CATANIA, Sicily – More than 60 Marines and Sailors from Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa Detachment (SPMAGTF-CR-AF), Sailors, and civilians assigned to Naval Air Station Sigonella were paid a special visit by an important community figure during a community relations project at San Nicolò Church Jan. 31.

Service members traveled to the nearly 1,000-year-old church, helping move more than 100 cases of relics, dusted the chorus area, and hauled slabs of marble and granite in preparation for the Festival of Sant’Agata that ended Feb. 5.

While service members spruced up the church, they were paid a visit by Archbishop of Catania Salvatore Gristina. The Marines and Sailors took a break from cleaning, as Gristina spoke, posed for pictures, and blessed the ser-vice members.

“I admire the generosity of these young service members, who are already committed to very difficult work,” said Gristina. “Coming

here and helping out, it’s important to appreci-ate their work. We can see the results of their great volunteer effort.”

“It was an important moment to become a part of the cultural fabric of the city that’s host-ing us,” said Dana M. Rains, a management an-alyst at Naval Supply Systems Command, who helped coordinate the clean-up and translated for participants.

Several members from the community of Catania and neighboring towns thanked the team for their efforts. While it was just one of the roughly 150 COMRELs the base hopes to execute in 2015, for the Marines and Sailors it was more than just another opportunity to give back to the community. It was a great day made even more memorable by the archbishop’s visit and cleaning a building built centuries before the United States even existed.

“[Our work] creates a stronger relationship between the two different communities, not

NAS SIGONELLA

Exercise Neptune Arrow - 15:Organizing chaos at NAS SigonellaBy MC3 RaMon GoNAS Sigonella Public Affairs Staff

"Archbishop" continued on page 15

Exercise! Exercise!

Neptune Arrow 15!

PAGE 8

Vol. 32 No. 5

Military Postal System:

Don't pour your money down the drain!

PAGE 12

VITA:

Get help with your taxes!

PAGE 4

February 6, 2015

Catania Archbishop visits Marines, Sailors during clean-upBy LanCe CoRpoRaL LuCas J. HopkinsSpecial Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Public Affairs

Archbishop of catania salvatore Gristina, right, speaks to U.s. service members assigned to Naval Air station (NAs) sigonella and special purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force crisis response-Africa inside the church of san Nicolò in catania during a community relations event, Jan. 31. Gristina thanked and blessed the service members for their help in the preservation of the largest church in sicily. (U.s. Navy photo by Mass communication specialist 3rd class ramon Go/released)

NAS Sigonella, Sicily - A simulated outbound Boeing 767 aircraft carrying 132 passengers and eight crewmembers takes flight from the tarmac, moments later, the pilot reports a sudden loss of power of all engines. The simulated aircraft crashes hard near the end of the runway at Na-val Air Station (NAS) Sigonella. The training scenario begins and all emergency responders corre-spond and execute emergency operating procedures.

“Exercise Neptune Arrow-15 is an emergency preparedness exercise that we conduct an-nually and the objective is to integrate different emergency responders and have them work together,” said William Ts-chumy, NAS Sigonella training officer. “We make improvements based on standard operating procedures and learn from these experiences for the next exercise and do better.”

The region training team ar-rived to NAS Sigonella for train-ing and evaluation of the Exer-cise Neptune Arrow – 15 on Jan. 26. The outcome of the exercise exceeded many expectations from the training team.

“The region training team was amazed by how much par-ticipation was involved from the incident management team, including the senior leadership (CO and XO), in the emergency

operation center (EOC),” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) Jason Slama, EOC manager. “They were impressed with how the objectives were stated immediately to resolve the casualty and everyone’s par-ticipation as if it was a real case scenario.”

The Italian Air Force also took part in the exercise to strengthen unity by working together and helping out one another.

“We were also appraised for maintaining the common operating picture from the EOC,” said Slama. “We knew where everything was; the incident, the fire trucks, the spill, the search grid, etc.”

In any emergency situation, some of the first responders are the fire-emergency response (FES), security, emergency medical services (EMS), environmental, etc. All entities who respond to any incident are responsible for delivering and receiving clear communication to eliminate unnecessary drawbacks and provide a timely response to an incident.

“Communication is key – any delays in communication can result in patient fatalities and hinder patients transported to the nearest facilities,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kurt Duncan, medical representative for the integrated

training team. “Medical’s role is to respond to any casualties, and in this scenario of about 30 sim-ulated victims, they were triaged on the spot – treat, categorize and send to the nearest hospital.”

About 30 volunteers showed up at the flight clinic hours prior to the exercise for the moulage, an art of applying mock inju-ries for the purpose of train-ing emergency response teams and other medical and military personnel. Each volunteer also received a detailed injury pre-scription and acted according to their symptoms.

“It has been a fun and exciting experience to see the first responders come and rescue us as we try to tell them what our injuries are,” said Logistics Specialist Seaman Francoise Crespocrespo, a volunteer whose simulated injury consisted of multiple facial laceration and distal deformity on his left arm. “I think the emergency team responded very well and I feel confident in their skills to get us all out of alive in a real life scenario.”

Approximately four months went into planning the two-day

exercise. NAS Sigonella and its tenant commands keep their families and nearby commu-nities safe through continued preparation and training for different types of emergency re-sponse scenarios.

“You never want bad things to happen, but you have to be prepared in the event that some-thing does happen, and the only way to be prepared is to train for these type of scenarios,” said Ts-chumy. “Different type of train-ing provides different type of challenges to help responders be prepared for anything.”

sailors acted as victims of an aircraft casualty during Exercise Neptune Arrow - 15, Jan. 28. (U.s. Navy photo by Mass communication specialist 3rd class ramon Go/released)

THe siGnaTuRepaGe 2 February 6, 2015 THe siGnaTuRe paGe 3February 6, 2015

Buongiorno Sigonella!

It’s great seeing the community making great things happen every day. Overall, we’re tracking well into 2015, having knocked out many important training events and the first of the base exercise series. I’d like to thank all who worked tirelessly to help organize and execute the NEPTUNE ARROW exercise last week. Our team from the Emergency Operations Center and members from our Blue and Gold emergency response teams combined efforts with ITAF, hospital staff, and other participants and slew of volunteers to make the event a success. From the facilitator feedback we were given, we did very well as a community and I could not be more proud, as it is indicative of how we are working together to safeguard the community. Thank you.

