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JANUARY 12, 2018
Vol. 35 No. 1
Blended Military Retirement System Enrollment Period Begins DoD News, Defense Media Activity
One of the most wide-reaching and significant changes to military pay and benefits over the last 70 years went into effect Jan. 1 with the implementation of the Uniformed Services Blended Retirement System, known as BRS. The new system blends aspects of the traditional defined benefit retirement pension system, with a defined contribution system of automatic and matching government contributions through the Thrift Savings Plan. All new entrants into the uniformed services on or after Jan. 1 will be enrolled in this new retirement system, Pentagon officials said. The uniformed services are the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps. Some Can Choose Between Systems Nearly 1.6 million current service members will have the option to remain in the current legacy “high-3” retirement system or to choose the BRS. Opt-in eligible service members from all seven of the uniformed services have an entire year to make their retirement system election. The open period for the majority of service members is from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2018. Service members will need to visit one of these designated resources to opt into BRS: -- Army, Air Force, Navy: MyPay (https://mypay. dfas.mil). -- Marine Corps: Marine Online (https://www. mol.usmc.mil). Service members who believe they are eligible to opt in, but do not see the opt-in option available
online should contact their local personnel/human resources office to verify eligibility, officials said. Decision Irrevocable The decision to opt in is irrevocable, officials emphasized, even if a service member changes his or her mind before the Dec. 31, 2018, deadline. Eligible service members who take no action will remain in the legacy retirement system, they added. Prior to opting in, officials recommend that service members take advantage of all available resources to assist in making an informed decision
Ready, Set . . . . Register to Vote! By Niki McBain NAS Sigonella Voting Assistance Officer
The New Year is here, and like most Americans, your family probably just changed the calendar to a nice, new 2018 version. What’s the best part of even numbered years in the United States of America? Americans have a chance to vote! 2018 will bring about the mid-term elections for most U.S. locations, and many more will be holding their traditional elections for local offices and voting on new laws. In 2018, Americans will vote for 33 Senate Seats, all 435 Seats in the House of Representatives and 14 governors. But will your vote be counted? If you plan to vote in any U.S. election in 2018 you must complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). This yearly registration requirement is for all personnel who reside overseas, even if you have previously registered to vote absentee. The FPCA registers you to vote, and acts as a request for your State absentee ballots for the year. Completing a new FPCA is easy- just go to www.fvap.gov, select your State from the drop-down on the home page, click the box at the bottom of the page to Register to Vote, Request a Ballot or Update My Voter Info. The FVAP online tool will walk you through the form, and provide you with a PDF packet to "print, sign and send" directly to your local election official (LEO); links are also provided for States that offer online voter registration. Remember, the only way your LEO knows how to reach you is with the information you provide! Some States allow a longer time between registrations, but if you submit a new FPCA every year, you won't have to worry about your registration or ballot request status and can participate in all the elections you're eligible for. For more information on voting while overseas visit www.fvap.gov or contact your command's Voter's Assistance Officer (VAO), or Niki McBain, the NASSIG VAO at DSN 624-8293 or M-SINASSIG-VotingOfficers-GS@eu.navy.mil
on the financial implications specific to their retirement situation. The Defense Department endorses several training and informational tools to support a service member’s decision, including the BRS Opt-In Course, the BRS Comparison Calculator and numerous online BRS resource materials. Service members can contact the Fleet and Family Support Center at 624-4291 to receive no-cost, personal support from an accredited personal financial manager or counselor or by calling Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647.
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JANUARY 12, 2018
Direct Line
CMDCM Nancy Estrada, NAS Sigonella Command Master Chief New Year, Fresh start! Many people create New Year’s resolutions every year, and maybe they follow through… and maybe they don’t. Why not? Was the goal too large and undefined? Did you know what steps were needed to accomplish the goal? Did you have support? Maybe you are someone who needs to be held accountable or motivated and you don’t have the support team you need to keep pushing you forward. Well, this is your lucky year! We have every resource you need right here. A suitable resource to start with setting and defining your goal is a mentor. The Sigonella First Class Petty Officer Association is hosting a Mentorship Fair February 8th at NAS 2 from 08001600 and February 9th at NAS 1 from 0800-1500. More detailed information about the event and mentorship applications will be published soon here in the Signature. A good mentor can help you clarify your goals which can in turn help you focus and produce
better results, personally and professionally. This can help with conflict resolution and improves the mentee’s ability to be more confident and expressive, which boosts workplace morale and retention! Becoming a mentor is very rewarding as well. If you struggled with a personal challenge or had a miserable workplace in the past, and yet overcame that adversity, you may be an excellent role model to help another avoid your mistakes or learn from your trials. Military One Source (www.militaryonesource.mil) offers several resources to get you focused; from free health and wellness coaching for weight management, fitness, nutrition, and stress management to free confidential nonmedical counseling covering a wide array of topics and needs. You can even find free personality type and interest inventory tests! There are so many resources available through this site, it would be worth the call or online chat just to have them talk you through
what you may be interested in. Need to get your finances in order? That’s here. Education and employment resources? Right here. Recreation, travel and shopping? Got it! Vast e-library, to include audio books? Yep. And so much more… Free to all Active Duty, Reserves and their family members. Perhaps you respond better in a group setting. The CREDO retreats are a fantastic way to connect with yourself and perhaps some like-minded individuals who are also seeking to improve. You can find the schedule and register for all events on the CREDO Sigonella Facbook page. They are hosted by the Chaplains (and all of ours are fantastic!) but they do not promote any religion; religious services which may be part of the schedule are always optional. The retreats are held off base, in a comfortable setting with all accommodations provided (hotel, meals, activities, etc.). I personally have attended two events at different duty stations (family retreat and marriage re-
treat) and loved both. Not what you’re interested in? Join another group or organization that you may be passionate about! CSADD, SAWS, or create your own group on MeetUp and get other people motivated to join you! This is just a sampling of what is available to you. It all starts with you, deciding what is important to you and just making the first move! Push past the excuses, start over if you must; just keep going. You deserve to work on you!
Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box The ICE/CO Suggestion Box is for our community and Commanding Officer to discuss, with an eye toward constant improvement, how we are excelling* and how we can improve**. The community is strongly encouraged to leave contact information when submitting comments. This ensures that a response will come directly to you. The Signature and NASSIG Facebook Page typically publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. Comments/suggestions are useful when objective, constructive, and specific. ICE/CO Sug-
gestion Box is NOT a forum for mean-spirited attacks. Anonymous comments will be published only if they benefit the greater community at large. * If you submit a "BZ" about a specific person or department, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME in order to ensure comment authenticity and therefore publicly recognize employees or organizations. ** The Commanding Officer will ensure a response to all signed comments/suggestions and the vast majority of anonymous ones but reserves the right to disregard
those comments/suggestions disinterested in the spirit of the program! There are two ways to submit; go to: 1) Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) home page on a One-Net computer at: http://ice.disa.mil, All Sigonella services are found under the Navy Europe Listing in the – or – scroll-down menu. 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 “Running track on NAS 2”:
My recommendation is that the base leadership takes the initiative to acquire funding for the planning and construction of a running track on NAS 2. This is the only installation I have been to that does not have any type of running track intended for the use of Active Duty Personnel. Although there is a track on NAS I, it is designated for the use of the DoDEA School, and it would not be appropriate for military personnel to use it during the day throughout the school year. As a CFL, I find it unsafe to have Sailors run on the poorly maintained roads of NAS 2, and I find it impractical to have a majority of Navy personnel use alternative cardio equipment for the physical fitness assessment. We don't have a running track, yet the installation was able to afford construction of a turf field that I suspect is valued at a much higher cost than a running track would have been. I propose that for the fiscal year 2019 or 2020 budget, a running track be included as a MWR Fitness Program project. Sincerely, IT1 Zachary James
To address your concern about the PFA, you are correct about the DoDEA school track. The track is open for the public before school hours and after school hours which would require coordination to use that area for the PFA cycle. As far as the routes on NAS 2, MWR recently conducted an assessment with the Safety Office to evaluate the safety of the current PFA route. The Safety Office deemed that the route was satisfactory. Additionally, the base is of sufficient size to allow a Command Fitness Leader to assess and provide an alternate route for the PFA. As the base commanding officer, I personally run on NAS 1 and 2 three to five days a week and feel it is safe as long as all rules of the road are followed. In fact as long as the flight line is not closed I welcome personnel to join me. Thank you again for your feedback. If you have future or further questions pertaining to MWR facilities, please contact BMC Adam Rhodes. He can be reached at 624-0739 (or +39-095-56-0739) or via email at adam.rhodes@ eu.navy.mil.
Response::
Comment regarding “Bravo Zulu for the Base Thrift Store”:
IT1 James, Thank you for your comment in regards to the installation of a running track at NAS 2. Unfortunately, the process to fund and install a running track is quite lengthy and would not be feasible within the next two or three years as you suggested. Currently, the installation is in compliance with the Navy's requirement (OPNAVINST 6110.1j) to provide fitness facilities and physical fitness training at each installation.
I visit the thrift store on an average of once a quarter. I have noticed a big change during my last few visits that I feel should be complimented. In previous visits, items were piled up and not organized or neat. The past two times I have been, the store has had a noticeably different feel. Items are organized and readily visible. Thank you for providing this service for us and great job to the folks who are working there.
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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
Name: Master-at-Arms 1st Class
Thomas Breitfeller Hometown: Freeport, NY Department: Security
In Criminal Year 2013 a total of 6,860 incidents were reported Navywide for deaths, sexual crimes against adults and children, narcotics, fraud and property. While Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella’s reported incidents are just a fraction of the Navy-wide numbers, Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS) and Sailors like Master-at-Arms 1st Class Thomas Breitfeller are there to investigate those crimes. Breitfeller has been working for the Criminal Investigations Division in NAS Sigonella’s security department for a few. Prior to this job, he was the Security Operations Leading Petty Officer, managing the movement of personnel, base events, and the four duty sections that comprise the majority of Security’s personnel. “I was excited to get sent to Criminal Investigations Division, it was something that I was always interested in,” said Breitfeller. “We deal with more in-depth investigations, usually alongside NCIS, that the patrolmen don’t have to time to deal with.” When he isn’t doing his day job, Breitfeller can be found facilitating the Full Speed Ahead courses on base. “I really enjoy it,” said Breitfeller.
