Special OlympicsSpecial Olympics

Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi June 6, 2013Vol. 53 No. 24

www.cnic.navy.mil/gulfport

NMCB 15 continues to meet theSeabee mission in Afghanistan

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile ConstructionBattalion (NMCB) 15's Convoy Security Element construct a bunker project in supportof the Afghanistan National Army. NMCB 15 is currently deployed in support of Op-eration Enduring Freedom and is an expeditionary element of U.S. Naval Forces thatsupport various units worldwide through national force readiness, civil engineering,humanitarian assistance, and building and maintaining infrastructure. (U.S. Navy photoby Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Garas/Released)

See story on page 7

PTS - Out! CareerNavigator - In!Navy drastically altersreenlistment process

The stories are out there. Tal-ented Sailors sent home becausethey had been denied approval toreenlist. While attempting to bal-ance the force, foundations forSailors across the Navy were beingrocked to their core.Now that some of the smoke has

cleared, the glasses are being read-justed to focus on the way ahead.Step one - dismantling Perform to

Serve.Through the Navy's newest career

management program, Career Nav-igator launching June 3, a newreenlistment process more advan-tageous for Sailors has been cre-ated.

Under this new program, all eli-gible and command-approved E-6Sailors will be approved for reen-listment on their first application.

While there is still a need to tell

the career counselor of Sailors' in-tentions, if they desire to reenlistand have command approval to doso, they will be given reenlistmentapproval on their first application.

For eligible Sailors E5 and belowin skillsets or ratings that are open(formerly known as under-manned), 100 percent will receiveapproval to reenlist on their first ap-plication.E5 and below Sailors in skillsets or

ratings that are balanced or com-petitive (traditionally over-manned),or that have special requirementssuch as the nuclear community,will receive information soonerabout their ability to reenlist in rate,or opportunity to convert to a dif-ferent rate or transition to the Re-serve Component. Many of theseSailors will also receive approvalto reenlist on their first applicationdepending on the manning in theiryear group.See NAVIGATOR page 5

June 8, 9 a.m. Fields next to Fitness Center

Come out and support the athletes“Let me win, but if I can not win let me be brave in the attempt”

By Terrina Weatherspoonand MCC Christopher TuckerDefense Media Activity - Navy

This weekend, we in Amer-ica, remember and honor theheroes that heard the call toserve our country, and hon-ored that call with a sacrifice. Some of our country’s patri-

otic hearts made the ultimatesacrifice. Today, many of us honored

that sacrifice with time, appre-ciation, and prayer. Today, wepaid homage by reuniting thetombstones of the great menand women that fought for ourcountry with the great Ameri-can flag that they all foughtfor.

Many of our country’s he-roes of today are currently de-ployed, continuing this greatcommission: ensuring that ourfreedoms aren’t taken away,that America is exceptional be-cause of their sacrifice, andthat American exceptionalismis known throughout theWorld.The different, diverse people

of this country: young andmore mature, civilian and mili-tary, and of various races andcreeds, gathered together withAmerican flags in hand to re-

mind each other that we willnot forget the reason we canall have the rights to freedomthat we all enjoy. We all set small American

flags of great significance be-fore some of the greatestmonuments this World hasever known. Those monu-ments are the tombstones ofour fallen soldiers.

While walking through thememorial field, I saw manychildren walking around with asingle parent, eager to honorthe heroes that fought forthem and the flag of Americathat they all fought for. I hadthe honor of handing one ofthose small, eager, hands aflag. That young boy’s mom had

told me that his father wascurrently deployed, their twosons wanted to show howproud they were of their fatherand how they appreciated hissacrifice. That father, and every other

parent that has been or is de-ployed, has made a sacrifice oftime away from their families.They miss birthdays, holidays,and other important events forfamily gatherings because they

love their families so muchthat they’re willing to give thattime up and use it to defendtheir families. All of those par-ents have had to sacrificesomething, some of those par-ents have paid, or will pay theultimate sacrifice.

While we were there, mycomrades and I took picturesnear the American flags and infront of the signboard thatread “Biloxi National ceme-tery”. It was a proud momentfor all of us. We were there, honoring

those who have gone beforeus and given their lives for thiscountry. We were proud andhonored to exalt those whowere dedicated to the cause ofour great Nation. Though today was the day

that we celebrated the gift ofthe sacrifice of our fallen he-roes, we will never cease tobring honor to them for thecourage and commitment thatwas exemplified by them all.May we have the gratitude andappreciation everyday that wehad today, never forgettingthat our freedoms were paidfor by the great sacrifices ofour patriots. So let it be.

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NCBCCommanding Officer

Capt. Rick BurgessPublic Affairs Officer

Rob MimsEditor

Bonnie L. McGerrMass Comm. Specialist

MCC(SCW/SW/AW) Ryan G. Wilber

Special ContributorsCECN(SCW) Lucinda Moise

UTCN Alicia Fluty

The Seabee Courier is aweekly authorized on-linepublication for members ofthe military services and theirfamilies. Content does notnecessarily reflect the officialviews of the U.S. Govern-ment, the DoD or the U.S.Navy and does not imply en-dorsement thereof. The ap-pearance of advertising in thisnewspaper, including insertsor supplements, does notconstitute endorsement bythe U. S. Government, DoD,the Navy or NCBC Gulfport ofthe products and services ad-vertised. All content in thisnewspaper shall be madeavailable for purchase, use orpatronage without regard torace, color, religion, gender,national origin, age, maritalstatus, physical handicap, po-litical affiliation or any othernon-merit factor of the pur-chaser, user or patron. If aviolation or rejection of thisequal opportunity policy byan advertiser is confirmed,the publisher shall refuse toprint advertising from thatsource until the violation iscorrected. The Seabee Couriersolicits news contributionsfrom military and civiliansources, but the Public Affairsstaff reserves the right to editand/or rewrite material se-lected for publication to con-form with journalismstandards. The deadline formaterial is close of businessevery Friday. Your commentsare always welcome. TheSeabee Courier office is inBuilding 1, Room 205. Themailing address is 4902 Mar-vin Shields Blvd., Code 15,Gulfport, MS 39501. Phone:228-871-3662., Email:seabeecourier@navy.mil

Sexual AssaultVictim AdvocateTrainingAre you the person that wantsto help someone in need?Have you ever known some-one that has been the victimof trauma resulting from sex-ual assault and did not knowhow to help? Become a SAPRVictim Advocate and learn tohelp your fellow Seabee orSailor that needs support in atime of need. To register forthe class contact your SexualAssault Response CoordinatorMichael Jordy at 228-871-3715or at Michael.jordy@navy.mil.The class will be held June 17- 21, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., inbuilding 60, room 105.

