Measles outbreaks in Europe: Make sure your child is immunized
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Energy Awareness:
Safety Check:
Save Energy While on Vacation
Protection from Heat Stress
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N A S SIG O N E L L A
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JULY 21, 2017
Vol. 34 No. 28
NAS Sigonella Fire Department Talks Fire Safety By MC2 Christopher Gordon NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Since January, the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella fire department has responded to at least 14 fires. With the fire season being between mid-May to the end of September, NAS Sigonella Fire Chief John Smithgall has a few fire safety suggestions. “In this extreme heat the best thing to do is watch how you dispose of flam-
mable items,” said Smithgall. “Watch how you discard your cigarettes especially when in your car, make sure your gasoline is stored in the proper container, and be mindful of how you dispose of charcoal; once it’s been cooled, wet down and completely saturated, put it in a metal container.” Being in the middle of the local fire season, the chances of house or brush fires multiply substantially. If a fire is spotted in NAS Sigonella, immediately call 911.
“Regardless of the size of a fire, immediately back away and call 911,” said Smithgall. “Material things can be replaced but your life cannot. Unless it’s a small fire in the initial stage and you can put it out with a garden hose or extinguisher, do not try to be a hero and put it out yourself.” If a brush fire is spotted outside of the NAS Sigonella fences, whether it’s on the roads around base or next to the gate, call 911 and inform them of the location of the fire.
SIGONELLA, Sicily (Oct. 11, 2016) Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella fire department extinguishes a fire during a demonstration held for a fire prevention week community outreach event. NAS Sigonella enables the forward operations and responsiveness of U.S. and allied forces in support of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia's mission to provide services to the Fleet, Fighter, and Family. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released)
“Legally we cannot go off base and fight the fires out there, that falls under the jurisdiction of Catania or the surrounding fire departments,” said Smithgall. “We pick about a 15 meter safe zone from the fence line where we start aggressively and defensively fighting the fire to prevent it from coming onto base and damaging government property.” When the fire department is called to the scene, they are prepared and ready to fight the fire. The fire department response time is no later than seven minutes from the time someone calls in a fire, but they aim to make it there between three and five minutes. Sailors like Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Jessica Jusino and Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Kira Edgehill are there ready to respond. On July 6, both Sailors, along with multiple others, responded to their first real-life fire right outside the Marinai housing complex. “We got there at about 3:30 p.m. and didn’t leave until about 7:00 p.m.,” said Edgehill. “It was all hands on deck. The wind kept changing direction and igniting spot fires, which are small little leaves that catch the spark. Then the wind blows again and pops up another one.” “We were keeping busy the entire time, our adrenaline was pumping,” said Jusino. “By the end of it we knew we correctly used our training and were finally able to utilize what we learned, this is what we came here for.” For more information on fire safety visit http://www.nfpa.org.
HC-4 Crew Remembered in Ramacca Memorial
Story and Photos by Alberto Lunetta NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
RAMACCA, Sicily - Naval Air Station Sigonella leadership and community leaders from the town of Ramacca came together to remember the crew of the Heavy Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Four (HC-4) "Black Stallions" who died in a U.S. Navy helicopter crash, fourteen years ago, on July 16, 2003. It was an emotional wreath-laying ceremony held at the crash site that was shared with the community of Ramacca represented by Deputy Mayor
Giovanni Savia, Father Giovanni Di Martino and local police authorities. NAS Sigonella leadership was represented by Cmdr. Charles McKinney, NAS Sigonella Executive Officer, who was twice previously assigned to Sigonella with HC-4 as a pilot. Cmdr. McKinney, who was accompanied by Community Relations Director Alberto Lunetta, along with Deputy Mayor Savia laid flowers at the site where small helicopter fragments still remain visible after all these years. According to investigators, once one of the helicopter’s engines caught fire, the pilots bravely and
selflessly made the decision to divert their route to avoid crashing into the city of Ramacca. The MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter crashed on land approximately 10 miles southwest of Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella near Ramacca. The crew was conducting a routine training mission, said media. The crew included the squadron’s executive officer, Cmdr. Kevin A. Bianchi, 40, from Maplewood, N.J.; Lt. Peter Ober, 27, a pilot from Jacksonville, Fla.; Petty Officer 1st Class Brian P. Gibson, 33, an aviation structural mechanic from Greenwood, Va.; and Petty Officer 3rd Class Samuel Cox, 21, an aviation electrician’s mate from Duluth, Minn.
