Language Exchange: Fostering bonds
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Sigonella Jags':
ARC Sigonella:
Sigonella makes history
Upcoming events
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March 3, 2017
Vol. 34 No. 8
Sigonella Sweeps DoDEA-Europe Division III Championships Story By sigonella basketball/cheer coaches photos by melissa o photography
WIESBADEN, Germany – As family and friends cheered from the sidelines, the Sigonella Jaguars swept the 2016-17 DoDEA-Europe Division III championships Feb. 25, garnering the small-school title in boys basketball, girls basketball and girls cheer in a DoDEA and Sigonella first. The Sigonella Jaguars boys basketball season came down to two teammates, or “buddies” as they call each other, trusting one another to make the right play at the end of the DoDEA Europe Division III championship game. Jaguars’ senior guard, Aaron Jacobs, received an inbounds pass with 10 seconds remaining as the Jaguars trailed by a point. Driving the baseline he passed up the good shot instead to give his “buddy,” junior forward Alex Ogletree, the shot. Ogletree received Jacobs’ pass at the top of the key and calmly drained a jumper with seconds to spare sending Sigonella fans into a frenzy of emotions. “We thought this would be a two-year process, as far as even making it to the champs game; but the boys grew up quickly and showed great effort once we got into the thick of the tourney schedule,” said coach Matt McKown. With four of the five starters returning next season and seven total returning players from the 2017 championship team the Jaguars’ boys basketball future looks very promising. Lady Jaguars Claw their Way to Championship Title Since 2014, the road to the DoDEA Europe Division III girls basketball championship has run through Sigonella, with the Lady Jaguars falling short in overtime losses each time, for three consecutive years. That came to an end Feb. 25 as the Lady Jaguars fought their way to a championship victory over a much favored Baumholder Buccaneer team in Wiesbaden, Germany. Sigonella’s Lady Jaguars came with one goal in mind: to win the championship. It was the final chance for seniors Kisiah Chandler and Elizabeth Camus, who have come up short each year when making it to the championship for the past three years. Chandler, who was named to the All-Tournament team, as well as Tournament Most Valuable Player said, “It’s a dream come true for us to finally break through and get that championship title in my senior year!” Sophomore Jessica Jacobs was also named to the All-Tournament team. During the four-day tournament, the Lady Jaguars played six games. Coming out of round robin play with a 3-2 record, in a three-way tie for second seed, they won the tie break over Brussels and Alconbury, which put them into the championship game versus Baumholder on Saturday. Having lost to Baumholder on Thursday by
Since 2014, the road to the DoDEA Europe Division III girls basketball championship has run through Sigonella, with the Lady Jaguars falling short in overtime losses each time, for three consecutive years. That came to an end Feb. 25 as the Lady Jaguars fought their way to a championship victory over a much favored Baumholder Buccaneer team in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Photo courtesy of Melissa O Photography)
16 points, the Lady Jaguars were not the clear favorite to take the championship. However, the team played tough under pressure and with their backs against the wall, displayed maturity, poise, grit and determination as the championship game score crept closer and closer in the latter minutes, but were able to hold on to take the championship and bring it home to Sigonella. “I’m proud of these girls for their determination and teamwork this season and to see all of their hard work finally pay off,” said coach Darryl Chandler. Michelle Chandler, assistant coach/sponsor/athletic director also said, “We couldn’t have done this without the support of our parents, teachers, administrators and our wonderful Sigonella fans!” Sigonella Cheer Squad Completes the Sweep This year's cheer squad gave all of their competitors a show-- the winning championship! The road to champs was paved with hard work as the team gradually gained confidence, stamina and patience during the season with intensive practices, drills and team bonding exercises.
Captains Korley Jones and Latatayona Jefferson led the team with spirit, professionalism and poise. "This year required a lot of work, dedication and outside time. We gave a lot of ourselves to the team so that we could become the best team possible. Each girl on the team brought something unique and our diverse characteristics helped create a winning team. We won because when the time came, we put our whole selves into it and that in itself shows how determined we were,” said Jones. From the moment the squad stepped onto the floor, they commanded the crowd's attention. Sigonella represented the largest group of fans at the cheer competition and this support motivated the squad to execute their performance with perfection. Latatoyna Jefferson and Mackenzie Taylor were recognized on the All-Tournament Cheer team while Korley Jones gained the honor of trying out for the All Europe Cheer Squad. Congratulations to the Sigonella boys / girls basketball and girls cheer teams as well as their family, friends and supporters!
