Vol. 36 No. 21
October 18, 2019
CARABINIERI AND NCIS SOLVE FUEL THEFT CASE Story on pages 6-7
CHIEF OF NAVAL PERSONNEL MEETS SAILORS SIGONELLA OMBUDSMEN HONORED
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Direct Line
NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella Commanding Officer, Capt. Alsandro Turner
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uon Giorno and Greetings. I am Captain Alsandro Turner, Commanding Officer of Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center (NAVSUP FLC) Sigonella, one of Naval Air Station Sigonella’s tenant commands. My wife, our daughters and I are truly excited to have joined this close-knit and welcoming community. Since arriving only a few months ago, we’ve met many fantastic people, both European and American, who’ve helped us in a variety of ways as we settle in. Thanks to them, we are quickly coming to know Sicily, NAS Sigonella, and NAVSUP FLC Sigonella as a true home. It is a great honor to lead the hundreds of men and women who make up NAVSUP FLC Sigonella. In this article, I’ll share with you a brief overview of who we are and what we do. NAVSUP FLC Sigonella’s mission is to provide netted logistics, business and support services to U.S. Naval, Joint, and Allied forces through partnerships and sound business practices in order to set theater readiness with materials accountability. Simply stated, our job is to ensure that you - our Navy, Joint and NATO Warfighters - have the tools you need to be ready to fight tonight, sustain tomorrow and always!
To accomplish this mission of readiness, our expert logisticians deliver products and services that enable your combat capabilities and impact you and your families’ quality of life while stationed OCONUS. We meet these obligations through enduring locations, forward operating sites and cooperative security locations across Western and Eastern Europe and Africa.
“Our job is to
ensure that you have the tools you need to be ready to fight tonight, sustain tomorrow and always ” Many of you have likely interacted with our Fleet Mail Center and post offices that manage the reliable and secure movement of your mail. You’ve also worked with NAVSUP’s personal property team before, during and after your PCS move to handle the movement of your household goods. We know how important these two missions are to making you feel at home in an overseas environment. Beyond these quality-of-life services, we also manage and operate NAS Sigonella’s aircraft refueling systems, hazardous material centers, contracting
services, customs clearance services, transportation, material support, and logistics support center. Put simply, our job is to ensure that all of the logistics behind the scenes are coordinated efficiently and effectively to support NAS Sigonella as being the “Hub of the Med.” On behalf of NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella, I and my team are committed to “Keeping the Press” as we deliver our logistics products and services to you and your family so you can carry out your warfighting mission. By committing ourselves to our mission and priorities, NAVSUP FLC Sigonella will continue to play a critical role in building and sustaining the Navy the Nation Needs here at NAS Sigonella and across the Navy Region Europe, Africa, and Central.
October 18, 2019
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Interactive Customer Evaluation Comment Regarding Housing:
I believe that the house hunting assignment process could be improved. For example, when I found out I had been assigned a counselor, I thought that person was going to be showing me places and that was not the case. I work in customer service so that is dear to my heart. I believe once a service member is assigned to a counselor, the counselor should call to introduce themselves and offer help, but that did not happen. In fact, I called my counselor and the connection was bad, and he did not even attempt to call me back after. The primary reason I am here is because I did not like my interaction with the counselor who handled appliance delivery. For starters, I did not receive any training on how to operate the washer when it was delivered to my house. There was no written instruction given to me either. The guy turned it on and that was it. I was given an Italian washer and because it was taking 2-3 hours per load, I contacted the counselor to express my concerns and he was rude. I then decided to go to housing in person to have my washer changed. He was once again rude, and he said that I had to keep the washer or I would be charged for the delivery of a new one. I notified him that I did not choose an Italian washer and that I did want to keep it because it would run up my bills. We ended up speaking with his supervisor who advised against charging me for the delivery of a new washer. The counselor was then tasked by the supervisor to have someone look into the logistics involved with swapping the washer. A whole week went by, and I never heard from the counselor, who apparently decided not to take any action on the matter. I decided to go back to Housing for a second time,
and I got to speak to Ms. Ivana, who was extremely helpful. She helped to schedule the delivery of a newer washer, and I really appreciate her assistance. She demonstrated the level of customer service that I expect and that should be given to everyone seeking assistance on the base.
