Lightning Safety Tips
Mineo Festival This Weekend PAGE 5
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2019 NDAA Signed Into Law
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AUGUST 24, 2018
Vol. 35 No. 31
NAS Sigonella Celebrates 35th Annual Night Out By Janine Scianna NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
SIGONELLA, Italy (August 7, 2018) A Master-at-Arms Sailor in a bite suit is apprehended by a Military Working Dog during a K-9 demonstration while children look on. NAS Sigonella is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed and when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Brett Cote)
The NAS Sigonella Security Department hosted another successful National Night Out event in coordination with local national law enforcement forces. The event began with a parade of U.S. and Italian emergency service vehicles through Marinai, symbolic of the joint effort between the two nations that ensures NAS Sigonella’s security. Horns blared and children’s’ mouths gaped wide as trucks, police cars, horse-mounted police, and military working dogs marched through the streets. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make all neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live. It is a nationwide event designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts, and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community partnerships. Millions of neighbors took part in the 35th annual National Night Out across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories, and military bases worldwide. The parade ended at the soccer fields, where the vehicles were displayed and grills were fired up to serve free hamburgers and hot dogs. Staff from organizations like USO, Fleet and Family Service Center, NAS Sigonella’s Emergency Management Team, and many others set up information booths for Sig citizens to visit. Kids had plenty of fun jumping in the bounce house and getting their faces painted. “The attendance was great, with Italian and American families alike taking advantage of the opportunity to
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Sigonella Sailor Crowned Ms. Earth By MC2 Christopher Gordon NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – An orthodontist’s job is to help people smile. Naval Hospital Sigonella’s only orthodontist, and one of only 20 Navy-wide, Lt. Cmdr. Corinne Devin, made her fair share of people smile when she was crowned as Ms. Earth 2018 in June. “It felt amazing when I got crowned. Last year I competed and lost by only one point, but I lost to a really great competitor and also a great friend,” said Devin. “Like last year, I once again gave 100% of my mind, body, and soul and it turned out in my favor this time.” But Devin hasn’t always had a passion for beauty pageants. When she was in dental school, one of her friends suggested she participate in the Miss USA pageant on a dare, and the rest fell into place.
“My friend said ‘You can do this!’ and before I had the chance to respond, there was a guy behind me in my dental class that said ‘Oh no, she could never do that!’” said Devin. “That was all the motivation I needed to say ‘Oh yeah? Watch me.’” Devin’s accolades kicked off from there. In 2007 she won Miss Nevada, then Miss All American in 2008 and Ms. United America in 2010. While she was in residency in 2012 she won Ms. Texas, and after she graduated she won Ms. United States. Finally, Devin won Ms. Galaxy in 2014 before winning Ms. Earth earlier this year. And the reason she continues to compete in pageants after proving her classmate wrong? The camaraderie. “These women have sent me care packages when I was deployed in Iraq
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Lt. Cmdr. Corinne Devin is crowned Ms. Earth at the 2018 Mrs./Ms. Earth Pageant. (Photo by Jose Burrola)
Lt. Cmdr. Corinne Devin poses with a patient, Miriam Franzke, who successfully completed orthodontic treatment which included headgear. (Photo by Jennifer Franzke)
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AUGUST 24, 2018
Direct Line
Capt. Brent Trickel, NAS Sigonella Commanding Officer Greetings Sigonella! I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable summer. We enjoyed having our daughter here and taking trips with her to Amsterdam, Brussels, Slovenia, and Croatia. She is back in the United States now and has begun her junior year at the University of Missouri. School will start on Monday and I would like to welcome back the school faculty, students, and parents. I would also like to welcome all of the new school employees and families that moved here over the summer. With a new school year beginning, I would like to remind Sigonella citizens of a few rules regarding parking, school busses, shuttle busses, and the age requirements for leaving children unsupervised. Parking is really very simple: if there is a sign that says a parking lot or parking spot is for designated individuals and you do not fit the description of that designation, then DO NOT park there. On school
days, the DoDEA parking lot behind the SAC/Library building is for DoDEA employees only. School age care (SAC) drop off/pick up spots are only for parents dropping off/picking up children at SAC. Three hour customer spots behind Building 318 are for people conducting business on NAS I for three hours or less. The commissary/NEX parking lots are for Commissary/NEX customers and employees only. If you work on NAS I, are substitute teaching, are chaperoning a school trip, etc., you do not park in the commissary/NEX parking lots (unless of course you work at the Commissary/NEX). I will allow short term (under 10 minutes) parking in the commissary parking lot for student drop off in the morning as long as it is not abused. The DODDEA 15 minute and one hour parking spots on the west side of the Commissary parking lot are only for those conducting business at the school on weekdays; on weekends they are
available for Commissary customers. Finally, red curbs are always designated fire lanes - they are not parking for school business, ATM runs, post office errands, etc. unless you have an approved exception from me. I am going to be taking a more active role in cracking down on people that pass school busses this year. It is NOT OK to pass busses in Marinai. As a reminder to everyone, if a bus is stopped, you stop too, even if the bus is in the oncoming traffic lane. Anyone caught passing will face disciplinary action which can include having your base vehicle pass and/or driving privileges revoked. Some students like to ride the shuttle busses vice the school bus which is ok as long as it is on a space available basis. In order to ride the base shuttle bus unsupervised, a child must be 10 years of age or older (which is also the age requirement to be left unsupervised on base). Ten is also the age where children are required to have a
dependent ID card, so, if a student age 10 or older is riding the shuttle bus, they must have their dependent ID card with them as the school bus pass will not suffice. Abiding by these few rules and regulations will help provide a stressfree way for all Sigonella citizens to access and enjoy NAS I amenities. Welcome back or welcome to Sigonella, and have a great school year!
