Flagship 10.26.2023 by Military News

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

Burlington’s top-tier completes ﬁrstever Continuing Promise mission Military Sealift Command’s tenth expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS Burlington returned home to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek – Fort Story, Va., Oct. 17, after a three-month deployment in Latin America and the Caribbean. PAGE A3 VOL. 31, NO. 38, Norfolk, VA | ﬂagshipnews.com

October 26-November 1, 2023

U.S. Fleet Forces Rock Band, Four-Star Edition, performs at Fleet Fest 2023 onboard Naval Station Norfolk, Oct. 21, 2023. In addition to the live performance, the nearly 20,000 guests enjoyed ship tours, a chili cook-off, a car show, static displays, live demonstrations and live entertainment by the Deloreans. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY BOATSWAIN’S MATE 3RD CLASS JESSICA NUNEZ)

NAVSTA Norfolk’s Fleet Fest brings record numbers By Kelly Wirfel

Naval Station Norfolk Public Affairs Officer

NORFOLK, Va. — Returning to Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk after a threeyear absence, Science, Technology, Engineering and Technology (STEM) Day and Fleet Fest 2023, held Oct. 20-21 brought record crowds as it showcased the mission of NAVSTA Norfolk, the U.S. Navy, U.S Coast Guard and U.S. Marine Corps. On Friday, the installation partnered with Norfolk Public Schools and Portsmouth Public Schools to host 3,000 ﬁfth and sixth graders along with 500 teachers, administrators and chaperones for a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Day, which kicked off the two-day event. The goal of the day was to educate, inspire and connect students to STEM topics through hands-on activities and primarily to provide them access to see what takes place at NAVSTA Norfolk. “My favorite part was getting to see the ships and talk to the military people,” said one Larchmont Elementary School 5th grade student. “Going to the very top of the aircraft carrier was so neat. We were so high.” On Saturday, in an effort to foster the Navy’s relationship with the community and to provide access and education to the public on what NAVSTA Norfolk Sailors

Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Janet Days, Navy Exchange Service Command CEO, retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, Rear Adm. Joe Cahill and Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine judge the chili cook-off that took place during Fleet Fest 2023 onboard NAVSTA Norfolk, Oct. 21, 2023. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY DAMAGE CONTROLMAN 3RD CLASS ASHELY PIERSON)

and civilians do on a day-to-day basis, the base opened its gates to the general public hosting approximately 19,900 guests. “Both STEM Day and Fleet Fest 2023

were a resounding success,” said Capt. Janet Days, NAVSTA Norfolk’s Commanding Officer. “Throughout STEM and Fleet Fest we were honored to show nearly

25,000 people what our proud Sailors and civilians do each and every day at the world’s largest and best naval installation.” The day-long event consisted of tours aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95), a chili cook-off, a car show, static displays and live entertainment by U.S. Fleet Forces Rock Band and The Deloreans. “We drove the whole way from Michigan and are so glad we made the trip,” said Fleet Fest attendee Arianna Singleton. “I came to tour the two Navy ships and Coast Guard Cutters but ended up hanging out all day enjoying all the activities. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity — really a dream come true.” An addition to this year’s festivities included tours onboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Seneca (WMEC 906) and Rollin Fritch (WPC 111) along with static displays from the U.S. Marine Corps, live demonstrations and an F-18A ﬂyover. “I couldn’t be more proud of my team, the support for our tenants was phenomenal and also the support from our brethren — the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Marine Corps,” said Days. “I especially want to thank everyone who came out to enjoy the event. Fleet Fest will be back even bigger and better next year.”

Little Creek Culinary Specialists take pride in boosting morale By April Phillips

JEBLCFS Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — An old cliché says the way to the heart is through the stomach. While that may or may not be true, Navy culinary specialists at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story’s Gator Inn Galley know that delicious, healthy meals are a key part of morale for the service members and Department of Defense civilians they serve. The team of 23 Navy culinary specialists and 17 civilians at the Gator Inn Galley prepare and serve three meals a day, seven days a week, for anywhere from 150 to 250 diners. For the Navy’s 248th birthday celebration Oct. 13, they planned for a full house and prepared a feast including grilled steak, breaded shrimp, baked chicken, multiple side dishes, and desserts. A lot of work goes into cooking food for so many people. “We prepare overnight,” said Culinary Specialist 1st Class Carlyle Campbell. “We marinate the meat and chop the veggies and get everything ready.”

Preparation is necessary, but galley supervisor Culinary Specialist 1st Class Kindall Moore said there’s something even more important. “Love is the biggest thing. We cook every day. That’s the easy part, but love is the main thing. People have a hard day, but they can come to the galley and we boost their morale,” he said. That sentiment is conﬁrmed by diners Staff Sgt. Dominique Lewis and Sgt. Zachary Lundquist, both instructors at the Naval School Music Marine Detachment, located at Little Creek. They eat lunch regularly at the galley and appreciate the effort that goes into creating the meals. “The healthy options are clearly labeled, which is helpful,” Lewis said. He also stated that good food Turn to Culinary Specialists, Page 6 Culinary Specialist 1st Class Kindall Moore prepares grilled steak at the JEBLCFS Gator Inn Galley as part of a special meal for the Navy’s 248th birthday. (PHOTO BY APRIL PHILLIPS)

NWS Yorktown participates in annual Yorktown Day Event www.ﬂagshipnews.com

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The annual event commemorates the Siege of Yorktown where American and French troops defeated the British in the last major battle of the Revolutionary War on October 19, 1781. In attendance were members of the French Military, servicemembers from Joint Base Langley-Eustis and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. PAGE A2

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The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

Yorktown, Va. (October 19, 2023). Members of the U.S. Army’s Third Infantry Fifes and Drums march in a parade as part of the annual Yorktown Day event in historic Yorktown, Virginia. The annual event commemorates the Siege of Yorktown where American and French troops defeated the British in the last major battle of the Revolutionary War on October 19, 1781. (NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PHOTO BY LINDA WILLIAMS)

NWS Yorktown participates in annual Yorktown Day Event By Max Lonzanida

Naval Weapons Station Yorktown

YORKTOWN, Va. — The 242nd anniversary ofAmerica’s decisive Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown, Virginia culminated in a spectacular series of commemorative events on Thursday, October 19th onboard Colonial National Historical Park and Historic Yorktown as part of the annual Yorktown Day Event. The annual event commemorates the Siege of Yorktown where American and French troops defeated the British in the last major battle of the Revolutionary War on October 19, 1781. In attendance at the commemorative events were members of the French Military, servicemembers from Joint Base Langley-Eustis and Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. The day’s events kicked off in the morning with a sobering and commemorative wreath laying at the French Cemetery onboard Yorktown National Battleﬁeld. The cemetery is the ﬁnal resting place for 50 French soldiers who perished during the Siege of Yorktown in 1781. The American Friends of Lafayette, along with representatives from other community organizations attended the brief ceremony. Thereafter, attendees and dignitaries converged at the French Memorial, located just off historic Colonial Parkway. Major General Bertrand Jardin, Defense Attaché at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. presided over the ceremony and offered some commemorative remarks during the event. Additionally, members of the Yorktown Fifes and

Yorktown where hundreds of spectators lined the streets. U.S. Army Major General John D. Kline, Commanding General of the Army Center for Initial Military Training onboard Joint Base Langley-Eustis served as the officiant from the VIP reviewing stand. Also in the reviewing stand were representatives from area installations, including U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Scott M. Reed, Commanding Officer of the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment and U.S. Navy Captain Daniel Patrick, Commanding Officer of Naval Weapons Station Yorktown-Cheatham Annex. Also in the reviewing stand Yorktown, Va. (October 19, 2023) Captain Daniel Patrick, was Jerri Marr, SuperintenCommanding Officer of Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and dent of Colonial National Ambassador Santiago Cabanas, Ambassador of Spain to the Historical Park; AmbasUnited States, render honors from the reviewing stand during sador Santiago Cabanas, a parade as part of the annual Yorktown Day event. (U.S. NAVY Spanish Ambassador to the PHOTO BY MAX LONZANIDA/RELEASED) United States; and Caroline Monvoisin, French Consul Drums along with a contingent from the General to the United States among other U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Band distinguished guests. The U.S. Army’s performed after several commemorative 3rd Infantry Old Guard Fife and Drum wreaths were placed. Corps marched in the parade, along with The day’s commemorative events contin- members of the U.S. Army’s Training and ued with the much anticipated Yorktown Doctrine Command Band, area high school Day parade through historic downtown marching bands and JROTC detachments,

along with various community groups and historical reenactors. At the conclusion of the parade, visitors and distinguished guests converged on the Yorktown Victory Monument as part of the annual Patriotic Exercises. Attendees stood while the national anthems of France and Spain were played, along with a patriotic rendition of the Star Spangled Banner performed by members of the U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Command. Providing remarks at this annual event was Spanish Ambassador, Santiago Cabanas whose remarks highlighted the role that Spain had during the Revolutionary War. This was the first year that the Spanish Ambassador attended; he also unveiled a Spanish flag and new interpretive panel at the Yorktown National Battlefield Visitor Center later that day. Superintendent Jerri Marr of Colonial National Historical Park also offered remarks and honored area middle and high school students. Additionally, Caroline Monvoisin, French Consul General also provided some brief remarks which highlighted the strategic and historical alliance between France and the United States. The event concluded with a thundering artillery salute rendered by Soldiers stationed onboard Fort Eustis, which signaled an end to the day’s commemorative events which highlighted the alliance of France, Spain and the United States which eventually brought an end to the Revolutionary War in Yorktown, Virginia 242 years ago.

NECC highlights family readiness program, welcomes new director By Petty Officer 3rd Class Shanice McNulty

Navy Expeditionary Combat Command

Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) recently welcomed a new family readiness program director to manage family service and support policies and resources throughout the Navy Expeditionary Combat Force. Megan Stewart, who is also a commissioned officer in the Navy Reserve, took the helm as program director this past summer. “My job is basically making sure that NECC is complaint with all policies instructions and that everybody is inspection ready. I also make sure that our families are being taken care of and that programs that support our families are effective,” said Stewart. One of her future goals for this program is

to become more integrated with Fleet and see where any inconsistencies may lie. “We want to go out routinely to visit our subordinate commands to ensure we have face-to-face conversations with them, getting on the level on the force and really seeing what is happening instead of being at headquarters and trying to work issues from so far away,” said Stewart. Stewart explained that she believes a Sailor’s best support is their family, but she emphasized that family members also need support as well. “My job is to be there to support the support network of the Force and make sure the home side is taken care of while their Sailor is on deployment. I also help them ﬁnd resources if they need anything while they’re getting ready for deployment.” Commander, Navy Installation

Command, who oversees the Navy’s family readiness program, defines the Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) as an integral part of a support service network that bundles key support services such as ombudsmen, Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSCs), chaplains, school liaison officers and child development centers at the command level. When families of deployed service members know their resources, they can have fun, draw on the strength of new friends, enhance their coping skills, and reduce deployment anxiety. NECC Force Chaplain, Capt. Tavis Long explained the differences between Fleetbased FRGs and those within the expeditionary side of the Navy. “We have FRG groups on ships, and we also have ombudsmen. For us within the Navy Expeditionary Combat Force, we are

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pulling all of that in under the family readiness program director. On a ship usually your CMC works with the ombudsmen and often chaplains will work the FRG”, said Long. According to the 2018 FRG Handbook, FRGs help plan, coordinate and conduct informational, caretaking, morale-building and social activities to enhance preparedness and command mission readiness and to increase the resiliency and well-being of Sailors and their families. For more information about Family Readiness Programs, visit https://ffr.cnic.navy.mil/ Family-Readiness/Fleet-And-Family-Support-Program/Work-and-Family-Life/ Deployment-Readiness-Support/Family-Readiness-Groups/.

