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NNS081009-06. Bonhomme Richard on Course for Successful INSURV
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Drew Williams and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class(SW/AW) Jeffrey Gabriel, USS Bonhomme Richard Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The crew of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) is working diligently in preparation for its Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) inspection, less than a month away.
A team of INSURV inspectors will spend a week aboard Bonhomme Richard starting Nov. 3 to conduct the in-depth inspection of the ship, required every five years.
The Board of Inspection and Survey was established by Congress to ensure that U.S. Navy ships are properly equipped for prompt, reliable, sustained mission readiness at sea. They inspect Navy ships and material and report their findings directly to Congress.
"[INSURV members] validate that we are keeping this ship maintained, so we can take a fully-operational warship to sea and carry out our mission," said Cmdr. Michael R. Dickson, Bonhomme Richard operations officer and INSURV coordinator.
"We are less than 30 days till INSURV and right on schedule," Dickson continued. "We've been working to make certain that all compartments, all spaces and all pieces of equipment match a check-list for their operational guidance."
Bonhomme Richard began planning for INSURV in February, while carrying out its operational commitments, including participation in this summer's Rim of the Pacific exercise.
All around the ship, Bonhomme Richard Sailors are making great strides to ensure their ship is in the best condition ever. Machinist's Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) Brent Richardson explained the hard work and dedication the crew is putting in toward INSURV will pay off come November.
"Engineering has been working very aggressive six-on and six-off schedules to match the work that needs completion, such as correcting deficiencies with the steam-driven fire-flushing pumps," said Richardson, a native of Wichita, Kan. "We have also received lots of training to keep Sailors both knowledgeable and motivated. We are confident that our equipment will perform to its highest potential during evaluation, spotlighting all of our hard work."
Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class(SW) Emerson Harris noted the deck department is also putting in long hours, preserving the ship and training personnel.
"It is important that we train our team for INSURV," said Harris, a native of Rocky Mountain, N.C.
"Preparing and qualifying personnel will definitely ensure a smooth inspection process. Even though we're putting in long hours, we have made good use of our time and expect nothing less than success."
Bonhomme Richard's Commanding Officer, Capt. Neil Parrott praised the crew for their hard work and dedication in preparing for INSURV.
"I am extremely proud of everyone's efforts getting Bonhomme Richard ready for this critical five-year inspection," he said. "There's no doubt in my mind that we are thoroughly prepared to put the ship through its paces on inspection day. The opening line on every post-INSURV report states 'The ship was/was not well prepared for this inspection.' I know we will show as being prepared. We'll certainly have some issues, but I believe our advance preparation and hard work will get us through this comprehensive inspection with favorable marks."
For more news from USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), visit
www.navy.mil/local/lhd6/.
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NNS081009-03. FASOTRAGRULANT Disestablishes, Celebrates Nearly 60 Years of Training Excellence
By Kaylee LaRocque, Naval Air Station Jacksonville Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Fleet Aviation Specialized Operational Training Group, Atlantic Fleet, (FASOTRAGRULANT) Detachment Jacksonville (Jax) was disestablished Oct. 1 and merged with the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU).
"In 2002, there was an issue called the Revolution in Training where the Navy started looking at programs to see where they could cut, merge and consolidate training courses.
"At that time, the chief of naval operations mandated the consolidation of training so if any training throughout the Navy was duplicated or similar in structure, those training sites would be consolidated," explained Lt. Karensa Salazar, FASOTRUGRULANT officer-in-charge.
"That's what happened with us. The Naval Education Training Center had some of the same programs we had through CNATTU. We both offer maintenance training courses. The exception is that we also offered the Undersea Warfare (USW) and Electronic Warfare (EW) training classes – but those will continue to be taught through our new command," continued Salazar. "This has been a long process, and it's finally come to a resolution."
For the 38 military and civilian staff members, the changes will be minimal.
"Most of our staff members keep their same office spaces. Our USW division is moving to another building and should be up and running by Oct. 15 when they get their computers online. The aviation maintenance administration management division will remain in their same spaces. Ultimately, the goal was for this to be a transparent shift, and I think it's been pretty successful," Salazar said.
For the students, all the course numbers will remain the same; however, the way they sign up for classes has changed as quota control will now be handled through CNATTU.
"In the past, our staff has been extremely flexible in offering courses because the goal of FASOTRAGRULANT was to provide training to everyone whenever they needed it. Students will still be able to get the training they need; however, quota control will be more structured," Salazar emphasized.
