Source: United States Navy
ATLANTIC OCEAN – Patrol Squadron Nine (VP-9) recently had the unique opportunity to participate in Atlantic Thunder 2022, a joint, multi-phase, multinational exercise designed to increase NATO interoperability and strengthen the United States-United Kingdom strategic partnership. The highlight of the exercise for VP-9 occurred with a coordinated time-on-target strike of the decommissioned Oliver Hazard Perry Class frigate USS Boone.
Source: United States Navy
The program offered Sailors and Marines the opportunity to video record themselves reading books to their loved ones to keep families connected while on deployment.
“I actually love doing this,” said Penny Letrude-Samons, a program coordinator. “And one of the reasons I love doing it is because I can help military families stay connected and promote strong literacy skills.”
During the three four-hour events, over 50 Sailors and Marines were able to record themselves reading books to their loved ones using the Mobile Story Station, a library and video studio on wheels. Sailors and Marines selected children’s books to read to their families and made recordings on site. The program also has a free app available to service members and Veterans to make recordings at home as well. The goal of the program is to spread literacy through military homes throughout the nation.
“Reading is something we do throughout the day at my household it’s also something we do for story time as part of our bedtime routine,” said Intelligence Specialist 2nd class Nicholas Hill. “Today I read ‘Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree’. It’s something my grandmother read to me as a kid so it’s something we like to read at home.”
United Through Reading video recording sessions are coordinated by the ship’s religious ministry teams of chaplains and religious program specialists. While on deployment, Sailors interested in the program can make recordings to be mailed to the recipient’s home through the command ministries department and United Through Reading on the Sailor’s behalf.
“For over 30 years United Through Reading has helped Sailors and Marines stay connected through our video recorded story-time,” said Lily Carlton, United Through Reading’s director of maritime programs. “We are honored to help the families of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) stay connected and maintain their reading routines whenever duty may call them away from home.”
The Makin Island ARG, comprised of Makin Island and amphibious transport docks USS Anchorage (LPD 23) and USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26), is homeported in San Diego.
Source: United States Navy
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Charge’ D‘Affairs Joe Zadrozny said, “Pacific Partnership 2022 brought the Seabees back to West New Britain 79 years later. Pacific Partnership was a joint effort between the United States and Papua New Guinea, and included colleagues from Australia, and even Japan. Former adversaries have now become strong allies. Pacific Partnership is a unifying mission that fosters enduring friendship and cooperation among many nations. And the construction of Buluma Primary School is proof of that. Now, instead of warships, we bring hospital ships. The US Navy vessel Mercy served as the operations platform for Pacific Partnership. From Mercy, our Navy Seabees began construction of Buluma Primary School on August 26, and today, just a month later, the work is done. In peacetime, the Seebees continue to do what they do best – build.”
At the event, Engineering Aid Constructionman Matthew Evans said, “this school will give countless children the ability to be educated and grow. The building can also be used as a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief shelter if needed.”
Evans and his team of Navy engineers are assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4 in Port Hueneme, California. They broke ground on the Buluma school project on Sept. 6.
While the Seabees are constructing a building they will leave behind for the local community’s use, the Navy personnel are taking something with them when the complete the project.
“I think the biggest take away for me from this experience is the importance of working together to provide aid. With that being said, we also learn a lot from the host nation considering there are many cultural differences.”
Learning more about the PNG culture and meeting new friends has been one of the added benefits of this Pacific Partnership project.
“The people of Buluma village in West New Britain have been very welcoming, and they love to show it. From bringing us snacks to helping us stay cool, this project is as much a testament to their work as it is ours,” Evans said.
PP22 events are coordinated with the host nation and are planned based on the requirements and requests of Papua New Guinea.
Source: United States Navy
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii. – As a fixture in the Oahu community and an important historical site, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is a place that holds tremendous meaning to many people. It is the responsibility of those who live and work on the JBPHH to take care of and maintain the cleanliness of the installation – the organization “Love JBPHH” was organized with this in mind.
Source: United States Department of Justice News
Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands announced that Peter Quifunas, age 25, and Doreen Esther Quitaro, age 48, both from Yona, Guam, were sentenced in the United States District Court of Guam to federal prison for Attempted Possession of Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with the Intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). Quifunas was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, five years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. Quitaro was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release following imprisonment, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits.
On September 7, 2021, federal agents obtained a warrant to search a U.S. Priority Mail package sent from Long Beach, California to a Yona address. The package contained 401 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride that was 98% pure. The drugs were discovered inside 42 plastic bags secured in small balloons, which were further concealed inside 42 “Cra-Z-Art” paint bottles, a children’s washable paint set.
On September 9, 2021, agents conducted a controlled delivery of the package. The drugs were replaced with a fake substance prior to the delivery. The defendants were arrested after they obtained and opened the package, which a relative retrieved from one of the cluster boxes in the Yona Mayor’s Office. A search was conducted on Quifunas’ vehicle, where agents recovered a .40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number located in the center console. Agents also recovered numerous zip lock baggies and a digital scale from Quitaro’s vehicle.
“Drug trafficking through the mail system, including cluster boxes, is an ongoing concern to law enforcement,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “As this case reveals, this activity does not go undetected regardless of the schemes devised by traffickers. Combating drug crimes, particularly those involving firearms, will remain a high priority for our office.”
“Drug dealers have no business at the Post Office. Today’s sentences show that Postal Inspectors will use all the tools available to identify criminals who attempt to use the U.S. Mail to traffic controlled substances, and bring them to justice.” said Kevin Rho, Acting Inspector in Charge, USPIS, San Francisco Division. “Investigations like this will continue thanks to dependable teamwork with our partners in federal law enforcement.”
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service and Drug Enforcement Administration. These cases were prosecuted by Marivic P. David and Laura C. Sambataro, Assistant United States Attorneys in the District of Guam.