Lincoln Sailors traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to participate in a wreathlaying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. See A4
More than 20 years of serving the Hampton Roads Navy family
Vol. 24, No. 31 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 08.04-08.10.16
NMCP teaches diabetic children the art and science of food By MC1 Gary Johnson NMCP Public Affairs PORTSMOUTH
BLACKHAWKS FORGE TIES DURING OPERATION STEEL ROOT By MC1 Barry Riley Navy Public Affairs Support Element East FORT DRUM, N.Y.
Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron 15 (HM-15) pilots and aircrewmen recently visited Fort Drum, New York, to participate in Operation Steele Root alongside the U.S. Army 1/108th Field Artillery Regiment. During the three-day training exercise, the pilots took shifts flying over the regiment in an MH-53 Sea Dragon helicopter to perform sling-load external lifting operations. Each pilot practiced individually lifting and moving five M777 Howitzers, a 155
mm .39 caliber towed gun, testing the power and maneuvering capabilities of the aircraft. According to HM-15 Weapons and Tactics Training Officer Lt. Jeff Spencer, the purpose of the exercise was to work with the Soldiers to provide training for rotary-wing movement of their M777 Howitzers while simultaneously providing HM-15 pilots with real-world joint heavy-lift experience and proficiency. “For our community and our airframe, it’s rare that we get operational tasking that requires this amount of coordination which pushes the limits of the aircraft and our air crews,”
Spencer said. “This real-world training provides us experience and proficiency to mitigate the risks associated with these types of missions.” This is the third year the squadron has participated in the training evolution, which is held annually in different locations around the U.S. This is a unique training opportunity that doesn’t come often for the squadron. “Our primary mission doesn’t provide us much time to get out and test the full capabilities and limitations of the MH-53 like this,” Spencer said. Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) » See BLACKHAWKS | A7
MC3 Kameren Guy Hodnett An MH-53E Sea Dragon, assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15, prepares to lift an M777 Howitzer at Fort Drum, New York.
local squadron Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 (HM15), nicknamed the “Blackhawks,” is a Navy helicopter squadron based at Naval Station Norfolk.
MUSEUMS’ CONTINUE LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE By Press release Hampton Roads Naval Museum Public Affairs NORFOLK
Over 750 chief petty officer (CPO) selectees will participate in the 16th annual CPO Heritage Days, August 15 – 17 in Norfolk. “Sixteen years ago, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum (HRNM) started a tradition for selectees to participate in various activities designed to educate them on the history and heritage of the chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy,” HRNM’s Public Information Officer Susanne Greene said. Staffs from HRNM, Nauticus and local chief petty officers will team up to present three days of handson heritage training. Guest Speakers for this year’s event include Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic Force Master Chief Jack R. Callison and Naval Air Force Atlantic Force Master Chief Chief William. Sessions will be held aboard Battleship Wisconsin. The selectees will also have a question and answer session with Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Duane R. Bushey. “This is the Navy’s premier training event for selectees,” HRNM Director Elizabeth Poulliot said. “Over the course of three days new chief petty officers will learn about their place in Navy history.” Please note that this event is not open to the general public.
MC2 Mike DiMestico Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Montpelier (SSN 765) operates under its own power.
Montpelier, Texas awarded Arleigh Burke fleet trophy award NORFOLK
Commander of Submarine Forces Vice Adm. Joseph E. Tofalo presented the prestigious Arleigh Burke fleet trophy award for 2015 to USS Montpelier (SSN 765) during a pierside presentation at Naval Station Norfolk, July 22. The award encompasses operational readiness, retention and inspections and is presented each year to the ship or aviation squadron in the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets which has had the greatest improvement during the previous year. “The crew of Montpelier is honored to have been selected as the Atlantic Fleet’s Arleigh Burke [fleet] trophy award winner for 2015,” Montpelier Commanding Officer Cmdr. Brad Swanbeck said. “This award serves as a testament to the monumental effort the team put forth while preparing
» See MUSEUM | A7
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From Submarine Force Atlantic Public Affairs
» See BRAVO ZULU | A7
The crew of USS Texas embodies the readiness and fighting spirit of our submarine force.” -Rear Adm. Frederick J. Roegge
HEROES AT HOME The first issue of every month features content for Gold Star Families. Turn to Heroes at Home to read more.
TRANSITION Career Waypoints is the Navy’s primary method of providing Sailors future career options including reenlistment, rate conversion, or transition into the Selected Reserves.
LOCAL EVENTS Want to know what’s going on in your area? Turn to On Liberty for recaps and previews of events around Hampton Roads!
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Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) helped 13 pediatric diabetic patients learn about nutrition and blood sugar management during the 10th annual Art and Science of Food event . The event brought school-aged kids together to obtain their updated Diabetes Medical Management Plan and gave the kids a chance to learn more about their disease in a fun environment. “Food is perhaps the biggest factor with diabetes management,” NMCP pediatric endocrinology nurse Linda Gottlick said. “There are many factors involved in managing blood sugar, but it is a key factor that we teach how food can really affect sugar levels.” Dealing with a chronic illness can be difficult for adults, and even more so for children. NMCP schedules the event in the middle of summer so kids can attend during the day and learn coping strategies for when they are back in school. They also learn how to deal with peer pressure, and how to fit in with their classmates while having to manage their blood-sugar levels. Participants ranged from toddler to teenager. “This is the first year that we have not had set age ranges,” Gottlick said. “All of the children here were diagnosed at different ages and I think that the interaction with older children is really helping to raise the spirits of the young children. It shows them that this really is a manageable condition. It also helps when they are able to hear real life experiences with using the information we are teaching them.” This year’s event was held in the NMCP galley which allowed the children to eat breakfast and monitor the effects » See NMCP | A7
MC1 Gary L. Johnson III A pediatric diabetes patient gets served lunch during the 10th annual Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Art and Science of Food event.
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