What’s Inside...
Public Affairs Officer Howard Sam Samuelson Leading Petty Officer MC1(SW/AW) Barry Riley
NEO Night Out
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Cleanup Time
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Editor MC3 Jason C. Bawgus Skywriter Staff MC1(SW/AW) Barry Riley MC3 Ryan G. Greene MC3 Jason C. Bawgus MCSN Matthew Duncker Host Nation Relations Masako Takakura Sumie Maruyama Ikumi Tanaka Webmaster Noriko Yamazaki
Moonlighting in the Military
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HSC 25 Training around Atsugi
Facebook.com/naf.atsugi Youtube.com/NAFAtsugi
@NAFAtsugiJP
ONLINE
ON THE COVER NAVAL Have you been curious about why their are alway helicopters in the air ? Come have a look at some of the training that HSC 25 recently conducted and more on our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/NAFAtsugi or by using the QR code. 2
AIRCREWMAN 3RD CLASS (HELICOPTER) TUCKER STURDEVANT, ASSIGNED TO HELICOPTER SEA COMBAT (HSC) SQUADRON 25, PRACTICES LOWERING A RESCUE HOOK DURING AN IN-FLIGHT TRAINING SCENARIO AT CAMP KASTNER. (PHOTO BY MC3 RYAN G. GREENE)
Turning the Page
A look back at Skywriter news from past decades and what’s happening today.
PHOTO BY MC1 BARRY RILEY
Above is a photo of NAF Atsugi from the 1950’s after the Seabees had reconstructed the airfield to prepare if for re-opening as Naval Air Station Atsugi. Below is a photo taken in December 2015 showing the airfield and the surrounding communities.
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NAF ATSUGI INSTALLATION GOALS 2016
TEAMWORK
- Promote peer-to-peer lateral communications between departments and leaders at all levels for unity of purpose and mutually supportive efforts. - Focus on reinvigoration Emergency Management (EM) and individual department support to EM. - Develop a robust Integrated Training Team operation in concert with the Anti terrorism Training Team. This includes increased participation by tenant commands in drills, exercises, and working groups for contingencies when the installation is the supported command. - Invite JMSDF to participate in all organic training drills to improve communication, integration, coordination, execution, and situational awareness.
CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE
- Ensure quality of life (QOL) and quality of service (QOS) remain central considerations in all relationships with tenants, military and civilian Sailors, and families - Support the NAFA Community through aggressive communication and public affairs efforts and promotion of the Family Readiness Program to tune existing support programs and develop new programs to meet community needs - Promote development of communitybuilding relationships with surrounding host nation communities.
TRAINING & PROFESSIONAL NAF ATSUGI GOALS Build a road-map for NAFA’s future DEVELOPMENT success to ensure:
Execute quarterly training that builds upon - Mission accomplishment is not degraded during the execution of DPRI actions. monthly, weekly, and daily drills to:
- QOL and QOS remain Priorities when reshaping the installation for post DPRI operations. - Responsible and accountable care and maintenance of facilities.
- Reinvigorate our EM program and train watch standers. - Challenge first responders. - Enhance base wide Response.
Promote and support workforce professional development:
- Achieve a 10% increase in advancement results. - Emphasize USCS, MLC and IHA training. - Energize Khaki leadership for their own professional growth. 4
PHOTO BY MC1(SW/AW) BARRY RILEY
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PHOTO BY MC3 JASON BAWGUS
EXERCISE PREPS LOCAL FAMILIES FOR EMERGENCY EVACUATION Story by howard sAM SAMUELSON Naval Air FAcility Atusgi Public Affairs OFFICER If Greg Wise could leverage his last name, he would be more than happy to school every family onboard Naval Air Facility Atsugi that, when it comes to the “fight or flight” decisions, in the face of mass evacuation, the answser is “flight.” Wise is NAF Atsugi’s Emergency Management Manager. While relatively new to the command, he has a lengthy pedigree in emergency coordination, including Non-combatant Evacuation Operations. “My number 1, and this command’s number 1 focus, is a 100 percent resilient Atsugi community,” Wise said. “By resilient, we mean preparing every individual on this base, leadership, Sailors and families to be ready for catastrophe. “Whether it is a power failure, earthquake, volcano activity or even human act of war, we all need to have the confidence that our residents and families are ready. Any of these conditions can result in separation, displacement and in severe cases – evacuation.” Wise sees his primary responsibility to unveil and lay bare the mystery and complexities of mass evacuation. To that end, he spearheaded two “Non-combatant Evacuation Operation” (NEO) exercises to lay a foundation of understanding and preparedness in the event disaster occurs. The first, held one evening prior to the holidays (aptly called “NEO Night Out”) , earned attention from families interested in the evacuation process. Most recently, a NEO January 26, 27 and 28, was attended by even more residents and continued to build residential
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understanding of the need for preparedness. “Mass evacuations are a complex process, but it starts with individual readiness,” Wise said. “It is paramount that everyone assembles their primary and always-updated documents for themselves, their families and – yes – their pets in a single location. Not just passports. We’re talking Census cards, NEO cards, pay and allowance, travel, personal property and repatriation documents – prepared well in advance and always updated to make the evacuation process as smooth and rapid as possible.” Everyone can visit the NAF Atsugi Emergency Management web page for a complete list of documents and preparations necessary to remain prepared. http:// www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrj/installations/naf_ atsugi.html Click on “Emergency Management: under Operations and Management at the top of the page “If the Department of State orders an evacuation, time will be short,” Wise said. “Some folks may remember the Great Japan Earthquake and tsunami of March 2011. Once Fukushima was inundated, evacuations from the Kanto Plain were directed very rapidly. A lot of families were caught flat-footed. We want to stamp that out, so to speak.” Is there anything folks can do now? “Absolutely!” Wise said. “Start now by assembling a ‘ready kit’ in your home; you can get a list of suggested items on our web site. Then – at the same time – not later, make sure all your documents are assembled, up-to-date and in order. Don’t wait.”