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JULY 21, 2017
Direct Line
CMDCM Michael Kaszubowski, NAS Sigonella Command Master Chief Saluti Sigonella, Well Sigonella my journey has come to an end! This will be my final Direct Line here in Sigonella and I will take some time to just say THANK YOU to everyone I have come across, worked with and or met here on this awesome base. It’s been quite an exciting adventure being stationed here and by far there have been more good times then bad times. This is a unique forward operating base and one that I really had no idea about until I arrived. The growth of this base has been tremendous and I can only see this base getting bigger and bigger in the near future. To every local national that works on this base – THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for everything you do on a daily basis. You all truly make this base work and operate. I have met so many outstanding people here and it will be hard to say goodbye. To Agata, Cinzia and Andrea at the best FFSC I have ever seen – thank you! It was truly a pleasure to work with you and I will never forget everything that you do to help this community from training Ombudsman to greeting every new arrival at INDOC to saying Arrivederci at the end. You are all an amazing team on NAS 1! To Aprile and Anna
at NGIS – thank you for taking care of so many people who are transiting this base. You and your teams ensure everyone has a safe, comfortable place to sleep and for that I am grateful! You are all 5 star in my book! Marlon and the Safety experts – thank you! Thank you for keeping us and the workplace safe! I enjoyed watching you work and I always appreciated the talks! Enzo and Carmello at the commissary – thank you for ensuring this community has a place to get food. We went through some interesting challenges at the commissary but every single time you both had a smile on your face and found a way to not only sell product but keep people happy. I will miss working with both of you and miss seeing you in Aisle 3! John Sission at the NEX – thank you! Another example of outstanding leadership! I will miss you and your awesome staff at the NEX. In times of need you were right next to us helping and I just want to say thank you. Peter Faulk at housing – thank you! Thanks for having an open door policy – thanks for caring about residents and thanks for everything you and your staff do at housing. From the front desk at housing to Ralph Jackson in UH! You guys and gals are an amazing team and I will
miss you all very much! James, Stacey and Andriana at the USO – What can I say – thank you. I think it’s no secret what the USO means to me and every day you come to work you make a difference. I will miss volunteering with all three of you and you will never be forgotten in my book! PW TEAM – thank you for always finding a way to CAN DO! Your motto says it all and I will miss seeing all the hard work going on around the base! Marco Falzone and his team over in security – thank you! Thank you for caring for everyone on the base and in times of need or an accident you and your team were always there. You all play such a vital role in this community and I am forever grateful to you for keeping everyone safe. Paul Lopez and his MWR SUPERSTAR team – thank you! Hands down the best MWR team and facilities I have seen in the NAVY. Truly honored to be a part of it and I will miss every single event you and your team put on. You all provide STAR SERVICE! Debora – THANK YOU! More than an honor to work with you every day. Thank you for keeping me on track and on schedule! You will be missed more than you will ever know! Last but not least – thank you to
every Sailor, Marine, Solider and Airman on this base that comes to work and makes a difference. I will miss all of you a lot and I was truly blessed to come here and be a part of such a great team. This is not goodbye – till next time! See you all in the fleet! As always Sigonella, Lead yourself exceptionally well, Create opportunities for others to succeed and Have a positive attitude. See you around the base.
Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box The ICE/CO Suggestion Box is for our community and Commanding Officer to discuss, with an eye toward constant improvement, how we are excelling* and how we can improve**. The community is strongly encouraged to leave contact information when submitting comments. This ensures that a response will come directly to you. The Signature and NASSIG Facebook Page typically publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. Comments/suggestions are useful when objective, constructive, and specific. ICE/CO Suggestion Box is NOT a forum for mean-spirited attacks. Anonymous comments will be published only if they benefit the greater community at large. * If you submit a "BZ" about a specific person or department, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME in order to ensure comment authenticity and therefore publicly recognize employees or organizations. ** The Commanding Officer will ensure a response to all signed comments/suggestions and the vast majority of anonymous ones but reserves the right to disregard those comments/suggestions disinterested in the spirit of the program! There are two ways to submit; go to: 1) Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) home page on a One-Net computer at: http://ice.disa.mil, All Sigonella services are found under the Navy Europe Listing in the scroll-down menu. – or – 2) NAS Sigonella's website www.cnic.navy.mil/Sigonella, go to the "About" drop down menu and click on "CO Suggestion Box".
Interactive Customer Evaluation Commanding Officer’s Statement on Marinai Water Quality
Sig' Citizens, It recently came to light that there are concerns from residents of Marinai that the drinking water in Marinai is making their pets sick. I want to put the community's fears at rest; this is 100% not true. I reached out to the Vet Clinic for confirmation and the Sigonella Veterinary Clinic Commanding Officer Major Lara Brennecke confirmed that there have been no illnesses diagnosed at the Sigonella Veterinary Treatment Facility linked to the drinking water on NAS 1, NAS 2, or government housing. She also welcomes any questions about specific medical issues with your pets, and invites you to contact them or another civilian veterinarian. We identified the source of the rumor, and since hearing about it we have made sure to educate that individual on the steps we take to keep our water clean to keep our community safe and healthy. Our environmental office has a dedicated water quality team, and they test the water monthly and report their findings to me. If needed, they promptly notify commands or departments that
may be affected by lower water quality. The quality of water in Marinai is at or above the standards that have been set and is in full compliance for humans, and pets, to drink. I confirmed this with our Preventive Medicine team as well. NAS Sigonella Preventive Medicine samples the Marinai water routinely and reviews the drinking water sampling results provided by the environmental division. LT Brenda White, the NAS Sigonella Preventive Medicine Officer, is confident in the high quality of the Marinai drinking water. If you have specific questions you can contact Ms. Rachel Methvin, our water quality manager, at 314-624-7220.
