Flagship 09.23.2021

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, September 23, 2021 1

IN THIS ISSUE

Hispanic Heritage in the Navy

Family and a call to service brought Lt. Carlos Londono to the Navy and to the Supply Corps, where he now serves as a project officer developing shipboard information technology solutions for NAVSUP Business Systems Center . PAGE A7 VOL. 28, NO. 38, Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com

September 23-September 29, 2021

DOD Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

By David Vergun DOD Public Affairs

Chief Fire Control Technician (SS) Joe Hoppe, assigned to New Mexico, was overjoyed to return home to his family.

“It feels great to be home,” Hoppe said.

“I really enjoyed the camaraderie building on this deployment, but it has been a long time away from the family, and I’m glad to be back.”

Santana Hoppe, the spouse of Joe Hoppe, took a few long moments to embrace her husband upon his return.

“It feel amazing to have Joe home,” she said. “We missed having him around, and we’re overdue for a family vacation.”

The end of the deployment culminated New Mexico’s transition out of a two-year maintenance period.

“Twenty-two months ago only a handful of crewmembers had been underway on a submarine, let alone deployed,” Smith said.

The Defense Department and the nation celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

It’s a time to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices Hispanics have made to the United States, not just in the military, but in all walks of life.

A significant number of Hispanics have served in all of the nation’s wars beginning with the Revolutionary War. Sixty-one service members of Hispanic or Latino heritage have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest medal for valor. Two were sailors, 13 Marines and 46 soldiers.

Their stories of heroism are many. Here are two.

Marcelino Serna emigrated from Mexico to Texas in 1916. Although he was a Mexican citizen, he enlisted in the U.S. Army when World War I started April 2017. His request to enlist was granted and he was later shipped with other soldiers to the battlefields of France.

Serna’s unit, Company B, 355th Infantry Regiment, 89th Division, was engaged in heavy fighting in the Meuse-Argonne region, Sept. 12, 1918.

During that day, Serna, a private, wounded a German sniper with his Enfield rifle and then advanced to an enemy trench where he threw three grenades, resulting in the death of 26 enemy and the capture of 24.

On Nov. 7, 1918, Serna was wounded in both of his legs by sniper fire. Fighting ended four days later on Nov. 11, when the armistice was declared.

During his recovery, Army Gen. John J. Pershing, commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, pinned a Distinguished Service Cross to his uniform. He was the first Hispanic American to receive the DSC, the second highest medal for valor.

Ferdinand Foch, the supreme commander of the allied forces, awarded Serna the French Croix de Guerre for bravery.

In 1924, Serna became a U.S. citizen and settled in El Paso, where he died in 1992 at the age of 95.

On Sept. 29, 2016, the United States designated the Customs and Border Protection Port of Entry at Tornillo, Texas, as the

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Turn to Hispanic Heritage, Page 7

Sailors assigned to the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN 779) prepare to moor pier side during the boat’s homecoming at Naval Station Norfolk, Sept. 15. (MC2 ALFRED COFFIELD)

USS New Mexico Returns to Norfolk

By MC2 Alfred Coffield

Submarine Force Atlantic Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va.—— The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN 779) returned to its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk after successfully completing a scheduled deployment, Sept.

15.

Under the command of Cmdr. Jared Smith, New Mexico returns from a deployment to the U.S. European Command area of responsibility where it executed the chief of naval operations’ maritime strategy by supporting national security interests and maritime security operations.

“Amazed, proud and humbled. Time and again they provided an enthusiastic response to the most challenging submarine operations that would be the envy of any other commanding officer,” Smith said. “I would be remiss if I failed

to recognize the incredible support the New Mexico families provided my crewmembers as well. Team New Mexico was already ‘ready to run’ and established the benchmark for other deployed submarines to meet!”

Of the many accomplishments of the submarine and crew, New Mexico was also the first U.S. submarine to visit Grotsund, Norway in more than a decade.

“My team and their constant drive for improvement made this deployment a success,” Smith said. “These Sailors enjoy being trusted with responsibility, and in-turn emphasize the importance of qualifications to their divisions.”

New Mexico arrived at Naval Station Norfolk to the greeting of friends and family members who showed their support with cheers and handmade welcome home signs, while maintaining health and safety protocols.

Meet JEB Little CreekFort Story’s new Command Master Chief

By Michelle Stewart JEBLCFS Public Affairs

Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story recently welcomed its new Command Master Chief (CMC) David W. Sandeen to the JEBLCFS team. Sandeen relieved CMC Karl W. Parsons.

The CMC serves as the senior enlisted leader who reports directly to their respective commanders or commanding officer. They participate in formulating and implementing policies concerning morale, welfare, job satisfaction, discipline, utilization, and training of Navy enlisted personnel.

A native of Lanesboro, Iowa, Sandeen enlisted in the Navy in June 1986. After completing Recruit Training in Great Lakes, Illinois, he reported to Data Processing Apprenticeship School, followed by Naval Intelligence Processing Systems Training Facility, before reporting

to his first ship in November.

Sandeen’s sea duty assignments include assignments in USS Forrestal (CV 59), USS Nassau (LHA 4), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), Command Standing Navy Combat Element, as well as serving as CMC on board USS Bainbridge (DDG 96). He has seen multiple deployments to the North Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf, Mediterranean Sea and operations and port visits in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, as well as humanitarian relief efforts in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami of 2011.

Ashore, he served at Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) Charleston SC,Navy and Marine Corps Internet (NMCI) Norfolk VA, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Detachment Pacific Command Pearl Harbor HI, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) CommuTurn to New Master Chief, Page 7

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The U.S. Navy conducted a scheduled, two-missile test flight of unarmed life-extended Trident II (D5LE) missiles from USS Wyoming (SSBN-742), an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, on the Eastern Test Range off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, Sept. 17.

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Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story recently welcomed its new Command Master Chief (CMC) David W. Sandeen to the JEBLCFS team. Sandeen relieved CMC Karl W. Parsons.

(COURTESY PHOTO)

Military Spouse Survey Through late October, all spouses of active-duty military members can visit the OPA Survey Portal and tell the Pentagon what they think about being ‘married to the military.’

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Suicide Prevention Successful suicide prevention efforts are linked to fostering connectedness - the vital relationships and interpersonal connections that individuals forge with family, friends, and their community. PAGE A4

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, September 23, 2021

This photo of a Chenowth dune buggy, taken by PFC Smay, is not for release yet. It is transmitted to test the system. We need to know what the photo quality is like. (COURTESY PHOTO)

Sports Heroes Who Served: Dune Buggy Builder, Racer, Survived Kamikaze Attack

By David Vergun DOD Public Affairs

Sports Heroes Who Served is a series that highlights the accomplishments of athletes who served in the U.S. military.

In 1964, Bruce Meyers took the beach by storm. His homemade dune buggy, christened the Meyers Manx, was the first-ever fiberglass dune buggy. The fiberglass body covered a tricked-out Volkswagen Beetle chassis equipped with wide tires.

Meyers had previously built surfboards and sailboats out of his home in Newport Beach, California, so he had experience with fiberglass construction.

The Manx’s advantage over previous, all-steel dune buggies was that the fiberglass made it much lighter, more stylish and streamlined because fiberglass can be molded into pretty much any shape.

Bruce Meyers sits in his Meyers Manx, a fiberglass dune buggy, in September 2007.

(COURTESY PHOTO)

Meyers then went into business, producing 5,280 Manx kits and several hundred Manx IIs, a later model.

The Manx received widespread recognition when he and co-driver Ted Mangels, decided

to try and beat the 39-hour, 46-minute record for the Mexican 1000, a race from Tijuana, Baja California, to La Paz in Baja California Sur, in 1967.

They shattered the record by five hours, competing against motorcycles, trucks and other cars. The race was later renamed the Baja 1000.

That publicity enticed hobbyists everywhere to build their own fiberglass dune buggies. Some 350,000 look-alike models were produced, mostly in the late 1960s. According to the Historic Vehicle Association, the Meyers Manx is the most replicated car in history.

While dune buggy enthusiasts are familiar with the pioneering work done by Meyers, not everyone knows that he had a close call with death during World War II. After a hitch in the Merchant Marines, Meyers joined the Navy in 1944, setting sail on the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill. On May

11, 1945, near Kyushu, Japan, the Bunker Hill was struck by two kamikaze aircraft and began to sink.

Meyers and many other sailors abandoned ship. While floating in the water and awaiting rescue, Meyers spotted an injured sailor who was struggling to stay afloat, so he gave him his life vest.

He then swam over to a badly wounded pilot in the water. Meyers stayed by his side until a rescue ship, the light cruiser USS Wilkes-Barre, arrived some five hours later.

After the war, Meyers served another tour with the Merchant Marines.

He died Feb. 19 at age 94 at his home in Valley Center, California.

The Meyers Manx, however, lives on through Meyers Manx LLC., which is still producing fiberglass dune buggies.

The U.S. Special Forces and the U.S. Border Patrol also took inspiration from the Meyers Manx, building the Light Strike Vehicle, which is in use today.

The Meyers Manx has also appeared in a number of movies, including the 1968 film “The Thomas Crown Affair.” In the movie, actor Steve McQueen drives the Manx on the beach and over sand dunes in a lengthy action scene.

CNRC and Sea Cadets Partner to Develop America’s Youth

By MC3 Cody Anderson

Navy Recruiting Command Public Affairs

MILLINGTON, Tenn. — Commander, Navy Recruiting Command (NRC) Rear Adm. Dennis Velez recently released his 15 priorities for his second year in charge of NRC. Among them is more engagement with the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC).

“We recognize that the Sea Cadets is a youth organization dedicated to developing individuals with a high propensity to serve,” said Velez.

“Through presence and engagement with local Naval Sea Cadets units, we hope to serve and strengthen the bonds within our communities.”

Velez’s vision is that the leadership at each Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) directly engages with the leadership of any NSCC unit that falls within their area of responsibility, so a direct channel of communication is established between them. Through this engagement, NSCC units would be able to leverage local naval recruiting stations (NRS) for support and volunteers when needed. Navy Recruiting encourages Sailors volunteering their time to consider their local NSCC as an option to give back in their communities.

“The opportunity for our Sea Cadets to interact with Navy recruiters gives our young men and women a great opportunity to learn about the Navy, and to get motivated about it, and learn what it would be like to serve,” said Rear Adm. (ret.) Andrew Lennon, executive director of NSCC. “We’ve got 400 Sea Cadet units around the country that are just super engaged with our communities, with our American Legion posts, Veterans of Foreign War posts and Navy posts; and our adult volunteers are always looking for opportunities for our cadets to get engaged in the community. First and foremost, I want our Sea Cadets to have fun and enjoy what they’re doing, to feel good about being part of the Sea Cadet team! If we can have our young men and women challenge themselves and become better and more confident people - it will help them become better adults.”

The NSCC is a nationally recognized military youth leadership development program

with more than 400 units throughout the United States, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Guam.

The organization’s core values mirror those promoted by the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard and reflect their mission and vision. The organization also actively trains its participants in the customs and courtesies of the Navy along with basic seamanship, watch standing protocol and physical fitness. Also included under the Naval Sea Cadet Corps umbrella is their junior program, the League Cadet Corps, for youth ages 10 to 13.

Basic acclimation to the military is one of the many benefits that participation in the Sea Cadets provides. Cadets who enlist in the armed services are often eligible for military advanced pay-grade programs, which can result in advancement of two pay grades in some services. The Sea Cadets program has also had a positive impact on some prospective special programs’ applicants, with more than 10 percent of the midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy being former Sea Cadets.

Although the program is designed around developing the youth involved, the volunteers also mutually benefit.

Lt. Cmdr. Rolando Machado Jr. has intermittently volunteered with the organization for more than seven years and he believes the symbiotic dedication to the program by both volunteers and students results in reciprocating gains.

“Engaging with Sea Cadets is one of the most inspiring things I do for community service.

These students have a desire to better themselves, dedicating time outside of school to develop skills that will be applicable as adults,” said Machado. “The biggest personal return for me is when their eyes light up and you can see that they now see themselves in you. That is what it’s really about. Once I become a role model for them and they can see themselves wearing my rank, or having my responsibility as a Naval Officer, I know that this path, which may have seemed insurmountable for them before, is now possible and attainable for them. And that is really the genesis for them to someday be my relief leading Sailors at sea.”

