The Signature | February 02, 2018

VP5 Mad Foxes

Awards at Quarters

Safety Corner

Hone ASW Skills

Congratulations Awardees

Carbon Monoxide, The Invisible Killer

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PAGES 8-9

N A S SIG O N E L L A

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FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Vol. 35 No. 4

Airman's Training, Quick Response Saves Wingman's Life

by MC2 Christopher Gordon NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – January 8 started off like any other Monday for Air Force Staff Sergeant Kyle Wilson.

After a long day at work at NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) Force on Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, he went home to his house, propped open his gate to let the garbage out, and settled down to eat a delicious steak and mushroom dinner. Little did he know that steak dinner was almost his last.

While taking a bite like any other, Wilson swallowed a bite of steak in precisely the wrong way, blocking his throat and airflow.

“I started to really panic,” said Wilson. “I went to my living room, found a door frame, and smacked my back against the frame to dislodge whatever was in my throat. Then I went to a chair and smacked my stomach on the chair; nothing was working.”

As his consciousness wavered and full panic set in, Wilson quickly picked up his phone and texted Air Force Staff Sergeant Shane Johnson who lived close by.

“Help it’s an emergency,” the first text read.

“I’m choking,” read the last.

Wilson stumbled outside to his patio during his last few moments of clarity until the blackness overcame him and he fell to the floor unconscious.

Johnson sprang into action and immediately ran to his car, roared his engine to life, and made the 5-minute drive to Wilson’s home. When he approached Wilson’s outer neighborhood gate, Johnson had to get out of his car and sprint the rest of the way to Wilson’s inside house gate.

Luckily Wilson left his house gate open so Johnson was able to immediately run upstairs to the patio where he found Wilson unconscious.

“My adrenaline was going,” said Johnson. “I realized it was an emergency and it was a bad situation. The training that we get we don’t think much of because you think it’s never going to

Air Force Staff Sergeant Shane Johnson (left) and Staff Sergeant Kyle Wilson pose for a picture onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella. Johnson saved Wilson's life January 8 by performing the Heimlich maneuver in Wilson's home. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon/Released)

happen to you, but what we learned I was actually able to put to use.”

Johnson performed the Heimlich maneuver on Wilson until finally the food in Wilson’s throat slightly dislodged and allowed him to take a sharp rugged breath in.

“People say they see a white light when they are dying but I felt that white light when I was coming back to life; it was an amazing feeling,” said Wilson. “I remember sitting there on the ground, eyes open, I could breath a little bit, and I was just very, very relieved. Going from a near death experience, going unconscious, and then waking up to my friend saving my life and realizing I’m alive, that I can breathe; it was the biggest emotional thing I have ever felt.”

While Wilson could breath again, he could still feel the blockage in his throat. Johnson drove Wilson to Naval

Hospital Sigonella where the hospital staff worked with Wilson to help remove the blockage. During that time, the staff did a full CT scan to get a better idea of what they were dealing with.

The scan showed Wilson had two ulcers in his stomach, one of which was bleeding into his abdomen. If the doctors hadn’t caught his bleeding ulcer in time, that too could have been life threatening.

“When we were in the hospital I was talking to the doctors and they asked if I realized I saved his life, that’s when it kind of dawned on me just how lucky everything was that night,” said Johnson. “Anybody would have done what I did, he just happened to send the text message to me and everything just fell into place perfectly.”

If Wilson hadn’t propped his gate open, texted Johnson, moved outside

to his porch, or a dozen other tiny factors, Wilson would not be breathing today. But due to those lucky factors, the quick thinking of Wilson and immediate action of Johnson, Wilson survived.

“I definitely think he’s a hero,” said Wilson. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. He’s very humble but he definitely deserves praise.”

NAS Sigonella, “The Hub of the Med”, is a U.S. Navy installation and an Italian Air Force base in Sicily, Italy. NAS Sigonella is the Navy’s second largest security command, second only to that located at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Because of its location near the center of the Mediterranean Sea, NASSIG is well placed to support operations by the U.S. 6th Fleet, other U.S. military units, and U.S. allies and coalition partners.

Committed to Serve: NAVADMIN 307/17

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael Botts

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Every year the master chief petty officer of the Navy (MCPON) and the chief of naval operations (CNO) team up with other highranking government officials to address issues affecting the fleet.

They assess instructions and make changes to outdated regulations to better suit Sailors and commands throughout the fleet. One of the major changes made this fiscal year was Dec. 21, with the release of naval administrative (NAVADMIN) 307/17, which affects command manning levels and Sailors retention.

This NAVADMIN has brought some significant changes to the way the Navy handles its business pertaining to the re-

tention of its Sailors. In the past, Sailors with projected rotation date's (PRD) after their end of active obligated service (EAOS) were able to push their EAOS to match their PRD, only if they were a first term Sailor on sea duty. This was able to be done without any additional paperwork or applications. Any future extensions of EAOS required a career waypoints (CWAY) application to verify that the Navy could support the manning level in that rank and rate. This process resulted in Sailors transitioning out of the Navy and leaving billets unmanned for months to a year.

In an effort to both retain Sailors and

"NAVADMIN" continued on Page 15

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily (March 29, 2017) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Steven Giordano speaks with Sailors and answers questions during an all hands call at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella. NAS Sigonella is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed and when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon/Released)

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FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Direct Line

Peter Faulk, Installation Housing Director Buongiorno Sigonella!

