The Signature | January 24, 2020

Vol. 37 No. 2

SIGONELLA ROUNDUP Feature news articles from around the base pages 5-7

UPCOMING SANT’AGATA FESTIVAL IN CATANIA

January 24, 2020

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Direct Line

Ens. Timothy Martin, NASSIG Federal Voting Assistance Program Officer

READY, SET….

REGISTER TO VOTE! new year has arrived and like most Americans, your family has probably just changed out the 2019 calendar for a new one for 2020. The best part of the even numbered years in the United States is of course...YOUR CHANCE TO VOTE!!

The 2020 elections will be held on Tuesday, November 3rd. All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives, 35 seats in the United States Senate as well as the Office of the President will be contested.

Make your vote count!

Voting is a personal choice, but if you want to vote, voting assistance is available to help provide you with the tools and resources you need to successfully vote via an absentee ballot.

If you plan on voting in any elections within the U.S.A. this year you must complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).

This yearly registration requirement is for all personnel who reside overseas even if you have registered to vote absentee previously.

The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) encourages Military Service Members, their eligible family members and overseas citizens to submit a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) every January

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to ensure they can participate in upcoming Federal elections. The FPCA registers you to vote and acts as a request for your state absentee ballot for the year.

Completing a new FPCA is easy! Just visit www.fvap.gov, select your state from the drop down menu on the home page, at the bottom of the page click Register to Vote, Request a Ballot or Update my Voter Info. The FVAP online tool will walk you through the

form and provide you with a PDF packet to “print, sign and send” directly to your Local Election Official (LEO); links are also provided for states that offer online voter registration.

Remember, the only way your LOE knows how to reach you is with the information you provide. Some states allow a longer time between registrations, but if you submit a new FPCA every year, you won’t have to worry about your registration or ballot request status and can participate in all

the elections you are eligible for.

For more information on FVAP or assistance with the absentee voting process, visit FVAP.gov call FVAP at 1-800-438-VOTE or DSN 4251584 (CONUS)/312-425-1584 (OCONUS), or email vote@fvap.gov.

Remember, you also can contact your unit or installation voting assistance officer for assistance by phone at DSN-624-2532 or email us at M-SINASSIG-VotingOfficers-GS@ eu.navy.mil. Facebook. com/DoDFVAP Twitter @FVAP. Your right to vote is as important now as it was for the first Presidential election in 1789. Petty Officer Clark and Ens. Timothy Martin are here to assist you in any way we can to ensure your vote is counted.

January 24, 2020

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Interactive Customer Evaluation Comment Regarding Marinai:

Ants are all over my house in Marinai.

What are you doing for corrective action?

They’re are everywhere in housing with nothing being done. I have them climbing on the walls in my upstairs bathroom.

How much are we paying pazzorati to fix this? Probably nothing. That’s why nobody likes this place bc nothing ever gets done.

Response:

Thank you for letting us know about your concerns. We have entered the rainy season in Sicily, which often drives ants to look for shelter like inside homes.

If your insect issues persist please place a trouble ticket with Pizzarotti at 095518-3394 or 342-347-1370 as they can help seal holes or cracks in your home as well as spray inside or outside of your home. In the meantime preventative measures can make a big difference in deterring them. We recommend making sure your kitchen is clear of crumbs and cleaning dishes as soon as possible. Use food storage containers with a good seal.

When grilling, make sure to remove food residues afterwards. You can also try using commercial pesticides from the commissary or NEX. For any future concerns or assistance, please feel free to contact the Housing Director, Peter Faulk, at peter.faulk@eu.navy.mil or DSN 624-4070 / COMM 095-564070.

Comment Regarding Commissary:

We have received many ICE comments regarding the commissary produce and expiration dates. Though our answer addresses everyone’s concern and example comment is provided below: Yesterday I shopped at the commissary.

