Honor Society
PTSD Awareness
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Presidential Visit
Induction Ceremony
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N A S SIG O N E L L A
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Vol. 34 No. 21
President Donald J. Trump Visits NAS Sigonella
President Donald J. Trump poses for a photo with the 8th grade class from Sigonella Middle School at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella after an all-hands call. These students marched during Trump’s presidential inauguration parade in January. This visit marks President Trump’s last stop of his first trip abroad since taking office. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon/Released) By MC2 Christopher Gordon NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – President Donald J. Trump visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella and held an All Hands Call with service members May 27, as part of his first visit abroad since taking office. Trump’s visit to Sigonella marks his last stop on a nine-day trip overseas, with stops in Saudi Arabia, Israel, Belgium, the Vatican and Italy. During his remarks Trump thanked the 8th grade class from Sigonella Middle School for their participation in his inaugural parade. “It’s an image I will always remember, your smiling faces right out in front the White House carrying that great big beautiful American flag— Thank you kids,” said Trump. “You traveled all the way from Italy to support my inauguration so today I’m glad to be here. I traveled a long way to support you and it’s my honor.” Trump continued with remarks focused on his trip abroad and the conclusion with the G7 Summit. He claimed it was a tremendously productive meeting where he strengthened bonds with America’s closest allies.
“I laid out our vision for economic growth and fair trade in support of good paying jobs and even great paying middle class jobs and more. I called for much greater security and cooperation in matters of terrorism, immigration and migration to protect our citizens,” said Trump. “We made extraordinary gains on this historic trip to advance the security and prosperity of the United States, our friends and our allies, and we paved the way for a new era of cooperation among the nations of the world to defeat the common enemy of terrorism and provide our children with a much more hopeful future.” This is the first time a sitting U.S. President has visited NAS Sigonella and around 900 Sailors, Marines, Airmen, Soldiers and civilians attended the historic event. “We are very excited to be able to host the President and have the opportunity to let him speak to our service members,” said Captain Brent Trickel, commanding officer of NAS Sigonella. “We work very hard here at Sigonella so it’s nice to show off to the Commander-in-Chief what we do.” Furthermore, Trump thanked every service member and civilian in the
audience for their service and pledged to always protect those who protect the American people. He continued, saying those have poured out their hearts, souls and blood for the United States will always be paid with gratitude in return. “That is why I knew I had to conclude my trip right here in Sigonella, with the dedicated service members that make our future so bright, so proud, because I’m so proud of the future we’re going to have,” said Trump. “The men and women of the United States military have been the greatest force for peace and justice in the history of the world. I want you to know that you have a commander in chief who will never ever forget you will always be remembered. I will give you my complete and unshakable support.” In closing, Trump told the story of Medal of Honor recipient John Joseph Parle and the sacrifice he made for his country. “This memorial day we remember him [Parle] and all the brave men and women like him who give their last breath in defense of our country,” continued Trump. “We honor their memory and their sacrifice and
we also hope to honor them with our deeds to prove worthy of their sacrifice—because there is no peace without those willing to bear the scars and wounds of war. There is no strength without those brave enough to protect the weak and the people that need protection. And there is no prosperity at home without those willing to shoulder our burdens overseas.” Naval Air Station Sigonella: "The Hub of the Med," is a U.S. Navy installation and an Italian Air Force base in Sicily, Italy. Just as a ship performs lines of operation that provide a capability, Navy Region EURAFSWA bases perform the same eight lines of operation to provide capability to the fleet, joint and allied forces. These eight lines of operation are: air operations, port operations, safety, security, housing, MWR, Fleet and Family Services and what is called the core: the fuels, water and power that keep the bases running. Through our lines of operation, our installations are force multipliers that maximize combat capability of operational units. For more news from Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, visit www.navy.mil/local/ cnre/.
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Direct Line
Command Master Chief Mike Kaszubowski Saluti Sigonella Congratulations to our newest First, Second, and Third Class Petty Officers! You are the core of our Navy’s work force, and you should be proud of your achievements. With each new chevron added beneath your crow, comes an increase in responsibility. By becoming a Petty Officer and or adding another chevron, each of you is doing far more than simply pinning on a higher rank. Beyond these outward signs of transformation, you are internally transforming as well. You are accepting new responsibilities and new privileges, ones that no other service grants, and ones that have been part of the Navy for a very long time. I am excited for each and every one of you and your families. A few things to think about during this glorious time: Petty Officers are leaders. Leaders are out front, setting the pace of the task and ensuring the quality and completeness of the work. Set high expectations for your team and ensure that they are met. If you ever settle for less, then you are setting the new, lower standard. You must strive to be the
undisputed subject matter experts in your field of expertise in order to train, develop and mentor. Always work to stay at the top of your technical field. Be a team builder. He or she knows it takes integrated teamwork in order to get the job done. You must develop and train your entire team to be as effective as possible, so that together the mission can be accomplished. Work on your communications. The flow of info up and down the chain of command is vital and you are the most important conduit for the flow of information. If something does not make sense, seems unsafe or is inefficient, ask the hard questions and get the necessary attention put on the problem. As a Petty Officer, know that you set the moral and ethical compass of your team. When it comes to integrity, honor, and character building, the Sailors around you will watch and emulate your attitude and your commitment. I think the NAVY’s Petty Officer Creed sums it up very well. I am a Petty Officer in the United States Navy, the strongest Navy in the world. I have the distinct privilege of being a leader of the finest Sailors any-
where. As such, I owe my Sailors leadership that they can depend on, trust, and follow. I will neither fear nor shun responsibility and I am always responsible for my actions. I am always fair and impartial when dealing with my Sailors; remembering not to accept full credit for a "A Job Well Done" without proper recognition of my Sailors first. I am loyal to my subordinates, peers, and those officers appointed over me. I cannot favor either; my integrity must be beyond reproach. I will fully support all Navy Regulations and Articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. I have the duty to correct and report all violations of these regulations that govern my Navy. I instill Esprit de Corps throughout the Petty Officer grades in the Navy; bearing allegiance to each other. I owe all of the above not to just myself, but to the United States, to my Navy, and to the Sailors who work for me.
