June-July 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.
A Sailor from USS Hue City (CG 66) throws a line out to moor the ship at Marathi pier. (Photo by MC2 Chase Martin, NSA Souda Bay Public Affairs)
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Triad Corner
By Capt. Brad Collins
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NEX Souda Bay Bingham Award
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Community Outreach by Kostas Fantaousakis
by Mary Tipp
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Aircraft Fuel Spill Exercise by Joel Diller
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Care Packages from Home by Joel Diller
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Awards Quarters & Frockies
ON THE COVER: Bailey Uzelmeier walks toward the C-2A Carrier On-board Delivery aircraft at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay to help deliver care packages to the Sailors aboard USS George H.W. Bush. Full story on page 12. (Photo by Joel W. Diller, NSA Souda Bay Public Affairs)
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Triad Corner
NEX Souda Bay wins Bingham Award
The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) announced its 2016 Bingham Award winners. The Bingham Award was established in 1979 to recognize outstanding performance in operations, customer service and community support. “This award is presented to the best of the best NEXs in nine sales categories for overall financial results and customer service,” said Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi (Ret) Chief Executive Officer, NEXCOM. “This award is presented to both the NEX and the local Navy command to recognize their partnership and commitment to support the quality of life of our military members and their families. Bravo Zulu to each of the winners and runners-up for their outstanding achievements.” Navy Exchange Souda Bay was the winner of Category 5 (Sales $4 - $9 million) Mary Tipp, General Manager, NEX Souda Bay noted: “The NEX Souda Bay team works very hard to take care of our customers and we feel very honored to be recognized with the 2016 Bingham Award. Without the support of Captain Collins and the rest of the Command, our District Office and NEXCOM, this would not have been possible, thank you to all of them and a huge thank you to my team for a job very well done!!”
Team Souda, You’ve heard the quote, “No man is an island,” right? Well
during my time, I’ve seen the meaning behind this phrase acted out time and time again on this installation during scheduled, large and very visible evolutions like mooring an aircraft carrier or conducting base-wide drills. It’s amazing to see that level of coordination on display each and every day directed towards mission accomplishment. Recently, NSA Souda Bay hosted an event that may not have been so visible (yet) and afforded us little preparation time prior to execution. Mr. Dennis Wholey from the Public Broadcast Station (PBS) show, “This is America & the World”, came on board NSA Souda Bay to wrap up a large project he’s been working on to highlight the U.S. & Greek relationship. His effort started in Washington, DC, continued at the American Embassy in Athens, moved to the USS Mesa Verde in port in Piraeus, and finally culminated in a visit to Souda at K-14 in Marathi and topside at NSA Souda Bay. Seeing a duck glide effortlessly across the water, you don’t see below the waterline where his legs are feverishly kicking. In the same way, with less than a 24 hour notice of the final clear picture of what was expected, this installation successfully hosted Mr. Wholey and his production crew to film both at K14 and here on the flight line. A true Navy “turn-to effort” was facilitated by MVRO & Physical Security fast-tracking base access; Security ensuring smooth access through Bravo and India gates; Effie in Protocol trying to feverishly bring a million moving parts together; the Air Terminal facilitating flight line access; AFN Souda Bay providing some awesome port ops b-roll for PBS to incorporate in their series; and having not one but two PAO escorts, mine and
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one from Region; … I even heard WO Samuels helped the XO unfurl the American flag so the PBS cameraman could get some good b-roll footage of Building 1. Team effort. TEAM SOUDA! I was happy to do my part, giving two interviews – one at K-14 alongside Commodore Charalambos Zisimopoulos, Commanding Officer, Hellenic Naval Base (which was the first time we meet since he recently took command, so everyone had the opportunity to exercise their flexibility with this evolution!), and the other on the flight line where I had the chance to speak to how NSA Souda Bay supports and extends the fleet’s mission and operations in part due to the close, cooperative U. S. and Greek relationship. When it was all over, PBS departed NSA Souda Bay confident they had enough to finish their series. If you want an early sneak peek into the series, the Greek Ambassador to the U.S., Amb. Haris Lalacos who was interviewed by Mr. Wholey can be seen at http:// www.thisisamerica.net/ under the video archive tab. The episodes with NSA Souda Bay will be aired sometime in July, so stay tuned for that information. I want each one of you to know that everything you do, regardless of what it is, plays an important role every single day as NSA Souda Bay does what it does best … provide world-class logistics support to the fleet allowing them to extend operational capability in support of operations in three AORs. Thank you for your dedication to NSA Souda Bay’s mission each and every day.