PHOTO BY MCSN MATTHEW DUNCKER
DOING OUR PART LOCAL SAILORS JOIN FENCE LINE CLEANUP
Story By MCSN MATTHEW DUNCKER Naval Air FAcility Atusgi Public Affairs They wake up early on Thursday morning, when most people are still sleeping, braving the cold and boarding a bus to go just outside of Naval Air Facility Atsugi. Upon reaching their destination they are greeted by local citizens and begin picking up brooms and shovels, sweeping up leaves and picking up trash as a part of the fence line cleanup. This is not part of their daily duties, they are not paid for this. Sailors attached to Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi volunteer their personal time to clean up the base’s fence line with local citizen groups because it builds strong community relations in a host nation and demonstrating commitment to for where we live and work. “It’s our base and we are responsible to maintain the outside as well as the inside of it,” said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Jermaine Young, attached to Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training. “It’s just the right thing to do by helping cleanup the fence line.” The fence line cleanup started when NAF Atsugi Sailors began participating in the cleanup efforts at Yamato Station with local citizen groups “Let’s Learn from Clean-up, Yamato” and “Make Japan Beautiful” in August 2012. “It’s about keeping good community relations with local citizens outside the base,” said Young. “We live here as well and somebody has to clean this up. Why not us?” In November 2012, “Make Japan Beautiful” organized other cleanup efforts for NAF Atsugi as a show of appreciation to the Sailors who participated at Yamato Station. The first Thursday of every month, local volunteers would pick up trash and pull weeds from the fence line outside of the base. “So many Sailors supported and helped us with cleaning up Yamato station and we wanted to show our respect and appreciation for that,” said Tamiharu Kamei, a representative for Make Japan Beautiful. “We are unable to get on the base but we are certainly able to cleanup outside at the fence line.” Also, Sailors join in on the fence line cleaning efforts because it is a volunteer activity that is worth the time and effort put into it. “I like being able to join in on volunteer efforts like this,” said Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Crystal Garretson, attached to Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department Atsugi. “When my command put out that we had this opportunity to help, I decided it was something worth doing.” 7
PHOTO BY MC3 NATHAN BURKE
WORLD FAMOUS
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HSC-12 GOLDEN FALCONS STORY BY MC3
RYA N G . G R E E N E
Each fall, after the return of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) carrier strike group, Sailors assigned to the Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) 12 Detachment One Golden Falcons, are rotated from service aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) back to the main body of the squadron at Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi with a new team taking over in preparation for the Blue Ridge’s deployment cycle. The detachment consists of 26 Sailors, each hand-selected through a combination of timing, qualifications and individual readiness. HSC-12 Detachment One Officer-In-Charge Lt. Cmdr. Lora Gorsky has already begun training with pilots, aircrewmen and maintainers to sustain the team’s standard for excellence. “We’re a training team when not deployed on the Blue Ridge,” Gorsky says. “We spend a considerable amount of time training in our Sikorsky MH-60S helicopters over both open ocean and around Mount 9
PHOTO BY MC2 PAOLO BAYAS
Fuji. We practice everything from special operation’s insertions to rescue missions. We never know what we might get called to do, so it will pay dividends down the road to prepare.” Detachment One is the only group of HSC-12 Sailors separated from the supporting command based at NAF Atsugi. Lt. Moria Molloy, a pilot who recently rotated from Detachment One, added that with the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) returning the squadron had an uptick in the number of distinguished visitors they’ve flown. “When we’re on Detachment One our whole mission is to assist Commander, 7th Fleet Vice Adm. Aucoin and any transportation or logistical flights,” said off-coming Detachment One Operations Officer Lt. Matt Stafford. “We’re responsible for the safe transfer of passengers and logistics moving to and from the admiral’s ship.” Deploying as a subset of the command, everyone gets to know each other’s roles and personalities. The whole detachment becomes a tighter knit team; working more on things that weren’t their typical responsibilities and learning a lot about the roles each person had to play in the larger mission. Everything became an exercise in family activities, Stafford added. “Easily the best part of the cruise was the small crew,” Molloy said. “Having the time to get to know everyone from the other pilots to the aircrewmen and the maintainers was a privilege that is not normal among the carrier-based squadrons. Working in such a small team, it really opened us to learning one another’s jobs and responsibilities and allowed us to ask questions and
