The Signature | June 15, 2018

PCS: A Moving Game

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Strawberry and Cherry Festivals this Weekend in Giarre PAGE 7

Beat the Heat with MWR

N A S SIG O N E L L A

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JUNE 15, 2018

Vol. 35 No. 23

The Solemn Promise

DPAAs Mission in Sicily Page 8-9 U.S. Army Sgt. Shredia Tucker, recovery team member, searches through buckets at a wet-screening station during the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's (DPAA) recovery operations in the Trapani province of Sicily, Italy. DPAA team members deployed to the area in hopes of locating U.S. service members who went missing during World War II. The mission of DPAA is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation.

(U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Seth Coulter)

THE SIGNATURE

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JUNE 15, 2018

Direct Line

Capt. Brent Trickel, NAS Sigonella Commanding Officer Buongiorno Sigonella! I hope everyone is making summer travel plans and taking advantage of being stationed at this wonderful location. To the graduating Seniors – Congratulations and I wish you luck on your future endeavors. To the rest of the Sigonella school population – enjoy your summer because it will go by fast.

I want to focus today on summer safety and tell some stories that I know some of you have heard before, but, I will tell again to hopefully drive home some points about making the right decisions. In late 1986 my life was going great: wrestling season had just started, I had just received my driver’s license, I had a new girlfriend, and I was best friends with Scotty Noland who was the most popular guy in school. On Friday, December 12, 1986 Scotty asked if he could hang out with me that night.

I said no because I already had made

plans with my girlfriend so we parted ways and agreed to hang out on Saturday. That night my dad woke me up at 1 a.m. telling me something had happened to Scotty. I went downstairs where my friends Greg and Paige told me that Scotty had gone out with some other guys and they had been drinking.

On the way home they blew through a stop sign at the intersection of 28th Street and U.S. Highway 65 in Trenton, MO and got broad sided by another high school student who was going 5560 mph. Scotty died instantly, the driver of the car he was in suffered a broken neck, and the driver of the other car had major injuries.

Sigonella Citizens: drinking and driving is a choice that can drastically affect your career, your family, your life, and the lives of others. We have had two DUIs and one DWI so far in 2018 and that is not ok. I would rather have a call

saying you will be late to work or can’t make it in due to not having a way to get home safely, rather than a call saying you had been arrested for DUI or had been in an alcohol related accident.

Drinking is not the only thing that can get you in trouble in regard to driving. I am seeing way too many people drive in an aggressive and dangerous manner, and that is unacceptable. Wednesday of this week someone passed me and several other cars on the SS192 on a curve with oncoming traffic. I was able to get their license plate number and guess what – they are losing their driving privileges for at least 30 days. Yesterday I saw a car going well over 20 kph in Marinai and I saw a car blow through a stop sign on NAS I. I understand that some of the driving practices we see in Sicily are a bit out of the ordinary to those of us accustomed to driving in the U.S. and can be frustrat-

ing. However, do not add to the frustration by making unsafe vehicle passes, cutting people off, ignoring stop signs, speeding on base, etc. If you received your Allied Forces Italy (AFI) driver’s license and/or base vehicle pass from

"DIRECT LINE" cont’d on Page 15

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 “SATO/PCS Pet Reservations”:

On On 22 May at 1145, I went to the SATO/PCS Office to request an official PCS travel reservation. This included myself and my pet’s information that included all requirements for measurements in respect to the dog with kennel. On 29 May, I have still not received a confirmation for reservation or any emails from that office. At 1315, I went to the office and spoke to a representative who informed me that he had not gotten to my request yet. His answer was that he would get to it today or tomorrow and I shall receive an email. I am due to PCS in July, and trying to obtain commercial tickets since the Rotator is full thru August for pet reservations.

