Month: February 2023

Source: United States Navy

The first COMREL included work at the Souda Shelter Project, a local dog shelter, building dog beds out of wooden pallets, socializing with the dogs and ridding the area of overgrown weeds on Feb. 4.

“I think it’s great to have COMRELS because we can continue to build relationships and foster partnerships through community engagement,” said Operations Specialist 1st Class Heather Karel. “It feels good to know that our help is going to a good place. I have a dog myself, so it really brought that warm-fuzzy feeling of being back at home.”

The Souda Shelter Project is an animal welfare facility that currently houses over 90 abandoned or stray dogs, taking care of them until they are found homes around the world.

“It is a big joy for me to host volunteer programs like this for our service members,” said Souda Shelter Project Administrator Elizabeth Iliakis. “Having them here so they can decompress and get away from everything else outside is the best, and they have been very productive for us. This is hard work that would take us a couple of weeks to complete, but they can do it in just a few hours. It’s a win-win situation for everyone – including the dogs!”

For the second COMREL, USS Leyte Gulf Sailors braved the cold and rain to pick oranges at an organic orange grove and donated them to the Chania Municipality Community Support Market an establishment that helps community members in need of assistance, on Feb. 6.

“It reminds me of what generous souls Americans can have,” said Orange Grove Owner Mary Olsen. “They are collecting some for themselves, but multiply the number they collect for themselves by 10 and that is how many they will be donating to the locals in need. That’s really America at its best. Watching this happen as it rains – well their enthusiasm is not dampened, so to speak.”

In total, 20 USS Leyte Gulf Sailors participated in the two COMRELS strengthening the positive relationship between the people of Crete, Greece, and our U.S. Navy Sailors.

“This is a great experience for our Sailors,” said Lt. Chris Terrell, chaplain, USS Leyte Gulf. “I really have a lot of appreciation for NSA Souda Bay for working with us to put these two opportunities together. This continues the really positive trend that we have had on this deployment as we have gotten to pull into ports. It started with Souda Bay with a beach cleanup and it has just gotten better and better. It gives our Sailors a great way to feel more embedded in the communities we visit.”

Leyte Gulf, homeported in Norfolk, is attached to the USS George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike group (CSG) and is operating in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations as part of a scheduled deployment.

NSA Souda Bay is an operational ashore installation which enables and supports U.S., Allied, Coalition, and Partner nation forces to preserve security and stability in the European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. For more information, visit us at www.cnic.navy.mil/SoudaBay or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NSASoudaBay.

Source: United States Navy

The visit underscored Singapore’s strategic importance to an enduring free and open Indo-Pacific by enabling presence, assured access, and defense to the global commons. Visits to Singapore allow U.S. Navy warships to strengthen relationships with like-minded regional partners and respond to critical areas in the Indo-Pacific, as well as enhancing the longstanding friendship between the Republic of Singapore and the United States.

“I am grateful the Paul Hamilton crew was able to further develop our country’s relationship with Singapore,” said Cmdr. Jake Ferrari, commanding officer, USS Paul Hamilton. “We’re committed to maintaining and strengthening our bonds with the Republic of Singapore. In doing so, we ensure our forces can operate together effectively and maintain stability and open sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Paul Hamilton departed the United States in January and arrived in the region as part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group. Paul Hamilton is operating as part of Commander, Task Force 71, U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. CTF 71 is responsible for the readiness, tactical and administrative responsibilities for forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers as well as any surface unit conducting independent operations in the region.

7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with Allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States Navy

The ship anchored in the vicinity of the Cabo San Lucas Marina, allowing Sailors the opportunity to visit the city and gave the crew an opportunity to conduct community and military relations with one of our partner nations.

During the port visit Lake Champlain Sailors visited the Amelia Wilkes Elementary School. The event was an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the U.S.-Mexico bilateral relationship through an in-kind donation and volunteer activity that engaged Lake Champlain Sailors. Funded by the Northern Command Humanitarian Assistance Program, the in-kind donations included tables, chairs, paint, and accessibility devices requested by Amelia Wilkes Elementary School. Sailors who volunteered participated in setting up the bookshelves, landscaping the outdoor area, and painting the art and library area. Amelia Wilkes Elementary school serves 574 elementary students in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. The event allowed Sailors to engage with local citizens and share the cultures of their nations.

