The Signature, March 10, 2017

Red Cross: March is Red Cross month

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Soaring Swordfish:

Health Promotion:

Swim to win at Champs

Healthy potluck!

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March 10, 2017

Vol. 34 No. 9

Swordfish Swim to Win at European Forces Swim League Championships Story By By Brice Goodwin

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Have you ever seen Swordfish soar? That’s exactly what parents, coaches, and competitors witnessed on Feb. 25 – 26 when 18 swimmers, representing a full third of the Sigonella Swordfish Swim Team, earned qualifying times to compete against 18 other teams from 11 countries in the European Forces Swim League Championship meet held at the National Swim Center in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. What the Swordfish lacked in team size, they more than made up for in competitive spirit, camaraderie, and sportsmanship that served to raise the performance bar for everyone.

After two days of determined swimming, the Swordfish returned home with an impressive set of wins. A total of 38 medals and 34 ribbons were claimed by the Swordfish in both individual and relay events, with top honors going to CJ Davis (11-year old boys), David Goodwin (12-year-old boys), and Shannon Buckley (9-year-old girls).

The 11-12-year-old girls group showed their competitive streak as well, with Allison Havard, Sadie Torres, and Avery Young bringing home a combined five medals and 11 ribbons! Jordan Barcenas and Henry Boller rounded out the Swordfish medal wins with an additional five.

When the final results were tallied, the Swordfish left Eindhoven with 23 top-three finish medals consisting of five gold medals (CJ Davis), 15 silver medals (David Goodwin: 7, Shannon Buckley: 4, Jordan Barcenas: 2, CJ Davis: 2,) and three bronze medals (Jordan Barcenas: 1, Shannon Buckley: 1, David Goodwin: 1).

Swordfish President Chad Davis expressed his enthusiasm with the total time that swimmers’ cut from their seed times, commenting that he’d “never seen so many seconds shaved off this late in the season.” All combined, the team cut an impressive 280 seconds from their events, with David Goodwin showing the greatest drop (58.50 seconds), followed by Colby Young (32.87 seconds), Jordan Barcenas (27.63 seconds) and Alyah Perkins (21.90 seconds).

Alyah Perkins is first off the blocks during the start of her event at the European Forces Swim League Championship meet held at the National Swim Center in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, Feb. 25-26. One third of the Swordfish team earned qualifying times which earned them the right to compete at Champs. (Photo courtesy of Brice Goodwin)

By the time the Swordfish changed out of their swimsuits Sunday afternoon, they’d swam over 11,450 meters – more than seven miles – and at speeds that impressed everyone.

Head Coach Troy Pepito also shared his pride during the awards ceremony. “You were phenomenal out there and I’m so proud of all of you,” said Pepito. Assistant Coach Jen Bayer echoed Coach Troy’s sentiments, reflecting on swimmers’ commitment to daily practices and in reaching their goals. “The challenges, and even injuries the swimmers endured to compete, presented swimmers with life experiences and

ADFD Event Schedule for March 10 - 17

lessons that extend far beyond the pool, and will make them better, more confident adults in the future,” said Bayer.

Whether or not a medal or ribbon was won at the end of an event, it was evident that the swimmers started each race with their individual goals in mind, while teammates cheered one another on from the stands and pool deck.

Everyone swam with determination and heart that made every parent, coach, and teammate proud. So, if you happen to see a Swordfish soaring around the school or base, make sure to give them a shout-out for a job well done!

FRIDAY, MARCH 10: Car Wash 1400-1800 Near Marinai Main Gate SATURDAY, MARCH 11: Commissary Bagging 1100-1600 NAS 1 Commissary TUESDAY, MARCH 14: Uniform Sale / Lunch 1100-1300 NAS 2 Water Fountain Lunch at NAS 2 Community Bank Lot WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15: Uniform Sale / BBQ 1100-1300 NAS 2 Water Fountain BBQ at Bldg 426 across from Water Fountain

Executive Officer Charles G. McKinney II takes a swing during the Homerun Derby event at the NAS 2 turf field hosted by the Active Duty Fund Drive (ADFD) in support of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS). The ADFD is held every March and features a month filled with activities designed to raise awareness and financial support for NMCRS programs. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michelle Sabangan/Released)

THURSDAY, MARCH 16: Uniform Sale / Lunch 1100-1300 NAS 2 Water Fountain Lunch at NAS 2 Community Bank Lot Bingo Food Sale 1800 NAS 1 Connections RADIOTHON all day

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March 10, 2017

Direct Line

Executive Officer Cmdr. Charles G. McKinney II Buon giorno, Sigonella!

