Serving the NATO, Naples and Gaeta Military Community in Italy
60th year, No. 37
Suicide Prevention: A Mission for All
Friday, October 2, 2015
Simple Changes = Significant Results for NCTS Sicily By MC3 Amber Porter Naval Air Station SIgonella Public Affairs
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After winning July’s “Energy Biggest Loser” competition by reducing overall energy consumption 11.6 percent from previous July, commands at NAS Sigonella are determined to build on the success of their energy conservation efforts by making lasting environmental changes. The competition, which concluded July 31, compared the energy use of the region’s installations during the month of July to their historical usage of the same time period in previous years. U.S. Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS) made the most significant contribution to the win after finding ways to reduce their installation’s energy consumption which accounts for 40 percent of the overall base energy usage. “As a communication station, we are operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week and have a tremendous amount of computers, electronics and HVAC loads,” said Construction Mechanic First Class John McClain, representative for the NCTS energy program. “Our goal was to find ways to reduce our constant lighting and increase the productivity of our HVAC systems.” After a meeting to brainstorm strategies for the base energy use, NCTS requested Antonino Piluso, NASSIG’s Installation Energy Manager, to survey the facility and provide his professional point of view. “Identifying the small things that we could do was part of the challenge,” said McClain. “We devised ideas and looked at our larger assets.” McClain explained that NCTS had old split-unit ACs that were unnecessary
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NCTS SICILY Page 5
Service members from the Naval Support Activity Naples military community light candles at sunset for a Candlelight / Memorial Service for Victims of Suicides September 28, 2015, at the Support Site outdoor pavilion. According to the Navy Personnel Command, since the beginning of September, there have been 37 suicides in the Navy. Seeking help is a sign of strength – it’s OK to speak up when you’re down. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, you are not alone: Help is always available. The Veterans Crisis Line offers confidential support for active duty and reserve service members and their families 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 or chat online at www.veteranscrisisline.net/activeduty.aspx or send a text message to 838255. Photo by Cmdr. Don Biadog Jr. By MCSN Kris R. Lindstrom USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
As we close out the month of September, so ends National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. However, the Navy, along with the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), have made suicide prevention and awareness a year-round priority. Sailors who may be contemplating suicide can seek help through the command chaplains, psychologist or suicide prevention coordinator. “A couple weeks ago, a master chief died by his own hand in Camp Lejeune and it devastated the command,” Cmdr. Ryan R. Rupe, chaplain of Theodore Roosevelt, said. “He was a
great model of accomplishgoing to be marginalized. ment. Now he’s gone. I’m That’s why we have chapnot judging him and I don’t lains, a ship psychologist, know what happened in his doctors and trained personlife but I nel on board would much because mat"I think a lot of people don't rather have ters of the him alive than heart are seek help because they fear be gone.” harder to solve they are going to It is difficult sometimes.” for any person Anyone can be marginalized. That's why to come forbe a suicide we have chaplains, a ship ward and seek prevention spepsychologist, doctors help with the cialist. It doesworry of how n’t take a and trained personnel on their peers super hero to board because matters of the save a life or will view them after the fact, lend a helping heart are harder to Rupe said. hand. solve sometimes." “People are “A lot of peonot crazy and ple don’t even certainly not out of the ordi- know that they are helping,” nary,” Rupe said. “I think a Rupe said. “Just by talking lot of people don’t seek help to someone who is suicidal, because they fear they are you are providing hope and
an ear that listens.” Chief Culinary Specialist Carmen D. Goode, the ship’s suicide prevention coordinator, said that Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month is helpful for the cause, but suicide prevention is an on-going and continuous battle. “It raises awareness at all levels,” Goode said. “It also encourages other Sailors to help each other out – shipmates helping shipmates. Just knowing where all the resources are aboard the ship.” Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month encouraged Sailors to talk about the topic and take a more proactive approach to prevent suicide. SUICIDE PREVENTION Page 7 CAPTAIN’S CORNER. . . . . . . . . 2
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PREVENTING CAVITIES . . . . . . . . . .page 12