the signature, july 3, 2015

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NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - A person who has always wanted to explore Europe might be a bit jealous gazing at the dry erase board hanging in the NAS 2 Air Operations building. Written in red marker, nine countries packed into just 14 days travel are divvied between five pilots and two air- crewmen who flying cargo and personnel in NAS Sigonella’s two C-26 aircraſt. is is the normal pace of operations. Sitting on a couch across from the board, C-26 co-pilot Lt. Brian Sullivan looks up and confirms why it’s okay to be at least a tad envious. “As a sin- gle guy, these are a dream set of orders,” says Sul- livan, a 29-year-old Long Island native who came to the Operations Department last fall. “I’ve been to 20 countries in the last six months” he says, then starts in on a list of Euro-destinations long enough to appear as if he’s visited all within the continent. “Turkey, Sweden, Greece, Spain, Norway, Albania, Slovenia, England, Belgium, Scotland, Poland, Ire- land …” then suddenly stops. “e travel is great, but the fact of the matter is we couldn’t get the mis- sion done without our maintainers. ey’re really the secret behind our success.” Roy Contarino supervises that team of contract- ed maintainers. For him, measuring success boils down to one thing: keeping both C-26 aircraſt fly- ing missions tasked to Sullivan and other members of the crew. eir track record is practically flaw- less. Contarino can’t remember the last time his shop was unable to repair an aircraſt and return it mission-ready in time for the next scheduled as- signment. e truly remarkable thing is that Con- tarino is just one of four responsible for sustaining the readiness of the two aircraſt. “We are highly experienced and multi-tasked. We do everything from washing the aircraſt, to scheduled inspec- tions, structural repairs, engine repairs, avionics repairs, and administration. We maintain a large inventory of parts in support of our aircraſt and we are responsible to maintain all the usual programs required of any maintenance activity like Hazmat, Quality Control, Tool Control, Shipping and Re- ceiving, GSE Maintenance, Tool Calibration and anything else that might come up” said Contarino. is claim is verified by NAS Sigonella Opera- tions Officer, Cmdr. Bryant Medeiros, himself a former squadron maintenance division officer. “I've been in a few squadrons in my Naval Aviation career and these guys are top-notch maintenance professionals,” said Medeiros. “I have no appre- hension about climbing into a plane that they have worked on.” e maintainers not only have highly-diversi- fied skill sets, they have over 100 years of cumu- lative experience. Contarino has been doing the Roy Contarino, leſt, and Bob Parris, part of a team of four contracted maintainers tasked with keeping NAS Sigonella's two C-26 aircraſt flying. e duo have been serving in Sigonella side-by-side for the last 20 years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tony D. Curtis/Released) USNH Sigonella: N A S SIG O N E L L A Don't wait to hydrate! PAGE 14 Vol. 32 No. 26 Majestic Malta: At least once! PAGEs 8-9 Red, White, and BOOM! Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)! PAGE 3 July 3, 2015 NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Many children dream of becoming firefighters, an American symbol of hope and cour- age. Firefighters aren’t the super heroes you see in cartoons; they are the heroes in real life. e sound of their impending arrival is marked with wailing sirens; en- gines full of men and women donned in flame retardant coveralls, gloves, boots, helmet and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), ready to fight fires and rescue those in distress. ey have a hard job, and when sent into dangerous situations they know the importance of training and teamwork. With that understanding, Naval Air Sta- tion (NAS) Sigonella’s Fire Department and Catania-Fontanarossa Airport Fire Department conducted an interoperabil- ity training and joint exercise at the NAS 2 fire station, from June 23-26. “e training environment was cre- ated for scenarios that are similar, if not equal, to an actual catastrophe, and train the emergency responders how to coun- ter the situation,” said Luca Scrofani, as- sistant chief of operations assigned to the Catania-Fontanarossa Airport. “e simulation included fighting fires against aircraſt cargo fire, engine fire, cabin fire, or cockpit fire.” Catania-Fontanarossa’s Fire Department responsibilities include responding to fires, accidents, and other incidents where risks are high on the airfield. NAS Sigonella’s responsibilities include similar that of a commercial airline but with an addition of the military-grade aircraſt. “ere isn’t much difference between the two fire departments except what the military aircraſt is carrying, like the type of cargo or armament because there are different standard of procedures for that,” said Scrofani. “Nonetheless, all fire departments around the world have the same goals in mind and that is to protect life and property.” Catania-Fontanarossa’s Fire Depart- ment and NAS Sigonella trained for four days developing a bond and skill that connects the international fire fighters. “It’s very important to have an integrat- ed training so that we may learn from each other and enhance our firefighting skills together,” said Giuseppe Ricci, NAS Sigonella’s Fire Department station chief. “e training never stops, so that we can keep the skills to do our job safely at the highest level possible. It’s been a pleasure to work with the local fire department and we will continue to support each other any way we can.” U.S. - Italian firefighters: Friendships forged in heat BY MC2 RAMON GO NAS Sigonella Public Affairs 'Outstanding performance' hallmark of C-26 team BY LT PAUL NEWELL NAS Sigonella Public Affairs NAS Sigonella's Fire Department and Catania-Fontanarossa Airport Fire Department fight an aircraſt fire during a training exercise at the fire station on NAS 2, June 23-26. e two fire departments train to keep thier skills at the highest level possible. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released) "C-26" continued on Page 12

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In this week's edition: 'Outstanding performance' hallmark of C-26 team, U.S. - Italian firefighters: Friendship forged in heat, and finally we visit 'Majestic Malta'!

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: The Signature, July 3, 2015

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - A person who has always wanted to explore Europe might be a bit jealous gazing at the dry erase board hanging in the NAS 2 Air Operations building. Written in red marker, nine countries packed into just 14 days travel are divvied between five pilots and two air-crewmen who flying cargo and personnel in NAS

Sigonella’s two C-26 aircraft. This is the normal pace of operations.

Sitting on a couch across from the board, C-26 co-pilot Lt. Brian Sullivan looks up and confirms why it’s okay to be at least a tad envious. “As a sin-gle guy, these are a dream set of orders,” says Sul-livan, a 29-year-old Long Island native who came to the Operations Department last fall. “I’ve been to 20 countries in the last six months” he says, then starts in on a list of Euro-destinations long enough

to appear as if he’s visited all within the continent. “Turkey, Sweden, Greece, Spain, Norway, Albania, Slovenia, England, Belgium, Scotland, Poland, Ire-land …” then suddenly stops. “The travel is great, but the fact of the matter is we couldn’t get the mis-sion done without our maintainers. They’re really the secret behind our success.”