As we continue settling into the month of March, many of us are feeling encouraged by the recent waves of warmer temps. I am also looking forward to a speedy transition to more pleasant weather, especially with the Base 2 Base “Running of the Leprechauns” taking place on March 18. Most of us are familiar with the turbulent nature between seasons. Maintaining awareness of changing weather conditions can aide your preparedness for situations like flash flooding.

A popular Sicilian proverb goes, “Marzo pazzerello, guarda il sole e prendi l’ombrello!” Loosely translated as “Crazy March, sun one moment, an umbrella the next,” it refers to this unpredictable period of the year. A similar saying, “Marzo cambia sette cappelli al giorno” translates to “March changes seven hats a day.”

You get the picture: this is normal here at the “Hub of the Med.” Keeping an umbrella or raincoat handy may help preserve the joy of the moment, as you venture around the island.

Along the lines of flash flooding, high accumulation of water on the roadways should be anticipated as you travel the roads. Reducing your speed in rain will reduce the possibility for hydroplaning – the reason for 1/3 of traffic accidents last year, and an untold amount of ‘close calls’ in our community.

Aside from crazy weather, the month of March celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8 to recognize, respect, appreciate and show affection for women and all of their contributions and pursuits.

This year’s official United Nations Theme is “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030.” Hopefully, you had the opportunity to give the

ladies in your lives flowers this past Wednesday, daughters too. If you missed it, there’s still time to get some Daffodils or Tulips. However, the vibrant yellow Mimosa is by large the most popular and traditional here in Italy.

March is also Women’s History Month. Our community has no shortage of people making important contributions on a daily basis. Many women at NAS Sigonella fall into this category. In fact, female service members from NAS Sigonella will be participating in a number of Women's Day events this week and next week. These ladies will have the opportunity to meet with their counterparts and young women in the local community to discuss their careers and answer questions about how they got to where they are today. These are certain to be great community relations exchanges and positive opportunities for their audiences.

Last, but not least, March is the designated open season for the Active Duty Fund Drive in support of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

Last week’s kickoff and Homerun Derby ushered in the season which will continue with lunchtime specials, car washes, and the famous “Jail-n-Bail” event to name a few. Please get out and support this drive either as a volunteer or ensuring 100% contact.

In closing, I congratulate the SeaBees on their 75th anniversary of awesome history and service. I also tip my hat to all spouses commanding the home front, who likely set aside their own careers and ambitions to grow a family and/or support their military or civilian service members (who are in turn

supporting our mission). I thank my wife for being such an amazing foundation of support and mother, and wish her and all of our Sigonella ladies a wonderful Women’s History Month!

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 Suggestion 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".

SureStart Students Join In "Read Across America"

Students from Ms. Lois Dent's SureStart class enjoy a story at the NAS 1 Memorial Park read by MC2 Gregory White in honor of Read Across America Day, March 2.

(Photo courtesy of Lois Dent)

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March 10, 2017

Vacation Safety: Tips to Keep you Safe

BY NAS Sigonella Safety Office

Before Leaving, Secure Your Home • Have good locks on all doors and windows and double check them before you leave.

Ask a neighbor to watch your home while you are gone.

Leave as much information about your vacation with them as possible, including emergency contact information in the event of an emergency.

• Arrange for a neighbor or family member to gather your mail and newspaper deliveries. Plug in timers to turn lights on and off to simulate that the house is being used. Create the illusion that someone is home. For example, attach a television or radio to a timer to occasionally turn on and off.

• Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway if you will be taking your vehicle with you. If you leave your car at home, park it as you normally would.

• Arrange for someone to mow your lawn and maintain the yard should you be gone for a long period of time. During winter, make arrangements to have your snow shoveled.

• Be aware of your surroundings and do not advertise your travel plans to strangers.

• Do not carry your airplane tickets or passport in open view. Secure these important documents in a safe place. If you carry these in a purse, place your purse across your body rather than just over your shoulder or carry these documents in the front pocket of your pants instead of your back pocket.

Three to four thousand dollars pass through Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Ryan Grafton’s hands on a daily basis.

That’s roughly $20,000 a week, $80,000 a month, and almost a million dollars a year while working at the NAS Sigonella Personnel Support Detachment (PSD) office.

