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Public Affairs Officer Howard Sam Samuelson Assistant Public Affairs Officer Courtney Pollock Leading Chief Petty Officer MCC(SW) Ben Farone
Explore Koenji Page 4
Editor MC2 (SW) Michael Doan Skywriter Staff MC2(SW) Michael Doan MC2 Matthew Duncker Host Nation Relations Masako Takakura Sumie Maruyama Ikumi Tanaka
Energy Action Month Page 8
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ON THE COVER C H I E F AVIATION ORDNANCEMAN ALBERTO NIXON HAS HIS COMBINATION COVER PLACED DURING A CHIEF PINNING CEREMONY (PHOTO BY MC2 MICHAEL DOAN)
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Turning the Page
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Left, Sailors attached to Public Wo r k s Utilities Department install a new automatic light system Sept. 6, 1 9 6 3 . B e l o w, p e r s o n n e l f r o m t h e P u b l i c Wo r k s Department perform routine maintenance on the electrical grid Sept. 26.
SEPTEMBER 2017
SEPTEMBER 1963
A look back at Skywriter news from past decades and what’s happening today.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MC2 MATTHEW DUNCKER
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modernization of the 1980s in Japan and oozes the retro charm and character of pre-boom Japan, with most of the houses and shops in the area being small and quaint. Kōenji has become a center for Tokyo’s counter culture. Small restaurants, cafes and “Live Houses” which offer live music, are on almost every street. It is also known for having a young population and as a center for retro culture multiple
ocated west of Shinjuku, nestled in the Suginami ward, is the small district of Kōenji. The community itself was named after the numerous Buddhist temples that populate the area, particularly Kōenji temple in Tokyo. The area was originally built postWorld War two and many of the buildings that surround Kōenji train station have remained virtually untouched to this day. The district has also avoided the major 4
used records, old electronics and several vintage clothing shops in the area. Stepping out of the south exit at Kōenji Station the first sight that can be seen is the PAL Shopping Arcade. PAL is an open air mall of sorts, with the arcade being out on the street but with a glass roof that hangs above it. Lining the street are several clothing, yakitori ya (restaurant) and cafes. South past the market, on the same street, rows of vintage clothing stores, selling hats, dresses and 90’s sportswear can be found. Hidden among these stores are small cafes that can sit two or three people. The signature drink at one cafe being the coffee cone latte, a drink placed inside an ice cream cone. North of the train station is “Look Shopping Street,” which is populated with the majority of the district’s second hand stores. While areas like Shibuya have vintage stores, Look Shopping Street has both the quality and rare clothing items
found there but at a substantially lower price. To the west of the district is an abundance of rare and vintage record shops. Those stores feature music, not only from Japan but around the world. Everything from jazz to pop music can be found here for the casual music fan to the serious collector. In addition, live houses, the Japanese name for music venues, also populate the area. Every sound from alternative rock to free-form jazz can be heard coming out of these tiny hole-inthe-wall joints that have been a part of the community for more than 40 years. Kōenji is a district that, while existing in the present, is steeped in the sights and sounds of yesterday. The stores, restaurants and the locals that populate them exude a laid-back vibe that is contagious in the best way possible. While it’s certainly off-the-beaten path, it’s well worth the trip.
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EVERY SECOND COUNTS NAF ATSUGI OBSERVES FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
STORY BY MC2 MATTHEW DUNCKER
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ctober is Fire Prevention Week run by Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi Fire & Emergency Services. This year’s events will include a fire department vehicle parade through base housing, fire safety displays, pre-school fire education, live-fire demo, and an open house at NAF Atsugi’s fire house starting at 11:00 on Sunday Oct. 8th. “Instead of Fire Prevention Week, which is Oct. 8-14, Commander, Navy Region Japan Fire and Emergency Services holds Fire Prevention Month which affords us more opportunity to reach out to the community with the fire safety message,” said Michael Dionne, NAF Atsugi Fire Prevention Chief. Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. That horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. “President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week to be October 4-10, 1925, beginning a tradition in which the President of the United States signs a proclamation recognizing the occasion,” Dionne said “It is observed on the Sunday through Saturday period in which October 9 falls in commemoration of
the Great Chicago Fire, which began October 8, 1871, and did most of its damage October 9.” Every year there is a new campaign theme and this year it is, “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” It reinforces why everyone needs to have an escape plan in case of a fire in the home or at school. According to the National Fire Prevention Association the main goals of this week are to get families to practice a home fire drill twice a year, conducting one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home and practice using different ways out, teach children how to escape on their own in case a caregiver is not present to help them, having the number of your home clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find, closing doors behind you as you leave to slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire. The week will also include a smoke maze on a trailer modeling as a kitchen that allows NAF Atsugi Fire & Emergency Services members to simulate a real fire and allow spectators to become familiar with the first signs of a fire and show them how to react and escape. For more information please visit the National Prevention Association website at http://www. nfpa.org/ 7
BEHAVIORS
ENERGY ACTION MONTH
STORY AND PHOTO BY MC2 MICHAEL DOAN 8
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n 1991, October was declared Energy Awareness Month and every October since has followed suit with the goal to reduce the consumption of energy and instill good (energy conservation) practices into everyday life. While the official name has changed to Energy Action Month, its goal remains the same.
