Preparing Pets for Emergencies
Cherry Festival Kicks Off in Sant'Alfio This Weekend
PAGE 4
PAGE 7
Sigonella Students Earn Thousands in Scholarships
N A S SIG O N E L L A
PAGES 8-9
JUNE 29, 2018
Vol. 35 No. 25
Sigonella Student Named DoDEA Europe Athlete of the Year
By MC2 Christopher Gordon NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Averi Chandler, a high school freshman at Sigonella High School on Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, was named the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Europe Female Athlete of the Year for 2018. “It means a lot to me, especially because last year my sister won it and we have a friendly rivalry going on,” said Chandler. “It’s really good to catch up to her and get some of my own achievements. It really means a lot.” Not only did Averi follow in her sister Kisiah’s footsteps, who won DoDEA Europe Female Athlete of the Year for 2017, she was named MVP for volleyball, basketball and softball for all of Europe. Additionally, all three of her teams earned the Division III European championship title. No other student in the region got two MVP titles,
and no other student has ever earned three MVP titles in one year. Additionally, the MVP is almost always a junior or senior. To put it simply, Averi Chandler is the top student player of the best women’s volleyball, basketball and softball teams in the European region. Chandler’s 2017 volleyball season began with an entirely new crew, with only one returning starter and no setters with game experience. “Even as a freshman, her athletic prowess, ability to set, block, hit, and serve assisted us greatly while we worked to train setters who could free up Averi to hit,” said Michelle Chandler, Athletic Director for Sigonella High School. “Averi’s excellence at the net in volleyball is equaled by her skill driving to the hoop in basketball and her prowess behind home plate in softball.” Later in the year during the winter sports season, Chandler played as point guard, swing guard, and for-
ward, on the basketball team, giving her strong statistics in all categories of the game. “Basketball is a sport that runs in my family; my dad and mom coach it and both of my sisters played before me,” said Chandler. “It’s my favorite sport and it will probably be the one I play after high school.” Finishing off the school year, Chandler played softball as a catcher. Even though she’s only a freshman, she was among the best on the team in runs scored, hits, batting average, and runs batted in (RBIs). On top of her great athletic achievements, Chandler maintained a 3.7 GPA throughout the school year. “I heard it was going to be really hard to balance school and athletics, because you come home from practice at 5:30 and you just want to eat and go to bed,” said Chandler. “But it really wasn’t very difficult, and usually after I got home I would either do school
work or go to another sports practice out in town.” With two of their daughters achieving the top sports award in the region, it’s understandable that Chandler’s parents are thrilled. “As a father you want your children to do better than you and that’s what they’re doing,” said Darryl Chandler, Averi’s father. “There is so much opportunity for her to grow and continue to set DoDEA records. Her mother and I are very, very proud.” NAS Sigonella, “The Hub of the Med”, is a U.S. Navy installation and an Italian Air Force base in Sicily, Italy. NAS Sigonella is the Navy’s second largest security command, second only to that located at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Because of its location near the center of the Mediterranean Sea, NASSIG is well placed to support operations by the U.S. 6th Fleet, other U.S. military units, and U.S. allies and coalition partners.
THE SIGNATURE
PAGE 2
JUNE 29, 2018
Direct Line
Cmdr. Michael Jarosz, Public Works Officer Team Sigonella, Why is there a sign on one sink in the gym that says “Out of Order, PWD Trouble Ticket Submitted” from four months ago? As your Public Works Officer, I agree that this is an important question, and you deserve a good answer. Several years ago, the Chief of Naval Operations made a conscious decision to accept increased risk on shore infrastructure, transferring money from base facilities to ships, in order to ensure the most lethal warfare capability possible in a time of financial constraint. This was a decision that those of us who maintain the shore infrastructure continue to support 100%. The effectiveness of our weapons platforms, however, are directly dependent on our airfields, ports, buildings, and utility systems. We at NAVFAC and CNIC therefore continue to make every effort to build, maintain, and modernize our facilities to support our warriors and enable the Navy’s warfighting mission. In order to most effectively use the resources available, CNIC and NAV-
FAC developed a Work Classification Playbook to prioritize efforts according to mission need. In 2010 and again in 2016, CNIC sent a team to every base to meet with mission owners and formally assign a Mission Dependency Index (MDI) to each structure and utility system based on how critical each facility is to executing the mission of the base. MDIs were reviewed and approved by Installation Commanding Officers. The types of possible problems (such as a power or water outage to a building, leaking roof, or a specific safety issue) were also formally prioritized. Now when Public Works receives a trouble call, it is assigned a priority (Emergency, Urgent or Routine) based on the MDI of the facility and the type of problem reported. If identified as “Emergency”, we will respond immediately and arrest the emergency within 24 hours. Our policy is to respond to “Urgent” trouble calls within seven days and “Routine” trouble calls within 30 days. So back to the original question— why was the sign posted four months ago with no action yet taken? This is
where the Navy has shifted the risk to the shore. CNIC receives less than the total funds required annually to properly maintain our facilities. The tradeoff we make is that the PWD will perform 100% of our Emergency and Urgent service calls, but we can only complete as many of our routine service calls as funding allows. If the power is out to the gym, we are going to fix it right away, but if one sink out of five is down, we may not be able to get that done for a while. The work that we cannot do is recorded in our database and serves as justification for future projects but unfortunately, that is not the immediate response that we wish we could provide. This being said, we still have a responsibility to provide you the best service that we possibly can. We have a very strong, competent, and dedicated team that takes pride not only in our work but also in the missions we support. Please continue to work through your Building Managers to identify and report the problems you have. Your Building Managers have a direct link, not only with our Trouble Desk but also with a PWD
Zone Manager, whose job is to understand and address specific customer needs. We will do our best to take care of you and at the very least, give you a good answer as to what we can do and what we cannot. I have had this conversation in smaller forums and I greatly appreciate the understanding and patience that I have received in response. I am proud to be a leader of this team and a member of the Sigonella community. We will continue to support you and your missions in every way we can.
Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box The ICE/CO Suggestion Box is for our community and Commanding Officer to discuss, with an eye toward constant improvement, how we are excelling* and how we can improve**. The community is strongly encouraged to leave contact information when submitting comments. This ensures that a response will come directly to you. The Signature and NASSIG Facebook Page typically publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. Comments/suggestions are useful when objective, constructive, and specific. ICE/CO Sug-
gestion Box is NOT a forum for mean-spirited attacks. Anonymous comments will be published only if they benefit the greater community at large. * If you submit a "BZ" about a specific person or department, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME in order to ensure comment authenticity and therefore publicly recognize employees or organizations. ** The Commanding Officer will ensure a response to all signed comments/suggestions and the vast majority of anonymous ones but reserves the right to disregard
those comments/suggestions disinterested in the spirit of the program! There are two ways to submit; go to: 1) Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) home page on a One-Net computer at: http://ice.disa.mil, All Sigonella services are found under the Navy Europe Listing in the scroll-down menu. – or – 2) NAS Sigonella's website www.cnic.navy.mil/Sigonella, go to the "About" drop down menu and click on "CO Suggestion Box".
Interactive Customer Evaluation Comment regarding “Healthy Food Options on Base”:
We currently have numerous food options on our base, but we pretty much lack any form of healthy substitute. The commissary has a small salad bar, which is sometimes not even put out. I don't always have the time to go to drive over there, and when I can't drive to the commissary the only other option is the galley, because Big Al’s and Chock Full o Nuts might have one item between the both of them that is considered to be on the healthier side. I understand you'll read this and think, just bring a lunch if it's that big of an issue, but it's not always that easy. Will we, in the foreseeable future, have a healthier addition to our base? Thank you.
Response:
Thank you for your comment regarding healthy food options here at NAS Sigonella. Over the past 18 months, we have made a very strong effort in regard to providing healthier food options within our establishments. We understand that Taco Bell and Burger King are not the pinnacle of healthy eating, however there are Subways on both NAS 1 and NAS 2. Subway has a broad range of healthier sandwich and salad choices up to and including vegetarian offerings. In addition to Subway, there are also multiple options for healthy lunches. In the latter part of 2017, we initiated the "Fresh To Go" program at the NAS 2 Mini Mart. The Fresh To Go program is an assortment of fresh sandwiches prepared
with lean meats, as well as salads and fresh fruit. The Fresh To Go food program is prepared and delivered daily to the Mini Mart on NAS 2 to ensure the items available are of the highest quality and freshness. Additionally at the NAS 2 Mini Mart, we have changed almost our entire assortment of frozen food to now include "Evol" products which are whole grain, fresh, frozen meals ranging from breakfast to complete single serving meals. Also added are "Amy's Kitchen" organic frozen entrees in four varieties as well as both "Lean Cuisine" and "Healthy Choice" items. In addition to the Fresh to Go program and our new healthier frozen items, we now carry a Healthy Snack program focusing on lower fat and sodium snack items including veggie chips and quinoa chips. Both Big Al's and Chock Full o Nuts on NAS 2 carry fresh salads, with Big Al's also carrying roasted chicken, grilled chicken and vegetables available for lunch. As we move forward through 2018, our goal is to continue increasing the healthy options at both the restaurants on NAS 1 and NAS 2, as well as within the NAS 2 Mini Mart to give all patrons the options and ability to make choices that are consistent with their lifestyle. Thank you again for your comment, and please do not hesitate to contact the NEX General Manager, John Sisson, with any questions or suggestions on how to improve both products and services offered.
"ICE" continued on Page 3
THE SIGNATURE
JUNE 29, 2018
PAGE 3
THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
Name: Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Tony Mosley II Department: Galley Hometown: Bowie, Maryland As a standard, a typical restaurant in the States serves roughly 600 meals a day, according to a Quora poll. With only six active duty military members overseeing daily production in the galley, it takes hardworking Sailors like Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Tony Mosley II to facilitate the production of 1,300 meals a day for both U.S. and NATO service members. “At first when you think of a cook in the military it doesn’t exactly seem exciting,” said Mosley. “But everybody has to eat, and I love to eat. You get better at cooking such large quantities until eventually you perfect your craft and make really good tasting food.” Additionally, Mosley goes live on air with DJ G-White every Thursday morning from 6:00 am to 7:00 am on AFN’s 105.9 The Eagle. He talks about life and shares tips to help anyone that listens. Not only does he try to help on the radio, Mosley also started a book club on base, open to anybody that’s interested. “I started a CNO’s professional reading list book club but there weren’t a lot of people interested in those kinds of books,” said Mosley. “So we’re switching it up. Our first book we’re doing is 13 Reasons Why and we will be meeting on July
24 at Take 5 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm.” At the meeting, attendees will discuss when they will read the book, themes, familiarize themselves on the process, and discuss what the next book will be. “We started with 13 Reasons Why because it’s a very controversial book and a lot of people have different opinions about it,” said Mosley. “It will be good to see that dialogue take place and be able to talk about suicide in a different and unique kind of way.”