Response:
Thank you for taking the time to highlight your concerns about economy housing processes. Moving overseas is a stressful time, and the Housing department is always looking for ways to improve its customer service to help smooth that transition. Regarding the house hunting process, all incoming personnel are initially assigned a housing counselor as their primary point of contact. During peak PCS season, that person may or may not also be the person who escorts you on house hunting tours. Given the high number of personnel coming and going during the summer, we can’t always guarantee that your POC will be leading your tours. Feel free to include the Housing referral email address, nassig-housingreferral@ eu.navy.mil, on any house hunting correspondence. The entire referral staff will be able to read your email in case your assigned counselor is out of the office. Nonetheless, customer service is always important to us. Please reach out directly to the Housing Director, Peter Faulk, at 624-4070 or peter.faulk@ eu.navy.mil if you feel that your needs are not being met in a timely fashion. Regarding the problems you experienced with your washing machine, we strive to make sure that the appliances we deliver meet your needs. We encourage all prospective tenants to consider the space available for "ICE" cont’d on Page 13
THE SIGNATURE
U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
Commanding Officer Capt. Kevin Pickard Executive Officer Cmdr. Patrick J. Moran Command Master Chief CMDCM Nancy Estrada EDITORIAL
Public Affairs Officer Lt. Karl Schonberg karl.schonberg@eu.navy.mil Assistant Public Affairs Officer Janine Scianna janine.scianna@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
MR2 Kyle Drummond kyle.m.drummond@@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: HN Nicholas Walker Department: U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella Hometown: Joplin, Mo.
U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella is one of 36 tenant commands on Naval Air Station Sigonella. USNHS, one of the largest, is made up of many different departments spread across NAS I and NAS II. Its mission is to provide exceptional base operating support and quality of life services that exceed customer expectations and increase operational readiness for deployed U.S. and allied forces, tenant commands, and families. Within the preventative medicine department, it takes Sailors like Hospitalman Nicholas Walker to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to help prevent the spread of disease and illness at Sigonella. Walker doesn’t have a normal schedule at the hospital or even a desk-type job. Instead, he is in charge of going around base and inspecting establishments to ensure that they are meeting sanitary standards.
In order to be a preventive medicine technician, Sailors have to complete additional schooling after completing “A” school, the initial post-boot camp schooling. Having that extra training has allowed Walker to branch out professionally and do things that a normal corpsman cannot. The chance to get a degree and not have hefty student loans when you are done is frequent reason that Sailors enlist. For Walker, that also holds true. “I joined for the Navy primarily for school,” said Walker. “Currently, I am a few credits short of earning my associate [degree] in Public Health. After that I plan on working towards my bachelor’s degree.” Walker’s original plan was not be a corpsman, but to become a gunner’s mate. But after they offered him the specialty “C” school to become a PMT, he decided to become a corps-
man. Walker has been in the Navy for two and a half years and Sigonella is his first tour of duty after completing training. Like many others, Walker says his favorite thing about Sicily is the food; even the pasta tastes better than it does back in the States. He also likes having the opportunity to travel around Europe and see some places he probably wouldn’t have otherwise. “I would say my favorite place that I have been to so far is probably Romania,” said Walker. “We went snowboarding while we were there and it will probably by my last time. We got caught in a blizzard up there and it got a little scary.” Walker isn’t sure yet how far he plans on taking his military career. For now, he is focusing on finishing his contract, which will have him complete one more tour of duty after leaving Sigonella.
October 18, 2019
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FIRE PREVENTION NIGHT OUT!
