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www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, December 1, 2022 1

IN THIS ISSUE Gerald R. Ford CSG returns from inaugural deployment The first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, flagship of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, returned to its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, Nov. 26. Page A6 VOL. 29, NO. 45, Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com

December 1-December 7, 2022

From left to right: Bryan Stephens (President & CEO, Hampton Roads Chamber), HM1 Eddie B. Carroll III (Military Citizen of the Year), Mayor Shannon Glover (Mayor, City of Portsmouth), Ron Lewis (Vice Chair for Military Affairs, Hampton Roads Chamber). (PHOTO COURTESY OF HAMPTON ROADS CHAMBER)

Hampton Roads Chamber Honors 757’s Top Military Citizens

Press Release The Hampton Roads Chamber honored the following eleven service members for their commitment and personal involvement through volunteerism at the 2022 Military Citizen of the Year awards Ceremony held on November 17, 2022.

HM1 Eddie B. Carroll III

Navy Medicine Training Support Center Detachment Portsmouth HM1 Carroll has devoted over 623 volunteer hours to various organizations throughout Hampton Roads between October 20212022. He has dedicated countless hours to the Portsmouth Bruins Pop Warner 6U football program, the YMCA of Portsmouth Youth Basketball program, the Virginia Beach Mustangs 6U Football program and has been a volunteer coach for many other teams. He also is a volunteer landscaper for the Navy Medicine Training Command

Portsmouth’s Fisher House. Through his leadership and guidance while coaching, the athletes excelled while learning lifelong lessons such as teamwork, leadership, perseverance, discipline, and sacriﬁce.

CS2 Jarelle T. Harley

Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic CS2 Harley has volunteered over 520 volunteer hours with the USO, the Girl Scouts of the USA, and GI Instruction Marine LLC. Petty Officer Harley assisted in saving and raising over $7,500.00, supported our military service members at the USO by providing snacks and resources for them, and assisted in the construction of multiple houses, as well as the repair upkeep of the Portsmouth Boys and Girls Club.

ENFN Adrian A. Hugo

Amphibious Construction Battalion 2

ENFN Hugo has volunteered 210 hours with organizations like the Virginia Beach Little League, Virginia Beach Youth Basketball and the National Flag Football League in Virginia Beach. Through his involvement he has mentored and coached local youths through the fundamentals of each sport, fostering teamwork, camaraderie and social skills that will continue to prove valuable as they grow into young adulthood.

BU3 Raye Lin Klepac

Amphibious Construction Battalion 2 BU3 Klepac has volunteered over 108 hours supporting organizations like the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Habitat for Humanity, and Dominion Derby Girls. Through her work with Habitat for Humanity, she assisted with building homes for low-income families in our region and has participated annually in their National Woman’s Day. She also helped promote and publicized recruitment for Domin-

ion Derby Girls, an organization geared towards women’s empowerment and healthy living.

BM1 Camillia N. Lee

Amphibious Construction Battalion 2 Throughout the past few years, BM1 Lee has dedicated over 2,800 hours to various organizations including, Pop Warner Bennett Creek Football and Cheer Association, Youth Girl Club and Ro Upsilon Tau Military Sorority. Through her work with Pop Warner she makes sure every child has a ride to games, meals to eat, and equipment on their back. She was also elected to serve as the organization’s treasurer. With the Youth Girl Club she is a mentor and advisor for over 20 troubled female youths by attending ﬁeld trips with them and helping to advise them. For Rho Upsilon Military Sorority she organizes group outings and Turn to Military COY, Page 7

Naval Station Norfolk celebrates Wounded Warrior Care Month

By Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Jessica Nunes

NORFOLK, Va. — Commander, Navy Region Mid Atlantic’s Navy Wounded Warrior Care Program held its annual Warrior Care Month cake cutting ceremony at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk’s galley Nov. 21, 2022. During the event, the Wounded Warrior team, along with Capt. David Dees, Commanding Officer Naval Station Norfolk, recognized 8 retired military members who were wounded while serving. The awardees were accompanied by family members and care givers. “November has been recognized as Warrior Care Month and this is one of the events that we have done annually,” said Kendall Hiller, Regional Program Director for the Navy Wounded Warrior program.

“It’s a formal cake cutting and recognition for our service members, retired service members, their families and caregivers for their resiliency, struggle and triumphs over what has happened in their lives.” The Navy Wounded Warrior Program is dedicated to helping increase awareness for any combat wounded, seriously ill and injured Sailors or Coast Guardsmen who are in need of non-medical case management and to help direct them along the process of recovery rehabilitation and back into the Navy or reintegration into the civilian life. “I got to know the Wounded Warrior representatives and they have helped me a lot through the process with references, referrals and transitioning out of the military,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Francine Kahele, who was there with her

NORFOLK, Va. (Nov. 21, 2021) Captain David Dees, Commanding Officer Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk (left), and Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Francine Kahele cut a cake at the Navy Wounded Warrior Program’s annual Warrior Care Month cake cutting ceremony at NAVSTA Norfolk’s galley Nov. 21, 2022. (US NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS JOSEPH T. MILLER/ RELEASED)

Turn to Wounded Warrior, Page 7

Friendsgiving with President Biden at MCAS Cherry Point www.ﬂagshipnews.com

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U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr., alongside his wife Dr. Jill Biden, serve service members and families during a Friendsgiving meal prepared by celebrity chef Robert Irvine at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. PAGE A4

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The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, December 1, 2022

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Nov. 27, 2022) – The hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) sits anchored in the harbor of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Nov. 27, 2022. Comfort is deployed to U.S. 4th Fleet in support of Continuing Promise 2022, a humanitarian assistance and goodwill mission conducting direct medical care, expeditionary veterinary care, and subject matter expert exchanges with ﬁve partner nations in the Caribbean, Central and South America. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS DEVEN FERNANDEZ)

USNS Comfort arrives in Dominican Republic for Continuing Promise By Seaman Deven Fernandez

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) anchored off the coast of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in support of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/ U.S. 4th Fleet’s Continuing Promise 2022 (CP22) mission, Nov. 27. The Comfort will hold subject matter expert exchanges with Dominican partners, Women, Peace and Security seminars, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief trainings and community relations engagements. This visit marks the fourth of ﬁve mission stops as part of CP22 and the sixth visit to Dominican Republic as part of Continuing

Promise since 2007. “I am extremely happy to be providing assistance to my home country of the Dominican Republic,” said Logistic Specialist 2nd Class Max Michel, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. “I’ve always wanted to contribute to my native country, and Continuing Promise provides me the opportunity to interact and assist the people of Dominican Republic while making a difference on this amazing mission.” During the fourth stop of CP22, Comfort will provide medical surgeries aboard the ship and medical services at the Centro Olympico in Santo Domingo and the Polideportivo in Azua. Services at these two sites will include adult care, pediatric care, dental, optometry, women’s health, and various auxiliary support services.

One highlight during the Comfort stay will be the performance of the U.S. Fleet Forces Band at the Cultural Center Mauricio Baez and Instituto Cultural Dominico Americano. The band will also conduct musical exchanges with local students. CP22 crewmembers will take time to visit a school to engage with local students and paint the building as part of a restoration project. The crew of the Comfort also includes military personnel from other partner nations including Canada, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Netherlands the United Kingdom and more than a dozen non-governmental organizations. Since its inaugural mission in 2007, Continuing Promise missions have treated more than 582,000 patients and conducted over 7,000 surgeries in the region. Comfort’s

ABOVE: SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Nov. 27, 2022) – Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Jacob Johnson, assigned to the“Chargers”of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26, watches cargo as it is transported for medical sites in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for medical sites on Nov. 27, 2022. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS DEVEN FERNANDEZ)

ABOVE RIGHT: Deaton Williams, front, and Jamie Eldridge, civilian mariners assigned to the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), release the anchor brake as Comfort anchors off the coast of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Nov. 27, 2022. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS JUEL FOSTER)

RIGHT: Brad Musselman, the Cargo Mate of the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), orders the release of the anchor chain as Comfort anchors off the coast of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Nov. 27, 2022. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS JUEL FOSTER)

Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic (CNRMA): Rear Adm Christopher“Scotty”Gray

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current mission will be the 12th Continuing Promise mission conducted in the Caribbean, Central and South America. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/ U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region. Learn more about USNAVSO/4th Fleet at https://www.facebook.com/ NAVSOUS4THFLT and @NAVSOUS4THFLT

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, December 1, 2022 3

Retired Army general shares battle with bipolar disorder with NUWC Division Newport’s workforce By Public Affairs Office

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport

NEWPORT, R.I. — Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin shared his battle with bipolar disorder during a visit to Division Newport on Nov. 3. Martin was the guest speaker for Disability Employment Awareness Month, which was recognized in October. “I had what was called, hyperthymia, a near-continuous state of mild mania,” Martin said. “I had unusually high levels of energy, enthusiasm, drive and creativity. It essentially amplified and elevated my natural talents, so with things like athletics, leadership, and school work, I was really at the top of my game. In many ways, you are fortunate because of the boost it gives you, but the downside, is that it puts you at a much higher risk to fall into real bipolar disorder.” Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes dramatic shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and concentration levels. These range from periods of extremely elated, irritable, or energized behavior, known as manic episodes, to very sad, indifferent, or hopeless periods, known as depressive episodes. Martin, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 58, spent the majority of his military career in a manic state of mind, he said. The son of a World War II Sailor, Martin served in the U.S. Army for 36 years, getting his start in Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the University of Maine. He graduated from West Point with a bachelor’s degree and was commissioned as an Army engineer. The onset of Martin’s bipolar disorder didn’t appear until 2003, when he was a brigade commander in Iraq, and in charge of thousands of troops, he said. The thrill and intense stress of combat is what triggered Martin’s predisposition to bipolar disorder. The combination of emotions hit his genes in a way that rewired his brain and sent him in a high performing mania that leveled even above hyperthymia, he said. “I could run on no sleep, I had tremendous drive, and I could see and envision problems on the battlefield,” Martin said. “I could understand and solve those problems before anyone else knew there was one. I felt like Superman.” Once his time in Iraq came to an end the thrill and adrenaline of combat was no longer a part of his life and Martin fell into a severe depression that lasted about 10 months. He received a health screening after deployment, but doctors believed he was fine. For the next 11 years, Martin would suffer from mood changes ranging from high mania to low depression. Eventually, he went into psychosis, where he experienced paranoia, hallucinations and flashbacks of his time in combat. He could see, hear and smell, all of the experiences he had in Iraq, he said. Martin believed that everyone was out to get him and that people wanted him fired from his job, put in jail or even killed. As a two-star general and president of the National Defense University (NDU), his job performance went from high-performing and successful, to erratic and disruptive. Co-workers began to notice his behavior changes and reported his actions to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 2014, after an investigation and series of assessments, Martin was asked to resign from his post. “In hindsight, by asking me to resign, the chairman probably saved my marriage and my life,” Martin said. “It is not uncommon for people that are manic to die of a heart attack, because their systems, their heart and organs, are so out of whack that the body can’t handle it. Being in a manic state can be worse and more dangerous for your body than a

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gregg Martin shares his struggles with bipolar disorder as a guest speaker for October’s Disability Employment Awareness Month, during a visit to Division Newport on Nov. 3, 2022. (PHOTO BY DAVID STOEHR)

person on cocaine.” Martin retired from service as a combat veteran in 2015, after a 36-year career. It was then that he revealed his struggles with bipolar disorder in hopes of reducing the stigma around metal health illnesses. He later went through three more psychiatric evaluations, all of which came back “normal,” a complete misdiagnosis, he said. For the next two years, Martin experienced what he called, “bipolar hell.” He was severely depressed and suffered from terrible psychosis. He sought treatment again and was placed as an in-patient at White River Junction Veterans Administration Medical Center in Vermont. There, he was given a final diagnosis of bipolar disorder Type 1, and went through a series of treatments including shock treatment to the brain. The treatment that he finally responded to was the use of Lithium — a natural salt from the Earth that helps reduce the severity and frequency of mania. Within a week of starting the medication, Martin’s depression symptoms eased, leading to his recovery. “I am now in my seventh year of recovery and healthy living,” he said. “I’ve started a new life and it’s been great.” To maintain his mental health, Martin lives by what he calls “the five Ps — people, place, purpose, perseverance and presence. “Surround yourself with people who are positive influences in your life and who love and support you,” he said. “Live in a place that makes you happy, do something that makes you feel like you have a purpose, be willing to persevere. Recovery from a mental illness is hard work and you have to push through the hard times and believe in yourself to live a happy life.” Martin gave some advice for those who have a mental

illness or those who know someone with a mental illness. “Have the hard conversation and encourage them to get help, to embrace what medical professionals say and to embrace the diagnosis,” he said. “Tell them to build connections with others and ﬁnd people that can relate and most of all, to stay hopeful. “Without hope, what do you have? Hope is the lifeblood to get better. With hope, there is a glimmer and a reason to keep living.” To learn more about Martin’s career as a combat veteran, an airborne ranger and an engineer, visit https://www.generalgreggmartin.com/ NUWC Newport is the oldest warfare center in the country, tracing its heritage to the Naval Torpedo Station established on Goat Island in Newport Harbor in 1869. Commanded by Capt. Chad Hennings, NUWC Newport maintains major detachments in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Andros Island in the Bahamas, as well as test facilities at Seneca Lake and Fisher’s Island, New York, Leesburg, Florida, and Dodge Pond, Connecticut. Join our team! NUWC Division Newport, one of the 20 largest employers in Rhode Island, employs a diverse, highly trained, educated, and skilled workforce. We are continuously looking for engineers, scientists, and other STEM professionals, as well as talented business, ﬁnance, logistics and other support experts who wish to be at the forefront of undersea research and development. Please connect with NUWC Division Newport Recruiting at this site- https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NUWC-Newport/Career-Opportunities/ and follow us on LinkedIn @NUWC-Newport and on Facebook @ NUWCNewport.

