60th year, No. 2
Serving the NATO, Naples and Gaeta Military Community in Italy
Chief’s Exam
Friday, January 16, 2015
DoD Officials Announce European Infrastructure Consolidation By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jake Richmond DoD News, Defense Media Activity
More than 200 Sailors from Naples-area commands took the E-7 Navywide advancement exam in the Child and Youth Programs Gym on the Support Site of Naval Support Activity Naples Jan. 15. The Navy Advancement Center will rank order candidates in each rating by their Final Multiple Score (FMS). The new FMS formula for E-7 states the exam score counts toward 40 percent of the score, while the candidate's performance mark average counts toward 60 percent. Only 1st class petty officers with an FMS that falls in the top 60 percent, among all rank-ordered candidates in a rating, will be considered E-7 Selection Board Eligible. (Photo by MCC Travis Simmons)
Hagel Expresses Condolences to French Defense Minister DoD News, Defense Media Activity
In a Jan. 9 phone call to French Defense Minister JeanYves Le Drian, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel conveyed his condolences for the loss of life in last week’s terrorist attack and promised him any help the Defense Department can provide, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said. In a statement summarizing the call, which Kirby noted had been scheduled for some time, the admiral said Hagel also thanked Le Drian for France’s strong and enduring partnership over the years, specifically for its counterterrorism leadership in Africa’s Sahel region. Significant Contributions to Campaign Against ISIL In addition, the admiral said, Hagel commended France’s significant contributions to the campaign to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. “Minister Le Drian wished Secretary Hagel well as he prepares to depart the Pentagon, and the two reflected on the friendship they have enjoyed,” Kirby said.
Brian Hill, Banking Center Manager for Community Bank and Terri Rooney, European Theater Manager for Community Bank, cut the cake at the grand opening of the new office for Community Bank at NSA Naples, Capodichino, Dec. 13. Located in Bldg. 450 across from the Capo FitZone, Community Bank, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Operated by Bank of America, Community Bank has 68 branches in 10 countries overseas and has had a presence at NSA Naples for more than seven years providing service members with a wide range of financial services. (Photo by MC2 Eva-Marie Ramsaran)
CAPTAIN’S CORNER. . . . . . . . . 2 BASE NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ITALIAN NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 NAVY HISTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 FFSC CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SOUND OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 MOVIES / USO TOURS . . . . . . . 9 WORD SEARCH / COLOR ME 12
oBama Unveils CyBer Plan . . . . . . page 7
Craig Karges Performs magiC page 11
SPOTLIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 JOBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Defense Department officials today announced plans to consolidate some military infrastructure in Europe to save the U.S. government more than $500 million annually while maintaining capability and commitments. The plans represent the culmination of the European Infrastructure Consolidation process, a two-year effort that was designed to ensure long-term efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. presence in Europe, officials said. The consolidation incorporates the return of 15 sites to their host nations, part of U.S. European Command’s continued effort to remove nonenduring sites from its real-property inventory and allow more resources to be focused on other Eucom mission requirements. Not Affecting Capability “In the end, this transformation of our infrastructure will help maximize our military capabilities in Europe and help strengthen our important European partnerships so that we can best support our NATO allies and partners in the region,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said. Hagel discussed the decisions yesterday with his counterparts in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Portugal – the four countries affected most by the actions. Derek Chollet, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs told reporters at the Pentagon today that European and trans-Atlantic security is more important than ever. “We are not affecting our operational capability,” Chollet said. “The EIC adjustments do not diminish our ability to meet our commitments to allies and partners.
Infrastructure Consolidation Page 11