U.S. Navy photos by Janine Scianna
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OPERATION “BLACK GOLD” NABS JET FU Sigonella’s Carabinieri and NCIS Team Up to Solve Case By Janine Scianna
NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
Using sophisticated methods, the alleged criminals siphoned off 100,000 liters of jet fuel at a time while operating in remote areas of eastern Sicily to avoid detection for nearly three years. They used rented vehicles and trucks, operated mostly at nighttime, and used stolen cell phone chips registered to unsuspecting customers to cover their tracks. They excavated areas of the pipeline, drilling into it and installing special valves and hosing to pump the stolen fuel into borrowed trucks. They then sold the stolen fuel on the black market, where it was used either as a kerosene-type fuel for heating buildings or mixed with other components for use as a vehicle fuel. Since October 2016, the operation caused the economic loss of 800,000
Euros—representing the stolen fuel’s cost as well as massive environmental cleanup costs. But the criminal ring’s covert efforts were still too primitive for the teamwork of Sigonella’s Carabinieri and Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Today, the 18 alleged perpetrators—14 fuel thieves and 4 accessory vehicle drivers—await trial for crimes committed during their nearly three-year long operation. A NATO pipeline runs between Augusta Bay and Sigonella. Along its 36-kilometer run, the pipe carries important JP-5 jet fuel to power Sigonella’s aircraft. The aircraft here rely on so much fuel that trucking volumes of it back and forth between the port and base would not only be inefficient, but also dangerous. The pipeline runs underground, often through isolated and privatelyowned land. Once noticeable
pressure drops in the pipeline were felt downstream, it became obvious that theft was occurring somewhere along the pipeline’s span. But where exactly that was happening? How were they doing it? And how would the authorities catch them? The Carabinieri’s operation began with identifying segments of the pipeline that would be conducive to theft and tracked the potential perpetrators. With these general locations identified, the next major challenge was figuring out how the theft scheme worked and more importantly, who the perpetrators were. Enter NCIS. Part of their investigative work involves designing custom crime-detection technology. For the pipeline case, NCIS Special Agent Joseph Todd built camouflaged infrared cameras that were installed at the suspected theft sites. Janine Scianna
Ufficio Pubblica Informazione NAS Sigonella
Maj. Salvatore Menta, Commander of the Carabinieri’s Sigonella Company, led the investigation of the jet fuel theft. (U.S. Navy photo by Janine Scianna)
Per quasi tre anni, operando in aree remote della Sicilia per non essere scoperti, i presunti criminali hanno sottratto, poco per volta, grazie all’uso di metodi sofisticati, 100.000 litri di carburante per uso aereo. Usavano veicoli e camion noleggiati, operando principalmente di notte, utilizzando schede telefoniche registrate a nome di ignari utenti per coprire le loro tracce. Scavavano in alcune aree dell’oleodotto, perforandolo e installando valvole speciali e tubi per pompare il carburante rubato a bordo di camion presi in prestito. Quindi, vendevano il combustibile rubato al mercato nero, dove veniva usato come cherosene per il
October 18, 2019
UEL THIEVES The cameras provided video imagery of the operation in realtime, capturing vehicle license plate numbers and the faces of the perpetrators. Combining the gathered information, the Carabinieri were able to identify one of the alleged criminals and later, the other perpetrators. The Sigonella Carabinieri Company Commander, Major Salvatore Menta commented on how important the support of the NCIS was in investigating the fuel theft case. “NCIS offered maximum cooperation,” said Menta. “By combining the traditional investigative techniques along with the high-tech equipment provided by NCIS, we were able to identify the perpetrators.” NCIS Supervisory Special Agent Jon Greenert also explained why ongoing collaboration with the Carabinieri and other Italian
law enforcement authorities is important to their investigations. “We like to think that our efforts act as a ‘force multiplier,’” said Greenert. “While we don’t have jurisdiction to investigate local nationals, we like to provide technical assistance whenever we can. “ Greenert noted that the positive relationship they have with the Carabinieri has led to other cracked cases, like when 25 protestors cut the
Fuel transport was disguised as a water delivery truck (Photo courtesy of Carabinieri)
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fence line of Sigonella’s front gate in 2018. NCIS was able to capture imagery and use facial recognition technology to help the Carabinieri identify all of the perpetrators. Together, the machinery of all the local law enforcement agencies hums steadily behind the scenes. Though their work rarely gets highlighted to the community, their investigative expertise helps keep the entire Sigonella community safe.