to get into the nuts and bolts of how our team operates.” This deep personal connection ran both ways. Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Paul Nutting said there were only a handful crewman and maintainers, so they had a lot of opportunity to cross from one job into another and to learn how each person works and how they could best complement one another’s skill sets. “It was a great experience to learn how we could work more with less,” Nutting added. “Things weren’t always a cake walk. During the times when operational tempo was high, we all banded together to help do the jobs that our shipmates needed help getting done so that none of us was put above or ahead of one another. It was a feeling of dedication to something greater than us that I genuinely hope the next detachment gets to experience.” Gorsky feels that managing a whole detachment can be daunting at times. But, with her team of highly motivated Sailors, they’ll continue to uphold the legacy of professionalism and distinction. “I know that we have a great team and we’re all looking forward to the challenge set before us,” Gorsky says. “I know our team will continue the streak of excellence that HSC 12 has come to be known for.” “Already, the power that a small and dedicated team can put into action is being felt by the detachment, these Sailors are operating forward and doing the most the with bare minimum and daily and without fail they’re providing the highest level of professionalism and customer service,” said on-coming Operations Officer Lt. Thomas Netherton. 10
PHOTO BY MC3 NATHAN BURKE
PHOTO BY MC3 LIZ DUNAGAN
11 PHOTO BY MC2 PAOLO BAYAS
PHOTO BY MC3 LIZ DUNAGAN
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Feature
Moonlighting in the Military Story and Photo by MC3 Jason C. Bawgus There was once a time when holding a second job was something that would have to be in secret, most employers wanted their employees to be solely dedicated to their company. The Navy was no different. This was referred to as moonlighting, which is paid work that one does outside of their normal job. There are some stipulations to the deal though, the job has to be viewed in a positive light and not bring any negative attention to the Navy. Also Sailors should know that if there chain of command believes that the time and pressure of the job is affecting performance the privilege of having a second job can be taken. There are a few Sailors here at Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi who are currently taking advantage of this opportunity. Master at Arms 3rd Class Martin, assigned to Naval Security Force Atsugi, spends his free time as a DJ at the installation’s club and special events. “I started out around base just playing at small events for different organizations and when more people started asking me to do it. I figured why not make a few dollars getting to do something that I enjoy,” said Fowler. “There was obviously some startup cost, turn tables and speakers aren’t cheap and the more you progress as a DJ you find that maybe what you are currently using is
actually holding you back.” Not every job out there requires your own equipment or for you to be as enterprising as Fowler though. There are plenty of jobs on base that allow for military members to come during there off time and work for them. Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Dossett, assigned to Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi’s Far East Café, is an example of this, after hours he changes his uniform from Navy blue to Navy Exchange blue. “I knew that there was a better way to spend my free time then hanging around my room all day so I went out and found a job on base that would work with my schedule and be able to flex on those days where I just have to stay at work,” said Dossett “It’s a great way to start putting a little bit of money back. It’s hard to spend money when you are working.” One of the obvious benefits about working on base is knowing that the employer obviously knows that you have another job that takes precedence over theirs. “They have always been really understanding that my Navy job come first,” said Dossett. “Somedays it can get a little stressful knowing that I have to leave one job and roll right into another but to me it’s worth knowing that I am doing things to set myself up financially in the long run.”
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PHOTO BY MC3 JASON BAWGUS
DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT
Naval Air Facility Atsugi
Command Religious Programs
Programs Provision of Divine Worship Services Advisement on issues on Ethics, Morale and Morality that affect mission Readiness.
How do you describe your department’s primary mission?
To assist in the free exercise of religion through the care, facilitation, advisement, and provision of ministry to the sailors, families, tenant commands, and contractors assigned or associated with Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan.