Editorial Staff Military Editor | MC1 Maddelin Hamm, maddelin.hamm@navy.mil Managing Editor | Ensign James Caliva, james.caliva@navy.mil Graphic Designer | Trisha Irving, trisha.irving@virginiamedia.com

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A U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Corps Fort McHenry Division cadet uses the Navy’s virtual reality asset the“Nimitz”during the Navy Promotional Days (NPD) Baltimore. (MC1 DIANA QUINLAN)

While some Sailors have engaged with NSCC during their career, others are experiencing their first opportunities to volunteer with the organization. Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Shea Fehringer, a member of NRC’s First Class Petty Officer Association (FCPOA), began volunteering with the local Sea Cadet division, BB-43 USS Tennessee. She said she initially got involved because she was looking for a way to have a positive impact on teenagers and possible future Sailors.

“The reason I reached out to the Sea Cadets as a CNRC FCPOA member was to give our Sailors an opportunity to volunteer in a leadership role with the possibility of becoming more involved as a drill instructor within the program,” said Fehringer. “Through volunteering, the Sea Cadets can learn about what the actual Navy is like. We can tell them what deployments are like, what the different rates are and what opportunities and experiences Sailors get from being active duty.”

While many who have served might be more likely to volunteer with the program, prior service is not a requirement, leaving some Sea Cadet squadrons without the reallife experience of Sailors who have been to the

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This civilian enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services. Contents of the paper, including advertisements, are not necessarily the official views of, nor endorsed by, the U.S. Government, DOD, or the Department of the Navy (DON). The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DOD; DON; Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic or Flagship, Inc. of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase,use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Department of Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic.

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fleet. With a new commitment to the program being emphasized by NRC, members of the Sea Cadets are looking forward to more direct engagement with their active-duty components. For Sea Cadet Lt. j.g. Andrea Thomas, the commanding officer of Fort McHenry Division and Training Ship Constellation, the support from headquarters represents an investment in the future.

“Sea and League Cadets is an excellent youth organization for both young men and women to learn and demonstrate leadership skills, build confidence within themselves, learn their strengths and receive opportunities for improvement,” said Thomas. “Investing in our young people helps benefit a better future for all of us.”

To find a Sea Cadets unit in your area, see ways in which you can get involved, or to learn more about the volunteer opportunities with the Sea Cadets, visit www.seacadets.org.

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.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, September 23, 2021 3

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Terriance Hamilton of the 3rd Sustainment Command, helps a spouse disconnect from the rappel tower during no ordinary spouse day, at Fort Knox, Ky., April 12, 2013.

Hamilton was one of several Soldiers who volunteered during the event. (STAFF SGT MICHAEL BEHLIN)

DOD: Best Time to Take Military Spouse Survey is Now

By Todd Lopez

DOD Public Affairs

Back in July, the Defense Department released the Active Duty Spouse Survey — something it does every two years. In the past, the survey was available by invitation only to a select few military spouses. But not this year.

Through late October, all spouses of activeduty military members — more than 600,000 of them — can visit the OPA Survey Portal and tell the Pentagon what they think about being ‘married to the military.’

The results of the survey will be used to

give Pentagon decision-makers a better idea about how they can adjust family policy and programs in the coming years — especially in relation to military benefits, financial stability, spouse employment, child care, and the overall health and well-being of spouses, children and families.

“Leadership across the DOD takes the [survey] seriously,” said Eddy Mentzer, the associate director for strategic initiatives within DOD’s military community support programs office. “From the office of the secretary of defense to the military service headquarters, [survey] results are shared

and utilized to shape future programs and resources. The survey results are also shared outside the DOD with Capitol Hill and the White House.”

This year, some military spouses will still get mail and/or email invitation to participate. Those spouses will get a “ticket number” they can enter to begin the survey. All military spouses can get a ticket number by selecting “click here” at www.DoDsurveys.mil. The DOD ID number on the back of the spouse’s common access card, along with the date of birth, will be used to access the survey.

While some military spouses will remain

silent about life being married to an activeduty service member, others will want to let the Pentagon know directly what’s grinding their gears. Mentzer said more spouses should let military leadership know what’s going on in the trenches at home.

“While military spouses share common experiences, each military spouse has a unique story,” Mentzer said. “Military life can result in a number of challenges. By allowing their voice to be heard and sharing their experiences, military spouses can ensure they are able to have a voice in the future programs that support them.”

According to the Defense Department’s Office of People Analytics, which is conducting the survey, the data collected is reported in aggregate to protect the identity of participants. That aggregate data will eventually be made available publicly so participants can see how other military spouses responded.

Information from the 2019 survey is available online at the link below.

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4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, September 23, 2021

Suicide Prevention and Connectedness with Others are Intertwined

By Janet Aker

Military Health Public Affairs

Successful suicide prevention efforts are linked to fostering connectedness - the vital relationships and interpersonal connections that individuals forge with family, friends, and their community.

As the Department of Defense begins to observe National Suicide Prevention Month, health officials aim to highlight the importance of those relationships and the risks that come when they are diminished, causing feelings of social isolation and loneliness.

This year’s theme - “Connect to Protect: Support is Within Reach” - “emphasizes connections with others and the community, as well as with suicide prevention resources,” said Dr. Karin Orvis, the director of the Defense Suicide Prevention Office.

“During Suicide Prevention Month, the department is collectively reaching out to bring more awareness to suicide prevention and available resources, change the conversation around mental health and well-being, and turn awareness into action,” she said.

Suicide caused the deaths of 498 service members in 2019, the most recent year for which complete DOD data are available.

That’s a rate comparable to the U.S. civilian adult population. The deaths in the military were primarily among enlisted men younger than 30.

COVID Stressors The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges, Orvis acknowledged.

“Research indicates that connectedness is a factor that can reduce the likelihood someone will consider or attempt suicide,” she said.

“As the country deals with the ongoing stress and uncertainty around the COVID19 pandemic, we, as leaders of the prevention community, have a responsibility to demonstrate what it means to make every connection count for each other,” Orvis said.

Our role in this challenge “is to identify multifaceted approaches that ensure access to care, enhance connectedness, reduce isolation, and promote a sense of belonging in a virtually connected community.”

“We know service members often look to virtual and social media platforms to connect with their families, friends, peers, and communities,” Orvis said.

“This year, we can use and promote DOD online resources and services to spread the

(COURTESY PHOTO)

message of hope and show that support is within reach.”

Leaders’ Messages For leaders, a supportive command environment can help service members feel more comfortable reaching out or seeking help.

The top reasons that service members cite for not getting help include concerns about privacy and confidentiality, fear of being perceived as “broken,” fear of a negative impact to their career, and not knowing whom to contact.

Leaders are encouraged to remind all service members that challenges from military life (as well as everyday life challenges, such as relationships and financial problems) are common, and that they are not alone.

“Share success stories,” Orvis suggested.

Messages DSPO suggests leaders should convey include: Provide accurate information and resources. Facts can help to break down common misconceptions about seeking care, such as impacts to security clearances or deployment. Resources show where service members and their families can turn to for support.

Reach out for help. Seeking help not only ensures mission readiness, but also benefits the service member’s personal well-being, family, unit, service branch, and community.

Seek care early. Promote getting help for life’s challenges or mental health concerns as soon as they arise, such as marriage or financial counseling.

Suicide is preventable. Show and tell that proactive self-care, coping skills, support, and treatment work for most people who have thoughts about suicide.

Be proactive. Take the steps to reach out for help, ask how others are doing, share resources, and stay connected.

Resources Resources include the new Leaders Suicide Prevention Safe Messaging Guide, and the Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE) and its Real Warriors Campaign, which show how to safely and effectively communicate about suicide and how to foster open dialogue within a command.

The Defense Health Agency’s Real Warriors Campaign promotes a culture of support for psychological health by encouraging the military community to reach out for help whether coping with the daily stresses of military life, or concerns like depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress.

A free, confidential program called inTransition offers specialized telephone coaching and assistance for active duty service members, National Guard, reservists, veterans, and retirees who need access to a new mental health provider or wish to initiate mental health care for the first time when: Relocating to another assignment Returning from deployment Transitioning between an active duty and a reserve status Preparing to leave military service The inTransition services are available to all military members regardless of length

of service or discharge status, by calling 800-424-7877.

Service members and veterans who are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide, and those who know a service member or veteran in crisis, can also call the Veterans/Military Crisis Line for confidential support anytime; it’s available 24 hours a day. Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1. You can also text to 838255 or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.

In July 2022, a new crisis number, “988,” will be rolled out that will connect directly to the Veterans/Military Crisis Line.

DSPO has been working with the National Action Alliance on Suicide Prevention and the Department of Veterans Affairs on preparing for implementation of the “988” crisis line. Service members, veterans, and their families will still be able to press 1 to get connected immediately to trained responders from the Veterans and Military Crisis Line.

Other sources for assistance include Military OneSource and Military and Family Life Counseling.

“Our military community’s health, safety, and well-being are essential to the readiness of the total force - and to the health of our nation,” Orvis said.

“Our departments are dedicated to preventing suicide in our military community - every death by suicide is a tragedy.”

“We take this charge very seriously and in conjunction with our partners across the federal government, non-profit, private and academic sectors, we will not relent in our efforts to end suicide,” she added.

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, September 23, 2021 5

An unarmed Trident II D5LE missile launches from the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, during Demonstration and Shakedown Operation (DASO) 31 Sept. 17. This launch was part of the U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Program’s DASO certification process. (MCC DAVID HOLMES)

USS Wyoming Successfully Tests Trident II D5LE Missiles

By U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs Public Affairs The U.S. Navy conducted a scheduled, two-missile test flight of unarmed life-extended Trident II (D5LE) missiles from USS Wyoming (SSBN-742), an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, on the Eastern Test Range off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, Sept.

17.

This successful test was part of a Demonstration and Shakedown Operation, designated DASO-31. The primary objective of a DASO is to evaluate and demonstrate the readiness of the SSBN’s Strategic Weapon System (SWS) and crew before operational deployment following the submarine’s engineered refueling overhaul.

“The DASO test, and others like these, underscore our readiness and capability for 21st Century Strategic Deterrence,” said Rear Adm. Thomas E. Ishee, USSTRATCOM director of Global Operations. “SSBN

crews undergo constant training and regularly planned testing to ensure the weapons systems remain ready and reliable. The Sailors and support element who make up the silent service prove every day they are capable and prepared to protect America and its allies.”

This launch marks 184 successful missile test flights of the Trident II (D5 & D5LE) SWS. “Today’s [Sept. 17] test demonstrates the unmatched reliability of our sea-based nuclear deterrent, which is made possible by a dedicated team of military, civilian and industry partners who bring expertise and dedication to the mission that is truly extraordinary,” said Vice Adm. Johnny R. Wolfe, director of the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs. Further, “This same team is now developing the next generation of the Trident Strategic Weapon System, which will extend our sea-based strategic deterrent through 2084.”

The Trident strategic weapon system is highly accurate and reliable. The Trident II

(D5) missiles recently underwent a life extension program to address potential impacts from aging and obsolescence. The life-extended missiles — Trident II (D5LE) — are now being deployed to the Fleet and will serve for the remaining service life of U.S Ohioclass and United Kingdom Vanguard-class SSBNs, and as the initial load-out for the U.S. Columbia-class and U.K. Dreadnought-class SSBNs. USS Maine (SSBN-741) successfully executed the Navy’s last DASO in February 2020 off the coast of San Diego, California. The Navy’s most recent flight test — a Commander’s Evaluation Test — was a series of four launches in February 2021 off the coast of Florida. Each of these flight tests were of the life-extended Trident II (D5LE) missiles.

Flight test missiles are not armed, and safety of the public and the crew conducting the mission is paramount. The launches were conducted from the sea, the missile flew over the sea, and landed in the sea. At no time did

the missile fly over land.

The missile test was not conducted in response to any ongoing world events, nor as a demonstration of power. Test launches — including DASOs — are scheduled years in advance.

A credible, effective nuclear deterrent is essential to our national security and the security of U.S. allies. Deterrence remains a cornerstone of national security policy in the 21st century.

Strategic Systems Programs is the Navy command that provides cradle-to-grave lifecycle support for the Navy’s strategic weapon systems. This includes training, systems, equipment, facilities and personnel responsible for ensuring the safety, security- and effectiveness of the nation’s Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) Trident II (D5LE) strategic weapon system.

SLBMs are the sea-based leg of the nation’s strategic nuclear deterrent Triad that also includes the U.S. Air Force’s intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and nuclear-capable bombers. Each part of the Triad provides unique capabilities and advantages.

