceremony at Naval Station Great Lakes, relieving Navy Medical Corps Capt. Chad McKenzie.

NMRTC Great Lakes is the command located at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Ill. Like McKenzie before him, Roe also takes on the role of deputy director of Lovell FHCC, which supports both the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs by providing health care to veterans, Navy recruits and other service members, and their dependents, in southeast Wisconsin and northeast Illinois.

During his time as commanding officer of Lovell FHCC, McKenzie ensured approximately 62,000 Navy recruits were medically fit for their first fleet assignments after graduating from the Navy’s only “boot camp” at Recruit Training Command, Naval Station Great Lakes.

Presiding Officer Navy Medical Forces Atlantic Commander Rear Admiral Matthew Case thanked McKenzie for his dedicated leadership as both the deputy director of Lovell FHCC and commanding officer of NMRTC Great Lakes.

Case presented McKenzie with a Legion of Merit (gold star in lieu of the second award) for his inspirational leadership and said McKenzie’s “brilliant foresight drove significant improvements in deployment readiness for 6,800 active duty personnel across the command and the 12-state area of medical cognizance.”

Also under McKenzie’s leadership, the Navy’s first Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical System team trained, certified, and deployed as a unit in support of global Naval operations, and “the Armed Services Blood Program improved Great Lakes Donor Center collections by 40 percent, ensuring a robust global blood supply chain service wide.”

Additionally, the award citation credits McKenzie for leading “a revolution in tech-

nology that brought together the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Microsoft to deploy advanced cloud technology services for secure, seamless interagency business collaboration and communication.”

McKenzie thanked Team Lovell for meeting his two main goals when he took command in 2022. The first was to ensure the uniformed medical personnel in the command were “ready to deploy and save lives,” and the second was to “support Lovell FHCC Director Dr. Robert Buckley in strengthening the partnership between VA and Department of Defense in the continual integration of two related, but different, health care systems.”

“First, we’re having a change of command, the Navy Band is here, and there’s cake, so something must have gone right,” McKenzie joked.

McKenzie continued: “To all of Team Lovell — the civilians and Sailors supporting health care delivery at the FHCC — thank you for supporting these two objectives even if you didn’t know or didn’t think that you were. Naval Station Great Lakes is where Recruits interface with Navy Medicine for

the first time, and you provided the example of high-quality care each of them should expect across the fleet during their time in service, whether four years or 40 years.”

Roe is originally from Anderson, Ind. and most recently served as Commanding Officer, Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Beaufort, South Carolina and as the Director, Naval Hospital Beaufort. He has held many other top leadership jobs, including at Naval Hospital Yokosuka, Japan; Naval Branch Health Clinic Kings Bay, Ga; Submarine Base New London at Naval Branch Health Clinic Groton, Conn.; NMRTC Charleston, and NMRTC Jacksonville, where, in March 2020, he deployed supporting the Coronavirus Disease 2019 response.

“I’m deeply honored to be a part of NMRTC Great Lakes/Lovell FHCC,” Roe said. “The very name suggests the importance of our mission. The readiness challenges facing our nation are complex, unremitting, and compelling, and addressing them requires our complete focus, effective partnership, and synchronized efforts. For every challenge there are opportunities, and together we will adjust to the major medi-

cal challenges facing the command.” McKenzie and Roe both acknowledged and thanked the facility’s distinguished namesake, retired Navy Capt. and former Astronaut James A. Lovell, in the audience. “Capt. Lovell — you are an inspiration,” McKenzie said during his remarks. “While Tom Hanks did a pretty decent job of portraying you in ‘Apollo 13,’ reading your account of that mission in the book ‘Lost Moon’ helped me understand how you led, accomplishing the impossible, and it is only fitting your name is on the front of the FHCC. We will continue to push the limits and show the rest of federal health care what right looks like.”

The change of command took place at the USS White Hat at Naval Station Great Lakes and was livestreamed on the Lovell FHCC Facebook page, where it will be available for viewing: https://www.facebook.com/ lovellfhcc. About Lovell FHCC: Lovell FHCC is the nation’s only fully integrated Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense health care facility. Lovell FHCC serves veterans, military retirees, Navy recruits and other service members, and their families, at its main hospital in North Chicago, Ill. Veterans also are cared for at Lovell FHCC outpatient clinics in McHenry and Evanston, Ill., and Kenosha, Wis. Lovell FHCC, with Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Great Lakes, operates USS Red Rover, USS Osborne and USS Tranquillity Recruit Training Command clinics, and Fisher Clinic at Naval Station Great Lakes. About NMRTC Great Lakes: When NMRTC Great Lakes was established in 2019, the resources of Lovell FHCC that provide medical care and support for Department of Defense beneficiaries were aligned under the management oversight of the Defense Health Agency. Navy Medicine retains principal responsibility for operational readiness of the Navy and Marine Corps. To complement the transition, Navy Medicine established the co-located NMRTC Great Lakes at Lovell FHCC.

Rivera earns Military Excellence Award at Recruit Training Command

ByMarcLindsay U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command

GREAT LAKES (NNS) Seaman

ApprenticeMonicaRiveragraduatedasthe topSailorfromRecruitTrainingCommand, earning the Military Excellence Award (MEA)July3,2024

Rivera,fromSanAntonio,Texas,saidshe enlisted for a variety of reasons, including theopportunitytoprovideforherfamily

“Education and being able to provide for mysonaretwothingsthatarereallyimportant to me,” said Rivera. “When I moved to thiscountry,Iwasreceivedwithopenarms EveryonewholivesintheU.S.hasopportunities that a lot of other people don’t have When I started to learn about the military and all the things I can accomplish, it was a no brainer for me I can give back to this country and achieve a better life for my familyatthesametime.”

Rivera, 29 graduated from Centro de Estudios Universitarios in Mexico After high school, she worked as a lifeguard and BrazilianjiujitsucoachatRodrigoPinheiro BJJ,whereshealsotrains

The Navy Club of the United States Military Excellence Award is the top award presented to the recruit that best exemplifiesthequalitiesofenthusiasm,devotionto duty military bearing and teamwork. The award places her at the pinnacle of today’s newestSailors Riveraisawardedaflagletter ofcommendationaspartofherrecognition.

BySamanthaFehr Fleet Readiness Center East

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION

CHERRY POINT, N.C. A new capability at Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) is streamlining the aircraft painting process, allowingthedepottodecreasemaintenance turnaround time and return aircraft to the fleetfasterthaneverbefore.

The Fleet Support Team’s Materials and Processes Branch and Digital Data Center are working together to improve the final finish process within the depot’s Aircraft Paint Shop with the adoption of a laser projectionsystem.

Thesystemactsasaguidefortheprecise placement of markings and insignia by projectingtheiroutlinesontotheaircraft.

According to Steven Lofy, senior materials engineer for the Materials Branch’s Corrosion and Wear Team, the system has bolsteredthedepot’scapabilitiesbydecreasing turnaround time and labor hours and producingareliableandrepeatableaircraft paint process, all while offering artisans ergonomicandsafetybenefits

“Ittakesanextensiveamountoftimeand labor to mask aircraft for the application of majormarkingsandinsigniaduringthefinal finish process,” said Lofy “It’s a demanding process based on old, paper drawings that can be difficult to read, making it challenging for our artisans to mask the exact areasoneachaircraftconsistently Thelaser projection system makes the process much morepreciseandreliablewhenmaskingand applying stencils to an aircraft while also savingasignificantamountoftime

“Withthelaserprojectionsystem,wecan simply come in, turn on the projectors and actuallyprojectwhereeachmarkingshould be on the aircraft,” Lofy continued “All we havetodofromthereislineeachstencilup, maskandpaint.”

TheFRCEAircraftCleanandPaintShop primes and paints the aircraft that pass through the aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facility Masking is a meticulous process during which artisans apply tape, film and paper to aircraft to outline areas to be painted and protect other areas from paint overspray Precision and attention to detail are essential, especially when masking aircraft markings that cannot be stenciled, such as the horizontal white stripesonthe“GreenTop”MV-22BOsprey flown by Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 (HMX-1) or the gold stripes on the UH-1N HueyhelicoptersassignedtotheAirForce’s 1stHelicopterSquadron.

FRCEsuccessfullytestedthelaserprojection system for the first time to paint the white stripes onto an HMX-1 V-22 in January AccordingtoLofy usingthelaserprojectionsystemonthataircraftreducedthelabor hoursrequiredtomaskthestripesinpreparationforpaintbyover85%.

“TheHMX-1V-22isoneofourmoredifficultaircrafttopaintbecauseofthetwohorizontal white stripes that go down its entire body,” said Lofy “Taping off the stripes in preparation for paint used to take us about 16 labor hours. Artisans were having to do theirbesttotapeoffstraightlinesacrossthe entireaircraftbyhand,whichisverydifficult todoonaflatsurface,letaloneonthebumpy, curvedsurfaceofanaircraft.Whereasnow, withthelaserprojectionsystem,wecantape off the stripes in approximately two hours, and they are guaranteed to be perfectly straightandaccuratelyplacedeverytime.” In addition to reducing turnaround time within the Aircraft Paint Shop, the laser projectionsystemalsocreatesareliableand repeatableprocessforpaintingaircraft.