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4 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, December 1, 2022

President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden take a photo with staff from a Friendsgiving event at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, Nov. 21, 2022. President Biden and the First Lady served the meal, prepared by the renowned Chef Robert Irvine, for service members and their families to recognize the sacriﬁces they make while serving the nation. Their visit was part of Joining Forces, a White House initiative to support military families. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY CPL. SYMIRA BOSTIC)

President, First Lady join Chef Robert Irvine to serve tasty Friendsgiving to 400 Marines, Sailors, families at Cherry Point By Chrystal Smith

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden joined forces with renowned Chef Robert Irvine to serve up a tasty Friendsgiving meal to about 400 Marines, Sailors and families of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and Marine Corps Air Stations (MCAS) Cherry Point and New River at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, Nov. 21, 2022. The event was part of the ongoing White House initiative Joining Forces, to support military families, according to the ﬁrst lady. The Robert J. Irvine Foundation has been a close ally, as the event marked the second time the two have teamed up to honor and support military families. The acclaimed chef said the mission of the Robert J. Irvine Foundation is not only to

offer support to veterans, but to raise public awareness of all the array of efforts and sacrifices made in defense of freedom. “What a lot of civilians don’t realize is that your sacrifice just isn’t limited to risking life and limb,” said Irvine. “The promise and freedom we enjoy in this country is unrivaled. And we don’t take that lightly. Thank you for your sacrifice.” A Marine family of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (VMM-162) made the grand entry into the hangar with the president and first lady. Military spouse Jennifer Gonzalez, wife of Anthony, a gunnery sergeant, and mother of four, spoke of the sacrifices and challenges that are unique to military family members before introducing President Biden. “Military families are different,” said Gonzalez, before introducing the president. “We go through a lot of trials and challenges

U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr., alongside his wife Dr. Jill Biden, serves service members and families during a Friendsgiving meal prepared by celebrity chef Robert Irvine at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY CPL. SYMIRA BOSTIC)

that shape us into who we are. It is through the challenges we face that we grow and adapt and overcome any obstacle.” The commander in chief expressed immense gratitude to the service members and their families and heaped much praise on Marines. He recounted records of the Corps in action through his years in government, attesting to the unmatched American military might. “What a lot of people don’t understand until they run into you, and that is you are literally the greatest fighting force in the history of the world,” he said. “I traveled the world a lot … and no one misunderstands your competence. No one in the world misunderstands you are the finest trained force in the world.” The commander in chief and first lady served guests then put their focus on engaging with service members and families table-

Chef Robert Irvine, alongside First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and President Joseph R. Biden Jr., dishes out mashed potatoes to families at the Friendsgiving dinner. The celebrity chef and members of the Robert Irvine Foundation prepared the meal for service members and their families in recognition of sacriﬁces they make while serving the nation. (U.S. MARINE PHOTO BY CPL. SYMIRA BOSTIC)

ABOVE: First Lady Dr. Jill Biden speaks with guests during a Friendsgiving dinner at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY LANCE CPL. MATTHEW WILLIAMS)

ABOVE RIGHT: U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr. passes the microphone to Cmdr. Wesley MyHand, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point chaplain, to give the invocation during a Friendsgiving dinner at MCAS Cherry Point. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY LCPL. MATTHEW WILLIAMS) RIGHT: Service members from Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, and Marine Corps Air Stations (MCAS) Cherry Point and New River attended a Friendsgiving event at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, Nov. 21, 2022.The meal was prepared by celebrity Chef Robert Irvine and staff, and served by commander in chief and ﬁrst lady as a way to thank service members and their families for their sacriﬁce and service to the nation, especially during the holidays. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY CPL SYMIRA BOSTIC)

side before departing for the evening. The meal was provided by the Robert Irvine Foundation and was prepared by its staff alongside active-duty Marines at the air station. The venue was one of the air station’s oldest aircraft hangars that was transformed into an upscaled dining venue in just a few days. “MCAS Cherry Point is honored to host Friendsgiving,” said Col. Brendan Burks, MCAS Cherry Point commanding officer. “The Marines, Sailors, and families of the Carolina MAGTF were excited to be in the company of our commander in chief and ﬁrst lady.” Also in attendance was North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, and senior leaders for II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and MCAS Cherry Point.

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, December 1, 2022 5

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Dennis Sampson, the commanding officer of 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), briefs the class on the capabilities provided during an Amphibious Ready Group and MEU Staff Planning Course (AMSPC) at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Virginia, Nov. 14, 2022. This course provides the opportunity for the Marines and Sailors to integrate, plan and think like a team as they prepare for future deployments. AMSPC enhances staff integration, planning and preparation for follow on training and subsequent deployments. (U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY LANCE CPL. JACK CHEN)

Integrating ‘Amphibiosity’: ARG-MEU Team comes together during AMSPC

By Capt. Angelica White

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit

U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU) and Amphibious Squadron 8 (PHIBRON 8) participated in Amphibious Ready Group/ Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) Staff Planning Conference at Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Atlantic (EWTGLANT) in Norfolk, Virginia 14-23 Nov. 2022. During the opening remarks, Rear. Adm. Tom Williams, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 2, emphasized the importance of the Navy and Marine Corps integrating seamlessly together. “Blue-green integration is really important,” said Williams. “[Amphibious warfare] is the fight to come. The world we’re experiencing now is different from what we’ve seen in the recent past. This is not a theory. This is real life and this is why all of you are here today, to prepare for the fight. To prepare for what may come.” The ARG/MEU Staff Planning Conference marks a significant milestone in the pre-deployment training continuum for both the 26th MEU and PHIBRON-8 and

serves as a building block period of instruction focused on planning MEU Mission Essential Tasks within the maritime environment using the Rapid Response Planning Process (R2P2). Moreover, this training is a critical part of the initial phase of the ARG/ MEU pre-deployment training prior to transitioning to complex advanced collective training during the intermediate and advanced phases early next year. The nineday course, designed for Marines and Sailors, who will deploy together as part of the ARG/MEU team, builds working-relationships through academics and training conducted by subject matter experts and break-out sessions focused on crisis response problem-solving, various bluegreen integration efforts, and rapidly planning core MEU missions within a realistic maritime scenario. “The BAT ARG/26th MEU team has developed a solid relationship over the past year executing multiple large scale naval training exercises to include BALTOPS 50, NLSE-21, UNITAS-22, and unit-level amphibious training exercises,” Col. Dennis Sampson stated. “ARG/MEU Staff Planning Conference serves as another opportunity to build and strengthen our relationship prior

to transitioning to the advanced collective training events in our pre-deployment training cycle. More so, this course allows the team to refine our standard operating procedures and hone our skills in rapid response planning.” Participants included leadership, primary staff members, key planners, and subject matter experts in all warfighting functions from across the ARG/MEU. This conference provided an opportunity to achieve initial integration with respective counterparts on both staffs across the warfighting functions, understanding roles and responsibilities within the Rapid Response Planning Process (R2P2), and lastly refining and validating standard operating procedures. “I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to face the challenges associated with the pre-deployment training with this 26th MEU team and our PHIBRON 8 partners. The Marines and Sailors of the 26th MEU will maximize every training event and hone our craft during the upcoming Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Interoperability Exercise, Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercises (MEUEX), and our at-sea periods to ensure we are poised to serve as a forward deployed tri-COCOM

crisis response force capable of conducting missions across the full range of military operations,” Sampson emphasized. By the end of the course, the BAT ARG/26th MEU team sharpened its ability to execute the R2P2 for various missions that the ARG/MEU may be tasked with by the Geographic Combatant Commander, setting a strong baseline for PHIBRON-MEU Integration (PMINT), the next training evolution for the BAT ARG/26th MEU as part of the comprehensive pre-deployment training prior to their deployment to Fifth and Sixth Fleet areas of responsibility. The BAT ARG/26th MEU provides “a light, self-reliant, highly mobile naval expeditionary force postured forward in littoral areas within the adversary’s weapons engagement zone,” as envisioned in Force Design 2030. The ARG-MEU is preparing for a scheduled deployment in 2023. For more information contact the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Communication Strategy and Operations Officer, Capt. Angelica White at angelica.white@usmc. mil.

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6 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, December 1, 2022

NORFOLK, Va. (Nov. 26, 2022) – A Sailor reunites with her family following the return of the ﬁrst-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) to Naval Station Norfolk, Nov. 26. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, returned to Naval Station Norfolk following a scheduled deployment with Allies and partners in an effort to build strategic relationships and contribute to a stable and conﬂict-free Atlantic region, while also showcasing the U.S. Navy’s most advanced class of aircraft carrier. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS KRIS R. LINDSTROM)

Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group returns to homeport concluding inaugural deployment By Petty Officer 3rd Class Adonica Munoz USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)

The first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), flagship of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG), returned to its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, Nov. 26, after successfully completing its inaugural deployment to the U.S. 2nd Fleet and 6th Fleet. During the scheduled deployment, Ford operated with eight NATO Allies and partners to strengthen interoperability and interchangeability, conducting a range of maritime operations and exercises. “This deployment brought together an incredible group of Allies and partners with one single focus — to contribute to a peaceful, stable, and conﬂict-free Atlantic region through our combined naval power,” said Vice Adm. Dan Dwyer, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet and Joint Force Command, Norfolk. “Opportunities to interoperate and integrate make our nations, our navies, and the NATO Alliance stronger.” While deployed, GRFCSG participated in Exercise Silent Wolverine, demonstrating high-end naval warfare and integrated NATO interoperability in the maritime approaches to Europe. Silent Wolverine was an opportunity for Ford to train and test capabilities under deployment conditions for the ﬁrst time, while demonstrating the U.S. commitment to Allies and partners through seamless integration.

“We sailed with our Allies and partners and trained together, tirelessly, day and night, and we are stronger for it,” said Capt. Paul Lanzilotta, Ford’s commanding officer. “Through integrated and combined operations such as live and inert ordnance expenditure by Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and air defense, we set the stage for operating with Ford-class technologies in a deployed environment. We completed more than 1,250 sorties, expended 78.3 tons of ordnance and completed 13 underway replenishments — and we accomplished this because of what Ford-class aircraft carriers bring to the fight.” The Sailors participating in Ford’s first deployment integrated multiple foreign nations’ ships into the strike group to operate together efficiently. “Leading the men and women of the Gerald R. Ford Strike Group has been awe-inspiring. Every day these Sailors committed themselves 100% to a safe and successful inaugural deployment of Ford and the strike group,” said Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12. “This deployment laid a strong foundation for the strike group, created momentum to carry us forward for future operations, and has prepared us to answer our nation’s call when needed.” Ford made its first international port visit in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and its first European port visit in Portsmouth, U.K. For Ford Sailors, these port visits offered a long-

awaited opportunity to explore a foreign culture. Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Selena Penaloza, from Orlando, Florida, assigned to Ford’s deck department, has been stationed on Ford for three years before deploying for the first time. “It was amazing getting to see the [ship’s] first deployment and my first port visit. This deployment has been a new experience for everyone onboard. We’ve been working more than on other underways and standing more watch, and it’s all for a great cause.” Ford is the first new U.S. aircraft carrier designed in more than 40 years, introducing 23 new technologies that offer impressive advances to its aircraft launch system, propulsion, power generation, ordnance handling and more. Ford’s advanced technologies reduce the amount of personnel required to maintain and operate the ship’s systems compared to Nimitz-class carriers. The Sailors of Ford are shaping the future of naval aviation. “On our ship, you don’t hear Sailors saying, ‘that’s the way we’ve always done it’ because we’re using new gear, new technologies,” said Lanzilotta. “Our Sailors are the ones who make all of these new technologies real. The Sailors make it come to life. I am so proud of all their hard work and dedication that made Ford operational and allowed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to conduct a successful first deployment.” While operating in the Atlantic, Ford hosted 215 distinguished visitors, 175 foreign

dignitaries, 46 NATO flag officers and senior enlisted leaders, and more than 60 U.S. and international reporters aboard. The flagship set sail from Norfolk, Virginia, Oct. 4, and traveled more than 9,275 nautical miles with the strike group. The nine nations that participated in Ford’s deployment were: U.S, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden. The U.S. commands and units that participated in the GRFCSG deployment include; CSG 12, CVW 8, Destroyer Squadron 2, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), Arleigh Burkeclass guided missile destroyers USS McFaul (DDG 74), USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), and USS Ramage (DDG 61). The nine U.S. aircraft squadrons assigned to CVW-8 that embarked Ford for this deployment were strike fighter squadrons VFA-213, VFA-31, VFA-37 and VFA-87; tactical electronics warfare squadron VAQ-142; carrier airborne early warning squadron VAW-124; fleet logistics support squadron VRC-40; helicopter maritime strike squadron HSM-70; and helicopter sea combat squadron HSC-9. For more information about the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), visit https://www. airlant.usff.navy.mil/cvn78/ and follow along on Facebook: @USSGeraldRFord, Instagram: @cvn78_grford, Twitter: @ Warship_78, DVIDS www.dvids.net/CVN78 and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/ company/uss-gerald-r-ford-cvn-78/.

A Sailor reunites with his family following the return of the ﬁrst-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) to Naval Station Norfolk, Nov. 26. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS KRIS R. LINDSTROM)

The crew of the ﬁrst-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) man the rails as the ship returns to Naval Station Norfolk, Nov. 26, following the inaugural deployment with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG). (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION

Vice Adm. Dan Dwyer, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, right, speaks with Rear Adm. Greg Huffman, left, commander, Carrier Strike Group 12, and Capt. Paul Lanzilotta, the ﬁrst-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford’s commanding officer as the ship returns to Naval Station Norfolk

SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS ADONICA MUNOZ)

(U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST SEAMAN MANVIR GILL)

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, December 1, 2022 7

Military COY from Page 1

volunteer events for the ladies to participate in.