Strengthening the United States and Mexico’s military relations, Lake Champlain’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Steve Foley, hosted several members of the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) aboard the ship Feb. 7, welcoming Vice Adm. Santiago Jorge Morgado Gomez, of Fourth Naval Region, Rear Adm. Luis Enrique Tun Pastrana, Chief of Staff Second Naval Zone, and Rear Adm. Alberto Valerio Verduzco, Captain of the Port. Their visit highlights the strategic partnership shared between the United States and Mexican navies, celebrating not only our ability to cooperate militarily, but the friendship reflected in 200 years of bilateral relations. Several local officials also had the opportunity to tour USS Lake Champlain and engage with Sailors onboard.

“Our visit to Mexico provided USS Lake Champlain Sailors with the opportunity to get some much deserved liberty in Cabo San Lucas. It was a great chance for them to experience Mexican culture and enjoy the benefits of the friendship between the United States and Mexico,” said Foley. “We love to show off our ship and our hardworking crew, engaging with our partners at SEMAR and hosting them aboard is a unique chance to develop our two navies operational readiness and ability to work towards strategic goals.”

Lake Champlain returned from an eight-month deployment with Carrier Strike Group One Feb. 14, 2022. The crew continues to maintain a capable and ready force while conducting West Coast sustainment operations.

Source: United States Navy

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – To protect the base’s natural resources and habitat as well as prevent property damage and increased health risks to humans and deer, Naval Support Activity Panama City’s Environmental team will partner with the Florida Forest Service and Operation Outdoor Freedom to conduct a deer reduction operation starting Feb.11.

Source: United States Navy

CNIC, which oversees the Navy’s 70 installations, launched ERGs in 2020. Since then, the headquarters workforce stood up 10 ERGs.

“Employee Resource Groups are a wonderful opportunity for all CNIC employees to capitalize on the cultural, professional, and ethnic diversity of our workforce in creating an inclusive workplace where we all can thrive,” said Christina Floyd, CNIC’s EEO/Diversity and Inclusion director.

ERGs can also identify issues in the workplace unique to their groups in order to make the workplace more inclusive and diverse.

“When they identify issues impacting the workplace, and their membership in particular, the EEO Office is the first stop for the ERGs to get those issues addressed,” said Leutisha Stills, EEO specialist and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) program manager for CNIC.

Membership in each CNIC ERG is open to all employees of the total force regardless of rank or grade level, active duty or civilian. The ERGs provide CNIC employees the opportunity to lead initiatives, such as community outreach events, that will foster a more inclusive work environment and enhance morale.

“I want to be on the forefront of … creating an inclusive environment that produces personal and professional development of its members,” said Sherrilyne Marshall, CNIC deputy of Requirements & Performance Branch as well as the Women’s ERG civilian champion. “I volunteered because I want to make our country a better and safer environment for my two daughters and granddaughters and this starts within our own community.”

At the Capital Area Food Bank, which serves communities across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, the CNIC volunteers sorted, bagged and boxed 432 bags of food to be delivered to senior citizens throughout the Capital Area.

 “Once we were oriented into what we would be doing in terms of preparing food bags to be given to community members 55 years and older, we followed the protocols and were very efficient in our work,” Stills said. “We were so efficient we had to be slowed down for fear of not leaving enough work for the shift coming behind us to do!”

For Ciara Johnson, a program manager with CNIC Command and Staff, who was one of the 12 volunteers in attendance, this was an opportunity to give back to the community.

“I love to help anyone in need,” Johnson said. “I’m blessed and want to be a blessing to others.”

For Marshall, she thought this was a chance to work alongside other CNIC colleagues while doing a good deed.

“It was wonderful! I enjoyed seeing my peers that I haven’t seen in years due to the pandemic,” said Marshall.

Commander, Navy Installations Command is responsible for worldwide U.S. Navy shore installation management as the Navy’s shore integrator, designing and developing integrated solutions for sustainment, development of Navy shore infrastructure, and execution and oversight of multiple quality of life programs and services. CNIC oversees 10 Navy regions, 70 bases, and more than 48,000 employees who sustain the fleet, enable the fighter and support the family. Follow CNIC on social media: Facebook, Facebook.com/NavyInstallations; Twitter, @cnichq; and Instagram, @cnichq.