The sea-based leg makes up the majority — approximately 70 percent — of the U.S.’s deployed strategic nuclear deterrent Triad.

The SLBM is the most survivable leg of the triad, provides a persistent presence, and allows for flexible concepts of operations.

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6 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, September 23, 2021

U.S. service members participate in an honorable carry ceremony held on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, June 24, 2021. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) hosted the two honorable carry ceremonies to return the remains and pay tribute to the 429 Sailors and Marines lost aboard the USS Oklahoma during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941.

(TSGT RUSTY FRANK)

Most Remains of Those Killed on USS Oklahoma Identified

By David Vergun DOD Public Affairs

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has identified most of those killed on the USS Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1941.

Between June and November 2015, personnel from DPAA exhumed the unidentified crew members from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific for anthropological analysis. Of the 429 killed, 394 had been buried as unknown persons. As of Sept. 15, 2021, 346 had been

identified.

The Nevada-class battleship USS Oklahoma was commissioned in 1916 and was the pride of the American fleet. The ship was notable for being the first American class of oil-burning dreadnaughts.

The vessel saw duty in World War I, protecting Allied convoys to Europe.

As fate would have it, the Oklahoma was moored at Ford Island Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941, the day the Japanese attacked.

During the attack, several torpedoes from Japanese airplanes hit the Oklahoma’s hull,

and the ship capsized. A total of 429 crew members died.

Survivors jumped off the ship into burning, oil-coated water or crawled across mooring lines that connected the Oklahoma and the battleship USS Maryland.

Some of the sailors and Marines inside escaped when rescuers drilled holes and opened hatches to rescue them.

From December 1941 to June 1944, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the crew; they were interred in the Halawa and Nu’uanu cemeteries in Hawaii.

In September 1947, tasked with recover-

ing and identifying fallen U.S. personnel in the Pacific Theater, members of the Army’s American Graves Registration Service disinterred the remains of U.S. dead from the two cemeteries and transferred them to the Central Identification Laboratory at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

At that time, the laboratory staff was only able to confirm the identifications of 35 men from the USS Oklahoma. The AGRS buried the unidentified remains in 46 plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu.

In October 1949, a military board classified those who could not be identified as not recoverable.

DPAA has been working to identify the remains since 2015 when the USS Oklahoma project began. Scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System have used mitochondrial DNA and autosomal DNA analysis.

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, September 23, 2021 7

Miami Native Heeds Call to Service, Adds to Legacy of Hispanic Heritage in the Navy

By Thomas Zimmerman

NAVSUP Business Systems Center Public Affairs

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Family and a call to service brought Lt. Carlos Londono to the Navy, through the ranks as an Aviation Electronics Technician, and to the Supply Corps, where he now serves as a project officer developing shipboard information technology solutions for Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Business Systems Center (BSC).

“My parents came to America in search of a better life, and I think that’s part of why I feel such a strong calling to serve my country and community,” said Londono. “As a Hispanic American, I’m part of a long tradition of people who have kept our country strong and free. It’s an honor for me to serve as a Navy officer and continue that legacy.”

Londono, a Miami, Florida native, attended emergency medical technician school and graduated from the MiamiDade Firefighter Academy, certifying him as a state firefighter, before joining the Navy. After becoming a father, he decided to enlist.

“I wanted to set an example for my children by serving my country and community,” he said. “The Navy is always out there protecting our country, whether we’re at war or not. I wanted to be a part of that.”

Following in the footsteps of his father who served in the Marine Corps after emigrating from Colombia, Londono enlisted in 2009.

Following basic training, he completed Aviation Electronics Technician “A” School, Calibration Technician “C” School, and was assigned to the Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77).

Aboard Bush, Londono deployed twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.

“My deployments taught me a lot about being a Sailor and solidified the Navy’s importance in deterrence and freedom of navigation,” he said. “It felt good to see how well we were received when we made port stops and how the local population truly appreciated what we were doing. That reinforced my decision to continue a Navy career.”

While serving as the calibration lab supervisor, overseeing collateral duty inspections and quality assurance, he was promoted to Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class and selected for instructor duty at Naval Air Technical Training Center, in Pensacola, Florida.

“Teaching at ‘A’ school was a humbling experience. I was proud to be a part of the cradle of aviation and teach the next generation of Sailors,” he said.

During his shore-duty assignment, Londono also served as an Escambia County volunteer firefighter.

“It’s extremely important for me to serve or help the community. I always felt the call to help others in need, looked up to first responders, or anyone who runs into danger to help others,” he said.

While stationed in Pensacola, Londono was promoted to Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class, earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and met his wife who was serving in the Army at the time.

“I finished my degree in 2016 and decided to pursue a commission in the Navy. I learned so much from the officers during my career and wanted to be a part of that legacy,” he said.

In March 2017, Londono was selected for a commission as a Navy Supply Corps officer and completed Officer Candidate School and Naval Supply Corps School in Newport, Rhode Island.

“When I was looking at my options, I recalled a saying I heard a lot during my time aboard the carrier, ‘You can’t fly without supply.’ I saw first-hand the vital role the Supply Corps played in enabling the warfighter, so it was an easy choice for me,” he said.

Londono’s first assignment as an officer was aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG-73), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he provided logistics and services support to more than 350 Sailors.

“This assignment taught me a lot about the Supply Corps’ role in the Navy and the challenges of preparing a ship for deployment. I saw the real-world embodiment of a quote heard during Supply Corps School, ‘There’s nothing more powerful than a Supply Officer with a cell phone.’ My Sailors and I did whatever was needed to complete the mission.

We couldn’t have done it without the strong network of Navy Supply Corps officers,” he said.

While aboard Port Royal, Londono became familiar with NAVSUP BSC-managed systems such as Navy Hazardous Inventory Control System (HICS) and Food Service Management (FSM).

“I knew about [NAVSUP BSC] expertise and the vital role they play in keeping shipboard supply systems online. They were always there to help us out when needed,” he said.

Londono reported to NAVSUP BSC in May 2020 and was assigned as a project officer for the HICS/FSM team during a max-telework posture due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s tough anytime you’re learning a new job in the information technology world, but when everyone is working remotely, it adds an entirely new challenge. I didn’t have that shoulder to look over or the person next door to ask for help,” he said. “It forced me to find new ways to learn and make myself an asset to the team. It reminded me that the mission is attainable no matter what the challenge.

“I want to apply that mindset to future

Official portrait of Lt. Carlos Londono. Family and a call to service brought Londono to the Navy, through the ranks as an Aviation Electronics Technician, and to the Supply Corps, where he now serves as a project officer developing shipboard information technology solutions for Naval Supply Systems Command Business Systems Center. (COURTESY PHOTO)

tours, keep an open mind, and find solutions that will continue supporting the Navy, our mission partners, and the warfighter,” he said.

Each year from September 15 to October 15, the Navy celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and positive influence of Hispanic service members. Hispanic Americans have served in the Navy throughout our nation’s history dating back to the Civil War, held every rank from Seamen to Admiral, and every occupation from fighter pilot to

nuclear engineer.

NAVSUP BSC and the Navy are strengthened by diversity and highlight patriots of Hispanic American heritage like Lt. Carlos Londono who continue to build legacies of freedom and diversity as they fight for the security of the country and peace of the world.

For more information about Hispanic American Heritage in the Navy, visit https:// www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/ diversity/hispanic-americans-in-the-navy. html.

Hispanic Heritage

New Master Chief

“Marcelino Serna Port of Entry.”

Army Pvt. David B. Barkley Cantu, also served in the 89th Division in France during World War I and was Hispanic.

On Nov. 9, 1918, he and another soldier volunteered to swim across the Meuse River near Pouilly-sur-Meuse to get behind German lines and gather information about troop strength. On his return trip, he got cramps while swimming and drowned. The other soldier made it back to his unit and provided the commander with the intelligence the two had gathered.

For his bravery, Cantu was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Also, France awarded him the Croix de Guerre, and Italy the Croce al Merito di Guerra.

National Hispanic Heritage Month Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 when President Lyndon Johnson signed the observance into law.

National Hispanic Heritage Month was first proclaimed by President George H. W. Bush in 1989.

The Sept. 15 start of the heritage month is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept.

16 and Sept. 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is Oct. 12, falls within this 30 day period.

nications and Information Agency (NCIA) Norfolk VA. A 10 year break in service allowed him to serve at Navy and Marine Corps Reserve center in Des Moines IA and Milwaukee WI. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Senior Non-commissioned Officer Academy 2012 (Class 12-D), and Chief of the Boat/ Command Master Chief Course Class (188).

Sandeen is designated as an Enlisted Expeditionary Warfare Specialist, Enlisted Infor-

mation Warfare Specialist, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist. He has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards) and various unit and campaign awards.

“I’m excited to serve here at JEB Little CreekFort Story. We have a team of professionals who report to work daily ready and eager to support the fleet. I’m honored to serve in support of our warfighters,” Sandeen said.

from Page 1

USS New Mexico from Page 1

“Now, New Mexico has an experienced crew that has demonstrated the capability of operating in the most challenging environments.”

During the deployment, New Mexico steamed more than 38,000 nautical miles with the crew supporting diplomatic relationships by conducting port visits in Grotsund, Norway; Souda Bay, Greece; and Faslane, Scotland.

Thirty-two enlisted Sailors and seven officers earned their submarine warfare qualification, known as ‘dolphins,’ 19 Sailors were advanced to the next paygrade, nine officers were promoted, and seven Sailors reenlisted.

The Virginia-class, also known as the VA-class or 774-class, is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines in service with the U.S. Navy. The submarines are designed for a broad spectrum

from Page 1

(COURTESY GRAPHIC)

Those who claim to be Latino or Hispanic make up 17.6% of the active duty force, numbering 235,972 as of July 2021, according to the Defense Manpower Data Center.

The 2020 U.S. Census Bureau report indicated that Hispanics or Latinos make up 18.7% of the total U.S. population.

The Hispanic or Latino population was 62.1 million in 2020. The Hispanic or Latino population grew 23% between 2010 and 2020, according to the Census Bureau.

of open-ocean and littoral missions. They were conceived as a less expensive alternative to the Seawolf-class attack submarines, designed during the Cold War era, and are replacing older Los Angeles-class submarines.

Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities - sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.

They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.

The Virginia-class submarine is 377 feet long and 34 feet wide, and weighs about 7,900 tons when submerged. Underwater, it can reach speeds in excess of 25 knots.

8 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, September 23, 2021

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, September 23, 2021 1

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COVID-19 Detection The Army Combat Capabilities Development continue research on how canines can aid in the fight against COVID-19 and other chemical biological threats.

Page B3

USS Curtis Wilbur Arrives in Homeport San Diego, California

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) arrives in San Diego to conduct a homeport shift from Yokosuka, Japan. Curtis Wilbur was commissioned in 1994 and has been in Yokosuka, Japan since September 1995, making her the longest forward-deployed naval asset in recent history. (MC1 JULIO RIVERA)

By Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet SAN DIEGO - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missi le destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) arrived in its new homeport of Naval Base San Diego after 25 years as a forward-deployed ship in Yokosuka Japan, Sept. 16.

Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CNSP) directed Curtis Wilbur to return to San Diego for scheduled maintenance. Following routine repairs and upgrades, the ship will join U.S. 3rd Fleet, which leads naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the

realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.

“Following 25-plus years of service in the forward-deployed naval forces Japan, Curtis Wilbur, her crew, and our families are excited to arrive to our new homeport of San Diego,” said Cmdr.

Anthony Massey, commanding officer of USS Curtis Wilbur. “We bring with us our ‘Steel Hammer’ professionalism and proud history of service and look forward to preparing for, and executing, operations in support of 3rd Fleet and [the Indo-Pacific].”

In the months leading up to the ship’s change in homeport,

Curtis Wilbur deployed to the South China Sea and conducted anti-submarine warfare tasking, a bilateral exercise with the Royal Australian Navy, and freedom of navigation operations, including two transits of the Taiwan Strait.

Curtis Wilbur was commissioned in 1994 and joined U.S. 7th Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan in September 1995, making it the longest forward-deployed naval asset in recent history. In its previous area of operations, Curtis Wilbur is known for forging and strengthening relationships with like-minded naval forces, as well as its demonstrated lethality in

USS John S. McCain Departs U.S. 7th Fleet After 24-years Forward Deployed

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) departs Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) while shifting its homeport to Naval Station Everett, Washington, and bringing an end to 24 years of being forward-deployed to U.S. 7th Fleet. (RYO ISOBE)

By Lt. J.g. Marion Bautista, USS John S. Mccain Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan —The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) departed Yokosuka, Japan, Sept. 17 as part of a scheduled homeport shift to Naval Station Everett, Washington.