My name is Peter Faulk and I am the Installation Housing Director for NAS Sigonella, responsible for Unaccompanied Housing (UH), Military Family Housing, and personnel living on the economy. You can find me at NAS 1 in the Housing Service Center and I hope everyone knows of my and my staff ’s “Open Door Policy.” I have been here for over two years now and I just extended for another two years. I am very happy and excited to continue my support to the Sigonella community.

In the last two years the Housing Program has made many positive changes. We have improved processes, improved communications, and improved customer service for all incoming and outgoing personnel. This is just the beginning as we hope to make even more improvements in 2018. We hired some new staff members, and updated all housing information along with new contact e-mails for us, and in an effort to keep all of our valued residents up to date with the latest news we created the NAS Sigonella Housing Facebook page.

Let me now go over some of the new projects the Housing Program is actively engaged in Marinai, the Economy and overall.

The Marinai Self-Help Program has been revamped with new items, and Housing has hired an employee dedicated solely to it. We have new inventory, including items that can actually be delivered to Marinai residents via an e-mail request! We are currently working on an energy conservation project which replaces all street and pathway lighting with LED lighting; a semiannual and yearly tree and bush trimming contract in Marinai, as well as many other important projects.

Your input is valuable to us. If you have any suggestions please e-mail us, and we will take a look to see if it is feasible.

We just completed the new pathway sidewalks over the berms in Marinai which remedied a problem brought to our attention by by a resident.

The Economy Housing Program has added 250 new housing units to our inventory in the past two years and will continue to add new units.

We also removed many others that did not meet military standards and are

currently working on revamping utilities information to improve on how that process is communicated. This includes new utility briefs with new documentation for sponsors to send out.

Remember - the Housing Office does not control the utility companies and can only offer assistance as translators it’s your responsibility to pay your bills!

We are also in the process of creating an Economy Handbook which includes phone numbers, web links, utilities info, town info, school information, and any pertinent information to help with you with your experience of living on the economy to have as a quick reference guide in case of any type of emergency . We have a great staff in the Housing Program and will be sending more personnel to training to provide you with the great customer service you deserve.

A new innovation to the overall program is videos. We are currently setting up a Pinterest account for NAS Sigonella where videos will be posted about Housing. This will be also useful for incoming personnel, so they can have an idea of their Housing accommodations, including Marinai, the

Economy and Unaccompanied Housing, prior to their arrival. The videos for Marinai will be set in a three-bedroom unit with Government Loaner Furniture installed so an incoming resident will have an idea of what everything will look like in the unit, and know what items not to bring. As for Economy housing, the video will show a typical villa and a typical apartment, how they are structured, and what to anticipate in each scenario. Unaccompanied Housing will have a video of a typical UH room at NAS 1 and NAS 2 which will give incoming personnel a picture of the setup and what to expect.

"DIRECT LINE" cont’d on Page 5

Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box The ICE/CO Suggestion Box is for our community and Commanding Officer to discuss, with an eye toward constant improvement, how we are excelling* and how we can improve**. The community is strongly encouraged to leave contact information when submitting comments. This ensures that a response will come directly to you. The Signature and NASSIG Facebook Page typically publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. Comments/suggestions are useful when objective, constructive, and specific. ICE/CO Sug-

gestion Box is NOT a forum for mean-spirited attacks.

Anonymous comments will be published only if they benefit the greater community at large. * If you submit a "BZ" about a specific person or department, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME in order to ensure comment authenticity and therefore publicly recognize employees or organizations. ** The Commanding Officer will ensure a response to all signed comments/suggestions and the vast majority of anonymous ones but reserves the right to disregard

those comments/suggestions disinterested in the spirit of the program!

There are two ways to submit; go to: 1) Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) home page on a One-Net computer at: http://ice.disa.mil, All Sigonella services are found under the Navy Europe Listing in the scroll-down menu.

– or – 2) NAS Sigonella's website www.cnic.navy.mil/Sigonella, go to the "About" drop down menu and click on "CO Suggestion Box".

Interactive Customer Evaluation Comment regarding “Theater movie schedule”:

I have talked myself out of complaining about movie selections at the theater too many times. I reasoned out that the selections and times are based upon the supply and demand of base personnel and won't necessarily always match that of me and my family. However, upon our arrival on the base yesterday, Saturday 12/30/2017 we were DISGUSTED to see "THE STAR" being offered again after NOT being offered the week of Christmas. In addition, our frustration was amplified as the playing of this PG rated movie conflicted with the Missoula Children’s Theater "WIZ of the WEST" production. While our family's desire to watch selections of G/PG rated movies cannot always be fulfilled as the supply from Hollywood doesn't support, and isn't probably the most profitable for the theater's operation; I feel they totally missed the mark by not playing "The Star" the week of Christmas.

Sincerely, Larry Wilson

Response:

Good Morning Mr. Wilson, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with feedback regarding the movie schedule at MWR Midtown 2 Theaters on NAS 1. We also want to thank you and your family for your patronage of our theaters. We apologize

that our weekly movie schedule did not meet the needs of your family and would like to explain the process to help you understand what goes into creating the movie schedule.