IT1 Parker Mills

USS McFaul IT1 Mills volunteers as a ﬁrst responder and supply Lieutenant for Virginia Beach’s Department of Emergency Medical Services. IT1 Mills averages 48 hours each month of volunteering for them and manages a $22,000 budget, maintains 5 response vehicles, provides protective equipment for 62 fellow volunteer responders and supports over 8,000 emergency response calls per year.

AO2 Miko R. Mitchell

Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic AO2 Mitchell volunteered 216 hours of her time, assisting in child development and adolescent children, for Creative Hands. In addition to that she conducted food preparation and food sales for Creative Hands to help raise money for ﬁeld trips.

AT3 Conner R. O’Leary

Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic Oceana Since August 2021, Petty Officer O’Leary has volunteered 1,715 hours as a football coach at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach. During his time coaching, he has positively impacted over 65 students helping them as a mentor and coach, guiding them to become the leaders of tomorrow.

LS2 John A. Teyhen

Naval Special Warfare Group Two Logistics Support Unit LS2 Teyhan has dedicated over 30 hours of his time to volunteering for JEB Little Creek’s Morale Welfare and Recreation 2022 Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Color Run, The Patriotic Festival, Sewell’s Point Elementary School, Virginia Beach Terrain Race, First Landing State Park, and Tidewater Striders. A few volunteer activities he conducted with those organizations included checking in and disseminating race packets to over 600 runners, leading a beach cleanup and volunteering at a ﬁeld day.

SPC Geavanne Guiwaine Williams 329th Composite Water Craft Company SPC Williams has volunteered 200 hours creating virtual soldier handbooks so the 7th brigade soldiers could access them virtually. SPC Williams also dedicated 500 hours to creating a website so soldiers could see when they were eligible for a certain rank, allowing them to plan for their career.

Staff Sergeant Jocelyn M. Call Charlie Company, 1st Battalion-210th Aviation Regiment Staff Sergeant Call has volunteered over 120 hours in the last 12 months with the Fort Eustis School Aged Center, Youth Program and with the Cities of Hampton and Newport News. While volunteering, she has spent hours tilling their garden grounds with students and assisted in the cleanup of overgrown brush. Sergeant Call has also volunteered at SAC’s color-run, the Otter Ball, a local charity event that supports the Virginia Living Museum and has supported the Newport News One City Marathon. She has dedicated over 20 hours of her personal time to Unity Through Community, helping to maintain the Bassett and Elmerton Cemeteries in Hampton and has supported these organizations in other numerous ways. The Hampton Roads Chamber was thrilled to present the 2022 Samuel T. Northern Military Citizen of the Year Award to HM1 Eddie B. Carroll III. We congratulate HM1 Eddie B. Carroll III on his outstanding achievements and applaud his selﬂess service.

YOUR PERFECT

JOB IS WAITING

Background on the Samuel T. Northern Military Citizen of the Year Award: Samuel Northern was a local businessman who spent much of his life, not just building a business, but strengthening the bonds between the military and citizens of Hampton Roads. Every year since 1955, the Chamber remembers Mr. Northern’s commitment by selecting a military citizen who goes above and beyond, volunteering as servants of the community. Each year, military commands based throughout Hampton Roads nominate individuals for this honor. A group of business and military leaders then selects the winner based upon their active and sustained participation in activities that beneﬁt the community. The impact of their service upon area schools, little leagues, regional events, public safety and more is immeasurable. Congratulations to HM1 Carroll and all of the Military Citizen of the Year honorees. The Hampton Roads Chamber is pleased to pay tribute to these selﬂess service members.

Wounded Warrior from Page 1

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mother to support and celebrate the 8 recognized service members. “I wanted to be here especially for the ceremony and be a part of it. They have made a difference in my life for sure.” The event saw about 35 guests and concluded with lunch provided by NAVSTA galley. If you know someone in need of help from the Wounded Warrior Program or would like to learn more information, please email navywoundedwarrior.fct@navy.mil or call 757-444-6989.

8 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, December 1, 2022

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www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, December 1, 2022 1

uarterdeck

Thanksgiving aboard the USS Ronald Reagan

More than 4,800 Sailors celebrated Thanksgiving aboard the USS Ronald Reagan while underway in the Philippine Sea, Nov. 24. Pages B4-B5

ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 16, 2022) Lt. Brad Guillory, chaplain aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), leads Easter Vigil service for Sailors April 16, 2022. George H.W. Bush provides the national command authority flexible, tailorable war fighting capability as the flagship of the carrier strike group which maintains maritime stability and security in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS ERIC BRANN)

Spiritual readiness: charting the course

28 November 2022, 247th Anniversary of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps By Petty Officer 2nd Class Novalee Manzella USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)

What is the most crucial component of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard? On shore or at sea, in tree lines or desert sands, above and below the water’s surface, the answer . . . the United States Sailor, Marine, and Coastguardsman. At the helm of fortifying this most essential element in service to our nation, you will ﬁnd a Navy Chaplain. In fact, Chaplains have been called to serve in this capacity over the past 247 years; charting the course of spiritual readiness from the start of our sea services to this day. Since 1775 Navy Chaplains have stood the watch that provided for, not only religious needs, but also confidential counseling, acting as embarked educators, and advising leadership on morale, ethics, and religion’s impact on operations. The Chaplains Corps legacy is interwoven in U.S. Naval heritage. The core values of honor, courage, and commitment were formed under the leadership of a Navy Chaplain. Warrior toughness (being physically, mentally, spiritually ﬁt), now taught as a common curriculum to all enlisted recruits and officer candidates, was co-designed by

a psychologist, a Navy SEAL, and a Navy Chaplain. Resiliency training, faith studies, community service, and deck-plating (a term for chaplains visiting their people) all combine to boost readiness which in turn guards against serious issues like suicide, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Alongside the Chaplain Corps is the rate of Religious Program Specialist (RPs). RPs share in administrative, logistic, moral and emotional triage, and force protection. They oversee tools for hardiness of body, mind, and soul. Together the RP enhances a Navy Chaplain’s core capabilities of providing Divine Services, conﬁdential counseling and care for all, and facilitation for diverse religious needs which protect the Free Exercise of Religion enshrined within the Constitution. The result is a spiritually resilient Sailor, Marine, or Coastguardsman strengthened for service world-wide. Throughout the USS George H. W. Bush Carrier Strike Group are chaplains who support Carrier Air Wing 7, the Information Warfare Commander, Destroyer Squadron 26, and the Leyte Gulf. The Religious Ministry Team (RMT) charts the course for spiritual readiness by enabling these Sailors to lead with excellence anchored in deep moral values. RMT chaplains provide religious ministry consistent with the faith traditions

of their members. They facilitate a robust religious program that meets the diverse faiths across the Strike Group and they care for all in a manner that builds spiritual resilience, mental and physical toughness, and strength of character. Furthermore, the RMT advises respective leaders on religious freedom, morale, ethical issues, cultural concerns, religious and community foreign relations, and are engaged in the commander’s decision making cycle. Before and since deploying from Norfolk, VA, the Command Religious Ministries Department (CRMD) onboard GEORGE H.W. BUSH coordinated a strike group wide pre-deployment magazine with Media department, and two hangar bay based resilience rodeos with comprehensive caregivers for Sailors and families. They became the ﬁrst East Coast ship to host the United Through Reading (UTR) Mobile Story Station on our pier and accomplished over 200 UTR sessions recording Sailors reading to their children back home. Underway, chaplains taught over 30 ‘About Face’ post disciplinary classes restoring Sailors to readiness and coordinated two community relations projects (COMRELS) in which 78 Sailors volunteered over 12 hours in Crete and Croatia, directly strengthening international alliances. The Bush’s Roman Cath-

olic priest and Carrier Air Wing 7’s chaplain embarked on eight “Holy Helo” missions to ships across the strike group, providing worship and care. Sailors made over 4,650 morale calls from free library phones and the CRMD hosted the first carrier based United Services Organization (USO) Expeditionary Team in Crete, providing free meals to watch standers. Meanwhile with CRMD support, participation in Family Readiness Groups (FRG) back home quadrupled as Navy spouses learned about financial fitness and the cycle of deployment in a setting providing free, background checked childcare. As the Navy celebrates the 247th birthday of its Chaplain Corps, this community’s resolve remains strong. Throughout the George H. W. Bush Strike Group, every Religious Ministry Team stands their watch, partnering with Navy resources to chart the waypoints and to keep fixed on the horizon so that our warfighters and their families are spiritually ready to stand their watch for our Nation and its allies. The Chaplain Corps has inherited a rich tradition of caring for all and the chaplains are ready to forge ahead with this principle. Wherever the United States Navy plots a course, and wherever our Sailors, Marines, and Coastguardsmen stand the watch, their chaplain will be there also charting the course for spiritual readiness.

Newark, New Jersey native, and new NTAG San Antonio’s Chief Recruiter reenlists into the United States Navy By Edward Jones

Commander, Navy Recruiting Command

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON — Recently Naval Counselor Senior Chief Petty Officer (NCCS) Alterik Greene joined Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) San Antonio to serve as the command’s Chief Recruiter. One of the first orders of business was Greene reenlisting into the United States Navy, so in the presence of NTAG San Antonio members, Greene made the commitment to continue a Naval career spanning over 26 years by raising his right and reciting the Oath of Enlistment lead by NTAG San Antonio’s Commanding Officer, CDR Stephanie Simoni. During the ceremony, CDR Simoni presented Greene with two tokens, one being the current Command Coin. Green closed out the moment of recognition with his thoughts of joining NTAG San Antonio and words of encouragement. “You know, when you go to a new duty station, you tend to be a little nervous, but with all of the talented people in the room and throughout this command, I felt good coming here,” said Greene. “I feel like us getting to the top is an easy task.” NTAG San Antonio’s area of responsibility includes more than 30 Navy Recruiting Stations and Navy Officer Recruiting Stations spread throughout 144,000 square miles of Central and South Texas territory. #americasnavy #247years #ForgedByTheSea #NavyBirthday #KnowYourMil #takingcareofourown #navyrecruiting #navyoutreachanddiversity #militarycityusa #BuildYourFuture #StartNow #TakeControl #NTAGSA #NewBeginnings #Forging #changinglives #stayready #worldsgreatestnavy #DEP #Seetheworld #Leadership #NTAGSwag #openingdoors #ExploretheNewYou #KnowYourWorth #Achievement #honor

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON - (November 21, 2022) Recently Naval Counselor Senior Chief Petty Officer (NCCS) Alterik Greene joined Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) San Antonio to serve as the command’s Chief Recruiter. One of the ﬁrst orders of business was Greene reenlisting into the United States Navy, so in the presence of NTAG San Antonio members, Greene made the commitment to continue a Naval career spanning over 26 years by raising his right and reciting the Oath of Enlistment lead by NTAG San Antonio’s Commanding Officer, CDR Stephanie Simoni. (PHOTO BY EDWARD JONES)

The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, December 1, 2022

Q: What types of family housing are available? A: There are three types of housing available to families: Public/Private Venture (PPV) Housing is also referred to as privatized housing in the Navy. The Navy partnered with different private management companies to provide housing to Service Members. These companies are responsible for the construction, renovation, maintenance and day-to-day management of the housing. PPV housing may be located on or off government property and in most cases will be former military housing. Government Owned (also known as Military Housing or Navy Managed Housing is what was formerly called on-base housing. While only available in limited quantities CONUS, Government Owned Housing is still widely available OCONUS. Community Housing is any housing that a Service Member may choose that is not PPV or government operated. This is housing outside of the base that is privately owned and operated.

NAVY HOUSING Norfolk: 757.445.2832 JEBLCFS: 757.462.2792 Oceana/Dam Neck: 757.433.3268 Yorktown: 757.847.7806

Mid-Atlantic Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) programs and services are designed to help you make the most of your military experience, and they’re all available to you at no cost. FUNCTIONS AND/OR SERVICES FFSC PROVIDES: ClinicalCounseling – Individual, Couples and Child Counseling Personal Financial Management Information & Referral Family Employment Assistance Transition Assistance Family Advocacy Program Deployment and Mobilization Support YOKOSUKA, Japan (Nov. 15, 2022) Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group 7, poses for a photo with the Commanding Officer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Collins-class submarine HMAS Farncomb (SSG 74) following a tour of Farncomb while ported at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Funakoshi Fleet Headquarters in Yokosuka, Japan, Nov. 15. Submarine Group 7 directs forward-deployed, combat capable forces across the full spectrum of undersea warfare throughout the western Paciﬁc, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY LT. CMDR. ROB REINHEIMER)

Commander, Submarine Group 7 tours HMAS Farncomb By Lt.Cmdr. Robert Reinheimer Commander, Submarine Group Seven

YOKOSUKA, Japan — Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group 7, visited the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Collinsclass submarine HMAS Farncomb (SSG 74) while ported at Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Funakoshi Fleet headquarters in Yokosuka, Japan, Nov. 15, 2022. Seif met with Farncomb leadership to tour the submarine and discuss its ongoing patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. Farncomb was in Yokosuka for a scheduled port visit as part of its scheduled deployment to the Indo-Paciﬁc region. “As theater undersea warfare commander, our Allied submarine forces are key assets in the 7th and 5th Fleet areas of operations,”

said Seif. “The Royal Australian Navy are some of our closest Allies. This tour was a great chance for me to head across the waterfront and meet face to face with the leadership that is out on the front lines accomplishing the mission.” CTF 74 and Farncomb have worked together before, when Farncomb participated in an expeditionary logistics exercise with the Emory S. Land-class submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) in April of this year, during the tender’s port visit to Perth, Western Australia. CTF 74 had operational control of Frank Cable during their deployment, as they conducted expeditionary maintenance and logistics in support of national security throughout 7th Fleet. Following the tour, Seif was invited to the

wardroom, where the leaders discussed the various challenges and opportunities present in the nuclear submarine force, as well as future bilateral training opportunities. Based at Fleet Base West in Western Australia, HMAS Farncomb is the second of the six Collins-Class submarines to enter service in the Royal Australian Navy. Farncomb was launched in Adelaide, South Australia, on Dec. 15, 1995, and commissioned in Fremantle, Western Australia, on Jan. 31, 1998. Submarine Group 7 directs forward-deployed, combat capable forces across the full spectrum of undersea warfare throughout the western Paciﬁc, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Sea. For more news from Commander, Submarine Group 7, visit www.csp.navy.mil/csg7/.

