NCTAMS LANT Brings Christmas to Its Sailors Serving on IA

From NCTAMS LANT Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic (NCTAMS LANT) Sailors and civilian personnel spent Dec. 15 packing Christmas cheer to send to its people deployed on Individual Augmentee assignments.

NCTAMS LANT officers, Sailors, and civilian personnel have coordinated and supported many programs this year to bring the spirit of peace and joy to our military and civilian families, collecting food donations for those in need to be able to have a good meal during the holidays; collecting presents for the children; and collecting non-perishable food items, supplies, and money for those who will not be home for this holiday season because they are "standing the watch" overseas protecting our rights to freedom.

The highlight may well have been NCTAMS LANT's Individual Augmentation Pack-Out Program this year for 16 Individual Augmentees (IA). Lt. j.g. Candias Watson, operations division officer, took the lead in coordination. Command personnel donated all the items to be sent to those who are currently serving a tour as an IA. These officers and Sailors will be alone for the holiday season, and they will not be able to enjoy the comforts of home due to serving in areas of the world that are considered to be remote and arduous.

Once all donations were collected, Watson coordinated the pack-out. NCTAMS LANT's Sailors and civilians were invited to participate in putting the packages together. Inside the packages were lots of comforts of home including Starbucks café packets, cookies and crackers, personal hygiene items and phone cards. Santa even showed up to brighten the holiday spirit.

Watson said she took the lead in coordinating this event because, "Deployments are a tough period and receiving a package gives you the feeling that people care. We are a family here at NCTAMS. Raising money and gathering the donated items was a cohesive family effort. We did what supportive Navy families do, showed our shipmates love."

The event was a success and the boxes are on their way to bring a little Christmas cheer to our NCTAMS LANT family away from home.