I left the molded strawberries on the shelf, put back the milk expiring the same day,

and passed on buying the chicken legs that just looked off. At the register the helpful cashier let me know the horseradish I was about to buy was expired (by three days). When I got home I realized I had purchased a box of Triscuits past their sell by date. I am sick of buying food that goes bad before it’s sell by date. And I am sick of being provided with so many options to buy stale, expired or rancid food on a daily basis. I’m AD and have been stationed at Rota and Bahrain we never had any of these problems.

Response:

We know how important it is to have convenient access to quality groceries, especially in an overseas location. We, along with our commissary partners are committed to ensuring food is as fresh as possible, but please be understanding that our distribution chain actually puts us at an inherent disadvantage.

For your awareness, Sigonella is at the end of the distribution supply chain.

Therefore, our products will naturally have shorter life spans than in other locations. However, we also recognize that we must remain vigilant in making sure stocked foods are within their “sell by” dates. As always, if you ever discover that you have bought expired items, you are entitled to a full refund.

In order to address some of these issues as a part of our constant process improvement the commissary increased the purchasing of fresh produce with local suppliers. We also are working to improve the expiration dates on milk in particular, and will be offering discounts on products with short shelf lives for quick sale.

For any future commissary concerns, please feel free to reach out directly to the store manager, Mr. Edwin Rodriguez, at "ICE" cont’d on Page 11

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 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

MR2 Kyle Drummond kyle.m.drummond@navy.mil MCSA Triniti Lersch triniti.lersch@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: MM2 Tiffany Thaxton Department: AIMD Hometown: Blytheville, Arkansas

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ircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment is just one of the many tenant commands here at Naval Air Station Sigonella (NASSIG).

AIMD’s purpose is to support and repair aviation components and support equipment. They service the locks cards and Nitrogen and O2 carts for the pilots and equipment out on the flight line. AIMD itself has broken down into many shops, and in one of those shops there is one Sailor that has really stood out to her leadership.

That Sailor is Machinists Mate 2nd Class Tiffany Thaxton, a Blytheville, Arkansas native.

“I originally was going to school to be a teacher,” said Thaxton. “After I decided that is not what I wanted to do, I remembered as a kid I wanted to join the Navy, so that’s what I did.”

Thaxton is leaving in March, so she has already passed on most of her collateral duties. She was an Aviators Breathing Oxygen (ABO) Manager, where they tested and sampled aviation

air tanks. ABO managers play a critical and vital role in ensuring the safety of our pilots. She also volunteered as a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate, as well as a suicide prevention program representative, focusing on wellbeing of those around her.

NASSIG is Thaxton’s second tour in the Navy and she doesn’t plan on stopping any time soon. Right now she is focusing on being a Recruit Division Commander (RDC) and advancing to first class petty officer. Her long term goal is to become a Limited Duty Officer.

The schooling for RDC is a 13-weeklong, challenging, hands-on training course which teaches future RDC’s the needed skills to do the job efficiently.

There is one week of indoctrination and 12 weeks of curriculum along with shadow time.

Prior to arriving at NASSIG, Thaxton was stationed aboard the nuclearpowered aircraft carrier USS Harry S.

Truman (CVN 75) for five years and conducted two deployments while aboard the ship.

During her time here in Sigonella She has completed two USMAPS courses and received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Thaxton’s favorite part about being stationed on NASSIG is the travel and experience. She says it’s an opportunity that she never expected to have.

“I didn’t do as much traveling as I wanted to,” said Thaxton. “But we still got the chance to go to some pretty great places like Venice, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Bari and Pompeii.”

In addition to the many travel opportunities, there are also a lot of local activities that Sicily offers.

Thaxton has enjoyed exploring the island and mainland Italy during her time here.

“I think my favorite spot that we visited was probably Bari,” said Thaxton. “They had these little hut like houses that were just so beautiful.”

January 24, 2020

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U.S. Marine Travels from his Home in Africa to Earn the Eagle, Globe and Anchor

By Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Africa 20.1 Public Affairs

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gt. Anthony Amenyedor, a native of Ghana, spent his youth with his mother, father, uncle, three sisters, and six brothers in Tema, Ghana. As a young boy he was awestruck by the sharp Marine dress uniform with its distinctive “red blood stripe” on the trousers and the professionalism of the United States Marines visiting his home town. He too wanted to become a United States Marine.