There have been many “exception to policy” requests from those of you in the community looking to move out of government housing and into our local Italian economy. Many have come as a result of needing to make room to accommodate upcoming renovations to the Unaccompanied Housing (UH) building on NAS 1 (B170). Essentially, we are out of this phase and are returning to normal screening of these requests. There have also been requests made by accompanied housing residents. Bear in mind that exceptions are granted based on many criteria, including occupancy levels. If you have any questions or concerns, the Housing Department is available to assist you. Please stop by their offices, or call for more information.

The experience of living within the local economy during a tour at NAS Sigonella can be beneficial in many ways. However, there are many challenges associated with the contrasts between this and living in government quarters. Be sure to fully research all that potentially comes along with an approval to your requests. Whether it’s having to pay rent, plan for heating/cooling expenses, or becoming an addition to the already large group of commuters, living in the local economy sometimes brings hidden responsibilities and challenges. And, while I can appreciate that many us feel that we can be excellent “Ambassadors” of the NAS Sigonella presence to our hosts, sometimes I am not

convinced that this is actually happening. It takes more than merely taking up residence out in town to be a good representative of the Sigonella community and, ultimately, the United States.

There are several ways to be good ambassadors, and not just toward our hosts. Start with that person in the mirror. Work at being good ambassadors toward each other by working on your professionalism on base and within the community. That means dressing smartly and wearing a regulation hair style. It means being courteous. It means communicating positively with your friends, co-workers, or even random associates. And, whether or not you're in a leadership position, taking the time to learn about your associates and Shipmates. It means following up tactfully and truthfully with those who may be consciously or unconsciously disobeying general orders, reminding them why those are important. It's living the mantra of "See something, say something", vice talking about it. All put together, this is what helps us to be better representatives inside and outside the installation.

One excellent way to represent well is through community relations (COMREL) events. In many cases, these events will place you in direct contact with local communities as you work together toward respectable goals. COMREL events are coordinated by the Public Affairs office, and represent one of the many great choices in the community to answer the question, “what is there to do around here?”

Another great and easy way to represent well is being good ambassadors behind the wheel of your vehicle. This means observing and following both local and installation rules of the road and safety notices. The average vehicle is two-tons of potentially fast-moving steel. Cars, as necessary as they are to get from here to there, can be extremely dangerous when you're not respecting the capabilities or limits of the vehicle you're driving or the people with whom

you share the roadway. Nothing says “I don't care much about my neighbors” than when we drive recklessly. I've seen the reports on paper, and from those who've witnessed less than stellar performances on the roads. I've seen too much of it myself. IT MUST STOP. Sig’ Citizens that continue to make poor decisions on the roadways will be losing their privileges - it's as simple as that. Unfortunately, warnings aren’t having the desired effect, and the command will not wait for another severe accident or worse to happen before additional measures are taken. Mind your driving, Sigonella!

Before I end the conversation of safe driving I will take the opportunity to remind you all that SP-208 (the road that runs by the pink agriturismo known as Oasi Francesca and connects SP-105 and SP-192) is off limits. The only traffic on SP-208 should be local residents. Please read the article on SP-208 in this issue of The Signature.

It is a pleasure to serve with you each and every day as we do our part to support the various missions that our beloved country directs side-by-side with our neighbors and allies!

Executive Officer Cmdr. Charles G. McKinney IIDirect Line

There are two ways to submit feed back to Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Commanding Officer Capt. Chris Dennis:

Visit The Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) home page on a One-Net computer at: http://ice.disa.mil, All Sigonella services are found under the Navy Europe Listing in the scroll-down menu. Also, visit NAS Sigonella's website www.cnic.navy.mil/Sigonella, go to the "About" drop down menu and click on " CO Suggestion Box".

The Signature will anonymously publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. If you are submitting a "BZ", we ask that you provide your name in order for us to properly recognize employee. Please make sure your comments and suggestions are constructive. In other words, "BE NICE ON ICE."

Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box

Interactive Customer Evaluation

CommandingOfficer’s

Box

Suggestion EvaluationCustomerInteractive

THE SIGNATUREU.s. NAVAL Air sTATioN siGoNELLA

commanding officerCapt. Chris Dennis

Executive officerCmdr. Charles G. McKinney II

command Master chiefCMDCM Mike Kaszubowski

EDiToriAL

public Affairs officer Lt. Paul Newell

paul.newell@eu.navy.mil

EditorM. Todd Butler

michael.butler@eu.navy.mil

community relations officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta

alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil

pAo staff Writers \ photographersMC1 Tony D. Curtis

anthony.curtis@eu.navy.mil

MC3 Ramon Goramon.go@eu.navy.mil

coNTAcT UsNaval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily

thesig@eu.navy.milDSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440

PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001

pUbLishErStampa Generale S.r.l.,

Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher,Naval Support Activity

Capodichino (Naples), Italystampagenerale@tin.it

Tel. 081-568-7884Fax 081-568-7887

This civilian enterprise (CE) newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The

Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the

Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. The appearance of advertising

in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute

endorsement by the DoD or Stampa Generale S.r.l., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this

publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin,

age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit

factorof the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal

opportunity policy by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that

source until the violation is corrected.

The Signature is published weekly by Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi,

Publisher, Naval Support Activity, Capodichino (Naples), Italy.

Tel. 081-568-7884. Fax 081-568-7887. E-mail: stampagenerale@tin.it.

Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments,

divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public

Affairs Office via thesig@eu.navy.mil, guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered to our office no later than the close of business on the Fri-

day proceeding the expected publication date. All articles submitted by non-staff members

will be considered contributing writers.

The Signature will not publish anyanonymous articles. All advertisements in this publication are the property of Stampa Generale S.r.l. Any

reproduction of advertisements in The Signature is unauthorized without the

written consent of the publisher.cnic.navy.mil/sigonella

"icE" continued from page 2

"icE" continued on page 3

Comment regarding Battery Disposal:Sigonella has undergone a change in regards to trash containers in the past months, and I find this to be a positive change. However, one very important matter has had no consideration whatsoever. Sigonella is the only community I have been in that doesn't have a used battery disposal container. I'm to assume that most people are dumping their used batteries in the trash can. I have a full plastic bucket full of them and don't want to dump them in the dumpster. I request that a used battery disposal contained be placed in each base/location, NAS 1, NAS 2, Marinai etc. If there is an existing location to dispose of these old batteries, please let me know where this point is. Thank you.

Response: Thank you for your concern for our environment and our recycling program, and we completely agree with your comments and observation. In fact, a clearly-marked container for used batteries and small printer cartridges was recently installed at the NAS 1 Commissary near the service window as you exit the grocery store. We are looking for more locations. Please be respectful and do not fill the battery and cartridge recycle bins with general refuse. For more information please contact Eileen Nave at 624-2725, or our Public Works Director, Cmdr. Deanna Carpenter, at 624-2906.