Sophisticated valves were drilled into the pipeline to siphon fuel (Photo courtesy of Carabinieri)
OPERAZIONE “ORO NERO”: PRESI I COLPEVOLI DEI FURTI DI CARBURANTE PER USO AEREO DI SIGONELLA riscaldamento degli edifici o miscelato con altri componenti e trasformato in combustibile per automobili. Dall’ottobre 2016, i furti hanno causato una perdita economica di 800.000 euro, che rappresentano il costo del carburante rubato e degli ingenti costi di bonifica ambientale. Ma l’attività criminosa segreta di questa associazione a delinquere si è rivelata troppo rudimentale per il lavoro di squadra messo in campo dai Carabinieri di Sigonella e dall’NCIS americano. Oggi, i 18 presunti
responsabili - 14 ladri di carburante e 4 conducenti di veicoli da supporto logistico – sono in attesa di processo per i crimini commessi nel corso della la loro attività durata quasi tre anni. Un gasdotto NATO si estende tra la baia di Augusta e Sigonella. Lungo i suoi 36 chilometri, le sue condutture trasportano carburanti JP-5 necessari a rifornire i velivoli di Sigonella. Gli aerei necessitano infatti di così tanto carburante che il suo eventuale trasporto su autocisterne da e per la base sarebbe non solo inefficiente, ma
anche pericoloso. Il gasdotto scorre sottoterra, spesso attraversando terreni isolati e appartenenti a privati. Quando ci si è reso conto di evidenti cadute di pressione nella conduttura a valle, è apparso ovvio che si stavano verificando dei furti da qualche parte lungo la portata della conduttura. Ma dove stava succedendo esattamente? Come stavano operando? E come sarebbero stati fermati dalle autorità. L’operazione dei carabinieri è iniziata con l’analisi dei punti di Continua a pagina 13
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Rear Adm. John Nowell, Jr. meets Sailors from the VP-4 P-8A squadron (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Josh Coté) By Janine Scianna
NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
Rear Adm. John Nowell, Jr., the Navy’s Chief of Personnel and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education, clearly holds a lot of responsibility for the fleet. He is in charge of manning the fleet and making sure that Sailors are ready for the litany of jobs and tasks they will be asked to undertake in the Navy. His leadership touches the lives and career trajectories of each individual Sailor, and because of that, he visited Naval Air Station Sigonella Oct. 8-9, 2019 as part of a larger tour of Navy installations in Europe. Nowell spent much of his time at Sigonella touching base with Sailors of all ranks. Nowell held two all-hands calls Oct. 9 to hear separately from Sailors and command leadership. While part of his mission was to relay important changes to personnel programs that are coming down the pike, he also spent a lot of time fielding questions and concerns. “The most important part of my job is getting out and listening to the Sailors,” said Nowell. “I’ve seen where we get it right, I’ve
Rear Adm. John Nowell, Jr. conducts an interview with AFN Sigonella (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Josh Coté) seen where we get it wrong, and I want to try and make it better.” During his remarks, Nowell gave an extensive overview of the progress that is being made under the Sailor 2025 initiative, which was developed in 2015 to help put into place programs that would help meet Sailors’ personnel needs ten years in the future. The three pillars of the program are: 1) Modernizing Personnel Systems in order to provide more transparency, flexibility, and ownership in Sailors’ careers. 2) Providing Ready, Relevant Learning that creates a continuum of learning during the course of Sailor’s career path that takes advantage of emerging technologies with engaging content. 3) Fostering Career Readiness by removing barriers to continued service and improving Sailors’ worklife balance, health, and wellness. Nowell commented that continuing to modernize personnel programs was essential to meet the demands of a growing Navy. And his role, he explained, was to “institute change where it makes sense.” Some of those changes are
already happening. Promotions via meritorious advancement, or “MAP” promotions, have increased from 5 to 20%. Training for the operations specialist (OS) rate was the first to be modernized under the Ready, Relevant Learning initiative. Five more ratings will have their training modernized this year. And PSD functions are beginning to be consolidated into central locations so that Sailors will receive the same quality of service, the same way, no matter where they are assigned. Nowell also hit home the point that receiving the “right training, at the right time” is essential to keeping Sailors growing in their careers. And that pursuing continuous learning, once scene as potentially damaging to a career trajectory, is now being seen as an asset. So many other topics were covered— childcare needs, overseas screening, a “detailing marketplace” for enlisted Sailors—the list of pending upgrades is extensive. To learn about any of the Sailor 2025 initiatives, visit MyNavy Portal. The recruitment, development, and retainment of each Sailor will always be the centering focus as the Navy and CNP continue to streamline personnel policies and programs.