The weekly movie schedule selection is based on several factors to include authorized play dates from Navy Motion Picture Services (NMPS), current Box Office numbers stateside, current Box Office numbers locally on base, how long we have had that particular title, and feedback from valued patrons such as you. In addition, our MWR Theater Standards require that we show all new releases over the first weekend that we receive those new titles (known as "Navy First" on our movie schedule). The Theater Manager creates the schedule taking into account all of the factors listed above and then it is reviewed by his supervisor prior to being published.

Regarding your specific concern about "The Star" not being played over Christmas, the movie was played on December 19, 30, 31 and on January 3, 4.

We had three “Navy First” (new releases) December 22, which we continued to show over the weekend since they were brand new and popular. In addition, numbers for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" were consistently higher than "The Star" which is why that was shown in addition to the Navy First movies over Christmas weekend.

"ICE" continued on Page 3

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FEBRUARY 2, 2018

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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA

Name: Aviation Electricians

Mate 3rd Class Christian McLaughlin Hometown: Davenport Florida Department: Aircraft Maintenance

Patrol Squadron (VP) Five is one of the many Patrol and Reconnaissance squadrons that are on a rotational deployment schedule at NAS II in Sigonella.

VP-5, under the direction of Commander Task Force (CTF 67) is tasked with Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) Intelligence, Reconnaissance, and Surveillance Operations (IO) in the European theater AOR. VP-5’s Aviation Electrician (AE) 3rd Class Christian McLaughlin transferred to the squadron in June of 2015. He deployed with the squadron in 2016 to Isa Air Base Bahrain in support of operations in the Middle Eastern Region for CTF 57.

McLaughlin currently works diligently in the maintenance department of VP-5 where he is tasked with maintaining and repairing aircraft electrical systems at scheduled and unscheduled intervals.

“Being in the Navy and the aviation community has really given me the unique opportunity to not only travel abroad and see the world, but to see places I never would have thought of seeing,” said McLaughlin.

While deployed during the holidays overseas, McLaughlin volunteered with the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SP MAGTF) Chapel Choir under the direction of Lt. Chaplain Coker. The choir consisted entirely of marines from SP MAGTF as well as McLaughlin

who was one of the pianists for the group.

The group practiced three times a week and traveled to local churches to outreach with the community as well as elementary schools to promote holiday festivities with the local Sicilian community and improve community relations.

McLaughlin has been playing piano for over 10 years and is entirely selftaught. Before he joined the military he was enrolled in college as a Music Theory and Composition major and wanted to be a composer. “Music is the most important thing to me, and being a musician and composer has really increased my appreciation for the art,” said McLaughlin.

He also volunteers as the VP-5 D.J.

"ICE" continued from Page 2 We try to base the schedule off our current numbers and if current numbers continue to be low for a certain movie (e.g. "The Star"), we don't schedule it as often.

Your opinion and feedback does matter to us so we appreciate you taking the time to write us. In the future, I encourage you to share any feedback directly with our Theater Manager, Mr. Chandler. You can reach him at 624-4216 or Darryl.Chandler@eu.navy.mil. Thank you again and we hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family.

Comment regarding “vehicles obstructing traffic views at ECP”:

I would like to suggest that there be a no parking area along the road just outside of each base and at Marinai. It is common for large trucks to obstruct the view of the road as you exit the bases which hide oncoming traffic. I am concerned this could lead to an accident. I notice this most commonly to the left when exiting NAS 2 and in both directions when exiting Marinai. On the topic of visibility, unfortunately when turning right onto 192 towards NAS 1 a barrier was placed to the left which blocks the view of oncoming traffic.

I understand that the ability to change this is limited but it could be worth mentioning in ongoing discussions with local government about driving conditions. I cannot see down the road until I have moved forward into the lane. I apologize if there is a better forum to submit these types of concerns.

during all command functions and parties. When at home in Jacksonville, McLaughlin volunteers with his local church as the piano/synthesizer player.

On top of all of his work responsibilities and musical interest volunteer work, he also assists with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. This is a civilian volunteer component of the Coast Guard which can perform the same duties and hold the same qualifications as their active duty component.

“Being active duty and part of the local Flotilla can be challenging, but I love the opportunities I have had and the people I have met have had a significant impact on my own life,” said McLaughlin.

Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Executive Officer Cmdr. Patrick J. Moran Command Master Chief CMDCM Nancy Estrada EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Andriana Genualdi andriana.genualdi@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil Editor MCC Jessica Vargas Jessica.Vargas@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writer \ Photographer MC2 Christopher Gordon Christopher.Gordon@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 PUBLISHER Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity Capodichino (Naples), Italy stampagenerale@tin.it Tel. 081-568-7884 Fax 081-568-7887

Response:

Thank you for taking the time to voice your concern regarding vehicles parked outside the Marinai, NAS 1 and NAS 2 entry control points.

While I understand your concern, the roads outside of the base are not within the control of the U.S. government. The base does interact with the various local government agencies and has expressed concerns regarding traffic safety issues.

Ultimately our Host Nation is the final authority on what is enforced and we must comply with their rules and regulations. As guests of Sicily, we need to understand that Sicily operates under different rules and standards regarding traffic and driving practices. Extra care should always be used when entering and exiting any of our base security gates.