Comment regarding “Motor Vehicle Registration Office parking”:
Parking at the VPC/MVRO facility is horrible. There are not nearly enough spaces available considering the type of services offered on a daily basis to newcomers and those that are out processing. During my visit I was fortunate to find a space and noticed that it was the only space available in the small
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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
Name: Yeoman 3rd Class Savannah Mendez Department: Admin Hometown: Los Angeles
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 Savannah Mendez is one of those Sailors that ensure all paperwork submitted to and from the commanding officer, executive officer and command master chief is correct. “A lot of people think people in Admin don’t do much or that we’re lazy, but we have a lot of work,” said Mendez. “We stay late and deal with a lot of stress because most of what we work with is much more important than people think. If paperwork isn’t done right or not turned in, everything can go wrong.” When Mendez isn’t at work, she turns her attention to the barracks where she resides as one of the few Resident Advisors (RA), maintaining cleanliness standards, advising fellow shipmates and helping facilitate barracks events. “When I first got here I wanted to be an RA because I thought it was a good
way to put myself out there and meet new people because I didn’t really know anybody here,” said Mendez. “I try to take collaterals and be in all the organizations I can like the Junior Enlisted Association (JEA), USO, and Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD); and I also take some college classes.” If Mendez finds free time away from her busy schedule, she enjoys reading biographies of influential people, go-
"ICE" continued from Page 2 customer parking area. When I went inside the VPC there were no other customers there. I went into the MVRO office and there were no customers there either and no others in the back being serviced. The small amount of spaces that are there are not even being utilized for the VPC/MVRO offices. I previously had to park at the Depot and walk to the office with my small children and spouse in 80+ degree weather. It's already no fun not having my car but this just adds to the frustration of relocating. Please designate additional parking for the vehicle services and police the areas for vehicles parked without authorization.
Response:
Thank you very much for your comment regarding the parking at VPC/MVRO. Parking on any installation is a premium and every effort is made to keep as few reserved spots as possible to facilitate open parking. Adding to this problem is that VPC and MVRO are in a location with very limited parking spots. When my Security personnel notice people parking in spots reserved for MVRO customers but walking to other locations they are able to correct the situation on the spot. However, there is simply not enough manpower to dedicate a body to enforce those spots. I directed my Security Officer to place additional signs at that location warning that anyone caught parking in those spots but not visiting VPC and/or MVRO will suffer a 30-day suspension of their base driving privileges. This has finally caught people’s attention because I have seen parking spots available every time I’ve monitored the area since the sign was placed. Thank you for taking the time to send me your feedback and we will continue to preserve parking at VPC/MVRO.
ing to the beach, and body boarding. Since arriving onboard NAS Sigonella in December 2016, Mendez has traveled around Sicily and Milan, but plans on visiting Paris for Christmas and Germany for Oktoberfest. “I’m actually going to Orlando because my birthday is this Saturday, July 22,” said Mendez. “I get to see Disney World for the first time and take a little bit of leave in Hawaii which I’m excited for.”
Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Executive Officer Cmdr. Charles G. McKinney II Command Master Chief CMDCM Mike Kaszubowski EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Andriana Genualdi andriana.genualdi@eu.navy.mil 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
Comment regarding “Barracks room temperature”:
The air conditioner in the barracks does not work. My room and other rooms reach a daily temperature of about 2628 Celsius (78-82 Fahrenheit). I had the same problem last year. Can we please get our AC problem fixed?
Response:
Thank you for your comment. You are absolutely right to ask questions about your air conditioning and bringing it to our attention when it feels uncomfortable in your residence. Currently, a number of rooms within the barracks are without air conditioning, and have trouble tickets issued for them with Public Works Department. Any time the air conditioning is down, Unaccompanied Housing building managers give residents the option to relocate to a room where the air conditioning is operational. We can issue a room change immediately, if desired. Moving forward, each barracks building will have a current listing of all trouble calls issued, and the latest status posted on the main bulletin boards on each floor to keep all residents aware. As a preventative measure, we will take the temperature of each room during our weekly room inspections, and any discrepancies will be forwarded to Public Works Department. Unaccompanied Housing staff work hard to ensure your quality of life is met on a daily basis. If you have any further questions about this matter or any other issues please feel free to contact Mr. Ralph Jackson, the Unaccompanied Housing Director, at Ralph.Jackson@eu.navy.mil or 624-4075.
Comment regarding “Black flag working conditions”:
As per Navy definition, "Black Flag (>90° WBGT) Non-
"ICE" continued on Page 15
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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JULY 21, 2017
Measles outbreaks in Europe continue: Make sure your child is fully immunized against the disease From U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella
Consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella recommends children ages 6 through 11-months-old, especially those in day care, be immunized with the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine as part of their routine 6-month-old pediatric visit due to the recent outbreaks in Europe. This is earlier, and in addition to the recommended two doses children normally receive starting after their first birthday for long-term immunity. Measles is a very contagious disease caused by a virus that is easily spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can linger in the air of a room or transportation vehicle for up to two hours. According to CDC, 90 percent of people around a person with measles will become infected unless they are protected.
Measles can be a very serious, even fatal, illness and is especially severe in babies and elderly persons. Fortunately, vaccination against measles is extremely effective in preventing infection. While measles is not very common in the United States, there is an ongoing measles outbreak in many European countries, to include a recent CDC travel alert for Belgium, Italy and Germany. It is especially important for parents and guardians living in or visiting Europe to ensure their children—as well as themselves and friends—are protected by getting vaccinated. Adults and children not vaccinated for measles could be at risk for contracting the illness due to the outbreak. As above, the CDC recommends that all children 12 months of age or older who are located
in regions with a higher threat of measles should receive two doses of MMR. The second MMR dose is recommended at least 28 days after the first dose. The Medical Home Port and the Immunizations Clinics at U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella are standing by to assist you in this important effort. For more information on protecting your infant with an early dose of measles vaccine, or assistance reviewing family members' immunization status, please contact your Medical Home Port team at 095-56-4622 or call the Immunizations Clinic at 095-56-4643. The CDC website is also a great resource for general information about measles as well as current travel advisories, https://www.cdc.gov/features/measles/.
