Essential Comms: Living Pattern Survey Begins in Italy

Feature: 2012 Year in Review

Big Navy News: Lincoln Sailors Lend Support to Hurricane Sandy Relief

Around the Region: Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Visits Bahrain

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Essential Comms: Overseas School Meal Price Increase

Region Spotlight: Injured Rota Sailor Not Slowing Down

Around the Region: Pearl Harbor Remembrance in Naples

Big Navy News: Navy Vessel Rescues Iranian Ship from Pirates

2011 in ReviewEssential Comms: New Chief of Staff Assumes Duties at Region EURAFSWA

Region Spotlight: Under Secretary of the Navy Speaks with Region Installations

Around the Region: Region Staff Gets an Inside Look at USS Whidbey Island

Big Navy News: Navy Announces Voluntary Sea Duty Program

Under Secretary of the Navy

Tours Region

REGION STANDARD Feb 2012 Issue 14

Essential Comms: CNE-CNA Welcomes New Commander

Region Spotlight: Luigi Amato: The Man Behind the Money

Around the Region: CNO’s All Hands Call in Naples

Big Navy News: Navy Names Forward Deployed Ships to Rota, Spain

Meet the Man Behind the Money

REGION STANDARD Mar 2012 Issue 15

Essential Comms: Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Region Spotlight: 21st Century Sailor

Around the Region: Sailor Devoted to Shared Values in Djibouti

Big Navy News: DOD, DOE Partnership in Energy Innovation

21st Century Sailor: Prepared to Face All Challenges

REGION STANDARD Apr 2012 Issue 16

Essential Comms: Election Year Guidance

Region Spotlight: U.S. Forces Mark San Salvatore’s WWII Liberation

Around the Region: No Tolerance for Sexual Assault in Bahrain

Big Navy News: Navy Chaplaincy School Walks a Mile in Her Shoes

U.S. Forces Mark San Salvatore’s WWII

Liberation

REGION STANDARD May 2012 Issue 17

Essential Comms: New Leaders Take Helm at Region Installations

Region Spotlight: Summer Tips

Around the Region: Phoenix Express 2012

Big Navy News: 2011 Sailors of the Year Advanced to Chief Petty Officer

Tips for Summer

REGION STANDARD June 2012 Issue 18

Essential Comms: Federal Voters Assistance Program

Feature: Exercise Reliant Star 2012

Big Navy News: Transition Benefits: Life after ERB

Around the Region: Commander, Navy Installations Command Visits Rota

Reliant Star Tests RegionEssential Comms: Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism

Feature: Chief of Naval Personnel Visits Europe

Big Navy News: Panetta Accelerates Stennis Deployment

Around the Region: HSV-2 Swift Arrives in Naples

Emphasizing Readiness in Europe

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Essential Comms: Regional Legal Office Changes

Feature: Region Installations Participate in National Night Out

Big Navy News: USS Constitution Sails Under Own Power

Around the Region: NSA Naples Commemorates War of 1812

National Night Out Raises Awareness

Essential Comms: ‘Ready Navy’ Reminds All to Prepare for Emergencies

Feature: Region Local National Navy’s 1st in DoD Leader Program

Big Navy News: Fort Worth Commissioned in Galveston

Around the Region: NAVCENT Hosts King of Bahrain

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Region’s Emerging Leader

Essential Comms: Winter Road Safety

Feature: USS Enterprise Visits Naples for the Last Time

Big Navy News: Navy Celebrates 237th Birthday Aboard Battleship Wisconsin

Around the Region: Region Installations Complete Exercise Reliant Challenge

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Big “E” in Naples for Final Port Visit

Essential Comms: Region Announces Sailor of the Year

Feature: Chief of Naval Operations Visits Bahrain

Big Navy News: USS Truman Hosts X-47B Unmanned Aircraft

Around the Region: Naples Hosts ‘Great American Smokeout’

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CNO Speaks with Sailors in Bahrain