Kristen Chambliss

Response:

SSGT Chambliss Thank you for your comment regarding the SATO office. First and foremost, please know that customer service is very important to us. Unfortunately, the summer is a very busy PCS time and there are only 10 pet spaces available on each AMC flight. That means that every stop on the the AMC flight route, has the right to book pet spaces; so Sigonella shares those allocated spaces with Bahrain, Djibouti, and Rota which means that they fill up quickly. The same goes for the rotators from other bases in the region, they are running up against that busy PCS season as well and are fully booked. Currently May, June and July are fully booked for pet spaces so SATO needs to make other arrangements with commercial airlines to book a pet. Please keep in mind that pet travel reservations are a courtesy booking and not an entitlement, if a pet does not meet commercial airline requirements it may come down to a service member having to ship

A Charming Relax

Il Picciolo Golf & Spa Resort located on the beautiful north side slope of Mount Etna at 750 mt above sea level offers special conditions to Sigonella staff.

10% discount on accommodation and special packages and 20% off spa treatments.

For information and reservations info@ilpiccioloetnagolfresort.com tel 0942986384

their pet, which can be extremely costly, and is a non-reimbursable expense.

I understand your frustration and I know the SATO/PCS Office does their best to work on all travel requests as quickly as possible. Your request was received in their office on May 22, a request was sent on that same day to Naples and our office received the Passenger Request Confirmation ready for booking on May 24. Unfortunately, it was a long weekend due to the Memorial Day holiday and the contractors do not work on weekends. On 29 May SATO completed your booking and you were confirmed with your pet, which is rare because it usually takes longer to confirm a pet.

Good luck at your future duty station. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact PSCS Rafael Diaz, Senior Enlisted Leader at PSD Sigonella, at Rafael.Diaz@eu.navy.mil or by phone at 624-2329.

Comment regarding “Bravo Zulu for Navy Federal Credit Union”:

Following an incident over Memorial Day weekend that left my family with no available cash, credit or debit cards, the Navy Federal Credit Union Sigonella branch office was extremely helpful. In very short order, they were able to turn a written check from a different banking institution into available funds in an NFCU account, and then print debit cards on the spot in order to provide my family with an available form of electronic payment. This was crucial to enabling a visiting family member to travel back to the U.S. on schedule and without any hang-ups. Their quick and friendly response, though not a surprise, was truly a blessing. Thank you NFCU Sigonella for the outstanding community support!

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THE SIGNATURE

JUNE 15, 2018

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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA

Name: Logistics Specialist 2nd Class John Bynum Department: Air Cargo Hometown: East Orange, New Jersey With roughly 9,000lbs of cargo coming in and out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, there’s no wonder why it’s nicknamed “The Hub of the Med,” and it takes talented Sailors like Logistics Specialist 2nd Class John Bynum to keep the equivalent of a monster truck made of mail processing smoothly.

Bynum works at Air Cargo where he collects registered and signature service mail. Additionally, he deals with mail that’s just stopping through NAS Sigonella bound for other destinations, and helps coordinate and load the items onto outbound flights.

“I love my job; it can be laid back but there are a lot of moving parts and a lot of paperwork involved,” said Bynum. “It can be very tedious at times but I really enjoy it.”

When Bynum isn’t working with cargo, he can be found doing one of his many collateral duties. He works as the division Career Counselor, Repair Parts Petty Officer (RPPO), Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) Treasurer, and also a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocate (VA).

“My mom is a social worker, so I look at her and see what she does, which is helping people, and that motivates me to be a SAPR VA,” said Bynum. “I like helping victims through the process and give them their strength back.”

Bynum has been onboard Sigonella for almost a year and has loved his time in Italy so far.

“Living out in town is my favorite part; I love my place and the environment I’m in,” said Bynum. “It’s right off

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Response:

I am happy to hear that our Sigonella Navy Federal team was there for you in your time of need. Our two Member Service Representatives who assisted you, Sara Beth Otte and Pauline Kuria, are both military family members who understand the challenges of living overseas and routinely find a way to get to “Yes.” They came up with creative solutions that met your needs and ensured your family member was able to return to the States on time. Our Navy Federal team does an outstanding job serving the Sigonella community and I commend them. Thank you for your comment.

Comment regarding “Temperature at the Child Development Center”:

I am concerned about the heat in the CDC. Multiple times I have picked up my son during nap time and he is drenched in sweat. Almost daily within the last month I walked into the building and immediately began to sweat. I noticed that there were also a few pregnant providers sitting in front of fans because it is so hot. Is there a specific reason why the A/C has not been turned on?

