Building Bonds: 2019 CPO Heritage Run

Story and Photos by Janine Scianna\NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

SIGONELLA, Sicily--On April 1, 2019, the U.S. Navy celebrated the 126th anniversary of the establishment of the rank of chief. The Chiefs Mess across Naval Air Station Sigonella gathered that day to cut their “birthday” cake and take part in the unity that the company of the Mess provides.

Then, the NAS Sigonella Chief Petty Officers Association came together to plan a rank- and service-wide challenge event to instill similar bonds across commands and services. On April 17, the annual CPO Heritage Run was held and teams participated in a morning that tested their fitness, knowledge, and teamwork skills.

Six teams from across the base participated, representing the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force. Each was charged with the task of navigating through nine challenge stations spread across NAS I. Those stations were sponsored by a variety of commands and organizations across NAS Sigonella.

Each station included a fitness or trivia challenege, and often times both. Some of the more involved challenges included mock war sound effects that were piped in to distract the participants from the task at hand. By the end of the three-hour event, participants were covered in mud and their clothes soaked through.

All teams started out at the Midtown pool and were grilled by Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program staff on the ins and outs of how to report incidents of sexual assault, after which they took to the pool to complete a challenging relay race. Then, teams could decide how to attack the remaining stations in whatever order they wanted. In the end, a Seabees team named “Taco Bell” ended up completing the course in the least amount of time with fewest missed trivia questions. But it was clear that all teams enjoyed the opportunity to get outside, exercise, and work together to complete the course.

Yeoman 2nd Class Kenny Mills, part of the NASSIG team, got a lot out of the experience.

“The heritage run provided many challenges and forced teams to overcome mental and physical obstalces,” said Mills.

Lead organizer Chief Utilitiesman Dennys Colodro explained that the goal of the heritage run was to encourage team members to bond and also recall the great heritage of naval leaders that came before them. Ultimately, this year’s heritage run was a great success and a reminder that leadership, teamwork, fitness, and determination are essential ingredients for the mission to ultimately be successful.