Roy Contarino supervises that team of contract-ed maintainers. For him, measuring success boils down to one thing: keeping both C-26 aircraft fly-ing missions tasked to Sullivan and other members of the crew. Their track record is practically flaw-less. Contarino can’t remember the last time his shop was unable to repair an aircraft and return it mission-ready in time for the next scheduled as-signment. The truly remarkable thing is that Con-tarino is just one of four responsible for sustaining the readiness of the two aircraft. “We are highly experienced and multi-tasked. We do everything from washing the aircraft, to scheduled inspec-tions, structural repairs, engine repairs, avionics repairs, and administration. We maintain a large inventory of parts in support of our aircraft and we are responsible to maintain all the usual programs required of any maintenance activity like Hazmat, Quality Control, Tool Control, Shipping and Re-ceiving, GSE Maintenance, Tool Calibration and anything else that might come up” said Contarino.

This claim is verified by NAS Sigonella Opera-tions Officer, Cmdr. Bryant Medeiros, himself a former squadron maintenance division officer. “I've been in a few squadrons in my Naval Aviation career and these guys are top-notch maintenance professionals,” said Medeiros. “I have no appre-hension about climbing into a plane that they have worked on.”

The maintainers not only have highly-diversi-fied skill sets, they have over 100 years of cumu-lative experience. Contarino has been doing the

Roy Contarino, left, and Bob Parris, part of a team of four contracted maintainers tasked with keeping NAS Sigonella's two C-26 aircraft flying. The duo have been serving in Sigonella side-by-side for the last 20 years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tony D. Curtis/Released)

USNH Sigonella: NAS SIGONELLA

Don't wait to hydrate!

PAGE 14

Vol. 32 No. 26

Majestic Malta:At least once!

PAGEs 8-9

Red, White, and BOOM!Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)!

PAGE 3

July 3, 2015

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Many children dream of becoming firefighters, an American symbol of hope and cour-age. Firefighters aren’t the super heroes you see in cartoons; they are the heroes in real life. The sound of their impending arrival is marked with wailing sirens; en-gines full of men and women donned in flame retardant coveralls, gloves, boots, helmet and a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), ready to fight fires and rescue those in distress.

They have a hard job, and when sent into dangerous situations they know the importance of training and teamwork. With that understanding, Naval Air Sta-tion (NAS) Sigonella’s Fire Department and Catania-Fontanarossa Airport Fire Department conducted an interoperabil-ity training and joint exercise at the NAS 2 fire station, from June 23-26.

“The training environment was cre-ated for scenarios that are similar, if not equal, to an actual catastrophe, and train the emergency responders how to coun-ter the situation,” said Luca Scrofani, as-sistant chief of operations assigned to the Catania-Fontanarossa Airport. “The simulation included fighting fires against aircraft cargo fire, engine fire, cabin fire, or cockpit fire.”

Catania-Fontanarossa’s Fire Department responsibilities include

responding to fires, accidents, and other incidents where risks are high on the airfield. NAS Sigonella’s responsibilities include similar that of a commercial airline but with an addition of the military-grade aircraft.

“There isn’t much difference between the two fire departments except what the military aircraft is carrying, like the type of cargo or armament because there

are different standard of procedures for that,” said Scrofani. “Nonetheless, all fire departments around the world have the same goals in mind and that is to protect life and property.”

Catania-Fontanarossa’s Fire Depart-ment and NAS Sigonella trained for four days developing a bond and skill that connects the international fire fighters. “It’s very important to have an integrat-

ed training so that we may learn from each other and enhance our firefighting skills together,” said Giuseppe Ricci, NAS Sigonella’s Fire Department station chief. “The training never stops, so that we can keep the skills to do our job safely at the highest level possible. It’s been a pleasure to work with the local fire department and we will continue to support each other any way we can.”

U.S. - Italian firefighters: Friendships forged in heatBy MC2 RaMon GoNAS Sigonella Public Affairs

'Outstanding performance' hallmark of C-26 team

By LT PauL neweLLNAS Sigonella Public Affairs

NAS Sigonella's Fire Department and Catania-Fontanarossa Airport Fire Department fight an aircraft fire during a training exercise at the fire station on NAS 2, June 23-26. The two fire departments train to keep thier skills at the highest level possible. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released)

"C-26" continued on Page 12

Page 2: The Signature, July 3, 2015

THe SIGnaTuRePaGe 2 July 3, 2015 THe SIGnaTuRe PaGe 3July 3, 2015

Red, White, and BOOM! Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):Q: As a base employee, how many guests can I bring to Red, White, and Boom?A: Base employees (both U.S. and Local National) are allowed to sponsor up to five (5) guests whom do not have Department of Defense (DOD) Identification.

Q: How do my guests gain access to the base?A: Sponsors and all guests must bring valid photo identification to the Annex Gate, which will open at 1700. The Main Gate will be closed to all without DOD ID cards. Any guest who does not provide photo identification will not be allowed access to Red, White, and Boom. Guests will also not be allowed access without their sponsors.

Q: Last year the Annex Gate was secured during the Fireworks Show. What about this year?A: For your safety the Annex Gate will again be secured from 2130 until the conclusion of the fireworks display. During those hours, all guests may exit through the Main Gate. After the conclusion of the fireworks, the Main Gate will be secured once again and the Annex Gate will re-open.

Q: Will parking be provided inside the base?A: Yes. There will be limited parking near the stone lot adjacent to the sports field and Annex Gate. All guests are strongly encouraged to car pool. Once parking is filled, attendees will need to find parking outside the base.

Q: Where can guests find event parking outside the base?A: For a small fee business owners directly across the NAS 1 Main Entrance have agreed to provide parking in their lots. We kindly ask that guests do not park on SS-192, the street that runs in front of the NAS 1 installation.

Q: Will there be a guest list so my guests can access the base without their sponsor?A: No. Guests must be accompanied by their sponsor. If the sponsor is not present, guests will be turned away at the Annex Gate. Assuring that guests are not left stranded at the gate is another reason we strongly encourage sponsors to car pool with their guests. If for some reason this is not possible, sponsors should pre-plan a designated meeting place away from the Annex Gate.

Q: Will alcohol be served?A: Yes, and we want all guests to have a great time. However, please know that random Breathalyzers will be administered to all attendees leaving the gate just as we’ve done in past base events. Anyone who plans to drive should abstain from consuming alcohol. Legal actions will be taken against those who are driving and have exceeded the legal limit of alcohol. Also, sponsors, both U.S. and local nationals, will be held responsible for the conduct and general whereabouts of their guests.

Q: When will the parking lots on NAS 1 secure in preparation for Red, White and Boom?A: The following is a list of NAS 1 parking lot closure dates and times in preparation for the event:

- Fitness Center/Connections parking lot: June 29 @ 11 p.m.- Child Development Center (CDC) parking lot: July 2 @ 11 p.m.

