sailor diplomats

Sailor Diplomats

M A G A Z I N E O F T H E U . S . N A V Y M A Y 2 0 0 4

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[Number 1045]

32 Out of TheirElement

A minimum of two instructors were on site during the entire Mountain

Cold Weather Training Course in the Toiyabe National Forest in

Nevada. Medical practitioners, including doctors, nurses, physician's

assistants and corpsmen from across the country attended the course

to learn how to survive in extremely cold environments."

P h o t o b y J O 1 ( S W ) M . D a r b y

M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

[Departments]Speaking with Sailors — 6

Around the Fleet — 8

Focus on Service — 40

Eye on the Fleet — 42

Eye on History — 46

The Final Word — 48

[On the Front Cover]JO3 Keith Smith takes a long look at theinside courtyard of Castilio De Luna in Rota,Spain. The Castle of the Moon, as it istranslated in English, was built in theMiddle Ages for prayer and defense of theneighboring area.P h o t o b y P H 3 A n t o i n e T h e m i s t o c l e o u s

[Next Month]All Hands looks at damage control below the ocean’s surface aboard USS Maine

(SSN 741) and finds out what life is like forthose who wear Dolphins.

20 Pearls of theMediterranean

Navy leaders consider Rota, Spain; Naples, Italy; and

Sigonella, Sicily, to be the Pearls of Mediterranean.

Find out the quality-of-life improvements and other

benefits of living and working overseas.

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[Features]

14 Sailor DiplomatsWhat if you could get shore duty in places like Paris or

London or Santiago, Chile? If you're looking for duty in

exotic places, and have an aptitude for a foreign language,

then think about being an operations specialist with the

DOD Attache' Office.

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SN William Reed stands the aft lookout watch on the fantail aboard the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

P h o t o b y P H 3 M a r k R e b i l a s

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AN Julian Molinar and AN Nathan Schimpf of USS George

Washington’s (CVN 73) Crash and Salvage team scrub theisland of the carrier while they participate in a "Scrub Ex"during a no-fly day. The Norfolk-based aircraft carrier was in the Mediterranean on a scheduled deployment.

P h o t o b y P H 1 B r i e n A h o

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Number 1045 • May 2004www.news.navy.mil

Secretar y of the Navy

The Honorable Gordon R. England

Chief o f Naval Operat ions

ADM Vern Clark

Chief o f In format ion

RADM T. L. McCreary

Commander, Naval Media Center

CAPT Joseph F. Gradisher

Chief of Publ ishing

CDR Jeff Breslau

D e p u t y C h i e f o f P u b l i s h i n g

+ Pr int Media Coordinator

LT Bill Speaks

LT Bill Couch

E D I T O R I A L

Editor

Marie G. Johnston

Managing Edi tor

JOCS James Slater

Assistant Edi tor

Stephanie N. Collins

Photo Edi tors

PH1 Shane T. McCoy

PH3 Antoine Themistocleous

PH3 Todd Frantom

Editor ia l Staf f

JO1 (SW) Monica Darby

JO1 (SCW/SS) James Pinsky

JO2 Cherri Boggs

JO2 Charles L. Ludwig

D I S T R I B U T I O N

Hank Lloyd

P U B L I C A T I O N & W E B D E S I G N

R + B Communication Design Co.

Graphic Designers

Frederik Hviid

Laura Muncy

Digi ta l Prepress Specia l is t

Lisa J. Smith

P R I N T I N G

Universal Printing Company

G PO Pr int ing Specia l is t

John Kennedy

Recipient of the following Awards of Magazine Excellence

for 2000-2003:

AWARDS

Speaking with SailorsMaster Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

MCPON (SS/AW) Terry D. Scott

Q:I have been in the Navy for three years,

and I would like to become a U.S.

citizen. Has there been any progress

in speeding up that process?

A: Yes. Sailors and all service members who have

served honorably for any period of time beginning

on or after Sept. 11, 2001, are now eligible to apply

for expedited U.S. citizenship.

Speeding up the naturalization process for

Sailors on active duty is an issue

that’s important to many of you in

the fleet. The legislation that has

helped accelerate this process was

signed in 2002 by President George

W. Bush as an executive order,

providing immediate eligibility for

Sailors to become naturalized citizens.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2004, the new

law allows for U.S. citizenship

applications to be finalized at U.S.

embassies, consulates and selected

military bases overseas. This will

include citizenship interviews, test-

ing and administering the oath.

The new law also waives the $310 citizenship

application and fingerprint fee. Your local legal

assistance office can provide all the details about

this program and any other questions you may have

regarding naturalization. You can also get additional

information available on the JAG website at

www.jag.navy.mil.

Q:My spouse and I are both E-4s, and

both currently serving on sea duty. Is

it true that we can both now receive

basic allowance for housing (BAH)?

A: Yes, we recently made a

change to that policy affecting junior

Sailors married to other junior

Sailors. If you are both on sea duty

you can now each receive BAH. But

there are some criteria that you

must meet.

Both of you must be E-5 and

below, both assigned to sea duty,

have no other dependents, share the

same household and have declined

government housing. You must meet

all of these conditions to qualify.

This new entitlement will benefit approximately

1,200 Navy couples, and offer more consistency

between our junior and senior enlisted military

families serving at sea. Prior to this change, junior

dual military couples were entitled to only one joint

housing allowance.

The new policy is retroactive to Oct. 1, 2003. For

more information on the BAH policy, see NAVADMIN

059/04, on the BUPERS website at

www.bupers.navy.mil.

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All Hands (USPS 372-970; ISSN 0002-5577) Number 1045 is published monthly by the Naval Media Center, Publishing Division, 2713 Mitscher Rd. S.W., Anacostia Annex, D.C. 20373-5819. Periodicals postage paid at

Washington, D.C., and at additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402 or call 202/512-1800. Subscription prices are:

$36 (domestic) / $45 (foreign); $6 (single copy domestic) / $7.50 (single copy foreign). Postmaster: Send address changes to All Hands, Naval Media Center, Publishing Division 2713 Mitscher Rd., S.W., Anacostia Annex,

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202/433-4171 Fax: DSN 288-4747 or 202/433-4747 E-Mail: [email protected] Message: NAVMEDIACEN WASHINGTON DC //32// Authorization: The Secretary of the Navy has determined this publication is

necessary in the transaction of business required by law of the Department of the Navy. Funds for printing this publication have been approved by the Navy Publications and Printing Committee.

6 A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l

Speaking with Sailors is a monthly column

initiated by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the

Navy as a way of reaching out to the men and

women of the fleet, whether they are stationed just

down the road or halfway around the world.

These questions are from a discussion with Sailors at a

recent all hands call at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.:

Around the Fleet


allows for the FFSC to safeguardinformation in compliance withpatient privacy policies; it alsofosters an environment for freeexpression by clients.

“Just because these servicesare free does not lessen the qualityof professionals who conduct thecounseling,” Rau said. “It’s a qualityprogram that more Sailors andfamilies should take advantage of.”

There are 55 FFSCs and 67 delivery sites worldwide. Formore information on the FFSCand programs like professionalcounseling, or to locate the nearestcenter, visit FFSC on the Web atwww.persnet.navy.mil/pers66or call the center’s 24-hour infor-mation and referral hotline at(800) FSC-LINE.

Story courtesy of the public affairs

office, Fleet and Family Support.

Navy Exams“Passed, Not-Advanced” May Equate toCollege Credit

Some educational institu-tions have begun offeringcollege credits for Navy

advancement exams. Sailors whopass their career advancementexaminations but are not advancedin their rate earn “passed, not-advanced” (PNA) points, whichuntil recently were only helpfulin enhancing their chances ofbeing advanced in the next examcycle.

According to the AmericanCouncil on Education (ACE)Guide, if PNA appears on amember’s profile sheet and isposted on the Sailor MarineAmerican Council on EducationRegistry Transcript (SMART),they may qualify for a certainamount of college credit.

Electronics Technician 3rdClass Patrick Darby of GroundElectronics Maintenance Divisionof Naval Station Rota, Spain,found out about the ability togain more college credits whenhe was attempting to get a copyof his SMART for an officer’sprogram called STA-21 (Seamanto Admiral).

“I was trying to get an officialcopy of my SMART transcript foran application to the Universityof New Orleans and for my STA-21 application,” said Darby.“The Navy College Center inPensacola, Fla., sent me an emailasking me if I had PNA’d my lastrating exam for E-5. He said thatif I had, then according to theNavy, even though I hadn’tadvanced because of quotas, Ihad proven myself capable of E-5credit and work, and was eligiblefor the college credit.”

The term PNA means that aperson has demonstrated theiroccupational proficiency by passing the exam but has not beenadvanced because of an insufficientamount of points from sourcesother than the exam, or theremay simply be no openings in aparticular rate.

Darby received news Jan. 9that he was able to take advan-tage of the credits. He sent hisprofile sheet a few days later toNavy College Center, and itshowed up on his SMART soonafter.

“I received an e-mail from theNavy College Center saying theyhad updated my transcript,” saidDarby. “So I went to the websiteto verify, and there it was. In mycase, for an ET3 [ElectronicsTechnician 3rd Class] going forET2 [Electronics Technician 2ndClass], I received an additionalnine [college] credits.”

According to Darby, thepoints from the exam will helphim in the pursuit of his degreeand his goal to enter into theSTA-21 program.

