Flagship 12.07.2023 by Military News

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

IN THIS ISSUE

Trees for Troops returns to NWS Yorktown and JEBLCFS A joyful and triumphant event returns this Friday, December 8th to Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Both installations will give away free freshly cut Christmas trees for servicemembers as part of the annual Trees for Troops program. PAGE A4 VOL. 31, NO. 43, Norfolk, VA | ﬂagshipnews.com

December 7-December 13, 2023

Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) welcomed USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Dec. 7 in advance of its scheduled Planned Incremental Availability. (PHOTO BY SHELBY WEST)

Process improvement on USS Harry S. Truman ﬁremain system improves employee quality of life, work execution and carrier safety By Michael D Brayshaw Norfolk Naval Shipyard

As process improvement often begins, implementing freeze seals to replace ﬁremain isolation valves on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) started with a question. Several years ago when Tim Riley and Tim Humphrey both served as Assistant Project Superintendents on a USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) availability, they considered a better method for replacing valves for the ﬁremain system distributing pressurized seawater for the carrier. This would not only improve work execution during carrier maintenance but also worker quality of life. “The tasking for a Norfolk Naval Shipyard mechanic is to go change out a large valve that is pressurized with sea water,” said Riley. “It’s difficult and so a few years ago we had asked the question, ‘why can’t we freeze this?’ Once we got into the director roles, we decided to get an answer.” With Riley as NNSY’s Piping Department (Code 960) Nuclear Director and Humphrey as its Non-nuclear Surface Craft Director, the two further pursued the idea. Attending a Freeze Seal Community of Practice event in San Diego, the Code 960 Directors shared their initiative, learning their counterparts at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility were exploring

a similar idea. A critical next step for the piping directors would be engaging with the Truman team in the Strategic Planning Session. After getting funding for research and development, and support for constructing a shop mockup, Code 960 leveraged loaned equipment from NNSY’s Nuclear Regional Maintenance Detachment—Kings Bay, using liquid nitrogen tanks to get a freeze seal in place. “Freezing the firemain system involved using a process we were already familiar with,” said Riley. “We had to do some realignment to go execute, recognizing the size of the pipe and its potential flow rate were different than previous uses. We built a 40-feet, 12-inch pipe mockup.” For the shop mockup conducted in March 2022, “we had to replicate as close as possible the water that would be coming on the ship out of the Elizabeth River,” said Humphrey. NNSY’s Code 960 team created an ice plug with a 5.5 gallon flow rate, “which was unheard of,” said Riley. “We wanted to apply that on Truman, which froze up a lot quicker than anticipated.” While it took four days for creating an ice plug in the mockup, on Truman a freeze seal formed within two days when performed in March 2023. “It was phenomenal!” said Riley. “The team performed excellent. It held its pressure. Granted, there is some learning

to do, but there was no water coming in and it helped that mechanic.” This process innovation shortened the amount of maintenance needed on this job, and positively impacted other vital work for the availability. Using the freeze seals also improves carrier safety, maximizing the ﬁre main system’s ability to remain online, helping maintain in-port emergency response capabilities. “Since we executed on Truman, which was very successful, every surface craft ship in the Fleet from my understanding has been asking for this service,” said Riley. “We successfully did a similar one [in July] on USS George Washington’s (CVN 73) chill water system when the ship was pierside [at Naval Station Norfolk with NNSY’s Off-Yard Carrier Group]. That’s one less thing the next Planned Incremental Availability has to deal with.” After ﬁnishing the job on George Washington ahead of schedule, the carrier’s Chief Engineer, Capt. Jonathan Gandy, commended the shipyard team: “Not often do we see the nuclear trades and engineering supporting topside work, but this was a great success . . . I cannot overstate how wonderful it is to be supported by a quality maintenance provider!” Considering what made this initiative successful, Riley pointed to the partner-

ing of those involved, to include dedicated support from Engineering and Planning Department Test Engineering (Code 246), the Surface Ship Non-Propulsion Piping Waterfront Support Branch (Code 267), the Nuclear Engineering and Planning Department Reactor Engineering Division (Code 2310), and the Truman project team. “We all had relationships,” he said. “We had seen and worked alongside each other for years. Because we were on a ﬁrst-name basis and trusted each other’s work, it was phenomenal to see it all come together. Everybody understood the end vision, including the best part which was the mechanics embracing it.” This process improvement could potentially be used multiple times during a single availability. The team is now considering how to implement on larger piping as well. “We want this to keep going to improve our overall effectiveness in scheduling and timelines for execution in an availability so we can get that carrier back out to sea faster and support as needed,” said Humphrey. “And also, this supports the mechanic being the center of the universe,” added Riley. “What are we doing every day to support that mechanic, or technician, or rigger? This started from a paper napkin idea all the way up to changing the Fleet.”

The Heritage Hour — A glance into the vital history of Norfolk Naval Shipyard LOG 12-23: Remembering Pearl Harbor By Victoria Pendleton

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

December 7th, “the day that will live in infamy” as declared by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941 has been remembered at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) for its key role in the war effort due to the fact that the ships that were modernized and built before and after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Stepping out of the elevators on the second ﬂoor of Bldg. 1763 brings people eye-to-eye with the crew of the USS Arizona (BB-39) as they were in May 1929 before the battleship was lost during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The event has been remembered in Service to the Fleet in recent years with articles reﬂecting on the day, but how was it remembered here in the shipyard in the years immediately following the historic event? This time on Turn to Pearl Harbor, Page 2

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The banner of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard publication Defender from December 7, 1942, with the declaration:“Solemn program marks Pearl Harbor Day.” (PHOTO BY VICTORIA PENDLETON, NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD)

JEBLCFS celebrates the season with tree lighting, concert JEBLCFS participated in a much-loved tradition Friday, Dec. 1 with the annual Tree Lighting and United States Fleet Forces Band“Holiday in Hampton Roads”concert at the Gator Theater onboard the installation. PAGE A5

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

Pearl Harbor from Page 1

Heritage Hour we look back and remember. The NNSY publication Defender, the predecessor to Service to the Fleet, commemorated the ﬁrst anniversary with a large two page spread of photographs showcasing some of the many achievements the shipyard accomplished in the time since the transmission came in: “Pearl Harbor under attack, this is no drill.” Some of the major events that occurred included a War Bond campaign that broke national records; pay

for the workforce was switched from cash to checks; and the introduction of women who, according to a journalist of the past, “dropped their kitchen utensils to exchange them for lathes and welding torches and hammers and chisels.” What began with Pearl J. Smithﬁeld, Viola B. Henderson, and Frances A. Scholz, the ﬁrst three women to step into the waterfront shops, became a lasting legacy. During research for this article, there was a noticeable absence of remembrance when looking through the tenth and twentieth anniversary editions. As publication of the Service to the Fleet in December of 1951 fell

directly on the tenth anniversary, the lack of any mention was truly surprising. Going back through the milestone years following the attack, a tiny article tucked inside the 1946 Service to the Fleet offered some enlightenment and proved a clear reminder of just how impactful the grief of loss from World War II was to this community. “[There] are few of us who do not mourn the loss of a loved relative or friend or shipmate. The row of graves on the hill behind Pearl Harbor, on Guadalcanal, on Tarawa, in North Africa, on the Normandy beaches, and the many unmarked but remembered graves in the depths of the sea remind us of

the expensive penalty we have paid for the victory which was ours after four, hard, difficult years.” The years have passed and it becomes easier to think only of the great battleships built and Allied warships repaired at the same docks that NNSY’s current workforce uses to carry out modern repairs to this very day. At its heart, December 7th should live on in infamy carrying on the memory of the ones who were lost on behalf of those who found the burden of grief too heavy in their time.

Photos shared in the December 7, 1942 issue of Defender displaying the many achievements of Norfolk Naval Shipyard in the year following the attack on Pearl Harbor. (PHOTO BY VICTORIA PENDLETON, NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD)

A small article from the December 6, 1946 edition of Service to the Fleet marking the ﬁfth anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. (PHOTO BY VICTORIA PENDLETON, NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD)

Message from then Shipyard Commander, Rear Adm. Felix X. Gygax, in the December 7, 1942 edition of Defender calling the men and women of NNSY to set the example for the nation to follow in production and ensure everything that could be done to support the war effort was being carried out. (PHOTO BY VICTORIA PENDLETON, NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD)

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Naval Station Norfolk conducts large scale integrated active shooter exercise By Kelly Wirfel

Naval Station Norfolk Public Affairs Officer

NORFOLK, Va. — More than 175 Security and First Responders participated in an large scale integrated active shooter exercise at the installation’s Air Mobility Command (AMC) Terminal, Nov. 29. The exercise was a cooperative effort between NAVSTA Norfolk’s Security Forces, Fire and Emergency Services, Norfolk Police Department, Virginia State Police and Customs and Border Patrol. The scenario involved four armed assailants that as a plane landed at the terminal, the assailants commenced shooting personnel inside the air terminal. One of the shooters was also outside of the terminal shooting as ﬁrst responders arrived. “This exercise allowed improvement and testing of our Security Forces and First Responders and additionally challenged coordination and collaboration in a stressful realistic simulation,” said Capt. Janet Days, NAVSTA Norfolk Commanding Officer. “We don’t want to get to know each other and develop a relationship when an incident occurs. This, right here, builds bridges.” As the scenario unfolded, law enforcement officers from multiple agencies, both on and off base, responded and took out the shooter and then went inside the airport where they took out the other shooters and tended to victims. In addition to the activity taking place at the AMC Terminal, the installations Emergency Operations Center was also fully manned by more than 35 personnel, all who were supporting the scene. “The emergency operations center is the nexus of Naval Station Norfolk. All the information, everything that is happening on the scene is being fused into here and in different lanes because there’s different responsibilities,” said Days. While not common, active shooter situations have occurred on military installations in the past. The capability of Naval Security Forces (NSF), ﬁrst responders, local law enforcement, community partners and NAVSA Norfolk personnel to respond quickly and efficiently, is a matter of life or death. “We have nearly 70,000 people who live and work on our installation and it is my responsibility to ensure their safety,” said Days. “We want them to be able to come to work in a safe and secure environment and these exercises help us make sure we can do that.” To be kept informed of upcoming drills and real-world events, personnel should register for the NAVSTA Norfolk AtHoc widearea alert network. The AtHoc system informs personnel of force protection conditions and other emergency, environmental, or exercise-related impacts on the installation. Personnel should also familiarize themselves with their command or tenant command anti-terrorism plan. TOP RIGHT: NORFOLK, Va. (Nov. 29, 2023) U.S. Navy Security Forces respond to a simulated active shooter as part of an large scale integrated exercise at Naval Station Norfolk’s Air Mobility Command Terminal, Nov. 29, 2023. The exercise was a cooperative effort between NAVSTA Norfolk’s Security Forces, Fire and Emergency Services, Norfolk Police Department, Virginia State Police and Customs and Border Patrol. RIGHT: Norfolk Police Department apprehend one of the four assailants during the large scale integrated active shooter exercise at Naval Station Norfolk’s Air Mobility Command Terminal, Nov. 29, 2023. (U.S. NAVY PHOTOS BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS JOSEPH T. MILLER)

