Quotas
Sigonella Middle/High School
COMREL
Enlisted advancement opportunities
Year in Review!
Sig' Citizenship
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May 22 2015
Vol. 32 No. 20
SECNAV announces 10 big changes coming to the Navy From Defense Media Activity
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has unveiled a host of initiatives and policy changes aimed at improving quality of life and careers for Sailors and Marines. During a speech to Naval Academy midshipmen, Mabus laid out his plans for the future. Here are 10 things Sailors and Marines need to know. 1. SECNAV plans to open all operational billets to women. 2. Base day care centers to open earlier and remain open later. 3. Better co-location policies and joint service co-location policies. 4. Legislation has been proposed that will double paid maternity leave from 6-12 weeks. 5. SECNAV is planning to revamp the physical fitness assessment to include current body fat measuring techniques. 6. Beginning June 1, SECNAV is ending GMT as the Navy knows it. Stopping all DoN-directed GMT on NKO. 7. Legislation has been proposed to expand Career Intermission Program from 40 to 400 billets. 8. Meritorious Advancement Program will expand to include shore-based units. Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus announces the Department of the Navy Talent Management Initiatives 9. Initiatives are aimed at getting the right people in the right jobs at the right time. at the U.S. Naval Academy. The initiatives are broken up into sections including the Navy and Marine Corps fitness culture, uniforms, adaptive workforce and performance based advancement. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass 10. The Navy is trending toward uniforms that don't divide Communication Specialist 2nd Class Armando Gonzales/Released) Sailors as male and female, but unite them.
101 Critical Days of Summer starts Monday
By Patrick Bolton NAS Sigonella Safety Department
Memorial Day marks not only a day of reflection and honoring the country's fallen service members, but also the beginning of the "101 Critical Days of Summer," lasting from Memorial Day until Labor Day. Kids are out of school, families are out on the road for vacation and the weather supports a variety of outdoor sports. The same mix of ingredients that can lead to great memories can often lead to a significant injury if we don't appropriately manage the risks involved. Please take a step back and look at your summer plans. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FUN... As warmer weather approaches, our outdoorsy personas begin to wake from their long winter’s hibernation. In the process of reacquainting ourselves with our more adventurous open-air characters, the nearly irresistible temptation to launch into those summer activities from where we left off so many months ago is, to say the least, very alluring. But before you are enticed into believing that you and your equipment are just as they were the day you parted ways for the winter, do the Risk Management. Your equipment may need servicing to ensure it is operationally ready, and it is possible that your level of proficiency has somewhat dwindled since the last time you and your equipment were acquainted. If personal protective equipment (PPE) is required for the activity, is it still in good shape? If physical exertion is required by you, are you still in good shape? Is your equipment equipped with safeties and are those safeties still effective? Are you still 20 years of age or have you found yourself to be closer to 40? Injuring yourself for any reason is a very costly venture from a plethora of angles. There are the medical costs, time away from work, pain and recovery, unnecessary stress, guilt if your actions or lack of actions resulted in the injury of someone else, property damage…the list goes on. Take the time to assess the risks associated with your activities, no matter what they are, and implement the necessary measures to mitigate them. When driving long distances, take a 20-minute break every couple of hours and don’t drive more than 10 hours to include break time; and, that’s how you have a GREAT SUMMER! DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE! BBQ SAFETY TIPS It’s the weekend, and you’re basking in the sun on your patio. In one hand, you're holding a cool drink; and, in the other a spatula. A couple of juicy steaks are sizzling on the grill, and you’re savoring the smell of the flavorful smoke as it drifts past your nose. The last thing on your mind is safety right? According to the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, warmweather activities such as hosting a barbeque led to product-related injuries for more than 3.7 million people in a year’s time. Keep the following four safety tips in mind when using your charcoal grills: 1. Operate charcoal grills only outdoors, never inside an enclosed area. Even if you’ve grilling, and you assume all the coals are extinguished, they’re still producing carbon monoxide, so keep your charcoal grills outside at all times. 2. Don’t wear loose clothing, especially long sleeves, while grilling. 3. Charcoal grills tend to flare up, so keep a fire extinguisher handy. 4. Use charcoal lighter fluid to light new coals only; don’t use it on coals that are already lit. Water sports safety Water sports are particularly appealing when temperatures rise. However, as enjoyable as swimming, surfing, scuba diving, fishing and boating are, people still need personal risk management to keep these activities safe. There are a few crucial things to consider when being around water, so let’s explore them: • Learn to swim.
• Always wear a life jacket when in a boat and/or water skiing. • Be careful when entering or exiting the water from a boat. • Learn CPR and First Aid. • Know which local water animals may be dangerous. • When diving or snorkeling, look; but, don’t touch! • Wear sunscreen • Go with a buddy! Whether you are whitewater rafting, swimming, or snorkeling, it's important to prepare for the sport before diving in. Many sports require certification; and even if your chosen activity doesn’t, it’s still a good idea to find out more about safety before going. Overexposure to harmful UV rays over time may also cause premature skin wrinkling and aging, age spots and an increased risk of skin cancer. To prevent injury, experts advise avoiding going outdoors during midday if the sun is too intense. For those who work outside during summer months, apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 at least every two hours, and never use sunscreen that is more than one year old.