The temporary parking of cars, trucks, and buses outside the base entrances, while the drivers obtain permission to enter the base, cannot be avoided. As you are well aware, there is extremely limited parking space along these country roadways, and the security restrictions we enforce for any vehicle that is allowed to enter the gate prevents them from parking within the fence line.

Yes, submitting an ICE comment is exactly the right place to voice any concerns that impact the Sigonella Community.

Hopefully your comment will renew the community’s awareness to be vigilant when entering and exiting the entry gates.

If you would like to discuss this further please contact Jonpaul Thomasseau, Deputy Public Works Officer, at jonpaul.thomasseau@eu.navy.mil.

This civilian enterprise (CE) 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. The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD or Stampa Generale S.r.l., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factorof the purchaser, user or patron.

A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected.

The Signature is published weekly by Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity, Capodichino (Naples), Italy.

Tel. 081-568-7884. Fax 081-568-7887.

E-mail: stampagenerale@tin.it.

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, guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered to our office no later than the close of business on the Friday proceeding the expected publication date. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers.

The Signature will not publish any anonymous articles. All advertisements in this publication are the property of Stampa Generale S.r.l. Any reproduction of advertisements in The Signature is unauthorized without the written consent of the publisher.

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VP-5 Hones ASW Skills Lt.j.g. Mary Carter Jordan VP-5 Public Affairs

LAJES, Portugal—The ‘Mad Foxes’ of Patrol Squadron (VP) 5 arrived at the Lajes Air Base, Portugal, and participated in maritime domain awareness and an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise Jan. 13, 2018.

This U.S.-led exercise in the North Atlantic facilitated the progressive training of maritime patrol and ASW techniques and aided in strengthening the security of the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

VP-5’s Combat Air Crew (CAC) 2 and CAC-8 flew the P-8A Poseidon from their current deployment site in Sigonella, Italy, to operate out of Lajes Air Base. From Jan. 14-21, these CACs flew eight training and exercise flights with American and Portuguese support out of Lajes Air. “The Air Force and Portuguese hosts were incredibly accommodating,” said VP-5 pilot Lt. Jon Glassman. “Being able to effectively operate from a new location was a great experience and provided an excellent training opportunity for our maintenance team and aircrews.”

The Mad Foxes used the opportunity to plan and execute training missions in coordination with support elements from the Air Force and work effectively through cooperation with Portuguese hosts. This enabled successful flights in a part of the Atlantic that is otherwise difficult to access.

“The exercise provided us a fantastic training opportunity to go to a new location and work with a new team so that we could conduct this training opportunity in a new location,” said Naval Aircrewman 1st Class Xavier Page. “We are excited to build on this experience and continue to develop our relationships with our hosts.”

VP-5 is halfway through their six-month deployment to U.S. 4th Fleet and U.S. 6th Fleet. In just a few months, they have already operated out of 11 countries and have no plans to slow operations anytime soon, as these activities have played a vital role in improving maritime security and dominance through these continued operations

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FEBRUARY 2, 2018

DEOMI ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE SURVEY: YOUR VOICE MATTERS Active duty and GS personnel assigned to Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella (UIC’s 62995 and 46131) have the opportunity to provide opinions on where leadership can focus attention to improve the human relations climate of the command by taking the time to complete the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute’s Organizational Climate Survey (DEOCS).

This voluntary survey is designed to assess the "shared perceptions" of respondents about formal or informal policies and practices. The perception of each individual is valuable because they give insight into the general attitudinal climate of an organization. The survey is completely anonymous and will only ask to provide demographic information such as rank, race, and sex which is used to ensure proper representation of participants.

To access the survey individuals need a code which is specific to each command. For NAS Sigonella’s access code please contact the Command Managed Equal Opportunity (CMEO) Manager, Senior Chief Ruben Giron at rubenrio.giron@eu.navy.mil or 624-4064.

FEBRUARY 2, 2018

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2018 NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN/BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Throughout the month of February, the Navy joins our nation in celebrating the history and culture of African American and Black Sailors during National African American/Black History Month.

The theme for 2018, as provided by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), is “African Americans in Times of War.” This year’s theme commemorates the centennial of the end of the First World War in 1918, and highlights the service and sacrifice of African Americans during wartime from the Revolutionary War to present.

"DIRECT LINE" cont’d from Page 2 Lastly, I would like to discuss home safety.

Whether you live in Marinai or the Economy, you should always know where your utility shut offs are in case of emergency and always have your emergency numbers handy. If you are leaving your residence for a few days, whether you reside in Marinai or the economy, let the Housing Office know! If you live in the economy, we can contact the landlord to keep an eye on your house, or let us know who is watching your house. Make sure you secure all windows and doors, and if you have an alarm turn it on, even if you go out for a few hours. Housing’s recommendation is to have

renter’s insurance because you never know what will happen, and it gives you something to fall back on.

My gratitude now goes out to various NAS Sigonella Departments that help and support the Housing Program in completing our mission directly or indirectly. Those departments include Personnel Support Detachment, The Human Resources Office, Fleet and Family Service Center, Personal Property, Command Ombudsmen, The Sponsorship Program, The Realtor Program, Pizzorotti, and the DODDS School.

For any pressing issues, I may be contacted at any time at 624-4070 or peter.faulk@ eu.navy.mil.

