US 7th Fleet Band Mentors Misawa Air Base Students

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Daniel Sanford, U.S. Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (NNS) -- Members of U.S. 7th Fleet Band visited Misawa Air Base and helped mentor local elementary school orchestra members March 8.

The Band's Shonan Brass Quartet spent the afternoon with Sollars Elementary School students, and offered assistance as the children prepare for the school's upcoming spring concert.

The quartet is in Misawa to perform for a retirement ceremony, but decided to maximize their stay in Misawa by helping out young musicians, and by also performing a free, evening concert for Misawa-area residents.

"We always enjoy playing up here in Misawa, but we really enjoy working with the kids, and it definitely keeps us on our toes," said Musician 2nd Class Tony Smouse, a member of the U.S. 7th Fleet Band, who also worked as a music teacher prior to enlisting in the Navy. "I think it definitely prevents us from slacking on our fundamentals, so when we teach children the importance of good posture and good breath support, we have to be a good examples ourselves and reinforce those qualities."

The quartet members worked with the school's fifth and sixth grade orchestra members, and offered advice and encouragement to the students.

"I learned a lot from them," said Sophia Caraballo, a student at Sollars Elementary School, who also attended the concert. "It was fun, and I think it will help us be better musicians in the future."

Sollars Elementary School Music Teacher, Michael Pavlik, said the band's visit will have a lasting impact on the students.

"The kids absolutely loved having the band here," said Pavlik. "They were really, really engaged and it was fantastic to observe.

"During their visit, we broke up the session between fifth and sixth graders," he said. "So after the fifth graders were dismissed, many stayed behind just to listen and learn what the band members had to say to the sixth graders."

Pavlik also said about 90 percent of his students were in attendance for the evening concert, which many found inspirational.

"It was really cool for them to observe musicians of this caliber," said Pavlik. "To be able to hear music played at that level, I think it really helped the kids, and hopefully it will motivate them to continue playing."

Following the concert, Smouse said he was gratified to see the progress the children made, and their enthusiasm for music.

"They were great kids. They were bright and really absorbed the information very quickly," he said. "From the first note they played until we finished, the progress they made was very noticeable."

For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, visit https://www.cnic.navy.mil/misawa/index.htm or www.facebook.com/nafmisawa.

Navy Misawa Sailors Complete Lone Sailor Snow Sculpture

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Daniel Sanford, Naval Air Facility Misawa Public Affairs

SAPPORO, Japan (NNS) -- After fours days of enduring sub-freezing temperatures and driving snow, the Navy Misawa Snow Sculpture Team completed its 'Lone Sailor' sculpture Feb. 4, just in time for the 63rd Annual Sapporo Snow Festival here.

The six-man team, comprising Sailors assigned to Naval Air Facility Misawa or one of its tenant or deployed commands, worked diligently through the week to create the sculpture from nothing more than a six-foot-by-six-foot block of compressed snow - give or take a few inches.

"The block's measurement weren't quite as advertised," said Snow Team Leader Christopher "Billy" Knox, who sketched out the intended design on graph paper prior to arriving in Sapporo. "Transferring the sketched draft of the Lone Sailor from graph paper to the block was a bit of a challenge because we had to make adjustments on the fly. But once we made compensations for its actual size, it was easy to chalk up some proportionate graphing lines."

Following the tedious process of measuring and drawing out equally distanced horizontal and vertical lines, the team used the lines to draw out the design on the snow using markers. Upon completion, the team began to sculpt.

Carefully sheering away excess snow and ice, it wasn't long before a Navy white hat began to take shape.

"Once we got an idea of how it would all look, we started chipping away and eventually began making some headway," said Cryptologic Technician Collection Seaman Herschel Moore, a native of Bandera, Texas, and snow team member. "I think the biggest challenge arrived when we had to make the face. Ensuring the face and ears were even on both sides took some effort."

Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Zachary James said his biggest challenge was working in the Sapporo weather.

"The cold," said the Seattle native. "Out here in the elements, eight hours at a time, it can take its toll. You're dealing with frozen hands, frozen toes, but we're dressed warm and in layers so it hasn't been very detrimental."

By the end of the first day, a human form began to take shape, and with every subsequent day, progress was made before the team retired each night.

"The team's performance has been outstanding," said Knox, who hails from Chapin, Ill. "They are extremely motivated; a lot of heart and soul went into this whole project."

The team's prodigious effort also drew an audience of onlookers each day. Team members were inundated with questions and photo requests, which they were always willing to provide with a smile.

"The fellas love interacting with the locals that passed by each day," said Knox. "Many of the spectators were very curious about what we were making, where the original 'Lone Sailor' is located, and the overall meaning of it. It may have slowed down our progress some, but getting the opportunity to interact with the Japanese people is the most gratifying part of this whole project."

