THE
BEACON U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece
April 2021
The Beacon
THE BEACON Warfighting First, Operate Forward, Be Ready
Warfighting First, Operate Forward, Be Ready
Commanding Officer, NSA Souda Bay Capt. Ryan T. Tewell Capt. Rafael C. Facundo COMMANDING OFFICER Executive Officer Michael Mosi EXECUTIVE Cmdr. OFFICER WernerCmdr. J. Rauchenstein COMMAND MASTER CHIEF CMDCM Brian McDonough Command Master Chief CMDCM Neal T. Olds THE BEACON NEWSLETTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER ASSISTANT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER COMMUNITY RELATIONS SPECIALIST PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST
Beacon Staff/Public Affairs Office
Carolyn Jackson Joel Diller Kostas Fantaousakis MC2 Kelly Agee
Public Affairs Officer, 266-1244 HOW TO CONTACT US Assistant Public Affairs Officer, 266-1392 Joel Diller EMAIL SoudaBayPAO@eu.navy.mil ONLINE www.cnic.navy.mil/SoudaBay Community Relations, 266-1348 Kostas Fantaousakis PHONE +30 28210-21348 WRITE PSC814 BOX 1, FPO, AE, 09266 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/NSASoudaBay SoudaBayPAO@eu.navy.mil Contact Email (All PAO personnel): FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NSA_SoudaBay FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM instagram.com/NSASoudaBay Jacky Fisher
TheBeacon Beaconisisthe theprofessional professionalonline onlinenewsletter newsletterofofNSA NSASouda SoudaBay Bay Public Affairs.Information Information contained The Public Affairs. in The Beacon notdoes necessarily reflect the official views views of theof U.S. the Department contained in Thedoes Beacon not necessarily reflect the official the Government, U.S. Government, the of Defense or the Department of the Navy. Editorial content is prepared by the Public Department of Defense or the Department of the Navy. Editorial content is prepared by theAffairs PublicOffice of NSA Souda Bay. Affairs Office of NSA Souda Bay. for publication The Beacon should be submitted to SoudaBayPAO@eu.navy.mil ArticlesArticles for publication in The in Beacon should be submitted to SoudaBayPAO@eu.navy.mil Story submissions must be routed through tenant command or departmental leadership. Story submissions must be routed through tenant command or departmental senior senior leadership. Securityand and policy review must completed before submissions canconsidered be considered for publication. Security policy review must bebe completed before submissions can be for publication.
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Contents April 2021
6 Day In The Life: Supporting an Aircraft Carrier Visit During COVID-19 Pandemic
4 Triad Corner
by CMDCM Brian McDonough Command Master Chief
64 Word on the Street: Where is the most beautiful place you have been?
22 Around NSA Souda Bay Awards, Reenlistments, Events, Operations
70 Do Your Part to Prevent Sexual Assault by Denise Prendergast, FFSC
58 Souda Spotlight
AZ2 Cheryl Sonderman Stelios Saravelakis Joshua Aponte-Rivera
72 Greek Culture: Spring Holidays
Front Cover: Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) arrives in Souda Bay for a scheduled port visit March 20. Photo by MC2 Kelly M. Agee, Public Affairs. The Parting Shot: Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Johnathan Scholl drives an NSA Souda Bay harbor patrol boat while escorting Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) into Souda Bay for a scheduled port visit March 20. Photo by MC2 Kelly M. Agee, Public Affairs.
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Triad Corner
Team Souda, Congratulations on a job well done, executing the first sandbox liberty in the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility! We are here to support the Fleet and your tremendous efforts for the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) means the 5,000+ Sailors in that Crew are now well rested and ready to execute operations and project power in support of our Nation and Allies. Now it’s your turn to take a breather; Skipper Facundo has granted Team Souda’s military members a 4-day weekend, April 2-5, and authorized liberal leave for civilian employees. Please take advantage of the time to rest and recharge — Spring and Summer will be busy and we need YOU ready to execute our mission! A few other things happening this month: Happy Birthday, Chief Petty Officers! The rank of Chief Petty Officer was officially established April 1, 1893. Team Souda has some of the finest Chiefs I’ve seen in my 30+ years in our Navy. If you aspire to be among them, keep building your technical skills and get ready to lead from the front. You can learn more about the history of the Chief Petty Officer at the Naval History and Heritage Command website: www.history.navy. mil.
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April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention month. Though the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program is a year-round effort, this month offers additional opportunities for us to renew our commitment to eliminating sexual assault from our ranks. Denise Prendergast from Fleet and Family Support Center has information in her article on Page 70 for how we can all prevent sexual assaults from happening. Each day we can take steps to foster a culture of dignity and respect with proper ethical behavior, even when no one is watching. If you have been sexually assaulted, there are many ways you can get help. A good place to start is with our Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Kirsten Diller at 694-0431129. She will listen, discuss options, and it is 100 percent confidential. April is also Military Saves month — a great opportunity for you to focus on your financial wellness. Learning how to manage your money is one of the best investments you can make for yourself and your family. If you haven’t already, please make an appointment with one of our Command Financial Specialists who can help you decode how to make a budget and stick to it. They can also help explain different investment strategies through your TSP, and the importance of both investing AND saving you money, which are very different things.
The weather is getting nicer, making this a good time to start planning if you want to travel when the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Check your passport; if it is expiring within 9 months, a representative from the U.S. Embassy in Athens will be here on April 21 to help with renewals. The public affairs team takes passport photos on Fridays; email them at soudabaypao@ eu.navy.mil to make an appointment. And remember, the world is a very uncertain place right now. When making travel plans, consider purchasing travel insurance and/or refundable
tickets and hotel reservations. The additional cost could save you a lot of money if your plans have to change. Thank you for everything you continue to do to make Souda Bay an amazing place to live and work!
~ CMC McD.
Happy Earth Day
- April 22 Page 5
A Day In The Life:
Supporting an Aircr During COVID-19 Story by Joel Diller, Public Affairs
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raft Carrier Visit Pandemic
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SA Souda Bay supports the Fleet – it’s the installation’s mission. Supporting an aircraft carrier visit is not a new task for Team Souda, as aircraft carriers deployed in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations make scheduled port visits to Souda Bay due to its strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean and deep-water port. But when Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) arrived in Souda Bay on March 20, it became the first aircraft carrier to visit during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Greece had been in a nation-wide lockdown since November 2020. “I am proud of how Team Souda pulled together in these unprecedented times,” said Navy Capt. Rafael C. Facundo, commanding officer, NSA Souda Bay. “You created a festivallike atmosphere for the Eisenhower, giving them a small taste of Greek culture during their sandbox liberty. This was supporting the Fleet at its finest. It took the entire Team to execute the plan, and at the end of the day, the Ike left here well rested and ready to execute its mission. Bravo Zulu to the entire Team.” Developing a plan and executing it to deliver a successful port visit required expertise from many of Team Souda’s departments and tenant commands, including Port Operations; Air Operations; Security; Navy Criminal Investigative Services; Morale, Welfare, and Recreation; Navy Exchange; Contracting; Protocol; Supply; Safety; Emergency Operations; Fire and Emergency Services, and Public Works Department.
STORY COVER: Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) arrives in Souda Bay March 20. Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs.
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Sailors look on as Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) moors pierside in Souda Bay March 20. Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs.