October 18, 2019
Chief of Naval Personnel Visits Sigonella
Rear Adm. John Nowell, Jr. holds an all hands call with E-6 and below Sailors Oct. 8, 2019 (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Josh Coté)
Rear Adm. John Nowell, Jr. meets Sailors of the Quarter during a special luncheon (U.S. Navy photo by MR2 Kyle Drummond)
Rear Adm. John Nowell, Jr. speaks with NAS Sigonella leadership (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Josh Coté)
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Day of the Dead Celebration Returns to Sicily By Alberto Lunetta NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
“Armi santi, armi santi, io sugnu unu e vuatri tanti. Mentri sugnu ‘ni stu munnu di guai, cosi ri morti mittiminni assai!” Translated as “Holy souls, holy souls, there are many of you and I’m one. Bring me a lot of presents while I’m in this world of troubles.” This old religious poem, which sounds like a letter to Santa Claus, is one of the traditional prayers that Sicilian children say before going to bed on the night of November 1, the day before the “Il Giorno dei Morti” (The Day of Dead), an ancient Catholic celebration honoring departed ancestors, loved ones and relatives. There is the excitement as they believe that, during the night, the spirits of the dead will visit their homes to bring them presents. This heartfelt holiday is similar to the “El Dia de los Muertos,” a typical Spanish and Latin American celebration. Catholic families gather to make a pilgrimage to the cemeteries and spiritually reunite with their beloved ones. According to tradition, the spirits of the dead are welcomed in a friendly way. Their annual “homecoming” is a time to be symbolically shared with their families and loved ones by eating, drinking, and reminiscing. It is a way to keep alive the connection between the living and the dead. According to some historians, this festive tradition, which blends paganism and the Holy Scriptures, dates back to early Christian’s times. St. Odilo, fifth Abbot of Cluny,
Be ready to tempt your taste buds with the traditional Pupi ri zuccaru or puppets of boiled sugar that are among the most popular “Day of the Dead” ancient religious holiday treats. They are baked into symbolic shapes. You will find them in all pasticcerie (pastry shops) and panifici (bakeries). (Photo by https://italianocontesti.ru)
first established it in 998 AD. Sicilian anthropologist Giuseppe Pitrè says that in the past, Sicilian children would leave their shoes on windowsills in the hope that their dead relatives would place gifts for them. Traditions say dead relatives turn themselves into ants so they can easily enter into the homes to fill the baskets and the socks prepared by the kids with gifts. Since presents are only for good children, on the night of Nov. 1, kids who misbehaved promise to work on changing. Over the past few years, the Il Giorno dei Morti tradition has been often opposed to Halloween, raising concern among Catholics who fear that the latter might overshadow this century-old religious celebration.