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Carnival fun begins in Acireale tomorrow Story by Alberto Lunetta

Get ready to have some fun! As the popular Italian saying goes: “A Carnevale ogni scherzo vale,” (Any prank is accepted at Carnival), Carnevale is a week of revelry, cheer, good food and most of all crazy fun. Thousands of Italians throng the streets attending colorful carri (floats) parades, wearing costumes, playing pranks on friends and having a blast. Acireale boasts an ancient tradition dating back to the 16th century.

In Acireale’s Carnival celebrations will begin tomorrow, Saturday, February 3 at 4 p .m. in the historic center and will run through Feb. 13.

Historians believe that the word Carnevale (Carnival) derives from the Latin word “Carne Levare” (Put meat away). It refers to the period preceding the beginning of Lent, the austere 40 days during which Roman Catholics abstain from eating meat. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.

Throughout the centuries, despite its religious origin, Carnival has become a pagan celebration.

In ancient times, many Carnival-like festivals were held in different cultures.

Ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia to honor God Saturn and in the hope of procuring plentiful harvests.

Celebrations included feasting, gift giving, drunkenness, big meals and pranks. Masked parades of merrymaking featuring young boys and girls dancing on allegorical floats were also held through the streets of the cities.

It was a time when masters and slaves exchanged roles.

During the festival, Romans used to burn the effigy of the “King of ancient Saturnalia.” It was a grotesque puppet embodying the feast that was publicly burnt at the end of the celebrations. Today, this practice is still performed in many countries. A straw puppet named the “King of Carnival” is burnt on the evening of Mardi Gras.

In ancient Greece, floats were used for the yearly celebration in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine in order to guarantee fertility and a successful breeding among the animal stock.

Ancient Egyptians celebrated the renewal of life brought about by the yearly flooding of the Nile through a joyful festival held in the springtime.

The first written record of Carnival celebrations held in Sicily date back to the 16th century. Sicilians used to celebrate “Carnalivari” (in Sicilian Carnival) through dance festivals named “Slave Dances.” Dancers, who were disguised as slaves, performed shows throughout the streets. Drums and trumpets accompanied performers.

Masked revelers from different social classes used Carnival as an excuse to mingle. The “Jardinara,” (Gardeners), “Briganti”(Bandits), “Baruni”(Barons) and “Abbati” (Abbots) were among the most popular masks.

During the festivals, aristocrats and politicians were publicly mocked. Revelers also staged “battles” throwing rotten eggs and vegetables at one another. This practice was popular in 17th century Acireale, a city that boasts one among the best Carnivals in Italy. In 1612, local authorities forbade it because it caused damages to property and injured people.

By the 18th century, celebrations became less “violent” and turned into comedy plays that were performed by jokers named “Abbatazzi.” Under the authorization of the Bishop, they used to make fun of nobles or priests pretending to read jokes from a big book and taking part in prank competitions.

In 19th century, celebrations included the “Casariata,” a parade of flower-decorated carriages, named “landò,” that toured the historic center. Local nobles, paraded on the carriages wearing masks and threw colored sugar coated almonds and coins at the crowd.

Today, people throw the “lighter” confetti. Foam spraying is also a popular “sport” during carnival. So don’t get mad if you get hit, it’s just a prank!

In the 1930s, Acireale artisans started to create huge allegorical floats with papier-mâché depicting animated figures of politicians, animals and other fantastic subjects that are mounted on a mobile platform and driven in parades. Since then, Carnival carri have become much more elaborate and spectacular.

Highlights will include six magnificent papier-mâché "ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 14

Carnevale (Carnival) returns tomorrow to Acireale and will run through Feb. 13 throughout the streets of the amazing Baroque historic center. This year, it will feature six huge, lighted-up, decorated floats that will be roaming the streets of the city. Musicians and masqueraded dancers will ride on the top of these dazzling floats carriages and dance to the music to African and Latino rhythms.

(Photo by www.girolando.it )

FEBRUARY 2, 2018

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DoD and VA Release Online Tool to Assist Veterans with Discharge Upgrade Process From Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Department of Defense, through a joint initiative with the Department of Veterans Affairs, is pleased to announce the launch of a web-based tool that will provide customized guidance to veterans who desire to upgrade or change the conditions of their military discharge.

"We are thrilled to have partnered with the Department of Veterans Affairs in developing this wonderful and easily-accessible tool," said Mr. Robert Wilkie, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. "We support our veterans, whether they served recently or long ago, and we are excited to introduce a tool that will individualize the guidance for those who desire an upgrade or change in their military discharge," he said.

Over the years, some veterans have criticized the review process as daunting or difficult to understand. The issuance of supplemental guidance over the past few years, while helpful to many, has the side effect of creating multiple guidance documents that can be confusing to some. Furthermore, some veterans suffer from mental health or other conditions that make tasks like these more difficult for them than for others.

This innovative tool simplifies and customizes the guidance. By answering a few short questions, veterans will know which board they need to go to, what form to fill out, any special guidance applicable to their case, where to send their application, and some helpful tips for appealing their discharge.

Any veterans who believe their discharge was unjust, erroneous, or warrants an upgrade are encouraged to use this tool and then apply for review.