“It’s a good educational experience and it’s an interesting environment to have junior and senior Sailors in the same room talking about different things and experiences.” After work, Breitfeller enjoys coming home to his family and hanging out with his two sons. “I have two boys; one is three and the other one is eight,” said Breitfeller. “I like to just sit down and do whatever they want to do and just
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Response:
Thank you for taking the time to recognize the great work the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society and our community volunteers do at the NAS Sigonella Thrift Store. The Thrift Store cannot operate without our amazing volunteers, so thank you again for your comment praising their efforts. The Thrift Shop staff has spent a lot of time getting rid of excess inventory as well as trying to better accommodate customer needs. As a reminder, to help the Thrift Shop operate at optimal levels please avoid donating items which cannot be sold. This will help prevent the Thrift Shop from becoming cluttered and allow the staff to continue their focus on providing such a valuable service to the community. Previously used items such as undergarments, bathing suits, breast pumps, cosmetics and mattresses cannot be sold. Items prohibited from being sold include: religious articles, commercial chemicals, medications, bicycle helmets, food items, risqué books/games/videos, and infant/child car seats. Having assisted with sorting donations at the NMCRS Thrift Shop over the past few months let me add some additional guidance. I know 99% of those that donate are doing so hoping that another military family can save money by being able to take advantage of their gently used items. However, some have taken to using the NMCRS donation
watch them grow up. The fact they are amazed with all of the little things in life is fun to see.” Breitfeller’s favorite part about being in Europe is the diversity and culture it has to offer, along with the beautiful environments. “This is my second tour here, I just like being overseas,” said Breitfeller. “The community is more tightly knit as opposed to stateside; it’s more of a family environment and I like that.”
Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Executive Officer Cmdr. Patrick J. Moran Command Master Chief CMDCM Nancy Estrada EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Andriana Genualdi andriana.genualdi@eu.navy.mil 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
shed as a “dumping ground” of sorts with no thought to whether the item is actually useful or sellable. Before you load up items to take to the NMCRS donation bin please ask yourself some questions: Are these clothes faded, do they have holes, and/or are they stained? Is this a sack of random McDonald’s Happy Meal toys? Is this electronic device (computer, tablet, TV, kitchen appliance, etc.) broken and/ or missing the power cord or other accessories? Is this a bag of random, unsorted socks? Is this a U.S. spec ceiling fan that also happens to be broken? Is this pair of boots missing the soles? Is this a bag of unused but wrinkled/crumpled printer paper? Do these books have water damage and/or torn pages? Is the picture on this large screen TV unusable due to a crack in the glass? If you answer yes to any of these questions then the item is not suitable for the Thrift Shop. In case you are wondering; yes, I did find all of these examples while sorting last month. I am not implying that an item has to be in new or pristine condition in order to be a useful donation for NMCRS. The Thrift Shop has many great donations that they proudly sell to the community. However, please give some consideration as to whether your item(s) are something that should be donated or disposed of elsewhere. On a final note I would ask that you assist the volunteers by washing and folding your clothes for donation. Clothes
"ICE" continued on Page 5
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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Patrol Squadron FIVE Sailors Give Back to the Community Lt.j.g. Mary Carter Jordan VP-5 Public Affairs
SIGONELLA, Italy – First Class Petty Officers (FCPOs) from Patrol Squadron (VP) FIVE volunteered to spread cheer and give back to those in need at a Catania shelter for homeless children and their mothers. During the month of December, the First Class Petty Officers’ Association raised money to provide individualized gift bags for five mothers and eight children that are currently placed in the shelter. These gift bags provided each child with necessities such as a winter jacket and warm clothes, and included a stuffed animal and a present for the child to open. The hard-working mothers were not forgotten, as they received personal items, a pajama gift set and sweet Christmas treats for their families. “The First Class Mess sought out an organization that could use some help this Christmas season,” said Aviation Electrician’s Mate First Class Angelo Warnock. “We knew what we had to do when Dr. Alberto Lunetta, the NAS Sigonella Community Relations Director, presented the background information on the families staying at the Catania shelter.” The FCPOs drove to the shelter to personally meet the families and drop off the gifts to them; and the families welcomed the ‘Mad Foxes’ warmly singing classic Christmas carols with them. “The sincere appreciation and joy from each child was the best Christmas gift anyone could ask for,” said Warnock. “The families and com-
The First Class Petty Officers (FCPO) of Patrol Squadron (VP) 5 visited the Catania shelter for homeless and needy children and their mothers while on deployment to NAS Sigonella. The FCPOs provided gifts and winter necessities to these families during the holiday season. (U.S. Navy photo by Aviation Electrician’s Mate First Class Angelo Warnock)
munity welcomed our mess with a wonderful meal. We were made to feel like family, and for many of us who have small children, for just that short amount of time it felt like we were home.” The VP-5 FCPOs intended to
make a few local families’ holiday special, and in turn they were given overwhelming joy by those that they helped. “Christmas is a time for giving and whether it’s a present to a needy child, mother or a stranger who treats you
like family, even for just few hours, we all felt extremely fortunate that day,“ said Warnock. VP-5 is currently operating out of Sigonella, Italy in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
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"ICE" continued from Page 3 that are inside out and wadded in a ball are very difficult to determine condition and often don't make it to the floor for sale.