Region Command Master Chief Visits with NAS Sigonella Chiefs Mess By chief mass communication specialist jessica vargas NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia Command Master Chief Gregory Vidaurri visited with the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Chief Petty Officers Mess Feb. 23 to provide training and emphasize the importance of continuous senior enlisted development. “I like to call this Chief 101 refresher training,” said Vidaurri. “I think it’s important that we train as a Chiefs Mess. We focus a lot on CPO365 Phase 1 and Phase 2. During Phase 1 we spend a lot of time training our first class petty officers, and during Phase 2 we focus on the important role Chiefs play in leading and developing our junior Sailors to lead our Navy into the future. But what I think we miss sometimes is that routine CPO Mess training.” The training session focused on CPO core values including the importance of communication and accountability. “Being a Chief is tough business; it’s not for amateurs. We are a group of professional leaders that must hold ourselves to a higher standard,” said Vidaurri. “We have to communicate to our Sailors and be accountable to ourselves and each other inside the Chiefs Mess because once we have that right, there is no stopping us.” The benefit of continuous professional development only helps makes the Chiefs Mess stronger. “I was able to reflect on the importance of communication in a finely-tuned Chiefs Mess and the impact of degra-
dation that can occur when Chiefs start to lose the cohesiveness required of us,” said Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician Bill Rhodes, Operations Department Leading Chief Petty Officer. “Sometimes we lose that tiny piece that can make us great and training gives us an opportunity to talk about that piece and its importance to making us better Chiefs, which in turn only strengthens the Mess.” Vidaurri noted that through training sessions like this
the Navy is arguably making better Chiefs than it ever has in the past. “I think our Chief Petty Officers today are in a great place,” said Vidaurri. “They are much better than I was as a young Chief because they are trained much differently than when I became a Chief Petty Officer 17 years ago. I think our Navy is set up for success and the NASSIG Chiefs Mess is going to lead that charge.”
Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia Command Master Chief Gregory Vidaurri visited with the Naval Air Station Sigonella Chief Petty Officers Mess Feb. 23 to provide training and emphasize the importance of continuous senior enlisted development. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Chief Jessica Vargas/Released)
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Direct Line
Cmdr. Deanna Carpenter, Public Works Officer This year marks the 75th Seabee birthday. With compassion for others, we build, we fight for peace with freedom. After the attack on Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entry into the war, the use of civilian labor in war zones became impractical. The need for a militarized Naval Construction Force to build advance bases in the war zone was self-evident. As a result, Rear Admiral Ben Moreell became determined to activate, organize, and man Navy construction units. This is the actual beginning of the renowned Seabees, who obtained their designation from the initial letters of Construction Battalion. Admiral Moreell personally furnished them with their official motto: Construimus, Batuimus – "We Build, We Fight." It was deemed essential that the newly established construction battalions should be commanded by officers of the Civil Engineer Corps (CEC) who were trained in the skills required for the performance of construction work. On March 19, 1942, after due deliberation, the Secretary of the Navy gave authority for officers of the CEC to exercise military authority over all officers and enlisted men assigned to construction units. The first Seabees were not raw recruits when they voluntarily enlisted (average age was 37). Emphasis in recruiting was placed on experience and skill, so all they had to do was adapt their civilian construction skills to military needs. During World War II, more than 325,000 men served with the Seabees on six continents and more than 300 islands, including in the D-Day invasion of France and the U.S. Marine Corps invasion of Tarawa. They built 111 major airstrips, 700 square blocks of warehouses, hospitals for 70,000 patients, storage tanks for 100 million gallons of gasoline and housing for 1.5 million men. Operation HUSKY, July 1943, Sicily – The beaches of Sicily had previously been considered by both the Allies
and Axis as an impossible site for a major amphibious landing. Nevertheless, with the help of the Seabees and their new pontoons, the Allies were able to carry off a surprise attack on the weakly defended Sicilian beaches. The classic pontoons were standardized in size and fitted with special tackle so that they could be quickly assembled to form causeways, piers, and other structures. CAN DO! The enemy was quickly outflanked and overpowered as large numbers of men and huge amounts of equipment poured ashore over pontoon causeways with a minimum of casualties and delay. Thus, the Seabees were instrumental in spelling the beginning of the end for the southern stronghold of the Axis. Two Seabees have been honored with commissioned ships. USS Marvin G. Shields (FF 1066) was named for Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Marvin G. Shields, the first and only Medal of Honor recipient in the Seabee community. Shields gave his life during the Battle of Dong Xoai in June 1965 while assigned to Seabee Team 1104 attached to the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. USS Stethem (DDG-63), is named for Steelworker 2nd Class Robert Stethem, who was a Navy Seabee killed by terrorists in Lebanon in June 1985. Seabees have a history here in Sigonella as well. In the 1970s they installed diesel generators, and remodeled barracks and the general mess, built an air-frame repair shop, power-check pad, ordnance magazine, enlisted man/chief petty officer club, handball court and theater. This month also commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Civil Engineer Corps, and the 175th anniversary of Naval Facilities Engineering Command.
SEABEES CAN DO! With willing hearts and skillful hands, the difficult we do at once. The impossible takes a bit longer!