As a young man, Amenyedor worked in his family’s logistics company.

One day, in 2007, while working at the company computer a packet was delivered to his office with his name on it. To his surprise, Amenyedor read that he had won the green card lottery from the U.S. Embassy in Ghana. Amenyedor had indeed filled out an online application after seeing an advertisement to come live in the United States, but never thought he might actually be selected. Skeptical, Amenyedor travelled with his packet to the U.S. Embassy in Ghana, just in case he actually did win. Upon arrival a U.S Embassy employee had the privilege of being the first to congratulate young Anthony - he

A U.S. Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force - Crisis Response - Africa 20.1, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, poses for a picture with members of Ghana Armed Forces at Burma Camp (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexander Moes)

really won. “I had a million thoughts running through my head and could not believe it” said Amenyedor. At 27-years-old, he prepared for a new beginning in the United States of America.

Just one day after Amenyedor stepped on American soil he made his way to the Long Branch, New Jersey, Marine Corps Recruiting Office.

He has now served in the United States Marine Corps for 11 years.

Amenyedor currently serves as an electrician. He now calls Jacksonville, N.C., his home, where his Ghanaian wife, six year old son, and five year old daughter reside.

More recently, he serves as a Marine with the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa A U.S. Marine with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response - Africa 20.1, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, poses for 20.1 (“20” for a picture with members of Ghana Armed Forces at Burma Camp (U.S. the fiscal year, Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alexander Moes)

“1” for the 1st rotation of the year), where he has had the opportunity to return to his birthplace in Ghana twice. During these two temporary assignments, Amenyedor served as the lead electrician in the African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership Program at Burma Camp in Accra, Ghana. Amenyedor and his fellow U.S. Marines conducted training on equipment maintenance and transportation operations at the Ghanaian Armed Forces Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Technical Training School. Amenyedor was also provided the opportunity to return to his childhood home where he shared his story with fellow Marines of the SPMAGTF-CR-AF. Amenyedor was able to provide invaluable support by interpreting the Twi language, enhancing U.S.-Ghanaian relationships and performing his electrician duties, in turn, bolstering SPMAGTF-CRAF’s ability to respond to missions and provide military support to U.S. embassies and partner nations.

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Above the Arctic Circle

By VP-4 Public Affairs Office

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atrol Squadron (VP) 4 recently concluded maritime operations in the Arctic and North Atlantic Oceans on, Jan 11, 2020.

For almost 80 days, the “Skinny Dragons” conducted Anti-Submarine Warfare missions aboard their fleet of P-8A Poseidon jets, the nation’s only long-range anti-submarine warfare aircraft, from partner nation air bases in Portugal, Iceland, and Norway. These missions reinforced commitments to defend the U.S. and allies, deter aggression, and strengthen the NATO alliance.

to the level of our training. We tirelessly expend effort to ensure that every mission adds value to our core competency of delivering lethality on the high seas.”

Added Lewis, “We want our adversaries to know that, with our NATO allies, we can hold them at risk anywhere in the world, at any time. In so doing, we help preserve world order and the future of freedom loving democracies.”

VP-4 is currently forward deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations and is assigned to Commander Task Force 67, responsible for tactical control of deployed maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadrons throughout Europe and Africa.

Two P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 are parked on the apron of Keflavik Air Base following a snow storm. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Ryan McFeely)

“Every time we fly, we train for the high end fight”, said Cmdr. Wayne Lewis, commanding officer of VP-4. “Our missions are like a long hunt, rising in early morning hours, often in dark corners of world in harsh conditions where the plight of vulnerable nations teeters on the edge between democracy and chaos. Our crews are patient, deliberate and highly trained to find, track and when directed, deliver weapons and deter aggression. Day in and day out, we study every signal, every muscle twitch because we know that in the chaos of combat, we never rise to the level of our expectations, we fall

Two P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 are parked on the apron of Keflavik Air Base following a snow storm. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Ryan McFeely)

“The Skinny Dragons of VP-4 have led numerous successful operations, setting the global standard for ASW excellence”, said Capt. Bill Pennington, Commodore of Task Force 67. “They consistently demonstrate the competitive team spirit necessary to dominate and win anywhere in the European theater.”