Comment regarding “Autoport Customer Service”:
I am very disappointed with the cashier's unwillingness to assist with finding a common consumable part required for my vehicle. I stated what I needed, and was asked what kind of vehicle it was for at which time I was curtly informed, "I don't have a book for that." I am pretty certain that they have internet resources which could have been utilized, or a call to a local ricambi to identify the specific part number (which the Autoport did end up having on the shelf -- as I ended up using the old part to identify exactly what I needed). I tend not to frequent the Autoport, and the service on the evening of November 28th reminded me once again, that the convenient location is not enough to earn my business as a regular customer. Sincerely, Larry Wilson
Response:
First, TThank you for taking the time to send a comment regarding your experience at the AutoPort. You are correct; in most cases the associate at the Auto Port should be able to contact their supplier locally and source the needed part/ accessory. I have notified our contractor of this issue and he is taking corrective action to improve the service level at the Auto Port. I would like to apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused as it is our goal to consistently provide Premiere Customer Service for all of our patrons at all of our locations, both direct run as well as contracted. The NEX Store Manager would like to speak with you personally and get more specifics in order to aid in improving the operation, as well as ensure this issue does not repeat for either you or another customer. Please feel free to contact him personally, either in the Main Store, via phone call at 624-4379, or via email at john.sisson@nexweb.org. Thank you again for your comment and for your service.
Comment regarding “Bravo Zulu for Housing Department Employee”:
I just wanted to say thank you to Simona Tringali in Housing Department. She has been helpful to our family, going
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Winter Discount shopping season kicks off in Italy
JANUARY 12, 2018
VP-5 Sailors give back to the Acireale community
Story by Alberto Lunetta
Imagine a “Black Friday” weekend that would last three months! Italy’s winter “stagione di saldi” or discount season kicked off last week. This is the first of the two yearly government-regulated periods for such special sales, and it lasts until March 15. The other discount season starts on the second Saturday of July and lasts until September 15. According to the newswire service ANSA, surveys said the percentage of Italians who will be doing New Year shopping this year should rise to 61.4% from 58.5% last year. Since this is the second week of discounts, you won’t find any more long lines at checkout counters and excited shoppers pushing and shoving their way into stores like what usually happens during the first days of the post-holiday season sale. So get ready to buy stylish high-quality Italian items at bargain prices, but watch out for retailers who trumpet big discounts. Here are some good rules of thumb provided by Italy Consumer Associations. Try to listen to these tips so you can avoid ripoffs and disputes with merchants that are difficult to handle if you don’t speak Italian. First of all, do not trust discounts higher than 50 per cent off the initial price. A “sensational” 80 or 90 per cent discount sounds like a tempting offer but it is probably a rip-off. Remember that, during the discount season, defective merchandise can be exchanged or returned as usual. There is no “special return policy” when you shop at sales. Therefore, always keep your scontrino or receipt and distrust the shops that display signs saying: “la merce venduta non si cambia” (purchased merchandise cannot be returned) or “all sales are final.” By, law, you have the right to change any defective clothing or shoe that is not up to sample within two months. Retailers can either refund you or give you a coupon that should be spent in the same shop. But always remember to double check with them their policy. Some storeowners are sometimes reluctant, even after just one week, to exchange defective merchandise. Be sure to look an item over carefully before you buy it. Check different shops to compare prices. If you have already visited a store you might be able to evaluate if a product was over-priced and then marked down. Stores must display the initial prezzo (price)on the tags as well as the reduced price, both in ciphers and in percentage. Finally, remember that you can use any method of payment. Mistrust shop owners who display signs saying “non si accettano carte di credito e bancomat” (credit cards and ATM cards are not accepted). If you don’t see any signs around, and the sales clerk tells you about it upon paying, tell them you know they must accept your credit card.
Paramedic 'killed patients in ambulance in Sicily to get payout from their funerals in mafia scheme' Story by The Independent Italian police recently arrested an ambulance worker on suspicion of killing people to earn money from funeral homes linked to the mafia. Davide Garofalo, 42, is alleged to have injected air into the veins of terminally ill patients to end their lives as they were transported from a hospital to their homes. He is said to have then put victims' grieving families in touch with undertakers, pocketing $300 (£265) for each corpse. Three other people are under investigation in the case, dubbed the "ambulances of death" scandal by Italian media. The claims first came to light when a reformed mafia member tipped off an investigative TV program (Le Iene) and police in the Sicilian city of Catania.
"ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 14
Photo/caption by Alberto Lunetta
ACIREALE, Sicily – On January 7th, a group of Patrol Squadron (VP) Five sailors deployed to Sigonella gave back to the Acireale community by taking part in the Solemnity of the Baptism of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, held at the parish church "Santa Maria degli Ammalati,"concluding the Christmas holidays. The event included a Christmas market featuring local produce, arts and crafts, a music performance and the traditional blessing of the animals. Sailors donated candy to the local children and sang Christmas songs together. Father Marcello Pulvirenti thanked the Sigonella volunteers at the end of the Holy Mass for sharing the Christmas spirit with his community.
JANUARY 12, 2018
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Navy Updates PFA Separation Policy From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON -- The Navy announced revisions to the Physical Readiness Program separation policy, directing commands to discontinue processing Sailors for separation as a result of Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) failures and providing guidance on how to handle Sailors with approved separations in NAVADMIN 304/17. The goal of the Navy's physical readiness program is to maintain a minimum prescribed level of fitness necessary for world-wide deployment and to maintain a Sailor's long-term health and wellness. "My number one priority is to keep the Fleet properly manned," said Vice Adm. Robert Burke, Chief of Naval Personnel. "Retention of every capable Sailor is critical to the operational readiness of the Navy while ensuring every Sailor has the opportunity to safely achieve and maintain fitness and body composition standards." Effective immediately: * All commands will discontinue processing members for separation as a result of PFA failures. * Separation orders resulting from PFA failures prior to Soft End of Active Obligated Service (SEAOS) with approved dates after March 31, 2018 are cancelled. * Officers with approved separation orders for PFA failure with a directed separation date prior to March 1, 2018 can request their separation orders be cancelled in order to remain in the Navy by contacting PERS-833, Post Selection Board Matters subject to Secretary of Navy (SECNAV) approval. * MILPERSMAN 1910-170, Separation by Reason of PFA Failure, is cancelled. For enlisted Sailors who fail one PFA, the failure will be entered into Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS) to inform them of the failure and enroll them in the Fitness Enhancement Program (FEP) until passing the next official PFA. Also, Sailors cannot be frocked or advanced but may regain eligibility by meeting PFA standards with a monthly mock PFA. If an enlisted Sailor fails two or more consecutive PFAs, they will continue service until their SEAOS. These Sailors will be ineligible for advancement, reenlistment or extension, receive an adverse report that states significant problems on evaluations and detailed as required. A Sailor can regain eligibility for advancement and reenlistment by passing an official PFA and receiving the recommendation of the Commanding Officer. Enlisted Sailors who currently have an approved separation or Fleet reserve dates as a result of the previous PFA separation policy may have a decision to make on whether or not they want to remain on active duty. The NAVADMIN annotates direction for these Sailors to take if they desire to stay Navy. Officers who fail one PFA will not be promoted. Commands are required to delay promotion and inform PERS-834, Officer Performance and Sepa-
rations. A Letter of Notification will be issued to inform them of the PFA failure and their enrollment in FEP. Members may regain eligibility by passing the next command monthly FEP mock PFA. Officers who fail two or more consecutive PFAs will be recommended for administrative separation processing. If the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) determines the officer is to be separated or retired, this action will occur at the officer's PRD or upon SECNAV's determination, whichever is later, regardless of PFA cycle outcomes. If an official PFA is passed prior to SECNAV's decision on retention or separation, administrative separation processing will cease and the member will be retained upon notification to PERS-834, Officer Performance and Separations. A special Fitness Report may be submitted to document the Officer's satisfactory physical readiness status. Two
or more consecutive PFA failures will result in an adverse report that states significant problem on their fitness report. Effective Jan. 1, 2018, all PFA failures will be reset to zero. Also, a Body Composition Assessment (BCA) will be conducted within five working days of reporting to a new command. This BCA spotcheck will not count as the official BCA for newly reported members during the command PFA cycle, regardless of the status of the official command PFA cycle. Upon either a BCA spot-check failure or PFA failure, Sailors must be enrolled and participate in FEP until they pass an official PFA. All members who have regained promotion/advancement eligibility are reminded of their ability to communicate in writing to promotion and selection boards as outlined in MILPERSMAN 1420-010, Communication with Officer Promotion Selection Boards.