Lofy said this is especially important whenpaintinghighvisibilityaircraftsuchas theHMX-1V-22andtheUH-1NHuey They are painted for appearance, he explained, unlike other aircraft which are painted for form, fit and function. In addition to boosting efficiency, the laser projection system willalsoallowforasaferworkenvironment. “To mask and stencil these aircraft, artisans have to climb up and down stairs or onto the side of the aircraft multiple times to try to get those two perfectly straight lines along both sides of the aircraft,” said Lofy “Thelaserprojectionsystemremoves

(MEA)July3,2024.(COURTESYPHOTO)

Theaward,accordingtoRivera,isthebest possiblefirststeptostarthernavalcareer

“All the recruits who were nominated were so squared away that I was really surprisedwhenmyRDCstoldmethenews

During my time here, I’ve done my best to work hard and have an open heart to the other recruits around me Fortunately I wassurroundedbyreallygoodpeople,and the award I’m being given is a reflection of all of us I couldn’t be happier with the waymyjourneyintheNavyhasstartedand I hope to follow a similar path as I move forward.” Rivera’s RDCs (Recruit Division Commanders) are Chief Hospital Corpsman (HMC) Kevin Richards, Engineman 1stClass(EN1)AlainDabasolandGunner’s Mate 1st Class (GM1) Dustin Jones and they guided her through the 10-week process

“I’msoluckytohavetheRDCsthatIdid,” shesaid “Eachoneofthemwasabletoteach medifferentthingsintheirownuniqueway. They knew when to motivate me, when I might need more explanation, and always talked to me about how to lead different types of people I feel like I’m as prepared for the fleet as I could possibly be in such a short amount of time, and I owe all of my thankstothem.” Additionally, Rivera said her family and friendshelpedpushhertosuccess “I had a quote from my jiu jitsu professor that I always used to remind myself when I was having a tough day,” said Rivera. “He’d always say, ‘Accept your new norm.’ When something happened, I’d always try to see the positive in it, and use it as a learning lesson. Jiu jitsu and the lessons he taught

me really help me a lot while I was here.

My other source of motivation was my son. I want to give him a better life, and I want himtoseethatyoucanalwaysachievemore ifyou’rewillingtogivetheeffort.IfIcando this,Iknowonedayhewillunderstandwhat heiscapableoftoo.”

Rivera said that while there were a number of challenges, being away from her familywasthetoughesttoovercome

“My son is young, so I’m not sure he understands why I have to be away and why I can’t call all the time,” she said. “Any time a child is young there’s a fear that they will forget you while you’re gone Not being able to hug him or talk to him and havehimunderstandthatI’monlygoingto begoneforashortamountoftimeistough. But when you look at the bigger picture, when he gets older, I want him to see what hismomwasabletoaccomplishandknow thatIdidmyparttomakethiscountrythat we live in a safer place for him to grow up Keepingthisinmindhelpedmegetthrough those tougher days.”

After graduation, Rivera will attend HospitalCorpsman“A”SchoolinSanAntonio, Texas, for training on basic principles and techniques of patient care and first aid procedures. Training at RTC is approximately 10 weeks and all enlistees in the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command. More than 40,000 Recruits train annually at the Navy’sonlybootcamp

all of the back and forth by projecting the perfectlystraightlinesacrosstheaircraftfor theartisanstouseasguide.”

Inadditiontomakingtheworkplacesafer, MaterialsandProcessesBranchHeadChristopher Gladson said the laser projection systemalsocutscostsduetothetimeitsaves duringthefinalfinishprocess “For the HMX-1 V-22 stripes alone we saveabout14hoursbyusingthelaserprojection system, and that’s only for one of the majormarkingsweareusingthesystemfor,” said Gladson “We plan to project between 10 and 53 markings across the aircraft we service Just think about the additional

time we will save by using this system for 53markings That’salotoftimeandmoney wecansave.” Matthew Mullins, a production support engineer at the depot’s Digital Data Center, saidFRCEisalreadyworkingtoexplainthe system’scapabilities Todothis,Mullinssaid the Digital Data Center obtains 3D renderings of the various aircraft FRCE services which are then uploaded into the projection system’s software From there, engineerstransferthe2Dstencilsanddrawings of these aircraft markings and insignia into the3Dsoftware “Todate,thedepothassuccessfullytested

the system on four of the aircraft serviced by the depot,” said Mullins. “First was the HMX-1V-22andUH-1N,andthenwetested the system on the MH-53E, MV-22. Once wetestitandtweakitsoeverythinglinesup perfectly,it’sreadytouse Thesystemisvery userfriendly Thepaintshopwillsimplyroll the projectors out and pick which aircraft filethey’dliketoproject.It’sthatsimple.”

Aircraft Paint Shop Supervisor Ronald Graysaidhelooksforwardtousingthelaser projectionsystemonaregularbasis

“Afterseeinghowhelpfulthesystemwas with the stripes on the HMX-1 V-22, I am eager to see what else it can do,” said Gray “Theshop’sartisansspendalotoftimeand energytomakesureeachmarkingispainted intherightplace sothiswillhelpusnotonly becomemoreaccuratewithplacement,but also save their energy Hopefully, we can make the most out of the time and energy the system will save us by completing more aircraftthaneverbefore.”

FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers Its annualrevenueexceeds$1billion.Thedepot providesservicetothefleetwhilefunctioning

rityandboatmaintainersmustfollow.

Beforeheadingoutonthewater,personnel from the HPU and port operations repair unit came together to go through an equipmentcustodychecklisttoidentifyany potentialissues

Master-at-Arms First Class David Harrington, who has been assigned to NS Norfolk HPU for three years, remarked that the training was mission essential and iftrainingsupervisorsarenotfamiliarwith the new boat platform that there is a high riskofmishapsanddanger

“Our own security officer says it to us all the time that harbor is one of the most dangerous types of missions that a masterat-arms can perform because you are not only navigating the security aspect, you’re navigating other people operating in the water,” said Harrington “It’s a lot and it’s very important we are up-to-date and fully qualifiedtohandlethisnewplatform.”

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NAVSCIATTS graduates Semester 24-2 Strategic Leaders Course

ByAngelaFry Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School

STENNISSPACECENTER Miss The Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS) recently graduated its Semester 24-2 StrategicLeadersInternationalCourse(SLIC) at the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club in Waveland, Miss The current iteration featured senior military and government officials from Colombia,CentralAfricanRepublic,Ecuador El Salvador Hungary Iraq, Jamaica, Lebanon, Malawi, Mexico Nigeria, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis,

Thailand, and Uruguay.

The ceremony featured remarks from Harry Thomas, a current senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for GlobalAffairsandformerU.S.ambassador toZimbabwe thePhilippines andBangladesh; and NAVSCIATTS’ Cmdr Robert LeClerc, who has spent the majority of his military career as a U.S. Navy SEAL.

Inremarkstothegraduatingofficersand guests in attendance, LeClerc recognized thestrategicleadersforthededicationand forthediverseexperiencestheybroughtto the month-long course “Each of you bring unique perspectives and expertise to the table enabling us to learn from one another and expand our

collective knowledge base,” he expressed.

“By continuing to work together, we enhance the effectiveness of our global networkofalliesandpartners,provingthat we are stronger together.”

SLIC is an in-resident course designed tobuildpartnercapacitybyofferingsenior militaryleadersandgovernmentofficialsof partnernationsnewperspectives,methodologies,andopportunitiesforthinkingstrategically and for designing strategies that successfully address complex challenges Strategicleadersareintroducedtomethods andprocessesfordesignandsystemsthinking and public interest communications and receive instructions from professionalswhocurrentlyusethesemethodologies

and processes in the public and private sectors During the course, the students apply the aforementioned methodologies inhands-onexercisesinvariouscasestudies and in a capstone exercise designed against a current strategic challenge relevant to student countries NAVSCIATTS is a security cooperation schoolhouse operating under U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command in support of foreign security assistance and geographic combatant commanders’ theater security cooperation priorities To date, almost 14,000partnernationsecurityforceprofessionals

$420M contracts awarded to address F/A-18 readiness gaps

ByTristanPavlik

NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support

PHILADELPHIA Logisticians and contracting professionals from NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support’s F/A-18 IntegratedWeaponSystemTeamandN79Aviation Contracts Team collaborated to award supply contracts valued at a combined $420M for the sustainment of spares and repairs of flight control surfaces (FCS) for theF/A-18aircraft.

“Thescopeandtimingoftheflightcontrol surfaces contract awards is vital to aviation readiness This is going to pave the way for futurewarfightingtodefendournationand partnercountries,”saidCapt.AbdulCeville NAVSUP WSS director of contracts. “The F/A-18IntegratedWeaponSystemTeamand N79 Aviation Contracts Team were unified every step of the way to get the job done right—andrightnow.”

These contracts cover the acquisition of both spares and repairs of essential parts withintheNavalAviationEnterprise,ensuring the delivery of FCS to the fleet through fiscal year 2028 and setting the stage for a long-termcontractthatprovidesbothfinancialandreadinessstability

Throughcomplexnegotiations,NAVSUP WSS teams worked alongside PEO(T), PMA-265,andBoeingtoensurethecontracts included 20 individual NIINs (nine spares and11repairs),supportingtheF/A-18Super HornetandEA-18GGrowlerfortheUnited StatesandForeignMilitarySalestoAustralia.Thesecontractswillcollectivelyaddress potentialreadinessgapsforkeycomponents oftheF/A-18’saerodynamiccapabilities

TheF/A-18SuperHornetisasupersonic, twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighteraircraftabletoperformairsuperiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control, and tanker missions The EA-18G Growlerisavariantofthejetthatcombines the proven F/A-18F Super Hornet platform withasophisticatedelectronicwarfaresuite

The flight control surfaces are aerodynamicdevicesthatallowpilotstoadjustand controltheaircraft’sflightattitude,acrucial aspectoftheirmultirolecapabilities

TheNavyteamworkedthroughmultiple complexities including an expedited timeline to increase aviation readiness during heightened operations tempo while simultaneouslyfacingtheclosingofBoeing’slargestmaterialsupplier,GKNAerospace,which Boeingacquiredduringnegotiations.

