What’s Inside...
Public Affairs Officer Howard Sam Samuelson Assistant Public Affairs Officer Courtney Pollock
PURE PRAXIS
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Leading Chief Petty Officer MCC(SW) Ben Farone Editor MC3 Matthew Duncker Skywriter Staff MC2(SW) Michael Doan MC3 Matthew Duncker
WOMEN IN AVIATION
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Host Nation Relations Masako Takakura Sumie Maruyama Ikumi Tanaka Webmaster Noriko Yamazaki
Facebook.com/naf.atsugi
FM YAMATO
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CHECK OUT OUR NEW CAPTAIN’S CALL VIDEO
Youtube.com/NAFAtsugi
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ON THE COVER FEMALE SAILORS ATTACHED TO HSM-51 POSE IN FRONT A MH-60R FOR A PHOTO FOR THIS MONTH’S COVER(U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MC2 MICHAEL DOAN)
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Turning the Page
Left, an E-2B Hawkeye attached to the “Liberty Bells” of Carrier Airborne Early W a r n i n g S q u a d r o n ( VA W ) 1 1 5 d i s p l a y s t h e s q u a d r o n ’s B a t t l e “ E ” f o r e ff i c i e n c y earned during its 1978 deployment as Part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 aboard the conventional aircraft carrier USS M i d w a y ( C V- 4 1 ) . B e l o w, Av i a t i o n S t r u c t u r a l M e c h a n i c 1 s t C l a s s C h r i s B o u c h e r , f r o m We a t h e r f o r d , Te x a s , a t t a c h e d t o C a r r i e r A i r b o r n e E a r l y W a r n i n g S q u a d r o n ( VA W ) 1 1 5 , r e designates a E-2C Hawkeye 2000 during a c h a n g e o f c o m m a n d c e r e m o n y f o r VA W 11 5 . D u r i n g t h e c e r e m o n y, C m d r. M a t t h e w T . Ve n t i m i g l i a , f r o m G l o u c e s t e r , M a s s . , r e l i e v e d C m d r. D a v i d B . Wa i d e l i c h , a n Atlanta native, as commanding officer o f VA W - 1 1 5 .
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PHOTO BY MC3 MATTHEW C. DUNCKER
MARCH 1979
A look back at Skywriter news from past decades and what’s happening today.
P U R E P R A X I S P L AY S
PHOTOS BY MC2 MICHAEL DOAN
Pure Praxis is a social theater group comprised of actors, facilitators, educators and trained victim advocates contracted by the Department of the N a v y S e x u a l A s s a u l t P r e v e n t i o n a n d R e s p o n s e O ff i c e . T h e g r o u p t r a i n s a n d empowers service members at military installations by focusing on education and prevention of post-assault retaliation and reprisal.
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FLEET MASTER CHIEF WHITMAN V I S I T S N A F A T S U G I
PHOTOS BY MC2 MICHAEL DOAN
U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Suz Whitman speaks to Sailors at an allhands call at Naval Air Facility Atsugi Japan.Whitman visited NAF Atsugi during her tour throughout Japan where she discussed current topics such as Permanent Change of Station moves and other personnel-related issues with Sailors.