January 24, 2020

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL VISITS ALLIANCE GROUND SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT IN ITALY

By NATO Press Office

ATO Secretary General Jens N Stoltenberg welcomed

the arrival of two Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) remotely piloted aircraft at a ceremony in Sigonella, Italy on Friday (17 January 2020).

The Secretary General outlined the importance of the AGS system, which will enable commanders to identify threats and view conditions on the ground, in any weather.

“One single drone can watch over a territory with the comparable size NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg being briefed on the Alliance Ground Surveillance aircraft.

(Photo curtesy of NATO Press Office) of Poland,” he said.

The new unarmed surveillance aircraft can also fly for over and operated by all NATO Allies. All Allies 30 hours at a time. “It can reach the High will benefit from the intelligence derived North and the Sahel, the Middle East and the from AGS surveillance and reconnaissance Atlantic,” said the Secretary General. When missions. all five NATO RQ-4D aircraft are operational, Addressing military officials and industry, the Alliance will be able to monitor and help the Secretary General thanked Italy for protect two large regions around the clock. hosting the AGS system, and praised the The AGS system will be collectively owned commanders at Sigonella Air Base. “Today, NATO is filling an important intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability gap,” he said. He also congratulated the NATO AGS Management Organization and the NATO AGS Management Agency for the delivery of this milestone.

Six hundred personnel from across the Alliance will operate the AGS system.

“They are our newest force,” said Mr Stoltenberg. He stressed that AGS is a visible NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg being briefed on the Alliance Ground Surveillance demonstration of NATO’s aircraft. (Photo curtesy of NATO Press Office) commitment to innovation.

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Sant’Agata Festival to be Held in Catania Feb. 3rd - 5th

By Alberto Lunetta, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

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The annual “Festa di Sant’Agata” (Saint Agatha Festival) is by far the most impressive religious festival held annually in Sicily. Featuring processions, holy masses concerts and amazing fireworks, it takes place in city’s the historic center from Feb. 3 through 5. (Photo by Andriana Genualdi)

fter a year of preparation, Catania townspeople are ready to celebrate “La Festa di Sant’Agata” (Saint Agatha Festival) the third largest Catholic festival in the world.

The festival, which is preceded by a month of preparatory events, features three days of massive festive processions and events which will take place February 3-5 in the historic heart of Catania.

“Semu divoti tutti?

Cettu, Cettu, Citatini, viva Sant’Aita!”(Are we all devotees? Yes, of course, sure, Townspeople, long live St. Agata)!” Devotees

will repeatedly scream those passionate words during the processions until they get a hoarse voice as a demonstration of their devotion to the beloved patroness. These celebrations which mingle the sacred and profane, will involve hundreds of thousands of Catanians who will swarm the streets of the historic center to pay homage to the statue of the “Santuzza,” or young saint (St. Agata’s nickname given because of her young age).

This must-see event, which only happens once a year, attracts thousands of Divoti (devotees) to defy bad weather

Life of Sant’Agata

According to tradition, Agata came from a rich family. Her virtues and her beauty drew the attention of Quintianus, a local Roman governor who actively and brutally persecuted Christians.

Agata, who already consecrated herself to God, refused his advances. Therefore, Quintianus decided to punish her by having her locked up in a brothel where Aphrodisia, a wicked woman, tried to corrupt Agata’s virtue and faith by playing wiles and stratagems.

Agata never wavered and resisted to all her attempts.

Quintianus, miffed by Agata’s firmness, had her undergo terrible tortures such as cutting off her breast. This detail was often depicted in the Christian medieval paintings as a peculiar

characteristic of Saint Agata.