The Bingham Award is named in honor of the late Captain W.H. Bingham, SC, USNR. Captain Bingham was the Chief Executive Officer of R.H. Macy’s Company and was appointed by SECNAV in 1946 to lead an advisory board for the establishment of NEXCOM. For more info visit: www.cnic.navy.mil/content/dam/cnic/cnrj/naf_atsugi/pdfs/NEX-News-Release/28.pdf
~CO PA Note: “This Is America & The World” posted part I of III of “Greece Today” on www.youtube.com/user/ThisIsAmericaTV/ featured
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Community Outreach
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Photos by Kostas Fantaousakis, NSA Souda Bay P.A.
Volunteers from NSA Souda Bay delivered a significant amount of food and clothing donations to the Community market of the “Smile of the Child” support organization on 21 July. This market provides support for hundreds of families free of charge.
Want to Participate in a ComRel Project? POC: Kostas Fantaousakis, Community Relations Specialist. Call 266-1348 or 694-043-1157 • E-mail: konstantinos.fant.gr@eu.navy.mil • All Hands emails are sent calling for volunteers • Ask to join the ComRel projects volunteers distro list. Volunteers from NSA Souda Bay lent a helping hand to the Agia Triada (Holy Trinity) monastery in Akrotiri Chania in order to prepare for the celebration of Whit Monday on 5 June. This monastery, also known as Tsagarolon monastery, is visited by a significant number of tourists every year who appreciate the scenic environment and the magnificeent architecture. Page 6
Got a ComRel idea? Contact PA for guidance. We volunteer, but ALWAYS provide quality service! Page 7
NSA Souda Bay staged a P-3 Orion fuel spill on the CALA that resulted in contaminating local community soil, crops and livestock. The exercise tested the U.S. and Hellenic Fire & Emergency Services, Security Department & the Emergency Center and opened gateway operations to Host Nation coordination when faced with May,Operations 08 2017) – U.S. navalthespecial forces troops critical events overlapping U.S. and Greek responsibilities.
inspect combat dive equipment at Marathi Piers May 8, Photos by Joel W. Diller, NSA Souda Bay Public Affairs the forward operations and 2017. NSA Souda Bay enables responsiveness of U.S. and allied forces in support of Navy Region, Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia’s mission to provide services to the fleet, fighter, and family. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Chase Martin/Released)
Aircraft Fuel Spill Exercise
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Aircraft Fuel Spill Exercise
Hellenic Fire & Emergency Services arrive on-site at the scene of the event.
Photos above & below: NSA Souda Bay & Hellenic Fire Fighters used water to simulate the oil spill on the CALA.
Photo by MC2 Anaid Banuelos Rodriguez/Released)
Fire & Emergency Services established their on-site Command Post to keep a clear common operating picture between the scene of the event and the Emergency Operations Center.
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Care Packages from HOME
Photos and story by Joel W. Diller, Naval Support Activity Souda Bay Public Affairs How far would you travel to see somebody open a care package you sent to them? For Bailey Uzelmeier, a 16-year-old high school student from Houston, Texas, the answer is: 6,454 miles to the other side of the globe. Bailey and her mother, Barbara, visited Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay June 17, 2017 to help deliver 100 care packages to Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (GHWB). Bailey volunteers with Help Our Military Endure (HOME), a non-profit organization based out of Houston that specializes in sending care packages to service members serving in far off countries.
Bailey writes a message on the top of a tri-wall to the Sailors aboard USS George H.W. Bush.
Upon arriving at NSA Souda Bay, Bailey and her mother met with Sailors from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40, the Beach Detachment of GHWB that provides Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) support to aircraft carriers. Bailey passed out care packages to the VRC-40 crew and helped load the remaining care packages on to the COD. “I actually found out about this base last year when I was here volunteering to teach English,” said Bailey. “I decided that I’ve done so much packing of the care packages (that) I wanted to see the other side of things.” HOME takes pride in filling their care packages with the comforts from home and with the not-so-easily obtainable necessities that a service member needs while on a deployment. Care packages come in two different varieties - food or hygiene. “You always have to separate them (food and hygiene),” said Bailey. “Normally there’ll be food and dry goods stuffers, so socks and magazines are big stuffers. There’s also lots of Girl Scout cookies.”
LS1 Robert Horton, a member of the GHWB beach detachment stationed at NSA Souda Bay, received one of the hygiene care packages. “I think it was pretty awesome that she would go out of her way to try to support us, help us guys out, being that we’re so far away from our families. I thought it was nice of her,” said Horton. His package contained toiletries such as deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Q-tips, Chap Stick, and several 1,000-piece puzzles. “It was right on time … and I was able to share with the other guys that didn’t receive a care package,” said Horton.
