EXERCISE! EXERCISE! EXERCISE!
July-August 2017
Contents
The Beacon
Warfighting First, Operate Forward, Be Ready
Commanding Officer, NSA Souda Bay Capt. Brad J. Collins Executive Officer Cmdr. James R. Bird Command Master Chief CMDCM Neal T. Olds
Beacon Staff Jacky Fisher Jacky.Fisher@eu.navy.mil
Public Affairs Officer 266-1244
Joel Diller Joel.Diller@eu.navy.mil
Assistant Public Affairs Officer 266-1348
Kostas Fantaousakis Konstantinos.Fant.gr@eu.navy.mil
Community Relations/Public Affairs Specialist 266-1348
MC2 Chase Martin Chase.Martin@eu.navy.mil
Public Affairs Specialist 266-1642
The Beacon is the professional online newsletter of NSA Souda Bay Public Affairs. Information contained in The Beacon does not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Navy. Editorial content is prepared by the Public Affairs Office of NSA Souda Bay. Articles for publication in The Beacon should be submitted to SoudaBayPAO@eu.navy.mil Story submissions must be routed through tenant command or departmental senior leadership. Security and policy review must be completed before submissions can be considered for publication.
An F/A-18 Hornet, assigned to a squadron from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, launches from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) as the sun sets over the Mediterranean Sea. (Photo by Joel W. Diller, NSA Souda Bay Public Affairs)
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Triad Corner
By CMDCM Neal Olds
NCTAMS Telecommunications Project
Community Outreach
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by Kostas Fantaousakis
by Joel Diller
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Supporting the “Tip of the Spear” by Joel Diller
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Final Evaluation Problem
95 RS Change of Command
by MC2 Chase Martin
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Basic Motorcycle Class
by Joel Diller
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Awards Quarters by MC2 Chase Martin
by Jerry Hollenback
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ON THE COVER: Security Forces perform a High Risk Traffic Stop after a “terrorist” from “Revolutionary Nuclei” penetrates the Bravo gate during one of the graded elements of NSA Souda Bay's Final Evaluation Problem drill. Full story on page 12. (Photo by Joel W. Diller, NSA Souda Bay Public Affairs)
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Triad Corner
Team Souda, First and foremost, I would like to echo the Commanding Officer’s comments and extend a well-deserved BZ to the entire installation, and in particular the Security Department for all their hard work leading up to and during the execution of CNIC’s Final Evaluation Problem. Souda Bay was the first base in the entire Navy to be evaluated under this new program and we’ve set the bar for the other installations to strive to meet. Great job! Anytime, you have an inspection of this magnitude, there is the tendency to take that deep breath after it is done and relax. Deep breaths and relaxing is fine as long as it does not lead to complacency. It is essential to stay vigilant even though we have completed our certifying even. Every person on this base is responsible for being alert and supporting our watch standers in maintaining the safety of our installation and our shipmates. Speaking of relaxation, the summer heat has been brutal this year with black flag conditions almost every day last month. Remember to stay hydrated (with water, not beer or soda), use sunscreen liberally, and try to limit your outdoor activities during the high temperature hours. Keep an eye on your shipmates and be mindful of the signs leading to heat stress casualties. This applies both on and off duty. Being stationed in Crete is an incredible opportunity and provides us the chance to see and do things that many other people will never be given. Take some time to visit the beautiful beaches and explore some of the historical sites the island has to offer. Getting to other parts of Europe is relatively easy and inexpensive so make the most of your time here. Kriti Info has events every weekend to help experience the life in Crete an on some of the neighboring islands. For those of you into the outdoors, Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC) offers tours and allows you to rent equipment for a majority of your needs. MWR provides free liberty shuttles Thursday through Saturday. These shuttles offer stops at Mega Place, Chania and Platanias. The shuttles are a great way to get into town, not have to mess with parking, and avoid having to make a poor decision to drive after having a few adult
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beverages with your dinner. Check with Kriti Info and OAC to find out the schedule for the shuttles and availability of any other tours you may be interested in. NSA Souda Bay may be small, but it is one of the most attractive bases in the world. People are constantly competing to work here because of the beauty we get to see every day. Understandably, I am frustrated to see litter around the base. Trash goes in trash cans; it is not a hard concept. If you are going to smoke, smoke in the designated areas; use the ash trays in those areas, and dispose of your butts in the designated containers. As I walk around the base, I am amazed to see the number of cigarette butts littering the base, even in areas where smoking isn’t even allowed. I know that a majority of this comes from personnel visiting who do not have the same pride in our base, but there are some of our shipmates who could get better at this also. When you see someone littering or smoking outside of a designated area, politely correct them. If they are not receptive, let me know and I will POLITELY correct them. On another note, Souda Bay is designed with low maintenance landscaping, that is why you see a lot of rocks and not a lot of grass. You did notice I said “low” maintenance and not “no” maintenance. Walk on the sidewalk, that is what they are there for. With the Fall PFA approaching, I am pleased to see everyone out and working on their physical fitness. However there has been an issue with people running around Perimeter Road by the CALA. Running around Perimeter Road is not allowed due to safety concerns. I understand that it’s a great location to get a good run in, but your safety is more important. We have a great track located out by the boneyard for those of you who want to run outside. Also, I need to remind everyone that headphones are only allowed to be used in the gym, on the softball field and on the running track. Running with headphones on the street is not allowed. In closing, I want to thank everyone again for all of the hard work you all put in to make NSA Souda Bay the incredible place it is. Keep up the great work, take care of each other and enjoy the rest of the summer.
