57th year, No. 30
serving the Nato, Naples and gaeta military communities in italy
Unveiling Capri's rugged beauty
Friday, august 3, 2012
Transition GPS seeks to help troops get jobs By Lisa Daniel American Forces Press Service
See pages 6-7: Away from the designer shops of Capri's main town, rarely tread roads reveal the natural beauty of the island. (Photo by Melissa Kabukuru)
Employees of Naval Hospital Naples take on Tough Mudder
U.S. Naval Support Activity Naples staff members celebrate as they finish the Tough Mudder competition in Scotland. (Photo by Ria Tan)
By Lt. Kamalan Selvarajah, U.S. Naval Hospital Naples Public Affairs Officer, with Lt. Tracy Lewis, U.S Navy Medical Service Corps
Eighteen U.S. Naval Hospital Naples staff members, friends, and family recently traveled to Scotland to participate in Tough Mudder, the first event of its kind in Scotland and only the second in the United Kingdom. Tough Mudder events consist of 10 to 12 mile obstacle courses designed by Special Forces to test all around strength, stamina, determination and camaraderie. As the leading company in the booming obstacle
course industry, Tough Mudder has already challenged half a million individuals inspiring participants worldwide. But Tough Mudder is more than an event — it's a way of thinking. Tough Mudder is a way to unlock a true sense of accomplishment, have a great time and discover camaraderie with your fellow participants. Tough Mudder is a supporter of the
Wounded Warrior Project and Help for Heroes. The funds from these events go toward providing combat-stress recovery programs and adaptive-sports programs, as well as benefits counseling and employment services that aid in a soldier’s transition to civilian life. see TOUGH MUDDER Page 4
A redesigned program for service members separating from the military will help veterans better apply the experience they’ve gained in uniform, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said. President Barack Obama announced the revamped program, called “Transition GPS,” in a speech July 23 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in Reno, Nev. "I applaud the leadership of President Obama to bring together government agencies around the goal of enhancing career opportunities for service members," Panetta said in a statement. "Our personnel have developed extraordinary technical expertise and world-class leadership skills that are in high demand. Transition GPS will help military members apply their experience to additional training, formal education, and develop successful civilian careers." Transition GPS is the first major overhaul of the military’s Transition Assistance Program in nearly 20 years, White House officials said. TAP was developed by an interagency team from the departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Labor, Education and Homeland Security, along with the Office of Personnel and Management and the Small Business Administration. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said the redesign will better ensure that veterans today and in the future will receive the care and benefits they have earned. "One of our fundamental responsibilities as a government is to properly prepare and support those serving in our military so they are career-ready as they transition back into civilian life,” he said. "This collaborative effort will have an impact well beyond this current generation of individuals returning from combat." The redesign is being developed by the Veterans Employment Initiative Task Force, which was created in August to help separating service members successfully transition to the civilian workforce, start a business, or pursue higher education. see TRANSITION GPS Page 12
FRIDAY
W hAT ’ S I NSIde
High 90 / Low 70 Sunny
SATURDAY High 90 / Low 73 Sunny
Time for a break There will be no paper Aug. 10 or Aug. 17. Panorama will return Aug. 24.
Band to peform for three weeks in Scotland Page 4
Enjoy a staycation with local events in August Pages 10-11
Before you move, get Fido ready to fly Page 13
SUNDAY High 91 / Low 75 Sunny