JULY 21, 2017
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Save Energy While on Vacation By Antonino Piluso, Installation Energy Manager
As everyone can tell from the heat, Summer time is finally here! With that being said, many of us are probably planning to go on vacation for a couple weeks or maybe just take a trip during the weekend. While it’s nice to relax and take some time away from our daily routine or the stress of work we should not take time away from reducing energy consumption. The good news is that there are very simple things we can do to still save energy while we are away from home. Please help make a difference by performing these easy energy saving tips: - Lights: This is an easy one; all lights must be turned off. There are no good reasons to leave them on. Not even if you have LED or low consumption light bulbs. Lets’ leave them off so they use no energy - Fridge: It is unusual to talk about fridges during energy saving subjects, but there is something to know about it. A fridge should be defrosted at least once in order to perform efficiently. If you are going to be away from home for a few days, this is probably the perfect time to accomplish this task. Plan ahead by trying to consume as much food before your trip or take as much food along with you as possible. Before you leave, unplug the fridge, open the fridge door and place something on the floor to collect all the water from melted ice. When you return home, plug it in and in a few hours the fridge will work better than before and will use less energy. - Windows and doors: Of course windows and doors must be closed for security reasons, but leaving them closed also helps control the inside temperature while we are gone. Make sure to double check all doors and windows.
- Air conditioning: This is probably the most important thing we can do to reduce unnecessary energy consumption. Turn off the A/C when no one is home. Especially if you are leaving the house for more than one day. When you come back it will not take long to get the house to your desired temperature, but make sure not to waste energy while no one is in. - Water faucets and toilets: Ensure all faucets are closed tightly, and ensure the toilet is not running continuously. Faucets and toilets are often easily overlooked. If not noticed and corrected, a faucet dripping for 2 weeks, or a toilet continuously running wastes a tremendous amount of water. - Appliances: This tip is usually under evaluated. Our homes are full of appliances such as coffee machines, computers, monitors, modem, TV, chargers, etc. All these use a small amount of energy in standby mode. It is a small amount of energy, but it is still energy, and we can save it just unplugging or turning it off appliances completely before leaving. Make sure to leave your house on “sleep mode” and enjoy your vacation.
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JULY 21, 2017
Italians debate whether Italy-born children of migrants should get citizenship (Story by The Local)
With a flood of migrants arriving on Italy's shores, a bitter debate has erupted over whether children born on Italian soil to foreign parents should have citizenship rights at birth. According to a poll published on Thursday in the Messaggero daily, the idea of “ius soli� is losing support among Italians, even though such a path to citizenship exists in many other EU countries. The Latin term "ius soli" refers to rights linked to the land (where you are born) as opposed to "ius sanguinis", where rights are based on blood ties. Children currently must have at least one Italian parent to enjoy citizenship rights. Those who do not can apply when they turn 18 but rules on time spent out of the country mean some are rejected. Back in October 41 percent of people polled said they were in favour of "ius soli", but now that number has dropped to 32.3 percent. Italy's high-profile battle with Europe over who should deal with the hundreds of thousands of migrants rescued in the Mediterranean and brought ashore since 2014 has sparked a backlash over a proposed bill and even fisticuffs in parliament. After 15 years of debate, the draft law establishing "ius soli" was adopted by Italy's lower house in 2015. Two years later, after a series of amendments, it is now being debated in the upper house with the support of the centre-left. The draft law also provides for nationality via "ius culturae" for children not born in Italy who have spent at least five years in the country's education system. Italy's anti-immigrant Northern League has slammed the proposal as a "cultural mistake". Ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi, founder of the center-right Forza Italia, said it would send the wrong signal to those already attracted to Italy's shores. "Making it known that it's easier to become Italian will create false hopes in Africa and increase migratory pressures," he warned. Over 86,000 migrants have arrived so far this year, up over ten percent compared with the same period in 2016. The adoption of "ius soli" would bestow Italian nationality on around 800,000 children immediately, and another 60,000 newborns a year, according to the Italian Institute of Statistics (Istat). "The children born in Italy are Italians and it is the duty of a civilized country to welcome them," Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said earlier this week. His predecessor Matteo Renzi also passionately supports the proposed bill. Gentiloni has brushed aside attempts by critics to link the issue of citizen rights to that of national security, saying "the way to reduce risk is not through exclusion but dialogue and inclusion". But with unemployment towering at 11 percent -- well above the average in the eurozone -- and soaring to 37 percent among young people, the age-old narrative of foreigners stealing locals' jobs has reared its head. That fear has not been eased by new figures this week showing 4.5 million Italians are living in absolute poverty. According to Il Messaggero, those polled in Thursday's survey said it would be better to postpone the debate on citizenship rights until after the general election in spring next year.
