Active Duty Fund Drive
2018 Seabee Week:
Weekly Update
Bees of the Seven Seas
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PAGES 8-9
Updated Guidance Regarding the Hatch Act
N A S SIG O N E L L A
From the U.S. Office of Special Counsel
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MARCH 16, 2018
Vol. 35 No. 10
2018 Seabee Ball: Celebrating 76 Years of Seabees!
ACIREALE, Sicily (March 10, 2018) – CMCA Kevin Burdine, left, Robert Kidd, Cmdr. Michael Jarosz, Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Public Works Officer, and Capt. Michael Blount, retired, pose for a photo after a cake cutting ceremony during the 2018 Seabee Ball. The Seabees celebrated their 76th birthday on March 5, with a week full of games leading up to the ball. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon/Released) by MC2 Christopher Gordon NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
ACIREALE, Sicily – On March 10, the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Seabees celebrated 76 years of “Can do” heritage at Ricevimenti Oasis in Acireale, Sicily during the 2018 Seabee Ball. At this year’s Seabee Ball, Sailors paid tribute to POW/MIA and fallen comrades, honoring their sacrifices and vowing to never forget. Following the remembrance, Cmdr. Michael Jarosz, NAS Sigonella
Public Works Officer (PWO), gave the opening remarks and introduced the guest speaker, U.S. Navy Capt. Michael Blount, Civil Engineer Corps, retired. Blount, also former NAS Sigonella PWO, opened his speech with Seabee history and trivia, awarding lucky attendees with memorabilia when a trivia question was answered correctly. Blount spoke about all of the many accomplishments Seabees have achieved, and spoke about his personal stories when he was on active duty. “Seabees are extremely active right now,” said
ACIREALE, Sicily (March 10, 2018) – Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Seabees and guests dance during the 2018 Seabee Ball at Ricevimenti Oasis in Acireale, Sicily. The Seabees celebrated their 76th birthday on March 5, and celebrated with a week full of games leading up to the ball. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon/Released)
Blount, “We’re all over the world in unbelievable places. You Seabees are doing amazing things and are continuing to do amazing things. I am extremely honored to be the guest speaker here and encourage you to keep up your amazing work.” After Blount’s speech, Engineering Aide 3rd Class Colton Miller and Jarosz took center stage and conducted a reenlistment, where Miller reenlisted for an additional six years. Guided by the motto, “We Build, We Fight,” Seabees have served in all major American conflicts, supported humanitarian efforts, and helped build communities and nations around the globe. However, March 5 has not always been celebrated as its birthday. From their inception until 1954, the Seabee anniversary was observed on Dec. 28, in commemoration of the date on which Adm. Ben Moreell requested authority to recruit enlisted personnel to serve in a naval construction force. In the early 1950s, it was decided the anniversary needed to be moved since many of the Seabees were on holiday leave during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Several historically significant dates in Seabee history were considered for the new birthdate. However, after deliberations, March 5 was determined to be the most appropriate day to celebrate the Seabee birthday as it had dual significance. Not only was March 5, 1942 the date that the Construction Battalions were given official permission to assume the name of Seabees, but it was also the anniversary date of the Civil Engineer Corps which had been established in 1867. This year’s event was the culmination of almost a year of planning and fundraising by the Sigonella Seabee Ball Association, which took part in fundraising events throughout the year such as Red, White and Boom!, Autumn Fest, hosted bake sales and more in order to put on a memorable event for the 76th Seabee birthday.
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MARCH 16, 2018
Direct Line
Lt. Steven Hervey, NAS Sigonella Staff Chaplain Buongiorno Sigonella! When the detailer told me just over a year ago that I would be stationed at Sigonella, my family and I were elated. I was deployed to Okinawa, and when I called home with the news cheers erupted in the background. We arrived here just over a month ago, and we are excited to finally call Sicily home! My wife and our four kids look forward to living here alongside all of you over the next three years! Prior to joining the Navy, I served as a pastor for just over 10 years at two congregations in Northeast Kansas. After being commissioned as a Chaplain, I was stationed in Okinawa with the 3rd Marine Division where I served with Headquarters Battalion and Combat Assault Battalion. While there I was able to participate in combined arms exercises in Thailand, The
Republic of Korea, and the Philippines. In 2015, I transferred to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion FIVE in Port Hueneme, CA and completed two deployments focused on contingency construction and humanitarian assistance at 14 sites across the Pacific. Since joining the Navy one of the most valuable lessons I have learned is the importance of teamwork. As you may know, Chaplains and Religious Program Specialists (RPs) work together in what is known as the Religious Ministry Team (RMT). At my previous commands, the RMT consisted of one Chaplain and one RP responsible for religious ministry and pastoral care for 600 to 1,000 personnel. In this environment, Chaplains and RPs get to know one another extremely well as they learn to depend on one another to accomplish the department’s mission. This will be
my first command to have multiple Chaplains and RPs and I am looking forward to serving with the amazing team here! What I did not understand before joining the Navy was how vital RPs are to mission accomplishment. The counseling, care, and religious ministry Chaplains provide is only made possible by hard working RPs somewhere behind the scenes. They are so vital to the RMT that Navy policy (SECNAVINST 1730.9) extends the Chaplain’s confidentiality to RPs when the information they receive is intended for the chaplain. The RP is required to pass the information along to a Chaplain but rest assured your information goes no further unless you decide it should – without exception. So, whether you see a chaplain or an RP in your workspace, at the gym
or out in town, know we are working as a team to care for you and your family. Be sure to swing by our office upstairs in the NAS 1 Chapel (Bldg 317), or the NAS II Chapel (Bldg 742). Call us at 624-3975, 624-2382 or 24/7 on the duty phones at 335-831-4493 or 335-786-1950. Don’t hesitate to reach out! We are ALL here for you!
