Vol. 28 No. 35
September 16, 2011
http://www.cnic.navy.mil/sigonella
Navy Reservists work at NAS Sigonella
Photo by MCSN Cameron Bramham/NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS Sigonella Commanding Officer, Capt. Scott Butler, stands with the team tasked to operate Tent City. The team is manned and managed solely by reservists, making what is already a unique situation even more special. By MC1 Chris Delano NAS Sigonella Public Affairs As of Sept. 6, Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella’s “tent city” personnel arranged lodging for their 800th transient personnel in less than 80 days. The “city,” which is currently housing and meeting the needs of about 350 coalition forces personnel, is manned by 10 personnel; none of which are permanently assigned to NAS Sigonella. “Tent city, which supports Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, is completely manned and managed by
reservists,” said reserve Lt. Philip Romeo. “This is probably one of the very few times that this has occurred Navy-wide.” Acting as commandant of both tent city and the Joint Reception Center, Romeo and his team of reservists have been essential to meeting the demand for extra lodging aboard NAS Sigonella. “After the barracks reached 170 percent capacity and all the local hotels and motels filled up for miles around, Public Works, in conjunction with 3rd Air Force, devised a plan where 3rd Air Force would provide the Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR)
kits,” said Builder Senior Chief Petty Officer Jon Morton, deputy commandant of tent city. “Public Works and Naval Facilities Engineering Command started the process, the Italians approved it, the surveys were completed and then Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 74 (NMCB-74) came in and took down all the weeds and laid the gravel that the contractors brought in. After that, the Air Force took over and working with NMCB-74 they started the construction, which included installing all the RESERVISTS, continued on page 12
Bravo Zulu, NAS Sigonella CPO Selects By MCSN Cameron Bramham NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella’s Navy Exchange (NEX) thanked and congratulated Sigonella’s Chief Petty Officer (CPO) selects at the annual CPO Select Family Night on Sept. 8. “I’m proud to have been selected and able to do this,” Chief Electrician’s Mate (Select) Jeff Carmichael said. “It’s nice and relaxing just to be able to take a break from all this and getting out and meeting people.” The event was held for the CPO selectees, their families and sponsors and began with a cookout behind the NEX. Following the cookout, the CPO selectees split up into three teams which participated in a series of games. The CHIEFS, continued on page 12
Sigonella’s Chief selects pose in front of the NEX during the CPO Chief Night, an annual event to honor and thank the Chief selects.
NASSIG Fire & Emergency Services Alert Carbon Monoxide is a dangerous and deadly gas and it’s important to make sure your detector is up to code.
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Sigonella Remembers See how NAS Sigonella commemorated the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
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Photo by MCSA Brian Glunt/NPASE Atlantis STS-135 flight mission crew signs autographs and meets with service members and their families stationed at Naval Air Station Sigonella Sept. 8, in the base's galley. The astronauts, NASA's final mission crew, launched into space July 8, to deliver supplies to the International Space Station.
NASA Final Mission Crew Visits NAS Sigonella By MCSA Brian Glunt
NPASE
The Atlantis’ 33rd crew, NASA’s final mission, visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Sept. 8, as part of a meet and greet with the service members and their families stationed here. The crew signed autographs, shook hands, visited with students of Sigonella Department of Defense Schools and held a question and answer session in the movie theater on NAS Sigonella’s support base. “I think it’s very good for the crew to come and speak on behalf of the space program,” said Hospital Corpsman 3rd class Paul Kretzschmar, from U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella. “There are a lot of questions with space travel and the space program. It’s great to have the final crew come here to answer some of those questions. I sure do appreciate them coming.” Shuttle Commander Chris Ferguson led the four-person Atlantis STS135 flight when it launched July 8, from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Doug Hurley, pilot for the
mission, was joined by mission specialists Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus on the final mission. “The 12-day mission was to deliver a year's worth of supplies and spare parts to the International Space Station”, said Magnus. The 9,500 pounds of cargo also included two iPhone 4 Smartphones loaded with applications to assist the space station crew with performing experiments in space. This marked the first time an iPhone has been in space. The NASA crew’s next stop on the tour will be at Aviano Air Force Base in northern Italy. “I think the visit went very well,” said Cmdr. Eric Vosler, NAS Sigonella’s Executive Officer. “We had an outstanding opportunity that they would come out to a base like Sigonella. People were very receptive to seeing the astronauts. I know a lot of people had the opportunity to meet with them and I’ve really enjoyed it myself.” For more information on the NASA space program, visit their website at www.nasa.gov.
Yung Joc visits NAS Sigonella Platinum-selling artist Yung Joc is making an appearance at Jox.