This tool can be found on Vets.gov at www.vets.gov/discharge-upgradeinstructions. The link is also available on Military OneSource (www.militaryonesource.mil/) and each of the review board's websites (listed below). The link has also been forwarded to a number of Veterans Service Organizations and Military Service Organizations in order to spread the news to as many Veterans as possible.

This initiative was one of many in recent years aimed at improving the review process and guidance available to veterans who believe they may have been unfairly discharged or received an unfair discharge characterization.

The Department issued special guidance in 2011 for veterans discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" or its predecessor policies. Also, the Department issued guidance related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in 2014. Most recently, in February 2016, the Department redoubled its efforts to ensure veterans received the benefit of the latest guidance and statutes of limitations were liberally waived in such cases. Subsequently, in December 2016, the Department launched an internal review of its policies and procedures. That review disclosed some gaps and confusion in the previous guidance. In August 2017, the Department issued significant guidance clarifying how review boards will consider cases involving mental health conditions, including PTSD, TBI, sexual assault or sexual harassment.

For information on a specific board, please contact the board directly or through its website at: • Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records Website: www.afpc.af.mil/Career-Management/Board-for-Correction-ofMilitary-Records/ Phone: 240-612-5379 E-mail: usaf.pentagon.saf-mr.mbx.saf-mrbc@mail.mil

• Air Force Discharge Review Board: Website: www.afpc.af.mil/Separation/Discharge-Review-Board/ Phone: 240-612-0995 E-mail: usaf.pentagon.saf-mr.mbx.saf-mrb@mail.mil • Army Board for Correction of Military Records: Website: http://arba.army.pentagon.mil/ E-mail: army.arbainquiry@mail.mil • Army Discharge Review Board: Website: http://arba.army.pentagon.mil/ E-mail: army.arbainquiry@mail.mil • Navy Board for Correction of Naval Records: Website: www.secnav.navy.mil/mra/bcnr/Pages/home.aspx Phone: 703-607-6111 E-mail: BCNR_Application@navy.mil • Navy Discharge Review Board: Website: www.secnav.navy.mil/mra/CORB/Pages/NDRB/default.aspx Phone: 202-685-6600 E-mail: NDRB@navy.mil To submit feedback on related Department policies or processes: Send an e-mail to osd.pentagon.ousd-p-r.mbx.legal-policy@mail.mil or mail your feedback to Office of Legal Policy at: Office of Legal Policy Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel & Readiness) 4000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-4000

Navy Reminds Sailors to Participate in Personal and Professional Choices Survey From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy's biennial Personal and Professional Choices Survey is available for selected Sailors until Feb. 23.

This Secretary of the Navy-directed survey collects data and comments from Sailors across the Fleet to gauge the overall readiness of the Navy and the present-day impact of policies on Sailors. The survey touches on issues such as career development, worklife balance, adoption leave and family planning. Participation is anonymous and completely voluntary, but highly encouraged by Navy leadership.

The 2018 survey began Jan. 17 and will close on Feb. 23. The survey has been sent to 80,000 randomly selected active duty Sailors. Notification

emails will be sent to participants from both the Chief of Naval Personnel and the survey platform Max.gov, urging Sailors to use this opportunity to provide their feedback to the Navy.

Participation is anonymous and completely voluntary, but Navy leadership strongly encourages selected Sailors to participate.

If you were selected to participate, please take advantage of this opportunity to provide the Navy feedback.

Survey results are expected to be released in August and will be posted on Navy's Inclusion and Diversity website. Questions on the survey may be addressed to the Office of Inclusion and Diversity (OPNAV N1D) at ALTN_USN_INCLUSION_AND_ DIVERSITY@navy.mil.

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FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Congratulatio

Photos by MC2 Ch

FEBRUARY 2, 2018

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ons Awardees!

hristopher Gordon

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FEBRUARY 2, 2018

NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin:

NEX ANNUAL INVENTORY OPERATING HOURS

FCPOA MENTORSHIP FAIR

Command, Department or Organization: NEX NEX Date of Event: February 2-4 • Time of Event: various Location of Event Navy Exchange NAS 1 and NAS 2 Point of Contact Name: John Sisson • Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-4379 Point of Contact Email Address: john.sisson@nexweb.org Additional Information: The Navy Exchange Sigonella Complex will be conducting its Annual Physical Inventory at all locations between Friday 2 February and Sunday 4 February.

Please note adjustments to operating hours below: Friday 2 February: NAS 2 Mini Mart will Close at 16:00. Regular Hours at NAS 1 Main Store Saturday 3 February: No Changes to Store Operating Hours (Garden Center closed at 16:00) Sunday 4 February: NAS 1 Main Store CLOSED. Regular Hours at NAS 2 Mini Mart.

Monday 5 February: NAS 1 Main Store 1000-1800 Thank You and we apologize for any inconvenience.

Command, Department or Organization: Sigonella First Class Petty Officer Association Date of Event:February 08-09 Location of Event: NAS II Gym February 8 | NAS I Gym February 9 Time of Event: 1100-1500 February 8 NAS II Gym | 1000-1400 February 9 NAS I Gym Point of Contact Name: Krystal Landrovediaz Point of Contact Phone Number: DSN: 314-624-6140 Point of Contact Email Address: krystal.landrovediaz@eu.navy.mil or sig.fcpoa@ gmail.com Additional Information: The Sigonella FCPOA, is hosting a Mentorship Fair on the 8th and 9th of February.