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 “Housing and Paperwork Processing”:
I would like to express my frustration with the Housing Office process and how difficult my transition has been. First, once I selected a residence, it took over a month to process my lease. During the interim I stayed at the Navy Lodge and when it came time to submit for temporary lodging reimbursement (TLA), I received the runaround on how to get the form signed off correctly. I was asked for a certification of non-availability from Navy Gateway Inn and Suites. Because I did not have this form, or know that I was required to receive one, I was denied full lodging reimbursement costing me hundreds in out of pocket expenses. The NASSIGINST 7220.4k states that this form is only required for off-base lodging, not the Navy Lodge. Once I finally received my house and tried to submit for my last TLA, they refused to sign it stating that the NASSIG CO needed to sign it first, contrary to what the instruction states. Lastly, my lease states that the landlord is to pay for tank gas while I wait for the city to hook up my gas, yet the Housing Office is now telling me I must submit a bulk heating gas request and purchase over $500 worth of fuel myself. When I asked the Housing Office if I would be reimbursed, the response was "probably". The lease also stated that the residence would be unfurnished but it was still fully furnished when I moved in. I am now required to use one of the rooms for storage. Also, getting paid OHA two weeks after moving in has been costly and frustrating. Every single step has been a nightmare costing me hundreds of dollars. Instead of focusing on my job and the mission I’m wasting money and valuable time. Sincerely, Jonathan Brown
Response:
Dear Mr. Brown, thank you for bringing your experience to my attention. I am deeply sorry for the difficult transition you have experienced and appreciate your feedback as it will help to improve the process for future residents. As per NASSIGINST 7220.4K CH-1 24 Mar 16, unaccompanied members must attempt to reserve lodging with NGIS first. If NGIS does not have availability for 30 days, then
second on the priority list is the Navy Lodge. In such case, NGIS issues a certification of non-availability. If lodging is not reserved according to the priority list, full reimbursement will not be approved. I apologize you did not receive this information beforehand. The Housing Office does brief this information at command sponsor training, but we will strive to do a better job of ensuring newly arriving personnel receive this information. In regards to TLA requests requiring the CO’s signature, you are correct: if you have signed a lease in the first 30 days, the CO’s signature is not required. To address bulk heating, it is paid for by the member, however housing will help fill out the paperwork required to have MVRO turn on your gas coupons. The coupons along with utility entitlements are intended to help supplement these costs. As for furniture, the housing office can assist you in making an appointment to have it removed. Lastly, although the Housing Office helps with the required paperwork along the way, all pay and reimbursement requests are processed through the Personnel Support Detachment. Processing times can vary based on the number of requests and the time of month they are submitted. Again, I apologize for your negative experience with the Housing process thus far. For future Housing-related questions or concerns, please contact the Installation Housing Director Peter Faulk at 624-4070 or peter.faulk@eu.navy.mil.
Comment regarding “Equipment Variety”:
It would be great to have a better variety of exercise classes that active duty personnel and people who work during the day can attend. Right now, the exercise classes offered are really only convenient for people who do not work. The current times are 0900, 1130, 1630 (most service members are still working at this time). Also, there are no Saturday morning classes. Why not offer a Saturday morning spin class at 0800 at NAS 2? Or a very early morning or evening spin class on NAS 1 during the week? Oftentimes classes are canceled before they have been given appropriate time to gain attendance. They cancel a class after two weeks due to low attendance but many times it’s because of poor marketing. The community could be better served with more appropriately timed classes.
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Response:
Thank you for taking the time to raise your concerns regarding the times and variety of group exercise classes that are offered at the MWR fitness facilities. MWR fitness strives to meet the needs of their patrons to the best of their ability. As such, group exercise times and classes are based off several varying factors, a few being instructor availability, feedback from patrons, and class participation numbers. The 1130 time slot was initially put on the schedule due to requests for a 30-minute lunch time workout. The 1130 classes are currently filled mostly with active duty members. We have offered later evening classes and received feedback that 1630 was the preferred time. Upon moving the time slot up, MWR fitness reports that they received higher participation numbers than the later time. MWR fitness has offered Saturday classes in the past with often no participants showing, but they are willing to see if adding a class in the future is a possibility. MWR has kept classes on the schedule for at least two months prior to removing any classes with low participation numbers; however MWR continually strives to improve their marketing of available classes. Lastly, as an option to meet the needs of specific commands, the fitness department also offers each command two instructorled command PT's per month, pending instructor availability. For further information or additional questions, please contact the MWR Fitness Director, Mr. Bill Gatlin, who can be reached at 624-4488 (or +39-095-56-44488) or via email at fitness_sigonella@eu.navy.mil.
Comment regarding “MWR Trouble Calls”:
Since Nov. 2, 2016, I’ve placed three separate trouble call requests on an elliptical machine that has a broken television audio box. There has been no indication of any attempt to repair. Also, the hot water has gone out of service on several occasions (including today) during the past two weeks. Again, I am not sure if there is a fix or plan to repair the hot water anytime soon. I'm not sure if any attention has been applied to either situation. I will
Name: Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Christopher Smith Hometown: Grants Pass, Oregon Department: U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella At Sigonella’s Naval Hospital, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Christopher Smith works as the training department’s leading petty officer, making sure everyone has the qualifications and training necessary to do their jobs. Paperwork is a big part of his regular work day. “I run a lot of reports for training and make sure the hospital is up to speed,” said Smith. “Everyone must be properly certified and licensed. If people don’t have the training they need, they can’t practice medicine. This is especially important for the doctors and nurses, but even the corpsmen need to be up-to-date.” Smith is not new to working in training. When he was stationed with the Marines, he took over training for one of their companies after picking up E-5. In Sigonella, he’s been the hospital’s training LPO for about a year and a half. For four
say the following staff members have provided excellent professional service and attention: Raymond, Irene, Angelo and Tindy. Sincerely, Robert Gilliam
Response:
Dear Mr. Gilliam, first off, thank you for your patronage of our MWR facilities. I would like to apologize that your requests for replacement cardio theater equipment were not responded to in a timely manner. You will be happy to know that a purchase request was submitted on Jan. 10, 2017 to replace all of the cardio theater equipment that is currently not operational and they will be installed as soon as they are received. Secondly, regarding the intermittent hot water at the NAS 2 gym, there have been numerous issues over the past few weeks regarding the hot water within this facility, some scheduled and some unexpected. The hot water tank/boiler underwent some major repairs on Jan. 25 2017, which hopefully will eliminate these issues. I apologize for the inconvenience that it has caused. Thank you for the kind words expressed about some of the staff members, I will be sure to pass that along to them. If you have future or further questions, please feel free to contact the MWR Fitness Coordinator, Mr. Joshua Burkhard, who can be reached at 624-4301 (or +39-09556-4301) or via email at fitness_sigonella@eu.navy.mil.