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Direct Line As the heat begins to let up – at least a little – and we move into the Fall, the 2011-12 sports season has “kicked off!” I want to take a moment to invite the entire Sigonella community to get involved and support our schools as they begin their seasons. This coming weekend, the Jaguars travel to Menwith Hill and the Cross Country, Volleyball and Tennis teams will be at home as they take on Naples. I encourage everyone to come out and show your support as they look to repeat the successful seasons of last year. I continue to be amazed at the questions I received during Feedback Live and I think it shows that the Sigonella community is committed to improving the quality of life. I want to make sure that we answer all your questions and concerns, so I’ll answer them in this Direct Line. As always, Feedback Live is a LIVE call in show – and we try to answer your questions on the spot – but even those that we can’t get to during the show will still get answered.
NAS SigoNellA CommANdiNg offiCer, CApt. SCott Butler
Q1. My son spends many hours at the Tween center in Marinai and loves it, but recently he has been coming home early saying that the staff are “shooing” the kids out up to 30-45 minutes early. I feel that they are advertising the center as a safe place for our kids and the staff is being paid to be there then they shouldn’t be turning away kids if they are still open. Which got me thinking: What kind of supervision is over there to prevent this sort of thing from happening? A1. I’m glad to hear your son loves the Tween Center in Marinai, and that entire complex will be getting even better soon! Many opportunities are offered through the BGCA and 4-H clubs, as well as the Center simply being a safe place to relax and enjoy friends. Now that school is back in session, the Tween Center is open from 3-6 pm Tues Fri, and open until 9 pm the 2nd and 4th Fridays each month, and 37 on Sat. There are plenty of fun activities planned each month for Sigonella youth – always with
trained staff on site. When the children are deeply-engaged in a game or project, the staff will give them a warning about 30 minutes ahead of closing to allow time for them to finish what they are doing and clean up the area. Parents are always welcome to stop by and see what’s going on at our Tween Center, or call 624-1750 during open hours with any questions. As I mentioned in a previous article, the Teen Center will soon be moving to Marinai and I’m convinced that the entire Community will benefit from a dedicated Youth Complex. Many upgrades and improvements are planned in the near future, so stand by for the grand opening. Q2. The Marinai/Sigonella Community Board had a spin off board that was set up by both active duty members and their spouses where they just bad mouthed and threatened people living in the Sigonella community. I am wondering what can be done to stop this childish nonsense? The Board has become more of a name
Carbon Monoxide By Robert Womble NAS Sigonella Fire and Emergency Services Battalion Chief
Did you know that just about anything you might burn in or around your home whether it’s gasoline, wood, coal, propane, natural gas or oil, it can produce carbon monoxide in the right conditions. Known as "the silent killer," carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that is created from incomplete combustion. Without adequate ventilation, the gas can build up to deadly levels. It doesn't take much to be dangerous and even small tools like chainsaws, gas driven lawn mowers and weed cutters can release enough CO to make you sick. Carbon monoxide enters your body and red blood cells, quickly taking the place of the oxygen your body needs. Your blood then carries the CO gas to your organs. If you inhale small amounts of CO over a long period, the exposure might not be fatal, but it can cause permanent damage to your brain, lungs and heart. Moderate levels of CO exposure can cause burning eyes, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, severe headaches, breathing difficulties and confusion. These symptoms can be easily mistaken for other common illnesses, like the flu or food poisoning. If carbon monoxide begins to fill a home while you are asleep, you will
never know and it can be fatal before anyone realizes something is wrong. Infants, the elderly and people with respiratory and circulatory illnesses are at an increased risk of fatal CO poisoning. This can very well happen at your home here at NAS Sigonella on or off base. So how do you prevent this potentially deadly gas from harming you and your family? You can reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning by keeping your fuel-burning appliances well maintained and using combustible fuels only in well ventilated areas. Another important step is installing a carbon monoxide detector in your home. These detectors are inexpensive and are life savers. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends carbon monoxide detectors in several locations: • Outside sleeping areas • On each floor of the home Some quick safety practices are as follows.
• Have furnaces and chimneys inspected every year and serviced as needed. Be sure to open the flue before lighting the fire. • Have gas-burning appliances installed only by a qualified professional. Follow all manufacturers’ instructions carefully. • Use tools that burn fuel only in well ventilated areas. • Make sure furnace, water heater and dryer vents are kept clear of leaves and debris. • Repair or replace any fuel-burning tools, like lawn mowers or chainsaws that are not working properly. • Have your car's exhaust system inspected for leaks, and never idle your car in the garage. • Never use an oven as a heat source or use a grill inside your home. • Never use generators indoors. Finally, test your carbon monoxide detector once a month; it's your last line of defense against a malfunctioning stove or heater.
calling, insulting, trouble making thing than a sales board. Is there anyway to put an end to it? A2. I had heard about this Board through Sigonella Ombudsman and, although I find it disturbing, there’s not much I can really do about it. Free speech is, in fact, free speech. Still I don’t think that kind of slander or those kinds of threats have any place here in our Community, and I would caution people that are inclined to participate in those kinds of online discussions to be aware of the fact that you can never, truly, be sure who else is reading the information you post there. The only official NAS Sigonella social media site – which is actively monitored by my Public Affairs staff – is the NAS Sigonella Facebook page. Personal sites are created and maintained at the discretion of the
creator cannot be censored by the command. All active duty military and dependants are responsible for their own actions and we all need to exercise caution when posting to public sites. If you have safety concerns for yourself or others, please contact Security or your chain of command.