To help those who rely on parking that will be closed during event preparations some of the preferred parking on NAS 1 will be temporarily available to all. Vehicles parked in secured locations after the times listed above will be towed at owner’s expense. These areas will be secured until after the event has concluded and the parking lots have been cleaned.

Q: What kind of bags will not be allowed on base?A: Coolers and backpacks will not be authorized. Bags exceeding a 12”x 6”x 12” dimension also will not be allowed to enter the base. Authorized bags will be allowed after they have been screened.

Q: What about strollers and Diaper Bags for those with small children?A: Strollers will be allowed for caretakers of small children after screening. The same applies to Diaper Bags long as they are not in exceedance of the 12”x 6”x 12” dimensions:

Q: I know contraband is prohibited. But what items are considered contraband?A: Knives of any size, BB Guns (Air Soft), sling shots, fireworks of any kind, illegal drugs, and any other items the CO deems as contraband. We require guests to use common sense. If the item presents a potential threat to the base, do not attempt to bring it to the event.

Q: Will shuttle services run in the “Triangle?”A: Yes. The shuttle will run between 1630 and 2300. The shuttle will pick up riders at NAS 1 in front of DODDS; at NAS 2 in front of the Flight Clinic; and at Marinai in front of the Youth Center.

Q: Will NEX and Commissary hours stay the same during the event?A: Yes. The NEX and Commissary will retain normal business hours during the event. Anyone wanting to enter the NEX or Commissary will need to provide a valid ID.

For more event information, please visit: SIGMWR.COM or e-mail: [email protected]

Happy Independence Day Sigonella! Once again we celebrate the anniversa-

ry of the signing of THE document which represents the heart, soul, and spirit of what it means to be a United States citizen – our Declaration of Independence. For 239 years, day by day and year by year, citizens of our country have declared our rejection of tyranny, and our devotion to the truths that all men are created equal and that we are endowed with the unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

And so it goes, if history has shown us anything it is that our declaration is uni-versally appealing and in this appeal we find the proof of its truths. At the same time, history has demonstrated, sometimes painfully so, that the responsibility of and costs required to protect these truths can be dear.

July 4th 1863 – General Lee’s army withdrew from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania while the same day Confederate forces surrendered in Vicksburg, Mississippi. To-gether, these events proved decisive in pre-serving our Union but all told were part of a war that claimed the highest loss of life our country has ever experienced. July 4th 1881, as part of our National Reconstruc-tion the great civil rights leader, Booker T. Washington, established Tuskegee Institute in Alabama to provide higher education for African Americans - another of many important steps necessary to make real the

truth that all men are created equal and have unalienable right to pursue Happi-ness. Demonstrating our disdain for tyr-anny, July 4th 1942 saw US air power’s first offensive against Nazi Germany and in 1944, just weeks after securing the world’s biggest amphibious invasion, 1,100 U.S. guns fired an Independence Day salute from the liberated Normandy, France. July 4th 1946 saw the U.S. granting inde-pendence to the Philippines, a former U.S. territory – a gesture which meaningfully demonstrated U.S. citizens full embrace of universality of these truths and specifically the right of people to self-governance.

Today, we again find ourselves commit-ted to protecting these truths. Those who would commit tyranny against these truths agitate in every corner of our world. And we in NAS Sigonella, like countless other Americans around the globe, are forbear-ers of our heritage and stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies on history’s and geography’s precipice. History is ours to maintain. We must meet our responsibili-ties! Sigonella, as we enjoy this 239th an-niversary of our Declaration of Independ-ence, let us pause to fully and consciously appreciate all that our Declaration means and in doing so mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sa-cred Honor.

Honor, Courage, Commitment,C. J. Dennis

Comment regarding “ID Checks at NEX”:When will the NEX start checking IDs before allowing customers in the store? I have been to the store on several occasions and have noticed that authorized personnel are bringing unauthorized patrons and shopping for them. I have seen guests trying on shoes! Will there be a policy change? Thank you!

Response: Thank you. I share your concern about the base access policy which is why I intend a major overhaul. More will follow but very soon these practices will be substantially reigned in. In the meantime, any SPONSOR caught making out-of-policy purchases will be held accountable, which may include loss of NEX, Commissary, and even MWR privileges. Don’t forget patrons, we are watching your shopping…

Comment regarding “BZ for Hobby Shop”: My recent Hobby Shop experience was phenomenal. The Shop and Team are very organized and helped me with more than I could have expected! Their knowledge on car repair is exceptional. They educated me and helped me through the process of changing my brakes. I recommend our Auto Hobby Shop to anyone looking to work on cars in the near future.

Sincerely, Brian Klindt

Response:Thank you for your feedback, Brian! Mr. David Kieltsch and the Auto Skills Center staff have worked very hard to organize and beautify the shop and have clearly succeeded. Your feedback helps substantiate their efforts, and I am glad to pass along your kind comments to the staff and our community.

THE SIGNATUREU.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA

Commanding OfficerCapt. Chris Dennis

Executive OfficerCmdr. Charles G. McKinney II

Command Master ChiefCMDCM Mike Kaszubowski

EDITORIAL

Public Affairs Officer Lt. Paul Newell

[email protected]

EditorM. Todd Butler

[email protected]

Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta

[email protected]

PAO Staff Writers \ PhotographersMC1 Tony D. Curtis

[email protected]

MC2 Ramon [email protected]

CONTACT USNaval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily

[email protected] 624-5440; 095-86-5440

PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001

PUBLISHERStampa Generale S.r.l.,

Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher,Naval Support Activity

Capodichino (Naples), [email protected]

Tel. 081-568-7884Fax 081-568-7887

This civilian enterprise (CE) newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The

Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the

Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. The appearance of advertising

in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement

by the DoD or Stampa Generale S.r.l., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made

available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex,

national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factorof the purchaser, user or

patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser

will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source until the violation is

corrected.

The Signature is published weekly by Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi,

Publisher, Naval Support Activity, Capodichino (Naples), Italy.

Tel. 081-568-7884. Fax 081-568-7887. E-mail: [email protected].

Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments,

divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public

Affairs Office via [email protected], guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered to our office no later than the close of business on the Fri-

day proceeding the expected publication date. All articles submitted by non-staff members

will be considered contributing writers.

The Signature will not publish anyanonymous articles. All advertisements in this publication are the property of Stampa Generale S.r.l. Any

reproduction of advertisements in The Signature is unauthorized without the

written consent of the publisher.cnic.navy.mil/sigonella

The ICE/CO Suggestion Box is for our community and Commanding Officer to discuss, with an eye toward constant improvement, how we are excelling* and how we can improve**. The Signature and NASSIG Facebook Page typically publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. Comments/suggestions are useful when objective, constructive, and specific. ICE/CO Suggestion Box is NOT a forum for mean-spirited attacks.