“Our nation’s Navy, the Joint Force, and a vast network of allies rely on our highly skilled workforce of logisticians and contracting professionals to effectively sustainafightwhencalledupon,”saidCapt. Andrew Henwood, NAVSUP WSS director of aviation operations “Their ability to collaborate and execute these awards is a testamenttotheirexpertise.”

Following the successful acquisition of GKN, the speed to award enables Boeing to secure long lead-time material to minimize anygapsinsparesdeliveriestothefleet.

NAVSUP WSS is one of 11 commands under Commander NAVSUP Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, NAVSUP employs a diverse, worldwide

ATLANTIC OCEAN

workforceofmorethan22,500militaryand civilian personnel. NAVSUP and the Navy Supply Corps conduct and enable supply chain,acquisition,operationallogisticsand Sailor and family care activities with our mission partners to generate readiness and sustain naval forces worldwide to prevent and decisively win wars Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook. com/navsupwss, and https://twitter.com/ navsupsyscom.

U.S. Navy installations to conduct Citadel Pacific 2024

WASHINGTON Navyinstallationswill exercise their security forces during Citadel Pacific 2024 (CP24), an annually reoccurring force protection exercise assessing emergency response in Navy Joint Region Marianas, and Region Japan (July 15-19), Navy Region Korea (Aug 19-23), and Navy RegionHawaii,(Oct.28-Nov 1) Commander Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and Commander, U.S. PacificFleetconductthisexercisetobolster Navy security personnel readiness and assess command and control capabilities, ensuring the effectiveness of antiterrorism

programsacrosstheIndo-Pacificregion.

“Citadel Pacific serves as a crucial trainingopportunityformaintainingahighlevel of readiness in an evolving security environment, said Marjorie, Lutz, Director of OperationsforCNIC “Itprovidesalearning atmosphereforourNavySecurityForcesto exercise operational protection plans and capabilities, ensuring they are prepared to respondeffectivelytoanythreatscenario.”

Citadel Pacific is an annual exercise and notinresponsetoanyspecificthreat.CNIC conducts annual force protection exercises at each of its 70 installations, across the globe CP24isdesignedtoensureourpeople and security forces are at peak readiness to deter and respond to potential security

threats This annual exercise uses realistic scenariostoensureU.S.Navysecurityforces maintainahighlevelofreadinesstorespond tochanginganddynamicthreats Effortshavebeenmadetoreduceimpacts onnearbycommunitiesanddailybaseactivities However, during the exercise, there might be instances of traffic congestion or delays at entry points Residents in the area couldalsoobserveorhearunusualactivities relatedtotheexercise suchassmoke,simulated gunfire, explosions and announcements over the base’s loudspeaker system. We have coordinated closely with local law enforcement and emergency responders in advance Commander, Navy Installations

Command is responsible for worldwide U.S. Navy Shore installation management designing and developing integrated solutions for sustainment and development of Navy shore infrastructure as well as qualityoflifeprograms CNICoversees10Navy regions, 70 installations, and more than 43,000 employees who sustain the fleet, enable the fighter, and support the family Follow CNIC on social media: Facebook, Facebook.com/NavyInstallations; X, @ cnichq;andInstagram,@cnichq For media queries regarding Citadel Pacific, contact CNIC Public Affairs: cnic hq_public_affairs@navy.mil.

uarterdeck

USSF leadership highlights military women’s challenges, opportunities ChiefMasterSgt.ofthe Space ForceJohn F. Bentivegna and Lt Gen.DeAnna Burt,deputy chiefofSpace Operations forOperations,Cyber and Nuclear delivered remarks at theJoint Women’s Leadership Symposium inArlington, Virginia,June 26 and 27 PageB6

Australian Naval Officer celebrates 20 years of service with friends, partners at RIMPAC 2024

ByNicoleDorrett Commander,

U.S. 3rd Fleet

Lt Cmdr Kimberley Healy celebrated theFourthofJulyatBattleshipRowinPearl Harbor Hawaii withfriendsandcolleagues fromNewZealandandtheU.S.Sheispartof the Sea Combat Command and the AustralianDefenceForcecontingentofmorethan 300 Australians participating in Exercise RimofthePacific(RIMPAC)2024,thebiennial international military exercise coordinated by the U.S. Pacific Fleet. This week, Healy also celebrates a personal milestone of 20 years of service in the Royal AustralianNavy

“It’sgreattoseefamiliarfacesandreconnect after years apart. In some ways it feels likenotimeatallhaspassed,wejustpicked upwhereweleftoff,”Healysaid.ItisHealy’s second RIMPAC She was the Principal Warfare Officer (PWO) at RIMPAC 2016 serving aboard HMAS Ballarat. “Being on

ByNicoleDorrett Commander

3rd Fleet

U.S.

It is Commander David, ‘Billy’ Maddison’s fourth time participating in RIMPAC the world’s largest international maritime exercise,buthisfirstincommandofaRoyal AustralianNavyShip

CMDR Maddison recently assumed Command of HMAS Sydney, one of three Hobart Class guided missile destroyers (DDG) and one of Australia’s most lethal maritimecapabilities

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of leading 200 highly competent Australians through what will be a challenging test of our readiness and preparedness,” CMDR Maddisonsaid.

“ThepurposeofRIMPACistoencourage interoperability and interchangeability in a highlycomplexenvironmentwithourpartners in the Indo Pacific and that really gets to the theme of RIMPAC Partners, IntegratedandPrepared.

“Weareprivilegedtobeworkingwith29 othercountries botholdpartnerslikeour Royal New Zealand Navy friends just over the pier from us and some partners from further away but who value a stable region such as the the Netherlands, Germany or Italy.”

CMDR Maddison first came to Pearl Harbor on the southern coast of Hawaii for RIMPAC2010inHMASWarramungawhen hewasasub-lieutenantOfficeroftheWatch.

“Then in 2017 it was a great privilege to serve on exchange with the United States Navy here in Pearl Harbor for three years. Thatwasarealcareerhighlight.”

That period saw him participate in two moreRIMPACsin2018and2020 Two years serving as Sydney’s Executive Officerfollowedbeforeassumingcommand. CMDR Maddison said in his experience the best memories of RIMPAC are made ashore interacting with international colleagues on various topics, ranging from shipborne life, maritime tactics or recent

an international exercise on the day I celebratemy20thanniversaryintheNavyreaffirms my decision to join. I never thought I would be here 20 years later with still so muchyettoexperience Theoldadagewas, “Join the Navy See the World,” and for me thishasabsolutelyrungtrue Ireflectonthe last20yearsandlookforwardtoseeingwhat thenexthaveinstore.

The highlight of Healy’s career thus far was serving as commanding officer of the Armidale-classpatrolboatHMASBathurst from 2021 to 2023, after initially serving on thenewlycommissionedshipasamidshipman in 2006 “When the Signal came out announcing me as CO Bathurst that was a full circle moment for me To have served on her as a Midshipman and then to return 15 years later as her Captain was pretty awesome “In 2021, it was post-COVID and we took the ship on deployment to Singapore. Two-thirds of the Ship’s company hadn’t

been off the Australian station so it was reallyexcitingtotaketheshipandhercrew into international waters, conduct a crossing-the-line ceremony and pay a port visit toourfriendsandneighboursinSingapore.”

“Being CO of a ship is truly the time you get to cement your leadership and demonstrateallthetrainingyou’veundertakenover many years My crew was exceptional, and because of them my boat was consistently operationally ready and we achieved every mission assigned to us I’ve enjoyed all my sea postings but being the CO is the best postingI’veeverhadsofar.”

Healy has also served on HMA Ships Warramunga and Arunta and achieved her bridge warfare certificate on HMAS Adelaide in 2007 Shore postings include gunnery officer at HMAS Stirling, Defence Force Recruiting in Brisbane, and PWO exchange to New Zealand, where she was the operations officer on HMNZS Canterbury and the commissioning OPSO on the

tankerHMNZSAotearoa.

As you would expect in a career of 20 years, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing, but Healy said even during challenging periodsthereisalwayssomethingtobelearned. “I think you learn a lot from failure and mistakesequallyasyoudofromtheleaders whoinspireyou.It’simportanttorecognise thatevenourmostjuniormembershavealot tocontributeandprovidingthemthespace and opportunity to shine can positively impactthesuccessofthemission.

“We all come from different walks of life and we can learn from everyone Diversity of thought is the creator of amazing things Consider what you want your legacy to be and make sure you leave behind a positive experience.” Healy has been selected to undertake the Australian Command and StaffCoursein2025

Training Air Wing 2 completes one million hours in T-45 Goshawk

CourtesyStory

Chief of Naval Air Training

KINGSVILLE, Texas Representa-

tives from Boeing, Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA), Training Air Wing (TAW) 2, the City of Kingsville and more met onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville to commemorate one million hours cumulatively flown by the fleet of T-45 Goshawks assignedtoTAW-2,July2.