Once again, I along with the rest of the community I am very proud of your accomplishment! As always Sigonella, Lead yourself exceptionally well, Create opportunities for others to succeed and Have a positive attitude. See you around the base.
Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box The ICE/CO Suggestion Box is for our community and Commanding Officer to discuss, with an eye toward constant improvement, how we are excelling* and how we can improve**. The community is strongly encouraged to leave contact information when submitting comments. This ensures that a response will come directly to you. The Signature and NASSIG Facebook Page typically publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. Comments/suggestions are useful when objective, constructive, and specific. ICE/CO Suggestion Box is NOT a forum for mean-spirited attacks. Anonymous comments will be published only if they benefit the greater community at large. * If you submit a "BZ" about a specific person or department, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME in order to ensure comment authenticity and therefore publicly recognize employees or organizations. ** The Commanding Officer will ensure a response to all signed comments/suggestions and the vast majority of anonymous ones but reserves the right to disregard those comments/suggestions disinterested in the spirit of the program! There are two ways to submit; go to: 1) Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) home page on a One-Net computer at: http://ice.disa.mil, All Sigonella services are found under the Navy Europe Listing in the scroll-down menu. – or – 2) NAS Sigonella's website www.cnic.navy.mil/Sigonella, go to the "About" drop down menu and click on "CO Suggestion Box".
Interactive Customer Evaluation Comment regarding “BZ for Vehicle Processing Center”:
Angela, Vincenzo and Rosaria were very helpful and professional while still being personable. I was in a bit of a time crunch and they made my vehicle shipment process quick and painless. Their customer service was refreshing considering what I've experienced on NAS 2. Sincerely, Charlene St.Clor
Response: Dear Charlene St. Clor, Thank you for your kind feedback. I am happy you had such a positive experience at the Vehicle Processing Center, and especially appreciate you taking the time to recognize Angela, Vincenzo and Rosaria. Our staff works hard to ensure all Sig’ Citizens have the same positive experience. Thanks again for your feedback. Comment regarding “Internet Speed at Marinai”
We have lived in Marinai for almost 2 years, and poor internet service has been an ongoing problem. We were patient through the upgrade last year, but now, we pay almost $100 a month and there has been no improvement in service. We cannot stream a single show, day or night, without multiple pauses for buffering. We use the internet to call family and every phone call is disrupted due to the slow internet speed. The Armed Forces Network only offers a handful of channels pushing most families towards streaming. This is the single biggest dissatisfaction being stationed in Sigonella. Please address the ongoing internet problem.
Response: Thank You for your comment regarding the internet service on Marinai. We continuously work with our Telecom Italia partners to ensure we provide the best high speed internet possible on Marinai Housing. Three weeks ago, we were able to have the bandwidth increased 250%, which has vastly improved the service. After making this increase, we tested internet within the housing complex and the speeds were consistent. If you are experiencing issues with your service, please call the Sigonella NEX Telecom Help Desk at 095-784-9191 and request a site visit from a technician to determine if there are any calibration opportunities that can be addressed. As always, we thank you for your patronage and your service. Comment regarding “Television and Equipment at Gym”
Please fix the televisions in the NAS 1 gym. The cable issue has dragged on far too long. The cardio equipment also suffers from poor maintenance. Please address these issues as it no fun to show up at the gym with no tv service and several broken machines. Response: Thank you for your feedback regarding the televisions at the NAS 1 Fitness Center. The decoders that provide AFN service to the televisions in the fitness center were no longer functioning properly so a local vendor was contracted to service them in hopes of getting them in good operating order again. In order to accomplish this requirement the contractor took them off-site to perform the repairs. Once completed, the decoders were returned to the facility and television service was restored,
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"ICE" continued from Page 2 although in a limited status as they were not all able to be fixed. Specifically, three of the six decoders were repaired whereby enabling three different AFN channels on the Fitness Center televisions. Subsequent to that initial repair work, the decoders beyond repair were replaced, and I’m happy to share with you that as of 12 May all television capability has been restored. Regarding channel options, customers may request specific channels and shows. Please direct these requests to any of the Fitness staff at the front desk. In regards to the cardio equipment in the NAS 1 Fitness Center, MWR currently has one piece of cardio equipment that is out of service, which is the Jacob's Ladder. Scheduled routine and preventative maintenance is performed on all of the cardio equipment by qualified Fitness staff as well as a contractor. If there is a piece of equipment that is in need of service, please feel free to contact the fitness center front desk at either facility. For any additional information or questions, please contact the NAS Sigonella Fitness Director, Bill Gatlin. He can be reached via email at william.gatlin@eu.navy.mil.