2012Year in review

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E s s e n t i a l C o m m s

Defense Media Activity, Navy

Service Members and Dependents Urged to Participate in Living Pattern Survey

HAIL

Stephanie Link, N5

Leslie Engle, N3

NAPLES, Italy - All U.S. service mem-bers with dependents who have been permanently stationed in Italy for at least three months are asked to take part in the Living Pattern Survey (LPS) being conducted from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31. The LPS, conducted every three years, is one of the building blocks for determining the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) and can be completed beginning Jan. 1 by visiting the website: https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/lps-italy.cfm. The survey asks service members and their families to identify the local economy outlets they use when purchas-ing items like food and clothing as well as other goods and services such as hair care services, auto repair, etc. The LPS also asks service members to identify how much of their shopping is done on the local economy, at base facilities such as the Commissary and Exchange or on the internet. The information collected in the LPS is then used to construct the Retail Price

Commander Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia Public Affairs

Daily news clips help keep you informed about significant events occuring within Navy Region EURAFSWA. News clips are available every morning by 8:30 a.m. on the G2. You can navigate to news clips on the G2 by following this link HERE.

Daily News Clips

Fleet Forces Explores Protective Clothing Solutions

LT Kenneth Frauenthal, N7

ENS Gordon Sheek, N3

Ellen Spirito, N8

FAREWELL

WASHINGTON - Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command reached out to fleet leaders in a Navy message Dec. 12 to ensure Sailors understand the minimal flame resistant qualities of the Navy Working Uniform Type I. Adm. Bill Gortney explained the current requirement for working uniforms and organizational clothing and discussed recent uniform testing results. “In coordination with the uniform board, Adm. Haney, Com-mander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and I will continue to review the requirements for, and flame-resistant qualities of, working uniforms including the Type I NWUs,” Gortney explained in his message. The latest push for awareness stems from an impromptu test the Navy Clothing Textile Research Facility conducted Oct. 15, in Natick, Mass. The test reinforced the fact that the NWU Type I is not flame-resistant. “We will explore long-term solutions that afford our Sailors the right protective clothing, aligned with the tasks they are required to perform in various operating environments,” said Gortney

Survey (RPS), which will be conducted shortly after the conclusion of the LPS. The RPS collects the prices of approxi-mately 120 goods and services from the locations identified in the LPS. These prices are then averaged with prices for similar products and services provided by merchants in the U.S. to determine the COLA index. This final index represents the cost difference between COLA types of goods and services in an overseas location compared to similar goods and services in the U.S. Decreases made to the COLA index are implemented incre-mentally while increases are implement-ed immediately. Service member participation is critical to ensuring accurate rates are implemented. Additionally, it is important service members accurately report their shopping at local economy outlets and on-base facilities since the COLA index is significantly affected by the proportion of shopping done at each. For more information about the LPS and to calculate your current COLA, please visit http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/colaIndexCalc.cfm.

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E7 Advancement Exam

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday (US)

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Naval Station Rota, Spain

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Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28 conducts rope suspension training with Explosive Ordenance Disposal Mobile Unit 8.

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- CNIC welcomes Vice Adm. French as new com-mander

- Region welcomes Capt. Gardner as new chief of staff

- Sigonella aircrew per-forms a rescue at sea

A Sailor assigned to Naval Spe-cial Warfare, U.S. Boat Team, jumps out of a MH-60S Seahawk helicopter in Greece, Feb. 15.

- Region welcomes CMDCM Hatton as new command master chief

- Navy announces forward deployed ships in Rota

- 21st Century Sailor initia-tive unveiled

- Region participates in Reliant Shield 2012

- SECNAV announces Department of the Navy and Department of Energy Partnership

- U.S. Forces mark San Salvatore’s WWII Liberation

- Chief petty officers celebrate the “Year of the Chief” - Navy commemorates the War of 1812

-NSA Souda Bay partici-pates in Phoenix Express 2012

- NSA Souda Bay and Camp Lemonnier host changes of command

Rear Adm. Gaiani presents Suze Orman with a command coin, May 22.

-Exercise Reliant Star tests Region installations

- Navy ombudsman at large visits NSA Naples

- First female submarine supply officers receive dolphins

- Chief of Navel Personnel emphasizes readiness to Sailors at NSA Naples

- USS Swift conducts crew turnover in Naples

- Redesigned transistion program announced

Italian Carabinieri lead a parade for National Night Out on NAS Sigonella, Aug. 7.

