June 4, 2021
Vol. 38 No. 11
SIGONELLA RECYCLES MOORE NAMED NJROTC REGION CO OF THE YEAR VP-40 BEGINS DEPLOYMENT
The Signature
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Direct Line Tom Kubalewski II, Director, MWR Sigonella
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ere at MWR Sigonella, we have been eager and excited to restore MWR services to the community as the COVID-19 situation improves and the Navy and Italian restrictions ease. Unfortunately, although we are now allowed to expand our programming, severe staffing shortages are limiting what we can provide, and we have had to make some very difficult choices. To put it simply, we cannot maintain our services without the support of our NAS Sigonella community. MWR encompasses many facilities and programs that people rely on for childcare, health, and leisure. Our Child and Youth Programs (CYP) here at NAS Sigonella include the Child Development Center (CDC), School Age Care (SAC), Youth Complex on Marinai and our Youth Sports and Fitness program. Outside of CYP, MWR operates two fitness centers, two outdoor aquatics facilities, an adult sports program, a movie theater, bowling center, two different pubs, the Library, the Liberty Center, the Auto Skills Center, and the Community Recreation program which encompasses a variety of rental equipment, facility reservations, and off base trips and tours. All of these programs and facilities are staffed by Sigonella community members and American citizens through NAF (non-appropriated funds), as well as by a devoted local national workforce. Across the board, we are far below staffing levels (for our US staff) that allow us to maintain the existing hours of operation to the extent that we would like to and that the community expects. As a result, we have had many long discussions about what to prioritize with the limited staffing that we have. Based on these discussions, we arrived at the hard decision that as of June 7, the NAS I Fitness Center
will only be open three days per week (MWF) from 0530-1300. The Family Fitness center will remain open only for people accompanied by children, M-F 0930-1730. The NAS II Fitness Center hours will remain the same. The decision to maintain the regular hours of operation of the NAS II gym was made because as the “Hub of the Med” we have a constant influx of deployed service members onboard NAS II. At the same time, we have decided not to re-open the NAS II pool which will allow us to utilize our lifeguards in the gym and still be able to operate the NAS 1 pool for summer lap swim, recreational swim and swim lessons to better serve our families. We know this will not be a popular decision within our community, but I would like to remind you that this decision is only temporary as we work on creative ideas that may allow us to restore some of the hours in the short term. Ultimately, the long term solution hinges on hiring additional employees from the community. High-quality, reliable childcare is also important to the success of our mission, and Child and Youth Programs (CYP) is committed to providing this service to the community. Unfortunately, the CDC and SAC are currently severely understaffed and CNIC requires several COVID-19 mitigation measures including smaller groups of children and increased time spent on cleaning and sanitation. These circumstances mean that we are currently unable to offer spots to more families, stay open for longer hours, provide our usual summer camp offerings, or offer services like drop-in hours or INDOC care. The staffing levels also mean we are unable to reopen the Youth Complex at this time. We were able to offer a three week soccer program in June and are doing everything we can to try and offer
additional sports for the remainder of the summer and next school year. We continue to try to provide more offerings when we can, especially after the difficulties of this year. MWR tours, trips, and classes have restarted, and we are bringing back our popular Bingo. You can go to the movies, you can go bowling, you can rent outdoor recreational equipment, you can go to the library, and Jox Pub is expanding their hours as the Italian decree allows. We are also very excited for our popular Red, White and BOOM event, which will be held on Friday, July 2. However, as we go through the summer, all of these programs and facilities are dependent on appropriate staffing levels. The bottom line is that if we cannot hire more people it may result in an additional strain on MWR Sigonella services. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about how to apply for a job with MWR, please visit https://www.navymwrsigonella. com/job-opportunities or stop by the NAF Personnel Office which is located in the Commons building (157) across from Midtown, where all the job descriptions and paperwork required are available in hard copy.