In some cases there have been public protests organized by local priests. In schools, some parents have refused to send their children to Halloween-themed parties. On the other hand, Halloween parties are annually organized across Italy’s discos and clubs. Thousands of Sicilians have also visited the Sigonella’s annual AutumnFest as they are curious to see “the real thing” and taste American food. In addition to observing the Day of the Dead tradition, don’t miss the “Fiera dei Morti” (All Souls Day’s Fair), which is also known among Sigonellans as “shoe fair” because of the many stalls selling shoes. It actually features more than 200 booths selling "ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 13
October 18, 2019
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Navy Begins Permanent Advancement-toPosition Program for Enlisted Sailors From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
Based on positive fleet feedback and the success of recent pilot programs, the Navy announced Oct. 7 that it has permanently established the Active Duty Enlisted Advancementto-Position (A2P) program, via NAVADMIN 230/19. The A2P program offers active duty E-5s, or second-class petty officers, the opportunity to advance to E-6 (petty officer first class) by filling priority billets and successfully completing any required training or schools. The program is intended to improve Fleet readiness and manning through better distribution of our talent. Sailors selected for A2P will receive permanent change of station orders as they would for a standard billet; however, applicants will only be considered for the specific A2P billets they’ve applied to. Applicants must be active-duty E-5s who are in their detailing window for rotation and have taken the most recent E-6 Navy-wide advancement exam (NWAE) with published results. Sailors must be qualified to fill the billets for which they apply and should contact their detailers if they have any questions about their ability to fill an A2P billet. All eligible Sailors may apply to seaduty billets, regardless of their sea/ shore flow rotation. However, Sailors on shore duty who are due to rotate to sea duty will not be considered for shore-duty A2P billets.
Chief of Naval Personnel John Nowell congratulates NAS Sigonella Chief Culinary Specialist Prince Benton, who was recently selected to fill an “Advancement to Position” billet aboard the USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108). He will be frocked to the rank of E-8 upon arrival. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Karl Schonberg.
A2P billets will be announced in Career Management SystemInteractive Detailing (CMS-ID) under the “Advance to Position” category. Sailors should verify that the “Advance to Position” category is selected in the optional input portion of the CMSID job search page in order to see the available A2P billets. A limited number of billets will be announced each detailing cycle, and not all rates will have billets available each cycle. Applications for A2P billets work the same as standard cycle applications. Candidates will be selected for A2P billets on a competitive basis. The Final Multiple Score from the most recently published NWAE cycle is the primary criteria that will be used for selection. Commands with billets advertised for fill via the A2P program
can submit comments in CMS-ID regarding the suitability of applicants, and final selection will be based on a combination of FMS and those command comments. Sailors selected will be eligible for frocking to E-6 after they complete all required en route training or schools, and will be advanced to pay grade E-6 upon check-in at the ultimate duty station. Those who fail to complete en route training/schools will not be advanced. For more information or questions about program eligibility, contact the MyNavy Career Center (MNCC) Contact Center at (833) 830-MNCC (6622), via email at askmncc@navy. mil, or visit MyNavy Portal at https:// my.navy.mil.
