MMC, CAPM
School Preparedness
Boys and Girls Club Art Hub
Strong Communities Strengthen Families
NAS Sigonella Conducts Active Shooter Exercise
Sigonella Youth Excel in the Arts
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PAGES 8-9
N A S SIG O N E L L A
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APRIL 13, 2018
Vol. 35 No. 14
One-On-One with Col. Frare SIGONELLA, Sicily (March 8, 2018) Col. Francesco Frare, Sigonella Italian base commanding officer, poses for a photo in front of a P72-A onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon/Released) by MC2 Christopher Gordon NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
what we are able to achieve as two big nations cooperating together in this place.
SIGONELLA, Sicily – With thousands of American service members living and working on Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, one might assume it’s an American owned base; but that’s not the case. The U.S. rents out a substantial portion of Sigonella from the Italian government, but a great portion of the base is owned and operated by numerous Italian forces. Recently, The Signature had the honor to sit down with the Sigonella Italian base commanding officer, Col. Francesco Frare, to put a face to the name and better understand the other half of the base.
What is the mission of your command? I command two units here. 1: the Air Base Sigonella (called Comando Aeroporto Sigonella), which is the base itself: a logistic asset. The base where everybody plugs in to. NAS Sigonella plugs in, but also NATO AGS, Italian armed forces, carabinieri, and the 61st Flying Group Squadron. 2: I’m the commander of the 41st wing, which is embedded in Sigonella, and we fly the P72-A, a maritime patrol aircraft, with it.
Firstly, thank you for speaking with The Signature and giving the American Sigonella public the opportunity to better understand what the Sigonella Air Force Base does. Could you begin by telling us about your background as a pilot and what your role is today? I started off in the academy in Naples back in ‘87. Back in the academy I was lucky enough to train in Shepard, Texas, so I’ve been working with U.S. personnel since the very beginning of my career. I was there for two years. After that I was assigned to a fighter squadron and had several assignments on the same aircraft, an Italian fighter jet. We participated in many exercises and many operational events in the Balkans and in Afghanistan with operation forces and U.S. forces. In my background there is a lot of cooperation with U.S. forces, in general, around the world. It’s a big honor and pleasure to be able to cooperate and increase the relationship between our nations and our forces, and I’m really happy to be here. I see that daily we have opportunities to exchange experiences and training. We’ve had the chance to work with the Marine Corps, and I had the chance to see how the UAV’s operate. We’re working with the Air Traffic Control (ATC) controllers to have a better understanding of the differences of UAV’s compared to civilian traffic. There’s a lot of work, but a lot of satisfaction with the outcome, on what is going on and
What is the Sigonella Air Traffic Control Tower responsible for? The tower isn’t only managing the airspace around Sigonella Air Base, but we’re talking about the approach area, controlling Sigonella, Catania, and Comiso, so we are in control of 3 airports. Between them we are responsible for 90,200 movements, takeoffs and landings. There are 9 million passengers coming through Catania alone in a year, making it the fifth [largest] airport in Italy as a whole. It’s a very busy airspace and it’s not only commercial, but military and touristic flights like helicopters. When you put everything together it’s a very complex scenario. Then you take into account Mt. Etna, which is very unique because you have, near the sea, a mountain that’s 3,000 meters high, cutting out around 30% of the airspace. From [Sigonella] we control the whole airspace from halfway between here and Palermo to the west, and from here to Reggio Calabria to the south, so it’s the entire eastern part of Sicily. It’s a big chunk of airspace from North Africa to Europe and back. With the arrival of immigrants to Sicily having been increasing over the past few years, what is the role of Sigonella Air Base in tackling the humanitarian emergency in the Strait of Sicily? We have patrolling aircraft that are working over the Med and particularly in the Sicilian channel south of this position. We give logistical support to any na-
tion that is willing to support the mission; Luxemburg, Spain, Portugal, and recently we’ve seen Polish and French forces. What is the relationship like between Sigonella Air Base and US Naval Air Station Sigonella? I think it is a great relationship; we are able to cooperate very well with all the activities we are working on and they are going very smoothly. We had a friendly soccer game recently, we’re doing some cooking sessions, so were trying to improve from recreational to operational activities between our two nations. We’re doing great, at least my feedback looks like we’re doing great. Do you have any future plans to further strengthen the US and Italian military friendship on Sigonella? We do have a lot of plans, we don’t have enough time probably to do all of them the way we want to, but as the season goes on we’ll figure out something to do. Unfortunately we’re very busy all the time, so that prevents us from participating as much on the recreational side, but we are improving a lot on the operational side. Is there anything else you would like the American public here to know? Just the one thing that I always thought when I have been hosted in U.S. bases around the world, I encourage people to go out and mix and mingle with the surroundings. Sometimes it can be difficult but it is worth the effort. I had a friend that was with me in Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas and who was later stationed in Aviano for three years. I was stationed nearby Aviano and in his last six months at that command we were able to get together. We went out for a pizza and after two and a half years he was not able to order a pizza in Italian. Going back to when I went to the States, I learned how to fly, in English, in three months. So, my suggestion is try to get used to the new culture and mix up with the locals a little bit more, because I think it’s worth it. In Sicily there is a lot of history and art. I encourage everybody to relax and enjoy your time here.