June 4, 2021
Interactive Customer Evaluation Comments Regarding NEX Products: We have received multiple comments regarding product availability at the NEX Sigonella. Response: Thank you for taking the time to share your comments. The NEX takes pride in providing all customers with the essential day to day items they require and is constantly looking to update inventory to meet the changing needs of our customers. Unfortunately, the pandemic resulted in more than 250 manufacturing companies cutting their productions by more than 50% during the past year, which strained the industry worldwide. Navy Exchange Sigonella has been working diligently with other companies to fill this gap. We want to remind patrons that online ordering is available at mynavyexchange.com with an average wait time of three to four days depending on the size and weight of the product. If the item is not available on the NEX website, please feel free to reach out to the NEX manager, Teresa Goley, with any specific items you require or are looking for to place a special order. Comment Regarding CDC Hours The Child Development Center on base has required children 2 and over to wear masks. That’s good they are following guidelines but why are they not open regular hours? I pay full price for less hours of operation. Many of my co-workers and I start work earlier which makes it difficult to adjust times with mission requirements. The school on base is on regular hours, why is our Child Development Center not on board? Thank you. Response: Thank you for sharing your concerns. High-quality, reliable child care is important to the success of our mission, and Child and Youth Programs (CYP) is committed to providing this service to the community. Unfortunately, both the Child Development Center (CDC) and School Age Care (SAC) are currently understaffed. Simultaneously, the CNIC COVID-19 mitigation measures require smaller groups of children and increased time invested in cleaning and sanitization of CDC facilities. These contributing
factors result in the inability to offer more spots to families, stay open for longer hours, or offer expanded services such as drop-in hours or INDOC care. CYP is currently hiring for many positions at both the CDC and SAC, including part time, full time, and flex. If you’re interested in learning more about working at a rewarding job, gaining skills you can use at other CDCs at other bases, and filling this vital need for our community, please visit https://www.navymwrsigonella. com/job-opportunities or stop by the NAF Personnel Office, which is located in the Commons building (157) across from Midtown. If you have further questions or concerns, please contact Adam D’Amico, CYP Director, at adam.damico@eu.navy. mil. Comment Regarding Rotator Bookings: I learned tonight people have been calling directly to book their flights as soon as they have orders. No intervening travel clerk. No transfer package. No transfer date. No travel waiver when they were needed. Just orders and a phone call. It was not common knowledge enough for me and my family who are stuck flying commercial and selling our pets. Pets that came here on the rotator. Those of us following the rules cannot get a break. Response: Thank you for raising this issue to our attention. After further review, it is true that non-Navy service components and DoD civilians had an advantage when it came to booking transportation on the rotator. Due to their service-branch transfer process, non-Navy personnel were not required to submit transfer/ separation packages through PSD for review and processing. Rather, they only needed to submit their orders without an approved transfer package to book spots on the rotator. To make transportation booking fair (first come first served) across the board, PSD Sigonella changed the process for Navy personnel. Navy personnel were required to wait until their PCS transfer package was fully vetted and approved prior to booking a spot on the rotator. CPPAs will now submit two separate "ICE" cont’d on Page 11
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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
Commanding Officer Capt. Kevin Pickard Executive Officer Cmdr. Ronald Cappellini Command Master Chief CMDCM Anna Wood EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Karl Schonberg karl.schonberg@eu.navy.mil Assistant Public Affairs Officer Megan Mills megan.mills@eu.navy.mil Public Affairs Leading Petty Officer MC1 Kegan Kay kegan.kay@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writers \ Photographers MC2 Joshua Coté joshua.m.cote@eu.navy.mil MCSN Triniti Lersch triniti.lersch@eu.navy.mil CONTACT US
Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily thesig@eu.navy.mil DSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440 PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001
This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments, divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs Office via thesig@eu.navy.mil. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers.