CommentaryMemorial Day ReflectionsBy BUCN Thomas Perez JrNCTC Builder Class BU13470

Builder Constructionman Thomas Perez Jr is pictured with classmates at the Biloxi National Ceme-tery over Memorial Day weekend, May 25. (Photo courtesy of Naval Construction Training Center/Released)

Due to the

Government

Furlough

the NCBC

Commissary

will close on

Mondays and

Tuesdays

in July

Fraud, Wasteand AbuseHotline: Due to lim-ited IG resources throughoutthe Southeast Region, allFraud, Waste and Abuse hot-line work will now be han-dled by the Region. Toreport Fraud, Waste andAbuse, contact the Regionat: Toll Free 1-877-657-9851 Comm: 904-542-4979 DSN 942-4979 FAX:904- 542-5587, E-mail:CNRSE_HOTLINE@navy.mil.

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Around the Center

Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Evan Meyer (left)and Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Darren Turner,both assigned to Naval Construction Group Two (NCG) 2, setup a Rugged Deployable Satellite (RDSAT) on board NCBCGulfport, May 31. The RDSAT system is a deployable assetthat allows a battalion to effectively communicate with emailand phone services even when deployed to remote areas. (U.S.Navy photo by Utilitiesman Constructionman Alicia Fluty/Released)

Dave Jarvis, assistant store manager for RLCB ServMartGulfport, assists a customer with a price quote over thephone at ServMart on board NCBC Gulfport, June 3. Storehours are: Mondays-Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Themission of RLCB ServMart is to empower people who areblind and visually impaired through employment opportu-nities and services to achieve social and economic equality.(U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ryan G.Wilber/Released

NCBC FRAMESKenneth RaymondAuto Skills Manager

MWR

FREEZEFREEZE FRAMEFRAMEBy UTCN Alicia Fluty, NCBC Public Affairs

FF: What single experience dur-ing your career stands out themost and why?KR: November 2011 whenthe ERB results came outstands out the most. I wasvery disappointed to not beable to complete my Navycareer; however, it allowedme to be around my kidsmore often.

FF: What has been your biggestmotivation throughout your ca-reer?KR: My children have beenmy biggest motivationthroughout my career. They

are the reason I chose mycareer path.

FF: What advice would you giveto future Sailors?KR: Set yourself apart fromthe rest of the workforce bydoing what is required ofyour job without having tobe told to. Don’t let compla-cency drag down your jobperformance.

FF: What is your favorite thingabout working with theSeabees?KR: My favorite part ofworking with the Seabees

is doing what I enjoy:working on vehicles and as-sisting others with theirauto work.

FF: Who was your most influ-ential mentor during your ca-reer, and why? KR: CMCS Samuel Greenwas my most influentialmentor. He held individualsaccountable for their actionsand stood up for the troopswhen needed. He did nottolerate excuses but did re-spect honesty and integrity.That ideal is not always seennowadays.

Naval History: 71st Battle of Midway Anniversary In May 1942, Japanese Admiral IsorokuYamamoto sought to draw the U.S. Pacific Fleet into a battle where he could overwhelm and de-stroy it. To accomplish this he planned an invasion of Midway Island which would provide a basefor attacking Hawaii. Using decrypted Japanese radio intercepts, Admiral Chester Nimitz was ableto counter this offensive. On June 4, 1942, U.S. aircraft flying from USS ENTERPRISE, USS HOR-NET and USS YORKTOWN attacked and sunk four Japanese carriers, forcing Yamamoto to with-draw. The Battle of Midway marked the turning point of World War II in the Pacific.

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The most recent change to theNavy's Traffic Safety Instruction,OPNAVINST 5100.12J, requirescommands to set up mentorshipprograms for motorcycle riders.These programs are designed togive experienced riders the oppor-tunity to teach new riders how to besuccessful on their bikes."Mentors are those who have been

through it," said Stan Jones, NavalSafety Center motorcycle safetyrepresentative (MSR) and an advi-sor to mentorship programs acrossthe fleet. "It's a mind-set. Experi-enced riders have the moral au-thority to provide tips on riding thatthe training courses don't have thetime to go into."Required training courses, such as

the Basic Rider Course (BRC) andMilitary Sportbike Rider Course(MSRC), are designed to teach thebasics of bike handling and riskmanagement. "Training provides the basic skills

in a controlled environment, butmentorships are about getting outon the open road, in traffic, ridingoutside of the square box of a train-ing course," Jones said.On board Naval Construction Bat-

talion Center (NCBC) Gulfport boththe BRC and MSRC are offeredthrough the Safety Department.Once trained and qualified, the ridercan join others in their commandand take part in the mentorshipprogram.

Senior Chief Builder Joe Daniel,Naval Construction Training Center(NCTC) Charlie Company chief andMSR, leads the program for hiscommand. Using a mixture of

monthly classroom training andpractical experience through quar-terly group rides, Daniel works tobuild camaraderie among the ridersand encourages them to share theirexperiences.“It [mentorship training] brings to

light a lot of issues that newer rid-ers, or people who don’t under-stand it [riding] as much, may neverfind out on their own,” said Daniel.Group rides are a good opportu-nity to go over some of the skillsthat we’ve talked about in the pre-vious two months’ classes. I’ll try toplan the ride around what we’velearned the last couple of months.”Jones suggested that Sailors look

for mentors who ride the same typemotorcycle. Sportbike riders shouldpair with other sportbike riders andcruiser riders should seek mentorswho have experience on cruisersbecause the nuances of the bikesare different. Ricky Morgan, NCBCmotorcycle safety rider safetycoach, agreed.

It [having a mentor on the sametype of motorcycle] helps, becausethen when they’re watching you dothings on a bike, the way you’regoing into a corner, you’re path oftravel, they pick up on it. … Acruiser and a sportbike they don’thandle the same. They go downthe road the same way on twowheels, but they don’t handlenearly the same,” said Morgan.Jones also suggested that the tra-

ditional rank structure of the Navymight be relaxed during mentor-ship discussions and rides."There will always be that respect

for rank, but it's important to movefrom that mentality to a rider role.You don't want new riders to feelpressured. They should want to be

there," Jones said. “When it comesto motorcycles, inexperienced riderscome in all ages and ranks.”"A Second Class Petty Officer who

grew up on sportbikes may be amentor to a Chief who is just tran-sitioning from a cruiser to a sport-bike," said Jones.The requirements for mentorship

in the instruction leave a lot of lat-itude for commands to design theirown programs. The instructionstates, "Commands should tailorthe motorcycle mentorship programto address the individual com-mands' training requirements, rid-ership, local area and resourcesavailable."To that end, small commands with

few riders are permitted to team upwith other commands to maximizethe mentorship opportunities.

General guidance, pre-ride in-spections, and other topics and in-formation for mentorship programscan be found at the Naval SafetyCenter's website athttp://www.public.navy.mil/navsafecen/Pages/ashore/motor_vehi-cle/Motorcycle.In fiscal year 2012, 20 Sailors and

Marines lost their lives in motorcy-cle accidents. As of May 9, 2013, asthe spring and summer motorcy-cle riding season was beginning,that number for fiscal year 2013stood at 18. Department of theNavy leadership believes preventa-ble deaths like these are simply un-acceptable. They have reinvigoratedNavy and Marine Corps efforts toensure the safe use of motor vehi-cles and motorcycles with the ex-pectation that senior Sailors and

Marines set the example of zerotolerance for: unsafe driving, failureto comply with requirements andregulations, and drinking and driv-ing. Under the 21st Century Sailorand Marine initiative, it is expectedthat leaders at all levels will estab-lish formal policy to ensure anydrinking and driving infraction isproperly reviewed prior to promo-tion.