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

Burlington’s top-tier completes ﬁrst-ever Continuing Promise mission By Lashawn Sykes

USN Military Sealift Command

NORFOLK, Va. — Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) tenth expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) returned home to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek (JEBLC) — Fort Story, Va., Oct. 17, after a three-month deployment in Latin America and the Caribbean. This deployment was a part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Continuing Promise (CP) 2023, a humanitarian assistance and goodwill mission in Panama, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada. U.S. 4th Fleet embarked U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Michael Fleck who served as the officer in charge for the embarked military detachment (MILDET) team. Burlington’s shipmasters, Captains Tyler Driscoll and Adam Streeper, were responsible for maintaining the operation and safety of the vessel and the discipline of the 120 Burlington crewmembers that included civil service mariners (CIVMARS), U.S. Navy Sailors, and a medical engagement team. The embarked medical engagement team, working alongside host nation medical personnel, provided critical medical care to citizens in local community clinics. The engagement team included veterinarians and biomedical technicians, along with Navy Seabees who conducted small engineering-construction projects and the U.S. Fleet Forces Navy Band that hosted live music performances. While this evolution marked the 13th CP mission to the region since 2007, this was Burlington’s ﬁrst time serving as the deploying platform for a Continuing Promise mission said Fleck. “Much credit goes to Military Sealift Command and the top-notch skills of their civil service mariners who were instrumental in assisting us in overcoming some of the challenges faced in this proof of concept. The collaborative cadence of the military-CIVMAR team displayed great resilience in order to complete the mission successfully and bring everyone home safely.” Steaming throughout the Caribbean for three months, the Burlington team had several highlights worth nothing. Working in tandem, the team provided vital medical care to 6,100 patients, administered 950 vaccinations, and dispensed 8,750 prescriptions. The U.S. Navy Biomedical Equipment Repair team collaborated with host nation medical personnel to repair and troubleshoot medical equipment, valued at more than $500,000. The U.S. Navy Seabees took on construction and engineering projects that beneﬁted host nation schools, hospi-

NORFOLK, Va. (Oct. 17, 2023) – Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) tenth expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) returned home to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek (JEBLC) – Fort Story, Va., Oct. 17, after a three-month deployment in Latin America and the Caribbean. This deployment was a part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet’s Continuing Promise (CP) 2023, a humanitarian assistance and goodwill mission in Panama, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada. (PHOTO BY LASHAWN SYKES, USN MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND)

tals, and local communities. The U.S. Navy Fleet Forces band hosted 5,000 people and performed 26 live concerts for U.S. and foreign military officials, U.S. ambassadors, and other host nation leaders. Additionally, the Burlington team conducted several subject matter expert exchanges that ranged from public health issues to epidemic infectious diseases to disaster response training and Women, Peace, and Security initiatives. “Your dedication and steadfast commitment to mission completion helped to further enhance regional interoperability and create long lasting friendships for generations to come — all of which is in keeping with the Navy’s enduring promise to the region, said U.S. Navy Capt. Jamie A. Murdock, commodore of Military Sealift Command — Atlantic. Echoing Murdock’s sentiments, Streeper acknowledged that Continuing Promise 2023 was a huge success. “Because of the vessel’s unique capabilities, EPFs

are frequently called upon to support the Navy’s medical and humanitarian missions. These missions are, often, located in austere environments, in various ﬂeets worldwide, where larger draft vessels cannot berth — which is not a problem for the spearhead class ship. Designed perfectly, EPFs are able to meet the demands and requirements of the military and the logistic planners who create these missions for MSC to execute. Additionally, the CIVMAR and MILDET crews’ ability to integrate seamlessly, in order to carry out the daily mission requirements, was the key to our success. I am quite proud of the work we accomplished. It is always great to leave a location better than we found it, and we did just that — through medical and humanitarian engagements, cooperative learning and training with partner nations, and the community relations carried out at the four port stops visited.” Burlington is a 338-foot-long aluminum

catamaran designed to be fast, ﬂexible and maneuverable, even in austere ports, making it ideal for rapidly transporting troops and equipment within a theater of operations. The 20,000-square-foot mission bay area can be re-conﬁgured to adapt quickly to whatever tasking given to the vessel, which includes anything from carrying containerized portable hospitals to support disaster relief to transporting tanks and troops. Burlington is one of 14 EFP vessels planned for the Navy. It’s a government vessel owned by the U.S. Navy and operated by Military Sealift Command. It is capable of carrying up to 312 passengers. Military Sealift Command exists to support the joint warfighter across the full spectrum of military operations. MSC provides on-time logistics, strategic sealift, as well as specialized missions anywhere in the world, under any condition, 24/7, 365 days a year.

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4 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (Sept. 28, 2023) From left, Beverly Hendricks, an accountant, Angela Hinton, a financial management analyst, Mary Leverett-Bazemore, an accountant, Lt. Carla Santiago, an associate comptroller, Carolyn Atkins, a financial management analyst, Michele Jackson, a financial management analyst, and Charlette Worley, a system accountant, assigned to Naval Medical Forces Atlantic pose for a photo with the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Financial Management Team award for Contributions to End-to-End Business Environment Optimization on board Naval Support Activity (NSA) Hampton Roads - Portsmouth Annex, Sept. 28, 2023. The team earned the award for transitioning the NMFL financial system and transferred over 400 civilian billets to the Navy Enterprise Resource Planning time and attendance system while maintaining 100% fund accountability. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS LEVI DECKER)

Medical Forces Atlantic staff presented Department of Defense Financial Management Award By Petty Officer 2nd Class Travis Decker Naval Medical Forces Atlantic

Naval Medical Forces Atlantic (NMFL) personnel were presented the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Financial Management team award for Contributions to End-to-End Business Environment Optimization during a Department of Defense (DoD) Financial Management Conference, Aug. 31. Lt. Carla Santiago, the NMFL associate comptroller, led a 6-person team during the transition of the command’s mission from healthcare delivery to a medical readiness focus while approving all transactions in a major automated information system for administering and managing the U.S. Navy’s medical general funds. “The transition from healthcare delivery to readiness within Navy Medicine

presented a host of challenges to us,” said Santiago. “The major ones included transferring existing travel obligations, contracts, and other pertinent financial records from one system to the next while at the same time implementing and executing within the newer system.” The resource management team played a pivotal role in NMFL’s financial systems switch, transferring over $20 million across 25-plus commands for three fiscal years. Their expertise ensured the efficient fund management and successfully transferred over 400 civilian billets to the Navy Enterprise Resource Planning (N-ERP) time and attendance, maintaining 100% fund accountability. “The team’s ability to work towards what was best for the enterprise was astounding,” stated Beverly Hendricks an accountant at NMFL. “Helping to bring the enterprise forward by implementing the systems that

helped support the needs of our Sailors and soldiers was most important.” Over a 4-month period, the staff led actions that resolved 1,695 errors, which accounted for more than 85% of the entire budget submitting office reduction during the award period. “The way the team worked together to accomplish the mission and meet the deadline during such a busy time in the year was amazing,” concluded Santiago. “I am beyond honored, and proud the team’s hard work was recognized.” Eduardo Estrada, the financial management analyst from Naval Medical Readiness and Logistics Command (NMRLC), was also recognized with the individual award for his significant contributions to the DoD financial management mission in end-to-end business environment optimization. During the past year, Strada excelled in supporting more than 500 employees at the

ﬁeld level activity during the initial implementation of the N-ERP system and major reorganization of three major commands into a single enterprise NMRLC. NMFL, headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia, delivers operationally focused medical expertise and capabilities to meet Fleet, Marine and Joint Force requirements by providing equipment, sustainment and maintenance of medical forces during combat operations and public health crises. NMFL provides oversight for 21 NMRTCs, logistics, and public health and dental services throughout the U.S. East Coast, U.S. Gulf Coast, Cuba, Europe, and the Middle East. Navy Medicine — represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals — provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warﬁghter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.

Navy Shore Enterprise: Celebrating 20 years of service By John Belanger

Commander, Navy Installations Command

Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) reached a significant milestone — 20 years of “Sustaining the Fleet, Enabling the Fighter, and Supporting the Family.” During a ceremony held at the shore enterprise’s headquarters at the Washington Navy Yard on Oct. 5, CNIC leadership and team members reflected on their history and discussed the command’s future. Looking Back Established in 2003, CNIC has played a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life for Navy personnel and their families, managing and maintaining naval installations worldwide, and ensuring readiness across the fleet. “CNIC may be young in comparison to other Navy commands, but we are equally committed as enablers for the Navy’s forward presence around the globe,” said Rear Adm. John Menoni, Acting Commander, Navy Installations Command. Before CNIC stood up, there were 18 major Navy commands that handled installation functions. The complexity of that organizational structure resulted in little unity of effort, which caused significant challenges for the fleet. When CNIC was established 20 years ago, it became the single focused installation management organization with core responsibility to provide unified program, policy, and funding to manage and oversee shore installation support to the fleet. This action allowed other commands to concentrate on their primary operational missions, independent of concerns regarding base operations, owning of facilities, host nation responsibilities, and the provision of support to their tenants. “Installations are operationally relevant warfighting and logistics platforms that are vital to the defense of the nation,” Menoni said. “Success in the Navy’s primary mission; defending freedom, preserving economic prosperity, and keeping the seas open and free, and when deterrence fails, winning our nations wars, is not possible without the shore.”

The Future of Navy Installations In May of this year, CNIC was designated by the Chief of Naval Operations as the Shore Type Commander (TYCOM) with administrative control of all Navy installations and enduring locations by coordinating and overseeing Manpower, Training and Equipping functions and standardized operations. “The shift to Shore TYCOM aligns command and control authorities, responsibilities, accountability, and resources to the installation’s center of gravity — the installation commanding officer,” Menoni said. “Bottom line, we are past looking for effi-

WASHINGTON (Oct 5, 2023) Rear Adm. John Menoni, acting commander of Navy Installations Command (CNIC), speaks during a ceremony for the 20th anniversary of CNIC on board the historic Washington Navy Yard on Oct. 5. CNIC oversees 10 Navy regions, 70 installations, and more than 48,000 employees who Sustain the Fleet, Enable the Fighter, and Support the Family. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY JOHN BELANGER)

ciencies and manpower savings. This course correction is about getting our installations ready to ﬁght and win.” With its continued dedication, CNIC will play a pivotal role in shaping the Navy’s success in the years to come, ensuring that Navy installations remain safe, efficient, and supportive of the ﬂeet’s mission. One way of accomplishing this is taking on the oversight and management of the Navy’s bulk fuel systems across the globe. As directed by the Acting Chief of Naval Operations last month, CNIC and Naval Supply Systems Command are in the process of transferring the majority of the Navy’s bulk fuel Defense Fuel Support Points to the Navy shore enterprise to establish the installation commanding officers as the single accountable official for safe, effective, and efficient operations. The ultimate goal of the transfer is to improve the efficient and effective management of bulk fuel systems and enhance operational and material readiness.

Supporting the Fleet, Fighter, Family CNIC has been a steadfast guardian of the Navy’s installations and a dedicated advocate for the wellbeing of Navy personnel

and their families for the past two decades. The shore enterprise has numerous efforts underway to improve quality of service for Sailors and their families. In the past year, CNIC has improved access to high speed WI-FI by upgrading services at 61 liberty centers for single and unaccompanied Sailors. The command is also developing a pilot program that will introduce free high speed WI-FI to a selection of Hampton Roads barracks by next year. In addition, CNIC earlier this year released the Unaccompanied Housing Bill of Rights & Responsibilities, which clariﬁes expectations regarding what the Navy guarantees to provide for Sailors and what is expected of residents to maintain their own housing space. CNIC also launched Unaccompanied Housing QR maintenance codes to allow residents to easily report maintenance issues at any time of day and receive updated about the status of their maintenance requests. Childcare remains one of the top priorities. In the past year, CNIC has increased Child Development Center enrollment on base from 70-84 percent of infrastructure capacity through comprehensive provider recruitment initiatives, employee childcare discounts, and increased marketing of our positions. CNIC has also achieved

an increased capacity in the community through the Navy Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood program with approximately 6,300 children enrolled in this fee assistance program. “Making this all possible are the 43,000 military and civilian personnel who are the backbone of CNIC,” said the command’s Force Master Chief Jason Dunn during CNIC’s 20th anniversary ceremony. “The skilled and talented personnel who make up Team CNIC are dedicated to serving our Navy and nation. Our people are the best in the business.” It is with its workforce that CNIC will continue to improve the delivery of high quality services to the Navy ﬂeet and Sailors. “As we look to the future, we will bias ourselves towards action and accelerate our course change as we work towards positive and consequential outcomes for the ﬂeet,” Menoni said. Commander, Navy Installations Command is responsible for worldwide U.S. Navy shore installation management, designing and developing integrated solutions for sustainment and development of Navy shore infrastructure as well as quality of life programs. Follow CNIC on social media: Facebook @NavyInstallations; X @ cnichq; and Instagram @cnichq.

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

New NHHC publication explores origins of Navy logistics By Monica Mccoy

Naval History and Heritage Command

WASHINGTON NAVY YARD — Naval History and Heritage Command historians explore how the Navy created its first integrated logistics system during wartime in its new publication, CONTESTED LOGISITCS: SUSTAINING THE PACIFIC WAR. Written by NHHC historians Peter Luebke, Timothy Francis and Heather Haley, Contested Logistics describes how the United States Navy dealt with World War II in the Pacific. Bereft of practical experience at projecting such a large force at such distance, the Navy had to learn and create logistics as it went. This NHHC publication describes the struggle to supply the Pacific fleet in the early days of World War II, the later successes in creating an integrated logistics system, and how the Navy attempted to institutionalize lessons learned. The short booklet provides an accessible introduction to the topic, suitable for both military professionals and the general reader. In their contributed forward Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, Commander, Military Sealift Command; Rear Adm. Dion English, Director, Logistics Division (OPNAV N4L); and Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh, Commander, Submarine Group SEVEN/Commander, Task Force SEVEN FOUR/Commander, Task Force FIVE FOUR, highlight the importance of this publication’s subject, “Since the end of the Cold War, our military has benefited greatly from our ability to execute maneuver and distribution at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Today we face expanding threat environments and expect our maneuver across echelons will be contested in ways we have not seen since World War II. The importance of sustainment planning and execution and its inter¬dependent relationship with operations is on full display in the ongoing Ukraine crisis. These events are a stark reminder of the need to transform how we plan for and execute sustainment today. There is no better start¬ing point for this

discussion than to examine the evolution of our theater logistics that sustained the victorious Pacific War forces.” To download a 508-compliant PDF version, visit: www.history.navy. mil/research/publications/publications-by-subject/logistics.html To download other NHHC publications, visit: www.history.navy.mil/ research/publications NHHC, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy’s unique and enduring contributions through our nation’s history, and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC is composed of many activities including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, ten museums, USS Constitution repair facility and the historic ship Nautilus. For questions or more information, contact Naval History and Heritage Command public at 202-433-7880 or NHHC_PublicAffairs@us.navy.mil.