“I am trying to get a com-mission through the STA-21 program, which only gives you36 months to complete yourBachelor’s,” said Darby. “I wouldlike to get my degree in NavalArchitecture with the Universityof New Orleans. I submitted mySMART transcript to them, andnow I am waiting to see what theyaccepted so I can start planningwhich classes to take withUniversity of Maryland that willbe the most beneficial.”

According to www.tpub.com,the Integrated Publishing page,the ACE Guide recommends theamount of credit to be awarded,but it does not guarantee thatamount will be given to themember by civilian educationalinstitutions. The college or university a student attendsdetermines if the points on theirSMART will qualify as academiccredits and grants the creditsaccording to the student’s degreeprogram.

“University of Maryland hasaccepted all of my credits, withmost of them counting as elec-tives,” said Darby. “But I stillhaven’t heard back from the

University of New Orleans.”Navy members may receive

college credit from civilian schoolsfor certain Navy training andwork experiences, as well. Theseinclude service schools that areat least 45 contact hours; jobexperience in the Sailor’s rating;limited duty officer or chiefwarrant officer specialties; andcertain Navy enlisted classificationcodes that have been evaluatedand recommended for collegecredit.

According to Darby, the cred-its are especially helpful to thosewho are very near graduatingand need just a few more creditsto complete their degree, or forindividuals who are nearing theend of their enlistment and planon going to school.

“They might leave the Navyas an E-4 or E-5 and have thecollege credit for the next pay-grade” said Darby. “It could savethem a couple thousand dollarswhen they get out.”

Story by JO3 Amanda Hotz, who is

assigned to the public affairs office,

Naval Station Rota, Spain.

M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S 9

Over the next several weeks, the DefenseFinance and Accounting Service will drop thefirst five digits of a person’s social securitynumber from all hard copy pay statements andchecks to guard against identity theft.

“The changes apply to everyone,” saidPatrick T. Shine, acting director, DefenseFinance and Accounting Service. The proposal“originated internally and will be phased inover the next couple of pay periods.”

This change is for all hard copy leave andearning statements. This does not apply toelectronic copies of statements found onmyPay, the online system for access and controlof customers’ personal pay information(https://mypay.dfas.mil).

Reports of identity theft have substantiallyincreased in recent years, according to theFederal Trade Commission (FTC), whichmonitors the issue.

Five years ago, the number of complaintsto the FTC was roughly 23,400. By 2001, therate had more than tripled to about 86,200.Based on figures released in January 2004, thenumber of complaints of identity theft nearlytopped 215,000 for 2003. The Social SecurityAdministration also has taken the same stepof eliminating the first five social securitynumbers on the millions of checks it issues.

For more information about the DefenseFinance and Accounting Service, visitwww.dfas.mil.

Story courtesy of the public affairs office,

Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

FFSC Counseling:Proactive, Professional,Progressive

Americans in the civilian sector spendapproximately $7-$11 million annuallyon professional counseling. Each session

can cost between $50 and $150, or more. Fleetand Family Support Center (FFSC) offerscounseling sessions as part of the militarybenefits package, and these sessions are offeredat no cost to Sailors, their families and retiredservice members.

If service or family members are copingwith the loss of a loved one, stressed aboutdeployment or just want to improve personalskills, FFSC can help. Services include individual, marital and family counseling,support groups and crisis intervention.

“The proactive nature of the services andworkshops makes the difference,” said LCDRAlyce Campbell, director of the FFSC atNaval Air Station New Orleans. “Lots of goodpeople would fall through the cracks withoutour assistance.”

Campbell noted that FFSC services likecounseling are not just for people goingthrough a rough time, but for anyone who

just needs some helpful advice.“Sailors and their families can utilize

counseling for common issues such as childrenhaving difficulty in school or problems atwork,” said Terri Rau, program manager forFFSC Professional Counseling in Millington,Tenn. “A misconception some Sailors haveabout the program is that you must be mentally ill.”

When Sailors deal with stress-inducingsituations, such as deployment or separation,there are many benefits from counseling.Talking to someone about problems—especially a professional who specializes inthe challenges of the military lifestyle—canprovide insight on how to deal with that particular problem and greatly reduce anxiety.

“An advantage of talking with a counselorat the FFSC is that they know and understandthe Navy,” Rau said.

The FFSC provides one-on-one counselingscheduled at the Sailor’s convenience. Areferral is not necessary. All records are keptprivate and are not shared with commandingofficers unless the problem has the potentialto endanger others or the client, or if theproblem affects the Sailor’s duty. Otherwise,the information does not transfer to permanentmedical records. Taking these precautions

Storekeeper 2nd Class (SS) JamesR. Anderson was selected as Fleet and

Industrial Supply Centers (FISC) San

Diego’s Junior Sailor of the Quarter for

fourth quarter fiscal year 2003. Anderson is

the leading petty officer for Submarine Maintenance at FISC’s

Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity site. He is depot level

repairable storekeeper and is responsible for contract buys over

$2,500. His collateral duties include serving as Combined

Federal Campaign and Navy Relief representative, minor property

custodian, and division training and mustering petty officer. He

is also active as a volunteer for the El Cajon Sheriff’s Department

and the California Highway Patrol with Operation Clean El Cajon.

S h i p m a t e s

Leave and Earning Statements (LES) for all

service members and Defense Department

civilians, and paychecks for military retirees

will soon have more protection against identity theft.

Changes Made to LES to Reduce Identity Theft

Twin Brothers Take Honors at SOY Boards

Two California-based Sailorslearned that they wereselected as their respective

commands’ 2003 Sailors of theYear (SOY) recently upon theirreturn from holiday stand down.

Electronics Technician 1stClass (SS) Keir Harris, NavalWeapons Station Seal Beach Det.San Diego, and his fraternal twinbrother, Hospital Corpsman 1stClass (FMF) Kerry Harris, NavalSurvival Training Institute (NSTI)Miramar, edged out several competitors within their respectivecommands to earn the prestigioustitle.

Both Sailors, from WestMonroe, La., said they felt a lotof self-pride and credited eachother for their accomplishments.

Before leaving on a plane towin the Naval OperationalMedicine Institute (NOMI) SOYtitle in Pensacola, Fla., the secondstep in his quest to claim ShoreSailor of the Year, Kerry said hisbrother handed him some much-needed information.

“He showed up at the airportat 5 a.m. and handed me a binderfull of notes on potential questionsthey could ask at the board,”Kerry said.

Kerry opened the binder onthe plane and found informationconcerning the Chief of NavalOperations’ (CNO) Guidance for2004 and Sea Power 21. Luckilyfor Kerry, he studied the notes.Among the questions he wasasked at the board were: If he wasthe CNO and was addressingCongress, how would he spell outthe next two years? He respondedwith answers pertaining to thepapers his brother gave him.

“I didn’t have any idea on that,and he brought me the wholeshebang,” said Kerry. “He reallyhooked me up.”

Ultimately, the brothers couldsquare off against each other laterthis year during the Shore Sailorof the Year competition.

“If we meet at the ShoreSailor of the Year board, Idon’t know if I would returnthe favor,” joked Kerry.

If Keir wins his next contestat Navy Region Southwest, hewould then proceed to theCommander, U.S. Pacific Fleetand Commander, Naval Install-ations boards. Upon winningthere, Keir would be eligible forVice CNO Shore Sailor of theYear. Kerry needs to win theNaval Medical Education andTraining Command and Bureauof Naval Medicine boards.

“If that happens, (Kerry) isthe one that’s going to need acorpsman,” laughed Keir, addingthat if it did come to a familyshowdown, it would beextremely tough to oust hisbrother. “He is very motivated,and his military bearing is justoutstanding.”

The brothers, the youngest of eight children, come from amilitary-oriented background,starting with their father, whoserved in the Army during WorldWar II, and two older brothersthat served in the Air Force.Having that background hashelped fuel their desire to serve.

Kerry enlisted in the Armyin 1988 before joining the Navyin 1990, while Keir joined theMarine Corps and was honor-ably discharged in 1995. Keirjoined the Navy the followingsummer.

Keir’s duties at his presentcommand include transportationofficer, LAN administrator,command fitness leader, trainingcoordinator and explosives certi-fications. He arrives at work earlyeach morning, making surethings are in order before the daybegins.

“He puts in way more hoursthan I do,” said Kerry. “I get in

about 6, 6:30 a.m.; he’s already atwork at 4 a.m. He still has thatMarine mentality: arrive earlyand go home late. He sets the

example.”Kerry’s duties at the Aviation

Survival Training Center, whichfalls under NSTI, involves being

Coast GuardCertification forSailors

In an effort to translate Navytraining and fleet experienceinto U.S. Coast Guard ratings

and licenses, the Navy’s Centerfor Surface Operations (CSO)announced a formal agreementbetween the two services inJanuary.

The goal of the partnership is to provide Sailors greateropportunity for professionaldevelopment and to provide themwith recognized certifications fromthe Merchant Marine community.

“This is about giving ourSailors every opportunity toexcel, number one,” said CSOCommanding Officer Capt.Steven Johnson, “but also aboutputting something in their handsto prove their excellence outsidethe Navy, in the industry of theirchoice.”

Enlisted Sailors within theBoatswain’s Mate, Quartermaster,Operations Specialist and Mine-man ratings or Seaman strikersnow have the opportunity toapply for an Able-Bodied Seamanrating. They may do this byusing Navy course completion,

training acquired throughPersonnel Qualifications Standards(PQS), and sea duty to satisfymerchant marine training, certi-fication, sea service and examrequirements.