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 “Bingo jackpot”:
The bingo consolation prize amount needs to increase to $500 instead of the usual $300 only... if no one hits the jackpot ranging from 2,500-8000 on how ever many set numbers, the consolation is way too low. Bingo sales here in Sigonella have made tons of money, we've all requested an increase before, but no move has been made since we notified the staff. At any other overseas military base bingo the jackpot and/or consolation prizes never go below $500. I wondering who can make moves on this?
Response:
Thank you very much for your response and for your dedicated patronage of the MWR Bingo program. In this region, Bahrain does offer a $500 consolation prize, as opposed to our $300 prize. Bahrain is able to offer a higher value prize due to their higher Bingo participation numbers. More paying customers equal more revenue; more revenue allows for more prize money. Currently, the MWR Sigonella Bingo program has an average participation of 80 people per night, as compared to Bahrain who averages 135 people per night. Since we do not have the same revenue as the other programs, MWR Sigonella sees more value in using our resources to keep the jackpots high, as opposed to the consolation prizes. Thank you again for your feedback. If you have further questions or comments about the Bingo program, please contact Anne Connor, Business Activities Director. She can be reached at 624-0503 (or +39-095-56-0503) or via email at anne.connor@eu.navy.mil.
Comment regarding “Bravo Zulu for NAS 1 Gym Employees”:
I just wanted to take time to reward/comment on the outstanding customer service and work ethic of Sonia & Silvana who work at the NAS 1 gym. I am at
the gym most weekdays between the hours of 0745-0900 and when these ladies are working they greet all customers with a warm welcome and very pleasant goodbye when customers leave. Furthermore, I have come to notice these ladies during my workout coming around to clean and ensuring all is well within the facility. These two ladies are perfect examples of what outstanding customer service and great work ethic looks like!! Sincerely, Chandler
Response:
Mr. Chandler, Thank you for your positive comments about the NAS 1 Fitness Center employees, Sonia and Silvana. I gladly passed on your kind words to them, and I'm happy to hear that you consider the customer service outstanding in addition to your "excellent" rating of the timeliness of service and hours of service. If you have further questions or comments about the Fitness program, please contact Elizabeth Leonard, Fitness Director. She can be reached at 624-0504 (or +39-095-56-0504) or via email at elizabeth.leonard@eu.navy.mil.
Comment regarding “Bravo Zulu for Housing employee”:
Giuseppe Savoca was an excellent housing specialist for us during our time here. He is very knowledgeable about the process and helped us through some very difficult circumstances. He went above and beyond all of our expectations in helping us secure a home and with the check-out process during our years in Sigonella. He showed a real interest in making sure we were treated fairly and always promptly responded to our concerns with a very positive attitude. We greatly appreciate his services. Sincerely, Carl and Heather Wilson
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THE SIGNATURE
MARCH 16, 2018
Active Duty Fund Drive Weekly Update
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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA 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
"ICE" continued from Page 2
Response:
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Thank you for your comment and praise for Mr. Savoca. I am pleased to hear that he went above and beyond to ensure you had a positive housing experience during your time here. Giuseppe and the entire Housing team do a wonderful job of taking care of the Sigonella community. Again, thank you for your comment.
Comment regarding “Navy Exchange”:
First, why is it that this is the only NEX I’ve been to in my career that doesn’t have most of their products priced? The last time I commented on this the reply was to the effect that we have a new pricing strategy. Second, I should be able to go into the main NEX and not wonder if the head is working. The head has not worked for over a month now. I had a bathroom emergency for my son, and of course the head was broken again. Third, why are your price checker machines still on if they are broken? This NEX seems like it’s in a forward location or something.
Response:
Thank You for your comments regarding the Sigonella Navy Exchange. With over 40,000 items, pricing is one of our biggest ongoing opportunities for improvement and focus areas. We will continue to address this on a daily basis. We apologize for the bathroom availability in the Main Store, the issue has been reported to Public Works and repairs have been requested. There are restrooms adjacent to the food court, however, we understand there is an inconvenience with the distance from the Main Store. Regarding your third point, the price verifier machines do at times require re-setting, specifically after a power surge or fluctuation. Our management staff and associates monitor this and reset the machines when it is observed that it is necessary. I apologize for your experiences with our price
verifiers and assure you we will continue to monitor them to ensure they are functioning. Thank You again for your continued support of our operational readiness and in helping us achieve our daily goal of providing Premiere Customer Service to the Sigonella Community. As always, for future issues with the NEX please contact the General Manager, John Sisson, at John.sisson@nexweb.org or +39-095-56-4379.