"citizenship" continued on Page 14
A demonstration calling for reform of Italy's citizenship law. Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP
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USS John Finn Commissioned in Pearl Harbor By MC1(SW) Class Jeff Troutman, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Det. Hawaii
PEARL HARBOR -- The Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS John Finn (DDG 113), was brought to life and into the fleet July 15 at Hawaii's Pearl Harbor - a fitting commissioning venue, as the namesake's Dec. 7, 1941, heroic actions 30 miles away at Kaneohe Bay are the stuff of Navy legend. Chief Aviation Ordnanceman John Finn, was World War II's first Medal of Honor recipient who Adm. Chester Nimitz said displayed, "magnificent courage in the face of certain death" during the attack on Pearl Harbor and other Oahu military targets in 1941. Finn manned a .50-caliber machine gun while under heavy enemy machine gun fire. Although wounded, he continued to fight until ordered to vacate his post to seek medical attention. Following first aid treatment, he returned to action and led the charge to rearm aircraft returning from missions. John Finn is the 63rd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and was delivered to the Navy from shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries on the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 2016. "I can't think of a more fitting place to commission this ship than right here at Pearl Harbor, where we can honor the legacy of John Finn and all Americans from the 'Greatest Generation' and reflect on the blessings and costs of liberty," remarked Adm. Harry Harris, Jr., PEARL HARBOR (July 15, 2017) The crew of the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS John
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Finn (DDG 113) brings the ship to life during its commissioning ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aiyana Paschal/Released)
January 2018 E7 Advancement Cycle Announced By Ed Barker, Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center Public Affairs PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- The January 2018 Navy-wide enlisted examination (Cycle 238) testing date for active duty and full time support Sailors who are advancement eligible to the paygrade of E7 was recently announced in Naval Administrative Message (NAVADMIN) 175/17, released July 14. Each Navy advancement examination consists of 25 professional military knowledge and 150 job-specific rating technical questions. The Navy-wide examination date is January 18, for USN and Full Time Support (FTS) Sailors eligible to advance to chief petty officer, as well as E6s who are required to take the E7 exam for the limited duty officer program. "Bibliographies (BIBs) for the E7 January exam are available for download on My Navy Portal and the Navy COOL website," said Master Chief Electronics Technician James Berhalter, command master chief of the Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center (NETPDC). "The E7 advancement process differs from the E4-E6 process in that the final multiple score (FMS) consists of only two elements that are used to rank order eligible E6s: the exam score and performance mark average (PMA)." Participation in the January exam is only a part of the advancement process for
E7. The top 60 percent, ranked by FMS, in each rating get to compete for advancement against peers and have their record sent to the E7 selection boards. Selection board eligibility results are normally released in mid-March on the Navy Enlisted Advancement System (NEAS) website. During Advancement Examination Readiness Reviews held at NETPDC, visiting E7-E9 fleet subject matter experts in each enlisted rating ensure all examination questions can be linked to current references and publications. As rating subject matter experts (SME) select questions for the examination, an examination bibliography is developed for that specific cycle's exam, based on the source references used to formulate questions on the exam. The Navy Advancement Center (NAC) updates bibliography information as fleet instructions and manuals change and it is recommended that candidates check their bibliography a few times prior to the exam administration date to make sure they have the most recent BIBs. "Bibliographies and their listed references should be a critical part of each Sailor's exam preparation program," added Berhalter. "When the Cycle 238 exams were created, each test question was tied to a specific reference, and the bibliography is a compilation of all references used to create that specific exam. With that in mind, I would recommend Sailors use only the official Navy bibliography sources for studying their references." To download the bibliographies and an
exam-specific topic list for the upcoming cycle, go to the Navy Advancement Center's Web portal at www.nko.navy.mil/group/ navy-advancement-center/bibliographies, the Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online (COOL) website at www.cool.navy.mil/ usn under the credentials tab, or My Navy Portal at www.mnp.navy.mil/group/navyadvancement-center/bibliographies. Specific information on exam eligibility, clearance requirements and evaluation date requirements are detailed in NAVADMIN 175/17 and on the NEAS website. The NEAS
website also enables education services officers (ESO) to verify and correct the list of eligible candidates for their command, and confirm examination ordering information. E7 exam profile sheets provide candidates with information on how well they did on each topic area, and detail individual FMS totals, as well as minimum selection board cut requirements. For more information about the Navy Advancement Center and NEAS, visit www. facebook.com/Navy-Advancement-Center-213190711299/.
BETHESDA, Md. (March 16, 2017) Master-at-Arms Seaman Gloria Garza, assigned to Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bethesda, takes the Navy-wide E-4 advancement exam at the NSA Bethesda fitness center March 16, 2017. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class William Phillips/Released)
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Athens
By Lt. Andriana Genualdi, NAS Public Affairs Officer
Over the four-day Fourth of July holiday a group of friends and I decided to take a trip to Athens, Greece. In the summer it gets easier to fly around in Europe because airlines add flights to offer travelers on vacation more options. Coincidentally it also happened to be the hottest weekend on record so far for the year! After arriving in the morning we checked in to our Airbnb in the Omonia neighborhood of Athens, about a 25 minute walk from the National Archeological Museum. But, I would recommend staying a little closer in to the city center because of the ease of getting to places and the feel of the area at night. We made liberal use of Uber and taxis due to the heat and not wanting to spend a lot of time in the sun outside. The first night, after our friends had arrived we ate dinner in a trendy area of the city and went on a pub crawl as a way to familiarize ourselves with the nightlife areas of Athens. We met some nice people from all over, including the States and the U.K. The next day we made our way back to the city center for an excellent bike tour. Despite the heat our guide made sure that we had a great time. She was very knowledgeable, with a degree in Archeology, and she knew the best route to take us where we could stop and rest in the shade. We had the opportunity to look at both the Greek and Roman forums, the Acropolis from below, and we even got to see the changing of the guards at the Presidential Mansion. We also stopped for a much needed
break and some delicious iced coffee as part of the tour. The next day we took a trip out of the city to see the Battlefield of Marathon where the Greeks turned back the invading Persians and prevented them from making landfall and marching across the plain of Marathon to Athens. From there we went even further south to the Temple of Poseidon (Neptune to the Romans) on Cape Sounion. The temple is well preserved and has great views of the sea. We managed to hit the beach that day as well, taking advantage of the hot weather. As one would expect, Greece has excellent beaches. To the south of Athens, about a 20 minute taxi ride away, we visited a beautiful beach that some local Athenians had recommended to us and relaxed for a few hours before getting back to the heat of the city. One unique thing that we were able to do in Athens was ‘Dinner in the Sky.’ One of our friends had done it before and recommended it to the group as an experience not to be missed. Not only was there the novelty of being strapped into a chair and eating high above the ground, but the food was excellent and the view of Athens and the Acropolis lit up at night was amazing. On our last day, before we flew out in the morning we made our way up to the Acropolis. We wanted to go early to beat the crowds and the heat. The views were epic and I’m really happy that we were able to squeeze it in at the last minute. All in all, Athens was beautiful and I could have spent so much more time there learning about Greek history, culture, and the Greek people.