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6 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

Culinary Specialists from Page 1

is an integral part of morale. “I deﬁnitely appreciate that we have trained service members here preparing the food. It’s a lot better.”

No Navy birthday celebration is complete without cake. The Gator Inn Galley offered a large, intricately decorated cake large for diners. It was crafted by Culinary Specialist Chief Ricardo Valentin, a self-taught decorator who learned through trial and error. He was assisted by Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Kirsten Click and Culinary Specialist

2nd Class Jean Agagas. “It’s important to share this knowledge and inspire them to take pride in everything they do,” Valentine said. Click agreed, and said the end result made her feel very good about her work. Many diners said the ﬁnished cake looked like a piece of art, complete with Navy ships,

submarines and aircraft set off by an anchor chain made of frosting. As diners lingered to enjoy the Navy birthday feast, the staff of the Gator Inn Galley had little time to reﬂect on their success. They were back at work with another meal to serve in just a few hours.

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Senior Locksmith (01023A) The Structural Department at Old Dominion University is seeking candidates for the Senior Locksmith (full-time, 12 month) position. The Senior Locksmith will maintain a complete locksmithing operation in such a manner that security for persons and property at Old Dominion University. This position serves as the Senior Locksmith for student housing. It is responsible for assisting the Structural Superintendent in the day-to-day operations of the University’s locksmith shop. The senior locksmith will ensure that the junior locksmiths are trained and knowledgeable about the latest technologies related to campus locking systems. Ensure all required work is performed in a timely and professional manner. Ensure proper installation or repair of all lock or security systems. Required Qualifications: Considerable knowledge of lock (both hard locks and electronic locks) and lock system construction and operation. Considerable knowledge of electronic card access systems, electronic handicap door systems, routine and complex locksmith work, repair work related to doors and door systems and door hardware maintenance. Considerable knowledge of a grandmaster key system and how the master and sub-master systems operate. Demonstrated skill in making keys and repairing locks for the campus locking systems. Skilled in other structural trades such as carpentry and general facility maintenance. Demonstrated ability to read and interpret blueprints; to maintain a variety of record keeping systems and to work independently when required. Demonstrated ability to trouble shoot and repair all hardware and wiring associated with campus electronic locks and understanding of interface with the software and database management of the electronic locks. Demonstrate ability to provide advice and consultation to the University community related to physical security issues. Ability to communicate verbally and in written form with a wide range of individuals. Considerable experience in locksmithing with evidence of increasing skills, proficiencies and knowledge of both hard lock and electronic locking system. Special licenses, registration or certification: Certification in locksmithing, and access control systems. Valid driver’s license and insurable driving record. Additional Considerations: Considerable knowledge of key management database and key control procedures with automated work order system experience. Demonstrated ability to provide technical guidance to develop and assist other trades staff. Good leadership and organizational skills. Graduate from high school or equivalent and training in locksmithing. Conditions of Employment: Facilities Management employees are considered essential personnel and subject to working during University closings. The holder of this position is also subject to serving on a schedule to be called back to work during non-work hours. In such an event, this position is required to respond to after-hours calls and will carry an ODU cell phone on a rotational basis. While serving as the after-hours call-back person, the individual must remain available by telephone, text, or pager while off site and respond to any message within fifteen (15) minutes. This is an open until filled recruitment. This recruitment may close after the five-day required posting period when a suitable pool of applicants has been generated. Review Date: The initial application review date for this position is October 30, 2023, and will remain open until filled. To apply, please visit https://jobs.odu.edu/postings/19565. Old Dominion University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution.

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, October 26, 2023 7

NORFOLK, Va. - Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) Machinist Mate Nuclear 1st Class Robert Folts conduct maintenance in the Flex Hose Shop (Code 946), Oct. 10, 2023. MARMC, a ﬁeld activity under Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), provides surface ship maintenance, management and oversight of private sector maintenance and ﬂeet technical assistance to ships in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY HARRISON COX)

October Sailor in the Spotlight: MMN1 Robert Folts By Harrison Cox

Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center

Machinist Mate Nuclear (MMN) First Class Robert Folts is October’s Sailor in the Spotlight for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC). Originally from Villa Rica, Georgia, Folts leads the way through his attitude and work ethic in the Flex Hose Shop (Code 946) as the Leading Petty Officer (LPO). Code 900 coordinates intermediate level maintenance support and technical services to units of the United States Naval Fleet. Code 946 is responsible for the repair and manufacturing of flexible hoses of every ship on the oceanfront. “We work on anything from hydraulic hoses to main lube oil suction hoses,” said Folts. “We manufacture several thousand hoses a year of various materials, lengths and weights.” Folts served with USS Stennis (CVN 74)

before being stationed at MARMC over a year and a half ago. Since then, he has relished the opportunity to lead Sailors who are still early in their careers. He offers guidance, shares technical expertise, and sets the example through his work ethic. “My favorite aspect of this job is the people I work with,” said Folts. “The upper chain has done a great job enforcing the idea that their people should be taken care of. We’ve had Senior Chiefs and other higher ups come in to show us their appreciation which really keeps our team motivated to continue taking care of every ship that is out there.” Serving in his second reenlistment, Folts aspires to continue his naval career at MARMC and retire after 20 years of service. “I joined the Navy out of college because I realized joining the military was a way to force some structure and discipline into my life,” said Folts. “I wasn’t sure what I

was going to do after college and serving appealed to me as my father and his father before him also served. I figured I could serve my four years and learn as much as I could, and then finish college. Now I’m on my second re-enlistment.” Beyond his duties in the shop, Folts makes it a priority to invest in his fellow Sailors, helping them develop professionally and personally. He leads with compassion and understanding, creating an inclusive team environment. “When you allocate your time into investing in the people that work for you and their lives, you get the greatest return in their work,” Folts said. “I enjoy watching my people grow and seeing them develop. Leadership should always be leading with, not ahead of their Sailors.” Outside of MARMC, Folts enjoys golfing, competitive shooting, and is working towards becoming a licensed firearm instructor.

“My wife and I along with our dog Beretta volunteered for a search and rescue for the state of Virginia through G.A.R.D [Greater Area Rescue Dogs] and would like to go back as we took a break for work purposes,” Folts added. “A lot of my time is spent working with my dog and traveling to shoot two-gun matches across the South East. I also like to golf, so if I’m not on the shooting range, I’m on the driving range.” For his outstanding efforts and commitment to the Navy’s values, Folts has earned the honor of being named October’s Sailor in the Spotlight. His performance reflects greatly upon both MARMC and the Navy. MARMC, a field activity under Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), provides surface ship maintenance, management and oversight of private sector maintenance and fleet technical assistance to ships in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

FRCE recognized by Italian Navy, AV-8B Program Office By Joseph Andes

Fleet Readiness Center East

The Italian Navy AV-8B Program Office and the U.S. Navy’s AV-8B Weapon Systems Program Office (PMA-257) recently recognized Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) for its outstanding support of the Italian AV-8B Harrier fleet. Italian Navy AV-8B Deputy Program Manager Cdr. Sergio D’Agostini presented six FRCE employees with letters of appreciation citing the successful completion of Harrier upgrades the team performed at Naval Air Station Grottaglie in Italy. AV-8B Weapon Systems Program Office (PMA-257) Program Manager Col. Mark Amspacher was also on hand to recognize the FRCE personnel. FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. James Belmont said he was pleased to see the team’s hard work and dedication recognized by the Italian Navy. “I am very proud of the FRC East team,” Belmont said. “They went in and not only completed their mission — they exceeded all objectives. To see them recognized like this by one of our allies highlights their professionalism, expertise and dedication. Our people are our greatest asset at FRC East and I think this demonstrates that.” The team from FRCE traveled to Naval Air Station Grottaglie earlier this year to perform LINK-16 modifications to four Italian Navy AV-8B Harriers. LINK-16 is a standardized communications system used by the United States, NATO and coalition forces to transmit and exchange real time tactical data. The multidisciplinary team comprised Matt Dryden, Jesse Kerr, Eric Ellenberger, Roger Freeman and Victor Smith. According to Dryden, FRCE’s project manager for AV-8B International LINK16 modifications, the initial goal was to complete four planes within 90 days. “The team was so efficient that they completed the fourth Harrier with nearly a month to go,” Dryden said. “The Italian Navy contacted me before the completion of the fourth aircraft with the desire to add a fifth aircraft to our schedule. The team agreed. I think that really speaks to their professionalism, dedication, and that mindset of supporting our allies and getting the job done.” Dryden said the modifications went smoothly despite the team working in a foreign environment, outside of the standardized hangars they are accustomed to at FRCE or Marine Corps squadrons.

The Italian Navy AV-8B Program Office and the U.S. Navy’s AV-8B Weapon Systems Program Office (PMA-257) recently recognized Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) employees with letters of appreciation citing the successful completion of Harrier upgrades the team performed at Naval Air Station Grottaglie in Italy. FRCE engineering technician Jesse Kerr, second from left, was one of six FRCE employees recognized for their support of the Italian AV-8B Harrier ﬂeet. (PHOTO BY JOE ANDES, FLEET READINESS CENTER EAST PUBLIC AFFAIRS)

“Things like the physical layout of the hangar and tooling are different in Grottaglie,” said Dryden. “With the Marine Corps squadrons, we’re all lockstep and our standards are the same. In Grottaglie, they were a little different, but this team familiarized themselves with the layout and became accustomed to their temporary working environment. There was also a language barrier that this team overcame through the use of translation tools on their mobile devices.” Dryden said members of the team worked closely with the Italian Navy prior to the start of the modiﬁcations to ensure the process went smoothly. He also cited the ﬂexibility and expertise of the FRCE team as crucial factors in the project’s

success. “Our three artisans and our Fleet Support Team engineer deserve all of the credit,” said Dryden. “Here at the depot, we were all in support of this team, but they were the ones who were out there where the wheels hit the road. They took this project and accomplished the mission well under budget and ahead of schedule. “We finished 18% better than the original estimate, which was for only four aircraft,” continued Dryden. “We actually finished around 30% under budget when you factor in the completion of the fifth aircraft.” In addition to the LINK-16 modification team, FRCE Engineer Justin Cox, was also recognized for his work with the Italian Navy’s Harrier program while stationed

at Naval Air Station Grottaglie for the past several years. FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the ﬂeet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers. Learn more at www.navair.navy.mil/frce or https://www.facebook.com/FleetReadinessCenterEast.

8 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

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www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

uarterdeck

Wheelchair Basketball Shines Light on National Disability Employment Awareness Month NAVSUP Business Systems Center hosted the 32nd Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at Mountain View Middle School, Oct. 18. Page B3

Andrew Nagelhout (from right), deputy head of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport Contracts Department, and Chris Kenney, head of Procurement Division 1, Code 022, speak with a visitor at Defense Innovation Days hosted by the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance at the Marriott in Newport, Rhode Island, on Aug. 29, 2023. Contracting professionals connected more than two dozen exhibitors with scientists and engineers at the warfare center during the event. (PHOTOS BY DAVID STOEHR, NAVAL UNDERSEA WARFARE CENTER DIVISION NEWPORT)

NUWC Division Newport contracting professionals connect small businesses with the Navy’s technology needs By Public Affairs Office

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport

NEWPORT, R.I. — Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport contracting professionals played a vital role at the Defense Innovation Days event sponsored by the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance from Aug. 28-30, by connecting more than two dozen exhibitors with scientists and engineers at the warfare center. Andrew Nagelhout, deputy head of the Contracts Department, and Chris Kenney, who leads Procurement Division 1, were on hand to answer questions from company representatives on how to do business with the federal government. “A company would come over and basically say, ‘How do I do business with NUWC?’ ” Nagelhout said. “At that point, I’m asking them what type of work they do. I’m capturing their business cards. I’m sending emails to speciﬁc departments who might have an interest in the technology or service or product they provide.” Nagelhout said the companies in attendance “ran the gamut” in terms of what they had to offer — from cybersecurity solutions to air testing — and his institutional knowledge of what Division Newport scientists and engineers are working on helped guide him in making a connection. “Chris and I have a pretty good feel for what each of the departments does and what their interests might be. That allows us to hone in a little bit more,” Nagelhout said. “In most cases, I emailed the division head and copied the contractor, saying, ‘This is where I think they can help you.’ ” Many of the representatives who approached the Division Newport booth were from smaller companies that were inquiring about how to establish a relationship. Nagelhout directed them to the warfare center’s external website [link - https:// www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Cen-

Stephen Lamb (center), head of Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport Contracts Department, chats with Ben Garvey (left), president of Enginuity Inc. of Canada, as Julie Kallfelz (right), director of the Northeast Tech Bridge, listens, at Defense Innovation Days on Aug. 29, 2023. The Northeast Tech Bridge seeks to connect the region’s industry partners with scientists and engineers to ultimately get capabilities to the ﬂeet and the warﬁghter faster.