“A lot of my job requires math which I really enjoy,” said Grafton. “Especially since we’re overseas we have to deal with the exchange rate between dollars and euros. So keeping track of all that and making sure at the end of the day my balance sheet is fully balanced down to the penny is kind of fun. It’s almost like a matching game.”

Grafton works in the fiscal section of PSD which means his primary job is to manage the local cash flow to and from the Navy, from paying civilian contractors’ travel vouchers to receiving

THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Executive Officer Cmdr. Charles G. McKinney II Command Master Chief CMDCM Mike Kaszubowski EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Andriana Genualdi andriana.genualdi@eu.navy.mil Assistant Public Affairs Officer Nicole Ybarra nicole.ybarra@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writers \ Photographers 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

While on Your Trip • Trust your instincts and speak up if you think or feel something is dangerous. Confirm your reservations before leaving home. Keep a record of your credit card numbers in a safe place. Have a record of all of the numbers to your credit card companies in case they become lost or stolen.

• Do not carry large amounts of cash. If you must carry large sums, do not display it openly to others.

Name: Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Ryan Grafton Dept: Personnel Support Detachment Hometown: Medfield, Mass.

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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

money from Marinai Housing.

After work Grafton goes back to his barracks room where he enjoys interacting with residents in his capacity as a Residential Advisor (RA).

“The RA is in a position where they’re the person you’re supposed to go to if you need help,” said Grafton “I already do that all day at work so why not do it outside of work where I live? It’s also a good way to get to know people.”

When not at work or helping his Shipmates out in the barracks, Grafton’s hobbies include video games and travel.

“I play with some friends online from all over the world. That way even though we may not be on the same side of the world I still get to chat with them. Social media is great…sometimes,” Grafton laughed. “But I’m planning a couple of trips outside of Sicily. My cousin is in Berlin right now and I’d love to see him.”

Ever since Grafton enlisted Europe was his first choice of duty stations. After five years, he gets to fulfill one of his earliest goals in the Navy.

“Finally getting orders to Europe was an awesome feeling because I’d love to visit all over Europe,” said Grafton.

“I’m trying to immerse myself in the culture while I’m here,” said Grafton.

“I downloaded an app on my phone to learn Italian and just look forward to experiencing all that Europe has to offer.”

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 handdelivered 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 10, 2017

Observing American Red Cross Month

By Madison Kim American Red Cross Sigonella

March is Red Cross Month, the perfect time to honor our Red Cross volunteers, donors and contributors who bring hope to people facing life’s emergencies. During Red Cross Month, we want to thank the volunteers for their tremendous support.

March has been recognized as Red Cross Month for over 70 years.

All of our presidents have designated it as such, in order to recognize how the American Red Cross helps people across the country and around the world.

The Red Cross depends on local heroes to fulfill its mission. Globally, every eight minutes, Red Cross disaster workers respond to a community disaster, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. The Red Cross provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families at home and around the world. It collects nearly 14,000 donations of blood every day to meet patient needs. It trains millions of people in first aid, water safety, and other lifesaving skills. The Red Cross also supports the vaccination of children around the globe against measles and rubella.

From July 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2016, the Sigonella Red Cross facilitated over 14 certification programs including CPR/First Aid and Babysitting courses, and qualified 96 people in lifesaving skills.

With the support of volunteers, they have offered 20 base-wide events including Reconnection Workshops,

partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project, participation in Autumn Fest and participation in Winter Wonderland. The Sigonella Red Cross has trained four volunteers in the local Dental Assistance Program, and five volunteers in the Veterinary Program. They have over 50 volunteers that dedicated 3,352 hours during that time frame.

“It’s easy to become a Red Cross community hero,” said Kathryn

Lasky, Regional Program Manager.

“Be ready for an emergency by creating a preparedness plan for your home and your community. Be aware of your surroundings and share with your neighbors the related information that you know of. Or simply sign up to be a Red Cross volunteer.”

More information about how people can support the organization is available on redcross.org. The Red Cross is not a government agency

and relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs.

If you would like to volunteer with the Sigonella Red Cross, contact us at DSN 624-4900 / Comm 09586-4900, email Sigonella@RedCross. org, or follow us on Facebook.com/ ARCSigonella or Twitter @ARCSigonella.

Need an appointment at the hospital?