Comment regarding NEX Depot:What can be done to keep the outside of the NEX Depot clean? It is littered with debris, and bird droppings are everywhere.

Response: Thank you for your observation. We are working with both Public Works and the Navy Exchange to permanently improve this situation. Public Works is planning to install structures - either netting, spikes, or both - that are common-practice deterrents for birds. As well, the Navy Exchange will be monitoring the area daily to make sure it is free of debris and discarded trash. Please also be on the lookout for the upcoming cleaning and maintenance zones instruction that will empower us as a base to keep the installation tidy.

Comment regarding Housing customer service:Speaking for myself and three others, we're frustrated by the way we've been treated by Housing. Each time I've called or stopped by seeking assistance I am "greeted" by rude employees at the front desk, and also by other staff members. We've since learned that our request chits were misplaced by the Housing office. Instead of providing us guidance, the staff is condescending and treats us like children.

Response: I can't begin to apologize for your experience. It is fully unacceptable. My expectation for all NASSIG employees is that they provide CO Customer Service, 24-7-365. Clearly your experience fell far short. We will fix this! I ask anyone receiving anything less than CO Customer Service to pass your details directly to Mr. Nestor Tumulac, Housing Director, at DSN 624-4070, or Nestor.Tumulac@eu.navy.mil.

Comment regarding Barracks Maintenance:Despite several attempts to contact Navy Gateway Inns and Suites Maintenance Staff, and numerous individual trouble calls, Barracks 557 "J" lost heat for a significant amount of time. Additionally, hot water throughout the barracks was sporadic at best.

Response: While I certainly understand the frustration and general discomfort associated with having no heat, we encourage you to next time place a trouble call. In fact, when this exact issue at Bldg. 557 occurred, it was resolved exactly two hours after this ICE comment was filed because a neighbor contacted your building's maintenance managers/uniformed duty complex managers. For routine issues, and if building maintenance providers are off duty, please leave a note on the writing pad outside the building maintenance office. For emergencies, such as no heat, please contact your Resident Advisor (RA) who will put in a trouble call with Public Works after hours, holidays, and weekends. All of this information is posted in each of the barracks' bulletin boards.

Comment regarding Housing Swap:Housing allowed a Lieutenant and his family to move out of his three-bedroom Marinai house to a nearby four-bedroom unit. The family now has their third child, but only one child makes the age requirement to have their own room per our housing policy. With many enlisted members in the same situation, this seems like a double-standard since the lieutenant's family does not qualify.

Response: First off, congratulations to Jake and Shevaun Davis on the birth of one of our newest Sigonella Citizens! Baby Reed Davis is healthy, and from what I've heard Shevaun is doing well, though likely a bit more tired. :)

As far as the across-the-street move is concerned, officer or enlisted, it is within CNIC policy and our instruction (NASSIGINST 11101.3A, Section 6) to allow residents to request additional bedrooms when a base employee or dependent is pregnant. Specifically: "When the sponsor or spouse is pregnant (requires doctor certification), the sponsor may apply for and occupy housing with a separate bedroom for the expected child." As you've noted the Davis family already had two children and Shevaun was well into her pregnancy when the move occurred into an available unit. As for the age requirement, children of the same sex under 6-years old can (and often must) share a bedroom, but the same instruction also says "where inventory allows, each dependent child should have a private bedroom." At the time we received Lt. Davis' request for a larger home we had several Officer/Senior Enlisted four-bedroom units available. Coincidently, there was and continues to be a waiting list for Officer/Senior Enlisted three-bedroom units.

The move only made sense.

THe siGnaTuRepaGe 4 February 6, 2015 THe siGnaTuRe paGe 5February 6, 2015

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Money back in the pocket is one more reason for all you U.S. tax payers to reminisce about last year, and especially now that tax season is upon us. For most of you filing taxes will be a good thing; but just as it is every year there will be a little needed effort before you get your “green” back.

Filing your taxes can feel like a burden, especially digging through piles and then making sense of those important documents. Nerve-wrecking as it may be, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program here at NAS Sigonella has been established to provide tax advice and preparation, return filing, and other tax assistance to U.S. service members, families, DoD employees, and contractors eligible for legal assistance.

VITA is now operating here after a week-long training session for staff and volunteers. Operation commenced Monday, two weeks after W-2 forms were made available to service members. There are two VITA locations available at NAS Sigonella: Fleet and Family Support Center on NAS 1, available for all customers, and the Legal Office on NAS 2 for One-Net users only. VITA will accept walk-ins from noon - 6 p.m. at NAS 1. NAS 2 will take scheduled appointments only by calling DSN 624-5258.

“The purpose of VITA is to ensure all those who are eligible are equipped with the right resources to file their tax return,” said Lt. Matthew Kozyra, NAS Sigonella’s judge advocate general and this year’s VITA coordinator. “The program is a self-service model where people can come in and do their tax returns while VITA volunteers stand by to answer questions they may have.”

Volunteers are trained to provide answers specific to the military lifestyle. For example: combat-zone tax exemptions, family separation pay, basic allowance for housing, basic allowance for subsistence, moving dislocation allowance, and other complicated incomes often associated with tax season.

“Bring your ID card, as well as any tax forms you have received during the year including any W-2s from your employer, 1099s from other sources of income, and social security, retirement, or student loan interest statements,” said Kozyra. “You will also want to bring bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit, social security numbers or [Individual Tax-payer Identification Numbers] for members of your immediate family, a personal email addres, and a copy of last year’s federal and state returns if you have it.”

About 27 volunteers took the opportunity to receive a free 20-hour online training from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and receive a certification after completion. The volunteers participate in the same training used all around the world for tax preparers, and in due time, it is hoped that volunteers will help the NAS Sigonella community get money back from their returns.

“I think the program is very effective because last year we were able to help 115 customers and saved more than $225,000 in tax returns,” said Kozyra. “VITA volunteers are here to make sure you are maximizing your tax returns.”

NAS Sigonella, Sicily - Closed. Chiuso. Cerrado. Geschlossen. No matter the language, one thing is clear: The SP-208 road is closed to thru traffic. At both ends of road are barricades with signs that read: Closed: except for residents and owners

of agricultural land. “As per Catania Province regulation, [the road] is closed to through-traffic between SP-105 and

SP-192,” said Lt. Juan Cardona, NAS Sigonella Assistant Security Officer. “Only residents, land owners, and customers of Agriturismo "Oasi Francesca" are authorized on that road.”