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4 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, December 7, 2023

U.S. Army Spc. Michael Moncada, 567th Inland Cargo Transfer Company, 53rd Transportation Battalion, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) cargo specialist, carries a live Christmas tree during the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation’s Trees for Troops program at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Dec. 1, 2017. Soldiers volunteered to help participants move their trees, which were donated to the program by multiple tree farms. (U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY STAFF SGT. TERESA J. CLEVELAND)

Trees for Troops returns to NWS Yorktown and JEB Little Creek-Fort Story By Max Lonzanida

Naval Weapons Station Yorktown

Yorktown, Va. (December 4, 2023) A joyful and triumphant event returns this Friday, December 8th to Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. Both installations will give away free freshly cut Christmas trees for servicemembers as part of the annual Trees for Troops program. NWS Yorktown’s Trees for Troops giveaway takes place on Friday, December 8th from 1800 to 2000 at their Sports Zone Gym located at 2072 Lebanon Church Road, Newport News, VA 23603. Freshly cut trees will be available on a ﬁrst come-ﬁrst serve basis. Make plans to hark in the holiday season with merriment, as the annual tree giveaway coincides with their Winter Wonderland event which promises to bring joy for visitors of all ages at the same location. This year’s event was coordinated by Yorktown’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation staff and supported by various tenant commands onboard the installation for another year of memorable holiday cheer. Direct questions about the event to MWR at (757) 887-7395. Trees for Troops will also dock at JEB Little Creek-Fort Story on Friday, December 8th starting at 0930 until all the fresh cut Christmas trees are gone, or until 1530 at their tennis courts located at 720 New Guinea Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23459. Fresh cut Christmas trees are available to active duty military ID card holders, and there is a limit of one tree per family, home, household or sponsor. Organizers ask that attendees bring their own help and supplies to secure their tree in or on their vehicle. If there are trees remaining, the lot will reopen on Saturday, December 9th at 1200. Direct questions about the event to JEB Little CreekFort Story’s One Stop at (757) 422-7600. This year, FedEx Freight will deliver over 15,000 farmgrown Christmas trees to military families stationed at over 80 installations across the country. NWS Yorktown and JEB Little Creek-Fort Story represent the two U.S. Navy installations officially selected in the Hampton Roads, Virginia region for the annual Trees for Troops giveaway. Since 2005, the Trees for Troops program, as part of the larger Christmas SPIRIT foundation, has delivered over 277,000 free trees to servicemembers of all branches. “Trees for Troops is a very rewarding program to everyone involved,” said Wendy Richardson, Christmas SPIRIT Foundation Chairperson. “It is such an honor to have the opportunity to say thank you to our troops and help ensure military families have the kind of joyful, traditional Christmas memories that we would wish for America’s heroes.”

ABOVE: Soldiers from the 119th Inland Cargo Transportation Company and the 368th Seaport Operations Company unload a Christmas tree at the Trees for Troops event at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek- Fort Story. Trees for Troops is a nationwide program which donates Christmas trees to service members and their families in the U.S. and overseas. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST SEAMAN APPRENTICE LAURA HOOVER)

LEFT: Tree farms provided hand written notes of appreciation from donors for U.S. service members to read as they select a Christmas tree during the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation’s Trees for Troops program at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Dec. 1, 2017. This year, JBLE received 350 trees from the program, divided between Schultz Plaza at Fort Eustis, and Bethel Park near Langley Air Force Base. (U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY STAFF SGT. TERESA J. CLEVELAND)

USS Ramage returns home from 7-month deployment By Ensign Mackenzie Culver Carrier Strike Group 12

The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61) — part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, Gerald R. Ford CSG returns to Norfolk, VA after a 7-month deployment to the US Naval Forces Europe area of operations, Dec. 03, 2023. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group remains on deployment in the Eastern Mediterranean as part of the Pentagon’s response to the Oct. 7th Hamas attacks on the Gaza strip. While abroad, the USS Ramage served as an air defense unit for the strike group off the coast of Israel, and closely monitored Russian Federation Navy units for signs of aggression. A recent contract for the maintenance of Ramage was awarded to BAE systems in Jacksonville. The crew’s early return to Norfolk provides an opportunity to prepare for an imminent homeport change to Mayport, Florida. “I’m looking forward to Florida. It feels closer to home than any place I could be stationed,” says Fire Controlman Third Class Tyler Allen Wade Dickey from Refugio, Texas. “This crew is the best team I’ve ever been a part of. There’s isn’t anything we

can’t accomplish together.” In 214 days, the crew of the Ramage accomplished 40 replenishments at sea, logged over 400 helicopter landings, sailed over 50,000 miles, and prepared over 190,000 meals. While deployed with Carrier Strike Group 12, the Ramage crew conducted maritime security operations and engaged with allied and partner nations. In May, the crew of the Ramage was able to quickly replace critical acoustic equipment and celebrate the Battle of the Atlantic 80th Anniversary in Liverpool, UK. In June, members of the Ramage crew volunteered to clear debris from a public park and planted 100 decorative plants around the municipality of Bar, Montenegro. The July visit to Durres, Albania allowed Ramage leadership to meet with local senior security officials. During the August port visit to Limassol, Cyprus the support of local contractors allowed the crew to complete an intensive week of scheduled upkeep. The Gerald R. Ford CSG remains ﬂexible to conduct operations wherever needed. In September, Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61) and Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) shared a port visit in Trieste,

Italy prior to conducting dual-carrier operations with ITS Cavour (CVH 550) and Italy’s 2nd Naval Division. “Throughout our deployment, we’ve conducted joint operations with the British, Spanish, Italian, French, Hellenic, and Turkish Navies.” says Cmdr. Tim Yuhas, commanding officer of the USS Ramage. “These strong strategic relationships between the U.S. and our allies maintains our superior readiness and are critical to our ability to respond to any contingency in the Mediterranean.” Strengthening partnerships during the deployment to the Naval Forces Europe area of operations builds enduring relationships and emphasizes our shared commitment to promoting safety and stability within the region, while seeking opportunities to enhance our interoperability as NATO allies. CSG-12, Gerald R. Ford CSG, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), Destroyer Squadron Two

(DESRON-2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116). The squadrons of CVW-8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford are the “Tridents” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, the “Spartans” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, the “Bear Aces” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 124, the “Ragin’ Bulls” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, the “Blacklions” of VFA-213, the “Golden Warriors” of VFA-87, the “Tomcatters” of VFA-31, the “Gray Wolves” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, and the “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEURNAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

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

Musician Third Class Morgan Ramirez performs with the U.S. Fleet Forces Band at the JEBLCFS holiday celebration. (PHOTOS BY APRIL PHILLIPS, JEBLCFS PUBLIC AFFAIRS)

JEBLCFS celebrates the season with tree lighting, concert By April Phillips

JEBLCFS Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (JEBLCFS) participated in a much-loved tradition Friday, Dec. 1 with the annual Tree Lighting and United States Fleet Forces Band “Holiday in Hampton Roads” concert at the Gator Theater onboard the installation. As the sky darkened, military families sipped hot chocolate and waited for the flashing red lights of a firetruck. Rather than signaling an emergency, the firetruck was Santa’s stand-in for a sleigh as he pulled up to help JEBLCFS Executive Officer Cmdr. William Dougher light the 18-foot holiday tree. No sooner was the tree lit than Santa hustled inside to visit with military children and pass out donated toys from Operation Homefront. JEBLCFS MWR also arranged a professional photographer to provide a free photo per family. “I really appreciate that the base does this every year,” said Angela Murphy, who brought her two-year-old daughter and four-year-old son. “My husband is deployed, and it’s nice to have a place to

take the kids to see Santa.” She said it will be tough not having the whole family together for the holiday, but she plans to send her husband the photo they took. The 90-minute concert was a highlight for many who attended. The U.S. Fleet Forces Band played a variety of traditional and non-traditional selections, including a piece commemorating Hanukkah. Kids in attendance enjoyed sitting by the stage for a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” set to musical accompaniment. By the end, the entire audience was singing along to Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls. “We’ve been coming out to Little Creek for years, and the audience is always so great. It’s a performance we always look forward to,” said bandmaster Lt. Cmdr. Joel Davidson. “It was a great night and wonderful to see so many kids enjoying themselves,” said Dougher. “Being part of a military family comes with challenges, so it’s nice when we can come together and have fun.” JEBLCFS Executive Officer Cmdr. William Dougher and Santa light the tree outside of the Gator Theater.

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6 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, December 7, 2023

NSA Crane Fireﬁghters respond to ﬁre out in local community By Bruce Drake

NSA Crane Public Affairs

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY CRANE — The standard shift change briefing for the NSA Crane Fire Department personnel had just been completed yesterday morning when they received a call for mutual aid from an emergency services dispatcher from a neighboring Indiana community. “The call from Martin County dispatch said that there was a structure fire with possible resident entrapment in the village of Crane, Indiana which is a small community close to our installation,” said NSA Crane Battalion Fire Chief Corey Van Meter. “We got the call at 0825 EST and we had the first of 4 responding vehicles out the door by 0826 with all vehicles and crews on the site within nine minutes. We deployed with our Pumper-Tanker, Ambulance, Primary Fire Rescue Engine, and our Incident Command Vehicle.” The NSA Crane firefighters responded to the community’s request for fire department assistance under the installation’s Mutual Aid Agreement that is in place with Martin County, Indiana. “We have Mutual Aid agreements will almost every county and community surrounding NSA Crane” said NSA Crane Commander Luis “Homie” Martinez. “We (NSA Crane) work hard at being the type of neighbor that communities want to be close with.” “By the time we were on site, the front of the house trailer was fully engulfed in fire and we had reports from the neighbors that they believed the resident was still inside because his vehicle was in the driveway, so we went from an initial defensive fire response and shifted to an offensive fire scheme” said Van Meter. “Four NSA Crane firefighters then donned Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) gear and then breached the house trailer by the back door to gain entry to commence a search of the building for the resident.” The first team of firefighters, led by Fire Captain Lane Magers and Firefighter Eric Jones, went in first and did a visual and tactile search of the trailer rooms. “We went in first and determined that no one was in the building” said Magers. “I then went back in with Firefighter Lane Frederixon to do a second confirmation search for the resident and we again determined that no one was inside.” As the search team was inside the house trailer, other NSA Crane firefighters established water hoses and tanker operations to fight the fire around the front half of the residence and its attached porch. Hose crews had the fire under control as the search teams were exiting from the rear of the building. “As the search team was exiting the building, the local community police had determined that the resident of the fire was at his place of work and was transporting him back to his house” said Van