* If you submit a "BZ" about a specific person or department, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME in order to ensure comment authenticity and therefore publically recognize employees or organizations.

** The Commanding Officer will ensure a response to all signed comments/suggestions and the vast majority of anonymous ones but reserves the right to disregard those comments/suggestions disinterested in the spirit of the program!

There are two ways to submit; go to:1) Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) home page on a One-Net computer at: http://ice.disa.mil, All Sigonella services are found under the Navy Europe Listing in the scroll-down menu. – or – 2) NAS Sigonella's website www.cnic.navy.mil/Sigonella, go to the "About" drop down menu and click on "CO Suggestion Box".

Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box

Commanding Officer Capt. Chris DennisDirect Line

Interactive Customer Evaluation

"ICE" continued on Page 4

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - Morale, Welfare, and Recreation’s annual Red, White, and BOOM! celebration will take place this year on July 4 at 5 p.m. in the Midtown area on NAS 1.

The event will be open to all base ID holders who may sponsor up to five guests. For more information specific to the event check the FAQ section below this article.

Aside from the smorgasbord of All-American eats available to guests, this year’s whirlwind of events will feature a Corn Hole tournament, the annual John Paul Jones cardboard boat race, a food eating competition, lip sync contest, and plenty of activities for the kids to enjoy. All-female rock cover band, Hypnotica, and Country and Western group, Appaloosa Victor, will provide live music.

“We are very excited about this year’s event and all the planned

activities offered to our great community,” said M.J. Gaudette, MWR Community Recreation Director. “It is one of my favorite events MWR puts on because we get to bring a bit of the States to our community. The event takes months of planning within MWR and with many NASSIG departments and volunteers to make it all come together, and I would like to sincerely thank each for all their support.”

Of course, no Independence Day celebration is complete without fireworks. Starting at 10 p.m. the Sigonella skies will be aglow with what organizers have assured will be a dazzling spectacle of exploding color. For fire safety precautions, at 9:30 p.m. the Annex Gate will be secured and will remain closed until the fireworks have ended. While the Annex Gate is closed the Main Gate will be open to traffic.

Shortly after the fireworks have ended so too will the Red, White, and Boom event.

For more event information, please visit: SIGMWR.COM.

Red, White, and BOOM! celebration slated for July 4By LT PauL neweLLNAS Sigonella Public Affairs

Page 3: The Signature, July 3, 2015

THe SIGnaTuRePaGe 4 July 3, 2015 THe SIGnaTuRe PaGe 5July 3, 2015

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – More than 20 U.S. Marines and Sailors assigned to Special-Pur-pose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa trained Soldiers from the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) aboard Camp Singo, Uganda, Feb. 16 - May 15.

The three-month mission allowed the UPDF to increase mission-specific capabilities in logis-tics and engineering for upcoming deployments throughout Africa.

The Soldiers received general training on operational logistics before moving into more com-plex exercises, which required them to combine certain skill-sets in order to accomplish a simu-lated mission.

"For logistics, we taught basic supply, communications and mechanical classes before bring-ing them all together to teach convoys. Then we showed them how those aspects play into vehicle

patrols," said Sgt. Juan A. Cervantes, the platoon sergeant.The Marines and Sailors were able to increase the Ugandan's

proficiency by introducing practical skill-sets before moving onto more advanced tactics.

The two cycles of trained Soldiers concluded with a three-day final exercise, which required the Soldiers to utilize all of the techniques learned within their designated fields. The Ugandans would hike to the training location before the en-gineers began breaching and demolitions, while the Soldiers working in logistics would establish a combat operations center and conduct convoy missions.

"We wanted the Ugandans to walk away from the training with the technical skills and ability to teach younger Soldiers those skills, while also establishing strong relationships," said Gunnery Sgt. Joshua Sims, the team's staff non-commissioned officer-in-charge. "The partnership and confidence-building as-pects were the key to a successful mission."

The Soldiers received as much hands-on learning as pos-sible. This mindset not only developed stronger skills in the Ugandans, but also helped further shape the camaraderie be-tween the two militaries.

"The first thing I look for isn't necessarily technical skill, but more of the relationships with the instructors and the Marines," said Sims. "They became very close with one another; the Ugan-dans had big hearts and were willing to learn."

Preparation and partnerships: U.S. Marines boost Ugandans' skill sets

"ICE" continued from Page 2

Comment regarding “Motorcycle Parking on NAS 2”:There’s currently no authorized motorcycle parking at neither the 7-day store nor any hangar to include AIMD. Can something be done about this?

Response: Thank you for this suggestion! I am having Public Works do a study on how to accommodate motorcycle parking. This will apply to common areas e.g. garages, NEX, Midtown, Piazza, etc. Individual commands designate their own spaces. We will keep you updated on our way ahead.

Comment regarding "BZ to Base Movie Theater":I have been very impressed with the recent operation of the NAS 1 movie theater. New theater manager Krista Martinez has really brought the base theater experience to the next level. "Magic Muggle Mondays" are great. My kids love going to Harry Potter movies and taking part in the weekly activities offered. Last weekend's two double features on consecutive days, as well as Sigonella's first midnight movie were both lots of fun. Bravo Zulu to the whole MWR team, and especially to the movie theater staff!Sincerely,Jake Davis

Response: Jake, thank you for passing along the wonderful feedback! I'm always encouraged when innovative improvements are introduced to improve community morale, and totally agree with you - the theater's recent offerings have been impressive. MWR management received your note, which has been shared with Krista and theater staff.

Comment regarding “Toddler Play Area at Marinai Youth Center”:I understand the small playground at the Marinai Youth Center is being removed. This is the only nearby playground for small children and toddlers. Is there a way we can either keep the playground or move it to another location?

Response: Thank you for sharing this rumor. There are no plans to remove the playground equipment mentioned from the Marinai Youth Center. For any questions on Marinai facilities, please contact John Sammarco, Housing Facilities Manager, at 624-4113, or via email at: [email protected]. For Marinai CYP questions please contact the CYP Director, Sue Proctor, at 624-3736 (095-56-3736) or via email at: [email protected].

Comment regarding “LNs Using Base Pool”:Why are local nationals allowed to swim when they are not authorized patrons of our pool facilities?

Response: Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to clear up any confusion about pool access. Permanent Local National (LN) employees as well as non-U.S. NATO stationed at Sigonella are allowed to purchase an annual fitness membership, which includes the use of the fitness centers and lap swim services on NAS 1 and NAS 2. The membership for LN employees is limited only to the LN employee and does not extend to their family members nor may they sponsor guests. Currently there are 59 Local National employees with fitness center memberships, seven of whom presently use the pool during normal lap swim hours. If you suspect an unauthorized person using the fitness center/pool, please bring this to the attention of the fitness or aquatics staff on duty. On our end MWR will continues to conduct ID checks to ensure use of MWR facilities is limited to eligible patrons in accordance with CNICINST 1710.3. If you have any additional comments or inquiries, please contact the MWR Athletic Director, John Lenz, at 624-0504 (095-56-0504) or via email at: [email protected].