ters/NUWC-Newport/ ] and called on Sarah Heard, director of the Office of Small Business, to point entrepreneurs to a series of upcoming business events sponsored by Division Newport. These include a SeaPort-NxG and Contracts Council meeting on Oct. 17 and a Strike Industry Day by Division Newport’s Undersea Warfare Combat Systems Department on Nov. 2. Both events will be held at Division Newport. Heard lauded SENEDIA for putting together a quality list of speakers that included Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. “Many of them talked about Navy priorities and the role small businesses play in

those priorities,” she said. Division Newport has made a commitment to increasing small business participation and overall competition in its acquisitions. The warfare center fosters networking and prime and subcontractor relationships while striving to meet small business and socio-economic goals by embracing the philosophy “Think Small Business First.” A thorough, top-to-bottom process, from senior leadership down, demonstrates these efforts are making a difference, as performance metrics continually tilt in a positive direction. For example, in ﬁscal year 2023, $354 million of $775 million (45.6%) was contributed to small business from the total

eligible small business obligations. In fiscal year 2022, those figures were $299 million of $708 million (42.2%). Heard said roughly 96% of Rhode Islanders are employed by small businesses, so they’re critical to the state’s economy. Also on hand at the conference was Julie Kallfelz, director of the Northeast Tech Bridge, which seeks to connect the region’s industry partners with scientists and engineers to ultimately get capabilities to the fleet and the warfighter faster. Upcoming events include a Technology Showcase (LINK: Technology Showcase | 401 Tech Bridge) on Oct. 24 at the collaboration space at 127 John Clarke Road in Middletown, Rhode Island from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and a UXV Demonstration Day at Division Newport on Dec. 5. NUWC Newport is the oldest warfare center in the country, tracing its heritage to the Naval Torpedo Station established on Goat Island in Newport Harbor in 1869. Commanded by Capt. Chad Hennings, NUWC Newport maintains major detachments in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Andros Island in the Bahamas, as well as test facilities at Seneca Lake and Fisher’s Island, New York, Leesburg, Florida, and Dodge Pond, Connecticut. Join our team! NUWC Division Newport, one of the 20 largest employers in Rhode Island, employs a diverse, highly trained, educated, and skilled workforce. We are continuously looking for engineers, scientists, and other STEM professionals, as well as talented business, finance, logistics and other support experts who wish to be at the forefront of undersea research and development. Please connect with NUWC Division Newport Recruiting at this site- https:// www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NUWC-Newport/Career-Opportunities/ and follow us on LinkedIn @ NUWC-Newport and on Facebook @ NUWCNewport.

Joint Cyber Operations strengthen DoD Networks By U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. — Cyber Protection Teams froSm Fleet Cyber Command, 16th Air Force (Air Forces Cyber) and Army Threat Systems Management Office strengthened computer networks during a joint Hunt Operation on Department of Defense (DoD) systems on Aug. 4-12, 2023 in Hawaii. U.S. Strategic Command, as a part of its mission to carry out global strategic operations, ran a series of network-strengthening and defense exercises that pitted the teams against a simulated adversary across multiple networks. Hunt Operations involve teams of service members evaluating DoD networks for vulnerabilities; the Navy and Air Force defensive teams were also responding to

simulated attacks carried out by a DoD-certified Army Cyber Red Team, which is speciﬁcally trained and tasked with emulating adversary forces. “Hunt Operations are absolutely critical to ensuring our networks are robustly defended,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. John Nichols, U.S. Strategic Command’s director of global operations. “As a part of our ongoing self-assessment, operations like this help us stress-test our systems and ensure they are not just available, but resilient if attacked and ready to function in a contested environment.” In line with the DoD’s 2023 cyber strategy, teams gained an operational advantage over a destructive cyberattack from malicious cyber actors against the DoD Information Network (DoDIN) and more than 4 million DoD computers. The responsibility to protect DoDIN falls

to Joint Forces Headquarters (JFHQ)-DoDIN, a component of the U.S. Cyber Command. JFHQ-DoDIN uses a uniﬁed force approach to network operations, security and defense across the DoDIN. JFHQ-DoDIN and the services support Defensive Cyberspace Operations by globally integrating, synchronizing and directing priority actions across 45 DoDIN areas of operation that include all combatant commands, services, DoD agencies and ﬁeld activities. Defensive Cyberspace Operations consist of proactive, threat-informed steps to reduce cyber risk and respond to attacks against the DoDIN, ensuring that network operations remain agile and resilient. These operations are carried out across DoD networks daily. Through these interactions with the service components and partners, JFHQ-DoDIN further enables the sharing

of operational information and intelligence to enhance the resiliency and reliability of vital DoD networks and systems. This particular Hunt Operation was somewhat unusual with teams coming from multiple services to not only work together, but also to look at each other’s networks. These activities further validated the status of directed network security action and provided a key defensive cyberspace priority designed to protect the totality of the DoDIN. “Working together with teams from multiple services only increases our capabilities,” said the Navy lieutenant serving as cyber protection team leader. “We each bring our own service culture and unique capabilities, and through events like this we learn from one another.”

The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

Q: What types of family housing are available? A: There are three types of housing available to families: Public/Private Venture (PPV) Housing is also referred to as privatized housing in the Navy. The Navy partnered with different private management companies to provide housing to Service Members. These companies are responsible for the construction, renovation, maintenance and day-to-day management of the housing. PPV housing may be located on or off government property and in most cases will be former military housing. Government Owned (also known as Military Housing or Navy Managed Housing is what was formerly called on-base housing. While only available in limited quantities CONUS, Government Owned Housing is still widely available OCONUS. Community Housing is any housing that a Service Member may choose that is not PPV or government operated. This is housing outside of the base that is privately owned and operated.

NAVY HOUSING

Norfolk: 757.445.2832 JEBLCFS: 757.462.2792 Oceana/Dam Neck: 757.433.3268 Yorktown: 757.847.7806

GREAT LAKES, Ill. (Oct. 17, 2023) Capt. Jason Williamson, outgoing commanding officer, Naval Staton Great Lakes, salutes the sideboys as he departs during a change of command ceremony at the USS White Hat. Capt. Steve Yargosz relieved Capt. Jason Williamson as commanding officer of largest military installation in Illinois and the largest training station in the Navy. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS BRIGITTE JOHNSTON)

Change of Command Ceremony at Naval Station Great Lakes: Yargosz relieves Williamson as Commanding Officer By John Sheppard

Naval Station Great Lakes Public Affairs

GREAT LAKES, Ill. — Capt. Steve Yargosz relieved Capt. Jason Williamson as Commanding Officer of Naval Station Great Lakes during a change of command ceremony on the morning of Tuesday, Oct. 17. The ceremony took place aboard the installation at the Seamanship Trainer on the mainside of the installation. Rear Adm. Wesley McCall, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, served as the guest speaker. “Events like today and many others along the way in our Navy journey are the glue that bonds us all together,” McCall noted in his remarks. Williamson served as Naval Station Great Lakes Commanding Officer from May 2021 to October 2023. As commanding officer, Williamson inspired the command to execute critical services that ensured the uninterrupted annual training of 39,000 recruits to Sailors and the training of 15,000 enlisted surface warfare specialists in direct support of the Navy’s directive to maintain and protect the Navy’s accessions supply chain. McCall awarded Williamson the Legion of Merit for Williamson’s leadership during three years at the helm of the installation and his 25 years of honorable and dedicated service to the nation. “During my career, I have been fortunate enough to be part of many highly functional organizations… I learned a lot from those tours,” said Williamson. “Truly, I learned the most in this tour. This team is the best that I’ve had.”

“In his time here, over 100,000 Sailors graduated from boot camp. That’s about 40 percent of our warfighting force in enlisted service,” said Yargosz, in appreciation of his predecessor as Naval Station Great Lakes commanding officer. Williamson is a native of Yankton, South Dakota. He graduated from Boston University in May 1998 with a degree in BioMedical Engineering and was commissioned through the ROTC program. He was designated a Naval aviator in June 2000. His assignments at sea have spanned both coasts, serving operational flying tours with the P-3C Orion and the P-8A Poseidon squadrons. He has logged over 2700 hours in multiple fixed wing aircraft in support of the Maritime Patrol missions. Additionally, he served afloat on the crew of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Highlights include time with the “Fighting Marlins” of Patrol Squadron Forty (VP-40) from 20002004, the “Fighting Tigers” of Patrol Squadron Eight (VP-8) as a Department Head from 2009-2011 and command of the “World Famous Pelicans” of Patrol Squadron Forty Five (VP-45) during the P-8’s maiden deployment to SIXTH Fleet in 2016. Ashore, he has served as instructor pilot with the “Pro’s Nest” of Patrol Squadron Thirty (VP-30), as Deputy Executive Assistant to the Director, Air Warfare (OPNAV N98) and as the MQ-4C Triton Requirements Officer on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. He most recently served as Deputy Commander of Task Force SEVEN TWO (CTF-72) in Misawa, Japan. Yargosz is a native of North Webster, Indiana and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree

in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University in 1998. He commissioned through Officer Candidate School and completed Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer training in 1999. Operationally, Captain Yargosz served in Fighter Squadron (VF) 143 as a Material Control Officer deploying on USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN-69) and USS John F Kennedy (CV-67) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In December 2002, he was selected for lateral transfer/resignation and completed flight school in October 2004. Following flight school, he served with Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS) 4 deploying three times with the Black Knights onboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). As a department head with the Red Wolves of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 84, he deployed four times to Iraq where he flew over 120 combat missions in support of Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force — Arabian Peninsula. As Commanding Officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 he led the Tridents through multiple Fleet Replenishment and Training Squadron carrier landing qualification support detachments, as well as detachments to fleet week in New York, exercise JADED THUNDER 19, and Hurricane Dorian Bahamas disaster relief. Following command, he served as Navigator for USS George Washington (CVN73) during the ships midlife Refueling and Complex Overhaul. Ashore, Captain Yargosz was a student at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia where he completed JPME Phase I and received a Master in Military Science. He served as a policy analyst focused on United Nations and European drug policy while at the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Executive Office of the President, in Washington, D.C. from July 2014 to January 2017. He completed JPME Phase II at the Joint Forces Staff College in 2020. “I appreciate your support coming here,” Yargosz told the assembled Naval Station staff and tenant command commanding officers, executive officers and command master chiefs. As the “Quarterdeck of the Navy,” Naval Station Great Lakes enables and sustains Fleet, Fighter and Family by providing superior, integrated Base Operating Support to over 50 tenant commands, including Recruit Training Command, the Navy’s only boot camp. Naval Station Great Lakes is also home to 80 percent of the Navy’s surface warfare specialty training. Naval Station Great Lakes is the largest military installation in Illinois and the largest training station in the Navy. The installation includes 1,153 buildings with 39 on the National Register of Historic Places. Naval Station Great Lakes sits on 1,900 acres and uses 50 miles of roadway to provide access to the station’s facilities. GREAT LAKES, Ill. (Oct. 17, 2023) Capt. Steve Yargosz, incoming commanding officer, Naval Staton Great Lakes, salutes the sideboys as he enters during a change of command ceremony at the USS White Hat. Capt. Steve Yargosz relieved Capt. Jason Williamson as commanding officer of largest military installation in Illinois and the largest training station in the Navy. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS BRIGITTE JOHNSTON)

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

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (October 18, 2023) Sailors and civilians from Naval Supply Systems Command Business Systems Center participate in the 32nd Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at Mountain View Middle School, October 18. The event brought together Navy personnel with the local community in support of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and featured teams from Mountain View Middle School, Mechanicsburg Middle School, the Chairiot Express, the PA Lions, and local military and civilian personnel from Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY DORIE HEYER - RELEASED)

Wheelchair basketball shines light on National Disability Employment Awareness Month By Thomas Zimmerman

NAVSUP Business Systems Center

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Business Systems Center (BSC) hosted the 32nd Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at Mountain View Middle School, Oct. 18. The event brought together Navy service members and civilians with the local community in support of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This year’s theme, “Advancing Access and Equity: Then, Now and Next,” celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents. “This is the 32nd year for NAVSUP BSC to host a wheelchair basketball tournament in support of National Disability Employ-

ment Awareness Month,” said Capt. David Carnal, commanding officer, NAVSUP BSC. “Observed each October, NAVSUP BSC celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities in our workplace and educates about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents.” The wheelchair basketball tournament was organized by the NAVSUP BSC Equal Employment Opportunity Committee and featured teams from Mountain View Middle School, Mechanicsburg Middle School, military and civilian personnel from Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg, as well as members of the PA Lions and Chairiot Express wheelchair basketball teams. “We were invited by the military to come up and participate and this is a way to showcase disability awareness and create opportunities for individuals with disabilities to

Capt. David D. Carnal, commanding officer, Naval Supply Systems Command Business Systems Center, throws a jump ball to kick off the 32nd Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at Mountain View Middle School, October 18.

compete,” said Keith McMinn, coach, PA Lions. In the tournament’s ﬁrst game, Mountain View students and staff defeated Mechanicsburg Middle School 10-8 in an overtime thriller. Mountain View students lost to the Chairiot Express/PA Lions in game two, by the score of 2-0. Mountain View staff lost to the Chairiot Express/PA Lions 14-2 in game three. The Navy civilian team continued their undefeated streak against the Navy military team, winning 8-6. Game ﬁve saw the Navy military team defeat Mechanicsburg Middle School 4-0. The Navy civilian team won the tournament, defeating the Chairiot Express/PA Lions team by a score of 10-4. “NAVSUP Business Systems Center is proud to host this event, which brings together our Navy team with the local

community for a rewarding experience that honors our diversity and inclusion,” said Carnal. NAVSUP BSC provides the Navy with information systems support through the design, development, and maintenance of systems in the functional areas of logistics, supply chain management, transportation, ﬁnance, and accounting and is one of 11 commands under Commander, NAVSUP. For more information about NAVSUP BSC, visit https://www.navsup.navy.mil/ NAVSUP-Enterprise/NAVSUP-Business-Systems-Center/. For more information about 2023 National Disability Employment Awareness Month, visit https://www.defenseculture.mil/ Special-Observances/#national-disability-employment-awareness-month.