NSA Crane Firefighters work to extinguish a fire that had engulfed a house trailer in a nearby Indiana community Nov. 29. NSA Crane firefighters responded to the fire that was off the installation under a standing Mutual Aid Agreement that NSA Crane has with Martin County. The village where this house was located is normally supported by a volunteer fire department in an adjacent town but luckily NSA Crane’s firefighters were able to respond within 10 minutes of notification. (COURTESY PHOTOS)

Meter. “At this point we were able to shift our complete focus to getting the house fire out as completely as possible so it wouldn’t endanger the neighboring buildings in the village” he added. At this time, the volunteer fire department from the nearby town of Loogootee, Indiana along with other emergency services personnel from Martin County arrived on scene to assist with extinguishing the fire and finish the salvage operation with NSA Crane firefighters. “We completed the fire assessment and salvage operations and were back to our department in under two hours” said Van Meter. “The Loogootee Volunteer Fire Department responded to a mutual aid call to NSA Crane a few weeks ago when we had an incident on the installation that required them to help back up our fire coverage for the base… so we were glad to help them with this fire. Part of being a good neighbor is being there when you are needed” said Van Meter.

New breathing training program for pilots is recognized by training industry association By Rebecca Ward

Office of Naval Research

A TechSolutions sponsored project has been honored with an award from the National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA) for its TS-872 Breathing Dynamics Trainer, created in a collaboration with the Naval Aviation Training Systems and Ranges Program Office at Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR PMA-205) and the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC). TechSolutions is a department within the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Global, which quickly responds to viable requests for new or improved technologies or systems from Sailors and Marines. In the case of the Breathing Dynamics Trainer, Jason Payne, director, TechSolutions, said there was already training for pilots to experience hypoxia (low oxygen) using the Mask on Breathing Device (MOBD). However, TechSolutions received a request to expand its capabilities so that pilots could experience the effects of other breathing issues in a safe training environment, such as hyperoxia (too much oxygen) and excessive inhalation/ exhalation pressures. “There’s other physiological conditions that can be experienced based on the gas inhaled and exhaled, its content, the pressure at which it’s made available and the pressure at which you exhale into the mask,” Payne said. “Our developers added new proﬁles to the trainer so that aviators could experience, in the classroom, conditions thought to be associated with physiological episodes that were leading to catastrophes.” The Dynamic Altitude Breathing Threats Research and Development Team includes Principal Investigator, Beth Wheeler Atkinson, a senior research psychologist with the Basic and Applied Training and Technologies for Learning and Evaluation (BATTLE) lab, who thanked the team for their achievement. “It took everyone’s skills, expertise and hands to accomplish this effort successfully. I truly appreciate the effort and contributions you each made to working this challenge for the aviation survival training community,” Atkinson said. Along with Atkinson, the development team for the Breathing Dynamics Trainer

A U.S. Navy aviator receives training on the TS-872 Breathing Dynamics Trainer at the Naval Survival Training Institute in Orlando, Florida. The TechSolutions-sponsored TS-872 allows aviators to experience the effects of breathing issues in a safe training environment, such as hyperoxia (too much oxygen) and excessive inhalation/exhalation pressures. The TS-872, created in collaboration with the Naval Aviation Training Systems and Ranges Program Office and the Naval Medical Research Center was recently recognized with an award by the National Training and Simulation Association (NTSA). (PHOTO COURTESY OF NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER TRAINING SYSTEMS DIVISION )

included Mitchell Tindall, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD); Emily Anania, NAWCTSD; Kylie Fernandez-Lee, NAWCTSD; Cdr. Heath Clifford, Navy Medicine Operational Training Command (NMOTC); Lt. Alicia Jordan, Aeromedical Safety Office, Marine Aircraft Group 31; Lt. James Lewis, Training Air Wing Six (CTW-6); and Lt. Tyler Welden, Training Air Wing Five (CTW-5). The Breathing Dynamics Trainer won the 2023 NTSA Modeling and Simulation award

in the Education and Human Performance award category, which was presented at a ceremony Nov. 28 during the Interservice Industry Training Simulation and Education Conference in Orlando, Florida. “This illustrates what can be accomplished through our Sailors and Marines who see the problems ﬁrsthand and help us come up with solutions,” Payne said. “The development team took an idea and ran with it,” he said. “But it began with an idea from a Sailor in the aviation training

community who recognized an issue and asked us to help develop a solution. This is exactly why TechSolutions was created, and so we encourage Navy and Marine personnel, no matter their rank or occupation, to contact us about their challenges that may be solved with new or improved technology.” Sailors and Marines who wish to make a submission may contact the TechSolutions team at onr_techsolutions@navy.mil to share their idea or ask for help.

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

Navy graduates ﬁrst, enhanced Command Pay Personnel Administrator class

By Naval Education and Training Command

Jose Hernandez, CSS commanding officer. “Once our team identified specific training gaps, they created new course material and added resources to deliver a more effective curriculum to students and better service to the fleet.” The recent graduates returned to their parent commands armed with enhanced CPPA skillsets to better support Sailors. Instructors said they also benefited from the course enhancements. “The new material is exactly what was needed for us to fulfill our tasks,” said Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Adrian Balderrama, lead instructor for the course at NSSATC. “All the necessary skills and resources are included now, so Sailors should feel confident knowing their pay is well taken care of in the fleet moving forward.” To ensure the new course stays relevant, CSS said it plans to incorporate virtual simulation (VSIM) capabilities, adding realism and hands-on training. “Adding the ability for students to perform tasks exactly the same way they would at their ship or station in a classroom environment will be the next step in our curriculum modernization,” said Jim Katin, learning standards officer at CSS. “Placing a heavier focus on the actual performance of CPPA skills during the course using VSIM technology will be our key to success moving forward.” NSSATC, headquartered at Naval Air Station Oceana, Dam Neck Annex, Virginia Beach, Virginia, delivers advanced education and training opportunities that build personal, professional, and service support competencies to achieve fleet readiness. For additional information on NSSATC, visit the command’s website at https:// www.netc.navy.mil/NSSATC/.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Navy Service Support Advanced Training Command (NSSATC) graduated its first class of students from the recently revamped Command Pay Personnel Administrator (CPPA) course on Nov. 3. Eight active-duty Sailors completed the 18-day course focused on Personnel Specialist (PS) rating standard operating procedures, new professional integrated systems, and available continuing education resources for both active-duty and Reserve PSs, all of which were updated to enhance Sailor personnel and pay service delivery throughout the fleet. “As the Navy modernizes its personnel and pay support systems, we are always looking for ways to improve our processes and streamline services to the fleet,” said Rear Adm. Stu Satterwhite, commander, MyNavy Career Center (MNCC). “CPPAs are a vital link between MNCC and the fleet for a smooth Sailor pay experience. An updated CPPA course helps deliver customer service-oriented professionals who can facilitate transactions, support billet-based distribution, and advise Sailors and leadership on personnel, pay and transportation policies.” MNCC and the Center for Service Support (CSS) analyzed PS training in October 2022 to identify areas for improvement. Fleet subject matter experts from various platforms and communities provided additional feedback to improve the CPPA curriculum. CSS extended the course by four days to incorporate the necessary changes and new material. “The course update CSS completed was a significant accomplishment,” said Capt.

This is the new Naval Education and Training Command logo. NETC announced changes to its command logo and a new mission statement Aug. 20. The new logo removes the depiction of the 5-vector model and the new mission statement is“Fleet readiness starts here.” (PHOTO BY ED BARKER)

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8 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, December 7, 2023

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

uarterdeck

CFAS Holds K-9 and K-9 handler retirement ceremony Members of CFAS and local Japanese communities gathered for a retirement ceremony to celebrate two of the installation’s most highly qualiﬁed personnel – a Japanese citizen employed as a MLC and his four-legged partner. Page B4

NORFOLK, Va. - Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Ebenezer Abekah, performs inspections on incoming shipments at Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, onboard Naval Station Norfolk, Nov. 17th, 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)

December Sailor in the Spotlight: LS2 Abekah By Harrison Cox

Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center

As December’s Sailor in the Spotlight for Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC), Logistics Specialist Second Class (LS2) Ebenezer Abekah provides logistic support for repair parts and hazardous material procurement for MARMC’s Logistics Department, Code 500. He is the Lead Government Purchase Card Holder, issuing 432 purchase card requisitions valued at $846,000 for all repair parts and consumable requirements for ships in the Atlantic Fleet. “LS2 Abekah has continually delivered outstanding work with little to no discrep-

ancies while also creating new and better processes to continually improve the ordering process of the government purchase card program,” said Logistics Specialist Chief (LSC) Matthew Hathorn, command ﬁnancial specialist for MARMC. “His expertise and dedication have contributed immeasurably to the high state of readiness required to support MARMC’s operational commitments.” A native of Ghana, Abekah lived in Georgia and worked at a warehouse before enlisting in the Navy. Driven by a desire to build a better life for his family, he chose the Navy for its proximity to the ocean and potential for career growth. Abekah has been stationed at MARMC since September, 2021.

“I enjoy talking on the phone to people and making purchases the most,” said Abekah. “When I came here, my accent was very strong. People found it hard to understand me. The more I speak to people, the more conﬁdence I build. I apply what I am learning in school here and it makes life easy.” Outside of his duties, Abekah treasures time with his family, including his wife and two young daughters, ages 3 and 8 months. They spend their time watching movies and playing outside. He also continues to further his education. “Currently, I am working on my bachelor’s in supply chain management,” Abekah added. “I should be able to graduate next

year. My goal is to finish my degree and continue to make rank in the Navy.” For his outstanding work in Code 500, Abekah is being recognized as MARMC’s December Sailor in the Spotlight. His work ethic and dedication to duty reflects greatly on MARMC’s mission and the Navy as a whole. 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.