YOKOSUKA, Japan (Nov. 15, 2022) Rear Adm. Rick Seif, commander, Submarine Group 7, salutes as he boards the Royal Australian Navy Collinsclass submarine HMAS Farncomb (SSG 74) ahead of a tour while ported at the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Funakoshi Fleet headquarters in Yokosuka, Japan, Nov. 15. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY LT. CMDR. ROB REINHEIMER)

Ombudsman Support Relocation Assistance Parenting Programs Stress and Anger Management Command Support Crisis Support Suicide Prevention SAPR Support

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, December 1, 2022 3

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) Commanding Officer Capt. James M. Belmont and FRCE Compliance and Quality Department Head Amy Morgan congratulate members of the depot’s safety team for their recognition by the North Carolina Department of Labor Safety Awards Program. The depot received its ﬁfth consecutive Gold Award and two Million Hour awards for its efforts in keeping the workforce safe this year. (PHOTO BY JOE ANDES, FLEET READINESS CENTER EAST PUBLIC AFFAIRS)

FRCE safety record recognized by North Carolina Department of Labor Safety Awards Program By Joseph Andes

Fleet Readiness Center East

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) was recognized by the North Carolina Department of Labor Safety Awards Program for its efforts in keeping the workforce safe this year. The depot received its fifth consecutive Gold Award and two Million Hour awards. “This highlights the commitment found throughout the depot’s workforce to delivering capable and quality aircraft to the fleet while at the same time ensuring we maintain a safe working environment,” said FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. James Belmont. “Sustaining a culture of safety is a priority here and something that requires an all-hands effort. I am extremely proud of the depot’s safety record, which is made possible by the efforts of our safety specialists as well as the employees and supervisors on the work floor.” The North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) Safety Awards Program recognizes private and public firms throughout the state that achieve and maintain good safety records. The program is designed to

stimulate interest in accident prevention and promote safety in the workplace. The program began in 1946 and now extends to more than 5,000 ﬁrms. According to FRCE Compliance and Quality Department Head Amy Morgan, NCDOL took interest in FRCE as the depot is the state’s largest technical services provider and employs a workforce of more than 4,000 people. “Because we have such an impact on the workforce here in eastern North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Labor wants us to participate and provide metrics,” Morgan said. “We are happy to do that. Participating in the program is a great opportunity to showcase the great work we are doing and to highlight how we’re protecting the people who work here.” FRCE Safety Director Angelo Owens said that the recognition is a result of a workforce where each employee is actively engaged in maintaining a safe workplace. He said the depot has invested many years in creating a safety-focused culture. “There are more than 53 safety and occupational health programs that we oversee,”

said Owens. “These run the gamut from radiation safety to fall protection. Maintaining a safety record like we have at the depot, where there is so much going on, requires everyone’s engagement. Over a period of many years, the Safety and Occupational Health Division at FRC East has worked closely with managers, supervisors and employees to ensure everyone knows their responsibilities and everyone does what they should be doing. This award is a testament to that.” To qualify for an annual safety award, an employer must have had no fatalities on site during the calendar year for which the award is given and also maintained an incidence rate at least 50 percent below the average for its particular industry group. The Million Hour safety awards are given to employers each time they accumulate one million employee hours with no injuries or illnesses involving days away from work. FRCE earned two this year. Morgan said this is an impressive achievement, considering the nature and complexity of the work performed at the depot. “The Million Hour awards speak volumes

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about the quality of our workforce and the amazing things they are doing,” said Morgan. “When you consider what we do here, this often involves incredibly complex and difficult work, yet they still manage to do it following the proper procedures. They do this amazing work in support of the warfighter. They give them a quality product and do it in a safe and efficient manner.” FRCE also received the Gold Award, marking the ﬁfth consecutive year that the depot has achieved this feat. Snow said the award highlights the emphasis FRCE places on workplace safety. “The Gold Award is important to us because it shows the state of North Carolina that we’re being responsible stewards in regards to our employees,” said FRCE Assistant Safety Director Brian Snow. “It shows we are treating them in a way that that’s respectful, that we care about their health and their safety, and it demonstrates to our employees that we’re committed to keeping them safe.” To meet the Gold Award standard, an Turn to FRCE safety record, Page 7

4 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, December 1, 2022

Capt. Daryle Cardone, center, commanding officer of USS Ronald Reagan, Capt. Justin Issler, executive officer, and Command Master Chief Jeremy Douglas, command master chief, serve food to Sailors during Thanksgiving dinner, in the Philippine Sea, Nov. 24. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS OSWALD FELIX JR.)

USS Ronald Reagan celebrates Thanksgiving in the Philippine Sea By Seaman Apprentice Dallas Snider USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)

PHILIPPINE SEA — More than 4,800 Sailors celebrated Thanksgiving aboard the U.S. Navy’s only forward deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), while underway in the Philippine Sea, Nov. 24. This year’s feast consisted of 2,700 pounds of turkey, 900 pounds of prime rib, 700 pounds of ham, 360 quarts of eggnog, 16 whole pigs, 2,880 pieces of pies, 2,560 pieces of cheesecake, 6,000 diner rolls and all the Thanksgiving fixings including mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, candied sweet potatoes and corn on the cob. The preparation of a Thanksgiving meal for nearly ﬁve-thousand Sailors is no minor task. It comes down to 24 hours of work that is planned out weeks in advance. The culinary specialists begin cooking the day before and continue into the night to ﬁnish

the meal preparations. Culinary specialists, food service attendants and hotel service members all come together to organize, cook, serve and display the extravagant traditional meal. “I would normally be at home with my husband hosting our family for Thanksgiving,” said Culinary Specialist 1st Class Rechele Crawford, from Bremerton, Washington. “Instead I will be cooking here, and putting the love I would normally be giving to my family into the food I am giving everyone aboard. We are all going to be missing our families and it will be important for us to be giving our support to each other.” The hard work and preparation that went into making Thanksgiving dinner was appreciated by Ronald Reagan Sailors. “Today was hard to be away from family, but the food was exquisite and I was surrounded by people who support me and understand the struggles of an underway

Capt. Daryle Cardone, left, commanding officer, Capt. Justin Issler, center, executive officer, and Command Master Chief Jeremy Douglas, serve food to Sailors during Thanksgiving dinner. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS OSWALD FELIX JR.)

Thanksgiving,” said Hospitalman Anastasia Levitski, from Tuscan, Arizona. Dinner was served by members of Reagan’s leadership throughout the night. “They went out of their way to make sure that everyone can have a Thanksgiving dinner,” said Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Airman Isaias Rodriguez, from Cleveland. “Everybody was able to enjoy everyone else’s company and we had our chain of command to serve us. That’s a blessing.” Dozens of Sailors volunteered this Thanksgiving to serve the holiday meal to their shipmates who supported the ship’s mission during Thanksgiving. “I am going to get people together and make plates for the people who have to work during dinner,” said Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class Onisha Simmons, from Gonzales, Louisiana. “I don’t want them to think that they go unseen or unappreciated.”

Thanksgiving at sea reminded Sailors like Personnel Specialist Seaman Lee Byron of why they serve. “I have always been at home for Thanksgiving with my parents,” said Byron, from Norfolk. “It hurts not being with them, but I am here making a difference for my country and my family understands that.” Although Sailors are away from their families this Thanksgiving, they continue to rely on each other for comfort and reasons to celebrate during the holiday meal. “There are people who are going to feel alone today,” said Byron. “We just have to try to make the best out of it. Enjoy it with the people that you do have.” Ronald Reagan, the ﬂagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports Alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Paciﬁc region.

Sailors serve Thanksgiving dinner aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS DANIEL G. PROVIDAKES)

ABOVE LEFT: Command Master Chief Jeremy Douglas sits down with Sailors during Thanksgiving dinner on the mess decks. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS OSWALD FELIX JR.)

ABOVE: Culinary Specialist Seaman Benjamin Seals, from Houston, serves ham to Sailors. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS DANIEL G. PROVIDAKES)

LEFT: Capt. Justin Issler, executive officer, sits down with Sailors during Thanksgiving dinner. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS OSWALD FELIX JR.)

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, December 1, 2022 5

Capt. Daryle Cardone, commanding officer, speaks with Sailors prior to Thanksgiving dinner. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS OSWALD FELIX JR.)

Chief Culinary Specialist Anthony Scott, from Columbia, South Carolina, prepares stuffing in the aft galley for Thanksgiving dinner aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS DANIEL G. PROVIDAKES)

Culinary Specialist Seaman Michael Alﬁdo, from San Antonio, grills beef ribeye in the galley for Thanksgiving dinner. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS DANIEL G. PROVIDAKES)

Culinary Specialist 1st Class Fitsum Begna, left, from Apple Valley, Minnesota, and Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Autumn Epperson, from Waterbury, Connecticut, prepares a turkey in the galley for Thanksgiving dinner. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS DANIEL G. PROVIDAKES)

ABOVE: Culinary Specialist 1st Class Chuck Baracao, right, from Tucson, Arizona, and Culinary Specialist Seaman Douglas Bagnall, from Ashtabula, Ohio, remove a roast pig from the oven in the forward galley for Thanksgiving dinner. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS DANIEL G. PROVIDAKES)

ABOVE RIGHT: Culinary Specialist Seaman Irais Hoyle, from Pensacola, Florida, prepares dinner rolls in the bake shop for Thanksgiving dinner. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS DANIEL G. PROVIDAKES)

RIGHT: Capt. Patrick Corrigan, deputy commander, Carrier Air Wing 5, serves food to Sailors during Thanksgiving dinner. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS OSWALD FELIX JR.)

BELOW: Culinary Specialist 2nd Class George Phelps, from Cincinnati, removes turkeys from the oven in the galley for Thanksgiving dinner. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS DANIEL G. PROVIDAKES)

6 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, December 1, 2022

GULF OF ADEN (Nov. 22, 2022) Personnel from guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) interdict a ﬁshing vessel smuggling illicit narcotics in the Gulf of Aden, Nov. 22. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO)

U.S. Navy ship seizes illegal narcotics in Gulf of Aden By NAVCENT Public Affairs

GULF OF ADEN (Nov. 22, 2022) Bags of illicit narcotics sit on the deck of a ﬁshing vessel interdicted by guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) in the Gulf of Aden, Nov. 22. Nitze seized 2,200 kilograms of hashish and 330 kilograms of methamphetamine as the ﬁshing vessel transited international waters.

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet

MANAMA, Bahrain — A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer seized an estimated $20 million worth of illegal drugs from a fishing vessel while patrolling the Gulf of Aden, Nov. 22. USS Nitze (DDG 94) intercepted 2,200 kilograms of hashish and 330 kilograms of methamphetamine as the fishing vessel transited international waters. Nitze was operating in support of Combined Task Force (CTF) 153, established by the Combined Maritime Forces in April to boost multinational collaboration in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden. “I am proud of the Nitze’s outstanding effort in support of our mission,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Robert Francis, commodore of CTF 153. “Our multinational task force was established to enhance maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden, and this major drug seizure shows our commitment to doing just that.” CTF 153 is one of four task forces organized under the Combined Maritime Forces, the world’s largest international naval partnership consisting of 34 member-nations. The multinational task forces operate across the Middle East to promote rules-based international order at sea. Over the past two years, forces from the Combined Maritime Forces have seized approximately $900 million worth of illicit narcotics while patrolling international waters across the Middle East. Nitze is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer named for Paul Nitze who served as the Navy’s 58th secretary in the 1960s. The ship began operating in the Middle East this summer and is deployed overseas as part of the USS George H. W. Bush Carrier Strike Group.

(U.S. NAVY PHOTO)

Virtual Reality Takes Foothold in Battle Management System By Naval Surface Warfare Center

Dahlgren Division

In the 1990s, the gaming world predicted that virtual reality would be widespread by 1994. Although this prediction might have been slightly premature, the last few years have truly brought a shift in the ubiquity of this new technology. Mostly associated with commercialized products in this day and age, virtual reality (VR) has applications within the military’s top projects and programs including the Battle Management System (BMS) at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren Division. “BMS is consistently trying to innovate and figure out what kinds of technologies they can bring into the main line portfolio,” explained BMS metrology and augmented reality/virtual reality project lead Mike Weisman. The rapid onset of commercially available headsets in the recent consumer market has created a wider avenue for maturation, stability, and predictability. “Generally, when we use VR, we look at it within three different types of applications: engineering, training, and tactical purposes.” In the engineering application of VR, Weisman and his team go to different locations, scan the environments, and use the data to create a digital twin, or virtual recreation, of the area. The result is shortened timeline from the original idea to a delivered product. “Using VR, people can put on a headset, walk around the design and see how it would actually fit in the space, creating an immersive, 3D representation. It enhances the speed and accuracy of our designer as they create things,” said Weisman. As the team began to integrate the program, the program sponsor saw a unique opportunity to implement the program for operator training. Weisman and his team created and delivered the 30-millimeter virtual gun trainer, which allows operators repetition on the system that was not as easily accessible in the past. “Now an operator can, at a reduced cost, get in there and have a full one-to-one scaling. They can walk around a full pallet. If they need to look underneath something, they have to bend down. Their bodies learn this muscle memory of where everything is,” explained Weisman. “This repetition makes [the system] second nature to them as the actual hardware. By doing repetition, it becomes engrained.” A big emphasis is that the virtual trainer is not designed to replace the training, but rather help someone who needs extra time on the system.