Sailors from Naval Supply Systems Command Business Systems Center compete with staff and students from Mountain View Middle School during the 32nd Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at Mountain View Middle School, October 18.

Navy civilians compete with members from the PA Lions and Chairiot Express wheelchair basketball teams during Naval Supply Systems Command Business Systems Center’s 32nd Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament at Mountain View Middle School, October 18.

Capt. David D. Carnal, commanding officer, Naval Supply Systems Command Business Systems Center, presents a trophy to members of the PA Lions wheelchair basketball team during the 32nd Annual Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.

4 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

QUONSET POINT, R.I. (Oct. 19, 2023) – Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti meets with leadership from General Dynamics Electric Boat while touring the facility in Quonset Point, R.I., Oct. 19. The facility is responsible for submarine manufacturing, modular construction, and outﬁtting for future Virginia and Columbia class submarines. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY CHIEF MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST AMANDA R. GRAY)

VCNO visits Sailors, defense industry in Newport

By Navy.mil

NEWPORT, R.I. — Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti traveled to Newport, R.I., to tour Navy facilities and visit with Sailors and defense industry leaders, Oct. 19. Franchetti started her trip at General Dynamics Electric Boat, Quonset Point, where she received updates from company leadership on submarine manufacturing, modular construction, and outﬁtting for future Columbia and Virginia-class submarines. The Columbia-class will replace the Ohio-class as the Navy’s contribution to the nuclear triad, which remains the most survivable leg of the U.S. strategic nuclear deterrent force. “Ensuring that these submarines are

produced on time and on budget is a national strategic imperative,” said Franchetti. “The Navy is 100% committed to partnering with Congress, industry, and the New England community to fulfill this mission.” Franchetti then traveled to Naval Station Newport to speak with prospective command master chiefs at the Navy Leadership and Ethics Center. “This is an exciting time to be in the Navy and to lead our teams operating around the world,” she said. “As you prepare for the next level of leadership, I expect all of you to view everything through a warfighting lens and to remember that our people are the foundation of our warfighting effectiveness.” Her next stop was to the Navy Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC), where she met with NUWC scientists, engineers, and leadership to discuss multiple initiatives taking

place in Newport, to include advanced communication techniques for submarines at depth known as the Submarine Launched Over the Horizon Buoy. While at NUWC she was able to see the software that Sailors are currently operating on submarines and discuss the ongoing upgrades to those systems, as well as the Snakehead unmanned underwater vehicle. “The NUWC team is developing innovative concepts and cutting-edge technology that will help expand the enduring advantage we have in the undersea domain,” said Franchetti. “They are ﬁnding creative solutions to operational challenges and delivering results at the speed of relevance.” VCNO’s last stop was at Surface Warfare Schools Command, where she engaged with prospective commanding and executive officers, and observed Sailors training to navi-

gate high-density maritime traffic areas in the schoolhouse simulators. “As we see in the events of today, our Navy ships are forward and ready, providing options and decision space to our nation’s leaders. Operating them safely is job number one,” Franchetti commented. “These simulators enable our Sailors, both officer and enlisted, to undergo rigorous, realistic, and repeated training in an environment designed to accelerate their mastery of seamanship.” Naval Station Newport is home to 50 different commands and is the Navy’s premier site for training and educating officers, officer candidates, senior enlisted personnel and midshipman candidates into future leaders, as well as testing and evaluating advanced undersea warfare and development systems.

Fleet Readiness Center Southeast inducts its first F135 Power Module, begins Artisan training By Ashley Lombardo Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) inducted its first F135 Power Module (PM) Aug. 24, one of the five major modules that make up the propulsion system on the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. After being designated as a Department of Defense second depot source of repair (DSOR) for the F135 engine, FRCSE quickly began planning for the arrival of its first PM and future sustainment as a second DSOR. “The F-35 will be around for a long time, and earning this workload creates a unique opportunity for the depot to firmly assert its place within the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE),” said FRCSE’s Commanding Officer Capt. Al Palmer. “The intent for this engine work is to begin within FRCSE’s Crinkley Engine Facility and then expand as other support facilities are created. Seeing an effort of this enormity come to fruition takes a dedicated team of professionals. Among many other invaluable partnerships, the experts at Pratt & Whitney (P&W) and the Joint Program Office (JPO) were vital to both receiving the work and learning the skills needed to maintain it.” To support this new engine and its modules, artisans must undergo extensive training. With help from Heavy Maintenance Center (HMC) Tinker Air Force Base (AFB) and West Palm Beach P&W, some training has already been conducted. However, an additional three-phase P&W training and maintenance qualification and certification process, which will enhance and streamline the process for FRC Southeast personnel, has also kicked off onsite at the command. The training encompasses classroom and on-the-job (OTJ) experience as artisans learn and familiarize themselves with the

PM and its associated mini modules (MMs) — the high-pressure compressor, high-pressure turbine, low-pressure turbine and diffuser combustor. “Many different competencies will be involved with F135 training,” said Carl Cuppy, FRCSE’s Business Development Office Engine Lead. “Mechanics, inspectors and quality assurance personnel will all participate in the training. During this time, groups will develop the muscle memory necessary to overhaul the F135 power module successfully. Each group will perform multiple iterations of disassembly and assembly with the support of Pratt & Whitney training specialists.” While the process will be rigorous and lengthy, it’s a vital part of gaining the necessary proficiencies. Fortunately, all personnel undergoing the training are seasoned experts with aircraft engine experience — having worked on platforms like the F414 and F404, the muscle behind the F/A-18 Super Hornet and Hornet respectively, the TF34 which powers the Air Force’s A-10 Warthog, and the J52, which was used in the EA-6B Prowler. The first two training phases will focus on classroom and practical skills. The first was approximately two weeks long and taught artisans P&W’s digital management system for the engine. During OJT, or the second phase, artisans will begin working with the PM, its MMs and each subcomponent. P&W trainers will work side-by-side with FRC Southeast personnel. “The Power Module is its own specialty, and each mini module is its own specialty,” said Chadwick Boyd, FRCSE industrial engineer and F135 capability establishment team member. “Artisans will specialize in a mini module and only be tested on their

specialty. However, there will be opportunities to cross-train.” OJT will be broken into each MM’s subcomponents, with completion of each of the four areas contingent on the amount and complexity of its subcomponents. Completion dates for each MM training are expected between February and April 2024, and the PM training will conclude by June 2024. Once the classroom and practical OJT phases are complete, qualification and certification will be the final step. This involves a collective skills assessment, in which P&W evaluators will determine whether the command can achieve Initial Depot Capability (IDC). As part of the assessment, artisans will be required to completely disassemble and reassemble the power module without guidance or assistance. Earning the IDC will demonstrate that FRCSE can perform all maintenance actions on this specific section of the F135. “The first power module will be disassembled into mini modules, or sub-assemblies, used for training on those specific components,” Cuppy said. “The second power module will be used for the disassembly and assembly training for the PM. Both PMs will be assembled into production units and eventually installed in F-35 aircraft within the international enterprise.” The second F135 PM was delivered to FRCSE on Aug. 28. IDC assessment for MMs are scheduled between September and October 2024, and between March and April 2025 for PMs. FRCSE has optimized space in its Crinkley Engine Facility complex to make room for the F135 product line, but that is far from all that the organization is doing to support this large-scale effort. After certification, F135 artisans will conduct the MM and PM

work in designated areas within the facility called “cells.” The long-term plan is to have nine PM cells and 22 mini module cells. As the program ramps up in the coming years, the command will build new facilities via military construction (MILCON) projects to support the increased workload. “FRCSE is in the design review process for a state-of-the-art 250,000-square-foot MILCON facility constructed speciﬁcally to house the F135 maintenance shops and support personnel,” Cuppy said. “Further, we expect our local (engine) test cell project to be commissioned by this time, which will allow FRCSE to become a one-stop-shop for F135 maintenance, repair and overall.” Cuppy said the command anticipates engine production to ramp up through 2034 to the maximum production requirement - equivalent to about 600 MMs and 120 PMs annually, correlating to about 600,000 man-hours. “We will start regular inductions in 2024, and we expect to have every component of the F135 Navy and Air Force variants by 2029,” Cuppy said. “During that time, we will begin training for the fan, augmenter and nozzle modules.” About Fleet Readiness Center Southeast Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) is Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, employing approximately 5,000 civilian, military and contract workers. With annual revenue exceeding $1 billion, the organization serves as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy, Naval Air Systems Command, and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers by maintaining the combat airpower for America’s military.

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www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

The world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) conducts ﬂight operations in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Oct. 11, 2023. Gerald R. Ford is the U.S. Navy’s newest and most advances aircraft carrier, representing a generational leap in the U.S. Navy’s capacity to project power on a global scale. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, at the direction of the Secretary of Defense. The U.S. maintains forward-deployed, ready, and postured forces to deter aggression and support security and stability around the world. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS TRINITI LERSCH)

DoD increases deterrence posture in Middle East, continues aid to Israel

By Joseph Clark DoD News

Security assistance continues to flow into Israel as Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III takes further steps to bolster deterrence in the region, said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh. The Defense Department has completed five separate C-17 Globemaster III missions to deliver assistance, including munitions, to meet Israel’s needs in the wake of the deadly attacks by Hamas terrorists, Singh said, adding that she expected subsequent deliveries to continue. Going forward, Austin has directed the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to move into the region adding to the DOD’s broader efforts to signal the U.S.’s commitment to ensuring Israel’s security and deter any state or non-state actor from seeking to escalate the war. “The department remains focused on three objectives: supporting Israel’s defense through security assistance, sending a strong signal of deterrence to any actors who might be thinking of entering the conflict and staying vigilant to any threats to U.S. forces,” Singh said. The 26th MEU’s movement in the region comes after Austin’s directive over the weekend ordering the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group to join the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group which arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean last week. “The 26th MEU is an adaptable military force composed of infantry, aviation and logistics components, all operating under one command,” Singh said. “Positioned at

ARABIAN GULF (Sept 19, 2023) U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (26MEU(SOC)) conduct a live-ﬁre training exercise aboard dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), Arabian Gulf, Sept. 19, 2023. Components of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and 26MEU(SOC) are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY CPL. RAFAEL BRAMBILA-PELAYO)

sea, the 26th MEU is equipped to execute amphibious missions, respond to crises and engage in limited contingency operations across a spectrum of military scenarios.” Those units complement the deployment of Air Force F-15 and F-16 ﬁghter squadrons and A-10 attack squadrons to the region announced last week. Separately, Austin has placed approxi-

mately 2,000 personnel across a variety of units on a heightened state of readiness to increase the department’s ability to respond in the Middle East. Those forces would add key capabilities ranging from transportation to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Singh emphasized, however, that no decisions have been reached to deploy any of

those forces at this time. “This order only puts these units on higher alert,” she said. “The Secretary will continue to assess our force posture and remain in close contact with allies and partners.” Since meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and members of the Israeli War Cabinet in Tel Aviv on Friday, Austin has remained fully engaged with the country’s leaders as the U.S. works to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself from further attacks. Singh said on Monday that Austin has held calls with his Israeli counterpart on a near daily basis since the attacks by Hamas. During his visit to Tel Aviv last week, Austin condemned the “bloodthirsty, fanatical and hateful” attacks by Hamas terrorists. “The world has just witnessed a great evil: the deadliest attack on civilians in the history of the state of Israel and the bloodiest day in Jewish history since the end of the Holocaust,” Austin said after meeting with Israeli officials. “So, make no mistake: The United States will make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself,” he said. Austin said U.S. support to Israel remains “non-negotiable” and that additional security assistance would continue to “ﬂow at the speed of war.” “For any country, for any group or anyone thinking about trying to take advantage of this atrocity to try to widen the conﬂict or to spill more blood, we have just one word: Don’t,” Austin said. “The world is watching,” he said. “So are we. And we aren’t going anywhere.”