Comment regarding “Youth Sports Coaches”
I love all the youth sports available, but if coaches are volunteers and facilities are free, why is there a fee? Also, please ensure coaches are available and know how to coach that particular sport. Our kids are deciding if they want to continue the sport based on their MWR experience. Please train the coaches.
Response: Thank you for your comments regarding the Sigonella Youth Sports program. I appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions. First, let me address your comment about the cost associated with Youth Sports. Navy Child and Youth Programs has set a standard fee of $50.00 that is required to be used for all of major sports at Navy installations worldwide. This fee covers things such as, equipment, uniforms, officials, trophies, end of the season parties, field maintenance, etc. You are correct in saying that we do not have to pay for field usage, however there are many other hidden costs to carrying out a successful program. Secondly, I'll address your concern about coaches. The Youth Sports program is reliant on unpaid volunteer coaches to help develop the participants of a given activity. These volunteers are required to go through the National Alliance for Youth Sports coaches training program as well as a variety of local trainings conducted by
Name: Builder 2nd Class Tate Schmidt Department: Public Works Hometown: Laurel Montana
Every building on NAS Sigonella has a lock on the door, keeping what’s inside safe and secure. That security wouldn’t be available without Sailors like Builder 2nd Class Tate Schmidt. Schmidt works at the lock shop in the public works building, making locks and keys every day, as well as responding to trouble calls and doing preventative maintenance. “There’s actually a locksmith NEC, hopefully I can get it but right now I am doing on-the-job training,” said Schmidt. “At the beginning making keys was tough because you’re getting pushed
into it and you don’t really know what to do, but as it goes on you see what makes more sense.” Schmidt says his favorite part of his job is locksmith duties. He makes around five to ten keys a day, and around three to four locks. He says he’s just learning the basics, getting better at it and making things better for other people. When not at work, Schmidt likes to play video games, hangs out with his friends and volunteers when he can. “I’ve volunteered a little bit with the Second Class Petty Officer Association, we went to an orphanage and helped clean up,” said Schmidt. “It’s great to go out and volunteer your time when you can.” Additionally, Schmidt likes to stay active and plays
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the Youth Sports management staff each season. If you have more specific feedback about training needs, I encourage you to contact the Youth Sports Director, Eric Barge. Lastly, we are always looking for energetic, dedicated, and knowledgeable community members to step up and volunteer their time to help develop these children and give them an experience they can remember. If you, or someone you know is interested in volunteering, please contact Youth Sports. Thanks again for your feedback about the Youth Sports Program. If you have future or further questions, please contact the Youth Sports Director, Mr. Eric Barge at COMM 095-56-1750, DSN 624-1750 or via email at eric.barge@eu.navy.mil.
Comment regarding “Mass Notifications”:
This comment was directed to PAO as they hold the "All Hands Messages". The All Hands Messages are not designed to mass notify personnel of issues of this nature so I have a "Recommendation for Improvement.” It would appear that communications between local entities and ATHOC are not efficient. This recommendation comes as there was a road obstruction on SS192 between NAS1 and NAS2 at the railroad tracks and I first learned about this 50 minutes after the incident was taking place over Facebook. I did not receive anything from ATHOC. I assume local security reports issues, hazards and emergencies to ATHOC to get the notifications out personnel. Having a notification that personnel should utilize the other roadways due to an obstruction is a very useful notification that could be sent out over the already in place mass notification system. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Shawn Reandeau
Response: Dear Mr. Reandeau, Thank you for your comment and for allowing me the opportunity to address the mass notification system. The ATHOC system is in place primarily to notify the Sigonella Community about disaster or emergency events, such as flooding or an active shooter. It is also used during exercises that address these types of emergencies to ensure that they system is functioning properly. While the Public Affairs office does their best to notify the community of obstructions on the roads surrounding the bases and suggest alternate routes via Facebook, they do not actively monitor local traffic, therefore they can only put out what is reported to their office. The ATHOC system would not be the appropriate method to notify community members due to it being reserved for emergency messages and to it being cost prohibitive.
sports with the Public Works teams. He’s been on the ultimate frisbee team, is currently a part of the soft ball team, and is looking forward to the upcoming flag football season. Schmidt has only been stationed at Sigonella for around four months, but has enjoyed
his time here thoroughly. “It’s beautiful here, I’ve travelled around the local area and seen a little, I’m excited to see more,” said Schmidt. “I’d suggest to see what you can see, do what you can do but don’t over extend yourself because it can also be stressful.”
THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Executive Officer Cmdr. Charles G. McKinney II Command Master Chief CMDCM Mike Kaszubowski EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Andriana Genualdi andriana.genualdi@eu.navy.mil Assistant Public Affairs Officer Nicole Ybarra nicole.ybarra@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil Editor MCC Jessica Vargas Jessica.Vargas@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writer \ Photographer MC2 Christopher Gordon Christopher.Gordon@eu.navy.mil CONTACT US Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily thesig@eu.navy.mil DSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440 PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001 PUBLISHER Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity Capodichino (Naples), Italy stampagenerale@tin.it Tel. 081-568-7884 Fax 081-568-7887 This civilian enterprise (CE) newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD or Stampa Generale S.r.l., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factorof the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The Signature is published weekly by Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity, Capodichino (Naples), Italy. Tel. 081-568-7884. Fax 081-568-7887. E-mail: stampagenerale@tin.it. Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments, divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs Office via thesig@eu.navy. mil, guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered to our office no later than the close of business on the Friday proceeding the expected publication date. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers. The Signature will not publish any anonymous articles. All advertisements in this publication are the property of Stampa Generale S.r.l. Any reproduction of advertisements in The Signature is unauthorized without the written consent of the publisher.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) What it is and what you should know Center for Deployment Psychology
It is the most common psychiatric consequence of trauma exposure. Trauma may include an event in which a person is exposed to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violation, or an event in which the person witnesses first-hand such an event. Exposure to combat and military sexual trauma can be experiences that can lead to PTSD in the military population. The federal government defines military sexual trauma as “psychological trauma resulting from a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while the service member was on active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty training.” PTSD is an array of psychological and physiological reactions that are expected, normal responses to a life threat, but that persist beyond a normal period of recovery. In PTSD these persistent reactions are intense and debilitating, and continue long after the traumatizing event has ended. In this way, PTSD can be described as a disorder of non-recovery. Common reactions to trauma exposure include: reliving the traumatic experience through intrusive recollections of the trauma, trauma-related nightmares, haunting thoughts about what the experience means about oneself or others that could include self-blame or a negative view of others and the world as dangerous, emotional and physiological reactivity to reminders of the trauma, problems sleeping, loss of interest and pleasure, increased startle response, difficulty concentrating, irritability and anger, and hypervigilance in which the
person is always aware of their surroundings or scanning for danger. A key feature of PTSD is avoidance of memories and reminders of the trauma. Avoidance behaviors are credited with chronicity of the disorder because they set up a vicious cycle: Distress undermines memories [leading to] →Inaccurate interpretations → More distress → Coping by avoiding the memories and all reminders → Continued inaccurate explanations and high distress with memories. Untreated PSTD can lead to other problems. Many who find themselves “on edge,” anxious or unable to relax or sleep, may self-medicate with alcohol to take the edge off or get a better night’s sleep and develop an alcohol use problem. Some may find they also suffer from depression or sexual dysfunctions as a result of their untreated PTSD. Still others, who experience problem anger as a result of their trauma, may find themselves facing disciplinary problems at work. Fortunately PTSD can be successfully treated! Several treatment protocols have been empirically demonstrated to result in clinically significant reductions in PTSD symptoms for a majority of subjects as well as remission of PTSD for many. For most people, these improvements persist years after treatment is complete. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of PTSD list Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE), Stress Inoculation Therapy (SIT) and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as evidencebased psychotherapies for PTSD
(United States Department of Veterans Affairs (2010). VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Post-Traumatic Stress.) If you are experiencing problems re-
lated to exposure to trauma, contact your Behavioral Health Provider for help. You are not alone. http://deploymentpsych.org/disorders/ptsd-main
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Honor Society Spring Induction at Sigonella MHS Story by Allison Havard Sigonella Middle High School
The Mount Etna Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and National Honor Society (NHS) held a spring ceremony at Sigonella Middle High School (MHS) to welcome 13 of its newest members. The National Honor Society (NHS) is America’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to recognize those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. These characteristics have been associated with membership in the organization since its beginning in 1921. The five pillars of the NHS and NJHS are scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship. “In order to be inducted into the NHS, one has to be recognized for performance by mentors and then apply to become part of the society,” said Captain Daniel Hopkins, guest speaker for the ceremony. “It is not strictly an academic honor but is also meant to recognize exceptional student leaders of great character and citizens with a service centered mindset.” During the ceremony, the National Junior Honor Society poem was read by Emily Parker while the inductees participated in a candle lighting ceremony and pledged to "uphold the purpose of the National Junior Honor Society." The National Honor Society poem was read by Sophomore Alexandra McKinney as the NHS students pledged to "maintain high scholastic standing." Captain Hopkins expressed his hope for