NSWCDD Computer Scientists Amit Nemani and Brandon Gipson show the 30mm virtual gun trainer, an application of the Battle Management System in the virtual realm. The trainer is not designed to replace hands-on training but allow operators easier accessibility to the system. (PHOTO BY RACHEL O’DONNELL)

The third application of the system falls in the tactical range. Instead of creating a 3D model out of sand, the team created a virtual sand table that allows for easier post mission analysis. “The virtual sand table makes it very easy for someone to understand what happened in a digestible way,” said Weisman. To show how the system would work in operation, the team tied the virtual sand table into boat and air traffic over and through the Potomac River Test Range at Dahlgren, as well as into the base camera system. “We have aggregate data sources coming in from different places to show visually, but we’ve also got a framework on the backend where we can pull all this data in and display it simply together.”

The development aspect of BMS plays an important role when it comes to post mission analysis. Because the data is timestamped, it can be fused with the corresponding time, which allows for flexibility and insight after a mission. “BMS has a lot of data, whether it’s from test events, models or semantics,” said Dahlgren Division computer scientist Brandon Gipson, a specialist in the backend development of the application. “Putting into VR extracts it in a way where it’s not just ones and zeros, but you can actually see an inflight path of an aircraft or drone during a test event.” With access to the wide range of data input from BMS, the team also is able to visualize

everything they have collected information on during a scenario, including the state of sensors on the platform, the measured wind direction, wind temperature, and visual tracks. During a recent visit at NSWC Dahlgren Division, Deputy for Test and Evaluation Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Rick Quade experienced the tactical sand table firsthand. Although mostly in development, the applications for VR in BMS are growing exponentially. “The tactical application gives us a good workspace to try out a lot of things and figure out what works or doesn’t work,” said Weisman.

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, December 1, 2022 7

NPS professor completes strong run in “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions ﬁnals From Lt. Cmdr. Ed Early

Naval Postgraduate School Public Affairs

For the second year in a row, Dr. Sam Buttrey treated his colleagues and students at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) to another amazing tournament run on the hit TV quiz show “Jeopardy! Buttrey’s winning streak — which began during last year’s “Jeopardy!” Professors Tournament — finally came to an end in the show’s prestigious Tournament of Champions, which was recorded in Los Angeles earlier this fall and televised, Oct. 31 - Nov. 21. But the associate professor in NPS’ Operations Research department, who finished third overall behind TOC champion Amy Schneider in the tournament finals, had no regrets about his performance on the Alex Trebek Stage. “Honestly, I think I would have been pretty satisfied if I’d won just the first game, but of course I’m excited to have made it to the finals,” said Buttrey, who joined friends and colleagues on campus Nov. 16 and 18 to watch two of his games — including his lone win in the TOC finals. “This most recent tournament was a special delight because

FRCE safety record from Page 3

organization must meet the criteria for a safety award and achieve a days away, restricted or transferred (DART) rate at least 50 percent below the industry average. The DART rate includes cases of days away from work, restricted activity or job transfer. Snow said reducing DART cases is a priority due to the impacts on workplace productivity and to employee well-being. “If a mishap has lost time, or if the employee is restricted in any way, shape or form from doing his or her job, then it’s considered a DART case,” said Snow. “A DART case impacts us the most because it causes an employee to lose time at work. Even worse, it could affect their physical ability in some way, shape or form. These are the cases we really want to avoid. “We have a responsibility to these employees,” continued Snow. “The expectation is, and the expectation of their families is, that they’re going to come here and be safe. We have that responsibility and we take it very seriously.” In addition to protecting employees, FRCE’s safety efforts are also reducing costs. Morgan said FRCE has documented safety-related cost savings of more than $30 million since 2009. “That’s just related to medical costs and doesn’t even consider lost work days,” said

I had watched the other competitors play. So it was neat to go up against them and see how I could do.” Buttrey earned a $50,000 prize for his third-place finish in the Tournament of Champions, hosted by former “Jeopardy!” champion Ken Jennings. Schneider, from Oakland, Calif., won the tournament’s grand prize of $250,000, while Andrew He of San Francisco earned $100,000 for finishing second. “All of us at NPS are tremendously proud of Sam for winning the inaugural ‘Jeopardy!’ Professors Tournament last year and for his deep run this year into the finals of the Tournament of Champions,” said NPS President, retired Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau. “Sam’s colleagues and students know his wit and intellect first-hand, and I think his uplifting spirit came through on the show, amassing many fans across the country to cheer him on with us. Sam’s success reflects his — and all of our faculty and staff’s — deep dedication and service to our men and women in uniform studying here at NPS, preparing them as warrior-scholars to go back to the fleet and joint force to lead and make a difference in the defense of our nation.”

Buttrey had qualified for the Tournament of Champions thanks to his win in the 2021 Professors Tournament, which aired last December. During his run, Buttrey quickly gained a national following due to his uncanny resemblance to comedian Steve Martin, not to mention his sharp, self-deprecating wit. What’s more, after winning the Professors Tournament, Buttrey and his wife chose to start a scholarship endowment at California State University, Monterey Bay, with more than half of his $100,000 winnings. “It seemed like a good idea to use the money to foster education, and we liked the idea of operating locally,” said Buttrey. In addition to Buttrey, the Tournament of Champions field of 21 included five “super-champions” (10 wins or more), all contestants with four or more wins since 2020, the winner of the National College Championship tournament, and two “Second Chance” qualifiers. Just as he did the year before, Buttrey advanced to the TOC finals with strong performances in the first two rounds. In the semifinals, Buttrey scored an upset victory over “super-champion” Matt Amodio, who

owns the third-longest winning streak (38 games) in “Jeopardy!” history behind Jennings and Schneider. “You have to be intimidated when you play someone like Matt or Amy, but at the same time we all know that there’s a lot of gameto-game variability — that is, there’s luck in the questions, the locations of the daily doubles, and just how you’re working the buzzer that day,” Buttrey said. With the tournament over, Buttrey is now back at work, preparing for ﬁnals and graduation before the holidays. He’s thankful for his experience on “Jeopardy!” — although he confessed that he still hasn’t heard from a certain comedian. “I haven’t heard from Steve Martin, and at this point I don’t really expect to, but I hope he’d be as amused as I am by the reactions of all the people noticing a certain similarity,” Buttrey said. “And I’m glad that I was able to give off an exuberant vibe in the middle of this fairly stressful situation. I think people reacted to seeing me having fun, and I’m happy for that.”

Morgan. “So the true number is actually much larger and it’s also not re-calibrated for inflation.” Morgan said these impressive results did not occur overnight. She described the depot’s safety successes as part of a gradual process that began many years ago. “Our safety journey has been a long one,” said Morgan. “It started more than 20 years ago when we decided too many people were getting injured and we were going to do something about it. This led to implementing safety management systems and other initiatives aimed at making the workplace safer. It takes time and effort. You can’t change the culture of a workplace overnight.” Both Morgan and Snow cited the depot’s participation in the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) as an important catalyst in establishing the safety culture that exists at the depot. VPP is a federal program recognizing employers and workers in private industry and government agencies who have implemented effective safety and health management systems. FRCE submitted its first VPP application to OSHA in 2006. According to Snow, the VPP evaluation process necessitated workforce involvement in safety processes. To participate, employers must submit an application to OSHA and undergo a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of safety and health professionals. “Just implementing safety management systems won’t get you certified,” said Snow.

“You have to get people engaged and on board. VPP gets everyone from employees to management actively involved. It’s a demanding process but it’s a win-win for everybody.” FRCE achieved the OSHA VPP Star Site status in 2019 in two of the depot’s application areas, becoming the first naval aviation command to reach that level. The depot is one of only 21 VPP Star Sites recognized sites in the entire Department of the Navy. Owens said the depot is preparing to be re-evaluated for VPP Star status in January of 2023. He said the work involved goes beyond the confines of the VPP program and has benefitted the depot’s overall safety efforts. “It takes a lot of hard work to achieve VPP Star status,” said Owens. “It also requires that same level of hard work to keep it. You have to be proactive. You can’t look for shortcuts. That approach applies to all aspects of our safety program, not just VPP. We are always looking forward and looking for ways to refine or improve our processes. I think the depot’s safety record reflects this.” Since earning the VPP Star Site designation, FRCE has continued to garner accolades in the safety arena. The last 12 months alone have seen the command achieve a number of milestones. In 2021, FRCE closed out the calendar year with the lowest number of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recordable mishaps in the depot’s

history. In August of 2022, FRCE was recognized by the Department of Defense (DoD) as the best of the best in terms of safety and occupational health and presented with the DoD Safety and Occupational Health Management System (SOHMS) Achievement Award. Morgan, who describes safety as a “team sport,” credited these accolades to the FRCE workforce and its commitment to safety. “Our number one priority here is that we want every single person that works here to go home to their families safe and sound at the end of the day,” said Morgan. “The safety staff cannot do this alone. They can be teachers and educators and they can walk around and be the eyes and ears of the command but it takes everyone learning, listening and doing their part. Our success is the result of our workforce doing the right thing.” FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the ﬂeet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers. Learn more at www.navair.navy.mil/frce or https://www.facebook.com/FleetReadinessCenterEast.

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8 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, December 1, 2022

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www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, December 1, 2022 1

A festive menu for holiday celebrations From the hors d’oeuvres to the main course and all the way through dessert, creating a full holiday menu doesn’t have to be hard. See our easy recipes. Page C4

(PHOTOS COURTESY OF JONATHAN MCLARTY)

VCW Tidings of Destruction this Saturday in Norfolk By The 757 Heater Season’s greetings, pro wrestling fans! Virginia Championship Wrestling closes out 2022 with Tidings of Destruction this Saturday night December 3rd at the Norfolk Masonic Temple with special guest and Hall of Fame legend, Ron Simmons! Doors open at 6:30 PM with bell time scheduled for 7:30 PM. At the time of this writing, the front row is completely sold out, ringside seats are limited, and general admission is still available. The Norfolk Masonic Temple is located at 7001 Granby Street right next door to Granby High School. Tickets may be purchased in advance at vcwprowrestling.com. Modern pro wrestling fans may know Ron Simmons by a certain one word catchphrase, but long time followers of the sport also know that he was the ﬁrst black World Heavyweight Champion in the history of the industry. Simmons hasn’t appeared in Norfolk in roughly six years, which makes this night even more special. He’s often reﬂected upon the fond memories he’s had wrestling for the fans of Tidewater. Although Ron Simmons won’t compete at Tidings of Destruction, fans will have an opportunity to meet this one of a kind superstar prior to bell time. In addition, he’ll be appearing Saturday morning from 10 AM until 12 PM at the Pembroke Bingo Hall Sports Card and Collectibles Show. This event will have a number of professional sports athletes on hand as well, so if you can’t make it to Norfolk Saturday night, be sure to head over to Virginia Beach Saturday morning. Pembroke Bingo Hall is located at 809 Chimney Hill Shopping Center. Virginia Heavyweight Champion Logan Easton Laroux hasn’t exactly endeared

himself with VCW fans since winning the gold. However, his opponent on December 3rd is a long time beloved member of the VCW roster and former champion as well. Gino Medina challenges “The Champion of the 1%” this Saturday night in what is sure to be an epic encounter. At the last event, Laroux teased that he would defend the title against Medina right then and there, only to play some mind games and ﬂee the scene. The fans this author has spoken to cannot wait to see what happens when these two actually lock up in Norfolk! Speaking of anticipated title matches, “Greek God” Papadon will defend his VCW Liberty Championship against Dirty Money in the ﬁrst-ever “Champion’s Advantage” Match. What’s a “Champion’s Advantage”

Match, you ask? Great question! No one seems to know except for Papadon himself. Despite claiming he would divulge the rules for weeks, the “Greek God” was constantly interrupted. This led to him proclaiming that the rules would be unveiled in Loulies Lounge (hosted by “The Big 44” Tim Loulies) this Saturday night. Not a lot of time for Dirty Money to prepare it seems. Can Money overcome the odds and unseat the champion? For several months, VCW Tag Team Champions the Golden Pinky Society (Benjamin Banks and “Diamond” Victor Griff ) have found themselves in the crosshairs of VCW Executive Vice President The Reason. This is due to the Pinkies’ long-standing issue with Director of Opera-

tions Jerry Stephanitsis. On December 3rd, The Reason has decreed that Black Wallstreet will challenge the popular duo for the gold. Drolix and Chuck Lennox actually defeated Banks and Griff for the then-vacant titles last year at this very same event. However, they were unable to defend them within 90 days, which led to the titles once again becoming vacant. The Golden Pinky Society are certain to have their hands full with a team they never beat in a championship match. This could very well be the end of their Cinderella story. A long standing feud finally comes to an end, as Phil Brown and The Boar battle it out with The Sharkey Tank (Brian Brock and Devantes with manager Neil Sharkey) in a Tornado Rules Match. There will be no tags, no count-outs, no disqualifications, and no excuses for whoever ends up on the losing end of this wild affair. As if the stakes weren’t high enough, Phil Brown has agreed to leave VCW forever if his team does not win. If his team does win, Brown gets two minutes alone in the ring with his long time nemesis Neil Sharkey. This one is sure to be out of control. Hopefully the ring has been reinforced to contain the action! In other action, “Mr. Xcellence” Brandon Scott locks up with BJJ World Champion Tim Spriggs. Plus, the Tidings of Destruction Derby returns, as five athletes fight for a shot at the Virginia Heavyweight Championship. Participants in this year’s Derby are Dezmon King, Jet Jaghori, Isaiah Frazier, Havoc, and DK Vandu. It’s a stacked card from top to bottom! VCW Tidings of Destruction emanates from the Norfolk Masonic Temple this Saturday night. Doors open at 6:30 PM with a 7:30 PM bell time. I’ll see you at the matches!