USS Solace (AH-5): Witness to Pearl Harbor By André Sobocinski

U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

0755, Sunday, December 7th, 1941. Pearl Harbor, T.H. A group of physicians eating breakfast in the wardroom of the hospital ship USS Solace (AH-5) become startled when several explosions were heard. As the ship began to vibrate the impression that an earthquake had hit soon shifted to thoughts of Navy planes engaged in target practice. Once the sounds of gunfire and additional explosions were heard it was clear something was wrong. One of the physician’s later recalled, “We went out on deck and could scarcely believe our eyes. We saw Japanese torpedo and bombing planes headed straight for the battleships and for the Naval Air Station on Ford Island. . . We saw the Arizona burning, and two or three of the other battleships listing badly. Japanese planes were flying all around and dropping bombs between us and the [USS] Dobbin.” USS Solace had been in commission for less than four months when the attacks on Pearl Harbor occurred. Since October 1941, the ship had been anchored just north of Battleship Row where it served as a floating dispensary for the Pacific Fleet. The daily sick call may not have been a fitting build up to that fateful day, but no one would ever accuse Solace’s cadre of corpsmen, dentists, nurses, and physicians of not performing exemplary under the most trying circumstances. At 0815, hospital corpsmen-led rescue parties loaded onto small boats to render assistance and pick up personnel from damaged ships. Corpsmen on one motor launch even steamed to the wreckage of the Arizona braving the inferno to retrieve several wounded sailors. In the days after the attack many of these same corpsmen had the grim task of searching for and retrieving the remains of service personnel in the harbor. At 0820, the Solace received its first casualties. Each casualty was tagged on the quarterdeck, given morphine and then sent to various wards. Casualties included shrapnel and machinegun wounds, lacerations, and compound fractures. More than 70 percent of the casualties suffered from first and second degree burns. And almost all the patients suffered from shock. For burn patients, tannic acid was applied to exposed areas and plasma given. Those with severe wounds and compound frac-

USS Solace had been in commission for less than four months when the attacks on Pearl Harbor occurred. Since October 1941, the ship had been anchored just north of Battleship Row where it served as a floating dispensary for the Pacific Fleet. The daily sick call may not have been a fitting build up to that fateful day, but no one would ever accuse Solace’s cadre of corpsmen, dentists, nurses, and physicians of not performing exemplary under the most trying circumstances. (PHOTO BY ANDRÉ SOBOCINSKI)

tures were sent to the operating room. A total 141 casualties were received and treated aboard the ship, many of them during the attack. Throughout the day medical personnel operated under emergency conditions and prepared to abandon ship at any moment. Eighty-two years after, Pearl Harbor still represents the Navy’s greatest disaster. It also marked the ﬁrst time in history that a U.S. Navy hospital ship operated in the midst of a battle. Remarkably—whether the enemy was adhering to the articles of the Hague Convention, was judicious in its attack, or just sheer luck—the Solace escaped damage and no crewmembers were injured or killed.

USS Solace was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for its role at Pearl Harbor. And 26 crewmembers (13 nurses and 13 hospital corpsmen) were later cited for their heroic actions on that day. The hospital ship went on to play a vital role in supporting ﬂeet operations throughout World War II receiving a total of seven battle stars in support of the Tarawa, Saipan, Kwajalein, Guam, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns. It was decommissioned on March 27, 1946 and sold by the War Shipping Administration to the Turkish Maritime Lines where it served as the passenger liner Ankara for 27 years.

Sources: Administrative History Section, BUMED. “History of the USS Solace, August 9, 1941 to September 9, 1945.” The United States Navy Medical Department Historical Data Series, World War II Ships. Volume VI: Hospital Ships, 1946. Eckert, GA and JW Mader. “The ‘Solace’ in Action.” The Naval Medical Bulletin. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, July 1942. Massman, EA. “Solace.” Hospital Ships of World War II: An Illustrated Reference. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., Inc., Publishers, 1999.

The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, December 7, 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.

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PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. (October 10, 2014) Dr. Jeremy Federman, a research audiologist with Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory, works with a volunteer from the U.S. Marine Corps to perform one of the ﬁrst U.S. Navy hearing protection device ﬁt-testing projects. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY LCDR CHRISTON DUHON)

NSMRL Celebrates Publication of Change 1 to Hearing Conservation DODI By Emily Swedlund

Naval Medical Research Command

GROTON, Conn. — Years of work by the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory’s (NSMRL) Regional Hearing Conservation Program (RHCP) culminated in the publication of Change 1 to the Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 6055.12, “Hearing Conservation Program,” on November 28, 2023. This policy update adds the requirement for standardized hearing protector (HP) fit-testing procedures, which will improve the performance of hearing protection devices (HPD) in the field, enhancing the protection of DoD personnel from hazardous occupational noise. Correctly implemented HPD fit-testing and fit-training can significantly reduce hearing loss incidence for the warfighter. Dr. Jeremy Federman, founding member of the RHCP, expressed his joy with how far the program has come since its foundation. “I will never forget when RHCP was called to the Pentagon to give briefings to the Navy

Surgeon General, the Flag Level Steering Board, and countless others that garnered and sustained support for this work and resulted in the creation of this team.” The RHCP started working on HPD fit-testing in 2013, when there was little existing research on the subject in a military context. Since then, the team has grown substantially and designed and executed projects demonstrating the success of HPD fit-testing. Through their research, the RHCP found enough evidence to support the HPD fit-test methodology published in Change 1, without which this update to DODI 6055.12 would not have been possible. “We know how impactful reducing hearing loss incidence will be on our service members’ quality of life,” said Federman. “Many scientists and their teams work entire careers without having the kind of positive impact to policy and the line communities that our fit-testing work has had. I am pleased and proud of what our team does, and thrilled to see that the work we completed over the past ten years has culminated in this HPD fit-testing instructional mandate across the DOD.”

The publication of Change 1 marks the latest accomplishment in NSMRL’s mission to enhance warﬁghter readiness and superiority through innovative health and performance research, as NSMRL’s Scientific Director, Dr. David Fothergill, explains. “This change has huge positive implications for the hearing health of not only Navy and Marine Corps personnel, but for all DoD service members.” NSMRL, part of Navy Medicine’s Research & Development enterprise, is engaged in a broad spectrum of activity from basic science in the laboratory to ﬁeld studies in austere and remote areas of the world to investigations in operational environments. In support of the Navy, Marine Corps, and joint U.S. warfighters, researchers study infectious diseases, biological warfare detection and defense, combat casualty care, environmental health concerns, aerospace and undersea medicine, medical modeling, simulation, operational mission support, epidemiology, and behavioral sciences.

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Sterett honors Sailor’s grandfather during burial-at-sea By Petty Officer 1st Class Charles J Scudella Carrier Strike Group One

PHILIPPINE SEA — It was a cool and sunny Sunday afternoon in the Philippine Sea, Dec. 3, when sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) gathered on the flight deck to honor the life of Cmdr. Jeffrey Nilsson during a burial-at-sea ceremony. The late Nilsson was a retired naval officer with more than 40 years of service to the United States. For one Sterett sailor, the ceremony was much more than honoring a shipmate. It served as one ﬁnal goodbye, according to Ensign Jacob Nilsson, grandson of the late Nilsson. “I grew up in a huge Navy family and he [late Cmdr. Nilsson] would have loved every second of this,” said Nilsson. “He [late Cmdr. Nilsson] loved everything about the Navy and I know looking down, he would be so happy about today.” The ceremony began as the word was passed on the ship’s mass communication system, “All Hands, bury the dead.” At this call, the U.S. ﬂag was lowered to half-mast, and sailors, dressed to the nines in their dress blues, began to honor the life and service of late Cmdr. Nilsson. “Burial at sea is a long-standing Navy tradition for as long as seafarers have gone

out to sea,” said Cmdr. Jason Garfield, Sterett commanding officer. “However, this ceremony means even more for this crew, knowing we had the privilege to honor an officer and a family with such a proud lineage of service to both our Navy and our nation.” Late Cmdr. Nilsson’s naval service spanned more than 40 years and paygrades from Seaman Recruit to the rank of Commander. Specializing in intelligence, Nilsson helped to establish the command known today as the Joint Interagency Task Force — South (JIATF-S). As the ceremony proceeded and in unison, the pall bearers lifted the remains and slowly walked across the flight deck to the port side edge. The entire procession maintained solemn salutes as sailors released the remains, committing them to their final resting place. Finally, Garfield presented Ensign Nilsson with a commemorative U.S. flag in honor of his grandfather’s service to the United States. “It meant a lot, especially being freshly checked aboard,” said Nilsson. “The amount of support, how much people have cared and the effort that was put into the ceremony today was just amazing and I couldn’t be more grateful for a better command.” Ensign Nilsson credits part of his decision to join the Navy to both his grandfather and father, both of whom served as naval officers. “At the root of it all was those two,” Nilsson continued. “I grew up around it [the navy],

YOUR PERFECT

always living by a beach and seeing the ships, always around a base and hearing the sea stories from my dad and granddad. It was something I always knew I wanted to do and I’m grateful that I get to do it now.” Nilsson said at the end of the day, he hopes the sunset tonight is perfect. “One of the first things I ever learned about the Navy was the sunsets underway. My granddad had thousands of pictures of the sunsets underway and I remember sitting for hours looking through them. So I hope we have a good one tonight.” Fortunately for Ensign Nilsson, the day ended with a display of reds and oranges across the sky, reflecting atop the blue Philippine Sea; fitting enough to add yet another photo to the Nilsson family album of underway sunsets. Sterett, assigned to Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, is deployed to U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. CSG-1 is a multiplatform team of ships and aircraft, capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions around the globe from combat missions to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. For more news from CSG-1, visit http:// www.dvidshub.net/unit/CSG1.