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F LY I N G H I G H THE ALL FEMALE FLIGHT CREW OF HSM-51
S T O R Y BY MC2 M I C H A E L DOAN PHOTOS BY NAF ATSUGI PUBLIC AFFAIRS 6
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omen in the U.S. Navy have their own h i s t o r y. From when women were first accepted a s WAV E S , Wo m e n A c c e p t e d f o r Vo l u n t e e r E m e r g e n c y S e r v i c e , i n 1 9 1 7 d u r i n g Wo r l d Wa r I t o p e r f o r m administrative duties and then allowed to serve as nurses in ships a t s e a i n 1 9 4 2 d u r i n g Wo r l d Wa r I I , w o m e n ’s r o l e s h a v e b e e n e x p a n d i n g more and more. At Naval Air Facility Atsugi, the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 5 1 ( H S M - 5 1 ) Wa r l o r d s c o n t i n u e s t h e t r a d i t i o n o f w o m e n ’s c o n t r i b u t i o n s to Naval service by performing a flight with an all female flight crew Feb. 23. “That was the first time I saw a complete crew of females,” said Av i a t i o n M a c h i n i s t ’s M a t e A i r m a n M i c h a y l a M u e l l e r. “ S o , I t a k e i t that something like this is not that common.” From the pilots who fly the helicopters to the mechanics responsible for m a i n t a i n i n g t h e m , H S M - 5 1 ’s f e m a l e Sailors perform the same duties as their male counterparts to complete t h e N a v y ’s m i s s i o n . “I work on the engines of the h e l i c o p t e r, ” said Av i a t i o n M a c h i n i s t ’s M a t e 2 n d C l a s s S o n y a Anderson. “So, I guess you can say that if I don’t fix whatever is wrong with them, they are not going to get off the ground.” At every step of the way on the day of the flight, there were female Sailors demonstrating their abilities. “I was the sensor operator for the
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ADAN MICHAYALA MUELLER PERFORMS MAINTENANCE ON AN MH-60R HELICOPTER
flight,” said Naval Aircrewman Ta c t i c a l - H e l i c o p t e r 1st Class S t e p h a n i e Wi l l i a m s . “ D u r i n g t h e flight, I was responsible for making sure everyone was on the same page and knew where we were going. We h a v e b e e n w a n t i n g t o h a v e a n all female flight crew for a while n o w a n d I a m g l a d w e d i d . We h a d a n e x c e l l e n t c r e w, l i k e L t . B r o g d o n who was the plane captain.” Wi t h t w o s i d e s t o e v e r y c o i n , t h e r e are those who stay on the ground to make sure the birds fly as well as those who fly with the birds. “I was the plane captain when we were flying,” said Lt. Caitlyn M. Brogdon, a pilot at HSM-51. “It was tranquil. Flying with my crew was an awesome experience.” This flight may have provided a 8
LT. CAITLYN M. BROGDON AND AWR1 STEPHANIE WILLIAMS GO OVER A FLIGHT PLAN DURING A PRE-FLIGHT BRIEF
unique experience for junior and senior Sailors alike with a chance to do something that doesn’t happen often. “ To m y k n o w l e d g e , t h e Wa r l o r d s have not done something like this,” said Command Master Chief Jonathon C a r t e r. “ I t w a s t r u l y a n h o n o r t o have great Sailors here that were excited about their experiences, to show that their roles matters.” Carter also noted how important it is to showcase the diversity of all of the Sailors at HSM-51. U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h e r e i s n o t e n o u g h t i m e t o h i g h l i g h t e v e r y S a i l o r, b u t HSM-51 had still a new sense of pride to the squadron. Wi t h t h e f l i g h t c o m p l e t e , H S M - 5 1 has added its own page to the history of women in Naval aviation. LT. J.G. MARIA REGIS PREPARES TO COME ABOARD AN MH-60R HELICOPTER
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HEAD
OF THE
CLASS
STORY BY MC2 MICHAEL DOAN
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Naval Air Facility Atsugi Sailor graduated as honor graduate from the bilateral noncommissioned officer leadership continuum held at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY), Japan. Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Alisha Wright attended the course, which consisted of 12 Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and 12 U.S. Navy Sailors where she graduated at the top of her class. “Honestly we didn’t know there was an honor graduate until the graduation practice,” said Wright. “It was an honor and a surprise.” The criteria for selection of the honor graduate was about who was able to make the most out of the discussions and come up with strong solutions amongst our peers, said Wright. This class provided an opportunity for Sailors and their JMSDF-counterparts to exchange current issues that may be effecting both organizations. “I learned a lot of new things about the JMSDF,” said Wright. “We all naturally think that they don’t deal with all of the issues we do, but in reality they are transitioning just like we are.” One of the topics discussed during the class focused on roles that women play in the
military. “We have come a little farther when it comes to females in the service,” said Wright. “We discovered that some of the solutions we have come up with for our problems might not work due to cultural differences and that they have some of the same programs although they don’t have the same names.” With differences in culture it may be difficult to discuss topics that each group is approaching from a different angle. “I was given excellent advice before the class and that was to be open-minded,” said Wright. “So, I was and I am glad that I was because I learned a lot about both agencies.” This class was designed for members of both services to build a level of comradery and apply the knowledge learned from the discussions toward their careers. “I know I am going to try to teach others what I learned and try to keep that open mind about changes and things like that,” said Wright. After the class concluded, some friendships may have blossomed from the individuals selected to attend the class. “I am grateful that I was selected to attend the class and represent NAF Atsugi and for the amazing people that I met while attending,”
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C O O P E R A T I O N
T H R O U G H C O M M U N I C AT I O N