Comment regarding “Solar Power Farm”:
I see a big push in energy conservation, and have some questions about the solar power farm that was constructed over a year ago. Is it being utilized? How much money is it saving us?
Response:
Thank you for your question. The solar power farm is indeed part of the Navy's big push to conserve energy. The amount of energy that is created varies day-to-day and is very much dependent on the weather. What I can share is that this solar farm has saved us $250K in electrical energy this past year. Together with energy-savings best practices like powering down your work station at the end of each day and turning off lights when not in use, I am confident we can garner the title of Energy Biggest Loser for the third year in a row.
of his seven years in the military he’s been in training. “I love teaching classes, especially Tactical Casualty Combat Care. That class is for our corpsmen, but we’re starting to get some masterat-arms going through it, which is really great. We also do EMT courses every quarter.” When he's not teaching, Smith helps out at indoc once a month and volunteers as the Corpsman Ball Committee’s events coordinator. He was inspired to volunteer with the committee after his first Corpsman Ball in San Diego. “Ever since that experience I’ve been a part of whatever ball committee I can get on. When I was with the Marines, I was working the Marine Corps Ball. When I’m with the Navy, I try to help with the Navy Ball. Since I’m with the hospital here, I decided to do the Corpsman Ball.” Smith has enjoyed his time in Sigonel-
la for its travel opportunities. “Amsterdam is probably the coolest city I’ve been to,” said Smith. “It ranks at the top of my list, right up there beside Seattle, which is my number one city in the world. And if you hike, hiking through the Alps is absolutely amazing.”
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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 PAO Staff Writers \ Photographers MC2 Michelle Sabangan Michelle.Sabangan@eu.navy.mil 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 handdelivered 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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Fostering Bonds through Language Exchange and Friendship By DANIELA GOODWIN
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Sigonella Middle School students enrolled in Prof. Iozzia’s Intercultural Relations class recently had the unique opportunity to participate in a day-long cultural immersion exchange hosted by Italian students at the Istituto Cavour Middle School in Catania. Students attended classes, practiced their Italian language skills, and displayed their cultural knowledge during class lectures, and question-and-answer sessions with Italian students and teachers. Students from both schools provided support and coaching to one another, which allowed everyone the chance to practice their language skills in Italian and English! “It was the best experience,” said David Goodwin. Goodwin liked the support and encouragement shown by the Italian students with their pronunciations. Following the end of class, students had some social time to interact and exchange information about both cultures, before sharing in a delicious brunch prepared by the Italian parents. The group then participated in a walking tour of downtown Catania where students visited the ruins of a Greek/Roman Amphitheater dating back to the 2nd century CE, Elephant Square, and the fish market. Damian Reandeau mentioned that seeing and listening to the history while walking around with the other school students was very fascinating. Allah Perkins was very impressed by the brunch offered by the local school. By the end of the school trip a special bond was created between students and served to emphasize how DoDEA students truly are global citizens of the world.
Sigonella Middle School students complete a language exchange with counterparts at the Istituto Cavour Middle School in Catania. Following the end of class, students had social time to interact and exchange information about both cultures, before sharing in a delicious brunch prepared by the Italian parents. (Photo courtesy of Daniela Goodwin)
Following a language exchange with students at the Istituto Cavour Middle School in Catania, the group participated in a walking tour of downtown Catania where students visited the ruins of a Greek/Roman Amphitheater dating back to the 2nd century CE, Elephant Square, and the fish market. (Photo courtesy of Daniela Goodwin)
Need an appointment at the hospital? Call DSN 624-CARE (2273) or commercial: 095-56-2273, M - F: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. For non-emergent medical questions that arise over the Weekend, Holidays, or after office hours, please call the Nurse Advice Line at 800-877-660 (local/Italy only) Need a medication refill or results from your Provider? Create an account with Relay Health using your PCM... www.relayhealth.com (click: register, patient, then add PCM)
March 3, 2017
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Military Saves Week Proclamation
NAS Sigonella commanding officer Capt. Brent Trickel participates in a cake cutting ceremony at the NAS 2 Galley Feb. 23 to commemorate Military Saves Week (February 27 - March 4, 2017). Military Saves Week is an annual opportunity for installations and organizations to promote good savings behavior and a chance for service members and their families to assess their own savings status. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon/Released)
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March 3, 2017
Starbucks Palm Trees Set on Fire in Milan's Piazza Duomo Amid 'Anti-Africanization' Protests Story by International business times
Italian police are investigating an arson incident that saw three palms recently planted in Milan's Piazza Duomo, "Duomo square," being set alight last weekend. Local security forces are examining images and videos of the burning palms, in a bid to identify the culprits. The multinational coffee chain is about to open its first store in Milan, in a former post office in the area known as Cordusio. The company announced it will open around 300 shops across Italy within the next five to six years. A spokesperson for the local police has not replied to request for a comment on the arson attack. News agency ANSA said the incident did not require the intervention of fire fighters. "Last night, someone tried to burn some palms, damaging at least one," Pierfrancesco Maran, Milan council member for city planning, green and agriculture, was quoted as saying. "It was a vile gesture and security forces are working to identify the culprits. Imbeciles always lose and Milan people will get more attached to the palms. Meanwhile, curious tourists keep taking photographs of the palms," he continued. The decision to plant the palms and banana trees was met with outrage by some Italians – including politicians – who claimed the trees would clash with the city's "traditional values." The mayor of Milan, Beppe Sala, said he was not enthusiastic about the project, but he added it was the result of a competition and thus had to be respected. However, not all share his views. Other politicians have gone so far as to claim the palms and banana trees were the result of Milan giving in to "African culture." "Palms and banana trees in Piazza Duomo? Folly. We are just missing sand and camels and then illegal migrants will feel at home," said Matteo Salvini, leader of the Lega Nord "North League" political party, in a Tweet posted on Feb. 15. Furthermore, members of his party took to the streets of Milan to protest the green initiative. Demonstrators held inflatable palms and banners reading: "No to Africanisation of Piazza Duomo." Some also handed out bananas to passers-by.