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

Navy Senior Enlisted Marketplace ﬁlls critical gaps at sea

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Chad Swysgood

Navy Personnel Command

The Navy filled 97 percent of the master chief petty officer billets advertised in MyNavy Assignments during the inaugural cycle of the Senior Enlisted Marketplace. The first round of the Senior Enlisted Marketplace ended Oct. 27, 2023, and included more than 530 screened senior chief petty officers and 66 master chief petty officers who competed for and filled 225 of 232 priority master chief jobs. The Senior Enlisted Marketplace, announced in NAVADMIN 26½2, operationalizes billet-based advancement where advancement-eligible senior chief petty officers and current master chief petty officers compete for top billets. This process better aligns Sailor talent with unit job requirements and seeks to advance Sailors who are committed to staying Navy. The change also aims to reduce disruption to Sailors, families, and commands when Sailors are realigned to positions that match their paygrade outside of their normal permanent change of station timelines. “Senior Enlisted Marketplace provides an incentive to advance and then place our most experienced leaders where we need them the most. Our Navy needs enlisted leadership where the fight could be and where the tempo is the highest. Senior Enlisted Marketplace helps us accomplish that,” said Navy Personnel Command Force Master Chief Bill Houlihan. “The first round helped fill 141 sea-duty billets and 84 billets ashore— all mission critical jobs that require specific leadership and expertise.” Prior to implementing the Senior Enlisted Marketplace, the Navy averaged fewer than 15 master chief petty officer sea-duty billets filled per cycle. The new process began with the Fiscal Year 2024 Active-Duty Master Chief Petty Officer Advancement Selection and Senior Enlisted Marketplace screening board. The board issued a merit reordered list

Newly promoted chief petty officers stand at attention during the FY24 chief petty officer pinning ceremony on the ﬂight deck aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4), Sept. 29, 2023. Boxer is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship currently underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS CONNOR BURNS)

of advancement-eligible E-8s who then competed in MyNavy Assignment for E-9 jobs. Sailors participating in the Senior Enlisted Marketplace can submit up to seven applications per cycle. This round, of the more than 550 eligible Sailors who submitted 1,127 applications, 21 master chief petty officers and 204 senior chief petty officers ﬁlled

billets available. Advancement-eligible senior chief petty officers who are screened to compete in the Senior Enlisted Marketplace, but do not select for a higher paygrade billet will be allowed to compete within MyNavy Assignments up to 24 months before they are required to be re-screened. In time, billet-based advancements will

become the standard for E-5 through E-9 Sailor using the Detailing Marketplace and Advance to Position opportunities. For more information on the Senior Enlisted Marketplace, please visit https:// www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Detailing/Enlisted/Senior-Enlisted-Marketplace/.

The Navy Exchange Service Command’s (NEXCOM) Command Master Chief Anthony Corey makes a purchase at the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Micro Market@Sea. The Micro Market@Sea is a new quality of service concept by NEXCOM. NEXCOM enables warﬁghter readiness and strengthens the Navy’s quality of life mission. Providing essential products, services, hospitality and outﬁtting Navy communities around the globe, NEXCOM is continuously evolving to meet the demands of today’s military operational environment. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO)

Navy Exchange Service Command’s second Micro Market@Sea is underway By NEXCOM Public Affairs The Micro Market@Sea, a new quality of service concept by the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), is now underway onboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Only the second of its kind, the mission of this self-service facility is to provide Sailors with 24/7 convenience and access to food, beverages and health & wellness items. “Our Micro Market offers convenience and accessibility to the men and women aboard this ship with the goal to drive up

morale and mission readiness,” said Scott Gray, Vice President, NEXCOM’s Ships Store Program. “This new operation provides our Sailors with access to over 200 food, beverage and toiletry items. The functional ability for this store is to remain open 24 hours a day/seven days a week, giving the crew increased opportunity to grab a bite to eat or even a boost of vitamin C in between odd hours and duty.” The 600 square foot Micro Market@Sea operation utilizes a self-checkout register. To checkout, Sailors insert their CAC cards, scan the items for purchase and pay with

their Navy Cash Card. Like a ship’s store, proﬁts generated from sales will to back to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to support its MWR program. NEXCOM’s Ships Store Program launched the first Micro Market@Sea concept onboard the USS San Antonio (LPD 19) in November 2020. Worldwide, there are currently 77 NEX Micro Market ashore operations, located in Navy hospitals, aircraft hangars, office spaces and shipyards. About NEXCOM: The Navy Exchange Service Command enables warﬁghter readiness and strengthens the Navy’s quality of

life mission. Providing essential products, services, hospitality and outfitting Navy communities around the globe, NEXCOM is continuously evolving to meet the demands of today’s military operational environment. As further sustainment to Navy Warfighters and military families, 100% of the command’s earnings are directed to Navy quality of life programs, amounting to over $3.7 billion since 1946. NEXCOM’s enduring mission and lines of effort serve as a critical resource and a vital capability within the Naval Supply Systems Command Enterprise.

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4 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, December 7, 2023

An honor detail render honors as Akihiko Yamada, a military working dog handler assigned to Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS), and Military Working Dog (MWD) Zzombie X499 arrive for their retirement ceremony at CFAS Nov. 28, 2023. Yamada retired after serving as an MWD handler at CFAS since 1989 and holds the distinction of being the last Japanese MWD handler working for the U.S. Navy. (U.S. NAVY PHOTOS BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND QUINTON A. LEE)

CFAS holds K-9 and K-9 handler retirement ceremony By Petty Officer 2nd Class Quinton Lee

Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo

Members of the Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS), and local Japanese communities gathered for a retirement ceremony at the CFAS community education center Nov. 29 to celebrate two of the installation’s most highly qualiﬁed personnel. One was a Japanese citizen employed as a master labor contractor (MLC) at the CFAS security department; the other was his four-legged partner. Akihiko Yamada, a military working dog (MWD) handler at CFAS, retired after 38 years of service. He was joined by his partner, Zzombie X499, a military working dog with eight years of service. In 1989, Yamada graduated from a U.S. Air Force technical training school held at CFAS, beginning his career in military K-9 as an MLC dog handler. Of the seven graduates of that course, Yamada is the only MLC dog handler remaining on the job, earning him the nickname “The Last Samurai”. Throughout his career, Yamada trained and worked with multiple dogs, certifying six dogs to patrol level 12, the highest level of

ABOVE: Command Master Chief Dennis Hunt, assigned to Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS), presents Military Working Dog Zzombie X499 with a plaque recognizing him as an honorary member of the CFAS chief petty officer’s mess during Zzombie and Akihiko Yamada’s retirement ceremony at CFAS Nov. 28, 2023. Zzombie retired after serving as an MWD at CFAS since 2016.

ABOVE RIGHT: Akihiko Yamada, a military working dog handler assigned to Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS), conducts a leash transfer with Shigeki Wakasugi during his and Military Working Dog Zzombie X499’s retirement ceremony at CFAS Nov. 28, 2023. Yamada retired after serving as an MWD handler at CFAS since 1989 and holds the distinction of being the last Japanese MWD handler working for the U.S. Navy.

RIGHT: An honor detail render honors as Military Working Dog (MWD) Zzombie X499 and Shigeki Wakasugi depart from Zzombie’s retirement ceremony at CFAS Nov. 28, 2023. Zzombie retired after serving as an MWD at CFAS since 2016.

patrol qualification in the military working dog program. The last was Zzombie, who arrived at CFAS Feb. 27, 2016. Zzombie was born through the Department of Defense breeding program at Lackland Air Force Base in May 2014. He was enrolled in the patrol course in September 2015, and his rapid certification in two months following his enrollment was indicative of his future as a highly qualified MWD. Yamada says that the tactics for training dogs like Zzombie to such a high level have changed over the years. In his early years, a stricter approach to obedience was used compared to his approach today, which relies more on cooperation with his K-9 partners. “When training a dog, you need to establish very tight communication,” said Yamada. “If the commands are only ‘do this’ and ‘do that,’ it is not good communication. So, we play to establish good communication with the dog. That is what makes a good dog that wants to listen to the handler.” In the month prior to Yamada and Zzombie’s retirement, the CFAS MWD program underwent an inspection by Commander, Navy Installation Command (CNIC) asses-

sors. The program received a score of 99% in operational excellence, making it the top K-9 kennel in Japan and ranked second among kennels at Navy installations around the world. CFAS leaders say that Yamada and Zzombie were driving forces behind that achievement. “Throughout their years of service, Yamada and Zzombie have been the heartbeat of our K-9 team,” said Lt. Stephen Caezza, security officer of CFAS. “Their leadership has steered us through our challenges, and their wisdom has shaped the success that we have achieved together.” For the past four years, Yamada has not just been the only Japanese MWD handler at CFAS but throughout Japan, making his position as an MLC dog handler unique. But Yamada doesn’t see himself in that way when he considers his position within the CFAS K-9 team. “I don’t feel as though we are separate,” said Yamada. “Whenever we are together, I don’t feel like we are Japanese or American. I feel as though we are from the same country, K-9.” As a tradition, when MWDs retire, their last handler has the choice to adopt the dog.

In Zzombie’s case, Yamada chose to allow his previous handler, Shigeki Wakasugi, to adopt him. To conclude the retirement ceremony, Yamada performed a leash transfer with Wakasugi, who then led Zzombie through an honor detail that saluted their departure. Next, it was Yamada’s turn. After 38 years of service, “The Last Samurai”, was retiring. Yamada said that he was grateful for his acceptance among the Sailors who were his teammates in the CFAS MWD program and hopes that they maintain the program’s level of excellence in the years to come. “Everybody here in the K-9 crew has a warm heart, everybody supported me, and everybody took care of me, so thank you very much,” said Yamada. “Please keep Sasebo K-9 number one, keep up the good communication, keep together as one team, keep Kizuna.” Kizuna is a Japanese word that means the enduring bonds between people. In this case, it also means the enduring bonds between people and their K-9 partners who make the CFAS MWD team among the best in the world.

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

The world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) pulls in to Souda Bay, Greece, Dec. 2, 2023. Gerald R. Ford is visiting Souda Bay, Crete for a scheduled port visit. 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 2ND CLASS JACOB MATTINGLY)

World’s largest aircraft carrier arrives in Souda Bay By Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Glunt

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)

SOUDA BAY, Crete — The U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), and embarked staff from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 arrived in Souda Bay, Crete for a scheduled port visit, Dec. 2, 2023. This port visit is the capital ship’s sixth stop while deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR) area of operations. The port call will offer Gerald R. Ford Sailors the opportunity to experience the rich history and culture of Greece and enhance the strong partnership between the U.S. and Greece. “The crew has been laser-focused on the mission, and I am really proud of our Sailors’ work and efforts these past couple of months as our nation’s capital ship has remained on scene and prepared to do our duty,” said Capt. Rick Burgess, Commanding Officer of Gerald R. Ford. “The team has earned some time off and looks forward to taking in Greek culture and exploring Souda Bay, Chania, and the surrounding area. Earlier this summer, Gerald R. Ford visited Piraeus

and Athens, and the port visit remains one of the highlights of our deployment because of the hospitality of our cherished Ally.” The U.S. Navy routinely operates with Greece, sending its largest aircraft carrier in the fleet to Souda Bay just four months after it visited Piraeus. Since Piraeus, the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) conducted three steaming exercises with the Hellenic Navy and hosted the commanding officers of HS Elli (F-450) and HS Psara (F-454) aboard the flagship, Gerald R. Ford. On Nov. 28, Psara joined the strike group to conduct joint and combined training in the Mediterranean Sea. Gerald R. Ford’s most recent port visit in theater was in Trieste, Italy, Sept. 17-21. The ship deployed from Norfolk, Virginia on May 2, and has been conducting training, exercises, and operations to support maritime stability and security in defense of U.S., Allied, and partner interests. Gerald R. Ford is the U.S. Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier. As the first-in-class ship of Ford-class aircraft carriers, CVN 78 represents a generational leap in the U.S. Navy’s capacity to project power

on a global scale. Ford-class aircraft carriers introduce 23 new technologies, including Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, Advanced Arresting Gear and Advanced Weapons Elevators. The new systems incorporated onto Ford-class ships are designed to deliver greater lethality, survivability and joint interoperability with a 20% smaller crew than a Nimitz-class carrier, paving the way forward for naval aviation. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG) is conducting a scheduled deployment in U.S. Naval Forces EuropeAfrica/U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations, demonstrating the commitment and power projection capability of the Navy’s globally deployed force. The GRFCSG provides an inherently ﬂexible naval force capable of deploying across combatant commands to meet emerging missions, deter potential adversaries, reassure allies and partners, enhance security and guarantee the free ﬂow of global commerce. In total, the GRFCSG is deployed with more than 6,000 Sailors across all platforms ready to respond globally to combatant commander tasking. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group

consists of Carrier Strike Group 12, Carrier Air Wing 8, Destroyer Squadron 2, USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116). Headquartered in Naples, Italy, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. Our persistent presence in Europe is in accordance with our international commitments and agreements and is necessary to reassure our Allies and Partners of our commitment to collective defense. For more information about the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), visit https://www. airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn78/ and follow along on Facebook: @USSGeraldRFord, Instagram: @cvn78_grford, Twitter: @ Warship_78, DVIDS www.dvids.net/CVN78 and LinkedIn at USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