HOME receives both monetary and non-monetary donations to complete their inventory. Bailey also makes para cord bracelets and key chains in the colors of the different branches of service to help raise money. She sells them at different events that HOME attends, such as air shows.
The inventory that HOME receives gets assembled into care packages during “packing parties” at a local church’s gymnasium. The 100 care packages sent to USS George H.W. Bush were packed in March by volunteers and mailed to NSA Souda Bay in May. In 2016, HOME While no one from Bailey’s immediate family is sent 4,227 care packages to military members deployed currently serving or has served in the military, it around the globe and has already sent 2,994 thus far in was hearing stories about service members lacking 2017. essentials that inspired her to volunteer. Referring to forward deployed service members, Baily said, “They’re Bailey’s future plans include taking a “gap year” after not near given what they need, and I don’t think they’re graduating from high school in 2018, where she recognized as they should be for the work that they do. will continue her volunteerism with HOME prior So if I can boost a little of their morale, I’m happy with to pursuing a college degree. She has more than 350 that.” volunteer hours with HOME, and is the recipient of a Bronze, Silver, and Gold Presidential Volunteer Service HOME’s greatest need is receiving enough monetary Award. donations to pay for the shipping of the care packages it sends out. “If we send the same amount of boxes that Anyone that is interested in supporting HOME is we sent last year, we sent 5,000 boxes, it’s a significant encouraged to visit their website at amount of money,” said Barbara. Considering that a www.helpourmilitaryendure.org and on Facebook at Priority Mail Military Large Flat Rate Box costs $17.35, www.facebook.com/HelpOurMilitaryEndure . the total cost to the organization rounds out at $86,750. It cost Baily $1,735 just to ship her 100 boxes to Crete.
Bailey stands next to care packages ready for transport to the C-2A COD aircraft.
“We try to send [items] like paper products, pens, pencils, Sudoko books,” said Barbara. “But not just everything you need, we try to throw some fun stuff in there too.”
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Bailey hands a care package to LS1 Robert Horton from the USS H.W. Bush Supply Dept.
Bailey helps the VRC-40 aircrew load the HOME care packages on to the COD for transport to USS George H.W. Bush
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Navy & Marine Corps Achievent Medal
AWARDS QUARTERS JUNE 2017 Letter of Commendation
Frockies
MA3 Wheeler
ABE3 Trenkle
MA3 Hapgood
MA3 Wright
MA2 Gamble
MA3 Harper
LS2 Braswell
LS1 Anagaran
MA3 Krum
MA2 Rosales
MA3 Leathers
MA2 Vassell
Sailors & Civilians of the 2nd Quarter 2017
MA3 Serrato
MA1 Cotton
ABHAN Casey
MA3 Underwood
ABH3 Ford
MA2 Kannally
Flag Letter of Commendation
MA2 Fisher
AC2 Lorenzo
MASA Friday
LS1 Daily
MM2 Schroeder
MA3 Sorrow
Mr. Anastasakis
MA2 Sims
Mrs. Tallini-Stopchick
MA2 Thresher
Mr. Delano
AC2 Williams
Congratulations Awardees and Frockies! Page 14
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Photo by MC2 Anaid Banuelos Rodriguez, AFN Souda Bay
Frocking June 2017 MC3 Soto UT2 Kimp BU2 Parker UT2 Espinoza UT3 Backus
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Congratulations Awardees!
Photo by MC2 Chase Martin, NSA Souda Bay Public Afairs Page 17
In Loving Memory Team Souda, On June 17 , our flags were flown at half- breadth than expected and the loss of this mast to honor and recognize those Sailors Shipmate is one that many here will feel that were killed on the USS Fitzgerald. deeply. Though most of us never knew those I ask that each of you impacted involved in that tragic by his loss take the collision, I believe time to console each that every one of us other, reflect on understood their those ways BM1 call to serve our influenced your nation and felt the lives, and then turn loss of lives taken around and look for so unexpectedly. a friend who may need your help to get On that same day, through this difficult for many at NSA time. Souda Bay, we heard the news that we had While the loss of lost one of our own, our Shipmate is felt that one of our recently deeply among the wider transferred Sailors was also community, I ask that you rely no longer with us. on that same community to carry you when you need to be picked up. If While BM1 Morton may have worked you are struggling, don’t be afraid to ask most closely to those in his section, one for help, everyone is here for one another of the unique aspects of this installation at NSA Souda Bay. Please remember his is that we are a tight knit family and wife and larger family in your prayers as relationships are formed even between they will need their own support during commands and tenants that might not normally exist at a much larger base. The this terrible period. downside is that the impact of a loss such as this strikes with much greater
CAPT Brad J. Collins, Commanding Officer
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