August 13, 2021
Vol. 38 No. 15
CYP: SUPPORTING THE MISSION PAGES 6 & 7
VP-40 AIDS FIREFIGHTING IN GREECE NAVSUP FLCSI HOSTS CHANGE OF COMMAND
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Direct Line Lt. Cmdr. Kevin W. Jack, Officer in Charge of AIMD Sigonella
G
reetings! I am Lt. Cmdr. Kevin W. Jack, officer in charge of Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Detachment (AIMD) Sigonella. I started my career with my oath of enlistment in March 1999 and I have since served tours at Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 45, Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC), Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41, Patron Squadron (VP) 16, and Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE). I am proud and excited to join the Naval Air Station Sigonella family as we provide necessary support to the Navy and DoD operations in this region of the world. Located on NAS II, AIMD can be found in the collection of buildings that are located between the terminal and the (now old) patrol squadron hangar. Now, you may be asking yourself, “What does ‘intermediate maintenance’ even mean?” Simply put, this category of maintenance is more in-depth and robust than what our shipmates in the squadrons can accomplish, but is less complex than what the artisans at the depots or aircraft manufacturers can achieve. The squadron can replace tires, radios, weapons delivery systems and survival equipment, but AIMD can repair them all and return them faster and cheaper than having the Navy purchase newly manufactured items. AIMD Sigonella is here to support the assigned and transient aircraft across six operational location with the parts, support equipment, training and maintenance knowledge to keep any aircraft from any service in the fight! Here onboard NAS Sigonella, we have some of the best maintainers and troubleshooters in the fleet working on the flight line. The depth and scope in the capabilities of my Sailors will astound you: • Non-destructive inspectors who have a plethora of methods for looking through material to find cracks and impurities. This prevents us from having to cut into aircraft parts to measure their integrity. • My tire shop spends their days tirelessly rebuilding tires. Their focus is the P-8A Poseidon, the Boeing 737 offshoot you likely see taking off all day long. • The metrology and calibration laboratory ensures the accuracy of high-fidelity instrumentation used for aircraft maintenance. • A small team of elite aviation ordnancemen who test and repair bomb racks and other weapon delivery systems. • Aviation machinist’s mates expertly repair propellers and engines. • Aviation support equipmentmen maintain a huge array of ground support equipment across all six operational locations within our area of responsibility! • Aircrew survival equipmentmen test, repair, and
ensure all life support equipment work within the aircraft. • We have new liquid oxygen (LOX) and nitrogen production equipment at our LOX farm. Liquid oxygen is a servicing requirement for many aircraft systems, and my team of subject matter experts are already providing flight line support. • None of this would be possible without the support of my administration team, the material control team, and the production staff. Every Sailor is doing their part to support the mission! AIMD Sigonella is continually reviewing where we need to focus to support our fellow warfighters. We work closely with program offices to gain new technologies and capabilities to ensure that stationed and transient squadrons in our area of operation can stay operational. Yes, we normally focus on naval aircraft, but we have a robust capability that the all branches of the military could benefit from. On a personal note, this is my first overseas tour. I have been a West Coast Sailor the majority of my career, and I am overjoyed to be here in Italy! My family and I have already made so many friends, and we are excited to immerse ourselves in the Sicilian culture and tour the historic sites around Europe. Everyone has been so helpful, and I am looking forward to working with all of you.