Three commemorative plaques were presented by Boeing to CNATRA TAW-2 andtheCityofKingsvilleduringashortceremony on the flightline Capt. Aaron Rybar, Commander,TrainingAirWing 2,received one of the commemorative plaques on behalfofthelocaltrainingwing Notably,the one-million-hourmilestonedoesnotinclude flight time for T-45 Goshawks assigned to TAW-1,locatedinMeridian,Mississippi

“On May 1st, 1992, the first class of flight instructorsfromVT-21assignedtofly[train] the next generation of Naval Aviators in the new T-45A Goshawk began their training in theT-45.”saidRybar “On26February,2024,

30 years and one month after the Navy went full operational capability [with the] T-45 aircraft,Lt Cmdr Thomas“Sock”Cruz,from VT-22, operating aircraft 267, BuNo 165067 on a basic fighter maneuver [training] event, crossedovertheone-millionthflighthourin theT-45hereatNASKingsvilleTexas.”

Rear Admiral Rich Brophy, Chief of Naval Air Training, commands all five naval air training wings and has led the Naval Air Training Command (NATRACOM) since July 2022.Brophyaddressedthecrowdafter Rybar,discussingtheimportanceoftheT-45 in training Naval Aviators over the last three decades, “A strong national defense starts with how we project our power. From the United States Navy standpoint, we project powerwithcarrierairwings Andourcarrier airwingsaretrainedrighthereinKingsville This is the heart, the heart of the United States Navy And the number-one battering ram of the United States Navy is a carrier air wing,” said Brophy. “So when you reflect on themillion-hourmark,thinkaboutthatfora second,that’s114yearsofcontinuousflying.

The ceremony tied together a commu-

nity of men and women that have supported T-45operationsinSouthTexasforoverthree decades Mayor Sam Fugate was present to receiverecognitionfortheonemillionthhour onbehalfoftheCityofKingsville.TheCityof KingsvillehassupportedgenerationsofNaval Aviators since the base was founded in 1942 asanauxiliaryairstation.

“Theres nothing like feeling apart of the community, and this community does it to the n’th degree,” said Brophy. “So thank you Mayor, thank you Dick [Dick Messbarger Executive Director at Kingsville], and thank you all that have leaned in to keep Kingsville operatingandtosupportourNavyfamily.” CNATRA’smissionistotrain,mentor,and deliverthehighestqualityNavalAviatorswho prevail in competition, crisis, and conflict. Headquartered at NAS Corpus Christi, CNATRA comprises five training air wings inFlorida,Mississippi,andTexas,whichare home to 17 training squadrons In addition, CNATRA oversees the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron the Blue Angels and the trainingcurriculumforallfleetreplacement squadrons

NPS Hosts Operations Research Professionals at MORS Symposium

CourtesyStory Naval Postgraduate School

For the first time in six years, the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) welcomed professionals from the operations research and analytics communities at the 92nd Military Operations Research Society (MORS) Symposium,June24-27.

Theeventbroughttogethermorethan900 attendees from the military, government, industry and academic sectors mainly fromtheoperationsresearch(OR)field to exchangeinformation,examineresearchand discusscriticalnationalsecurityissues

In line with the symposium’s theme, “Advancing Analytical Leadership,” senior leaders emphasized the increasing importance of the OR and analytics communities acrosstheDepartmentofDefense(DOD).

“I believe we are in a period of significant importancefortheanalyticcommunity,”said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Douglas Sasse, Director, Assessment Division (OPNAV N81), during his remarks at the symposium’s kickoff session on June 25 “Most of us that have been in this business for a while have seen theweightdecision-makersplaceonanalysis ebb and flow over the years From my viewpoint,weareseeingaresurgenceindemand, andtheanalyticcommunityneedstoremain focusedonansweringthebell.”

Symposium attendees participated in a widerangeofORandanalyticsfocussessions and working groups at locations throughout the campus, including several classified working groups at Ingersoll Hall. In addition, special sessions were offered for junior and senior analysts from each of the DOD services, and a wargaming expo took place onJune25andJune27atReedHall.

“The symposium really benefits the communitybecauseit’sawaytobreakdown stovepipesacrossalltheservicesandgovernmentandindustryandacademia,”saidMORS Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Ferat. “I think it’s a way for people to network and collaborate on different problem sets and analysisthatthey’retryingtoprovidetodecisionmakersinthecommunity Andit’sagreat forumtodothat.”

NPS whichlasthostedtheMORSSymposium in 2018, is home to one of the nation’s largest and most respected OR programs the “best operations research department in the world,” according to retired Navy Capt. Arthur(Trip)Barber,aMORSfellowand1979 NPSgraduate

“They set the standard for how others do it,” said Barber who currently serves as chiefanalystatSystemsPlanning&Analysis in Alexandria, Va “And it’s the only one that is uniquely focused on the military applications of operations research. So it’s kind of theMeccathateveryonecomesbacktowhen they want to know what the state of the art

is,andthetechnology,andhowtoteachit.”

As a testament to NPS’ standing in the world of operations research, two NPS flag officer alumni served as the MORS Symposium’s keynote speakers Sasse and Vice Adm. Brad Skillman Deputy Chief of Naval OperationsforIntegrationofCapabilitiesand Resources(OPNAVN8)

DuringtheiropeningremarksatKingHall Auditorium, Skillman and Sasse both talked about the need for analysis and warfighting to exist side-by-side and complement each other

“Realistically I would hope that both the analyst and the warfighter are constantly striving to expand their knowledge of each other’s worlds,” said Skillman. “At the very least, a robust partnership between the analyticalcommunityandoperationalforces is essential as we confront our challenges head-on.”

In addition to Skillman and Sasse, speakers at symposium’s kickoff session included retiredViceAdm.AnnRondeau,Presidentof NPS and MORS President Dr Andy Turner

During the session, Turner announced the induction of NPS graduate and retired Navy Capt. Brian Morgan as the newest MORS fellow, and MORS award winners were acknowledged, including Marine Corps

Lt Col. Christopher Bromley, a recent NPS graduate who was honored with the MORS TisdaleGraduateResearchPrize Thekickoffsessionalsoincludedagovernment sponsor panel for senior leaders from theDODandDepartmentofHomelandSecurity (DHS). Participants included representatives from OPNAV N81, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD A&S), the Center forArmyAnalysis,U.S.MarineCorpsCombat Development Command, the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, and the DHS ScienceandTechnologyDirectorate For retired Navy Cmdr Nicholas Ulmer, a 2014NPSgraduatewhowaselectedtoserve asthenextpresidentofMORS,theselection ofNPStohostthisyear’sMORSSymposium couldn’thavebeenmoreappropriate “NPS is a critical component of the operations community,” Ulmer said, “because it brings together warfighters and professors withextremelyamazingtechnicalabilitiesin

tors

NAVFAC EXWC volunteers help spruce up national park visitor center

CourtesyStory

Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center

TeamsofvolunteersfromNavalFacilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center(NAVFACEXWC)workedtorestore degraded facilities and trail conditions at a visitor center in the Los Padres National ForestthroughoutMayandJune2024

The Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center the first visitor center constructed in the 100-year history of the national forest, needed help with fixing and improving building interiors and exteriors, cleaning up grounds areas, and building a section of rock wall to address a water drainage issue nearthebuilding

“I am incredibly proud of the exceptional volunteer work our civilian and military organization recently undertook at the Wheelers Gorge Visitors Center,” said NAVFACEXWCCommandingOfficerCapt. Scott Raymond. “Our team demonstrated outstanding dedication and skill in various tasks, significantly enhancing the facility’s functionalityandappearance.”

“I’m very proud of our volunteers for the greatworktheydidtohelpourlocalcommunity,”saidvolunteercoordinatorDavidRich, who is NAVFAC EXWC’s high risk safety manager “This was a great opportunity for us here at EXWC to say thank you to the Los Padres Forest Association, a wonderful organizationthatdoessomuchforourlocal communityandyouthprograms.”

TheWheelersGorgeVisitorsCenterhad not had proper maintenance because of severe rains road closures, wild fires and COVID over the past several years accordingtoTerryWright,avolunteerwhoworks fortheWheelersGorgeVisitorsCenter

“David came here to the visitors center onedayandsaid,‘Whatdoyouneeddone?’” saidWright.“Isaid,‘Comewithme,’andwe started walking and talking about projects He set up three Saturdays in May and June withgroupsofpeoplefromEXWCtocome and work on various projects We’re very gratefultohavehadthem.”

Projectsincludedinstallinganewbutcher block counter top and sink in the kitchen area, a new toilet in the bathroom, building four new log benches outside, painting of much of the facility, clearing brush around

the buildings, and building a new rock wall outsidethebuilding

“Thiscomprehensiveeffortisatestament to our commitment to serving our communitybeyondourcivilianandmilitaryduties,” said Raymond. “Each member of our organizationplayedavitalroleintheseprojects and their hard work and dedication have madealastingimpact.Iamhonoredtolead such a capable and selfless team, and their contributionstotheWheelersGorgeVisitor

Center will be appreciated by the communityforyearstocome.”

NAVFACEXWCCommandMasterChief

Martin Laurie said, “It’s just great to give backandmakethingsbetterthanwefound.”