- Region installations par-ticipate in National Night Out

- USS Constitution sails for the first time since 1997

- Region Local National first in DOD leadership program

-NAVCENT hosts King of Bahrain

- Chief petty officer select-ees don anchors at Region installations

- USS Enterprise visits Na-ples for the last time

-Region installations par-ticipate in exercise Reliant Challenge

- Navy Celebrates 237 years

- Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff visits NSA Bahrain

- CNO visits NSA Bahrain

- Rota Sailor selected Re-gion Sailor of the Year

Chief of Naval Operations reen-lists Sailors at NSA Bahrain, Nov. 21.

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Italian string orchestra performs in Naples

NAPLES, Italy - Students and faculty from Naples High School (NHS) at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy enjoyed a free holiday concert by the Young String Orchestra Conservatory of Avellino, Dec. 19. The afternoon performance in the NHS gym was part of an ongoing cultural exchange through music. NHS’s music students performed and completed les-sons at the conservatory in November. Roberta Pennasilico, Italian language instructor at NHS and coordinator for cultural exchanges, helped plan the con-servatory’s concert at the high school. “This is the first time we’ve done something involving classical music, and it will hopefully develop into a long-term relationship with the conservatory,” said Pennasilico. “It is important for our students to get to know the outside local community and make new friends. Ital-ian peers are a great source to practice their target language and learn about the culture of Italy.” “We really enjoyed playing here,” said Beatrice Gargiulo, a violinist. “The organi-zation and pupils were very welcoming, and we hope that we can come here again. I like playing in a group because you make a lot of friends and it’s different than having to be very focused as a solo-ist, who has to deal with more pressure.”

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visits

Bahrain

SOUDA BAY, Greece - U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Adam Chamie and Hellenic navy Ensign Alexander Tsaltas conduct a boarding exercise, Dec. 11. Photo by MC1 Christopher B. Stoltz.

BAHRAIN - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey speaks with service members, Dec. 13. Photo by MC2 Bryan Blair.

NAPLES, Italy - Service members post a wreath behind a portrait of three brothers who were stationed in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 during a Pearl Harbor remembrance cer-emony, Dec. 7. Photo by MCSN Erik Luebke.

BAHRAIN - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Demp-sey visited Naval Support Activity Bah-rain and held an all-hands call, Dec. 13. Dempsey was in Bahrain as part a holi-day visit to the region. The all-hands call was attended by more than 600 service members, civilians and family members. Also in attendance were members of the USO tour traveling with Dempsey. Tour highlights included country singer Kel-lie Pickler, comedian Iliza Shlesinger, hockey player Matt Hendricks as well as baseball players Craig Stammen and Ross Detwiler. After thanking military members for their forward deployed service Dempsey highlighted the United States’ peace-keeping and stability operations in the Middle East over the past twenty years. He talked about the rebalancing in the Pacific and security challenges facing the US. “Deanie and I know what it’s like to live in this part of the world, to be a long way from friends and family,” said Demp-sey. “This is the place where we need you and you’re doing an incredible job.” Dempsey wished all the attendees a happy holiday season and sang “Christ-mas in Kilarney” at the end of the call. He departed to a standing ovation for his next scheduled event, a meeting with His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as well as members of the royal family and U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain Thomas C. Krajeski.

NSA Bahrain Public Affairs

Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East Detachment Europe

EURASIA partnership exercise improves

maritime skills

SOUDA BAY, Greece - Multinational service members participated in boarding training aboard the Hellenic navy training ship Aris at the NATO Maritime Interdic-tion Operational Training Center during Eurasia Partnership Capstone 2012 (EPC 12), Dec. 12. This training is just one of many events that EPC has as part of its com-prehensive and robust program which provides participants with numerous op-portunities to work together and enhance productive relationships. “It’s essential that boarding teams work together when conducting maritime law enforcement operations,” said U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Adam Chamie, event facilitator. “The training is incredibly com-plex, it’s a process that is dangerous and takes a lot of practice.” Since the partner nations have mul-tiple ways of performing the same task, the training helps enhance a common language between the teams. “The events are very well planned out to help facilitate interaction between the nations,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jose Gomez, event organizer. “There are enough hands-on evolutions to help the nations interact together and also to learn a few things. A lot of these nations already have their tactics, techniques, and proce-dures that they do for their countries, but now we’re applying NATO techniques to that so they can work in a joint environ-ment.”