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 SAPR Training:
Comment Regarding MWR Recreational Swim:
It has come to my attention that not everyone knows that there are alternative training options for personnel with regard to the face-to-face SAPR GMT. It is my goal that all of our personnel can receive required training in a format that makes sense for their particular scenario.
We are lucky enough to live in an area where the pool and beach can be a part of our everyday lives. However, my children can’t swim and getting them signed up for swim lessons is pretty much impossible. How do we get the pool to stay open longer with more lesson opportunities for our children?
Response:
Response:
No victim of a sexual assault should ever have to relive their experience, which is why there are alternate training options available to our personnel. I have directed NAS Sigonella leadership to inform their Sailors of the list of training topics to be covered prior to face-to-face GMT sessions so members who know that the topic makes them uncomfortable can arrange to receive this training one-on-one. The Training Department is also moving the SAPR GMT to the very end of the session with a break before the beginning of the topic to allow members to leave if they feel uncomfortable and are making other arrangements. This will allow all personnel to receive this mandatory training topic in a way that reduces the possibility of them being revictimized. Any member who wishes to arrange one-on-one SAPR training should contact a command victim advocate or the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Shannon Harden, at Shannon.B.Harden@eu.navy.mil or by phone at 624-4291.
Comment Regarding Bravo Zulu for PSD:
I have heard of experiences in the past regarding poor customer service experiences at PSD, however I wanted to share my pleasant experience with them. I went to PSD to replace my lost CAC and Amy Parker took excellent care of me. She was understanding and explained everything to me and got me in and out of there in less than 20 minutes. Her upbeat and happy attitude alone made my day better, as you can imagine I was not happy having lost my CAC. Overall, I am very satisfied with the service and I believe Mrs. Parker’s willingness to help was what made the process of replacing a lost CAC an easier process for me. Sincerely, Neo Gottal
Response:
Ms. Gottal, Thank you so very much for taking the time to provide us your valuable feedback. I will definitely pass on your gratitude and appreciation to Ms. Parker as I'm sure she will appreciate it. Providing the best possible customer service is our number one priority here at PSD. It's unfortunate that you lost your CAC, however we are very happy to hear that your experience obtaining a replacement CAC was a good one, as we understand the frustration with losing it. If you require assistance from PSD in the future please feel free to contact Lt. Makia Fox, the PSD Officer in Charge, at makia.fox@eu.navy.mil.
Thank you for your patronage and feedback about our aquatics programs at Thank you for your patronage and feedback about our aquatics programs at NAS I. We offer four sessions of American Red Cross sanctioned swim lessons that coincide with the school's summer break. In order to keep sign-ups as fair as possible, families are only allowed to sign up for one session at a time. Our sign ups include both group and private lessons in the mornings and evenings to accommodate swimmers of all abilities. Swim lessons are in high demand and tend to fill quickly. We offer forty hours of recreational swim throughout the week during summer months and seven hours of lap swim are offered during the work week. In the future, MWR is offering a contracted swim instructor to provide private and group lessons year round. Stay tuned for more info! If you have further questions or comments about the Fitness/Aquatics program, please contact Elizabeth Leonard, Fitness Director. She can be reached at 624-0504 (+39-095-56-0504) or via email at elizabeth.leonard@eu.navy.mil.
Comment Regarding Spouse Employment Opportunities: Why are employment opportunities for civilian spouses so limited?
