www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, September 14, 2023
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IN THIS ISSUE
NAVSTA Norfolk’s MWR holds monthly Bowl-A-Rama Bowl-A-Rama is a family friendly event created to build comradery and give families an opportunity to meet in a fun, engaging and interactive setting. PAGE A2
VOL. 31, NO. 32, Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com
September 14-September 20, 2023
(NORFOLK, Va.) Sept. 9, 2023 – Chief Petty Officers and Chief Selects cross the finish line during the“Run with the Chiefs 5k”event on board Naval Station Norfolk Sept. 9, 2023. The“Run with the Chiefs 5k”is a yearly run that invites Chiefs and Chief Selects from across the region to participate. (US NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS JOSEPH T. MILLER)
Naval Station Norfolk hosts the annual Run with the Chiefs
By MC2 Joseph T. Miller
NORFOLK,Va.—NavalStation(NAVSTA) Norfolk’s Chief Petty Officer Mess and Morale, Wellness and Recreation (MWR) department hosted the 2023 Run with the Chiefs 5k onboard NAVSTA Norfolk, Sept. 8. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the event which started in 2003, and the first Run with the Chiefs 5k since 2019. Over 3,200 chiefs, senior chiefs, master chiefs, and chief petty officer (CPO) selectees and participants from throughout the region, ran in support of the FY-24 CPO selectees, singing cadence and holding guidon flags high to celebrate Navy Chief Pride and unity. The Run with the Chiefs 5k is one of the events that takes place during the six-week
initiation of chief petty officer selects, known internally as “Chief Season.” During this time period, the selectees must go through various trials and events which will prepare them to take on the role and be pinned as a full-fledged chief petty officer. “The Run with the Chiefs was originally established to get support for the Navy Chief Scholarship fund,” said NAVSTA Norfolk’s Command Master Chief, Angelo Rappa. “It started out pretty small, but over the years it has grown into something so tremendous that the entire installation and the entire region look forward to participating in it. So this year we are really happy because this is the first year we’ve done it since 2019, and we have over 3,000 entries. We are looking forward to a great run.” Participants began to arrive while the
sun was rising, with Chiefs and Chief Selectees gathering with their respective commands to get in formation to march across NAVSTA Norfolk’s parade field and sing cadences. While the selectees were in formation, both Capt. Janet Days, commanding officer of NAVSTA Norfolk, and Capt. David Dees, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic’s Chief of Staff, came to each division and rated their guidon flags. “I think the Run with the Chiefs event helps show the power of the mess; that we can reach out and get everyone on schedule for this type of team building event,” said Gas Turbine System Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer Rafal Srednicki, one of the chiefs who helped organize the event. “It helps build a network, and helps the Chief Selects realize that there are not multiple
Chiefs Messes, just one Mess. It’s also nice to see that not just the Chiefs and commands, but the families came out to support us.” The run began at 8:30 a.m. with the runners taking off from in front of the NAVSTA Norfolk’s Head Quarters (N-26) and heading down Gilbert Street. The various divisions of Chiefs and Chief Selects ran together in formation, once again shouting cadences. The 5k’s path led the runners through the base, going by various locations such as the piers and Vista Point. The run concluded at McClure Field baseball stadium. Following the 5k a cookout was held at McClure Field, where runners enjoyed a cookout, live music and additional festivities.
Suicide prevention course hosted by NSA Hampton Roads Base Chapel By Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Service members gathered at the Naval Support Activities (NSA) Hampton Roads Chapel to participate in a course called safeTALK. Students who graduate this free, threehour course will leave with the tools necessary to watch for, prevent, and aid people who suffer from suicidal tendencies or ideations as well as monitor their own mental health. The acronym “SAFE” in the program’s name stands for “Suicide Alertness for Everyone,” as the acronym “TALK” stands for the steps to take in response to recognizing signs of suicidal ideations: Tell, Ask, Listen, and Keepsafe. Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Launch/ Recovery) Ryan Cuppernall, the certified safeTALK instructor in the Norfolk branch, led the program. He is currently stationed at Naval Air Force Atlantic (AIRLANT) and has been a safeTALK instructor for three years. “What I want for students to graduate this course is to be able to listen to others who are struggling with suicide and be able to pass on these lessons to others,” said Cuppernall. “If these skills become more practiced and widespread, we can create a world without suicide.” SafeTALK is a free program by Livingworks, a non-profit, non-military oriented organization focused on suicide prevention. The course is open to all military and civil servants for attendance. “I’m very glad to have taken this course,”
said Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Olivia Vesek, who is stationed at AIRLANT. “This course helps takes suicide from the taboo that very much exists in the Navy.” September is nationally recognized as Suicide Awareness month and the program’s coordinator, Navy Chaplain Cmdr. Calel Butler, welcomes all service members and civilians to attend the future sessions. “Suicide is a human issue, it’s everywhere. And we require human beings to help with it,” stated Butler. The NSA Hampton Roads Chapel offers more safeTALK sessions in the future with the next session taking place on Sept. 15th starting at 9 am. More scheduled sessions can be found on the NSA Hampton Roads Chapel Facebook page. More resources for suicide prevention can be found at the following links: Navy Suicide Prevention https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/ Support-Services/Culture-Resilience/ Suicide-Prevention/ Marine Corps Suicide Prevention https:// www.manpower.usmc.mil/webcenter/portal/BehavioralProgramsBranch/ pages_behavioralprogramsbranch/ suicidepreventioncapability Navy Mental Health Playbook https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/ Support-Services/Culture-Resilience/Leaders-Toolkit/Mental-Health-Playbook/
NORFOLK, Va. (Aug. 9, 2023)- Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Launch/Recovery) Ryan Cuppernall leads a SafeTALK training for civilians and Sailors stationed aboard Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads. SafeTALK is a 3-hour course providing trainees with the tools required to identify, respond, and monitor personnel struggling with suicidal ideations. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY LT. J.G. JACQUELINE R. RAMOS)
Smithsonian restores, displays ‘Crash’ Truck used at Pentagon on 9/11 www.flagshipnews.com
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On the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, The National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center in Virginia got an important new addition — one of the foam-carrying aircraft rescue vehicles that was crucial to putting the flames out at the Pentagon. Page A7
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