NCTAMS Telecommunications Project
Photos and story by Joel W. Diller, NSA Souda Bay Public Affairs
In July, NCTAMS completed a telecommunications project that improved service to the buildings that include the Navy Exchange, Auto Hobby shop, Public Works and HAZMAT. The work upgraded the terminals in two pedestal locations from 200 to 450 lines, yielding an 250 additional lines for the current buildings and any future expansion. The pedestal work provided more reliable service, while also allowing the correction of improperly placed infrastructure. A degraded cable splice was repaired which resulted in an 87% increase in availability of telephone lines.
CMDCM Sends,
CMDCM Neal Olds
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Community Outreach
by Kostas Fantaousakis, NSA Souda Bay PA
July 3, Chania, Greece. Sailors from USS Hue City performed a beach clean-up in the famous Stavros beach located in the Akrotiri peninsula. July 2, Chania, Greece. NSA Souda Bay's Multicultural Commitee organized a beach clean-up in Stalos beach, one of the most popular beaches in the Chania prefecture.
July 5, Chania Greece. Volunteers from USS Truxtun joined the boys at the Care Center for Children and Young Adults in Chania for a soccer game. After hours of competitive sports action the Sailors ordered pizza for the Boys and joined them for lunch. The volunteers donated soccer balls and basketballs and thanked the staff and the boys of the Center for the opportunity to give back to the local community.
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July 4, Chania, Greece. Sailors from USS Hue City found the best way to celebrate Independence Day by volunteering for a yardwork project at the Mouzouras Community Center playground. Mr. Kazakos, a representative of the local community council thanked them for their hard work and their support.
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Supporting the Tip of the Spear Photos and story by Joel W. Diller, NSA Souda Bay Public Affairs
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W
e’ve all heard the phrase ‘The Tip of the Spear’. I consider ourselves the point right before the tip of that spear,” said CAPT Brad J. Collins, commanding officer Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, in a recent interview on the PBS series ‘This is America & the World’. "The personnel, the ammunition, the food, the supplies, the aircraft, the engines, the parts, anything that’s needed to support those people on the front lines. It can all flow through here…and all of the logistical support and supply can flow through this important, strategic, geographic area to those people on the front lines." For those stationed at NSA Souda Bay, work is primarily turning the proverbial gears of the Navy’s logistical support machine; air ops at the terminal, port ops at Marathi pier, providing physical security to the installation, preparing food at the galley, and many other essential functions. So it can be a rare and exciting opportunity to be able to experience the who, what, where, when, and how of that support provided to shipmates downrange. I was given the incredible opportunity to experience this logistical support first-hand on an overnight visit to the USS George H.W. Bush (GHWB) aircraft carrier while she was conducting operations in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
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After flying for less than two hours to reach the GHWB, it’s easy to understand the strategic importance of NSA Souda Bay’s geographic location within the center of the Navy’s 6th Fleet’s Area of Operations (AOO) that encompasses all of Europe and Africa, as well as its close proximity to the Middle East where the Navy’s 5th Fleet operates. In 2017, GHWB has operated in both the Navy’s 5th and 6th Fleet’s AOO conducting precision strikes on ISIS targets in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). Proximity to these strategic areas often makes NSA Souda Bay the home to the Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC-40), the beach detachment assigned to GHWB that provides Carrier On board Delivery (COD) services from a logistics site such as NSA Souda Bay. Nicknamed “the COD”, the C-2A Greyhound regularly delivers mail, cargo, and passengers out to GHWB, which would be my means of transportation to the aircraft carrier. Upon approach, the aircraft enters into the carrier landing pattern in which it lines up behind the ship and to make an arrested landing - which is a more abrupt stop than of any roller coaster. Once the tail hook catches the arrestor wire, COD passengers experience deceleration from 135 mph to 0 mph in about two seconds.