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Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is crucial to motorcycle safety. The 101 critical days of summer is when most fatalities happen. Contact Chief Logistics Specialist Dametries Holmes at dametries.holmes@eu.navy.mil for more motorcycle safety information. (Photo courtesy NAS Sigonella Safety Department)
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May 22, 2015
May 22, 2015
Direct Line
U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA Commanding Officer Capt. Chris Dennis Executive Officer Cmdr. Charles G. McKinney II Command Master Chief CMDCM Mike Kaszubowski
Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box There are two ways to submit feed back to Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Commanding Officer Capt. Chris Dennis: Visit The 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. Also, visit NAS Sigonella's website www.cnic.navy.mil/Sigonella, go to the "About" drop down menu and click on "CO Suggestion Box". The Signature will anonymously publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. If you are submitting a "BZ", we ask that you provide your name in order for us to properly recognize employee. Please make sure your comments and suggestions are constructive. In other words, "BE NICE ON ICE."
Six things to know about Spring petty officer advancement quotas From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
1. Active duty advancement opportunity across the Navy remains near our 10-year average, but due to high retention will drop slightly from last cycle in all pay grades. 2. Individual active duty ratings continue to stabilize and get "healthier" - there are no ratings with "zero" advancement and the number of ratings with "100 percent" advancement has dropped this cycle. 3. Reserve advancement opportunity for E-4, E-5 and E-6 Sailors, both SELRES and FTS, saw an increase in all pay grades. Advancement for enlisted Reserve Sailors is based on current and planned billet openings in the fleet and work hand-in-hand with the Navy's efforts to balance the force. 4. Overall active duty advancement opportunity by pay grade: - E-4 advancement opportunity decreased from 37.9 percent to 33.30 percent (-4.6 percentage points). - E-5 advancement opportunity decreased from 25.1 percent to 23.87 percent (-1.43 percentage points). - E-6 advancement opportunity decreased from 19.3 percent to 17.69 percent (-1.61 percentage points). 5. Overall Selected Reserve (SELRES) advancement opportunity by pay grade: - E-4 advancement opportunity increased from 33.45 percent to 42.3 percent (8.85 percentage points). - E-5 advancement opportunity increased from 14.44 percent to 21.59 percent (7.15 percentage points). - E-6 advancement opportunity increased from 6.2 percent to 9.74 percent (3.54 percentage points). 6. Overall Full-Time Support (FTS) advancement opportunity by pay grade: - E-4 advancement opportunity increased from 39.27 percent to 46.92 percent (7.65 percentage points). - E-5 advancement opportunity increased from 26 percent to 32.87 percent (6.87 percentage points). - E-6 advancement opportunity increased from 12 percent to 18.93 percent (6.93 percentage points).
EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Paul Newell paul.newell@eu.navy.mil Editor M. Todd Butler michael.butler@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writers \ Photographers MC1 Tony D. Curtis anthony.curtis@eu.navy.mil
Good luck to everyone who took the exam!
operating capability of the Aegis Ashore sites in Romania and Poland. It wasn’t all work. My family and I really enjoyed being part of the Sigonella community. We are all thankful for the great experiences we had and friendships we have established. Having a close-knit community enhanced our quality of life and gave us a sense of feeling at home. We will all leave here with great memories of Sigonella, Sicily and many other parts of Europe we were fortunate to visit during our two years. Command is all about focusing down, and the greatest leaders I have served with are those that possessed an unwavering commitment to quality service to the people they lead. Every single day of my command was devoted to the men and women I led across Europe and Africa. The experiences I’ve had here have been some to the most satisfying of my entire career. FLC Sigonella personnel are all over this AOR and their unique and essential support will continue to be a defining force enabler for the Warfighters operating in here. I could not be more proud of what these men and women accomplish each and every day. For when I’m 90 years old sitting on my porch in my rocking chair and someone asks me what I have done with my life. I will proudly tell them I was a Naval Officer, I worked with the finest people on the planet, and that I was the Commanding Officer of Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella. Thank you.
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Naval Supply Systems Command Sigonella Former Commanding Officer Capt. Kevin Jones Commanding an overseas Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) these past two years has proven to be one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs of my career. There are very few jobs in the Supply Corps making a greater impact by providing forward logistics to the Warfighter on a daily basis. People are my most valuable asset. FLC Sigonella is just a name and would be nothing without its crew, these dedicated professionals, officers, chief petty officers, Sailors, U.S. civilians and our Italian, Spanish and Greek local nationals making a difference every single day. Every single person plays a vital role and is responsible for carrying out the mission of supporting the Warfighter daily. These past two years the men and women of FLC Sigonella developed and executed key phases of the home-porting of the first three Forward Deployed Naval Force – Europe destroyers at Naval Station Rota. The FLC Sigonella team initiated a partnership with logisticians from Special Operations Command, Naval Special Warfare Command, and Theater Special Operations Commands to improve Navy common support to deployed SEAL Teams and Joint SOF units in both the EUCOM and AFRICOM AORs. The command also developed and executed the concepts of support to the Aegis Ashore Ballistic Missile Defense initiative by integrating NAVSUP products and service equities into the logistics concepts of operations to work towards initial
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MC3 Ramon Go ramon.go@eu.navy.mil Vanessa Ogletree v_ogletree@yahoo.com CONTACT US Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily thesig@eu.navy.mil DSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440 PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001 PUBLISHER Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity Capodichino (Naples), Italy stampagenerale@tin.it Tel. 081-568-7884 Fax 081-568-7887 This civilian enterprise (CE) newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD or Stampa Generale S.r.l., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit 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 anyanonymous 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. cnic.navy.mil/sigonella
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May 22, 2015
May 22, 2015
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Sigonella Middle/High School highlights 'Year in Review' By Lindsay King Sigonella Middle/High School