This is a fantastic opportunity, for anyone that is interested, to get mentorship and guidance whether it be personal or professional.

This event will allow individuals from all Branches throughout Sigonella to meet and hopefully team up with hardworking, motivated and knowledgeable Mentors.

The Event will be Walk-in Meet and Greet. No need to sign up, just show up.

Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services NAS 1 Mondays AA Meeting:

1800-1900

Tuesdays Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0900-1100 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 AWANA: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1645-1900 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . . . . . . . . . 1200-1430 Wednesdays Protestant Men of the Chapel: .0600-0700

Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Catholic Ladies' Guild (3rd Wednesday): . . . . . . . . . . 1600-1800 Thursdays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1200-1530 Choir Practice: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1630-1800 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2030

Phone Numbers: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049, Chaplain Duty: 335-831-4493, RP Duty: 335-786-1950.

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Naval Air Station Sigonella Chapel

Saturdays First Saturday Rosary and Mass: . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Liturgical Protestant Service NAS I Chapel - . . . . . . . . . . . 1800 Sundays Catholic Mass: . . . . 0900-1000 Catholic Religious Education (DoDDS):.

1045-1200

Fridays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour:. . . . . . . . 1700-1830

Protestant Service: . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1330-1600

NAS 2

Wednesdays Knights of Columbus (1st Wednesdays): . . . . . . . . . . . 1700-1800 Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2100 Thursdays AA Meeting: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-1900 Sundays Protestant Service and Fellowship: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2000

Weekly Traffic Report: Jan. 22 - Jan. 29, 2018

As a reminder to everyone: There are no PTUs allowed at the Galley. Appropriate athletic gear is authorized at the discretion of the Galley staff. Please remember that for sanitation purposes and for the consideration of other customers, if you have been out for PT, been working out at the gym, or have just been engaged in any physical activity where you and or your clothing has become soiled or sweaty you will be asked to turn around.

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Carbon Monoxide: The Invisible Killer From the National Safety Council

More than 400 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 20,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 4,000 others are hospitalized.

Where Does Carbon Monoxide Come From?

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that often goes undetected, striking victims caught off guard or in their sleep.

This "silent killer" is produced by burning fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, portable generators or furnaces. When the gas builds up in enclosed spaces, people or animals who breathe it can be poisoned. Ventilation does not guarantee safety.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says about 170 people in the United States die every year from carbon monoxide produced by non-automotive consumer products, such as room heaters. So as the weather turns colder, it's important to take extra precautions.

Who is at Risk?

Exposure to carbon monoxide can result in permanent neurological damage or death, and anyone can be at risk.

The CDC says infants, the elderly, and people with chronic heart disease, anemia or breathing problems are more prone to illness or death, but carbon monoxide doesn't discriminate – especially if certain conditions are present.

In July 2015, for example, four young people and a dog were found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning inside a cabin in Maine.

Authorities believe they went to bed without shutting off a gas-powered generator running in the basement.

How Can I Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in My Home?

Winter can be a prime time for carbon monoxide poisoning as people turn on their heating systems and mistakenly warm their cars in garages.

The National Safety Council recommends you install a battery-operated carbon monox-

ide detector in your home near the bedrooms.

Check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall.

The CDC offers these additional tips: • Have your heating system, water heater and any other gas or coal-burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year • Do not use portable flameless chemical heaters indoors • Never use a generator inside your home, basement or garage or less than 20 feet from any window, door or vent; fatal levels of carbon monoxide can be produced in just minutes • Have your chimney checked and cleaned every year, and make sure your fireplace damper is open before lighting a fire and well after the fire is extinguished • Make sure your gas appliances are vented properly • Never use a gas oven for heating your home • Never let a car idle in the garage • Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning Steps to Take When Carbon Monoxide Alarm Sounds Never ignore a carbon monoxide alarm, and do not try to find the source of the gas.

Instead, follow these steps: • Immediately move outside to fresh air • Call emergency services • Do a head count to check that all persons are accounted for • Do not reenter the premises until emergency responders have given you permission to do so

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FEBRUARY 2, 2018

GAMEZONE GARLIC GOAT CHEESE GOUDA GREEN OLIVES GROUND BEEF HAM JALAPENOS MONTEREY JACK MOZZARELLA MUSHROOMS OLIVE OIL ONIONS

OYSTERS PARMESAN PEPPERONI PROVOLONE RICOTTA SALAMI SAUSAGE SHRIMP SPINACH TOMATO SAUCE TOMATOES ZUCCHINI

MEDIUM

ARTICHOKE HEARTS ASIAGO ASPARAGUS BACON BANANA PEPPERS BASIL BELL PEPPERS BLACK OLIVES BROCCOLI CRUST EGGPLANT FETA

EASY

Find and circle all of the pizza ingredients and toppings that are hidden in the grid.

The remaining letters spell four additional pizza toppings.

DIFFICULT

Pizza

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"ITALIAN NEWS" continued from Page 6 allegorical and flower-decorated floats and 21 smaller floats that will parade throughout the day in piazza Duomo (Main Square) and the historic center.

Music shows will also be performed in piazza Duomo.

“Despite the budget cuts, our Carnival celebrations continue to gain popularity and to promote the cultural traditions of Acireale and Sicily throughout the world,” said Roberto Barbagallo, the mayor of Acireale, during a recent press conference.