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The Signature
Name: Aldrin Navarrete Command: NAS Sigonella Department: Emergency Management By MC2 Josh Coté, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
he Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Emergency T Operations Center (EOC) plays an important role in keeping service members and their families safe here. The
EOC is prepared for any number of disasters and contingency operations that could happen while stationed here in Sigonella. At the EOC, Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) (ABH) 2nd Class Aldrin Navarrete from San Diego, stands out for the hard work he has been putting in. Navarrete has already been made the Department Leading Petty Officer, a position usually reserved for first class petty officers. “Petty Officer Navarrete is a rock star,” said Emergency Management Leading Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) David Hooker. “In the absence of senior leadership in the emergency management department, Navarette stepped up as the departmental lead petty officer to lead through the COVID-19 mitigation, vaccine deliveries, and the emergency operations center.” As an ABH, Navarrete does different work on shore duty than he is used to at sea. Aboard ships, ABHs are charged with directing and parking aircraft as well as the daunting task of connecting them to the aircraft carrier catapults which launch them into flight. Here at NAS Sigonella, Navarrete starts his day by finalizing the list of people requesting access to base; which he then coordinates with the base executive officer to get those people the approval they need. In the EOC, though, Navarrete must be prepared for anything. “My favorite part about my job is helping people,” said Navarrete. “We get activated on a weekly basis here. We are actually activated right now. We coordinate with the Incident
Management Team to help people that live out in the economy if something happens. When we have heavy volcanic ash fall in the towns up on the mountain, we need to find out if those people living out there need our help with getting food, water or other needs.” Along with keeping up with his daily work routine, Navarrete also holds a number of collateral duties. He is the building manager for his department, admin coordinator, and the department training coordinator. People join the military different reasons, some to get out of their hometown or to serve their country, but for others it can be more than that. “I joined the Navy at first get my American citizenship. It is easier to do through the military,” said Navarrete. “Also I like to travel. I did a lot of traveling when I first joined the Navy. “ Navarrete joined the Navy not too long after moving to San Diego. He chose the Navy over the other branches of the military due to a family history of also being in the Navy. He has been in for about eight years, and has since acquired his citizenship. Prior to coming to Sigonella, he was stationed aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) and the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). When it comes to be stationed here in sunny Sigonella, people find enjoyment in many different ways but for Navarette, it’s the Sicilian pistachios that light him up. “My favorite part about Sicily is anything pistachio,” said Navarrete. “They use it on everything: pasta, pizza, cheese, and any type of cold cuts with pistachio, I get that. I knew what pistachios were, but I did not know anything about it being a cream in pasta or a topping on pizza. America needs to catch up on this!”
June 4, 2021
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Eliza Moore Named Region NJROTC CO Of the Year
By NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
n another history-making turn for the Sigonella High I School (SHS) Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp (NJROTC) program, senior Eliza Moore was named
Commanding Officer of the Year for the Italy, Spain, and the Northeastern United States region. Earlier this year, Moore led the Sigonella NJROTC team that competed in and won the 2021 National Academic Championship for the first time in the school’s history. “This young lady is just plain incredible!” said Senior Chief Victor Martinez, Naval Science teacher at SHS. “There is simply no task you can assign her that she can’t get done and get done to a new standard.” Moore moved to Sigonella the summer before her first year in high school, and she quickly began excelling both academically and in her extracurricular activities, including the NJROTC program. “I actually hadn’t heard too much about it before my freshman year, but my dad had done ROTC in college and he loved it, and he thought I’d really enjoy it, so I figured I’d give it a shot,” said Moore. “I didn’t know if I would keep doing it after my first year, but I really learned to love it.” “I like the structure behind ROTC,” she continued. “I like the ability to move through the ranks and get promoted and earn ribbons. I love the camaraderie; I met a lot of my closest friends through ROTC.” As the CO of the SHS NJROTC program, Moore not only led the team to the academic championship and through an impressive Annual Military Inspection, but also guided the program through a period of upheaval. According to the award citation, “Eliza Moore ensured that the daily routine and training of the Navy JROTC unit were running at full speed ahead during the unannounced retirement and absence of the Senior Naval Science Instructor and the transition period of the acting Senior Naval Science Instructor.” In addition to being a leader in NJROTC, Moore spent her time at SHS joining the National Honors Society, the Italian Club, and Model United Nations, and the Keystone Club. She served as the student body’s vice president and the president of the Student to Student program, received the Principal’s Award for Academic Excellence, earned the Coach’s Most Improved Player Awards in volleyball, soccer, and wrestling, and won first place at the National Junior Science and Humanity Symposium. As one might expect, Moore has honed her leadership skills through both NJROTC and her other activities. “For me, being a good leader means being a good listener,” said Moore. “One of the biggest things I do as a leader in any of the organizations I’m a part of is just always ask for constant critiques or criticism or areas for improvement. I find the more I listen to what those I’m leading want and the more I listen to their ideas, the more successful we usually
are.” In addition to her many extracurricular activities, Moore maintained an excellent academic record; she was the salutatorian of the SHS class of 2021. Reflecting on the difficulties of the past fifteen months, Moore said, “This year was definitely challenging; it required a lot of thinking outside of the box. Being able to lean on each other and support one another was a vital part of this year. It was the only thing that kind of made all the changes and ups and downs bearable.” In June, Moore’s father retired after 24 years in the Air Force just two days before her graduation. Though she attended as a family member, the NJROTC cadets she commanded were a part of his retirement ceremony. “It was a touching moment,” Moore said. “It’s the end of an era for our family.” This fall, Moore will be attending Duke University on a full scholarship, and many of her SHS teachers believe she will continue to make history.