"ICE" continued from Page 2
Comment regarding “Galley Air Conditioner”::
It is unbelievably hard to eat when you are pouring sweat. It's summer time and its 90+ degrees outside but there is still no a/c inside the building. I understand being energy efficient, but no one on this base is going to be efficient if they can’t sit down and enjoy a meal.
Response:
Thank you for your comment. I apologize that you had an unpleasant experience due to high temperatures in the galley. During the time of your visit, the galley’s air conditioning unit had a faulty sensor which caused the entire system to shut off. Each time the system shut off, it required Public Works personnel to manually reset the unit in order to turn the air conditioner back on. The request was treated as an urgent priority issue and the faulty part was replaced as soon as possible. Again, thank you for taking the time to submit this comment, I hope your dining experience at our excellent galley has been pleasant since this problem was resolved.
Comment regarding “Gym Hours”
I attended the CO’s call on June 14 and one of the questions was if we could make the gym a 24 hour service. I thought about it more and understand the fact that funds are a major issue. My question is: if we are able to make either the NAS 1 or the NAS 2 gym a 24 hour facility, would we be able to staff the additional hours past the normal working hours with willing active duty
Outside of work and volunteering, Mosley enjoys driving around Sicily and taking in the views, traveling off island to different European countries, but mostly he likes everything related to basketball. “I would talk about basketball every single day of my life for a living if I could; I just love the game,” said Mosley. “Recently I’ve been recording, editing, and commentating on NBA games. I would like to be a basketball coach so hopefully this will propel me in that direction.”
Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Executive Officer Cmdr. Patrick J. Moran Command Master Chief CMDCM Nancy Estrada EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Andriana Genualdi andriana.genualdi@eu.navy.mil Assistant Public Affairs Officer Janine Scianna janine.scianna@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil Editor MCC Jessica Vargas Jessica.Vargas@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writer \ Photographer MC2 Christopher Gordon Christopher.Gordon@eu.navy.mil CONTACT US Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily thesig@eu.navy.mil DSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440 PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001 PUBLISHER Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity Capodichino (Naples), Italy stampagenerale@tin.it Tel. 081-568-7884 Fax 081-568-7887
members or spouses who prefer to work nights? I know there are plenty of people on the active duty side who love to be at the gym and wouldn't mind holding a position there to keep it open 24 hours—not saying a paid job, but it can be put out as volunteer hours which would work towards a sailors MVOSM or help out a spouse when their significant other works nights to keep them occupied at night with a job. With having a gym open 24 hours I think it would be beneficial to keep us Sailors within PFA standards as well as keeping people occupied and out of trouble. One other thing I would like to ask if it’s possible in some way for the Fire Department to have a some gym equipment at NAS 2 so we can be able to work out no matter the time and still respond accordingly to calls. Thank you for your time in considering my suggestions. Sincerely, Jessica Mark
Response:
Ms. Mark, Thanks for your suggestions and comments following the all hands call. We are currently working on some possible options to expand the hours of service in our fitness centers. You are correct that funding is a major issue but there are also waivers, staffing requirements, and more that are needed to successfully execute a way forward that will meet the needs of our clientele. Unfortunately, 24 hour fitness centers are not seeing high utilization numbers in the Navy right now, which makes it even more difficult to justify establishing a new one here at Sigonella. Using volunteers to staff fitness centers outside of normal hours
"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 factor of the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The Signature is published weekly by Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity, Capodichino (Naples), Italy. Tel. 081-568-7884. Fax 081-568-7887. E-mail: stampagenerale@tin.it Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments, divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs Office via thesig@eu.navy.mil, guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered to our office no later than the close of business on the Friday preceeding the expected publication date. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers. The Signature will not publish any anonymous articles. All advertisements in this publication are the property of Stampa Generale S.r.l. Any reproduction of advertisements in The Signature is unauthorized without the written consent of the publisher.