Italians Celebrate Women's Day on March 8 STORY BY ALBERTO LUNETTA
Every year on March 8th the world celebrates Women's Day. Italy's "Festa della donna" is a commemoration aimed at promoting equal rights for women and celebrating their achievements in the fields of art and science. There's a popular custom today in Italy where mimosa flowers are given to wives and girlfriends. Nearing Women's Day, you will be able to find these flowers sold on every street corner. Although ANSA reports the custom's origin as having been lost in time, some say it started in Rome following World War II when men began giving mimosas to their partners, friends, co-workers and families. According to mmdtkw.org, Ancient Rome's calendar year actually ended in February. In fact, February's Latin name, "Ferbruarius Mensis," means "month of cleansing or finishing up," which refers to preparing for the New Year. February was followed by several intercalary days - which are days added to match the calendar up with the solar year - before March 1, a day marking both the beginning of the new year and first day of spring (primo vere). One of the first springtime "festae" was held on March 8 in honor of Ariadne, a prototype for ancient Mediterranean womanhood. She was seduced by Thesius, who promised to marry her if she helped him slay the Minotaur, her father's pet. However, he betrayed her by abandoning her on the Island of Naxos. She later married Bacchus. According to tradition, the origin of Women's Day dates back to the 1911 tragedy in New York where 145 immigrant female laborers died in a sweatshop fire. They were working under terrible conditions and had been locked inside the sweatshop. When the fire broke out, they could not escape. The tragedy sparked strong public outcry, leading to strikes and protests against inhumane working conditions and low wages. A few years later, during the Conference of Socialist
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Palm trees, recently planted outside Milan’s Duomo cathedral to sponsor the opening of the first Starbucks store in Milan in 2018, were set on fire last week shortly after protests by nationalist and far right movements which complained about an alleged “Africanization” of the area. (Photo courtesy of Radio in Blu)
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SWOSU Fire Fighting Trainer Sends Through First Students By Brian Walsh Training Support Center Public Affairs
GREAT LAKES (NNS) -- Over 50 students were the first to go through the Live Fire Fighting Trainer (FFT) course at Surface Warfare Officers School Unit (SWOSU) Great Lakes, Feb. 22. The training will be delivered to over 10,800 surface accessions Sailors attending SWOSU, Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit Great Lakes, as well as staff members at the various commands across Great Lakes as they transfer back to sea duty. The first day of the course covers lessons over fire chemistry, fire party organization, portable extinguishers, protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The next day includes practical exercises with live firefighting trainer labs involving firefighting procedures to include proper hose handling and procedures in a wild hose situation. "The life of a ship and our shipmates may someday depend on the training our Sailors receive at our facility," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Eric Sanders, leading chief petty officer of damage control (DC) "A" school, SWOSU GL. "This course is designed to prepare each Sailor for qualification as a member of a shipboard damage control organization. We are very excited to be bringing the Great Lakes Firefighting Trainer back online. This will help support the fleet with basic firefighting skills for Sailors prior to reporting to their first ship or, in some cases, returning to the fleet."