U.S. Marine Corporal Eric Hairston, an electrical equipment mechanic, observes a Ugandan soldier complete a wiring project at Camp Singo, Uganda, March 2. More than 20 U.S. Marines and Sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa trained with Ugandan Soldiers during a three-month mission, which allowed the UPDF to increase mission-specific capabilities in logistics and engineering for upcoming deployments throughout Africa. (Courtesy Photo/Released)

SToRy By CoRPoRaL LuCaS HoPkInSSPMAGTF- CR- Africa Public Affairs

Need an appointment at the hospital? Call DSN

624-CARE (2273) or commercial 095-56-2273,

M-F: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. For non-emergent

medical questions that arise over the weekend, holidays, or after office

hours, please call 335-578-8077 if you are normally seen

at the hospital or 335-578-8150

if you are normally seen at the Flight Line Clinic.

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The sales season is finally here! Despite the economic crisis, long lines of shoppers are ready to strike good bargains. The sconti di fine stagione (end-of- the-season sales) will begin tomorrow, Saturday, July 4 in Sicily and lasts until mid- September, even though you might have noticed that some store are already offering discounts.

Some retailers will continue offering discounts until the end of September. During the first days of the discount season, Italian shoppers flock to stores for good deals. So expect long lines.

Due to the current financial crisis and bad weather which have disrupted the spring shopping season, analysts are predicting that most retailers will offer right away a 50 percent reduction to lure consumers.

While you’re in search of big bargains, make sure you keep in mind some tips suggested by all the Italian Consumer Associations to avoid rip-offs and especially disputes with merchants that would be difficult to handle if you don’t speak Italian.

Consumer Associations officials also warn that some unfair retailers might try to sell shopworn or damaged items as “promotional sales” just to reduce the quantity of merchandise in stock. The first rule of thumb is to check prices before the discount season begins to be able to make price comparison.

Here are some tips to survive the sales season:1) First of all, do not trust discounts higher than 50 per

cent from the initial price. A “sensational” 80 or 90 per cent discount might sound like a tempting offer but it is probably a rip-off.

Remember that, during the discount season, defective merchandise could be exchanged or returned as usual. There is no “special return policy” when you shop at sales. Therefore, always keep your scontrino or receipt and distrust the shops that display signs saying: la merce venduta non si cambia,(purchased merchandise cannot be exchanged) or “all sales are final.” You have the right to change any defective fabric or shoe that is not up to sample within two months. Retailers can either refund you or give you a coupon that should be spent in the same shop.

As for returning something which is not defective, remember that in Italy there is no legal requirement for a shop to provide a refund if you change your mind. It is up to the shop owner so ask them about it before paying.

2) Be sure to look an item over carefully before you buy it. Check different shops to compare prices. If you have already visited a store you might be able to evaluate if a product was over-priced and then marked down. As a general rule, if you just arrived in Sicily and you have not been around a lot, be oriented toward buying at big department stores, where sales are usually fair.

3) Stores must display on the tags the initial prezzo (price)

Summer sales season kicks off in Sicily tomorrow

Sconti (sales) time is back in Sicily! Make sure you hit the stores early to save big. Shoppers should be ready to strike good bargains but need to keep their eyes open for rip-offs. (Photo by www.torange-it.com)

Improved personal Wi-Fi service coming to Navy lodging, MWR facilities worldwide

"SHOPPING" continued on Page 12

Official U.S. Navy file photo.

By Kristine M. sturKieNavy Exchange Service Command Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) and its vendor partner, ViaSat, announced that they are upgrading personal telecommunications services for Wi-Fi on Navy bases worldwide, June 26.

The upgraded Wi-Fi will be located in Navy Lodges, unaccom-panied housing, Navy Gateway Inns & Suites (NGIS) and Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities.

"By expanding our existing pay-as-you-go Wi-Fi service, we are able to offer a true enterprise solution for our military members and their families," said Mary Morse, vice president, NEXCOM's Telecommunications Program Office. "Once a person signs up for basic Wi-Fi service, it can be used on Navy bases where Wi-Fi ac-cess is made available, such as lodging and MWR facilities, any-where around the world."

In lodging facilities, including Navy Lodges and NGIS, band-width speeds on the basic service plan will increase from 2 Mb/s to 5 Mb/s, with a 3 Mb/s guaranteed minimum speed. Users will be able to stream videos and Skype to loved ones back home, quicker and easier.

The basic service plan in lodging facilities will be complimen-tary. However, users can pay to upgrade their service to include ad-ditional bandwidth up to 30 Mb/s.

"Previously, users couldn't purchase additional bandwidth, which is needed if they want to watch movies or play games while staying in a Navy lodging facility," said Morse. "This is especially important for those military and family members who may be stay-ing for extended periods of time."

A new feature, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), will allow guests free in-room phone calls to and from the United States while staying at NGIS or Navy Lodges. Previously, guests paid for all in-room calls. Guests will also be able to roam seamlessly between rooms within the same building without being disconnected.

For military members residing in unaccompanied housing, the cost for Wi-Fi service remains the same, but the bandwith has been greatly expanded. Now, us-ers will get 30 Mb/s per month for the same price they are cur-rently paying for 6 Mb/s.

Most Navy locations will re-ceive these new services by the end of 2015, except for Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which will receive the new ser-vices in early 2016.

For more news from Navy Ex-change Service Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/nexcom/.

U.S. NAVY HEADLINES

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EVERYTHING you could hope for in a vacation -- beautiful, clean, relaxing, affordable, and close by!

Malta is a small, mediteranean island, rich in history and natural beauty. It is believed that the Sicilians were the first to inhabit the area over 5,200 years ago. Today, it is adorned with over 360 churches, often displaying the unique “Maltese Cross” and offers something for everyone: History buffs, divers, resort loungers, and nightlife seekers. Once under British rule, they speak both English and Maltese, and “drive on the wrong side of the road”.

We started our journey by taking the “city bus” to down-town Valleta, one of the most historic cities in Europe, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located here is St. John’s co-Cathedral (and museum) which is a must-see. Built by the Order of the Knights of St. John (the Baptist) in 1577, it is filled with gifts of tremendous artistic value, donated by Grand Masters and Knights, whose mission was to protect the Catholic Faith from the Ottoman Turks for over 200 years. The island truly became an incredible fortress over time.