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APRIL 13, 2018
Direct Line
Captain Brent Trickel, NAS Sigonella Commanding Officer Buongiorno Sigonella, This week I’d like to talk to you about some important changes regarding advancement exams and in-rate training. You may have heard about the Professional Military Knowledge (PMK) section of the Navy-Wide Advancement Exam (NWAE) being transitioned to a stand-alone, once-per pay grade, electronically-delivered eligibility exam starting in October 2018 as announced in NAVADMIN 085/18. What this means is the Electronic PMK Eligibility Exam (PMK-EE) will expand from the current 25 questions to 100 for the stand-alone exam, but Sailors will only have to pass that exam once per pay grade. You will no longer see PMK information on your NWAE starting with the September 2019 Cycle 244 (E4/5/6). Future NWAEs will then only consist of 175 rating-related questions. These changes are in support of Sailor 2025 and rating modernization efforts and are due to direct feedback from Sailors. Additionally, this change enables Sailors preparing for the NWAE to concentrate exclusively on job-specific knowledge.
This new exam, the PMK-EE, will be accessed via My Navy Portal (MNP) through the Learning Management System (LMS). The online exam will consist of five topic areas: Leadership and Character, Career Information, Professional Conduct, Naval Heritage, and Seamanship. So, Sailors taking the PMK-EE will have to get a score of 80 percent or higher in each area to pass the entire exam. Failure to achieve an 80 percent score on a topic will require that topic to be retaken in order to pass. Once you’ve finished the test the system will tell you how many questions you got right, and provide the associated references from the bibliography for questions you got wrong. After completing all of the topics you will get your overall final score. You can look up the topics and bibliographies used to develop PMK-EE questions on the Advancement and Promotion webpage located on the MNP website. Bibliographies are also available via the Navy Credentialing Opportunities On-line (COOL) website and Navy COOL mobile application. PMK-EE will serve as an additional
eligibility requirement for advancement to pay grades E-4/5/6/7 and must be successfully completed by the first day of the NWAE administration month. That means for the upcoming advancement cycle, that date will be September 1, 2019. For further information, visit the Advancement and Promotion webpage located on the My Navy Portal website at www.mnp.navy.mil. The other important change affecting Sailors’ careers is the new Block Leaning (BL) program. BL is the first evolutionary stage in the transformation to Ready Relevant Learning (RRL), an effort to boost enlisted sailor expertise in the fleet. BL training is critical to individual and unit readiness, and the individual career progression of a Sailor. So what does it do? BL will redistribute accession training over the first operational tours. That means that a Sailor will go to Boot Camp and get some initial training, called Block 0, and then report to their first operational unit with the mission-essential skills needed to support their first two years aboard. After between 12 and 24 months at
their first command, they will return to the schoolhouse for Block 1 training (A or C School). Once they’ve picked up that expanded knowledge and skillset, they will return to their command. This BL training is actually already in effect, it started with the Logistics Specialists (LS) rate in May 2017, and other ratings will follow until everyone is transitioned to the new system in this fiscal year. This means that pretty soon, we will
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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 “Housing Customer Service”:
I went to see the utilities section at the Housing department to follow up on my internet connection issues and was not happy with my experience. I requested assistance with setting up internet at my residence from Housing about two and a half months ago, and it has been difficult to accomplish this task. I am aware Housing has no control over utilities while residing on the economy. I spoke with a Housing staff member to see if they were able to contact my landlord in regards to the internet connection. She said she was unable to get a hold of the landlord but will keep trying. Because I may not be able to set up internet at my current residence I stated I wanted to put in my six-month notice. Another staff member came and injected themselves into our conversation and recommended that I get satellite internet service. However, I will not pay for something that does not work. The employee went on to say that it was not Housing's responsibility and it was out of their control. This is something I am very aware of, and I am not demanding anything from Housing other than assistance with my landlord. Thank you very much for your time and have a great day.
Response:
Thank you ffor bringing this to my attention. I apologize for your experience at the Housing office. One of Housing’s main issues is internet and utilities.