Military well-prepared for civilian transition, official says By David Vergun DoD News

Service members are better prepared for their transition to civilian life today than at any other time in history, reflecting the Defense Department’s commitment to taking care of its people, Ashish S. Vazirani said. Vazirani, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, testified on a panel today at a joint hearing of the Senate Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees on military-to-civilian transition. “Our investments in our service members’ training and education, financial readiness, and health and well-being, coupled with the whole of government efforts to support their transition, are proving effective,” he said. Veterans using the post-9/11 GI Bill are more likely to graduate and have a higher grade-point average than those of previous periods. Veterans are 20% more likely to be homeowners than their civilian counterparts. Also, veterans enrolled with the Department of Veterans Affairs have better health outcomes than their civilian counterparts, he said. The VA-DOD Joint Executive Committee provides the framework through which the two departments jointly oversee the transition process. The Transition Assistance Program Executive Council, a subordinate committee, is responsible for ensuring the two departments are meeting statutory requirements and continuously improving the transition process, Vazirani said. DOD and the VA “have made great strides in mental health support services, career advancement and educational resources, transitioning spouse employment assistance, and homelessness prevention just to name a few,” he said. “It is our duty to ensure a successful service member is a successful veteran,” he added. “Members of the military and their families repeatedly prove their dedication, courage and selflessness in protecting our nation. In return, our value proposition is to provide them with the support, services

Members of the 911th Airlift Wing congregate for a commander’s call, April 2,2023, at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania. The 911th Airlift Wing gathers on a monthly basis for unit training assemblies. (U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY TECH. SGT.JAMES E. HARRIS III)

and resources they need to thrive beyond the battlefield,” he said. Joshua D. Jacobs, the VA’s undersecretary for benefits, said that each year approximately 200,000 service members transition from military to civilian life. “For many, transition is an opportunity to take on new challenges and build the next chapter in their lives. For others, this time can be daunting and filled with a mix of emotions and uncertainties. It’s our duty to care for all types of veterans, regardless of where they are in this journey,” Jacobs said. Veterans who use their earned benefits are healthier, they earn more, and they’re better set up for success as they enter civilian life, he noted. Success or failure in connecting veterans with their benefits has lasting impact on the

military’s ability to recruit future generations of service members, he said. Service members are allowed to begin TAP one year prior to separation, or two years prior to retiring, he said. “Attending TAP as early as possible in the transition process is critical for transitioning service members, given the vast amount of information they need to digest in a compressed timeframe. It also gives them the opportunity to access their earned VA beneﬁts more quickly,” Jacobs said. James Rodriguez, the Department of Labor’s assistant secretary for the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, said his department helps prepare veterans, service members and military spouses for meaningful careers, provides them with employment resources and expertise, protects their

employment rights and promotes their employment opportunities. In fiscal year 2022, the Labor Department provided career-related instructions to more than 266,000 participants, which is an increase of more than 40% from the previous workshop record in fiscal year 2021, he said. In fiscal year 2023, 97% of participants indicated they would use what they learned in their own transition planning and 95% reported that their confidence in transition planning was enhanced, Rodriguez said. “Our long-term strategic goal for TAP is for the nation to recognize military service as a path to high-quality civilian careers. The future of the country’s all-volunteer force across the armed services depends on this recognition,” he said.

6 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, October 26, 2023 7

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (Sept. 10, 2023) Medical Sailors from the U.S. Navy and the Egyptian Navy pose for a group photo aboard Egyption Naval Ship (ENS) Anwar El-Sadat during exercise Bright Star 23 at Ras Al Tin Naval Forces Base, Egypt, Sept. 10. Bright Star 23 is a multilateral U.S. Central Command exercise held with the Arab Republic of Egypt across air, land, and sea domains that promotes and enhances regional security and cooperation and improves interoperability in irregular warfare against hybrid threat scenarios. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY LT. FREDDIE MAWANAY)

Navy Medicine marks milestone aboard Egyptian naval ship for Global Health Engagement By Bobbie A. Camp

Naval Medical Forces Atlantic

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt — Navy Medicine marked a milestone during a global health engagement (GHE) with Egyptian Naval Forces to achieve interoperability and increase patient survivability in a shipboard setting within U.S. Central Command area of operations in support of exercise Bright Star 2023, Sept. 9-13. The four personnel from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit (USNMRTU) Bahrain provided tactical combat casualty care, shipboard medical programs review and a mass casualty exercise aboard the state-of-the-art French Mistral-class ship, the Egyptian Naval Ship (ENS) Anwar El-Sadat at Ras Al Tin Naval Forces Base. “This is the ﬁrst time the Egyptian Naval Forces have granted access to the U.S. Navy, speciﬁcally U.S. Navy medical professionals, to their ship,” explained Lt. Freddie Mawanay, the GHE officer at NAVCENT. “It was a pleasure executing GHE serials, and working with the professional medical doctors and nurses was commendable.”

The team operated inside the ship’s hospital medical facility and alongside their Egyptian counterparts to understand their procedures and resources and offered collaboration support during drills. “I learned about their current operations for mass casualty drills and care for those wounded in combat,” said Lt.j.g. Anna Walker, a native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and a staff nurse with USNMTRU Bahrain. “We had thorough discussions and brainstormed ideas to enhance their shipboard casualty plan.” While the team had some minor challenges with regards to language and cultural barriers, they began to communicate much easier over time. By strengthening their professional relationship with Egypt, they created lifelong memories with an unforgettable experience. “The most memorable thing about the GHE was the eagerness to learn from both our team and the foreign militaries,” reflected Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Joseph Wanda, a native of Plano, Illinois, and a command pay and personnel administrator at USNMTRU Bahrain. “We also had personnel from departments that had littleto-no medical knowledge wanting to attend

and learn skills.” The experience during the exercise opened more opportunities for the U.S. and Egyptian medical teams to collaborate and plan for future emergency and trauma management events and programs. “Our partner has expressed further interest in GHEs to build upon these initial efforts to enhance their proficiencies,” concluded Mawanay. “We hope to have an exchange aboard a U.S. vessel to provide an availability for the Egyptian team to also observe and understand our shipboard medical capabilities.” Exercise Bright Star is the oldest multilateral military exercise in the Middle East and Africa first occurring in 1980. Bright Star 2023 was jointly led by the Egyptian Armed Forces and those from the U.S. Central Command and is designed to enhance interoperability among the 34 participating nations and support their ability to confront security and military challenges at regional and international levels. USNMRTU Bahrain, a unit of U.S. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Sigonella, provides support to 5,000 enrolled beneficiaries and 15,000 transient forces. NMRTC Sigonella and its units

in Bahrain and Souda Bay provide high-performing, fully mission-ready medical and dental care in three geographically dispersed populations of personnel assigned to U.S. Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain, NSA Souda Bay, headquarters staff of CENTCOM, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as ships transiting the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. Naval Medical Forces Atlantic, headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia, delivers operationally focused medical expertise and capabilities to meet Fleet, Marine and Joint Force requirements by providing equipment, sustainment and maintenance of medical forces during combat operations and public health crises. NMFL provides oversight for 21 NMRTCs, logistics, and public health and dental services throughout the U.S. East Coast, U.S. Gulf Coast, Cuba, Europe, and the Middle East. Navy Medicine — represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals — provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warﬁghter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Teleworking or off duty? Here are some cybersecurity best practices while on the go From Office of the Deputy Chief of

Naval Operations for Information Warfare (N2N6)

The Navy observance of the third week of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month focuses on best practices to implement while working remotely or off duty. Remember the pillars of zero trust,” said Scott St. Pierre, director of the Navy’s Enterprise Networks and Cybersecurity Division. “Trust but verify everyone and everything. This includes exercising good digital citizenship even when not logged onto a Navy network. Our online behavior, no matter what the circumstance, must reﬂect the highest standards of character and conduct.” In keeping with the Navy’s National Cybersecurity Alliance’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month themes of Teach, Practice, Talk, and Prioritize Cybersecurity, this week the Navy is asking Sailors and staff to practice effective cybersecurity hygiene while interacting on the internet in a remote or non-work capacity. Here are some best practices to keep in mind while working remotely or off duty: Know and follow your agency’s cybersecurity and telework policies and ensure

you are current on mandatory training. Department of the Navy information technology, information management, and cybersecurity policy and guidance may be found here: https://www.doncio.navy.mil/ Policy.aspx. Check with your leadership for agency-speciﬁc guidance. Only connect government furnished equipment (GFE) to a network over which you have complete control, such as a home Wi-Fi network. If you must use public Wi-Fi, be sure to utilize a virtual private network (VPN) to protect your data. Be cognizant of your surroundings to deter eavesdropping and shoulder surﬁng, and always remove your CAC card from your machine when not in active use. Only use agency-approved collaboration tools, including but not limited to chat and video conferencing platforms. The Navy’s enterprise collaboration tool is Microsoft Teams. Store work-related content on GFE and agency-approved cloud services only. Do not forward work emails to a personal email account. Do not print work-related materials at home or on a public printer. Be mindful of

how you handle paper documents outside the office and remember that a locked personal residence is not considered a secure facility for the handling of classified materials. Limit what information you post on social media—from personal addresses to where you like to grab coffee. What many people don’t realize is that these seemingly random details are all that adversaries need to know to target you and your loved ones—online and in the real world. Keep Social Security numbers, account numbers, and passwords private, as well as specific information about yourself, such as your full name, address, birthday, and even vacation plans. Disable location services that allow anyone to see where you are—and where you aren’t—at any given time. Be careful of who you allow to be a “friend” or “follower,” and be mindful of the difference. Social media platforms may allow different levels of access to your profile depending on your relationship with those with whom you connect. Speak up if you’re uncomfortable. If a friend posts something about you that makes you uncomfortable or you think is

inappropriate, let them know. Likewise, stay open-minded if someone approaches you because something you’ve posted makes them uncomfortable. People have different tolerances for how much the world knows about them, and it is important to respect those differences. Don’t hesitate to report any instance of cyberbullying, suspicious, or harassing activity. Work with the social media platform to report, and possibly block, harassing users. Report an incident if you’ve been a victim of cybercrime. Local and national authorities are ready to help you. Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October Cybersecurity Awareness Month, helping individuals protect themselves online as threats to technology and conﬁdential data become more common. Celebrating its twentieth year, the campaign has grown globally since its inception, reaching consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, corporations, and families in over 75 countries and territories. For more information on the Navy’s Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign, visit doncio.navy.mil and search “National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.”

Laugh out loud! CHECK OUT THE COMICS IN THE SUNDAY PILOT

8 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

On iberty

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

It’s time for Halloween treats – no tricks! Spook-tacular treats for your Halloween get togethers! Page c4

Visitors enjoy the Veteran’s Day Parade in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. ((PHOTO COURTESY THE COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION)

Colonial Williamsburg offering FREE admission to military families Veterans Day, Nov. 10-12 Press Release

Armed Forces.

Colonial Williamsburg will once again be offering FREE admission during Veterans Day weekend, Friday through Sunday, Nov. 10-12, to all active-duty military, reservists, retirees, veterans, national guardsmen and their immediate dependents. Your free admission includes admission to historic trades and sites, admission to our two world-class art museums, and complimentary shuttle service. We invite you and your family to enjoy a weekend of special events and attractions. SPECIAL EVENT: A Veterans Day Salute & Procession | Nov. 11, 3:30 - 4:30pm Join us this Veterans Day weekend as we honor those who serve in the military. An afternoon march and ceremony honoring America’s veterans feature the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums, Military Programs staff, and an address of gratitude to Williamsburg community veterans by Mrs. Washington, starting at Capitol Circle and concluding with a commemoration ceremony behind the Courthouse on Market Square. All armed forces veterans are welcome and encouraged to participate. SPECIAL EVENT: Veterans Day Proclamation | Nov. 11, 10am - 11am Our Veterans Day programming begins at 10 a.m. with a ceremony on Palace Green honoring the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

RELAX & UNWIND at the Liberty Lounge The Liberty Lounge is located in the heart of the Historic Area and offers a quiet, comfortable place for ticketed active duty, veteran, and retired military and their families to relax during their visit. The Liberty Lounge occupies the first floor of the Margaret Hunter Workshop, the red building located directly behind the Relax and unwind in the Liberty Lounge. (PHOTO COURTESY THE Millinery on East COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION) Duke of Gloucester Street, and is accesThis stirring tribute is presented In part- sible through a gate just to the left of that nership with the Williamsburg Chapter shop. The lounge is open 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 of the Sons of the American Revolution. p.m., daily. Amenities include free wi-fi and complimentary hot/cold beverages. Plus SPECIAL EVENT: Salute to the coloring sheets and crayons, and a large Heroes | Nov. 11, 4:40pm - 5pm chalkboard for the kids. To conclude Colonial Williamsburg’s VeterTo enjoy the Liberty Lounge, guests need ans Day observance, a lone bagpiper plays a blue star sticker on their admission ticket. iconic selections from the Governor’s Palace To get this free sticker, please visit any Coloin a heartfelt tribute to honor those men and nial Williamsburg ticket location and show women who have served in the United States the ticket agent appropriate proof of mili-

tary service, and present (or purchase) any type of current admission ticket, including a Single-day, Multiday, Annual, Good Neighbor, Collegiate or service-related complimentary pass. TICKET INFORMATION Tickets are only valid for November 10-12, 2023. Guests must visit a Colonial Williamsburg on-site ticket sales location to receive their free admission ticket. Locations include the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center, the Lumber House, and the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. All guests in party must be present to receive their free admission ticket. Only one per person. This offer is only available to active duty Military, Reservists, Retirees, Veterans, National Guardsmen (and their dependents) with proper ID, which includes a Department of Defense photo ID or DD Form 214. Military veterans who separated before retirement can bring a copy of their honorable discharge paperwork, DD Form 214, as identiﬁcation of service. If the service member happens to be deployed, dependents may take advantage of the offer without their service member, though an adult must accompany minor dependents, and dependent ages 10 and over must present valid dependent ID. For more information call (888) 965-7254 or visit https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/explore/special-event/veterans-day-weekend/

Alice Cooper, still going strong, welcomes you to his nightmare: The Interview

Interview By Yiorgo

In the spirit of Halloween, here is my interview with legendary iconic superstar Alice Cooper. We cover everything from his concerts to working with Johnny Depp, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, WWE legend Jake “The Snake” Roberts and so much more. Yiorgo: Can you set the record straight about the band’s name, Alice Cooper? Is it really after Alice Ghostley, the actress from the TV show Mayberry RFD? Alice Cooper: I never even heard of that one there. Yea, Alice Cooper, the whole idea behind it, was to upset every cart in America. Here we were this band that was doing theatrics, snakes and guillotines and all the things — we were like a traveling Halloween show — and to give the name of the band something dark would not be our band’s sense of humor. But we gave the band the name Alice Cooper, like somebody’s aunt making cookies, a non-threatening name, and it works. Those two words were picked out of thin air. There were all these stories that we picked our name with ouija boards. It was none of that. It was us sitting down and saying, it would be better, more of our sense of humor, to be called Alice Cooper.