PLANNING – EARLY 2021 Cmdr. Ryan Salcido, operations officer, said he initially heard in January that the installation might have an aircraft carrier visit. He said as the OpsO, his role was to communicate Capt. Facundo’s vision and connect people during the planning process. Salcido, an EA-18G Growler pilot, said planning for this aircraft carrier visit was similar to planning for a large-force exercise that incorporates multiple types of aircraft and various missions to achieve a common objective. “You have different silos and specialties of information, but they all have to coordinate
with each other so they all show up at the right space and time and they all understand the whole grand scheme,” said Salcido. “In this situation, it’s NEX, it’s MWR, it’s Port Operations, but then ultimately you need to have some person who is making sure that everyone is talking across silos and communicating the grand vision.” Team Souda’s department heads and tenant commands held several planning meetings leading up to Eisenhower’s arrival. Salcido said there was an initial planning meeting, a mid-planning conference, an in-progress review and a final planning conference. “We had all of these battle rhythm events to Page 9
LEFT: Maria Charokopaki, a Navy Exchange employee, sets up the NEX store inside a CONEX box on the pier March 18. Photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs. RIGHT: A leather-goods store is set up for a festival created by NSA Souda Bay for the Eisenhower Sailors on March 19. Photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs.
help march forward and ultimately achieve the objective,” said Salcido. “And all I did was make sure that everyone was tracking the same way and that we had the same planning assumptions going into it.” In the early stages, the planning assumptions included different courses of action for how NSA Souda Bay would support the aircraft carrier while it was in port. The course of action directed by Capt. Facundo was to keep the Eisenhower’s crew on the pier at the Marathi NATO Pier Facility in order to protect their COVID bubble. The team had to create a Fleet Landing Event in the area that encompassed the Argonaut and athletic fields, providing a festival-like environment with food, shopping and games.
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SUPPORT SERVICES Robert DeAngelis, supervisory contracting specialist, said the Contracting office was involved in the planning process to bid out a contract to a vendor to provide the items that would be difficult for the installation to provide. According to DeAngelis, there were unique requests in order to hold a Fleet Landing Event on the pier, and there were no historical records of such an event being held within the European Command. To accommodate 5,000+ people on the pier, the vendor needed to provide items such as tents with heaters, ice coolers, portable electric generators, chairs, tables, Wi-Fi signal and lighting carts to keep the pier lit at night. X-ray machines were
needed to provide security at access points GETTING READY into the event. The Port Operations Department regularly brings ships into port, but accommodating An increase in cargo and mail is also an aircraft carrier requires more line expected during an aircraft carrier visit. Lt. Cmdr. Dale Lessner, supply officer, said handlers than usual because it’s a bigger any time a ship makes a port visit in Souda ship, said George Drikakis, port operations Bay, NSA Souda Bay’s Post Office receives manager. their mail from another ship or a cargo plane. When that ship is an aircraft carrier, Sailors from other departments volunteered to augment the Sailors and Greek local the Supply Department must plan for the increased volume. nationals who work in Port Operations, he said. Lessner said the Supply Department Chief Boatswain’s Mate Passion prepared by ensuring their storage was Richmond, acting port operations officer, weather-proofed in case it had to be stored outdoors, shifted its cargo deliveries around said the first thing they did was perform a to accommodate the Eisenhower’s liberty risk management assessment on using the in port, and prepared to offload its industrial volunteers to help moor the ship, and then provided training to mitigate the risk. waste. Page 11
MWR employees set up a tent for the festival on the athletic field behind the pier on March 19. Photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs
“We took them down to the boathouse and we busted out the (Personal Protective Equipment) which included the life jackets and the hard hats and the chin straps. We showed them how to properly don it and made sure it fit properly,” said Richmond. “Then we went over a safety brief – that’s no watches, no rings, have nothing hanging from your pants loops, make sure sleeves are down, your pants legs are bloused.” Page 12
Richmond said they demonstrated the proper way to handle a line when heaving around on it, how to properly place it on a bollard and discussed the different things the Sailors could expect when the carrier came in. SECURITY To provide the necessary security for the Eisenhower’s arrival, Ens. Christopher
Gibbs, security officer, said Security Forces coordinated with their Hellenic military security counterparts prior to the ship’s arrival to develop a plan that both forces agreed to and that allowed them to work smoothly alongside one another. Gibbs said the planning was also an opportunity for NSA Souda Bay’s Harbor Security to train with the Hellenic Navy and Hellenic Coast Guard. “We performed a combined drill with the Greek Navy to go over our preflight
responses and our escalation of force,” said Gibbs. “It gave us an idea of what they do and what their capabilities and limitations are.” Gibbs said Security Forces added personnel and set up a new commercial vehicle inspection station and a new entry control point to provide the ship with a security bubble. Inside that bubble, the ship maintained its own security in accordance its standards. “The ship has a significant security force Page 13
that is more than capable doing their own policing,” he said. Assisting the Security Forces with securing the pier was the Public Works Department. Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Fairfield, public works officer, said that Seabees from the Transportation Department moved a lot of security barriers with a forklift to set up the entry control points and reconfigure the security perimeter at the pier. NSA Souda Bay’s Emergency Operations Center was activated March 19 and in “watch status” to be ready to respond, if needed. ARRIVAL On the morning of March 20, Drikakis and Page 14
a harbor pilot, docking pilot and a trainee from the Hellenic Navy, flew in a helicopter from the NSA Souda Bay airfield to the aircraft carrier in what is commonly referred to as “the pilot pickup.” Drikakis, who is the U.S. Navy’s operational liaison to the Hellenic Navy, said they landed onboard the Eisenhower, “went up to the bridge, met the captain, the navigator, the conning officer, the OOD (officer of the deck) and got familiarized with how the evolution was going to work.” Meanwhile, NSA Souda Bay’s Harbor Patrol boats, along with boats from the Hellenic Navy and Hellenic Coast Guard, met the ship and provided a security escort into Souda Bay.
LEFT: Chief Boatswain's Mate Passion Richmond, acting port operations officer, center, briefs Sailors on supporting Eisenhower's arrival on March 19. Photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs. RIGHT: Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Melanie Reynolds bought an authentic Hellenic leather clutch purse at the festival on March 21. Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs.
Drikakis said as the aircraft carrier entered Souda Bay the harbor pilot and the docking pilot provided the captain with the approach to the pier. He said his role was to mediate and make the captain feel very comfortable. “The pilot who is actually doing the work, the harbor pilot, he will tell the conning officer an instruction. So, ‘All back 1/3’,” said Drikakis. “The captain is there, he just listens, and if he doesn’t like something, because he is the ultimate commanding officer of the vessel, he steps in and he says something. And then the pilot can adjust or give feedback to the captain to make him feel comfortable that ‘what I’m doing is the recommended way to do it.’” On the pier, Richmond and the line
handlers reviewed their training and safety instructions and walked along the pier to have “eyes on” the area where they would be working. “I brought pictures of the previous (aircraft carrier visit) to show them what they could expect,” said Richmond. “But it is a different feeling and understanding when you actually take this group of personnel that is not experienced and show them, ‘Okay, this is the bollard we talked about. This is where the storm line is going to go. This is where you can expect the bow to be parked. This is where the stern is going to stick out.’” NSA Souda Bay’s Security Forces had already secured the pier; the Argonaut restaurant and Fleet Landing Area to Page 15
prevent unauthorized intrusions; inspected the pier and tug boats using explosive ordnance device divers; and conducted sweeps with military working dog handlers. “Once the ship pulled in and was pier side, their security forces disembarked and began to setup their perimeter,” said Gibbs. “When they manned the entry control points, we fell back and they took over the security of their asset.” FESTIVAL ON THE PIER – MARCH 20 - 24 Sam Maropis, MWR business manager, said the MWR management team was prepared for an aircraft carrier visit as they have worked together for many years and have learned from previous aircraft carrier visits, but there were many new things to consider for this visit due to the liberty policy that restricted Eisenhower’s crew to the pier, he said. “In the past there were buses shuttling people not only to NSA (Souda Bay) but also to downtown (Chania),” said Maropis. “There were trips throughout places on the island and even to Athens … and then the softball fields were just used for softball, so that was going to be different this time.” During past port visits, visiting Sailors would go to NSA Souda Bay’s Navy Exchange to shop. Jennifer Sullivan, NEX general manager, said the NEX increased inventory of the items that Sailors normally purchase during a port visit, such as electronics, home goods, tobacco and Greek souvenirs.
the softball fields behind the pier, bringing a Cretan experience to the Eisenhower crew. Local vendors were contracted to sell a variety Greek and international food, leather products, and T-shirts. A photo booth was available so the crew could memorialize their port visit.