In accordance with the agreement, any Sailor within theabove ratings or Seaman Striker,completing Seaman Apprentice(SA) Training and having at leastone year of sea duty for everyfive years of service will satisfythe written exam requirements,as well as the knot-tying practicalexam for the Able-Bodied Seamanrating. Required training and seatime must have been received onor after Jan. 1, 1990.

The partnership also deter-mined that any Sailor havingcompleted recruit training andhaving at least one year of sea dutyfor every five years of service willbe eligible for Standards ofTraining, Certification and Watch-keeping (STCW) Basic SafetyTraining (BST) certification, withthe exception of Immersion SuitTraining. Recently, a two-hourImmersion Suit Training coursewas approved for Sailors at nocost on a space-available basis atcertain Military Sealift Command(MSC) training facilities.

Sailors having completed Navy

Final Lookout PQS 302 andHelmsman PQS 305 and havingat least one year of sea duty forevery five years of service willalso be eligible for the STCWRating Forming Part of a Navi-gational Watch (RFPNW) certification.

Essentially, Sailors who havecompleted SA Training, RecruitTraining, Lookout and Helmsmanfinal PQS and having at least oneyear of sea duty for every five yearsof service, and five years ofcumulative Navy sea duty, needonly to complete Immersion SuitTraining and USCG Lifeboatmancertification to apply for an Able-Bodied Seaman rating. Sailorswho are not able to attendImmersion Suit Training orLifeboatman certification atMSC training facilities may complete these requirementsthrough a private vendor usingNavy Tuition Assistance.

Additionally, Sailors in anyNavy rating who have completedRecruit Training and ImmersionSuit Training are eligible to applyfor entry-level endorsements inthe Merchant Marine, such asOrdinary Seaman, Wiper, Porterand others.

Currently, the Center forSurface Operations is seeking

additional certifications that willmake it possible for motivatedSailors to progress toward aThird Mate Merchant MarineOfficer’s license. The most recenteffort by the center to secureMerchant Marine Officer-levelcertifications resulted in theapproval of Navy Advanced FireFighting Training, Repair PartyLeader School, and Repair PartyLeader PQS 318 to meet therequirement of STCW AdvancedFire Fighting certification.Required training must have beenreceived on or after Aug. 1, 1996.

“While the missions of theNavy, the Coast Guard and theMerchant Marines are distinct,we are all seagoing services, andcan all share experiences andexpertise with each other,” saidJohnson. “This is about giving allSailors the opportunity to excel.”

To learn more about U.S. CoastGuard certification opportunities,log onto Navy Knowledge Onlineat www.nko.navy.mil and visitthe Center for SurfaceOperations page.

Story by JO1 Jd Walter, who is

assigned to the public affairs office,

Naval Personnel Development

Command.

M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

Around the Fleet


T i m e C a p s u l eThis month we look back in the All Hands archive to see what was going on in the month of February. To view these issues in more detail on the Web, go to www.news.navy.mil/allhands.asp?x=search

May 1958—46 years ago

The underlying theme of this month’s All Hands

was “People to People.” Based on a message from

Commander 6th Fleet to every officer and enlisted

man in that command, the aim of the program was,

“to build a massive program of communication

between Americans and the citizens of other

lands.” While remaining at the peak of combat readiness,

the Navy rescued the crew of a steamship, held parties for

underprivileged children, participated in international sports

competitions, held blood bank donations for foreign blood

banks, played band concerts around the world, delivered

babies in foreign countries and generally lived up to their

nickname, “The Friendly Fleet.”


As reflected on the cover, basic training went coed

at U.S. Naval Training Station Orlando, Fla. USS

Bolster (ARS 38) accompanied two former U.S.

coastal minesweepers, Warbler (MSC 206) and

Vireo (MSC 205), to Suva, Fiji. The two mine-

sweepers became the first two ships of the Fijian

Navy and were recommissioned as HMFS Kiro and HMFS Kula.

We also interviewed the Navy Surgeon General VADM Donald

L. Custis and featured a photographic look at Navy medicine.


All Hands visited San Diego, “the Navy town

known as America’s finest city.” In 1988 active-duty,

retired and Navy civilian families made up one-fifth

of all residents in San Diego County; and of all

Sailors and Marines on active duty servicewide,

are one in five were stationed there. We also looked at

Ward C, the maternity ward at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.

Suicide prevention and the myths and facts associated with

suicide were also discussed.

11

Ricky’sTourBy JO2 Mike Jones www.rickystour.com

13M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

ment heads on board and com-piled a list of ideas for donations.

“We sent a couple of pictures,the mosaic of our pictures fromthe deployment and an arrestinggear socket,” said Brown.

The mosaic is an arrangementof tiny multi-colored photographsthat form the image of PresidentHarry Truman.

Totaling approximately 1,500miniscule pictures in all, themosaic was compiled duringOperation Iraqi Freedom. Brownsaid the arresting gear socket issimilar to that which the captainshows distinguished visitors inhis in-port cabin.

The ship’s donation is a smallpart of the overall decoratingeffort for the midshipmen’sfavorite relaxation spot. Brownsaid the donation helps improveHST’s reputation with represen-tation in the Navy’s prestigiousleadership school.

“It allows the midshipmen atthe Academy to know theTruman name is out there,” saidBrown. “A few other ships have

done it, and there will be moreto follow, but this assures thatwhen people walk by, they cansay “the Truman supports theAcademy.”

Commanding Officer Capt.Michael R. Groothousen, whoattended the Naval Academy andwhose son will graduate in a few months, said most of thedonations are pieces and parts of the ship that are not neededanymore.

“We’ve collected various para-phernalia,” said Groothousen.“We’ve got T-2 holdbacks, sincewe shot the last ever off HST, sothat’s something of an historicalnature.”

Artifacts from OperationIraqi Freedom such as float coatsworn by Sailors on the flight deckand arresting gear cables are evenmore valuable for donation, headded. “We’re not talking thingsof value or things the ship ispaying for, but rather things ofan historical nature for the mid-shipmen to look at and learnmore about our naval heritage.”

“It’s great for us,” said LT.Mark Symmes, Naval Academyfood service and contracting officer. “Right now, we have plainwhite walls with mostly just sportspictures, not many special dona-tions with a story behind them.”

Symmes added that HST’sdonation gives midshipmen more

to think about with regard to thehistory of the service. “Now therewill be a greater awareness of theNavy’s heritage.”

“The Naval Academy is arepository of a lot of our navalheritage, so being that Trumanplayed such a big part in the war,I wanted to make sure we getsome stuff up there.”

Groothousen said the DrydockClub was last remodeled whenhe attended the Academy, sowhatever HST sends will remainthere for a good long time.

HST’s efforts will help to preserve the ship’s image andmemory for future generationsof naval officers, many of whommay one day walk her decks.

Story by Journalist Seaman John

Stevens, USS Harry S. Truman

Public Affairs

Around the Fleet


a physiology technician andsafety swimmer, teaching aviationlife support systems, survival,first aid and parachute descentprocedures.

While the two excel at their jobsduring working hours, settingthe example for their juniorSailors and others doesn’t stop atthe end of the day. The brotherscoach teams for a Tierrasantayouth football league and don’tmind taking the time to speakwith others about the benefitsthe Navy has to offer.

“We’re Sailors 24 hours aday,” said Keir, “both in uniformand out.”

Story by Journalist 2nd Class David

Van Scoy, Navy Region Southwest

Public Affairs

Navy NASCAR TeamExperiences BootCamp

NASCAR Driver CaseyAtwood and the NavyNASCAR Team experi-

enced Navy boot camp recently,during a visit to the Recruit Train-ing Command (RTC) Great Lakes.

Navy car No. 14 co-ownerArmando Fitz, of FitzBradshawracing, crew chief Jay Guy andother members of the pit crewaccompanied Atwood.

“The Navy’s sponsorship isdifferent because I’ve gotten todo so many different things, likespending 24 hours on a submarineand going on an aircraft carrier,”Atwood said. “Coming here wasa chance to look at the recruits’first steps toward getting to thatsubmarine or carrier.”

Guy, crew chief of the NavyNASCAR team, was presentedwith a chief ’s anchor cover deviceby the chief petty officers at RTC.

“As the crew chief of the car,they thought it would be appro-

priate if I wore a chief insignia.This (the Navy sponsorship) issomething to be proud of; ourteam is representing hundreds ofthousands of Sailors–men andwomen around the world,” Guysaid.

The NASCAR Navy teamexperienced several boot camptraining scenarios as a part oftheir visit.

After just two hours of sleep,the crew reported to the DiveMotivators, where they attemptedto pass the initial physical screeningfor special programs, such asSEALs, Special Warfare CombatantCraft Crewmen, Diver andExplosive Ordnance Disposalprograms.

The crew continued their tourof RTC with breakfast at thegalley and a pit crew competitionat Pacific Fleet Drill Hall. Twoteams of RTC Staff, instructed by the Navy NASCAR Team,competed changing tires in a pitstop scenario for best time. Thewinning RTC Staff at the dualtire change wrenched out a besttime in 34.55 seconds.

RTC staff gave the crew anopportunity to appreciate gasmasks in the confidence chamber.The Navy NASCAR Team suitedup in Navy coveralls and gas masksto endure the same experiencethat recruits go through.

“One of the important thingsthey were talking about wastrusting what the gas mask reallydoes,” said Fitz. He explained thesimilarity of trust that if hisdriver says to his crew chief thatthere is something going on withthe car, he has to trust that the crewchief is going to take care of it.

