Flagship 04/06/17

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IN THIS

ISSUE

BUSH SAILORS TOUR CRETE Civilizations, empires and more showcased on tour.

» See A5

More than 20 years of

serving the Hampton Roads Navy family

Vo l . 2 5 , N o . 14 N o rf o l k , VA | f l ag sh ip ne ws .c om | 04 .0 6 . 17- 0 4 . 1 2 . 1 7

SAVIORS of the SEA

Photos by MC3 Justin R. DiNiro Lt. Claire Wardius and Lt. Joshua Helms, both assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58), rescue a sea turtle trapped in netting aboard a rigid-hull inflatable boat.

USS Laboon Sailors rescue sea turtle

2017 NMCRS fund drive underway

By MC3 Justin R. DiNiro

By FC3 Kathleen R. Hinson

USS Laboon Public Affairs

Naval Station Norfolk Public Affairs

U.S. 5TH FLEET

NORFOLK

Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) rescued an unlikely friend in need as he was found stranded in Middle Eastern waters. Helpless, entangled in trash and being circled by sharks, a sea turtle was spotted adrift. The crew identified the turtle was in need and rallied within minutes to lower a rigidhull inflatable boat (RHIB) into the water to rescue the turtle. “What an incredible and unusual opportunity! Once the captain made the call to attempt to save the turtle, Laboon responded quickly and enthusiastically to get a boat crew manned up and the RHIB in the water,” Laboon Navigator Lt. Claire Wardius said. “When we reached the turtle and saw the extent to which he was entangled, I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to get him free.”

Naval Station Norfolk kicked off its annual Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Fund Drive (NMCRS), March 6. NMCRS is a non-profit organization who has been helping Navy and Marine Corps service members and families for 112 years. The NMCRS does not receive funds from the government or the Department of the Navy, so to keep up with needs of service members they ask for yearly donations. The NMCRS provides many services to active duty members and their families; financial assistance and counseling, quick assist loan, education assistance, health education and post-combat support, budget for baby, emergency travel, disaster relief and thrift shops.

» See TURTLE | A7

Lt. Claire Wardius and Lt. Joshua Helms, both assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58), rescue a sea turtle trapped in netting aboard a rigid-hull inflatable boat.

Norfolk Naval Shipyard Public Affairs NORFOLK

One of the Navy’s hidden treasures is its emergent fly-away teams. Some may consider them superheroes due to how they do business—they go in, fix the problem, test it and head home—without many knowing what they did or where they went. The first fly-away team was established in the 1990s when Naval Air Force Atlantic (AIRLANT) called

for a detachment of experienced personnel from Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) who could fly to a carrier with little notice to make repairs and get that ship back to sea. “Fly-away teams are just that. They are casualty teams that are put together to respond to a Casualty Report (CASREP), which is an emergent casualty for a naval vessel that needs to be repaired right away, whether they are underway or pierside,” Off-Yard » See TEAMS | A7

By IC3 Kassandra Jagers Naval Station Norfolk Public Affairs NORFOLK

Sailors attached to Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk teamed up with Junior IC3 Kassandra Jagers Achievement (JA) to volunteer Yoeman Seaman Atiyanna, assigned to Naval at Sewell’s Point Elementary School. Station Norfolk, volunteers at Sewell’s Point Elementary School teaching 4th graders difJA is a non-profit youth orferent types of learning techniques. ganization that works with

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» See FUND | A7

NAVSTA Sailors partner with Junior Achievement

Emergent fly-away teams ... who are they? By April Brown

This organization is supported “by our own—for our own.” This year, the NMCRS goal is to raise $12.5 million dollars to help them continue to take care of Sailors and Marines as well as their families. As of today, they have raised $2.5 million dollars. Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk’s goal is to raise $20,000. Approximately 88% of donated dollars support interest-free loans, grants, nurse services, junior sea bags for families with newborns, and other programs and services. “There is a significant amount of junior sailors that need and use this program and it’s up to us to help support them by giving what you can,”

USS HARRY S. TRUMAN AWARDED Aircraft carrier gets Battle “E” for superior performance and command readiness through a year-long process.

» See A4

local businesses and organizations to teach students in grades K–12 about financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. NAVSTA Sailors spent their day in classrooms teaching and connecting with students in grades K–5. “I really enjoyed being in the » See JA | A7

VISIT, BOARD, SEARCH AND SEIZURE EXERCISE AT BAHRAIN U.S. Coast Guard team joins naval forces from Egypt and Jordan, strengthening partnerships.

ADVENTURES FOR TEENS Outdoor, space and aviation camps are available for little or no cost to military families.

» See B3

» See C1

THE FLAGSHIP’S FREE HOME DELIVERY Exclusively for military families and veterans in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Portsmouth.

Sign up today! Call 222-3900!


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