Friends recommended the “Hop On, Hop Off” tour as a way to maximize sight-seeing (make sure you have sun screen on). There are two different routes that will give you a great overview of the country. Make sure to visit the Megalithic Temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, overlooking the sea. These magnificent ruins made of limestone date from 3,600 BC! Another truly memorable stop for me was – Marsaxlokk – a picturesque fishing village, simply amazing visually with its many colorful boats (marked with a watchful eye) and local market – a photographer’s dream.

A trip to Malta would not be complete without a day-trip to the adjacent islands of Gozo and Comino. “Glorious Gozo” is among CNN’s 10 places to visit “before they change forever”. The “Azure Window” is one of nature’s finest wonders and the ancient archeological site of Ggantija Temples, (more Megalithic Ruins) is said to be the oldest freestanding structure in the world, preceding Stonehenge and even the Egyptian Pyramids. If you like scuba diving and/or snorkeling, Comino is the place for you. Make sure you go with a reputable company and not solo as the currents can be challenging.

After fun in the sun, give the local “Kinnie” a bitter-sweet soft drink a whirl – then grab a CISK beer. If you enjoy the enjoy the nightlife, I’ve heard Paceville is the place to go. Whatever you do, see Malta early in your tour. You will want to visit it again...and maybe again!

“Majestic Malta”By CdR SaLLy BuTLeR

U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella

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Breakfast: $3.45 Lunch: $5.55 Dinner: $4.85

As a reminder to everyone:

Reminder - there are no PTUs allowed at the Galley. Appropriate athletic gear is authorized at the discretion of the Galley staff. Please remember that for sanitation purposes and for the consideration of other customers, if you have been out for PT, been working out at the gym, or have just been engaged in any physical activity where you and or your clothing has become soiled or sweaty you will be asked to turn around.

Friday, July 3Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Grilled Sausage Patties, Corned Beef HashLunch: Baked Veal Steaks in Mushroom Sauce, Baked Fish w/ Cherry TomatoesSpeed Line: No Speed LineDinner: Oven Baked Fishwich, Shepherd’s Pie w/ Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Saturday, July 4Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Corned Beef HashBrunch: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Corned Beef Hash, Baked Chicken NuggetsDinner: Chicken Fried Steak w/ Brown Gravy, Baked Tuna and Noodles

Sunday, July 5Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Grilled Minute Steak, Oven Fried BaconBrunch: Eggs to Order, Grilled Minute Steak, Oven Fried Bacon, Roast TurkeyDinner: Spaghetti with Meatballs, Spicy Chicken Wings

Monday, July 6Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Minced Beef, Oven Fried Bacon Lunch: Chili Cheese Hot Dogs, Fried CatfishSpeed Line: ClosedDinner: Beef Ravioli, Herbed Baked Chicken

Tuesday, July 7Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Grilled Turkey Sausage Links, Oven Fried BaconLunch: Soul FoodSpeed Line: Meat Ball Sub SandwichDinner: Meat Loaf, Teriyaki Glazed Chicken

Wednesday, July 8Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Creamed Ground Beef on Toast, Oven Fried BaconLunch: Stuffed Pork Chops, Baked Sea ScallopsSpeed Line: Burgers and PattiesDinner: Spaghetti with Meat sauce, Spicy Chicken Wings

Thursday, July 9Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Corned Beef Hash, Oven Fried BaconLunch: Honey Ginger Chicken, Lemon Baked Fish Speed Line: Pasta BarDinner: Chili Macaroni, Baked Salmon

Friday, July 10Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Grilled Minute SteakLunch: Meat Loaf, Baked ChickenSpeed Line: PizzaDinner: Grilled Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions, Fishwich

Ristorante Bel la EtnaRistorante Bel la EtnaRistorante Bel la Etna

BREAKFASTMon-Fri

6:30-8 a.m.Weekend/Holiday

7 -9 a.m.

LUNCHMon-Fri

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.Weekend/Holiday

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

DINNERMon-Fri

4:30 - 6 p.m.Weekend/Holiday

4:30 - 6 p.m.

DRIVE SAFELY SIGONELLA

All Hands News BulletinTo request publication of your message, please send it to [email protected]

ROMAN CATHOLIC• Sunday - 9 a.m. Catholic Mass at NAS 1 Chapel• TuESday, WEdnESday & FRIday 11:30 a.m. - Catholic Mass at NAS 2 ChapelSacraments of Reconciliation / Penance precedeeach Mass• FRIday - 11:30 a.m. Catholic Mass at NAS 1 Chapel

LATTER-DAY SAINTS • Sunday - 1:30 p.m. at NAS 1 ChapelContact: [email protected] or 624-9049

JEWISH SHABBAT LAY SERVICE• FRIday - 5:30 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel

PROTESTANT - NAS 1 CHAPEL• SaTuRday - 6:30 p.m. Contemporary Worship Services • Sunday - 11 a.m. Traditional Worship; 12 p.m. Sunday SchoolPROTESTANT / Non-Denominational - NAS 2 Chapel• Sunday - 6 p.m. NIGHT STUDY• MOnday - AA Meetings - 5:30 p.m., seconddeck at NAS 1 Chapel; ThuRSday - 7 p.m. at NAS 2 Chapel• TuESday - Italian Class - 7 p.m. at Classroom at NAS 1 Chapel • TuESday - Glee Club - 12 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel • TuESday - Awana Club - 4:45 p.m at NAS 1 Chapel

NASSIG Worship Services

The annual water quality reports, also known as the Consumer Confidence Reports, for the 2014 calendar year are now available on the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella CNIC webpage, located here: http://cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnreurafswa/installations/nas_sigonella/om/environmental_support.html. NAS Sigonella is proud to support the Navy’s commitment to provide safe and reliable drinking water to our service members and their families. These annual reports include general and mandatory information to educate everyone about our water sources, treatment processes, standard requirements, and other details to assure you that our water is safe to drink. A separate report is available for each water system: NAS 1, NAS 2, Marinai, and Niscemi. The Consumer Confidence Reports will not be mailed to customers. For more information or if you would like a copy, please contact the NAS Sigonella Drinking Water Program Manager, Rachel Methvin, at 095-86-7220 or by E-mail at [email protected] Human Resources (CHR) Vacancy Announcements: Vacancy announcements for L.N. and U.S. appropriated fund positions may be viewed/downloaded from http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnreurafswa/installations/nas_sigonella/about/jobs.html.

Chapel Offices: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049, DSN: 624-3975, Chaplain Duty: 335-831-4493 RP Duty: 335-786-1950 NAS Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Naval Air Station Sigonella Chapel

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and the reduced price, both in ciphers and in percentage.4) Finally, remember that you can use any way of

payment. Mistrust shop owners displaying signs saying non si accettano carte di credito e bancomat (credit cards and ATM cards are not accepted) because of the sales season. That’s illegal. If you don’t see any signs around, and the sales clerk tells you about it upon paying, tell them you know they are supposed to accept your credit card or ATM card.