MWR provided equipment for playing horseshoes, corn bag toss, basketball and football; music played from two DJs stands; and live performances featured Cretan music, belly dancers and puzzle dancing (a combination of dances including the For the Eisenhower’s port visit, NSA Souda Charleston, Zumba, contemporary disco, Bay created a festival-like environment on and tribal African.) Page 16
NSA Souda Bay Sailors assist in the mooring upon Eisenhower's arrival on March 20. Photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs.
Maropis said the entire MWR workforce was needed to set up and work during the festival. “We pulled people from Liberty Center, Community Recreation, the Gym, the Anchor, business office – everybody,” said Maropis. “Our IT guy was selling beers and he was being assisted by our recreation manager and our procurement and payroll person. It was a whole team effort.” The cooks at The Anchor, NSA Souda
Bay’s All-hands club, also supported the festival by baking 80 pizzas per hour and shuttling them down to the pier, said Maropis. Maropis said MWR also received support from outside their organization to help with the increased demand. He said the Navy Exchange provided beer to help meet daily demand. “The goal was to provide a really nice, pleasurable experience for these hardPage 17
working young men and women that we owe so much to,” said Maropis. “That’s really what we wanted to achieve.” NSA Souda Bay’s Navy Exchange created a store and commissary out of two CONEX boxes and several large umbrellas that sold sports nutrition products; electronics; home goods such as towels, pillows and blankets; uniform items; art and jewelry from local vendors; and Cretan products such as olive oil, honey and candy. Jennifer Sullivan, NEX general manager, said the items in high demand changed over the four-day event. Apple AirPods, cell
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phones, and Greek souvenir sales were high the first two days, but on the third and fourth days Sailors were purchasing necessities such as pillows and blankets and lining up to get haircuts, she said. But there was one high-demand item she didn’t anticipate. “We blew through everything we had of straw hats,” Sullivan said. Wi-Fi was another in-demand item during the festival. In order to provide enough bandwidth to accommodate up to an estimated 4,800
simultaneous users, DeAngelis said the contracted vendor provided a connection that could transmit a significant amount of data. “On the first day of service they transmitted into the terabytes of data and on the second day a second terabyte of data,” DeAngelis said. ONGOING SUPPORT While the Eisenhower crew was relaxing, Team Souda was busy making sure the
carrier would be ready to leave on time. According to Fairfield, three Public Works Department personnel were instrumental in allowing the Eisenhower to offload its wastewater during its port visit: Manolis Mavromatakis, who spent a significant amount of time preparing the wastewater treatment plant to receive what amounted to about a million gallons of wastewater from the Eisenhower; and Utilities Constructionman Salmon and Utilities Constructionman Sanders, who caught a blockage that would have prevented the Eisenhower to discharge the wastewater.
The Eisenhower's crew enjoying the festival created by NSA Souda Bay for their port visit. Photo by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs
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The Supply Department was ensuring the Eisenhower would receive food and other supplies on schedule. Pallets of food and items for the Eisenhower ship’s store had to be received by the local customs office and delivered to the pier for loading on to fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8), which would deliver to the Eisenhower during a replenish-at-sea once it departed Souda Bay, said Lessner. “And that was all getting loaded on the Arctic, but they pulled in right after the carrier pulled out and they were in port during a (Greek) national holiday,” he said. “So, we worked with Greek customs to get all those trucks in on the 24th and then got those trucks down to the pier the day before the customs house was going to shut down for the Greek national holiday on March 25.” Lessner said the Supply Department also received cargo from Eisenhower’s beach detachment, Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 40, which is the ship’s carrier onboard delivery (COD) squadron that flies the C-2 Greyhound aircraft, delivering people and supplies to and from the ship on a daily basis. Ens. Christafer Sobbing, air operations officer, said the Air Operations Department made sure those people got where they needed to go, whether they were joining the ship or leaving it to head back home.
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MISSION COMPLETE Leaders from across the Fleet recognized Team Souda for successfully organizing and executing the port visit, noting it provided a necessary boost to the Eisenhower crew’s morale. Rear Adm. Scott F. Robertson, commander, Carrier Strike Group TWO, sent his thanks in a message to Team Souda, which can be read in its entirety on the following page. Vice Adm. Eugene Black III, commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, visited NSA Souda Bay on March 26 following the port visit, and gave special recognition to Sailors who provided outstanding support. (See the article “Vice Adm. Black Recognizes Sailors” on page "U.S. Sixth Fleet Commander" on page 32 to learn more.) Capt. Facundo also recognized Team Souda members for their accomplishments during the visit during an awards ceremony on March 30. (See the article “Team Souda Members Receive Awards for Supporitng USS Eisenhower Port Visit” on page 40.) Command Master Chief Brian McDonough congratulated Team Souda saying, “Congratulations on a job well done, executing the first sandbox liberty in the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility! We are here to support the Fleet and your tremendous efforts for the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) means the 5,000+ Sailors in that Crew are now well rested and ready to execute operations and project power in support of our Nation and Allies.”
SUBJ/IKE CSG SOUDA BAY PVST BRAVO ZULU// REMARKS/1. BRAVO ZULU TO NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUDA BAY FOR SUCCESSFULLY ORGANIZING AND EXECUTING IKE CSG PORT CALLS. FROM TIME CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MTY, THD, AND ARC, TO THE PLANNED PVST FOR IKE AND MIT, YOU ALL DEMONSTRATED WHY YOU ARE THE BEST IN THE MED. OUR TIME IN PORT PROVIDED A NECESSARY BOOST TO CREW MORALE AND DISPLAYED THE POTENTIAL FOR NON-STANDARD LIBERTY OPTIONS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC WHILE ADHERING TO COVID MITIGATIONS. THIS PORT VISIT WAS THE FIRST FOR MANY IKE CSG SAILORS FOLLOWING AN ARDUOUS 2020 DEPLOYMENT AFFECTED BY COVID. THE PORT VISIT WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.
2. IKECSG REMAINS COMMITTED TO EXECUTING THE NATIONS DUTIES WHEREVER TASKED, AND WE ARE WELL RESTED TO CONTINUE OUR OPERATIONS BECAUSE OF YOUR TEAMS EFFORTS. MY WARMEST THANK YOU. 3. "HIT HARD, HIT FAST, HIT OFTEN." RDML SCOTT F. ROBERTSON SENDS.//
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AROUND NSA SOUDA BAY Awards
Reenlistments
Events
Operations
Meritorious Advancements Story and Photos by MC2 Kelly M. Agee, Public Affairs
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apt. Rafael C. Facundo, NSA Souda Bay’s commanding officer, meritoriously advanced five Sailors March 16 during a ceremony in front of Building 1. During the ceremony, Rear Adm. Scott Gray, commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central, gave challenge coins to Team Souda’s newly-promoted Sailors for the outstanding work they do. Congratulations Shipmates!