Response:

I sincerely apologize for the heat that the CDC was experiencing. Our staff worked diligently with NAVFAC to understand the cause of this problem while trying to keep the children as cool as possible. The AC was on but it appears there was something wrong with the computer that sets and

the beach and has a great ocean view.

If I could I would stay out here just for my place.”

After work, Bynum enjoys relaxing at his house, talking with his family and friends back home, and hanging out with his friends here in Sicily.

“The people here are really cool. A lot of them speak English and they are very friendly,” said Bynum. “I have a few Italian friends I hang out with and it’s just a very welcoming place.”

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

monitors the temperature. I am happy to say that the situation has been resolved and the CDC has started to cool down.

Thank you for your patience and for reaching out.

Comment regarding “ Basic Rider Course”:

For a month I have been waiting to take the BRC so I can register my bike on base and be able to ride to work if I choose to do so, but at the last minute the class was canceled because "there weren't any volunteers to teach the course.” Without this class we cannot register our vehicles, if the base or the Navy is making this course mandatory they should figure a way to have people teach it and on a regular basis instead of people just holding an eval bullet. Now based on Safety Department I have to wait another month for the next class if they find a volunteer.

Kevin Ochoanunez

Response:

Mr. Ochoanunez, Thank you for your comment and for voicing your concern. I would like to ensure you that the safety of our motorcycle riders is extremely important to us. Motorcycle safety training is a CNIC (Commander Navy Installations Command) requirement, however, CNIC does not provide the means to hire instructors. This means that the BRC is instructed entirely by volunteers. In order to have a sufficient number of volunteers we hold an annual BRC instructor certification class. In the event a volunteer instructor has a life or mission event that prevents them from instructing a course, the Safety

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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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THE SIGNATURE

JUNE 15, 2018

PCS - A Moving Game From Naval Supply Systems Command Office of Corporate Communicationsr

Sailors moving this summer should start preparing now, said Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Household Goods (HHG) Director John E. Hilaman. "A good move doesn't just happen," he said, "it takes planning."

Hilaman recommends Sailors prepare for a smooth move by keeping these 10 tips in mind: 1. START EARLY - HHG peak season runs from the beginning of May through August. Start early by going online at https://www.navsup.navy.mil/ household to review your entitlements and responsibilities. To begin your move process, go to: www. move.mil.

2. PLAN ALTERNATE MOVE DATES, JUST IN CASE - When scheduling pickup or delivery, select alternate dates in addition to your preferred dates.

During busy times, it could be difficult to get the first date you request. By establishing alternate dates that work for you, inconvenient pickups and deliveries can be avoided.

3. TELL UTILITIES, LANDLORDS - Be sure you have a confirmed date for your pack out and pickup before you inform your landlords or turn off your utilities.

4. MINIMIZE CHANGES - After the pickup date has been confirmed, only request changes in an emergency. Date changes can lead to delays, additional cost to the member, or the need to convert the shipment to a Personally Procured Move (PPM).

5. BE REACHABLE - Moves go smoother when you are easy to contact. Provide your personal phone numbers, cell phone numbers and personal e-mail to the personal property offices at origin and destination. Include in-transit contact information, as well.

6. TIME MOVES AHEAD OF VACATE DATE - Do not schedule a pickup for the day you are to close on the sale or purchase of a home or on the day you must vacate a rental. Allow time for unforeseen problems and last-minute changes.

7. SORT - Start sorting through household goods now and set aside items you have decided to put up for sale or donation. Service members must keep all shipments within their weight allowance or pay to ship the excess weight. Authorized weight allowance chart located at: https://www.navsup.navy.mil/ public/navsup/hhg/quick_links/weight_allowance/.

8. GET READY FOR PRE-MOVE SURVEY Once the service member initiates the move online, the shipment contract has been awarded and the transportation service provider (TSP aka moving company) assigned, the TSP will contact the service member to schedule and perform the pre-move survey. Be aware the TSP will conduct a pre-move survey no later than three business days prior to the first scheduled pack date.

The pre-move survey allows the TSP to establish a more realistic weight estimate, determine how many crew members to assign, determine the number of packing days needed, and determine what packing materials are needed and whether any special equipment is needed.