Comment regarding “Failure to Stop for School Bus”:
In the last three school days I've had to stop three drivers from driving past a school bus by the main gate of Marinai when there were children being let out. This is a hazard for the excited children that run off the bus, across the street, and to their house. Would it be possible for an all hands message to be put out to the community and/or post a military police car near the bus stop to prevent this in the future?
Response:
Thank you for contacting me regarding school bus drop off and pick up and vehicles passing the buses when children are present. This is an issue that I and my Security Department take very seriously and the community should as well. Per NAS Sigonella Instruction 5114.1L (30Jun17), moving violation #20 discusses failure to stop for a school bus or school-signal crossing. Two tickets in a three-month period result in loss of driving privileges for 30 days. Unfortunately, Security Department does not possess the manning or vehicular resources to post a unit at all the stops along the route, as there are multiple buses. However, NAS Sigonella Instruction 5100.12 directs that any individual witnessing serious offenses has the right to call the Security Department to file a complaint. The complainant must be willing to provide personal data (Name, Command, etc.) along with the license plate of violator for the complaint to be officially recorded. I thank you for your comment and if you have any additional questions, please contact the Security Operations Officer, ENS Dustin Kentzell at 624-2491.
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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MARCH 16, 2018
The Writing is on the Wall: Military Continues to Struggle with Conduct on Social Media Story by LN2 Bryan A. Lottes
Social media trends continue to evolve and surprise, and unfortunately there is no Instagram filter for unlawful misconduct. Social media has reshaped our way of communicating and interacting. Today, more than one billion people are connected to social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. In fact, Facebook alone has connected nearly one billion people across the globe. Social Media addiction is a real problem and can damage careers, degrade life, and harm relationships. Last March, NCIS opened a high profile investigation into a private Facebook group called “Marines United,” which contained a link to a Google Drive folder storing hundreds of explicit photos of current and former female Marines and other service members. Our Navy Ethos states “Integrity is the foundation of our conduct; respect for others is fundamental to our character; decisive leadership is crucial to our success.” This applies to all of us in and out of uniform. Now, the military is dealing with another case of nonconsensual revenge porn: a Dropbox folder has been circulating on social media with hundreds of explicit photos of women in the military. The folder, called “Hoes Hoin,” contains 267 photos of female service members taking naked selfies and performing sexual acts. Even worse, some of the photos show women’s faces, their dog tags, or
their name tags on their uniforms. The Dropbox link allegedly first appeared last month in a maleonly Facebook group called “Blame Marines United (Non-Butthurt Edition),” which has since been shut down after Marine Corps veteran Erin Kirk Cuomo learned of its existence and reached out to Facebook. In May 2017 Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. Robert Burke, released NAVADMIN 119/17 which took effect immediately, outlining that all Navy personnel who wrongfully distribute or broadcast intimate images in violation of Article 1168 of U.S. Navy Regulations will face mandatory processing for administrative separation. The Navy announced the policy change in NAVADMIN 119/17 for enlisted personnel and in SECNAVINST 1920.6C for officers. What is “mandatory processing?” Per the Military Personnel Manual (MILPERSMAN) Article 1910-233; certain bases for administrative separation (ADSEP) are so detrimental to good order and discipline, mission readiness, and appropriate standards of performance and conduct, that processing service members for ADSEP is mandatory for commanders. In a statement, Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. Robert Burke, condemned the “Marines United” conspirators saying “There is no room in our Navy for this toxic behavior. This new policy shows that we are committed to eradicating this behavior from our force.” Other social media groups have been flagged and
SIGONELLA, Sicily (March 13, 2018) – A Sailor verifies security settings on her Facebook account. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon/Released)
reported to Facebook for posting meme’s and other images that some viewers find offensive. In response to the uptick and possible discipline issues, Judge Advocate General of the Navy, Vice Adm. James W. Crawford III, published a memorandum fleet wide to Commanders, Commanding Officers, and Officers-In-Charge discussing inappropriate online behavior applying UCMJ articles to discipline and guidance on how to legally tackle these issues in their commands. Generally, the scope of UCMJ Article 120 deals with sexual misconduct and includes; rape and sexual assault, stalking, rape and sexual assault of a child, and other sexual misconduct. The Manual for Courts-Martial of the United States now links toxic online behavior to violations of article 120c of the UCMJ. The two articles addressing the issue are Indecent Viewing or Broadcasting, (covering viewing, photographing, video-recording, or distributing photographs or video-recordings taken without the other person’s consent), and Article 120c, Indecent Exposure. The Navy has made it clear that inappropriate online conduct that is prejudicial to good order and discipline will not be tolerated. We are an organization based on core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. The Navy is devoted to eliminating these issues and has directed significant resources to reporting and preventing the spread of inappropriate conduct online. If a service member becomes the victim of this misconduct, witnesses it, or feels that it has potentially created a hostile work environment, they are highly encouraged to intervene and report it. Available resources include; • Chain of Command • Command Managed Equal Opportunity (CMEO) managers • Region Legal Service Office – 624-5258 • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) administrators • Family Support Services –314-624-4291 • Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention personnel – 314-624-4291 • Inspector General (IG) http://www.dodig.mil/ NCIS encourages anyone with direct knowledge of online misconduct related to the recent reporting or who thinks that photos of them have been taken or posted without their consent to contact them via text; web or smart phone app. Specific instructions are available at: http://www.ncis.navy.mil/contactus/pages/reportacrime.aspx. The Navy Office of Information (CHINFO) has training references on appropriate behavior online available at: http://www.navy.mil/socialmedia. It costs nothing to be a good person and have integrity. When service members and dependents report to NAS Sigonella, we are challenged by the triad at INDOC “if you see something, say something.”