PAGE 4
THE SIGNATURE
Preparing Pets for Emergencies GM2 Joshua Neal Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
Summertime is here and most people are ready to either go on vacation or transfer to another duty station. Planning for each of these situations can be a stressful time. However, taking a few minutes out of your down time to ensure that your pets are prepared for emergencies can lighten the load of things to worry about. Let's say you go on vacation - where will your pets stay? Most people get pet sitters to check in on their pets while they’re away, but does the caretaker know what to do in the event of an emergency? Do you? Keeping things simple is something we can all agree is, if nothing else, a good starting point. When preparing for any emergency or disaster, putting together an emergency preparedness kit is essential. In the past, we've discussed all types of kits and how to prepare for different events. A separate kit for your pets is fairly similar to the ones that people use, but with a few tweaks. FEMA, Red Cross, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and the Naval Air Station (NAS) Emergency Management Department recommend including the following in pet kits: - Enough food, water, and medicine to last three days (for each pet) - Extra food and water bowls - Collapsible kennels /crates - Litter and litter box - Trash bags, gloves, and sanitary wipes - List of local veterinarians and boarding services, along with 24/7 contact information - Blanket and favorite toy(s) - Collar / harness and leash - Updated ID tags that include your name, address, and active cell phone number(s) - Important documents (proof of vaccines, microchip paperwork, medical prescriptions, registration, etc) - Pictures of you and your pet together to help provide proof they are yours in case you get separated - Pet-focused first aid supplies Keep pet and personal emergency kits in a designated safe room in your home and ensure it is stocked with fresh supplies. Check pet food and medications for expiration dates. Make sure you have kennels and food and water bowls accessible in case you need to shelter in place for a few days. If you need to evacuate, prepare to take your pet with you. Do not assume your pets will be fine on their own at
home or running free in nature. They depend on you for more than just love. Now let's say that you are on vacation, and your home needs to be evacuated. Using a "buddy system" can prove to be beneficial. Check with your neighbors or friends so they know how to get to your pets if you can’t. Make sure to let whoever is watching your pets know about this plan before you leave. That way, they will know who to contact that can care for your pets in an emergency situation, because chances are, the sitter will need to evacuate their own family and pets. Also make sure you have a plan for sheltering in place while you’re away. Let your pet sitter and your buddy-system friend know where your shelter room is and what supplies are available, as well as a list of local veterinarians and boarding services. Don’t have the list already? Stop by the NAS 1 Veterinarian Office to get a copy of the list and learn about other ways to keep your pets prepared for disaster. With a little bit of planning, you can make a big difference and keep your pets and everybody else safe. Sometimes, even with all of the available disaster preparation tools and guidance, stuff still happens. If you, your pets, or someone you know are in an emergency, call 9-1-1 or seek nearby help immediately. If calling from a DSN phone, dial 9-1-1 OR 624-1911. If calling from a cell phone or are calling from out in town, dial 095-86-1911. All three numbers will connect you with dispatchers at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), who will get you the help you need. When you call, dispatchers will ask for your location and other information. Knowing your location’s address and GPS coordinates will help the EOC send appropriate responders quickly. You are our eyes and ears in emergencies, and the better the information is that you can provide, the better the response will be. For non-emergencies, you can contact the Emergency Dispatch Center at 095-86-5225 or DSN 624-5225. We highly encourage everyone to check with their commands to verify that their contact information in NFAAS and AtHoc are up to date. This will ensure your command can get in contact with you and that you are always informed with text alerts, emails, and phone calls regarding ongoing or expected emergencies. Are you interested in learning more about emergency preparedness? Stop by the EOC at NAS II, and our staff will gladly assist with helping you prepare for a myriad of situations. You can also send an email to joshua.neal@ eu.navy.mil.
JUNE 29, 2018
JUNE 29, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
PAGE 5
Pizzarotti Hosts Recycling Day Party on Marinai by Teresa Internullo
Pizzarotti hosted the third annual “Recycling Day� party on Marinai Housing Complex June 22. The event provided an opportunity for the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Community to come together to learn recycling best practices and share ideas regarding energy conservation. Guest were treated to three hours of entertainment and food and drinks for both kids and adults. In particular, Marinai families enjoyed local food and wines, such as Cannoli, Arancini, artichoke appetizers, almonds, and lemon sweets, while also voting Chef Stefania as
the best Sicilian Chef in the first Master Chef Contest. Children challenged each other in a recycling-themed scavenger hunt organized by the Arcobaleno Baby-Sitting Service and PreSchool. Pizzarotti worked together with NAS Sigonella Housing, MWR, and U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella staff to develop activities for the event that would raise awareness about the importance of recycling and how everyone can help by properly sorting their trash at home. Events like the Pizzarotti Recycling Day help to promote a positive attitude about the challenging goal of making the Marinai housing complex a standard of excellence for an environmentally friendly housing community.
Marinai community members enjoy local food and wines at the Recycling Day event. Photo by Rocco Pappalardo.
Marinai community members pick out potted plants at the Recycling Day event. Photo by Rocco Pappalardo.