new members and also expressed his vision that all members will inspire others through the Honor Society pillars. “It is my hope that the new and old members recognize that "to whom much is given, much is expected" or more simply, "with great power comes great responsibility,” said Hopkins. “Students can look at their NHS induction as a commencement of a future dedicated to pursuing further academic excellence, positions of greater leadership and a dedication to a lifetime of service to others. My vision is that they will inspire others to build on the NHS pillars of Scholarship, Leadership, Character and Service through example vice succumbing to the negative influences of society.” At the conclusion of the ceremony, parents and guardians pinned the newest Honor Society members with flaming torch symbols of the NJHS and NHS. Congratulations to the following academic scholars for being inducted into the National Junior Honor Society and National Honor Society. National Honor Society Inductees Jordan Barcenas Kailyn Barrera Daniel Hopkins Zacharii Stowe Ryan Waller National Junior Honor Society Inductees Sophia Edmonds Allison Havard Jeykston Jones Aspen Mays Rowan Muhoberac Kaitlyn Muzzana Martina Raco Jared Willets
Jeykston Jones and Aspen Mays, National Junior Honor Society Inductees, light candles during an Honor Society induction ceremony held at Sigonella Middle High School. (Photo by Christine Arnold)
New Members of the National Junior Honor Society pose for a group photo at a Honor Society Induction ceremony held at Sigonella Middle High School. (Photo by Christine Arnold)
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Granita Festival this Weekend in Acireale by Nivarata Press Office
Make sure you mark on your calendar for the mouthwatering 2017 edition of “Nivarata” Granita Siciliana festival running this weekend (June 2 through 4 from 10 am to 11 pm). The festival takes place in piazza Duomo, the historic center of Acireale, a beautiful historic town on the east coast of Sicily. It is easily reachable from Catania-Fontanarossa airport. With more than 100,000 recorded visitors in 2016 as well as 25,000 cups of granita produced and distributed over the festival days, Nivarata has established itself as an international food festival. The event focuses on the promotion of the Sicilian “Granita artigianale”, a traditional delicious frozen ice dessert made from water, sugar and various flavorings (almond, lemon, pistachio, strawberry, to name just a few). The top quality granitas created by the most talented master gelato makers over the three festival days have become popular and now give tourists one more reason to visit Sicily, along with its blue sea and wonderful sunny days during the bathing season. This is the first and only one of its kind in Italy, the festival has become an annual event also much waited by industry professionals on account of the variety of opportunities for economic growth resulting from Nivarata. The festival days offer a special showcase for all food professionals to display artisan confectionary products. Food tastings, meetings and live food shows in the presence of celebrated guests. The industry professionals all contribute to highlighting the genuineness of Sicilian raw ingredients and ice cream preparation techniques. Launched in 2012, our food event owes its name to Nivaroli, people from the past who, long before modern technology, used to collect and store snow from the mountains (Etna, Monti Peloritani, Iblei and Nebrodi) in order to refrigerate food and make delicious granitas. Attracting more and more visitors and quickly gaining professional acknowledgments from one year to another, the festival has been enriched with collateral events. For more information and full detailed schedules visit http://www.nivarata.it/
Commemorations for anti-mafia slain Judge Falcone held in Palermo Story by http://allaboutitaly.net/ The Italian President Sergio Mattarella last Monday remembered that anti-Mafia magistrate Giovanni Falcone was always “a stickler for the solidity of evidence” as he showed in the socalled maxi-trial that convicted dozens of Mafia bosses and earned him the death sentence issued by Mafia boss Riina. The murder was carried out on May 25, 1992 near the town of Capaci, in Sicily, with the explosion of a half-ton bomb that had been placed in a culvert under the motorway. Giovanni Falcone, his wife Francesca Morvillo and police officers Rocco Dicillo, Antonio Montinaro and Vito Schifani were killed in the blast that was so powerful to be registered on local earthquake monitors. On Wednesday commemorative marches through the Sicilian capital and dedicated programs on Italian State TV were held. Mattarella led a commemoration of Falcone by addressing 1,000 students from over all Italy, arrived in a ship called “La Nave della Legalità” (the ship of legality) in the Ucciardone prison bunker hall with Senate Speaker Pietro Grasso, the former national anti-Mafia prosecutor, Interior Minister Marco Minniti and Education Minister Valeria Fedeli. Falcone was a firm believer in the independence of the judiciary and his motto was “follow the money”. This is the investigative legacy that is still honored by the Federal Bureau of Investiation 25 years after his death. The head of legal affairs for the FBI in Italy, Kieran L. Ramsey, said to ‘Il Sole 24 Ore-ItalyEurope24’ that Falcone’s method is still relevant today: “The F.B.I. has used the Falcone method, combining it with a variety of investigative methods and tools to effectively combat all types of transnational organized crime groups. ‘Following the money’ by using powerful laws against money laundering and confiscation of assets allows the FBI to
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2017 MCPON Leadership Mess Symposium Ends By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Kurt M. Riggs, Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Public Affairs
LEESBURG, Va. (NNS) -- LEESBURG, Va. - The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Leadership Mess Symposium concluded May 26, marking the end to the mass gathering of more than 100 master chief petty officers from around the fleet. Several leadership experts from civilian industry spoke at the event, centered around the core principles of authentic, competent and courageous leadership. "There's a great exchange of information going on here this week that really encompasses the entire Navy," said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Steven S. Giordano. "All the things we talked about kind of speak to those three things, Authentic, Competent, Courageous and how we can be more effective in that regard not just as leaders, but as Sailors for our Navy, for all our Sailors and their families." Prior MCPONs Bushey (7), Hagan (8), Herdt (9) and Scott(10) attended the symposium at the request of Giordano to give historical insight and offer mentorship and guidance to the current leadership mess.
"It's been really great having them here and getting their perspective," Giordano said. "I asked the previous MCPONS to join us because there's a lot of historical value on why things are the way they are today, and you can't put a price on their perspective." During the week, the leadership mess received briefings and updates on various topics including updates on Sailor 2025, the latest information regarding enlisted leadership development and CPO 365, and various other items. "One of the purposes of this symposium is to lean forward and see what we can get at as a group of enlisted leaders in our Navy," Giordano said. "I think this is one of the best and most productive symposiums we've had in a long time." The MCPON Leadership Mess is comprised of more than 100 Master Chief Petty officers representing the highest levels of enlisted leadership in the Navy. The annual symposium offers a chance to share best practices, exchange ideas, offer feedback to leadership and forge new paths ahead for enlisted force development.