Attending the firefighting course while at a Great Lakes area command will save ships countless man-hours in planning, scheduling, and sending personnel to trainers prior to arriving to the command, or after they have already arrived. "It has been a long time coming," said Cmdr. Eric Williams, commanding officer of SWOSU GL, "and there has been quite a bit of preparation from all sides for us (SWOS and SWOSU) to deliver this added
firefighting capability back into accession training and in support of fleet readiness. As commanding officer and a fleet engineer, I'm very excited not just in the project delivery, but also in the dedication, motivation, and skill of my staff. I've watched them over the past few months prepare and train vigorously internally with the goal and option being to have fun, but to 'get this right.'" FFT in Great Lakes was originally commissioned in 1996 to provide realis-
A group of students fight a fire at the new Fire Fighting Trainer at Surface Warfare Officers School Unit Great Lakes. Over 50 students took part in the two day training that will train more than 10,800 students and staff members take part in the training annually. (U.S. Navy photo by Brian Walsh/Released)
tic training for students at DC "A" school until 2002, when all accession engineering students began receiving the training. The trainer provided live firefighting training continuously until 2006, when a combination of fiscal constraints and a requirement review determined the training was met through other courses in the trainee pipeline. Subsequent increases in basic firefighting requirements created a situation where firefighting training in the fleet concentration areas were incapable of keeping up with fleet needs, ultimately resulting in a significant backlog. Discussions began in 2010 to determine the feasibility and cost associated with relighting the FFT in Great Lakes, but a plan of action was not agreed upon and placed into effect until SWOS Command; Commander, Navy Installations Command; Naval Facilities Engineering Command; and Naval Air Warfare Command, with resources from Surface Training Systems (PMS 339), hired Jacobs Engineering to scope the project and reconstruction efforts for the facility started in late 2015. "Shipboard life requires every Sailor to be a firefighter, if need be, and the training that we provide here is by far the most important training the crew of a ship can receive," Sanders said. For more information, visit www.navy. mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www. twitter.com/usnavy. For more news from Training Support Center, Great Lakes, visit www.navy.mil/local/tscgl/.
NAVADMIN Soliciting Sailors for RDC Duty Naval Service Training Command Public Affairs GREAT LAKES (NNS) -- The Navy is recruiting Sailors to become recruit division commanders (RDCs) at Recruit Training Command, the Navy's only boot camp, and Officer Training Command, as announced in the NAVADMIN 042/17 message, released Feb. 23. Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. R. P. Burke, in
A recruit division commander motivates recruits during warm-up exercises at Freedom Hall fitness center onboard Recruit Training Command (RTC). (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Seth Schaeffer/Released)
the message calls on Navy leadership to canvass their topquality enlisted personnel and encourage them to consider RDC as their next shore duty choice. The job of an RDC is not easy shore duty. The hours are long, the work is physically challenging, and strong character and personal integrity are required throughout the RDCs' work day. However, the personal reward of training and preparing Sailors for the fleet is unmatched. Burke added in the NAVADMIN message, "a strong and resilient Navy is built on the leadership put in place to develop our force. The Navy's accessions training at Officer Training Command Newport (OTC) and Recruit Training Command (RTC) are our starting points for turning civilians into Sailors by instilling the Navy's Core Values. The leaders that provide this initial training are the Recruit Division Commanders (RDC)." Training to be an RDC begins at RDC "C" school. Candidates must have passed the most recent physical fitness assessment, including the run. No optional cardiorespiratory event may be substituted. RDCs at OTC are E-7 and above, and RDCs at RTC are E-5 and above. Serving as an RDC results not only in growth as a leader, increased career advancement opportunities, and a feeling of self-fulfillment, but it also includes the following benefits: • $450 per month Special Duty Assignment Pay. • Additional annual clothing allowance of $220. • Opportunity to earn a Master Training Specialist Qualification. • In line with the American Council on Education evaluation, RDCs may earn up to 15 college credits (both upper and lower credits) towards a bachelor's degree, and choice of follow-on coast assignment.
The RDC duty at OTC and RTC each has its own unique challenges. However, with the significant numbers of RDCs needed at RTC, PERS-4 has instituted an additional sea duty credit incentive for RDCs reporting to RTC on/after Oct. 1, 2016, and who complete a 36-month RDC tour. According to NAVADMIN 042/17, interested Sailors must submit an Enlisted Personnel Action Request (NAVPERS 1306/7) requesting duty as an RDC to the appropriate rating detailer. Reference (a) contains all screening requirements and instructions for waiver submissions. All commanding officers with interested Sailors must ensure packages for prospective RDC candidates are screened thoroughly. Additional information can be found on the NPC website at http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/enlisted/detailing/shorespecialprograms/pages/default2.aspx. Screening packages must be sent via e-mail to michael.d.campbell3@navy.mil, by fax to (901)874-2646/ DSN 882, or by mail to: Commander, Navy Personnel Command, PERS 4010, 5720 Integrity Drive, Millington, TN 38055-4000. For more news on the Navy's only boot camp, visit http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil. For more information on OTC and OCS, visit http:// www.ocs.navy.mil/. For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy. For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/greatlakes/, http:// www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or http://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/.