The barricades are not there as obsticals to prepare you for the newest edition of Need for Speed or to test the quality of your brakes . They are there to stop you from driving on the deteriorating and dangerous roads.

“We strongly advise all of our community to not use the road as it may result in penalties to include citations,” said Cardona.

As alternatives, please use the SS-417 or the SP-105/SP106 to traverse between NAS 1 and NAS 2.

Road closed: SP-208

File your taxes with help from VITABy MC3 RaMon GoNAS Sigonella Public Affairs Staff

Lt. Matthew Kozyra, Naval Air station (NAs) sigonella’s judge advocate general, left, speaks with volunteers for training on Volunteer income Tax Assistance (ViTA) program held at the legal office. The ViTA program is available through appointments only and can be scheduled by calling 624-5258. (U.s. Navy photo by Mass communication specialist 3rd class ramon Go/released)

How to use VITA:NAS 1: FFSC Walk-ins: noon - 6 p.m.NAS 2: Legal Office By Appt. only - DSN 624-5258.

What you need:- ID card, - Tax Form W-2s- Tax Form 1099s (social security, retirement, or student loan interest statements, etc.)

- Bank routing number and account number for direct deposit- social security numbers - a copy of last year's federal/state returns

Need an appointment at the hospital? Call DSN

624-CARE (2273) or commercial 095-56-2273,

M-F: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For non-emergent medical questions that arise over the weekend, holidays, or after office

hours, please call 335-578-8077 if you are normally seen

at the hospital or 335-578-8150

if you are normally seen at the Flight Line Clinic.

THe siGnaTuRepaGe 6 February 6, 2015 THe siGnaTuRe paGe 7February 6, 2015

In Italy, February is the month of Carnival. The cities celebrating the occasion fill up with masks and confetti, lights and colors that create a unique and festive atmosphere. The origins of Carnival are ancient and date back to the Roman Saturnalia, which were celebrated in honor of the New Year, in addition to the Lupercalia and the Dionysian cel-ebrations.

However, it is highly likely that the word "carni-val" derives from the Latin carnem levare, because originally the expression indicated the banquet that was held the day before the start of the meat fasting, or Lent. In the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar, the Carnival takes place between the day of Epiph-any (January 6) and Lent. From a festival character-ized by an excessive enjoyment of food, drink and sensual pleasures, granted to the lower classes as a temporary transgression of social norms, over the centuries and in different geographical areas Carni-val has been enhanced and rehashed with new and diverse nuances.

In Italy carnivals find their foundations in an-cient traditions, and they are well-known on an international level, drawing thousands of visitors from around the world annually. It is worth doing a little tour of Italian carnivals in February to attend at least the most famous ones.

Starting with the Veneto Region, the Carnival of Venice is the Carnival of all Italian Carnivals that is running through Feb. 17.

Established by the Venetian oligarchy to offer the public a period of time for entertainment and festivities, its dominant feature was the masquer-ade, serving as a brief annulment of social class, gender or religion. Nowadays, the Carnival of Ven-ice is a charming folk festival and a unique event for its history, atmosphere and masks. During the two weeks of Carnival in this lagoon city, you can experience numerous parades, displays and events of all kinds. Furthermore, as in the past, impressive private parties and masked balls are still held in the great Venetian palaces. In these places, which seem to have acquired little change over time, guests can immerse themselves in the same glory and tradi-tion of Carnivals past. Among the most awe-inspir-ing moments of the celebration is the spectacular “Flight of the Angel,” a long-held tradition (the first person who performed it was a Turkish acrobat, dating back to the year 1500): an artist, secured to a metal cable, makes his descent on the rope from St. Mark's Bell Tower to the Doge's Palace.

As reported by Carnevaledivenezia.it, the “Flight of the Angel” is a traditional event that goes back to the Serenissima period where an unknown guest of Venice, flying along a rope from San Marco bell tower to the middle of the square, will offer an hom-age to the Doge, and will be greeted by the crowded

parterre of the period costumes parades of the Historical Re-enact-ments. As a conclusion, the embrace of the An-gel and the Doge will smooth the atmosphere of a square galvanized by scenographical ef-fects always appreciated by the Italian and inter-national networks.

The girl winner of the 2014 edition of the "Festa delle Marie" (Ma-rie contest), Marianna Serena, will be the An-gel of the new Carnival 2015.The "Doge" Parade is organized by C.E.R.S. - Consortium of Euro-pean Re-enactment So-cieties, with the partici-pation of Ass. Amici del Carnevale di Venezia, Ass. Internazionale per il Carnevale di Ven-ezia and the Historical Group "Le Maschere di Mario del '700 venezi-ano." The event will take place this Sunday, Feb. 8 at midday in piazza San Marco in Venice.

Another highlight is “The best masked costume contest.” Competitors will parade on stage, defying each other by fantasy break and costumes, masks and wigs, feathers and caps. There will be two daily contests, at 11.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m..

During the parades, street artists, masked groups and traditional dancers will perform on stage of the Gran Teatro, making the daily contest full of emo-tions, colors and surprise! This years, the audience will participate to the contest, by choosing the win-ners of the Contest, who will be awarded with daily precious prizes.Visitors can participate to the con-test every day, from Saturday 7th till Tuesday, Feb. by choosing one of the two daily shows, in the late morning and in the afternoon.

Dates: - From Saturday, 7 - Wednesday, 11Feb., Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 Feb.: DAILY CON-TEST: - From Thursday, 12 to Sunday, 15 Feb.; QUALIFIERS for the 2015 Best Masked Costume contest Gran Final.- Sunday Feb. 15, in the afternoon: GRAND FINAL of the Best Masked Costume Con-test 2015. For more info and full schedule visit http://www.carnevale.venezia.it/

The historic Carnival of Ivrea, a small city in the Region of Piedmont, in the Province of Turin, also makes for a fun carnival experience. It runs from Feb. 14 - 17. One of the oldest (institutionalized in 1808) and most particular festivies in the world, it finds its climax in its spectacular parade and in the fascinating "Battle of the Oranges" taking place on Feb. 16 at 2.15 p.m. along with as Historical Pa-rade. The Carnival of Ivrea re-evokes the civil war between the local people and the Emperor's Army that broke out after the murder of the loathed tyrant Ranieri di Biandrate by the hand of the Mugnaia (miller's daughter). The rules of the battle are the following: teams of walking aranceri (lit., orange handlers), personifying the citizens, defend the city's piazzas from attack by the team of the Army

Carnevale is coming to Italy

one of italy’s most beloved carnivals, the Carnival of Venice, which dates back to the 14th century, boasts a unique history, elaborate masks and i a plethora of events, masked balls and concerts taking place in the main piazza and waterways attracting thousands of tourists to italy every year. (photo by www.asa100.com)

"cArNiVAL" continued on page 12

Chief of Naval Personnel hosts live All Hands CallFORT MEADE, Md. (NNS) -- The Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) talked with

Sailors around the world during an all-hands call broadcast live from Defense Media Activity at Fort Meade, Md., Feb. 3.