Immediately upon landing the blast from two F/A-18 Super Hornets launching from the flight deck rattled my chest. These launches, and the many more that followed, were either training missions or in support of OIR, either way, they served as a reminder of why their sound is referred to as “The Sound of Freedom”.
Below the flight deck in the hanger bay, aircraft maintainers work tirelessly at repairing the warplanes as their shipmate wheels a cart stacked with live ordnance past them. In the center of the hanger bay, some Sailors roll up their mats and wipe down their equipment as they finish up a group exercise session.
Standing on the catwalk that overlooks the flight deck, appropriately called “Vultures Row” due to its ability to provide the best views of the launches and recoveries, it all appeared to this unknowing onlooker as a type of organized chaos. Flight deck crewmembers, wearing a different color shirt for their particular function and protective gear from head to toe, use only hand signals to communicate a plane’s movements. Flight deck ops - different types of aircraft launching and recovering in daylight, at sunset, or at night, in the extreme heat, provides credence to the training and discipline of our Navy to make something that dangerous appear routine.
As my tour of the George H. W. Bush comes to an end, I am escorted to the waiting room where I am given an inflatable life vest, goggles and a cranial with ear protection while a crew member gives us a safety briefing on the aircraft.
Flight operations on this military base could not be accomplished without the support personnel aboard the carrier either. Below the flight deck are the same departments you would expect to see on a traditional military base, just laid out in a three-dimensional grid and in a much more confined space. For good reason, there is a “you are here” placard at each entryway.
Launching from an aircraft carrier is an equally intense experience as landing on one. The catapult-assisted takeoff – like being shot from a cannon - propelled the COD from 0 to 150 mph in about three seconds. As the COD returns us to the Naval Support Activity as it routinely does, I’m reminded that NSA Souda Bay’s slogan is “support is our middle name”. And while it is easy to understand the importance of an aircraft carrier while standing on its flight deck, it is the day-in and day-out logistical support provided by NSA Souda Bay as the “point right below the tip of the spear” that is equally important in advancing the U.S. national interests and security abroad.
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First in the Fleet... Final Evaluation Problem
Photos by Joel Diller, story by MC2 Chase Martin, Naval Support Activity Souda Bay Public Affairs
Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay is the first installation in the fleet to successfully complete the Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) July 27, 2017. NSA Souda Bay passed with a score of 81%, making them the first installation Navy-wide to successfully complete the arduous evaluation. Captain Brad Collins, the commanding officer for NSA Souda Bay commended the entire crew for the hard work put into the evolution. “I can't think of many days that would make me more proud as an installation commanding officer,” said Captain Collins, “than to see the entire base coming together to succeed in being the first Naval Installations Command base certified by a successful completion of FEP.” The completion of FEP means that NSA Souda Bay is capable of identifying and responding to any threats the installation my face from terrorist activities. Warrant Officer Marcus Watkins, the Security Officer for NSA Souda Bay explained more fully what the evaluation entailed. “FEP evaluators look into all the many different facets of Law Enforcement, Force Protection, Harbor Security, Physical Security, Training and Supplies,” said Warrant Officer Watkins. “In short, it is a holistic look at how we are prepared to fight and defend this base.”