MARCH 16, 2018
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NCTS Sicily: Who We Are and What We Do
By PO2 Benjamin Larkin TSCOMM Watch Officer
From Naval Computer and Telecommunication Station’s (NCTS) first presence in Sicily 50 years ago, to today’s initiatives in the Mediterranean, information and communications serve as critical enablers, with a distinct ability to determine the victor in any conflict. Reliable communications warn allied nations of the adversary’s presence, possible invasion, and intercepting intelligence turns the tide of battle. NCTS Sicily serves the 6th Fleet Area of Operations by ensuring each and every warfighter has access to reliable, secure communications. The command’s main site in Sigonella supports rebroadcasting vital messages to nuclear missile deterrent forces across the Europe and African theatres. This means that the Sailors, host nation civilians, and U.S. civilians work 24/7 to guarantee that critical messages make it to the warfighter without interruption or delay. NCTS Sicily operates and maintains all internet services provided for Naval Air Station Sigonella. Loss of such communication connections is detrimental to the warfighter’ planning and operations here in Sicily, and the NCTS team at the Local Network Service Center (LNSC) work to make sure any downtime is resolved as quickly as possible. Lt. Cmdr. James Scianna, executive officer for NCTS Sicily, said, “We’re not the people you call when things run smoothly. When your internet works and you have access to critical communications, most folks don’t know who NCTS is. But the second the in-
ternet is down, or your boss cannot reach her boss on VTC, we’re the people on speed dial.” Perhaps the most commonly used support system is housed at the Technical Support Communications (TSCOMM) site where NCTS Sicily personnel provide U.S., NATO, allied air strike, anti-submarine, surface fleet, search and rescue, and ballistic missile defense forces with multiple lines of data and communication across various spectrums. With missions constantly being underway and ever-changing, the NCTS Sicily personnel of TSCOMM work closely with U.S. fleets, squadrons, and mobile units to make sure they have access to the valuable warfighting communications tools they need to successfully complete their corresponding missions. NCTS Sicily is also responsible for one of the key Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) antenna arrays that deliver worldwide coverage for our ground troops in multiple areas of responsibility with Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) and Satellite Communications (SATCOM) at a moment’s notice. This means that our ground troops in various parts of the Middle East and Africa will be able to call in support equipment, emergency evacuations, or tactical strikes with high precision, ensuring greater mission success. NCTS Sicily remains the ever-vigilant watch stander dedicated to ensuring mission success across the Mediterranean and North African areas of responsibility. One of only three NCTS sites both Europe and Africa, NCTS Sicily provides reliable and secure air and surface communications for U.S, NATO, and Allied forces.
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Easter Week traditions in Caltanissetta and Caltagirone Story by Alberto Lunetta
The sorrowful Caltanissetta Good Friday procession
During the “Settimana Santa” or Holy Week, every Sicilian city or town has its own special traditions; and some of the most famous events take place in Caltanisetta. In Caltanissetta, the mournful Good Friday “Procession of the Black Christ” is definitely one the deepest expressions of the Holy Week spirituality. On March 30, devotees dressed in black belonging to all city brotherhoods clergymen led by the local bishop, and “Fugliamari,” (wild herbs pickers) take part in this solemn procession starting at sunset around 7 p.m. in the most ancient part of the city (lower Caltanissetta). Fugliamari carry a black wooden crucifix which is called “Signore della Città" (The Lord of the City” or “Cristo Nero” (Black Christ) on their shoulders. Before 1625, the “Black Christ” was venerated as the city patron. Legend has it that, many centuries ago, Fugliamari found this wooden crucifix in a cave between two lit candles. Even if you are not Catholic, this procession will give you a highly emotional and powerful sense of how Sicilians relive the memory of the Passion of Christ. In Caltanissetta, there’s still an old saying that has existed for centuries that goes: “E cchi simu o’ venerdì santu?” (Is today Good Friday?). It is still used today when people sing gloomy songs or talk about sad topics.