August 13, 2021
Interactive Customer Evaluation Comments Regarding NAS I Pool Entrance: Why is there no open entrance into the food court from the NAS I pool area? Families should not have to completely leave the facilities in order to grab food or beverages for their families when there are SEVERAL points of entry that are consistently closed for no foreseeable reason. There is no longer construction in the area of the food court entrance so please reopen the facilities. Response: Thank you for your question regarding the NAS I pool. At the beginning of the summer, the door leading to Pizza Hut was left locked to ensure only one point of entry to the pool due to the COVID19-related capacity limitations. In addition, we needed to keep the area secure during pool slide construction. We appreciate your feedback, and we have reopened those doors during pool hours. Comment Regarding NAS II ECP: NAS 2 front entrance and the trucks that are parked in the southbound stop sign. The trucks are parked on the south side entrance to NAS 2, which has caused on multiple occasions the inability to see on coming traffic coming from the west side annex gate. This blockage impairs drivers ability to properly assess and see what/if there are vehicles coming. Having to inch midway past the stop sign to visibly see traffic is not only a danger to the driver but their passengers as well. This area should be assessed to either input additional stop signs for the east and west on flow of traffic or in put speed bumps to slow the traffic flow. Response: Thank you for this comment. We are aware of the difficulty posed by the trucks parking outside of the entrance to NAS II. We recently opened the brand new Visitor Control Center that allows for trucks to park in a safer place outside of the main roads, but educating drivers about this new traffic pattern is an ongoing process. Security
is working to help direct trucks into the new waiting area, and we are exploring other options for improving the safety of that intersection. In the meantime, we urge all drivers to use the utmost care and caution when entering and exiting NAS II. Comment Regarding NAS I Traffic We received some comments regarding morning gate traffic at NAS I. Response: Switching to the DBIDS system for base access involved a period of adjustment, and occasional long waits at Entry Control Points were part of that process. As time has gone by, these delays have decreased, and the ECP sentries have had more training that has also improved the process. In addition, during the summer the number of sentries normally decreases in response to the reduced traffic thanks to school being out of session. In response to this issue, we have added another sentry in the mornings to help improve traffic flow. We are grateful to everyone for sticking with us as we make our base more secure, and we will continue to provide forceful backup to ensure we get people on base in a timely manner.
Bravo Zulu
BZ to MWR: Bz to Kristen and MWR Fitness for softball!! We are glad sports are back!! BZ to FFSC: Just wanted to give a huge shoutout to the Sigonella SARC and Victim Advocate, Shannon and AJ. We got to meet them during class as they came in while still on leave just to meet us. They seem really cool, had high energy and passion and I can’t wait to work with them. Really wish they were also teaching the class (sailors in my command said AJ would be teaching, but then Shannon said she was on leave). Have heard nothing but positive things about the SAPR program here and excited to be a part of it.
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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
Commanding Officer Capt. Kevin Pickard Executive Officer Cmdr. Ronald Cappellini Command Master Chief CMDCM Anna Wood EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Drake Greer drake.greer@eu.navy.mil Assistant Public Affairs Officer Megan Mills megan.mills@eu.navy.mil Public Affairs Leading Petty Officer MC1 Kegan Kay kegan.kay@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writers \ Photographers MC2 Joshua Coté joshua.m.cote@eu.navy.mil MCSN Triniti Lersch triniti.lersch@eu.navy.mil CONTACT US
Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily thesig@eu.navy.mil DSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440 PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001
This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments, divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs Office via thesig@eu.navy.mil. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers.
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Name: Angela Del Popolo Command: RLSO EURAFSWA Department: Det. Sigonella By MCSN Triniti Lersch, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
ngela Del Popolo loves languages, which helps in A her job as a language specialist for the U.S. Region Legal Service Office Europe, Africa, and Central (RLSO EURAFSWA) Detachment Sigonella. A native of Catania, Sicily, Del Popolo’s linguistic affinity began at a very young age. “I was very little, only 3 years old, when I started showing interest in English,” she said. “My elder cousins were starting 6th grade, and I could read at the time because I was very interested in learning, so I started repeating the English words I heard from them to my parents. They provided support for me, and I learned Italian and English almost at the same time.” She didn’t stop with just English, though. “I can speak Italian, English, Spanish, French,” said Del Popolo. “I used to speak Chinese too, but after ten years without using it… It’s one of those languages you need to cultivate!” Del Popolo is now a professional conference interpreter and translator who has worked with RLSO EURAFSWA Detachment Sigonella since Sept. 1, 2020. “That’s the job of my dreams,” said Del Popolo. “This is what I wanted to do since I was very little.” Del Popolo’s workdays involve a variety of tasks. She is the liaison between RLSO EURAFSWA Detachment Sigonella and the Italian immigration office, and she helps community members obtain their soggiorno permit, which is a necessary document for foreigners living in Italy. She also supports the base command and Naval Air Station Sigonella Commanding Officer Capt.