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NSA Souda Bay has been preparing for FEP since the previous CART inspection and has doubled their efforts over the last six months; long-term preparation that was essential to successfully completing the evaluation. “It was a long and rigorous process in that it took long hours, dedication, well-thought-out war-gaming, and a team effort between NSA Souda Bay personnel and tenant commands,” said Watkins. “Teamwork was definitely the key to successfully passing the 2017 FEP.” The completion of FEP does not mark the end of training for NSA Souda Bay as leadership already has a detailed plan ahead to correct deficiencies and improve installation security even more. As Warrant Officer Watkins noted, “we were the first installation up to bat for FEP and the end result was a passing score of 81%. We have no plans to sit idle and will keep the foot on the gas by immediately correcting the noted deficiencies and documenting our fixes.” “Thank you Team Souda,” said Watkins, “for the spirit, effort and sacrifice everyone made leading to the installation successfully passing the Navy’s first Final Evaluation Problem.”
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95 Reconaissance Squadron Change of Command Photos and story by Joel W. Diller, Naval Support Activity Souda Bay Public Affairs
Basic Motorcycle Class
Story by Jerry Hollenback , Safety Director, Photos by Joel W. Diller, NSA Souda Bay Public Affairs
The evolution of the motorcycle took almost 70 years before the general public really caught on. In the early 1960's, Honda was importing inexpensive small engine motorcycles into the U.S. with the catch phrase, "you meet the nicest people on a Honda." Until that marketing movement, motorcycles still had the stigma attached from movies and popular culture. “The Wild One” (1953), was a motorcycle movie that compared bike riders to criminals. Motorcycle gangs like the Hell's Angels committed crimes and developed their bad reputation from their big motorcycles, and no decent person would dare be photographed on a Harley, much less ride one and be associated with a biker club. Slowly, maybe helped by the gas crisis of the 70's, motorcycling began to gain in popularity. With that popularity additional motorcycle brands materialized to fuel the demand. Today you are not forced to choose between a little Honda or a big Harley. Choices come in all sizes and every price range. Most sport bikes over 1000 cc's can easily outperform most luxury sport cars. Unfortunately, with that choice and the increased power ratio, motorcycle crashes have dramatically increased. The Navy started to require additional training when motorcycle fatalities exceeded automobile fatalities for Sailors. The death rate peaked in 2008, before leadership searched for a way to reverse the trend. The numbers receded a bit, but the manner in which Sailors die on motorcycles mirror the national trends: 76% of motorcycle and car crashes occur head-on. You are 26 times more likely to die in a motorcycle crash than a car crash. Almost half of the motorcycle fatalities occur in corners with the rider making a fatal mistake all by themselves with no car or obstacle to contribute to the carnage.
July 17, 2017, Chania, Greece. LtCol Joseph S. Barbare relinquished command of U.S. Air Force 95th Reconnaissance Squadron, Det. 1 to LtCol Andrew G. Prue during a change of command ceremony at the NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI) Cantonment Auditorium. The ceremony was performed by Colonel Joseph C. Santucci, Commander, 55th Operations Group, 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. LtCol Barbare leaves Crete to assume duties at HQ ACC/A3O , Joint Base Langley-Eustis. LtCol Prue, prior to taking command, served as Chief of Safety, 55th Wing, Offutt Air Force Base. The U.S. Air Force 95th Reconnaissance Squadron provides operations, logistics, intelligence, and administrative support to the 55th Wing for the conduct of sensitive reconnaissance and contingency operations in the European Theater.
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Training and practice are the only way to prepare yourself for the hazards of a curve or the dangers of driving in traffic. If you ride, the Navy wants you trained. In any motorcycle crash for a Sailor, the Commanding Officer will always ask if the Sailor was current with their required training. Pilots train, and train, and train some more. The average motorcycle rider in the Navy has barely 20 hours of training, and riding a motorcycle will be (statistically) the most dangerous thing a Sailor will do during his/her Navy career. The Safety office provides all required motorcycle training. Sailors and civilians with delinquent requirements get first priority, and training is available to dependents and local nationals on a space-available basis. Get trained, get smart, live long and enjoy riding in Crete; and if you don’t ride, watch out for motorcycles!
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Photo by MC2 Chase Martin
AWARDS QUARTERS JULY 2017 LSC LIN
RP2 JOSEPH
MASN CITTEL
MA1 SMITH
MA2 SAENZ
MASN SINGSON
MA1 STEELE
AC3 BOYD
MR. CHATZIDAKIS
MA2 BOWER
MA3 ELLEDGE
MR. MATZORAKIS
MA2 HANDLIN
MA3 RIDER
MS. CHALI
MA2 PENNEY
MT3 GREEN
Congratulations Awardees and Frockies! Page 16
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