Navy Announces Alignment of End of Active Obligated Service with Duty Station Tour Length From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
WASHINGTON -- The Navy announced a policy and process change, directing commands to immediately take action to align Sailors' End of Active Obligated Service (EAOS) with their duty station tour length in NAVADMIN 307/17. Effective immediately, the new policy changes and processes are: Commanding officer's (CO) extension authority, Obligated service (OBLISERV) policy, Career Waypoints (C-WAY) policy, and Enlistment extension policy. "Alignment Open Season" is the time period from the release of NAVADMIN 307/17 until May 31, 2018. With Commanding Officer's approval, this open season allows Sailors to bypass C-WAY in order to extend their enlistment contract to match their prescribed tour. During this time, Sailors requiring a High Year Tenure (HYT) waiver to comply with this policy are approved to extend to meet the full prescribed tour length without the need of a HYT waiver request. Also, effective immediately, Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders will now require obligated service (OBLISERV) to complete their full prescribed tour. Sailors will now meet the OBLISERV requirements through enlistment extension, reenlistment, or, in some cases, by filing an Administrative Remarks (NAVPERS 1070/613) prior to executing orders. "There are currently more than 61,000 Sailors whose EAOS is prior to their duty station tour length," said Capt. Vincent Segars, director, Military Community Management. "Having an EAOS
prior to their duty station tour length causes Sailors to enter into the C-WAY process in the middle of their tour. This misalignment causes unexpected gaps in manning, creating a demand signal for personnel replacement, which may be unnecessary if the Sailor intends to obligate service. Matching a Sailor's EAOS and duty station tour length helps reduce this unpredictability and often unexpected gaps in manning." Sailors who currently have an EAOS prior to completion of their prescribed tour may extend their EAOS to match their current duty station tour length. Sailors are in a "decision window," defined as the length of time from when a Sailor checks onboard and completes the initial career development board (CDB) up to 13 months from the end of their enlistment contract. Once a Sailor's duty station tour length has been moved to their prescribed tour, with Commanding Officer's approval, the Sailor can extend to the end of their enlistment contract and normal C-WAY functionality will be restored. Sailors not wishing to extend to their EAOS will have their duty station tour length adjusted to their EAOS by Navy Personnel Command (NPC) and their record will be marked "Undecided" in C-WAY. Sailors whose records are marked "Undecided," who later want to stay in the Navy will be unable to apply for a C-WAY quota or enter the Career Management System-Interactive Detailing (CMS-ID) until the "Undecided" status has been changed. For more information, read NAVADMIN 307/17 at www.npc.navy.mil or speak with a command career counselor.
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A Long Weekend in Over the Thanksgiving holiday I went to Barcelona with a group of people to celebrate a friend’s birthday. For me that meant that we would be visiting some great restaurants and get a chance to experience the nightlife of Barcelona and I was not disappointed! We did the responsible thing and booked a couple of tours. One was a walking tour that showed us around some of the main areas of the city such as the famous pedestrian area called “Las Ramblas.” The other tour was a tapas and wine tour, and our guide took us to four different restaurants where we were able to sample traditional Barcelona and Spanish food and drinks. As with all food tours, by the end of the night we were suitably full and satisfied.
B
Story and Photos by L The great thing about doing the tours early in our visit was that it gave us a good idea of where we would want to spend our time over the weekend. We were able to identify the popular nightlife and tapas areas and head out in the late evenings to those locations. The Spanish stay up, and eat, very late! We had fun wandering the small and charming streets of the older parts of town as well as the beautiful open intersections full of trees on the main roads. The main sight that we wanted to make sure to see was the Basilica La Sagrada Família, designed by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí. The church has been under construction since 1882 and is expected to be finished by 2030 or 2032. You have to book your tick-
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Barcelona
Lt. Andriana Genualdi ets in advance for this church, because they limit the number of people who can be inside at the same time. Gaudí’s vision for the church was to make all of the architectural elements appear as if they could occur in nature. He was known for his distinct Art Nouveau and Gothic Style combinations. Inside the church, after you finish admiring the beautiful and intricate facades, you are surprised by how much light there is and how open it seems. The giant pillars that support the roof resemble trees and make you feel as if you are in a forest. The stained glass is magnificently colored and moves through the entire spectrum. I highly recommend that you visit this church, it is an experience you won’t soon forget.
La Sagrada Família wasn’t the only structure Gaudí created in Barcelona. He worked on numerous houses, public buildings, small items such as lampposts, to parks such as Park Güell. The last stop before we returned home was to Park Güell in the early morning as the sun was rising. The park reflects Gaudí’s naturalist phase and also has the distinctively organic shapes in its few structures that are so strongly associated with Gaudí. We explored the park and watched the sun rise over the city from the excellent vantage point before we finally headed to the airport to leave. Barcelona is a lovely city, so full of amazing culture that is distinctively Catalan. I highly recommend visiting the city, and I know I will be back!
