®
Celebrating 20 years of serving the Hampton Roads Navy family
Vol. 21, No. 6 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 02.14-02.20.13
NAVAL STATION NORFOLK HOSTS WOUNDED WARRIOR TRAINING CAMP By MC3 Molly Greendeer Naval Station Norfolk Public Affairs
NORFOLK
Wounded Warriors from Hampton Roads and Washington, D.C. participated in an Adaptive Sports Training Camp hosted by Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk, Feb. 8 - 10. Capt. David A. Culler, Jr., Commanding Officer of NAVSTA Norfolk, greeted the warriors before the start of the first training day. “We are very excited to host this first ever event,” he said. “The Wounded Warrior program is a great program that gives back to those who have sacrificed so much for us.” Heather Campbell, a coordinator from Navy Safe Harbor, Alabama, along with NAVSTA Norfolk Morale, Welfare and Recreation, planned the three-day event. “The training exercises are designed to help the warriors determine their limits due to their injuries,” said Campbell. “From there, we focus on their strengths and develop exercises that will help fast-forward the healing progress.” Capt. John Manning, a participating Wounded Warrior and a nurse practitioner with Naval Health Clinic, Patuxent River, Md., said events like these are a great way for other Wounded Warriors to network and learn more about available resources. “This is my first event with the Wounded Warriors, but I have already met so many great people with their own stories,” he said. “Even working at a hospital where resources are readily available, there is still so much out there that even I did not know about.” Manning encouraged everyone to spread the word about the Wounded Warrior program. “No injury is alike,” said Manning. “The Wounded Warrior team designs programs tailored to the individual’s specific needs. These guys are the subject matter experts.” The news of the training camp caught the attention of Professor Wayne Pollock, a Recreational Therapy instructor at Virginia Wesleyan College. Pollock, along with a group
» see CAMP | A9
USS MCFAUL SAILORS HELP COMMUNITY Thirty Sailors from the USS McFaul contributed more than 100 manhours participating in two community relations projects during a port visit to Key West. » see A5
The Wounded Warrior program is a great program that gives back to those who have sacrificed so much for us.” - Capt. David Culler
MC3 Molly Greendeer Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Chris Suter, a Wounded Warrior, participates in a water obstacle course during a Wounded Warrior Adaptive Sports Training Camp at Naval Station Norfolk. The training camp is the first to take place in the Hampton Roads area.
CNIC, N7 tests Mid-Atlantic Region’s crisis response By David Todd The Flagship Managing Editor
NORFOLK
tunity to create a powerful and emotional moment that will be shared and remembered by their loves ones back home,” said Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class William Leffler, United Through Reading coordinator aboard San Antonio. Participating in the program is as simple as signing up and scheduling a time with the Religious Ministers Department. The participant is recorded while reading in a private location and then given the DVD to mail to their family members. “It’s very important for the children to see their deployed one’s face and to
» see PROGRAM | A9
» see TRAINING | A9
MC3 Lacordrick Wilson Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Terah Mollise reads a book to her children during a United Through Reading session aboard the USS San Antonio (LPD 17).
Uniting families through reading aboard San Antonio By MC3 Lacordrick Wilson Amphibious Squadron Four Public Affairs
USS SAN ANTONIO, AT SEA
Service members have the opportunity to participate in the United Through Reading program while underway aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17). The United Through Reading program helps parents and children stay connected by sending home a recorded video of the deployed service member reading a book to their children, or a message to family members. “This program gives the Sailors and Marines aboard a great oppor-
BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) held a Black History Month celebration in Panama City, Fla., Feb. 5. Phillip Brashear, son of retired Master Diver Carl Brashear, served as guest speaker. » see B5
We use real
Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) held buildings and a week-long Regional Operations Center (ROC) Opera- real examples tions Training Course, Feb. of the current 4 - 8. The training, conducted equipment annually and presented by the CNIC Readiness and and supplies Training team (N7), is done on that to ensure the Mid-Atlantic Region’s (NRMA) Crisis installation Action Team (CAT) operates cohesively during crisis to make it as situations, and also prepares realistic as them to respond to complex catastrophic events, including possible.” earthquakes, hurricanes, wild- Terri Clark fires, and other natural and/or man-made disasters. “We work with both the emergency managers and the N36 [Current/Future Operations] to make sure we are varying the scenarios each year,” said Terri Clark, NRMA, N7 Training and Readiness Program Director. “Last year we did a nuclear power plant radiological release, the year before we did a wildfire, and this year we’re doing an earthquake. We want to vary and practice all scenarios to ensure that we’re ready to respond in any event.” Although the training scenarios are fictitious in nature, many of the elements in the training represent real-world people, places and events. “We try to add realism when we talk about specific in-
VALENTINE’S DAY EDITION Check out this week’s C section to see how to make this year’s Valentine’s Day a special one.The Flagship has provided tips on how to woo your special someone and perhaps how to do it on a budget! » see C1
THE FLAGSHIP’S FREE HOME DELIVERY Get the convenience of your Navy newspaper delivered right to your door for free! Sign up today! Call 222-3965