While forward-deployed to Fleet Activities Yokosuka, John S. McCain has operated independently and with carrier strike groups in the region since arriving to U.S. 7th Fleet in the summer of 1997.

“John S. McCain and her Sailors have proven time and time again our Navy’s resolve to answer the call in support of our nation and our allies,” said Cmdr. Tin Tran, USS John S McCain’s commanding officer. “After 24 years of faithful overseas service, we are ready to head back home to America, back to Washington State. Our sailors will forever remember the bonds of friendship and hospitality Japan has shown us.”

During 24 years of forward-deployed service, John S. McCain operated across the region from the Indian Ocean to the Sea of

Japan supporting joint and multinational exercises and operations to strengthen U.S. alliances and partnerships, maritime security, and promote regional stability toward a free and open Indo-Pacific.

John S. McCain also participated in several surge deployments to U.S. 5th Fleet in support of the USS Independence battle group in 1998 and USS Kitty Hawk strike group in 2002 and again in 2003 supporting Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.

Turn to USS John S. McCain, Page 7

warfare exercises.

With an advanced Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) suite as the mainstay of Curtis Wilbur’s capabilities, the ship will be a unique asset to U.S. 3rd Fleet.

While Curtis Wilbur’s primary mission set provides defense against hostile ballistic missiles, the ship is also proficient in multiple warfare missions including anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-surface, and strike warfare. Curtis Wilbur’s capabilities are amplified by the training and readiness of the crew, many of which are veterans of the high operational tempo found in U.S. 7th Fleet.

CNSP is the most preeminent, combat-capable surface force in the world. Its mission is to build and deploy combat-ready ships with battle-minded crews capable of executing their mission and defending the nation’s interests at home and abroad. CNSP delivers and sustains the full spectrum of balanced, affordable, and resilient naval power through manpower, training, and equipment. As Commander, Naval Surface Forces (CNSF), CNSF leads Surface Warfare policy with a fleet-focused perspective and develops the professional expertise of surface warfare officers.

DOD Policy Chief Kahl Discusses Strategic Competition With Baltic Allies

By Jim Garamone

DOD Public Affairs

The United States and its allies are involved in strategic competition with China and Russia, and Colin Kahl, the Defense Department’s undersecretary for policy, explained how this competition should be approached.

Kahl spoke via video to the Baltic Military Conference being held in Lithuania.

He stressed that the answer to strategic competition is allies and partners working together.

Strategic competition is exacerbated by threats that know no borders. These include COVID19, climate change, cyber threats, violent extremism and more, he said.

Further complicating these threats are the challenges from China and Russia to the rulesbased international order that has served the world well since the end of World War II. “The global landscape is more complex than ever and rapidly changing,” he said. “We all know this, but the question is, how should we compete in this evolving world?”

None of the global threats can be effectively addressed by one country alone, Kahl said, and that is where strategic competition comes in. Strategic competition “recognizes the importance of our greatest strategic asset: Working alongside our allies and partners to advance common interests and shared values,” he said. “At the same time, alliances, institutions, agreements and international norms that underwrite this international system are increasingly being tested as never before. Reversing these

trends is a vital U.S. national security interest.”

This ties in with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s concept of “integrated deterrence.” This calls for the United States and its allies to work more closely together in ways not done before. “In our changing global landscape, we are looking at deterrence in a new and more comprehensive way,” Kahl said.

Deterrence has to cover all domains, “across the spectrum of conflict from high end to gray zone encounters across our instruments of national power — not just the military, but intelligence, economic, financial, technological, and crucially alongside our allies and partners,” Kahl said. “Whether we’re talking about strategic competition or integrated deterrence, our allies and partners are at the core of our concepts, and we have no closer allies than our allies in Europe.

“The transatlantic alliance is the essential forum for consultation, decision making and action, and the foundation on which our collective security and our shared prosperity has built,” he continued. “NATO, of course, is the bedrock of enduring transatlantic security and serves as a bulwark of our shared values of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law.”te And NATO is taken seriously

by U.S. leaders. Kahl stressed that American commitment to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty — an attack on one country is an attack on all — is rock solid and unshakable. “It is not a transactional arrangement,” he said. “It is for Turn to DOD Policy, Page 7

2

The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, September 23, 2021

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Don’t be fooled by fall’s evil trickery

By Lisa Smith Molinari

Well, folks, fall is upon us.

Every year at this time, a cozy crispness infuses the cooling air with the scent of blown leaves and wood burning fires. Our ears prick at the sound of blown whistles and distant marching bands.

The jets under our tongues fire in anticipation of cinnamon-sugar-crusted apple cider doughnuts and simmering crockpots of savory chili. We dig into the depths of our dressers to resuscitate our softest sweaters, relieved to put the thick, sticky, artificially-refrigerated days of a mosquito-bitten, frizzy-haired summer behind us.

Finally!

But as we nibble warm pumpkin bread and peer out at the technicolor foliage, we are blissfully unaware of being perched on the treacherous slippery slope of seasonal change.

The long, hot, seemingly endless summer lulled us along, over a sunny, green plateau. Spoiled by the abundances of the season, we forgot that the Earth would tilt, the Sun would wander off, and we would begin our inevitable descent. Autumn is nature’s decoy. Like a tumbling yellow leaf luring a blue-eyed kitten toward a sheer cliff, fall baits us into the deep, dark crevasse of winter, where we

must wait for spring to throw us a line to climb back to the light.

Take these fanciful metaphors as your warning: Prepare yourself now for what’s to come.

Personally, I refuse to be fooled by autumn’s trickery. I know that vegetation isn’t the only thing that will shrivel and die this season. I may love the changing leaves, but I will hate watching my skin fade to a sickly pale, dry up, and flake off.

No amount of pricey face cream will plump my crepe-y wrinkles. It would take a vat of Vaseline to keep my body from sloughing. Each night, when I remove my sweater and bra to get ready for bed, I’ll unleash a blizzard of skin fragments that’ll fall to the floor like flurries.

No sooner will the September Equinox wave good-bye to the Sun as she journeys south of the Equator, than my nasal cavities will invite excess mucus to occupy my sinuses. I’ll fish the neglected tube of Chapstick out of the bottom of my purse, pick off the lint and sand, and slather it over my chapped lips, but it won’t delay the onset of a scabby, repellant coldsore. Over the summer my hair resisted my constant attempts to straighten her natural kinks, soaking herself in the warm, curling humidity. But during fall, she will finally surrender. Once she has dried to a malleable crisp,

her lifeless, dull, dehydrated strands will be ready for harvesting and baling.

After a short period of respite from summer’s annoying bugs, I’ll notice a long trail of ants, marching crumbs in lock-step along our kitchen counter, through our dining room, and entering a crevice in the floorboards to their bustling colony somewhere between the studs. Mice will show up in our house seeking shelter from the oncoming cold, but only when we have company over so as to maximize our embarrassment. Occasionally, I will be seen jumping and shouting like a lunatic, wapping at the bathroom walls with a rolled up magazine, in a futile attempt to squash terrifyingly fast-moving Scutigera Coleoptrata — the damp-loving house centipede.

When winter comes, cloaking the Northern Hemisphere in darkness, I’ll begin my annual battle with ubiquitous salt stains, static-y hat hair, and sooty snow chunks under my fenders. Spring will arrive just as I decide I can’t take it anymore, mercifully melting all the snow. I’ll exhale a breath of relief, only to notice four months worth of hidden dog doo piles in our yard.

Now that I’ve warned you of fall’s hidden pitfalls, I must confess.

Despite it all, I love the changing seasons. The satisfying twitch of tired muscles after raking leaves. Warm ovens baking delicious things.

Watching football while cocooned in blankets on the couch. The silence of snow’s glittering sound absorbency. Staring in wonder at the crystalline intricacy of frost on the windowpane. Tender buds heralding fresh hope.

Purity, beauty, bounty, shelter, rest, renewal, tradition, family, life, love, seasons.

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Returning From Deployment: Helping Your Family Transition

Stress and Anger Management Command Support Crisis Support SuicidePrevention SAPR Support

By Military Onesource While reuniting with your family after a deployment is an exciting time, there are some things to keep in mind that can ease the transition for everyone. Knowing what to expect and being prepared can help you and your family navigate adjustments more easily.

Tips for preparing you and your spouse Every deployment is different, especially when families are involved. Whether this is your first reunion or you’re a seasoned pro, remember to: • Encourage and accept mixed emotions. It’s OK if excitement isn’t your or your partner’s only emotion. Each of you may be nervous, worried or even concerned about what it will be like to have everyone home again. Accept and acknowledge that it’s perfectly OK for everyone to feel whatever they are feeling.

• Set realistic expectations. Making plans for a grand reunion can sometimes be a recipe for disappointment if it sets up unrealistic expectations.

Service members may be tired and jet lagged and need time to rest and regroup. Try to focus on just being together again and give everyone time to get settled.

• Be patient with your partner, your children and yourself. Sometimes it can take weeks or even months to find a new normal. Try to give everyone the time and space they need to adjust.

• Don’t bottle up feelings. Even though it’s important to be patient during the adjustment period, it’s also important not to suppress feelings. Try to keep lines of communication open. If you are having trouble talking to each other, find a trusted confidante — whether it’s a friend, close family member or counselor. Learn more about resources for reconnecting and building healthy relationships.

Focus on the positive. Time apart can cause changes. Children grow, and responsibilities and routines can change people and relationships. Try to notice and appreciate changes instead of being critical. Be grateful to each other for managing the demanding jobs you each had while you were apart. Try to focus on creating a new normal for your family rather than striving to return to your old way of life. Do your best to be flexible and open to change as you both adapt.

• Lean on your support network. Reach out if you need assistance — to family, friends 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)

other professionals. Learn more about Military OneSource relationship support for military couples.

Tips for preparing your children Children can often have mixed emotions about a deployed parent’s return. You can make the transition smoother for them if you follow these tips: • Plan for reconnection. Try to plan reconnection activities ahead of time that allow the returning parent to spend time with each child. Talk to your child(ren) about what schoolwork or new skills to show the returning parent, and then maybe plan some activities for the entire family.

• Tread lightly upon your return. The returning parent can help make reunion smoother for the family by staying close to home in the days and weeks after arrival. Be careful about implementing big changes shortly after you return. Maintaining normal routines as much as possible can help give children a sense of stability during times of transition.

• Discuss the “new normal.” If household routines or rules have changed considerably while the deployed parent was away, take steps to prepare your child for how the day-to-day schedule may shift now that mom or dad is home. Letting children know what to expect can help make the transition smoother.

• Ease back into roles and routines. If you’re the parent who remained home, don’t immediately dump chores and responsibilities on your returning partner. Allow your returning partner to gradually get involved with meals, bedtime routines, play and discipline. If you’re the returning partner, try to be open to new routines and other things that might have changed while you were away. Talk to children about changes and congratulate them for taking on new responsibilities.

• Watch for signs of stress. Children tend to show stress differently than adults. Anticipate that your children may react to your return by challenging your authority. If you start to notice more misbe-

havior, nightmares or changes in eating, sleeping or school habits, your child may need help readjusting. Offer as much support as you can, talk to your pediatrician and reach out to your installation for assistance. Your local Military and Family Support Center offers military and family life counseling at no cost to you, and school liaisons are available to help children with education-related issues and more.

Tips for your parents and extended family • Know that your parents may have been following your deployment very closely. Thank them for supporting you and your family while you were gone.

• Work with your partner ahead of time to include your extended family in reunion activities. If you start to feel overwhelmed, communicate that you need some downtime.

• Realize that your family may never fully understand what you went through on deployment and that’s okay. Understand they love you and want you to be yourself even if it means they have to get to know a new you.

Tips for your friends • Expect that your friends will want to hear about your adventures, but give yourself time and space if you’re not quite ready to jump back into your old social life. You may be feeling as though you’ve lived a whole lifetime since you’ve been gone — and your friends have probably changed some too. Allow time to reconnect and get to know each other again.

Preparation, patience and a little effort can help you, your family and friends successfully navigate reunion and reintegration after deployment. If you have questions or need support, reach out to your installation Military and Family Support Center.