Naval Reactors hosts premier showing of nuclear Navy documentary By Kellie Randall

U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Naval Reactors, with support from the State Historic Preservation Office and the City of Idaho Falls, hosted the premier showing of Idaho Public Television’s Idaho Experience: Idaho’s Nuclear Navy Nov. 30 at the Colonial Theater. An estimated 1,000 people attended the sold-out documentary premier, including the Mayor of Idaho Falls, Congressional staff members, elected officials from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, former Idaho governor Dirk Kempthorne, and several Idaho state legislators. The public event was kicked off with an invocation by the Honorable Lee Juan Tyler, Chairman, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Fort Hall Business Council, and included remarks from Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper, Idaho State Historic Preservation Officer Janet Gallimore, and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Director Adm. Frank Caldwell. Idaho Public Television General Manager Jeff Tucker introduced the documentary. “The impact of the state of Idaho and community of Idaho Falls on our nuclear Navy and our national security was and continues to be enormous,” said Caldwell. “The science and technological advancements that came from these three prototypes paved the way for our very ﬁrst nuclear-powered submarine, surface ship and aircraft carrier.” The documentary highlights the history of the U.S. Navy’s ﬁrst naval nuclear propulsion plant prototypes that were located at the Naval Reactors Facility on the Idaho National Laboratory. The engineering efforts for, operation of, and training within NRF’s three prototypes supported the mission of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program to provide militarily effective nuclear propulsion plants and ensure their safe, reliable, and long-lived operation. In total, nearly 40,000 nuclear operators were trained at NRF from 1953 to 1995. Idaho Experience: Idaho’s Nuclear Navy was developed as part of a programmatic agreement between Naval Reactors, the

Adm. Frank Caldwell, Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, addresses the sold-out audience at the Colonial Theater in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Nov. 30. Naval Reactors, with support from the State Historic Preservation Office and the City of Idaho Falls, hosted the premier showing of Idaho Public Television’s Idaho Experience: Idaho’s Nuclear Navy for approximately 1,000 community members. (PHOTO BY DANIEL SEYMOUR, U.S. NAVAL NUCLEAR PROPULSION PROGRAM)

Idaho State Historic Preservation Office and Idaho Public Television to document and preserve the prototype history in the form of a documentary that will air on Idaho Public Television Dec. 3. For more information on how to view the documentary, please visit idahoptv.org. The Naval Reactors Facility is under the cognizance of Naval Reactors, a joint U.S. Navy and U.S. Department of Energy organization. Naval Reactors is responsible for

YOUR PERFECT

all aspects of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear propulsion, including research, design, construction, testing, operation, maintenance, and ultimate disposition of naval nuclear propulsion plants. Over the last 75 years, Naval Reactors has operated 273 reactor plants, taken 562 reactor cores critical including 33 different designs, and steamed more than 171 million miles with over 7,500 reactor years of safe operations. The Naval Nuclear Propulsion

Program and the Navy’s nuclear-powered warships have demonstrated clear superiority in defending the United States — from the Cold War to today’s unconventional threats and strategic competition — Naval Reactors ensures the American Sailor and the nuclear-ﬂeet are ready to ﬁght and win the nation’s wars.

JOB IS WAITING careers.tribpub.com

6 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, December 7, 2023

During the NAVIFOR Commanders’ Summit audience members listen to the Get Real Get Better Journey panel. The IBoss, Vice Adm. Kelly Aeschbach, commander, NAVIFOR hosted the third annual NAVIFOR Commanders’ Summit in Suffolk, Va., Nov. 28 through 30. With a theme of“Information Warfare: Delivering Decision Advantage,” the summit featured engaging discussion panels, presentations and dialogue on current information warfare challenges and priorities. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY ROBERT FLUEGEL/RELEASED)

Delivering decision advantage: NAVIFOR hosts annual IW Commanders Summit

By Joshua Rodriguez Naval Information Forces

SUFFOLK, Va. — Vice Adm. Kelly Aeschbach, commander, Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) and the Navy’s IBoss, hosted the annual NAVIFOR Commanders’ Summit in Suffolk, Va., Nov. 28-30. More than 180 Navy Information Warfare (IW) flag officers, commanders, and enlisted leaders representing 51 IW commands as far as Naples, Bahrain and Hawaii gathered at the three-day event. With a theme of “Information Warfare: Delivering Decision Advantage,” the summit featured engaging discussion panels, presentations and dialogue on current IW challenges and priorities. IBoss opened the summit by highlighting the critical role of IW in shaping the strategic environment. “Conflict and competition make what we do in Information Warfare incredibly relevant, and incredibly rewarding,” said Aeschbach. “IW is constantly in demand in this competitive environment — we have no spare capacity. If we want to stay in competition, we need to do IW exceptionally well - every leader and every professional in this room plays a critical role.” For the first time ever, the summit kicked off with a “Brain Trust” dialogue and discussion of 11 IW flag officers who have retired since NAVIFOR’s inception as a type command. They each shared unique perspectives on where they see the community and Navy IW in future years. “It was incredibly important to me to include our retired

IW leaders in our summit,” noted IBoss. “Each was instrumental in shaping the community we know today, and I believe the candid dialogue we fostered through this session shows how committed we are as a community to assessing ourselves and aiming toward continual improvement. These leaders’ insights will undoubtedly enhance our ability to address current challenges and prepare for future missions.” The summit also included discussions on IW readiness issues, to include ashore readiness, training for the high-end fight, and IW manpower and manning. Ms. Liz Nashold, NAVIFOR’s deputy commander, stressed the importance of incorporating IW into the Live, Virtual Constructive (LVC) training environment, which she noted is IBoss’ top priority. “We’re working to bring IW into the LVC training environment because in no other warfighting area is LVC more important than ours,” said Nashold. “Incorporating IW fully into LVC will allow us to truly measure our proficiency and accelerate and improve our capability.” The final day of the summit aimed at providing resources to IW command triads to increase command resilience and address barriers to success. During a panel focused on Get Real Get Better, commanders shared how they used Navyproven leadership and problem solving best practices to empower their people to achieve exceptional performance. “Get Real Get Better is about mirrors and microscopes — and not about microphones,” noted Capt. Tim Krippendorf, NAVIFOR’s liaison to Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. Tenth Fleet. “It’s about looking at yourself, your own command

and your own processes and using data to create a plan that is measured and analyzed. GRGB can be extremely powerful when it’s executed properly.” Many commanders appreciated the ability to network face-to-face with fellow IW leaders and work though shared challenges, to include Cdr. Hannah Bealon, commanding officer of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS) San Diego. “This summit was amazing!” said Bealon. “It provided an opportunity for my fellow commanding officers and I to share solutions that will remove barriers for our Sailors. I am looking forward to participating again next year!” IBoss closed the summit by sharing her thoughts on the health of the IW force, and encouraging all leaders to connect with NAVIFOR for assistance to more rapidly effect change when needed. “I sleep well at night because we have so many exceptional people in Navy IW,” said Aeschbach. “The caliber of the Sailors in your commands is truly eye-watering, and we’re fortunate to have such exceptional talent in our community.” NAVIFOR’s mission is to generate, directly and through our leadership of the IW Enterprise, agile and technically superior manned, trained, equipped, and certiﬁed combatready IW forces to ensure our Navy will decisively DETER, COMPETE, and WIN. For more information on NAVIFOR, visit the command Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NavalInformationForces/ or the public web page at https://www.navifor.usff.navy.mil.

Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Lemoore supports NAS Lemoore’s search and rescue and security units in Eastern Sierra Mountains By Elaine Heirigs