Easter week begins in Caltagirone
A A merging of faith and popular folklore characterizes the Easter Week celebration that takes place in Caltagirone. On March 27, the celebration starts with the staging of “Christ’s Passion,” performed by volunteers from the church of Santa Maria del Monte since 1994. The play takes place at 8 p.m. in the streets of the historic center and it ends at the top of the famous stairs, which are lighted for the occasion. Thousands of devotees swarm Piazza della Loggia (the main square) to watch the performance. The costumes worn by the performers are spectacular. Good Friday, which falls on March 30 this year, is a day of mourning. At dawn, the wooden sculptures of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, covered with a black mantel, are carried through the streets of the center. The procession ends when the statues reach the church of San Giacomo. At this point, the notes of “Diu vi salvi o Reggina,” (which means in Sicilian: May God save you, oh Queen) a traditional piteous chant, breaks the silence kept by everybody during the procession. Among the Good Friday processions usually held in Sicily, Caltagirone’s is the only in which the statues are still carried on the shoulders of the devotees. This is not an easy task and requires a continuous rotation of strong men. There is no difference of age, social status or political opinion. The bearer is usually someone who has had a recent death in the family or wants to express his devotion to Jesus’ agony through his own physical suffering. On Easter Sunday (April 1) at 4 p.m., "A Giunta," (which means in Sicilian the reunion) starts. It is the meeting of the statues of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and St. Peter and takes place near the City Hall. Initially, the procession opens with the walk of a grandiose papier-mâché statue of St. Peter, which is almost ten feet tall, and crosses the city roads in the direction of the statue of the Virgin Mary to announce the Resurrection of Christ to her. First the meeting is unsuccessful. The second meeting of the Virgin Mary and Christ takes place between piazza Loggia and via Luigi Strurzo. The black mantle that covers the Virgin Mary as sign of mourning falls after the meeting with the risen Son, and a blue and white dress replaces it. Two surprised Roman soldiers named “Cicchittu and Nancittu,” who surround Christ, witness the miracle. Meanwhile, the crowd expresses its joy by shouting “Viva Maria” (which means “hurrah” for the Virgin Mary). Eventually, the procession moves to Piazza Marconi, where the “Spartenza” (which means separation in Sicilian) takes place. The Virgin Mary bows three times to the Son, who overcame death, as a final farewell. For more information and detailed schedules visit http://www. comune.caltagirone.gov.it
"ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 14
MARCH 16, 2018
Sigonella Marines donate ladder to Ispica archaeological site Photo/caption by NASSIG MWR
ISPICA, Sicily – On February 27, Sigonella CLB-6 Marines donated a new wooden ladder to the Archaeological park of Cava d'Ispica, located in an enchanting valley nestled between the towns of Modica and Ispica, which is among the largest archaeological sites in Sicily. After going on a Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) trip to this site last month, the Marines recognized the need to replace an obsolete ladder that posed a safety hazard to visitors. So they decided to build a safer new one using scrap materials and delivered it to the site with the assistance of MWR staff Giusi Murabito and Salvo Carnazza. Local media praised them for giving back. During their deployment in Sicily, the CLB-6 Marines, led by Chaplain Mark Coker, have been very active in supporting the NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Office Community Relations (COMREL) program by conducting several projects at local schools, churches etc. These efforts led them to complete 100 COMRELs, achieved on March 13.
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MARCH 16, 2018
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SECNAV Names Newest Destroyer in Honor of U.S. Marine From SECNAV Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer named the next Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in honor of Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and Navy Cross recipient Lance Cpl. Patrick Gallagher. In 1966, Gallagher, who immigrated from Ballyhaunis, Ireland in 1962, joined the Marine Corps where he served in H-Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division during Operation Hastings in the Republic of Vietnam. "Lance Corporal Gallagher is an American hero. His exemplary service in defense of our nation and his strength and sacrifice leaves an example for all servicemen and women to emulate," said Spencer. "His legacy will live on in the future USS Gallagher and his heroic actions will continue to inspire future Sailors and Marines." Gallagher was awarded the Navy
Cross for his actions on July 18, 1966, when he selflessly threw his body on an incoming grenade, shielding his fellow Marines. He quickly pitched the grenade to a nearby river where it safely exploded out of harm's way, without injury to himself or others. Gallagher was killed in action one year later in DaLoc near De Nang on March 30, 1967. He is one of only 30 known Irish citizens to have died in the Vietnam conflict. Arleigh-Burke class destroyers conduct a variety of operations from peacetime presence and crisis response to sea control and power projection. The future USS Gallagher (DDG 127) will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously, and will contain a combination of offensive and defensive weapon systems designed to support maritime warfare, including integrated air and missile defense and vertical launch capabilities. The ship will be constructed at Bath Iron Works, a division of Gener-
WASHINGTON (March 12, 2018) A graphic illustration of the future ArleighBurke class guided missile destroyer USS Gallagher (LCS 127). (U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Raymond Diaz/Released)
al Dynamics in Maine. The ship will be 509 feet long, have a beam length
of 59 feet and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 30 knots.