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NAS SIGONELLA CELEBRATES ITS OMBUDSMEN September was Ombudsmen Appreciation Month, and in my experience as a chaplain, there are a lot of things our Ombudsmen do that deserve our full appreciation. As I think about the value that ombudsmen bring, I wonder how to possibly quantify their value. After researching the subject, I discovered three key phrases that helped in this journey. The first phrase I found was “critical communication.” Whether it’s sharing information from the command to the family members, sharing concerns of the family members to the commands, or telling people about base events and resources, ombudsmen are a critical link in the communication chain. Their communication efforts improve lives, smooth transitions, ease tensions, and connect people with vital resources to help them flourish. "ICE" cont’d from Page 3
appliances and the associated costs of operating them. Housing can help you estimate your bills before you commit to your lease. Generally, once a tenant accepts appliances upon delivery, they are their responsibility for the duration of their tour or until the unit needs to be repaired or replaced. In your case, since the appliance wasn’t
By Lt. Cmdr. Steven Hervey NAS Sigonella Chaplain
The second phrase was “family success.” The ombudsman program is made up of successful military spouses with successful families mentoring others as they enjoy, endure, and at times even despise the military lifestyle. Ombudsmen help families succeed because they have been through similar challenges before. They’ve been there when the ship pulled away from the pier and disappeared on the horizon. They’ve lived the “single parent” life during deployments, work-ups, field exercises, and overnight duty. They understand the difficulties of the military but also the successes like promotions, awards, and the opportunity we all have to “join the Navy and see the world.” Ombudsmen are able to take the lessons they’ve learned, the trials they’ve overcome, and the successes they’ve
experienced and pass them along to lead others toward family success. The final phrase was “priceless asset,” which ultimately answers the question, “How do you quantify the value of an ombudsman?” And the answer is, “You can’t!” Ombudsmen have access to people that commanders, chiefs, and chaplains may never meet. They provide information that others can’t. They experience things that others can only talk about, and they help commands solve problems. And they do it all on a volunteer basis. Nobody makes them, nobody pays them, and many times nobody even thanks them for the priceless work they do day after day. There is not a price tag large enough to quantify their value and I consider it an honor to work side by side with each of these “priceless assets” in all they do for us at Sigonella.
operating correctly, Housing retained responsibility for the delivery of a new unit. At the time, they were switching to a new appliance warehouse, which likely caused some delays in deliveries. We are actively working to improve our appliance placement service. This summer we ordered over 100 new washers. In addition, a new process allows tenants to request digital copies
of appliance manuals at NASSIG‐ HousingFurnishings@eu.navy.mil, as well as making sure that manuals are also delivered along with the initial appliances. Upcoming internal Housing Department training sessions will also focus on providing follow-up customer service for trouble calls. Again, please feel free to contact the Housing Director for any future concerns.
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in possesso, i carabinieri sono stati in grado di identificare uno dei presunti facile accesso al gasdotto e con criminali e, successivamente, gli altri. il pedinamento delle persone Il comandante della Compagnia potenzialmente responsabili dei furti. Carabinieri di Sigonella, Maggiore Dopo avere identificato le macro Salvatore Menta ha messo in evidenza aree d’interesse , la sfida successiva era l’ importanza del supporto ricevuto capire come funzionava lo schema dei dall’NCIS nel corso delle indagini furti e, cosa più importante, chi erano sul furto di carburante. “L’NCIS ha gli autori. A questo punto, entra in offerto la massima collaborazione”, ha gioco l’NCIS che dà il suo contributo affermato Menta. “L’uso congiunto di investigativo con la progettazione di tecniche investigative tradizionali con strumenti personalizzati di rilevazione le apparecchiature ad alta tecnologia del crimine. Nel caso dell’oleodotto, fornite dall’ NCIS, ci ha permesso l’agente speciale NCIS Joseph Todd di identificare gli autori”. L’agente ha costruito telecamere ad infrarossi speciale supervisore dell’NCIS Jon mimetiche che sono state installate nei Greenert ha spiegato, da parte sua, siti dove si sospettava che avvenissero il perché la collaborazione in corso i furti. Le telecamere hanno fornito con i carabinieri e altre autorità di immagini video dell’operazione in polizia italiane sia importante per le tempo reale, registrando i numeri loro indagini. “Ci piace pensare che di targa dei veicoli e le facce degli i nostri sforzi agiscano come un” autori. Incrociando le informazioni Segue da pagina 7