All dates for packing, pickup and delivery are finalized between the service member and the assigned TSP. 9. KEEP RECORDS - Keep all hard copy and electronic records of your move details. The more information you keep, the better. Consider taking pictures of documents with your phone as a backup reference. Email yourself reminders and notes regarding specifics to help you remember things down the road.

10. UNDERSTAND - Know that minimum transit times for moves are determined by the Defense Travel Regulation.

For example, on domestic shipments moving companies are given a minimum of 14-20 days to drive from the East Coast to the West Coast, depending on the weight of the shipment and the start and end locations. International transit times can be anywhere from 30-90 days, depending on the start and end locations.

Of note, you should schedule separate days for each separate move. If multiple carriers are scheduled for the same day, there can be confusion on what items go with which shipment and you could be charged for an attempted pickup or waiting time as the carrier waits for the previ-

ous carrier to depart.

Sailors with questions about household goods transportation and storage entitlements can contact the Navy Household Goods Customer Contact Center at 855-HHG-MOVE (855-444-6683) or send an email to householdgoods@navy.mil.

Find household goods move information online at https://www.navsup.navy.mil/household.

Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.

JUNE 15, 2018

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Pizzarotti 3rd Recycling Day Event is coming up!

Friday 22nd of June from 5pm to 8pm taste the Flavors & Colors of Sicily!

Wine tasting, Masterchef Cup, scavenger hunt, creative labs for kids, karaoke and much more!

Marinai Folk, we looking forward to seeing U all!

Your Pizzarotti Staff

Office exhorts every effort to find a replacement. In the event that no volunteer instructor is available the class must be rescheduled for the following week and all students are automatically enrolled in the new class.

The Safety Office is currently in the process of scheduling a BRC instructor certification

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class to replace members that will PCS during the FY18 PCS Season. Hopefully this will solve any issues they are having with the shortage of qualified instructors. If you have any further questions or would like to discuss this further please contact the installation Safety Director, Mr. Marlon Gomez, by phone at 624-6261 or by email at marlon. gomez@eu.navy.mil.

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Strawberry and Cherry Festivals to sweeten up Maletto and Giarre this weekend

JUNE 15, 2018

Sigonella CLB-2 Marines and sailors support flower-planting event at Pedara School

Story by Alberto Lunetta

Strawberry-lovers should not miss the 33rd edition of the Sagra della Fragola (Strawberry Festival), a premiere food event that takes place in Maletto’s historic center this weekend (June 16/17). The festival kicks off Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. in the main square (piazza IV Novembre) and along via Umberto with the traditional strawberry market.

Festival highlights include tasting of strawberry-based specialties such as “pizza alla fragola” (strawberry pizza), “arancini alla fragola” (deep-fried rice balls with strawberries), “macedonia alla fragola” (fruit salad with strawberries) and, “risotto alla fragola” (strawberry risotto).

The free tasting of the scrumptious “grande torta alla fragola” (a huge record-breaking strawberry cake typically weighing over 2,200 pounds) will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth!

It will take place in the historic center on Sunday, June 17 at 6 p.m.

On both festival days, volunteers from the association “Sicilia Antica” will be available at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to show visitors around the town’s tourist attractions such as the ruins of the Maletto Castle and the local town museum. The meeting place will be the Palazzo Spatafora located at the intersection between via Umberto and via S. Antonio.

Live music will performed by the local town’s band on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. and in the evening by deejays. On Sunday night at 9 p.m. there will be a beauty contest.

For more information and detailed schedules visit the town’s official web site http://www.comune.maletto.ct.it/eventi/sagra_ della_fragola.aspx If you like cherries, bring the entire family and be prepared to indulge in them and other Sicilian specialties at the 29th edition of the “Sagra della Ciliegia e delle Rose” (The Cherry and Rose Festival) which will be hosted by Macchia di Giarre, a small district of the town of Giarre. This exciting two-day family event celebrating the local cherry industry, kicks off tomorrow (June 16) at 6 p.m. in the historic center with a folklore parade which ends in piazza San Vito where a spectacular performance is held at 8:30 p.m. On Sunday, June 17, folklore shows and parades are held throughout the day with a spectacular grand finale featuring fireworks to be held at 8:30 p.m. in the main square. Complementing the festival, a photo exhibition on the history of the festival will be on display at the Palazzo Musumeci (Musumeci Palace) located in piazza San Vito.