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Newly-appointed Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class Henry Waterman
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aterman, a native of Gaston, N.C., has been in the Navy for 2 years and at NSA Souda Bay for 8 months.
As a member of the Air Operations department, he makes sure incoming aircraft will have a parking spot on the flight line and that they receive fuel. Waterman said the third class petty officer’s crow is a reflection of his hard work. “To me it is the symbol of the hard work that I’ve put in up to this point,” said Waterman. “It is also a reminder that hard work doesn’t go unrecognized.”
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Newly-appointed Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Jordan Wang
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ang, a native of Edgewood, Ky., has been in the Navy for 1 year and 8 months and at NSA Souda Bay for 1 year and 4 months.
Wang is a member of the Security Department, where he stands watch at the gate. He is also duty arms qualified, which means he is responsible for issuing weapons to the master-at-arms in his section; making sure all weapons are returned to the armory; and for cleaning and maintaining the weapons. Wang said his section helped him receive his new crow. “I’ve been working hard to try and get to this point,” said Wang. “It shows that hard work pays off. Also, I can’t be where I’m at without my section, Alpha section. They really pushed me hard to get where I’m at. I give my success to them.”
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Newly-appointed Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Logann Parker
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arker, a native of Columbus, Ohio, has been in the Navy for 4 years and at NSA Souda Bay for 7 months.
Parker is a member of the Security department’s Military Working Dog division, where she trains her military working dog, Astra. Parker and Astra search vehicles and buildings to keep Team Souda safe. Parker said earning her 2nd class petty officer crow motivates her to keep learning about her career field. “I’d like to thank everyone in the kennel because they all played a part in getting me here,” said Parker. “It also relit a fire in my love for the Navy. I’ve always loved my job but I’m ready to expand on the MA rate and get more information in K-9 in general.”
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Newly-appointed Master-at-Arms 1st Class Brittany Adkins
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dkins, a native of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., has been in the Navy for 10 and a half years and at NSA Souda Bay for 2 years.
Adkins is a member of the Security Department, standing post at the front gate and conducting roving patrols to keep Team Souda safe. Adkins said she is happy her hard work resulted in earning her 1st class petty officer crow. “I fully believe that I have put in the effort to earn this advancement and I am highly grateful for being chosen to put on the crow of a first class petty officer.”
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Newly-appointed Master-at-Arms 1st Class Luis E. Reynosoluna
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eynosoluna, a native of Los Angeles, has been in the Navy for 9 years and 3 months at NSA Souda Bay for 1 year and 9 months.
Reynosoluna is a member of the Security Department, where he is the Weapons Division leading petty officer. He is also the repair parts petty officer and a member of the Command Resilience Team. Reynosouluna said the 1st class petty officer crow symbolizes leadership. “I hope by earning this crow I can lead more junior Sailors and help them achieve their goals and help them with their career paths.”
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Newly-appointed Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Tierra Steeples
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teeples received her Certificate of Advancement from Navy Capt. Rafael C. Facundo during an awards ceremony March 30.
Steeples, a native of Lynchburg, Va., has been in the Navy for 2 years and at NSA Souda Bay for 1 year. Steeples is a member of the Security Department, standing post at the front gate and conducting roving patrols to keep Team Souda safe. Steeples said she plans on mastering her job field and taking care of junior Sailors. “I want to master my job and then take care of my junior Sailors. So, execute the mission first and then take care of the Sailors executing the mission.”
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Newly-appointed Legalman 1st Class Tyler Belz
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elz was mertirouisoly advanced by Capt. Christopher Greer, commanding officer, Region Legal Services Office Europe, Africa Central, during a virtual ceremony on March 18. Pictured above, Legalman 1st Class Erica Tapia shows off Belz's new 1st Class Petty Officer crows in front of Building 1 March 31. Belz, a native of Long Island, N.Y., has been in the Navy for 6 years and 5 months and at NSA Souda Bay for a year. Belz is a member of the Legal Department, processing legal documents and helping with military justice and legal assistance for Team Souda members. Belz said the crow symbolizes the knowledge that gets passed down from leaders to junior Sailors. "I want to pass the same lessons that have been passed to me from previous leaders because as a first class I want to be able to pass that knowledge to my junior Sailors. By doing this I can help them grow and achieve success the same way my leaders helped me achieve success.” Page 29
Navy Region EURAFCENT Commander Recognizes Team Souda Sailors Photos by MC2 Kelly M. Agee, Public Affairs
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ear Adm. Scott Gray took time during his visit March 16 –17 to recognize a few of Team Souda's Sailors for the outstanding work that they do. Congratulations Shipmates!
TOP LEFT: Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Natalie Ruiz TOP RIGHT: Chief Boatswain's Mate Passion Richmond LEFT: Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Scott Fontana OPPOSITE TOP: Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Ryan Motley OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Eddie Estrada
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U.S. Sixth Fleet Commander Recognizes Team Souda Members Photos by MC2 Kelly M. Agee, Public Affairs
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ice Adm. Eugene Black III recognized NSA Souda Bay team members for their outstanding support provided to the Nimitzclass aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on March 26. Congratulations to our outstanding team members!
Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Edward Watson, Air Operations
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RIGHT: Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Aisling Glover, Port Operations BELOW: Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Daniel Keaton, Port Operations
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ABOVE: Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Jason Reese, Port Operations LEFT: Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Frankie Perez, Port Operations
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RIGHT: Master-at-arms 1st Class Ryan Young, Security Department BELOW: Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Nathan Taylor, Security Department
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ABOVE: Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Jylene Lopez, Security Department LEFT: Utilitiesman Constructionman Brandon Salmon, Public Works
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RIGHT: Utilitiesman Constructionman Ryan Sanders, Public Works BELOW: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kelly M. Agee, Public Affairs Photo by Kostas Fantaousakis, Public Affairs
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ABOVE: Sophia Manos, Morale Welfare, and Recreation OPPOSITE TOP: Manolis Mavomatakis, Public Works OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Stavros Kopasis, Morale Welfare, and Recreation
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Team Souda Members Receive Awards for Supporitng USS Eisenhower Port Visit Photos by MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs
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avy Capt. Rafael Facundo, commanding officer, recognized Team Souda members during a ceremony on March 30 for their outstanding support provided during the Nimitiz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) port visit in March. Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals: Lt. Elsie Dominquez, Military Sealift Command (not pictured) Chief Boatswain's Mate Passion Richmond, Port Operations Chief Master-at-Arms David Dwyer, Security Department Chief-Master-at-Arms Christopher Fajkus, Security Department Chief-Mater-at-Arms Sarah Horvath, Security Department Letter of Commendation George Drikakis, Port Operations Effie Papadakis, Protocol (not pictured)
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RIGHT: Chief Boatswain's Mate Passion Richmond, Port Operations BELOW: Chief Master-at-Arms David Dwyer, Security Department
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ABOVE: Chief Master-at-Arms Christopher Fajkus, Security Department LEFT: George Drikakis, Port Operations
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Chief Master-at-Arms Sarah Horvath, Security Department receives her Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal from Capt. Facundo on March 31.
