The Signature | May 31, 2019

Page 1

May 31, 2019

AN INTERVIEW WITH ITAF COMMANDER COL. CHIRIATTI Story on page 6

NAVY COLLEGE HOLDS GRADUATION BIG CHANGE TO TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM


The Signature

2

Direct Line

NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Officer, Lt. Karl Schonberg

C

iao Sigonella! As some of you know, I turned over with Lt. Andriana Genualdi as the NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Officer in late March. I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet the NAS Sigonella community and hear your stories. I look forward to continue to getting to know as many people here as I can. I can honestly say, it has been nothing short of an incredible welcome thus far, so thank you. So what kind of story do I have to offer? Prior to NAS Sigonella, I was stationed as a deployable public affairs officer out of San Diego. During those two and a half years I went underway on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, USS Nimitz, USS Ronald Reagan, and USS Barry and took part in the first combat deployment of the F-35B Lightning II’s aboard the USS Essex. I spent two weeks in Argentina as the spokesperson for the Undersea Rescue Command during an all-out search and rescue operation for the missing Argentine submarine, ARA San Juan. All of these experiences serve as the foundation of my time as a public affairs officer. Before transferring to the public affairs community, I was a submarine warfare officer. I spent three and a half years aboard the USS New Hampshire, a fast attack submarine out of Groton, CT. I deployed to the Northern Atlantic where I crossed the Arctic Circle to become a “bluenose” and got to drive a submarine in

the fjords of Norway. I was lucky enough to serve as an electrical assistant, main propulsion assistant, and assistant weapons officer. My time aboard the submarine serves as the foundation of my time as a naval officer. Before my time as a submarine officer, I spent my summers throughout high school and during my time at the U.S. Naval Academy as a commercial fisherman in Alaska. I would work 20-hour days for a month straight, no matter the weather. It was grueling work. Work that has defined my father’s side of the family for generations. The deck-plates of fishing boats in Alaska serve as the foundation of my time as a young man. It is only through the experiences

“My goal while

stationed here at Sigonella is to serve as a conduit for effective communications. ” and stories of yesterday which help make me who I am today. Today, I am lucky enough to serve here in NAS Sigonella side-by-side with you. I am excited for this chapter of my life and am excited to learn and share your stories. Please stop me when you see me, and I will gladly take the time to listen and help in whatever way I can. So what do I envision as the NAS Sigonella public affairs officer? To

me, my job is to relay problems to the right people and in-turn relay solutions to those who brought up the issue. Many times a problem isn’t necessarily a true problem, but rather a lack of effective communication. So with that rationale, I see myself as a problem solver. My goal while stationed here at Sigonella is to serve as a conduit for effective communications. By the time I leave, I want you as the Sigonella community to know that your voice can and will be heard and that your concerns won’t just be swept under the rug. I want to ensure that whether you are stationed or deployed here, you aren’t caught off guard by the unexpected to the maximum extent possible. I will strive to provide open and honest communication that you need to feel comfortable while serving here. Please reach out anytime! Thanks Sig!


May 31, 2019

3

Interactive Customer Evaluation Comment Regarding Commissary:

My comment regards the commissary. During the early bird hours from 0800-1000 on Tues 23 Apr, employees were looking through the glass doors at customers locked outside at 0815. Customers were let inside under the understanding their internet was down and they were unable to process credit card transactions. At 0840, they began processing customer orders. Not sure what the actual issue was, but locking customers outside during open hours seems like a bad move, generally.

Response:

Thank you for bringing this information to my attention. On that day, the router that supports commissary transactions was not working and had to be rebooted. No cash or credit card transactions were possible while the router was down. Normally the rebooting process takes 15 or 20 minutes and during that time, entrance is restricted. That particular day, at the request of customers, the manager on duty agreed to let customers begin shopping during the rebooting process. Going forward, to minimize any confusion, the commissary managers will follow established DeCA protocol for system failures.

and should be commended for their hard work. I look forward to attending the Advanced Riders Course in May. The only negative to the training is the actual course location. The class is held in a parking lot where vehicular traffic requires access to enter and exit the parking lot, which I felt to be a bit unsafe. Especially for firsttime riders and their inexperience in throttling down in an emergency situation. Additionally, the lines painted on the asphalt are barely visible and the parking lines interfere with the rider’s ability to interact efficiently with the physical course. I work for PWD and understand that the current course location is temporary until a permanent site is dedicated to solely to a motorcycle safety training; however, if the current (temporary) course can be painted with the proper thickness and color it would be extremely beneficial to coaches and riders.

