www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, November 18, 2021 1
IN THIS ISSUE
Health of Our Forces
While many recognize the consequences in a long term view, such as lung cancer and increased risk of a heart attack and stroke, what about short term affects? PAGE A2 VOL. XX, 28, NO. NO.45, XX,Norfolk, Norfolk,VA VA||flagshipnews.com flagshipnews.com
November 18-November 24, 2021
Virginia Wind Symphony performs for Veterans at JEBLC
The Virginia Wind Symphony performs a free concert at the Gator Theater on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story Nov. 11. The Virginia Wind Symphony offered the free concert, titled “Courage to Serve”, to veterans as a way of giving back to the community of military members in Hampton Roads. (MC1 MADDELIN HAMM)
By MC1 Maddelin Hamm
Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Wind Symphony (VWS) performed a free concert at Gator Theater on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story Nov. 11. The VWS offered the free concert, titled “Courage to Serve”, to veterans past and present as a way of giving back to the community of military members in Hampton Roads. The lead conductor of the symphony is retired Navy Capt. Brian O. Walden, who served 35 years in many of the Navy’s elite bands. “We hope that it inspires them,” said Walden. “We hope that they understand that it truly is a tribute to them…we hope that they feel recognized and appreciated.” Walden acknowledged the challenging times that the world has gone through with the COVID-19
Pandemic, and expressed appreciation to JEBLC’s commanding officer and executive officer for welcoming the event on the base. He said the VWS has not performed in front of a live audience in 20 months, so this is a special event for them in many ways. “You know the military had to work twice as hard to get through this [pandemic], and we just want them to know that people in the community [who are part of VWS]...are doing this because they really love their community,” said Walden, who also serves as the band and music director at Old Dominion University. Sailors and Soldiers stationed on JEBLC attended the event as well as retired members of the military community. A Retired Senior Chief Boatwain’s Mate (SEAL) who served from 19661986 attended the show with two of his fellow retired shipmates, and said the show was a good way for past and
Retired Navy Capt. Brian O. Walden, the Virginia Wind Symphony conductor, directs a composition during a free concert at the Gator Theater on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story Nov. 11. The Virginia Wind Symphony offered the free concert, titled“Courage to Serve”, to veterans as a way of giving back to the community of military members in Hampton Roads. (MC1 MADDELIN HAMM)
NEX locations closed Thanksgiving Day By Kristine Sturkie
Navy Exchange Service Command Public Affairs
V I RG I N IA BE AC H, Va. — Once again this year, NEX locations will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, so customers and associates can spend the day with loved ones. NEX store hours on Friday, Nov. 26 will vary depending on location. “This year, more than ever, it is important to spend time with loved ones on Thanksgiving Day, whether you’re gathering in person or virtually,” said retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, Chief Executive Officer of the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM). “NEXCOM’s seven business lines stand ready to support our deserving patrons throughout the holiday season — whether
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shopping at the NEX, staying at Navy Lodges and Navy Gateway Inns & Suites or keeping in touch with loved ones via our Telecommunications Program Office. On behalf of our 16,000 associates around the world, may you and your families have a very happy Thanksgiving holiday!” This holiday season, over 40 NEX locations are supporting the annual U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Select NEX locations will have boxes to collect new, unwrapped toys through mid-December. The toys will be distributed as gifts to less fortunate children in the community. To support holiday gift purchases, the NEX return policy has been extended. Any item purchased through Dec. 11, 2021, at a NEX or online at myNavyTurn to NEX, Page 7
Regional Supply Office Oceana Scores Excellent on Supply Management Inspection By Thomas Kreidel
NAVSUP FLC Norfolk Public Affairs
Dot and Dash arrive at NEX Naples, Italy, ahead of the holiday season. Once again this year, NEX locations will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, so customers and associates can spend the day with loved ones. (COURTESY PHOTO)
present servicemembers to come together. “It’s a common brotherhood and sisterhood, and allows us to reflect on our service in a positive way,” he said. The show featured nine compositions including the Star Spangled Banner, Reveille, and Courage to Serve. The VWS, organized in 1994 by Dennis Zeisler, is a wind ensemble made up of professional musicians, military musicians, public and private school teachers, and independent music instructors. The group was created to provide a musical outlet for musicians from throughout the Hampton Roads area and is dedicated to playing the finest original and transcribed wind literature available. For more information on VWS and upcoming shows visit their website at www.virginiawindsymphony.org.
NORFOLK — Regional Supply Office (RSO) Oceana recently passed their Supply Management Inspection (SMI). The bi-annual event evaluated how the RSO adhered to supply chain management and overall procedures while serving their mission partners by providing aviation supply support for 16 F/A-18 squadrons. According to RSO Oceana Supply Officer Cmdr. Kurt Welday, they prepared for the inspection by identifying previous SMI findings that required attention and established a series of internal weekly inspections to ensure continued compliance throughout day-to-day operations based on the latest SMI checklist that was released earlier this year. “These weekly self-assessments were instrumental in preparing program owners for each section with both face-to-face and virtual
discussions with the inspection team,” he added. “We were able to identify which data points we could preemptively upload to a shared network and which aspects would require in-person inspection.” Welday explained that this method allowed them to identify and correct any discrepancies in real time in accordance with the checklist. He added that communication and teamwork were important keys to their success, saying the entire group of Sailors, civilians and contractors from Aviation Support Detachment (ASD) and RSO Oceana played a role in passing the inspection. He cited Sadina Small, Reginald Thompson, Maureen Boyles and Roy Johnson from the Quality Assurance (QA) Team for their efforts. “Their outstanding dedication to the QA program is critical to our inventory accuracy, a metric that can make or break any SMI,” he Turn to Supply, Page 7
Saluting our Veterans
We Are MSC
NNSY
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Veterans Employee Readiness Group (VET-ERG) hosted the annual Veterans Day Fall-In for Colors Nov. 10, inviting the workforce and Sailors of America’s Shipyard to come together to celebrate our veterans and their contributions to our nation. PAGE A6
“My name is LT Westin Haddock, and I am a reservist with Navy Reserve Military Sealift Command Atlantic (NR MSCLANT) in Norfolk, Va. On my civilian job, I serve as a chief mate for the Great Eastern Group on a U.S Navy owned and operated training support vessel for Carrier Strike Group Four.” PAGE A4
Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s (NNSY) Strategic Framework is a tool for communicating the shipyard’s mission and vision statements. ts. It shows how initiatives executed across the command tie together with why NNSY exists. PAGE A3
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