For more information on Navymotorcycle safety policy and re-quirements, as well as a personalstory of one rider who learned someimportant lessons the hard way,check out All Hands Magazine On-line at this link:http://www.navy.mil/ah_online/ftrStory.asp?id=74217&issue=3&page=1For the latest statistics on personal

motor vehicle fatalities as well asnarratives, visit the Naval SafetyCenter's website at:http://www.public.navy.mil/navsafecen

Help raise awareness by joiningthe conversation on social mediausing #NavySmartRide and #Mo-torcycle.Safety is an important element of

the 21st Century Sailor and Marineinitiative which consolidates a set ofobjectives and policies, new andexisting, to maximize Sailor andMarine personal readiness, buildresiliency and hone the most com-bat-effective force in the history ofthe Navy and Marine Corps. TheDepartment of the Navy is workingto aggressively to ensure today'sSailors and Marines serve in thesafest, most secure force the De-partment has ever known.

Source material by April Phillips,Naval Safety Center Public Affairs

Motorcycle riders find mentors on board NCBC

Motorcycle rider coach Rickey Morgan, teaches students at-tending a Sports Bike Rider’s course on board Naval Con-struction Battalion Center (NCBC). Navy traffic instruction,OPNAVINST 5100.12J also requires commands to set up men-torship programs for motorcycle riders. (U.S. Navy photo byConstruction Mechanic 3rd Class Katchen Tofil/Released)

By MCC(SCW/SW/AW)Ryan G. WilberNCBC Public Affairs

For all of the latest information, follow

Seabee Center on Facebook and Twitter;

subscribe to Inside the Gate by sending

an email to seabeecourier@navy.mil.

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Chief of Naval Personnel officialssay they will update the manningstatus of every rating every twoweeks to give Sailors an accurateview of where the stand in the Ca-reer Navigator system.This is good news for most. With

superstar Sailors being shown thedoor after consistent superior per-formance, many will be happy tosee the reenlistment process evolveinto something that is actuallybased on performance and left upto the command for approval forapproximately 75 percent of theforce.

Sailors in ratings that are bal-anced will be screened according totheir year group manning, andsome will be approved on their firstreenlistment application, but othersmay have to apply more than once.

Sailors that are in skills that arein the competitive reenlistment cat-egory or that have special qualifi-cations will be screened againstothers in their rating and yeargroup who are applying to reenlistat that time. Even these Sailors willreceive results sooner than underPTS.

"We have changed the criteria,"said Fleet Master Chief April Beldo,fleet master chief for Manpower,Personnel, Training and Education."It is based on rank ... perform-ance evaluations and critical NECs,so that has definitely changed fromthe algorithm that we used to use."

Some Sailors in the fleet areweary that a push away from PTS

along with a final command-levelapproval for most will have nega-tive consequences."The command already has a say

on the member's PTS," said NCCLailia Canlas, career counselor on-board USS Green Bay (LPD 20)."This may open up room for biasthat cannot always be detected orcontrolled. By leaving the decisionto someone who is not from thesame command, the decision willbe based on evaluations only, whichis essentially a Sailor's resume. PTSholds Sailors accountable. The con-sequence of not performing wasclear. Not everyone should be aSailor."

The problem, said NCC TimHawkins, career counselor for theNavy Information Operations Com-mand Maryland, is that people whoshould be Sailors were being de-nied reenlistment opportunities.

"If this new program will allowSailors to be judged on their per-formance, and if COs aren't afraidto kick out a Sailor who is not per-forming, then I'm for it," saidHawkins. "Command approval wasalways needed, and there is a solidcheck list commands used to ac-curately determine a Sailor's eligi-bility, so as long as commandcareer counselors are doing theirjobs, this should be an easy tran-sition."

However, Navy officials say thePTS program was a necessary toolthat served a purpose during a timeof extremely high retention andlow attrition."Because of that we had 35 over-

manned ratings that representedover 6,000 Sailors," said Beldo."And PTS was the avenue that theNavy chose to utilize to get theforce back into balance . . . Wenow see our advancement at anall-time high. We are also now ableto manage our ratings with theright skill sets for the right job withthe right requirements."CTI2 Jasmine Loran, with Navy In-

formation Operations CommandTexas, who has been denied reen-listment under PTS, is hopeful forthe change.

"I'm in the 2008 year group,which has been completely de-pendent on PTS for orders and re-tention," said Loran. "I have seenphenomenal Sailors denied PTS[approval] because of the way thecurrent system works. I was alsodenied on all three submissions de-spite having good evals, no PRTfailures, and promoting early.Though I'm not sure a CO could becompletely objective when it comesto approving or denying a [reen-listment] request, I do think havinga more local system would be ex-tremely beneficial. I love the Navyand I wish I could have stayed. Ijust joined in the wrong year ap-parently."

Sailors with a soft EAOS of July2014 and after will be the first toreally be able to take advantageof this program. For Sailors whohave an EAOS through June 2014,there is a small change affectingthem, but they will still be using theold system.With a November 2013 or earlier

EAOS there won't be an impact. Inthese cases the member has al-ready received final reenlistmentdetermination, and there will not bea 'grand-fathering' of Sailors.

With a December 2013 throughJune 2014 EAOS there will be nochange. The member is already inthe application window and willcontinue the legacy process. How-ever, the new business rules ofscreening Sailors based on Sailorsscreened using rank, evals, andcritical NECs will be used instead ofusing the current PTS algorithm ofrank, evals, critical NECs, PFA, andmonths to soft EAOS.

With this new design, whichSailors with a soft EAOS of July2014 or after will truly be able totake advantage of, approximately75 percent of Sailors requestingreenlistment will receive approvalon their first application and allSailors will know at least 10 monthsfrom the end of their contractwhether they will be able to reen-list in their current rate. Sailors notapproved to reenlist in rate willhave additional time to apply toconvert into another rating whereopportunity exists.

All Sailors will have to indicatetheir intention to reenlist or sepa-rate with their career counselor 13months in advance of the end oftheir enlistment contract. Sailorscan still change their minds afterthis initial check-in. However, theyshould notify their career coun-selors as soon as possible regard-ing the change.

"Knowing Sailors' intentions is

critical to accurately predicting howmany Sailors we will have in eachskillset, rate and pay grade goingforward," said Beldo. "This ensuresthe maximum opportunity to reen-list in rate for those Sailors whodesire to stay, offers opportunitiesfor Sailors to convert to a new rateor transition between "active/re-serve" components, and improvesadvancement opportunity."Career Navigator will change how

the Navy does business - placingSailors at the helm and allowingthem to choose their course be-tween reenlistment, conversion, ortransition. They will have accessto research career options forthemselves in order to make in-formed decisions based aroundavailable opportunities.

