National Night Out: Fun for all
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USO Entertainment:
Navy Exchange:
See Chef Robert Irvine
A-OK Student Rewards
PAGEs 10-11
N A S SIG O N E L L A
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August 5, 2016
Vol. 33 No. 31
NAS Sigonella Hosts Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine BY YN2 Gabrielle Milly NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Though he hosts several Food Network shows, Chef Robert Irvine may be best known for his show Restaurant: Impossible. But, according to Irvine, his passion for food comes second to his passion for the military. On July 28, Irvine spent the day with service members aboard NAS Sigonella as part of a twoday USO tour in the region. He started the day with an early morning PT session led by Marines with the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa where he completed a circuit course comprised of upper and lower body workouts, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program techniques and laps around the baseball field. “The Marines didn’t kill me; they almost did, but I am still here,” said Irvine. “When you think about the most elite fighting force in the world, you think about the Marines; number one. They are typically the first ones in and the last ones out on a mission.” Irvine’s interest in cooking started at an early age. At 11-years-old, Irvine attended a Home Economics Class comprised of 30 girls; he was the only boy. “I joined the class to meet girls, but it didn’t work out that way,” said Irvine. A native of England, Irvine joined the British Royal Navy at the age of 15, and his skills in the kitchen soon came to the attention of his superiors. “Cooking is a great way to transfer knowledge and let people come to a common ground. We don’t live to eat; we eat to live,” said Irvine. After dining at the base galley, touring the facilities and meeting with Sailors, Irvine hosted an interactive cooking show for service members and their families. “My best experience in Sigonella started from the time that I touched down, up until the moment I leave and everything else in between,” stated Irvine.
Volunteers from the crowd created a mixture of ingredients for Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine to incorporate into a dish during his live performance at NAS 2, July 28. Chef Irvine had 10 minutes to turn the mixture into a surf and turf dinner utilizing Cheetos, Doritos, Sriracha sauce, barbeque sauce, sour apple liquor, and other surprise ingredients. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released)
Irvine said he and his team work with the mili- Navy's second largest security command, second only to that located at Naval Support Activity Bahtary about 150 days each year. For his volunteer service, Irvine was named rain. Because of its location near the center of the Honorary Chief Petty Officer of the Navy by Mas- Mediterranean Sea, NASSIG is well placed to supter Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Stevens, port operations by the U.S. 6th Fleet, other U.S. miland awarded the Bob Hope Award for Excellence itary units, and U.S. allies and coalition partners. For more news from Commander, Navy Region in Entertainment and Service of our Service Members by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, visit http://www. among other awards for his participation and vol- navy.mil/local/cnre/. For more news from Naval Air Station Sigonelunteerism to the service members of the military. Naval Air Station Sigonella, "The Hub of the la, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/nassig/. Med," is a U.S. Navy installation and an Italian Air Force base in Sicily, Italy. NAS Sigonella is the More photos of "CHEF" continued on Pages 10-11
Commander Task Force 67 Change of Command
Capt. Bill Ellis gives a speech after properly relieving Capt. Bryan Durkee as the commodore of the Commander, Task Force 67, Aug. 2. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released) By lt brian f. o'bannon CTF-67 Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Capt.
William R. Ellis relieved Capt. Bryan W. Durkee as Commodore (CDRE) of Commander Task Force 67 (CTF67) during a change of command
ceremony Aug. 2 at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily. CDRE Durkee commanded CTF67 from June 2014 – Aug. 2016 and is moving to Washington, D.C. to serve on the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations staff at the Pentagon. “To the men and women of Task Force SIX SEVEN, thank you. It has truly been a humbling experience to serve with you for the past two years,” said Durkee. “We have been at full throttle or ‘1010’ as we say, coordinating with our allies and executing operations at increasing levels every year.” In attendance were Adm. Michelle J. Howard, Commander Naval Forces Europe and Africa, guest speaker Vice Adm. James G. Foggo, III, Commander United States Sixth Fleet, and Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad. CTF-67 serves as Commander of all United States Maritime Patrol Aircraft in the Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility including P-3Cs, EP-3s, and soon to be the new P-8A Poseidon.
“Maritime patrol aircraft will continue to be a fundamental aspect of warfare-at-sea. CDRE Durkee worked tirelessly to ensure all of the preparations were made to incorporate the new P-8s into the area of operations,” said Foggo. “Including P-8s into exercises like Shark Hunt, Joint Warrior, Cold Response, and BALTOPS, has helped validate that we are ready for the first P-8 deployment anytime now.” During Durkee’s command, CTF67 was supported by four operational deployments from Patrol Squadrons Four, Nine, and Forty-Seven from Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii and multiple detachments from Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One from Whidbey Island, Washington. His command saw the first Theater Anti-Submarine Warfare operations conducted in years, supported operations ACTIVE ENDEAVOR, ATLANTIC RESOLVE, and INHERENT RESOLVE
"CTF-67" continued on Page 8
Due to the Italian holiday period in August, The Signature will be on a two-week break beginning August 8. Don't miss our next issue available on August 26. Stay up-to-date by visiting us on the NAS Sigonella Facebook page.