Response:
Thank for your question regarding hiring of spouses at NAS Sigonella. The nuThank for your question regarding hiring of spouses at NAS Sigonella. The number of civilian positions available to U.S. citizens in the Sigonella area is significantly lower than the number available in the continental U. S. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) prohibits military and civilian dependents from seeking employment on the Italian economy. The SOFA also dictates the quantity of positions on the base that must be filled by local national employees. Although there is no opportunity for employment of a U.S. family member on the Italian economy, employment opportunities are available with other onbase establishments that provide services to U.S. forces like the Navy Exchange (NEX), Morale, Welfare, & Recreation (MWR), and several non-profit organizations. Also, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) maintains a pool of substitute teachers to utilize throughout the school year. To check "ICE" continued on Page 3
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AUGUST 24, 2018
Airman in the Spotlight Name: Staff Sergeant Chelsea Brown Department: 7th Reconnaissance Squadron (Global Hawks) Hometown: Grant, Michigan One of Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella’s many critical missions is providing support to the numerous tenant commands located on base. The 7th Reconnaissance Squadron (Global Hawk) is one of those commands and Air Force Staff Sergeant Chelsea Brown is pivotal in its success. Brown is a “defender,” which is basically the equivalent of a naval Masterat-Arms. Because Navy MAs handle the installation security, Brown and her team focus solely on keeping the squadron’s hangar and assets secure. “I really enjoy my job here, it’s different than what you typically see in an Air Force squadron,” said Brown. “Typically I would only work with security forces but here I work with maintainers and all sorts of other positions. I’ve met a lot of different people so it’s unique.” On top of her normal duties, Brown is in charge of Pass and ID, paperwork, emergency management, building energy, and vehicle control for her squadron. Additionally, Brown is the Booster Club secretary, part of the Navy Ball Committee, and has participated in
multiple community relations events while being stationed at Sigonella. But what Brown is most proud of was her work assisting in planning and organizing Police Week. Brown’s work was critical in the successful completion of Police Week from May 14 – 18 and she hopes that it will be an annual event after she leaves. “Police Week is mainly a civilian event, but we really wanted to bring our culture to Sigonella,” said Brown. “It was a lot of work but it meant a lot.
"ICE" continued from Page 2 the availability of GS positions search https://www.usajobs.gov. For MWR positions please contact the local MWR Human Resources Office. If you have additional questions, please contact the Civilian Human Resources Office at 624-4165.
Comment Regarding Base Shuttle Schedule: Why is the base shuttle schedule so spaced out?
Response:
Thank you for your question regarding our shuttle bus. The bus service’s "mission" is paid for by our region, Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, to provide transportation to military service members from their living quarters to their work locations and back. The schedule is set to get these military members to their work location or to return them from work on time. This program is NOT funded for family or civilian ridership. As has been noted in past articles, family members are able to also ride the shuttle on a space available provision. Overall, ridership has been increasing but has yet to reach its saturation point. I do not foresee the service being enlarged in the near term due to two reasons: 1) Limited budgetary resources 2) Based on the program’s mission there is still available space on the buses for military service personnel. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact Jonpaul 'JP' Thomasseau Deputy Public Works Officer, NAS Sigonella, NAVFAC EURAFSWA at jonpaul.thomasseau@eu.navy.mil.
My friend passed away and she was a defender, so that week I honor her and the 14 others who have passed away in combat.” When she isn’t working or volunteering, Brown loves to read, travel, and spend time with the cats she has adopted while living in Sicily. “The biggest thing is making the best of my time while I’m here,” said Brown. “I don’t know if this will be my last time being stationed overseas, so I want to make the most of it.”
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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Executive Officer Cmdr. Patrick J. Moran Command Master Chief CMDCM Nancy Estrada EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Andriana Genualdi andriana.genualdi@eu.navy.mil Assistant Public Affairs Officer Janine Scianna janine.scianna@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 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 factor of 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 preceeding 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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"NNO" continued from Page 1 witness how well we are able to work with our host nation to keep the entire community safe,” said Chief Master-at-Arms Ronny Metzger. The festivities continued with a Military Working Dog (MWD) exhibition, where the dogs showed off their skills in bomb and drug detection. At the end, a Master-at-Arms donned a bite suit and a MWD demonstrated their ability to chase and take down an aggressive combatant. The Air Force 7th Reconnaissance Squadron was also on hand to display their training equipment and techniques for use of force against hostile personnel. The protective padding worn, the "Red Man Suit," prevents injuries when practicing police baton strikes against their training personnel. This was a big hit with kids, who were able to practice their striking techniques against the “Red Man.”