5 Things to Know About Getting FREE eBooks From Navy MWR Digital Library By MCC Chief Elliott Fabrizio Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
Sailors, their families and Navy civilians have FREE access to more than a quarter million ebooks and audiobooks through the Navy General Library Program's (NGLP) MWR OverDrive site. Produced by the Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs 1. Getting Started is a Little Tricky You need to create your initial account using the link from the Navy MWR Digital Library, after that you can read or listen on personal computers, phones, tablets or e-readers from the Navy OverDrive website or OverDrive app. Titles downloaded to the OverDrive app can even be read offline. Here's a list of the steps to follow to get started: 1. Access the Navy MWR Digital Library at: www. navymwrdigitallibrary.org. (If blocked at work use: www. mwrdigitallibrary.navy.mil.) 2. Under Login (top right menu), select either CAC or DS Logon. (Use your non-email certificate). 3. Click the A-Z Directory link. Near the bottom of the page, find the OverDrive link. Click on the image and a new browser window will open. 5. Click on Account. 6. Find the "new user" section. 7. Use ANY email to establish a Navy OverDrive Account. 8. Download the OverDrive app to your device
(https://app.overdrive.com/). 9. Create a User ID/ password specifically for the OverDrive app. 10. Login into the OverDrive app. 11. Search for "Navy." 12. Login using the Navy OverDrive account you established. 2. Popular Titles May Have a Wait List The MWR OverDrive app is an electronic library. This means the Navy has a limited number of licenses for any given title. If other Sailors have checked out the full number of available licenses, you will have to go on a waiting list for the book. You can opt to be notified by email when your book becomes available. More popular books have more licenses. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek has 25 licenses on MWR OverDrive, for example. As of the writing of this sentence, there are zero available with one person on the waiting list. Twilight, on the other hand, has 16 licenses. As of the writing of this sentence, there are 16 available with no waiting list. 3. Most of the Books in the CNO Professional Reading Program are Available In the words of President Harry S. Truman: "Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers." So get reading! Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson has selected 150 titles that aided his own thinking and leadership development. They are organized based on the lines of effort in A
Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority: Naval Power, Fast Learning, Navy Team and Partnerships. Titles that support character development are also listed under Core Attributes. The final section is called "The Canon," which contains books that comprise core knowledge -fundamental to the naval profession - including the causes of conflict, the dynamics of power, and the intersections of politics, diplomacy, economics and military power. Most titles will link directly to their digital version on MWR OverDrive. 4. It's Family Friendly While the initial account must be set up using a CAC or DS Logon, the service is just as popular with Navy families as it is with Sailors, according to the NGLP's administrative librarian. In fact, it offers more than 8,000 children's books through MWR OverDrive. 5. It's a Benefit, Not a Secret More than 2.5 million books have been checked out through MWR OverDrive since the program began. There are currently more than 30,000 users. If you're not among them, you're missing out on a valuable benefit! All it costs to get started is a little of your time, and in the words of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, "The problem with being too busy to read is that you learn by experience (or by your men's experience) - i.e., the hard way."
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Bees of the Seven Seas:
Photos by MC2 Chr
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2018 Seabee Week!
ristopher Gordon
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MARCH 16, 2018
NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin:
Accreditation Survey
Command, Department or Organization - Base Legal RLSO (Region Legal Service Office) The Joint Commission and the U.S. Navy Medical Inspector General will conduct a joint accreditation survey of U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella, and it’s Branch Health Clinics, from 12-20 April 2018. Patients and staff members may contact a Joint Commission surveyor during this survey and request a public information interview. The Joint Commission surveyors will be located in the Staff Education and Training Department (Bldg. 310) and can be contacted by calling DSN 624-4576 ext. 4. Concerns may also be brought to the attention of the U.S. Navy Medical Inspector General by calling (202) 445-4093 or via E-Mail: Sonja.m.pyle.civ@mail.mil
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR PARENTS WORKSHOP MARCH 22
Command, Department or Organization: Health Promotion and Wellness Center Date of Event: 22 March Time of Event: 1430-1630 Location of Event: Marinai Pavilion Point of Contact Name: Giuseppe Licari Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-4710 Point of Contact Email Address: usn.sigonella.navhospsigonellait.mesg.hp@mail.mil Additional Information: Facilitated by Mr. Richard Graves, the Credo facilitator, "How well do you know your parents" is a fun activity designed to test how much children and parents (or partners) know about each other. It is based on familiar competitive gameshow formats and designed for any age group and or family makeup. To sign up or for more information call U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella Health Promotion and Wellness at 624-4710.
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 Fridays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour:. . . . . . . . . 1700-1830
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 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: Mar. 5 - Mar. 12, 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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Updated Guidance Regarding the Hatch Act and President Donald Trump Now That He Is Officially a Candidate for Reelection
From the U.S. Office of Special Counsel
In February 2017, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) issued guidance regarding the Hatch Act and President Donald Trump’s status as a candidate in the 2020 Presidential election. In that guidance, OSC advised that an incumbent President is considered a “candidate” for purposes of the Hatch Act when he officially announces his candidacy for reelection. OSC also advised that once that happens, like with any other candidate, the Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from engaging in activity directed at the success or failure of the President’s candidacy while they are on duty or in the workplace. Last week, President Trump announced the appointment of a campaign manager “for his reelection committee as the advanced planning for the 2020 race begins.”1 Because President Trump now has officially announced his candidacy for reelection, OSC is providing this updated guidance to federal employees. The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activity while on duty or in a federal room or building.2 For purposes of the Hatch Act, political activity is defined as activity directed at the success or failure of a political party, partisan political group, or candidate for partisan political office. This prohibition is broad and encompasses more than displays or communications (including in-person and via email or social media) that expressly advocate for or against President Trump’s reelection. For example, while on duty or in the workplace, employees may not: wear, display, or distribute items with the slogan “Make America Great Again” or any other materials from President Trump’s 2016 or 2020 campaigns; use hashtags such as #MAGA or #ResistTrump in social media posts or other forums; or display non-official pictures of President Trump.3 For specific questions concerning social media and how it applies to communications about candidates for partisan political office, including the President, please refer to our recently issued social media guidance, which can be found at https://osc.gov/Pages/ Hatch-Act-Social-Media-and-Email-Guidance.aspx. Please contact OSC at hatchact@osc.gov or (202) 804-7002 with questions.