Nearly 3,000 students have passed through the doors of FASOTRAGRULANT Det Jax each year. Although most come from Naval Air Station Jax squadrons, the detachment trains anyone in the Air Force Atlantic domain. Occasionally, students also come from foreign military branches after going through a thorough screening process.
"FASOTRAGRULANT is one of those places that many people don't seem to know about, but what is offered here affects everyone. The courses offered here are a huge part of readiness for operational squadrons," continued Salazar. "Squadrons are training to maintain readiness and be successful in the operational world. Most everyone comes through here at some point in their career."
Whether it's part of the initial training pipeline for those new to the fleet or as part of refresher training, this is the place to learn everything there is to know about the current technologies on how to maintain Navy aircraft.
FASOTRAGRULANT Det Jax was established in 1949 as part of Fleet Airborne Electronics Training Unit, Atlantic headquartered in Norfolk. Other detachments were located in Norfolk; Brunswick, Maine; and Cherry Point, N.C. Its name officially changed in 1972 to better describe the mission of the command which included familiarization, indoctrination and refresher training in the specialized operational and tactical employment of weapons systems and equipment as well as conducting survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE) training and other specialized training.
For more news from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, visit
www.navy.mil/local/nasjax/.
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NNS081009-08. Seabees Turn Landfill into Soccer Field in Romania
By Engineering Aide 3rd Class (SCW) Drew Huskey, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 Public Affairs
MIHAIL KOGLNICEANU, Romania (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 recently broke ground at a local dump site to begin construction of a new soccer field for the local community.
Located in the same town as the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base that supports Joint Task Force–East exercises, the completed soccer field will further enable the relationship between U.S. forces and local Romanian people expected to flourish through the spirit of sports.
Valer Losif Muresan, mayor of Mihail Koglniceanu, identified this project for the U.S. forces as a gesture of goodwill to aide in the beautification of the Romanian town. When complete, the site that once was a local dumping area will re-emerge as an artificial turf soccer field and serve as a focal point for the community.
The Seabees were more than willing to help with the construction of a horizontal pitch. Since the site for the soccer field is positioned on the side of a hill, the Seabee crew is now in the process of cutting down roughly seven feet of hillside to level the playing field. Once the site is leveled out and compacted, it will then be finished off with an artificial playing surface.
"It's an equipment operator's paradise," said Equipment Operator 2nd Class Jacob Stahl. "Every day I get to play in the dirt with a lot of different equipment, and one day this will be a great site for local kids to play at every day."
NMCB 4's goal is to create a beautiful new soccer field for everyone to use and enjoy, inevitably helping the local community and leaving a positive impact on the ongoing partnership between Romania and the United States. The project is scheduled for completion in December before the holidays.
NMCB 4 is deployed in support of Joint Task Force-East conducting humanitarian and exercise-related construction in Romania.
For more news from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, visit
www.navy.mil/local/nmcb4/.
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NNS081009-05. Sailors Bring Toys, Smiles to Children at Belpasso Orphanage
By Mass Communication Specialist Whitfield Palmer, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Det. Sigonella
SIGONELLA, Sicily (NNS) -- Sailors from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 at Naval Air Station in Sigonella, Sicily, toys and clothes to children at the Giovanni Sapa Orphanage in Belpasso, Sicily, Oct. 3.
The multi-organization effort pulled together the fundraising resources of the Red Cross, Sigonella Animal Welfare Society, and the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, according to Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1st Class Kenneth C. Cummings.
The Giovanni Sapa Orphanage provides shelter for orphaned children as well as parenting assistance to single mothers.
"The Sailors participating today are not just doing this for an evaluation bullet," said Cummings. "It's all about paying it forward and making a difference in the lives of these kids and ultimately the community at large."
"It's awesome to see the reaction from these kids in need," says Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1st Class Demetrius O'Halloran.
For more news from Naval Air Station Sigonella, visit
www.navy.mil/local/nassig/.
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NNS081009-04. Elementary Students Learn Fire, Earthquake Safety in Yokosuka
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kari R. Bergman, Fleet Public Affairs Center Det., Japan
YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Students from The Sullivans Elementary School aboard Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) learned fire safety and earthquake survival techniques Oct. 7, during Fire Prevention Month activities held at Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Japan (CNFJ) Regional Fire Department.