Tradition also tells about prodigious events that occurred while Agata was in prison such as the apparition of St. Peter who comforted and healed all her wounds. Eventually, after repeated tortures Quintianus had Agata condemned to the stake. While she was burning alive a violent earthquake struck Catania. This natural disaster was welcomed by the Catanians as a sign of God who wanted the tortures inflicted to Agata to be over. Thus, a riot broke out in the city forcing Quintianus to stop the infamous execution. Agata was then brought back to her prison where she died right after. It was Feb. 5, 251 AD. Later on the same day Quintianus fled the city, out of fear of the riot, and drowned in the river Simeto.

- Traditional Sweets Cassatine: small breast-shaped cassate pastries filled with ricotta cheese, covered by sugar glaze, with a candied cherry on top.

Olivette di Sant’Agata: Olivette (Olive-shaped and green marzipan sweets). Olivette are also available in a chocolate covered version.

Torrone: A nougat made with sugar, honey, egg whites, almonds and hazelnuts.

January 24, 2020

conditions to see her while she is brought in procession.

According to an ancient, tradition, Saint Agata is considered a salvatrice (saviour), which alleges she rescued Catania several times over the centuries, especially during earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Legend has it that her holy purple-colored veil (named “limpia” in Sicilian) stopped two dangerous eruptions. The first of which occurred in 251 AD, a year after her martyrdom, and the second in 1886, when the lava threatened Nicolosi. In both cases, the veil was brought in procession to the eruption site and the advancing lava flow miraculously stopped.

The holy veil is 13 feet long by

20 inches large. Three golden threads decorate its extremities.

According to legend, the veil, which was originally white, covered the head of Saint Agata when she was rolled over live coals during her martyrdom. As a result of this torture, the “limpia” remained miraculously undamaged by the fire and turned red. Since then the veil has been venerated as a defense against Etna eruptions.

Catanians have been celebrating this festival since 1519. For centuries, there has been a long-running controversy between Catania and Palermo over where she was born, but it looks like Catania won the debate.

Every year, a stream of devotees of all ages will crowd

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the streets dressed in white tunics (historically women would wear green, though today many female devotees wear white), called “saccu” in Sicilian, gloves, a handkerchief, and black skullcap (in Sicilian, “a scuzzitta”).

According to tradition, the saccu symbolizes the nightdress which Catanians wore when the Saint’s relics returned from Turkey on Aug. 17, 1126.

History recounts it was a great feast for the Catania community whose residents demonstrated their enthusiasm by waiving white handkerchiefs. Other historic accounts link the white tunic tradition to both the ancient Egyptian Goddess Isis or more recently, the penitential garment worn by priests.

- In the Procession Vara: is a 16-foot long richly decorated silver float on which the bust depicting Saint Agata and several crystal and silver caskets containing her relics (legs, arms and other bones) carried in procession.

Cannalori:

- More Information -

As you attend the festival, be sure to also visit the annual Fiera di Sant’Agata or Saint Agatha’s Fair which will be set up at the Villa Bellini (public gardens) from February 2 through 6.

For more information and festival’s details, visit the following web sites: www.festadisantagata.it www.circolosantagata.it www.facebook.com/festadisantagatact/ www.cattedralecatania.it

are tall wax candles surrounded by a heavy (up to 1,500 pounds) candelabrum-shaped gilded wooden structure. They are decorated with statues depicting angels, saints, pennons and flowers.

Scenes from the Saint Agata martyrdom are also carved on their sides. Each Cannalora represent a city’s guild such as butchers, greengrocers, fishmongers, pasta makers, bakers and more.

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Memo From Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly

Education for Seapower

e live in a dynamic era. For our Navy and Marine Corps team, this dynamism will present challenges - known and unknown, seen and unseen. In fact, W perhaps the most predictable thing we can say about the future means investing in

more platforms and new weapons systems, but nothing will be more important than the investment that we make in learning, and in creating a force made up of people who thirst for it. Accordingly, the landmark 2018 Education for Seapower (E4S) report recognized that the intellectual capability of our Navy and Marine Corps team and a lifelong passion for continuous learning would be our foundation of any credible deterrent to war.