Monster Jam 2023 rolls in to the Hampton Coliseum in January Press Release This. Is. Monster Jam™! The most actionpacked motorsports experience for families in the world today returns to Hampton for a high-octane weekend at the Hampton Coliseum on Friday, January 20 through Sunday, January 22. Monster Jam® features world-class athletes locked in intense competitions of speed and skill. The Monster Jam Pit Party will be held in Hampton on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. (must be accompanied by a 1 p.m. ticket). At the Monster Jam Pit Party, fans can see the massive trucks up close, meet their favorite drivers and crews, take pictures and enjoy other family-friendly fun. This unique experience is the only place that allows people to get up close access to the Monster Jam teams and get an insider’s look at how these trucks are built to stand up to the competition. Hampton fans will witness heated rivalries, high-flying stunts and fierce head-to-head battles for the Event Championship. Engineered to perfection, the 12,000-pound Monster Jam trucks push all limits in Freestyle, Skills, Donuts and Racing competitions. Tickets can be purchased on line through Ticktmaster or at the Hampton Coliseum box office Tuesdays - Fridays from 10am – 4pm. Doors open 1 hour prior to show time. Doors for Pit Party Passes will open at 10:30am. Parking is free.

INSIDE: Check out Flagship Values, your source for automobiles, employment, real estate and more! Pages C6-C7

The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, December 1, 2022

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The Flagship welcomes submissions from our readers online. Please submit events here: www.militarynews.com/users/admin/calendar/event/ Please submit news and photos here: www.militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-ﬂagship/submit_news/

Thomas Rhett reveals lineup for Home Team Tour 23 Press Release NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Multi-Platinum entertainer Thomas Rhett will join the Home Teams of 40 cities in 27 states next summer and reveals US tour dates for his HOME TEAM TOUR 23, produced by Live Nation, presented by Dos Primos Tequila and Fueled by Marathon. Known for his “bombastic, good time energy” (Esquire), after kicking off 2023 in Canada, the summer tour will begin May 4 in Des Moines, IA at Wells Fargo Arena with Cole Swindell and Nate Smith, and end at Thomas Rhett’s home team’s Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN. Closest shows to Hampton Roads will be in Charlottesville, VA on September 21st at John Paul Jones Arena and Greensboro, NC on July 20th at Greensboro Coliseum. Tickets are on sale now at ThomasRhett.com. “Being on the road is one of my favorite places to be,” said Thomas Rhett. “I can’t wait to see the joy on y’alls faces next year and with my buddies Cole Swindell and Nate Smith. We’re definitely gonna have a good time.” For the announcement, Thomas Rhett shared a light-hearted video revealing jerseys to celebrate the many tour destinations during a mock press conference. You can watch on YouTube at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=hSbLfKKtZl0 About Thomas Rhett: Ten years after signing his record deal with Big Machine Label Group’s The Valory Music Co., arena-packing superstar Thomas Rhett — dubbed “the most reliable maker of No. 1 singles in country music” (Variety) — has 19 multi-PLATINUM and GOLD-certified No. 1 hits, 12 BILLION streams and the longest current active streak of consecutive No. 1s in the format (Mediabase/Country Aircheck Chart). Declared “a prince in the genre” (USA Today), he has been honored with eight ACM Awards including Entertainer of the Year, two CMA Awards, five GRAMMY nominations, plus trophies from the CMT Music Awards, Billboard Awards and iHeartRadio Awards, in addition to being recognized with two CMA Triple Play awards for penning three No. One songs within a 12-month period. The superstar’s critically-acclaimed sixth studio album WHERE WE STARTED is available now, with single “Half of Me,” featuring Riley Green, currently Top 5 at Country radio. Thomas Rhett has also just released his first-ever Christmas collection MERRY CHRISTMAS Y’ALL, featuring his rich vocal and sincere delivery, with a country flair on four favorite festive tracks. Inspired by family, friends and his love of the outdoors, Thomas Rhett is also the cofounder of Dos Primos Tequila and has collaborated with Chaco on an exclusive sandal line. He recently extended his BRING THE BAR TO YOU TOUR into 2023 with dates scheduled for the top of next year in Canada. For more information, visit www.ThomasRhett.com. About Cole Swindell: Multi-Platinum selling superstar Cole Swindell released his fifth studio album, Stereotype, to massive success. The project has already charted three back-to-back multi-week No. 1 hits: the Gold-certified “Single Saturday Night,” the Platinum-certified “Never Say Never” (with Lainey Wilson) and, most recently, the Platinum-certified, five-week chart-topper “She Had Me At Heads Carolina.” In

the seven years since his debut on Warner Music Nashville, Swindell has racked up an impressive 12 No. 1 singles as an artist — 13 as a songwriter — 11 certified Platinum singles (four singles at 2x Platinum), a Platinum-certified debut album (Cole Swindell) and a Gold-certified sophomore album (You Should Be Here). The Georgia hitmaker has over 5.2 BILLION global career streams. His massive, GRAMMY-nominated hit “Break Up In The End” was named the 2019 NSAI Song of the Year. Swindell is nominated for two CMA Awards for Musical Event of the Year and Music Video of the Year for “Never Say Never” with Lainey Wilson. He officially became a headliner on his own in 2018 with his Reason To Drink Tours, and is currently

out on the road with Ashley Cooke and Dylan Marlowe for his Back Down To The Bar Tour. About Nate Smith: With a mix of gritty backwoods soul, rock ‘n’ roll swagger and velvet-thunder vocals, Nate Smith first chased his neon dreams to Nashville in his early 20s — but it didn’t stick. The disheartened Smith returned home and thought he was “100-percent done” with his artistic journey…until a crucible of change burned away the past. In 2018, Smith lost everything he owned in the devastating Camp Fire which tore through Paradise, California. Although his family was safe, he struggled to cope and turned back to music, hoping that it would help comfort himself

and others. Help it did, inspiring a monthlong road trip across the U.S. to Music City, writing music and playing dive bars along the way. Soon after his arrival to Nashville, Nate released his biggest song to date, “Wildﬁre,” and landed a publishing deal with Sony ATV. Since then, he’s released new music including “Sleeve” and “Under My Skin,” which has amassed over 70 million on-demand streams to date. The singer was named a Spotify Hot Country Artist to Watch for 2021 — an accurate prediction as he rounded out the year with a record deal with Sony Music Nashville and is now making waves with his latest release, “Whiskey On You,” which is now Gold-certiﬁed and Top 15 and climbing at country radio.

(PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES)

5 Tips to help families manage holiday stress From Family Features ‘Tis the season for holiday parties, travel, hosting and more. While it is a joyous time of year, the never-ending to-do lists and school being out of session can make everyone feel a little overwhelmed, children included. Consider these ﬁve practical tips from the experts at KinderCare to help families proactively manage holiday stressors. 1. Manage expectations. The commotion that often comes with the holiday season can be stressful for young children, but you can help alleviate worries by familiarizing them with what’s to come. Talk to them about upcoming travel arrangements, who they’ll see at events and what to expect throughout the season. If they are cautious

in their current developmental stage, let loved ones know beforehand to give them a little extra space at festivities. Parents can also begin familiarizing little ones with relatives through photos and phone calls. 2. Empower children. It’s important for children to understand they have a choice and family members are willing to respect that choice. Parents should acknowledge their children’s body language and empower them to say “no” in uncomfortable situations. Parents can help by proactively asking questions such as, “Do you want a hug?” and if they say “no,” support them in their decision. This also helps establish healthy longterm social skills. 3. Maintain your schedule. Children thrive on consistency, and during the holi-

days it’s important to at least try maintaining as much of what they’re used to as possible, such as naps, meals and playtime. Changes in schedule can result in more tantrums, so be sure to allow space for them to safely work through their emotions. It’s also important to note that children feed off their parents’ energy, so make sure you’re in tune with your own emotions. When overwhelmed, openly discuss how you’re feeling and involve your children when taking breaks. For example, “It’s loud in here, would you like to go sit outside with me?” 4. Have fun. Make time to spread joy and integrate activities to bond as a family, such as reading holiday-themed books, crafting, playing games, singing or baking. Whether

old traditions or new, these are moments your child can cherish for years to come. 5. Keep others in mind. While it’s important to set children up for success ahead of the holidays, parents should also teach children the holiday season can look different for others. Putting a focus on experiences rather than the gifts can help them have more to discuss with their peers when returning to school. It’s also a good time to consider donating toys to make room for new ones or volunteering at a local charity to show children joy can be experienced through more than just gifts. To ﬁnd more tips to help manage holiday stress, or to access additional resources around social development, setting boundaries and routines, visit KinderCare.com.

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, December 1, 2022 3

(PHOTOS COURTESY OF HIPHOP NUTCRACKER)

Legendary hip hop founding father MC Kurtis Blow talks about The Hip Hop Nutcracker coming to Chrysler Hall December 15th Interview By Yiorgo SevenVenues is excited to announce that The Hip Hop Nutcracker that was scheduled last Christmas season to be performed at our Chrysler Hall but was canceled due to Covid, is returning this December 15th for an exciting one night only performance. Directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber and celebrating its 10th year anniversary this season, this contemporary dance spectacle is a high energy, re-imagined version of the classic, re-mixing hip hop dance and Tchaikovksy’s timeless music together. The Hip Hop Nutcracker’s incredible cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist and legendary hip hop founding father MC Kurtis Blow are super energized to be performing at Chrysler Hall December 15th. Get your tickets now for this amazing, once in a lifetime opportunity to experience The Nutcracker hip hop style, as never before. Go to: https://www.sevenvenues.com/events/ detail/hip-hop-nutcracker-1 Below is our interview with MC Kurtis Blow. Yiorgo: Why should people come and see The Hip-Hop Nutcracker? What will they experience, what will they get out of it? Kurtis Blow: The Hip-Hop Nutcracker is a modernized version of the classic Nutcracker. It’s a story about two young people who are in love and their love creates a special magic that can defeat evil. We need that now more than ever. We have a lot of the same elements like Maria Clara, The Nutcracker, Drasullmier and so on. It’s what we call a Hip-Hop, Holiday season extravaganza for the whole family to come together, show each other love, in the spirit and the theme of love conquers all. It’s a modernized version where instead of regular dancing we have B Boys and B Girls doing pop locking, electric Boogie, ticking. All the footwork and power moves and head spins and windmills, backspins and air twists. It’s incredible to see these young dancers, I call them the B Boy Dream Team. We have assembled this action packed show with these amazing dancers from all around the world. They have their own styles and they are dancing to classical music that is incredible to hear along with the fusion of funky. Funky hip-hop beats are something to witness and check out. We also have our own violinist. He is a hip-hop musician, blending the styles of classical music along with the hip-hop on his violin. His name is Jarvis L. Benson, he is classically trained and he is incredible. Y: You of course started with The Hip-Hop Nutcracker as a guest MC and it

has blossomed into this beautiful love affair. Can you share how that process started and how it has evolved for you? KB: The Hip-Hop Nutcracker and I have mutual friends and one of my buddy’s came to one of my shows in the Bronx. He came backstage and he said, “Man. you would be incredible and wonderful for this new idea for this new play called The Hip-Hop Nutcracker.” I was amazed right then and there with just the concept of a hip-hop Nutcracker. I went to their rehearsal where they were performing. I checked out these young dancers, B Boys and B Girls doing their thing to classical music and a DJ playing those funky beats up on their classical music. I was ﬂoored and I knew I had to be a part of this. I said, count me in, sign me up. Y: You wound up having trouble with your heart and thank God, you had a very successful heart transplant and you are now a living testament. How are you feeling today and can you talk about it? KB: My transplant was a miracle. I am a walking, living, breathing testimony of the reality that God is still in the miracle business. When something like this happens to you, it changes you. I was and am an ordained minister since 2007 but do you think I love me some God now? Everything is enhanced and I am so grateful and overjoyed with just the fact that I can wake up. I used to say that any day above ground is a good day, but I’ve been having some great days lately and I thank God every morning that I woke up. Y: Can you talk a little bit about growing up in Harlem and what inﬂuenced you in the creation of hip-hop? KB: I was born in Harlem in 1959 and the 60’s were a very special time. It was the Civil Rights Movement, community organizers,

government officials having debates about equal rights for our people. It was a lot of kaos, a lot of murders like President John Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Macom X and Robert Kennedy. They were troublesome times. The music that happened right after that was the disco, the love movement, the hippie movement, and just loving each other. Everyone was trying to come together, unite and have a good time when they went out. Music became our escapism especially for people in Harlem and the South Bronx because during that time, New York City was broke in the 70’s. You had the landlord owners up in the Bronx and Harlem burning down the buildings on purpose so they could collect the insurance money. It became a scam all over the city. There was a community organizer who said, “The buildings are burning down on one side of the block but the kids on the otherside are trying to put something together.” That was the parable of hip-hop and how it ﬁrst started because we were just trying to forget our troubles, forget about the oppression, forget about all the dirt, the rubble, the ﬁres and the abandoned buildings. We said, we are living in all this dirt but we are not dirt. Take a look at us. That was the expression. It started with the graffiti, trying to paint up the buildings and make them look better. You had these artists come out and paint these enormous murals on the dilapidated train system. You can see these big, big, colorful murals miles away because the trains in New York, in the Bronx and Harlem are elevated. You can stand on one corner on the grand concourse and look all the way down the block by Yankee Stadium and you can see the number four train go by and it has this enormous, vibrant and colorful mural that is a piece by a graffiti artist that made

you feel good inside. That was the beginning of hip-hop. We are living in all this rubble, this dirt but we are not dirt. “My name is John, I leave my name to carry on. Those who knew me, knew me well. Those that didn’t can go to h***.” Y: Tell us about your incredible homage to Dr. Martin Luther King with your song, King’s Holiday. KB: That song to me was the most meaningful production. I had the pleasure and honor of recording Whitney Huston, Tina Marie, Stephanie Mills, Menudo. Incredible to have Ricky Martin in the studio when he was 16. All the artists, Stacy Latishow, Run DMC, Fat Boys, Melly Mel, man it was incredible to have been a part of that. And do you know that Prince paid $90,000 for the video so we could shoot it? Y: You are the driving force behind the creation of the Universal Hip-Hop Museum. Can you tell us about it? KB: Great project, thank you for asking me about it. The Universal Hip-Hop Museum is just that, a brick and mortar location that everyone around the world can come and see the legacies, the pictures, the artifacts, the stories, all the memorabilia that is a part of the embryo, the history of hip-hop. It is such an important project to document and preserve our history and have it in one place for the world to see. We plan to open up in 2024 and you can go and learn more about it at uhhm.org Yiorgo is an arts, entertainment and sports writer. A stage, TV and movie actor, he is also a sports entertainer, educator, motivational speaker, writer, storyteller and columnist.