Established in 2012 NAVFAC EXWC is headquartered at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, California, whose more than 1,000 dedicated federal civilian employees, contractors, and military personnel provide research, development,

test, and evaluation, and in-service

neering to deliver specialized facility and expeditionary solutions to the warfighter As NAVFAC’s only warfare center, our engineers scientists, analysts logisticians contract specialists and other professional personnel provide technology and unique agilesolutionsforthewarfighterthatspecifically focus on expeditionary, oceans, and shoreneedsfromenduringbasestoforward deployedexpeditionarylocations

Medal of Honor Higlight: Marine Corps Pfc. Harold Agerholm

ByKatieLange DOD News

When a comrade falls in war, you do what you can to help them. That’s a mantra MarineCorpsPfc.HaroldChristAgerholm took seriously during the World War II Battle of Saipan when he helped evacuate nearly four-dozen wounded men during a largeenemycounterattack.Agerholmdidn’t survive the mission, but his selfless actions led leaders to posthumously bestow him withtheMedalofHonor

Agerholm was born on Jan. 29, 1925, in Racine Wisconsin,oneofsixchildrenborn toChristandRoseAgerholm.Hisfatherdied whenhewasabout8,sohismotherwenton toraisetwoboysandfourgirlsbyherself.

According to one of Agerholm’s sisters, helovednatureandanimalsandwasinseparablefromhisDachshundasachild.Agerholmattendedpublicschools,thenworked for about five months at a manufacturing company as a multigraph operator before joining the Marine Corps Reserve in July 1942 His mother told newspapers at the timethatsincehewasonly17,hebeggedher tojoin,soshelethim.

AfterattendingbasictraininginSanDiego, Agerholm was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Division In November 1942, the unit deployed for overseasdutyinNewZealand.Whilethere,Agerholmwaspromotedtoprivatefirstclassand

Marine Corps Pfc.Harold C.Agerholm,Medal ofHonorrecipient (U.S.NAVALHISTORYAND HERITAGECOMMANDPHOTOGRAPH)

spentmostofthenextyeartraining

In November 1943, Agerholm took part in fierce fighting on Betio Island during the BattleofTarawa Afterward,hewentwithhis division to Hawaii to begin preparations for theinvasionofSaipan,whichAllieslaunched onJune15,1944 Agerholm’sunitlandedon theislandonthefourthdayoffighting

The Navy Exchange Service Command named nine of its NEX locations as Bingham Award winners The Bingham Award recognizes outstanding performance in operations customer service and communitysupport.

“Each year, the Navy Exchange Service CommandrecognizesthoseNavyExchanges that have achieved service and operational superiority with the Bingham Award,” said Christopher Burns, Senior Vice President, NEXCOMOperations “Toensurewearein lock-step and always ready when needed our NEX locations work closely with their base Commanding Officers to support quality of life for the military community Because of that close working relationship, the Bingham Award is presented to both the base and the NEX. Congratulations to

The battle lasted about three weeks, largely because of the terrain, which made holding and taking land a slow process, according to Navy historians Agerholm’s valiant actions toward the end of the campaignledtohisMedalofHonor

On July 7, 1944 the enemy launched a massive counterattack known as a banzai charge against U.S. positions When the hordeoverrananeighboringartillerybattalion, Agerholm immediately volunteered to help repulse the attackers and evacuate the wounded.

Agerholm found an abandoned Jeep that had been used as an ambulance and, over the course of the next three hours repeatedly drove through heavy mortar and rifle fire, singlehandedly loading and evacuatingabout45menintohisvehicleandtaking themtosafety

Despitethepersistentandintenseenemy fire, Agerholm ran out to aide two men who he thought were wounded Marines; however,onhiswaytothem,hewasshotby aJapanesesniperandkilled.

Twodayslater,theBattleofSaipanended astheAlliestookovertheisland,whichput them in a strategic position to be able to fly bomberswithinrangeofTokyo.

However, the fight was costly. According tonavalhistorians,therewere26,000American casualties, including 5,000 deaths At least 23,000 Japanese fighters were killed with thousands more civilians either killed

orwounded.

Agerholm’s tireless valor led to him posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor It was bestowed upon his mother on June 25, 1945, in the living room of her home According to the Marine Corps University hismotherdidn’twantapublicceremony. Two other fallen Marines posthumously received the Medal of Honor for their actionsinSaipan:Sgt.GrantF.Timmerman andPfc.HaroldG.Epperson. Agerholm was initially buried in a cemeteryinSaipan,buthewasrepatriatedin1947 andinterredinMoundCemeteryinRacine Several members of the community held a rededicationceremonyathisgravein2004 NeithertheNavynorRacinehaveforgotten Agerholm. In December 1945, soon after the war ended, a former enemy base on the Japanese mainland was taken over bytheU.S.andnamedCampAgerholm.The followingyear,anewlycommissionedNavy destroyer,theUSSAgerholm,wasnamedin hishonor,too In Racine, an elementary school was named Jerstad-Agerholm Elementary SchoolinhonorofAgerholmandArmyMaj. John Jerstad, another hometown recipient oftheMedalofHonor According to the Congressional Medal ofHonorSociety,aduplicateofAgerholm’s Medal of Honor is on display at the Racine VeteransLegacyMuseum.

everyone who worked each and every day to support our warfighters, veterans and families!”

NEXCOM’s2023BinghamAward winnersandrunnersupare:

Salesover$50million(Category1)

„ Winner: NavalStationGreatLakes, Illinois

„ Runner Up: U.S.NavalBaseGuam

Sales$26-$50million(Category2)

„ Winner: NavalAirStationPensacola, AviationPlaza,Florida

„ Runner Up: NavalBaseCoronado California

Sales$17-$26million(Category3)

„ Winner: CampLemonnierDjibouti

„ Runner Up: JointBaseCharleston, SouthCarolina

Sales$9-$17million(Category4)

„ Winner: NavalSupportActivitySouda Bay,Greece

„ Runner Up: NavalHospitalGuam

Sales$4-$9million(Category5)

„ Winner: MarineCorpsBaseCampBlaz, NavalStationGuam

„ Runner Up: NavalBaseSanDiego

Sales$2.5-$4million(Category6)

„ Winner: NavalConstructionBattalion CenterGulfport/NavalMeteorologyand Oceanography,StennisSpaceCenter, Mississippi

„ Runner Up: NavalAirWeaponsStation ChinaLake,California

Sales$1.4-$2.5million(Category7)

„ Winner: UnitedStatesMerchantMarine Academy,NewYork

FARLEFT: On the first dayofthe Battle of Saipan,Marines landing ashore hug the beach and prepare to move inland,June 15,1944 (PHOTOCOURTESY NAVY/NATIONAL ARCHIVES)

LEFT:An aerialviewof thenavalbombardment in support ofMarine Corps operations on Saipan during the Battle ofSaipan inJune 1944. (PHOTOCOURTESY NAVY/NATIONAL ARCHIVES)

„ Runner Up: NavalSupportActivity PanamaCity,Florida

Sales$700,000-$1.4million(Category8)

„ Winner: U.S.NavalJointServices ActivityTheNewSanno Japan

„ Runner Up: NavalSupportActivity NaplesItaly U.S.EmbassyRome

Salesunder$700,000(Category9)

„ Winner: NavalSupportActivityNaples Italy,Gaeta

„ Runner Up: NavalSupportActivity Crane,Indiana

Established in 1979 the Bingham Award is named in honor of the late Capt. W.H. Bingham, SC USNR. Capt. Bingham was the Chief Executive Officer of R.H. Macy’s CompanyandwasappointedbySECNAVin 1946toleadanadvisoryboardfortheestablishmentofNEXCOM.

NAVWAR Buildathon fosters positive learning environment for innovation through structured challenge

ByLilyChen Naval Information Warfare Systems Command

Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) hosted its second annual Buildathon June 24 to 27 to foster data-driven learning, collaboration and innovationamongitsworkforceandbeyond.

A joint effort between NAVWAR Office of theCommandInformationOfficer(OCIO) Fleet Readiness Directorate (FRD) and Program Executive Office (PEO) Digital alongside industry partners, the Buildathon 2.0 continued to build upon last year’s momentumtohighlightcontributionsfrom citizen developers and encourage widespread educational opportunities across theNavy

A hands-on event focusing on identifying, designing and prototyping solutions in a collaborative setting, the Buildathon’s primarygoalwastogetpeoplecomfortable with creating a usable piece of no-code/ low-code software to solve mission challenges The event aimed to show that anyone, even those with little coding experience, can become a citizen developer and create impactful applications by leveraging existingFlankSpeedcapabilitieslikePower Apps,PowerAutomateandDataverse

NAVWARExecutiveDirectorJohnPope welcomed the participants in his kickoff address, emphasizing the importance of collaboration. “Make sure you take advantageofthistimetobuildbetterconnections with each other through teamwork,” he said.“Let’salllearntogetherinthispositive environment to innovate and create better solutionsforeveryone Theresultsfromthe Buildathon can unlock new technical solu-

ByStaffSgt.EmmelineJames

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

ARLINGTON,Va (AFNS) ChiefMaster

Sgt. of the Space Force John F. Bentivegna and Lt Gen. DeAnna Burt, deputy chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber and Nuclear, delivered remarks at the Joint Women’sLeadershipSymposiuminArlington,Virginia,June26and27

Thesymposium,oneofthelargestgatherings of military women, provides an opportunity for service members to meet, share practices on leadership and find mentors Likewise, the gathering offers a platform for discussing challenges that affect female servicemembersandwaystoimprovequalityoflifeopportunitiesforthedepartment’s mostvaluableresource people

“Events like these present unrivalled opportunities for connection, mentorship and inspiration, Burt said. “They allow us todiveintotopicsimpactingservicewomen todayandfurtherourdevelopmentasleaders.” Burt highlighted women’s contributions to military history, detailing their involvementfromtheAmericanRevolutionaryWar tothepresent.Shedescribedtheevolutionof women’s roles in the military noting significant milestones including the Women’s ArmedServicesIntegrationActof1948and the repeal of the combat exclusion policy in2013

“Over the past few decades, we’ve seen anincreaseinpoliciesandinitiativesaimed at enhancing opportunities for women in the military,” Burt said. “We’ve seen barriers broken down to create a more equitable environmentwherewomencanthrive.”

tionstoallowustomove fasterthaneverbefore.