In the year since the E4S report was completed, we have moved quickly to introduce sweeping changes in the prioritization, integration, and resourcing of naval education. In October 2019, we hired the Department of the Navy’s first Chief Learning Officer (CLO) to lead Navy and Marine Corps education efforts, and earlier last month I issued budget orders to increase current education resources by 22 percent across the Navy and Marine Corps education enterprise. These increases are happening now, and as we execute the Fiscal Year (FY) 20 budget, finalize our budget proposals for FY21, and begin our planning for the FY22 Future Years Defense Plan, these increases will be visible.

In the Next four months, we will also take the following three important steps in implementing E4S:

U.S. Naval Community College Our highest priority is to create a new United States Naval Community College (USNCC) that offers advanced, online technical and analytic education to our enlisted force in critical areas like IT, cyber, and data science. Free for every Sailor and Marine, the USNCC will fill a long-neglected gap in our education continuum, and provide a recruiting and retention incentive through degree-granting relationships with major four-year public and private universities across the nation.

Last year, the CLO completed planning for this new effort and identified physical space for the college at Quantico, Virginia, where the USNCC will be based alongside the Marine Corps University. This year, will hire a President and Provost to lead the USNCC, identify key partners in the civilian higher education community to help deliver world class education, and form the first cohort of Navy and Marine Corps students for enrollment in a pilot program in January 2021.

Naval Education Strategy 2020 In the next thirty days, we will release Naval Education Strategy 2020, the first-ever comprehensive education strategy for our integrated naval force. The strategy will lay out a clear road map to develop a lifelong learning continuum for our entire force, reform our personnel system to better recognize and reward the value of education, and invest in and reform our schools and education programs.

This new strategy will provide expectation for the Navy and marine corps to: (1) develop warfighters and leaders who possess initiative, creativity, analytic capability, and critical problem solving skills; (2) increase our geopolitical awareness, including better comprehension of the intentions and capabilities of potential adversaries; (3) expand our ability to understand and deploy with greater lethality new and emerging technologies; and (4) improve the sophistication of our financial management, logistics, IT, and weapons system acquisition skills.

Strategic Education Requirement for Flag and General Officers Our commitment to education must begin at the top - and that commitment looms large in our own naval heritage. On December 7, 1941, 82 of the 84 Navy Flag Officers on active duty had graduated from the U.S. Naval War College, and benefited from the chance to think deeply about the naval operational art and science of war. The opportunity to wargame future scenarios and technologies, debate and write alongside peers who will command together at the highest levels, was just as precious then as it is today.

This is why, among many other reason, that the E4S Decision Memorandum of February 5, 2019 made in-residence strategic studies graduate education a requirement for promotion to Flag or General Officer rank. This month, I will issue new guidelines setting forth the intellectual qualities required for effective leadership at the Flag and General Officer rank and clear standards for strategic studies education, both in military as well as civilian graduate schools.

These steps represent real and necessary change. To deter future conflicts and to win those we cannot avoid, we must operate at or near our full theoretical potential. The only way to reach that level of Maximum effectiveness is through education, creating an ever-increasing level of intellectual agility throughout our force. “Out-fighting” our opponents - or better yet, ensuring we never have to fight at all - will always require that at first we “out-think” them. Investing in a lifelong continuum of education is the best way to ensure we will always know how.

Go Navy, and of course, as always, Beat Army!

January 24, 2020 "ICE" cont’d from Page 3

86-5444.

Edwin.Rodriguez@deca.mil or DSN Comment Regarding Childs 624-4385 / COMM 095-56-4385.

Playground: Comment Regarding Food Court The playground at the early intervention center on NAS1 is a nice Restrooms: I feel that Public Works is failing to alternative to the freedom park, but the conserve resources with the trouble call equipment is caked in dirt, mold, and that is in place with a toilet from late debris and there’s garbage all over the August. This is located in the restroom place. Can public works or maintenance facility at the food court of NAS I. There help? I throw out trash when I am there is a sign taped to the toilet stating that with my children, but it’s a constant battle PW is aware of the toilet running water it seems and it seems like a neglected constantly. As stewards of natural area that could benefit from some TLC. resources, among many other things in Response: Thank you for you input and we our environment, I am taken aback that PW did not secure the faulty toilet if they appreciate the watchteam backup in this were unable to perform a repair in an matter. The Base Oper-ating Support expedient manner. I can only imagine Contractor (BOSC), managed by Public the amount of water that has been wasted Works, is responsible for cleaning the playground equipment near the EDIS in 2 months.