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“Fair Winds and Following Seas” to Cmdr. Werner Rauchenstein Story and photos by MC2 Kelly M. Agee, Public Affairs
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SA Souda Bay held a retirement ceremony for Cmdr. Werner Rauchenstein on March 12 in the Chapel. The ceremony celebrated Rauchenstein’s 28 years of service in the Navy, in which he served as NSA Souda Bay’s executive officer from February 2018 to February 2021. During the ceremony, Rauchenstein said his goodbyes and thanked Team Souda for their hard work and support. “The leaders in the wardroom and civilian department heads past and present have given me all the support that I required of Page 44
them and much more,” said Rauchenstein. “We have given ourselves to our missions and to Team Souda and we have grown together personally and professionally. The same can be said for all of our Sailors and all of the civilians, Greek and American. Our team does not succeed without each and every one of them. You bring your unique brand of excellence, each of you, your own challenges and your best efforts here to Chania. We are not perfect, none of us, we grow and succeed together. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for all your love and support.”
OPPOSITE: Cmdr. Rauchenstein salutes as he is pipped ashore. RIGHT TOP: Cmdr. Rauchenstein cuts his retirement cake in the galley. RIGHT BOTTOM: Cmdr. Rauchenstein receives his retirement letter from Navy CAPT Rafael C. Facundo, commanding officer.
Seabee Birthdary Ceremony Photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs
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SA Souda Bay celebrated the 79th anniversary of the Naval Construction Forces, known as Seabees, by holding a ceremony in The Anchor on March 5. The ceremony also commemorated the 179th anniversary of the Navy Facilities Engineering Systems Command and 154th anniversary of the Civil Engineer Corps.
Chief Builder Jason Dardano, oldest Seabee, and Utilities Constructionman Recruit Zared Shultz, youngest Seabee, cut the cake in keeping with the longstanding tradition to recognize the oldest and youngest Seabees present.
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ATC2 Emily Feldmann Reenlistment Ceremony Story and photo by MC2 Kelly M. Agee, Public Affairs
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ir Traffic Controller 2nd Class Emily Feldman received her Certificate of Reenlistment from Navy Capt. Rafael C. Facundo, commanding officer, during her March 29 reenlistment ceremony in front of Building 1. Feldmann, a native of Anamosa, Iowa, has been in the Navy for 6 years and at NSA Souda Bay for 2 and a half years. She reenlisted for 2 more years. Feldmann is a member of the Administration department where she assists Chief Navy Counselor Martha Madera, the command career counselor, with the paperwork for reenlistments, extensions and career development boards to help Sailors with their careers. Feldmann said she reenlisted because she wants to finish her conversion into the Navy Counselor community and learn more about the rate to help her fellow Sailors. "When I was on the (USS John C. Stennis) I saw a lot of Sailors that had problems utilizing their Navy benefits and I wanted to help them. I want to help Sailors in their career path, whether it be rate conversions, Sailors deciding to stay or Sailors that decide to get out of the Navy," she said. Page 46
Sailors Deliver Clothing Donations To Local Community Center Photo by Lt. Michael Spoke, Command Chaplain
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olunteers from NSA Souda Bay delivered clothing donations to the Mouzouras Community Center on March 18. NSA Souda Bay's Chapel collects donations in support of the local community and schedules deliveries several times a year.
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USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Arrives in Souda Bay
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Photos by MC2 Kelly M. Agee, Public Affairs
imitz-class carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) arrived in Souda Bay, Greece, on March 20 for a scheduled port visit while on a routine deployment in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national interests and security in Europe and Africa.
To learn more about how Team Souda supported Dwight D. Eisenhower during its stay in Crete, read 'A Day in the Life: Supporting an Aircraft Carrier During Covid-19 Pandemic' on page 6.
PICTURED BELOW: USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) arrives in Souda Bay March 20.
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TOP LEFT: Sailors look on as the Dwight D. Eisenhower moors pierside March 20. TOP RIGHT: Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Suramy Marquez stands watch on the harbor patrol boat March 20.
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CSADD Organizes Successful School Supply Drive Story and photos by MC3 Timothy Ruple, AFN Souda Bay
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SA Souda Bay’s Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions participated in a School Supply Drive Feb. 22 to March 12.
“It was an honor to be able to participate in this awesome community relations event,” said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Tierra Steeples, NSA Souda Bay’s CSADD president. “We look forward to being able to continue to give back to the community in the future and we want to thank everyone who took the time to volunteer. We especially want to thank those who donated, you are what made this event a true success.”
The goal of the community service project was to collect donations for boys and girls who attend the Elementary School of Pazinos in Chania. CSADD coordinated with Lt. Michael Spoke, NSA Souda Bay command chaplain, and the base Public Affairs Office to arrange the delivery with the Parents’ Association This is the third community service President of the Elementary School project that CSADD has been a of Pazinos, Yannis Kalitsakis. part of during fiscal year 2021. In November 2020, the group collected “This year has been a very tough food and clothing donations in year for the kids and parents Thanksgiving-themed baskets and because of the current pandemic,” delivered them to the Mouzouras said Kalitaskis. “Right now all of the Cultural Association; and in classes are virtual, but we hope to move back into the classroom soon. December 2020, they delivered holiday gifts to the St. Nektarios Girls When we do, these school supplies Care Center and Daily Care Center will come in handy.” for Children and Young Adults in CSADD Sailors volunteered to create Chania. donation boxes. They also set them TOP: Utilitiesman 3rd Class Dodanin Agumedo (left), Yannis Kalitsakis, Parents’ Association President of up around NSA Souda Bay and the Elementary School of Pazinos (center), and Lt. spent three weeks raising awareness Michael Spoke, command chaplain (right), unload boxes of donated supplies at the for this school supply drive. Elementary School of Pazinos, March 16.
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BOTTOM: Spoke, Kalitasakis, and Agumedo carry boxes of donated supplies at the Elementary School of Pazinos, March 16.
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Can You Handle the Heat? MWR Holds a Hot Wings Eating Contest Story and photos by MC2 Kelly M. Agee, Public Affairs
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ears well up in Sailors‘ eyes as they chomp their way through plates of chicken wings doused in a variety of ridiculously hot sauces. You can see the pain in their eyes, but they won’t give up; they have made it this far. The Sailors are fighting to become the one and only champion of MWR’s Hot Wings Eating Contest.
months. Ochs said he has always loved the challenge of eating spicy foods.
Five NSA Souda Bay Sailors participated in a Hot Wings Eating Contest hosted by the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department March 9 at the Liberty Center. The MWR Department continues to hold morale boosting events while following COVID-19 measures.
Most importantly, Sailors from departments ranging from Security, Naval Munitions Command to American Forces Network laughed, listened to music, while enjoying free wings with each other during the event.
Faidra Angelaki, MWR recreation aide, said the main point of the event was to give Sailors something to do on base. “We have been trying to look up events that will help the Sailors get out of their rooms and not feel alone during the pandemic,” said Angelaki. “The chicken wings contest is very popular in the states and we wanted to make them feel like they are at home.” The contest was open to all active-duty military members. There was no time limit to the contest; the Sailor who ended up eating the most wings was the winner of the contest and the first place prize was bragging rights. There were three levels of wings: mild, hot and extra hot. Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Drake Ochs is the brave soul who won the challenge with a whopping 13 wings. Ochs, a native of Newton, Ill., has been in the Navy for fours years and at NSA Souda Bay for three Page 52
“I’ve done a couple of spicy food challenges on my own, not official ones,” said Ochs. “I’ve ordered ghost peppers online just to try them, and have tried a ton of different levels of hot sauces.”
“I’ve had a good time tonight. You really get to bond with your fellow Sailors on the base and (eat) free food,” said Ochs. For more Liberty Center activities check out MWR’s facebook page at https://m.facebook. com/cretemwr.
