57th year, No. 44
Serving the Nato, Naples and Gaeta military communities in italy
Friday, November 23, 2012
Sailors wrap up hurricane relief
NSA Naples begins to offer ‘Transition GPS’ By MC1 (SW/AW) Felicito Rustique, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East Detachment Europe
he Department of Defense has launched a new version of its Transition Assistance Program called “Transition Goals Plans Succeed,” or Transition GPS, with the goal of smoothing departing service members’ transition to civilian life. The new Transition GPS is being implemented by all military services this month in accordance with the VOW to Hire Heroes Act, which Congress passed in November 2011. At Naval Support Activity Naples, the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) will begin its first Transition GPS workshop with a full class Nov. 26. “This is a brand-new program which is still being tweaked, but it is a great move forward toward giving service members a better set of tools to make a successful transition,” said Gerard Morris, the Transition GPS coordinator at the FFSC. “The Navy is being very proactive in this process, being the first service to roll out the new workshop.” Morris said the workshops, which as of Nov. 21 are mandatory for all separating and retiring service members, will be five days long and offered nearly every other week. Changes to the program include the addition of individual counseling sessions as well as enforcement of mandatory attendance requirements, according to a White House press release. “One day will discuss the impact of transitioning and the financial considerations as well as how to convert military knowledge and skills into civilian terms for potential job opportunities,” said Morris. “There will be three days of Department of Labor training focusing on how to move forward in obtaining a job, a Veterans Affairs benefits brief, PSD and TRICARE visits, and opportunities for individual appointments.” Morris also said one of the most important individuals during any service member’s transition is the command career counselor.
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See page 4: electronics Technician 1st Class Isidro Rideout, Cryptologic Technician (Technical) Seaman apprentice Brandon Greber and Information Technician Seaman James Longeway clean a street that was damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Sailors who helped in the relief effort returned back to regular duty this past weekend. (Photo by Seaman Andrew B. Church)
USO Naples, MWR give single sailors a taste of Thanksgiving By MCSN Erik Luebke, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East Detachment Europe
or single sailors aboard Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples, being away from home this year didn’t mean missing out on home-cooked turkey, stuffing and other Thanksgiving Day staples. Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s Liberty Center provided a free meal for single sailors aboard NSA Naples Capodichino on Thanksgiving Day. Additionally, The USO Naples hosted a special “Taste of Home” dinner at Capodichino Nov. 15 for single sailors who were spending Thanksgiving away from their families. During the USO’s “Taste of Home” dinner, members of the USO staff and other volunteers served food to active duty military personnel who showed up at the Capodichino Fellowship Hall. “We do what we can to help these sailors get a little taste of home,” said Sabrina Pullido, director of the USO in Naples and Rome. “We know they have limited dining options, so we ask people with the ability to cook to share a dish. This lets the single sailors know that even though their family may be far away, the community supports them.”
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see THANKSGIVING Page 5 Left: Ramona Mireut (left) and Ken Rye, United Service Organizations (USO) volunteers, refill the turkey pan during the USO's "Taste of Home" dinner Nov. 15. The "Taste of Home" dinner is meant to provide single sailors with a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal while they are away from their familes. (Photos by MCSN Erik Luebke)
see TRANSITION GPS Page 5
FRIDAY
W HaT ’ S I NSIde
High 64 / Low 52 Partly cloudy
SATURDAY High 64 / Low 50 Mostly cloudy
Weekly crime statistics Review what happened between Nov. 12 and Nov. 18. Page 10
Ways to combat stress during the holidays Page 5
On the trail of a noble murderess in Slovakia Pages 6-7
U.S. and NATO fans show love for SSC Napoli Page 13
SUNDAY High 66 / Low 50 Partly cloudy