Call DSN 624-CARE (2273) or commercial: 095-56-2273, M - F: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For non-emergent medical questions that arise over the Weekend, Holidays, or after office hours, please call the Nurse Advice Line at 800-877-660 (local/Italy only) Need a medication refill or results from your Provider?

Create an account with Relay Health using your PCM... www.relayhealth.com (click: register, patient, then add PCM)

March 10, 2017

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March 10, 2017

DJ's Assisted Suicide Sparks Euthanasia Debate in Italy Story by BBC/ansa

Much loved Italian disc jockey, DJ Fabo, recently passed away after choosing assisted dying in Switzerland. He saw it as the only option after becoming severely disabled after a road accident. His death at a clinic in Zurich has reignited the debate in Italy about laws on assisted dying, with moving tributes on front pages and in social media.

DJ Fabo - Fabiano Antoniani - was left blind and tetraplegic after a car crash in 2014. Antoniani had appealed to President Sergio Mattarella for the right to die and, shortly before his death, had criticized Italy for failing to pass laws on end-of-life issues.

"Finally I am in Switzerland and, unfortunately, I got here on my own and not with the help of my country," DJ Fabo said in an audio message posted on social media shortly before his death.

Marco Cappato, an ex-MEP and pro-euthanasia campaigner who accompanied the DJ on his journey, wrote on Twitter: "Fabo died at 11:40. He decided to pass away, respecting the rules of a country which is not his own." Mr. Cappato could face up to 12 years in prison if found guilty of helping DJ Fabo take his life. Hundreds of messages of support have been left on his Twitter updates.

Assisted suicide is not illegal in Switzerland and can be facilitated by people who are not doctors.

Hundreds of people have travelled to Zurich to end their lives at Dignitas, an organization set up in 1998 to help people with terminal illness. They are provided with a lethal dose of barbiturates which they have to take themselves.

Euthanasia is illegal in Italy, but the law upholds a patient's right to refuse care and the potential contradiction has resulted in several high-profile cases which have divided Italians.

The debate has been especially passionate in a country where the Roman Catholic Church, which is deeply opposed to euthanasia, still holds great sway. The Church sees it as the morally unacceptable killing of a person - a violation of the law of God. In 2006, Piergiorgio Welby, a terminally-ill man with a severe form of muscular dystrophy, died after a protracted legal dispute during which he described his life as torture.

After a number of other high-profile cases in recent years, legislators agreed to expedite work on a draft law to clarify end-of-life issues. After three postponements, the lower house of parliament is due to debate the latest draft on 6 March, according to La Stampa newspaper website.

In a commentary on the Repubblica website, Italian journalist and social commentator Roberto Saviano asked DJ Fabo to "forgive us for what we haven't done".

"We heard you ask for a dignified death. There is no possible justification for the silence which you got in reply," Mr. Saviano wrote.

The case of DJ Fabo, a blind tetraplegic who committed assisted suicide in a Swiss clinic, is a "defeat for society," the head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, told ANSA. "This very sad affair must prompt us to reflect. I look with great apprehension and closeness on those who say 'I can't go on.' I understand it," he said. "A society that isn't able to be close, to help and communicate that the other is important, to make him feel useful, is offensive." The head of the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI), Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, called Fabo's death a "serious and painful defeat for society".

Father of Hashish Suicide Calls for Greater Dialogue STORY BY Il Corriere della Sera

LAVAGNA (GENOA) – Giò, 16, was a promising young footballer. The pain of his teammates and father: “Maybe I wasn’t a good father, and didn’t understand him.” Everyone knew him as Giò, a sixteen-year old who loved football, and played in the Liguria regional championship for his team, Entella Calcio. “He was quite simply the best player in the team, an inspiration,” recalled his coach Fabio Muzio, his eyes red from crying. On Monday at around midday, Giò took his own life by throwing himself from the third floor of his apartment block in Lavagna, in front of his mother. He had been taken home by three officers of the tax police, who wanted to search his house after they had found 10 grams of hashish on him.

Giò had been stopped an hour previously in front of his school during a spot check. He had a small amount of hash in his pant pockets and with downcast eyes had told the uniformed officers that he “had a bit more at home.”