RIGHT: Faidra Angelaki, MWR recreation aide, prepares a plate of spicy chicken wings. BELOW: Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Drake Ochs, the winner of the contest, finishes off his final wing. OPPOSITE: Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Drake Ochs, Gunner’s Mate Seaman Tezhane Williams and Aviation Ordnanceman Kamellen Gill enjoy free wings at the event.
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TRANSCOM Commander Visits NSA Souda Bay Photos by MC2 Kelly M. Agee, Public Affairs
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rmy Gen. Stephen R. Lyons, commander, U.S. Transportation Command visited the installation March 23-24.
During the visit he toured the installation and the Marathi NATO Pier Facility.
BELOW: Capt. Facundo greets Lyons as he arrives at the installation March 23.
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RIGHT: Lyons, second from right, speaks with NSA Souda Bay team members in the air terminal on the installation March 24. BELOW: Lyons, right, speaks with Hellenic Navy Commodore Ioannis Sarrigiannis, commander, Hellenic Naval Base Souda, middle, and Navy Capt. Rafael C. Facundo, commanding officer, NSA Souda Bay, left, at the Marathi NATO Pier Facility, March 24.
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MWR Sports New Radio-Controlled Cars Photos by Joel Diller, Public Affairs
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he Morale, Welfare, and Recreation team has some new toys for Team Souda to play with – remote-controlled cars. The Triad took the four Traxxas Rustler VXL RC cars out for a test drive around a temporary track on the ballfield March 2 … and they approved! In April, MWR will be holding Racing Competitions on the softball field: Thursday, April 8 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 10 from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 22 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 24 from 3 to 5 p.m.
The event is open to all adults. First and second place winners will receive MWR gift cards. Registration deadline is two days before each event at Community Recreation in Building 61. For more information, call 266-1355. Page 56
RIGHT: Cmdr. Michael Mosi, executive officer; Navy Capt. Rafael Facundo, commanding officer; and CMDCM Brian McDonough, command master chief; take the RC cars for a test drive around the track on the ballfield March 2. BELOW: Joshua Aponte-Rivera, MWR manager, sets up a remotecontrolled car on the ballfield March 2.
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Souda Spotlight
Story and photo by MC2 Kelly M. Agee, Public Affairs
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Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 2nd Class Cheryl Sonderman Air Operations
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viation Maintenance Administrationman 2nd Class Cheryl Sonderman joined the Navy in August 2014 and has been stationed at NSA Souda Bay since January 2021. Sonderman, a Chicago native, said she joined the Navy to further her education and is currently working on her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with the goal of eventually earning a master’s degree. She said she chose the AZ rate because it was the most interesting job for her since she enjoys doing paperwork. Sonderman is a member of the Air Operations Department where she is working outside of her rate by managing the department’s personnel administration paper work, so her teammates can focus on handling incoming and outgoing aircraft. What does a typical day look like in Air Operations? I work in close contact with base Admin to provide them with whatever information they need. I use a program called FLTMPS (Fleet Training, Management and Planning System) and OIX (Official Information Exchange) to find out who’s leaving and being gained in Souda Bay. Also, people will come up to me if they have any problems with their pay. I use TOPs (Transaction Online Processing System) to ensure pay is good. If it isn’t I would go in NSIPS (Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System) and report that to Admin. I am also the department career counselor, so I manage people’s careers within my department, so around 15 people. Have you learned anything new? I’ve learned so much more about administration work instead of aviation, it is literally crazy. I did not think I would ever be on this side of the Navy. I have never been in Admin before so everything I have learned here is brand new to me, from being a command pay and personnel administrator to career counselor. What is your favorite thing about your job? I like seeing what Sailors want to do with their
careers because I’m helping people from E-1s to E-7s. It is interesting to see people's career intentions because it's cool to see where people are going to next duty station-wise, or what they want to do when they retire, or what their plans are when they get out – whether it has to do with education or another career path. When you're not at work, what do you enjoy doing? I do a lot of homework. I am currently taking two online classes: Intro to Law and Legal Systems and Introduction to Homeland Security. I also love interior designing, that is a hobby that I love to do. I could be on my laptop all day looking up interior design ideas and how I could change up my place. I’ve been looking up decorations that could go together with my furniture that is on its way here. I watch a lot of the TLC shows like ‘Flip this House’ or ‘Home Improvement’ and I can watch those all day, every day. My favorite place to design is my room. At my previous duty station I designed my whole room myself and picked out everything and that was my comfort space. What is something you want Team Souda to know about Air Operations? Air Operations is the best Department on the base and we have great leadership and our Sailors rock. Page 59
Souda Spotlight
Story and photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs
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Stelios Saravelakis
Firefighter, Fire & Emergency Services
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telios Saravelakis, a native of Crete, has been a firefighter for the Fire & Emergency Services Department for six years, where he plays an important role in maintaining the firefighter’s breathing apparatus’s to keep his fellow firefighters safe as they protect Team Souda in the event of a fire.
Why did you want to become a firefighter? I studied to become an engineer but then the financial crisis in Greece hit me. I thought that after I got out of the Army – because the Army is not voluntary here in Greece, we have to go – it would be better, but it was worse. So yes, I was looking for a job. I heard about the job over here. In the beginning I didn’t know what to expect but from the first time that I interviewed here I liked it. I liked the feeling of the station. Everybody was very welcoming and it made me feel very good. What training did you complete to become a firefighter? After we passed some agility tests, we had to pass an interview. When we got hired we had an academy for three months. We did physicals every morning for an hour – it was tough. And then we were coming here and spending at least four to five hours for theory. And also after that we did the practicals – hands on skills – everything that we had to do to practice what we learned that day or the previous days. There we combined everything so we would have a good outcome. What is a typical day like for you?
Everyone gets a place in a vehicle and then you have a specific area that you are focused on. I work in the SCBA (selfcontained breathing apparatuses) program. It’s a very big program because it has to do with our survivability in the field because it’s the breath of air in the case of an emergency – it’s very important. What do you do for the SCBA program? We fill the bottles. We maintain the compressors – we have two compressors. We do the service for the maintenance for our packs – we do it ourselves for our team. We do the fit tests on every firefighter, the assistant chiefs, everybody that can wear a pack. The system that we have to check the packs has some standards that every pack has to pass every year. Those standards have to do with the safety of the firefighter that breathes the air in order to breathe the right amount and the right pressure of air. What is your life like outside the office? I like to travel. I also have a daughter who is 13 months old. We are very excited – she is walking, she is laughing, she is everything – she is our joy in the everyday life. And also, I have a hobby, I spearfish … I like the sea a lot.