Response:

Thank you for your positive feedback. Our number one goal for our motorcycle courses is to promote safety through education, training, and culture. As you probably already know, sace on NAS II, particularly paved space, is at a premium. The good news is that the current range has been approved to be the permanent location moving forward. The approved project includes re-painting lines, repairing Comment Regarding asphalt repair, and expanding the Motorcycle Course: parking lot for use as the motorcycle The Basic Riders Course I attended course. This project is tentatively at NAS II on 17-18 April 2019 scheduled to begin mid-June. The was extremely helpful. The coaches Safety department has added extra were knowledgeable, respectful, and motorcycle coaches during the course committed to educating us on the importance of motorcycle riding safety to guide the riders and provide live demos for motorcycle movements. and riding defensively on the road, especially on Italian roads. The coaches We apologize for any inconveniences during your experience at the took one on one time with anyone they felt needed additional instruction temporary course. If you have any further questions please contact, Chief in a particular area. Coaches LS1 Ochoa, SSGT Palmerton, and HM3 "ICE" cont’d on Page 11 Malvoisin are a huge asset to Safety

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 GMSN Rashond Grant rashond.grant@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.


The Signature

4

Name: AD2 Chanakya Sharma Department: Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment Hometown: Bhopal, India

Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment is just one of the many tenant commands here a Naval Air Station Sigonella. AIMD’s purpose is to support and repair aviation components and support equipment. AIMD itself is broken down into many shops, and in one of those shops there is a Sailor that is standing out. That Sailor is Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Chanakya Sharma. In addition to being nominated as Sailor in the Spotlight, Sharma was also selected as Junior Sailor of the Year for his command. Sharma started out his life in India, where he was raised in Bhopal, a city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. He moved to the states in 2011 and began looking for work. One of the big problems he ran into was that the U.S. economy was in the middle of a recession, and jobs were scarce. Joining the Navy seemed like one of his best options. “The big thing for me was getting a job to support my family,” said Sharma. “Once I started working for the Navy,

I saw what my leadership was doing and that pushed me to continue. Even though joining the Navy was an accident, it was a really good accident and I really love what I do.” For some people joining the Navy as an undesignated Sailor, it doesn’t work out the way they wanted it to, but some end up getting the perfect rate for them. “AD was definitely my first choice,” said Sharma. “I really researched the rate before making my choice. I joined as an undesignated airman and they gave me a couple of choices. Out of those choices I chose AD as my number one.” Sharma works in the 400 Division part of AIMD. The 400 Division is made up of two shops, 430 and 470. In the 430 shop they work on building propellers for the P-3 Orion and the C-130 Hercules. 470 is the oil lab where Sharma works. There, he analyzes the oil he receives from the squadron and checks for contamination in the oil and notifies the squadron if it is out of regulation. Sharma is leaving soon, so he has

already passed on most of his collateral duties. He was a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response volunteer, a Morale, Welfare and Recreation volunteer, and he still serves as an Assistant Command Fitness Leader for his command. Sigonella is Sharma’s second tour in the Navy and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Right now he is focusing on making 1st class petty officer, and maybe someday submitting an officer package. He already has a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering that he completed in India. His main goal while in the military is to someday work at the embassy. In addition to the many travel options, there are also a lot of local activities that Sicily offers. Sharma has enjoyed exploring the island during his tour at Sigonella. “I think this is one of the best shore duties a person can go to,” said Sharma. “My favorite thing to do was go camping during summer time. There were a lot of nice places to go around Sicily.”