Military OneSource consultants are also available 24/7 to connect you with the resources you need to thrive. Call 800-342-9647, use OCONUS calling options or start a live chat.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, September 23, 2021 3

Army Study Evaluates Use of Dogs in COVID-19 Detection

By Jerilyn Coleman

DOD Public Affairs

Scientists at the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center are partnering with the University of Pennsylvania and various canine training facilities to continue research on how canines can aid in the fight against COVID-19 and other chemical biological threats.

A team of researchers led by Dr. Patricia Buckley, supervisory biologist and chief of the Center’s Biochemistry Branch, recently began phase two of this proof-of-concept study to determine if dogs can be trained to detect the odor of COVID-19 from human sweat.

Center scientists say these dogs are able to detect a COVID-positive person days before a rapid test can. ‘’We’re harnessing that scent-detection capability and figuring out how far we can take their limits of detection,’’ said Jenna Gadberry, a research scientist at the center. ‘’So far, the levels they have been able to detect have been astounding.’’

Funded by the Defense Department’s Domestic Preparedness Support Initiative, this research is a collaborative effort that includes the center, University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Vet Working Dog Center and Tactical Directional Canine (TDK9) Systems. Scientists at the center work together to take on research compliance, communicate with dog trainers, crunch data, and create test plans. The University of Pennsylvania serves as the sample collection hub to set up the clinical trial. The university obtains institutional review board approval to collect the clinical human samples and TDK9 and Penn Vet Working Dog Center conduct the canine detection training.

In the fall of 2020, the team of collaborators completed phase one of the study, which involved collecting human COVID-19 positive and negative urine and saliva specimens. Phase two required volunteer participants to wear a

Pat Nolan of Tactical Directional Canine Systems demonstrates training techniques with several canines. (BRIAN FEENEY)

T-shirt overnight and send it to the University of Pennsylvania where the shirt would serve as the training aid sample for the dogs to sniff. Participants were required to have an accompanying COVID-19 test to verify whether they were positive or negative for the virus. Though this was a long and tedious process, center scientists say that it was worth it. ‘’It took longer than we anticipated, but we were fortunate to get lots of wonderful volunteers who offered to help us,’’ said Dr. Michele Maughan, center research scientist.

Having collected samples from the shirts, the team will now analyze the data from the T-shirts and put the dogs to the test using a Center-developed tool called the Training Aid Delivery Device. According to Dr. Kelley Evans, center veterinary medical officer, ‘’The T-shirt study is going to prove if the dogs can detect those volatile organic compounds in sweat and determine if a person is asymptomatic for COVID-19.’’

The detection dogs were selected based on a

number of criteria, one being how motivated they were to sniff out the COVID-19 odor.

According to Pat Nolan, owner and operator of TDK9, they had to find dogs excited and motivated enough to find the volatile organic compound odor but simultaneously focused enough to do the work. Eight dogs were chosen at the beginning of the project and have moved on to phase two. There are seven Labrador retrievers and one Belgian Malinois between ages 2 and 7. The dogs come from all over the United States, and there’s even a dog from Mexico.

The center’s team is excited about the major impact that this research could have in the fight against COVID-19, but they’re also hopeful that it will positively impact the warfighter by detecting biological threats beyond the pandemic. ‘’The way that we’ve been posing this capability to folks is not necessarily a COVID-19 detection capability; it’s a biological threat detection capability,’’ said Gadberry. ‘’We know that

this isn’t going to be the last time we see some sort of a virus or pandemic, but we’re demonstrating the ability for dogs to be able to find a positive person or threat. We can take what we learn from the dogs to actually apply it to some of our handheld detectors or laboratory detection systems. They’re able to detect far different elements at this point in time than our laboratory equipment can.’’

Scientists at the center hope to use the canine capability in settings where large groups of people gather, including large ships, training environments and events such as the U.S. Military Academy graduation. ‘’Utilizing this capability would be good for the Army in many ways, especially whenever they have large-area exercises or a large number of people who have to be congregated in one place. We’re looking to see if we could have a way to promote the safety of warfighters in large gatherings by screening while they’re in that element,’’ Buckley said.

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4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, September 23, 2021

(COURTESY PHOTO)

DOD: August 29 Strike in Kabul ‘Tragic Mistake,’ Kills 10 Civilians

By Todd Lopez, DOD Public Affairs

The strike by a Hellfire missile in Kabul, August 29, which was launched in an effort to kill ISIS-K planners, instead killed 10 civilians, the commander of U.S. Central Command, Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr. said.

During a briefing today at the Pentagon, McKenzie outlined the findings of an investigation he directed following that strike, after reports said civilians may have been killed.

“Having thoroughly reviewed the findings of the investigation and the supporting analysis by interagency partners, I am now convinced that as many as 10 civilians — including up to seven children — were tragically killed in that strike,” he said.

“Moreover, we now assess that it is unlikely that the vehicle and those who died

were associated with ISIS-K or were a direct threat to U.S. forces.”

The general offered condolences to the family and friends of those killed but said that at the time of the strike, the intelligence that was being reported left him and others confident the strike would have averted a threat to U.S. military forces at the nearby Hamid Karzai International Airport, or HKIA, who were busy evacuating civilians.

“Our investigation now concludes that the strike was a tragic mistake,” he said.

The general said military intelligence indicated a compound located about 6 kilometers from the airport was being used by ISIS-K planners to plot attacks similar to the one that killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 100 Afghan civilians just three days earlier near the Abbey Gate entrance to HKIA. The same intelligence also indicated that a white vehicle would play an important role in one of the attacks

being planned.

Based on that intelligence, McKenzie said surveillance assets, including as many as six MQ-9 Reapers, were focused on that compound. On the morning of Aug. 29, he said, observers spotted the white vehicle arriving at the compound. The observers spent the rest of the day following it from the air as it moved throughout the city and watched as the vehicle occupants moved supplies into and out of the vehicle and later exited the vehicle permanently at locations throughout the city.

Late in the afternoon, the general said, the vehicle dropped off its last passenger and drove to a location approximately three kilometers from the airport.

“We were very concerned that the vehicle could move quickly and be at the airport boundary in a matter of moments,” McKenzie said. “By this time, we’d observed the vehicle for about eight hours. While in the

compound, the vehicle was observed being approached by a single adult male assessed at the time to be a co-conspirator. The strike was executed at this time, because the vehicle was stationary, and to reduce the potential for civilian casualties.”

McKenzie said a Hellfire missile hit the vehicle at 4:53 p.m., and had been configured to detonate inside the vehicle as a way to minimize the chance of civilian casualties.

“It is my assessment that leaders on the ground and in the strike cell had achieved a reasonable certainty at the time of the strike to designate the vehicle as an imminent threat to U.S. forces at the airport, and that they made this self-defense strike in accordance with established rules of engagement,” McKenzie said.

Still, McKenzie said, while Centcom believed the strike would prevent an imminent attack on U.S. forces and civilians at the airport, he now understands that to be incorrect.

“It was a mistake, and I offer my sincere apology,” he said. “As the combatant commander, I am fully responsible for this strike and its tragic outcome.”

The general also said the department is exploring the possibility of ex gratia payments to those affected by the strike.

Austin Swears in Pentagon’s New Special Operations Chief

By Jim Garamone DOD Public Affairs

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III swore in Christopher Maier yesterday as the Defense Department’s new assistant secretary for special operations and low-intensity conflict.

Maier, who was administratively sworn in June, is the first Senate-confirmed SOLIC chief under new parameters for the job.

The assistant secretary job has two roles, Maier said in an interview. While it has the policy role it’s always had supporting the undersecretary for policy, DOD and Congress have also directed SOLIC to serve as the service secretary for special operations forces.

“It’s a bifurcated reporting structure [and] kind of tells you that SOLIC straddles a number of different areas,” he said.

Maier will have civilian oversight of U.S. Special Operations Command in the administrative chain of command, but not in the operational chain of command.

Wearing one hat, he will be the defense secretary’s civilian advisor for special operations issues and will report directly to the secretary.

Wearing the other hat, he will serve as a more traditional assistant secretary in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy where he’ll coordinate policies on special operations, counterterrorism, humanitarian issues and counternarcotics.

Austin holds regular meetings with the service secretaries, Maier said. “So, [it will be] the Army, Navy, Air Force and me,” he said. “It’s an interesting arrangement, certainly not how somebody traditionally would have viewed this role.”

Like a service secretary, Maier will be involved in the “man, train, equip” require-

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III swears in Christopher Maier as the Defense Department’s new assistant secretary for special operations and low-intensity conflict during a ceremony at the Pentagon, Sept. 16, 2021. (COURTESY PHOTO)

ments for special operations forces. “In conjunction with [Army Gen. Richard] Clarke, the Socom commander, we will do a number of things in that role — setting the long term strategic goals and where we’re trying to go; the objectives we’re trying to meet; how training and recruiting, all these sort of manpower-related things, support that.”

Maier will also have oversight on the budget. “As each one of [the special operations] components is building their individual budgets … it will bubble up to the overall SOF budget,” he said. “We have the ability to set the objectives and then really look at how those investments and other monetary things are being done, and then advocate on behalf of Socom on the Hill.”

Maier is also involved in the role special

operations forces will play in the future and has been involved in deliberations on the global posture review, which will be released soon. What roles will special ops forces play in strategic competition with China and Russia? How will over-the-horizon counterterrorism operations work? How does training foreign militaries fit into the picture?

Maier also wants to emphasize what is a special operations mission and what missions should, or could, be done with more conventional forces. He noted that there is a gray area between special ops and conventional forces. “We could see special operations forces begin a mission and turn it over to conventional forces,” he said.

“SOF has particular expertise that can be done in small numbers [with] low visibility,” Maier said. Over the past 20 years, special

ops forces have built “tremendous partnerships with counterparts in foreign militaries that gives us a tremendous reach globally.”

In a competition with China and Russia, this special operations forces mission set may enable placement and access to “unlock a lot of other joint force capabilities against near-peer adversaries that they probably can’t match,” he said.

Maier said he is humbled to have this new job, and he promised to focus on the sacrifices that have been made to date by operators and their families. “I do think the requirements on SOF will continue, and it’ll continue to be a national asset,” he said. “SOF is a key part of where the country is going from a national defense perspective towards competition and really being a high return on investment.”

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, September 23, 2021 5

A cadre of Airmen from the First Sergeant Council at Travis Air Force Base, California, participate in a 24-hour remembrance run in honor of prisoners of war and service members missing in action September 16, 2021, at the base’s fitness center. During the run, the names of POW/MIA service members are read aloud over a loudspeaker as a means of remembering them and honoring their sacrifice. (SSGT CHRISTIAN CONRAD)

Nation Will Never Leave a Fallen Comrade, Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Says

By DOD Public Affairs

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten, vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, provided remarks at a POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony in the Pentagon Hall of Heroes today.

Hyten spoke of service members still missing in action and thanked the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency for its ongoing efforts to find them.

“We will go to any length to bring you home. We will scour every inch of land. We will dive every shore. We will plunge into

every depth of the Pacific and the Atlantic.

We will comb every bit of the Korean and Italian peninsulas and the unmarked graves from Belgium to Burma, and we will find you. We will never forget and we will never leave a fallen comrade.”

— Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten, vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Austin, speaking to prisoners of war and their families as well as to the families of the missing, said “We’re humbled by your sacrifice and your resilience. We still feel the pain of those missing from conflicts for generations ago, and we share the uncertainty that many of you endure. We also

thank you for your advocacy and involvement in our work to recover our fallen, and our missing.”

More than 81,600 U.S. personnel still remain unaccounted for, but DPAA personnel are still searching for them and identifying their remains when found, the secretary said.

Of the many who were recovered and identified in recent years, Austin mentioned three.

Army Maj. Harvey H. Storms was a member of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, which was part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team.

He was reported missing in action on

Dec. 1, 1950, when his unit was attacked by enemy forces near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. DPAA announced he was accounted for on July 29, 2019.

Army Sgt. John V. Phillips was a member of Headquarters Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, when Japanese forces invaded the Philippines. Intense fighting continued until the surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942, and Corregidor Island on May 6, 1942.

Phillips was captured during the fighting on Corregidor and died as a prisoner of war on July 27, 1942. DPAA announced that he was accounted for on Dec. 11, 2019.

Navy Cmdr. Paul C. Charvet was the pilot of an A-1H Skyraider attack aircraft assigned to Attack Squadron 215 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard.

During a mission on March 21, 1967, near Thanh Hoa Province, North Vietnam, his plane disappeared, and he was declared missing in action. DPAA announced that he was accounted for on March 1, 2021.