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - Graduation on June 5 will be the culminating event for the Class of 2015 for what has been an exciting final year at Sigonella Middle/High School. In the Fall, the Jaguars came together on the court and course for Boys and Girls Volleyball and Cross Country. Led by Captain Sydney Moore and Leilani Wojtal, the Girls Volleyball team had a strong showing and finished second place at the Division 3 Championship held in Kaiserslautern, Germany, Oct. 30 - Nov. 2. Boys Volleyball had a strong finish, as second overall at the Mediterranean District Champs Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, with two players named All-Region, Christian Moore and Senior Thomas Wray. Freshman Catherine Schumacher represented the Cross Country team in Baumholder, Germany. Homecoming Spirit week included Crazy Hats, PJs, Luau Day and finally the school colors were proudly displayed on Blue/Gold Day. Each class
was given an island theme to decorate their hallway, with some creative decorations, the Sophomore class was voted best! The Pep Rally on Oct. 16 pitted class against class in Powder Puff Games, complete with “Cheerleaders”, tug of war, and the announcing of this year’s Homecoming Court. The pep rally also premiered the school song, written by Ms. Lynn Soeby and performed by the Sigonella band and chorus. Homecoming Volleyball games were Oct. 17 - 18 against MMI and the Dance, Tropical Paradise was held in the Chartroom, Oct. 18, where students enjoyed Filipino food and a traditional Tahitian dance by student Maile Puerto and his sister Malia. Sydney Moore and Anthony Lastrella were named Homecoming King and Queen 2014. Another highlight of the Fall was the school-wide field trip to visit the DaVinci exhibit in Siracusa, where students didn’t let a little rain dampen a day of learning about this Renaissance man and tinkering with replicas of his ingenious machines. This year students traveled all over Europe to compete in the Arts, Sciences, Academics, Leadership, and Athletics. The DODDS Europe Language Institute (DELI) took place in October and Sigonella was represented by Nathan Freeman. During DELI, students took classes in the strategic languages, Swahili, Arabic, Mandarin, French, Italian, and Russian. Two students, Kimberly Heiser and Kisiah Chandler attended International Student Leadership Institute in Oberweisal, Germany March 2 - 6, where they sharpened their leadership skill with international students from all over Europe. Shaina Lucio, Kendra Van Wynsberghe, and Miriam Stewart showed off their best at Creative Connections Oberweisal, Nov. 17 - 21. At the Honors Music Festival, Miriam Stewart and Kendra VanWynsberghe performed in the March 26 concert in the Kurhaus in Wiesbaden, Germany. STEMposium, Science Technology Engineering and Math convention was held Dec. 7 - 12. Kimberly Robles, Junajoy Frianeza, and Sydney Baker walked away with the “Best Team” award. Academic Bowl took place in Germany, Feb. 11 13. Sigonella was represented by Junajoy and Junavy Frianeza, Nathan Freeman and Eric Wray. Model United States Senate debated in Germany the March 16 - 19. Each student represented a different U.S. Senator. Prior to attending the conference each student had to write two bills that their Senator would
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write or agree with. Students presented their bills in groups at the conference and voted whether to pass the bills. Three of the bills our students wrote made it onto the plenary list. Back at home, CHOICES, a College and Career Fair, was held where students had the chance to interview college and career representatives from around the base and proudly show off their college gear, Jan. 14. This year’s musical production was the “Wizard of Oz” starring Kendra Van Wynsberghe, Christopher Cournoyer, Bryan Birnley, Holt Lancaster, and Miriam Stewart, and who completed a cast of 81 school and community performers, which performed three shows, March 6 and 7. The School STEM expo was held Dec. 16 with 160 students participating. Seven High School students
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Need an appointment at the hospital? Call DSN 624-CARE (2273) or commercial 095-56-2273, M-F: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. For non-emergent medical questions that arise over the weekend, holidays, or after office hours, please call 335-578-8077 if you are normally seen at the hospital or 335-578-8150 if you are normally seen at the Flight Line Clinic.
attended the Joint Science and Humanities Symposium. Freshman Junajoy Frianeza won the poster presentation for all of DODEA Europe. The Band and Chorus kicked off the Holiday season with performances on the of Dec. 9 and 11. The MHS Beginning Band performed a few selections along with the Concert and Advanced Band known as the Jaguar Wind Ensemble. The Spring Band Concert, May 13, will feature all MHS Band Students. The Winter Season saw a full line up of Girls and Boys Basketball, Wrestling and Cheer. Girls Basketball took second at Champs in Weisbaden led by team Captains Senior Sydney Moore and Sophomore Kisiah Chandler who were both awarded All-Tournament and All-Region First Team. Christian Moore and Jason Berlin, lead the team to win the Championship game with a score of 43 - 40. Cheer, led by Captains Haley Lehtola and Leilani Wojtal, the team finished third at Europeans. All-Tournament honors were awarded to MacKenzie Taylor and Haley Lehtola. JROTC, Commanded by Senior Cadet Commander Junavy Frianeza, competed at Drill Competition this year at SHAPE Belgium, Feb. 28. The cadets earned several awards including First place in Unarmed Exhibition, second place best Unarmed Exhibition Commander, first place IDR, first place Armed Exhibition Commander, and third place Unarmed Regulation Commander. Commander Hankins,
came dates for Annual Military Inspection. Normally, this inspection is completed in May, but this year the cadets wowed Commander Hankins and earned an outstanding rating just two weeks after school started! This year JROTC celebrated in style at the Ball which took place at the Sigonella Inn, March 13. Basic Leadership Training (BLT) took place this year the first week of November here at Sigonella and was student lead. The day began at 5 a.m. with physical training and ended with an inspection at 6 p.m. During BLT, cadets participated in leadership presentations, practiced drill movements, proper wear of their uniforms, and learned basic rifle movements. Recently, 27 cadets were promoted in a ceremony, May 6. In the Spring, Boys and Girls Soccer took to the field, softball and baseball to the diamond, and for the first time in four years, track and field was contested. Softball, Baseball and Soccer all head to Europeans, May 20. April was Month of the Military Child, with Purple Up! On April 15, a special presentation in the Midtown theater with a video created by Mr. McCarthy’s Sociology class on the history of the Month of the Military Child and Department of Defense Dependent schools. Several students read poetry they had written about what being a military child meant to them and as an extra special treat the whole school Skyped with Carl Azuz, the CNN Student News anchor and had the opportunity to ask him questions. The final reveal was that Justin Timberlake had signed photos and sent his newest CDs for every single student. Prom, “A Night to Remember” was held at the Empire Club in Catania, May 16.