S TO RY A N D P H O TO B Y M C C B E N FA R O N E
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aval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi Commanding Officer, Capt. John Bushey, along with Sumie Maruyama from Host Nation Relations Office traveled to Yamato City on Feb. 23 to take part in an hour long interview with radio station FM Yamato. The interview, which is a monthly visit for Maruyama, was a first for Bushey and focused on the relationship between the command and our neighbors in the base’s surrounding neighborhoods. After a few questions and answers to introduce Bushey to FM Yamato’s listeners, the segment shifted into community relations, and their importance in building and maintaining ties between the base and our host nation. “Community relations is extremely important. We attempt to partner at every opportunity with the JMSDF, first responders, schools and governments to maintain and build relationships because we are all neighbors and live and work together,” said Bushey. One of the most popular COMREL events for NAF Atsugi community members is the monthly Yamato Station clean up, of which Bushey is a regular volunteer. Another recurring engagement is Terao Elementary
School’s visits to the NEX food court where the students and our service members practice each other’s languages and play games. “This is a great opportunity to help a class of Japanese students who want to learn English. I try to join this volunteer group whenever I can because I truly enjoy interacting with these students. I even played fuku warai which we call “pin the tail on the donkey” as well as folding origami,” said Bushey. The final event talked about was NAFA’s premiere event of the year, the open base Spring Fest. The annual celebration, where the base opens its gates to the community routinely draws more than 60,000 visitors to help kick off the spring season. According to Bushey, the highlight of the event, to no one’s surprise is the aircraft. “This year we’re holding Spring Fest on April 29. It’s a great chance for us to share our base with the community. There are many attractions and events for everyone to enjoy. The main attraction is the U.S. and JMSDF flight line exhibitions as well as a chance to meet U.S. and JMSDF pilots and aircrew… hope to see you there!”
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S A V I N G
T O D A Y
FOR A RICHER TOMORROW
STORY BY MC3 MATTHEW C. DUNCKER
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ebruary 27 - March 4, 2017 is Military Saves Week and during this time the campaign provides an annual opportunity for installations and organizations to promote good savings behavior and a chance for service members and their families to assess their own saving status. Typically hundreds of organizations participate in the week, reaching millions of people. In honor of this week, Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi’s Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) is offering one-on-one counseling sessions and group presentations to help bring financial awareness and accountability to base community members. “This week is devoted to get military service members in the habit of saving money and preparing themselves financially,” said FFSC Personal Financial Advisor Brad Morgan. “This week is especially important for younger service members who are not saving for short term goals like vacations and long term goals such as retirement.” This initiative is part of the Military Saves Campaign, a year-round social marketing campaign to persuade, motivate and encourage Department of Defense employees to save money and reduce consumer debt. The campaign reaches out to service members, spouses, youth and civilian employees. “The goal is to make sure that Sailors and their families are financially secure and not living beyond
their means,” said Morgan. “Especially out here in Japan, we see several service members getting deeper and deeper into debt and not watching their budget and that’s something we would like to see change.” According to Military Saves.org, it’s the individual’s responsibility to maintain financial solvency. As such, it’s in the best interest of the member to learn strategies for saving money and how much is right for them given their life goals. “One of the significant sources of debt for service members is credit cards,” said Morgan. “It’s important that you know how much you’re spending and where your money is going, having a budget in place for spending, paying back debt and saving to help mitigate such financial burdens.” Morgan says that by staying informed about your finances through creating a budget and watching where your money is going can set Sailors up, not just for short term spending goals, but also in the long term for retirement and life after the military. “The question you should always ask is ‘Are you getting your money to work for you?’” said Morgan. “This week is about getting service members to not only ask themselves that question but to find that answer and apply it to their incomes to live a better, more financially secure, life.” 13
PHOTO BY MC2 MICHAEL DOAN
DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT
Naval Air Facility Atsugi
DECA - ATSUGI
How do you describe your departments primary What can you tell us about your group that others mission? may not know? The DeCA mission is to deliver a vital benefit to the military and their families while enhancing quality of life and readiness. We go where the military families go. More than just big savings, the stores offer “a taste of home” in places where no retail grocery chain could afford to run a store. More than half of our stores account for only 20 percent of our sales, because so many stores are in remote
DeCA and its industry partners support military services effort to promote health and wellness, obesity prevention and metabolic health. By supporting the military services’ efforts to promote nutrition that is consistent with the Dietary Guidelines and ChooseMyPlate, DeCA is part of a team effort that encourages military members and their families to make nutritious food choices. When it comes to food, the commissary is a significant presence on a military installation.
or isolated locations, serving a small local community.