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Sigonella Boys Basketball:
Coaches: Matt McKown - James Martin Players: Aaron Jacobs - Kylen Jones - Deandre Peters Daniel Hopkins - Kevin Swisshelm - Connor Smithgall Sean Solano - Alex Ogletree - Zacharii Stowe Keith Guy - Cameron Camus - David Clark saac Griswold - Izen Marigundon - Kyman Murraine
Sigonella Girls Basketball:
Coaches: Darryl Chandler - Michelle Chandler - Jered Miller Players: Hanna Barnes - Elizabeth Camus - Kisiah Chandler Gwena Dye - Emily Havard - Jessica Jacobs Marie Legreid - Nailah Nguyen - Samanthan Sanders Cecilia Warren - Kristiana Wyrick - Carson Morrison
Sigonella Girls Cheer: Coaches: Veronica Figueroa - Allie Brouwere Cheerleaders: Denise Heredia - Carsyn Blair - Mackenzie Taylor - Latatayona Jefferson Korley Jones - Aaliyah Rawlings - Jessenia Diaz - Alexandra McKinney Miriam Stewart - Angel Ewing - Shaina Lucio - Aiyana Simpson
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NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE VEHICLE SAFETY TIPS
All Hands News Bulletin:
YOUTH BASEBALL COACHES NEEDED
Command, Department or Organization: Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Point of Contact Name: Inv. Christopher Knight Point of Contact Phone Number: +39-366-638-7196 Point of Contact Email Address: Christopher.knight@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: NASSIG CRIME PREVENTION NOTE: Since 04 January 2017 there have been 17 reported vehicles that have been broken into with the biggest amount being in Motta S. Anastasia/Belpasso area. If you are a victim, report the break in to Security. You will also be asked to file a denuncia with the local Carabinieri station so that the matter can be investigated further. All residents are being asked to write down the serial numbers of your gas coupons, which is a large majority of what is being stolen. When the gas coupons are used at a gas station, they may be able to be tracked to what gas station they are being used at and from there Carabinieri can obtain surveillance footage from the gas station.
Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services
Command, Department or Organization: MWR Date of Event: 17 APR 2017 Location of Event: Marinai and NAS 1 Point of Contact Name: Eric Barge Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-1750 Point of Contact Email Address: eric.barge@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: MWR Youth Sports is looking for energetic, dedicated, and knowledgeable volunteers to coach youth baseball teams during the upcoming season. The season will run from 17 April to 3 June 2017. Practices will take place either on NAS 1 or in Marinai twice per week in the evening with games taking place on Saturday mornings. If you or someone you know is interested in coaching or want more info, please contact Eric Barge. Background checks are required and will be conducted before the season on all potential coaches.
Weekly Traffic Report: Feb. 20 -Feb. 27, 2017
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
NAS 1
Mondays AA Meeting: . . . . . . 1800-1900 Tuesdays Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0900-1100 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 AWANA: . . . . . . . . . . 1645-1900 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . . . . . . . . . 1200-1430 Wednesdays Protestant Men of the Chapel: . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0600-0700 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Catholic Ladies' Guild (3rd Wednesday): .1600-1800 Thursdays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . 1200-1530 Choir Practice: . . . 1630-1800 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2030 Fridays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1700-1830
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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American Red Cross Offers Resiliency Workshops by andrea taylor-craft American Red Cross Sigonella
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Resiliency goes hand-in-hand with strength when overcoming obstacles. Service members and their families are faced with many unique challenges that can be trying and difficult. To see them through, they must call upon their resilience. Deployments, PCS assignments and distance from their family support systems are only a few hurdles they face. A major key to navigating these challenges is to have strong psychological resiliency. Some resiliency is innate but many skills can also be learned to improve one’s ability to cope with stressors and adapt to adversity. The American Red Cross is pleased to offer interactive workshops designed to teach resiliency skills that the Sigonella community can apply to their daily lives. Skill-enhancing modules are offered in small groups and participants can choose from a variety of topics. All workshops are designed to give participants skills they can begin to use immediately. There are seven separate workshops available. Adult Workshops: • Communicating Clearly • Exploring Stress and Trauma • Identifying Depression
• Relating to Children • Working through Anger Child/Teen Workshops: • 10-4 Confident Coping • Roger That! Communication Counts The next workshop, "Working through Anger" will be held on March 24th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm in the American Red Cross classroom on NAS 1 as part of Red Cross Month. This resiliency training is designed to identify personal reactions to anger and to teach anger management skills that promote better communication. It is helpful for people struggling with anger and also for people dealing with anger within their family. Individuals looking to more effectively communicate anger can also benefit. This workshop is confidential and facilitated by a licensed mental health provider unaffiliated with the Armed Forces. There is no cost to attend. All workshops are open to service members, veterans, family members, friends, DoD and NATO civilians. For more information about this workshop or to schedule a different workshop, call the Sigonella American Red Cross office at 624-4900. Also, check out our Facebook page, American Red Cross-Sigonella, Italy for weekly info and workshop details.
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GAMEZONE Movie Comedies
SLACKER SLAP SHOT SLEEPER THE RUTLES TOOTSIE TRADING PLACES UNCLE BUCK YES MAN
MEDIUM
HAPPY GILMORE HARVEY HOLIDAY HOTSHOTS LEGALLY BLONDE LIAR LIAR LOCAL HERO MALLRATS MANHATTAN MEATBALLS MOONSTRUCK OH, GOD! PLAZA SUITE REPO MAN RUSHMORE SHREK
EASY
ALL OF ME ANNIE HALL BABE BEING THERE BIG BOB ROBERTS BULL DURHAM CARS CAT BALLOU CITY SLICKERS CLERKS CLUELESS DUCK SOUP ELECTION FLETCH GHOSTBUSTERS
DIFFICULT
Find and circle all of the comedy movies hidden in the grid. The remaining letters spell an additional comedy movie.