LEESBURG, Va. (May 23, 2017) Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Steven S. Giordano addresses more than 100 fleet, force, and flag-level command master chiefs in Leesburg, Va., during the annual Leadership Mess Symposium. The symposium is designed to be a forum for the Navy's top enlisted leaders to come together and discuss current issues, programs and practices from MCPON and other senior leaders. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Huey D. Younger Jr./Released)
For more information, visit www. navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.
For more news from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, visit www. navy.mil/local/mcpon/.
Rules and Availability for Navy Fitness Suit and New Women's Choker Style SDW Jacket From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
GREAT LAKES, Ill. (April 24, 2017) Recruits try on their newly issued fitness suits at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill. The blue-and-gold moisture-wicking warmup suits were adopted from the Marines version and include female sizing, half elastic leg bottoms, underarm vents and a drawstring that replaces the elastic waistband. The high performance track suit can be worn over PT gear and may be worn off duty. (U.S. Navy photo by Susan Krawczyk/Released)
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy announced Wednesday the manner of wear and availability for the new Navy Fitness Suit and women's choker style Service Dress White (SDW) jacket for chief petty officers and officers in NAVADMIN 125/17. The new fitness suit completes the Navy's Physical Training Uniform (PTU) ensemble and will be a sea bag requirement for Sailors beginning Sept. 30, 2021. It is Navy blue, fully lined and made of water repellent, moisture wicking and odor-resistant fabric, with gold color NAVY logos and trimmed with silver reflective piping. Beginning in July, the fitness suit will be available at select fleet concentration areas with Fleet-wide availability through Uniform Centers and the Navy Exchange Uniform Call Center no later than October 2017. Recruit Training Command is now issuing the fitness suit to new recruits. The suit is designed primarily for group and unit physical training activities and the semi-annual physical readiness test.
The jacket should be worn over the PTU shirt, zipped at least three quarters up and sleeve cuffs should extend beyond the wrist, but not beyond the lower knuckle of the thumb. The pants will be worn on the waist over the PTU shorts, should extend down between the shoe top and heel but not beyond the heel. The fitness suit is not authorized to be worn while in a duty status or when conducting official business on base. Optional items that can be worn with the suit include the Blue Navy or Command Ball Cap, Navy Watch Cap, and thermal undergarments. To help determine the best fit, it is recommended that Sailors review the sizing chart available at www.public. navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/uniforms/Documents/Navy_Fitness_Suit Size_Prediction_ Chart.pdf before purchasing the suit. To help maintain the fitness suit for the expected four years before requiring replacement, it should be washed and dried at a low temperature setting
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Photos by MC2 Christopher Gordon
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NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin:
CYP- SCHOOL AGE CENTER SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION
FIRST AID/CPR/AED (BLENDED LEARNING)
Command, Department or Organization: MWR/Child and Youth Programs Date of Event: May 15, 2017-August 21, 2017 Time of Event: SAC Clerk is available to receive and complete registrations between 0815-1715 Monday-Friday Location of Event: School Age Care, Building 318, NAS I Point of Contact Name: Jennifer Hodges, Ryan Krus, Ashanti Taylor Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-3712 Point of Contact Email Address: Jennifer.hodges@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: School Age Care, in partnership with Camp Adventure, will be hosting weekly Summer Camps from June 19-August 25, 2017. Youth between the ages of 5 (and who have already COMPLETED Kindergarten)-12 years old are eligible for the program. Program is available for Active Duty, DOD Civilians, Contractors, and Active Duty Reserve. Weekly fees are assessed based on Total Family Income. Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services Phone Numbers: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049, Chaplain Duty: 335-831-4493, RP Duty: 335-786-1950. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Naval Air Station Sigonella Chapel
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Mondays AA Meeting: . . . . . 1800-1900 Tuesdays Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . . . . . 0900-1100 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . 1130-1230 AWANA: . . . . . . . . . 1645-1900 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . . . . . . . 1200-1430 Wednesdays Protestant Men of the Chapel: . 0600-0700 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Catholic Ladies' Guild (3rd Wednesday): . 1600-1800 Thursdays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . 1200-1530 Choir Practice: . . . . 1630-1800 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2030 Fridays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . 1130-1230 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour: . . . . . . . . . . . . 1700-1830
Command, Department or Organization: American Red Cross Date of Event: June 17 Time of Event: 12:00pm-2:00pm Location of Event: Red Cross Classroom Bldg. 318 2nd Floor Point of Contact Name: American Red Cross Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-4900 Point of Contact Email Address: Sigonella@RedCross.Org Additional Information: CPR/AED: Learn how to respond to cardiac and breathing emergencies in adults, children and infants, including the use of automated external defibrillators (AED). First Aid: Learn how to respond to common first aid emergencies, including burns, cuts, head, neck, and back injuries. Cost: $55 Deadline to register: June 14
Weekly Traffic Report: May 22 - May 29, 2017
Saturdays First Saturday Rosary and Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Sundays Catholic Mass: . . . . 0900-1000 Catholic Religious Education (DoDDS): . . . . . . . . 1045-1200 Protestant Service: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Latter-Day Saints Service: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1330-1600
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Wednesdays Knights of Columbus (1st Wednesdays): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1700-1800 Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC): . . 1800-2100 Thursdays AA Meeting: . . . . . . 1800-1900 Sundays Protestant Service and Fellowship: . . . 1800-2000
Ristorante Bella Etna
As a reminder to everyone: There are no PTUs allowed at the Galley. Appropriate athletic gear is authorized at the discretion of the Galley staff. Please remember that for sanitation purposes and for the consideration of other customers, if you have been out for PT, been working out at the gym, or have just been engaged in any physical activity where you and or your clothing has become soiled or sweaty you will be asked to turn around.