How do the services you provide support the command’s mission? Something special... As when families are separated because of the deployment of service members, commissaries help provide peace of mind, a secure shopping environment, and the sense of belonging as they are surrounded by people who care for them and their deployed loved ones. Commissaries provide the typical family with substantial savings, and give the deployed service member a sense of confidence that his or her family is being taken care of by the commissary and the other base operations.
DeCA’s 150th Anniversary is celebrated February through July 1, commissaries worldwide will highlight the long history of the commissary with benefit, great savings and value the benefit has brought to our military community since 1867.
HOW CAN YOUR CUSTOMERS REACH YOU? Call the Atsugi Commissary at DSN 264-3449 or email Zenaida Carnahan zenaida.carnahan@deca. mil 14
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF VOLUNTEERS WHO OFFERED THEIR TIME TO THE YAMATO STATION CLEANUP DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
THE FOLLOWING PARTICIPANTS PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT VOLUNTEER SUPPORT: CAPT JOHN BUSHEY CMC VALISSA TISDALE ADCS PATTERSON AWPC CALHOON PSC CHING AZC SALAS AMC TRUBEE YN1 AVILES CS1 BALAGA HM1 HAMMAR PS1 HOWELL PR1 HURICKS AZ1 MCCLELLAND PS1 PANAVARAVATN AWR1 REHBERG AT1 SEIFERT AM1 THOMPSON YN2 COMPTON AZ2 GARRISON PS2 GO LS1 GUTIERREZ MA2 HILL LS2 HUETTL PR2 JACKMAN CS2 LAFAELE PS1 LATHROP CS2 LASTER PS2 ORTIZ PS2 PARROTINA AE2 SALOME YN2 THRASHER CS2 TOWNS YN3 AGUILA AZ2 BRUMMITT AZ3 CAMPBELL AWR3 CHASE PS3 GONZALEZ YN3 MARROQUIN AD3 MUNN PS3 ORTIZ AM3 SAIZ AWF3 WATSON AMAN DELOSREYES PSSN JOHNSONELLIS YNSN ZERTUCHE SAM SAMUELSON
THANK YOU!
Flight Line News Briefs are compiled monthly news reports from squadrons, tenant commands, departments and command groups onboard Naval Air Facility Atsugi.
VAW-115
FFSC
VAW-115 held its change of command ceremony Feb. 16, in the squadron’s hangar at NAF Atsugi. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Matthew Ventimiglia relieved Cmdr. David Waidelich as commanding officer of VAW115. The ceremony featured guest speaker Capt. Paul Lanzilotta, Executive Officer of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), as well as Commander, Carrier Air Wing Five, Capt. Michael Wosje. The Liberty Bells recently completed their final cruise with CVW-5 and are preparing for their home port change to NAS Point Mugu, Calif. which will conclude 47 continuous years of service as part of Forward Deployed Naval Forces.
Feb. 10, Steve Mourey, FFSC, Family Life Educator, AFSC Contractor held a Parenting 101 class for expecting couples. This was a three-hour course with topics ranging from bathing and burping your child to changing diapers. By the end of the class, attendees felt better prepared for the new challenge ahead.
AIMD
The Dambusters, completed a Material Condition Inspection on Feb. 8. Inspectors selected aircraft to evaluate for compliance with Commander Naval Air Force guidelines. VFA-195 earned outstanding scores in all focus areas resulting in zero critical hits and an overall passing score.
AIMD Atsugi hosted an African American and Black Heritage day Feb.23. All AIMD Sailors, including Chiefs and Officers enjoyed a sampling of various foods at a lunch time potluck. This event was sponsored by the AIMD Atsugi Diversity Team which encouraged Sailors to bring various dishes pertaining to the occasion. It celebrated Black History Month and the heritage of US Armed Forces’ African American community. A variety of speakers included AIMD OIC, Cmdr. Reams as well as the Diversity Team Presidents, AD1 Saint-Louis and AS1 Beltran. 15
SLES Department of Defense Education Activity Pacific announced that Shirley Lanham Elementary School will remain open as Carrier Air Wing Five relocates and the base population decreases.
VFA-195
MWR The New Money Twinz put on a show Feb. 18 at Trilogy. Their performance began by singing to two ladies from the audience, whose birthdays were this month. The R&B/hip-hop duo performed hit songs such as “All King” and “Miss New Money” in front of guests and interacted with the audience during the show.