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MARCH 16, 2018
GAMEZONE COTTONWOOD ELM FIR GINKGO GOLDENRAIN HAZELNUT HEMLOCK HICKORY LARCH LINDEN LONDON PLANE MAPLE NECTARINE OAK PALM PEACH
PEAR PECAN PLUM PINE POPLAR REDBUD RUBBER TREE SEQUOIA SPRUCE SYCAMORE TULIPTREE WALNUT WITCHHAZEL WILLOW YELLOWWOOD
MEDIUM
APPLE APRICOT ASH ASPEN ARBORVITAE BALD CYPRESS BEECH BIRCH BOXWOOD BUCKEYE BUTTERNUT CATALPA CEDAR CHERRY CHESTNUT
EASY
Find and circle all of the Trees that are hidden in the grid. The remaining letters spell a secret message - a Greek Proverb.
DIFFICULT
Trees
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"ITALIAN NEWS" continued from Page 6
Italy's first black senator: my election shows far right is not anti-immigration Toni Iwobi, originally from Nigeria, says his election for the League shows far right party has no problem with ‘legal migration’ Italy’s first black senator has said his election for the League has proved that the far-right party, whose anti-immigrant rhetoric helped it to its best ever result on Sunday, has no problem with legal migration. Campaigning under the party slogan “stop the invasion”, Toni Iwobi, a 62-yearold businessman originally from Nigeria, won his seat in Spirano, a small town in the Lombardy province of Bergamo, as the party took almost 18% of the vote nationwide. “It’s an incredible honour for me to be Italy’s first black senator,” he told the Guardian. He shared success in the region with his party colleague Attilio Fontana, the new governor of Lombardy, who at the start of the election campaign said Italy’s migrant influx threatened to wipe out “our white race”. Iwobi, who owns an IT company, came to Italy in the late 1970s to study in Perugia. He later moved to Spirano, where he said he found the two loves of his life: his Italian wife and the League, then known as the Northern League. He became a councillor for the party in 1995. Iwobi, a Catholic, argues that people should travel to Italy legally, just like he did. “I came on a student visa,” he said. “During that period over 40 years ago, coming here meant needing a visa. My party is fighting to restore legal immigration.” The League was the strongest force within a three-party rightwing coalition that won most of the votes in the elections but fell short of the 40% majority required to govern. Horse-trading between parties is now under way to come up with a coalition government. Iwobi has played an instrumental role in driving the League’s success, having helped to create some of the party’s key policies since being appointed by its leader, Matteo Salvini, as head of its immigration and security committee in 2015. Party goals include making it easier to deport migrants deemed to be in the country illegally, refusing to accept those without documents arriving on charity rescue ships, and developing EU-wide economic aid projects with countries of origin to stop people coming. “Salvini appointing me as the head of immigration shows that he knows exactly what he is doing,” he said. Like Salvini, who has called for a “mass cleaning” to rid Italy of people in the country illegally, Iwobi takes aim at the 600,000 people who have landed on its southern shores within the last four years. The highest number of asylum requests in Italy come from Nigerians. “Anybody running away from a country because of conflict and war has to be hosted,” said Iwobi. “But anybody leaving their country for the wrong reason and travelling to others in the wrong way has to be stopped. Immigration shouldn’t cost thousands of lives at sea and neither should it cost a cent to the host country,” he said. “I want to stress that the League isn’t against immigration as such – nobody in this world can stop people moving, it’s in the human DNA. But we are against illegal immigration.” Iwobi’s views contradict those of Cécile Kyenge, who became Italy’s first black minister in the chamber of deputies, the lower house of parliament, in 2013 and later served as integration minister in Enrico Letta’s government. Kyenge suffered high-profile racist attacks during the brief tenure, including having bananas thrown at her and being likened to an orangutan by a League senator, Roberto Calderoli. Iwobi criticised her policies on migrant reception, saying at the time that “we should help them at home”. He also opposed a law drafted by Kyenge that would have granted an earlier path to citizenship for children born in Italy to foreign parents. But he insisted the party was not racist and urged foreigners worried about the recent spate of racist attacks to “stay calm”. “Our policies are intended to bring peace and order to the nation,” he said.
