®
Celebrating 20 years of serving the Hampton Roads Navy family
Vol. 21, No. 19 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 05.16-05.22.13
Rewarding Sailors for responsible choices – KWYE By MC1 (SW/AW) Molly A. Burgess The Flagship Military Editor
NORFOLK
U.S. Navy file photo The “Keep What You’ve Earned” (KWYE) campaign is a continuing effort to encourage responsible drinking habits by focusing on achievements through recognition for dedication and hard work in hope that Sailors will realize how much they can lose if they make poor choices in regards to alcohol.
X-47B catapult launch from Bush ‘pivotal milestone’
Harry Gerwien | Military Newspapers of Virginia The 2013 Heroes at Home: Military Spouse Awards™ finalists line up after receiving their awards.
Press Release Naval Air Systems Command
USS BUSH, AT SEA
The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator (UCAS-D) completed its first ever carrier-based catapult launch from USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) off the coast of Virginia, May 14. “Today we saw a small, but significant pixel in the future picture of our Navy as we begin integration of unmanned systems into arguably the most complex warfighting environment that exists today – the flight deck of a nuclearpowered aircraft carrier,” said Vice Adm. David Buss, cCommander, Naval Air Forces, the Navy’s “Air Boss.” The unmanned aircraft launched from the deck of George H.W. Bush at 11:18 a.m. It executed several planned low approaches to the carrier and safely transited across the Chesapeake Bay to land at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., after a 65-minute flight. Buss called the launch a “watershed event” in naval aviation and said he expects that decades from now, a future “Air Boss” will have a picture of the X-47B launching from Bush behind his or her desk, just as he has a picture of aviation pioneer Eugene Ely’s first-ever landing
On April 1, a year-round campaign was implemented throughout the Navy as part of an ongoing initiative designed to encourage Sailors to make smart choices and help them to keep what they have successfully earned during their naval career. The “Keep What You’ve Earned” (KWYE) campaign is a continuing effort to encourage responsible drinking habits by focusing on achievements through recognition for dedication and hard work in hopes that Sailors will realize how much they can lose if they make poor choices in regards to alcohol.
This campaign is updated to reach out in a personal way to all Sailors, particularly those under 25, who have had 60 percent of the alcohol-related incidents.” - Fleet Master Chief April D. Beldo
2013 HEROES AT HOME MILITARY SPOUSE OF THE YEAR AWARDED Annual luncheon honored 80 military spouse nominees; 10 finalists
By David Todd The Flagship Managing Editor
VIRGINIA BEACH
The Hampton Roads community and The Flagship, Inc. celebrated the annual Heroes at Home: Military Spouse Awards™, May 9, at the Founder’s Inn in Virginia Beach. “We are in our ninth year of highlighting the accomplishments of the hardest working member of the Armed Forces,
the military spouse,” said Laura Baxter, publisher and general manager for The Flagship and Military Newspapers of Virginia. “[More Than] 1,300 men and women have been nominated for this award. This event has received national recognition and it has even captured the attention of the White House. In fact, one of our winners from a previous year was given a President’s Volunteer Service
» see AWARDS | A8
SEALtraining
Local SEAL candidate prepares for BUD/s A U.S. Navy SEAL candidate swings to an elevated cargo net at a Naval Special Warfare elevated obstacle course. SEAL candidates use the obstacle course in preparation for attending the Basic Underwater Demolition/ SEAL (BUD/s) course.
» see X-47B | A4
MC1 Les Long
LT. DAN BAND PERFORMS Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band performed a free “Tribute to the Troops” concert in Portsmouth, May 11, in celebration ofThe Flagship’s 20th Anniversary.
» see A9
LOCAL SAILOR HONORED Lt. Janis Harrington, a helicopter instructor pilot with Helicopter Sea Combat SquadronTwo (HSC-2), was selected as the USO Navy Woman of theYear.
» see B4
GREEK FEST THIS WEEK Catch plenty of food and entertainment at the annual Norfolk Greek Festival at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Norfolk, May 16-19.
» see C1
According to Fleet Master Chief April D. Beldo, Manpower Personnel Training and Education, although the rates of Navy alcohol-related incidents (ARI) and driving under the influence (DUI) have decreased, one incident is too many. “This campaign is updated to reach out in a personal way to all Sailors, particularly those under 25, who have had 60 percent of the alcohol-related incidents,” said Beldo. “Over the last five years, the number of ARIs has been reduced by almost half. We need to continue to reduce ARIs so that we have the safest and most professional force to lead the Navy’s future.” Unlike previous programs and campaigns, to encourage all hands participation up and down the ranks, KWYE highlights monthly alcohol-related messages that reflect on the campaigns mission for leadership to facilitate and talk about amongst their Sailors. “Monthly message topics will provide variety to ensure that the campaign is heard,” said Beldo. “During the week leading prior to Memorial Day, the next phase of the KWYE campaign will launch, in alignment with the Navy’s ‘Live to Play, Play to Live’ summer safety campaign, including dissemination of the videos and summer safetyrelated messaging.” The 52 weekly discussion topics are a way for leaders to remind their Sailors about responsible drinking habits.
» see KWYE | A4
THE FLAGSHIP’S FREE HOME DELIVERY Get the convenience of your Navy newspaper delivered right to your door for free! Sign up today! Call 222-3965