What can you tell us about your department/group that others may not know? Our programs are involvement centric with many volunteer opportunities to include the following; Vacation Bible School, Youth Ministry, Children’s Church, Sound & Lighting, Drama, Praise Teams, Ushers, Chapel Councils, Intercessory Prayer, Men’s Ministry, and Women of the Chapel.
How do the services you provide support the command’s mission?
Our policy is that religious ministry in the Navy provides for the free exercise of religion; attending to the sacred, spiritual, and moral aspects of life; and serves to enhance the resilience of Service members, civilians and their families. Religious ministry is entrusted to Navy chaplains and delivered under the authority of commanders and commanding officers. The chaplain’s office serves to develop and strengthen the moral and spiritual wellbeing of the personnel assigned to the command. The Command Religious Program (CRP) is each command’s total collection of religious ministry and associated activities. All religious ministry within the command is incorporated into the CRP, and Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists, assist commanders in the facilitation of this responsibility. By instruction OPNAV 1730.1E, “Uniformed chaplains of the Military Departments are the only chaplains authorized to deliver religious ministry in CRPs.”
Something special...
Did you know that the chaplains serving NAF Atsugi have a combined ministry experience base of over 80 years?
HOW CAN YOUR CUSTOMERS REACH YOU? DSN: 264-3202 COM: 0467-63-3202
What primary services do you provide and who are your primary customers? Pastoral Care, to include 100% Confidential Communication Counseling - Individual, Relationship, and Marriage Facilitation of Religious Education Seasonal & Special
“This month’s SkyWriter profiles NAF Atsugi’s Command Religious Programs (CPR). Our command chaplains and their staff members provide year-round, 24-7 support to the spiritual health and needs of our community. Members of the CRP team are instrumental during times of crisis when counseling and support are essential. The guidance, wisdom, counsel, and comfort provided by the worldly, experienced and welcoming CPR team provides a perspective important to commanders as well as to individuals and families.”
Capt. John F. Bushey
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CO, NAF Atsugi
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF VOLUNTEERS WHO OFFERED THEIR TIME TO CLEAN THE FENCE LINE DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY.
Flight Line News Briefs are compiled monthly news reports from squadrons, tenant commands, departments and command groups onboard Naval Air Facility Atsugi.
THE VOLUNTEER GROUP THIS MONTH WAS GREATER THAN THE SPACE AVAILABLE TO LIST BY NAME. THE FOLLOWING COMMANDS PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT VOLUNTEER SUPPORT:
NAF Atsugi, Squadrons AIMD joins Diversity Team welcome cast of “Empire” for Pearl Harbor Day
AIMD 5 SAILORS
Sailors at Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Five One (HSM51) and Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA)195 and 115 were treated to a visit by cast members of the popular Fox Entertainment television drama “Empire.” The cast visited various U.S. military commands on the Kanto Plain, hosted by the USO. Cast members Tarij Henson, Jussie Smollett and Bryshere Gray met with Sailors, signed autographs and posed for pictures. During an interview, each of the cast members expressed their appreciation for U.S. military members serving overseas.
ASD 3 SAILORS CNATT 4 SAILORS CVW-5 3 SAILORS VRC-30 5 SAILORS HSM-77 12 SAILORS NAFA 2 SAILORS NAVSUP FLC 1 SAILORS PUBLIC WORKS 3 SAILOR BHC 1 SAILOR
THANK YOU!
- Compiled from reports
AIMD Atsugi Sailors joined the Command Diversity team for the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day held December, 17th, 2015. The day set aside to remember and honor those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. More than 3,500 Americans lost their lives or were wounded. On August 23, 1994 the United States Congress designated December 7, of each year, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. - ADC Guy “JD” Dickantone
HSC-25 captures birdseye view of NAFA
Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 (HSC-25) flew to new heights last month in efforts to capture Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron the latest “birds-eye” view of both 12 (HSC-12) welcomed Cmdr. Tre NAF Atsugi and Commander, Fleet McQueen as its new commanding Activities Yokosuka. officer during a ceremony Thursday, As part of the photo capture, the Dec. 17. McQueen previously aircraft ascended to altitudes high served as HSC-12’s executive enough to capture the full perimeter officer. McQueen relieved Cmdr. of the base; an overhead that hasn’t Jason Young who next report to been captured since at least 2006. Naval War College in Newport, The new image will help illustrate R.I. HSC-12 also welcomed a command and region presentations new executive officer, Cmdr. Van and eventually adorn the halls of Commander, Naval Forces Japan Buskirk. headquarters. - LTJG Grant Thorne - HSC-25 report
HSC-12 welcomes new CO
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