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/ U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

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NPS completes sleep study aboard Jason Dunham

USS Jason Dunham Public Affairs

Navy delivers offshore support vessels to

Iraqi navy

UMM QASR, Iraq - The Iraqi navy and the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command marked the delivery of two 60-meter Offshore Support Vessels (OSV 1/ OSV 2) to the Iraqi navy in a ceremony at the Umm Qasr naval facility, Dec. 19. The two OSVs, procured as part U.S. Navy’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, will help reconstitute Iraq’s abil-ity to enforce maritime sovereignty and security in the Northern Arabian Gulf. “This occasion reflects the important ties that bind our governments and our commitment to supporting s strong coali-tion partnership that is based on mutual respect and understanding,” said Vice Adm. Kevin McCoy, commander, Naval Sea Systems Command. “Combined with the previously delivered Iraqi pa-trol boats, this acquisition program has offered another unique opportunity for cooperation between our countries.” OSVs are multi-function vessels providing a wide range of capabilities to support Iraq’s oil production platforms. The vessels will provide transport sup-port for crew changes and resupply to the platforms.

USS Jason Dunham, at sea - Sailors aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) concluded their participation in a two-week sleep study, Dec. 17. The study was conducted by person-nel from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) who came aboard Jason Dunham to interview crewmembers about their watch rotations and monitor their sleep patterns, activity periods and reaction times. Dr. Nita Shattuck, an associate professor with the NPS Operations Research Department, said Jason Dun-ham’s crew were the perfect candidates for the study. “We were looking for a deployed ship with many different watch schedules and a commanding officer willing to let us set up the study. Jason Dunham had all of that,” said Shattuck. At the beginning of the study, Sailors met with the NPS personnel, who issued wrist activity monitors and smart phones to track Sailors’ reaction times by hav-ing them perform physical and mental tasks. The study showed in favor of a watch rotation with three hours on and nine hours off.

ARABIAN SEA - ST3 Jennifer Gonzales hauls in excess line during a replenishment-at-sea aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), Dec.18. Photo by MC2 Armando Gonzales.

NEW YORK - Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abra-ham Lincoln (CVN 72) helped residents of New York recover from Hurricane Sandy-related damage during a commu-nity relations project, Dec. 15. Lincoln Sailors teamed up with the New York-based nonprofit organiza-tion Friends of Firefighters to clean and restore several Brooklyn residences that sustained extensive flood damage in the aftermath of the hurricane. In the morning, the Sailors went to the organization’s distribution office to help sort and set up relief items for firefighters in need. In the afternoon, they helped clean out houses that were flooded by removing damaged items and removing floorboards. “These guys worked very hard by helping out these families,” said Lt. David Duprey, a Lincoln chaplain. “Friends of Firefighters greatly appreciates all the hard work we put in at their office and cleaning out those flooded homes.” After the hurricane hit the area, Friends of Firefighters started organizing to help firefighters whose property had been damaged in the storm. Volunteers from around the country pitched in to distribute clothing, food and other relief items to firefighters in need.

Lincoln Sailors lend support to hurricane Sandy

reliefUSS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

BUSAN, Republic of Korea - Cmdr. Jeff Bernard, commanding officer of the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS La Jolla (SSN 701), gives small stuffed animals to the daughters of Republic of Korea navy Sailors, Dec. 21. Photo by Lt. Jared Apallo.

NAVSEA office of coprporate communications

Santa trades in sleigh for submarine

(VIDEO)

PEARL HARBOR - A rainbow rises over the guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Mur-phy (DDG 112) at its homeport at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Dec. 19. Photo by MC2 Daniel Barker.