May 31, 2019

NAS Sigonella Holds College Graduation By Janine Scianna NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

A graduate receives her degree U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Karl Schonberg

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Naval Air Station Sigonella held a graduation ceremony for 47 service members and civilians in the NAS I Chapel May 17. Of the graduates, 23 earned associates degrees, 16 earned bachelors degrees, and seven earned masters degrees, all from nine different schools. One person earned a high school diploma. Jay Oshiro, NAS Sigonella’s Navy College Office representative, gave opening remarks and Cdr. Patrick Moran, executive officer of NAS Sigonella, delivered the graduation address. Moran highlighted the many demands and sacrifices required to successfully complete a degree while also serving fulltime in the Navy. “You managed to balance time supporting a family with the rigorous demands of course work. No one asked you to give up scarce family time, or needed personal time, or in some cases a full or part time career. But you made the sacrifices and the effort, sometimes balancing a career and a family along the way,” said Moran. Through the Navy’s Tuition Assistance

program, the Navy can supply up to 100% of tuition and fees, not to exceed $250 per semester credit hour for 16 total semester hours every fiscal year. Schooling opportunities are extensive at NAS Sigonella, with branches of University of Maryland University College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Central Texas College all located on base. Many more

opportunities can be found via distance learning. A self-proclaimed college dropout prior to entering the service, graduate ABH2 Olga Perozocarrero was able to recalibrate her ambitions while serving active duty. She will finish out her Navy career soon with a bachelors degree in criminal justice in tow. “There were times I wanted to take a break or quit, but since I’m separating from the military, I wanted to take full advantage my education benefits,” said Perozocarrero. “If I can do it, anyone can too.” In addition to service members, many family members of service members also earned their degrees. For Robin Richmond, a former Sailor herself and now a military spouse, she said the road to receive her bachelor’s degree in psychology has been long but rewarding. “It is such an exciting thing to check off my to-do list,” said Richmond. “In today’s busy world, I genuinely enjoy learning at my own pace. Not going fast, but far.” For more information on earning your degree or using Tuition Assistance, visit www.navycollege.navy.mil.

Graduates await conferral of their degrees U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Karl Schonberg

5


The Signature

6

HOST AND PARTNER:

An Interview with the Col. Gianluca Chiriatti, Sigonella Airport Commander and 41st Wing of the Italian Air Force By Janine Scianna

NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

Living overseas, and especially on an island, it can be easy to get tunnel vision. You get into your daily routine, go to work, and then come home. Rinse and repeat the next day. But if you take a moment to step back, a picture of the intricate network of functions, commands, and partnerships at Sigonella comes into focus. The “Hub of the Med” requires an impressive number of organizations and roles to effectively carry out the installation’s multiple missions. NAS Sigonella has a dizzying array of tenant commands from all service branches except the Coast Guard—36 to be exact—but it definitely doesn’t end there. NAS Sigonella itself is actually a tenant of the larger Sigonella Italian Air Base, from which the U.S. military leases land according to our governments’ agreement. Col.

Gianluca Chiriatti wears two hats as both the commander of the Sigonella airport and commander of the 41st Wing of the Italian Air Force. In addition, he coordinates the activities of all tenant commands on the base as well as the building up the NATO AGS presence with detachments from Spain, Poland, Luxemburg, and EU Naval Forces Mediterranean Operation Sophia. Chiriatti recently sat down with NAS Sigonella Public Affairs staff to explain the opportunities and challenges of his position. Chiriatti, much like the NAS Sigonella commanding officer, has had a long and accomplished aviation career flying jets. And like the American side of the base, there are separate chains of command that handle operations—the 41st Stormo conducts missions in partnership with the Italian Navy—whereas the