Y: What were your high school years like? AC: Our cross-country coach was also our journalism teacher, and he encouraged creative writing and using our imagination. And here is the crazy thing. All of us were four-year lettermen, and we were jocks with long hair on the cross country team. We projected an image of surrealism, and three of us from the band were art majors, so we studied surrealism, and we added that into our show, and when we ﬁnally did make it, people did not know what to think about us. Y: So when did you make it? AC: Here is the deal. A band like us was a great show band. They did not necessarily come to see us because of our music. They came to see the spectacle. Then all of a sudden, we got together with our producer Bob Ezrin, who ended up being like George Martin of the Beatles, taking the songs that we had and turning them into hit records. Without him, I think we would have probably gone away. You cannot deny a band that has 14 top hit singles. We had as many as anybody out there. Then once you have a hit single, now you are different, you are viable. So it’s very odd for a band with our image to have sold 50-75 million records. Y: What do you give your fans who

come to see your shows? AC: When they come to our shows now, what it boils down to it, they really want to hear those songs. There’s 30 albums out there, and each one depicts a little area of their life, so they want to hear it and to sound like the album. You know when we do a ﬁvehour rehearsal, four hours of it is on the music. Also they expect to see the guillotine, the giant Frankenstein, the nurse and all the stuff that goes with Alice Cooper. But what I think shocks them is the fact that they have heard the name Alice Cooper for 50 years, so they may be expecting Alice to walk through the show, sort of like an oldies show, and what they get is something so high-energy and so rock-’n’-roll that most of the young bands can’t stay with us. It’s very high;energy; we don’t give the audience a chance to catch their breath. We do 30 songs in the show, and every single song has some sort of a theatrical device, and on top of it, I have the top-touring band of anybody out there. We kill the audience just with that. I have been with the same manager for 48 years — Jeff Gordon. We still don’t have a contract after 48 years; we are best friends. My guitar player Ryan Roxie and base player Chuck Garric Turn to Alice Cooper, Page 2

(PHOTO COURTESY ALICE COOPER)

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

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Community SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS, NEWS AND PHOTOS

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Tips to keep your pets safe this Halloween From Family Features Costumes and candy make Halloween a highly anticipated event for children and adults alike, but the holiday can be particularly spooky for pets. Some of the same things that bring humans joy on All Hallows Eve can lead to poisoning, stress or anxiety, which may cause four-legged family members to run away or react aggressively. To help ensure Halloween is fun for every member of the family, take note of these safety tips from the experts at VCA Animal Hospitals, which has more than 1,000 locations across North America that cared for more than 4.5 million pets last year. Talk to your veterinarian if you need assistance dealing with pet anxiety. Create a safe space for your pet at home. If your neighborhood is particularly busy on Halloween and the sidewalks are overﬂowing with exuberant trick-ortreaters, it may be best to leave your pet at home. Pets can be thrown off by extra people on the street or at the door in frightening costumes, which could lead to uncommon reactions such as growling or biting if they feel threatened. Even if your pets are mellow and enjoy greeting guests, consider keeping them inside as you sit by yourself near the door or outside to greet trick-or-treaters as they knock or ring the doorbell. Otherwise, consider keeping your pet in a room away from the frenzy with a TV, radio or white noise machine to dull the sounds. Be cautious when taking your pet trickor-treating. If you do decide to venture out with your pet, make sure he or she is always close to you on a secure leash (avoid retractable leashes). Observe your surroundings and assess people — especially friendly, excited children — approaching you and your pet, because physical contact from strangers in costumes may instigate a fearful or aggressive reaction. Consider costume safety. If you choose to dress your pet for Halloween, it’s important for them to wear safe, comfortable

(ISTOCK PHOTO)

costumes. They should be loose enough to provide freedom of movement but not loose enough to be a tripping hazard. On the other hand, costumes that are too tight can restrict breathing and make movement difficult. Make sure your pet’s costume does not interfere with vision or hearing. Also beware of small parts, like buttons or loose strings, that could be chewed off and swallowed. Keep treats away from pets. Resist the temptation to share Halloween candy with

your pet. In fact, keep all candy safely out of reach. Chocolate, candy or gum artiﬁcially sweetened with xylitol can be dangerous for dogs. Plus, cellophane or foil wrappers can cause problems if swallowed. Even natural treats like caramel apples should be off limits as eating items not normally on the menu can cause upset stomachs, GI blockages or pancreatitis. Decorate with safety in mind. Festive decorations help set the mood, but they can also create health risks for your pet. While

non-toxic, pumpkin and pumpkin seeds can upset stomachs, especially when consumed in large quantities. Lit candles in Jack-OLanterns may pose ﬁre hazards if toppled by a curious four-legged friend. Decorative lights can brighten your porch but should be kept out of your pet’s reach as nibbling on electrical cords can cause electrocution. To learn more, visit vcahospitals.com , where you can search for additional tips to make Halloween safe and fun for your furry friends.

This Halloween weekend, if you drink, don’t drive! Get a FREE ride with Drive Safe Hampton Roads 757 Sober Ride powered by Lyft

Press Release

rides originating from or having a destination within Hampton Roads. Subject to Lyft’s HAMPTON ROADS, Va. — This Hallow- Terms of Service. Valid while supplies last. een 2023, let’s make happy memories, not In Hampton Roads, there were 274 tragic nightmares. The only thing scarier alcohol-related fatalities in 2022, a 10.9% than zombies and witches loose on the increase over 2021.* In an effort to reduce streets is an impaired driver. Over the 2022 injuries and fatalities in Hampton Roads, Halloween weekend (Oct. 28-30), there DSHR partners with Lyft. Sponsors of were 1,171 traffic-related injuries & 12 fatal- DSHR’s 2023-24 757 Sober Ride campaign ities on the Commonwealth’s roadways.* include the Christopher King Foundation Whether you are just celebrating the and the Virginia Department of Motor weekend with a few friends or attending Vehicles. a Halloween party, if you “On average, a DUI plan on using alcohol, can set you back $10,000 never drink and drive in attorney’s fees, fines, -and never let a friend Over the 2022 Halloween court costs, lost time drive if they show signs weekend (Oct. 28-30), there at work, higher insurof impairment. Instead, were 1,171 traffic-related ance rates, car towing, use Drive Safe HR’s 757 injuries & 12 fatalities on the and more.** Drinking Sober Ride powered by Commonwealth’s roadways.* and driving is a risk no Lyft. https://www.driveone should take. If you safehr.org/757soberride feel different, you will Free or reduced fare drive differently. Be rides are being offered to alcohol-impaired smart, plan ahead, and use 757 Sober Ride drivers throughout Hampton Roads this to get home safely. The life you save may Halloween Weekend. Drive Safe Hampton be your own, or someone you love.” said Roads (DSHR) is sponsoring 757 Sober Ride Jonathan Turner, 757 Sober Ride Chairfrom 4 p.m. on Friday, October 27th until person. The program is patterned after the 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 29th. Note highly successful, award-winning Soberthat you cannot reserve 757 Sober Ride or Ride® program conducted by the non-profit schedule a pickup in advance. The 2-hour Washington Regional Alcohol Program usage window begins when the rider enters (WRAP). the code in their app. Drive Safe Hampton Roads (DSHR) is a During the thirty-six-hour period, area non-profit regional coalition whose mission residents age 21 and older celebrating with is to improve highway safety, and reduce alcohol may download the Lyft app to their injuries and deaths from vehicle crashes. phones, then enter the 757 Sober Ride code For over 35 years, Drive Safe Hampton in the app’s “Payment” tab (under the “Add Roads has promoted citizen involvement Lyft Pass” option) to receive their no-cost and community awareness as we strive (up to $15) safe transportation home. toward zero deaths on our region’s roadDSHR’s 2023 Halloween Weekend 757 ways. Sober Ride promo code will be posted at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 27th, at www. *Source: Virginia Department of DriveSafeHR.org/757-Sober-Ride. It can be Motor Vehicles used only during the above stated period for **Source: Traffic Safety Marketing

Alice Cooper from Page 1

have been together for almost 20 years. Ryan used to play with Slash and Chuck with Dio, Glenn Sobel our drummer just got voted best drummer in rock-’n’-roll. Tommy Henriksen is another guitar player who is also a writer and producer. Our lead player is a 27-yearold girl named Hurricane Nita Strauss — a blond girl who looks like a model and plays like Jimmy Hendricks. So I surround myself with the best players who get out there and rock the audience. This band is a total show band; they can really turn it on. Y: Can you share your WWF experience working with Jake “The Snake” Roberts? AC: We did the SilverDome in Detroit, Michigan, with over 90,000 people. It was during the time of the classic wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Junkyard

Dog, Randy Savage. I kind of walked into it. They said it was Detroit, it’s your hometown. We have Jake the Snake, and with your connection with snakes, your theatricality, you’re from Detroit: This should really be fun. They asked me if I wanted to do it, and I said absolutely. Jake’s snake was not really a very nice snake. It was big and really angry about everything, and we really had to be very careful handling it. It was really amazing to see how hard these guys actually hit each other. And they don’t back off. They know they are going to get hit. And at the same time, when they hit a guy with a chair, they really hit him with a chair. The funny thing I remember about the back, there were these four midgets that were wrestlers, and they were going to wrestle Andre the Giant. And at the end of the thing, they were yelling at Andre saying, “You’re not suppose to slam us!” And Andre says, “Oh I’m sorry!” It was really great. I felt like I really ﬁt right in!

Y: Can you share a “wow” moment or two in your life? AC: Yes I have a couple of those. There was a Rolling Stone magazine interview about Bob Dylan, and they asked him who do you like, and he said, “I think Alice Cooper is the most underrated songwriter.” I didn’t even know that Bob Dylan knew I was alive. He said, “Alice is a very good songwriter and a great lyricist.” That is as high a praise as you can get. The other is that the Beatles were pretty solid Alice Cooper fans. The song “Elected” was John Lennon’s favorite Alice Cooper song. We have this other band called Hollywood Vampires with Johnny Depp, Joe Perry and myself and Duff McKagan. We do songs for all of our dead drunk friends — guys we used to drink with that have passed away. So we are recording the album at Johnny Depp’s house, and Johnny Depp gives guitar lessons to Joe Perry —he is that good. Johnny

is a great guitar player. And as we are recording, Paul McCartney walks in, sits down at the piano and says, “We are going to record this song that I wrote for Badﬁnger. Alice you take the high part, Johnny you take the middle. We sat there and did a live version of “Come and Get it,” and we are all looking at each other saying, “That’s Paul McCartney.” I’ve known Paul for 35 years but still being in a studio and being in a band singing with him is a totally different thing than just knowing him. Now that was a wild moment for me. He is actually listening to what my ideas were. To be in a band with him, and I’m a big part on one of his tracks, is just amazing to me. I never thought that would ever happen to me. Yiorgo is an arts, entertainment and sports writer. A stage, TV and movie actor, he is also a sports entertainer, educator, motivational speaker, writer, storyteller and columnist.

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

FREE PUZZLES & GAMES Play online every day at PlayJumble.com

4 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

Food

IT’S TIME FOR HALLOWEEN TREATS – NO TRICKS! Jack-o’-Lantern Spinach Dip Bread Bowl

Graveyard Taco Dip

Chicken Parmesan Monster Sliders

By Jo & Sue @ Blog.chickabug.com

By Cari Garcia @ FatGirlHedonist.com

Recipe from Kroger.com

Need a spooky and fun Halloween recipe? How about graveyard taco dip with gravestone tortilla chips! You’ll see it’s just as simple to make as it is cute.It’s basically seven layer dip,but with fewer layers.So easy!

It’s that time of year for scary movies and spooky snacks.Everyone loves a fun Halloween themed snack or festive appetizer.These chicken parmesan monster sliders are the perfect snack for your Halloween parties!