Like last year, the Buildathon included two distinct tracks, one for people creating solutions for legacy workflows and another for people interested in learninghowtoharness the power of Power Apps, Power Automate and Dataverse to become citizen developers themselves The educational track was more robust than before, with classes taughtbyindustrypartnersMicrosoft,Gartner and UiPath on topics like Power Platformtools,generativeartificialintelligence, datascienceandprocessautomation

In the spirit of collaboration, Buildathon 2.0 increased its scope to include participants from beyond those at NAVWAR, like the U.S. Navy Reserve, Naval Sea Systems Command, PEO Integrated Warfare SystemsandFleetCyberCommand Participants from last year came back again to serve as mentors and team members for new projects, with some even helping put the event together This was a core objective of the Buildathon, to build upon previousmomentumtocreateacohesiveculture of those eager to learn and share with each otherbeyondthefour-dayevent.

“The Buildathon 2.0 is a prime example of how the Department of the Navy’s new ‘structured challenges’ approach is fostering innovation and optimization across our

enterprise,” said Ryan Lasiter director of digital data and innovation at NAVWAR. “Bybringingtogetherdiverseteamstotackle specificproblems,wearenotonlyacceleratingtheadoptionofnewcapabilitiesbutalso ensuring that our solutions are robust and effective.Thiseventembodiesourcommitment to rapidly advancing our warfighting advantages and maintaining our competitiveedge.”

There were eight teams participating in Buildathon 2.0, each comprised of people interestedinimprovingtheirworkprocesses through the power of automation. Their projects ranged from creating a cross-command video platform similar to YouTube to streamlining aspects of calculating civilian salaryprojection.Theybuiltthebulkoftheir solutionsduringtheevent,receivingadvice andfeedbackfrommentorstohelpfacilitate theirprogress

On the last day of the Buildathon, teams

hadtheopportunitytopresenttheirprojects to a panel of digital transformation subject matterexpertsfromacrossNAVWAR They explained what challenge they wanted to address, what they developed and the road it took to get there, from setbacks to workarounds The teams were judged on the following criteria: innovation, functionality userexperience scalability presentation, impact, technical complexity and today’s usability Teamswereawardedfirst,second, andthirdplacebasedonscorescalculatedon thatrubric,withotherteamsrecognizedby popularvoteandfortheirteamwork.

“Theyear’sBuildathonwasasuccess!The NAVWARworkforcehashadseveralyearsto leverageFlankSpeedtoolsanddeploymany licenses across the installation,” said Steve Martin,FRDStrategicWartimeAcquisition ResponseandMetricsdeputy,previousBuildathonparticipantandcurrentpaneljudge “Withthesenewtoolsandthecreationofthe OneNAVWARDigitalInnovationNexus,we now have a clearer understanding of Flank Speed’s digital transformation capabilities andhowthatcansupportourmission.”

The NAVWAR OCIO is planning to host more Buildathons in the future, continuing toprovidelearningopportunitiesforcitizen developers and foster a spirit of collaborationandinnovationthroughouttheNavy About NAVWAR: NAVWAR identifies, develops, delivers and sustains information warfighting capabilities and services that enable naval, joint, coalition and other national missions operating in warfighting domains from seabed to space and through cyberspace NAVWAR consists of more than11,000civilian,activedutyandreserve professionalslocatedaroundtheworld.

development for Guardians to meet the demandsofspace-centricwarfare. Other speakers during the symposium included Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, DepartmentofDefensePressSecretaryandGwendolyn DeFilippi, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for ManpowerandReserveAffairs

During the symposium, DeFilippi and Chief Master Sgt. Ashley Damm, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Force Management Integration, presented the Brigadier General Wilma Vaught Visionary LeadershipAwardtothreeAirmen. The award recognizes service members andcivilianswhohaveexhibitedinnovation, commitment and a selfless spirit to others while inspiring and significantly improving the integration of and opportunities for women in the Air Force. Award recipients are:

Shecontinuedbydescribinghowasmore women rise through the ranks and take on leadershiproles,thereisamatchedincrease in the presence of female mentors to guide and inspire the next generation of service women. A key aspect of the JWLS focused on the role communication has played in making theDepartmentoftheAirForceteammore ready,moreresilientandmorepreparedfor greatpowercompetition.

Burt also emphasized the importance of mentorship and support networks for female service members, citing initiatives like the Department of the Air Force’s Women’s Initiative Team, which works to identify and eliminate barriers to women’s service

“Communication is crucial for strengthening our collective defense,” Bentivegna noted. Bentivegna highlighted the Space Force establishmentanditseffortstointegrateinto thebroadermilitaryframework.Heunderscored the importance of effective communication and collaboration across military branches and government agencies as key factorsinenhancingoperationalcapabilities andreadinessinmodernwarfare.

Additionally,Bentivegnanotedthesignificance of tailored training and professional

Capt. Frances Y. Castillo (Officer category): Castillo’s work includes pushing for aDepartmentofDefensepolicythataffords privacyforupto20weeksofpregnancyfor 230K service women. Her blueprint for the policychangewaspublishedinaperiodical withmorethan50,000readers Tech. Sgt. Krystle L. Hatter (Enlisted category): Through innovative use of a 3D scanner, Hatter captured data for the Department of the Air Force’s first anthropometricstudytoincorporatewomen.This studyimprovedequipmentfitforover4,000 aviators Mr John D. Mata (Civilian category): Mata produced key data on physical training nutrition,andinjury-riskthatinformed gender integration policy for the Special Warfare Training Wing His research highlighted strategies for female service members to leverage biological advantages to achieve peak performance throughout theirmilitarycareers

On iberty

Scenes from BeyondMonet:TheImmersiveExperience (PHOTOSCOURTESYPAQUINENTERTAINMENTGROUP)

Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience opens this Friday, July 5 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center

PressRelease

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va Beyond

Monet: The Immersive Experience opens this Friday, July 5 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center Produced by Paquin EntertainmentGroup,BeyondMonet:The Immersive Experience is full of infinite potential for wonder and sheds new light on what the world thought it knew about Claude Monet. In partnership with the Virginia Arts Festival, the experience showcasesmorethan400ofMonet’smost iconic works of impressionism, including theWaterLiliesseries,Impression:Sunrise, andPoppies Anexclusiveencorepresentation of Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, which has sold over 7 million ticketsworldwide,willbeavailableatselect dates and times Tickets are available at monetvirginiabeach.com.

Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experiencegivesguestsaglimpseintotheemotions and perspectives of the leading figure of Impressionism:ClaudeMonet.Takinginspiration from Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris, the designated home of Monet’s masterpieces, guests can freely roam the Infinity Room to absorb the artist’s bright and colorful paintings. Monet’s stunning imageryencompasseseverysurfaceoftheroom, transporting guests inside the paintings themselves It is a haven for awakening the senses as the ebb and flow of the artwork is

accompanied by the rhythm of an original score.

“When you stand inside Beyond Monet, you truly feel like you are part of Monet’s passionate quest for the effervescent beauty of the world,” says Beyond Monet Art Historian Fanny Curtat. “Experiences likethesecreatefreshandoriginalperspectives allowingustoformnewrelationships with notable masterpieces in dynamic and fascinating ways.”

Virginia Arts Festival is excited to work

NORFOLK,Va The23rdAnnualNorfolkLatinoMusic & Food Festival presented by Newport News Shipbuilding will be held Saturday, July 20 from 2pm to 11pm at Town PointParkalongtheDowntownNorfolkWaterfront Theeventisfree&opentothepublic.

The festival celebrates Hampton Roads vibrant Latin communitybyfeaturingdynamiclivemusicperformances, aneclecticofferingofLatincuisine,funfamily-friendlyactivities,andmuchmore.

This year’s musical lineup is headlined by Dominican AmericanFreilyeLF’andwillalsofeatureperformancesby TumbaoSalsero,Kadencia,andDJNava!Additionalentertainment includes interactive dance lessons mini soccer pitches boardgames authenticarts&crafts,shopping and more. Read below for the complete music lineup & the full list offoodvendors Please note that schedule and programming are subject to change

MUSIC „ 3:30pm DJNava

„ 4:45pm TumbaoSalsero

„ 6:30pm Kadencia

„ 8:30pm FreilyeLF’

FOOD

„ Jadean’sSmokinSixO(Texas-stylebrisket,Puerto Ricanfusion)

„ HawaiianSnow(Shavediceandlemonade)

„ DeepFried(Roastedcornandfunnelcake)

„ BenandJerry’s(Icecream brownies andslushies)

„ TacoFiesta(AuthenticMexicanstreettacosandmore)

„ PlazaDelSol(Tacos quesadillasandnachos)

with local community businesses this summer in support of Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience Area businesses offering specialty menu items and custom BeyondMonetpromotionsincludeGerald’s Ice Cream, Get Lost Shaved Ice, Lolly’s Creamery (August), Mermaid Factory O’s Donuts Peace Love and Little Donuts ProsperityKitchen,StockpotVirginiaBeach, Sundae Scoop, The ViBe District, Wasserhund Brewing Company, Wisps of Willow, andmore Formoredetailsandinformation

„ YoleesG-Dawgz(Mexican-inspiredhotdogs)