Staff also trained the crew inrecruit fashion on the M-9 pistol,shotgun and the M-16 assault rifle.Staff focused on the accuracy ofthe crew, and Atwood impressedonlookers with a 98 percentaccuracy using the M-16.

The team was able to observeportions of Battle Stations and

participate in the Navy ballcapceremony, where they were givenNavy ball caps with “Drive Navy”embroidered on the back.

They continued on the tourto see recruit in-processing andattend the recruit graduationceremony in the Midway Cere-monial Drill Hall, and signedautographs for students in “A”School training at the NavalStation Student Exchange.

The Navy NASCAR Teamlearned at the graduation howrecruit divisions earn flags for theirstrengths as a team. Atwood statedthat this year the team is going toearn flags too...checkered ones.

Atwood and the Navy NASCARTeam opened their season Feb. 14 at Daytona InternationalSpeedway.

Story by JOSN Elijah Leinaar who is

assigned to the Naval Service

Training Command/Naval Station

Great Lakes public affairs.

HST Artifacts toInspire FutureLeaders

Keeping its legacy alive forfuture generations ofmidshipmen to observe,

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)donated artifacts no longer ofuse to its mission to the DrydockClub at the Naval Academy inAnnapolis, Md.

The club is a common areafor midshipmen to enjoy snacksand to get away from the dailygrind.

According to LT Sly Brown ofHarry S. Truman’s SupplyDepartment, donations fromships can range from commandmedia tools, such as pictures andgraphics, to actual pieces of theship itself.

“They want basically anythingfrom the ship,” said Brown.“They’ve had people give themejector seats, steering wheels,pictures, arresting gear cablesand so on.”

Brown surveyed the depart-Tug boats guide USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) up the Elizabeth River, to the Norfolk Naval Shipyardto begin a planned incremental availability.

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Quartermaster 3rd Class (SW) Eric Childers was recently named USS

Ashland (LSD 48) Junior Sailor of the Year

2003. The Gastonia, N.C., native was cited

for his superior performance as quarter-

master of the watch, training petty officer, work center

supervisor, and divisional repair/supply petty officer. Childers

also volunteered to revamp the entire training petty officer

program within the division. He researched lesson-training

guides, developed a short and long range training plan, and

implemented weekly training that has significantly raised the

level of knowledge within the division.

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Recruit Division Commander (RDC) HT1 Class Duane Dominickpractices being the “jackman” prior to the “pit stop” competition aboardRecruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes. The Navy NASCAR Team,featuring Casey Atwood, visited Naval Station Great Lakes to experienceRecruit Training and were the special guests at a recent graduation review.

15M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S14 A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l

S t o r y a n d p h o t o s b y J O 1 ( S C W / S S ) J a m e s G . P i n s k y

� There are plenty of reasons peoplemay want to live in Paris, but the Metro systemmay be the best kept secret. Here, IS1 PatrickOverstreet, an operations assistant assigned tothe American Embassy, Paris uses the Metro asthe primary means to get to and from work.

17

hat if you could score shore duty inplaces like Paris, London, Tokyo or Santiago,Chile, locations that most people could onlydream about visiting let alone live in? Betteryet, what if your shore duty in one of thesedream cities propelled you to the top ofAmerican diplomacy by awarding you theopportunity to work hand in hand withAmerica’s ambassadors, leaders of foreignmilitaries and learn a new language to boot?

Meet Chief Supply Clerk Kirk Flint.Flint is an operations assistant assigned

to DOD Attaché Office (DAO) as the operations coordinator (OPSCO) for U.S.Ambassador Stephen D. Mull, the U.S.Ambassador to Lithuania.

As a chief petty officer, Flint is used toshouldering a lot of responsibility, but thedemands of working in an Americanembassy are different.

“The DAO does at least two things thatare important to the United States andLithuania,” said Mull. “Obviously, itconnects our two militaries, so it’s importantthat we know each other, work well togetherand ‘talk the same language’ in planningand executing military missions. In addition,the DAO is our action office for such thingsas aircraft clearances for the U.S. governmentplanes that frequently fly into Lithuania, thearrival and departure of official delegations,visits of U.S. government officials to militarysites or exercises and so on.”

Flint said his job is more than just servingas a liaison for the Lithuanians; he’s a friendlyface and welcome voice to visiting Americans.

“I’m an American’s warm, fuzzy blankethere in a foreign land,” said Flint.

Flint, as the OPSCO, is tasked withmanaging the operations assistants withinthe American embassy and works directlyfor the defense attaché. Since Lithuania isso small, Flint handles all of the operationsassistant and coordinator roles for theAmerican embassy. He is typically the firstperson Americans meet when they step offthe plane in Lithuania’s capital city, Vilnius.In fact, making travel easier is what Flintdoes best as an OPSCO.

“Our relationship with the Lithuanianairport in Vilnius is my proudest accomplish-ment,” said Flint. “We can get Americans in

and out of the airport faster than anyoneelse, and for anyone who travels interna-tionally, having someone who knows howto deal with the host nation’s customs andregulations as well as our DAO here does,makes all the difference in the world.”

Along with a hearty handshake and aquick trip through customs, Flint is theresident expert for Americans visitingLithuania. He speaks the language, knowsthe country, can recommend where to stay,is familiar with the local laws, knows whatplaces to avoid — and even where to get thebest deals on Lithuanian souvenirs.

Whether Flint is greeting Americandelegates, coordinating multinational militarymaneuvers, or translating Lithuanian foran air crew trying to get their aircraft fixed,his significance is felt all the way to the top

of the diplomatic chain of command.“The chief is a key figure in a large chunk

of the operational activities of this embassy.I know that the defense attaché would notbe able to work without him, and theembassy would really be missing a lot with-out a well-functioning DAO,” said Mull.

If the thought of working in Lithuania, afertile country with miles of rich farmland,evergreen forests and a small-town charm,doesn’t appeal to you maybe you might likeIntelligence Specialist 1st Class PatrickOverstreet’s address.

Paris.No, not Paris, Idaho, or Paris, Texas, but

the legendary city of light — Paris, France,home of the Eiffel Tower, high fashion andsome of the finest cuisine in the world.

Like Flint, Overstreet is an operationsassistant, but because France is a much largercountry, it requires a much larger DAO. Still,Overstreet’s mission remains inherently thesame: build and maintain relationships.

“This job is all about relationships,” saidOverstreet. “We’re here to maintain openlines of communication with the French.

16

� SKC Kirk Flint, the operations coordinator for the Defense Attache Office,Lithuania, discusses an upcoming militaryexercise with Lithuania's Chief of NavalOperations. Because of the nature ofFlint's job, he routinely works with top-level military and political officials.

The operations assistant specialprogram is available to qualified enlistedratings: intelligence specialists, yeomen,storekeepers and personnelmen. To apply for the program the following prerequisitesmust be met to enter the screening processconducted by IS, Special Programs and CTAdetailers.

All applicants:• must be E-5 and above, and their

immediate family members must beU.S. citizens.

• cannot have any relatives in the hostcountry to which they are applying.

• must be able to pass a top secret security clearance investigation (SCI),a command screening for specialprograms, an overseas screening and a financial screening.

If applicants meet these requirements, theyshould submit a package of the following:

• Your last three evaluations, medical and dental screenings.

• a list of all of your duty stations,awards and if you passed the Navytyping test.

• your command’s endorsement of yourselection to special programs, and

• a minimum score of 100 on the DefenseLanguage Aptitude Battery (DLAB).

If family members are involved, they willhave to pass a medical screening, fill outand pass an electronic personnel securityquestionnaire and submit family photos. Oncethe application is complete, the packageshould be sent to your detailer. The Office ofNaval Intelligence reviews the package anddetermines if the candidate is acceptable.

If you are selected to enter the operationsassistant training pipeline you are sent toWashington, D.C., for formal training whichincludes a nine-week operations assistantcourse, a two-week operations coordinatorcourse (for applicable billets) and languagetraining. Only then will you be sent to yournew duty station.

M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

� Working as an operations assistant has plenty of advantages, like

being able to experience foreign cultures andview beautiful scenery like this walkway in

Vilnius, Lithuania.

� Navy operations assistants,who work directly for host countryAmerican ambassadors as military liaisons,must learn to speak the country's primarylanguage, perform at a diplomatic level,survive on the local economy and blend into the local culture to be effective andtrusted liaisons. For SKC Kirk Flint, theoperations coordinator for Lithuania, partof his blending means using the localmass transit like this electric bus inLithuania's capital city of Vilnius.

A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l

I’m trained to blend into the French cultureenough to effectively communicate theAmerican interests to the French.”

“I think I have it pretty good,” saidOverstreet. “I get to go home every nightto my wife, Rebecca, and home is Paris,France.” The Overstreets like Paris so muchthat they felt comfortable enough to havetheir first child there.

While being married is certainly not aprerequisite for being an operations assistant, couples like the Overstreetssucceed on foreign soil as a team becausethat’s exactly how the Navy trains thembefore they deploy. That’s right, the Navytrains your spouse.

“This is the only job I know about, butthere may be others, that trains your spousein culture and etiquette,” said Overstreet.“They taught Rebecca things like, how youbehave at a meal, the way you look, walkand even how to talk to a shopkeeper andcommunicate ideas to the French.”

In addition to culture and etiquette, theNavy teaches spouses to speak the hostnation’s primary language.