“We had to devise a CASEVAC (casualty evacuation) plan which uses non-standardized and LEMOORE, Calif. — U.S. Navy hospital corpsnon-dedicated vehicles for a potentially injured men from Navy Medicine Readiness and TrainSailor. We also trained the team on proper clothing Command (NMRTC) Lemoore were suddenly ing to wear during hikes. This was instrumental called into action to provide medical coverage to in preventing heat related injuries as well as cold support the Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore secuweather injuries,” said Mora. rity team assigned to secure an inoperable search The five hospital corpsmen from Lemoore and and rescue (SAR) helicopter in a remote section of Fallon rotated providing care and were embedded a California mountain range. with the security team from NAS Lemoore. During On Saturday, September 30, the Madera County their down time in the Eastern Sierras from Sept. 30 Sheriff’s Office received a call about a medical to Oct. 20, 2023, they were able to spend time with emergency near Garnet Lake and Thousand Island the MAs or master-at-arms and learn about each Lake along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), a treachother’s Navy rates or jobs. erous hiking trail that stretches several thousand Both Tugman and Mora are eager to get back to miles through the Eastern Sierras within the Sierra the mountains. Nevada Mountain range. “It was really an interesting experience,” said While attempting to rescue the injured hiker, a Tugman. “We ran into people hiking the PCT. One NAS Lemoore SAR helicopter experienced diffiguy I talked to was hiking from the U.S. and Mexico culties and made a hard landing at a high elevation. border back to his home in Portland, Oregon.” The four service members onboard suffered minor According to the USDA Forest Service website, injuries and were extracted by another agency’s the PCT is 2,650 miles long and it starts near Campo, SAR unit. California near the U.S. and Mexico border. It ends Chief Hospital Corpsman John R. Tugman, Chief at the U.S. and Canada border at Manning ProvinHospital Corpsman Michael C. Carter and Hospicial Park in British Columbia. The PCT was one tal Corpsman 1st Class Ildegar J. Mora were a part of the first National Scenic Trails established by of the healthcare team from NMRTC Lemoore Congress in 1968 with the National Trails System who provided medical coverage to support the Act, along with the Appalachian Trail. The PCT NAS Lemoore security team in the forest. Hospicrosses 26 national forests, seven national parks, tal Corpsman 1st class Jeremy D. Williams and five state parks and four national monuments. Hospital Corpsman 2nd class Paul C. Cavanaugh “The Eastern Sierras are amazing,” said Tugman. from Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit “I will be spending a lot of time in the future explor(NMRTU) Fallon also provided medical coverage ing this area.” during the almost one-month long assignment. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training NMRTU Fallon is a unit of NMRTC Lemoore. Command Lemoore is co-located with Naval “I was a part of the initial response team that Health Clinic Lemoore. The command and clinic went in to recover and secure items from the ensure the readiness of its active-duty service aircraft such as radios and the black box,” said members and improves the lives of military famiTugman. “The weather, terrain and elevation made lies through the delivery of high-quality healthfor a challenging environment. Most of the team care to over 14,000 eligible beneficiaries at Naval had little to no experience working in those condiAir Station (NAS) Lemoore, California and NAS tions. We were hit on the first night with a good Fallon, Nevada. snowstorm with temperatures dipping into the 20s. Military members from Naval Air Station Lemoore and Naval Air Station Fallon The command also provides dental care and We started with a team of eight and by day three hiked the 12-mile round trip trail to the helicopter site passing ponderosa pine medical administrative support to Navy, Marine we were left with just three (people) due to alti- trees along the route to the search and rescue helicopter site in the Eastern Corps, and international students at the Naval Posttude sickness.” Sierras within the Sierra Nevada Mountain range in Central California. (U.S. NAVY graduate School (NPS), Defense Language InstiMora, a fleet Marine force (FMF) hospital corps- PHOTO BY CHIEF HOSPITAL CORPSMAN JOHN R. TUGMAN) tute and the Center for Information Dominance in man, with prior deployment experience with the Monterey, California. Its mission is to advance the U.S. Marine Corps and is well versed in cold weather survival rugged and difficult to maneuver. The team from Lemoore readiness and health of our warfighters and beneficiaries as a mountain medicine instructor. and Fallon needed to hike daily through challenging terrain and to invest in our people and partnerships. “The biggest medical concern associated with this along the PCT to get to the helicopter site. Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit Fallon/ mission was the possibility of someone going through alti“I conducted daily medical safety briefs prior to the secu- Naval Branch Health Clinic Fallon, Nevada is a unit of Navy tude mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude pulmonary rity team’s 12-mile round trip hike to the helicopter site,” Medicine Readiness and Training Command Lemoore/ edema (HAPE) or high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE),” said Mora. “Upon their return I would check the team for Naval Health Clinic Lemoore, California. The medical unit said Mora. “My background as an instructor helped me deal any injuries or health concerns.” in Fallon provides outpatient medical care to active-duty with these illnesses and how to best treat patients.” The cold weather and landscape presented challenges, service members and its dependents assigned to, and within The topography where the helicopter was located was besides the altitude. a 30-mile radius of, Naval Air Station Fallon.

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8 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, December 7, 2023

On iberty

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Recipes that will be the stars of your holiday table Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham with Bourbon, Honey & Orange Glaze, Christmas Punch, and Pesto Pizza Stuffed Star Bread. Page C4

The North American production of HADESTOWN. (PHOTO BY T. CHARLES ERICKSON)

Broadway In Norfolk announces HADESTOWN tickets on sale now — Come see how the world could be Press Release Welcome to HADESTOWN, where a song can change your fate. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album, this acclaimed new show from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and innovative director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today... and always. HADESTOWN intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell’s beguiling melodies and Chavkin’s poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers and singers, HADESTOWN is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go. The North American touring production of Hadestown stars Amaya Braganza

as Eurydice, Lana Gordon as Persephone, Will Mann as Hermes, Matthew Patrick Quinn as Hades, and J. Antonio Rodriguez as Orpheus. The Fates are played by Marla Louissaint, Lizzie Markson, and Hannah Schreer. The Workers Chorus features Sevon Askew, Jamal Lee Harris, Courtney Lauster, Daniel Tracht, and Racquel Williams. Swings for the tour include Ian Coulter-Buford, KC Dela Cruz, Colin LeMoine, and Cecilia Trippiedi. Producers Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold, and Tom Kirdahy said jointly, “Throughout its development, Hadestown has been deeply inﬂuenced by audiences around the world. We are thrilled and humbled to now share this beautiful story of hope, faith, and rebirth — written and directed by two amazingly talented women and brought to life by a diverse company of performers — with audiences across North America.” The acclaimed new musical is by celebrated singer-songwriter and Tony Award® winner Anaïs Mitchell and developed with innovative director and Tony Award®

winner Rachel Chavkin. Hadestown marks the ﬁrst time in over a decade that a woman has been the solo author of a musical: writing the music, lyrics, and book, and is the fourth time in Broadway history a woman has accomplished this creative feat. The show opened at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway (219 West 48th Street, New York) on April 17, 2019, where it played sold out houses nightly before performances were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hadestown resumed performances September 2, 2021 as one of the ﬁrst musicals to reopen on Broadway where it continues to play today. The North American Tour opened at The Kennedy Center in Washington DC on October 15, 2021. The show originated as Mitchell’s indie theater project that toured Vermont which she then turned into an acclaimed album. With Chavkin, her artistic collaborator, Hadestown has been transformed into a genre-defying new musical that blends modern American folk music with New Orleans-inspired jazz to reimagine a sweeping ancient tale.

Following two intertwining love stories — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell’s beguiling melodies and Chavkin’s poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers, and singers, Hadestown delivers a deeply resonant and deﬁantly hopeful theatrical experience. HADESTOWN is headed to Chrysler Hall March 26 - 31, 2024 for 8 performances. Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster. com and the Scope Arena Box office. The Scope Arena box office is located in the Scope parking garage at 201 E. Brambleton Ave, Norfolk, VA 23510. It is currently open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets for groups of 10 or more are available by calling SevenVenues Group Sales at (757) 664-6418 or by email at groupsales@sevenvenues.com. For more information visit sevenvenues.com/events or call 757.664.6464.

The Military Aviation Museum announces Jazz in the Hangar Holiday Concert Press Release VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Join us for this firstof-its-kind experience at the Museum, an intimate concert nestled in an aircraft hangar turned Jazz Club on Sunday, December 10th. This Holiday experience will take you back in time with a mixture of Swing music and Christmas standards performed by Jay Brown and his Grace Street Seven Quartet. Doors Open at 5pm, Concert Performance Starts at 5:30pm As part of this concert experience, guests of all ages are welcome to dress in their holiday best, or in their finest period clothing, and while it is not a traditional hangar dance, there will be room to stretch your legs for anyone who is so inclined! The event will feature a range of holiday snacks to purchase, a full hot chocolate bar, as well as a cash bar selling winter time cocktails. Museum Members will have access to Three Dots and a Dash, a Members Only Speakeasy Experience which will open at 4pm, one hour before the doors open for the concert. Grace Street Seven Quartet: Regularly a fixture of our summer time Luau and Hangar Dance, Grace Street Seven will be joining

us for this concert style performance with a more intimate feeling. Let them transport you to the Jazz Clubs of old with a carefully curated selection of music, and an enrapturing performance from Double Bass, Piano, and of course, alto Saxophone. Three Dots and a Dash, The Members Only Speakeasy: Mix and Mingle with

your fellow supporters of the Museum, and get the inside scoop on our latest restoration efforts and Museum plans for next year. Open from 4pm — 8pm, Museum Members will have access to the Speakeasy with a dedicated cash bar, and a cocktail offering only available within. Additionally, the Hot Chocolate Bar within the Speakeasy is complimentary, as are the holiday snacks.

Museum Members -The Concert is included in your membership! Prospective members can purchase tickets online at https://www. militaryaviationmuseum.org/event/jazz-inthe-hangar-holiday-concert/. The Military Aviation Museum is located at 1341 Princess Anne Road Virginia Beach, VA 23457. For more information, www.militaryaviationmuseum.org or call 757-721-7767.

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

The Flagship welcomes submissions from our readers online. Please submit events here: www.militarynews.com/users/admin/calendar/event/ Please submit news and photos here: www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-ﬂagship/submit_news/

Base Express celebrates one year of service at Naval Station Norfolk

Press Release

NORFOLK, Va. — This month, Hampton Roads Transit and Naval Station Norfolk are celebrating one year since the launch of the Base Express. This FREE service began on December 4, 2022, and has carried nearly 32,000 sailors over the last year. Two routes connect service members and their families, veterans, government employees, and contractors, with major destinations in and around the base. The Gold Route operates seven days a week, providing lastmile service from outside the gate, starting at the Navy Exchange. The Blue Route operates exclusively on base providing weekday service to stops along Virginia Avenue and the piers. Ridership on the Base Express routes has grown exponentially. Data shows around 1,100 customers boarded in December 2022 compared to more than 4,100 in October 2023. That’s an increase of 266% in the ﬁrst 11 months. “We’re excited to see so many service members taking advantage of this free service,” said William Harrell, President and CEO at Hampton Roads Transit. “Our goal was to provide mobility options so that service members can access resources on and off the military base, and these ridership numbers conﬁrm that the Base Express is doing just that.” Sailor Richard McMenamin told HRT he rides the Base Express to get back and forth from his barracks to the commissary, while Sailor Melany Lahm said she rides almost every day to get to work at the pier and to

connect with HRT’s other services. “Since the opening of the Base Express last December, the service it provides has drastically improved the quality of life for those living and working onboard Naval Station Norfolk,” said Capt. Janet Days, Naval Station Norfolk Commanding Offi-

cer. “From simply a vision years ago to forging a wonderful partnership with Hampton Roads Transit to make this a reality, it is phenomenal. We are so thankful and look forward to growing this awesome service for years to come.” The Base Express is currently funded by

a Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) grant and is operated in partnership with Academy Express, LLC. Learn more about the Base Express at gohrt.com.