Housing is currently working on a list of internet, TV and AFN installation/ providers. Every company has issues depending on location, type of house, services wanted, reliability and customer service response. As housing progresses towards this provider list, we will not recommend any specific provider, so it will be up to you to do your own research in finding the best service and price for you in your area. Housing will still act as translators to connect your services out in the local community but we will be not recommend anyone. For all incoming personnel I would recommend talking to your sponsor and other personnel that live on the economy, eventually housing will post providers on Facebook and Pinterest so incoming personnel can do research online before they get here. As for our Housing staff, they are passionate about their job and this particular staff member was upset about the length of time it was taking to get your internet established. Because of your situation they felt suggesting the satellite service was the best option. My understanding of this situation is that the internet provider wanted to access your neighbor’s yard but was denied access which held up the process. The housing staff did call your landlord to tell him that you would put in your six month notice over the matter of your internet connection. The landlord was surprised and did not understand that the internet was that important to you. Since learning how important the internet is to you, the
"ICE" continued on Page 3
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APRIL 13, 2018
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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
Name: Yeoman 3rd Class John Flores Hometown: Bronx, New York Department: CTF 67 The Navy runs on nuclear power, diesel, coffee, but most importantly: paperwork. Without paperwork the Navy, and more specifically Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella wouldn’t be able to effectively continue its mission. Yeoman 3rd Class John Flores is one of those Sailors that ensures all paperwork submitted to and from the Commander, Task Force 67 (CTF-67) commanding officer, executive officer and senior enlisted leader is correct. “I do all the award paperwork for not only CTF 67 but for all of the detachments that are under our umbrella, for instance VP-5, AIMD, and ASD,” said Flores. “It’s a lot of work but it keeps me busy and makes the day go by fast.” When Flores isn’t at work, he can be found working as the secretary for his command’s MWR, and he’s the Assistant Command Fitness Leader (ACFL). “I went from running a 14:00 mileand-a-half to 11:30 just by taking my ACFL’s advice and changing my shoes,” said Flores. “That really inspired me to be an ACFL and do what he did: educate people and get them inspired to go and workout. It’s something I have a passion for; I’ve been weight lifting since high school and it’s something I want to share.”
As the MWR secretary, he helped raise more than $5,000 for his command’s Christmas party – a command of only around 60 people. “We had a really remarkable Christmas party,” said Flores. “To work really hard for six months and raise money, then get to see the fruits of your labor is pretty rewarding.” Outside of work or volunteering, Flores can be found working out in the gym, eating out in town, or travelling. “I love going out and travelling; it’s
"ICE" continued from Page 2 landlord has contacted your neighbor for access to the yard and is hopeful the issue will be resolved soon. The Housing Director had a meeting with the referral staff and reminded the staff of customer service and importance of certain issues to certain customers. If you would like to discuss this issue further please do not hesitate to contact the Housing Director, Peter Faulk, by email at Peter.faulk@ eu.navy.mil or by phone at 624-4070.
Comments regarding Human Resource Office Hiring Procedures:
This is the second consecutive year that I submitted an application to get hired as a local national at NAS Sigonella. I am bilingual and feel that I am very qualified, yet, it seems to me that the family members of current Sigonella employees are the people who keep getting hired. Nepotism should not be tolerated. Please show that you care about the fair hiring process and put a stop to this. Thank you. I’ve applied for three different positions in the last six months, however, each time the positions were taken by someone else. How are employment selections made? Each time I speak with an HRO staff member over the phone, I am told that I’m qualified, yet no interviews? I have seen many situations where Italian family members, who can barely speak English, get hired for high positions. Is there a different kind of treatment if you have relatives who are employed by NAS Sigonella?
the reason why I joined the Navy,” said Flores. “I’ve been to about eight different countries since I’ve been here and it’s just been amazing.” Flores has been stationed at Sigonella for three years and is about to leave to his next duty station in Yokosuka, Japan. After three years, his advice is: “Don’t waste the opportunity of living overseas in Sicily. Italians are amazing people and this place is perfect. Any coast you can go to is just breathtaking so make the most out of it.”
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
Response:
Thank you for your comments regarding hiring practices here at NAS Sigonella. The timeframes for recruitment actions vary depending on the position being recruited and the command doing the recruiting. Each of the 35 commands/organizations on Sigonella has their own policy for how to handle recruitment for civilian positions. The Civilian Human Resources Office ensures that all rules and regulations are being followed to ensure that positions are being filled through fair and open competition. For NAS Sigonella specific jobs there are hiring boards for each position to ensure no favoritism is shown. The hiring boards include a cross section of personnel from other commands or departments to insure impartiality. Each candidate is given full consideration based on their experience, education, and other selective factors. The selecting official will base the choice on merit and on whom will best fulfill organizational needs. Additionally we do review all applications for nepotism. Nepotism is prohibited in accordance with NASSIGINST 12330.3D. Unfortunately Sicily is currently experiencing a high unemployment rate. We get literally hundreds of applicants for the vast majority of the available local national positions which makes the competition very difficult. For one of our entry level jobs in the housing department we had over 200 applicants to include people who had doctoral degrees. If you have any specific questions or concerns please feel free to contact Elana Burnside, Acting Human Resources Director at DSN 624-4178 or by email at elana.burnside@ eu.navy.mil.