"We're simplifying the processand providing information sooner,while giving our Sailors interactivecapability that will enable moretransparency and feedback capa-bility and ultimately allow Sailors tobe more actively involved in man-aging their careers," said Beldo.

"I'm very excited about wherewe are going with Career Naviga-tor. The program provides the Navywith tools to help better managethe professional development ofour Sailors," said Master Chief PettyOfficer of the Navy Mike Stevens. "Iwould remind chiefs to continuetaking an active role in assistingour Sailors and helping them stayinformed of the career opportuni-ties and career choices available."

See NAVADMIN 149/13 and150/13 for more information.

From NAVIGATION page 1

Congratulations to

the NCBC Petty Officers

selected for advancement.

Bravo Zulu!

EO3 Birendra AdhikariCE3 Kelly R. BarrowSW2 Grant CullumberEO3 Brandon T. EbyEO3 Alecia N. GravesCE3 Nicole M. LopezYN2 Cody J. MacomberCM3 Kimberly MastropietroMA3 Mark J. McKoanMA1 Aaron J. ReavisCE3 Rachel A. ShawUT3 Kreigh A. SteussyCM3 Glen L. TisdaleLS3 Lyndsay B. Van ZantEO3 Victoria Waechter

Having recently returned from a six-month deployment in the U.S. Pa-cific Command (PACOM) area of operations, Naval Mobile ConstructionBattalion (NMCB) 74 brought their personal gear home with a little wearand tear after being heavily used for months while working on de-ployment projects. In order to prepare for homeport training projects and exercises, the

gear required a refresh to be inspection and operationally ready. Thepersonal gear ensures all members of the command are at the high-est level of readiness, capable of deploying anywhere to support theneeds of the Navy.Naval Construction Group (NCG) 2 personnel assisted NMCB 74 with

the refresh, ensuring the process went efficiently as possible. The or-ganized movement schedule made the transition smooth and allowedthe entire battalion to be in and out as quickly as possible.The battalion Supply Department diligently reviewed the issued gearand compiled the necessary refresh list.

“We wanted to make sure that we could get gear out to the troopsquickly, to ease any training exercises that were coming up in the nearfuture,” said the S4A, Ens. William Gallagher, while watching the dis-tribution of new Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) gear.“We didn’t want anyone to face the possibility of not being preparedfor classes and exercises. There is far too much to do in homeport tolet that happen,” said Gallagher.

The new gear was much-improved over previous homeport issuesand included new CBR masks and filter that were easier to see out of,new All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE)packs with more space, Field Training Exercise (FTX) and CommandPost Exercise (CPX) training gear. With the new gear, the battalion’s overall readiness and effectiveness

has been greatly hanced for future deployments.

The First Naval ConstructionDivision (1NCD), after over adecade of globally overseeingNavy Seabee efforts, was de-commissioned during a cere-mony at Naval Station Norfolk,May 31.

Rear Admiral Mark A. Hand-ley, 1NCD commanding officer,also retired during the cere-mony.

The guest speaker was Ad-miral William E. Gortney, com-mander, U.S. Fleet ForcesCommand. The decommis-sioning is part of a reorgani-zation designed to improveheadquarters alignment andconsolidate the direct, formalrelationship between the ex-peditionary forces and FleetForces Command/Pacific Fleet.

The 1NCD staff will be inte-grated into Navy ExpeditionaryCombat Command (NECC) toacclimate to the one TypeCommander for all expedi-tionary forces, including to gainefficiencies by combining head-quarters functions into onestaff. The newly created Naval Con-

struction Groups (NCGs) inGulfport, Miss. and Port Huen-eme, Calif., now in the Eastand West Coast continuity forthe Naval Construction Force(NCF), have inherited some ofthe previous 1NCD functions. 1NCD, located at Joint Expe-

ditionary Base Little Creek/FortStory in Virginia Beach, Va.,

was commissioned on Aug. 9,2002 to organize, train, oper-ate and maintain the NCF; tocommand and control NavalConstruction Regiments; andto develop, coordinate and im-plement policy and require-ments to man, equip and trainSeabees.

Since originating, 1NCD hasoverseen a wide range ofwartime, peacetime, humani-tarian and disaster relief ef-forts around the world. In 2003, the 1NCD deployed

thousands of Seabees toKuwait and Iraq, in support ofOperation Enduring Freedomand Operation Iraqi Freedom,and also deployed to the regionas a command element for theMarine Engineer Group (MEG),in support of the 1st MarineExpeditionary Force. Seabee accomplishments in-

cluded constructing a 20-acreairfield parking apron, two mu-nitions storage areas, a 48,000square-foot concrete pad, sixbridges and five culvert cross-ings, a 32-kilometer road, anda 14,400-person prisoner-of-war camp.

In 2005, the 1NCD Seabeesresponded to the aftermath ofthe Hurricane Katrina devas-tation. Over 3,300 Seabees re-sponded quickly to repair morethan 100 schools, remove20,000 tons of debris, andclear 750 miles of roads. As the national strategy focus

changed, 1NCD lifted andshifted over 10,680 tons of

equipment and 1,517 Seabeesfrom Iraq to Afghanistan in2009.

Starting in January 2010,1NCD supported the surge of30,000 additional troops intoAfghanistan with one regimentand four battalions. With over2,500 Seabees in Afghanistan,they completed more than 625projects including new forwardoperating bases and combatoutposts. The 1NCD Seabees remained

heavily involved in projects topromote peace through The-ater Security Cooperation Pro-grams (TSCP) in variouscountries around the world.Small groups of Seabees builtand repaired schools and med-ical clinics, drilled water wells,and completed various otherconstruction projects to im-prove the quality of life for peo-ple in need.

The devastation from Hurri-cane Sandy in October 2012,the largest Atlantic hurricaneon record to strike the coastsof New York and New Jersey,prompted the 1NCD Seabeesto help remove debris, clearroads, and repair waterfrontfacilities.Rear Adm. Handley, the com-

mander of 1NCD since Oct. 23,2009, will retire after 32 yearsof Navy service. Previously, hewas the vice commander forNavy Installations Commandand Director of Shore Readi-ness for Deputy Chief of NavalOperations (Logistics.) 6

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By Daryl C. Smith1NCD Public Affairs

Rear Adm. Mark Handley andMaster Chief John Mulhollandretire the First Naval Construc-tion Division's (1NCD) colorsduring the disestablishmentceremony on Naval StationNorfolk May 31. The 1NCD staffwill be integrated into Navy Ex-peditionary Combat Command(NECC) to acclimate to the oneType Commander for all expe-ditionary forces, including togain efficiencies by combiningheadquarters functions intoone staff. (U.S. Navy photo/Re-leased)

End of an era, 1NCD is decommissioned

NMCB 74 gear refresh preparesbattalion for futureBy BUCN Alexa TraftonNMCB 74 Public Affairs

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 74 Seabeeslook over the new equipment being issued during the bat-talion’s recent “refresh.” The gear swap is necessary dueto the wear and tear on equipment during NMCB 74’s re-cent deployment. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

Seabees assigned to the Con-voy Security Element (CSE), ofNavy Mobile Construction Battal-ion (NMCB) 15 constructed anEllis tower for the Afghan NationalArmy (ANA) “soak lot,” May 22,2013, living up to their motto,“we build, we fight.”The lot contains vehicles that are

incubated for a 24-hour periodbefore entering the Shorabackcomplex.