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The Signature
Trash Talk: Recycling on Base
Story by Megan Mills, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs, Graphics by MCI Kegan Kay, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
ow do you reduce a base’s trash output from 45 H tons to 1.5? The short answer: recycle everything you can.
Italy has strict laws about recycling and general refuse, and entities like NAS Sigonella are required to strive for a 60% recycling rate. Unfortunately, throughout the past year, the collective recycling rate on Marinai, NAS I, and NAS II has significantly dropped. Furthermore, it is more costly to send our waste to a landfill than to recycling plants. For those of us used to trash and recycling in the United States, the transition to European-style waste management may be a bit of a surprise; in addition to the legal requirements, there are more bins and different rules for us to wrap our heads around! Even though it takes a bit more time and work, recycling everything we can is good not only for the base, but also the environment. Each town in Sicily has a different schedule and set of rules for recycling. In the past, those living on the economy may occasionally have missed a general refuse pickup and brought their trash to base. However, this is no longer allowed, so we encourage everyone to make sure you have the most updated schedule and rules
posted on your fridge or somewhere handy for everyone in your household. For those in Marinai and anyone who throws things away on NAS I or NAS II, here are a few important things to remember: - In Marinai, remember to dispose all food waste in the separate organic bins. This includes vegetable scraps, fruit peels, coffee grounds, and leftovers of any kind. These leftovers can be bagged and thrown into the bin. This option is not yet available on NAS I or NAS II. - If your plastic item has a recycling symbol on it, it can be recycled. - Rinse and dry anything that has come in contact with food to ensure there are no remnants before placing it in the bins. - Glass and aluminum are grouped together for recycling on base. - Squash it! Break down your cardboard boxes, stomp your soda cans, and squeeze the air out of your plastic water bottles to make more room in the bins for others to recycle. Get your kids involved. Get your office involved. If we work together, Team Sigonella can definitely make a difference!