"We give this training to the students at the elementary school every October," said Yuko Hasegawa, chief fire inspector at the CNFJ Regional Fire Department. "The new thing this year is the earthquake simulator, used to show the students what an actual earthquake feels like."
The realistic hands-on approach was a hit with the students and their teachers.
"I think that the earthquake simulator is a great addition, because instead of just doing duck-and-cover drills in the classrooms, the kids get hands-on training so that they will know what to do during an actual earthquake," said Michael Applegate, a fourth grade teacher.
The regional fire department has a handful of events scheduled throughout October, including fire extinguisher training and a smoke-filled house scenario.
"We also have a smoke house, which is made up like a home that allows the children to learn how to safely put out a kitchen fire," Hasegawa said. "They also learn how to safely escape from a second floor room if they are stuck and if a door is hot and there is no window to escape from; they learn how to seal the door and then signal to the firefighters where they are located."
Hasegawa noted many children have never experienced real emergencies and might not be able to respond appropriately without the training.
"We are giving this fire and earthquake training to the children so that if they ever find themselves in that type of situation, they will know how to handle it and not panic," said Hasegawa. "Also, adding the earthquake simulator really helps with the children, because Japan is an earthquake-prone area, and a lot of the children might have never felt an earthquake before living here."
For more news from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, visit
www.navy.mil/local/cfay/.
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NNS081009-02. Navy Sailor Dies Aboard USS Eisenhower
From 2nd Fleet Public Affairs
USS EISENHOWER At Sea (NNS) -- A Sailor died aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Oct. 4.
Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class (AW) Robert Lemar Robinson, a 31-year old Detroit native, died after being struck by a plane on the flight deck during flight operations.
The accident is under investigation.
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NNS081008-09. Navy Region Hawaii Commemorates Domestic Violence Awareness Month
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael A. Lantron, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs
PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Navy Region Hawaii Fleet and Family Service Center (FFSC) held a ceremony to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month Oct. 6
During the ceremony, Capt. Donald Hodge, chief of staff for Commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, signed a Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation to call upon all Navy personnel and their families to increase their awareness and participation in efforts to prevent domestic abuse.
"It's important because it helps us figure out how to prevent domestic violence from happening," said Hodge. "Our attempt has been to bring it in to focus to show how hurtful it is for domestic violence to happen and what the impact is to the children of those homes."
Hodge, who also received a Hawaii Senate Certificate of Commendation commending Navy Region Hawaii on observing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, noted the importance of others in preventing domestic violence.
"The focus must be to prevent the violence from happening in the first place by recognizing what might be the problems in the home," said Hodge. "If someone sees domestic violence happening anywhere, don't just let it go, do something about it," he added.
More than 1.5 million women are raped or physically assaulted by their current or former spouse and Domestic Violence Awareness Month helps bring this to the forefront.
"The importance is to bring it to peoples' minds," said Chet Adessa, Family Advocacy Prevention and Education Specialist for Navy Region Hawaii FFSC. "Throughout the year, we forget about it [domestic violence], but this month pulls people together and reminds us that we all need to take part in this and recommit ourselves to preventing domestic violence."
Adessa also discussed the importance of other people in the community taking a stance to help prevent domestic violence and help others who are affected by it.
"If someone sees a person hurting or notice bruises that aren't normal, they should reach out to them and offer help," said Adessa. "For a victim of domestic violence, knowing that someone does care and there is a way out of their situation is one of the biggest things."
Domestic Violence Awareness Month was first commemorated in 1987. Federal, state and local organizations and agencies join forces to promote public awareness of the problem and prevention of domestic violence and its harmful effects on our families and shift focus on preventing domestic violence.
For more news from Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, visit
www.navy.mil/local/cnrh/.
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NNS020711-10. This Day in Naval History - Oct. 10
From the Navy News Service
1845 - The Naval School, later the Naval Academy, opens in Annapolis, Md., with 50 midshipmen and seven faculty.
1923 - First American-built rigid airship, Shenandoah, is christened. It used helium gas instead of hydrogen.
1944 - The Leyte campaign begins with the attack of four carrier task groups of Task Force 38 on Okinawa and Ryukyus.
1960 - Navy assigned responsibility for program management and technical direction of Project SPASUR, the first U.S. universal satellite detection and tracking network.
1985 - Fighters from USS Saratoga (CV 60) force an Egyptian airliner, with the hijackers of the cruise ship Achille Lauro aboard, to Italy, where the hijackers were taken into custody.
For more information on naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at
www.history.navy.mil.
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