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NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin: APPLIED SUICIDE INTERVENTION SKILLS TRAINING (ASIST) WORKSHOP Command, Department or Organization : Religious Enrichment Development Operations (CREDO) Date of Event: July 27-28 Point of Contact Name: Rich Graves Point of Contact Phone Number: at DSN: 624-5231, Cell: 345-307-8460 Point of Contact Email Address: richard.graves.ctr@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: A two day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Workshop will be offered 27 and 28 July at the NAS II Chapel. ASIST is the world's leading suicide intervention skills workshop. Developed in 1983 and regularly updated to reflect improvements in knowledge and practice it has become the "go to" Suicide Prevention program for the US Military. During the two-day interactive session, participants will learn to intervene and help prevent the immediate risk of suicide. Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services 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
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Mondays AA Meeting: . . . . . 1800-1900 Tuesdays Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . . . . . 0900-1100 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . 1130-1230 AWANA: . . . . . . . . . 1645-1900 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . . . . . . . 1200-1430 Wednesdays Protestant Men of the Chapel: . 0600-0700 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Catholic Ladies' Guild (3rd Wednesday): . 1600-1800 Thursdays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . 1200-1530 Choir Practice: . . . . 1630-1800 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2030 Fridays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . 1130-1230 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour: . . . . . . . . . . . . 1700-1830
For more information or to register contact the CREDO Facilitator, Rich Graves at DSN: 624-5231 Cell: 345-307-8460, or e-mail at: richard.graves.ctr@eu.navy.mil
NAS II MAIN GATE CLOSURE Command, Department or Organization : Security Department Date of Event: 23Jul17 - 23Jul17 Time of Event: 0930-1430 Point of Contact Name: MACS Miguel Laines Point of Contact Phone Number: Office: 314-624-7142 Cell: 366-638-7197 Point of Contact Email Address: Miguel.Laines@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: On Sunday July 23rd from 0930 till 1430 there will be a full gate closure due to scheduled gate maintenance conducted on the NAS II main ECP. All traffic will be rerouted to the east side Italian gate. If you have any question or concerns please let us know. We apologize for any inconvenient this may cause.
Weekly Traffic Report: July 10 - July 17, 2017
Saturdays First Saturday Rosary and Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Sundays Catholic Mass: . . . . 0900-1000 Catholic Religious Education (DoDDS): . . . . . . . . 1045-1200 Protestant Service: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Latter-Day Saints Service: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1330-1600
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Wednesdays Knights of Columbus (1st Wednesdays): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1700-1800 Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC): . . 1800-2100 Thursdays AA Meeting: . . . . . . 1800-1900 Sundays Protestant Service and Fellowship: . . . 1800-2000
Ristorante Bella Etna
As a reminder to everyone: There are no PTUs allowed at the Galley. Appropriate athletic gear is authorized at the discretion of the Galley staff. Please remember that for sanitation purposes and for the consideration of other customers, if you have been out for PT, been working out at the gym, or have just been engaged in any physical activity where you and or your clothing has become soiled or sweaty you will be asked to turn around.