Photo courtesy Sigonella Air Base Public Affairs

installation itself is under the purview of the Italian Air Force. In addition to the 41st Wing, which primarily conducts maritime patrols with P-72A aircraft, Sigonella is also home to other tenant commands of the Air Force. These include the 61st Wing, which flies the remotely-piloted Predator aircraft as well as a maintenance division for large transport aircraft. Italian Navy detachments and an operational Carabinieri unit round out the Italian units present on Sigonella. In addition to managing the installation, as commander of the Sigonella airport, he also oversees air traffic control not only for the military terminal, but also for all of eastern Sicily’s skies to include Catania flights. When any aircraft, military or civilian, enters this airspace, it is Chiriatti’s air traffic controllers who direct landings and takeoffs at Catania, Janine Scianna

Ufficio Pubblica Informazione NAS Sigonella

Quando si vive all’estero, e specialmente su un’isola, ci si può facilmente trovare incatenato in uno stato di chiusura mentale. Si vive una routine quotidiana, si va al lavoro e poi si torna a casa. Ogni giorno sempre lo stesso. Ma se ci si sofferma un attimo per fare un passo indietro, ci si rende conto della complessa rete di funzioni, comandi e partnership di Sigonella. “Il Centro Nevralgico del Mediterraneo” necessita di un numero impressionante di organizzazioni e ruoli per svolgere efficacemente le molteplici missioni dell’installazione. La Stazione Aeronavale della Marina


May 31, 2019

Comiso, and Sigonella airports. At Catania’s Fontanarossa airport alone, 10 million passengers were processed last year, representing Italy’s 5th busiest airport. As one can imagine, Chiriatti’s main challenge is balancing and facilitating all of the requirements of tenant commands under his purview. “The primary challenge I have is making sure that whatever needs to be done, I can refer to the proper person or unit,” said Chiriatti. “Sometimes to do one thing, you have to talk to several people, and you have to mediate between them to make it happen.” Chiriatti also noted the challenges that come along with a growing number of personnel and requirements on base that support each country and Allied Forces efforts. The geographic location of Sigonella makes it a natural hub for military operations in the region. History also demonstrates this. “Sigonella is like [an aircraft] carrier in the middle of the Mediterranean, a crossroad of cultures, and it’s been that way for centuries,” said Chiriatti. “You can see it everywhere you look, like the Baroque architecture.”

7

Despite the challenges that come with his position, Chiriatti is looking forward to further developing relations and trust across the base to creatively solve problems. One such example that is already happening is the streamlining of emergency response procedures across Italian and U.S. agencies. Chiriatti also would like to find more opportunities to create cultural exchange and understanding between

the two countries. He noted that such cultural exchange ultimately supports all service members. He wants to encourage everyone stationed here to get out and explore Sicily while they can and make the most of your Italian experience. “Know the place you are living in. Enjoy it. And see all the support you are giving to your family member in uniform,” said Chiriatti.

U.S. Navy photo by Janine Scianna

PARTNER OSPITANTE:

Intervista con il Col. Gianluca Chiriatti, Comandante del 41° Stormo e del Comando Aeroporto Sigonella USA di Sigonella (NAS Sigonella) ospita un incredibile numero di assetti appartenenti a tutte le Forze Armate americane ad eccezione della Guardia costiera -36 per essere precisi - e non è tutto. La NAS Sigonella stessa è in realtà un comando ospitato dalla Base aerea italiana di Sigonella che ha un’estensione più grande e che concede parte della sua superfice alle Forze Armate statunitensi, a seguito di accordi tra Governi.

Il colonnello pilota Gianluca Chiriatti, il quale comanda sia l’Aeroporto di Sigonella che il 41° Stormo dell’Aeronautica Militare Italiana, è stato recentemente intervistato dallo staff dell’Ufficio Pubblica Informazione della NAS Sigonella per spiegare le opportunità e le sfide legate al suo ruolo. Chiriatti, responsabile dei coordinamenti con tutti le realtà della base, proprio come il comandante della

NAS Sigonella, è un pilota esperto con alle spalle una lunga carriera su aerogetti. Proprio come avviene nel lato americano della base, ci sono catene di comando separate che gestiscono le operazioni (il 41 ° Stormo svolge le missioni anche con la Marina italiana) mentre l’installazione stessa dipende dall’Aeronautica Militare. Oltre al 41 ° Stormo, che svolge principalmente attività di sorveglianza marittima con i Continua a pagina 10