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May 22, 2015
U.S. NAVY HEADLINES May 22, 2015
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Nomination for Next Chief of Naval Operations Announced By MCC Julianne Metzger Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
Film Fest returns to Taormina June 13-20 The Taormina Film Fest returns for its 61st edition to the enchanting Greek Theater of Taormina featuring Great Cinema, master classes for young people, meetings with authors and with major players starting with the Oscar-awarded actress Patricia Arquette and Italian film director Gabriele Salvatores, to large international premieres and special events. The Taormina Film Fest will run from June 13 through 20 and will be organized by Agnus Dei with Tiziana Rocca as general manager. Among the new features, there will be the return of the international competition of films “TAO61” with a Special Jury of Young, who will vote for the best film at the Festival this by assigning the "Cariddino d'Oro" award, thanks to an agreement with AGIS School. The competition will be opened by the thriller “The Reach” by Jean-Baptiste Léonetti with Michael Douglas, Jeremy Irvine, Hanna Mangan Lawrence, Ronny Cox, Patricia Bethune, David Garver, Martin Palmer and distributed by Notorious Pictures. The artistic direction is composed by Franco Montini, Jacopo Mosca Chiara Nicoletti and Gabriele Niola. This year’s festival “Godmother” is Italian actress Asia Argento. "We are very happy that she has accepted our invitation. An actress, director, screenwriter, singer, and much more, Asia is one of the most beautiful actresses of Italian cinema known and recognized internationally. To have a woman like her, so strong and courageous, to serve as godmother at a festival that has always placed special attention on women fills us with pride,” said festival general manager Tiziana Rocca. On June 12, there will be a special preview event in Messina, where 61 years ago the event was born. The Ancient Theatre of Taormina, dug deep in the rocks, can accommodate as many as 19,000 spectators since the VII century BC: Over the past 60 years, it has welcomed some of the most significant legends of the international movie scene: Cary Grant, Russel Crowe, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Steven Spielberg, Terry Gilliam, Peter Weir, Giuseppe Tornatore, Marlene Dietrich, Meg Ryan, Robert De Niro, Tom Cruise, Alberto Sordi, Carlo Verdone, and many more. The 61st edition of Taormina Film Fest will open with the special screening, in original version with subtitles of “Inside Out,” the new 3-D Disney Pixar movie directed by Academy Award winner Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc., Up), produced by Jonas Rivera (Up) whose music was composed by Michael Giacchino. The movie will be released in America on June 19 and Sept. 16 in Italy. This new American 3-D computer-animated fantasy-comedy film’s voice cast features Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan and John Ratzenberger. The film will be set in the mind of a young girl, Riley Anderson, where five emotions—Joy, Anger, Disgust, Fear and Sadness—try to lead the girl through her life. The film will have its world premiere in May 2015 at the 68th Cannes Film Festival in an out-of-competition screening, followed by the Taormina theatrical release on June 19, 2015. The film will also premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 9, 2015 in an out-ofcompetition advanced screening. The opening night of the Festival will also be dedicated also to the other face of fashion with the "Fashion 4 Development" event, an initiative spearheaded by United Nations promoting the economic and human development in the countries of the third world through fashion. F4D’s mission is to harness the power of the fashion and beauty industries and implement creative strategies for sustainable economic growth and independence for communities worldwide through the Expression of Fashion. The event will be presented by the editor of Vogue Italy Franca Sozzani. The special events of this year, thanks to Universal Pictures International, will also include the pre-opening of the Festival on June 11 featuring the 3-D movie “Jurassic World “ by Colin Trevorrow with Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Omar Sy, Vincent D'Onofrio, Jake Johnson, Judy Greer. Besides the competition, Italy’s state film entity Istituto Luce-Cinecittà will present some fascinating documentaries selected from its historic archives. The Festival will also feature a selection of American independent films in collaboration with Variety as well as Cuban movies. There will also be a new section of TaoEdu featuring films dedicated to a young audience. Since 2012, Production Company Agnus Dei has been contributing to a new
Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter announces during a Pentagon press briefing that he has recommended Adm. John M. Richardson, left, as the next Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and Gen. Mark A. Milley as the next Chief of Staff of the Army. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathan Laird/Released)
Disney/Pixar’s 3D “Inside Out” will open the 61st edition of the Taormina Film Fest that will run from June 13 through 20 at the beautiful Greek Theater, featuring master classes, competitive event screening film previews, independent features, documentaries and more. (Photo by primissima.it)
editorial and marketing plan designed to improve the image of the Film Festival Taormina bringing back Hollywood stars to Sicily to benefit the local economy. Taormina mayor Eligio Giardina complimented, on behalf of the Messina mayor and the other Sicilian government authorities, the producer for the success in making this festival an international must-go event. The 61st edition of the festival, thanks to an agreement with the Italian Institute of Culture in Los Angeles and its director Valeria Rumori, the Italian Consulate General in LA and the ICE, will be presented in Los Angeles with a several Italian and Sicilian independent films. For more information and tickets visit, http://www.taorminafilmfest.net/
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced today during a Pentagon press briefing that he has recommended Adm. John M. Richardson as the next Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). A career submarine officer, Richardson is currently director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. If confirmed, Richardson will replace Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert who has been CNO since September 2011. Greenert will retire this fall after 40 years of naval service. "John Richardson is one of our finest officers and I have great confidence that he is the right leader for our Navy," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. Greenert also praised Richardson if confirmed, "Admiral John Richardson is an ideal strategic leader to keep our Navy moving forward," he said. "He cares about our Sailors, has the background and experience in dealing with tough challenges combined with expert judgment that will guide our Navy well," Greenert continued. "He has played a fundamental role in addressing many of our current and future challenges. I am confident he will ensure our Navy's seapower, now and in the future." Richardson, 55, hails from Petersburg, Virginia. He graduated with a degree in Physics from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. in 1982. Richardson also holds Masters Degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the National War College. As one of the Navy's top leaders, Richardson has a broadbased record as an operational commander. Richardson commanded the nuclear attack submarine USS Honolulu (SSN 718), served as a naval aide to the President of the United States, as well as numerous other assignments through his career. Richardson received the prestigious Vice Adm. James Stockdale for inspirational leadership award in 2001, among a long list of personal and unit awards. Mabus also praised Greenert, the man who has been at the helm of the Navy for the past four years as the current CNO. "Jon Greenert should be incredibly proud of the accomplishments of the U.S. Navy under his leadership," said Mabus. "Our Navy is better able to respond to the myriad of challenges around the world because of his stewardship in deploying the greatest fighting fleet the world has ever known." For biography on Adm. Richardson visit www.navy.mil/ navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=440.