For some people, leaving the lights on or having the air conditioner a few degrees lower or higher can make a huge difference with little inconvenience. “Turning stuff off when not in use (AC/ Heat), lights, not leaving running water on, recycling properly, and being proactive at work place and at home pays dividends to our way of life and Energy Conservation Program,” said Diwa.
“The goal of Energy Action Month is to provide total awareness to our families, communities, and base on how we conduct ourselves on a daily basis that reflects to energy conservations,” said Chief Construction Electrician Ferdinand Diwa, Requirements Branch Head Public Works Department. “Energy refers to electricity,
Not everyone may realize the energy consumption habits they have acquired but there is a lot of information put out during this month to help identify which ones are bad habits. “Everybody has bad habits,” said Motroni. “What I am trying to instill in people are simple things like you leave a room and make sure the lights are turned off. You keep doing that on a daily basis and it becomes a habit.” These habits will not only help now but also in the future.
IF YOU REACH OUT AND GET PEOPLE TO ALL DO THE SAME THING, YOU WILL SEE A CHANGE.
“You may not want to do it here, but I tell you when I was in the Navy, I lived in base housing and the lights were on as was everything else,” said Motroni. “Then I got out of the military and became a civilian. I was in Washington and I realized I have to pay all these bills. You’re going to pay one of these days for it.”
steam, water, and sewage.” This month brings with it educational opportunities to help instill a more conservative approach to energy consumption with training for the Building Energy Managers (BEM), whose responsibility is to identify wasteful uses of energy and correct those issues, and educating Sailors and their families with good habits that will follow them home and to their next destination.
Even though October was chosen to highlight energy awareness, it is a yearround effort that is required to make a change.
“I believe in behavior modification,” said David Motroni, Installation Energy Manager assigned to Public Works Department Atsugi. “We can do all the projects we want. We can do solar, we can do this and that, but in the end if I put in LED lights and you don’t shut them off. It defeats the purpose. If you reach out and get people to all do the same thing, you will see a change.”
“I always say that October is Energy Action Month but it should be every month,” said Motroni. “We tend to showcase October. We have plenty of venues that we reach out through to promote energy conservation.”
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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH
Domestic Violence is broadly defined to include “all acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence” that may be committed by a family member or intimate partner.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIES: •Helping couples develop healthy relationship skills •Teaching skills that promote respectful, nonviolent relationships through individual, relationship, community, and social level change •Creating protective environments where people work, live, and play •Strengthening economic supports for families to make violence less likely For more information or help contact Fleet and Family Support Center at DSN 264-3628.
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WELCOME ABOARD ATSUGI’S NEWEST CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS
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Fiscal Year 2018 Chiefs ACC STEPHANIE BREAULT EAC RICHARD VILAR LSC JALEKA MUSE YNC CARLO CALIBO ADC NAOTO KERN AZC YEROVI SANGURIMA AEC CODY MARTZ AEC RUSH GOODSPEED PSC HEATHER VEIT AEC BRIAN TULL ATC NICHOLAS SCHWENK AEC MARCUS RINGOR MAC MARK GARCIA YNC AKAIYA MILLER MAC MICHAEL SMITH AEC JAMES LABARO AMC ROBERT WELCH AOC ALBERTO NIXON
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PHOTO BY MC2 MICHAEL DOAN
DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT
Naval Air Facility Atsugi
CENTER FOR NAVAL AVIATION TECHNICAL TRAINING HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DEPARTMENT’S PRIMARY MISSION?