The day starts with our daily assignment. Page 61
Souda Spotlight Story and photo by Joel Diller, Public Affairs
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Joshua Aponte-Rivera Manager, Auto Skills Center
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oshua Aponte-Rivera, a native of Puerto Rico, joined the Navy in 2014 and served as a master-at-arms for four years. He completed a tour at NSA Souda Bay from 2016 to 2017 and returned in 2020 to be Team Souda’s Auto Skills Center manager. What is a typical day like for you? A normal day here is basically ensuring vehicle inspections are done and vehicles are safe to be driven by us out here. Besides that, I am here to answer any questions that customers might have about their vehicles. That basically makes me learn not just about one vehicle type. Also, I can relate with them by researching and learning about their cars, which will, in a way, make my experience go up higher. Do you have any other roles at MWR? Right now, I am in charge of a project in which we have six (remote controlled) cars made by Traxxas and … we just got (the project) cleared by the CO. Also, due to COVID, the gym can only be manned by U.S. personnel … so when I’m not working here, I’m working there. I basically help them run the gym as a manager whenever the manager gets off work at 2 p.m. How did you become good at fixing cars? Back to my roots – when I was a little kid my mom’s car would break down and every time we went to fix it the parts would cost about a $100 but the install would be twice as much. So that’s when I said, “Naw, I’m not cool with that. I would rather learn how to fix cars and do it on my own to save that much money.” So, little by little I started buying parts and putting them on and watching YouTube videos on how to do it. Then as time went by it got easier and easier, like playing with Legos. And now it’s to the point where I can listen to an engine and hear, “this is doing
that noise – it has to be because this part is causing it.” I’ve been working on cars for four years as a hobby, mainly. And then after I got out of the Navy I went to school for it. Do you have a favorite thing you like to do on cars? Yeah, engine swaps. To me it’s pretty cool that you can do that to a car. You can get whatever smaller engine is on it already and put in a bigger one, or a smaller one, whatever you want. For me that’s cool that you can make an engine from another car work on your car. Besides working on cars, do you have any hobbies outside of work? Out here in Greece, nothing just yet due to everything being closed. But before everything closed, I used to be into extreme sports – anything that gets my adrenaline going, that’s fun for me. Are you here with your family? Out here I have a wife and then the rest of my family is in Puerto Rico and Florida. What do you want Team Souda to know? I think everyone should know that we are here for them to make their island beaters, or island cars, not be beaters. There are also things that people don’t know about importing their vehicles to the states. They think that they bought a car here, that car has to stay here. Little stuff like that is what I want to teach people.
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Word on the Street
Where is the Most Beautiful Place You Have Been?
“Guam – I loved it because the beaches, and the weather was always really nice.” Staff Sgt. Allison King Detachment 1, 95th Reconnaissance Squadron
“Santorini’s old port – the view is amazing. It is neat being up so high and seeing the ferry boats arriving at the pier.” Allen Zai Navy Exchange NEXMART Page 64
“Dubai – the Atlas Hotel where you can swim with the dolphins.” Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Gregory Hubbard Security
“The Christmas markets in Prague. The architecture itself is beautiful and then you add that layer of the Christmas markets and it makes it that much more magical.” Amanda Hester Fleet and Family Support Center
“The Agia Triada Monastery (and) the hike to (the) secret beach – at the beach there is crystal clear water and on the way there are caves and ruins.” Construction Mechanic Constructionman William Ryan Public Works Department
“Santorini – I love the beaches and the beautiful restaurants. The island gives you a good aura and feeling. I have many good memories there.” Helen Mylonas Navy Gateway Inns and Suites Page 65
Word on the Street
Where is the Most Beautiful Place You Have Been?
“Patagonia, Chile – it looks like a painting, it doesn’t even look real. It is so pretty.” Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Natalie Ruiz Security
“Alaska – it is quiet and has nice mountains, water, snow, trees and nature.” Michael Fleming Fire Department
“Acadia National Park in Maine – there is a hike where you can stand on top of what they call ‘the bubbles’ and see the trees on the bottom. It is gorgeous.” Hospital Corpsman Seaman Briana Deselm Medical Page 66
“San Diego – it has wonderful beaches, colors and even highways.” Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Chelsea Parker Security
“Flam, Norway – it has beautiful fjords with crystal-clear water, it is fantastic. You can bike ride into the valley, it is unbelievable. There is nothing but green and waterfalls.” Charles Tanner NAVSUP
“Paleochora – it’s a village that has a lot of beaches and small shops that sell Greek items. There is also an amazing bike ride with a beautiful view.” Maria Mavromati Air Operations
“The dunes in Abu Dhabi – they are very peaceful and the sunset was really nice.” Boatwain’s Mate 3rd Class Steven Slarich Port Operations Page 67
Word on the Street
Where is the Most Beautiful Place You Have Been?
“Singapore – the city was really clean. The Merinana Bay Sands is amazing. At night they have a light show. It is beautiful.” Chief Navy Counselor Martha Madera Administration
“Skiathos – it’s located in the Aegean Sea. It is a traditional island. It has many beautiful beaches. I’ve spent all my summers there since I was a teenager.” Nikos Valassis Housing
“New York City – it’s unique amongst all the cities in the world and it is one of the most diverse places in the world. There are so many iconic places you can see in one day.” Legalman 2nd Class Tyler Belz Legal Page 68
“Japan – I liked it very much. Their nature, the bonsai and cherry blossom trees were fantastic.” Maria Katinari Fleet’s Inn Galley
“Secret Cove, Crete – the water is really blue and it has a great view from the top of the mountain.” Logistics Specialist Seaman Chanedon Harris NAVSUP
“The Toronto, Canada airport – as the plane is taking off you can see a river and it looks like the branches of veins, it is expectational and the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.” Stelios Ikonomakis Fleet’s Inn Galley
“El Paso – I really like the Franklin Mountains, they are really nice and scenic.” Builder Constructionman Apprentice Miguel Aceves Public Works Department Page 69
Do Your Part in Stopping Sexual Assault
Story by Denise Prendergast, Resiliency Counselor, Fleet and Family Support Center
There are many different ways that we can each help prevent sexual assault: • Be a buddy – When going out with friends make sure that if you go together, you return together. Make sure no one gets separated from the group or gets too intoxicated. • Drinks – Speaking of drinks, keep an eye on your drink. If you leave it unattended, better to get a new one. • Climate – Treat and speak about people respectfully; don’t engage in inappropriate talks while at work. Keeping good boundaries lets everyone know where you stand.
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pril is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. As part of Team Souda we all have a part to play in stopping assaults before they occur. A true team looks out for all of its members and that is the best way to keep everyone safe. According to the DoD’s Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military, more than 6,000 military members reported experiencing sexual assault during military service in FY 2018; the DoD estimates about 20,500 service members experienced sexual assault that year. Page 70
• Appearance – Don’t be afraid to look awkward or be wrong about stepping in to a situation. It is far better to feel embarrassed or silly than to risk someone being assaulted. Usually people don’t get mad at someone for checking in on them. • Help – You can always ask for help from a peer, security, the police or even a bouncer or bartender; everyone being safe includes you. • Stranger Danger – It may seem like a no brainer but don’t go to unknown places with people you don’t know. Things and people are not always what they seem.
Everyone deserves and needs to have fun, we just want to make sure your experiences here on Crete stay fun.
We are here to help and support you through any situation. Your privacy is very important to us and so is your wellbeing.
This month the Fleet and Family Support Center will be promoting awareness through a number of events, including a ‘Chalk the Walk’ contest and a special meal at the Galley. Keep your eyes posted for details. Don’t forget to wear teal on Tuesdays in April to show your support.
Visit the Fleet and Family Support Center in Building 11 or call us at 266-1690. The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocate duty phone is available 24/7 and can be reached at 694-043-1130.
And please, if you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, come to the Chaplain or the FFSC.