Speaking of those still unaccounted for, Austin said “We still seek answers to simple questions: ‘Where are they and when can they come home?’ ”

North Macedonia, U.S. Officials Unveil Flag in Pentagon’s NATO Corridor

By DOD Public Affairs A stylized sun rose in the Pentagon’s NATO Hallway as the flag of the Republic of North Macedonia joined that of 29 other NATO allies.

North Macedonia’s Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska and Laura K. Cooper, the acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, unveiled the red and yellow flag representing a stylized sun in the NATO Hallway. The addition honors North Macedonia’s accession to NATO in March 2020.

Prior to the unveiling, Shekerinska met with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Colin Kahl, the DOD undersecretary for policy.

North Macedonia came into being when Yugoslavia dissolved in 1991. It joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1995 and that eventually led to alliance membership.

Cooper said the COVID-19 epidemic cancelled plans to unveil the flag in 2020, “but it could not stop us. We finally get a chance to recognize this important milestone for North Macedonia, the United States and the NATO alliance.”

Cooper said the accession of the country makes the alliance stronger. She praised North Macedonia’s commitment to defense and political reform that made it happen.

She also praised the spirit of conciliation between Greece and North Macedonia that finally allowed the accession. “The conclusion of the Prespa agreement in 2018 that resolved a decade’s long dispute with Greece

Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Laura Cooper and Republic of North Macedonia Minister of Defense Radmila Shekerinska unveils the North Macedonia during the flag unveiling ceremony held in the“NATO hallway”at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 17, 2021. (COURTESY PHOTO)

and paved the way for North Macedonia’s NATO accession took real political courage,” she said. “Now, both countries, and the region are better for it.”

Since 1995, North Macedonia has consistently been an exporter of security, Cooper said. More than 4,000 service members from North Macedonia have fought alongside U.S. and NATO allies in Afghanistan and Iraq. Troops from North Macedonia are also helping NATO in Kosovo and in peacekeeping efforts under United Nations auspices.

Shekerinska noted the long road that North Macedonia had to travel to reach

NATO. “We have moved mountains, and the big success of our NATO accession was a result of a long, three-decades-long struggle to change our country for the better,” she said.

The military in 1995 was not even close to having the capabilities needed to join NATO. The nation reached out and NATO allies responded. The United States provided advice and help. And partnered North Macedonia with the Vermont National Guard as part of the Guard bureau’s state partnership program. “This is why the transformation from a former socialist model, a military that resembled

the old times, into a new model of NATO ally, was feasible,” the defense minister said.

Shekerinska said the country received help in cyber problems, equipment buys, tactical help and more, but “I truly believe that it is the human contacts that have done the real transformation,” she said.

The defense minister said the flag unveiling was emotional “to see the North Macedonia flag hanging together with 29 nations, together with the US flag as part of the greatest military and political alliance. I do believe that this has been the highlight of everything that I and my team have worked on in the last 30 years.”

6 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, September 23, 2021

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Albert Sbarro, left, Staff Sgt. Anthony Marotta, Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Witts, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Quentin Hastings stand for a portrait in front of their UH60L Black Hawk helicopter at the New Jersey National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Sept. 14. (MSGT MATT HECHT)

NJNG Soldiers rescued 9 motorists stranded by Ida flooding

By Master Sgt. Matt Hecht

New Jersey National Guard Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. — Hurricane Ida caused extensive damage as a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane in Louisiana and, even after it was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, created catastrophic flooding in the Northeast.

As the hurricane was making landfall, planning was underway at the New Jersey Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility to either prepare for sending troops to assist in the South or support local authorities with weather-related events in New Jersey.

A request for help came early the morning of Sept. 2: Motorists were stranded in rising floodwaters near Somerset, N.J. Maintenance teams, crew chiefs, and

pilots with Detachment 2, C Company, 1-171st General Support Aviation Battalion (MEDEVAC), and the 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion rushed to the facility, located on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Within two hours, they had a hoist-capable UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter off the ground, searching for survivors.

It wasn’t long before the crew of ROGUE20 saw their first flood victims.

“This was the first actual hoist rescue ever done by the New Jersey Army National Guard in New Jersey,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Quentin Hastings, a Black Hawk pilot with the 1-171st. “We had gotten word that there were people in the water on top of their cars, and in just a few minutes, we started finding people.”

Hastings and his copilot, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Albert Sbarro, took turns piloting

and spotting for threats to the aircraft.

The ROGUE20 crew had to navigate several obstacles to put their flight medic into position, including high-tension power lines and rushing water.

“We were only searching for about four or five minutes when we saw cars in rapid moving water that boats couldn’t reach,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Toth, a flight medic with the 1-171st.

“It was tricky because we normally train from 90 to 100 feet, but because of the downwash from the helicopter, we did the hoists from between 140 to 150 feet. It was quite a ride.”

ROGUE20 picked up five stranded motorists with the hoist and four more by landing on a bridge surrounded by water.

While Toth was riding on the hoist, it was operated by Black Hawk crew chiefs Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Witts and Staff Sgt. Anthony

Marotta.

“I was glad to be a part of it, and it was a great feeling to see the looks on the faces of the people we helped pull up,” said Witts. “The first woman we got on board had been on her car for about 10 hours, so she was exhausted and relieved.”

The ROGUE20 crew flew the nine rescued people to a triage site set up with ambulance crews on high ground.

A UH-72 Lakota from New Jersey’s 1-224th Security and Support Battalion also showed up to provide surveillance for the rescue crews.

New Jersey State Police also conducted numerous helicopter hoist rescues in the area.

“We stood up the medevac mission, and less than two years after that we deployed to Afghanistan and had a successful combat tour for nine months in-country. Then we came back home and have been training for this exact scenario,” said Hastings.

“They train for this every day,” said 1st Lt. Larissa Fluegel, commander of Detachment 2, C Company, 1-171st. “The fact that they used their skills to benefit the people in our own communities is really incredible. The National Guard is Always Ready, Always There.”

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, September 23, 2021 7

DOD Policy

USS John S. McCain

the president of the United States, a sacred commitment.”

Kahl said that while China may be “the pacing threat” for the United States, Russia may actually be a larger problem in the short run. “In the coming years, Russia may actually represent the primary security challenge that we face in the military domain for the United States and certainly for Europe,” he said. “Russia is an increasingly assertive adversary that remains determined to enhance its global influence and play a disruptive role on the global stage, including through attempts to divide the West.”

Russian behavior — in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia and in the cyber world — is a major challenge for the United States and its allies. “Far too often, Moscow erodes transparency and predictability, uses military force to achieve its goals, supports proxy groups to sow chaos and doubt, undermines the rules-based international order through cyber and international activities and violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors,” Kahl said. “The United States continues to closely monitor Russian military activity along NATO’s eastern flank and in the Black Sea region.”

America is clear-eyed about the chal-

During the most recent seven-month deployment, John S. McCain participated in the annual multinational exercise MALABAR alongside the Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Royal Australian Navy, focusing on anti-submarine and anti-surface operations.

In March, 2011, John S. McCain responded in support of Operation Tomodachi to provide humanitarian assistance following the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

“It is definitely a changing of the guard with USS John S. McCain and her crew departing the 7th Fleet after over 24 years in Japan,” said Capt.

Chase Sargeant, Commander, Task Force 71/ Destroyer Squadron 15. “The contributions of the current and all previous crews in defending peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific cannot be overstated, and the entire forward-deployed fleet wishes John S. McCain fair winds as she transfers to her new homeport of Everett, Washington.”

John S. McCain is scheduled to join U.S. 3rd Fleet, which leads naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.

U.S. 3rd Fleet works consistently with U.S. 7th Fleet to complement one another and provide commanders capable, ready assets across the spectrum of military operations in the Indo-Pacific.

from Page 1

from Page 1

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl gives a virtual speech during the Baltic Military Conference at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Sept. 17, 2021. (COURTESY PHOTO)

lenges from Russia. “We will engage Russia from a position of collective strength,” the undersecretary said. “U.S. military forces in Europe remain robust, ready and flexible, providing a credible and effective deterrent. At NATO, we are working with allies and partners to ensure military readiness to enhance a combat credible deterrent across

the transatlantic community.”

Kahl is quick to say the door remains open if Russian leaders change their behaviors and want to resume constructive dialogue. Kahl also said that the competition with China does not preclude the United States working with China where it makes sense and where interests converge.

8 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, September 23, 2021

On iberty

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, September 23, 2021 1

Breakfast with a Twist The same bowl of cereal can get boring after eating it for breakfast day in and day out.

You may find yourself looking for something new and exciting to start your whole family’s morning off on the right foot. PAGE C4

(COURTESY PHOTO)

Hope House Foundation Hosts the Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival

From The Hope House Foundation NORFOLK, Va. — Hope House Foundation hosts the Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival, a free two-day community event featuring 115+ artists, musicians and food vendors. The Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival, presented by TowneBank, takes place in Stockley Gardens Park at the corner of Stockley Gardens and Olney Road in Norfolk on October 16 and 17.

Festival hours are 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and noon to 5 pm on Sunday. Stockley Gardens Arts Festival has been named as one of the top two outdoor art festivals in Eastern Virginia by Virginia Living Magazine readers for six years.

Artists present works in various media including painting, glass, sculpture, photography, and jewelry.

Everyone is welcome to the free Art Party sponsored by Smartmouth Brewery on Saturday from 5 to 7 pm. This fun event recognizes artists’ awards and features the band The Heart Stompers with a cash bar.

Entertainment Schedule Saturday, October 16 11:00 a.m. Mike Gombas Jr./ Singer-Songwriter 11:45 a.m. Ann Gray/ Singer-Songwriter 12:45 p.m. Akeylah Simone/ Soul 2:00 p.m. Serious Black/ Contemporary

Folk 3:30 p.m. Delirious George/ Precision Funk 5:00 p.m. The Heart Stompers/Alt-Country Sunday, October 17 12:00 p.m. Miles Hoyle/ Accordion Instrumental 12:45p.m. Amy Ferebee & Regina Scott Sanford/ Americana-Blues 1:45 p.m. Rob Oliver & Brent Gable/ Blues Rock 3:30 p.m. Jarvis Griffin & Nate Levine/ Rock-Funk-Jazz There are also activities for children throughout the weekend with clowns, musicians, hula hooping and art activities.

Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival presented by TowneBank is also sponsored

by Capital Group, Miller Oil, Southern Auto Group, Mancon, Ghent Business Association, The City of Norfolk, and The Port of Virginia. Media Sponsors include VEER Magazine, Coastal Virginia Magazine, WHRO and 94.9 The Point.

Proceeds from the Stockley Gardens Arts Festivals support the programs of Hope House Foundation, the only organization in Virginia that provides support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities exclusively in their own homes.

The spring and fall festivals, the largest fundraiser for the organization, generate

(COURTESY PHOTO)

$80,000 that is used to provide necessities for the people who receive services such as assistance with food, medical expenses,

dental care, clothing and housing. For more information, visit StockleyGardens.com or call (757) 625-6161.

A Symphonic Christmas

By The Virginia Arts Festival Iconic country and pop singer, television performer and talk show host, dancer, actor, author, entrepreneur and public speaker, Marie Osmond has made headlines and fans for nearly 50 years. Now she brings a spectacular holiday concert to Norfolk, in a lushly orchestrated, heartwarming show that includes her nephew, Broadway performer David Osmond, and “America’s Got Talent” finalist Daniel Emmett, and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, conducted

by Brent Havens - December 13 at 7:30 pm, Chrysler Hall. Tickets go on sale to the public this Friday, September 24 and are available online at vafest.org and by phone at 757-282-2822.

“After so many months of uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, and its profound effect on the arts, we need a holiday celebration this year more than ever,” said Virginia Arts Festival Perry Artistic Director Robert W. Cross. “We are delighted to bring one of America’s favorite performers to our region to celebrate the holiday, and we look forward to sharing the show with our Festival fans.”

Beloved by fans for five decades, Marie Osmond rocketed to fame in 1973 with her Billboard-topping version of the country standard “Paper Roses;” and went on to chart multiple gold and platinum-selling hits, winning the Country Music Award in 1987. Her career has encompassed roles on Broadway (The King and I), prime-time and daytime television (“Donny & Marie,” “The Talk”), and authoring three New

York Times best-selling books (Behind the Smile: My Journey Out, Might As Well Laugh About It Now, and The Key Is Love).

She has entertained millions around the world through television, radio, film, live concerts and musical theater performances.