According to ISC Kim Michael, attachéaffairs chief for the Office of Naval Intelli-gence, the Navy expects a lot more fromspouses than most Navy jobs.

“Anyone applying for the operationsassistant job with family members needs tobe aware that the family must go throughthe same security checks and top secretsecurity clearance investigation as thecandidates,” said Michael.After all, according toMichael, wherever the Sailorsare, so are their familymembers, so the securityconcerns are the same.

According to Michael,there are other benefits if

1918 M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D SA L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l

� Les Invalides comprises the largest

single collection of monuments inParis including: Musée de l’Armé,

Musée des Plans-Reliefs, Muséede l’Ordre de la Libération and

L’Eglise de St-Louis-des-Invalides.

� Operations assistants like

Overstreet work in theAmerican embassy and

serve as an importantlink between our

government and thoseof the host nation.

� Paris is the city of lights for good reason.

� IS1 Patrick Overstreet and his wife,Rebecca, shop for their first baby at a Parisiantoy store.

you’re an operations assistant including:some billets count as sea duty; you mayreceiving special duty assignment pay orlanguage pay (if applicable); there’s acivilian clothes allowance; completeimmersion in a foreign culture as aneducation; small offices with short chainsof command. For applicants with familymembers, spouses attend language andspouse training. In most cases governmentquarters are provide; and all childrenreceive fully-funded educations throughDOD, usually at the best schools in thecountry.

Ambassador Mull offered the followinginsight into why a Sailor may want to chooseembassy duty:

“An OPSCO’s position offers a lot ofvariety in who you work with and how, morethan on most bases,” said Mull. “I thinkOPSCOs get a chance to broaden their skillsand their experience, for onward assignmentsor for positions after they retire from theNavy. It’s also a chance to live abroad withthe benefits of being part of an Americancommunity, so it’s not too alien, and towork with and live among the local population, so it’s more challenging andexciting. And, while many Sailors mightprefer to be at sea, sometimes it’s time to stayon dry land for a while,” Mull added.”

Pinsky is a photojournalist who is assigned to

All Hands.


S t o r y b y J O C ( S W ) D a n S m i t h y m a n , p h o t o s b y P H 3 A n t o i n e T h e m i s t o c l e o u s

Rota, Spain, is known by a lot of names:“Gateway to the Mediterranean,”“the Floridaof Europe,” and is considered by Navy leadersas one of the Pearls of Mediterranean–theothers being Naples, Italy, and Sigonella, Sicily.

Located midway between the famousRock of Gibraltar and the Portugese borderon the Atlantic Ocean, Sailors’ attraction toRota is varied: nine months of sunny weather,travel opportunities, a rich Spanish culture

and the benefits of living and working in arelatively small military community.

“Geographically, this base is reallyconvenient, because you can walk right outthe gate and there’s somewhere to go,something to do and somewhere to eat,” saidKimberly Meza, a Navy spouse and volun-teer at Navy Marine Corps Relief Society.

But others like to venture furtheroutside the confines of the naval station.

� Most of the year Rota is a quiet fisherman's town. When summer comes around, this small city becomes overpopulated with tourists.

The conveniences and perks afforded tothe 6,000 Americans on base are increasingwith Rota’s “Vision 21,” an extensiveimprovement project to recapitalize theaging infrastructure on base. Some of theprojects include a $19 million securitycomplex, with the consolidation and upgradeof existing security and emergency servicesfacilities; a $22 million command operations

headquarters; improved transient bachelorenlisted quarters; and a signed memorandumof understanding to begin construction fora new $32 million Navy Exchange andCommissary mall complex. The Departmentof Defense Dependents School is alsoscheduled to open its new state-of-the-artelementary school and some of the newhigh school facilities in the summer.

This small base, with the neighboringvillage of Rota, provides an exciting back-drop for single Sailors or families, and offersa unique opportunity for Sailors to grow,both personally and professionally.

Smithyman is a journalist assigned to the

public affairs office, Rota, Spain.

“We enjoy spending time off base,” saidChief Hospital Corpsman (SW) JamesVanCleave, who has spent his last three yearsas the career counselor for U.S. NavalHospital Rota. “We are in pursuit of thosethings that are “must sees” like Alhambra,Malaga, Granada, Spain and others. Wejust got back from London, and we’ve beento Budapest, Hungary, Barcelona, Spain, andother places. This is a good jumping-offpoint to other destinations in Europe.”

Traveling throughout Spain, and indeedEurope, is not without its challenges. Forsome, foreign currency is confusing, as arehotels and transportation, but for others,it’s the numerous languages.

“The language barrier can be a challenge.I can’t even count the number of times I’veordered off a menu and received somethingcompletely different than what I thought,but we just write that up as a culturalexperience and try to enjoy whatever it isthe waiter brought us,” VanCleave said.

The language barrier notwithstanding,sightseeing and touring the countryside is afavorite pastime among singles and familiesstationed in Rota. Throughout the year,tourist activities co-mingle with typicalSpanish customs. There are bullfightingseasons, religious festivals and sightseeingtrips that include castles, cathedrals, flamencodancing, Roman and Moorish architectureand the running of the bulls. The area isalso a principle locale for olive groves andvineyards.

Some people debate whether Spain isbetter for the service member, or for thechildren many of them bring along.

“We send a little league baseball team toPoland each year,” said VanCleave. “We alsosend the high school athletic teams toEngland and Germany to participant intournaments. What a fantastic opportunityfor our kids to see and do some to thethings available here.”

“As a single parent, I like to stay on base

with my three-year-old daughter, Kari,”added Personnelman 2nd Class Jennifer Yeeof Personnel Support Detachment Rota.“We like to go to the duck pond, ride bikesand get ice cream at Baskin Robbins. Thebase has stuff happening year-round. Wehave fairs, and celebrations, National NightOut, bike rodeos and lots of stuff.”

22

� “I absolutely love the beaches here inSpain. During the summer it is packed with people, because Rota is totally a summer townand a lot of people spend their vacations here.But my favorite time is at fall and winter, whenthe beach is deserted. I just find it so peaceful,”said HM3 Katie McKeehan, who is up for ordersbut wishes that she could stay in Rota.

� Scenes like these symbolize the old charm of Europe, where old customs get passed from generation to generation. The pride of good quality work is still moreappreciated than mass production.

� Another beautiful sunset along the coast of southern Spain. Duty in Europe is the perfect setting for romance, adventure, and a chance to experience different cultures that make interestingstories for the people back home.

M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S 23

� LT Kevin

Juntunen, residentofficer in charge of

construction (ROICC),consults with the

project engineeringinspector, Ramon

Borreguero, about theunderway constructionof the new elementary

school. This is the beginning of what

they say is going to be a whole different base

by 2010.



For centuries, Naples’ central locationin both Italy and the Mediterranean hasmade it a center of trade, travel and culture.From ancient times to today, a visit toancient Pompeii, a row through the bluegrotto on the island of Capri or a climb upMt. Vesuvius have been enticing experi-ences for visitors. For members of the U.S.military community at Naples, Italy, those“once –in-a-lifetime opportunities are easyweekend trips.

While Naval Support Activity (NSA)Naples has been saddled with a reputationfor quality-of-life challenges, these days, allthat’s changing. With its multi-yearimprovement project nearing completion,NSA Naples has been resuscitated. Napoli,a derivative of the Greek Neopolis means“new city;” and Naples–the new city–hasa new reputation.

Having moved its activities from itsprevious location in Agnano’s crater, (withits exposed sulfur vent), NSA Naples nowboasts an east side locale with a view.Overlooking the city of Naples, NSA now

enjoys a view of Mt. Vesuvius and sharesfacilities with its new neighbor on Naples’east side, Capodichino airport.

Choices of duty in Naples are plentiful.NSA Naples’ facilities support more than100 tenant commands in the Naples area,supporting missions of U.S. and NATOaircraft, command administration andcommunication support for the nearly3,000 people who work at Capodichino.

“It’s improved as far as quality of lifefor the Sailors,” said Yeoman 1st ClassJeanice Vitali, who first served a tour ofduty in Naples in the early 1990s. “It’s justmuch cleaner and more family-orientedthan before. It’s a much better place to bestationed now.”

Vitali’s husband, Cryptologist Technician3rd Class Jim Vitali, agrees that Naplesduty has improved. “It’s a lot differentnow,” he said. “I think the driving is better.The police are better–everything like that.They’re definitely up to speed to where weare in the United States.”

New housing and support facilities have

been built on the edge of the Campaniaregion’s farmlands, a 20-minute drive north-east of Capodichino at the U.S. NavySupport Site in Gricignano. With morethan 800 units for family housing, thesupport site is also home to theDepartment of Defense DependentSchools elementary and high schools, wherechildren have the opportunity to experiencea safe and productive learning environment.The site also houses Naval Hospital Naplesand many more support services that offerimproved quality of life.

“When I first got here, it was my firstduty station, so I didn’t know what toexpect,” said YNSN Kevin Braga, a NaplesSecurity Force member now on year threeof his Naples tour. “When I first came hereto Gricignano, there was no hospital. Therewere housing complexes, but it was nowherenear the size it is now. It’s beautiful now.It’s like paradise. There’s a whole newlandscape that you can see from milesaway. It’s the only place in Naples that hasthis much light [at night].”