Hip Hop founding father MC Kurtis Blow (PHOTO COURTESY OF HIPHOP NUTCRACKER)

4 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, December 1, 2022

Food

A full, festive menu for holiday celebrations From Family Features From the hors d’oeuvres to the main course and all the way through dessert, creating a full holiday menu doesn’t have to be hard. The key to a successful feast is focusing on dishes that can please loved ones of all ages and palates, such as a festive salad before the turkey or ham main dish, which can be accompanied by complementary sides like au gratin potatoes. Finally, top off the celebration with a divine dessert featuring classic cranberry ﬂavor. To ﬁnd more holiday recipe inspiration, visit Culinary.net.

Start Holiday Celebrations with a Salad With a bed of tender, leafy green spinach and pops of red cranberries, a salad lends itself perfectly to the colors and ﬂavors of the holiday season. Plus, as a lighter bite ahead of the big meal, it makes for a delicious introduction to festive dinner parties, family gatherings and get-togethers. This Spinach Christmas Tree Salad offers a fresh, festive option that adds a seasonal presentation to the table while inviting guests to take a bite. Harvested at the peak of ﬂavor, tender Fresh Express Baby Spinach has a mild and delicate taste that makes it an ideal addition to recipes throughout the holidays. Find more ways to freshen up your holiday menu at FreshExpress.com.

Spinach Christmas Tree Salad Servings: 6

2 packages (5 ounces each) Fresh Express Baby Spinach ½ cup dried cranberries, divided ⅓ cup pistachios, divided ½ cup feta cheese, divided 1 red pepper, cored, cut into thin strips 1 large apple, thinly sliced, cut into star shapes Dressing: 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce 3 tablespoons cranberry juice 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons honey ¼ cup olive oil 1 tablespoon light brown sugar ¼ teaspoon salt In large bowl, toss baby spinach with ¼ cup dried cranberries, 1⁄6 cup pistachios and ¼ cup feta cheese. Transfer to Christmas tree cake mold. Neatly arrange spinach leaves to create smooth surface. Arrange red pepper strips, trimming as needed, to create garland. Arrange remaining dried cranberries, remaining pistachios and remaining feta cheese as “ornaments” on top of spinach. Create tree topper with one apple star; place remaining apple stars around “tree.” To make dressing: In blender, process cranberry sauce, cranberry juice, balsamic vinegar, honey, olive oil, brown sugar and salt until smooth.

A Hearty Holiday Side Dish From appetizers and snacks to the main course, sides and sweets, almost everyone has a favorite holiday dish. However, it’s the pairings and complementary dishes that make festive get-togethers special. This Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes with Kale and Gruyere is an ideal example of a savory side that goes well with a variety of holiday meals, making it a perfect option for families seeking a versatile recipe to serve with dinner. Rosy-skinned and white-fleshed, Wisconsin Round Red potatoes have a firm, smooth and moist texture, making them well-suited for roasting in this hearty dish. Visit eatwisconsinpotatoes.com to discover more recipes fit for serving your loved ones.

Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes with Kale and Gruyere Recipe courtesy of Wisconsin Potatoes 1 ½ cups heavy cream ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 2 cloves garlic, smashed 3 sprigs fresh thyme 2 tablespoons butter 3 cloves shallots, diced 4 large kale leaves, ﬁnely chopped (discard stems) 2 pounds red potatoes, sliced ⅛ inch

Cranberry Cheesecake

2 ounces gruyere cheese, grated 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated Heat oven to 325 F. In small saucepan over medium heat, combine cream, salt, black pepper, garlic and thyme; stir constantly, until cream starts to bubble, 4-6 minutes. When bubbling, remove from heat and stir until slightly cooled. Let cream sit. Heat large (12-inch) oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter. When butter melts, add shallots and kale leaves. Saute until kale is tender and bright green, about 4 minutes. Turn off burner. Add sliced potatoes to skillet, fanning over top of kale. Use slotted spoon to remove garlic and thyme from heavy cream. Pour heavy cream over potatoes. Cover skillet tightly with foil and bake until potatoes are tender, 75-85 minutes. Remove skillet from oven and turn on broiler. Discard foil. Sprinkle gruyere and Parmesan cheeses over potatoes, tucking some cheese between potato slices. Return skillet to oven and broil until top is golden brown, 5-6 minutes.

Dish Up a Divine Holiday Dessert Give your holiday gatherings a new twist this year with a creamy cranberry delight that’s a cause for celebration all on its own. Smooth, divine taste at the dessert table can be the memorable moment your family craves year after year. This rich, festive Cranberry Cheesecake combines classic ﬂavor with a homemade cranberry compote-infused layer above a crust sweetly made using C&H Light Brown Sugar and graham crackers. Top it all off with fresh and sugared cranberries, rosemary springs and whipped cream for a tempting treat that tastes as good as it looks. To ﬁnd more sweet eats to celebrate the holidays, visit chsugar.com.

Cranberry Cheesecake Prep time: 45 minutes Cook time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Cranberry Compote: 2 cups fresh cranberries 1 cup C&H Light Brown Sugar ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest

Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes with Kale and Gruyere

Spinach Christmas Tree Salad

Crust: 2 cups graham cracker crumbs 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 3 tablespoons C&H Light Brown Sugar ¼ teaspoon salt Cheesecake: 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, at room temperature 2 cups C&H Organic Raw Cane Sugar 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon salt 4 large eggs, at room temperature ½ cup sour cream, at room temperature ½ cup cranberry compote fresh cranberries sugared cranberries rosemary sprigs whipped cream To make cranberry compote: In medium saucepan, bring cranberries, brown sugar, orange juice and orange zest to boil. Lower heat and simmer 10-15 minutes, or until most cranberries burst. Remove from heat. Cool completely at room temperature then transfer to bowl; refrigerate. To make crust: Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter 8-inch springform pan and line bottom with parchment paper. Set aside. In medium bowl, mix cracker crumbs, butter, brown sugar and salt. Press crumb mixture into bottom of prepared pan. Bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 325 F. To make cheesecake: In bowl of electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat cream cheese at medium speed until smooth. Add cane sugar and beat 2-3 minutes. Scrape sides of bowl as needed. Add flour, vanilla and salt. Beat 1 minute until incorporated. Add one egg at a time, mixing until incorporated. Add sour cream and mix 1 minute. Scrape sides of bowl as needed. In medium bowl, mix half of cheesecake batter with ½ cup cranberry compote. Wrap springform pan with aluminum foil and place in large roasting pan. Pour cream cheese and cranberry mixture into prepared pan. Top with remaining cream cheese batter. Place roasting pan in oven and add hot water to 1-inch of springform pan. Bake 1 hour, 15 minutes, or until cake looks set in center. Remove from oven and rest 1 hour. Refrigerate in pan overnight. Decorate cake with fresh and sugared cranberries, rosemary springs and whipped cream.

www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, December 1, 2022 5

Health

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Candida Ferguson, a general surgeon at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, talks with a patient about colorectal cancer screening. The Defense Health Agency established new age recommendations for screenings. Regular screening with a stool test, sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer and ﬁnding it early. (PHOTO: DEIDRE SMITH, NAVAL HOSPITAL JACKSONVILLE)

Colorectal cancer screening age decreases to 45 By Robert Hammer MHS Communications

Although the overall death rate from colorectal cancer has been on the decline in recent years, it remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. There has also been an increase in colorectal cancer-related death for people younger than 55, and an increase in diagnosis in patients between the ages of 40-49 over the past decade, according to the National Cancer Institute. With this new upwards trend, national health guidelines recently lowered the initial screening age from 50 to 45. This change means that an additional 21 million Americans will be eligible for screening. In the Military Health System, the estimated impact of the lower age recommendation is that over 200,000 additional beneficiaries will need to be screened for CRC, according to Dr. Chin Hee Kim, deputy chief of specialty care support of the Defense Health Agency Directorate of Medical Affairs. The new DHA guidelines also offer various CRC screening options, including expanding the use of a stool-based test known as Fecal Immunochemical Test, or FIT, as an alternative to a colonoscopy. “Colorectal cancer screening, and preventive screenings in general, are important for overall wellness and healthy living. The MHS strives to implement evidence-based strategies to optimize both prevention and early detection of serious diseases before they become major,” Kim said. “Preventive care helps to sustain your health, meet standards for duty fitness, and maintain medical readiness.” There is a 5-year survival rate of approximately 90%, if colorectal cancer is detected early.

When Should You Be Screened for Colorectal Cancer? “Beginning at age 45, all average-risk men and women should undergo routine CRC screening,” said Kim. Patients are considered to be at average risk if they: Do not have a personal history of CRC or certain types of polyps. Do not have a family history of CRC. Do not have a personal history of inﬂammatory bowel disease. Do not have a conﬁrmed or suspected hereditary CRC syndrome. According to Kim, CRC might not cause symptoms right away, but if you have one of these symptoms, you should see a doctor. Rectal bleeding with bright red blood. A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days. A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that’s not relieved by having one. Blood in the stool, which might make the stool look dark brown or black. Cramping or abdominal pain. Unintended weight loss. Kim said, “The screening method for CRC is based on shared decision making between the provider and the patient after discussing risks and benefits of all available screening options. A colonoscopy can be offered for both average risk and high-risk patients. The goal is to inform our beneficiaries about all screening options, including FIT, to optimize overall CRC screening for the MHS.”

Increasing Usage of FIT as a Tool

“While we have made great strides in colon cancer screening and prevention over the last several decades, around one-third of the U.S. population is not up-to-date on testing. By educating patients and providers about evidence-based alternatives to colonoscopy such as FIT, we are striving to expand access to screening to as many patients as we possibly can,” said U.S. Navy Lt. Brett Sadowski, program director of gastroenterology fellowship at the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command in San Diego. Of the existing stool-based testing available, FIT is one of the most sensitive and cost-effective screening tests for colon cancer screening. The FIT is an easy to use, non-invasive, stoolbased test that can be done at home. The test must be done every year, but many people find them more convenient than other tests like a colonoscopy,” said Kim. Instead of having to undergo an invasive procedure like a colonoscopy, one can collect their stool sample at home and mail it to the lab in provided packaging. Importantly, if a positive test result occurs, the patient should understand that a colonoscopy needs to be performed to complete the screening process. Like all screening tests, patients should be aware of following limitations of FIT, which include: May miss tumors that bleed in small amounts or not at all. Lower sensitivity to detect a potential pre-cancerous lesion in the colon. Essential need to be repeated annually. “The MHS is also working with clinicians to communicate and standardize workflow

that incorporates the new age recommendation along with the appropriate use of FIT for average-risk patients. Medical logistics is also ensuring that FIT supplies are available at all military treatment facilities,” Kim said.

Lifestyle Changes Could Reduce Risks Adopting healthy lifestyle habits can lower your risk of these types of cancer. “Lifestyle factors play a profound role in our ability to impact our gut microbiome to support gut health. For all individuals, but especially for those who are at highest risk, lifestyle factors play an important role in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer,” U.S. Air Force Col. Mary A. Kiel, chief of the Air Force Medical Home Program at Air Force Medical Readiness Agency. Along with a healthy diet, other “lifestyle factors such as reducing body weight, limiting alcohol, quitting smoking, and engaging in regular physical activity can have a profound positive impact on reducing risk,” said Kiel.

TRICARE Beneﬁts

TRICARE covers colorectal cancer screenings for average-risk beneficiaries beginning at the age of 45 years old. It will cover the following types of screenings: Fecal Immunochemical Testing: One stool sample once every 12-months. Fecal Immunochemical Testing: Stool DNA tests once every 1-3 years. Fecal Occult Blood Testing: Three consecutive stool samples once every 12 months. Flexible sigmoidoscopy: Once every 5-years. Optical colonoscopy: Once every 10 years. Computed Tomographic Colonography: Once every 5 years. Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: Every 10 years with FIT every year. If you have concerns, need more information about colorectal cancer, or meet any of the screening guidelines, it is recommended you talk to your doctor.

