What’s INSIDE
CPO selects take on new challenges See page B-1
September 7, 2018
Are you prepared for disaster? See page B-2
Key spouses awarded See page B-3
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Volume 9 Issue 35 Hawaii Gov. David Ige, service members, Department of Defense personnel and their families form a human chain in the shape of a yellow suicide awareness ribbon in support of National Suicide Awareness Month.
Services, community band together for awareness Story and photos by MC1 Corwin Colbert Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs Navy Region Hawaii hosted a Joint Services Suicide Prevention Proclamation signing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Sept. 5 in support of National Suicide Awareness Month. Hawaii Gov. David Ige, service members from every branch of service, Department of Defense (DoD) personnel as well as military and their families attended the event, which took place at Freedom Tower. Ige and military leaders came together as a commu-
nity to pledge to help prevent suicide-related deaths. “Sometimes this (suicide) is an unseen, unspoken affliction in our community,” Ige said. “As a community, we build resiliency by taking care of each other. I encourage everyone to be a light for someone suffering. We do know when we stay connected to our family, friends and neighbors and our community, we can make a better effort to support them, and help them be stronger people and be a strong part of our community. As governor of the state of Hawaii, I am proud to sign this proclamation, to invest into our community
and make it stronger.” Rear Adm. Brian Fort, commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, said having strong relationships provides critical support when anyone in their family or community is experiencing a painful life challenge or feels alone or feels like they’ve lost their purpose. “Suicide affects all of us, individually and as a family. Whether that family be your personal family, your military family or both — and, as the governor mentioned, it certainly affects us all as a community,” Fort said. “Events like today are designed to help us to remember the
importance of community. Understanding the risks and building a resilience amongst all of our service members and families.” Following official remarks, Ige, Fort and other Hawaii military leaders signed the proclamation. The event also included more than 200 people forming a human chain in the shape of a yellow suicide awareness ribbon. The attempt is believed to be the first on a military installation on Oahu. Organizers from the Military and Family Support Center also held a mini-suicide prevention fair that included information and resource booths.
Rear Adm. Brian Fort, commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, signs the Joint Services Suicide Prevention Proclamation.
NMCRS hosts annual recognition ceremony Story and photo by Kristen Wong Life and Leisure Editor, Ho‘okele Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) Pearl Harbor recognized the units and representatives that contributed to this year’s active duty fund drive. A ceremony for the awards was held Aug. 29 at Hickam Memorial Theater. The fund drive began Feb. 9 and ran through March 23. Donations for the drive, however, were still accepted through the end of May. The goal this year was to make 100 percent contact with individuals in each unit, and make them aware of the campaign, according to Paul Belanger, the director of NMCRS Pearl Harbor. Personnel raised $411,487 this year, an increase from the previous year. Rear Adm. Brian Fort, the commanding officer of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific,
Team Spirit Awards
Diana Zuniga, casework lead at Navy Marine Corps Relief Society Pearl Harbor, speaks with a client at the society’s office aboard Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Aug. 30.
USS Halsey (DDG 97) USS O’Kane (DDG 77) USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) USS Louisville (SSN 724) USS Greeneville (SSN 772) Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Pearl Harbor Navy Exchange Hawaii
Most improved over previous year Surface: USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) Submarine: USS Olympia (SSN 717) Small Shore: Navy Environmental Preventive Medicine Unit 6 Large Shore: Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Second most improved over previous year Surface: USS Halsey (DDG 97) Submarine: USS Chicago (SSN 721) Small Shore: Navy Munitions Command East Asia Division Large Shore: Logistics Support Unit 3 attended the ceremony. Fort said that thanks to the society, a Sailor he knew was able to remedy a financial issue they were having due to a payday lender. He expressed his gratitude for everyone’s efforts. “Unlike a bank which
charges interest on loans that they provide — and that’s how they make their money to cover their overhead — Navy Marine Corps Relief Society is a nonprofit and everything that we do for assistance is interest free,” Belanger said.
“Without a good fund drive, we have no other means of income to cover our overhead and to be able to continue assisting Sailors and Marines … the fund drive is crucial to our continued ability to provide financial assistance to Sailors,
Marines, retirees and their families.” The society supports active duty Marines, Sailors, retirees and eligible family members with quick assist loans, financial counseling and more. NMCRS also offers Budget for Baby
classes to help military parents-to-be plan financially for new additions to the family. There are also society thrift shops in many locations. For more information about the society and what it offers, please visit nmcrs.org.