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Yung Joc at Jox Yung Joc is set to rock the mic next week at Jox Pub! The platinumselling and award winning rapper is known for the hit song “ It’s Goin’ Down,” and he’s coming to Sigonella on Thursday, September 22nd. Doors open at 5pm, the show starts at 9:30pm.
Midtown Movie theaterS Schedule & deScriptionS
FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS - Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis, Patricia Clarkson, Jenna Elfman, Bryan Greenburg
Dylan and Hamie think it’s going to be easy to add the simple act of sex to their relationship, despite what Hollywood romantic comedies would have them believe. They soon discover however, that getting physical really does lead to complications (110 min.) MONTE CARLO - Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy, Andie MacDowell, Luke Bracey
Friday, Sept. 16 5:00pm Captain America PG-13 8:00pm Crazy, Stupid, Love PG-13 Saturday, Sept. 17 2:00pm The Smurfs PG 4:30pm Harry Potter 7 PG-13 7:30pm Bridesmaids R Sunday, Sept. 18 2:00pm Winnie the Pooh G 4:30pm Crazy, Stupid, Love PG-13 7:30pm Horrible Bosses R Tuesday, Sept. 20 5:00pm Monte Carlo PG 8:00pm Crazy, Stupid, Love Pg-13 Wednesday, Sept. 21 5:00pm Harry Potter 7 PG-13 8:00pm Friends with Benefits R Thursday, Sept. 22 5:00pm Captain America PG-13
While on a trip to Paris with her best friends and soon-to-be step-sister, Grace is mistaken for a British socialite, resulting in all three young women flying to Monte Carlo for a charity ball, auction, and chance at international romance. However, when a million-dollar necklace ends up missing, Grace and her friends must scramble to find it before the auction is ruined and their identities exposed. (109 min.) WINNIE THE POOH - John Cleese, James Cummings, Craig Ferguson, Travis Oates, Bud Luckey
Walt Disney Animated Studios returns to the Hundred Acre Wood with Winnie the Pooh. Owl sends the whole gang on a wild request to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary culprit. It turns out to be a very busy day for a bear who simply set out to find some hunny. (70 min.) CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE - Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Kevin Bacon
Cal Weaver is living the dream - good job, nice house, great kids and married to his high school sweetheart. But when Cal finds out that his wife, Emily, has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his perfect life quickly unravels. In today’s single world, Cal is the epitome of unsmooth. In an effort to help Cal get over his wife and start living his life again, Cal’s friend Jacob opens his eyes to the many options before him; flirty women, manly drinks and a sense of style that can’t be found at Supercuts and the Gap. Despite Cal’s makeover and his many new conquests, the one thing that can’t be made over is his heart, which seems to keep leading him back to where he started(103 min.) HORRIBLE BOSSES – Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudekis, Colin Farrell
For Nick, Kurt and Dale, the only thing that would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses into dust. Quitting is not an option, so, with the benefit of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con, the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly fool-proof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers… permanently (93 min.)
8:00pm Horrible Bosses R Friday, Sept. 23 5:00pm Winnie the Pooh G 8:00pm Rise of the Planet of Apes PG-13
Movie schedule is subject to change. Please call to confirm. Movie Hotline: 624-4248
Base 2 Base Series Shamrock Series 2011-2012 The 2011-2012 Base 2 Base Series kicked off last Friday with the POW/MIA Remembrance Run! This year’s series, the shamrock series, will have a total of seven runs to promote fitness and healthy living. The Base 2 Base Series was created to get Sigonellans up and moving. The original Base 2 Base run had become so popular over the past few years that MWR Fitness decided to put a fun series together that will end with the famous Base 2 Base run from NAS II to NAS I. There is a run each month with its own theme that will increase in distance and change terrain to help participants train for the final event. The fitness team has also chosen a variety of courses, including some that are stroller-friendly, and added a walk category to promote participation for those who want to move at their own pace. The runs are not just challenging, they’re fun too! The next run in the series is “Walk the pink out of it,” and will encourage participants to wear pink to promote breast cancer health awareness. It’s a great opportunity for the entire family to get involved in getting fit. The series will award a limited edition sweatshirt for anyone who completes four out of the first six runs and all participants in the final run, the Base 2 Base, will earn the coveted limited edition Base 2 Base t-shirt.
Save these dates! Run 2 Walk the pink out of it 2mile Run/ Walk October 15, 2011 Run 3 5k Turkey Trot Orange Grove Run/ Walk November 19, 2011 Run 4 Jingle Bell Jog 5 Mile Run/Walk December 10, 2011 Run 5 Resolution Run/ Walk 6miles January 7, 2012 Run 6 Stupid Cupid 5K Run/Walk February 11, 2012 Last Run # 7 BASE 2 BASE 7.6miles March 17, 2012