While you attend Carnival, don’t forget to taste the scrumptious Carnival food that is sure to please your palate! The “maccarruni setti puttusa co’ ragù ri sasizza” (tubular pasta with seven holes dressed with a savory pork ragù) is a specialty that everyone loves to sample.

If you want to indulge in some typical Sicilian treats, Carnival is the best time for doing so. Sicilian ethnographer, Giuseppe Pitrè, an expert in Sicilian popular traditions wrote that cannolo (fried pastry filled with creamy fillings) is the “crown of the carnival lunch.” The “frittelle,” the delicious Carnival fritters are also sure to whet your appetite.

Tempt your taste buds with the chiacchere (gossip) also known as nastrini (ribbons) or bugie (lies) and cenci (rags). They are a delicious stripe-shaped, deep-fried in lard fritters and covered with powdered sugar whose origin dates back to the Roman times when they were called frictilia, These sweets are named lies or gossip to remember what the carnival motto says i.e. during carnival every prank or joke is accepted.

Pignolata or Pignoccata is another traditional must-eat carnival dessert from Messina that you should try. It is light egg dough fried and half covered in a chocolate glaze and half in a lemon glaze that is served in mounds.

For more information and detailed schedules visit http://carnevaleacireale.it/

Futbol Club Sigonella

FEBRUARY 2, 2018

Venice carnival: Spectacular display of costumes in Grand Canal Story by Daily Mail The Venice Carnival has begun in a dazzling display of color as rowers took to the city’s Grand Canal to celebrate the start of the annual festival.

Wearing bright and colorful costumes, the rowers made the Italian city’s waterway into a spectacular ensemble of revelry to mark the carnival’s beginning.

The grand opening took place last recently with illuminated horses and giraffes, bright confetti and other decorations lighting up the January night.

It runs every year in the lead-up to Lent, beginning every year two weeks before Ash Wednesday and finishing on Shrove Tuesday.

According to the event’s website the carnival first took place in the 11th century, when it lasted for two months of revelry, but fell into decline in the 18th century.

It was revived in 1979 and mask-wearing revelers parading around Venice and enjoying live music are now a staple of the Venetian year.

The theme for this year’s carnival is ‘Playing.’ During the two weeks of carnival the city is filled with thousands of tourists from across Italy and the world. Masked balls are held in ancient Venetian palaces, while concerts and gondola parades are organised in the piazzas and canals. This year’s carnival runs until February 13.

For more information and detailed schedules visit: http://www.carnevale. venezia.it/

2018 Europa Seven Soccer Tournament Championship

Picture taken by: Mr. Salvo Florio FC Sigonella – New Team (Calvagna) 1-2.

From left to right: AM2 Touray Famara, CS1 Alejandro Castillo, AC2 Benjamin Colley, ET2 Keean Nash, Sgt. Guadalupe Lopez, AC1 Carlos Perez, Mr. Vince Williams (USN Ret.), Ssg. Christian Loza, Mr. Dustin Gilroy, NC1 Roberto Vite, Mr. Marcelo Prato, Mr. Salvo Florio. (Photo by Mr. Salvo Florio)

FEBRUARY 2, 2018 "NAVADMIN" cont’d from Page 1 ensure billets stay manned, the new NAVADMIN, mandates that Sailors' EAOS and PRD match.

"With this new NAVADMIN coming out, those Sailors who are about to transfer out of our command to a new one are being told that they are going to have to serve until their PRD at their next command," said Chief Personnel Specialist Tiffany Jordan, the leading chief petty officer for the educational services office aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). "If the Sailor chooses not to extend, and is planning on separating from the Navy, we must inform the detailer of their decision. Then, the detailer will determine if that Sailor will still execute those orders and meet the needs of the Navy, or if they will have to extend their contract and remain aboard the ship."

NAVADMIN 307/17 does not affect those Sailors who have already been given their orders to their next command. For those Sailors currently aboard George Washington, the command is here to offer guidance on the best plan of action.

"The command is responsible for the counseling of the Sailors aboard and making them aware of what their options are," said Jordan. "You should make your intentions known on whether you plan on staying in the Navy or getting out to your chain of

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command. Depending on your intentions, your chain of command should be able to provide you with the information you need to help determine what is best for your specific circumstance."

Another change brought on by NAVADMIN 307/17, is the change to the previous extension policy. Sailors will now be able to extend to a maximum of 48 months, as where previously they were only able to extend up to a total of 23 months.

"This NAVADMIN makes it easier for Sailors to extend," said Chief Navy Counselor Shaquanta Chukwuma, a Sailor aboard George Washington.

"It removes the C-WAY requirement for Sailors who fall into the category where they would need to extend their soft EAOS to meet their PRD. Before, we required a C-WAY quota to extend anything over 24 months, now we are able to extend up to 48 months without having to have a C-WAY quota" Change is something every Sailor goes through during their Navy career. Whether it is a change of station or a change in an instruction, change can be difficult. If Sailors have any questions or are looking for more information on this NAVADMIN, personnel can read NAVADMIN 307/17 at www.npc.navy.mil or speak with one of the ships command career counselors.

For more information, visit www. navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

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FEBRUARY 2, 2018