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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MMC, CAPM: Strong Communities Strengthen Families From the Fleet and Family Support Center
In April, we focus on our military children, observing both the Month of the Military Child (MMC) and Child Abuse Prevention Month (CAPM). The Navy has a legacy of promoting healthy and resilient military families by creating safe and nurturing environments for our children. Adults who are informed, attentive and supportive make a nurturing environment possible. As Navy community members, we all play a role. Informed adults are aware of the developmental stages of children in general. They know what a toddler is physically capable of doing versus a pre-teen and so can modify their expectations. Informed adults also use resources to educate themselves and receive support in challenging times. Attentive adults provide adequate supervision to children, depending on the child’s maturity. They also notice and lovingly respond when the child is not feeling well, is hungry or needs quality time. Supportive adults are not only supportive to children’s needs and growth, but also to other adults. They understand that raising children can be demanding and all parents need respite and assistance. They also know the community resources available to service members and their families. As a Navy community, we are strongest when working as a team and using our core values in everyday decisions that we make. The Fleet and Family Support Centers provide professional services, free of cost, to our Navy community. Services include personal financial management, employment assistance, general counseling and parenting programs. All of these services help to create the family life and community our military children deserve. For more information: • Call your local FFSC. • Visit the Fleet and Family Support Program online at www.ffsp.navy.mil • Search Military OneSource at www.militaryonesource.mil/parenting • View Military Kids Connect http://militarykidsconnect.dcoe.mil • Check out Amazing Brain: What Every Parent/Caregiver Needs to Know at www.instituteforsafefamilies. org/materials/amazing-brain • Call the National Parent Helpline 1-855-4A-PARENT (1-855-427-2736).
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APRIL 13, 2018
APRIL 13, 2018
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By-Crystal St. Clair-Canaii
Earth Day 2018 will be celebrated on 22 April! Earth Day is now a global event each year and it’s believed that more than 1 billion people in 195 countries now take part in what is the largest civic observance in the world. The global Earth Day theme is focused on mobilizing the world to “End Plastic Pollution” including creating support for a global effort to eliminate single-use plastics along with global regulation for the disposal of plastics. Plastic pollution is an ever-present challenge. Plastic is used in the making, packing, and shipping of common everyday items; however more common is to see those plastic items floating in our rivers and oceans, littering landscapes and affecting the health of the wildlife and human population from improper disposal and the effects of decomposing plastics. While a lot of plastic items are recyclable, many are not due to either the type of plastics or the lack of recycling infrastructure. So, what do we do? Take note of the plastics that you use and ask yourself if there’s an alternative? If so, go for it! The Navy’s Earth Day theme is "Global Reach, Local Action” reminding Sailors, civilians, and family members that as a result of the Navy’s global presence, they have many opportunities to make positive changes for the environment in their communities not only on Earth Day, but throughout the year. This year Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella will be hosting several events focused on achieving this mission to include a children’s art contest, recycling opportunities, a Base Clean-up, supporting a local clean-up hosted by the Comune of Nicolosi and a No Plastic Challenge. Take a No Plastic Pledge and use your own reusable bags to when you do your shopping at the commissary and the NEX this month!
"DIRECT LINE" continued from Page 2 be meeting these Sailors in the fleet. For those of you who already have your training complete, it will be part of your mission to help these new personnel learn on the job until they are assigned to their school. You can get more
As Sig citizens but also as guests of the beautiful island of Sicily we have the opportunity to make a difference every day. Think about your daily routine and the potential impact that you have on the environment. Think about the energy you use, the waste you create, and what you may be contributing to the air land and water. Check out the Sigonella Facebook Page for tips on reducing your energy consumption and “Create Your Own Act of Green” to support your community and the environment. Thank you! information on their website here: www.rrl. navy.mil. These are some big changes to how people will advance in the Navy at their first command and beyond. If you have more questions please talk to your Chief, the Career Counselor, or the CMC and we can get the information you need.