“The construction of this toweris directly enabling the ANA to beself-sufficient once we leave,” saidConstruction Chief James War-wick, CSE leader. “We are provid-ing them their own soak lot andthis will act as their Entry ControlPoint.”

Builder 1st Class Chad Riegelnoted that rapid build projectslike this go hand-in-hand with thehistory of the Seabees and theirphilosophy.

CSE’s primary duty is convoysecurity escort and static secu-rity at build sites.Warwick explains that two years

ago, the CSE team consistedlargely of senior enlisted Buildersand Equipment Operators. He re-alized the need for dispersing sea-soned leadership throughout thebattalion while balancing the di-

versity of the rates for his ownteam. The result was a mobile, flexible

build team that could deploy rap-idly and provide its own securityon site.

“Basically they were just re-manufactured as a small buildteam,” says Warwick.

“The other missions that we’vecompleted, we have been doingprimarily security,” said Riegel.“So this is the best of both worlds.We get a chance to get out anddo some actual constructionwork.”

Riegel also mentioned that theSeabees’ unique ability to providea rapid construction element whileperforming their own security setsthem apart.

We bring a lot of different as-pects to the game that civiliancontractors don’t. They need se-curity. We can do our own secu-rity and do the work ourselves.The prefabrication for the tower

was built largely by junior sailorsover an 18-hour period and pro-vided an excellent opportunity torefresh skill sets. After the pre-fabrication was completed thetower was placed on the back ofa flat-bet truck, transported tothe construction site and loweredinto place by a crane. Warwick explained that the team

utilized an alternating system fortheir work schedule. While halfthe team worked on the job forfour hours, the other half wouldbe in the vehicles providing se-curity while staying cool.

It’s win-win. We’re hitting thatwork-rest cycle, providing our ownforce security and minimizing theamount of people needed to dothe construction in bulk,” saidWarwick. “I have no overhead.Everyone here is a direct labor at

one point or another.” From planning to completion,

the project took just three work-ing days to complete.Builder 2nd Class Edward Stokka

said that projects like this are mo-tivating.

“There’s a lot of satisfactionbeing here throughout all thephases,” said Stokka. “From theplanning to the constructionphase, I really like seeing it allcome together.”

NMCB 15 is currently deployedto Afghanistan in support of Op-eration Enduring Freedom and isan expeditionary engineering el-ement of U.S. Naval forces sup-porting units worldwide throughnational force readiness, human-itarian assistance, and buildingand maintaining infrastructure.

For all of the latest informationabout the Seabees of NMCB 15,follow them on Facebook bysearching, NMCB 15.

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Race Engines, Dirt Bikes,ATV’s, Cigarette Boats,

ZodiacsAre you up to the challenge of hard work and repairingunique SOF equipment?

Naval Special Warfare Development Group is seeking ac-tive duty Construction Mechanics and all other Seabeerates.

- Motivated/Volunteer- Pass Navy PFA- E4 - E6- No NJP- No bankruptcy- Obtain Secret/TOP Secretclearance

Convoy Security Element lives up to Seabee motto

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Bat-talion (NMCB) 15's Convoy Security Element construct a bunker project in support of theAfghanistan National Army. NMCB 15 is currently deployed in support of Operation En-during Freedom and is an expeditionary element of U.S. Naval Forces that support var-ious units worldwide through national force readiness, civil engineering, humanitarianassistance, and building and maintaining infrastructure. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Com-munication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Garas)

By MC2 Daniel GarasNMCB15 Public Affairs

Email us at !DEVGRURecruiting@vb.socom.mil orcontact your detailer to request additional information.

Joppa Shriners Gun Show - The Joppa Shriners are hosting their second gun show ofthe year on June 8 - 9, 2013. Hours are Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.We have our large ammo dealer returning, and also additional gun vendors. Door prizes will begiven away both days. Admission is $7. Children under the age of 12 admitted free. Conces-sions are available. We are located off I-10 at exit 41 (Woolmarket exit); then north 1.25 miles.

LADD . . . Leaders Against Drunk DrivingLADD is a program sponsored bythe NCBC/20th First Class Asso-ciation. The mission of LADDis to prevent drunk driving onboard NCBC Gulfport by provid-ing rides for any service memberwho needs assistance getting

home after an outing that in-volves alcohol.

~ LADD is 100 percent confi-dential. NO REPRISAL!

~ LADD will take individualhome only, no stops.

~ Volunteers who stand the

watch are on call 24/7.~ It is always important to

have a plan in place when goingout in town, but if your plans fallthrough, please call LADD andwe will pick you up!

Call 228-239-9007

A strong credit score can bean integral part of staying fi-nancially secure, whatever theeconomic climate. But formany U.S. service members,determining exactly what hasan impact on their score canbe a daunting task. One thing is for sure: credit

cards can and do impact yourcredit score – positively ornegatively – depending uponhow you use them. In fact,credit cards can be one ofyour best friends or your worstenemies when it comes toyour score. So, how can you make your

plastic work for you in thequest for strong credit? Below are some tips on how

to use your cards tostrengthen or maintain yourcredit and avoid some pitfallsthat may lower your score in ahurry.

~ Manage your debt tocredit ratio: Closely watch yourcredit card balance relative toyour credit limit, called your“debt to credit ratio.” Expertsdiffer about the ideal ratio, butall agree that keeping yourdebt below 30 percent of youravailable credit line is key toensuring your credit score isn’tnegatively impacted. Checkyour statement regularly tomake sure that your credit linehasn’t been reduced by yourcard company, thus raisingyour debt to credit ratio.

~ Consider a balance trans-fer: If you’re trying to paydown your balance, explorethe option of a balance trans-fer. A balance transfer at a lowrate makes it easier to paydown your balance, improvingyour debt to credit ratio as

your balance decreases. Keepan eye out for balance trans-fers with no fees, zero percentinterest during the introduc-tory period and a low rateafter the intro period expires.Know that the APR on theseoffers can jump to above 20percent after the introductorywindow – though all creditunion interest rates arecapped at 18 percent.

~ Make all your paymentson time: Timely payments es-tablish a track record of relia-bility and boost credit. Ifpossible, set up automaticmonthly payments along withtext and email alerts to remindyou of your due date.

~ For controlled spendingand easy qualification, go witha secured card: If you’re warythat a new credit card maymake it more difficult to con-trol spending, secured cardsmay be a great solution foryou. They’re also a good op-tion if you have little to nocredit or your credit standingis below average. Securedcards require that you providean up-front deposit, whichthen equals your credit line.Because secured card limitscannot exceed what you havedeposited and tend to belower than other cards, theyhelp you control your spend-ing. Secured cards also aidyou in establishing a trackrecord of on-time payments.Navy Federal is one of severallenders in the market with asecured card that can help youstay within budget and buildcredit.