According by Italyexplained.com, other shopping tips for sales deals include the following:

1) SALDI is the word you need to know. You’ll see it everywhere, so you’ll learn it quickly. It means “sales,” so it’s plastered in every shop window along with whatever percentage discount they’re currently offering.

2) Everyone puts inventory on sale, including those high-end designers. The boutiques, however, sometimes have invitation-only sales for their repeat customers first, with the leftovers made available to the masses afterward.

3) Typically, the prices continue to drop during the sales period, so some shoppers will hold out until the bitter end to get the best deal. The trade-off, however, is that the selection dwindles, too. You might find a killer deal on a pair of shoes, for instance, but only find it comes in one size that’s way too big for you.

These sales aren’t designed for tourists – this is when many Italians do their big-ticket shopping for the year.

4) People have been known to get aggressive during these sales periods, especially when a shop is down to the last of something. If you dive into the fray, you may be digging through piles of discounted clothing looking for a treasure.

Despite the likely shoppers’ enthusiasm for the door busters, shop owners told media that they remain skeptical about the possibility of making profits during the sales ‘season. A recent survey conducted by Confesercenti Catania, the local retailers’ federation, found that nearly two-thirds of Italians (71percent) see no sign of recovery in consumers spending. Of these, a substantial 41percent said, in the coming months, consumption will remain the same, while another 30 percent expects sales to fall down.

Catania Confesercenti’s director Salvo Politino told media that retails’ sales at all merchandise-stores, especially the small ones, continue to drop because of the economic crisis. That is why, he added, the summer discount season, which will start on July 4, is indeed a great opportunity for retailers to make enough profits to survive the economic downturn.

Media said Politino eventually urged the Catania mayor to increase promotional strategies for tourist opportunities that can help Catania historic centers’ retailers who have been negatively affected for the past ten years by high taxes, on-line sales, illegal street vendors and shopping malls.

DIF

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Find and circle all of the words that are hidden in the grid.The remaining letters spell an Abraham Lincoln quotation.

BALD EAGLEBALLOONSBARBECUEBASEBALLBEN FRANKLINBETSY ROSSCAKECARNIVALCELEBRATIONCOLONIES CONCERTSDECORATIONSDEMOCRACYFIREWORKS

FLAGFLOATSFREEDOMGREAT BRITAINHAMBURGERSHISTORY HOLIDAYHOT DOGSINDEPENDENCEJOHN ADAMSLIBERTYNATIONAL ANTHEMNATIONHOOD

PARADEPARTY PATRIOTICPHILADELPHIAPICNICRED WHITE BLUESTARS AND STRIPESSTREAMERSTHOMAS JEFFERSONUSAWHITE HOUSE

Fourth Of July

"SHOPPING" continued from Page 6

same job in Sigonella for 28 years, 17 with the C-26 airframe. Bob Parris, another member of the quartet, has been a C-26 maintainer here 20 years. Kevin Lemon spent 10 years in Sigonella as an Aviation Structural Mechanic. He became part of the contracted crew soon after he re-tired because Contarino had noticed his dedication to the job when he worked as an enlisted Sailor and recruited him as soon as his military service ended. This is another reason why the maintainers have enjoyed so much success; dead weight is not tolerated.

“We’ve had guys who haven’t worked out for one reason or another, or I get rid of them,” Contarino said. “They quit, are fired, or are encouraged to transfer somewhere else. If one of the team members isn’t carrying their weight, it’s immediately apparent in such a small shop and threatens our ability to carry out the mission.”

This explains the hiring of the core four’s newest member. Though Jim King has only been a maintainer here for a little over a year, he has 20 years on-the-job experience.

Such continuity is remarkable in a day and age when job-hopping has been the normal for

"C-26" continued from Page 1

"C-26" continued on Page 14

C-26 co-pilot Lt. Brian Sullivan sits on the hatch steps of one of the two C-26 aircraft assigned to NAS Sigonella. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tony D. Curtis/Released)

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FRoM FLeeT & FaMILy SuPPoRT CenTeR SIGoneLLa

Effecting internal change: Self-empowerment and improvement

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - By internal change, this article refers to everything belonging to you - your thoughts, your style of living, your habits, your work life, and so on. In contrast to external change, it is usually easier to effect internal change than external change because when trying to effect external change, other people have their own beliefs and belief systems to which they usually desperately cling. Fortunately, when you do effect internal change, or internal improvement, the consequences of your actions can be enormous, for you can gain much self-control and better results after such self-improvement.

Recognize your defect. In order to effect internal change, you first must recognize that your present style of living or style of doing something is not in tune with your values and your goals. You must realize that you may not be living to your full potential if you continue to live this way. This is not a trivial step, as so often people are not even aware that their current way of living or doing something is causing them problems, or actually being a burden to them. Thus, you have to have a sense of being able to tune in on your life and actions.

If you are having a difficult time to decide what your defect is, and really are into self-improvement, you may even want to be so drastic as to ask others what they do not like about you. Perhaps they do not like your walking style, perhaps they do not like how you interrupt them all the time. Family and close friends will likely give you honest advice.

Just remember that you should not change a part of you that if after having changed, you feel you are being untrue to yourself. In other words, maintain your qualities and values that you feel really comprise your inner character.

Resolve to commit. You must also decide that you dislike this old habit enough that you will make the effort to change it because it is often difficult to change ingrained habits. In other words, you have to

have a high sense of dislike for this old habit. At that point, you must make a firm resolution to change. Addictions, of course, are the most difficult habits to break off of. That's why you should try to form a supportive network with another person, or other people. That way, you will tend to stay on track more.

Decide upon your alternative. Next, you must decide what is the best alternative you should change to. You don't want to switch to another bad habit. There usually is more than one alternative to choose from, so creatively think of them. Only when you have as long a list of alternatives as you can, can you come up with the best alternative for you.

Continue your efforts. "Stick to it," or stick to your schedule. Doing the new activity over and over again daily until it becomes a habit will eventually make your new habit a part of you. You won't even want to abandon your new, improved habit. Usually, it is easier to substitute a new habit for an old bad habit than just eliminating it. For example, if in the past you enjoyed watching TV, and now would like to refrain from watching any more, it would be easier to find something else that you can do daily at that time to replace the TV watching. Perhaps you can listen to the radio, or perhaps go out for a walk. Perhaps you can learn a new language.

And, as stated, you should keep to this task daily. Usually, having a set target with your new activity, such as walking 4 miles daily, or walking for 30 miles in a week and 120 miles in a month and making a log of your walking, will result in a firmer schedule that you will more likely adhere to.