S t o r y b y J O C S J a m e s S l a t e r ,P h o t o s b y P H 3 A n t o i n e T h e m i s t o c l e o u s

� Sailors in Naples are treated with mountain views when looking to sea, such as this view ofMt. Vesuvius overlooking the Gulf of Naples.

youngsters in Italian pre-school.“The key to enjoying a successful tour

lies in remembering that living in Italy isnot like living in the United States,” saidJournalist 1st Class Eileen Kelly-Fors.“Housing and apartments are constructeddifferently; electric power and utilities aredifferent; shopping and driving are different;the pizza and the coffee are different.”

Quality-of-life improvements, both infacilities and service, have provided duty inNaples with a new face. That is not to implythat duty in Naples–even with its face-lift–isn’t without its challenges.

Language barriers, cultural differences,limited spouse employment opportunitiesand relative isolation from life and familyin the United States are issues shared bymany overseas assignments. Additionally,new facilities make it possible to remain

isolated within the American militarycommunity. It’s possible to work, live andshop entirely on U.S. facilities, but to do sowould be to miss rare cross-culturalopportunities that serve a foundation for asuccessful overseas experience.

For Kelly-Fors, one of the most interestingaspects of a Naples tour are the Neapolitansthemselves.

“Neapolitans have a character all theirown. They constantly talk using arm andhand movements that animate theirconversations and emphasize viewpoints,”she said. “You may often feel that you’re inthe middle of a family quarrel or a comicopera while ordering morning coffee.”

“You can’t beat it,” said Jim Vitale whochose to live off base in the Italian com-munity. “I mean you can see it, and wehave the pictures to prove it. Look at how

we are living here. We have our two childrenhere; we have beautiful neighbors and ourlandlords are awesome.”

Braga, who plays in a soccer league withItalian teammates agrees and recommendsan attempt at basic Italian as a first step.“The Italians will always help you. If youdeal with them and expect them to speakonly English, they’ll be a little hesitant. Whenyou try to work with them in Italian,they’ll help you along.

True to its name, the “new city” of Naplesinspires envy in visitors who are not assigned;surprises previously assigned visitors; andextends a welcoming hand to those readyfor the unique challenges and rewards oftheir first assignment in Naples.

Slater is the managing editor for All Hands.

M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

Central to the support site and the con-struction project, the Naples ImprovementInitiative, a new four-story Navy Lodgegreets newcomers to Naples with state-of-the-art facilities and consolidatedconvenience, alleviating the need to makeseparate trips to shop at the exchange, thecommissary or even process a vehicle.

Soon, shopping, vehicle processing,schools–in fact almost all support serviceswill be within walking distance of oneanother, as well as the Navy Lodge, animportant factor for those transitioning in or out of the community with fewtransportation options. A regular shuttle

bus connects the support site with all othermilitary facilities in Naples.

The support site was built above anancient Roman crossroad. Although Italianhistorical preservation laws forbid thebuilding of structures above such remains,the construction of roads above the Romanroads is permissible. A hand-laid brickwalkway now bisects the support site,covering the Roman roadway. A well thatprovided water to the road’s travelers ispreserved on the ground floor of what isnow Naval Hospital Naples.

In addition to newer, centrally locatedfacilities, the base’s educational community

has been able to use new college programsto expand opportunities to pursue a collegedegree in Naples. Both resident and visitingprofessors offer flexible programs that makeearning a degree on active duty possible.Last year, more than 140 students from theNaples military community earned theirdegrees, ranging from associates to graduatedegrees.

But schooling for adults is not all to weighwhen considering education in Naples. Boththe elementary and high schools busstudents from throughout the Naples andneighboring Gaeta areas. Many familiesalso take the opportunity to enroll their

26 27

� Food is a big part of any Italian gathering. So the Vitalis make sure to serve typical Italian food like mozzarellaalong with hot dogs for those with more American tastes when having friends over.

� Basicilia di San Francesco di Paola built by architectPietro Bianchi in 1817, stands across King Ferdinand's palace,Palazzo Reale. The king asked for this church to be built to complement the view from his suite, because he did not want tobe reminded of how the poor lived in the neighborhood behind it.

� Fabio, a Napoli native, tries to persuade someItalians to come and join him and his American friends.

PH3(SW) Lenny Francioni, the one wearing the cowboy hat,likes the attention he gets from the Italians.

� Children play Europe’s most popular sport, soccer, in the Piazza del Plebisto.

� Navy officials in

Naples have worked hardover the last several years to improve sailors' quaility

of life. Among thoseimprovements was the

building of a new naval hospital, replacing the one

that rested on Vesuvius' volcanic crater.



At Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella,Sicily, everything old is new again. The“Hub of the Med,” divided into a servicesand quality-of-life base (NAS I) and anoperational base (NAS II), is in the midstof a $750 million recapitalization projectthat is making Sigonella an even betterplace to live and work.

NAS Sigonella seems to be erecting newbuildings as quickly as the orange grovesthat surround the base sprout new trees. Thecenterpiece of the ongoing construction isthe Navy Exchange/DECA commissary andfood court. Completed in 2001, the 1,500square meter facility makes it possible tostock a greater variety of products and foods.

The new dining facility-club offerspatrons new lunchtime and after-workentertainment options, while the newadministration building relocates previously

scattered customer service offices in a singlebuilding. A new chapel and communitybuilding improve worship opportunities,and provide a new place for professional andsocial organization meetings. A newkindergarten was added to the Departmentof Defense Dependent School (DODDS),and more than 500 new housing unitsopened recently near NAS II.

“There is construction all over the place,”said Thea Burke. Senior Chief AviationWarfare Systems Operator (AW) Jim Burke,Thea and their two sons arrived 18 monthsago, just after the opening of the exchange/commissary complex. “There is transfor-mation going on all the time. The facilitiesat the school are improving; the roads areconstantly being upgraded,” added thesenior chief.

S t o r y b y J O 1 C r a i g C o l e m a n ,P h o t o s b y P H 3 A n t o i n e T h e m i s t o c l e o u s

� Boats decorated with multicolored stripes crowd the small harbor of the tiny La Provincia.The little town’s piers transform into a lively fish market on Sundays.

The final phase of the recapitalizationproject is a $26 million Morale, Welfareand Recreation complex. The facilities,scheduled for completion in 2005, includea multiplex cinema, a heated outdoorswimming pool, a 10-lane bowling center,a video arcade and more.

But base facilities are only part of thestory of a tour at Sigonella. TheMediterranean architecture of NAS I andNAS II, with its red tile roofs and pastelwalls, is in harmony with the environmentand suggests the island’s history. You canfind everything here, from Baroque operahouses to discotheques, from olive grovesto water parks. With 1,000 miles of beachesand a 5,000 ft. volcano–Mt. Etna–loomingin the background, Sigonella is a base withsunbathing and skiing nearby, modernamenities and ancient artifacts, plus mildweather and friendly people.

“The spice of life is diversity, and herethere’s a lot of spice,” said Aviation WarfareSystems Operator (NAC) 1st Class ScottWilliams, who’s been stationed at NASSigonella for three years.

As rewarding as a tour in Sicily can be,

it’s not without challenges. The first hurdleusually faced by Sailors and their familiesis the language barrier. But like mostbarriers, it can be overcome with effortand the proper attitude.

“If you’re willing to make mistakes andnot get frustrated, they will embrace you asone of their own,” said Thea, who does alot of produce shopping in the local Italianmarkets. “You have to be willing to makemistakes (with the language). You’ve got toget up and try again, otherwise you’ll findyourself locked in your house–and thinkof what you’ll have missed.”

The key to enjoying a tour in Sicily, asanywhere, is the ability to adapt to theenvironment. “You can’t really imaginewhat it’s going to be like before you’re here,because it’s so different,” said Thea.

“We came here to adapt ourselves, tothe Italian culture and lifestyle and to enjoySicily for what it has to offer,” added Jim. “Iwould tell any Sailor, single or married, geta tour in overseas. It’s just so rewarding.”

Coleman is a journalist who is assigned to the

public affairs office NAS Sigonella, Sicily.


� Even on country roads outside city limits, you will run intosome traffic. Sigonella sheep and goat herders often move their flocksacross roads just off the base.

� New barracks built at NAS Sigonella, along with many othernew facilities, have improved Sailors’ quality of life.

� All the construction being done atNAS Sigonella has provided jobs for thelocal Italians. There are places around thebase that are only supported by theAmericans who are stationed in Sigonella.

� In Cantania there are unlimited souvenirs you can buy, but don’t forget to do your shopping before or after “siesta time”, which is usuallymid-afternoon and early evening, where the stores close and localsspend time with family, napping or taking care of personal business.

� Two old friends walk back home fromspending time at the old café, where in the middle of the day you would see a gang of oldmen sitting around talking and letting the timepass by slowly.


S t o r y a n d p h o t o s b y J O 1 ( S W ) M . J . D a r b y

Navy corpsmen practice survival instead of

medicine in the mountains of the Toiyabe

National Forest

� Situated in the middle of ToiyabeNational Forest, the training ground for the students provided amazing views, but little protection from the elements. "Because this is a national forest, said InstructorHMC(FMF/SW) Fredrick Madrid, "it's notunusual for our training to be interruptedby campers, hikers and snowmobilers.

They never saw it coming–literally. By the time the explosions cracked

the cold, quiet of the morning and smoked filled the spaces between the

blinding snowflakes, the group’s reaction was slow and numb. Usually

calm and collected in the face of chaos, the team of doctors, physician’s

assistants (PA) and field medics found themselves confused; fumbling

for any survival equipment they could put their hands on and scrambling

down the mountainside for cover from the unexpected onslaught above.