Ingredients First layer: 1 can refried beans or refried black beans Second layer: 2 cups sour cream 1 pkg taco seasoning Third layer: 2 avocados, mashed 1 clove garlic, minced 2 Tbsp mayonnaise Fourth layer: 1 cup salsa Fifth layer: 1 bunch scallions (green onions), chopped

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes

This creamy spinach dip,served in a bread bowl, makes a delightful Halloween snack.It can be served chilled,at room temperature or warmed in the oven for an appetizer everyone will love. Serves: 15 Prep: 1 hour 20 minutes Total: 1 hour 20 minutes Ingredients 1⁄2 cup sour cream 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened 1 package (10 oz.) frozen spinach, thawed and drained 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded 1⁄2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded 1⁄4 cup onion, chopped 1 tablespoon garlic, minced 1⁄2 teaspoon salt 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper 1⁄8 teaspoon red pepper ﬂakes 1 loaf bread (about 1 lb.) Fresh vegetables, to serve Directions In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream, cream cheese, spinach, cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, onion, garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper ﬂakes. Allow to refrigerate at least 1 hour. If bread is tough, allow to warm in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. Cut a hole around the top of the bread, then hollow out the inside and tear the bread from the inside into bite-sized pieces. Carve a Jack-o’-Lantern face into the front of the bowl. Spoon the chilled spinach dip into the bread bowl. Serve with the bread and fresh vegetables.

Directions In a small bowl, mix the sour cream and taco seasoning. In another small bowl, mix the mashed avocados, minced garlic, and mayonnaise. In a small Pyrex dish or pie plate, layer the beans, sour cream mixture, avocado mixture, and salsa. Sprinkle the scallions on top. Chill at least an hour, or until ready to serve. (The dip can be made a day ahead and kept, covered, in the refrigerator.) To make the tombstones and tree, cut the shapes you want out of 2 large tortillas. Place the cut-out shapes on a parchment paper lined cookie tray and bake at 350 degrees until the tortillas are nice and brown. You can add text to the tombstones with a black food safe marker. Put the tombstones and tree in the dip just before serving.

Ingredients 8 frozen chicken tenders 8 slider buns 8 slices Mozzarella cheese ¾ cup of Marinara sauce 16 green olives stuffed with pimento Directions First thing you’ll need to do is remove the chicken tenders from the freezer and cook them as directed in their packaging. While the chicken tenders are cooking, prepare your cheese slices. Using a pairing knife cut the edges of your cheese to look like sharp teeth. Prepare your green olive eyes by skewering one olive on a toothpick. You’ll need two olives per slider to make the monster eyes. Then, warm your marinara over medium heat until simmering. Once your chicken tenders are cooked and out of the oven, begin assembling your sliders. On the bottom slider bun, place about 1 tablespoon of marinara sauce. Over the marinara, place your hot chicken tender. Over your chicken tender add additional marinara if desired. Then, place your mozzarella cheese and be sure that the “teeth” part of the cheese is facing forward. Place the top bun on the sandwich and then skewer two olives onto the top bun to make the monster. Serve immediately to your little goblins

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

Health

(PHOTO COURTESY AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION)

10 ways to relax in nature and stress less By American Heart Association News Spending time in nature can improve your health and well-being. But, the way you spend time out in nature can affect how much your physical, emotional and mental health will beneﬁt from it. If you’re getting outside to relax, relieve stress or anxiety, focus your mind or improve your health and well-being, try some of these tips to make it a more mindful experience. There are undeniable beneﬁts for your mental health when you spend time in nature, such as lower stress and better memory. But if you’re usually glued to a screen — phone, computer or any other kind — you may have forgotten exactly how relaxing in nature works. Don’t give up, hug a tree or two and head for home. There are plenty of other ways to immerse yourself in nature and have fun while you’re doing it. You’ll be taking steps to manage stress too. Here are 10 relaxing nature activities that will rejuvenate your mind, from the simple to the life-changing.

Savor the scenery. Movies beaming with CGI on 4K televisions dazzle our imaginations, but you won’t always ﬁnd the most mind-blowing spectacles on a screen. When was the last time you got up early to watch the sunrise, or ventured to the nearest hilltop to watch it set? The scenery will mentally prepare you for a hectic morning, or help you de-stress after a busy day so you’re ready for the night.

Wander the wilderness Walking is good for you, but not all walks are created equal. Cruising the urban streets

doesn’t provide the same mental boost as hiking a local trail or feeling the sandy beach between your toes. You don’t have to have a speciﬁc destination in mind, either — your goal isn’t to hike a particular number of miles, but to aimlessly immerse yourself in the natural world around you. The Japanese call this “forest bathing” and it can rejuvenate a weary mind.

Meditate on the music. And not the kind playing in your headphones. Leave your electronics behind and listen to the melodies nature has to offer: babbling brooks, bird songs, wind whistling through the trees and the scurrying of unseen animals through the canopy. It’s a lot more relaxing than the honking horns and text message alerts you’re used to, and it offers the opportunity to practice some meditative mindfulness in your tranquil surroundings.

Get in shape. If you have ﬁtness goals, there’s no better place to work on them than the great outdoors. Enjoy the fresh air while you go for a jog or walk, and reserve the treadmill for rainy days. (Although running on a misty day can feel great, and keep you cool.) Of course, you don’t have to cover a lot of ground to exercise. Many public parks have exercise stations where you can do stretches and calisthenics such as sit-ups or deep knee bends. Or consider tai chi, for exercise that beneﬁts the mind and body.

Pose in paradise. Yoga offers many physical benefits, like stretching the body and building core strength. It relaxes you, too. In fact, if you

surround yourself with nature’s beauty, research shows you might up the ﬂow of endorphins and take your yoga session to whole new levels. So try skipping the gym and make a park with a view your yoga studio.

Study in the sunshine. If you have studying to do, or written material to digest, leave the ﬂuorescent lights behind and read in the light of the blue sky overhead. Natural environments can enhance cognitive abilities, like memory and problem-solving. So if you want to retain more information for that big test at school or ﬁgure out how to win that important account at work, you might have a better shot surrounded by birds and trees, rather than fellow students and chatty coworkers.

Pack a picnic. Load a basket with your favorite healthy goodies and have lunch among the ﬂora and fauna. Bring some companions along — a picnic is the perfect way to spend quality time with friends and family without the distractions of the modern-day world. And nature makes socializing with other people easier, so it’s the perfect place to build stronger relationships with those you love.

Go ﬁsh. Fishing puts you outside, near a body of water, and it rewards patience. All of those are good things. Better still, grab a young niece or nephew or grandchild, and teach them how to ﬁsh. Even if you don’t catch (and release) anything, you’ll both forge a treasured, lifelong memory. With a little luck, you reel in a perch that will grow into a marlin after multiple retellings of the story

at family events.

Look, up in the sky. Thousands of people who watch birds as a hobby are on to something: There’s a special thrill when you can recognize a bird by sight, or by its sound. Odds are, your local Audubon chapter offers free birding walks that are open to the public. Or, turn to the internet for free resources to help you identify the birds in your area. Either way, bird watching gives you the perfect excuse to relax in nature, with your head in the clouds. That’s a great way to fend off stress.

Sleep beneath the stars. Now you’re getting serious. Why not disconnect entirely for a couple of days and make nature your home? Camping lets you get further away than a simple day trip allows. Or, if roughing it isn’t your style, consider glamping, where you can maintain some of the creature comforts you love, but still be away from it all. If you take your phone, use it for that cool star-gazing app (or emergencies, of course), but not for scrolling social media 24/7. Forget the Fear of Missing Out and try the Joy of Missing Out instead. #JOMO! It’s great to get out and #movemore outside, but make sure you #relaxmore, too. Start small by scheduling time with a friend to try one of the ﬁrst three ideas. (They’re easy!) Then, plan a bigger trip with your companions to go on a picnic or even a camping trip, as the outdoors become a bigger part of your life. It’s time to stop reading and take a deep, calming breath in nature, so you can be Healthy for Good!

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER ONLINE AT https://newsroom.tricare.mil/News/TRICARE-News/Article/3554747/choosing-between-tricare-prime-and-tricare-select

6 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, October 26, 2023

Autos for Sale

TOYOTA 2010 HIGHLANDER

Virginia Valid Inspection Excellent Condition limited Edition Sport Utility 2wd 11,175 O.B.O. 757-949-1923

Classic, Antique Cars Dogs, Cats, Other Pets AKC REGISTERED GOLDEN RETRIEVERS

Announcements ABANDONED WATERCRAFT Notice is hereby given that the following watercraft has been abandoned for more than 60 DAYS on the property of Thomas Clark, 1429 Charleston Ave Portsmouth, VA 23704, 7049304936 Rinker 25’9”, 1997, white, VA598AR

M&F avail. Embark tested, Cardiac, OFA. Elbows clear. Vetted and 1st shots. DOB: 8-31-23 Ready to go home 10-27-23. $1500 Call Stephanie @ 757-408-1725 Text for more photos. BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG

COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES INC. HIRING FAIR We’re hosting a Hiring Event and want to meet you there. Join us for HIRING FAIR at COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES, October 25, 2023, between 10:00am-2:00pm, at 410 North Center Dr., Norfolk, VA 23502

We have a beautiful litter of Bernese Mountain Dog puppies who are soon ready to be your forever companion! We give a 2 year health guarantee! They will come to you up to date on first vaccinations, de-wormed, checked for health by our vet, and well socialized! $1200. Call or text 540908-0744 / sshank14@gmail.com

We look forward to see you! FOUND - at Lynnhaven Mall weekend of 8/25/23: nice looking dark bag filled with various clothing items. Bag and all items turned in to Va. Beach police Property & Evidence unit; contact them at (757) 385-4578 to claim. SENIOR COMMUNITY YARD SALE Houseware, collectibles, clothes, and other unique finds! 10+ residents selling their wares and excited to see buyers! Saturday, Nov. 4 8 AM - 2 PM The Reserve at Greenbrier 1005 Elysian Pl. Chesapeake, VA 23320

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

CHAUHUHA Female chauhuha puppy. Parents on premises $650. 7574072935 DACHSHUND MINI Dachshund puppies akc will have shots and vet checked $1000 please call 7577540884 or text

25 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Little Cuties!! Ready for their new family. 8 weeks old. $750. 252-377-2496 YORKIEPOOS & YORKIES

650&up health guarantee, shots Dewormed VB 757-409-8461

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DECOYS WANTED

CASH

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

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ABSOLUTELY ABLY ACQUIRING AUTOS All Makes & Models, Best Price Paid!! FREE TOWING. 757-749-8035

SHORKIE TZU Pups avail now. Do not shed. 1st shots and worming. $1000 757-724-5978

AntiquesSales & Collectibles Estate

HIRE

Wanted Automotive

Application for Watercraft Registration/Title will be made in accordance with section 29.1-733.25 of the Code of Virginia if this watercraft is not claimed and removed within 30 days of first publication of this notice. Please contact the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources with questions.

CLASSIC & COLLECTIBLE

YOUR PERFECT

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Call Mark (Home) 757-721-2746

Cockatoo, too. Pick a pet in the CLASSIFIED MARKETPLACE.

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

Autos for Sale

CHEVROLET 1999 TAHOE

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BLUE 1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE LS W/ TINTED WINDOWS, LIKE NEW TIRES, NEW FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS, CD/CASSETTE PLAYER, VERY RELIABLE, 2 OWNERS, 5.7L V8 FWD, SUV 4D, 230K MILES, EXPERIAN AUTO REPORT, $6,000 727-560-2791

757.622.1455 | placeanad.pilotonline.com Concrete/Asphalt Estate Sales CONCRETE 10X40 Driveway $2,750 or 15’X15’ patio w/stone fire pit. 35 years experience. Mark 757-633-4765 Call for your free estimate. Licensed/Insured

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

Home Improvements Fencing

Fridays in The Pilot

ACTION ONE FENCE & DECK Custom wood, aluminum, chain link, vinyl. Quality work, great prices. Free Estimates. 40 Yrs. Exp. Call 757-438-7057.

★ BRICK AND STONE REPAIRS ★ Professional Brick Repair by a real Mason Earl Smith 757-270-0578

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AIR DUCT CLEANING UNIVERSAL DUCT CLEANING FREE INSPECTIONS MEMBER BBB. 757-502-0200

FRANK’S SIDING & REPAIRS Repairing Siding & Trim. Lic/Ins. FREE ESTIMATES 757-227-8964

BEST PRICE EXTERIORS Siding, Windows, Roofing, Soffit, Trim, Gutters. Licensed. & Insured. A+ BBB. Call 757-639-4692.

PEST/TERMITE CONTROL Universal Pest & Termite. FREE INSPECTIONS. 757-502-0200 (Mention This Ad and Get $25 Off)

FENCES, DECKS & FOUNDATION REPAIR Moisture Control, 20+ Year’s Experience. FREE ESTIMATES. Call Office at (757) 995-5445.

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Lawn and Tree Service CLEANUP Grass Cutting, Mulching & Trimming, Planting & Transplanting. 25yrs exp. 918-4152 WOOD FOR SALE $300 per cord. Call Clifton at 757-4789914.

Painting/Paperhanging INTERIOR/EXTERIOR PAINTING Wallpapering, Pressure Washing, Carpentry & Renov! Free est! Senior citz. discount! Paint & Wallpaper By Bob: 757-714-4573

Roofing

CALVIN’S ROOFING REPAIR LLC Roofing repair of all types after the storm incl’g cleaning gutters, Free est, reasonable prices, Over 30 yrs-business, lic & Ins, BBB 757-377-2933

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, October 26, 2023 7

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Crossword

FOLLOWING CONCEPTION

Sudoku

CryptoQuip

LAST WEEK’S CRYPTOQUIP ANSWER:

Book about a peculiar magical kingdom in which the atmosphere has been depleted: “Airless in Wonderland”

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

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

8 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, October 26, 2023