deployed area of responsibilities to include their Major Program Assessment performed by their type wing and their CNATT Det Atsugi’s mission is to develop, deliver, and aviation maintenance inspection performed by Commander support aviation technical training necessary to meet of Naval Air Forces management teams. validated Fleet requirements through a continuum of professional and personal growth for Sailors and Marines. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOU DEPARTMENT Our hope is to provide you with useful information about THAT OTHERS MAY NOT KNOW? our Center, and make it easier for you to understand our CNATT Det Atsugi is the only forward-deployed school business of training enlisted Sailors and Marines who have house, we service seven Mobile Training Team sites to include AIMD Sigonella, AIMD Bahrain, HSC-25 and chosen careers in aviation. AIMD Guam, MALS-36 in Okinawa, MALS-12 and AIMD WHAT PRIMARY SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE AND in Iwakuni, AIMD Misawa, and USS Bonhomme Richard WHO ARE YOUR PRIMARY CUSTOMERS? Sasebo. In the past three years we have done 10 MTT site CNATT Det Atsugi administers fleet refresher and technical visits for our customers training 768 Sailors and Marines training to military and civilian personnel in 2M Electronics saving the commands $1.7 million in travel funds. Repair, Aviation Maintenance Admin/Management and ORM to support Forward Deployed Naval Forces in the 5th, SOMETHING SPECIAL... We are one of three school houses in the CNATT domain 6th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. that have the Virtual Paint System to teach the Paint and HOW DO THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE SUPPORT Final Finish courses here in Atsugi. This enables the students THE COMMAND’S MISSION? to use an interactive paint system used to further develop Our command is designed to advance and sustain naval their painting techniques that they’ll be using on actual aviation warfighting capabilities by increasing readiness. squadron aircraft. The detachment in Atsugi is the only OCONUS location. We provide our customers with 22 Aviation Maintenance HOW CAN YOUR CUSTOMERS REACH YOU? Administration and Management Training classes to include We are reachable by email and phone. Our e-mail is M-ATnine 2M courses. Our customers rely on our training services CNATTQUOTA@FE.NAVY.MIL and phone is 011-81to ensure that their deployed readiness is met as well as their 467-63-3232 or DSN 264-3232. qualifications to get the mission accomplished in the forward 14
COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF VOLUNTEERS WHO OFFERED THEIR TIME TO THE YAMATO STATION CLEANUP DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
CAPT Mack CWO5 Valentine PRC Jaramillo HM1 Articulo AM1 Dionido PS1 Panavaravatn PS2 Parrotina LS1 Poland BU1 Sanchez EO2 Adhikari YN2 Aguila SW2 Cochrane CS2 Corral MC2 Duncker HM2 Duong YN2 Eclarino AM2 Elpido MA2 Flowers IT2 Franco MA2 Hight BU2 Miller LS2 Nunez LS2 Rash LS2 Rielle AM2 Tabije HM2 Sabangan MR2 Taienao YN3 Zertuche Vilma Boman 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. AIMD AIMD promoted four hardworking 18th Fighter Wing based out of and dedicated Sailors to the rank Kadena Air Force Base. of Chief Petty Officer Sept. 15 VFA-115 during the CPO Pinning ceremony at Naval Air Facility Atsugi. The The “Eagles” of Strike Fighter new chiefs are ADC Naoto Kern, Squadron (VFA) 115 departed AEC James Labaro, AOC Alberto Naval Air Facility Atsugi for the Nixon and AEC Marcus Ringor. final time on Sept. 10. The squadron During this month, three Sailors initially arrived at Atsugi in 1973 re-enlisted in the U.S. Navy. The when Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 Sailors were AO1 Carlos Harris, and the USS Midway (CV 41) were AT1 Bryan Hepfer and AT2 Robin selected to form the U.S. Navy’s Andre. AIMD also welcomed a first permanently forward-deployed new Senior Enlisted Leader, AFCM aircraft carrier battle group. The Michael Mumford, and farewell to Eagles departed Atsugi for Naval Air Station Lemoore from 1996 to ASCS Christopher Liam. 2009 in order to transition to the MWR F/A-18C Hornet and later, the F/AOn Saturday, Sept. 16, MWR Atsugi 18E Super Hornet. With a total of held the 2017 Sprint Triathlon. 31 years of history in Atsugi, the All 69 participants, including Eagles will now relocate to MCAS two teams, received event medals Iwakuni as part of the relocation of and towels for their participation; the fixed-wing aircraft of CVW-5. plaques were awarded to the top three finishers in each age division American Red Cross Atsugi and for the first place team. USO On Sept. 26, a team of four active sponsored the event by providing duty American Red Cross Disaster all participants with water and Response volunteers deployed Dominos pizza. Visit the NAF from NAF Atsugi to Puerto Rico MWR Atsugi Facebook page to see to assist with the hurricane relief photos of the event. efforts. The volunteers will be assigned in shelters assisting in VFA-102 mass care during their three-week To start the month of Sept., the VFA- deployment to Puerto Rico. 102 “Diamondbacks” once again set sail on fall patrol to promote VFA-27 stability throughout the region. On Sept. 24, the “Royal Maces” The Diamondbacks started patrol held their change of command by executing Carrier Qualifications aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CQ) operations which comprised (CVN 76). Cmdr. Alex Hampton of day and night traps aboard the relieved Cmdr. Daniel Cochran in USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). an airborne change of command Aircrew then concentrated on air- ceremony at sea in the Western to-surface employment training Pacific. The incoming executive officer is Cmdr. Brent Jaquith. at a U.S.-operated bombing range and also air-to-air training in joint operations with the U.S. Air Force 15