From a cell phone, dial 001-877-995-5247 From an office phone, dial 99-001-877-995-5247 Page 71
Greek Culture:
Spring Holidays
May 1 - May Day: A Flowery Holiday For Greece Story and photo by Kostas Fantaousakis, Public Affairs
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ay 1, known as “Protomagia” (May Day) in Greece, is a combination of a traditional Greek holiday and Labor Day. May, according to Greek folklore, has two meanings: The good and the bad; and rebirth and death. The custom is to celebrate the final victory of summer over winter, as the victory of life over death. This day was also dedicated to the goddess of agriculture, Dimitra, and her daughter, Persephone, who on this day, according to ancient tradition, emerge from the underworld and come to earth, marking the blooming of nature and the birth of summer. According to some historians, “Protomagia” has its roots in “Anthestiria,” a celebration in honor of Dionysos, the Greek god of theater and parties, with a festival of souls, plants and flowers celebrating the rebirth of man and nature. Traditionally, in years without the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, every major municipality organizes events featuring flowers and outdoor activities to
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commemorate the day, and local festivals are common. Due to these rich traditions, the flowery part of the holiday is also very popular for Greek families as it is related to the peak of the flower season. The main thing that characterizes “Protomagia” is the massive exodus of people out of the city and into the countryside. Picnics are organized with family members and friends. One common custom throughout Greece is making a wreath known as “the wreath of May” and hanging it on the main entrance door. This is a very fun activity, especially for children, when they are out in the country in touch with nature and picking flowers for the wreath. The wreath stays on the door until June 24, the day of the Nativity of John the Baptist, also known as ”Klidonas,” meaning sign or oracle. It is customary on this day to burn the wreaths of May in large communal bonfires, accompanied by music, dancing and jumping over the flames.
The labor-related holiday is called “Ergatiki Protomagia,” which literally means Workers' 1st of May. Celebrations are marked by demonstrations in which workers' unions participate and major strikes are sometimes scheduled for this
day. Due to COVID-19 measures, May Day celebrations are unlikely to take place this May Day. This year, May 1st falls on the same day as Good Saturday during the Greek Orthodox Easter celebration.
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April 25 - May 1: Greek Orthodox Easter Photos source: Wikipedia.com
Clean Monday (March 15) and lasts for 40 continuous days. No meats, dairy, fish, poultry or dishes prepared with these foods can be consumed during the Great Lent. Palm Sunday (April 25) is the first day of the Holy Week and only fish and fish courses are served. During the rest of the Holy Week complete fasting is to take place. The fast stops immediately after the Easter Divine Liturgy (May 1), at midnight. The Holy Week ends with the commencement of the Easter celebration (Μay 2) which glorifies the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every evening throughout Holy Week has its own significance and traditions: Sweet rolls, an Easter cookie-like pastry called “koulourakia”, are baked Christmas, Easter and the Assumption on Holy Tuesday (April 27). In the of Virgin Mary (Aug. 15) are considered evening, the blessing of Holy Oil takes the greatest religious holidays in place in church. Greece. Christmas ranks second to Holy Thursday (April 29) is the day for Easter, making the latter the most dying eggs. In Christianity, the egg is sacred and celebrated of all Greek holidays. The Greek word for Easter is a symbol of resurrection, representing the emergence of Christ from His tomb “Pascha.” to everlasting life. Greeks mainly color Usually, the Eastern Orthodox Church hard-boiled eggs red (scarlet) to signify does not celebrate Easter on the same the blood of Christ. In the evening, date as the Catholic and Protestant following the reading of the Gospel, denominations because the Orthodox the girls decorate the “Epitaphios”. Church uses the Julian calendar. This is a wooden representation of the Tomb of Christ (also called a bier), The spiritual preparation for Pascha begins with Great Lent, which starts on and is usually elaborately carved and Page 74
TOP: The “Epitaphios”, the bier of Christ, is carried during a Good Friday service at a Greek Orthodox Church. BOTTOM: People receiving the Holy Light at Easter from the priest. OPPOSITE: An icon featuring the "Anastasis" (Resurrection). According to an inscription, this icon was painted in 1679 by the Cretan artist Ilias Moskos. Origin: Greek island of Kephallonia.
decorated with flowers, so on Good Friday morning it will be ready to receive the body of Christ when He is taken down from the cross. Good Friday (April 30) is a day of mourning. The drama of the death of Christ is followed with great devoutness. Vesper evening on Good Friday is followed by the procession of the “Epitaphios” representing Christ's funeral. A choir singing hymns precedes the procession; they are followed by the clergy, the altar boys carrying the liturgical fans, and the people of the region singing hymns throughout the procession. All along its route, people hold lighted candles in their hands. On Holy Saturday evening (May 1), the “Anastasi” (Resurrection mass) will take place. The midnight service is without a doubt the most important day of the year. At midnight, all the lights are extinguished in the church and the priest comes from behind the doors
on the altar carrying a candle lit with Holy Light. He walks to those standing in the front row and lights their candle and those who receive the light of the resurrection pass the light from candle to candle until the light fills the church. Everybody leaves the church after midnight, chanting the following song: Christos Anesti ek nekron, (Christ has risen from the dead) thanato, thanaton patisas, (trampling down death by death) kai tis en tis mnimasi, (and upon those in the tombs) zoin charisamenos (bestowing life!) Page 75
At the moment of the Resurrection, families and friends exchange kisses and say, “Christos Anesti”, (Christ is risen!). The response to this wish is “Alithos Anesti” (Truly He is risen). Fireworks and a great celebration usually accompany the midnight announcement of the Resurrection of Christ.
and its inhabitants by the light of Christ's Resurrection.
The traditional meal following the Resurrection consists of “mageiritsa”, a soup made of chopped lamb liver and wild greens seasoned with eggand-lemon sauce. Traditionally, Easter eggs, hard-boiled eggs dyed bright In Crete, people take home their lighted red, are cracked against each other to celebrate the opening of the Tomb of candles carefully with the holy light of the Resurrection. Before entering their Christ. People crack their eggs against their friends' eggs and the owner of houses, they make a cross with the smoke of the candle on top of the door, the last egg to remain unbroken is considered lucky. During this family light the oil candle before their icon stand, and try to keep this light burning gathering Greeks also eat “koulouria” throughout the year to bless the house (Easter cookies), “kalitsounia” (cheese or spinach pies) and “tsourekia” (Easter cakes). Easter Sunday (Sunday, May 2) The Greeks have many traditions on this day, but the most important is the gathering of the family and the roasting of a lamb, “Arni Pashalino tis Souvlas”
TOP LEFT: “Mageiritsa”, a soup made of chopped lamb liver and wild greens seasoned with egg-and-lemon sauce. It is consumed right after the Resurrection. BOTTOM LEFT: Lamb on the spit.
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(Easter lamb on the spit), in their yards. The spits start turning early in the morning under the shady trees as the lamb is cooked slowly. The lamb is one of the most common Christian symbols, especially associated with Easter, and it is known as the Agnus Dei, meaning "Lamb of God" in Latin. The popularity of lamb as an Easter food is undoubtedly related to its importance as a symbol. Another popular food of the day is “kokoretsi”, a traditional dish consisting mainly of seasoned lamb or entrails and internal organs. Recipes usually include chopped intestines, sweetbreads, hearts, lungs and/or kidneys marinated in lemon, olive oil, oregano and seasoned with salt and pepper. The small intestine is wrapped around the spit used to partially cover the meat. The “kokoretsi” is then roasted over charcoal.
Although the roasted lamb and “kokoretsi” are the main dishes, all other foods from the previous night are consumed and Easter eggs are cracked again. This feast, called the "Feast of Feasts,” goes on all day and is followed by drinking wine, dancing and singing. Greek Easter Wishes Greeks wish "Kalo Pascha" (Have a good Easter) when the Holy Week starts. They wish "Kali Anastasi" (Have a good resurrection) when Easter Sunday is very close, especially after Holy Thursday and Good Friday. And of course they wish "Christos Anesti" on Easter Sunday when Christ has already risen.
Hard-boiled eggs dyed bright red, resurrection celebration candles and a type of sweet brioche called "tsoureki."
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The Parting Shot...
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