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And of course, vehicles from the Fire and Emergency Services Department, including the urban response vehicle and the off-road capable “brush truck” were open to explore. Excited children boarded trucks and tried on full firefighting attire as the evening waned. To close out the party, children lined up for a watermelon eating contest (no hands allowed!) and the NEX and Military One Source raffled off children’s bikes and a Harley Davidson motorcycle jacket. Just like in previous years, National Night Out served its purpose in uniting citizens with local emergency responders. “Thank you to the NAS Sigonella Security Department and the 7th Reconnaissance Squadron Security Forces for hosting yet another successful National Night Out. And thanks especially to the
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polizia, carabinieri, guardia di finanza, and other local national security and emergency service personnel for supporting this great event,” said Capt. Brent Trickel, commanding officer of NAS Sigonella. National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, and cosponsored locally by the NAS Sigonella Security Department.
AUGUST 24, 2018
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Lightning Safety GM2 Joshua Neal Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Sunny Sigonella is well into its blazing summer and, thanks to all of us for taking the time to prepare for the heat, the days and nights have been enjoyable so far. As recent weather indicates, thunderstorms and lightning can and do occur and represent a real danger that we should be aware of. Lightning and thunderstorms go hand-in-hand. We’ve already seen a fair share of these and witnessed a small taste of the damages, delays, and power outages that they can cause. Lightning itself is a sudden electrostatic discharge (flow of electricity between electrically charged objects) that usually occurs during a thunderstorm. This discharge can occur between multiple clouds, within different regions of the same cloud, or between a cloud and the ground. Lightning is always accompanied by thunder, which is the sound produced by the discharge. Sometimes you may witness what is known as heat lightning, which is when you can see the lightning but hear no thunder. This phenomenon occurs when the discharge is a great distance away – too distant in fact for the sound to carry. As with any sound, thunder will dissipate over distance but the flash of light remains visible over great distances. A storm with strong winds and rain doesn’t always produce lightning and thunder; however, when it does, it is considered a thunderstorm. The reverse is also possible: a thunderstorm can occur without rain and strong winds and this is known as a “dry” thunderstorm, which are most common in the Western United States, but also possible here at Sigonella during the summer when it's warm and humid. All thunderstorms are dangerous because every thunderstorm produces lightning. Lightning can kill or seriously hurt people. Thunderstorms can also trigger other disasters in Sicily such as flash floods and wild-fires. So how can you prepare? Thanks to today's technology, our community has a much larger time frame when it comes to preparing for an oncoming storm. Sigonella's Emergency Dispatch Center is able to send out AtHoc and Facebook alerts when increased weather conditions are upon us, so keep an eye out for the emergency alert messages that are sent out. You
may also hear the "big voice," which is the large intercom system throughout Sigonella, sounding and alerting everyone to seek shelter if weather escalates. Staying inside during a thunderstorm is the easiest way to stay safe. Don’t use items that plug into electrical outlets because power surges from lightning can come through the cords and hurt people handling them. Don’t wash your hands, or take a bath or shower as faucets can conduct electricity. Be sure to inspect your emergency kit and keep it stocked in the event that a storm lasts for a prolonged time, or is likely to cause flooding. Stay away from windows and doors and don’t lie on concrete floors or lean against concrete walls because they conduct electricity. If you find yourself outdoors and caught in a storm, move away from open fields, hills, or the beach and don’t stand near “lightning rods” like tall trees in an open area or flagpoles. Touching anything metal outside – bikes, playgrounds, fences, etc.– is a quick way to get zapped during a thunderstorm. If necessary, take shelter in a car with a metal top and sides. But do not touch anything that is metal. If you or someone you know gets struck by lightning, immediately get to safety and call Sigonella's Emergency Dispatch services to get help fast. The emergency number is 095-86-1911, or 624-1911 when dialing from a DSN. For more information on preparing for thunderstorms or any other type of disaster or emergency, contact the Emergency Management Department's Preparedness Coordinator, GM2 Joshua Neal at 624-6022.