The sun was shining yesterday in Lavagna, a small town of 12,000 inhabitants, perched between the beach and the hills. Early in the

"SUICIDE" continued on Page 14

Much loved Italian disc jockey, DJ Fabo, recently passed away after choosing assisted dying in Switzerland. He saw it as the only option after becoming severely disabled after a road accident. His death at a clinic in Zurich has reignited the debate in Italy about laws on assisted dying, with moving tributes on front pages and in social media. (Photo courtesy of la Repubblica)

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March 10, 2017

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President Trump Visits Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)

by Gerald R. Ford Public Affairs

NEWPORT NEWS (NNS) -- President Donald J. Trump addressed Sailors from Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and shipbuilders from Huntington Ingalls Newport News during a visit to the first-in-class aircraft carrier March 2.

"This carrier and the new ships in the Ford class will expand the ability of our nation to carry out vital missions on the oceans and to project American power in distant lands," Trump said to an audience of over 3.500.

The president landed on the flight deck on Marine One accompanied by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. They were welcomed aboard Ford by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and Capt. Richard McCormack, Ford's commanding officer.

"It was an honor to welcome aboard our commander-in-chief," said McCormack. "My Sailors have put tremendous work and energy into making Ford an operational asset to the fleet, and I could not be more proud to have him here to see this team." Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford and the ship's sponsor, who greeted Trump on the flight deck and welcomed him into the captain's inport cabin, where he met with Ford Sailors and shipbuilders for a roundtable discussion. Following a brief tour of crew habitability spaces and unique tech-

nology, Trump descended to the Ford's hangar bay via an aircraft elevator for an "All Hands Call" with Ford Sailors and shipbuilders.

The presidential visit marked a week full of "firsts". It was Trump's first visit to an aircraft carrier, and the first time the aircraft carrier, named in honor of the 38th president, Gerald R. Ford, had ever received a president. Earlier that week, an MV-22 Osprey marked a critical milestone in the life of the ship by becoming the first aircraft to land on Ford's flight deck, making Ford the only ship to receive an aircraft before its commissioning, while in the shipyard.

"It was a great opportunity to be a part of the ship's history," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate [Handling] 3rd Class Marcus Arduini, an air department Sailor from Houston. Arduini has the distinction of being Ford's first tower supervisor, and helped assist Ford's air Boss in ensuring a safe aircraft recovery. "It's just been a great experience to see everything finally come together." Sailors expressed their pride in being able to show their ship to the President and senior military leaders.

"It's an exciting experience to get the ship prepared," said Information Systems Technician 1st Class Frederick Cobbin, a communications specialist from Charleston, South Carolina, assigned to Ford's combat systems department. "I got here in 2014, when everything was pretty much bare metal - it's amazing how far we've come."

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (March 02, 2017) President Donald J. Trump speaks with Sailors in the hangar bay aboard Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Trump visited March 2 to meet with Sailors and shipbuilders of the Navy's first-in-class aircraft carrier during an all-hands call inside the ship's hangar bay. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication 1st Class Joshua Sheppard/Released)

12th Pacific Partnership Mission Prepares to Strengthen Indo-Asia-Pacific Ties Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy will join allied and partner nation forces for the 12th Pacific Partnership mission, scheduled to begin March 1.

This annual maritime operation will help improve dis-

The joint high speed vessel USNS Fall River (JHSV 4) completes acceptance trials testing and evaluations in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship's trials included dockside testing to clear the ship for sea and at-sea trials during which the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) evaluated and demonstrated the performance of Fall River major systems. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

aster response preparedness and capacity, while enhancing partnerships with participating nations throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. This year's mission will be led by the deputy commander and staff from Coastal Riverine Group 1, embarked aboard expeditionary fast transport USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4), and will include more than 200 supporting military and civilian personnel from the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Vietnam are scheduled to host this year's Pacific Partnership mission. Medical, dental, civil-engineering, and veterinary teams will partner with host nations to conduct civic-action projects, community health exchanges, medical symposiums, and humanitarian and disaster relief (HA/DR) drills. The planned engagements and exchanges during Pacific Partnership 17 are intended to improve capacity, enhance regional partnerships, and increase multilateral cooperation for HA/DR preparedness.

"Pacific Partnership is helping improve disaster response readiness for more than a decade in dozens of nations," said Rear Adm. Don Gabrielson, commander, Task Force 73, and executive agent for Pacific Partnership 17.

"Disasters threaten us all -- they ignore borders, and they

disregard national sovereignty. The Indo-Asia-Pacific region averages two large disasters each year, and Pacific Partnership has been a key enabler behind many countries being more prepared today. When the distress call comes, the life-savers know who to call and what to do next because Pacific Partnership helps prepare us to manage the unthinkable."