Vice Adm. Bill Moran and Fleet Master Chief April Beldo, the Fleet Master Chief of Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education (MPT&E), took the time to address Sailors from across the fleet and around the world through a myriad of channels, such as in-studio questions, satellite feeds, and social media.

"We know that there are ships out there in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility that are dialed in. We know there are folks from fleet concentration areas on both coasts dialed in, so let's get to the questions," said Moran.

Some of the topics Moran and Beldo touched on are subjects of great importance to Sailors: pay, manning, advancement, tuition assistance, and physical readiness.

Here are a few of the questions and answers from the all-hands call:Q: Over the last few years there have been several force shaping tools rolled out

(i.e. ERB and C-Way). Are there any plans for future force shaping tools?A: "Are there going to be any more changes or initiatives for force-shaping? Absolutely

not," said Beldo. "C-Way came online and it provided the opportunity to pay attention to the health of all of our ratings. So with regards to all of our ratings? Absolutely not. CNO

is committed to that, he said no more ERB, and so you don't have to worry about that shipmate."

Q: Is there any plan on us receiving imminent danger pay?

A:" The imminent danger pay areas are defined by the combatant commanders. Right now there is no plan to reinstitute imminent danger pay in 5th Fleet," said Moran. "We're not doing anything with combat tax exclusion zones, and we're continuing to look at ways to make sure we incentivize you out there at sea. That's why we saw a pretty significant bump in sea pay this year, and also long deployment allowance that were instituted with Bush and Bataan. So hang in there - there is not going to be any change to imminent danger pay in the near future."

Q: What are your views on transgenders in the Navy? Where do you see the Navy on the subject in the next few years?

A: "We are starting to talk to Office of the Secretary of Defense and folks in policy that review all of the policies related to don't ask don't tell, which we went through for several years and finally got to a place where all of us were comfortable," said Moran. "Transgender is another issue we'll take a look at as men and women who join the service, or who are in the service, that they want their personal interest addressed. We are looking at that today, but most of us feel that what it is all about for us is the dignity and respect we have for each other no matter what our backgrounds are."

Q: Do you foresee any changes to the physical readiness test in regards to how it's conducted?

A: "As we have traveled throughout the area we get that same question. We are looking at the way we perform our PFT, but most importantly we're concerned about the health of our Sailors," said Beldo. "We've asked for feedback from the fleet, and if you have something that you feel that would better our culture of health, please do not hesitate to send me an email - you can find my address on Facebook - so just shoot us a message and tell us what you feel would help add to our culture of fitness."

Q: Do you think it hinders or hurts Sailors when they come from A-school or C-school to shore duty first instead an operational environment?

A: "I don't believe that there's any Sailor that graduates from their "A" or "C" school that does not want to go to sea duty first," said Beldo. "However, as you know we have shore duty billets and we have sea duty billets and we have to man both. So as far as hindering, I don't think it does, because I hope that my leadership makes sure those Sailors get what they need while they're on shore duty and you're also preparing them for their next duty station when they get to sea. " Moran added, "In a perfect world everyone that graduated from "A" and "C" shools would go right to the waterfront or to an operational unit at sea, but we have several ratings that are sea-centric and sea-intensive - they go to sea. Then we have ratings that are not sea-centric, but they're shore-centric because of the nature of their work, so they naturally will go to shore duty billets. But there just isn't enough room to put Sailors in every rate, right to sea, so we have to distribute them evenly, and it's up to leadership to make sure they're ready when they do go to sea."

Q: Women have made a lot of strides in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), but they still fill a significantly smaller number of jobs than

their male counterparts. What are we doing to recruit and retain women in these critical fields?

A: "I've had the wonderful opportunity over the last year or so to work with the enlisted women in submarine task force, so as you know, in January a NAVADMIN was released calling for applications for enlisted women in submarines," said Beldo. "I believe as an organization we are looking at opening up every rating and really giving every Sailor the opportunity to participate in any job they want to and that they qualify to participate in and I believe in our future we will continue down that road."

Moran added, "This is a real important topic for us and it's a great question you asked about the numbers of women in our Navy today. The total number when you put all of our officers and enlisted together is that about 17.8% of our force is female. Not enough in my view, and we're trying to bring in more. We actually bring in between 23-25% women in the enlisted and officer communities today, and that's a far better place than we were 10 years ago, but we're still trying to attract the highest quality young women that are coming out of high school and college. To be frank with you, on the officer side, more than 50% of college grads are STEM majors, and that's a fairly significant change over the past 10 years. We have to go after young women in both our officer and enlisted communities if we're going to round out the Navy we want to have."

The all-hands call is being re-broadcast on www.navy.mil and a complete list of all the questions and answers will be on All Hands Magazine.

For more news from the Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnp/.

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

u.s. navy HeaDLines

THe siGnaTuRepaGe 8 February 6, 2015 THe siGnaTuRe paGe 9February 6, 2015

exercise

trainingsimulated

*this is a drill*NAS SIGONELLA'S OpErAtION NEptuNE ArrOw - 15

"NEpTUNE" continued from page 1

Photo credit by: MC2 Donavan Patubo, MC3 Ramon Go and HN Sean Robinson

THe siGnaTuRepaGe 10 February 6, 2015 THe siGnaTuRe paGe 11February 6, 2015

Breakfast: $3.45 Lunch: $5.55 Dinner: $4.85As a reminder to everyone:

1. There are no PTUs allowed at the Galley. Appropriate athletic gear is authorized at the discretion of the Galley staff. Please remember that for sanitation purposes and for the consideration of other customers, if you have been out for PT, been working out at the gym, or have just been engaged in any physical activity where you and or your clothing has become soiled or sweaty you will be asked to turn around.

2. For personnel on night duty, we have implemented a separate sign-in sheet to allow you to get a "to-go" meal for later consumption. Please kindly inform the front desk that you are on night shift. Please be in uniform.

3. Due to limited supplies for "to-go" containers we are currently limiting "to-go" meals to personnel on duty in uniform only. We will inform everyone once "to-go" is available for personnel in appropriate civilian attire.