As a philanthropist, she co-founded Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which has raised over $7 billion for children to date. Her most recent album, Music Is Medicine, encompasses a lifetime of experience encompassing music, love loss, hope and joy, and reached the Top 10 on both the Billboard Country Charts and iTunes Country Charts.

For the Norfolk concert, Marie Osmond will be joined by her nephew, Broadway and concert performer David Osmond, who performed the title role in Broadway’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat and is leader of The Osmonds 2nd Generation. The son of Marie’s brother Alan Osmond, David Osmond has multiple sclerosis and works to empower and inspire the MS community. The concert will also feature 2018 “America’s Got Talent” (AGT) finalist Daniel Emmett, whom Marie Osmond calls “a once in a generation voice.” A classical-pop crossover artist who brought the AGT judges to their feet in his duet with Plácido Domingo, he has released critically acclaimed recordings and headlined in Las Vegas since his television debut.

Lending a spectacular musical backdrop to the concert will be the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, led by guest conductor Brent Havens, acclaimed for his performances with the London Royal Philharmonic, the

Marie Osmond. (COURTESY PHOTO)

Pittsburgh Symphony, the Dallas Symphony and many others. Havens is a Virginia Arts Festival fan favorite whose stunning re-creations of great rock concerts have included the Music of Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones and more.

Tickets forMarie Osmond — A Symphonic Christmas are on sale now at the Virginia Arts Festival website at vafest.org, or by phone at the Festival ticket office at 757-282-2822.

Groups of 10 or more save 15% on tickets!

Please call 757-282-2819.

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, September 23, 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/

DO YOU HAVE ANY RANCH? COMEDIAN KATHLEEN MADIGAN RETURNS TO THE SANDLER CENTER MARCH 12, 2022 From The Sandler Center VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.— Comedian Kathleen Madigan’s 32-year comedy career is showing no signs of slowing down. In a typical year, Madigan spends 250 nights on the road and has risen from performing in comedy clubs to performing in marquee theaters with sold-out shows. Now Madigan brings her “Do You Have Any Ranch?”

Tour to the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 8 PM for her first return performance to the venue since 2019.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, September 24 at 10 AM and can be purchased at YnotTix.com or by visiting the Sandler Center Box Office located at 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. Tickets are priced at $29.75, $39.75, and $59.75.

To receive the exclusive presale code to purchase tickets before the general public, join the Sandler Center Cyber Club at SandlerCenter.org. The presale for this show will be Thursday, September 23, from 10 AM to 10 PM. Madigan has squeezed in over 40 appearances on late night talk shows and multiple comedy specials airing on Netflix, Comedy Central and HBO. She also recently joined Jerry Seinfeld on his Netflix show “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” and made the most of the pandemic by launching a podcast, “Madigan’s Pubcast,” on all streaming outlets. Her most recent special “Bothering Jesus,” on Netflix, was the highest selling comedy album and most played comedy album on streaming services since 2014.

Kathleen Madigan. (LUZENA ADAMS)

So how is it, the Detroit Free Press asks, “that Madigan has yet to be cast as the wise cracking a) best friend b) office worker or c) martini-swilling mother-in-law in any of countless sitcoms? We’re thinking it’s because she’s so irreplaceable on the stage.

She’s described as the funniest woman doing stand-up right now but no gender qualifier is necessary. Along with Lewis Black, Brian Regan and Jim Gaffigan, she’s one of the funniest stand-up comedians of

her generation.”

ABOUT SPECTRA: Spectra is an industry leader in hosting and entertainment, partnering with clients to create memorable experiences for millions of visitors every year. Spectra’s unmatched blend of integrated services delivers incremental value for clients through several primary areas of expertise: Venue Management, Food Services & Hospitality, and Partnerships.

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Follow Spectra on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. ABOUT NS2: National Shows 2 (NS2) is a Nashville-based, full-service concert promotion company. NS2 creates, produces and promotes live entertainment events in arenas, amphitheaters, performing arts centers, clubs and other venues across the country. They also produce nationwide tours for a variety of artists. More info at nationalshows2.com.

leaf drop particularly from the lower region of the plants.

The only defense against boxwood blight is prevention. In addition to temporarily closing positive and highly valuable gardens to the public, landscape staff and subcontractors have been trained in boxwood blight detection and are actively scouting gardens on a daily basis. Boxwoods are being proactively treated and all landscaping equipment that could transmit the fungus is sanitized after use on all sites with boxwoods.

Looking forward The battle against boxwood blight is not likely to end any time soon. According to Chapman, the only long-term solution is to slowly replant with blight-resistance boxwood which are smaller than their English and American Boxwood forebearers.

Chapman and her team can also replicate the look of some of the lost boxwood hedges with yaupon, an evergreen shrub which can be found throughout the historic area, including the maze behind the Governor’s Palace.

In some cases, lost boxwood will be replaced

with other period plants. “This is an opportunity to true-up the gardens,” said Joanne.

“Would this many boxwood have really been here in the 18th century? It’s unlikely.” In consultation with colleagues from Colonial Williamsburg’s Museums, Preservation and Historic Resources (MPHR) division, Chapman and her team will work to introduce more historically accurate biodiversity to the gardens.

The task ahead is daunting. Vigilance, thoroughness, and an unwavering commitment to continued education and best practices will help Colonial Williamsburg preserve as many of its original boxwoods as possible. Through the process, the Foundation will serve as a resource to other organizations and individuals dealing with boxwood blight as the fungus continues to spread throughout the state and across the nation. Visit Colonial Williamsburg’s website to learn more about boxwood blight, and lend your support through the City Beautiful Fund to help save the historic boxwoods.

Boxwood Blight Strikes Colonial Williamsburg From Colonial Williamsburg WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Colonial Williamsburg has a new, unwelcome guest.

Boxwood blight, a highly contagious fungal infection that affects boxwood but has no effect on humans or animals, has arrived in the historic area. Despite its existence in Virginia since 2011 — with diagnosed cases within 2,000 feet of the historic area for the last two years — Colonial Williamsburg’s proactive education and outreach efforts have managed to keep the disease at bay for longer than anyone expected.

“We knew it was inevitable,” said Joanne Chapman, Director of Landscape Services at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, “but being able to delay boxwood blight for as long as we did put us in the best possible position to deal with it quickly and effectively. We had a protocol in place that we developed in partnership with Virginia Tech’s Boxwood Blight Task Force so we were really as prepared as we could be.”

That preparedness paid off. The first case of boxwood blight was discovered by a member of Colonial Williamsburg’s maintenance team on July 29, 2021. Despite having no background in horticulture, he had been trained to spot the disease and was able to alert Chapman and her team who sprang into action to contain the fungus. Since then, boxwood blight has been identified and mitigated in gardens at four Colonial Williamsburg sites: the Ludwell-Paradise House, Providence Hall, the St. George Tucker House, and the Governor’s Palace.

Taking Action There is no cure for boxwood blight. The only way to address the fungus is to remove the infected plant, and plants can be infected before they show symptoms. The removal of the boxwood — many of which are over 100 years old - is a great loss to the Foundation, but a necessary step to protect the rest of the Foundation’s collection of approximately 8,000 boxwoods.

The extent of the infection dictates mitigation efforts. At the Ludwell-Paradise House and the West Privy Garden at the Gover-

(COURTESY PHOTO)

nor’s Palace, all of the boxwood had to be meticulously removed and destroyed in order to prevent transmission. At Providence Hall and the St. George Tucker House, only the diseased portions of the plants were removed, and the remaining plants were fenced and netted to create a physical barrier. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is working closely with experts including T. Michael Linkins and Virginia Tech’s Boxwood Blight Task Force and a group of international scientists led by the Dr. Chuanxue Hong, Professor of Plant Pathology at Virginia Tech University, to determine the best mitigation technique in each scenario as it arises.

Understanding the problem Boxwood blight is spread when insects, animals, people and gardening tools come into contact with infected shrubs and unknowingly transfer the sticky spores of the fungus to healthy boxwood. Early symptoms include circular, tan leaf spots, often with a darker border; linear, black stem lesions on infected green stems; and sudden and severe

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, September 23, 2021 3

4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, September 23, 2021

Food

Sausage French Toast Roll-Ups .(COURTESY PHOTO)

A Traditional Breakfast with a Twist

By Culinary.net The same bowl of cereal can get boring after eating it for breakfast day in and day out. You may find yourself looking for something new and exciting to start your whole family’s morning off on the right foot.

Kids can be picky when it comes to breakfast foods, but this recipe for Sausage Fresh Toast Roll-Ups is a quick and easy way to fill their bellies with a taste of several flavors

they may already love. It’s a perfect way to fill your morning with joy, no matter if the hours ahead are filled with work, school or play.

A sizzling sausage link wrapped with French toast, it combines a favorite breakfast protein and traditional deliciousness in one little roll. Drizzled with warm maple syrup at the end, even adults can’t help but indulge in these breakfast bites.

This is a quick dish too, using few kitchen

utensils, which makes for more time in the morning to enjoy the little things that matter most like moments with family before rushing out the door. This recipe can also be made when your family is craving breakfast for dinner.

Find more breakfast recipes at Culinary. net.

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

Sausage French Toast Roll-Ups Servings: 12 12 sausage links 2 eggs ⅔ cup milk 3 teaspoons almond extract ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 6 bread slices, crust removed, cut in half 3 tablespoons butter syrup In skillet, cook sausage links according to package directions. Set aside.

In medium bowl, whisk eggs, milk, almond extract and cinnamon.

Dip bread slice in egg mixture. Wrap bread slice around cooked sausage link, pressing seam to keep from unrolling.

Repeat with remaining bread slices and sausage links.

In large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter. Place roll-ups in skillet, seamside down, and cook until all sides are browned, approximately 10 minutes.

Savory, Smothered Cuisine

By Culinary.net

When you are hungry and searching for something filling, juicy and rich, turning to your pantry for on-hand ingredients can make dinner a breeze. Dodge snack cravings and avoid the temptation to swing by the drive-thru; instead, you can have a homemade meal ready in a matter of minutes by putting your skillet to work.

Call your loved ones to the dining room to share time together while trying these Smothered Pork Chops in Mushroom Sauce. It’s a dish the entire family can dig into without questioning the substance of the meal as it’s a filling option that requires just a few ingredients you likely already have at home.

It all starts with the pork chops, which are thick and seared to perfection. The mushroom sauce is a beautiful blend of earthy and creamy textures. Bring it to a simmer then smother your pork chops and garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color.

The best part is this recipe doesn’t take much time to accomplish. The pork chops are seared for 3-5 minutes per side then simmered in the mushroom sauce for another 2-3 minutes until thoroughly cooked.

Don’t waste time with complicated recipes, dirtying an array of kitchen utensils and multiple trips to the store for ingredients you may not use again. This recipe requires one bowl and a single skillet.

Cleanup is a breeze, which means there is more time to spend around the table with those who mean the most.

Find more savory recipes at Culinary.net.

If you made this recipe at home, use #MyCulinaryConnection on your favorite

Smothered Pork Chops in Mushroom Sauce. (COURTESY PHOTO)

social network to share your work.

Smothered Pork Chops in Mushroom Sauce Servings: 4 1 teaspoon mild chili powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 4 pork chops 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons butter Mushroom Sauce:

2 ½ cups brown mushrooms, sliced 5 garlic cloves, smashed 1 tablespoon parsley 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning ½ cup chicken broth 1 ½ cups heavy cream fresh parsley, for garnish In small bowl, whisk chili powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper until combined.

Pat pork chops dry. Season generously with spice mix. Set aside.

In skillet, add olive oil and butter. Add

pork chops; sear 3-5 minutes per side.

Transfer to plate.

To make mushroom sauce: In same skillet, add mushrooms. Stir fry until golden brown. Add garlic, parsley and Italian seasoning. Stir fry 2 minutes. Add broth and heavy cream. Stir to combine. Simmer 5 minutes until slightly thickened.

Return pork chops to sauce. Simmer 2-3 minutes until pork chops are cooked through. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, September 23, 2021 5

Health

As a public affairs officer for the 402nd, I’ve had the opportunity to travel across the Indo-Pacific region documenting the 402nd’s support of U.S. Army Pacific. The job is nothing short of wonderful, but it’s the Soldiers and civilians I work with that have made juggling a full-time job, extended separation from my husband, and my mental health needs manageable. (COURTESY PHOTO).