Preserve natural resources, water, for Clinic. According to the contract, the playground equip-ment is to be cleaned our continued use across the globe. weekly. During a site visit performed by Response: Thank you for bringing this issue to our Public Works in direct response to your attention. We are pleased to report that comment, it is clear that the contractor the issue has been corrected. Working failed to meet the cleaning periodicity through higher priority service calls, we require-ment. The playground has were not able to respond as quickly as we since been cleaned and Public Works would have liked. For future plumbing will continue monitoring BOSC to issues, Public Works can certainly ensure full compliance with contractual secure toilets while they await repair. requirements.

Please ensure that your building manager conveys the issue when creating a trouble ticket. This ensures that the issue is BZs to Postal Service: 1) I have to give a Bravo Zulu to the properly documented and Public Works can address special considerations like 2 female postal workers working 2 shutting off the water supply to broken Dec 2019 around 1200, specifically Ceresola. Not only are those two always fixtures.

Again, thank you for your constructive extremely nice and helpful when I come feedback. We appreciate your concern by, but Ceresola was very quick and for resource con-servation as it is a courteous in finding 3 packages in less high priority for our installation. For than 5 minutes that other employees any future facilities or environmental could not find on multiple prior visits. She concerns, feel free to reach out to Lt. was very concerned about ‘making the Aaron Thompson, Asst. Public Works customer happy’ even offering the office Officer, at Aa-ron.Thompson@eu.navy. phone number to call before my wife mil or DSN 624-5444 / COMM 095- goes through the process of wrangling

Bravo Zulu

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up young kids in the car to head to the post office, to ensure the packages would be ready and the experience would be smooth. Outstanding customer service, going above and beyond. Thank you!

2) The NAS 1 postal personnel are amazing, I absolutely love the new addition of civilian employees. Keep up the good work. Reliable, dependable service with a smile.

Every week I am at the NAS1 post office with mail and look forward going even during the busy holiday season.

Every single staff member at the post office is warm, helpful and kind even with the average of 5 boxes that I bring. They have successfully navigated difficult return forms from the stores I purchased to ensuring mail I send to my fellow military members overseas is correct. My experience in Sigonella is better because of them and grateful for what they do. 6 Star service.

3) Let me tell you that you’re about to hear some serious praise of the staff working at this facility. Everyone was amazing, smiling, welcoming and ready to help, they all went above and beyond the regu-lar call of duty. We were super stressed about having to ship some last minute stuff to different locations and they made the whole process far less stressful than it would have been. I wish we had such excellent service in CFAY Yokosuka base. Give these kids a raise, a promotion, an award!! I’m a fan for life.

Here are some of the people who helped us out: Miss Samantha Jackson, Sgt. Wilson, and LSSN Clark. THANK YOU FOREVER!!

4) Wanted to let the post office they did a great job with getting all of the units their packages before Christmas break. Lots of packages were delivered to base and they did an amazing job with separating and letting units pick up in a timely manner.

A

Fairytale Evening 2020 February 8th | 4:30 - 7:00 pm NAS I Chart Room JAN 30 | NAS I GYM | 4 - 6 PM The Denver Broncos Cheerleading squad will be at Sigonella hosting a free cheerleading clinic for kids of all ages in the NAS 1 Gymnasium. After the clinic, stick around for a meet and greet and photo opportunities with the cheerleaders, Broncos players and the Broncos mascot.

No pre-registration necessary!

Tickets: $5 per person ages 3+ | Under 3 are free Purchase tickets at Community Recreation

For more info, call 624-4941 or 624-4263.

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NAVYMWR SIGONELLA

the sun soaking of ocean Spend the day iful Mediterranean in the beaut

and playing

the sun soaking of ocean Spend the day tiful Mediterranean in the beau

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