CFC Annual DODEA Art Contest Winners Announced
PAGE 4
Professional Partners
NAVSUP FLC
Marines Conduct Bilateral Training
Critical Support During the U.S. President's Visit
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N A S SIG O N E L L A
PAGES 15
JUNE 9, 2017
Vol. 34 No. 22
NAS Sigonella Holds Summer Safety Stand Down by MC2 Christopher Gordon NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Safety personnel and volunteers at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella hosted a summer safety awareness standdown for service members and civilian employees in the base theater, June 7. During the summer months, people are more likely to be injured or killed in accidents related to outdoor activities, including swimming, barbequing, motorcycle riding, working outdoors, traffic accidents and exercising. Captain Brent Trickel, command-
ing officer of NAS Sigonella, started the summer safety stand-down with a short speech about the importance of safety during the summer months. “I’ve sat through at least 48 safety stand-downs in my career, some were pretty good and interesting, some were on the other side of the spectrum,” said Trickel. “Is this going to be stuff you’ve heard before? Some of it will be I’m sure. But what we try to do is to put something in your brain to where when you’re out over the summer doing whatever you’re doing, you’ll think of something you learned—or apply one of the lessons you heard—at the safety stand down.”
At the end of his speech, Trickel shared with the audience personal stories about how alcohol impairs judgment and can put people in risk of non-judicial punishment, accidents, or even death. “I’ve had way too many captain's masts on my 13 months of the job so far and obviously it’s because somebody made a conscious decision to do something wrong,” said Trickel. “But for the majority of them, if a fellow shipmate had called them out earlier in the day, maybe they wouldn’t be standing in front of me in captain's mast. The government is paying you to live in Italy right now, what an awesome opportunity. Do not screw
SIGONELLA, Sicily (June 7, 2017) – Capt. Brent Trickel speaks to service members and civilians aboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella during the Summer Safety Stand-Down. NAS Sigonella is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed and when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon/Released)
Overseas Housing Allowance Utility Survey Open, Your Input Matters
The Allowance Branch of the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) is asking service members stationed at Naval Air Station Sigonella who reside off base in privately-leased or rental housing to take part in the annual housing survey online. The month long survey is used to measure utility and recurring maintenance expenses incurred by service members stationed overseas, who reside in private housing. The data collected will help to ensure Overseas Housing Allowances (OHA) rates are properly set for service members in Italy. “It’s extremely important that service members take the survey if they are eligible,” said Chief Warrant Officer Telly Myles, NAS Sigonella Admin Officer. “Their input is critical and has a direct impact on how much of an increase or decrease personnel will receive in their paychecks.”
it up by making a bad decision.” The stand-down continued with presentations from Security on roadside safety, the fire department on fire safety, the hospital on heat injuries, Moral Welfare and Recreation on pool and water safety, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) along with Fleet and Family Support Center on child safety. “A lot of people do the GMT and sometimes they sigh because these trainings can be boring,” said Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Raul Sierra, one of the coordinators of the safety stand-down. “We try to keep it active with the summer safety stand-down, cutting it down to 90 minutes and getting a lot of people that are good at their job to go present for about 10 minutes. This way we have a lot of subjects, keeping people awake and attentive.” After all of the presenters spoke, the stand-down continued outside the theater, with booths from different departments offering unique material, information, and services. “Outside the stand-down we have fire simulator and motorcycle simulator, where you can get a feel for what riding a motorcycle is like and some safety tips,” said Sierra. “Fleet and Family Support Center and Housing are also out there, there’s a safety table all about fall protection and machine guarding, and then the Navy Exchange (NEX) are showing their specials and what safety equipment they have, like motorcycle gear.” According to OPNAVINST 5100.19E, at a minimum, commands shall conduct one safety stand-down per year. Additional safety standdowns may be warranted at the discretion of the commanding officer. “This is the best time of the year,” said Sierra. “We want you to be careful while you’re out there, and pay attention here, so you can enjoy it.” For more information on Navy safety readiness, visit: www.public. navy.mil/NAVSAFECEN/. For the latest news and information from around NAS Sigonella, visit: www.facebook.com/nassigonella
While taking the survey is voluntary, maximum participation in this survey is essential as the utility allowance will be updated based on the results and determine what service members are paid. “The biggest negative for not choosing to complete the survey will be if the allowance is decreased; and the decreased amount is below what a service member actually pays for housing and utility costs,” said Myles. “Then they will be responsible for coming out of pocket to cover the difference.” To prepare for the Utility Expenses portion of the survey, gather actual bills or records of utility and recurring maintenance expenses for the last 12 months. The survey runs from June 1-30 and is available at http:// www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/ohaSurvey.cfm?ID=jun-util and estimated time to complete the survey is 20 minutes.