Pacific Partnership began in response to one of the world's most catastrophic natural disasters, the December 2004 tsunami which devastated parts of southeast Asia.

The mission has evolved over the years from emphasis on direct care to an operation focused on enhancing partnerships through host nation subject matter expert and civilmilitary exchanges.

Pacific Partnership 17 will have several other distinctions: * Pacific Partnership will conduct mission stops in Vietnam for the fourth consecutive year. The visit by Fall River to Vietnam is in conjunction with the 22nd anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam. Along with events such as the Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) maritime collaboration, Pacific Partnership underscores the deepening relationship between the United States and Vietnam. * Pacific Partnership will engage in Sri Lanka for the first time in the 12-year history of the mission. This marks the mission's initial outreach to south Asia. * This year's mission will return to Malaysia, where the U.S. continues to strengthen ties and cooperation. * Pacific Partnership will continue to capitalize on the Women, Peace and Security program -- an international initiative designed to not only empower women, but also demonstrate the value of their inclusion in the planning and implementation of disaster preparedness and relief efforts for their respective countries.

"We've conducted extensive planning with our host nations and our mission partners over the last six months," said Capt. Stanfield Chien, deputy commodore of Coastal Riverine Group 1 and Pacific Partnership mission commander. "I'm very pleased with how we've come together as a team and are ready to execute this year's Pacific Partnership mission." For more information, visit http://www. navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http:// www.twitter.com/usnavy.

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SOARING S

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SWORDFISH

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March 10, 2017

NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE VEHICLE SAFETY TIPS

All Hands News Bulletin:

YOUTH BASEBALL COACHES NEEDED

Command, Department or Organization: Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Point of Contact Name: Inv. Christopher Knight Point of Contact Phone Number: +39-366-638-7196 Point of Contact Email Address: Christopher.knight@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: NASSIG CRIME PREVENTION NOTE: Since 04 January 2017 there have been 17 reported vehicles that have been broken into with the biggest amount being in Motta S. Anastasia/Belpasso area. If you are a victim, report the break in to Security. You will also be asked to file a denuncia with the local Carabinieri station so that the matter can be investigated further.

All residents are being asked to write down the serial numbers of your gas coupons, which is a large majority of what is being stolen. When the gas coupons are used at a gas station, they may be able to be tracked to what gas station they are being used at and from there Carabinieri can obtain surveillance footage from the gas station.

Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services

Command, Department or Organization: MWR Date of Event: 17 APR 2017 Location of Event: Marinai and NAS 1 Point of Contact Name: Eric Barge Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-1750 Point of Contact Email Address: eric.barge@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: MWR Youth Sports is looking for energetic, dedicated, and knowledgeable volunteers to coach youth baseball teams during the upcoming season. The season will run from 17 April to 3 June 2017.

Practices will take place either on NAS 1 or in Marinai twice per week in the evening with games taking place on Saturday mornings. If you or someone you know is interested in coaching or want more info, please contact Eric Barge.

Background checks are required and will be conducted before the season on all potential coaches.

Weekly Traffic Report: Feb. 24 - March 04, 2017

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

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

Saturdays First Saturday Rosary and Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Sundays Catholic Mass: . . . . 0900-1000 Catholic Religious Education (DoDDS): . . . . . . . . . 1045-1200 Protestant Service: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Latter-Day Saints Service: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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

Ristorante Bella Etna

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.

March 10, 2017

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March 10, 2017

NEX Gives Back to Students with Its A-OK Student Reward Program

By Kristine Sturkie NEXCOM Public Affairs

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) has been offering students a chance to help pay for college through its A-OK Student Reward Program since 1997.

The A-OK Student Reward Program offers all qualified students the chance to participate in a quarterly drawing for monetary awards of $2,500, $1,500, $1,000 or $500 for a

total of $5,500 per quarter. The next drawing will be at the end of March 2017.

Any eligible full-time student with a B-grade point average equivalent or better, as determined by their school system, may enter the drawing.

Homeschooled students can also qualify with acknowledgement that the student has a “B” average or equivalent record of accomplishment.

Eligible students include dependent children of active duty members, reservists and

military retirees as well as U.S. civilian Department of Defense employees stationed outside the continental United States and U.S. civilian employees of firms under contract to the Department of Defense outside the continental United States.

Students must be enrolled in 1st through 12th grade. Dependent children without an individual Dependent Identification Card must be accompanied by their sponsor to submit their entry. Each student may enter only once each grading

period and must re-enter with each qualifying report card.