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Saint Agrippina Festival in Mineo This Weekend By Alberto Lunetta NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
This weekend, the community of Mineo will pay tribute to Santa Agrippina (Saint Agrippina), its beloved patron saint, with religious processions, holy masses, and a combination of fireworks and music shows. Saint Agrippina was a princess who was martyred by the Roman Emperor Valerian in 256 A.D. because she was a Christian. According to tradition, after initially being buried in Rome, the holy relics of Saint Agrippina were taken to Sicily by three holy women. Bassa (Agrippina’s sister), Paola, and Agatonica arrived in Mineo on May 17, in the year 261 A.D. The statue of the patron saint, which is preserved inside the cathedral, is carried through the city streets for veneration during the two weekends of the festival. You can see this spectacular procession on Sunday August 26th beginning at 8 p.m. and continuing until midnight, when a breathtaking fireworks show will be staged along viale F. Crispi. On Sunday morning there will be horse and traditional Sicilian cart parades at 10 a.m. and at 11 a.m. a solemn Holy Mass will be held at the Church of Santa Agrippina. After the big procession, there will be a breathtaking fireworks show at midnight along viale Francesco Crispi in the town’s center. The "Pellegrinaggio dei Nudi" (Pilgrimage of the naked ones), which takes place in the town's center tomorrow night (Saturday, Aug. 25) at 6 p.m., is another highlight of this lively festival. Nudi are barefoot devotees dressed in white shorts and t-shirts with a red sash and a black velvet belt. During this fascinating religious parade, devotees scream in Sicilian: "Viva la nostra patrona Sant'Agrippina!" (Long live Saint Agrippina, our patron saint!) They also recite the rosary and sing hymns in Sicilian. They are called "naked ones" because in the past they attended the processions by wearing only white "causi a tila" (underpants) and carrying a holy picture of the saint and a bunch of flowers. The reason for such a simple dress relates to a legend telling about a night when a terrible earthquake woke up Mineo's townspeople from their sleep in 1693 A.D. Hundreds rushed into the streets wearing only their nightshirts and invoked Saint Agrippina for the cessation of the earthquake tremors. At the beginning of last century, the bishop of Siracusa prohibited devotees from wearing only underpants during the festival, as he believed it was an inappropriate outfit for a religious procession. After the World Wars, many Mineo residents who survived the fighting made a vow to go on a pilgrimage every year in Mineo for the rest of their lives. Saint Agrippina is also venerated for having protected Mineo against a devastating earthquake that hit the town in 1975. For the occasion, many people who are originally from Mineo but live abroad come back to Sicily to participate in the festival showing their faith and carrying the statue as this festa (festival) is one of the only ties remaining that unifies them with their homeland. Saint Agrippina is also celebrated with a spectacular festival in Boston. For more information and detailed festival schedules, visit https://www.facebook.com/CircoloSantaAgrippina/
Mineo, the City of Poets As Sicilian novelist Giuseppe Bonaviri tells, there is a magic spot in Mineo, a picturesque city nestled between two hills in the Iblei Mountains, which is named Piano di Camuti (Plain of Camuti). Bonaviri says that according to one myth, Mineo’s pregnant women are told to go to that plain and sit on a “philosopher’s stone” if they want their babies to develop a talent in poetry. Mineo’s community has indeed produced dialectal poets and writers galore. As pointed out by Bonaviri, there is something in the Mineo air that favors the developing of artistic and creative skills in its residents. Mineo has a rich cultural and artistic heritage. It is the birthplace of novelist Luigi Capuana (1839-1915), one of the masters of “Verismo,” a literary movement of the 19th century marked by the presentation of realistic life using common people characters such as fishermen and peasants who are often treated in a melodramatic manner. Sigonellans will surely enjoy visiting Mineo’s breathtaking "ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 14
This weekend in Mineo, the town will celebrate its patron saint, Santa Agrippina, with religious processions, holy masses, fireworks, and music. It is a must-see religious festival. (Photo by Federica Novella)
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President Trump Signs Fiscal 2019 Defense Authorization Act By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- President Donald J. Trump signed the $717 billion Fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act at a ceremony at Fort Drum, New York, Aug. 13. The act – named for Arizona Sen. John S. McCain – authorizes a 2.6 percent military pay raise and increases the active duty forces by 15,600 service members. “With this new authorization, we will increase the size and strength of our military by adding thousands of new recruits to active duty, Reserve and National Guard units, including 4,000 new active duty Soldiers,” Trump told members of the Army’s 10th Mountain Division and their families. “And we will replace aging tanks, aging planes and ships with the most advanced and lethal technology ever developed. And hopefully, we’ll be so strong, we’ll never have to use it, but if we ever did, nobody has a chance.” Services’ End Strength Set The act sets active duty end strength for the Army at 487,500 in fiscal 2019, which begins Oct. 1, 2018. The Navy’s end strength is set at 335,400, the Marine Corps’ at 186,100 and the Air Force’s at 329,100. On the acquisition side, the act funds 77 F-35 joint strike fighters at $7.6 billion. It also funds F-35 spares, modifications and depot repair capability. The budget also fully funds development of the B-21 bomber. The act authorizes $24.1 billion for shipbuilding to fully fund 13 new battle force ships and accelerate funding for several future ships. This includes three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and two Virginia-class submarines. There is also $1.6 billion for three littoral combat ships. In addition, the act authorizes 24 F/A-18 Super Hor-