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Keep Banned Foodstuffs out of US By Robert Szostek USEUCOM Customs PAO
WIESBADEN, Germany – Personnel shipping household goods to the U.S. this summer should be careful when packing the contents of their kitchen, agriculture officials advise. The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, issues fines of $100$1,000 to first-time offenders who ignore the strict rules that apply to sending food products stateside. “Red meats, sausages, pâtés and salami can harbor animal viruses, even if canned, and are therefore barred from import,” said Julie Aliaga-Milos, U.S. Department of Agriculture adviser to the U.S. European Command. Even pasta or soup mixes that contain dried meat are not allowed, she added. Foot-and-mouth disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) are examples of animal diseases that need to be kept out of the U.S. this way. Fresh fruits and vegetables may not be sent to the U.S. in household goods because they can contain the eggs or larvae of voracious pests. The Mediterranean fruit fly is a good example of a bug that can hide in citrus and other fruits to bypass our defenses.
However, you can ship processed fruit and vegetable products such as canned fruit, olive oil, mustard and canned or processed sauces. There are no restrictions on fish or mushrooms either, Aliaga-Milos said. Commercially produced dried herbs and spices, tea,
roasted coffee, cured cheeses, cakes, candies, cookies and roasted nuts are also okay. To find out more about importing food, plant and animal products into the United States, visit the CBP website at www.cbp.gov/ travel/international-visitors/ agricultural-items.
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GAMEZONE USA States LOUISIANA MAINE MARYLAND MASSACHUSETTS MICHIGAN MINNESOTA MISSISSIPPI MISSOURI MONTANA NEBRASKA NEVADA NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW JERSEY NEW MEXICO NEW YORK NORTH CAROLINA
NORTH DAKOTA OHIO OKLAHOMA OREGON PENNSYLVANIA RHODE ISLAND SOUTH CAROLINA SOUTH DAKOTA TENNESSEE TEXAS UTAH VERMONT VIRGINIA WASHINGTON WEST VIRGINIA WISCONSIN WYOMING
MEDIUM
ALABAMA ALASKA ARIZONA ARKANSAS CALIFORNIA COLORADO CONNECTICUT DELAWARE FLORIDA GEORGIA HAWAII IDAHO ILLINOIS INDIANA IOWA KANSAS KENTUCKY
EASY
Note: VIRGINIA and WEST VIRGINIA do not overlap. The same goes for KANSAS and ARKANSAS
DIFFICULT
Find and circle all of the USA States that are hidden in the grid. The remaining letters spell a secret message - an Adlai Stevenson quotation.
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"Judge Falcone " cont’ from Page 6 stop organized crime from having the ability to conduct and profit from illegal activities.”
Dead boy's parents and doctor indicted for only using homeopathy Story by ANSA Francesco Bonifazi, a seven-year-old boy suffering from otitis who died after being treated with homeopathy, died of encephalitis last Saturday, an autopsy said Monday. Doctors are awaiting further tests to establish the cause of the encephalitis. Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain. The majority of cases are caused by either a viral infection or the immune system mistakenly attacking brain tissue. The boy had been treated with solely homeopathic remedies for otitis and both his parents and the homeopathy doctor are under investigation in connection with his death. The case has garnered headlines with the parents' decision to stick to homeopathy criticised.
Mafia clan ran migrant center for ten years, say Italian police Story by Euronews Italian police say they recently made 68 arrests and dismantled a leading mafia clan that ran a leading reception centre for migrants for ten years, creaming off state funds. Those held after early morning raids are said to belong to the Arena clan of the ‘Ndrangheta, Italy’s most powerful organised crime group. They reportedly include a local priest and the head of a Roman Catholic association that runs the centre in Isola Capo Rizzuto. The operation follows a series of investigations by the media and the authorities. It’s thought the mafia won contracts to supply catering and other services, siphoning off millions of euros earmarked for migrants. Two years ago a magazine investigation alleged that managers at the centre were stealing funds meant for migrants and starving them. The number of people there is also said to have been greatly inflated. The authorities in the southern city of Catanzaro say those held are accused of various crimes including extortion, misappropriation of state funds and fraud.
Costa Concordia captain Schettino sentenced to 16 years in prison Story by The Telegraph Francesco Schettino, the captain of the Costa Concordia cruise ship that hit rocks off the Tuscan island of Giglio in 2012, was jailed for 16 years last Wednesday for his role in the disaster. Dubbed “Captain Coward” by the Italian media, Schettino, 54, was found guilty of multiple counts of manslaughter, abandoning ship and causing a maritime disaster. Schettino, who has not spent any time in custody apart from a few months under house arrest at his home in Meta di Sorrento, Naples, was freed pending appeal. The verdict was handed down by a panel of three judges in a court in Grosseto, Tuscany, at the culmination of a trial lasting 19 months. Schettino was not present when Giovanni Puliatti, the most senior judge, read out the verdict. Prosecutors had requested a jail term of 26 years. The disaster claimed the lives of 32 people, including a five-year old girl. Schettino steered the 950ft liner close to Giglio’s shores in a sail-past maneuver intended to impress members of his crew and provide a spectacle for passengers. The ship hit a reef, which he claimed was not marked on his nautical charts, in a collision, which tore a huge gash in its hull. As seawater flooded in, panic broke out among the 4,200 passengers and crew. By luck, the wind and sea currents pushed the Concordia towards the island, where it keeled over and partially capsized close to shore. The victims died when they were trapped in their cabins, fell into flooded lift shafts or were sucked under the ship as it collapsed on to its starboard side.