„ Latin2Soul(Shrimp&fish,empanadas,chickenphilly fries BBQ,hotdogs)

„ CubanLatinGrill(Riceandbeans,jerkchicken,potato balls,sweetplantains,turkeylegs,chickenwings,fries, meatpatties,tamales,arepas,andpinacoladastand)

„ Juan’Café(Tacosdecarneasada,alpastor,detripa,de lengua,Birriatacos,streetcorn,carneasadafries,coctelde camaron,quesadillas,andchurros)

„ Joysicles(Brazilianfrozentreats)

„ LaYaroaTropicalRestaurant(PuertoRican/Dominican Fusion)

„ MiamiFusion(Plantains Cubansandwich,tacos and arepas)

RETAIL

on becoming a Community Partner please visitvafest.org/beyond-monet. For opening week only, Hampton Roads Transit is offering free one-way rides on the VB Wave Trolley

HOURSOFOPERATION: Wednesdays & Thursdays: 11AM-7PM (LastEntry:6PM) Fridays & Saturdays: 11AM-9PM (LastEntry:8PM) Sundays: 11AM-6PM (LastEntry:6PM)

WHERE: VirginiaBeachConventionCenter 100019thStreet VirginiaBeach,VA23451

TICKETS: monetvirginiabeach.com

„ NickB’sDistribution(Chimichurrisauce)

„ MiFavoritaTiendaLatinoStore(AuthenticLatino conveniencestore)

„ NuLandHotStuff(Hotsauce bloodymarymix,and balsamic)

„ CommercialDelNorte(Hats,necklaces,bracelets,backpacks,rings,caps,andbags)

„ EsculturasyArtesaniasAlcazar(Handmadeobjects Peruvianinspired)

„ Carambadas(Custom-printedhatsandt-shirts)

„ TheBabyAlpaca(Babyclothes,alpacagloves,cups,and trinkets)

The23rdAnnualNorfolkLatinoMusic&FoodFestivalis presentedbyNewportNewsShipbuildingandsponsoredby the City of Norfolk, Southern Auto Group, Sentara Health Plans, 13 News Now, Old Dominion University Athletics, MillerLite,andModelo FormoreinformationonNorfolkFestevents’2024Season ofEvents,visitFestevents.org

Norfolk Festevents Ltd., based in Norfolk, Virginia, is a private not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating themostdynamicurbanwaterfrontcommunityinAmerica throughinnovativeprogrammingandimaginativeusesofits historicwaterfrontspaces NorfolkFesteventshasgarnered international acclaim for its advocacy for public access to waterfronts,outstandingqualityprogramming,anddevelopmentofpublicspaces,transformingtheCityofNorfolkinto oneofthemostprogressive,diverse,andlivablewaterfront communitiesinthenation.Residents workers andvisitors toNorfolkandHamptonRoadsareinvitedtoexperienceall theexcitementofthe2024season!

Community

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS, NEWS AND PHOTOS

The Flagship welcomes submissions from ourreaders online. Pleasesubmiteventshere: www.militarynews.com/users/admin/calendar/event/ Pleasesubmitnewsandphotoshere: www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-flagship/submit_news/

Shell-ebrate Shark Week at the Virginia Aquarium!

PressRelease

VIRGINIABEACH,Va Sinkyourteeth

into Shark Week at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center with jaw-some activities, shark talks from keepers, prizes, andmore!SharkWeekwilltakeplaceatthe Aquarium from July 21 through 27 from 11 a.m.to2p.m.Duringthesehours guestscan experience enhanced offerings at both the NorthBuildingandSouthBuilding Guests can celebrate sharks and learn about shark conservation with bonus guest experiencesincludinganinteractiveFINGO game, Shark egg guest quest, and a special careerpanel.

Shark talks will be hosted daily all week dailyat11a.m.and2p.m.intheNorthBuilding Promenade and South Building EducationHallat11a.m.and2p.m.Topicsinclude sharksuperpowers,sharkmyths,anatomy& senses, research, and conservation. A shark talkwillnotoccuronSaturdayattheNorth Buildingtoaccommodateaprivateevent.

CatchthecareerpanelonTuesday,July23 at 12 p.m. at the North Building The panel includes a breadth of Aquarium careers including notable panelists Cynthia Whitbred-Spanoulis president and CEO; Donovan Krauter, Private Events Coordinator;

PressRelease

Join us at the annual Butterfly Festival, where the enchanting world of butterflies comesalive!HostedbytheButterflySociety of Virginia, immerse yourself in a fluttering paradise at our educational booths, where you can learn all about these delicate creatures and their fascinating lifecycle. Young explorerscanembarkonajourneywithour kid’s passport. And when hunger strikes, indulge in a variety of delicious treats from ourfoodtrucks

The festival is free with Garden admission: „ Adults(13+)$17.95

„ Seniors(65+)orMilitary$15.95

„ Youth(3-12)$13.95

„ Children(under3)Free

Rachael Ginsburg, School & Youth Specialist; and Alec Bright, Assistant Curator of ScientificExhibits

TheVirginiaAquariumishometoseveral shark species including sand tiger sharks, sandbarsharks andazebrashark AllShark Week activities are included in the price of admission.

TheVirginiaAquariumandDuckDonuts have teamed up to celebrate shark species andconservation.Anyonewhomakesagift totheVirginiaAquariumFoundationonline or in person July 7 through 13 will receive a coupon for a free shark-themed donut at DuckDonutsinVirginiaBeach,Suffolkand Williamsburg. Proceeds will go to SAFE SharksandRaysprogramtowardsconservation action For online donors please allow onebusinessdaytoreceiveyourcoupon.

Foradeeperdiveintosharkexperiences, guests can purchase a shark Behind-theScenes tour for $25 for members and $30 for general public. View the Aquarium’s sharks from a new perspective above the NorfolkCanyonexhibit,wheretheaquarists willsharetheirknowledgeofsharks Learn abouttheNorfolkCanyon,lyingdeepinthe AtlanticOceannearly60milesoffthecoast Behind-the-scenestourswillbeavailableon selectdaysandtimes Aquariumadmissioncanbepurchasedat VirginiaAquarium.com

About Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center: The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center’s mission is to connectpeopletothemarineenvironment, inspiring a more sustainable future. The

Aquariumaspirestobeadriverinconservation, education, tourism, and sustainability, leadingthechargetosavewildlifeandtheir ecosystems Owned by the City of Virginia Beach, the Aquarium operates as a city departmentinpartnershipwiththeVirginia Aquarium&MarineScienceCenterFoundation.TheAquariumisproudtobeanaccreditedmemberoftheAssociationofZoosand Aquariums theAllianceofMarineMammal ParksandAquarium,andtheWorldAssociationofZoosandAquariums The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supports the work of the Virginia Aquarium. The Foundation procures and maintains the Aquarium’s exhibits including the animals and habitats It is also responsible for annual and capital fundraising, administration and funding for the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program, conservation and scientific research efforts, and the Aquarium’s mission-related education programs You can be a part of our mission by making a tax-deductible donation to support our programming

„ MembersFree During high visitation periods, such as festivaldays,westronglyencouragereservingyourticketinadvanceonlineatnorfolkbotanicalgarden.org/reserved-ticketing/ This guarantees your entry at your designatedarrivaltime Withlimitedparkingdue to The Garden of Tomorrow construction, securing your ticket in advance ensures a smoother overall experience for you. Remember asanNBGmember youcanvisit any time on any date as long as parking is availableoncampus Norfolk Botanical Garden is located next to Norfolk International Airport at 6700 AzaleaGardenRoad,Norfolk,VA23518 For more information, visit norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/contact-us/orcall757-441-5830 The Garden’s current hours of operation are 9am – 7pm. The WOW Children’s Gardenisopendailyfrom9:30am–6:30pm andtheSplashFountainsareonfrom9:30am –6pmdaily Bikenightsareeverynightfrom 4pm–7pm.

POP-STARS

Cooltreatsforhotdays

StrawberryCoconut WaterPopsicles

Sweet strawberries andhydrating coconut water combine to make theperfect sweetandhealthypopsicle!

Yield: 12 Popsicles

Ingredients

„ 16.9ouncecontainercoconutwater

„ 2cupsofstrawberries,hulled

„ 2T.agavenectar

Instructions

Put all of the ingredients in ablender andblenduntilsmooth.

Pour the mixtureinto popsicle molds andfreezeforatleast4-6hours

ChocolatePeanutButter BananaYogurtPops

These easy to makeChocolatePeanut

Butter Banana Yogurt Pops need to be in your freezeratall timesduringthe summer!Madewithsimple ingredients, they’reperfectforsnackingordessert!

Yield: 8-9Popsicles

Ingredients

„ 1cupmilkofchoice

„ 3/4cupplainGreekyogurt,wholemilk or2%workbest

„ 2ripebananas „ 2tablespoonsunsweetenedcocoa powder

„ 2tablespoonsnaturalpeanutbutter

„ 1tablespoonhoneyormaplesyrup

„ 1teaspoonvanillaextract

„ Meltedchocolatefordrizzlingover frozenpopsicles(optional)

Instructions Placealloftheingredientsinablender andblenduntilsmooth.Pourthemixture into popsiclemolds and insertpopsicle sticks.Freezethepopsiclesuntiltheyare

st s ee et epops es t ey frozensolid,atleast4-6hours,overnight isbest

VanillaColdBrew CoffeePopsicles

Vanilla Cold Brew Coffee Popsicles are the perfect summer afternoon treat! Lightlysweetened and drizzled with chocolate,they’ll be your new favorite waytocooloff!