THE SIGNATURE
PAGE 6
Cherry Festival Kicks Off in Sant’Alfio This Weekend
JUNE 29, 2018
NCTS FCPOA Sailors Honored for Volunteer Projects at Catania School
Story by Alberto Lunetta
Bring the entire family and be prepared to indulge in cherries and other Sicilian specialties at the 10th edition of “La Ciliegia, Gioiello dell’Etna” (The Cherry, the Jewel of Etna), the scrumptious cherry festival traditionally held at the end of June in Sant’Alfio, a small town in the Catania Province near Giarre. This exciting two-day family event, held in a town nestled on a hill on the slopes of Etna, celebrates local cherry production. It kicks off on Saturday, June 30 in Piazza Duomo (the main square) at 9:30 a.m. with food, arts and crafts, and entertainment. In the afternoon, flag-throwers from the Motta district Casa Normanna Vecchia Matrice will stage medieval reenactment parades in the historic center at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. A concert featuring a tribute to Sicilian folk singer and songwriter Rosa Balestrieri will be held at 8:30 p.m. The second day of the festival begins Sunday, July 1 at 9:30 a.m. with the opening of the festival grounds. At 10 a.m., the Motta flag-throwers medieval parade will repeat their performance from the previous day followed by a folklore show featuring the Gravina di Catania-based Sicilian folk group Carusiddi e Picciriddi at 11:00 a.m. A country western dance show, featuring the Elianto dance group, will begin at 5:30 p.m. Later, free cherry cake will be served at 8:00 p.m., followed by a ska and reggae concert. See the full festival schedule at https://www.facebook.com/ Associazione-Culturale-Santalfiese-358590587921/. Make sure to enjoy some cherries but don’t forget that Sant’Alfio is known as La Città del Vino or the City of Wine. Over the centuries, vines grown on the fertile slopes of the Etna volcano produced a fine, strong dark wine that was appreciated by the Knights of Malta and British generals. In the 19th century, Sant’Alfio became a flourishing wine trading and distribution hub of Etna wines. Despite the ups and downs of the economic depression during the “Roaring Twenties,” the 1928 volcanic eruption, and a devastating hailstorm in 1936, Sant’Alfio’s wine production has continued to successfully attract wine experts and tourists every year, especially during the annual fall wine festival. As for other mouth-watering specialties, Sant’Alfio offers a plethora of treats such as the Paste di mandorla, pistacchio, nocciola or noce (soft biscuits made of almond, pistachio, hazelnut or walnut) as well as Etna apples, honey, and wine. Sant’Alfio is located only five miles from the from the Giarre tollbooth. If you love the countryside, but can’t do without the seaside, Sant’Alfio is your ideal destination. The origins of the village date back to the end of the 17th century, when the bishop of Catania granted a long lease to some landowners from Acireale and Catania. The first hamlets were built on these lands on the southeast side of Etna that belonged to the town of Mascali. The historic center of the village was built around the present-day main church at the beginning of the 18th century. Sant’Alfio was indeed one of the seven ‘towers’ of the Mascali County and became autonomous in 1923, separating from the town of Giarre. The name of the village has its origins in an ancient religious tradition about the Three Saint Brothers Alfio, Filadelfo, and Cirino, who belonged to a noble Spanish family. The three saints were deported to Sicily in 253 AD and martyred because of their Christian faith. According to tradition, during their journey from Taormina to Lentini, a miracle occurred as the brothers were walking through the land of Sant’Alfio. The heavy beam that was strapped to their shoulders to torture them suddenly broke away when a raging wind broke whipped through. Today, the historic center of the village hasn’t undergone significant changes: you can still walk through its ancient narrow streets and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Ionian coast, from Taormina to the Gulf of Augusta, right from the main square. The main church, dedicated to the three martyrs, dominates
"ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 14
By Alberto Lunetta/ Photo by Battisti School Press Office CATANIA, Sicily –The First Class Petty Officer Association from the U.S. Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Sicily, located at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, received a community relations volunteer award for their dedication, enthusiasm and continued commitment to the Battisti School in Catania. The award was presented during an end of the school year party held on June 7. School Principal Maria Paola Iaquinta praised the Sigonella volunteers, who adopted her school, saying their consistent volunteer support improves the lives and opportunities of the children coming from the families of the low-income San Cristoforo neighborhood where the school is located. The volunteer work conducted over the past school year consisted of cleanups, painting projects, and English language interactions.
JUNE 29, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
PAGE 7
VCNO Checks Out Latest With Ready, Relevant Learning From Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs
PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Bill Moran visited Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) to discuss developments with Ready, Relevant Learning (RRL), June 20. RRL is a pillar of the Navy's Sailor 2025 initiative, with an overarching goal to provide Sailors the right training at the right time and in the right way. The new training model will eliminate the current practice of front-loading training at the very beginning of a Sailor's career by providing incremental training, or Block Learning, across a career-long learning continuum that delivers the training closer to when a Sailor is expected to perform the specific work. "This isn't clicking through slides. With Ready Relevant Learning, our Sailors will learn the things they need to know in smaller, but effective and more frequent doses, and ultimately they will get that training right on the waterfront," Moran said. "We are already seeing success with this approach in our LCS training facilities and in some of our submarine training systems. Additionally, with modern training applications, training will be tailored to the strengths and weaknesses of each Sailor rather than having to repeat things they do well, while getting less time on things where they need practice." Almost 5,400 fleet Sailors have completed Block 0, which is initial technical training, and now the first phase of their learning continuum. The first batch of Block Learning was delivered by Naval Technical Training Center in Meridian, Mississippi, to new-accession logistics specialists in April 2017. Almost 250 Sailors are within six months of their Block 1 window, where they will gain the next level of skillsets to prepare them for the next stage of their careers, at a point where they will actually use those skills. "To most of these Sailors, this process has been relatively transparent," said Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, NETC commander. "They've completed the training that they've been assigned up to now and reported to their first operational unit with the mission-essential skills needed to succeed in their first two years aboard. What we have ongoing now is close coordination between their unit training officers and our training support centers to keep these Sailors on track to get the next block of training when they need it, anywhere from 12 to 24 months from their initial report date." Moran leads the RRL Integration Board, a senior leader forum for the commanders involved in various RRL aspects, such as strategic direction, overseeing implementation, and resourcing requirements. U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) Command, as the RRL executive agent, and the type commanders are responsible for developing training requirements. Naval Air Systems Command and Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division acquire the courses and the modernized software and hardware systems, and NETC delivers the training.
