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Serving the Hampton Roads Navy Family
Vol. 20, No. 43 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 10.25.12
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PANETTA: NATION FACES ‘DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE’ WORLD ■ local topics Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta speaks at the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce meeting in Norfolk, Oct. 19.
By Claudette Roulo American Forces Press Service
NORFOLK
The Hampton Roads area of Virginia has played a vital role in the history of the United States, and of the military in particular, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said in remarks to members of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Oct. 19. Since the Civil War and the first battle between two ironclad ships, the area has been on the leading edge of American military innovation, with its shipyards serving as the backbone of American naval power, Panetta said, noting that the broad challenges now faced by the military also face the Hampton Roads region. The defense secretary said that after a decade of war, the U.S. is at a strategic turning point. Congressionally mandated budget cuts come at a time when the nation still faces a dangerous and unpredictable world. “I am not one who believes that you have to choose between fiscal security and national security,” he said, noting that violent extremism, weapons proliferation, international instability and the rise of new powers across Asia are just some of the challenges facing the country. “And now we confront a whole new threat of warfare in cyber [space],” said Panetta. “I think this is an area we have got to pay close attention to. This is the battlefront of the future. As I speak, there are cyberattacks going on in this country.” “And now they’re developing the capability to be able to go after our grid – our power grid, our financial systems, our government systems – and virtually paralyze this country,” he added. “We are confronting a series of threats to our national security. I’ve got to do everything I can to make sure we protect this country.” To address those challenges while meeting America’s fiscal responsibilities, Panetta said the Defense Department undertook a review of the defense strategy. As part of that review, it established new defense priorities and focused on designing a force that would carry the U.S. into the future. Panetta highlighted the five elements of the new defense strategy: a smaller, more agile force; a rebalance to the Asia-Pacific and Middle East; building international partnerships and alliances; ensuring the nation can confront and defeat aggression, even when it occurs on multiple fronts; and making key investments in defense technologies and capabilities. As part of that strategy, the defense secretary said, “We will continue to invest in the unique capabilities and the military and industrial facilities like those in Hampton Roads. I also want to maintain our industrial base.” For example, despite budget pressures, the Defense Department elected to retain the Navy’s full fleet of aircraft carriers. “Similarly, we are investing in the Virginia-class submarine and upgrading this important capability for the future,” he said. Adding, “And finally, we are investing in the cutting-edge unmanned systems and cyber warfare capabilities that are so important in our mission at Langley Air Force Base,” he said. “This community has strongly positioned itself to help us achieve our strategy. But ... we are jeopardized if Congress does not act to prevent sequester from taking effect in January.” Panetta emphasized that the additional cuts would be devastating to the nation’s defense. “There’s still time to prevent sequestration,” he said. “Let me be clear, no one wants this to happen ... but, for God’s sake, don’t just kick this can down the road.”
FLEET WEEK HAMPTON ROADS Among the events during Fleet Week Hampton Roads was the Navy Ball, Fleet Fest and the NMCRS Golf Tournament.
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Panetta spoke of the effects sequestration would have on Defense contract communities like that of the Norfolk area.
Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo
NAVSTA Norfolk participates in state’s inaugural Southeast Shakeout By MC3 (SW) Tamekia Perdue Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
NORFOLK
Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk, along with several other military installations, schools and businesses in Hampton Roads, participated in the Southeast Shakeout, Oct. 18. The Southeast Shakeout, designed to inform Virginia residents of the protective actions they should take during and after an earthquake, is the first earthquake exercise that NAVSTA Norfolk has participated in, and is the first Shakeout that Virginia has taken part in. “Over 12.8 million people are signed up to take part in the exercise, which will be going on all over the world on Oct. 18,” said Eugene Lambert, Emergency Manager, NAVSTA Norfolk. “As of Oct. 15, more than 1.1 million people in the five participating states in the Southeast Shakeout are signed up to participate, including more than 610,000 in Virginia.”
Since the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Virginia on Aug. 23, 2011, more measures are been taken to educate the community on what to do in the event of an earthquake to protect themselves at work and home. “During the Virginia earthquake last year, people were seen running out of their buildings while the shaking was going on. This is exactly what you should not do,” said Lambert. “Your actions should be to drop, take cover and hold on until the shaking stops. Once the shaking stops, then proceed outside safely to a mustering area away from possible falling debris so your command can account for everyone.” Lambert expressed that keeping the phone lines clear is also important after a disaster. “We also ask that [commands] discuss the importance of minimizing the overload of phone lines when communicating with loved ones following a disaster by texting first and talking second,” he said. “People can send a quick text, ‘I’m OK, R U OK?’ to let loved ones know they are alright.”
Informative handouts and videos on the proper ways to stay protected in your home, office, car or even walking are available for personnel in the area. “The exercise can take place anywhere,” said Lambert. “We want people to visit the Great Southeast Shakeout website at www. shakeout.org/southeast, or the Virginia Department of Emergency Management website at www.vaemergency.gov and review the protective actions you should take during an earthquake.”
TIP, HRT PROVIDE BUS SERVICE FROM PENINSULA TO NAVSTA NORFOLK DoD commuters encouraged to take public transportation By David Todd The Flagship Managing Editor
NORFOLK
The Navy’s Transportation Incentive Program (TIP) and Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) will provide service from the Peninsula to Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk for active duty service members and Department of the Defense (DoD)
MCPON 13 MAKES FIRST FLEET VISIT Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) (AW/NAC) Mike D. Stevens completed his first MCPON fleet engagement visit at Naval Base Rota, Spain, Oct. 17.
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civilians, including Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) personnel starting on Oct. 28. “The TIP program is free to all DoD and military personnel,” said Herbert Pittman, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Program Coordinator for TIP. “It’s funded by the Financial Management Office [FMO] in Washington, D.C. The only thing you have to do is register for TIP, and it helps out with the commute in the morning and evenings. Currently, we have more than 100,000 vehicles traveling through the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel [HRBT] a day.”
HALLOWEEN EVENTS IN HAMPTON ROADS From the Haunted Halloween Festival at Hunt Club Farm to the Monster Dash 5K at Naval Station Norfolk,The Flagship has you covered with events and activities this Halloween from Virginia Beach to Williamsburg. » see C1
TIP is a DoN Fringe Benefit Program implemented by Executive Order 13150 on April 21, 2000, and it is designed to reduce federal employee contributions to traffic congestion and air pollution, and to expand their commuting alternatives by offering fare media to qualified applicants. Upon enrollment, and once the necessary processing stages have been approved, all applicants receive a fare media by the TRANServe Debit Card to purchase their mass-transit, or Van Pool fare. This Debit Card is a Visa-branded electronic fare media card provided by the U.S.
Department of Transportation and issued by JPMorgan Chase. It provides active TIP applicants the ability to receive monthly (20 total days a month; Mon. - Fri only) mass transit benefits electronically. “The way it is setup, you only purchase the amount of bus fares that you need,” he explained, “for example, if you want to ride two days a week, you get your tickets for just those days. The amount of money is not used on the debit card goes back to the federal government.”
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