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"CELEBRATE" cont'd from Pg. 6 Women in Copenhagen, Clara Zetkin, a German socialist leader, suggested that an International Day should be held each year to commemorate the ill-fated strike and assist in achieving universal suffrage for women. Representatives from 17 countries supported the proposal. Today, Women's Day is commemorated all over the world to draw attention to gender issues. The mimosa flower replaced red carnations as a symbol of feminist groups in the post-WWII era. It was officially presented in 1946 during the first Women's Day in Rome, which was organized by a group of members from the Italian Women's Trade Union League. As reported by itcilo.org, on March 8, 1946, Italy was still not a republic. Women had obtained the right to vote but had not yet had an opportunity to exercise it (they first vote on June 6, 1946 when Italian citizens choose between the kingdom and a new republic). Many women, however, had been very important players in the resistance movement during the war, fighting against fascism and the foreign occupation. The three ex-combatants Teresa Noce, Rita Montagnana and Teresa Mattei chose mimosa flowers as a symbol for "Women's International Day of Fight and Celebration" "Giornata internazionale di lotta e di festa della donna" (this was the original definition). Mimosa flowers were not chosen for any specific symbolic meaning, but because they blossom early, nearing winter's end. "We, young women, had a recollection of these trees, all covered with yellow velvet flowers. We thought that mimosas were abundant and available at almost no cost," said a witness to the discussion on the organization of the first March 8 celebration in Italy. Women's Day is also a big commercial event just like Valentine's Day and florists annually make big profits from selling mimosa bunches. Restaurants are fully booked by crowds of women who go out for girlsonly dinners.
McDonald's OPENS Restaurant-Museum Over Ancient Roman Road STORY BY THE LOCAL
Last week, a new McDonald's restaurant opened in Italy with one added extra not on the menu: an ancient Roman road, complete with three skeletons. The existence of the road, which had lain buried for centuries, was first revealed when work began on the restaurant in 2014. McDonald's Italia funded the â‚Ź300,000 restoration project and the result is possibly the world's first 'restaurant-museum.' Thanks to a transparent floor, visitors can see the ancient street while munching on their burgers. The 45-metre road in Frattochie, south of the
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Italian capital, dates back to between the second and first century BC and is thought to have fallen out of use about three centuries later. It branches off the more famous Appian Way, which links Rome with the south of the country. Ruts from wagon wheels are visible in the paving stones, which are made of local volcanic rock. Though McDonald's financed the restoration, the project was managed by Rome's Superintendency for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape. Archaeologists unearthed the skeletons of three adult males, thought to have been buried after the road had already fallen out of use. Casts of these skeletons have been returned to the original graves while experts carry out further analysis on the original bones. Local mayor Carlo Colizza said the McDonald's project was "a positive example" of private and public sector helping each other. "We were able to perfectly combine business activities with respect for and appreciation of the history and archeology," added Colizza. In fact, construction projects in Italy are often delayed by the discovery of ancient ruins which then have to be properly excavated. This has been one of the major factors in the repeated delays to Rome's third Metro line. Workers have unearthed plenty of Roman treasures, including a Roman barracks so impressive that the city is considering turning it into a museum. Panels in English and Italian will give information about the history of the road and there will be a special children's route for younger visitors to explore after their Happy Meal. The site is also accessible for free, without going to the McDonald's branch. The CEO of McDonalds Italy said that the juxtaposition of antiquity and modernity in the McDonalds restaurant-museum was "virtuous". "It is a place where you can look at the future, through the past," he said. McDonalds in Italy However, McDonalds is more often seen as a threat to Italy's cultural heritage. When its first restaurant opened up near the Spanish steps in Rome 30 years ago, there was public outcry. Fashion brand Valentino, which has its Rome headquarters nearby, complained about the smells and noise from the restaurant, and the opening also sparked the now global Slow Food movement. And though the chain seems to
March 3, 2017 have thrived, the announcement of a new branch on Vatican-owned property, not far from St Peter's Square, was met with fierce protest from cardinals and local residents. Cardinal Elio Sgreccia labelled the decision to open the restaurant "controversial and perverse," but it opened in December despite complaints. Elsewhere, Florence has taken the struggle to protect its culinary history particularly strongly. In 2016, the Tuscan capital turned down a request for the golden arches to set up shop in the city's central square, leading the fast food chain to threaten legal action.
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Active duty fund drive events Schedule MARCH 6-11 Tuesday, MARCH 7: Lunch Sale 1100-1300 NAS 2 Community Bank Parking Lot Wednesday, March 8: Rotator Food Sale 1830 NAS 2 Air Terminal Thursday, March 9: Lunch Sale 1100-1300 NAS 2 Community Bank Parking Lot BINGO Food Sale 1800 NAS 1 Connections
Col. Federico Fedele, commanding officer of Italian Air Force Base of Sigonella, and Col. Daniel Greenwood, commanding officer of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Africa, discuss local and bilateral training opportunities during a visit to Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, Feb. 22, 2017. The United States is grateful to the government and people of Italy for allowing Marines and Sailors to be postured here for this important reaction force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Johnny Henderson/Released)
FRIDAY, MARCH 10: Car Wash 1400-1800 Near Marinai's Main Gate SATURDAY, MARCH 11: Commissary Bagging 1100-1600 NAS 1 Commissary
Col. Federico Fedele, commanding officer of Italian Air Force Base of Sigonella, and Col. Daniel Greenwood, commanding officer of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Africa, pose for a photo during a visit to Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, Feb. 22, 2017, to discuss local and bilateral training opportunities. The United States is grateful to the government and people of Italy for allowing Marines and Sailors to be postured here for this important reaction force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Johnny Henderson/Released)
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