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NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin:
PREVENT TYPE 2 - DIABETES PREVENTION CLASS JANUARY 24
RELOCATION OF NAS II PASS AND ID OFFICE AND SECURITY DESK SERGEANT
Command, Department or Organization: Health Promotion and Wellness Center Date of Event: January 24 Time of Event: 1300-1400 Location of Event: NAS 1 Midtown MWR Classroom Point of Contact Name: Giuseppe Licari Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-4710 Point of Contact Email Address: usn.sigonella.navhospsigonellait.mesg.hp@mail.mil Additional Information: 86 Million American adults have prediabetes. Having prediabetes means you are at increased risk for developing serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease. Health Promotion and Wellness Center is offering PREVENT T2, a course focusing on diabetes prevention. Learn with the support of the base dietitian, registered nurse and wellness coach how to prevent diabetes and how to build a healthy lifestyle. Class starts on Wednesday January, 24, 1300-1400 @ NAS 1 Midtown MWR classroom
Command, Department or Organization: Security Date of Event: 08 JAN 2018 - TBD (Estimated: 05 MAR 2018) Time of Event: 0800-1600 Location of Event: NAS II Pass and ID Office, Bldg. 606 Point of Contact Name: Security Officer, LCDR Allen Richmond Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-6392 Point of Contact Email Address: Allen.Richmond@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: On the above date and time, NAS II PASS and ID office and NASSIG Security Desk Sergeant will be relocated to the Security Admin office inside Bldg. 606 due to renovations. The entrance to PASS and ID/Desk Sergeant will be on the south-eastern side of the building. From the parking lot, follow the sidewalk to the right, heading towards the Main ECP, and the Pass and ID / Desk Sergeant entrance will be on the south-east corner of the building. Please avoid the main entrance to Bldg. 606 as it will be an active work zone.
Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services 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
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
Saturdays First Saturday Rosary and Mass: . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Liturgical Protestant Service NAS I Chapel - . . . . . . . . . . . 1800 Sundays Catholic Mass: . . . . 0900-1000 Catholic Religious Education (DoDDS):. 1045-1200
Fridays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . . . . 1130-1230 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour:. . . . . . . . 1700-1830
Protestant Service: . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1330-1600
NAS 2
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
Weekly Traffic Report: Jan. 1 - Jan. 8, 2018
As a reminder to everyone: There are no PTUs allowed at the Galley. Appropriate athletic gear is authorized at the discretion of the Galley staff. Please remember that for sanitation purposes and for the consideration of other customers, if you have been out for PT, been working out at the gym, or have just been engaged in any physical activity where you and or your clothing has become soiled or sweaty you will be asked to turn around.
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Guide to Understanding ROTC Programs You may hear people allude to the ROTC while in high school or when entering college, but if you’re unfamiliar with the program, you’ll probably glean very little about what the ROTC actually is. The acronym stands for “Reserve Officers’ Training Corps,” and its goal is to train college students for future service in branches of the U.S. military; the Army, Air Force, and Navy each have their own ROTC programs. Students interested in U.S. Armed Forces service at an early age can also gain exposure to the rigors of military training through JROTC (Junior ROTC) programs offered at the high school level. Once students reach college, they can explore specific military branches by enrolling in ROTC programs provided by the Army, Navy, or Air Force. While the U.S. Coast Guard does not have an ROTC initiative, interested students can explore a similar training program, the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI). The goal of these collegelevel programs is to train future officers to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. To students who qualify, the ROTC programs offer scholarships that cover the cost of their education. In exchange, there is an expectation that students fulfill active duty services in their chosen branch of the Armed Forces. Why Join an ROTC Program? There are many reasons to explore JROTC and ROTC programs. Some students join to fulfill the personal goal of following in the footsteps of a family member. Some join for the professional opportunities they have upon graduation. Others are drawn to the ROTC programs out of a sense of patriotism and a desire to serve their country. Those interested in joining a branch of the ROTC should be: Dedicated to the program and their country
Driven to succeed no matter what obstacles they face Disciplined enough to reach their goals ROTC programs offer prospective and current college students a number of benefits, including: An opportunity to develop technical and leadership skills A structured path to a career after college Specialized professional training for military officer positions after college Scholarships that cover tuition, fees, books, and other student necessities Long-term career guidance and continued professional education As a high school student, you can still prepare to enter a college ROTC program, even if you haven’t participated in JROTC. Start researching prospective ROTC programs early so you have time to apply for training and scholarships. Is the ROTC Right for Me? JROTC and ROTC programs can provide teenagers and adults with excellent ways to jumpstart their careers. Some of the benefits of these programs include extensive academic funding, specialized military training, leadership development, fitness maintenance, professional development and team-driven experiences. However, students must agree to longterm service commitments with military branches, which range from 3 to 12 years, depending on scholarship acceptance, career choices, and the types of degrees you pursue. When it comes to the ROTC, you are essentially deciding whether or not you’ll devote a significant portion of your early adult life to military service and goals. For more information on the Navy ROTC program including application requirement visit http://www.nrotc.navy.mil/about.html.
Capt. Brent Trickel, commanding officer of NAS Sigonella, administers the oath of office to his son, Midshipman Ryan Trickel, during a ROTC commissioning ceremony at the University of Missouri. Ensign Ryan Trickel will report to Navy Nuclear Power School in Charleston, S.C. in February.
Marla Trickel, Capt. Brent Trickel, Ensign Ryan Trickel and Erin Trickel pose for group photo during a ROTC commissioning ceremony at the University of Missouri. Ensign Ryan Trickel, who was administered the oath of office by his father Capt. Brent Trickel, will report to Navy Nuclear Power School in Charleston, S.C. in February.