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Schettino claimed that he accidentally “tripped” and fell into a life boat which then took him to shore, a claim that made him an object of ridicule in Italy and around the world. An incredulous coastguard officer, who tried to coordinate the rescue mission, furiously told him to “get back on the board…”. Prosecutors had said there was a “tsunami of evidence” against the Neapolitan commander, whom they described as “a reckless idiot.” He had argued that no one died in the initial collision, and that the severity of the accident was compounded by a string of technical failures on board the ship. he vessel’s emergency back-up generator failed and water-tight compartment doors in the hull did not work properly. He argued that his helmsman, an Indonesian officer, failed to understand his orders immediately before and after the collision, as Capt Schettino frantically tried to save the ship. But those mitigating factors were rejected by the panel of three judges, who took seven hours to reach their decision. In a last-minute appeal to the court, Capt Schettino choked up as he said that he too had “died” as a result of the disaster. “Along with the 32 victims of the shipwreck, I died too,” he told the court in an impassioned address. Choking back tears and struggling to maintain his composure, the former commander of the Concordia claimed that he had been unjustly vilified by the media. He had been made the sole scapegoat of the disaster by the authorities and Costa Cruises, the Italian company that owned the Concordia. “My head was sacrificed to serve economic interests,” he said. “I have spent the last three years in a media meat-grinder,” he told the court, adding that his life had been ruined. His lawyer, Domenico Pepe, told the court that in the three years since the
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"Schettino" cont’ from Page 14 disaster occurred, Capt Schettino had “suffered like no other mortal”. Schettino was the only person on trial for the disaster, after Costa Cruises, a unit of the USbased Carnival Corp, paid a one million euro fine to settle and prosecutors accepted plea bargains from five other officials. He is expected to appeal the verdict, in a process that could drag on for several more years. Even if the guilty verdict is confirmed at the next judicial level, he will then have recourse to a second appeal, which would be heard by Italy’s supreme court.
Another Blue Whale case, in Ferrara, 50 suspected cases across Italy Story by ANSA Rome - Italian police say they are investigating the latest in some 50 cases of the Blue Whale suicide game after a 14-year-old girl was saved after making cuts in her forearm in Ferrara. The game, which originated in Russia, consists in taking 50 tests, the last being suicide. It is called Blue Whale because those whales are believed to commit suicide. The game starts by carving the image of a Blue Whale into your forearm.
Italian fashion designer Laura Biagiotti dies Story by La Stampa Laura Biagiotti, an Italian fashion designer who had been called “The queen of cashmere” by New York Times, died on May 26. She was 74 years old. Biagiotti suffered a heart attack in Rome. Laura Biagiotti was one of the few female stylists to conquer global markets. She was part of the generation of designers who promoted Italian fashion around the world in the 1980s. In 1988, Biagiotti became the first Italian brand to put on a fashion show in China. In 1995 it was the first to do it in the Kremlin Theater in Moscow. Laura Biagiotti’s career began in the Sixties when, following her mother’s footsteps, she began collaborating with great names of Italian fashion. Among them, Roberto Capucci and Rocco Barocco. The first Laura Biagiotti collection was exhibited in Florence at the White Room in 1972. The white colour, the doll dress style, the light and resistant knitwear were among her passions. “My cashmere is pop&rock”, she said. Her first perfume was “Rome”, launched in 1988. The fashion designer was also a collector and an art expert. In 2000, on the occasion of the Jubilee, Laura Biagiotti financed the restoration of the Cordonata Staircase, in Rome. In 2007 she made possible the recovery of the fountains of Piazza Farnese. In Venice, she financed the restoration of the curtain of Teatro La Fenice. Along with her husband, Giovanni Cigna, she collected the most important paintings by the futurist painter Giacomo Balla. The couple had a daughter, Lavinia, who is now the vice-president of the Biagiotti group. “Thanks for everything. Us, forever” Lavinia Biagiotti wrote on Twitter on Friday.
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"Fitness Suit" cont'd from Pg. 7 in home-style machines. Using the industrial shipboard or bulk laundry is not recommended. Navy Exchange Uniform and Call Centers began selling the new women's SDW coat for officers and chiefs this year. Over the next three years, the single breasted SDW coat with lapels will be phased out of the Navy's uniform inventory and replaced by the choker style SDW by Jan. 31, 2020. The new coat is fully lined with a standing collar, princess seams and six sewn-on 35-line U.S. Navy eagle gilt buttons. It's made from Certified Navy Twill polyester, features a hook and loop fastener tape with a lined tab against the neck, zippered sword slit over the left hip, two inside pockets, a hanger loop in back of neck and available loops for officer shoulder boards. Wear guidelines for the new coat will be the same as current Navy Uniform policy for service dress, dinner and full dress uniform requirements. For complete information on the new uniform items, see NAVADMIN 125/17 at www.npc.navy.mil For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www. navy.mil/local/cnp/.
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