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May 22, 2015
Naval Air Station Sigonella
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May 22, 2015
Community Relations 2015
NAS Sigonella volunteers clean up Catania and Belpasso schools CATANIA, Sicily - Over the past two weeks, several groups from Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, including the First Class and Second Class Petty Officer Associations’, Air Force volunteers, Naval Supply and Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47) helped preserve different schools throughout Sicily during community relations (COMREL) project. Schools included “Istituto Comprensivo Battisti”, “Istituto Comprensivo Grazia Deledda”, I.P.S.S.A.R. Istituto Alberghiero "Karol Wojtyla”, “Scuola Cavour” and “Madre Teresa Di Calcutta”. Sailors and Airmen helped to make a difference by cutting overgrown weeds, performing gardening and landscaping , cleaning up, hauling away old computer equipment, scrap and furniture to make those schools nice and safer for the Sicilian students. Volunteers also helped students to improve their English language skills through speaking activities in class that were coordinated by local teachers. Sigonella volunteers were warmly welcomed everywhere by students and their school principals who praised them for the support and for providing their kids with the opportunity to learn about the value of community service.
Sicily, Italy
Photos by Héloïse Picot and Irene Campanella
Marines help preserve Sicilian neighborhood CATANIA, Sicily - Thirty-five members from the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force for Crisis Response (SPMAGTF-CR) Africa attached to Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, carried out a community relations (COMREL) project at the track and field facility located in the city of Catania Picanello, April 24. Despite the rainy weather, Marine Chaplain Brian Salter and NAS Sigonella’s COMREL officer Alberto Lunetta gathered the group of volunteers to cut grass, removed weeds from the field, ultimately filling up more than 20 bags. The project was part of the ongoing COMREL program to strengthen ties with the local community. The Marines intervention was very meaningful to the community as the “Campo Scuola di Picanello field was left unkempt for more than a year and as a result, the athletes could not trail properly. City of Catania’s Chairman for Environment and Ecology Rosario D’Agata met with the volunteers to thank them individually, on behalf of Mayor Enzo Bianco, for their oustanding devotion to helping the community service. "We learned from the local media that the Picanello track and field stadium, one of the most popular sports facilities in Catania, needed some extraordinary and urgent maintenance and we immediately made ourselves available to the community and help out so that the young and old athletes can continue to do their training safely, "said Lunetta. Giuseppe Sciuto, Chairperson of the Catania Athletics School, thanked the Sigonella base leadership for offering the COMREL.
SPMAGTF-CR Africa give Catania Cathedral a helping hand
CATANIA, Sicily - Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response (SPMAGTF-CR) Africa are back in action to support Sicilian historic sites during a community relations (COMREL) project, March 12. About 30 Marines "landed" today (Thursday, March 12) at the Basilica Cattedrale Sant’ Agata V.M, the Cathedral of Catania, a Baroque Jewel which is the most important historic monument of the city, to carry out a volunteer project for the first time in the history of COMREL between the U.S. Armed Forces and the Sicilians. Marines worked hard for the entire morning to organize and clean up a storage space inside the Cathedral, as part of the ongoing COMREL programs supporting charities, schools, churches, parishes and municipalities across the island. They were accompanied by their leadership and the NAS Sigonella‘s COMREL officer Alberto Lunetta. Marines were welcomed by the Cathedral parish priest Monsignor Barbaro Scionti who said he was very pleased about the initiative and thanked them for “making a dream come true by reorganizing a storage area that couldn’t be used for nine years for lack of volunteers willing to sort and organize it.” Before starting the project, a group of students of the Carlo Gemmellaro High School from Catania told Marines about the basilica history and then assisted them with translation during the cleanup operations along with a group from the youth group of the Catania Ovest and Duomo 150 Rotary Clubs who also coordinated to organizing the event. Over the past few years, Marines have already contributed to the enhancement of the Sicilian historic heritage by conducting several community services cleanup projects at many historical sites across the island including the Temple of Himera in Termini Imerese, all the main archeological sites of Catania such as the medieval Ursino Castle, The Roman Theatre in piazza Stesicoro , the Odeon Greek Theatre, the Church of San Nicolò.