Pickard in any translation needs. Sometimes, that means staying in the office until the job is done. “If at 4:30 I’m not finished with my article, I will work on it until it is finished because it must be completed,” said Del Popolo. “If it must be done, it means there is a real need.” “It’s very busy,” she added. “You don’t get bored!” In her short time in Sigonella, Del Popolo has made a strong impression on her supervisors. “Angela stands out due to her unrelenting work ethic, dedication to her craft as a translator, and teamfirst attitude,” said Lt. Joseph Vellon, Judge Advocate General at RLSO EURAFSWA Detachment Sigonella. “She’s done an outstanding job for us during the last year, and we wish there was a way to keep her onboard. She definitely deserves the spotlight and to be recognized for her work!” Cmdr. Gregory Manz agrees. “Angela was instrumental earlier this year in helping NASSIG successfully prevent a local judicial officer from conducting an improper seizure of goods from the Navy Exchange and Commissary,” he said. “In doing so, she helped the United States protect its sovereign interests and directly contributed to the uninterrupted operations of these key facilities.” Even with the rigorous demands of her job, Del Popolo has continued with her language studies. “My motto is you never end learning, up to the last minute of your life, and you must be grateful for that when you have a chance,” she said.
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VP-40 Aids Firefighting Efforts in Greece By Lt. Eric Maynard, VP-40
n the morning of August 5, 2021 the “Fighting Marlins” O of Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 received the call to fly their P-8A Poseidon aircraft over Greece to aid in the firefighting
efforts throughout the country. VP-40 searched for wildfires and communicated their locations to Greece along with other pertinent information that could help firefighters. The squadron flew 25 total flight hours to locate nearly 20 wildfires that covered the country. Providing support for firefighting is not a normal mission for the P-8, but the aircraft does have capabilities that are useful in firefighting efforts. The P-8 can carry the fuel necessary to fly for several hours, which allowed the mission crews to scan the whole country for wildfires and provide a few locations that were unknown to the Greek firefighters. In two of the missions, crews orbited above the island Evia, which was hit hard by the blazes. They tracked the movement of the island’s multiple fires and passed that information along so that firefighters could focus their efforts as necessary. The use of the infrared (IR) camera on the aircraft provided imagery
of “hot spots,” which made tracking easier since the IR was unaffected by the dense smoke that blanketed the ground. “After almost 17 years in the Navy with deployments to Iraq, 5th, 6th and 7th Fleets, I would have to say working with Greece to save lives, as well as the people’s livelihood and preserve the vast amount of history in the country, was the pinnacle of my career,” said U.S. Navy Naval Aircrewman (Operator) 1st Class Kenny Hauck, one of the operators on the flights. “Knowing we have fires back home that are causing the same kind of destruction in their wake, it was amazing to be able to coordinate and work together. I just hope we were able to help the cause and save what we all hold so close to our hearts.” These flights were a testament to the willingness of the United States to provide aid whenever and wherever possible. The coordination between the U.S., Greece and Italy made it possible for VP-40 to answer the call and rise to the challenge. For more news and updates from VP-40, please follow the VP-40 Fighting Marlins (Official) Facebook page.
VP-40 Awarded for COMRELs
n Aug. 7, the City of Furci Siculo in the Messina O province hosted an appreciation ceremony to thank Sigonella Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 volunteers who
supported a beach cleanup in the city on June 28. The event also included a panel on the history of Operation Husky, the successful World War II military campaign that resulted in the liberation of Sicily from Nazi-Fascist regime. Panelists included college medical professors Cristina Tornali and Francesca Vardeu, Sicily’s and Sardinia’s regional delegates of the Academy of Sanitary Arts, and professor Ignazio Vecchio who represented the Italian Society of the History of Medicine. They also elaborated on military medicine during the war and on the longstanding tie of brotherhood and friendship between Italy and the United States, Furci Siculo Mayor Matteo Francilia, who introduced the guests and presented the award to the Navy delegation, said, “I’m very grateful to the Sigonella volunteers who do their best every year to support our activities of protection (Photo courtesy of Town of Furci Siculo Press Office) and preservation of the marine environment through their Community Relations program.” Greece Honorary Consul Arturo Bizzarro and Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias Silvio Aliffi also attended the event. Aliffi reiterated that there are many bonds of friendship that connect the two countries in different ways as we share the mutual commitment to democracy.