The Signature

8

Study Suggests Radon Presence in Houses on Etna Slopes By Alberto Lunetta NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

A recent study by National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) researchers, published in the open-access scientific journal Frontiers of Public Health, has pointed out the potential exposure to elevated radon in homes located along the faults of Mt. Etna. Radon is an inert, radioactive, colorless, and odorless gas that is naturally present in the atmosphere in trace amounts where it disperses rapidly. It is also a reliable indicator of volcanic tectonic activity. Because radon comes naturally from the earth, people are always exposed to it. However, if radon enters through cracks in houses’ floors, walls, pipes and even electrical wires in high enough concentrations and over a long enough period of time, it can harm the health of residents by possibly causing serious illnesses such as lung cancer. INGV researchers conducted the first ever multi-year study by continuously monitoring indoor radon levels to see if there could be a possibility of higher radon accumulation inside homes located near active faults. Measurements were performed during periods ranging from a few months to over three years in seven houses distributed on the eastern, southern and south-western flanks of the volcano, located at different distances from seismogenic faults. Radon testing was performed in the towns of Giarre, Zafferana Etnea, Aci Catena, Aci Castello, and Paternò. Fortuitously, the timing of data collection allowed for the measurement of radon concentrations during and after the 4.8-magnitude Dec. 26, 2018 earthquake, which

Experts from the Catania Volcanology and Geophysics National Institute have recently released the results of the first-ever soil radon gas measurements at seven different locations located along or near fault lines in an attempt to begin to map out a new geohazard zone of the Etna area. (Map elaboration by Dr. Marco Neri and Alessandro Lo Piccolo)

struck the Acireale area and caused heavy damage to buildings and roads located along or near fault lines. Results indicate that the highest concentration of indoor radon was

recorded in locations closer to active faults and above volcanic substrates. Marco Neri, a senior researcher at the Catania INGV, explained that these

"ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 10


May 31, 2019

9

Tuition Assistance and Navy College Program Policy Updates Announced From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy announced changes to Tuition Assistance (TA) and Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) program management May 21, in NAVADMIN 114/19. Beginning Oct. 1, 2019, enlisted Sailors and officers must complete a minimum of two years of service before becoming eligible to use TA or NCPACE instructor-led or Distance Learning (DL) courses. This requirement may not be waived. In addition, TA and NCPACE (DL) funding is capped at 12 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) per fiscal year (FY) and a total of 120 semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) in a career. Most Sailors in recent years have only used up to an average of nine semester hours annually. “Due to unprecedented usage and fiscal constraints, Navy is reshaping how we administer the TA and NCPACE programs,” said Jim Johnson, head of Navy Voluntary Education (VOLED). “We want to keep both programs available and sustainable for eligible Sailors, while ensuring our Sailors remain focused on their professional qualifications.” Navy transformation efforts focused on improving the “Sailor experience” have dramatically improved the ease of access to several technical and education programs, including TA and NCPACE. As a result, fleet-wide TA demand in FY19 was 30 percent higher at the midyear review than the same point in FY18. TA funding is expected to run out this month with no additional funding to be made available for the remainder of

FY19. Sailors currently taking classes or who are in receipt of a funded TA voucher will not be impacted. Johnson said that every billet is important to the Navy’s mission and that commanding officers (CO) and officers in charge (OIC) should judiciously manage their Sailors’ education outside of working hours. “A typical three semester hour college course requires up to 12 hours of weekly commitment,” he said. “COs and OICs should actively manage their Sailors’ off-duty education to meet their operational commitments when entering a period of increased operational tempo.” Command leaders should establish benchmark qualifications that first-term Sailors must earn before using TA or NCPACE including damage control, maintenance, primary warfare, watchstation or other qualifications.