Jamestown Settlement issues a call for artists for annual Black Artist Showcase in February Press Release WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Jamestown Settlement is calling for artist submissions for its annual Black Artist Showcase, which will be on extended view throughout February 2024, connecting the past and present through vivid intersections of contemporary art and 17th-century history. Once limited to one weekend, the month long Black Artist Showcase will complement museum gallery exhibits, films and education programs on African and African American history in early Virginia and culminates February 24 with “After Angelo,” named for one of the first African women in Jamestown’s historical record. This annual event reflects on the legacy of African diaspora by celebrating modern African American life and culture through performance, community conversation and art created by professional Virginia-based artists. New and returning artists are invited to submit their work for consideration by December 15, 2023. The theme for submissions is “the beauty of our lives.” Visit jyfmuseums.org/black-artist- showcase for details and a submission form. Programming is supported in part by the Williamsburg Area Arts Commission and Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Inc. Annual Fund. About Jamestown Settlement: Jamestown Settlement, located on State Route 31 near the Colonial Parkway in James City County, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days. Jamestown Settlement, an expansive museum featuring indoor gallery exhibits, films and outdoor livinghistory experiences to discover the world of 17th-century Virginia, is administered by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an educational agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Jamestown Settlement admission is $18 for adults, $9 for ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and under. An Annual Pass, which offers year-round access to both Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown plus daytime events and programs, is $44 for adults and $22 for ages 6-12 and, for Virginia residents, $30 for adults and $15 for ages 6-12. Residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg, including William & Mary students, receive free admission with proof of residency. For more information, call (757) 253-4838 or visit jyfmuseums.org. Follow us on social @jyfmuseums.

The 2022 Black Artist Showcase featured“Ezra: Reparations Groove,” a linoleum cut by Steve Prince (at right), as well as“The Calm,” an acrylic painting by S. Ross Browne. (JAMESTOWN-YORKTOWN FOUNDATION PHOTO)

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

4 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, December 7, 2023

Food

Recipes that will be the stars of your holiday table Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham with Bourbon, Honey & Orange Glaze By Family Features & Smithfield Whether you’re hosting a large holiday gathering or simply savoring the season with those nearest and dearest, serving up flavorful dishes your friends and family will love is key to bringing everyone together. With a full portfolio to choose from, you can shake up your meals all throughout the season using inspiration and premium products from Smithfield to help bring everyone together to share favorite memories and meals from breakfast to dessert and everything in between. This holiday season, create a masterpiece such as a Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham with Bourbon, Honey and Orange Glaze for the perfect combination of sweet and savory with fresh orange juice, bourbon, ginger, cinnamon and honey that’ll leave guests asking for seconds. Easy to prepare and ready to be served, Smithfield Spiral Hams are pre-sliced and only need to be heated. Plus, if you’re short on time during a hectic holiday season and unable to prepare a homemade glaze, a pre-glazed ham is an easy option. For more easy-to-make holiday recipe inspiration, visit Smithfield.com. Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham with Bourbon, Honey and Orange Glaze Total time: 2 hours, 40 minutes Ingredients 1 Smithfield Hickory Smoked Spiral Sliced Ham ½ cup bourbon ½ cup honey 1 ½ cups fresh orange juice ½ cup brown sugar ½ teaspoon ground clove 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon ground ginger Directions Preheat oven to 325 F. Remove packaging from ham, including glaze packet, and place face down in large roasting pan. Heat ham, uncovered, 12-14 minutes per pound, or until internal temperature reaches 120 F. Heating time will vary by weight. When about 30 minutes of cook time remains, in small saucepan over medium-high heat, whisk bourbon, honey, orange juice, brown sugar, clove, cinnamon and ginger;

(PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE)

bring to boil. Pour glaze over ham. Continue baking ham, basting frequently. For ﬁnal 10 minutes of cook time, turn oven up to 425 F, continuing to baste with glaze. When ham is heated through, remove from oven, drain liquid in bottom of baking dish and reserve to serve on side of hot ham.

This punch can be made ahead of time, but don’t add the ice or soda until just before serving so as not to dilute or lose its ﬁzz. Keep alcohol on the side for guests to add their own and keep the punch itself kid-friendly. I like white rum, spiced rum, whiskey, and vodka with this recipe.

Christmas Punch

Pesto Pizza Stuffed Star Bread

By Rebecca Hubbell @ Sugarandsoul.co

By Makinze Gore @ Delish.com

Christmas Punch is an easy and delicious holiday party drink packed with fruits like cranberries, oranges, and pomegranates. Keep it non-alcoholic or add rum or vodka for extra holiday spirit!

Here’s an easy and festive holiday appetizer that looks way more impressive and complicated than it actually is. Using homemade pizza dough and pesto is great, but if you go the store-bought route, this star bread takes very little effort. A few twists, and you have a green speckled star to dazzle as the center of your holiday spread. Serve with marinara to complete the look.

Calories: 189kcal Carbohydrates: 29g Vitamin C: 48.3mg Calcium: 22mg Ingredients 1 orange sliced 1 cup cranberries ½ cup pomegranate seeds 2 cups cranberry juice (Ocean Spray Pure Unsweetened 100% juice recommended) 2 cups orange juice (Simply, Natalie’s, or Uncle Matt’s brands recommend) 1 cup pomegranate juice (POM brand recommended) 2 cups lemon-lime soda (Starry, Sprite, or 7Up recommended) 1 cup white rum (optional) ice fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish Directions Add the slices from 1 orange, 1 cup cranberries, and ½ cup pomegranate seeds to a large pitcher or punch bowl. If using a really gallon-sized bowl or dispenser, you can double the recipe. Pour in 2 cups cranberry juice, 2 cups orange juice, 1 cup pomegranate juice, and 2 cups lemon-lime soda. You can also add 1 cup white rum or alcohol of choice if including. Serve in glasses over ice and garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs. Tips: I highly recommend chilling all of your ingredients before prepping for the best results.

Yields: 8 - 10 servings Prep Time: 10 mins Total Time: 1 hr Calories Per Serving: 339 Ingredients 1 ½ lb. store-bought or homemade pizza dough 9 tbsp. pesto, divided ¾ c. shredded mozzarella, divided 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 tbsp. grated Parmesan Marinara, for serving Directions Preheat oven to 375°. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece to an 11” circle. Place one circle on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread 3 tablespoons pesto over dough in an even layer, then top with ¼ cup mozzarella. Top with a second piece of dough. Repeat with remaining pesto, mozzarella, and pizza dough, leaving the top layer of dough bare. Brush top layer with oil and sprinkle with Parmesan. Place a bowl or glass with a 3” diameter in the center of dough. Using a sharp knife, cut circle into 16 equal strips, starting at bowl and going all the way to edge, making sure to cut through all of the layers. Remove bowl. Take 2 strips next to each other and twist away from each other 4 times. Pinch edges together to create a point. Repeat with remaining strips to create 8 points. Bake stuffed bread until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm with marinara alongside.

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

Health

(SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE)

Make a list, check it twice with these heart-healthy holiday travel hacks By American Heart Association DALLAS — For people living with a health condition like heart disease or stroke, traveling away from home can pose some special challenges. The American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives for all, says with a little pre-travel prep, you can turn travel woes from “oh no” to “let’s go!” “As we look forward to the holidays, many people will be traveling to spend treasured time with family and friends, or maybe just to enjoy some relaxation on the beach or ski slopes. For some that just means throwing a few essentials into a backpack and hitting the roads or airways,” said Gladys Velarde, M.D., FAHA, a national volunteer with the American Heart Association and a professor of medicine at the University of Florida in Jacksonville. “It’s not always that simple for people who have chronic health conditions that require multiple medications or special medical equipment. There are also considerations for how to maintain your health and not put yourself at increased risk.” Velarde said that doesn’t mean travel is off limits if you have a chronic health condition. A little planning and preparation can take the stress out of travel and prepare you for your next big adventure. Check in with your health care provider — Talk to your primary care

physician or specialist about your travel plans and any special considerations related to your health. They can offer personalized guidance on any restrictions or precautions you need to keep in mind. It’s also a good idea to carry a copy of your key medical records and a list of phone numbers for your doctors, including emergency contact information. Manage your medications — Make sure medications are clearly labeled and that you have enough to last your entire trip. Carry a list of all medications, including dosages and pharmacy information. If you’re traveling across time zones, work with your health care provider to adjust medication schedules appropriately. Some medications may need to be refrigerated, so you’ll need to research how to pack those appropriately for airport security or other transport and ensure you’ll have a refrigerator in your hotel or other lodging. Plan for transporting medical devices and supplies — Whether you’re traveling by airplane, bus, train, cruise ship or other means, you will want to plan ahead if you have any special medical equipment. If you use a wheelchair, walker or other assistance for getting around, you may need to check in with the company you’ll be traveling with for how to transport those. That also goes for portable oxygen devices or CPAP machines. Don’t forget to pack your blood pressure or glucose monitor if you use one regularly. “Depending on where you’re traveling,

you’ll also want to do some research and planning specific to the location,” Velarde said. “The local climate and elevation may impact how you feel — extreme heat or cold can affect circulation and put extra strain on your heart. In high altitudes there is less oxygen in the air, and that means less oxygen will be carried in your blood. You’ll want to familiarize yourself with the local emergency numbers and the location of nearby medical facilities and pharmacies of the area where you’re visiting. The American Heart Association has an interactive map to find hospitals across the U.S. recognized for consistently following up-to-date, research-based treatment guidelines for heart and stroke care. Velarde said air travel is especially busy during the holiday season, and planning ahead can make the experience easier. Walking through busy airports can take a toll. When booking your ticket request a wheelchair or courtesy cart to get to your terminal. If you have a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) you may need to go through a special security screening at the airport. Long plane rides, especially flights longer than 4 hours, may increase your risk for blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Consider wearing compression socks and get up and walk around the cabin when it’s safe to do so to

help improve your circulation. You can also exercise your calf muscles and stretch your legs while you’re sitting with some simple heel and toe lifts. Getting stuck in an airport during ﬂight delays can be frustrating, but in many U.S. airports, you can turn that lousy layover into a lifesaving experience. Look for specially marked kiosks in some cities where you can learn the two easy steps of Hands-Only-CPR through an interactive teaching module. Know the signs of a heart attack, stroke or cardiac arrest and if you or someone you’re with experience any symptoms, call 9-1-1. EMS can often start treatment immediately and put a hospital on alert for the type of emergency care needed. “Maintaining your health while you’re traveling is also important. Stay well hydrated, don’t overindulge in food or drink, know your physical activity limits, pace yourself and rest as often as you need,” Velarde said. “Anticipating a big trip can be stressful for many — and stress is not good for your health. Every individual’s condition is unique, and you’ll want to tailor your travel plans to your speciﬁc needs. By taking a little time now to plan and prepare, you can enjoy your holiday or vacation can be just what the doctor ordered to help you unwind and recharge. Learn more about healthy traveling at heart.org.

6 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, December 7, 2023

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