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May 22, 2015
Ristorante Bella Etna The Signature has established the "That's NOT What Right Looks Like" section in order to make the NAS Sigonella community aware of how the command is prosecuting improper behavior, along with the hope of deterring future bad decisions. In May, an E-3 was cited for Driving While Intoxicated; driving privilege suspended 12 months. In May, an E-6 was cited for refusing to participate in a command directed Alco-blow; driving privileges suspended 12 months.
All Hands News Bulletin
To request publication of your message, please send it to thesig@eu.navy.mil
The Navy College Office in Sigonella is hosting the Graduation Recognition Ceremony on June 11 at the NAS 1 Chapel. Eligible participants include Service members, Veterans, DOD civilians, DOD contractors and family members who earned or will earn their certificates and/or degrees (GED, Certifications, Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate) from Dec. 2014 - Dec. 2015. A reception will be held following the ceremony. Please support our graduates on this very special day. To sign up, contact NCO Director William Garcia at william.r.garcia@eu.navy.mil or UMUC representative Patrizia Tedesco at patrizia.tedesco@umuc.edu. The last day to sign up will be May 29. Religious Ministries Department - Club Beyond is hosting an opportunity to serve others in Ostrava, Czech Republic, June 21-27. For more information or reservation packets, please contact the Club Beyond Sigonella Community Director, Michael King, at mking@clubbeyond.org or the NAS 1 Chapel at 624-3975. NAS Sigonella Security wants to remind everyone that as summer approaches "Bicycle operators riding on a Navy installation roadway shall ride with the traffic, in single file, obeying traffic rules while properly wearing brightly colored, fluorescent or reflective clothing between sunset and sunrise and a bicycle helmet approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission or Snell Memorial Foundation at all times. All active duty military personnel shall wear an approved bicycle helmet on and off a Navy installation this includes our housing." Security will be patrolling and enforcing. Additionally "Skateboards, roller-skates, roller-blades, rip sticks, and other similar equipment may only be used in approved areas on Navy installations. Housing is an authorized area and so is the skate park on NAS 1 behind Midtown. Proper PPE, at a minimum head protection, shall be worn by all personnel at all times." The reference for this is the OPNAVISNT 5100.12J NAVY TRAFFIC SAFETY PROGRAM. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Security Officer, Lt. Chuck Cranston @ 6246392 or Charles.cranston@eu.navy.mil
NASSIG Worship Services
ROMAN CATHOLIC • Sunday - 9 a.m. Catholic Mass at NAS 1 Chapel • TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY 11:30 a.m. - Catholic Mass at NAS 2 Chapel Sacraments of Reconciliation / Penance precede each Mass • FRIDAY - 11:30 a.m. Catholic Mass at NAS 1 Chapel LATTER-DAY SAINTS • SUNDAY - 1:30 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel Contact: sigonellalds@gmail.com or 624-9049 JEWISH SHABBAT LAY SERVICE • FRIDAY - 5:30 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel
PROTESTANT - NAS 1 CHAPEL • Saturday - 6:30 p.m. Contemporary Worship Services • SundaY - 11 a.m. Traditional Worship; 12 p.m. Sunday School PROTESTANT / Non-Denominational - NAS 2 Chapel • SundaY - 6 p.m. NIGHT STUDY • MONDAY - AA Meetings - 5:30 p.m., second deck at NAS 1 Chapel; Thursday - 7 p.m. at NAS 2 Chapel • Tuesday - Italian Class - 7 p.m. at Classroom at NAS 1 Chapel • Tuesday - Glee Club - 12 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel • Tuesday - Awana Club - 4:45 p.m at NAS 1 Chapel
Chapel Offices: NAS 1 095-56-3975, NAS2I 095-86-9049, DSN: 624-3975, Chaplain Duty: 335-831-4493 RP Duty: 335-786-1950 NAS Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Naval Air Station Sigonella Chapel
DRIVE SAFELY SIGONELLA
BREAKFAST Mon-Fri 6:30-8 a.m. Weekend/Holiday 7 -9 a.m. LUNCH Mon-Fri 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Weekend/Holiday 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. DINNER Mon-Fri 4:30 - 6 p.m. Weekend/Holiday 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Friday, May 22 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven fried Bacon, Grilled Turkey Sausage Links Lunch: Grilled Pork Chops, Baked Fish w/ Cherry Tomatoes Speed Line: Freshly Made Pizza Dinner: Pasta Al Forno, Oven Fried Chicken Fillet Saturday, May 23 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Grilled Sausage Patties, Corned Beef Hash Brunch: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Corned Beef Hash, Roast Turkey Dinner: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Fishwich Sunday, May 24 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Grilled Turkey Sausage Links, Oven Fried Bacon Brunch: Eggs to Order, Grilled Turkey Sausage Links, Oven Fried Bacon, Roast Beef Dinner: Chicken Parmesan, Home Made Lasagna Monday, May 25 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Minced Beef on Toast Lunch: Jerked Roast Turkey, Lemon Baked Fish Speed Line: Freshly Made Pizza Dinner: Crispy Fish Sandwich, Teriyaki Chicken Breast Tuesday, May 26 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Biscuits and Gravy, Oven fried Bacon Lunch: Beef Pot Pie, Oven Baked Chicken Speed Line: Panini Bar Dinner: Chicken Fried Steak, Grilled Ham and Cheese Wednesday, May 27 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Creamed Ground Beef on Toast Lunch: Roast Pork, Oven Fried Catfish Speed Line: All American Grilled Burgers Dinner: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Crispy Chicken Sandwich Thursday, May 28 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Grilled Minute Steak Lunch: Meat Loaf, Barbecued Chicken Speed Line: Pasta Bar with choice of Freshly Made Pasta Sauce Dinner: Saulsberry Steak , Chicken Alfredo w/ Penne Pasta Friday, May 29 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven fried Bacon, Chicken Tocino on Garlic Fried Rice Lunch: Asian Pacific Heritage Lunch Speed Line: Freshly Made Pizza Dinner: Savory Baked Chicken, Chili Dog Breakfast: $3.45
Lunch: $5.55
Dinner: $4.85
As a reminder to everyone: Reminder - 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.