To enter the drawing, stop by any NEX with a current report card or progress report and have a NEX associate verify the eligibility. Then fill out an entry card and obtain an A-OK ID which entitles the student to19 discount coupons for NEX products and services.

Along with the award, each winner will receive a certificate and medallion ribbon “In Honor of Academic Excellence.”

Since the program’s inception in 1997, NEXCOM has awarded $694,500 in savings bonds and monetary awards to students with the help of its generous vendor partners.

About NEXCOM The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) oversees 100 Navy Exchange (NEX) facilities and nearly 300 stores worldwide, 39 Navy

Lodges, the Ships Store Program, the Uniform Program Management Office, the Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility and the Telecommunications Program Office.

NEXCOM's parent command is the Naval Supply Systems Command. NEXCOM’s mission is to provide authorized customers quality goods and services at a savings and to support Navy quality of life programs for active duty military, retirees, reservists and their families. NEXs and Navy Lodges operate primarily as a non-appropriated fund (NAF) business instrumentality. NEX revenues generated are used to support Navy Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) programs. Since 1946, NEXCOM has given $2.5 billion to Navy MWR quality of life programs.

Shop online at myNavyExchange.com

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March 10, 2017

GAMEZONE Insects

FIREFLY FLEA GRASSHOPPE HORNET MOSQUITO

MOTH SPIDER WASP WORM

MEDIUM

CATERPILLAR CENTIPEDE COCKROACH CRICKET DRAGONFLY

EASY

ANT APHID BUMBLE BEE BEETLE BUTTERFLY

DIFFICULT

Find and circle all of the Insects that are hidden in the grid.

The words may be hidden in any direction.

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"SUICIDE" cont'd from Pg. 6 afternoon, a large group of boys turned off Via Aurelia to head for the hospital mortuary. There was Samu, Isma, Eric and dozens of others, all young players for local teams – Virtus Entella, USD Lavagnese 1919, Chiavari Calcio and Rapallo Ruentes 1914. They were a motley crew: teenagers with spots, some tall, some short; some muscular, others skinny; Arabs, Indians, Sri Lankans and Africans. But they were all friends of Giò. When they arrived at the mortuary many of them were already in tears. On the left was a room with the bodies of four elderly people: Celestina, Diego, Cesare and Giancarlo. To the right, a small room where Giò had been laid out. He looked like he was sleeping. They had dressed him in the kit of Entella – the team founded by emigrants returning from Buenos Aires and now in Serie B, which in the space of seven years had shot up from the non-professional Eccellenza league – with its blue and white vertical stripes, just like Argentina’s. The boys were welcomed by Giò’s father, a giant of a man in his fifties, who is a legend in these parts. As well as being a journalist, who has been presenting an extremely popular football program on Entella TV for 30 years, he is also the team’s official spokesman. He was sitting by the bed where Giò was lying, his hands clutching its steel frame. After a long silence he turned towards the visitors, managing a smile. He got up and went over to them, hugging them and greeting them all by name.

How a parent feels when they lose

March 10, 2017 their son in such a way can be sensed in the words of Giò’s father on three different occasions yesterday. Some were instinctive, such as last night just before praying at the wake, when a man embraced him and said: “You were a good father.” He replied: “Not good enough. I don’t know if I understood my son.” Then, when hugging Eric, Giò’s best friend, who arrived breathless at the hospital on Monday, he said: “I hope this tragedy will help change things,” a phrase he whispered several times. His last words were pronounced slowly, after thinking things through, to his friend of 30 years, Fabio, Giò’s coach, who was standing outside the mortuary. “I want you to tell the kids that every father, every mother, you yourself, all the coaches and our parish priest, are always there for them. They are people they can and must open up to and confide in, whenever they need to.”

Then he stopped for a moment, Fabio recounted, and went on to say: “Make sure they realize how much love there is around them.” The same love that he and Giò’s mother had given him, this young boy who they had adopted in Colombia when he was only one year old.

A few kilometers away, Genoa’s state prosecutor, Francesco Cozzi, leading the investigation, shook his head: “I realize that in this case the boy’s mother was present and everything was done by the book, but I still wonder if the law should – and at present it doesn’t – give a boy of 16, using drugs at a difficult age, the right to have a psychologist present in the event of a search.”

March 10, 2017

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March 10, 2017