More information and complete festival’s schedule is available at https://www.facebook.com/sagradelleCiliegieedelleRose/

Sicily: Man finds finger in ice cream Story by TMN News An ice cream bought by a man in Palermo included a rather unpleasant surprise. As the man was enjoying his purchase, he found a finger in the ice cream.

The man immediately called the Police and reported his find, and the Police quickly turned up to interrogate the owners of the ice cream parlor.

It seems that one of the employees in the shop had his finger chopped off in the course of his work. The employee had been working without proper documentation, and the incident had

"ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 14

Photo story by Alberto Lunetta PEDARA, Sicily (June 5, 2018) - Marines and Sailors from Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force deployed to Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella plant flowers with the students from Istituto Comprensivo “Salvatore Casella” during a NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Community Relations (COMREL) Event held in piazza Don Bosco, the main square of Pedara where one of the school’s branches is located.

Sigonella volunteers joined elementary school students to celebrate the “Tree Festival” and improve the environment surrounding the school. The environmental event, marking the end of the school year celebration, was aimed at fostering environmental stewardship.

Pedara Chairwoman for Education Marina Consoli, who attended the event on behalf of the mayor, thanked Sigonella volunteers for having consistently conducted several educational and sport COMRELs at the Casella School and having supported Etna Park Cleanup events joining hands with her town’s volunteers over the past few years.

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JUNE 15, 2018

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Truman Strike Group Returns to Eastern Mediterranean to Support OIR

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas Gooley USS Harry S. Truman

MEDITERRANEAN SEA (NNS) -- The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) returned to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea to resume flight operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), June 10.

"Bringing the Harry S. Truman strike group back into the fight against ISIS sends a powerful message to our partners that we are committed to peace and security in the region, and anywhere threatened by international terrorism," said Rear Adm. Gene Black, commander of the Harry S. Truman CSG. "Once again we demonstrate the incredible flexibility and capabilities of a carrier strike group; we are combat-proven and ready to answer the call anytime and anywhere to carry out any mission we are directed."

While in the region, aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1's strike fighter squadrons will conduct precision strikes on ISIS targets, highlighting the mobility, flexibility and power projection capability of the U.S. Navy's globally deployed force.

"The crew is locked in, focused and ready to continue the fight against ISIS," said Commanding Officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Capt. Nicholas Dienna. "We will operate and maintain a presence wherever, whenever required to support our regional allies and partners in furthering stability and prosperity around the globe."

The Harry S. Truman CSG, which entered the

MEDITERRANEAN SEA - An EA-18G Growler assigned to the "Rooks" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137 launches from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Class Rebekah A. Watkins/Released)

U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations April 18, includes multi-mission capable platforms with strike; bal-

listic missile defense; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Navy Observes LGBT Pride Month From Navy Office of Information

Throughout the month of June, the Navy joins the nation in observing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month.

The Navy is committed to fostering an actively inclusive environment that values the diversity of its force, and recognizes that service members and civilians achieve optimal performance when each and every member of One Navy Team is treated with dignity and respect.

Initially established as "Gay and Lesbian Month" by Presidential Proclamation in 2000, LGBT Pride Month recognizes the accomplishments of the lesbian, gay, bisexual

and transgender community, and acknowledges their continued struggle to achieve equality.

The Navy and DoD have demonstrated their commitment to gender equality and inclusion by implementing the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in 2011, enabling gay, lesbian and bisexuals to openly serve in the armed forces, and by instituting a 2016 policy change to enable transgender personnel to serve as their preferred gender.

In support of the Navy's primary

mission of deterring and defeating adversaries in all domains across all spectrums of warfare, the Navy is committed to building and maintaining force comprised of the most capable and qualified Sailors regardless of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class or background.

In accordance with ALNAV

007/18, Navy commands are encouraged to participate in LGBT Pride Month and all special observances throughout the year in recognition of the service and dedication of the men and women who contribute their diverse skills, perspectives, talents and backgrounds to strengthen One Navy Team.