If at first you are unable to effect internal change, don't be hesitant to try out different possibilities. You will eventually find a method of change that will work for you often, a method that

you can often use to change undesirable habits. In summary, to effect internal change for lasting

benefits, try these tactics: • Recognize your defect. • Resolve to commit. • Decide upon an alternative. • Continue your efforts. The Fleet and Family Support Center offers a wide

variety of support services to help you accomplish the internal change you are seeking. To learn more about our classes, workshops and counseling services, contact the Fleet and Family Support Center at DSN: 624-4291, Commercial: 095-56-4291.

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - Ever heard the slogan hydrate or die? May seem a bit overboard for a slogan but the reality is, it’s not that far from the truth. Simply put, water is important to the human body. Your body is composed of approximately 65% water. It is the main component of blood and is vital for oxygen transportation to all muscles and organs. It protects your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues. In addition, it helps regulate body temperatures and lubricates joints.

Every day, our bodies lose water naturally through the urine, intestines, skin, and lungs. When participating in physical activity, or spending time outdoors, perspiration further increases this water loss; therefore, adequate hydration, or replacement of water in our bodies, is extremely important.

You need to replace what your body loses through normal everyday functions. You also need more water when you are exposed to higher temperatures, such that of the summer heat, and when you are more physically active.

Some people may have fluid restrictions because of a health problem, such as kidney disease. If your healthcare provider has told you to restrict your fluid intake, be sure to follow that advice.

If you don’t have any fluid restrictions, stay cool and well-hydrated on hot summer days. Heat related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke and in severe cases, death, are all preventable by increasing fluid intake.

So don’t wait until you are thirsty to consider fluid replacement. Thirst is a signal that your body is on its way to dehydration. Other signs and symptoms of dehydration are headaches, muscle cramps, fatigue, and a decreased or dark urine output.

When it is hot outside, it’s best to drink on a schedule. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine or alcohol while in the sun or heat as they dehydrate your body even more than it already is. The best drink is water. If you’re not a fan of water, try an H20 cocktail by adding a slice of lemon or a wedge of lime to your glass of water. Other alternatives include fitness waters such as Propel or sports drinks like Gatorade. Do not limit your fluid intake to these alternatives and pay close attention to their sugar content. Another tip is to snack on foods that have high water content. Examples are cucumbers, which are almost completely made up of water, watermelon, citrus fruits, grape tomatoes and colorful bell peppers.

Increase fluids hours before participating in exercise or outdoor activities. Be careful not to chug it all at once. Frequent sipping will prevent an upset stomach and maximize electrolyte absorption.

So DRINK UP SIGONELLA! Sicily’s summer heat ignites dehydration. Don’t just think to drink, drink to drink!

‘Water’ you waiting for? With the summer heat upon us, don’t wait to hydrate!FRoM u.S, navaL HoSPITaL SIGoneLLa

"C-26" continued from Page 12

at least the past decade. While our grandparents and even our parents served one company 20 years, often far longer, an August 2012 article from Forbes Magazine says the average worker today commits to a company under five years. What has made Contarino, Parris, and Lemon so committed to the same job in the same workplace with the same people working beside them? Contarino said it’s because the same care and cooperation exhibited on the job also applies to one another after hours. “We care for one another inside and outside the office,” he said. “We’re there for each other if there are personal issues, and we do get-togethers with our loved ones. It’s a family on and off the clock.”

Another interesting piece of the C-26 mission lies with those who operate the aircraft. Sullivan rightfully points out the laundry list of countries and experiences he’s enjoyed, but there’s a tradeoff, especially for married C-26 pilots.

“I’ve really enjoyed this experience professionally,” said Lt. Cmdr. Sean Mulrooney, NAS Sigonella’s Air Operations Officer and C-26 pilot who served as a helicopter pilot before taking on his current assignment. “Having 1,000 hours flying a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft is a unique accomplishment most Navy aviators can’t claim.”

But while open skies and new cultures beckon, like any married professional who spends significant time away from home there are challenges. Mulrooney said so far this year he’s spent 40 nights on the road away from his wife and two young kids, and that he and other pilots don’t get home until late on days they return. Because mission requirements often pop up without warning, he says it’s difficult to plan family outings. “Flying these missions is like living in two different worlds,” said Mulrooney. “It’s hard when your spouse says, ‘Hey honey, let’s do the Fun Run this weekend,’ and you have to tell them, ‘Sorry. I’d love to but I probably have to fly.’ ”

Naval Aircrewman (Mechanical) 1st Class Javontae Cooper can relate. As one of two C-26 naval aircrewman in Air Operations he is in the skies as much as Mulrooney – duty that demands his skills as a cargo loadmaster and steward of in-flight safety. Cooper knew the travel would be intense when he chose the job, but with a wife and year-old boy at home he said preparing to be away often can be challenging. “Time away can be tough,” Cooper said. “But I was a Gunner’s Mate before this and it beats staying deployed on a ship all the time.”

From flying highly sought after parts critical for mission completion to the transfer of other cargo and personnel, NAS Sigonella’s C-26 mission would not be the resounding success it is without the attention to detail, hard work, and sacrifices made by those who support the mission. In fact, a recent message from 6th Fleet Commander, Vice Adm. James G. Foggo (see full message below) singing the praises of NAS Sigonella’s support during USS Theodore Roosevelt’s (CNV 71) recent Mediterranean transit may best summarize the great work this family of professionals embody all year through.

“Please extend my personal thanks to the C-26 aircrew and maintenance detachments of NAS Naples and NAS Sigonella for your outstanding perfor-mance supporting multiple key leader engagements during the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group recent transit…” Foggo wrote. “…Your success-ful execution of vital fleet engagement events vividly illustrated this capability and its value to ongoing U.S. efforts to maintain a peaceful and secure global maritime environment.”

VADM Foggo BZ to C-26 team

1. Please extend my personal thanks to the C-26 aircrew and maintenance detachments of NAS Naples and NAS Sigonella for your outstanding perfor-mance supporting multiple key leader engagements during the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group recent transit.

2. Our ability to provide flexible logistics support and timely movement of critical cargo sets the U.S. Navy apart from the rest of the world's naval forces. Your successful execution of vital fleet engagement events vividly illustrated this capability and its value to ongoing U.S. efforts to maintain a peaceful and secure global maritime environment. Executing four distinguished visitor mis-sions during a dynamic theater transit, your ability to flex to an ever changing CVN schedule demonstrates your dedication to ship, shipmate, self. Due to your efforts, all foreign dignitaries were able to meet cod delivery times and complete our mission afloat.

3. Bravo Zulu to all the participating aircrew and maintenance personnel, I wish you all the best and thank you once again for your exemplary service to CNE-C6F, the U.S. Navy and your country.

4. VADM Foggo sends.

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