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GAMEZONE HIDDENITE IOLITE IRONSTONE JADE JASPER MALACHITE MOONSTONE MORGANITE OBSIDIAN ONYX OPAL PEARL RUBELITE
RUBY SAPPHIRE SERPENTINE SPHENE SPINEL SUGLITE SUNSTONE TANZANITE TOPAZ TOURMALINE TURQUOISE VARISCITE ZIRCON ZOISITE
MEDIUM
AGATE ALEXANDRITE AMBER AMETHYST AMMOLITE AQUAMARINE BERYL BLOODSTONE CITRINE CORAL DANBURITE DIAMOND EMERALD GARNET
EASY
Find and circle all of the gemstones that are hidden in the grid. The remaining letters spell a secret message.
DIFFICULT
Jewels and Gemstones
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"ITALIAN NEWS" continued from Page 6 Mr Garofalo worked for a private ambulance company that transported patients to and from a hospital in nearby Biancavilla. He is alleged to have injected air into each victim's bloodstream, causing a fatal embolism, as they were transported home to spend the remainder of their lives with their families instead in hospital. Mr Garofalo has been charged with three counters of voluntary homicide. But police believe there could be many more victims of the mafia scheme, which they say may have been in operation since 2012. Investigators have examined the deaths of 50 patients, 12 of which are considered "particularly meaningful," according to a prosecutor.
Shoppers up in arms over 1-cent bags Story by ANSA Rome - Italian shoppers are up in arms about 1-2-cent biodegradable plastic bags used to wrap fruits and vegetables in at supermarkets. Protests were carried against the move to make people pay for the bags, which were previously free. (Some shoppers, for instance, put stickers on each piece of fruit or vegetable they bought to get away without paying for the biodegradable bag, then took photos and posted on Facebook; but they eventually ended up paying the charge anyway because it is automatically identified by the supermarket barcode scanning). Some have blamed the government, prompting ex-premier Matteo Renzi, leader of the ruling center-left Democratic Party (PD), to say "we will put an end to fake news". A minority of those interviewed by the media said they are happy to pay to help protect the environment. The government has told Italian shoppers they can take mono-use biodegradable plastic bags from home to their supermarkets after protests against a new charge of 1-2 euro cents for the bags. "We aren't against citizens bringing bags from home, as long as they are disposable and suitable for the food," said the secretary-general of the health ministry, Giuseppe Ruocco.
The irresistible growth of Italian wines Story by Italianfood.net In ten years, from 2006 to 2016, the exports of Italian wines worldwide grew by 74% in value, marking a higher performance than the one of the entire manufacturing sector. This growth has been made possible by continuous quality improvements, which are increasingly appreciated abroad, and by the boom-
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ing of Prosecco. The latter has revolutionized International markets the most, thanks to its booming sales (+420% in the last six years), and it’s showing no signs of waning. In the first half of 2017, organic wine sales grew by 108 percent in Italy compared to the same period of 2016. This is the largest growth in terms of percentage for all organic products. The number emerges from research presented at the “Sana” fair held in Bologna, which specializes in organic food. Chicken meat comes in second, enjoying an increase of 61% in volume. Overall, in the first six months of 2017, organic product purchases rose by 10.3 percent. What are the most popular organic categories for Italians? The highest incidences of organic purchases in total can be seen for honey (12.9% of the total), eggs (12.9%), fruit (7.8%) and vegetables (5.6%). Italian wine could cost more in international markets next year. Price increases would be the consequence of the 2017 harvest that saw a sharp drop in volumes due to the drought that struck Italy during the spring and then summer, with record temperatures. Italy risks losing 25% of its production compared to 2016. The regions with the worst estimated plunges are Tuscany, with -32.5%, Umbria with -35%, Lazio with -32.5%, Abruzzo with -30%, Apulia with -30%, Basilicata with -32%, and Sicily with -35%. There are marginal decreases also for Piedmont, Veneto, Lombardy, and Trentino. Despite this dramatic drop, Italy should remain the world’s first wine producer in 2017, ahead of Spain and France. Italy aside, 2017 will be remembered as a very positive year for international food trade. Due to a consolidated economic recovery, its foreign trade will close the year with a growth of over 5% compared to 2016. This is also driven by the remarkable recovery of Russia, which grew by 40% in the first 9 months, and China that grew by 14% in October, which definitively undermines Germany from the third position of the podium of the top importing markets, as well as the confirmation of the US that registered a +8% in September.
"ICE" continued from Page 5 above and beyond to assist us. Simona is always cheerful and knowledgeable. She is a wonderful addition to the Housing Department. Thanks! Sincerely, Amanda Fox
Response:
Thank you for this great comment regarding the customer service you received from Simona Tringali. Mrs. Tringali provides the highest standard of customer service to our front lobby area. I am grateful we have her on our team. It is employees like her that enable Housing Department to provide the best possible customer to the Sigonella Community.
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