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furniture, shoes, clothing, arts and crafts, antiques, and food. It will be open every day in the Catania airport area (Parcheggio “Fontanarossa”) from October 28 thru November 2. Traffic will be restricted in the fair area. Limited parking will be available in the venue’s adjoining streets, so carpooling and parking far from this festival area is strongly recommended. Similar smaller markets will be set up in other towns of the Catania province such as Caltagirone, Mirabella Imbaccari, Tremestieri Etneo, and Vizzini. Elsewhere on the island, they can also be found in Palermo, Caltanissetta, Siracusa, and Agrigento. For more information and detailed event’s schedule, visit the City of Catania tourist office website: http://www.comune.catania.it/
Il Giorno dei Morti Sweets
Like every other Sicilian festival,
a plethora of sweets are prepared during this celebration. The traditional “cosi ruci” (sweets) include “Frutta Martorana” (Martorana fruits), a confection of almond paste made into the shape of different fruits. According to tradition, they are said to have been first baked in the Middle Ages at the monastery of Martorana in Palermo, when nuns decorated their gardens’ barren trees with marzipan fruit to impress an archbishop visiting at Easter. Tradition holds that the king of that time heard about these delicious treats and wanted to sample them. That is why Martorana Fruit is also called “Pasta Reale,” or “royal.” Sicilian nuns have been baking scrumptious sweets for centuries and today they are still among the best pastry chefs even though few convents still keep this tradition alive. Other mouthwatering sweets include “N’zuddi” (almond cookies), cocoa-based cookies (“Rame di
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moltiplicatore di forze “, ha dichiarato Greenert. “Pur non potendo indagare direttamente sui cittadini italiani , siamo lieti di fornire assistenza tecnica ogni volta che possiamo. “Greenert ha messo in evidenza che la collaborazione con i carabinieri ha portato alla risoluzione di altri casi come quello dei 25 manifestanti che hanno tagliato la recinzione del cancello principale di Sigonella nel 2018. Utilizzando la tecnologia di riconoscimento facciale, l’NCIS è riuscito a catturare le immagini che hanno permesso ai carabinieri di identificare tutti degli autori. Il costante lavoro dietro le quinte di tutte le forze di polizia, spesso poco evidenziato all’esterno, e la loro competenza investigativa contribuiscono alla rendere sicura l’intera comunità di Sigonella. Napoli,” “Totò” and “Bersaglieri”), “Ossa di morti” (bones of the dead), cookies that were once shaped as skulls and phalanges, and “Pupi ri zuccaru” or puppets of boiled sugar. If you happen to travel in northern Italy during the Day of the Dead and All Saints Day, you can sample other traditional cookies such as the Pan dei Morti (bread of the dead), a specialty of Lombardy that is also widespread in Tuscany with variations in other regions. These delicious biscuits, which were common on the tables of Italians in ancient times, are made with other cookies (amaretti and savoiardi), dried fruits, cinnamon, figs, and recently cocoa. In Naples, the most traditional sweet of their festivities is “Morticello” (nougat of the dead), which is a variation of classic nougat but is made with cocoa instead of honey. It is often covered with white chocolate or filled with cream and milk chocolate.
ZOMBIERUN October 30 NAS I Midtown • 5:00 PM
2019 1.5 mile course that starts and ends outside of NAS I Midtown Fitness Center. This event combines running with a flag-tag game. Runners will be survivors and try to stay alive till the end in this zombie apocalypse world. Survivors must register in advance at https://sigonellazombierun.eventbrite.com For more info call 624-3785 or email Cassondra.milbourne@eu.navy.mil
Compete in 6 FITSERIES events and earn a t-shirt
For All MWR Event Info
For MWR Event info @ your fingertips
download the app!! NAVYMWR SIGONELLA
the sun soaking of ocean Spend the day iful Mediterranean in the beaut
and playing
the sun soaking of ocea Spend the day tiful Mediterranean in the beau
n
and playing
June 1 st &June 15 th
the sun soaking of ocean Spend the day l Mediterranean in the beautifu
and playing
June 1 st &June 15 th
June 1 st LA CUCARACHA BEACH &June 15 th Sign-up at Take 5 by May 29th $5 for transportation
For more info call 624-5602 LA CUCARACHA BEACH
visit our website www.navymwrsigonella.com Sign-up at Take 5 by May 29th $5 for transportation
For more info call 624-5602
LA CUCARACHA BEACH
Sign-up at Take 5 by May 29th $5 for transportation
For more info call 624-5602