35M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

niper fire and shouts bouncedoverhead. Gone were the warmth,

comfort and predictability of theirclinics and hospitals. Quite simply, theywere out of their element.

It had become painfully clear to theparticipants that the Mountain Cold-Weather Medicine (MCWM) course theyhad signed up for had little to do withdeveloping their medical expertise andeverything to do with survival.

Encircled by the looming mountainspeaks of the Toiyabe National Forest inNevada, lies the Marine Corps MountainWarfare Training Center (MCMWTC).MCMWTC is a small, isolated trainingfacility where Marines units and field medicscome to experience mountaineering tech-niques and cold-weather combat operationson unforgiving terrain that ranges in elevation from 6,500 to 11,000 feet.

Normally the course is reserved for the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) corpsmenassigned to Marine Corps units that potentially face missions in extreme coldenvironments. But because of operationalcommitments, the two-week course hashad more openings for doctors, PAs andnurses.

After a few lessons on equipment, landnavigation and their equipment issue, thestudents moved out of the warm classroomand heated barracks and up into themountains where their field exercisesbegan.

The practioners-turned-studentscrammed their awkward 70-pound packsand themselves into noisy all-terrain vehiclesfor transport to their new high-altitudehome for the next several days.

Once “on the hill,” the instructors, affec-tionately referred to as “Red Hats” becauseof their distinctive headgear, began lessonsin setting up a base station and proper useof survival gear.

“A good majority of what these fieldmedics will be required to do in the field istrain others on how to properly use theirgear. That’s the easiest way to prevent yourtroops’ injuries,” said Instructor HMC(SW/FMF) Michael Madrid. “This is a realchallenge for some,” he added. “The elementsand even your own gear can work againstyou if you don’t know how to use it properly. It’s imperative that they learn thebasics to surviving up here if they are to be an asset to their attached unit, and not a hindrance.”

The group’s initial days in the fieldstarted deceptively warm and pleasant.Base camp was established in the warmthof the sun. After selecting a flat spacecamouflaged by evergreens, each four-person team dug out an area wide anddeep enough to conceal their snow-whitetent. Once the tents were up, waist-hightrails were dug beginning at the entrance


� As the students headed downhill to their extraction point, a surprise ambush forcedthe group to dig in for yet another cold night in the field.

� Small stoves were issued to each group tomelt snow for cooking and drinking, but the students

quickly adapted them for personal warmth, as well.LTJG Edgar San Luis of Fleet Hospital, Camp Pendleton,

Calif., patiently waits for the flame to settle to a constant level to thaw his icy fingers.

� At the beginning of the field exercises, the weather was sunny and almost warm. But conditions

eventually deteriorated, as did the good humor of students LT Mark Morton and HM3 Joseph Reyez.

� Weighing in at 93 pounds, LT AshleyJames of Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton,Calif., carries close to her own body weight withthe more than 70-pound backpack and gear.

37M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

of each tent and running along theperimeter of the camp to conceal movementin the campsite.

The students were then divided intogroups for skiing lessons based on their skilllevels. During the afternoon of ski lessons,the students fell repeatedly and enjoyed alaugh or two at each other’s expense. Noone realized that shortly this wouldn’t besuch a laughing matter.

Even the first night in the field seemedcomfortable enough with thick sleepingbags, full tanks of gas in their small cooking/heating stoves and plenty of water providedby the instructors.

During the next two days, students beganto put their basic skills to use, while learningabout avalanche conditions, search andrescue and evacuation transport techniques.

On the last morning of the first exercise,the rescue survivalists were broken into fourteams to locate, stabilize and transport fourinjured men. Of course, the four largeststudents became the “victims,” leaving theirsmaller teammates to push and pull theirpatients cross-country and uphill whilecarrying their survival packs,

At 400-meter intervals along the timedcourse, teams stopped to set up warmingtents with fires to keep their patient’s bodytemperature up. Signs of frustration soonsurfaced as instructors heard things like,“Are you pushing? We need a little help here.

Hey, when you get the warming station setup, you need to come back here and help!This is ridiculous,” echoing across thewilderness.

After getting the victims to the end ofthe course, the students continued theirtraining in downhill skiing. Then everyonemoved back to the barracks for three daysof downtime. For students, this provided amuch-needed opportunity to wash theclothes everyone had been wearing for thelast three days.

LT Ashley James, a PA at Camp Lejeune,N.C., took advantage of the downtime toget her laundry done and reflect on whyshe was there. “I fought hard to get in thiscourse,” James said, “but there have beentimes during this exercise that I wonderedwhat I was thinking. At least I carried thesame pack and gear as the rest of the group,and I was never the last one to arrive. Thatwas a challenge I made to myself.”

It wasn’t long before her instructorchallenged her again. “They just informedme that for the second field ex, I’m to bethe battalion squad leader,” said an anxiousJames. “I prefer to remain low-key andmake small leadership decisions frombehind the scenes. I guess they picked upon that. They told me they picked mebecause I was doing a good job. That’squite an honor, but couldn’t they have justtold me I was doing a good job?”


� "The stoves were so hard to ignite, thatmost of the time we'd just give up and go tosleep cold and hungry," said HM2 MustafaJoseph of Naval Medical Center, San Diego."Keeping our spirits up through the exercisewas pretty difficult."

� On the final night in the field, students dugout ice caves to sleep in instead of erecting tents."Believe it or not," said HM3 Matthew Thompson from2nd Marine Division Camp Lejuene, N.C., "the night Islept in the ice cave was the most comfortable, warmnight I spent in the field."

� After dragging patients uphill for an afternoon, HM3 Alexander Hopkins of 3rd Battalion,Twentynine Palms, Calif., stops in a moment of sheerexhaustion before pressing on toward the ski slope for lessons.

� Day or night, the survival students wereforced to break down their base camp and relocate each time security was compromised.

39M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

Back at a newly established base camp, alarge triage area had been set up outside themain treatment tent to support a stream ofincoming casualties. As each casualty arrived,they were placed next to the heating stoveas field treatment was administered andevacuation routes were called in.

Because everyone on the exercise was atrained medical practitioner, it was up tothe instructors to ensure focus stayed on thestudent’s tactical training and survival skills.

The group remained in constant motionas calls poured in with more patients indire need. As the students were beginningto find their patients in the dark, on amoonless night, they were informed aroundmidnight that perimeter security had beenbreeched and they had to move their basecamp. Tired and cold, they filled in thepathways throughout the camp, strappedon their packs and carefully navigated to a new. The transition took more than four hours.

As morning approached, the numbstudents continued with their triage treatments while looking forward to theirreturn to the heated barrack later that day.Or so they thought.

“I figured out the toughest part wasgiving up control,” said LCDR Joseph Penta.“Just when we would get a bearing on asituation, the instructors would throw usanother curve. It was exhausting, but valuable training. We learned quickly thatit wasn’t about the medicine so much assurviving in an extreme environment.”

On their way back from camp, thestudents were met by sniper fire as theyrounded a corner in their all terrainvehicle. James shouted for the students to,“Take cover.”

After the attack was suppressed by securityforces, the students learned they were tospend an additional, unexpected nightoutdoors–this time in snow caves theywould have to build themselves. Irritable,cold and exhausted, the group resignedthemselves to the task and set to work,

once again shoveling the snow that servedas both their enemy, and protector.Surprisingly, once dug in and settled intheir icy creations, the students found theinsulation the snow provided made theircaves warmer than their tents.

While none of the students seemed toenjoy the constant cold and hunger, mostlearned to adapt and overcome.

“I think it’s import that we learn topractice adversity, and even a little misery,”reflected HMC(SW/FMF) MichaelThompson. “My fingers hurt so bad that,at times, I just wanted to say, ‘Enough.’ But,you learn that you can go on, and that’sextremely important. When we’re opera-tional, we don’t have the luxury of saying,‘I’m too cold, so I’m not going to do thisanymore.’ I think all medical personnelshould experience this–you never knowwhen you might need it.”

Perhaps the individuals who participatedmay never need to call on the skills acquiredduring their time at MCMWTC, but to thereal patient waiting for help in the coldand bleeding in the snow, it can mean thedifference between life and death. After all,the lifesavers can’t save lives if they can’tsave themselves.

Darby is a photojournalist assigned to

All Hands.


� HM3 Joseph Rayez and HM3 Matthewthompson pause halfway up the hilside untilconflicting orders on where to take cover areresolved.

� The small tents, while keeping the snow off at night, did little to keep studentswarm. Each morning, the students arose to find the inside of their tents frosted with icecrystals from their breathing. Here, InstructorsHM2(FMF) Michael Fanning and LT MattMcKlinko prepare for a new day of field operations.

� At the conclusionof their field exercises, students spent the following morning checking their gear back into supply prior to graduation.

� LT Keith Thompson inspects HN Andrew Graff's fingers for possible frostbite. Fortunately forGraff, his fingers were just extremely stiff and cold,

not frostbitten.

41M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D SA L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l40

S t o r y a n d p h o t o b y J O 1 ( S W ) M . J . D a r b y

Up and Smile RightL

aughing heartily with wide, toothy grins is something most

people take for granted. But, for those with dental deficiencies,

baring their pearly whites can be a source of embarrassment

and anxiety.

Fortunately for those so afflicted, Navy dental technicians (DT)

such as DTDN Patrick McCurdy are giving the gift of laughter.