~ Be smart about openingand closing accounts: As ageneral rule, avoid closing anycard accounts. Having a higheraverage age on your credit ac-

counts positively impacts yourcredit score. Beware not toopen a large number of creditcards in a short span of time –doing so can indicate tolenders that you are overlyeager for credit.

~ Pay down your balance asmuch as possible each month:Fully paying your balancehelps you maintain a healthydebt to credit ratio. If it’s notpossible to pay down your en-tire balance, try to at least paydown some portion to manageyour debt and minimize inter-est payments.

~ Maintain some level of ac-tivity: Make regular purchaseswith each of your cards, evenif minimal. Complete inactivitycan lead to the account beingclosed. Your credit can evenbe adversely impacted by inac-tive cards before the accountis shut down.

~ Don’t rely on debit or pre-paid cards to build credit:Debit and prepaid cards aregreat additions to your walletfor convenience. However,these cards draw on availablefunds from an account insteadof a line of credit. So usingthem will not boost yourcredit.Keeping these tips in mind,

you can move forward with asense of confidence abouthow to put your cards to workfor you. Just remember thatcredit cards are one of severaltools in your toolbelt when itcomes to building that solidcredit score.

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Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline: Due to limitedIG resources throughout the Southeast Region, all Fraud, Waste andAbuse hotline work will now be handled by the Region. To report Fraud,Waste and Abuse, contact the Region at: Toll Free 1-877-657-9851Comm: 904-542-4979 DSN 942-4979 FAX: 904- 542-5587, E-mail: CNRSE_HOTLINE@navy.mil.

Health Watch:Health Watch:Tips to stayTips to stay

healthy and fithealthy and fit

this summerthis summer

Although it’s still officially spring, temperatures in the 80sremind us that summer begins June 21. This winning combi-nation is sure to lure you off the sofa and onto the nearestathletic field. But before you take the plunge into spring-time activities, remember that a little attention now can helpmaximize your enjoyment – and minimize your risk of ankle,knee and shoulder injuries.Before wiping the dust off a bicycle, fishing pole, softball

glove or golf clubs, do a little self-injury prevention so thatyour outdoor activities are not hampered. During the week, get your stamina up by doing an aerobic

activity most days of the week. Aerobic means doing some-thing that elevates and sustains your heart rate for 20 ormore minutes – 30 to 60 minutes is preferable. After you finish your activity, be sure to stretch. Remem-

ber that a muscle stretch should be comfortable enough tohold for 25-30 seconds. Repeat the same stretch five or sixtimes to get the best results. Don’t rush! Your muscleshave worked hard for you so pay them back by giving thema 10-minute reward.If your favorite warm weather activity involves swinging,

throwing, or casting, put your focus on stretching yourupper body and prepare your hands, arms, and shouldersfor the season. Hard to believe, but just starting the oldlawn mower utilizes all muscles in the arm and back – so besure to tune up not only the mower, but yourself as well. For your shoulders start by lightly throwing a tennis ball

against the wall for 8-10 minutes. When you can do socomfortably, you can increase the speed, force and hope-fully, accuracy of your throw. To get the legs involved, try balancing on one leg while

you throw the ball. Exercise tubing is also a great way totune up the arms and shoulders. You can hold a smalllength of tubing in front of you and try to pull it apart.Changing the angle and direction of your pull will effectivelychallenge your muscles through their entire range of motionand will quickly get them ready for your activities. Of course, don’t forget your hands. Even though you use

them countless times everyday, you should take time to tunethem up as well. Spreading rubber bands apart with yourthumb and fingers, squeezing putty, sponges, or any otherpliable material are great ways to improve your grip. Thinkof those birdies or pulling in that record fish!These simple stretching suggestions will help you enjoy the

warm weather activities.For more information on fitness and prevention of injuries,

visit the NBHC Physical Therapy Clinic in the base FitnessCenter. Have a great summer!

By Edward GoodniteNBHC Gulfport

ByRandy Hopper Navy Federal Credit Union

Leveraging credit cards

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Focus on Education Focus on Education New Chief’s Mess training course released

The Center for Personal and Pro-fessional Development (CPPD) hasreleased the revised Chief's MessTraining (CMT) course, CPPD lead-ership said May 28.

The CMT course is year-roundtraining with lessons that provideadditional leadership topics for theChief Petty Officer (CPO) mess. Thecourse took six months to reviseand was piloted in the HamptonRoads area in December. Changes to the lessons were based

on fleet feedback, according to Mas-ter Chief Ship's Serviceman LeonHazley, CMT course manager atCPPD. After the revision was com-pleted, CPPD conducted threecourse pilots to validate the cur-riculum, course material effective-ness and course length, he said.

"We're really proud of the newCMT course and feel it will be agreat training tool for chief pettyofficers across the fleet," said CPPDCommand Master Chief KenSchmidt. "We have to continuallyimprove our skills as leaders to bemost effective as a CPO mess. CMTprovides CPOs with the tools to leadwith courage, respect and trust, aswell as the tools to mentor our jun-ior Sailors to become the next gen-eration of strong Navy leaders."The new CMT is a library of 22 cur-

rent, relevant topics that includescenarios designed to facilitate deepdiscussion. Each session can betaught at any time and in any se-quence throughout the year, ac-cording to Hazley. "The previousCMT consisted of 10 topics designedto be delivered every month fromOctober to July each year," he said."The new course provides flexibilityto CPO messes to cover topics in asequence that best fits a command'sschedule."

The CMT course differs from theChief Petty Officer Selectee Lead-ership Course (CPOSLC) in thatCPOSLC is geared toward preparingchief petty officer selectees for their

new roles as chiefs while CMT isdesigned to provide leadership sus-tainment training for chief petty of-ficers through communication,teamwork and mentoring. Hazley said the new course is de-

signed to present the mess with anactual fleet-based scenario casestudy or directive to stimulate vig-orous discussion among chiefs andis intended to enable the mess as awhole to learn from each other'sexperiences and develop the prob-lem-solving skills chiefs must haveto succeed. Topics include commandunity, ethics, operational stress con-trol, maintaining standards, men-toring, conflict resolution, characterand integrity, professionalism, sui-cide awareness, bystander inter-vention, and prevention of sexualassault, sexual harassment and haz-ing. "Feedback from the course pilotwas that CMT really hit the mark.Students said the topics were rele-vant, interesting and thought pro-voking. That's exactly what we want- to prompt fierce conversations inthe mess to help us become betterleaders and mentors."Chief of Naval Operations Instruc-

tion (OPNAVINST) 5351.2A governsCMT, which is required for all activeduty and reserve chiefs, seniorchiefs and master chiefs. The re-vised CMT course will be docu-mentable in Fleet TrainingManagement and Planning System(FLTMPS), Hazley said.