Yield: 10 Popsicles

Ingredients

„ 12ouncesunsweetenedcoldbrew coffee

„ 14ouncesfullfatorlightcannedcoconutmilk

„ 1/4cuppuremaplesyrup

„ 2teaspoonsvanillaextract

„ 1/3cupdarkchocolatechips,dairyfree forvegan

RaspberryCheesecake YogurtPopsicles

Cool off this summerwith one of these frozen, sweet Raspberry Cheesecake YogurtPopsicles!

Yield: 7-8Popsicles

Ingredients

„ 6ounceslowfatcreamcheese,

softened

„ 1/3cupplainnon-fatGreekyogurt

„ 1/3cupunsweetenedalmondmilk

„ 1/3cuppowderedsugar

„ 1teaspoonvanillaextract

„ 1cupraspberries

„ 1/3cupalmondmeal

„ 1tablespooncoconutsugarorbrown sugar „ 1tablespoonmeltedcoconutoilor butter

Instructions Blend together all of the ingredients except the chocolate until smooth. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds,Insert thepopsiclestickandfreezeforatleast6 hoursorovernight Remove thefrozen popsicles from the molds and place them on aparchment lined baking sheet. Drizzlewith the melted dark chocolatethen place them backinthefreezertoharden Storethe finished popsiclesinasingle layerinafreezer bagorother airtight container.

Instructions In asmall bowl combine the almond meal,coconutsugar,andmeltedcoconut oil until it becomes crumblyintexture, setaside. In ablender add the cream cheese, yogurt, milk, powdered sugar,vanilla, andraspberries,andblenduntilsmooth Pourtheraspberryfillingintopopsicles molds leaving about 1/2 an inch at thetop Equally spoon thealmond meal mixture onto the top of each popsicle and gently packitdown. Placethetoponthepopsiclemoldand insert the popsicle sticks.Freeze for 4 hoursorovernight,untiltheyarehard.If thepopsicleswon’treleasefromthemold run them under hot waterfor about10 seconds

TRICARE tips for managing diabetes and your oral health

ByTRICARECommunications

FALLS CHURCH, Va Diabetes is a common condition in the United States AccordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControl andPrevention,morethan38millionAmericanadultscurrentlyhavediabetes

“Even though diabetes is common, many people don’t know about its connection to oral health,” said Douglas Elsesser, a program analyst with the Dental Program Section of the TRICARE Health Plan. “Uncontrolleddiabetescannegativelyaffect youroralhealthinmanyways.”

Ifyouhavediabetes it’simportanttokeep it under control. Here are some examples ofhowdiabetescanaffectyouroralhealth:

„ Reduced saliva production Saliva helps clean bacteria and neutralize acids that cause tooth decay Having less saliva increasesyourriskforcavities

„ Rapid bacteria growth High blood sugar levels allow bacteria in the mouth to multiply quickly. Oral bacteria causes gum diseaseandotherinfections

„ Increased plaque buildup Plaque is a film of bacteria that sticks to teeth. Unchecked diabetes increases plaque buildup This increases your risk for gum disease

„ Decreased ability to fight infections. People with diabetes are more prone to gingivitisandadvancedgumdisease These infectionscandestroygumtissueandbone leadingtotoothloss

Poor oral health also makes diabetes harder to manage Gum disease causes inflammation, which can spike blood sugar

levels, which is a concern for people with diabetes

Toproperlycareforyouroralhealth,you canadoptthesepractices:

„ Brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily

„ Seek treatment right away if you show anysignsofgumdisease Earlysignsofgum disease include swollen gums, gums that bleed easily, and bad breath that won’t go away

„ Coordinate treatment with your dentist andphysician.

„ Quitsmokingandusingtobacco

„ Limit the amount of sugar you eat and drink.

„ Chew sugar-free gum to increase saliva flow.

WonderinghowTRICAREcoversdental care? Dental coverage is separate from TRICARE’s health plan coverage Your dental coverage options are based on who

youare: „ Active duty service members get their dental care at military dental clinics or throughtheActiveDutyDentalProgram. „ Other beneficiary types may be eligible for dental coverage through the TRICARE Dental Program or the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program. Enrollment in these programs is voluntary, as noted in the TRICARE Dental Options Fact Sheet (online at www.tricare.mil/ Publications/Fact-Sheets/dental_options). If you’re enrolled in the TDP you may be eligiblefortheTDPWellnessProgram.The TDP Wellness Program offers expanded coverageatnoadditionalcosttopeoplewith diabetesandcertainotherhealthconditions This coverage includes additional cleanings, fluoride treatments, and certain gum surgeryprocedures Ifyouhavediabetes,be suretoenrollintheTDPWellnessProgram throughtheTDPcontractor,UnitedConcordia. To enroll, go to the United Concordia TDP website (www.uccitdp.com/dtwdws/ member/landing.xhtml) and log in to My Account. No matter what other health conditions youlivewith,it’simportanttotakegoodcare ofyouroralhealth.CheckouttheTRICARE DentalProgramHealthMattersnewsletter formoreoralhealthtips Would you like the latest TRICARE news sent to you by email? Visit TRICARE Subscriptions and create your personalized profiletogetbenefitupdates,news,andmore.

ByClaudiaSanchezBustamante

Dear Doc: During a recent run in the hot weather,Istartedtofeeldizzyandgotaheadache Could this be heat exhaustion or heat stroke? Can you please explain the difference between the two so that my buddies and I can learn ways to prevent heat-related injuries in the hot weather? Thank you, -Sgt. Dizzy Run

DearSgt.Run:Whew!Thatsoundsdangerous Withthosesymptoms,youprobablyexperienced some sort of heat illness Fortunately, Ifoundtheperfectexperttotalktoaboutthis Army Col. (Dr.) Anthony Noya is the chief of primary care at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, in Fort Polk South, Louisiana. Here’s what he had to say:

“Heat-relatedillnessesrefertoaspectrum of conditions that worsen as the body loses its ability to compensate for the increased coretemperatureduetoenvironmentalheat ormetabolicheat.

There are warning signs to be aware of andmeasurestotaketopreventtheprogressionofheat-relatedillnesses

Simply put, as with any illness the result isaninabilitytofunction,whichcanbemild, moderate,orsevere

Risk factors are numerous generally speaking, the main risk factors are: people who take certain medications that lead to fluid or electrolyte alterations, people at the extremes of age, and insufficient cooling hydration, and fitness There are also geneticallypredisposingconditionsthatcan increasesomeone’sriskofheatillness

Heat exhaustion occurs earlier in the spectrum of heat-related illnesses If left unaddressed, heat exhaustion can rapidly progress to the medical emergency we call heat stroke It can be difficult to differentiate the two without accurate diagnostic measurements

The primary difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke has to do with core body temperature and persistent, severe neurologic manifestations Heat strokeinvolvesacoretemperatureabove104 F(40C),andpersistentneurologicdysfunction to include coma, seizure, and altered level of consciousness, confusion, or headache If heat stroke has set in and there is a

delayincooling,thisconditioncanbefatal.

Heat stroke’s primary symptoms include achangeinmentalstatus,suchasconfusion, delirium, combativeness, seizures, loss of consciousness,andacorebodytemperature above104F.

Heat exhaustion can present with dizziness,headache,nausea,weakness,unsteady gait, muscle cramps and fatigue The core body temperature is elevated but remains below104F.

Toavoidthese,particularlyduringfitness trainingorworkingoutdoorsinthesummer heat, I recommend people stay cool, stay hydrated with a balanced liquid that has glucose, electrolytes and water (such as a sportsdrink).Ialsorecommendyouaddress theearlywarningsigns.

Thankfully, the majority of heat related illness is heat exhaustion or heat cramps However, if left unaddressed, heat exhaustioncanrapidlyprogresstoheatinjurieslike non-cerebralendorgandysfunctionorheat stroke, with severe elevations of core body

temperatureandnervoussystem,brain,and otherorgandysfunction.

To avoid heat-related illness, it’s important to remove the person from the heat, measure his or her core body temperature (rectalisthepreferredmethod)andinitiate rapidcooling Ifarectalthermometerisnot available,onereasonableapproachistocool thepatientuntiltheybegintoshiver Cooling them off through cold-water immersion or applying ice packs to their neck, underarms, and lower abdominal or groin area is highly effective if suitable equipmentisavailable Incircumstanceswhenicewaterimmersionisnotfeasible particularlyifthepatient has complications requiring aggressive medical intervention, such as a compromised airway or active seizures, trained professionals should use alternative methods of cooling The goal is to lower the core temperaturetoabout101or102degrees Calling 911 will mobilize trained professionals to assist casualties of heat illness

They will determine if transporting the patienttoahospitalformoreintensiveinterventionandmanagementisnecessary Peoplewhomustworkoutdoorscanstay aheadoftheharmfuleffectsofextremeheat by being aware of the conditions wearing properclothing hydrating andhavingcoolingcapabilitiesavailable Asalways,anounceofpreventionisworth apoundofcure.Knowingandaddressingthe warning signs of heat related illness along withbasicpreventionisourbestapproach.”

*** Sgt. Run, I hope this advice is helpful to you. For more information, check out the WetBulbGlobeTemperaturetogaugewhen it’s too hot to do certain activities outdoors as well as the Army Public Health Center’s information on heat illness prevention and sunsafety

These are great tips, especially for this time of year Good luck, my friend, and as always…takecareoutthere!