Navy Spouse Seeks Mental Health Care through the MHS

By Katie Nelson

402nd Army Field Support Brigade

I’ve spent the last ten years of my life living with a mental illness, but my first experience with a mental health crisis sits in my mind so clearly it feels like it could have happened yesterday.

I had just started my second year of college, I didn’t get into a class I so badly wanted to take, and I broke down. I called my mom, but there wasn’t much she could do. Neither of us understood the reaction I was having to a seemingly minor hiccup. Her intuition must’ve clicked in when she said, “Go to the health center and tell them you need to speak to a counselor. I am not hanging up this phone until you are with a counselor.”

Looking back, that singular moment probably saved my life. And thus began my navigation in the world of mental health.

A stigma around mental health still very much exists in the world. At first I was embarrassed that I saw a therapist. I didn’t want to be medicated the rest of my life. I just wanted to be “normal,” whatever that is.

It took a few years and some wise advice from my sister before I stopped feeling ashamed and embraced the steps I needed to take in order to take care of myself. “If someone had a heart condition and needed medication, they would take it every day, how is this any different?”

I promised myself I would never switch my health insurance to TRICARE. By the time I

married my husband, an active duty Sailor, I finally had the perfect therapist and the right combination of medication.

My depression and anxiety was manageable and I didn’t want to mess with a good thing.

After all, like many other new spouses, I had heard horror stories of how the military cared for behavioral health. I worried I wouldn’t have access to a therapist of my choosing or medication I knew already worked for me, and would constantly hit walls when I needed care.

Fast forward four years, and switching my care to the military has been one of the best decisions for my mental health.

Being part of the military community really has done wonders to my mental health. The care I receive from my local military clinic is better than I ever expected it to be. My primary care manager, therapist and psychiatrist all have access to my file with each other’s notes, taking the stress out of getting care because I no longer have to constantly rehash my life story with every visit. I honestly feel like I’m receiving care as a whole person as opposed to doctors addressing one issue at a time without looking at the full picture.

This year’s theme for Suicide Prevention Month, “Connect to Protect,” resonates with me because it is the connections I have with the people around me that keep me going through my hardest days. It’s taken a while, but I’ve learned it’s not only okay to reach out when my symptoms increase, it’s necessary in order to take care of myself. Being open and honest

with myself and those around me about how I’m truly feeling makes the tough days a little more manageable.

While the traditional health care aspect of the military community continues to exceed expectations, it’s the people I’ve met along the way who have helped me the most. Some of my best friends are military spouses. They don’t judge me when I need a little extra love or assurance when I’m having a depressive episode. They check in on me when my husband is deployed or gone for training. Most importantly, they understand the unique situations that come with being in a military family.

Really, the same can be said about the people I work with. I’ve been a Department of the Army Civilian for a year now. I love my job, plain and simple, but it’s the soldiers and civilians I work with that have made juggling a full-time job, extended separation from my husband, and my mental health needs manageable.

Some people will never understand what it feels like to have such a disconnect between your logic and your emotions. But keeping those feelings close to you only makes them worse. It’s been a long road but I’ve learned needing mental health care is nothing to be ashamed about.

It’s not a secret to those around me that I see a therapist on a regular basis. I proudly take my medicine and share my experiences about it. I mean, can you really be best friends with someone if you haven’t compared notes about what

anxiety medicine works best for you?

It may sound like a talking point when the military says people are their number one priority, but it’s been more than a box to check in my life.

Check in on the people you care about.

Don’t wait until someone is struggling. Let the people you love know they’re on your mind.

Not everyone is going to ask for help when they need it, and not everyone may know they need help. And if you are struggling with anything, no matter how trivial you think it is, don’t let the fear of the stigma hold you back from

As a new Navy spouse, I was very hesitant to seek care for my mental health from the Military Health System. Much to my surprise, being part of the military community really has done wonders to my mental health. The care I receive from my local military clinic is better than I ever expected it to be (Courtesy Photo).

accessing the resources you need.

Whether it be your spouse, best friend, battle buddy or even your commander, the people around you care.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: How Health Care Workers are Coping

By Connected Health Communications Office Not so long ago health care workers faced an unknown battle.

The demand for knowledge, experience, and equipment was high. Vaccines were introduced and infection rates started to show progress in the COVID-19 battle.

For health care providers, experiencing the pandemic inside a hospital has brought a new kind of traumatic experience - one that requires resilience in the face of adversity.

Health care workers do witness patients at their most vulnerable state, and like most who face high traumatic situations, it is important to maintain a work-life balance.

However, the lines are blurring with the COVID-19 battle. Some health care workers, for example, are self-isolating and staying onsite to prevent the spread of infection. From these experiences, mental health providers are noticing frontline health care providers developing symptoms of post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Health care workers have experienced a battle with initially little knowledge and supplies. They are continually learning as they go and making life-changing decisions daily,” said Dr. Kelly Blasko, a counseling psychologist and lead of the Defense Health Agency’s mHealth Clinical Integration Office

Health care workers do witness patients at their most vulnerable state, and like most who face high traumatic situations, it is important to maintain a work-life balance. However, the lines are blurring with the COVID-19 battle (Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Erwin Jacob Miciano).

in the Connected Health Branch. “On top of that, the lack of rest and isolation is heightening their stress and impacting their coping abilities. Self-care for these health care providers is more important now than ever.”

“The Provider Resilience toolkit was developed to support burnout in health care providers, and help enable them to provide the best care to our military community,” she continued.

The DHA Connected Health Branch continues to leverage digital health technology and bringing health care resources to providers in a digital fashion. The toolkit, mentioned by Blasko, reminds medical professionals to be aware of the signs of burnout, take a break when noticing the signs, and to create a positive work environ-

ment.

“I’ve noticed when my body starts to feel off, my mind kind of follows,” said Air Force Senior Airman Clayton Johnson, a mobile medic.

“If I start to feel physically tired, I’m going to feel a bit mentally groggy, a bit more worn out, maybe I need to continue to work on my bedside manner in terms of how I talk to patients.”

Along with tips, the toolkit suggests four digital health apps to support health care providers who are coping with the ever-changing environment that has been the created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Breathe2Relax teaches diaphragmatic breathing to de-escalate stress • Virtual Hope Box contains personalized

tools to help with positive coping through relaxation, distraction, and connecting to others in a time of need.

• Provider Resilienceoffers self-assessments and stress reduction tools along with a dashboard to track your daily resilience rating.

• Military Meditation Coach Podcast helps with strengthening the mind with a variety of meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation exercises.

Recognizing burnout and focusing on selfcare, allows health care workers to be medically ready and continue the battle against COVID-19.

It’s important for them to focus on themselves during these high-stress times, explained Blasko.

6 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, September 23, 2021

Estate Sales Estate Sales

Garage/Yard Sales, etc.

NORFOLK Annual Yard Sale.

Norfolk Church of Christ. 5801 Granby St. Sat 9/25, 8am-3:30pm.

Jump start your day.

ESTATE SALE 1008 Brandon Rd. Va. Beach (Bay Colony) Fri/Sat 9/24 & 9/25, 8:30 AM-3 PM Partial Listing: Antique & good furniture & decorative items, early 19th Century slant-front desk, lots of sterling, China & crystal, dropleaf tables, pine dry sink, set of 6 mahogany chairs, brass wood box, mahogany, maple & pine chests, old prints, lg. stamp collection, sofas, chairs, kit., etc., costume & silver jewelry, lots of other stuff. All silver taken out of home until day of Sale. House alarmed & guarded.

Pics soon on Estatesales.net. Cash or Check Only. Va. Beach Antiques, Larry Zedd, 757-422-4477. virginiabeachantiquecompany.com

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Misc. Merchandise For Sale #01A BLACK SIFTED TOPSOIL 6 yds $270, Mulch $28/yd; Compost $28/yd. Rock, playground mulch, firewood, lawn care. D Miller’s 536-3052

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Misc. Merchandise For Sale

2 AIR CANNONS Used. Ryobi One+. 18v Hybrid 18in Air Cannon. $75 each. 757-420-4593 FIREPLACE WOOD FOR SALE $200/Cord. Please Call NO Texting Clifton at 757-478-9914

MOBILITY SCOOTER Battery operated (needs new one).

Excellent condition. $400 Call: 757-340-2833

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Dogs, Cats, Other Pets AMERICAN BOXER 8 Fawn & White Reg pups - DOB 8/31/21 Rdy 10/10/21. $700 OBX. Call: 252-202-7678 BEAGLE Beautiful Black & White Female. Born 3/18/21. $550 Call: 252-484-0775

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, September 23, 2021 7 Dogs, Cats, Other Pets

Classic, Antique Cars

Wanted Automotive

DOBERMAN PINSCHER

JAGUAR 1995 XJS

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

Boats & Watercraft GLEN L10 SAILBOAT 1985 Wooden. Sailed for 1yr - stored inside garage since $200obo 757-419-0177 AKC Female Doberman Pinscher. 26 Weeks, chipped, shots up to date.

Virginia Beach area. $2300, Price is neg. Serious inquires only. 757-7152753 YORKIE POO PUPS Adorable, M & F, Ready 10/30, $850/ each Call: 252-655-1575 YORKIE PUPS Parti & traditional colors, males, ready 11/1, $950-$1,050/ea 252-655-1575

Motorcycles and ATVs 1991 HARLEY DAVIDSON Soft Tail Custom. Motor 81.6 CI, Model FXSTC. 73,211 original miles.

We did a very extensive restoration

by Leonard at Hampton Roads Harley Davidson in 2007. Lost interest in riding, stored in climate controlled garage, lots of spare parts. Must see show bike! $9,800 Serious Inquires Only. Contact: 757-373-3332

Autos for Sale

DODGE 2017 CHARGER

Immaculate VW Convertible, White Exterior&Interior, Fuel Injected, Detailed Engine. $17,500 757-319-2109

Trucks and SUVs

INFINITI 2008 G35

FORD 2019 ESCAPE

KIA 2007 RIO5

MAINTENANCE TECH Exp. in all phases of apt. maintenance. Must have own tools. Valid Drivers lic. & criminal background check req’d. Overtime & benefits.

Apply Ingleside Sq. Apts. 3515 Gatling Ave., Norfolk, 757-4668111. EOE

VOLKSWAGEN 1979 SUPER BEETLE

Scat Pack R/T. 6.4, 29k mi, garage. $43k. Cash & Carry. 757-228-6656 155k miles, good condition, runs well, turbo, black. $4,800. 757-515-0579

Maintenance Estate Sales

Excellent condition, 6 cyl. New paint, top & interior. $9500 757-630-3372

Automatic, 160K mi., runs great - well maintained! Cold AC. $4000 OBO Call or Text: (757) 635-3963

SUBARU 2020 OUTBACK

Touring Pkg, 15K original mis., 1 owner, AWD, factory warranty, leather, nav, sunroof, showroom new. $41,500. 757-620-7570. Va. Dlr.

Classic, Antique Cars

CHEVROLET 1966 CHEVELLE

Room For Rent

Project car! New motor & transmission. $7,500 Call: 757-770-6138

VIRGINIA BEACH Priv entr & bath, kitchenette. $795 incl all util, cbl & internet. 757-717-0129

We will purchase your collectible, classic, late model autos, we will come to you. Call 757-675-0288.

Good news.

Early home delivery.

757-446-9000 PilotOnline.com

SEL. Only 9,300 mi! 6 spd auto, pristine, ruby red, $26K. Current inspection. Warranty - 10/22 757-291-7005

LEXUS 2005 GX 470

LINCOLN 2009 TOWN CAR

Signature. 65K orig. mis., gar. kept, new Michelin tires, fully loaded, Limited Pkg., new insp. Showroom new. $12,500. 757-675-0288. Va. Dlr.

USED TRAILER SALE!!!

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

Excellent Condition. $9,950.

757-615-5612

LEXUS 2019 RX 350L

26K orig. mis., factory warranty, 3rd row seat, fully loaded, 1 owner, all serviced/inspected, showroom new. $48,500. 757-620-7570. Va dlr

Jump start your day.

Early home delivery 757-446-9000 PilotOnline.com

TOYOTA 2017 TACOMA

Crew Cab, 4WD, TRD off-road. Over $5000 in upgrades. 1 Owner. Runs & looks great. All serviced, new insp, $36,900. 757-620-7570. Va. Dlr.

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

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757-446-9000 or PilotOnline.com

Sudoku

CryptoQuip

Last week’s CryptoQuip answer

The runner usually goes fairly slowly, but he has began sqrinting. He wants a change of pace.

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

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8 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, September 23, 2021