May 22, 2015
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May 22, 2015
MCPON, CNO Honor the 2014 Sailors of the Year
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GAME ZONE Types of Music
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy's 2014 Sailors of the Year (SOY) were meritoriously advanced to chief petty officer during a ceremony held at the Navy Memorial, May 14. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert served as guest speaker at the pinning ceremony hosted by Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens. The four Sailors of the Year honored at the ceremony are: Construction Mechanic 1st Class Jimie Bartholomew, representing U.S. Navy Reserve; Steel Worker 1st Class Brenton Heisserer, representing U.S. Navy Shore; Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Joe Mendoza representing U.S. Fleet Forces; and Logistics Specialist 1st Class Blanca Sanchez, representing U.S. Pacific Fleet. Before introducing CNO as the guest speaker, MCPON shared some history of the tradition that the Sailor of the Year program has become. "For those of you that may not be aware, The Sailor of the Year program was established in 1972 by the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Zumwalt and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Jack Whittet, to honor those who best represented the ever-growing group of dedicated professional Sailors at each command and ultimately for the entire Navy," said Stevens. "When the program began, only the Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Sailors were recognized. But within ten years, the Sailor of the Year program was expanded to include the shore establishments and Navy Reserve Sailors. I am proud to say that 43 years later we continue this proud tradition of honoring these Sailors." CNO began by thanking the SOYs for their dedication - a dedication that is now being justly rewarded. "Congratulations to our selectees I'm very proud to be here today and I'm very proud of you," said Greenert. "For those of us who are serving and nearing the twilight of our career, we wonder about the future and will people be here ready to stand up. And you represent, as you know, a whole host of Sailors who are out there who will take the mantle, and it makes us feel very good about our future in the Navy and in our military, so once again, thank you." Greenert also took a moment to remind the SOYs to be grateful for their families - 'the wind beneath their wings' and noted a shared unique characteristic of the 2014 Sailors of the Year - they are all representatives of the Navy's expeditionary community. "It shows you how our Navy is evolving - expeditionary ratings are our Sailors of the Year," said Greenert. "It's a natural progression to who we are today and [it shows] as we look out to the future, the significance of these ratings and what they do, and how all Sailors have a very important part in what we do." Before the SOYs had their anchors pinned to their collars and combination covers placed on their heads, Greenert offered a piece of advice, reminding them of the gravity of the responsibility entrusted in them as deckplate leaders. "My only advice is - you've always wondered 'will someone please listen to me?' Well let me tell you folks, they are now, said Greenert. "Everything you say." For more news from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, visit www.navy.mil/local/mcpon/.
EUROPOP EXPERIMENTAL FOLK ROCK FUNK GOSPEL GRUNGE GYPSY IRISH MAMBO MARIACHI MIDDLE EASTERN NEW AGE NEW ORLEANS
OPERA POP MUSIC PROGRESSIVE REGGAE ROCK AND ROLL SALSA SURF SWING TECHNO TRIP HOP TROPICAL URBAN ZYDECO
DIFFICULT
From Defense Media Activity
ACID JAZZ AFRICAN ALTERNATIVE BEBOP BLUES BOLLYWOOD BOSSA NOVA BRAZILIAN CELTIC CHAMBER CLASSICAL COUNTRY DOO WOP ELEVATOR
MEDIUM
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathon Greenert delivers remarks during the 2014 Sailor of the Year promotion ceremony at the Navy Memorial. Construction Mechanic 1st Class Jimie Bartholomew, representing U.S. Navy Reserve, Steel Worker 1st Class Brenton W. Heisserer, representing U.S. Navy Shore, Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Joe A. Mendoza, representing U.S. Fleet Forces, and Logistics Specialist 1st Class Blanca A. Sanchez, representing U.S. Pacific Fleet, were meritoriously advanced to chief petty officer. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric Lockwood/Released)
From U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - TRICARE and Military OneSource are co-hosting a webinar to educate TRICARE beneficiaries about using TRICARE Standard overseas. The webinar will take place on Monday, May 18, 2014 at 12:00PM EST. To sign up, go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ 2850651386520556545. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited due to system capacity. Participants must avoid sharing personal health information when asking a question. TRICARE Standard Overseas provides comprehensive coverage in all overseas areas. Costs vary based on the sponsor's military status. But beneficiaries using TRICARE Standard Overseas will pay an annual outpatient deductible and cost shares (or percentage) for covered services. The featured speaker for this event is Ms. Vonda Lawson. Ms. Lawson is a Health Program Analyst for the Defense Health Agency (DHA) for the TRICARE Overseas Program Office. Ms. Lawson has over four years’ experience as the Beneficiary Marketing and Education subject matter expert for the TRICARE Overseas Program Office. To get more information about TRICARE Overseas health care options, visit the TRICARE Standard Overseas web page on the TRICARE website.
EASY
Using TRICARE Standard Overseas
Find and circle all of the different types of music that are hidden in the grid. The remaining 15 letters spell an additional type of music.