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THE SIGNATURE

JUNE 15, 2018

The Solem Sicilian R

By Petty Officer 2n

Partanna, Sicily - There are a few things often said by the service members and civilians currently assigned to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) which always seem true. One, no single mission is ever the exact same even if it is to the same exact place. Two, pack for every season no matter where you go. Three, we could never do this alone.

Missions are rarely comprised of only the individuals assigned to DPAA. Often, a majority of the team are hand selected contractors and service members, and even though we come from different places our goal is singular: To recover missing personnel who are listed as POW, or MIA, from past wars and conflicts and from countries around the world, and attempt to bring peace to the families that have waited so long for an answer.

The team currently on the island of Sicily is searching for the remains of a pilot lost during the WWII Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky.

“This is an amazing mis people here I’m sure they they are to do this,” said Rear Adm. Jon Kreitz. “Th sion, there are many missi world and we are in this fo The locations can vary, jungles of Vietnam or Lao Europe and commuting t be. Don’t expect a vacation exhausting and there are e come along the way. From snakes along the path to t weatherproof your hut d pour, there is almost noth cording to plan.

However, by the end o ways a sense of accompli back at the very first plac into the ground it seems a

JUNE 15, 2018

THE SIGNATURE

mn Promise Recovery

nd Class Seth Coulter

ssion and if you talk to the will tell you how honored d DPAA Deputy Director This is not a short-term mising Americans all over the or the long haul.” , from a base camp in the os to staying at a hotel in to wherever the site may n though, the work can be endless challenges to overm running into poisonous the bathroom or trying to during a torrential downhing that goes exactly ac-

of the mission there is alishment. When you look ce your team put a shovel almost impossible how far

you all have come in such a short amount of time.

“It’s definitely a strange experience to stand back and see how different things are now than they were the first day we came here,” says U.S. Army Sgt. Diery Toledo, Recovery Team member. “On our last trip [the team was given Sundays off and often traveled to different cities in the local area] when we were walking around the town I thought how crazy it was to be here. I would have never have come to this place otherwise!”

For some this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

A chance to not only work, but live, in a place few Americans would ever think about going. To push yourself out of your comfort zone and hopefully see a whole different way of life compared to what we have become so used to.

The mission of the DPAA is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families, and to the Nation, until they are home.

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JUNE 15, 2018

NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin:

NAS 2 ECP CONSTRUCTION/TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGE

Command, Department or Organization: COSAP Date and time of Event: from 12 June-4 July Point of contact Name: Giuseppe Strano Point of Contact Phone Number: 335 578 8518 Additional Information: The road closure will affect the exit way through the Main Gate.

During this construction activity, the traffic pattern for entrance/exit on NAS 2 will change depending on the time of day.

During the hours of 0600-0830: The main gate on NAS 2 will be used for all inbound traffic and the West gate (near MVRO) will be used for all outbound traffic.

During the hours of 1500-1630: The NAS 2 main gate will be used for all outbound traffic from base and the West gate (near MVRO) will be used for all inbound traffic.

There will be road signs to indicate the closure and the alternative way.

CIVILIAN AND BUSINESS RESUME WRITING CLASS

Command, Department or Organization: Fleet and Family Support Center Date of Event: 18 June 2018 Time of Event: 1000-1200 Location of Event: NAS I, Bldg. 319 Point of Contact Name: Alicia Dalloo Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-4291 Point of Contact Email Address: alicia.dalloo@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: Civilian and Business Resume Writing Class This workshop teaches you how to write and select the most suitable format of resumes that best represents you and the job the you are targeting in the business/ civilian sector.

Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services NAS 1 Tuesday Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . .

Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapel Youth Middle School: . . . . . . . . . . .

AWANA: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

0900-1100 1130-1200 1445-1615 1645-1900

Wednesday Protestant Men of the Chapel: . . . . . . . . . . 0600-0700 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1200 Thursday Chapel Youth High School: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1330-1500 Choir Practice: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1545-1700 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: 1800-2030

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

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

Friday Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1200 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour: . . . . . . . 1700-1830 Saturday First Saturday Rosary and Mass: . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Sunday Catholic Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Catholic Religious Education: . . . . . . . . . .

