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Celebrating 20 years of serving the Hampton Roads Navy family
Vol. 21, No. 32 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 08.15-08.21.13
■ a good cause Religious Programs Specialist 2nd Class Cole Worst (left) and Quartermaster 2nd Class Rafael Acosta, from Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, bag ears of corn for distribution during a community relations project at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore in Virginia Beach, Aug. 8.
MC1 (SW/AW) Molly A. Burgess
Local Sailors give back to community through volunteerism By MC1 (SW/AW) Molly A. Burgess The Flagship Military Editor
NORFOLK
Nearly a dozen Sailors from Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic volunteered their time to give back to the local community through a community relations (COMREL) project at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, Aug. 8. The goal of the COMREL project was to give back to the community through volunteerism. Command Sailors donate their time monthly to various local organizations in need. “For us, volunteering is very important because it shows commitment to the community,” said Chief Master-at-Arms Rusty Crain, the command volunteer coordinator. With as many as 200 volunteers a week who give their time to assist with services, preparation and programs to the Foodbank, a large portion of those volunteers are often military service members. “Volunteers are essential to us. Last year we had more than 6,200 volunteers and more than 41 thousand hours in volunteer time. The number of full-time employees we would need to have to make up the difference for all the work our amazing volunteers do for us is just unbelievable,” said Julie Braley, Marketing and Business Relations Director for the Foodbank. “They do everything from sorting food, packing corn and repacking food for distribution, as well as administrative volunteering. Their time is invaluable to us.” According to Braley, the Foodbank distributed more than 14.2 million meals and nearly 17.1 million pounds of food their last fiscal year, which spans from July to June, and one in seven families in the Hampton Roads are food insecure based on poverty statistics. “The Foodbank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief domestic charity and as a part of that network, the food banks combine to help distribute meals and food to people in the country who are food insecure, which means they’re not sure where their next meal might be coming from,” she said. “With about 400 agency partners and programs, our service area is close to 5,000 square miles.”
» see FOODBANK | A4 WOMEN AT SEA Female Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) formed the first Women at Sea association and hosted their first meeting for the command, Aug. 7.
» see A2
SAPR: NAVY CREATES VICTIMS’ LEGAL COUNSEL Press Release Defense Media Activity-Navy
ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, MD.
The Navy announced the establishment of the Navy’s newest Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) initiative, the Victims’ Legal Counsel (VLC) Program, which will provide legal advice and advocacy for eligible victims of sexual assault. The Victims’ Legal Counsel will help victims understand the investigation and military justice process, advocate their legal rights and interests, and when appropriate, appear in court on their behalf. “The Navy is committed to protecting the rights and interests of victims of sexual assault and ensuring the administration of a fair, transparent and efficient military justice system that guarantees due process for the accused and promotes good order and discipline,” said Vice Adm. Nanette M. DeRenzi, Judge Advocate General of the Navy. “The
Navy’s Victims’ Legal Counsel program complements the Navy’s broader efforts to care for victims of sexual assault by providing them with legal advice and assistance throughout the military justice process.” Initially, the VLC Program will consist of 29 specially-trained, independent judge advocates assigned regionally to maximize availability of counsel across the Fleet. Navy VLCs will serve every geographic region, including the United States, Europe, the Pacific and the Middle East. The program’s attorneys will not be in the victim’s or the accused’s chain of command and will not be involved in case prosecution or defense. “Through increased training and bystander intervention we are confronting sexual assault fleetwide, while ensuring that we provide needed care and support to victims,” said Rear Adm. Sean Buck, Director, 21st Century Sailor Office. “This program further adds to that support.”
U.S. Navy photo illustration by Leslie Paxton An informational poster about sexual assault awareness month.
For more information and resources to combat sexual assault visit www.sapr. navy.mil. Sexual assault affects Navy readiness and the Navy is committed to preventing sexual assault. Join the Navy’s conversation about sexual assault on social media and help raise awareness by using #NavySAPR.
Lincoln Sailors take a stand against crime By MCSN Danian Douglas USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs
SUFFOLK
MCSN Danian Douglas Sailors from USS Abraham Lincoln interact with children during the 30th annual National Night Out jamboree.
X-47B RETURNS The Navy’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator safely returned to Naval Air Station Patuxent River from NASAs Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, Aug. 8. » see B1
Twenty Sailors from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) took a stand against crime by volunteering their time to assist the city of Suffolk celebrate their 30th annual National Night Out jamboree, a large-scale crime prevention initiative, Aug. 6.
The National Night Out event was held at the Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk. The Sailors assisted in the setup and breakdown of game equipment, served refreshments and facilitated the colorful carnival-style games, such as chicken-in-the-pot, monster bash, rock and roll, tic-tac-toe and a milk-can toss. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Aytes coordinated the manpower by reaching out to
NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA CELEBRATES 70 YEARS See this week’s C section for a trip down memory lane as Naval Air Station Oceana celebrates it’s 70th Anniversary by highlighting its historical events, ceremonies and happenings that made the base the monumental landmark for Hampton Roads.
Lincoln’s chaplain for assistance, and Sailors heeded the call to service. “The chaplain helped me to draft up the details of the event, such as the points of contact, date and location,” said Aytes, who worked with the Lincoln’s Chief’s Mess, first class petty officers and various departmental community relations coordinators to inform the
» see LINCOLN | A4
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