Affected Sailors who desire to continue taking courses for the remainder of FY19 should contact the Navy College Virtual Education Center (NCVEC) at (877)838-1659/DSN 492-4684 or via MyNavy Portal (MNP) at https:// my.navy.mil/quick-links.html to discuss other funding options, such as GI Bill, scholarships or financial aid. Sailors could experience increased call wait times and are encouraged to use other means to speak with an education counselor including the VOLED appointment scheduler on MNP, chatting via Live Help Now® or submitting a help request “trouble ticket” on the Navy College Program website. For complete information on changes to the TA and NCPACE programs, read NAVADMIN 114/19 or visit https:// my.navy.mil/quick-links.html.

Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Destiny Kepple reviews tuition assistance request chits on board a barge adjacent to the aircraft carrier Nimitz on July 25 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emily Johnston/Navy)


The Signature

10

May isAsian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Thank you all for your service and inspiration! Segue da pagina 7

velivoli P-72A, Sigonella ospita anche tanti altri reparti tra i più importanti il 61° Gruppo Volo, che opera il velivolo Predator a pilotaggio remoto; un reparto di manutenzione velivoli tra i più importanti dell’Aeronautica, altre unità dell’Aeronautica italiana, distaccamenti della Marina italiana e unità dei Carabinieri. Da ricordare che a Sigonella è in continua fase di implementazione la NATO AGS Force e al momento sono presenti distaccamenti di Spagna, Polonia e Lussemburgo nell’ambito di EUNAVFORMED. Inoltre, il Col Chiriatti sovrintende anche il controllo del traffico aereo non solo militare, ma anche civile, il quale include gli spazi aerei della Sicilia orientale e di Catania. Quando i velivoli, militari o civili, sorvolano la Sicilia orientale, vengono assistiti dai controllori del traffico aereo dell’Aeroporto di Sigonella i quali gestiscono gli atterraggi e i decolli negli aeroporti di Catania,

Comiso e Sigonella. L’anno scorso, l’aeroporto di Catania Fontanarossa ha ospitato 10 milioni di passeggeri collocandosi al quinto posto degli aeroporti più trafficati di Italia. Come si può immaginare, la sfida principale di Chiriatti è bilanciare e gestire le richieste dei reparti ospitati sotto la sua competenza. “La mia sfida principale è affidare alle persone giuste o al reparto competente tutto ciò che deve essere fatto”, ha detto Chiriatti. “A volte per fare una cosa, devi parlare con diverse persone, e devi mediare tra di loro per farla accadere.” Chiriatti ha inoltre messo in evidenza le problematiche che accompagnano la presenza in base di un numero crescente di personale e le relative richieste operative necessarie al supporto dei vari paesi e delle forze alleate. La storia dimostra che la posizione geografica di Sigonella la rende adatta ad ospitare le operazioni militari nella regione. “Sigonella è come una portaerei nel mezzo del Mediterraneo, un

crocevia di culture ed è stato così per secoli”, ha detto Chiriatti. “Puoi vederlo ovunque, come nel caso dell’architettura barocca.” Nonostante le problematiche derivanti dalla sua posizione, Chiriatti non vede l’ora di sviluppare ulteriormente le relazioni e la fiducia all’interno della base per risolvere in modo innovativo i problemi. Un esempio attuale è lo snellimento delle procedure di risposta alle emergenze tra i reparti italiani e statunitensi. Chiriatti vorrebbe anche incrementare le opportunità di scambi interculturali tra i due paesi. Ha notato che tale scambio culturale rappresenta un beneficio per tutti i militari. Vuole incoraggiare tutti i militari che svolgono servizio qui a conoscere ed esplorare la Sicilia e trarre il massimo da questa esperienza in Territorio Italiano. “Conosci il posto in cui vivi. Goditelo. E renditi conto di tutto il sostegno che stai dando al tuo familiare in uniforme “, ha detto Chiriatti.


May 31, 2019 "ICE" cont’d from Page 3

Benton (Safety Officer) at DSN 6246261 orAZ2 Aguilar (Motorcycle Manager) at DSN 624-2031.