Protestant Service: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

0900-1000 1045-1200 1100-1200

NAS 2 Tuesday AA: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1730-1830 Wednesday Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . . 1830-2100 Thursday Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1200

1330-1600

Weekly Traffic Report: June 4 - June 11, 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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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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PAGE 14 "ITALIAN NEWS" continued from Page 6 never been reported. And apparently nobody ever bothered to remove the chopped digit.

The lone finger found its way into an ice cream container, and eventually ended up in the client’s mouth.

Italy fines Ryanair for mass flight cancellations Story by AFP) Italy's competition authority (AGCM) on Thursday hit Ryanair with a €1.85 million fine for mass flight cancellations late last year and failing to adequately inform affected passengers of their rights.

In a statement, AGCM said it launched the procedure in September 2017 for "incorrect commercial practice" after the low cost airline cancelled thousands of flights "due to organizational and management problems".

The problems were not "unforeseen issues or problems beyond the airline's control, causing major inconvenience to customers," the statement continued.

AGCM said Ryanair initially failed to inform passengers correctly of their right to financial compensation, as provided for by European law, only offering them the option of changing their ticket or getting a refund.

After AGCM launched the procedure, however, Ryanair updated "the information on its website" in February and "contacted all clients concerned individually" to inform them of their rights and how to exercise them. Because of this, AGCM said it imposed a lower fine than was originally foreseen.

In mid-September 2017, Ryanair announced the cancellation of 2,100 flights before the end of October, in a move that affected 315,000 customers. By the end of September, the airline had added a new series of cancellations involving 18,000 flights between November and March 2018.

The company said the cancellations were due to the large backlog of days off that its pilots had to take before the beginning of 2018.

New clones crucial to Sicily orange plan Story by Fruitnet.com Production of red-fleshed oranges in Sicily could change significantly over the next few years, with plans afoot to introduce tighter specifications for growers and to make new and better-performing clones of existing varieties available to producers.

The consortium responsible for promoting Sicily’s PGI-certified red oranges has formed a new technical committee that will identify areas in which growers can improve their production and increase its market value.

“We are at the beginning and we are evaluating the details of what variations to our program could kick-start the process of change,” explained Cinzia Oliveri, a board member at the Consorzio di Tutela Arancia Rossa di Sicilia IGP. Central to the group’s plan is the introduction of new clones of its three flagship varieties Moro, Tarocco and Sanguinello.

“Some of these will need to be removed because they are obsolete, while at the same new ones will be introduced that have achieved good results in trials during the last few years – either by showing good coloration or a high level of anthocyanins,” Oliveri added.

The new committee is also expected to look at ways of speeding up the development of those new clones, as well as removing areas of production that have been neglected and abandoned in recent years.

Giovanni Selvaggi, president of the PGI consortium, said he was honored to take charge of the new committee, welcoming the opportunity for it to change the way in which Sicily’s red oranges are produced.

“In front of me are the leading experts in

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our sector, who know the difficulties faced by producers and the efforts they make, while at the same time being aware of how necessary it is to adapt to the needs of the market.” Selvaggi commented.

“The new specifications will drive forward the region and its knowledge of our product’s unique qualities,” he added.

Travel blogger apologizes for clambering onto Pompeii columns for photo Story by The Local A Belgian Instagrammer has apologized after his picture of himself lounging on top of an ancient column amid the ruins of Pompeii caused outcry in Italy.

Posting the photo online last week, the user Nils Travels – a self-described "full-time globetrotter" – initially bragged about finding "a little area that had NO people! Meaning, nobody to yell at me meaning I had to come down from this thing! Exactly what I needed!"

But by Monday, the travel blogger had posted an apology after history enthusiasts spotted his picture and reported it to the archaeological site's authorities, attracting the attention of Italian media and causing his online profiles to be bombarded with criticism.

"I admit that it was not my smartest decision, and I was not thinking about the historical significance of the place and how it could be perceived by others," he wrote, adding that as someone with more than 40,000 online followers, "I bear a greater responsibility than others to be an example of what and what not to post, or how to behave as a traveller".

