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Celebrating 20 years of serving the Hampton Roads Navy family
Vol. 21, No. 40 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 10.10-10.16.13
MORE THAN 40 COMMANDS CLEAN THE STATION AT NAVSTA NORFOLK MC2 Indra Bosko
More than 1,000 pilots and aircrewman assigned to various squadrons participated in the largest foreign object damage (FOD) walk-down during Clean the Station Day.
ECRC SAILORS HELP FEED THE HUNGRY
By MC2 Molly Greendeer Naval Station Norfolk Public Affairs
By MCC Mary Popejoy Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center Public Affairs
NORFOLK
More than 40 commands participated in Clean the Station Day on Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk Oct. 4. The semi-annual event was instituted by Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic in an effort to improve the cleanliness and military appearance of naval installations in the area. Clean the Station Day affords the more than 60,000 Sailors and civilians working at Naval Station Norfolk the time to concentrate their efforts on making the base a spotless example of Navy pride and professionalism. The event is organized by the NAVSTA Norfolk special operations (SPEC OPS) department. All tenant commands, squadrons, and homeported ships at the base are assigned an area of responsibility for cleaning. On the day of the event, the individual tenant commands, squadrons, and ships clean their assigned areas and SPEC OPS trucks patrol the base to collect any bagged trash and debris generated by the participants. “Whether they realize it or not, the naval station is one of their “spaces,” and they should take ownership of the area of the base that their command occupies,” said Ensign Matthew Kelly, SPEC OPS divisional officer.
» see CLEAN | A6
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VIRGINIA BEACH
MC3 Randy Savarese Chief Warrant Officer 3 John Sullivan, officer in charge of MDS Co. 2-4, waits for dive instruction during a demonstration for Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) students from David Crockett High School.
Navy Divers school NJROTC on the Deep By MC3 Randy Savarese
Sailors from Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center (ECRC) helped serve dinner to some of Hampton Roads’ homeless at the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center (JCOC) Sept. 26. “We’re always excited to have the military volunteer at JCOC because it’s a morale boost for those we serve and an opportunity for our military folks to see what we, as a community, do to help the homeless here,” said Todd Walker, JCOC executive director. “It’s a win-win for everyone involved, and we’re grateful for the assistance.” JCOC’s mission is to feed homeless residents as well as those in
need of a good wholesome meal once a day. The facility serves more than 100 dinners on a walk-in basis, seven days a week, and 365 days a year for JCOC residents and nonresidents. “This is truly a humbling experience because it reminds us all that having a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our back and a great job is a privilege and can just as easily be taken away in a world filled with uncertainty,” said Master-at-Arms 1st Class Jose Soto, ECRC transportation leading petty officer. For Personnel Specialist 1st Class Shaun Evans, it serves as a reminder that we can always do a better job of balancing wants and needs.
■ 100 meals a day The Feed the Hungry program at JudeoChristian Outreach Center in Virginia Beach provides more than 100 meals daily, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
» see ECRC | A6
EOD Expeditionary Support Unit 2 Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH
Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) students from David Crockett High School in Jonesborough, Tenn., learned about Navy diving from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 Sailors during a dive demonstration onboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Oct. 1. MDSU 2 divers volunteered to demonstrate surface-supplied dives and the Seabotix unmanned underwater vehicle to 55 NJROTC students so they can get a sense of what Navy diving is like and what it takes to get divers in and out of the water. “I think it’s great we’re able to show high school students what the Navy has to offer so if any of them wanted to follow this career path they could see being a diver is an option for them,” said Chief Navy Diver Rebecca Jones, leading chief petty officer assigned to MDS Co. 2-4.
» see DIVERS | A6
OMBUDSMEN APPRECIATION Navy ombudsmen in Hampton Roads were honored during the annual Ombudsmen Appreciation Dinner, Oct. 3, at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. » see A3
Navy EOD robot technician inspires middle school students on STEM By MC3 Randy Savarese EOD Expeditionary Support Unit 2 Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH
A robot technician from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit (EODESU) 2’s robotics shop participated in the third annual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Career Conference held at Corporate Landing Middle School, Sept. 27. During the event, Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Joseph Vanni, assigned to EODESU 2’s robotics shop, shared his knowledge
MILITARY CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD The SamuelT. Northern Military Citizen of theYear (MCOY) luncheon will be held at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott on Oct. 11.The award honors individuals who have made the most significant contribution in the area of community service » see B7
of the Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) and the Talon robotic systems. Students were also able to operate the robots in the classroom gaining first-hand experience in one aspect of an EOD technician’s job. Navy EOD robotics proved to be a perfect fit for an event focused on science and technology and Rachel McMillan, the STEM Career Conference coordinator, says is directly relatable to many of the students at Corporate Landing.
» see STEM | A4
SHREK THE MUSICAL Based on the Oscarwinning film, Shrek The Musical brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite swamp-dwelling ogre to dazzling new life on the stage. » see C1
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