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Rome’s Jews reject Israel artichoke dictate
APRIL 13, 2018
Sigonella SCPOA sailors lend a helping hand to Giarre foster care home
Story by The Times of Israel
The Italian Foreign fees as the man was too poor to pay for his owRome’s Jewish community is embroiled in a standoff with Israel’s top religious authority after the latter declared the Eternal City’s cherished dish of “carciofi alla giudia” (deep-fried whole artichoke) not kosher. The crisp golden delicacies are a specialty of the Roman-Jewish cuisine and a prominent feature on menus. But Israel’s Chief Rabbinate said the method of cooking the artichoke whole made it impossible to clean properly and it didn’t therefore adhere to kosher standards. “The heart of the artichoke is full of worms, there’s no way you can clean it,” said the head of imports of Israel’s Rabbinate, Yitzhak Arazi, in an interview with the Haaretz newspaper. “It can’t be kosher. It’s not our politics, this is Jewish religious law.” But Rome’s Jewish community has rushed to defend its beloved dish. “We’ve been eating this dish prepared this way for 600 years,” said Umberto Pavoncello, manager at Nonna Betta, a kosher restaurant in the heart of Rome’s Jewish Ghetto. “I’m a little worried about the souls of all the people that have been eating them over the centuries, I hope nothing bad happens to them,” he joked. Pavoncello added that he believed it was “very unlikely” that there would be any insects inside the artichoke and that Nonna Betta would “continue to serve them.” “The declaration comes from the Israeli rabbinate but locally every community has its own rabbinate which can decide for itself, there is no central authority,” said Pavoncello. And local authorities don’t appear to want to give up their prized artichokes. In a recent video wishing the Roman Jewish community a Happy Passover, Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni and President of Rome’s Jewish community Ruth Dureghello, can be seen carefully preparing the artichokes for the traditional dish.
Vegan threatens mum with knife over ragu Story by ANSA A 47-year-old vegan woman threatened her 68-year-old mother with a knife after she made a 'ragu' meat sauce whose smell the younger women couldn't stand, the Gazzetta di Modena reported Friday. "Stop cooking or I'll kill you," the daughter allegedly said. A justice of the peace in the northern Italian city will rule on the incident, which took place in March 2016, in June the daily said. According to the mother’s lawyer, the two women live a difficult family relationship because their food habits are incompatible, the mother cooks the traditional specialties from the region of Emiia Romagna in northern Italy while the daughter is a radical vegan who had to move back into the mother’s home because she has become unemployed. Their bickering over different food styles escalated into a threat after many arguments over this issue, said the lawyer.
10-month-old baby’s death at Catania Hospital linked to measles Story by The Local/ANSA/Sicily Today A ten-month-old baby boy has died of complications linked to measles at Catania’s Garibaldi hospital. The child, who suffered from a heart defect, had been admitted to a hospital in nearby Acireale suffering from measles, but was transferred to the intensive care unit in Catania on Wednesday after his respiratory and cardio-circulatory problems worsened, Sicily Today recently reported. A few weeks earlier he had been discharged from the Catania hospital after undergoing treatment for bronchial pneumonia and bronchiolitis brought on by the respiratory tract virus, RSV. A 25-year-old woman also died of measles at the same hospital in late March.
"ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 14
GIARRE, Sicily - On April 5, volunteers from the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Second Class Petty Officer Association participated in a NAS Sigonella PAO community service project at the "Casa dell'Addolorata" foster care group home run by the Sisters of Divine Province in Macchia di Giarre. Volunteers spent the morning painting the walls of the home's living room to make it warmer and cozier for the children and their single mothers who are hosted there. (Photo/Caption by Alberto Lunetta)
APRIL 13, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
NAVSUP at Sea Air Space Expo 2018 in Booth #1205
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Career Waypoints Sailors with Denied Final Active Status Now Eligible for Advancement Exams By Gloria Colon-Buzatu Navy Chaplain Corps Public Affairs
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (Apr 09, 2018) Visitors to the NAVSUP booth at Sea Air Space Expo 2018 learn about how NAVSUP is reforming to support the warfighter. The expo runs Monday, Apr. 9, to Wednesday, April 11 in National Harbor, Maryland. (U.S. Navy photo by Lee Mundy/Released) From Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (NNS) -- Innovative technology and processes are being showcased by Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) April 9-11 at the Sea Air Space Exposition at the National Harbor. Featured in the booth (#1205 on the expo floor) this year will be information on NAVSUP's reform initiative. The Navy's unique operating environment demands continued change, and NAVSUP is reforming to adapt. The reform initiative centers around NAVSUP reasserting itself as the Title 10 leader for supply chain management for the Navy. NAVSUP is the single point of accountability for the integrated Navy supply chain with full audit compliance. As a Navy command, NAVSUP understands the customers' world as its own, providing close collaboration and customer-focused metrics. Integration from supplier to customer to program manager, and collaboration on tradeoffs will provide the gold standard in contracting excellence. Data analytics and new digital technology implemented throughout programs and processes, including forecasting, will provide enhanced agility and customer service. Lastly, the reform prompts action and develops and trains NAVSUP's people to be the next generation of leaders in sustainment. NAVSUP will also be demonstrating innovative MESH technology at the expo. MESH is an emerging technology that provides a powerful tool set to collect, monitor and react to important information regarding asset location and condition. MESH uses a wireless net-
working protocol where 'mesh points' form a communications network among themselves, routing each other's data through mesh gateways to logistic systems. It is a seamlessly interconnected network that supports asset visibility, movement, and status without the need to install an expensive fixed infrastructure. A representative from the NAVSUP Office of Small Business Programs will be in the booth sharing information on NAVSUP initiatives to offer procurement opportunities to small business. NAVSUP's small business program, which consistently exceeds service-disabled/ veteran-owned small businesses award goals set by the federal government, is committed to maximizing procurement opportunities for small businesses and minority-serving educational institutions. Sea-Air-Space is the largest annual innovative, educational, professional and maritime exposition based in the U.S., and features the most current information and technology relevant to maritime policy. NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP oversees logistics programs in the areas of supply operations, conventional ordnance, contracting, resale, fuel, transportation, and security assistance. Additionally, NAVSUP is responsible for food service, postal services, Navy Exchanges, and movement of household goods.