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The Signature
CYP: Supporting the Mission Story by Megan Mills, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs; Photos courtesy of Sigonella Children and Youth Programs
aking care of the families onboard NAS Sigonella T is an integral part of the mission, and the dedicated employees of the Children and Youth Programs (CYP) work
hard day in and day out to keep kids safe, happy and healthy. People who work at the Child Development Center (CDC), School Age Care (SAC), and Teen Center come to their positions in a few different ways. Some employees, known as global hires, applied for a job with CYP and move their families to Sicily with them. Others employees, known as local hires, are spouses or dependents of people already stationed here who are looking for a career they can take from base to base. “The Employee Transfer Program (ETP) ensures that direct care staff have a job no matter the Navy base they move too,” said Sigonella’s CYP Director Adam D’Amico. “This way, they can continue their career uninterrupted, and will always have a job, regardless of open positions at the next installation.” The ETP is not just for those moving with active duty personnel. “This is also great for those families that either retire or get out of the military,” said D’Amico. “The transfer program is not necessarily linked to a permanent change of station. If you decided that you wanted to move to Virginia Beach, there are several installations that you could transfer to, no problem.” While many people bring a love of children and education to their jobs, that’s not all it takes to work at CYP. There
are several training requirements, such as an in-depth module-training program created in partnership with Ohio State University. Each program is designed around a staff member’s specific position, such as working with infants, preschoolers or school-aged children. There are even modules for managers and trainers. More information on the module program can be found at https://www.virtuallabschool.org/. Regardless of their positions, all staff have comprehensive individual development plans for various training that they complete throughout their career. Luckily, CYP does not stop there. If you are interested in obtaining a credential such as the Child Development Associate (CDA) or Military School Age (MSA), Navy CYP will pay for the cost to get these certifications. Additionally, full-time eligible staff can apply for tuition reimbursement for college credits relating to their position. D’Amico took advantage of these opportunities himself. “I just recently utilized this to complete my master’s in education this past February,” he said. Although COVID-19 mitigation measures have changed some of the policies and regulations at the CDC and SAC and have required the closure of the Teen Center, what hasn’t changed is the dedication and care these employees show to the children and the mission. With that in mind, let’s take a look at just two of the outstanding teachers at Sigonella’s CYP!
August 13, 2021
Kenya Woods CDC Primary teacher What’s a typical workday like? I come in every day at 6:30 and clean and sanitize the classroom tables and shelves. Then I set up several choices of activities for the children to work on skills like fine motor, gross motor, problem solving, cause and effect, etc. I make sure everything is ready before 7 a.m. when the building opens. We have a daily schedule in our classroom with our routines. I’m the primary teacher for five students, and I’m responsible for observing them and creating specific lesson plans for them. I work eight hour days with an hour for lunch. I also have lesson planning on Monday and Tuesday, trainings on Thursday, and I work on my CDA on Friday. How did you decide to work for CYP? I have a lot of passion working with children, and CYP is one of the few facilities here on base that offers a great opportunity for spouses to be able to work while stationed overseas. What’s your relationship with your coworkers like? I didn’t actually have any friends in Sigonella until I started working here. I live out in town and I didn’t know anybody here. I didn’t have any family here so the first thing I did was apply for jobs! CYP was the only one who offered me an opportunity and it’s been great. I feel like working here is a great way to meet people and get engaged with the community. What is your favorite part of the job? The children. They make it all worth it. I do have hectic days and it’s not an easy job. It can be a lot of pressure, but we try to make our environment as stress-free as possible. Just seeing their growth, their development, and their milestones is all very rewarding. To be able to support military families who are over here—you know, we have to support each other. We’re all far away from family, friends, and comfort zones. It’s a whole different environment over here, and it’s good to support each other. What are some of your career goals? I want to finish my CDA and then go for my master’s degree. I’d like to become a lead as soon as I can, but for now I like to mentor and support my staff in the growth and development of the children in my care.