Commands can access the newcourse material by logging on toNavy Knowledge Online, selectingthe Leadership tab, selecting ChiefPetty Officer Selectee LeadershipCourse (CPOSLC) /CMT and follow-ing the instructions on the screen.Commands experiencing problemsaccessing the material should con-tact the course manager at CPPD forassistance.

For more information about theCenter for Personal and ProfessionalDevelopment (CPPD), visit:https://www.netc.navy.mil/cen-ters/cppd/.

By Susan HensonCPPD Public Affairs

Adjusting to the Economy and a Furlough - Fleet and Family SupportCenter (FFSC) is offering Adjusting to the Economy and a Furlough class June 17, 11 a.m. -noon. Civilians interested in attending may register by calling FFSC at 228-871-3000.

“Children are the living message we send to a time we will not see.”

John W. Whitehead, founder, Rutherford Institute

Five-year-olds attending the Child DevelopmentCenter (CDC) on board NCBC Gulfport were pre-sented “graduation” certificates during a Transi-tion to Kindergarten Program at the NCBC TrainingHall, May 30. During the ceremony, the childrenrecited the Pledge of Allegiance, sang songs, recitedpoems, demonstrated sign language and counted inSpanish before receiving their certificates. (U.S.Navy photos by Utilitiesman Constructionman AliciaFluty/Released)

Transition to Kindergarten

Teachers and children of the Stennis Space CenterChild Development Center release balloons in honorof the Sandy Hook Elementary School victims onMay 29, at Stennis Space Center, Miss. The Center re-cently created a garden memorial for the victimswhich displays hand-painted stones for each lostlife. (Photos courtesy of Kelly LeGuillon/Released)

Memorial to Sandy Hook

FREE Movies at the Training Hall

Enjoy a leisurely movieafter the Memorial Week-

end madness. Stop by theSnack Bar on your way into get that buttered moviepopcorn and those othergoodies that help you getlost in the moment. Forgetwhat was playing? No wor-ries - put the movie hotlinein your phone, 228-871-3299 and call anytime!

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Friday: The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, PG13, 6 p.m. Saturday: The Croods, PG, 11 a.m.; Jack the GiantSlayer, PG13, 1:15 p.m.; The Call, R, 4 p.m.; OlympusHas Fallen, R, 6:15 p.m.Sunday: Oz the Great and Powerful, PG13, 6 p.m.

Anchors & EaglesAuto HobbyBeehiveChild Development CenterFitness CenterInformation, Tickets & TravelLiberty CenterSeabee Heritage CenterNavy Outdoor Recreation RV ParkThe GrillTraining HallYouth Activities CenterMain Office

228-871-4607228-871-2804228-871-4009228-871-2323228-871-2668228-871-2231

228-871-4684228-871-3619228-871-2127228-871-5435228-871-2494228-871-4750228-871-2251228-871-2538

For MWRFor MWRprogram program

informationinformationcontact:contact:

2013 SPECIAL OLYMPICS -NCBC Gulfport will host the Area 32013 Special Olympics Saturday,June 8. Games will be held outsideof the Fitness Center, near the soft-ball fields, and will begin following a 9 a.m. opening ceremony. Anawards ceremony will happen im-mediately after the games con-clude. Volunteers are needed tohelp set up, register and accom-pany the athletes, cheer them onand tear down the site. Uniformfor military volunteers: Service PTgear; civilians: appropriate athletic

attire. Volunteers will meet at 7a.m., at the NOFFS pad next to theFitness Center by the pull up bars.Please direct inquiries to MCC RyanWilber, 228- 871-3663 orryan.wilber@navy.mil.HABITAT FOR HUMANITY -The Mississippi Gulf Coast Habi-tat for Humanity is asking forvolunteers to work during aVeteran Resource WorkshopJune 18, 4 - 6:30 p.m. at theWest Harrison Community Cen-ter on Espy Ave. in Long Beach.Volunteers will serve as

greeters and register attendees.Point of contact is KenyaMiniard atkminiard@hfhmgc.org or call228-678-9100, ext. 1009.BILOXI VA - The Biloxi Veter-ans Administration needs eightvolunteers to escort residentswith wheelchairs to an event onthe property July 9. ContactSusan Smith, FFSC Gulfport,228-871-3640 or susan.smith2-@navy.mil to volunteer. USO GULF COAST - Interested involunteering? We need volunteers

every day to assist at our centersthroughout the Military community.Whether you’re interested in pro-viding coffee and conversation toour traveling troops or assisting indeployments the USO Gulf Coasthas a special opportunity for you.We are also looking for volunteersto assist in community outreachevents scheduled throughout theyear. To become a USO volunteer,you’ll need to create a volunteerprofile throughwww.usovolunteer.org. This web-site allows you to keep track of

your hours and if you move to an-other location your hours will trans-fer with you to any USO in theworld. If you have any questionsplease feel free to contact USO GulfCoast’s Program Manager, NicoleLewis at nlewis@uso.org. We lookforward to having you on our vol-unteer team!COAST SALVATION ARMY - Vol-unteers are needed for variousprojects throughout the year. Con-tact Shawna_Tatge@uss.salvation-army.org if you have a bit of sparetime to help out.

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NCBC Center Chaplains: Lt. Cmdr. Paul Smith, Chaplain

Lt. Yoon Choi, ChaplainFor more information about Chapel programs,

please call the Chapel at 228-871-2454.Religious Services

Sunday:Gospel: 8 a.m., Catholic Mass: 9:30 a.m., Protestant: 10:30 a.m.

Weekday Mass: Tuesdays at 11:15 a.m.

Seabee Memorial ChapelSeabee Memorial Chapel

NCBC Helping Hands volunteer opportunitiesNCBC Helping Hands volunteer opportunities

Looking for a church?The Seabee Memorial Chapel holds services every Sunday to suit yourneeds. Protestant Services include a Gospel Service at 8 a.m. and a Wor-ship Service at 10:30 a.m. Catholic Mass is at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday andthe Chapel also holds a weekly Mass on Tuesday at 11:15 a.m.Seabee PantryThe Seabee Pantry is a valuable resource for those families needing a lit-tle extra assistance during the month. Please donate as many cannedgoods and other nonperishable items as possible. Donation drop-off sitesare located at the Navy Exchange, Chapel, Commissary, Fleet and Fam-ily Support Center and Armed Forces Retirement Home.Praise and WorshipThe Seabee Memorial Chapel is looking for new members for the Praiseand Worship Team for the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service and the Gospelchoir at 8 a.m. If you can sing or play an instrument, you are invited toshare your gift. For more information, please contact the Chapel at 228-871-2454.

Chapel Offerings

FREE Services: Fax - Send/Receive: 228-575-5225, Copies, Snacks and Drinks, UnitedThrough Reading Program, Computers with web cams Internet/Email Access, X-Box

Office hours: Monday-Friday,8 a.m. - 4 p.m. 901 CBC 3rd St., Building 114, 228-575-5224

GULF COAST USOGULF COAST USO

www.SafeHelpline.org

877-995-5247

55-247 (INSIDE U.S.)

202-470-5546 (OUTSIDE U.S.)