nets, 10 P-8A Poseidons, two KC130J Hercules, 25 AH-1Z Cobras, seven MV-22/CMV-22B Ospreys and three MQ-4 Tritons. Afghanistan, Iraq There is $5.2 billion in the budget for the Afghanistan Security Forces Fund, and another $850 million to train and equip Iraqi security forces to counter Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorists. The budget accelerates research on hyperspace technology and defense against hyperspace missiles. It also funds development of artificial intelligence capabilities. “In order to maintain America’s military supremacy, we must al- FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Aug. 13, 2018) President Donald J. Trump signs ways be on the cutting edge,” the the $717 billion Fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act at a president said. “That is why we are ceremony. The act authorizes $24.1 billion for shipbuilding to fully fund also proudly reasserting America’s 13 new battle force ships and accelerate funding for several future ships. legacy of leadership in space. Our This includes three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and two Virginiaforeign competitors and adversar- class submarines. There is also $1.6 billion for three littoral combat ies have already begun weaponiz- ships. (U.S. Army photo by Michael Strasser/Released) ing space.” The president said adversaries seek to negate Amer- enough to merely have an American presence in space; ica’s advantage in space, and they have made progress. we must have American dominance in space, and that “We’ll be catching them very shortly,” he added. “They is why just a few days ago, the vice president outlined want to jam transmissions, which threaten our battle- my administration’s plan to create a sixth branch of the field operations and so many other things. We will be United States military called the United States Space so far ahead of them in a very short period of time, your Force.” head will spin.” The 2019 Authorization Act does not fund the He said the Chinese military has launched a new military. Rather, it authorizes the policies under which military division to oversee its warfighting programs funding will be set by the appropriations committees in space. “Just like the air, the land, the sea, space has and then voted on by Congress. That bill is still under become a warfighting domain,” Trump said. “It is not consideration.
Navy Announces Rating Modernization Progress Update By Gloria Colon-Buzatu From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy released an update on the Sailor 2025 Rating Modernization’s four lines of effort (LOE): Career Fields, Marketplace Force Management, Advancement, and Credentialing in NAVADMIN 196/18, Aug. 13. The updates listed below provide a summary on the current status and way ahead of the four LOEs, but all personnel are strongly encouraged to read the NAVADMIN for greater detail on each topic. Career Fields The alignment of Navy ratings into 23 career fields and 12 broad communities has provided a foundation for future development of more flexible and sustainable career paths for Sailors. In October 2017, and March and June of this year, three groups of over 850 Navy Enlisted
Classification (NEC) codes were successfully converted to a new construct. More information about the revised NEC construct and communities and career fields can be found at http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/nec/Pages/default.aspx. Marketplace Force Management Driven by the urgent requirement to update and modernize personnel systems, the Navy began to expand career fields, in order to transform enlisted force community and career management in the future. A new “Navy Detailing Marketplace” is currently und<er development, through which the foundational elements of an automated personnel management system will tie Sailor enlistment directly to negotiations for a billet, which will then allow Sailors to reenlist or extend for that billet assignment. The marketplace will be a single system that uses the new NEC construct to
better represent Sailors’ qualifications, experience, and performance in the form of a resume. The “Sailor Resume” function will be available in the future under “My Record” on MyNavy Portal (MNP). Starting in Fiscal Year 2019, Sailors will be able to view all advertised billets for which they are qualified and to then submit a resume that includes: ASVAB scores, security clearance status, worldwide deployability, qualifications, evaluations, NECs earned, education degrees and training certifications. Ultimately, the resume function will provide the ability to better match Sailors to billets. Advancement Process Late in 2017, Navy senior enlisted leaders completed the first phase of the Advancement Exam Readiness Review (AERR) testing bank improvement plan by draft-
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Photos by Chief Mass Communication S
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Specialist Brett Cote and Janine Scianna
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NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin:
TEEN EMPLOYMENT ORIENTATION
SPOUSE ORIENTATION
Command: CHILD AND YOUTH PROGRAMS Date of Event: 6 September 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ Time of Event: 1330-1500 Location of Event: Child Development Center (Bldg. 314 NAS I) Point of Contact Name: Chris McKibbin Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-3732 Point of Contact Email Address: CYP_Sigonella@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: In conjunction with the Commander Navy Installations Command (CNIC), Child and Youth Programs is providing teen employment opportunities to work with Child and Youth Programs. Program will run from approximately October 12, 2018 through January 3, 2019. The Program is open to U.S. ID cards holders ages 14-18 and enrolled in high school. - Get paid $7.25 per hour - Work up to 25 hours per week - Gain valuable work experience for their future
Organization: Fleet and Family Support Center Date of Event: 28 August Time of Event: 0800-1430 Point of Contact Name: Andrea Carobene Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-4291 Additional Information: Want to successfully seek employment? Want to meet new people? Come join us on our monthly "Spouse Orientation". We will explore options for employment here in Sigonella. Navigate the bus from NAS 1 to Catania. Navigate the metro to find the best places to shop. Practice Italian and shop for local groceries.
Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services NAS 1 Tuesday Protestant Women of the Chapel: 0900-1100 Daily Mass: 1130-1200 Chapel Youth Middle School: 1445-1615 AWANA: 1645-1900 Wednesday Protestant Men of the Chapel: Daily Mass:
0600-0700 1130-1200
Thursday 1330-1500 Chapel Youth High School: Choir Practice: 1545-1700 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: 1800-2030 Friday Daily Mass: 1130-1200 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour: 1700-1830
Phone Numbers: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049, Chaplain Duty: 335-831-4493, RP Duty: 335-786-1950. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Naval Air Station Sigonella Chapel
Saturday First Saturday Rosary and Mass:
1100-1200
Sunday Catholic Mass: 0900-1000 Catholic Religious Education: 1045-1200 1100-1200 Protestant Service: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: 1330-1600
NAS 2 Tuesday AA: 1730-1830 Wednesday Protestant Women of the Chapel: 1830-2100 Thursday Daily Mass:
1130-1200
Weekly Traffic Report: August 13 - August 20, 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 DOVER (Delaware) FRANKFORT (Kentucky) HARRISBURG (Pennsylvania) HARTFORD (Connecticut) HELENA (Montana) HONOLULU (Hawaii) INDIANAPOLIS (Indiana) JACKSON (Mississippi) JEFFERSON CITY (Missouri) JUNEAU (Alaska) LANSING (Michigan) LINCOLN (Nebraska) LITTLE ROCK (Arkansas) MADISON (Wisconsin) MONTGOMERY (Alabama) MONTPELIER (Vermont)
NASHVILLE (Tennessee) OKLAHOMA CITY (Oklahoma) OLYMPIA (Washington) PHOENIX (Arizona) PIERRE (South Dakota) PROVIDENCE (Rhode Island) RALEIGH (North Carolina) RICHMOND (Virginia) SACRAMENTO (California) SALEM (Oregon) SALT LAKE CITY (Utah) SANTA FE (New Mexico) SPRINGFIELD (Illinois) ST. PAUL (Minnesota) TALLAHASSEE (Florida) TOPEKA (Kansas) TRENTON (New Jersey)
MEDIUM
ALBANY (New York) ANNAPOLIS (Maryland) ATLANTA (Georgia) AUGUSTA (Maine) AUSTIN (Texas) BATON ROUGE (Louisiana) BISMARCK (North Dakota) BOISE (Idaho) BOSTON (Massachusetts) CARSON CITY (Nevada) CHARLESTON (West Virginia) CHEYENNE (Wyoming) COLUMBIA (South Carolina) COLUMBUS (Ohio) CONCORD (New Hampshire) DENVER (Colorado) DES MOINES (Iowa)
EASY
Find and circle all of the state capitals. The remaining letters spell a quote by Theodore Roosevelt.