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Crystal Garcia CYP Leader What’s a typical workday like? During summer camp, I check into the building by 8:30 AM, get up to speed on how the morning is going, and jump in to the classroom with the children. After breakfast, we head to the park or the courtyard for outdoor activities. During lunch, I have conversations with the youth on things like healthy eating, plans for the weekend, or favorite superhero character. Then it’s time for lesson plan activities. In my short time here, we have done many fun/ educating things such as making pillows, pasta from scratch, bottle rockets and tie-dye T-shirts. No two days are alike! How did you decide to work for CYP? Working for CYP came to me while I was working at a Dunkin’ Donuts. I graduated college with my recreation degree and had briefly learned about the MWR department for the Navy in one of my courses. I assumed that active-duty spouses were the ones holding these jobs. One day while serving a customer a coffee, I realized she had on a Navy MWR name tag. I asked her how I could get into the program because I’d always wanted to work with kids and put my degree to use. A few days later she came back and gave me all of the information I needed to apply. A few months later I got a job with Sigonella CYP and I have never looked back. What is your relationship with your coworkers like? My CYP family has made me feel welcomed and appreciated in the short time that I’ve been here. I got here on a Sunday, and Monday was my first day working. It was also my birthday! They asked if I wanted to go to dinner, and I said sure, and I go and there’s a huge surprise party for me! There was a cake, a huge charcuterie board and everyone was there celebrating. It was so beautiful. What is your favorite part of the job? It never changes, no matter where I’m at—it’s being with the kids. There are so many different personalities, getting to know them, doing fun things, and introducing them to new stuff—it’s always the kids. "CYP" cont’d on Page 11
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Reggia di Colorno: The “Little Versailles” of Italy By Dr. Alberto Lunetta, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
f you like to travel back in time and discover the I excessive luxuries of the aristocratic Italian families, you should absolutely visit Parma’s “Little Versailles:”
to his wife Maria Luigia of Austria of Savoy. She focused her palace improvement works on embellishing the garden by shaping it according to the English romantic tradition of the time. After the Unification of Italy in 1860, the Province of Parma purchased the 400 rooms of palace. A few years later, the palace was turned into a mental hospital, a function it held until 1978 when restoration work began to bring back the palace to its original splendor. The most fascinating rooms are in the first floor of the palace and boast magnificent marble floors, fireplaces, stucco decorations, engraved gilt bronze locks, and frescoed ceilings mostly dating back to the Bourbon rule. The most important room is the main hall, or “Sala Grande,” built between 1753 and 1755 by the French architect Ennemond Alexandre Petitot (1727-1801). This room is the very first example of European neoclassicism with decorations by painters Fortunato Rusca and J.B. Boudard. Other highlights also include the Music Room, the Dining Room, the Weapons Room, the duke’s 40-room apartment, and the Gallery. The enchanting English garden, which is worth a long relaxing stroll, used to host more than 1,700 varieties of plants and trees. The rare Zelkova carpinifolia, a Caucasian tree that can grow up to 30 meters tall, is still
the magnificent Reggia di Colorno! Located in the heart of the Parmese plain in Northern Italy’s Reggio-Emilia region, this enchanting palace is rich in history and glamour. Three noble families have lived in the palace: the Farnese family, the influential Italian family that ruled the duchy of Parma and Piacenza from 1545 to 1731; the House of Bourbon, one of the most important ruling houses of Europe; and the House of Savoy, a royal dynasty that was established in 1003. Through gradual expansion, the Savoy family led the unification of Italy in 1860 and ruled the Kingdom of Italy until 1946. The palace was originally a stronghold built by conqueror Azzo da Correggio in 1337. Noblewoman Barbara Sanseverino turned it into an aristocratic residence, but she was later arrested and beheaded in 1612 for plotting against Duke of Parma Ranuccio Farnese. He then confiscated the palace and transformed it into the summer residence of the dukes of Parma. However, the Farnese family did not use the palace much, and they were forced to give up the palace and the duchy to the Bourbon family in the 18th century due to lack of heirs. Thus began the palace’s most splendid era. Duke Philip Bourbon, the son of the King of Spain, was a great fan of hunting and decided to move to the palace and make it his primary residence. He took with him his wife Louise Elisabeth of France, Duchess of Parma (nicknamed Babette) and the daughter of King Louis XV. She grew up in Versailles and wanted to recreate the atmosphere of the legendary French palace in a smaller scale at the Reggia. She enriched the palace with interior furnishings such as the magnificent ducal chapel of Saint Liborio that was built on a design by Ennemond Petitot. The magnificent Reggia di Colorno palace and its gardens, a place of delight and culture for the Dukes of Parma, will offer you an In the 19th century, insight into the luxury life of the influential Italian families of the past. In addition to that, through September the palace hosts a not-toNapoleon annexed the duchy be-missed pottery exhibition called “The Porcelain of the Dukes of Parma,” featuring the precious porcelain that Louise Elizabeth of France used for ducal receptions to France and gave the palace
"Italian News" cont’d on Page 11