Text your location for the nearest support resources.

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SUPPORTFamily Readiness Groups NMCB 1 FRG invites friends andfamily members to attend FRG meet-ings the second Monday of everymonth at the Youth Activity Center,building 335. Meetings are from 6 - 8p.m. Children are welcome andbabysitting is provided during deploy-ment. Contact FRG President JennyRichter, e-mailnmcbonefrg@gmail.com. NMCB 11 FRG For more informationregarding the NMCB 11 FRG, pleasevisit www.facebook.com/nmcb11frg oremail us at nmcb11frg@gmail.com.NMCB 74 FRG All families of NMCB74 are invited to the 74 FRG meetingthe third Monday of each month.Meetings are at the MWR Youth Activi-ties Center, building 335, behind theGrinder on NCBC. Socializing begins at5:30 p.m., and meetings begin at 6p.m. Bring a covered dish to share atour potluck dinner. Children are wel-come. Email nmcb74fsg@yahoo.comor visit our Facebook page at

“NMCB74 Fearless FRG” for details.NMCB 133 FRG invites all friendsand family members to attend FRGmeetings the first Monday of themonth at 6 p.m. at the Youth Center.Children are welcome and babysittingis provided. Please bring a dish toshare. For more information contactFRG President Jaime Royal at 317-730-4064 or email NMCB133fsg-@gmail.com. Log on to the FRG site,http://www.wix.com/NMCB133FSG/133frg. FOCUSFamilies OverComing Under Stress(FOCUS), provides resiliency trainingto service members and their familiesby teaching practical skills to helpmeet the challenges of military life, in-cluding how to communicate & solveproblems effectively and to success-fully set goals together. Confidentialand free with family-friendly hours,contact FOCUS today! Call 228- 822-5736 or email Gulf-port@focusproject.orgGulfport Officer’s Spouse ClubThe Gulfport Officers’ Spouses’ Club isa social organization that has FUNwhile helping our community. Wemeet monthly and have special inter-est groups for almost everyone! Formore information, email goscgulf-port@yahoo.com. We hope to seeYOU soon! Navy Wives Clubs of America,Inc. The Navy Wives Clubs of Amer-ica, Inc. is interested in reestablishinga club in the local area. If you are in-terested in joining an organizationthat promotes the health and welfare

of any enlisted member of the Navy,Marine Corps or Coast Guard, pleasecontact Darlene Carpenter at 228-342-2271 or Tina O’Shields, 228-357-0513. Visitwww.navywivesclubsofamerica.org formore information on NWCA. NMCRS The Navy-Marine Corps Relief SocietyThrift Shop is located in building 29on Snead Street. The Thrift Shop isstaffed entirely by volunteers, andchild care and mileage are reim-bursed. Retail hours of operation areTuesday and Friday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.Volunteers are always welcome. Visitthe NMCRS offices at the Fleet andFamily Support Center, building 30,suite 103 or call 228-871-2610 to findout how to become a part of theNMCRS volunteer team!Gamblers AnonymousThe Fleet and Family Support Centeroffers GA meetings every Thursday at11 a.m. GA is a fellowship of peoplewho share their experience, strengthand hope with each other. All meet-ings are confidential and facilitated byGA. Come to a meeting or call Jim So-riano at 228-871-3000 for more infor-mation.TRAINING Naval Sea Cadets The Gulfportbranch of the Naval Sea Cadets arerecruiting youth ages 11 to 17 for SeaCadets, a nation-wide organizationthat help youth achieve personal suc-cess through nautical training. Meet-ings are the third Saturday of themonth from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., build-ing 1, 2nd floor conference room.

Contact Lt.j.g. Bowling at 228-313-9035 or coachcb@yahoo.com formore information.SOCIAL Miss. Gulf Coast First Class Asso-ciation is always looking for newmembers. Meetings are everyWednesday at 2:30 p.m., at the Fit-ness Center classroom. For more in-formation, contact Associationpresident, CE1 Daniel Shaver, 228-871-2145. NCBC Multi-Cultural DiversityCommittee is seeking members.Meetings are held the first and thirdWednesday of the month at 9 a.m., atthe Seabee Memorial Chapel. ContactBU1 Jerma Cloude, 228-871-2454 fordetails. VFW Post 3937 Long Beach isopen Monday - Thursday from noonuntil 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday fromNoon until 10 p.m., Sunday from noonuntil 7 p.m. The first Friday of themonth is Seafood Night, the remain-ing Fridays are Steak Night. Breakfastis served from 7 to 10 a.m. on Satur-days. VFW meetings are held the sec-ond Wednesday of the month at 7:30p.m. New members are always wel-come. Contact Post Commander BillNorth at 228-863-8602 for info. VFW Post 4526 Orange Grove isopen daily from Noon to 10 p.m. andlocated at 15206 Dedeaux Road, Or-ange Grove. Meetings are the firstWednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Allare welcome and encouraged to at-tend. Call 228-832-0017 for more info. NMCB 62 Alumni GroupNaval Mobile Construction Battalion

(NMCB) 62 was recommissioned inGulfport in 1966, and decommissionedin 1989. To become a member, go tohttp://nmcb62alumni.org or for linksto Seabee historical sites. D.A.V. - Disabled American Veter-ans, Chapter 5 invites Veterans andfuture Veterans to monthly meetingsheld the 3rd Monday of each month at7 p.m. Call Service Officer, SilvaRoyer at 228-324-1888 to find outmore about our organization. Navy Seabee Veterans of America(NSVA) Island X-1, Gulfport is al-ways looking to add new members.You do not have to be retired to be amember. If interested, please con-tact Eugene Cowhick ateugene.cowhick@navy.mil, 228-871-2488 or Robert Smith atRobert.p.smith5@navy.mil, 228-871-2436. If you are already a member,please join us on the second Thursdayof each month at 6 p.m. in the A&EChiefs and Officers Club, NCBC Gulf-port, for the Monthly Island X-1 busi-ness meeting. For more informationon NSVA Island X-1, visitwww.nsva.org.HERITAGE The Seabee Gift Store is located inthe Seabee Heritage Center TrainingHall, building 446. Hours are Monday -Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Satur-days from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. The shophas a variety of Seabee related mem-orabilia, books and DVD’s. Contact themuseum at www.seabeemuseum-store.org or call the gift shop at 228-871-4779 for information on all that isavailable.

CENTERNOTES

NCIS has two new anony-mous ways to report crimesor suspicious behavior withthe use of discreet and se-cure online or texting tiplines.To report information byCell text:1. Text “NCIS” to the shortcode 274637 (CRIMES) fromany cell or smart phone.2. Receive a response, forexample: “Your alias is: S2U5Call 911 if urgent! If replies put you atrisk, text “STOP”3. Begin dialogue

To report information On-line:1. Go to www.NCIS.navy.mil,click on the “Report a Crime”tab andselect the icon for “text andWeb tip Hotline.”There is a reward of up to$1,000 for information lead-ing to a felony arrest or apprehension.

See Something Wrong, DoSomething Right!

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