4. Taking food out of the galley is strictly prohibited unless it is for an authorized “to-go” ticket.

Saturday, February 7Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Corned Beef HashBrunch: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Corned Beef Hash, Oven Baked Chicken NuggetsDinner: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Fishwich

Sunday, February 8Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Biscuits and Gravy, Oven Fried BaconBrunch: Eggs to Order, Grilled Minute Steak, Oven Fried Bacon, Crispy Chicken Sandwich Dinner: Chicken Parmesan, Chef Ignazio’s Home Made Lasagna

Monday, February 9 Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Minced Beef on ToastLunch: Jerked Roast Turkey, Beef StroganoffSpeed Line: Hand Made PizzasDinner: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Teriyaki Chicken

Tuesday, February 10Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Biscuits and Gravy, Oven Fried BaconLunch: Taco TuesdaySpeed Line: Chili Dogs with French Fries Dinner: Lemon Baked fish, Chef Franco’s Home Made Meatloaf

Wednesday, February 11Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Creamed Ground Beef on ToastLunch: Roast Pork, Baked FishSpeed Line: All American Grilled BurgersDinner: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Cajun Chicken Sandwich

Thursday, February 12Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Corned Beef HashLunch: Sauerbraten, Barbecued ChickenSpeed Line: Philly Cheese steak SandwichDinner: Chef Russo’s Home Made Meat Loaf, Chef Melo’s Chicken Alfredo w/ Penne Pasta

Friday, February 13Breakfast: Eggs to Order, Oven Fried Bacon, Chicken Tocino on Garlic Fried RiceLunch: Chef Francesco’s Home Made Lasagna, Baked FishSpeed Line: Temporarily ClosedDinner: Savory Baked Chicken, Baked Italian Sausage

Ristorante Bel la EtnaRistorante Bel la EtnaRistorante Bel la Etna

BREAKFASTMon-Fri

6:30-8 a.m.Weekend/Holiday

7 -9 a.m.

LUNCHMon-Fri

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.Weekend/Holiday

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

DINNERMon-Fri

4:30 - 6 p.m.Weekend/Holiday

4:30 - 6 p.m.

DRIVE SAFELY SIGONELLA

Region LegaL SeRvice office eURafSWa - The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) clinic has opened its doors for this tax year!This year, the VITA clinic will be operating on a self-service model. We will provide software and resources to allow you to prepare and file your own taxes electronically, and will have IRS-trained volunteers standing by to answer any questions you may have.We are now accepting appointments for both locations at 624-5258. To speed up the process, we highly recommend establishing an account on MilitaryOneSource.com before your appointment.

Second cLaSS aSSociation - Our next meeting will be today, Feb. 6 at noon, upstairs in the MVRO Bldg. (724). For further information please contact MA2 Foy, Nicole at Nicole.foy@eu.navy.mil or 624-6387.

SP-208 is closed to through-traffic between SP-105 and SP-192. Only residents, land owners, and customers of Agriturismo "Oasi Francesca" are authorized on that road. We strongly advice all of our community to not use the road as it may result in penalties to include citations.

Religious Ministries department in conjunction with CREDO will sponsor a Family Enrichment Retreat on March 6-8 at the Sheraton Hotel in Catania. For more information and sign-up, you may contact the Chapel at 624-3975 or at KatieLynn.Wilkins@eu.navy.mil.

Religious Ministries department will sponsor in conjunction with CREDO a Marriage Enrichment Retreat (MER) on Feb. 20-22 at the Sheraton Hotel in Catania. For more information and sign-up, you may contact the Chapel at 624-3975 or katielynn.wilkins@eu.navy.mil.

All Hands News BulletinTo request publication of your message, please send it to thesig@eu.navy.mil

December: 1 Shoplifter caught at NEX. Loss of shopping privileges for 12 months.

January: 2 DUIs - Loss of base driving privileges for 12 months.

January: 2 Shoplifter's caught at NEX. Loss of NEX privileges for 12 months.

The Signature has established the "That's NOT - What Right Looks Like" section in order to make the NAS Sigonella community aware of how the command is prosecuting improper behavior, along with the hope of deterring future bad decisions.

NASSIG WORSHIP SERVICESNASSIG WORSHIP SERVICES

Chapel Offices: NAS I 095563975, NAS II 095869049, DSN: 624-3975, Chaplain Duty: 335-831-4493 RP Duty: 335-786-1950 NAS Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Naval Air Station Sigonella Chapel

ROMAN CATHOLIC• Sunday - 9 a.m. Catholic Mass at NAS 1 Chapel• TuESday, WEdnESday & FRIday 11:30 a.m. Catholic Mass at NAS 2 ChapelSacraments of Reconciliation / Penance precede each Mass• FRIday - 11:30 a.m. Catholic Mass at NAS 1 Chapel

LATTER-DAY SAINTS • Sunday - 1:30 p.m. at NAS 1 ChapelContact: sigonellalds@gmail.com or 624-9049

JEWISH SHABBAT LAY SERVICE• FRIday - 5:30 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel

PROTESTANT - NAS 1 CHAPEL• SaTuRday - 6:30 p.m. Contemporary Worship Services • Sunday - 11 a.m. Traditional Worship; 12 p.m. Sunday School

PROTESTANT/Non-Denominational - NAS 2 CHAPEL• Sunday - 6 p.m.

NIGHT STUDY• MOnday - AA Meetings 5:30 p.m., seconddeck at NAS 1 Chapel; ThuRSday 7 p.m. at NAS 2 Chapel• TuESday - Italian Class 7 p.m. at Classroom at NAS 1 Chapel • TuESday - Glee Club 12 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel • TuESday - Awana Club 4:45 p.m at NAS 1 Chapel

THe siGnaTuRepaGe 12 February 6, 2015 THe siGnaTuRe paGe 13February 6, 2015

DiF

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GaMe Zone

MED

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Find and circle all of the Movie Actors that are hidden in the grid.The remaining letters spell the name of a movie for which Forest Whitaker won an oscar.