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NAVSUP FLCSI Holds Change of Command By Joe Yanik, NAVSUP FLCSI Public Affairs
aval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella N (NAVSUP FLCSI) held a change of command ceremony during which Capt. Douglas S. MacKenzie relieved Capt. Alsandro H. Turner as
commanding officer August 3, 2021, at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. “NAVSUP FLCSI will continue to lean forward and engage to provide vital logistics support to our fleet and projection platforms ashore, with a laser sharp focus on NSS-Supply, theater setting, and providing world class supply chain, logistics and sustainment services to our Navy, Joint, and NATO partners across Europe and Africa area of responsibility,” MacKenzie said during his remarks. “To FLCSI’s civilian and military team members, maintain course and speed but continue to innovate and set new targets as you’ve done these past years. I am honored to serve as your commanding officer. Please know that I have your back, as I am confident that you have mine.” During his remarks, Turner shared anecdotes from his experience serving and living in Sicily, and he thanked his family, colleagues and staff for their support during his tour. He also reflected on the American and European friends he and his family had made. The ceremony’s presiding officer was Rear Adm. Scott Gray, Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central. In his remarks, Gray recognized and praised Turner for his professionalism, leadership and problem-solving ability by highlighting several of the FLCSI’s major accomplishments under his command, like standing up a contingency logistics site in northern Europe and a Navy contracting office in Somalia. “By establishing a presence in the North Atlantic, you will have contributed to the success of our future warfighters operating there,” he said. “The contracting office makes the Navy the lead service provider for contracting services at contingency locations in Somalia and in East Africa. The first for the U.S. Navy and a model for the future.” Gray also cited FLCSI’s logistics support role in facilitating the movement and delivery of more than $9 million-worth of personal protection equipment as part of the Navy’s response to the presidential decree calling for COVID-19 pandemic relief assistance to Italy. “Your team’s effort enabled us to deliver humanitarian assistance to our ally, Italy, when it was most needed,” he said. Gray added that FLCSI will be well led under MacKenzie’s command. “I am very confident FLCSI will continue its superlative work in delivering critical support throughout the AOR,” Gray said. “I know Capt. MacKenzie’s work on the 6th Fleet staff has prepared him well for his tenure as CO.” MacKenzie is the ninth commanding officer of NAVSUP FLC Sigonella since it was established in 2005 as the seventh FLC to be a part of NAVSUP’s global logistics support network. NAVSUP FLC Sigonella is one of NAVSUP’s eight globally-positioned logistics centers that provides for the full range of solutions for logistics, business and support services to the Navy, Joint and Allied Forces throughout Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central.
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SAILOR 360 ONBOARD SIG By MC2 Josh Cote, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
ailor 360 is an umbrella term for innovative, creative, S command-developed leadership programs modeled after previous programs such as CPO 365 Phase 1 and scenario-based studies like Chief’s Mess Training. It was rolled out after a study determined that competency and job-specific knowledge in young Sailors was satisfactory, but that their leadership training was lacking. Since early 2019, Sailor 360 has been an active program here onboard Naval Air Station Sigonella. The program was off to a strong start, but COVID-19 slowed things down for most of 2020. In the past few months, Sailor 360 has been ramping back up and providing opportunities across the installation. NAS Sigonella’s version of Sailor 360 is open to any U.S service member of any rank and any service branch. The program is—quite literally—open to all U.S. forces here in Sigonella. One of the opportunities Sailor 360 offers is a monthly training event. The training will touch on a number of different topics in order to help service members advance in their careers. Topics range from evaluation writing, working with new programs and websites like MyNavy Assignment, and enlisted-to-officer mentorship to name a few. Along with training, Sailor 360 also sponsors community relations events to include cleaning and
painting buildings, working in soup kitchens, and interacting with children at schools to help teach English. Twice a month, Sailor 360 will also host physical training (PT) events. These events focus on the Navy’s culture of excellence, core theme of toughness and signature disciplined behavior. Sailor 360 aims to make these sessions both beneficial and fun, hosting occasional PT competitions such as plankoffs or running the distance equal to Mt. Etna. While Sailor 360 is not able to host fundraiser events for themselves, they are more than willing to be involved and help other associations with their own events. They work with associations to promote involvement within the events that Sailor 360 host. This year, Sailor 360 hosted the first ever NAS Sigonella Memorial Day Run, which involved keeping three torches dedicated to our fallen Sailors moving for 12 hours straight. While inclement weather cut the run short, next year they hope to increase the number of participants and organizations while keeping the torches moving for a full 24 hours. If you would like to get involved with Sailor 360 or just want to know more about upcoming events, feel free to join the Facebook group at NAS Sigonella Sailor 360. All dates for trainings and other events will be posted there and in the NASSIG all hands emails.