DIFFICULT
USA State Capitals
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"ITALIAN NEWS" continued from Page 6 landscapes, experiencing its festivals, fairs, and taking a breath of fresh and cool air especially during the sweltering Sicilian summer. Corkscrewing the sharp turns that lead to Mineo, one notes that the city looks like a pottery nativity scene. A few years ago, Mineo hosted a NAS Sigonella housing complex called “Villaggio degli Aranci,” which has since been turned into a refugees center in 2011. During the time that base housing occupied Mineo, some American children attended local schools or were baptized at the magnificent Church of Santa Agrippina. An ideal tour of this picturesque town should begin by walking through the medieval vaneddi (narrow streets) of the historic heart and reaching the magnificent Church of San Pietro, a baroque masterpiece featuring beautiful paintings, a magnificent organ dating back to 1772, and a precious walnut choir. From the church, one can see the ruins of the ancient Castello di Ducezio enjoining a great view of the surrounding hills. This magnificent castle named after Ducezio (495440 B.C.), an ancient Sicilian commander who founded several cities in Sicily. The ruins
include part of the castle’s exterior defensive walls and the main tower. Next, a must-see stop is the Chiesa di Santa Agrippina, the town’s cathedral that is named after the patron saint of Mineo. This church, which was originally an “oratory” (a private chapel) in 263 A.D. and later a mosque in the 14th century, was rebuilt in the 17th century after its structure was damaged by an earthquake in 1693. Inside, the Chiesa features a polychrome wooden statue depicting the patron saint that was carved in 1518 by Vincenzo Archifel. Precious stuccoes and a unique 16th century wooden nativity scene also decorate the church. Returning to the main square, you should not miss the Chiesa del Collegio, a church that is part of the Town Hall architectural complex. It has an impressive and majestic reliquary featuring thousands of bones belonging to local saints. The Town Hall also houses a small museum dedicated to novelist Luigi Capuana, where you can view his study and also see one of the first cameras dating to the beginning of the last century. For more touristic information on Mineo, visit the town’s official web site: http://www. comune.mineo.ct.it/
"Ms. Earth" continued from Page 1 and we do so much for each other; I have Ms. Italy staying with me this week!” Devin laughed. “In the military we talk very highly of the camaraderie we share and to have that in a separate part of my life is the reason I still do it today.” Now, after being crowned Ms. Earth, Devin’s focus is zeroed in on environmental endeavors. She is always looking for new ways to help the environment with community relations events and other volunteer efforts. “Being on stage is a lot of fun,” said Devin, “but what I get more joy out of is climbing through mud to help a sea turtle, getting in the ocean to pickup trash, and seeing to it that when I get done with my title that my banner is dirty and my crown is falling apart because I actually worked the title and hit the track running.” Devin has travelled to about 10 different countries in her role as Ms. Earth and is constantly looking for more events to take part in. She has multiple humanitarian missions lined up and wants to encourage service members and civilians to keep Sicily clean of trash. Thinking back to when she was a child, Devin would never have thought she would be in the position that she’s in. Her family has served for nine generations in the military, dating all the way back to the revolutionary war. “If you told me when I was eight years old when my dad was in Operation Desert Storm that I would be in Iraq 19 years later doing the same thing, I would have thought you were crazy,” said Devin. “But now I don’t think I would want to do anything else because I really enjoy helping people and being in healthcare.”
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"RATING UPDATES" continued from Page 7 ing advancement exam questions that match current and relevant rating-specific technical requirements with the hands-on, real-world knowledge and experience needed in the Fleet. The establishment of the Professional Military Knowledge Eligibility Exam (PMK-EE) focuses the Navy Wide Advancement Exam (NWAE) on occupational knowledge and will serve as an eligibility requirement for advancement to paygrades E4/5/6/7. PMK-EE will be delivered electronically, and will be available via the MyNavyPortal (MNP) website beginning in October 2018. The online Enlisted Advancement Worksheet (EAW), will automate the manual advancement processes and enable Sailors to review their worksheets before the exam and take charge of their advancement records. An EAW pilot, available through the Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS), will be implemented with the Active Duty and Reserve spring 2019 advancement cycles. The Senior Enlisted Advancement to Vacancy (A2V) pilot was announced in June and will fill senior chief petty officer and master chief petty officer priority billets using a spot advancement incentive, and will lead enlisted advancement modernization for exceptional Sailors in all paygrades with critical NECs in the future. Credentialing Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) currently funds over 2,700 certificates/licenses with opportunities for Sailors in every rating. Navy COOL recently reduced the minimum service
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remaining on a Sailor’s enlistment contract to earn credentials from 12 to six months, and expanded opportunity for Sailors to earn credentials mapped to an academic degree or technical education certificate. Additionally, there are more opportunities for Sailors to maximize their Navy training and qualifications toward attainment of U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) licenses, to include funding the Transportation Worker Identification Card. These opportunities are highlighted in a dedicated “USCG National Maritime Center (NMC) Credentialing” tab for ratings with applicable USCG license alignment on the Navy COOL website. Sailors will be able to convert their military training records, billet assignment history and other credentialing data to a compatible civilian resume by the end of fiscal year 2019. Using those standardized data, Sailors can easily research information on civilian and federal occupations mapped to their ratings at https://www.cool.navy.mil/usn or via the Navy COOL app available on the Google Play store or iTunes. The goals for Rating Modernization are to provide greater choice and flexibility for our Sailors with respect to detailing and training, to provide greater flexibility for the Navy in assigning highly trained personnel, and to increase professional alignment with civilian employers. Rating Modernization supports Sailor 2025 initiatives through the goals of redefining career fields, improving talent management and the detailing process, offering more career choices, and expanding professional development opportunities. These initiatives are intended to increase Fleet readiness, sustainability, and fit.
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