Sexual Assault: Know your part, do your part!
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Slovakia:
VP-9:
A European Gem!
Celebrates 65th Birthday!
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N A S SIG O N E L L A
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March 25, 2016
Vol. 33 No. 12
Coordination and Communication Key in Reliant Giant 2016 By Nicole Ybarra NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – On March 16-17, departments from across NAS Sigonella came together as an integrated force to respond to several simulated emergencies during Reliant Giant 2016. The exercise is designed to test the interoperability and response capabilities of the Fire Department, Security, Carabinieri, Italian Fire Department, Safety, Emergency Operations Center personnel and EMT from U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella, as well as a group of Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8. The exercise began with a simulated fire at the Naval Munitions Compound (NMC) followed by an explosion at the Galley on NAS 2. NAS Sigonella Fire, their Italian counterparts, and Fire and Emergency Services (FES) promptly responded to the fire. Shortly after the fire was extinguished, a suicide bomber strapped with a personalborne IED was reported near the NAS 2 Galley. Security forces were alerted and a shelter in place notice was issued, instructing all personnel throughout the three bases to remain inside. “Thankfully these types of scenarios rarely happen, so simulated exercises such as these are important to test our response capabilities. We have to flex that muscle so we know that if an event like this does happen, we could respond effectively,” said Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jeffrey Christiansen who played the role of suicide bomber during the exercise. Meanwhile, Security forces were notified of a potential IED in the Galley parking lot area. Sailors assigned to the military working dogs (MWD) division of NAS Sigonella
NAS Sigonella Department of Fire and Emergency Services responded to a simulated casualty during exercise Reliant Giant 2016 at the NAS 2 Galley, March 16. The exercise is designed to test the interoperability and response capabilities of the Fire Department, Security, Carabinieri, Italian Fire Department, Safety, Emergency Operations Center personnel and EMT from U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella, as well as a group of Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released)
Security were also alerted and arrived to begin sweeping the area. After an extensive search, MWD detected a possible simulated pipe bomb inside a trash can. The Sailors promptly called EODMU 8. Once the EOD squad located a safe point to secure the IED, they sent in an ordnance disposal robot to transport the IED from the area, where they would have remotely detonated the device from a safe distance or use a chemical agent to defuse the bomb in a real world situation. Once the area had been secured from the IED and suicide bomber, the shelter in place was lifted and Sailors from U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella were able to respond to
the simulated casualties and victims that occurred during the training scenarios. Following the exercise, the team held a debriefing session to discuss areas of improvement and things that went well during the drill. The exercise was the culmination of nearly five months of planning by the Installation Training Team (ITT) which met weekly. "The team included subject matter experts from various departments. We came together to design a drill package meeting all the Navy Mission Essential Tasks. The region training team came down to assess our performance, and I feel we performed well," said Lt. Robert Helfer, Instal-
lation Training Officer for NAS Sigonella. “This year's Reliant Giant exercise introduced a number of variables that we don't have a chance to normally exercise concurrently, and it wouldn't have been nearly the success it was without the significant role that our Italian counterparts with the Italian Air Force played this year,” said Niki McBain, Emergency Management Officer. “Working together with our colleagues from across the base as well as with our first responders in town on exercises, provides us the confidence that during a real event the entire Sigonella community will be ready to respond when the time comes.”
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Active Duty Fund Drive 2016 Schedule of Events March 25 - April 1: Raffle sale - Commissary, Galley and Mini-Mart - 1100 - 1300 - All week 25 - Raffle sale 26 - 3 vs 3 basketball tournament - 1300 - 1730 - NAS 1 Gym Grocery bagging - 1100 - 1600 - NAS 1 Commissary 27 - No events 28 - Breakfast burrito sale - 0630 - 0830 - NAS 2 Gate entrance 29 - Bingo food sale - 1700 - 1830 - NAS 1 Connections 30 - Breakfast burrito sale - 0630 - 0830 - NAS 2 gate entrance NAS Sigonella fundraises for the Active Duty Fund Drive 2016 in support of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society with activities, sales and raffles. The Active Duty Fund Drive has two primary purposes: (1) To raise awareness of the programs and services available to active duty Sailors and Marines. (2) To raise funds to support the programs and services offered by the NMCRS. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released)
31 - Radiothon all day on AFN live Pie-in-the-face - 1200 - 1300 - NAS 2 water fountain Bar trivia - 2000 - 2200 - NAS 2 Jox Pub 1 - Raffle 2 - Spring Fest and car show - 0900 - 1600 - NAS 1 Annex