ORLANDO, Fla. Jesse Gusse, a computer engineer at Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, demonstrates advances in technology and mobile applications used for training, such as the Navy™s eHelm and mobile Virtual Interactive Shipboard Instructional Tour 3D', during a Ready, Relevant Learning (RRL) Summit. The event included presentations on the role the fleet and subject matter experts will play in determining future training requirements as well as new modernized technology and learning strategies that will be incorporated as RRL is implemented across the Navy. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Kate Meadows/Released
Cozad's team provided Moran with an overview of NETC's role in delivering converted training content and modern training systems to the fleet. Although there are examples of modernized training systems in use throughout the fleet today, that long-term strategy delivers training systems closer to the waterfront and flightlines in fleet concentration areas. "Block Learning is a transition phase that supports a continuum of career-long learning," said Cozad. "This takes us to the next phase of what we are calling 'modern delivery,' which captures all the aspects of training, whether it's the content itself or the software or hardware component, and delivers that training with the latest, easier to access, on-demand content with the best resources and tools when and where our Sailors need it." The long-term goal of RRL is to have the ability to reach back to training content and resources through a robust learning management system, while incorporating modern technology-based solutions along with more traditional delivery methods, such as instructor-led and laboratory training. During the discussion, the operations specialist (OS) rating served as an example for accelerated delivery of RRL. The OS rating has no career training continuum beyond "A" School and was entirely de-
pendent on the brick-and-mortar schoolhouse. "Up to now, training for the OS rating has been primarily through instructor-facilitated PowerPoint slides, along with some hands-on radar simulated training with the Part Task Trainer, and some computer-based simulation," said Lt. Cmdr. Roger Phelps, a member of the NETC RRL team. "What we're going to see in the very near future is the addition of interactive courseware, demonstration videos, and stepby step guides, along with newly established refresher training courses with virtual simulation that will span across the OS career continuum. The ultimate goal is to have improved training and a robust electronic resource library available to them anytime, anywhere." Even the personnel qualification standards for each rating will be modernized through RRL, moving away from the current paper-based system. Mobile, modernized content will incorporate science of learning techniques that enhance Sailor readiness. "Key to all of this is technology and looking for the next generation of training systems while thinking outside of the box," said Cozad. "Technology advancements will help transform training away from a heavy emphasis on memorizing, describing or listing
“VCNO ” continued on Page 15
PAGE 8
THE SIGNATURE
JUNE 29, 2018
Sigonella St Thousands in
Story and photos
On Tuesday, June 5, Sigonella Middle High School Principal Phyllis Fuglaar presided over the 2018 End of the Year Award and Scholarship Assembly. The 22 graduating seniors were seated on the court in front of a packed house of parents and their fellow students. Assistant Principal Richard Dye presided as the event’s Master of Ceremonies, announcing the awards for academic, sports, leadership and community service for the whole student body. He was followed by School Councilor CJ O’hanrahan, who introduced Lisa Patmor, Sigonella Community Scholarship Committee (SCSC) Event Coordinator, and Melissa Grady, All Officers Spouses Club
(AOSC) President. The AOSC awards. A huge thank you goe zations that gave scholar ating seniors: the Sigon ficer Association, Sigon
JUNE 29, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
tudents Earn n Scholarships
s by Randy Latimer
ey granted the SCSC and
es to the following organirship money to the gradunella Area Chief Petty Ofnella Travelers Lodge No.
1288, U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella Junior Enlisted Association, Second Class Petty Officer Association, Sigonella Top IV, Sigonella Nurses Association, Parent Teacher Student Organization, MSW Nurses, Sigonella Community Scholarship Council, Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella First Class Petty Officer Association, All Officers Spouses Club, and the Commissary. The hard work, dedication, and selfless giving of time and effort to raise money for these scholarships by the volunteer groups in the Sigonella Community make this a special place to live and work. Their commitment shows that these groups would do much to help our young people achieve their educational goals!
PAGE 9
THE SIGNATURE
PAGE 10
JUNE 29, 2018
NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin:
COUPLES COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP: COMMUNICATION UNDER PRESSURE
EXTENDED SUMMER LAP SWIM HOURS NAS II POOL JULY 01-AUGUST 31
Command, Department or Organization: Religious Ministries Effective Dates: 27 JUN-1 AUG Location: NAS II Chapel Point of Contact Name: Chaplain Steven Hervey Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-3975 Point of Contact Email Address: steven.hervey@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: Couples Communication Under Pressure: Do tensions ever rise with your significant other? Do these pressure filled situations ever get the best of you? Then the "Couples Communication Under Pressure" workshop is for you! Facilitated by Mr. Richard Graves, Dr. Denise Miller, and Chaplain Steven Hervey these workshops will help you learn to successfully navigate "hot button" issues, Communicate clearly and calmly, deescalate pressure filled situations, and understand how and when to revisit a discussion. Workshops available on the following dates: July 11, 18, 25, AUG 1 from 16001800 at the NAS 2 Chapel. To register or for more information contact the chapel at 624-3975.