ARKIN, ALANBALE, CHRISTIANBANDERAS, ANTONIOBROADBENT, JIMBRODERICK, MATTHEWBRODY, ADRIENBYRNE, GABRIELCRAIG, DANIELDAY-LEWIS, DANIELEASTWOOD, CLINTFIRTH, COLINFISHBURNE, LAURENCEFRASER, BRENDAN

GLOVER, DANNYGOODING JR, CUBAHARRIS, EDHAWKE, ETHANKINGSLEY, BENMACY, WILLIAM H.MALKOVICH, JOHNMCGREGOR, EWANMURPHY, EDDIEMURRAY, BILLNICHOLSON, JACKNORTON, EDWARDOLDMAN, GARY

PACINO, ALPAXTON, BILLPITT, BRADQUAID, DENNISRADCLIFFE, DANIELSINISE, GARYSLATER, CHRISTIANSTRATHAIRN, DAVIDTHORNTON, BILLY BOBWALKEN, CHRISTOPHERWASHINGTON, DENZELWHITAKER, FORESTWILLIS, BRUCE

Movie Actors 3

"cArNiVAL" continued from page 6throwing oranges (representing the arrows) from its floats to the "citizens." Meanwhile, the parade of the Mugnaia moves along the downtown streets, distributing sweets and gifts to the visitors. Moreover, it is important to notice that in the three days when the traditional parade is held, many floats, folk dancers, musicians and bands - not only from differ-ent Italian regions but also from other European countries - take part in the event. For more information visit http://www.storicocarnevaleivrea.it/

Moving South toward Tuscany, the Carnival of Viareggio, running through Feb. 28, is one of the most important and internationally-appreciated events (for example, during the 2011 edition, 325,000 people took part in the parade).The first masked parade was held in 1873, when wealthy middle-class men gathered along the streets protesting against high taxes. The main features that have characterized the event through the ages are undoubtedly the typical floats parad-ing along the promenade in Viareggio. On these floats, huge burlesque papier-mâché masks - predominantly caricatures of the big names in the political, cultural and showbiz world - are broadcast to the masses with grand triumph. Year af-ter year, extraordinary floats boasting increasingly sophis-ticated movements and spectacular effects show off the outstanding artistic skills of Italian craftsmen merged with new technologies. During Carnival, parties are held on the streets all throughout the night, with the sound of music, masquerades and plenty of fun. For more information visit http://viareggio.ilcarnevale.com/

If you are in the Marche Region you cannot miss Fano during the period of Carnival whose parades will take place on Feb. 8 and 15. In fact, the Carnival of Fano has extremely old origins and it features at least three original elements: the throwing of candies from the floats to the crowd; the characteristic "vulon" mask, parody of the most prominent characters in the city; and the "Arabic" music provided by a band whose instruments consist of tins, coffee pots and jugs. For more information, visit http://www.carnevaledifano.eu/

In the South of Italy, Apulia is certainly the Italian region with the greatest number of events: from Massafra to Gal-lipoli, from Dauno to Manfredonia, without forgetting the Terranovese Carnival in Poggio Imperiale.

However, special attention must be given to the Car-nival of Putignano in the Itria Valley, which is the longest Carnival in Italy: it starts on Dec. 26 and lasts until Mardi Gras Carnival. Parades will take place on Feb. 8 and 15. In addition to the most common events (magnificent masked parades with their fantastic floats made in paper-mâché), the fascinating Propaggini Festival is also celebrated. Dur-ing this event, dozens of poets perform in dialect for hours on end, one after another, reciting satirical poems in rhyme in the city's main piazza. For more information, visit http://www.carnevalediputignano.it/

Moving off the Peninsula and south to the Mediterra-nean, Sicily proudly boasts some of the richest Carnival tra-ditions. The Carnival of Acireale, in the Province of Catania running through Feb. 17, dates back to the 16th Century and was originally celebrated with a citrus fruits battle, while nowadays it is renowned for its parade floats (in particular some of the most impressive are decked with flowers). For more information, visit, http://www.carnevaleacireale.info/

The Carnival of Sciacca is also worth mentioning, with origins going back to the Roman Empire! Well-known for its beautiful papier-mâché creations realized by local pot-tery masters, the Carnival is characterized by floats parad-ing through the old part of the city while accompanied by masked groups dancing to the rhythm of themed music. Every year the Sciacca Carnival ends with the burning of the mask of the king of Carnival, Peppe Nappa, and his float. For more information visit, http://www.sciaccarnevale.it/

Pouring wine down the drain

recently 16 bottles of wine were found in an outgoing package being mailed to the U.s. per Military postal regulations and U.s. postal regulations, they were disposed of. (photo courtesy of NAVsUp Fleet Logistics center sigonella).

By LTJG MiCaH WaLLinFleet Mail Center Division Officer

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - Cottanera Etna Rosso, Maneti Cerasuolo di Vittoria, and COS Pithos. These are only some of the few great wines Sig’ Citizens have recommended that I try shortly after arriving to this beautiful island. I have also heard rumors of almond wine, pistachio liquor, and let's not forget limoncello. All of these are great for cooking, with a meal, or simply to enjoy by themselves.

There is, however, one thing you cannot do with them: send them through the Military Postal System (MPS) via the United States Postal Service (USPS).

I can just hear all my fellow wine enthusiasts moaning, trying to justify temporary immunity to this policy, "But I know someone in the States who would love this wine," or "This is the perfect birthday/anniversary/Christmas present, can't you make an exception?"

I know, I know, oh yes, I know. But according to the DoD Postal Manual, postal supervisors are required to destroy alcoholic beverages if they are discovered in the mail system. We have no choice but to destroy a precious vintage wine or liquor by dumping them down the drain.”

"We have a lot of alcohol coming through the Post Office, especially during the holidays and with deployed units returning to the States," says NAS Sigonella Postal Officer, Wes Smith. “We had this one customer who tried to ship 16 bottles back to the States. The customer labeled the contents of the packages as “Olive Oil” and miscellaneous gifts. All outgoing packages go through our X-ray machine and it was immediately obvious the customer erroneously listed items on the customs form.”

So Smith and his team had to do the unthinkable. In accordance with the DOD 4525.6M Postal Instruction all 16 bottles of wine were poured down the drain (see photo for proof).

As postal officer, Smith has also encountered several other types of items not to be mailed through USPS. Lighters, bullet casings, and perishable items such as meats or produce are a good sampling but not all. Other prohibited items include cigarettes, perfumes containing alcohol, and nail polish.

Also to be considered is that international airlines are utilized to move your mail from Italy to the U.S., and there are items these airlines will not allow to fly (i.e., items resembling weapons). When this happens items are returned to the Fleet Mail Center for removal.

Smith soundly proclaims, "I am very proud of our Postal Team here on NAS Sigonella. The Sailors here are hard-working and always try to do right by the customer."

And for the sake of those 16 bottles of vintage vino, please Sig’ Citizens, let’s likewise do what’s right!

THe siGnaTuRepaGe 14 February 6, 2015 THe siGnaTuRe paGe 15February 6, 2015

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Department of the Navy released its proposed $161.0 billion budget Feb. 2 for fiscal year 2016.

