Flagship April 4, 2013

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Celebrating 20 years of serving the Hampton Roads Navy family

Vol. 21, No. 13 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 04.04-04.10.13

■ samples collected Liz Nashold, environmental director for Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic demonstrates how firstdraw samples (250 ml) are collected from faucets at Hampton Roads Child Development Centers and Youth Centers.

Churchill Sailors confront dangers of drunk driving Press Release USS Winston S. Churchill Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth’s (NMCP) Gastroenterology Clinic celebrated GI Nurses and Associates Day, March 27, for the seventh year in a row with an information booth campaigning for Colorectal Cancer Awareness.

The dead walked the decks of the guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) as its Sailors confronted the dangers of drunk driving, March 27. Churchill recently returned from a nine-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AOR). In an effort to encourage returning Sailors to stay safe and avoid driving under the influence of alcohol, Churchill staged a scenario to remind its Sailors of the realworld consequences of getting behind the wheel while drunk. Every 30 minutes, the story of a different Sailor who has died due to a drunk driver or drunk driving was read over Churchill’s 1 Main Circuit (1MC) for the entire crew to hear. Churchill’s crew became these lost Sailors, wearing a T-shirt over their uniform marking the date of death on the front and describing the cause of death on the back. The key is to make this as real as it gets, said Information System Technician 2nd Class (SW/AW) Mario J. Brown, who helped organize the scenario. “We have to take care of our Sailors and remind them of the stakes involved in drunk driving,” said Brown. “The issue won’t go away on its own. We have to confront it.” Following supper, the entire crew assembled on the mess deck where they were greeted by every Sailor who had “died” in the scenario, along with a sheet-covered simulated body on a table. An obituary of Churchill’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Chris D. Stone, who died in the scenario, was read aloud before he emerged to speak directly to his Sailors about drunk driving. “This isn’t to take away from your fun or discourage you from enjoying your POM (Post Overseas Movement) leave,” he said. “We want you to relax after your hard work on deployment – you’ve earned it.” “This is a reminder that we want you to spend that leave having fun with family and friends, not in jail or worse,” he continued. “We want you to come back safe and sound, and that may not happen if you disregard the dangers of alcohol and driving.”

» see NMCP | A7

» see DUI | A7

MCSN Scott Youngblood

INFORMATION SESSIONS HELD FOR PARENTS, STAFF ABOUT WATER TESTING RESULTS By David Todd Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs

NORFOLK

Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk held information sessions for parents and staff members after drinking water at two child development centers tested above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended level for lead, March 29. To date, nearly 300 water outlets have been individually tested at nine facilities onboard Joint Expeditionary Base (JEB) Little Creek-Fort Story and NAVSTA Norfolk, and there are plans to test an additional 14 facilities in Hampton Roads. The information sessions were hosted to provide families and staff members an opportunity to voice their concerns and speak with installation leadership, environmental and medical representatives from Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

The Navy is being very proactive, especially at the CDCs, so we can identify any issues and correct them quickly.” - Capt. David A. Culler, Jr.

(NMCP), and the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center. Additional sessions were also held at the NAVSTA Norfolk Child Development Center (CDC) on Hampton Blvd., April 1 - 2. NAVSTA Norfolk and Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic, under direction of Navy Region Mid-Atlan-

tic, began testing for lead at drinking water outlets inside 23 child care facilities in Hampton Roads, including Child Development Centers, 24/7 Child Care facilities and Youth Centers, in September of 2012. “The safety of our service members, staff members and their children are our top priority,” said Rear Adm. Tim Alexander, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. “We are committed to ensuring that our drinking water meets both the Navy and EPA environmental standards, and we will provide the best possible level of care that our service members and their families deserve.” “There is nothing more important to me than the health and safety of our men and women in uniform, their families and our staff members,” said Capt. David A. Culler, Jr., commanding officer of NAVSTA Norfolk. “The Navy is being very proactive, especially at the CDCs,

USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Public Affairs

NORFOLK

Rear Adm. Ted N. Branch, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic visited the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to present and congratulate the crew on receiving the Naval Air Force Pacific Battle Efficiency (Battle “E”) award, March 25. “This is the result of all the Sailors’ hard work from last deployment – 30,000 flight hours, 881 arrested landings and a great performance during deployment,” said Branch. The Battle “E” is an evaluation of the ship’s abilities in logistics, material, engineering, damage control, navigation and command and con-

JEBLCFS HOSTS EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (JEBLCFS) hosted its 86th annual Easter sunrise service at the historic Cape Henry Memorial Cross on Fort Story, March 31.

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trol, as well as air, surface and subsurface warfare. After deployment, Lincoln changed homeports from Everett, Wash. to Norfolk, Aug. 7, to conduct a four-year-long refueling complex overhaul (RCOH). Branch explained to the crew that RCOH is a very difficult time and it’s not typical duty for Sailors. “This is not what many people join the Navy for,” said Branch. “It is essential to get everything done right and as safely as possible during RCOH so no Sailors get hurt.” Branch reminded the crew to not mix drinking and driving. Also, he said that alcohol abuse and sexual assault go hand-to-hand. “To be successful with sexual assault prevention and response, we

» see WATER | A7

NMCP teaches Colorectal Cancer Awareness

AIRLANT presents Battle ‘E’ to Lincoln Sailors By MC3 Joshua Walters

so we can identify any issues and correct them quickly.” Tests at the NAVSTA Norfolk CDC on Hampton Blvd. resulted in seven of 72 water outlets that tested above the recommended level. Two of these were water fountains accessible to children. The other five areas were sinks used for hand washing, which were immediately secured. The second set of test results were delivered on March 26 and remained above recommended levels. The drinking fountains where children had access were removed from the facility. JEB Fort Story CDC collected 58 total samples, in which five initially tested above the Navy and EPA standards. Four locations were used for storage and one location was a kitchen faucet intended for use by adults to only rinse dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. All

MC3 Benjamin T. Liston Rear Adm. Ted N. Branch, Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic presents the Battle “E” Award to Capt. Karl O. Thomas, commanding officer, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).

need to rely on Sailors to recognize the situation, being ready and having shipmates taking care of shipmates,” he said. Lincoln is scheduled to move to Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipyard for the majority of its RCOH on March 28.

Press Release NMCP Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH

MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD This month, all branches of service recognize the contributions that military children make as their parent or parents serve our nation with special days and events.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL AT ODU Take a trip around the world while learning about the rich multicultural fabric that binds neighbors, co-workers, classmates, friends and acquaintances, April 7.

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» see C1

2013 NMCRS FUND DRIVE The goal of the 2013 NMCRS Fund Drive is to have 100 percent contact with all service members. Deadline is April 12. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/WggMMo.


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