Comment Regarding Parking Regulations:

Tenant commands including the squadrons continuously park their TAD vans in unauthorized spots while waiting for their Sailors to shop. They allow the vans to run and today their van overheated, blocking other parked vehicles because they were parked illegally. Please communicate to commands "ITALIAN NEWS" cont’d from Page 8

fracture zones create an ideal pathway for the rising of abundant amount of radon to the surface. Researchers contend that preliminary results demonstrate the need to continue studying and monitoring radon concentrations around Etna, whose surrounding population amounts to about one million people.

Far-Right League Becomes Italy’s Largest Party After EU Elections From Reuters

The far-right political party, League, became Italy’s largest party in Sunday’s European parliamentary election, surging past its coalition partner party, 5-Star Movement, which saw its own support slump. The vote looks certain to alter the balance of power within the deeply divided government, giving greater authority to League leader Matteo Salvini, who is pushing for swinging tax cuts in possible defiance of EU budget rules. “Thank you Italy. We will use your trust well. The first party in Italy will change Europe,” a beaming Salvini said in a video posted on Facebook. With well over half the ballots counted, state broadcaster RAI forecasted that the League would win 33.8% of the vote against 17.7% for 5-Star, an almost exact inversion of the results

that they are not allowed to park illegally while they wait for people. Park in an actual parking spot. There could have been an accident today.

Response:

Thank you for voicing your concerns about parking regulations. As a reminder for all ICE comments, the more details you can include, the better we can address the underlying issue. Without more specifics on the issue you described, it is difficult to provide an adequate response.That said, let’s all remember that in our close-knit community, it is important that we treat everyone around us of national elections a year ago. The League took just 6.2% in the last EU ballot in 2014 and has seen its support surge higher since then, thanks largely to Salvini’s uncompromising stance against illegal immigration. Voting projections also indicated that the opposition party, pro-Europe Democratic Party (PD), also leapfrogged above 5-Star, winning 22.5%, compared with 18.7% in 2018 and 40.8% in 2014. “We are back,” said the PD’s new leader Nicola Zingaretti. Relations between the League and 5-Star deteriorated during the election campaign and there has been speculation that the coalition could collapse following the vote because of insurmountable differences over issues such as taxes and regional autonomy. Salvini has said repeatedly the election would have no bearing on the makeup of the government and has denied suggestions that he would demand more ministerial positions for his party in the event of victory. However, he has also said that he expects 5-Star leaders to drop their resistance to projects close to his party. League priorities include a desire to introduce a flat tax in the 2020 budget, regardless of fears this would push the deficit beyond EU limits. He has also called on 5-Star to drop objections to major infrastructure programs, including a costly transAlpine rail link known as the TAV.

11

with respect. That means obeying all parking regulations and signs on both bases. We all live and work in this community, so let’s not make life more difficult for others by impeding traffic, parking in authorized spots, etc. On another issue, a reminder to all operators of government vehicles that it is mandatory to follow all proper procedures. You should not be allowing your vehicle to idle while parked. Moreover, we should all be conscious about being good stewards of our environment and conserve fuel. Letting engines idle unnecessarily is not in keeping with that philosophy.   “Deciding the priorities of the government will now be up to Matteo Salvini and the League,” said the League’s parliamentary leader, Riccardo Molinari. 5-Star has traditionally fared better at general elections, when turnout is much higher, and it looked to have been hit on Sunday by low voter numbers in its southern Italian stronghold. “We have been penalized by abstentions, especially in the south. But now we must put our heads down and work,” 5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio said in a brief comment after the scale of the defeat became clear. 5-Star’s loss to the PD party represented a painful blow and means that Di Maio is likely to face pressure from party faithful not to make any major concessions to Salvini, which might further erode grassroot support. Partial results also showed that former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party won just 8.9% of the vote, its worst performance since it was formed 25 years ago. The nationalist Brothers of Italy party took 6.4%. Both parties were longstanding allies of the League at a national level until last year, when Salvini split from them to form a cabinet with 5-Star. However, they still stand together in local votes and their candidate triumphed in a separate regional election on Sunday in Piedmont home to the TAV rail project with the center-left coming second and 5-Star trailing badly in third place.



Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.