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Protecting Workers from Heat Stress Heat Illness Exposure to heat can cause illness and death. The most serious heat illness is heat stroke. Other heat illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash, should also be avoided. There are precautions that can be taken any time temperatures are high and the job involves physical work. Heat Illness Exposure to heat can cause illness and death. The most serious heat illness is heat stroke. Other heat illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash, should also be avoided. There are precautions that can be taken any time temperatures are high and the job involves physical work. Risk Factors for Heat Illness High temperature and humidity, direct sun exposure, no breeze or wind Heavy physical labor No recent exposure to hot workplaces Low liquid intake Waterproof clothing Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion Headache, dizziness, or fainting Weakness and wet skin Irritability or confusion Thirst, nausea, or vomiting Symptoms of Heat Stroke May be confused, unable to think clearly, pass out, collapse, or have seizures (fits) May stop sweating To Prevent Heat Illness: Establish a complete heat illness prevention program. Provide training about the hazards leading to heat stress and how to prevent them. Provide a lot of cool water to workers close to the work area. At least one pint of water per hour is needed. N A S SIG O N E L L A
For more information please call the safety office at 624-5630 or 624-6261
"PEARL HARBOR " cont’ from Page 7 commander, U.S. Pacific Command. "Thankfully, America has always been blessed to have strong women and men who find the will and summon the courage to endure against overwhelming odds; patriots like John Finn, who answered the call to defend our nation in her darkest hour." Recognizing the ship's motto to "stand fast and fight," Harris praised the ship's firepower and capabilities as a testament to its namesake's readiness in battle and determination in the face of danger. The Navy's newest ship and her crew is ready to deliver - just like Chief Finn did as he manned a machine gun while wounded and under intense enemy fire. "John Finn brings both the saber and the shield into the fight," said Harris. "Truly, the advanced combat systems, coupled with the innovative spirit and the killer instinct of her amazing crew, are powerful reminders of our readiness to fight tonight. This warship is the embodiment of America's resolve to protect our homeland and defend our allies." Harris pointed out that the aegis-capable destroyers like John Finn expand America's projection of power and leadership in the Pacific. "We believe in peace through strength - smart power backed by hard power," Harris said. "And this ship, hard power personified, sends a clear signal to our allies, to our friends and to our adversaries - we will remain laser focused on the Indo-Asia-Pacific because what happens here matters to the United States." Approximately 2,000 guests, including more than 50 friends and relatives of John Finn's
family, attended the commissioning ceremony. The ship was officially placed in commission by Harris. Its Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Micheal Wagner, a native of Minnesota, leads the crew of 300 officers and enlisted personnel and praised his crew as worthy of the standard set forth by the ship's namesake. "I'm truly honored and humbled to be standing here today, not only because I'm in command of the Navy's newest destroyer, but because I've been given the opportunity to lead some of the finest Sailors I've ever met," said Wagner. "The men and women manning this ship today are some of the finest service members society has to offer today. They come from all over the United States. Some even come from different countries. But make no mistake, they are all willing and enthusiastic about completing the mission. These are men and women of action, ready to go into action if required, just like John Finn exhibited." The ship's sponsor, Laura Stavridis, the wife of retired Adm. James Stavridis, gave the order to, "man our ship and bring her to life!" The crowd then witnessed this time-honored tradition, as members of the crew ran aboard the ship and manned the rails, as the ship's systems came online - radars and weapon systems began to spin, the chaff launcher popped, and alarms sounded - all symbolizing the ship "coming to life." John Finn is a multi-mission surface combatant capable of conducting anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare. As a multi-mission platform, it is capable of sustained combat operations supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence.
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GAMEZONE FENCING FISHING FOOTBALL GOLF HANDBALL HOCKEY JAI ALAI LACROSSE POLO RACQUETBALL RUGBY
RUNNING SKATEBOARDING SKATING SKIING SOCCER SOFTBALL SQUASH SURFING SWIMMING TENNIS VOLLEYBALL WRESTLING
MEDIUM
ARCHERY BADMINTON BASEBALL BASKETBALL BILLIARDS BOCCE BOWLING BOXING CRICKET CROQUET CYCLING DARTS
EASY
Find and circle all of the Sports that are hidden in the grid. The remaining letters spell a secret message - a Vince Lombardi quotation.
DIFFICULT
Sports
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"citizenship" cont’ from Page 6 Italy in 2016 bestowed the highest number of citizenships in Europe at 205,000, up from just 63,000 in 2012. Adopting "ius soli" would bring Italy into line with the majority of its European neighbors - from Belgium and Britain to France and Portugal - where the law already applies in various forms.
Fires on Vesuvius “all caused by arson” Story by Corriere della Sera NAPLES - "I don't want to hear talk of spontaneous combustion; such attempts to explain away these fires make me sick. They are all cases of arson." It's three o'clock in the afternoon and General Sergio Costa, head of the carabinieri's forestry unit in Campania, has just returned to his office after a morning on Mount Vesuvius fighting the flames. He watches the volcano as it continues to burn, under a dense cloud of smoke that led some tourists visiting Pompeii to fear that an eruption was in progress. He gives us an update on the situation: "At the moment, the flames extend for a distance of over two kilometers. The wind is blowing in from the sea and this does nothing to help. The fire is now in the trees, not on the ground." This is very bad news, because it means that the flames are spreading from treetop to treetop, driven by the wind. The drought that has left the vegetation dry, together with the highly flammable resin of the pines, has done the rest. "We are in a situation," he explained, "in which even moving men on the ground is complicated. We have to wait for planes and helicopters, dropping fire extinguishing liquid from above, to quell the flames." He stressed that the fires were not the result of spontaneous combustion. "A forest fire might start itself in the tropics, but not here. What's more, we have already found evidence that the fires were started deliberately, and the fact that a number of fires broke out in different places at the same time points to a criminal act. As does the fact that some fires broke out deep in woodland, far from the roads. These fires are deliberate." Who might be behind them? "There is no sheep farming on Vesuvius, so I think it highly unlikely that the arsonists are farmers looking for land for their animals. I am led to believe that the fires were started in response to the National Park's drive against unauthorized building. Over the last year, significant steps have been made to seize unauthorized buildings in the red zone, with a view to demolishing them. I'm afraid this is the response." This is revenge by illegal developers then? "It might be part of a strategy. They want to prove that the park authority is ineffective, and unable to protect the territory. They aim to paralyze it from an administrative point of view in order to block seizure and demolition orders." Seventy hectares of land have already been burnt on Mount Vesuvius since the beginning of this scorching summer. "I hope we don't beat last year's record, when over 200 hectares went up in flames," he concluded. Environmental group Legambiente, meanwhile, criticizes what it sees as serious delays by Campania's regional council in its 2017 forest fire prevention
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plan. "The resolution and consequent allocation of funds," protest Michele Buonomo, president of the association in Campania, and Pasquale Raia, "date back to 23 May. This was much too late, since we are talking about work, starting with the cleaning of forest trails, which should have commenced in the spring. We now urgently need joint discussions involving the Environment and Agriculture departments of the regional council and the Civil Defense Authority."