Command, Department or Organization: MWR Effective Dates: 1 JUL - 31 AUG Location: NAS II Flight line Pool Point of Contact Name: Beth Sweely, Aquatics Manager Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-4932 Point of Contact Email Address: beth.sweely@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: In order to better serve the Sigonella community during the summer months, the NAS II pool will have special extended lap swim hours on Fridays for the months of July and August 2018. Previous pool hours: Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 0530-0800 and 1100-1300 NEW summer hours (July-August 2018): Monday and Wednesday: 0530-0800 and 1100-1300 Friday: 0530-0800 and 1100-1800 The NAS II Flight line pool is a lap swim dedicated facility for 18 and older US DoD ID card holders, LN and NATO with valid fitness memberships.
Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services NAS 1 Tuesday Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . . Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chapel Youth Middle School: . . . . . . . . . . . AWANA: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
0900-1100 1130-1200 1445-1615 1645-1900
Wednesday Protestant Men of the Chapel: . . . . . . . . . . 0600-0700 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1200 Thursday Chapel Youth High School: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1330-1500 Choir Practice: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1545-1700 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: 1800-2030
Phone Numbers: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049, Chaplain Duty: 335-831-4493, RP Duty: 335-786-1950. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Naval Air Station Sigonella Chapel
Friday Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1200 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour: . . . . . . . 1700-1830 Saturday First Saturday Rosary and Mass: . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Sunday Catholic Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Catholic Religious Education: . . . . . . . . . . Protestant Service: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
0900-1000 1045-1200 1100-1200
NAS 2 Tuesday AA: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1730-1830 Wednesday Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . . 1830-2100 Thursday Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1200
1330-1600
Weekly Traffic Report: June 18 - June 25, 2018
As a reminder to everyone: There are no PTUs allowed at the Galley. Appropriate athletic gear is authorized at the discretion of the Galley staff. Please remember that for sanitation purposes and for the consideration of other customers, if you have been out for PT, been working out at the gym, or have just been engaged in any physical activity where you and or your clothing has become soiled or sweaty you will be asked to turn around.
JUNE 29, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
THE SIGNATURE
JUNE 29, 2018
JUNE 29, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
GAMEZONE
ARCHERY ATHLETICS BADMINTON BASEBALL BASKETBALL BEACH VOLLEYBALL BOXING CANOEING CYCLING DIVING EQUESTRIANISM FENCING FOOTBALL GYMNASTICS HANDBALL HOCKEY JUDO
MODERN PENTATHLON RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS ROWING SHOOTING SOFTBALL SWIMMING SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING TABLE TENNIS TAEKWONDO TENNIS TRAMPOLINING TRIATHLON VOLLEYBALL WATER POLO WEIGHTLIFTING WRESTLING YACHTING
MEDIUM
Note: Similarly named events are hidden separately. For example, SWIMMING and SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING do not overlap.
EASY
Find and circle all of the Summer Olympic events that are hidden in the grid. The remaining letters spell a secret message.
DIFFICULT
Summer Olympics
PAGE 13
PAGE 14 "ITALIAN NEWS" continued from Page 6 the opposite side of the square. Inside this enchanting lava-stone church, there are marble altars that are embellished with precious altarpieces, one of them representing the three Patron Saints. The church is the starting point of the procession of the three Patron Saints, Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino who are celebrated every year, on the first Sunday of May. This is the village’s most important festival, blending religion and folklore. The Church also is home to a monumental organ of a great artistic value. Another noteworthy building is the Chiesa del Calvario (Church of the Calvary) dating back to the end of 1800 and situated on the top of a hill, from which visitors can enjoy the beautiful landscape. An imposing staircase made of lava stone leads to the entrance. The interior of the church is characterized by wood altars, which give evidence of the old-time craftsmen’s fine art. In the Nucifori neighbourhood, the Chiesa di Nucifori houses a bust of Our Lady of Tindari, who is venerated by locals. Besides the tour of the historic center, there are several outdoor itineraries for visitors. One is exploring the Grotta dei Ladri (Thieves Cave) located at an altitude of 1,540 meters in the Piano delle Donne area. Another is observing the Etna silver birch (Betulla Aetnensis), a typically northern plant only present at this latitude following a far-off glaciation. It can be found in the areas surrounding the Rifugio Citelli and Sartorius Mounts and the Cernita Wood near the lava flow of 1865. Sant’Alfio also boasts the most famous tree in Sicily and possibly in the world: the legendary Castagno dei Cento Cavalli (Chestnut Tree of One Hundred Horses) is thought to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old. Rooted about five miles from the Etna volcano, it has survived countless eruptions over the centuries. It is considered to be one of the biggest and oldest trees in the world. The chestnut’s trunk has a diameter of 72 feet, while the diameter of the branches is over 328 feet. Its name comes from legend—according to tradition, the 14th century Queen Giovanna I d’Angiò and her 100 knights found shelter under the branches of it during a violent storm.