"Italian News" cont’d from Page 8
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in the garden for visitors to admire today. The garden is also the best place to shoot photos of the palace. A not-to-be-missed highlight is the Cappella di Liborio, the palace’s church. The Cappella was initially a small private royal chapel dedicated to the patron saint of kidney diseases, of which the duke suffered. Later, the duke’s son Ferdinand expanded the chapel and turned it into a large church that was open to the public, featuring breathtaking neoclassic masterpieces such as the ceiling, the marble floor and altar, the wooden pulpit and the fine reliquaries. The impressive Serassi organ boasts 3,000 pipes. Today, it is the largest royal chapel in Italy and the second largest in Europe (after the Escorial in Madrid). The palace currently hosts a must-see porcelain exhibition called “Masterpieces of the Great 18th Century European Manufacturers.” Hailing from different museums in Italy, these precious porcelain pieces were made by the manufactories of Meissen, Sèvres, Vincennes, Chantilly, Doccia, and Capodimonte. Besides hosting art exhibitions and gala events, the palace and the gardens are the headquarters of ALMA, the prestigious International School of Italian Cuisine that offers advanced training courses and received the title of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015. TICKETS AND VISITOR INFORMATION
Entrance ticket: Exhibition + Guided tour of the Noble Floor, Duke Ferdinando’s apartment and San Liborio’s chapel Full ticket € 10.00 Reduced ticket € 9.00 for children aged 7 to 18, university students with ID card, over 65 Reduced for groups € 8.00: adults / schools, consisting at least 15 people Free ticket: Children from 0 to 6 years old, disabled people with a companion Family tickets available at reduced prices.
HOW TO GET THERE By car From Milan and Bologna: A1 motorway – Parma exit – State Road 343 direction Colorno From Genoa – La Spezia: A15 – A1 motorway towards Bologna – Parma exit – State Road 343 towards Colorno From Cremona: State road 343 towards Casalmaggiore – Colorno From Mantua: State road 420 towards Sabbioneta – Casalmaggiore – Colorno By train Parma – Brescia line (www.trenitalia.it) By bus Departure every hour from the Parma railway station (www.tep.pr.it) By plane Parma “Giuseppe Verdi” Airport (parma-airport.it)
For more information call 0521.312545 or send a message to reggiadicolorno@provincia.parma.it "CYP" cont’d from Page 7
Woods Continued: What’s your favorite part of Sicily so far? My favorite part of Sicily is Palermo! I love sightseeing. It’s beautiful for shopping. The food is good. The people are friendly, so I really do like Palermo. Cefalu is also beautiful. What do you want Sigonella to know? The CYP is a great family-oriented facility that offers a great opportunity for spouses who love children to work. We are a learning facility, and we thrive on continuously training educators to support our military families.
Garcia Continued: What are some of your career goals? I definitely would stay within the MWR Youth Services Realm. I’m stuck between whether I want to go back to school or not, but I know that I’m what they call “a lifer.” I will be with MWR for a very long time! What’s your favorite part of Sicily so far? The food, of course! I’ve been to the beach a lot. They’re beautiful! What else do you want Sigonella to know? CYP is an amazing program that gives you lots of opportunity for growth. No matter your level of education, they will support you and help you master your skills. I am grateful to be here and look forward to learning from my peers, families, and youth.