June 4, 2021
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Ancient Greek Drama Festival Returns to Siracusa By Dr. Alberto Lunetta, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
merican writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo A Emerson wrote, “The beautiful fables of the Greeks, being proper creations of the imagination and not of the
fancy, are universal verities.” These timeless dramas, which consist of a brilliant mixture of ancient myths, complicated tragic stories, religious rituals, and lyric poetry, are still relevant in our modern times. Now, what could be more fascinating than watching an ancient Greek drama in its original setting? There is a place in Sicily where you can actually do that. A place that will make you travel back in time. A place where spectators from all eras have been moved by the predicaments of human life. This place is the magnificent Siracusa Greek theater. After being closed for a year due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers of the INDA Ancient Greek Drama Festival are preparing the 56th edition of the Stagione del Teatro Greco. This cultural event, which is held at the Siracusa Greek Theater, boasts a worldrenowned tradition dating back to 1914. This year, the festival will run from July 3 to August 22 featuring three plays: “The Choephori/Eumenides” by Aeschylus, “The Bacchantes” by Euripides, and “The Clouds” by Aristophanes. In ancient Greece, the first “Tragedies” were actually satiric myths that were sung and danced by a chorus during the festival held in honor of Dionysus, the God of wine. According to some historians, the word “tragedy” derives
from the Greek word “tragoidia,” or goat-song, because goats were sacred to Dionysus and the chorus wore goatskins. Surprsingly in today’s day and age, goats were given as awards for the best performances. Over the years, these performances developed a more serious form. Instead of gaiety and burlesque, the plays focused on the relationship between man and the gods. These dramas attempted to answer questions about the nature of man, his position in the universe, and his relationship with the supernatural powers governing his life. These tragic plays were basically aimed at expressing man’s feelings towards the uncontrollable external forces ruling his destiny despite his will. The Greek Theater of Siracusa is the oldest and largest in Sicily. The landmark of the city, it has a capacity of about 15,000 spectators and still boasts amazing sound quality. It was built in the 5th century BCE, expanded in the 3rd century BCE, and renovated again in the Roman period. It was the venue of performances by the most important playwrights of the time such as Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, Aristophanes etc. The theater was also used as a place of worship and hosted large popular assemblies, as well as public trials. Almost forgotten and abandoned in the Middle Ages and in the following centuries, the theater suffered structural damage over the years. Since 2005, the theater it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list for being “the finest example of outstanding architectural creation spanning several cultural aspects (Greek, Roman and Baroque).” For more information and performances’ schedules, visit www.indafondazione.org Tickets can be purchased at https://indafondazione. vivaticket.it The Choephori/Eumenides by Aeschylus July 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 The Bacchantes By Euripides July 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 August 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 , 16 , 18 , 20
The Ancient Greek Drama Festival returns to Siracusa after pandemic canceled the 2020 edition canceled last year. It will run from July 3 through August 21 with limited outdoor audiences at the breathtaking Siracusa Greek Theater dating back to the 5th century BC. (Photo by https:// it.wikiquote.org/)
The Clouds, comedy by Aristophanes August 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 "Italian News" cont’d on Page 11
June 4, 2021
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To Roth or Not to Roth By MC1 Kegan Kay, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
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t’s time for the second installment of our financial competency series to help everyone gain a better understanding and control of their financial situation. Last time we covered planning for retirement, we focused on the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) for service members. In this issue, we are going to discuss two different types of accounts you can put your retirement contributions in: Traditional TSP and Roth TSP. The first thing to understand when choosing between Traditional TSP or Roth TSP is that there is no right or wrong decision—it is a personal choice. No one but you can decide which one account (or both) to put your contributions toward. The main difference between Traditional and Roth is all about taxes. In the Traditional TSP, you make your contributions before taxes are taken out, which means you’ll pay taxes when you withdraw your money. In the Roth TSP, you pay the taxes up front when you contribute, so during retirement, you’ll receive qualified Roth distributions tax-free. To put it simply – with Traditional you pay taxes later, and with Roth you’ll pay taxes now. However, there are some important details and exceptions to be aware of. The TSP website, tsp.gov, provides a caveat regarding Roth contributions: “Roth earnings become tax-free when 5 years have passed since January 1 of the year you made your first Roth contribution and you have reached age 59½, have a permanent disability, or have died.” For service members deployed to tax-free zones, contributions during this time are treated differently. Traditional contributions go in tax-free but all of the growth will be taxed. Roth contributions go in tax-free and the growth will never be taxed. It’s also important to note that if you are enrolled in the Blended Retirement System, the matching contributions from the government will always go into Traditional TSP whether or not you put your contributions into Roth. Keep in mind IRS has set annual limits for all retirement accounts including TSP, so for details about the annual limit, special limits or additional limits for combat zones, please visit the TSP.gov As a reminder from the previous article, to manage your contribution amount and account type, use your MyPay account. Now, let’s move on to where your contributions within those accounts are invested. TSP contributions are invested in either stock funds or lifecycle funds. When it comes to investing, there is always some risk involved, and that is no different when investing in stock funds through TSP. The difference comes down to the amount of risk you are comfortable with. TSP offers five different stock funds. From least to most risky, they are: G Fund, F Fund, C Fund, S Fund and I Fund. When it comes to investing money, it’s often true that the “bigger the risk, bigger the reward,” as Greyson Chance said. At the same time, it’s also true that “the higher the climb, the harder the fall.” This is where the Lifecycle Funds come into play. A TSP Lifecycle Fund is a diversified mix of the five core funds we just went over. The purpose of the ten available lifecycle funds are to let you invest your