This budget is part of the $534.3 billion defense budget President Barack Obama submitted to Congress on the same day.

Rear Adm. William Lescher, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Budget, briefed media at the Department of Defense budget press conference about the Navy and Marine Corps portion of the budget.

"Our PB16 budget submission balances warfighting readiness with our Nation's fiscal challenges," said Lescher. "Our force employment approach aligns capability, capacity and readiness to regional mission demands, ensuring our most modern and technologically advanced forces are located where their combat power is needed most, delivering presence where it matters, when it matters."

This year's budget submission was guided by the Chief of Naval Operations' tenants of warfighting first, operate forward, and be ready. It makes critical investments in people, ships, and innovation, so that the Department of the Navy can execute the Defense Strategy.

The Department of the Navy requested $44.4 billion for procurement, focused on providing stability in the shipbuilding account and keeping the Navy on track to reach 304 ships by FY20. In FY16 the Navy will buy nine new ships, including two Arleigh Burke destroyers, two Virginia-class submarines, three Littoral Combat Ships as well as the first next generation logistics fleet resupply ship, the T-AO(X).

Additionally, this includes fully funding the refueling for the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, and the procurement of a Dock Landing Ship (LPD 28) that Congress provided partial funds for in the FY15 budget. The budget includes a $50.4 billion request for operations and maintenance, reflecting a strong emphasis on restoring stressed readiness as the Navy and Marine Corps team continue to operate forward in a challenging security environment.

This year's submission includes $17.9 billion for research and development, reflecting the emphasis on developing key capabilities for the future. This increase in research and development funding supports the Navy-Marine Corps team by providing technological advantages against adversaries in all environments and spectrums.

"Overall, the budget presented to Congress for FY16 reflects a balance of investments guided by the Quadrennial Defense Review strategy and Combatant Commander requirements across capacity, capability and readiness," said Lescher. "Across the full scope of the request, a strong focus on innovation and reform provided the foundation for maximizing the value of resources invested and sustaining our warfighting edge."

To view the proposed FY16 DoN budget documents, visit http://www.finance.hq.navy.mil/fmb/PB/BOOKS.htm

Highlights of the proposed DoD budget are outlined at http://www.finance.hq.navy.mil/FMB/16pres/DON_PB16_Press_Brief.pdf. For more information and to view the entire fiscal 2015 budget proposal, visit http://www.budget.mil and download the "FY 2016 Budget Request Overview Book."

Department of the Navy releases FY 2016 budget proposalFrom the Office of the Chief of Information

Military Saves Week is coming to Sigonella Feb. 23 – 28By FLeeT & FaMiLysuppoRT CenTeR siGoneLLa

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily - Military Saves Week (Feb. 23 – Feb. 28), part of the DoD Financial Readiness Campaign, is a chance for service members and their families to assess their own saving status and take financial action. Studies show that having a savings plan with specific goals can have beneficial financial effects, regardless of income level. The Military Saves Week theme ‘Set a Goal. Make a Plan. Save Automatically.’ encourages individuals to do just that. This Military Saves Week, join the more than 180,000 people who have pledged to save by taking the Military Saves Pledge. Already taken the pledge? Military Saves encourages you to recommit to your savings goal and re-pledge today.

When savers take the Military Saves pledge they can receive: • Free subscription to the monthly Military Saves e-Newsletter • Free myFICO credit score for service members and their

spouses courtesy of FINRA Investor Education Foundation • Quarterly e-newsletters from America Saves

Here locally in Sigonella, the campaign will officially kick off at 11:00 a.m. on Feb. 6 at the NAS 1 Food Court. NAS Sigonella Commanding Officer, Captain Chris Dennis, will be signing the Military Saves Proclamation during a campaign launch event. Community members are invited to attend where they can officially take the Military Saves Pledge, a commitment to a specific savings goal for the next year. Volunteers from the Command Financial Specialist network will be on hand to offer savings ideas and in partnership with DoD Community Bank, Fleet and Family Support Center staff will have additional financial education resources and opportunities to get a FREE FICO Credit Score Report.

Get excited about the prospect of saving more money in 2015! Come visit FFSC or check our course calendar and Military Saves special events calendar on our Facebook page / ffscsigonella. While you are there, share your Savings Success Story at #sigsavings2015 and post a picture that highlights your savings goal. Have questions? Contact Mike Matheny, Fleet and Family Support Center at michael.matheny@eu.navy.mil or call the FFSC office at 624-4291.

only between [NAS Sigonella] and Sicily, but the United States and Italy in general,” said Lance Cpl. Louis J. Bardel, a mortarman with SPMAGTF-CR-AF. “Even though it’s a small effort, I think it sets the tone for us being here.”

The Marines and Sailors of SPMAGTF-CR-AF arrived in Italy earlier in the week. With six months left in the rotational cycle, Rains is looking forward to working with this group again.

“I think we all worked well together, and I think we were highly successful. Once again we sealed our bond of friendship with the community, which is what we always set out to do,” said Rains.

The Marines and Sailors of SPMAGTF-CR-AF strive to be good stewards in their local com-munities, all while conducting theater security cooperation and military-to-military engagements with partner nations in Africa.

"Archbishop" continued from page 1

Lance cpl. Louis bardel, a mortarman with special purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-crisis response-Africa dusts a chandelier inside the church of san Nicolò in catania, italy, Jan. 31. More than 60 Marines and sailors assigned to spMAGTF-cr-AF travelled from Naval Air station sigonella to catania to help beautify the nearly 1,000-year-old church. (U.s. Marine corps photo by Lance cpl. Lucas J. hopkins/released)

Lt. brian Myers, Naval Air station sigonella flight line chaplain, dusts a surface inside the church of san Nicolò in catania, Jan. 31. Myers was one of more than 50 volunteers, including Marines and sailors from special purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force crisis response-Africa to help beautify the church in preparation for the Festival of sant’Agata. (U.s. Marine corps photo by Lance cpl. Lucas J. hopkins/released)

Intl & foster care adoptions,home studies, post adoption services.

Hague accredited agency. www.adopt-abroad.com - US 1-888-687-3644.

Apartment in center of Motta (via Firenze): heating, A/C, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1 living room,

1 large kitchen, terrace, garage.Cell. 349-6000-810.

Renting apartment near Parco Terme di Acireale, 5 rooms, 1 living room, 2 baths, large kitchen,

storage room, 2 terraces, car space. messinafiordolivo@gmail.com

Mercedes SLK convertible,excellent condition, gear shift, full optional, grey metallic.

Maria 333-524-4731.

THe siGnaTuRepaGe 16 February 6, 2015