His original caption has since been deleted, though the photo – 'liked' nearly 2,000 times – remains. The "thing" he referred to is a column of Pompeii's monumental Basilica, the most important public building in the ancient city and one of the oldest of its kind still visible today.

The offending picture was first publicized by a local researcher, Vincenzo Marasco, who posted a screenshot to Facebook, attracting furious comments from fellow historians. After the blogger expressed his regrets, Marasco said he accepted the apology and hoped the episode would serve as a deterrent to others.

"The fragility of our historic heritage must be protected and defended, especially from those who show themselves unaware of its great value," he commented.

Nils, who said he had received death wishes for his post, claimed that many Instagram photos from the site show other tourists doing the same thing and indeed, the latest shots show several visitors leaning against, stepping on or even doing yoga among parts of the World Heritage Site (though The Local didn't spot anyone else atop a Basilica column).

Earlier this year, an American tourist was reprimanded by police for shifting one of the site's precious mosaics as he was trying to get a better picture, while a French visitor was charged for attempting to make off with fragments of pottery.

"His action was one of thousands that take place every day, not only at Pompeii but in churches, museums and all cultural sites," commented archaeologist and art historian Antonella Dentamaro. "Italy's policies on culture need a complete reform; we should learn how to better manage tourist flows, especially when and where entry is free. And in Pompeii's case, as someone once said, to save it we'd have to rebury it."

Professor of archaeology Antonio De Simone, who helped excavate the site, had a less radical idea: distributing leaflets to every visitor explaining the significance of the site and the importance of "appropriate behavior", complete with illustrations.

Meanwhile the managers of Pompeii, one of Italy's most popular tourist attractions, said that they had received dozens of messages alerting them to the photo and would look into the reports.

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Keep Banned Foodstuffs Out of US

By Robert Szostek USACA-E PAO

Personnel shipping household goods to the U.S. this summer should be aware when packing the contents of their kitchen, agriculture officials advise.

The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, issues fines of $100-$1,000 to first-time offenders who ignore the strict rules that apply to sending food products stateside.

“Red meats, sausages, pâtés and salami can harbor animal viruses, even if canned, and are therefore barred from import,” said Julie Aliaga-Milos, U.S. Department of Agriculture adviser to the U.S. European Command.

Even pasta or soup mixes that contain dried meat are not allowed, she added. Foot-andmouth disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) are exam-

"DIRECT LINE" continued from Page 2 my Motor Vehicle Registration Office (MVRO) and I see you driving like a crazy person either on or off base – there will be consequences.

Whatever your plans are for the summer please take appropriate safety precautions whether it is a backyard BBQ or going to the beach. We recently had two people rescued by the Italian Coast Guard due to them entering the water on a day they probably shouldn’t have. Many years ago a much younger version of me used gasoline to get charcoal going for BBQ due to being out of lighter fluid and I can tell you with absolute 100 percent certainty that is a bad idea.

ples of animal diseases that need to be kept out of the U.S. this way.

Fresh fruits and vegetables may not be sent to the U.S. in household goods because they can contain the eggs or larvae of voracious pests. The Mediterranean fruit fly is a good example of a bug that can hide in citrus and other fruits to bypass our defenses.

However, you can ship processed fruit and vegetable products such as canned fruit, olive oil, mustard and canned or processed sauces.

There are no restrictions on fish or mushrooms either, Aliaga-Milos said.

Commercially produced dried herbs and spices, tea, roasted coffee, cured cheeses, cakes, candies, cookies and roasted nuts are also okay.

To find out more about importing food, plant and animal products into the United States, visit the CBP website at www.cbp.gov/ travel/international-visitors/agricultural-items.

I hope you will get to experience some of the amazing travel opportunities during your time in Sicily. My family and I will be visiting the Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia, and Slovenia this summer. Be vigilant as you travel and always be aware of your surroundings as we have had several personnel fall victim to pickpockets and other thefts. Keep your wallets/purses secure, hold you backpack in front of you in crowded areas, don’t be distracted by someone trying to sell you something/asking you to sign a petition/or bumping into to you, and don’t leave your phone or other items unattended for even a second.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER SIGONELLA!

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