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"SUMMER SAFETY" continued from Page 1 Live to play & Play to Live Head injuries are the #1 cause of serious injury and death to kids on wheels. What kids on wheels need to stay safe: Bicycle: • Your child is wearing a bike helmet. • The bike is not too big. Adjust seat until toes touch the ground. • The bike’s brakes are working and the tires have air the bike has a bell or horn and reflectors. Scooter: • Your child is wearing a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads. • The handlebars are the right height. They should be able to hold them without leaning forward. In-line skates: • Your child is wearing a helmet, wrist pads, elbow pads, and knee pads. • The skate size is the same as your child’s shoe size. Skateboard: • Your child is wearing a helmet, wrist pads, elbow pads, and knee pads. • If they are just learning to ride, choose a small board with small wheels. Finally, I know that we all want to be thought of as good neighbors; however, in order for that to be a reality we need to ensure that we are in compliance with the NASSIG “Good Neighbor” required guidelines when it comes to parties and outdoor fun in our neighborhood. Specifically, it's that time of year when we enjoy the company of our friends with barbeques and festivities; however, we must be mindful of the rights of our neighbors. The following is taken from NASSIG Instruction 11101.4J. COMMUNITY QUIET HOURS While living in military family housing, please be considerate towards your neighbors and maintain television sets and stereo/radio volume (including car stereos) at a reasonable level. Please keep in mind that many service members work night shifts and may need to rest during the day. If the noise can be heard from outside your quarters, it shall be considered a “disturbing noise” and you need to comply if asked to lower the volume. Also, be aware that excessive pet barking may be grounds for complaints addressable to Housing and Security. Please be respectful towards your neighbors.
Intl & foster care adoptions, home studies, post adoption services. Hague accredited agency. www.adopt-abroad.com - US 1-888-687-3644. PhD student needs your help! Please take the free survey on Enhanced Interrogation and Religion. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XL2T3BT Apartment downtown Motta (main street next to the bank and ATM machine) Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen complete, living room, laundry, air conditioning and central heating, alarm system and elevator F.M.I. Please Call. Joseph +39 342 8022 540
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May 22, 2015
It's on us to stop Sexual Assault Five things every Sailor should know about SAAPM From Defense Media Activity "It is on all of us to reject the quiet tolerance of sexual assault and to refuse to accept what's unacceptable." - President Barack Obama The President also said, "as far as we've come, the fact is that from sports leagues to pop culture to politics, our society still does not sufficiently value women. We still don't condemn sexual assault as loudly as we should. We make excuses. We look the other way. The message that sends can have a chilling effect" on young men and women. The It's On Us Campaign was initiated to generate awareness and help put an end to sexual assault across college campuses, but the message rings true across the fleet. The Department of the Navy is committed to developing a culture of gender respect, where sexual assault is never tolerated and ultimately eliminated, where all victims receive support and protection, and where offenders are held appropriately accountable. Every Sailor and Marine must know, understand, and adhere to our core values and standards of behavior to eliminate sexual assault and create a climate of dignity and respect.
May 22, 2015
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Cultural enrichment: All about the Italian Food From Fleet & Family Support Center Sigonella
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - The Italian food culture is more than what we see on Italian dinner tables or in a rich Italian restaurant. It is something much deeper in Italians' DNA. They have some beliefs that go way beyond education or tradition. Pasta An easy example could be the pasta shapes and their seasonings. When looking at dry pasta in a grocery store aisle, the only difference is the shape of it, nothing else, the shape itself is something very important for Italians. For example, there's a traditional pasta sauce recipe from Roma region called Pasta all'amatriciana, a tasty sauce made with tomatoes and bacon. Usually it's served using the bucatini pasta, a large spaghetti with a hole in the middle. An Italian woman was disgusted hearing her hairdresser telling her colleague that she preferred Amatriciana it with short pasta instead of long pasta. The woman getting her hair done interupted and said: "Don't ask me why. Amatriciana must go with long pasta. "It just is as it is." How can one imagine cooking it with short pasta?" The same goes for pasta with oil and garlic, aglio e olio; you will probably never see it served using any other pasta that isn't spaghetti. Cappuccino A lot of people around the world drink coffee with milk. In Italy, people are used to drink cappuccino only in the morning. Everywhere else around the world, cappuccinos are served any time of the day, however, Italians will never order a cappuccino in the evening! Why? "It is just as it is." Nighttime is not the right time to have a cappuc-
cino for Italians. Cappuccino is for breakfast! Italians are confused when someone asks for a cappuccino after, or even worse, together with dinner. Meals In many countries, it's common to eat a salad as an appetizer. Not in Italy. Italians eat salad as a side plate, usually accompaning the second dish. Now you can find some tourist restaurants in main cities that offer rich salads for the tourists...but Italians will never ask for them! Also, Italians have a lot of respect for their lunch time. If you are visiting Italy and want to have lunch, pay attention to restaurants' closing times. Usually after 2:30 p.m. the kitchens are all closed so the cooks can go home and enjoy their own lunch and you'll have to settle for a panini instead. When traveling, Italians only trust food from their own country. While most tourists look for food local to their destination, it's very common to see Italians looking for Italian restaurants
while abroad. While some seem to be afraid of new and different foods, others might begin to open themselves to new food when travelling outside Italy, often learning to appreciate and trust foreign cuisines. The interesting part of all of these scenarios, is that Italians don't do it to be presumptuous, but it's all based in their culture. Italian culture still has a lot of "musts" that are passed down through generations that continue tradition without knowing why it has been done in this way. As they say "It just is as it is." Ana Maria da Costa, economist and gastronomic expert, has lived in Italy since 1983 and shows Italian food culture from the inside. For more information on Italian food culture, visit All About Italian Food. For more information about other local cultural differences, contact the Fleet and Family Support Center at 624-4291.
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May 22, 2015