Sharpening soft skills goal of professional development program By Claudia Sanchez-Bustamante MHS Communications

An active brain is a healthy brain, experts agree. Engaging in lifelong learning provides the opportunity to learn new skills, and participating in mentally and socially stimulating activities helps keep your brain healthy, according to a study the National Institutes of Health published in 2021. At the Defense Health Agency, the skillsbased professional development program offers its global workforce an opportunity to engage in both and do so remotely. DHA’s program aims to provide “mid-career DHA employees—including military, civilians, and contractors—with soft skills to develop their leadership and managerial capacity,” said Yolanda Mose’, the program’s lead at DHA’s Education and Training Directorate. Soft skills are non-technical skills that allow an individual to perform their job successfully, such as communicating and working well with others, and managing their time properly. “The program is an additional resource for all DHA employees to sharpen their professional skills,” said Mose’.

Fulﬁlled Staff

Offering employees opportunities to enhance their skills at work is one way to ensure staff are fulfilled in the work they do, which is one of DHA’s strategic objectives. “The program seeks to achieve success by focusing on crucial competencies to allow learners to enhance their interpersonal and non-tech-

nical workplace skills,” said Mose’. Focusing on soft skills can have a “huge impact” on the workforce, she said, because they’re just as important as technical skills for people advancing in their careers, especially when they adopt supervisory roles overseeing others. “The program offers over 19 sessions and learning opportunities, to include topics on project management, change management, professional etiquette, resiliency, teambuilding, and others,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Theodore Urbano, program facilitator and chief of the directorate’s policy and programming branch. “As a result of attending the trainings, participants leave with tangible skills, such as interpersonal communication, and the ability to develop plans of action and milestones they can immediately apply to their work center and even personal lives,” he added.

How to Enroll?

The skills-based development program is available online at no cost to employees. Learners can register for the hour-long sessions on DHA’s intranet. “There is no selection process and anyone with a Common Access Card can register,” said Urbano. Sessions are available throughout the calendar year and include series such as one on resiliency in the workplace and another on professional etiquette. There are also stand-alone sessions on team building, developing a Plan of Action and Milestones, known as a POA&M, and delegating effectively, among others. After completing a session, learners receive

Air Force Maj. Theodore Urbano, chief of DHA’s Education and Training directorate’s policy and programming branch, facilitates a training series on resiliency in the workplace. Skills-based professional development sessions like this one allow all DHA employees to continue to learn and grow as professionals, all virtually and at no cost. (PHOTO: YOLANDA MOSE’, DHA)

certificates of completion and attendance. In addition to the calendar of sessions, Mose’ said customized programs are also available. She encourages supervisors use those as team-building exercises. “Using our training material and topics as a baseline, we customize the sessions to your team’s needs and facilitate only to your team,” she said.

Positive Experiences

Urbano facilitates an eight-part series on resiliency in the program. As a master resilience trainer, he leverages his expertise to “increase awareness and teach learners how to use various resilience strategies.” In his experience, participants really enjoy the series, which launched in April. The topics seem relevant, he said, “because the discussions are rich, and participants are sharing personal stories that others can appreciate and learn from. It’s a wonderful atmosphere.” U.S. Navy Cmdr. Susan Mojica, director of

population health at the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, in Portsmouth, Virginia, has benefitted from and had a positive experience with the program. She has taken three sessions and registered for two more. “The program has served as a review of some foundational skills, provided updated resources and exposure to colleagues in other organizations, which may lead to networking and collaborative opportunities,” she said. “It also renewed my enthusiasm for personal and organizational professional development.” Mojica explained that she took a POA&M session customized for her team’s needs. As a result, she feels the updated information and positive session delivery improve her performance. “I’m more self-assured in my ability to lead a team or project using a POA&M.” She now confidently recommends the program to her team, colleagues, and leaders. For more information on DHA’s skills-based professional development program, email the Education and Training team.

6 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, December 1, 2022

Flea Market/Bazaars Estate Sales OLDE TOWNE ANTIQUES/FLEA MARKET. Dec. 3, 10-2. Fantastic finds. 441 Middle St. 757-339-1876. oldetowneportsmouth.com

AntiquesSales & Collectibles Estate

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Dogs, Cats, Other Pets

Autos for Sale

MINI AUSSIE DOODLES

TOYOTA 2016 AVALON

XLE. 6K original miles, showroom new, loaded. $29,500. Call 757-620-7570. Va. Dlr.

Classic, Antique Cars

CASH

Any Old Wooden Decoy Or Canvas Covered Decoys Also Buying: Old Fishing Lures & Tackle Old Wooden BOAT OARS Old Nautical Lights & Ship Items

Announcements ABANDONED WATERCRAFT Notice is hereby given that the following watercraft has been abandoned for more than 60 DAYS on the property of: Roger Ellers, 2037 Weber Avenue, Chesapeake, VA (757) 408-0577, Description of Watercraft: 2001 15’ 10” Tracker black and silver hull ID #BUJ68948E001 Application for Watercraft Registration/Title will be made in accordance with Section 29.1-733.25 of the Code of Virginia if this watercraft is not claimed within 30 days of first publication of this notice. Please contact the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources with questions.

Estate Sales Estate Sales LIVING ESTATE SALE 829 Professional Place Chesapeake, Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sat Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 8:30 AM-3 PM Everything stored in warehouse for many years by one owner. Antique & reproduction furniture. PARTIAL LIST: Henkel Harris, Craftique, lots of other fine furniture, highboys, chest on chest, sideboards, large carved oak China cabinet, walnut blanket chest, 8’ country showcase, lots of other furniture, over 100 boxes of assorted crystal, silverplate & China, silver jewelry, 150 assorted prints & paintings, regulation pool table, office furniture, many other unusual things. Pictures on Estatesales.net. Cash or Check Only. PLENTY OF PARKING. Virginia Beach Antiques, Larry Zedd 757-422-4477. virginiabeachantiquecompany.com

Mini Aussie Doodles. 3 males and 3 female CKC registered ready to go 12/19/22. $1,500. My name is William. (252)455-5229. ( )

Call Mark (Home) 757-721-2746

AntiquesSales & Collectibles Estate

MINI GOLDENDOODLES

RAY HIGGINS

BUYING ANTIQUES &

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& English Cream pups. 7 wks., 4 females, $1500. Check our Facebook page, FairHIlls Goldens Retrievers, 757-719-9273, Smithfield.

RAT TERRIER PUPS Up to date on shots & worming. 8 wks. $550. c/t 252-333-7554

Room For Rent

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Autos for Sale

757-446-9000 or PilotOnline.com

CHESAPEAKE, VA room for rent 650.00 month. 11 Jersey Circle Chesapeake VA 23320 room will be ready December 15. 757-351-9522. CHESAPEAKE Room for rent. TV, bed, internet, washer & dryer. $175/wk. $180 nonrefundable deposit. Must be the cleaning type. Call Heith: 757-581-9520

Subscribe to The Virginian-Pilot today. Call 757-446-9000 or go to PilotOnline.com

Autos. We will purchase your collectible, classic, late model autos, we will come to you. Call 757-675-0288 PONTIAC 1966 GTO

Complete restoration, 4 speed, showroom new, call for details, 757675-0288. Va. Dlr.

Convertible Hardtop, 1 local owner, low miles, gar. kept, like new. $20,900. 757-675-0288. Va. dlr.

Trucks and SUVs

CHEVROLET 1999 TAHOE

AWD, 3rd row seating, new tires & insp, $24,500. 757-620-7570 vadlr

BLUE 1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE LS W/ TINTED WINDOWS, EVERYTHING WORKS, LIKE NEW TIRES, NEW FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS, CD/CASSETTE PLAYER, VERY RELIABLE, 2 OWNER, 5.7L V8 FI, SUV 4D, 230K MILES, $7K OBO 727-560-2791

CHEVROLET 2016 CORVETTE

Z-51 2LT, Black, Factory Chrome Wheels, Magnetic Selective Ride, PDR, LG Headers, K&N Air Intake, Professional Tune 500 Hp, 40k miles. $54,500 Call: 540-226-8248

Z51 Performance Pkg., magnetic selected ride control, performance traction, 3LT pkg., 10,000 orig mis., fully loaded, car cover, showroom new. $92,500. 757-620-7570. Va. Dlr.

757-617-4043

(and every day).

MOTOR HOME 2006 Class A RV. 34 ft W/3 Slides. New awning. Lifetime roof guarantee. Low miles. $35,000 757-535-5254.

CHEVROLET 2021 CORVETTE STINGRAY

LABRADOR RETRIEVER

www.raymondsantiques.com

Shop smart. Save big! Sunday

Travel/Camping Trailers

BMW 2013 328

AMERICAN ANTIQUE BUYER VINTAGE ARTWORK

CLASSIC & COLLECTIBLE

CHEVROLET 2019 TRAVERSE

FORD 2018 ESCAPE

1 owner, new tires, all serviced, $16,900. 757-620-7570. Va. Dlr.

HONDA 2009 CR-V

Leather, sunroof, new inspection, runs & looks great. $10,900. 757-620-7570. Va. dlr.

HONDA 2014 ODYSSEY

Van. EXL package, new inspection, 1 owner, looks great. $18,900. 757-675-0288. Va. Dlr

Boats & Watercraft NEW & USED BOAT TRAILER SALE!!! OVER 100 Avail. For Boats 12’-38’ BUDGET BOATS: (757) 543 -7595

HONDA 2020 CIVIC

SI. 32K original mis., factory warranty, loaded, all serviced. $31,900. 757-675-0288. Va. Dlr.

MERCEDES-BENZ 2018 GLC300

Low miles, 1 owner, serviced local dealer, garage kept, $29,500. 757-620-7570. Va. Dlr.

TESLA 2020 MODEL 3

Sedan. Premium Package. Factory warranty, loaded, runs & looks great. $38,900. 757-675-0288. Va. Dlr.

Fridays in The Pilot

757.622.1455 | placeanad.pilotonline.com Hauling / Moving (A) FAMILY TRASH MAN-HOUSEHOLD, Demo inside & out, construction sites, dumpster drop off, backhoe work. We haul it all! 20 yrs. exp., lic & ins. 485-1414 B & J MOVING Reasonable Rates, Licensed & Insured. bandjmoving.com 757-576-1290

Concrete/Asphalt Estate Sales S & ENTERPRISE 20 YRS. Concrete Exp. All types of concrete work driveways, stamped & exposed. We accept credit cards. 757-652-4050. www.shabazznva.com

B & J MOVING Reasonable Rates, Licensed & Insured. bandjmoving.com 757-576-1290

Home Improvements AIR DUCT CLEANING UNIVERSAL DUCT CLEANING FREE INSPECTIONS MEMBER BBB. 757-502-0200

BULKHEAD & PIER REPAIR Grading, Excavation & Demolition Services, Free Est 757-262-6511

AMERICANTREESERVICE.CO ★Catering to all your tree & yard needs.★ ★757-587-9568. 30 years experience★

FRANK’S SIDING & REPAIRS Repairing Siding & Trim. Lic/Ins. FREE ESTIMATES 757-227-8964

CLEANUP Leaf Raking, Grass Cutting, Mulching & Trimming, Planting & Transplanting. 25 yrs exp. 918-4152

PEST/TERMITE CONTROL Universal Pest & Termite. FREE INSPECTIONS. 757-502-0200 (Mention This Ad and Get $25 Off)

Lawn and Tree Service ★ 100% DRAINAGE & YARD CLEANUP ★ Shrub & Tree Removal, Pruning, Tractor Work & Grading, French Drains, Mulching, Fences. ★★757-282-3823★★

YOUR PERFECT

HIRE

IS WAITING

GODWIN TREE SERVICE Total Tree Removal w. Stomps. Lic & Ins’d. 25+ yrs exp. Seasonal Discount For Potentially Hazardous Limbs Free Estimates; BBB, 757-237-1285 or 757-816-3759

LANDSCAPE SPECIALIST Fall Clean Ups. Renovations, monthly maintenance, mulching, shrub trimming seeding, aeration. Call Buddy 757-535-0928

Painting/Paperhanging INTERIOR/EXTERIOR PAINTING Wallpapering, Pressure Washing, Carpentry, Plumbing & Renov! Free est! Paint & Wallpaper By Bob: 757-714-4573

Professional Services SWAM- CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES Hoy Construction is looking for bids from SWAM certified subcontractors and suppliers for an upcoming rebuild of the Judeo Christan Outreach Center campus. All vendors must be licensed and insured. Plans will be available for review between November 21 and December 12. Please contact Liz at our office (757.853.5557) for access the bid documents.

Roofing CALVIN’S ROOFING REPAIR LLC Roofing repair of all types after the storm incl’g cleaning gutters, Free est, reasonable prices, Over 30 yrs-business, lic & Ins, BBB 757-377-2933 ROOF REPAIR Shingles, flat, rubber, tar, tin, slate, asbestos removal. Call 757-718-1072

Early home delivery.

757-446-9000 or PilotOnline.com

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www.ﬂagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, December 1, 2022 7

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Crossword

EASY-PEASY

Sudoku

10/27/22 CryptoQuip reprint – We apologize for the error in that weeks issue. Here is the corrected puzzle and answer.

CryptoQuip

This week’s CryptoQuip answer:

Supposing a shellﬁsh is driving a fast vehicle, I imagine one could call it a mussle car.

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

Religious Serivices For your installation’s religious service times visit www.ﬂagshipnews.com⁄ base_information⁄ religious_services

8 The Flagship | www.ﬂagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, December 1, 2022

I asked what kind of family Amina wanted. She said, ‘A family like yours.’ That’s when I knew I had to adopt her. Denise, adopted 17-year-old Amina

L E A R N A B O U T A D O P T I N G A TE E N YOU CAN’T IMAGINE THE REWARD

ADOPTUSKIDS.ORG