THE SIGNATURE
The Festival of Two Worlds Makes its Debut in Spoleto BY ALBERTO LUNETTA The 61st “Festival of Two Worlds” international arts festival will be held from June 29 to July 15 in Spoleto, a town in central Italy in the province of Perugia. Every summer, the great arts of the stage come together in Spoleto to showcase both famous and emerging artists in opera, dance, music, and theater. This year, the festival will open with a new production of the “Minotaur.” The opera retells the story of the Minotaur, a half-man and halfbull in Greek mythology who has been imprisoned in the labyrinth on the island of Crete. The conductor of the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana is the Maestro Jonathan Webb. Another festival production is the dramatic oratorio “Jeanne d´Arc au Bûcher/Joan of Arc at the Stake” by Arthur Honegger and Paul Claudel, which closes the event in Piazza Duomo. It will feature Oscar winner Marion Cotillard as its protagonist. Jérémie Rhorer conducts the Opera, directed by Benoît Jacquot, at the head of the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana, with the Choir of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia and the Children’s Choir. Young talents from the major Italian conservatories and winners of the National Prize of Arts will perform at the noontime concerts. The Conservatory “Francesco Morlacchi” in Perugia will perform at the evening concerts. For theater, a major highlight will be the production of “The Beggar´s Opera” by John Gay and Johann Christoph Pepusch, widely thought to be one of the first musical comedies. Productions featuring choreographers Lucinda Childs, Jean-Claude Gallotta, and John Neumeier are featured in the dance portion of the festival. For ten years under the guidance of the festival’s Artistic Director, Giorgio Ferrara, the Festival of Spoleto has grown progressively to host 90,000 attendees in 2017. Many institutions, artists, cultural operators, businesses and the media have contributed to the success of this international event, and the festival represents a “can’t miss” opportunity for lovers of the arts. For more information visit http://www.festivaldispoleto.com/?lang=eng
Sigonella Elementary Hosts Summer Sendoff Story and Photo by Janine Scianna NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
Students and staff participated in their annual summer sendoff program on June 14th, the students’ last day of school. Music teacher Martha Palm orchestrated the celebration which included choreographed songs and dances with a Hawaiian theme. The school’s principal, Dale Moore, also recognized de-
parting staff Judy Shannon (guidance counselor), Lois Dent (Sure Start teacher), and Joann Moragneel (reading support specialist) for their contributions. At the end of the program, students of each grade were ceremoniously “moved up” to their rising grades. Principal Moore remarked on his pride for the school, commenting that it has been “an amazing year, like every year” at Sigonella Elementary.
Principal Moore “graduates” kindergarteners to the first grade while their parents cheer.
JUNE 29, 2018
JUNE 29, 2018 "ICE" continued from Page 3 is a proposal that is often brought up which at first glance seems like a great idea – people want to use the gym at night and there are people willing to volunteer at the gym at night. Unfortunately, there are some major issues when it comes to using volunteers at a fitness center to include training, liability, and scheduling. How do we make sure the volunteers are properly trained in both CPR and proper use of gym equipment? Who is liable if something happens to a customer (injury/death) and who is financially liable (theft/damage to equipment) with volunteer workers? A third issue with a volunteer work force is scheduling. As my wife can tell you it is very difficult to schedule a weekly volunteer work force with even the most dedicated of volunteers. As for the fitness equipment at the NAS 2 Fire Station, I am sorry to say that Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) regulations prohibit us from giving departments MWR fitness equipment unless they have already been established as an unmanned fitness center through the CNIC waiver process, CNICINST 1710.1. The NAS 2 Fire Station would most likely not qualify for one due to the fact that it is located so close to the Flight Line Fitness Center. Nevertheless, thank you for reaching out to me and providing your input. Once again, we hope we can make something happen in the future that will support our customer base with more options for fitness facilities.
"VCNO" continued from Page 7 and toward more performance-based training with application, repetition and practice." The NETC team also discussed with Moran how the latest modernized training systems are being used today in some of NETC's learning centers. Technology, such as the Multipurpose Reconfigurable Training System 3D® (MRTS 3D®), Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Immersive Virtual Ship Environment (IVSE), and Virtual Interactive Shipboard Instructional Tour 3D™ (VISIT 3D™), is giving students the opportunity to increase the number of training "reps and sets" a Sailor can perform before actually interacting with physical equipment or systems. Sailor 2025 is comprised of nearly 45 initiatives to improve and modernize personnel management and training systems to more effectively recruit, develop, manage, reward and retain the force of tomorrow. It is focused on empowering Sailors; updating policies, procedures and operating systems; and providing the right training at the right time in the right way to ensure Sailors are ready for the fleet. Sailor 2025 is organized into three main lines of effort, specifically Personnel System Modernization, Ready Relevant Learning and Career Readiness. Multipurpose Reconfigurable Training System 3D®, MRTS 3D®, and the MRTS 3D logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Navy. Virtual Interactive Shipboard Instructional Tour 3D™ and VISIT 3D™ are trademarks of the U.S. Navy.
THE SIGNATURE
PAGE 15
PAGE 16
THE SIGNATURE
JUNE 29, 2018