Every member of the team seemed enamored with Sapporo and its citizens.

"The city has been amazing," said Moore. "The people are so nice and kind, they go out of their way to make you feel welcome."

That may be the reason Knox decided to add a late addition to the sculpture's base. On the final day of sculpting, Knox added a small display made of snow just underneath the sculpture's chin. On it, he carved out the Japanese Kanji symbol for friendship: "tomodachi."

"We may not speak the same language, but I think we understand the important relationship we share with each other, " said Knox. "We want the locals who come out and see the sculpture to know that our hearts and friendship is here with it. We're happy to live and serve in Japan."

This is the 29th year that Navy Misawa has sent a delegation of Sailors to Sapporo to build a sculpture and represent the base during the festival. The 63rd Annual Sapporo Snow Festival runs from Feb. 6-12, 2012.

The 2012 Navy Misawa Snow Sculpture Team consists of Knox, James, Moore, Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Alvin Zuilan, originally from San Diego, Electronics Technician 2nd Class James Johnston, originally from Kaneohe, Hawaii, and Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Trevor Teschel, a native of Pensacola, Fla.

To follow the Navy Misawa Snow Sculpture Team's progress, check out the NAF Misawa Facebook page Facebook.com/nafmisawa.

Navy Misawa CPO 365 Program Hosts Chili Cook-off Fundraiser for Adopted School

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hueming Mui, Naval Air Facility Misawa Public Affairs

MISAWA, Japan (NNS) -- Members of the Navy Misawa Chief Petty Officer (CPO) 365 program hosted a chili cook-off fundraiser at Cumming's Elementary School at Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan, Jan. 18.

Chief petty officers and first class petty officers (FCPOs) joined together to raise money for the elementary school they adopted as part of the Navy's CPO 365 Program. With all proceeds going directly back to the school toward funding future CPO 365 service projects, the combined efforts of these Sailors helped raise more than $700.

"We'll be utilizing these funds immediately," said Chief Navy Counselor Todd Wean, who serves as the Navy Misawa CPO 365 community relations coordinator. "The school has asked us to build shoe "cubbies" (cubicles) for the children, so they will have an organized area to put their wet snow boots when they arrive each morning."

Wean said volunteers will begin building the cubbies next and week, and will place them in classrooms soon after.

Navy Misawa Chief Petty Officer Association members adopted Cummings Elementary last year and have already organized several school-assistance projects along with Misawa FCPOs.

"We appreciate the Navy for helping out by putting together this wonderful event which will help raise money to support our children," said Cummings Elementary School Principal Scott Sterry.

Of the 15 chili entries that took part in the cook-off, Naval Air Facility Misawa Safety Officer Jeff Wilson took home the top prize: "The Golden Ladle."

"I was surprised I won," he said. "My secret for the chili is pork, beef, very few beans, lot of sugar, and then I smoke it."

NAF Misawa Executive Officer Cmdr. Dave Cotts took the second place prize, while Chief Mineman Scott Kopelwitz took home the third place award, "The Bronze Spork."

"It was wonderful that so many people came out to support the school and enjoy themselves tonight," said Sterry. "It was for a good cause, and I think our staff and children will really appreciate the cubbies."

CPO 365 is a program which provides CPO mentorship to first class petty officers, while also introducing greater aspects of senior enlisted leadership, responsibility and accountability.

For more news from Naval Air Facility Misawa, visit https://www.cnic.navy.mil/misawa/index.htm or check out our Facebook page at Facebook.com/nafmisawa.

Carter Recognizes Best Junior, Senior Enlisted Troops

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2011 – Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter today paid tribute to the military’s enlisted members while recognizing two deemed the best of the best.

“You may not read about them everyday … but, behind the scenes, they are the unsung heroes,” Carter said during a Pentagon ceremony honoring the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Senior and Junior Enlisted Member of the Year for 2010.

Carter pinned the Joint Service Commendation Medal on Air Force Master Sgt. Wesley K. Fleming II, operations manager of American Forces Network at Misawa Air Base, Japan, and Army Staff Sgt. Motavia S. Alston, manager and head chef for the Secretary of Defense’s executive dining facility in the Pentagon.

The value of strong enlisted members has been observed far and wide, Carter noted. Baron Friedrich von Steuben described them as the “backbone” of George Washington’s Continental Army, and Russian officials, while rebuilding the military after the collapse of the Soviet Union, said they could not have a great military without great NCOs.

Carter called Fleming and Alston the “living example of duty, honor, country,” noting their career excellence, as well as that to their communities.