Far-right group to begin patrolling the Mediterranean to stop migrants reaching Europe and ‘expose humanitarian groups’ collaboration with smuggling mafias’ Story by Daily Mail A group of far-right activists has hired a boat to patrol the Mediterranean and prevent would-be migrants from reaching Europe. The 'Defend Europe' vigilante scheme was announced by anti-immigration campaigners from France, Italy and Germany after they managed to crowd fund the 76,000 euros ($87,000) needed to rent a vessel. The plan aims 'to expose the true face of so-called humanitarian organizations, their collaboration with smuggling mafias, and the deadly consequences of their actions at sea,' according to organizer Clement Galant. 'When boats full of illegal migrants cross, our mission is to call the Libyan coastguard so that they can come and rescue them,' he said in a video posted on social media. We will keep them safe in the meantime.' The United Nations' migration body says that 100,000 people have arrived in Europe by sea this year, the vast majority Africans departing from Libya. Despite their humanitarian mission, aid groups have come under fire, with some critics saying their presence encourages migrants to attempt the crossing. The far-right group, which calls itself 'Generation Identity', says the 40-metre (130-foot) vessel is en route to the Mediterranean after leaving Djibouti last week. It will transport activists from the Sicilian port of Catania and patrol international waters off the coast of Libya. The group managed to raise tens of thousands of euros by crowd funding the initiative and rented the boat despite an online campaign by opposing activists who had demanded that PayPal freeze GI's account. 'By saving these peoples and providing an obstacle for trafficking groups, we can save Europe and save lives at the same time,' said a GI spokesman.
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"ICE" continued from Page 3 Mission essential physical training and strenuous exercise must be suspended for all personnel. Heat stress will occur in most cases. Outdoor work should be limited to critical missions only (requires commander approval). Use 25% work and 75% rest (example: 15 minutes work with 45 minutes rest). Use a "buddy system" and have teams monitor each other's condition. Drink 2 quarts of cool water per hour. Heat stroke is likely with continued exposure". As stated above outdoor work is limited to critical missions only and the ratio used should be 15% work and 75% rest. I question the reason why a certain section in Naval Security Forces here at NAS Sigonella are standing at the Vehicle Inspection Team or encouraged to walk around on a blacktop surface for an entire 12 hour shift as directed by their chain of command. They are discouraged from using the chair that is provided, even for short breaks (less than the 45 minute ratio per rest as stated above). Why must our Sailors be prohibited from sitting down or utilizing the fan just so Security as a whole can "look proactive and busy?”
Response:
Thank you for contacting me and sharing your concern for the safety of our Sailors within the Security Department. The post they stand is critical to the safety of our base and their safety is paramount to us all. Although I understand and share the heat concerns our Security Sailors are exposed to, especially during these hot summer months, I can assure you we provide them with every possible mitigation to help alleviate some of these concerns. Our Sentries are provided with a shaded area from which to operate that is equipped with power mist blowers as well as coolers filled with water to drink. Additionally, we rotate
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them more often during black flag conditions throughout their watch to afford them the time to eat, relax, and cool off. Furthermore, we have placed stools in the Vehicle Inspection Team (VIT) areas to minimize some of the stress on their feet. It is not a standing order to have our Sailors needlessly walking around the “blacktop surface” as they are only required to stand out of the covered tent area to inspect vehicles and to challenge anyone approaching their post. We have consequently reminded our section leadership of the aforementioned policies to ensure the maximum health and safety of our Sailors. Again, I thank you for sharing your concern and welcome you to contact the Assistant Security Officer, ENS Kentzell at 624-2491 or the Assistant Operations Officer, MACS Laines at 624-7142 with any further concerns.
Comment regarding “Bravo Zulu for MVRO”:
I am unsure if this is the correct section for MVRO feedback, but I am confident it will make its way to the right department. Let me start by saying this is my first time writing an ICE comment, but I felt compelled to by the outstanding customer service and professional acumen demonstrated by Petty Officer Lewis at MVRO. She helped both myself and my wife, and through us our children, navigate the fairly intimidating process of denationalizing and registering a vehicle, as well as acquiring our gas coupons. She COMPLETELY explained and demystified both of these processes and made the transition incredibly simple and easy to achieve. I will say everyone that I came in contact with at the MVRO was pleasant and helpful, but a special BZ is certainly deserved for Petty Officer Lewis. She made a stressful time easier, and helped make a customer feel less overwhelmed. A mentor of mine always told me: Have Courage, Be Kind, Be Patient, Be Useful. I cannot speak to the former, but Petty Officer Lewis has certainly proven the last three to be a part of her character and professionalism. Thanks again to the MVRO and all that you do!
Response:
Thank you very much for taking time out of your day praise MA3 Lewis’ professionalism. It is very easy to type out an ICE comment when upset but very few do the same after they have had a positive experience, so I thank you. NAS Sigonella MVRO is a satellite office of Naval Support Activities Naples so the MVRO Clerks must balance those regional requirements with the requirements of Italy. As you saw from the denationalization process, it is quite in-depth! MA3 Lewis is a thoughtful and caring Sailor with a deep level of professionalism and I am very proud of her. When her Chief told her of the Bravo Zulu ICE comment, you could see in her face the joy it brought to her heart. Thank you again for taking the time to recognize this great Sailor!
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