Sailors that were previously ineligible for advancement exams due to a Career Waypoint (CWAY) status of Denied Final Active (DFA) have been reinstated by a policy change from the Chief of Naval Personnel April 4. Announced in Naval Administrative Message (NAVADMIN) 086/18, the policy change enables commands to order substitute Navy-Wide Advancement Exams (NWAE) for their Sailors in a CWAY-DFA status. Late exam orders for these Sailors under Exam Cycle 239 (March 2018) can only be ordered until April 20. The deadline for all other substitute exam orders is April 6. "Educational Services Officers should contact the Navy Education and Training Professional Development Center (NETPDC) for substitute exams for those Sailors whose regular exams were not ordered due to being identified as DFA in CWAY," said Tom Updike, Enlisted Exam Execution division head for the Navy Advancement Center. "Exams should be ordered via message or via e-mail in message format in accordance with the Advancement Manual." Topics and bibliography references for the substitute exams are available on the Advancement and Promotion webpage located on the My Navy Portal website. Bibliographies are also available via the Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online website and Navy COOL Application. Additional details including references for ESOs can be found in the NAVADMIN. Questions should be addressed to the Navy Personnel Command Customer Service Center: 866-U-ASK-NPC or email: uasknpc(at)navy.mil. The Navy Advancement Center exam ordering and discrepancies branch can be reached via: 850-4736148. Keep up-to-date with the latest NWAE and PMK-EE information from the Navy Advancement Center by following their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Navy-Advancement-Center-213190711299/.
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NAS Sigonella Conducts
Photos by MC2 Ch
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s Active Shooter Exercise
hristopher Gordon
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NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin:
SUSPECTED DOG POISONING IN MARINAI/STOLEN PROPERTY
ORDER TO UPDATE NFAAS CONTACT INFORMATION
Department, Organization: Criminal Investigations Division, NAS Sigonella Security Point of Contact Name: Investigator Christopher Knight/Investigator Thomas Breitfeller Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-4996/366-638-7196 Additional Information: Recently there have been multiple reports of poison being intentionally left around the Marinai Community. A Marinai resident also reported finding their pet chocking on a piece of meat wrapped in dental floss. Last year a pet unfortunately died because it came across a pesticide or poison of some sort. We encourage all residents with or without pets to walk their front and backyards and notify Security if they come across anything suspicious. This is a deliberate act/prank that will take everyone in Marinai Community to keep on the lookout for. We have also received information that kids in our community have told people that it is dog killing season. If you hear this please report it to Security so we can obtain more information. We are also asking residents to make sure street and alley lights are on and working when it is dark. If lights are not operational please notify Pizzarotti Trouble Call Desk in Marinai and can be reached at: +39-335-7391578 (After-hours, Weekends, and Italian Holidays) For Economy emergencies please +39-335-8308222.
All personnel are required to perform a semi-annual update and verification of personal information in the Navy Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS) no later than 30 April 2018. If a record has been updated in the system between 1 October 2017 and 30 April 2018, that record is considered validated for the 30 April 2018 deadline. This applies to all Navy personnel, uniformed (active duty and Reserve), Navy civilians, OCONUS contractors, and dependents. To update contact data, utilize the NFAAS site at https://navyfamily.navy.mil. Login and update member information under the "My Info" tab, "Contact Information" section, and update the work location of the sponsor. Update family member information under the "My Info" tab, "Family Member Info" section. Edit member and family member information as necessary and verify as current. All family members enrolled in the exceptional family member program must be identified as such.
Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services NAS 1 Mondays AA Meeting:
1800-1900
Tuesdays Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0900-1100 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 AWANA: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1645-1900 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . . . . . . . . . 1200-1430 Wednesdays Protestant Men of the Chapel: .0600-0700
Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Catholic Ladies' Guild (3rd Wednesday): . . . . . . . . . . 1600-1800 Thursdays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1200-1530 Choir Practice: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1630-1800 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2030
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
Saturdays First Saturday Rosary and Mass: . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Liturgical Protestant Service NAS I Chapel - . . . . . . . . . . . 1800 Sundays Catholic Mass: . . . . 0900-1000 Catholic Religious Education (DoDDS):. 1045-1200
Fridays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour:. . . . . . . . . 1700-1830
Protestant Service: . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1330-1600
NAS 2
Wednesdays Knights of Columbus (1st Wednesdays): . . . . . . . . . . . 1700-1800 Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2100 Thursdays AA Meeting: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-1900 Sundays Protestant Service and Fellowship: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2000
Weekly Traffic Report: Apr. 2 - Apr. 9, 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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Sigonella Youth Excel In The Arts From Sigonella School Age Care Staff
The Sigonella Child & Youth Program (CYP) was honored to have been selected to host the Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA) Regional Europe Art Hub. The event showcased the artwork of military youth across the continent. This exhibit marked the culmination of a year- long process for our military youth. Many Military Youth Programs place a strong emphasis on artistic expression. Every year during the local Visual Arts exhibit, youth enter submissions in three competitions: Fine Arts, Digital Arts, and Image Makers Photography. Fine Arts entries were judged in the following categories: Pastels, Watercolor, Oil & Acrylic, Printmaking, Mixed Media, MultiColored Drawing, Monochromatic, Collage, and Group Projects. The photography competition had five categories for judging: portraits, culture & tradition, editing & filtering, fashion, and nature& surroundings. The Digital Arts competitions allow youth to enter submissions in: App Pitch, Graphic Design, Music, and Film. Each category is then broken down into four age brackets: 6-9, 10-12, 13-5, and 16-18. Once winners are selected at the local exhibit, their entries are then submitted to the Regional Art Hub. Sigonella’s local exhibit was held on January 18 at the Midtown Atrium. It featured
Photo by Dana McCormack, MWR.
over 75 entries from School-Age Care and the Youth Complex members. Thirty-one of those entries were selected to compete in the Regional Competition. As this year’s host site for the Regional Art Hub, Sigonella received almost 300 submissions from other Youth & Teen Centers from other military installations. Local judges from the community scored the entries. Submissions were displayed in the MWR Compass Room for all to enjoy. We are excited to announce that five local youth won 1st place at the Regional Art Hub in their respective age categories. Their entries will now go on to compete in the National BGCA Arts Contest held in May. Our local Regional Winners are: Bodie Bruner , Monochromatic-ages 6-9, for his entry Mt. Etna. Natasha Estes, Collage-ages 16-18, for her entry Untitled. Amelia Foote, Photography-13-15, for her entries Sunset and Fashion Diva Alexa Patmor, Pastels-ages 16-18, for her entry The Watcher. Zoey Perkins, Monochromatic-ages 16-18, Untitled. The work of these young artists reaffirms the strong commitment Boys & Girls Club of America, Sigonella Youth Programs, and the Sigonella Community has to fostering the creative dreams of the leaders of tomorrow.
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GAMEZONE GIBSON GOBI GRAND BARA GREAT BASIN GREATSANDY GREAT VICTORIA GUBAN INDUS VALLEY JALAPAO JUDAEAN KALAHARI KARAKUM KAROO KHARAN KYZYLKUM
LAGUAJIRA LIBYAN MARANJAB MOJAVE MONTE NAMIB NEFUD NEGEV NORTH AMERICAN NUBIAN NYIRI OGADEN OLESHKY ORDOS PATAGONIAN
RAMLAT RANGIBO RUSSIAN SAHARA SECHURA SIMPSON SINAI SONORAN TABERNAS TAKLAMAKAN TANAMI TENERE THOMPSON PLATEAU WAHIBA SANDS WHITE
MEDIUM
ARABIAN ARCTIC ATACAMA ATLANTIC COASTAL BAYUDA BLACK ROCK BLUE CHALBI CHIHUAHUA COLORADO DANAKIL DEATH VALLEY DJURAB EMPTY QUARTER ERITREAN COASTAL
EASY
Find and circle all of the deserts that are hidden in the grid. The remaining letters spell a secret message.
DIFFICULT
Deserts of the World
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PAGE 14 "ITALIAN NEWS" continued from Page 6 Italy’s outgoing center-left government had made injections against measles mandatory for children starting at state schools amid a growing anti-vaccine movement. “The tragic death of this small patient, who hadn’t yet reached the age at which he could receive the vaccine and so contracted the infection from someone who hadn’t been vaccinated, is a warning to everyone that vaccinations not only protect themselves but the wider community,” Sergio Pintaudi, a doctor at the hospital, told ANSA press agency. Italy's two populist parties – the League and the Five Star Movement (M5S) – have pledged to scrap the compulsory vaccination law should they enter government. The pledges came despite there being 5,000 cases of measles reported last year – six times higher than in 2016 – and four deaths. None of the four victims had been vaccinated. Both parties made big gains in last month's elections –
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M5S emerged as the biggest single party while the League had the strongest performance within a center-right coalition. The vote produced a hung parliament, with second round of talks to form a government due to take place next week. Meanwhile pro-vaccine medics earlier this week called for the latest of edition of the popular doll, Cicciobello, which suffers from measles that can be cured with cream and plasters, to be withdrawn. The toy, called “Cicciobello Morbillino” (Cicciobello Measles), was launched by manufacturer Giochi Preziosi, on Tuesday. Doctors argued that the toy risked trivializing the disease. As reported by Euronews, speaking to Italy’s Radio Capital, the founder of the company, Enrico Preziosi, said the concept of a child playing at being a mum to cure a doll has existed for decades. “These doctors criticizing it should worry about more serious things. If we used the words ‘flu’ or ‘fever’, no one would have said anything,” he argued.
DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH Distracted driving is a public health issue that affects us all. The latest statistics show motor vehicle fatalities are up 6% from 2015. More than 40,000 people were killed on our nation's roadways last year, and distracted driving is a major contributor. Each death is 100% preventable. From cell phones to dashboard infotainment systems to evolving voice command features; all pose a threat to our safety. Just one second of your attention is all takes to change a life forever. Many distractions exist while driving, but CELL PHONES are a top distraction because so many drivers use them for long periods of time each day. Almost everyone has seen a driver distracted by a cell phone, but when you are the one distracted, you often don't realize that driver is you. New technology in vehicles is causing us to become more distracted behind the wheel than ever before. Fifty-three percent of drivers believe if manufacturers put "infotainment" dashboards and hands-free technology in vehicles, they must be safe. And, with some state laws focusing on handheld bans, many drivers honestly believe they are
making the safe choice by using a hands-free device. But in fact, these technologies distract our brains even long after you've used them. This multitasking technology is about convenience, not safety! Human brains do not perform two tasks at the same time. Instead, the brain handles tasks sequentially, switching between one task and another. In reality, the brain is switching attention between tasks. When people perform two tasks at the same time, one is a primary task and the other a secondary task. One task gets full focus (primary) and the other moves to a back burner (secondary). People can move back and forth between primary and secondary tasks. The brain is behind all tasks needed for driving: visual, auditory, manual and cognitive. Vision is the most important sense for safe driving. Yet, drivers using hands-free phones (and those using handheld phones) have a tendency to “look at” but not “see” objects. Estimates indicate that drivers using cell phones look but fail to see up to 50 percent of the information in their driving environment.1 Distracted drivers experience what researchers call inattention blindness, similar to that of tunnel vision. Drivers are looking out the windshield, but they do not process everything in the roadway environment that they must know to effectively monitor their surroundings, seek and identify potential hazards, and respond to unexpected situations.
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Former postman found with 400kg of undelivered mail in Italy Story by The Guardian Man who quit his job in Turin in 2017 says he didn’t deliver any mail for three years because his salary was too low. A former Italian postman is facing charges after police found 400kg (882 pounds) of undelivered mail stashed in his home in the northern city of Turin. Police said the 33-year-old, who has not been named, told officers he did not deliver any mail for three years because his salary was too low. He quit the job in 2017. The stash was discovered after the man was stopped during a routine road check, Turin police said in a statement. He was found in possession of a 20cm long folding knife, and 70 letters were found on the back seat of his car. Sensing something was amiss, police then went to his home, where they found a further 40 boxes of undelivered mail that included bank statements, bills and other private correspondence. “I wasn’t paid enough and so I quit,” the man reportedly said. He now faces charges of theft, misappropriation of correspondence and for carrying a weapon. Italy’s postal service is fairly unreliable, and the case is not the first of its kind. In January, a 56-year-old was arrested after police found 500kg of undelivered mail dating back to 2010 hidden in his garage in the northern city of Vicenza. The pile included telephone directories, bills and campaign leaflets for regional elections, in what police said was the largest haul of undelivered mail ever found. The postal service in the city pledged to deliver the mail, even though the correspondence was up to six years late. In 2013 a postman in Sardinia failed to delivered 400kg of mail during a four-year period. Such an offence in Italy carries a prison sentence of up to one year.
One dead in Italian Navy helicopter crash Story by AFP An Italian Navy helicopter crashed in the Mediterranean during a nighttime training exercise, killing one, the Navy said on Friday. Andrea Fazio, an experienced flight operator based in Catania, Sicily, died after the helicopter crashed into the sea and flipped onto its side as it prepared to land on a patrol boat, the navy said in a statement. Divers rushed to pull Fazio from the chopper but were unable to revive him. The four other crewmembers aboard the helicopter escaped without major injuries. The patrol boat was part of the "Mare Sicuro" (Secure Sea) navy operation in the central Mediterranean. It was launched in March 2015 to protect oil rigs and fishing boats from ruthless Libyan militias, as well as to combat people trafficking. The navy has also rescued thousands of migrants during its operations, either by taking them on board or by assisting other rescue ships. Their onboard helicopters often carry out emergency medical evacuation operations.
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