entire portfolio and get the best expected return for the amount of expected risk that is appropriate for you. Lifecycle Funds are broken up based on the contributor’s potential retirement date. The current available LFs are L Income, L 2025, L 2030, L 2035, 2040, L 2045, L 2050, L 2055, L 2060, L 2065. Basically, the further out your potential retirement date is, the riskier the Lifecycle Fund portfolio will be. When you have more years until you plan to remove funds from TSP, the Lifecycle Fund will invest more of your money in the C, S and I Funds for the potential higher returns while maintaining time to recover if there are losses. The closer you get to your retirement date, the safer the fund becomes by moving more of your contribution into the G and F Funds so there is less risk of losing your retirement savings by the time you are ready to withdraw. Once again, the best choice of investment all comes down to personal choice and how much you are willing to risk. Only you can make this choice! Remember, the only way to manage your choice of Fund and contribution is to access your TSP account. From there you’ll be able to choose and determine the percentage amount of your contribution go into which fund(s). If you have questions regarding TSP or other financial concerns, please reach out to your command financial specialist or to Fleet and Family Support Center to speak to a personal financial manager to assist you.
TSP Funds
G
The G Fund is a Government Securities Investment Fund, which are specially issued to the TSP. In this fund, money from contributions cannot be lost and has a consistent but low investment return. The risk with this fund is that money invested into it may not grow to meet your projected retirement needs or outpace inflation. If you haven’t looked at your TSP account since boot camp or have never looked at your TSP, then your contributions are probably going to the G Fund.
F
The F Fund is a Fixed Income Index Investment Fund, which means government, corporate and asset-backed bonds. This fund may earn higher returns than money market funds over long term with low risk. The risk with this fund is that bond prices fall when interest rates rise and the bonds can be repaid early, reducing your returns.
C
The C Fund is a Common Stock Index Investment Fund, which are stocks of large and medium-sized U.S. companies. Investing the C Fund has a potential for high investment returns over the long term but the risks are based on stock market performance and therefore could potentially be very volatile.
S
The S Fund is a Small Capitalization Stock Index Investment Fund, which are stocks of small to medium-sized U.S. Companies. Like the C Fund, the S Fund has the potential for high investment returns over the long term, but it too is dependent upon stock market performance.
I
The I Fund is an International Stock Index Investment Fund, which are International stocks from more than 20 developed countries. Once again, like the C and S Funds, the I Fund has potential for high investment returns over long term but is based on stock market performance so it can be volatile.
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The Signature
Keflavik, Iceland - A P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from VP-40 conducted exercise detachments out of Keflavik, Iceland and Rota, Spain in addition to supporting operational missions out of Sigonella, Sicily under Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet and Task Force 67. Photo By: AME2 Carter Burlison
VP-40 Begins Deployment to Sixth Fleet By Lt. j.g. Patrick Kaczka, VP-40 Public Affairs
he “Laging Handa” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 has T started their deployment to the U.S. Sixth Fleet areas of responsibility (AOR) in support of maritime security
operations and of NATO Allies and partners, April, 28, 2021. “Laging Handa”- the squadron motto that is Tagalog for “Always Ready” – is alive and at the core of every service member assigned to the “Fighting Marlins” of Patrol Squadron 40 (VP-40). The Fighting Marlins began a landmark deployment in April 2021, tactically operating the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for the first time in squadron history, and also supporting U.S. Sixth Fleet for the first time in decades. Additionally, it is a landmark deployment for the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Community, as it marks the culmination of the active duty transition of all 12 squadrons from the P-3C Orion to the P-8A Poseidon. The Fighting Marlins were the last active duty Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force squadron to undergo aircraft transition, a process that started in Jacksonville, Florida with VP-16 in 2012 and concluded in Whidbey Island, Washington with VP-40. VP-40’s transformation to P-8A began in November 2019 under the instruction of VP-30 in Jacksonville, Florida and consisted of extensive ground and flight instruction, testing, and evaluation for combat air crews and maintenance personnel. In May 2020, the Fighting Marlins completed a uniquely challenging transition, one that saw normal travel and operations halted by the COVID-19 global pandemic, then began the task of building and training 12 combat-ready aircrews, ready to surge worldwide at a moment’s notice. This display of turning adversity into opportunity set the tone for VP-40’s preparation for deployment to the Sixth Fleet AOR the following year. Within a month of completing transition, United States Pacific Command called for P-8A operations in Alaska and the Fighting Marlins answered the call, sending all of their formed and qualified P-8A crews while still building additional crews in Whidbey.