McCurdy, currently assigned to the prosthodontic division,

National Naval Dental Center (NNDC), Bethesda, Md., finds great

satisfaction in helping to restore missing smiles.

“Once people have new teeth, they’re not intimidated by their

smile anymore,” said McCurdy. “They want to show off their new

teeth. It’s a great feeling to know you helped restore someone’s

confidence.”

From crowns and bridges to implants and even total mouth

reconstructions, the dentists and technicians at NNDC are spreading

smiles one mouth at a time. In his clinical capacity, McCurdy

prepares each patient before the dentist arrives by explaining the

procedures and taking dental impressions of their teeth. “Taking

an impression is the first step in the restoration process,”

McCurdy said. “It helps ensure the proper fit of the new piece.”

Because many of the dentists at NNDC Bethesda are in their

residencies, the staff sees a wide range of dental deformities. But

the learning environment also mandates more appointments and

fittings per patient to ensure the proper fit of artificial teeth.

“We’ve seen some pretty severe cases,” McCurdy continued. “I’ve

seen instances where a patient received as many as 18 implants,

where screws are surgically inserted into the jaw and a false tooth

is then attached to the post. A typical implant case might call for

one or two. This clinic takes on some major reconstructions to fully

prepare our residents for what they may encounter out in the field.”

For McCurdy, dentistry isn’t just a 9–to–5 job either. It’s his 24-7

long-term goal. “I love doing this type of work,” said McCurdy.

“I’m not sure at this point whether or not I’ll stay in prosthodontic

care, but I’m definitely pursuing a career in Navy dentistry.”

Besides taking night courses toward his degree, McCurdy

volunteers time at schools in the community, teaching proper

dental hygiene habits to local children.

When asked what pearls of wisdom he would pass along to his

fellow shipmates to maintain bright, healthy smiles, McCurdy

chuckled and referred to the familiar.

“I know this probably sounds completely corny, but brush and

floss daily,” he said with a grin. “Also, schedule regular check-ups.

No one should be afraid to visit the dentist’s office. We’re really

not as bad as you think.”

Darby is a photojournalist assigned to All Hands.

Focus onService

Up and Smile Right

Eye on the Fleet is a monthly photo feature sponsored by the Chief of Information

Navy Visual News Service. We are looking for high impact, quality photography

from Sailors in the fleet to showcase the American Sailor in action.

43

Eye on the Fleet

42

� A student, under the watchful eye of LT BrendonEwers, swims through a chamber that simulates theinside of an aircraft during the Aviation Water SurvivalCourse. The Aviation Survival Training Center atMarine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., trains andqualifies more than 8,000 military aviators each yearin water survival and emergency egress techniques.

P h o t o b y P H 3 K a t r i n a B e e l e r

� Lt. Col. William “Chester” Waldron,Commanding Officer of the “Black Knights”of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron VMFA314, performs a super sonic fly-by duringfilming for the upcoming motion picture production "Stealth,” on board USS Carl

Vinson (CVN 70).

P h o t o b y P H A N C h r i s M . V a l d e z

To be considered, forward your high resolution (5"x 7" at 300 dpi) images with full credit and cutline

information, including full name, rank and duty station. Name all identifiable people within the photo and

include important information about what is happening, where the photo was taken and the date.

Commands with digital photo capability can send attached .jpg files to: [email protected]

Mail your submissions to:

Navy Visual News Service • Naval Media Center

2713 Mitscher Rd., S.W., Anacostia Annex, D.C. 20373-5819

For a new Eye on the Fleet everyday, click on the Navy NewsStand’s home page,

www.news.navy.mil, for fresh images of your shipmates in action.

� GM3 Andrew Smith watches as GMC DonaldWatkins fires a .50 caliber machine gun off the

fantail aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73).deployment.


� AN Bryan Lopezzaldival inspects the intake of an F-14 Tomcat assigned to Fighter

Squadron (VF) 211.

P h o t o b y P H A n J h i L . S c o t t


� A member of the U.S. NavyParachute Team, the “Leap

Frogs,”jumps from an aircraftover San Diego's Brown Field.

P h o t o b y P H 1 A l a n D . M o n y e l l e

44 45A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l

Eye on the Fleet

� A hose team of U.S. Coast Guardsmen prepare to advance and engage a fire at the firefighting trainer, Naval Air StationWhidbey Island Fire School.

P h o t o b y P H 2 M i c h a e l L a r s o n

� During a chemical, biological, and radiological drill, DC2 Jim Castillo simulates working in a contaminated environment aboard USS John C. Stennis.

P h o t o b y P H 2 J a y m e P a s t o r i c

� The Ohio class fleet ballistic missile submarine USS Michigan (SSBN 727) entersPuget sound naval shipyard for refueling and conversion from a fleet ballistic missilesubmarine (SSBN) to a guided missile submarine (SSGN).

U . S N a v y p h o t o

M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D S

� EO2 John Flemming, assigned toExplosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit(EODMU)3 Det.1, San Diego, trainsKenyan EOD technicians on safeapproach and inspection procedures for discovered ordnance.

P h o t o b y P H 1 T e d B a n k s

� AN Uriel Berganza cleans the canopy of an F-14Tomcat before the morning flight operations beginaboard USS George Washington (CVN 73).


47

Eye on HistoryEye on History is a monthly photo feature sponsored by the Naval Historical Center.

For more photos pertaining to naval history, go to www.history.navy.mil .

U.S. Navy Photos Courtesy of

the Naval Historical Center

1964 �

The bow of USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) towers over the world’s largest

drydock after completion of the docking operation at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash.

M A Y 2 0 0 4 • A L L H A N D SA L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l46

� 1950

Members of a field dental unit in the South Pacific perform a dentalprocedure during the Korean War.

� 1955

While briefing his crew before takingtheir stations aboard the P-2V

Neptune, LTJG John R. Farrell pointsout a suspected storm area on aweather chart.

� 1970

The U.S. Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicleis recovered by her support ship, TransQuest, fivemiles off the coast of San Diego after making herfirst dive. This first rescue sub, which is capable of removing 24 men at a time from a sunken or disabled submarine, stayed underwater for morethan two hours, reaching a depth of 125 feet.

� 1952

Red Cross volunteers were ready with ahot cup of coffee for Navy CommunicatorRalph Galbreath during the Tehachapi,Calif., earthquake emergency.

A L L H A N D S • w w w . n e w s . n a v y . m i l48

The Final Word

Sending Troops a Taste of HomeS t o r y b y J 0 2 C h a r l e s L . L u d w i g

In my experience, there are two simple words capable of making

a room aboard any deployed ship go silent for a second or two.

The same two words are so powerful, dozens of adults swarm

to their division’ s mail petty officer like a pack of famished ants

descending on a sloppily prepared picnic.

And, as I can surely attest, two unpretentious words can

single-handedly increase an enlisted man’ s morale when deployed

overseas.

Those words? “Mail call!” It’s like music to my ears.

It shouldn’t be hard to figure out why mail call is such

an integral part of a Sailor’ s life. On deployment,

anything even hinting at a little touch of home is

a welcome sight. Depending on the message

or photos, it can even bring a person

to tears.

But when that heart-felt message from

home comes fully equipped with fare

of the palate-pleasing variety, it’s

even better.

Some people get delicacies

from their wives, grandmothers

or mothers. But, some people

receive their sweet tooth

fulfillment in the form of a

guilty pleasure steeped in the

finest traditions of the United

States of America.

Girl Scout cookies. (Doesn’t it make you hungry

just looking at it in print?)

We all should know by now the magnetized influence those

little wintertime treats have on the American landscape. Every

January, through order forms and Scouts working booths outside

of grocery stores, millions of people spend a chunk of their

early-year budget to satisfy their deep-seated cravings for Thin

Mints (among other flavors).

And during the last several years, Sailors deployed out of the

Naples, Italy, area have been able to join the rest of America in

satisfying their taste buds via the Treats-to-Troops Program. This

program lets people “sponsor” boxes of Girl Scout cookies, with

an accompanying message, to be sent to servicemen deployed

around the world.

The program was the brainchild of Naval Air Mediterranean

Repair Activity (NAMRA) employee Emilie Heroldwebber.

Heroldwebber, a Navy spouse and Army veteran, was serving as

the leader of Brownie Troop 67 when she realized her troop had

just the recipe to sweeten NAMRA team deployments.

“I thought it would be a great idea if my troop sent cookies to

the detachment,” she said. “After talking to some

other leaders, they thought it was a great idea,

too, so we decided to try it on a neighborhood

level.”

That was back in early 2003, when a NAMRA

aircraft mechanic team departed for a deployment

to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

This tiny program ended up having so much

success the Scouts decided to continue the

program during their 2004 sales period with

a sales range extended past the

NAMRA troops.

“We hope to spread the

treats to as many troops as we

can,” Heroldwebber said. “I

think the program is a great

morale booster for people to

show their support in a small

way … . This is something the

girls feel great about, and I know

that it will make a difference in the day of our service members

fighting for our freedom and the freedom of so many others in

the world.”

The Girl Scouts are known throughout the country for making

a difference in society through their many generous humanitarian

causes. Now they can revel in the fact that their contributions are

making an impact worldwide.

Oh, and they’ re making sure they keep everyone’ s sweet tooth

happy as well. When is mail call?

Ludwig is a photojournalist assigned to All Hands.

But, he’s up to the challenge of being a...

... are you?

hisRecruiter

warned himit would beTough.

hisRecruiter

warned himit would beTough.