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Kinder surprise eggs still banned in U.S. School Shooter Preparedness and Response By Robert Szostek U.S. Army Customs Agency - Europe Public Affairs
WIESBADEN, Germany -- People who are thinking of sending chocolate eggs stateside this Easter should be aware of the U.S. Customs regulation banning Kinder Surprise eggs from import to the U.S. “U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents will remove Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs from your baggage or any package mailed stateside,” said Tim Sellman of the U.S. European Command Customs Executive Agency. However, he added that other Kinder brand candy products can be mailed without restriction. For example, the Kinder Joy product is also egg-shaped but not banned. Those who ship Kinder Surprise eggs can be fined. Sellman stated that shippers have an obligation to declare items they are mailing on the customs declaration form to avoid penalties. Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs are popular treats all over Europe. The hollow chocolate eggs come in a colorful foil wrapper and contain an oval plastic capsule with a small toy inside. The Consumer Product Safety Commission tested many of the toys and determined they present a choking hazard for young children. The Food and Drug Administration also issued an import alert for Kinder Surprise eggs because they are confectionery products with an imbedded non-nutritive object. According to the Customs website, CBP seizes thousands of Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs each year at mail facilities and from individual travelers. By contrast, the Kinder Joy candy (or Kinder Merendero as it is known in Italy) is legal in the U.S. because the egg-shaped packaging splits into two. One half contains layers of cocoa and milk cream while the other contains a toy. Contact the local U.S. military customs office for more information or visit the FDA’s Web site at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_107.html.
GM3 Neal, Joshua Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
"Ring-ring!" go the school bells. "Ringring!" go the empty shells. The thought of an active shooter at a school is a sensitive, and uncomfortable thing to talk about, let alone experience. This year alone in the United States, reports show that there have been nine reported incidents of school shootings that directly resulted in the injury of 38 people, and the deaths of 21 others. Seven of those shootings were intentional. That’s too much too soon. That’s 21 lives that potentially could have been saved had people been better prepared. How can one prepare for such a disaster? Rather than just watching the news, and reading your news feed, that tells you another school shooting taken place, simply waiting for the next one to happen, we can take action by learning about them in order to prevent them. Some commonly debated questions about school shootings to address - What causes them? What can we do as ordinary citizens and service members to keep them from happening? And how should a person respond if one occurs? The causes of school shootings vary. We could blame the media, we could blame video games, we could blame mental health issues, or we could probably blame anything. Ultimately, the responsibility of helping to preventschool shootings through awareness, preparedness, education, and action belongs to each of us. A very good yet simple practice to help prevent school shootings, is if you see something, say something. Reporting suspicious activity is never a wrong answer. Be especially alert to signs of trouble in people, such as: drug or alcohol abuse, hostile ideations, strong feelings of injustice, financial difficulties, or any number of other sudden and dramatic changes in someone’s personality at home and elsewhere. Being aware of the people around you and their behaviors won’t prevent every incident, but it certainly will help. Another way to prepare for a school shooting incident is to have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP). Creating and practicing an EAP with your family and fellow students and teachers can greatly increase everyone’s chances of survival should a school shooting occur. An EAP consists of procedures for reporting the emergency (by calling 09586-1911), and evacuation procedures and escape routes for each floor and room. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) suggests that the most effective way to train everyone is to conduct mock active shooter training exercises. The Naval Air Station (NAS) Security department has been conducting weekly exercises at the NAS Sigonella Middle and High Schools, and plan to hold a full scale exercise with the students and faculty March 27. Sadly there’s not enough room in one newspaper to fit everything that can be said
about school shootings. The statistics, all of the preventive trainings, the awareness workshops offered around the country by entities such as the DHS – one could go on for days discussing this topic. But prevention and preparedness is the key. Sometimes though, as we have seen at least seven times already this year, it’s not enough. Should you find yourself in an active shooter event whether at a school or not, and the shooter is nearby remember these few good practices: - Be aware of at least two of the nearest exits in any location you visit and keep an escape route in mind. - Quickly determine the most reasonable way to protect your own life. - Lock the doors and silence your cell phone - Turn off sources of noise (radios, television, etc). - Hide behind large items such as a desk or cabinet. - Remain quiet. If evacuation and hiding are not possible: - Remain calm and call Emergency Dispatch (911) at 624-1911 or 095-86-1911 if possible, to alert police to the active shooter’s location. Dispatchers will ask for the shooter’s location, how many shooters there are, any physical description of the shooter if you can provide one, how many weapons the shooter has and what type (handgun, rifle, shotgun, etc), and how many potential victims are at the location. - If you cannot speak, leave the line open and allow the Dispatcher to listen. Help will be on the way. As an absolute last resort, and only when you find your life in imminent danger, attempt to disrupt or incapacitate the active shooter. When law enforcement arrives, listen to them carefully and follow all instructions given as they are there to help you. Want to learn more? Stop by the Emergency Operations Center at NAS II, and our Emergency Management staff will be more than glad to guide you in preparing for a myriad of situations. You can also send an email to joshua.neal@eu.navy.mil. We highly encourage everyone to check with their commands to verify that their contact information in AtHoc is up to date, that way your command can get in contact with you and so that the EOC can keep you informed with text alerts, emails, and calls regarding ongoing or expected emergencies. Should you find yourself in any emergency, knowing your location’s address and GPS coordinates is essential to allow the EOC to send the appropriate responders to help you. Be educated and prepared for active shooters, be prepared for emergencies, and be prepared for everything. Should you have any emergencies, please call the EOC's Emergency Dispatch Center (our 911) at 095-86-1911 or DSN 624-1911. For non-emergencies, you can contact the Emergency Dispatch Center at 095-86-5225 or DSN 624-5225.
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