Along with VP-4 and VP-9, VP-40 crews completed multiple detachments to the North Pacific, executing operational tasking and holding the Pacific Northwest Homeland Defense ready for nearly two months. Upon the conclusion of those operations, VP-40 again detached crews, aircraft and maintainers to Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii to stand the watch for the Pacific Homeland Defense ready. While there, crews conducted multiple training and operational Anti-Submarine Warfare and Anti-Surface Warfare missions in support of Commander Third Fleet, and Search and Rescue missions in support of United States Coast Guard District 14. These detachments, along with coordinated and individual training exercises at home in Whidbey Island, continued to hone the Fighting Marlins’ agility and tactical acumen as the squadron geared up for deployment. Since arriving in theater in April of 2021, VP-40 conducted exercise detachments out of Keflavik, Iceland and Rota, Spain in addition to supporting operational missions out of Sigonella, Sicily under Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet and Task Force 67. Much more lies ahead, and the Marlins are excited to take on the challenges of operating in a dynamic environment. “Laging Handa,” as stated boldly at the top of the squadron logo, signifies the resilient, agile, and lethal mindset that enables VP-40 Sailors to be “Always Ready” and prepared to support combat missions worldwide. VP-40 is concurrently serving under CTF 67 performing maritime patrol and reconnaissance missions throughout Central and South American, European, and African theaters. The P-8A Poseidon provides the fleet with essential information from operations supporting both peace and conflict. U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
June 4, 2021 "ICE" cont’d from Page 3
transactions in TOPS for processing transfers (PCS). One transaction will contain all documentation required for transportation booking, and the other will contain all other documents required for transfer/separation. PSD Transfer Clerks will thoroughly review submissions, and if all documentation is accurate and complete, they will forward the transportation transaction immediately to NAVPTO for booking. This change will allow the transfer packages to be reviewed and approved separately from the rotator booking process. This change in our process ensures that all personnel on NAS Sigonella, whether Navy or otherwise, have the same opportunity when it comes to booking transportation on the Rotator for themselves and their pets. We appreciate your comment which allowed us to rectify the disparity.
Bravo Zulu BZ to MWR WOW WOW WOW!!!!! Superb job by Miss McKinsey and Miss Jessica. WOD on the Water was a perfect event that these two ladies hosted! Professional Helpful and Motivating. Three words to describe how today went, along with Perfect Planning and Flawless Execution! I have been here just under a year, and if MWR host events like this often, without a doubt I’ll be there!!!! Thank you sooooooooo much!!!!!!!!! BZ to MVRO Mr. Balboa assisted me today with the shipping paperwork for my motorcycle. He was very courteous, astute and knew his job very well. I am very impressed with the service I received today. I would also like to add that Sgt Ross was very helpful
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in proving information when I called to inquire about what was needed to do you register in to get shipping documentation for my vehicles. BZ to Housing A special thank you to Luana Amordeluso, our housing counselor! She is clear and concise with her communication skills. We are moving from one house on the economy to another and she has been fantastic. We have been here for 12 years and our housing department is better than ever. Thank you for making what we thought would be a difficult process go smoothly. Luana, we appreciate you. BZ to PSD Ms. Young was so cheerful and helpful. Even through difficulties with the software, she kept a positive attitude. Great service!
