NBK Hosts Personal Readiness Summit

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Chris Brown, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest

SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- More than 100 senior enlisted and junior officers attended a personal readiness summit at Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) Bangor plaza ballroom, Sept. 24-25.

The personal readiness summit featured presentations on drug and alcohol, behavioral health, physical readiness program and suicide prevention.

"The bottom line on why we do this summit is to equip us better to help our Sailors," said NBK Executive Officer Cmdr. C.J. Carter. "Helping our Sailors is the key to preventing bad things that happen to them."

With September being suicide prevention month, the summit brought in guest speaker Kevin Hines to speak with the attendees on how to spot symptoms of suicidal behavior and how to help someone in need.

Hines is just one of 33 people to survive a suicide attempt from jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, and it was important to him to share his story to the attendees.

"It's important for any group, especially in the military, to hear a story of triumph over adversity, a story of success over pain, and that's what I hope to share today," said Hines. "With the growing number of suicides it's important we do everything we can to reduce that trend."

Speaking to the senior enlisted attendees, Hines wanted to point out that suicidal thoughts and depression can happen to anyone at anytime and it is important for the people who are in charge to be able to recognize the people at danger and get them the help they need.

"It's important to help these young enlisted Sailors and guide them to hope," said Hines. "Just because you are having a hard time now, doesn't mean you always will."

During the presentation Hines helped point out symptoms of suicidal thoughts, how to help the individuals and shared some of his own techniques that help him out when he is feeling depressed.

"It's important for the senior enlisted to get another perspective such as the one Mr. Hines provided with us today," said Chief Fire Control Technical Christopher Howard, attached to USS Michigan Blue crew. "We have to be able to pick up on the little things that will be able to help our Sailors out."

Northwest Sailors Volunteer at Veterans Home

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Scott A. McCall, Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Det. Northwest

RETSIL, Wash. (NNS) -- More than 40 chief petty officers (CPO) and CPO selects, assigned to commands within Navy Region Northwest, participated in a community relations (COMREL) project at Washington Veterans Home, Aug. 9.

 The CPO selects, Sailors undergoing an induction process to CPO, assisted the grounds crew of the veterans home with brush clean-up of the campus, tree trimming and weed pulling.

"Our ultimate goal is not only to make this thing pretty, but to give back and appreciate our veterans," said Chief Hospital Corpsman (SS/FMF) Robert Ripps, stationed at Naval Submarine Support Center on Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) Bangor.

During the clean up the CPO selects also interacted with the veterans living on the campus sharing stories of their time currently serving and listening to the stories from those who preceded them.

"Some of the selects broke off and engaged some of the veterans here that reside in the facility and they appreciate not only us here helping maintain their home, but to listen and appreciate them and what they sacrificed for us and our nation," said Ripps. "A lot of times all people want sometimes is to be appreciated and someone to listen to them."

Washington Veterans Home is on a 31-acre campus with a state-of-the-art facility serving more than 240 veterans needing both long-term nursing and assisted-living care.

Don Veverka, superintendent administrator for the Washington Veterans Home, said that due to a limited budget the home can only allocate two people to manage the grounds for the entire campus, so they rely heavily on volunteers especially current active duty service members.

"The help that we receive is a tremendous value to us, it allows us to keep the grounds looking, much better than they would otherwise," said Veverka. "We rely on them very heavily to come and provide those extra hands and assistance in keeping the place looking better than it would otherwise. We respect and appreciate their contribution immensely."

Veverka said the veterans love it when current active duty personnel take the time to visit. He described the service members here in the Pacific Northwest as being generous and very supportive of the veterans.

"They come in and meet with our residents, they'll call bingo, they'll engage in activities and involve with them, getting to know our residents," said Veverka. "What is better then to have service veterans connected with active duty service personnel? They love it and look forward to it and are always eager to share their stories and their experiences, which really is very valuable to those that are engaged in the current active duty as well."

Being able to have this opportunity to connect with the past had a big meaning for some of current active duty Sailors who participated in the COMREL.

"It's amazing to me that they're here and we're here and they are from times before ours," said Chief (select) Logistics Specialist (SS) Bernard Drayton, assigned to Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific at NBK Bangor. "One day we'll be here and I'll come out and watch the young guys do it and be proud that they are following from were I came from."

Ripps said that COMREL projects like this are very effective and important for the Navy by building a bond and uniting the Sailors with the surrounding community.

"Even though our jobs all too often carry us away from our communities and our families, an event like this gives us a chance to come back and plant roots," said Ripps. "We're not just the travelers in the night that come and go every couple of years, we show that we care and we're willing to do what we need to do to help out our community."

Reagan Riders Roll Toward Summer with Motorcycle Safety in Mind

By Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Kevin Hastings, USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs

NAVAL BASE KITSAP-KEYPORT, Wash. (NNS) -- More than 30 motorcycle riders from aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) joined nearly 300 fellow riders from military commands throughout the Pacific Northwest for a motorcycle safety standdown aboard Naval Base Kitsap-Keyport, May 17.

The safety standdown was conducted to reinforce the Navy's standards for motorcycle safety, especially with more motorcycle riders taking to the roads as weather conditions in the region continue to improve.

"There were 34 motorcycle-related deaths in the Navy last year," said Chief Hull Technician Nick Brunney, Ronald Reagan's command motorcycle safety representative. "We want to bring operational risk management to the forefront of Sailor's minds."

The safety standdown brought riders of all skill levels together to help less-experienced riders improve their proficiency. Those in attendance received safety briefs before taking to a slalom course to demonstrate basic motorcycle riding and safety skills.

According to Brunney, rank was of no concern to the riders in attendance.

"It's important we get all the riders together as peers," said Brunney. "The person who might be helping you become more familiar with riding, and therefore a better and safer motorcycle rider, can be junior or senior (in rank) to you."

Capt. Thom Burke, USS Ronald Reagan commanding officer and a motorcycle rider himself, said attending safety courses like the one held aboard Naval Base Kitsap-Keyport are important for all riders.

"It's imperative to keep everyone in the fold when it comes to motorcycle safety," said Burke. "This critically important training helps riders develop those crucial habit patterns that don't come naturally... and it's those patterns that could end up saving your life."

Machinist's Mate 1st Class Tyrone Perriott, a seven-year motorcyclist, believes courses such as this one are important to instill basic bike-riding skills based on one simple principle-safety.

"We have safety standdowns to give our riders the tools to develop better riding habits and become better riders," said Perriot. "The only way to become more comfortable with riding is with time and practice."

As part of the Navy's motorcycle safety guidelines, Sailors must complete a standardized motorcycle riding course before they ride a motorcycle. The course includes training on how to ride safely, how to ride in traffic, tips on how to react to a myriad of different scenarios, and much more.

"It's important that our Sailors take the course," said Brunney. "It builds camaraderie between shipmates and it helps develop good riding habits. And it's not important to own your own bike before you take the course, because loaner bikes are available for new riders."

Ronald Reagan is currently homeported in Bremerton, Wash., while undergoing a Docked Planned Incremental Availability maintenance period at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility.

Bremerton Culinary Artists Showcase their Skill at Armed Forces Competition

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Charlemagne Obana, Naval Hospital Bremerton Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) food service Sailors and civilian staff competed May 12 at the 2012 Armed Forces Day military culinary arts competition.

The event was hosted by Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) at the Olympic College student center.

"It was very tough to judge this event. They were all outstanding and represent the best of the best that the Navy and the military offers," said special guest and judge from Washington D.C., Karin George, program manager food service ashore and retired Navy chef. "This was a wonderful opportunity to showcase their skills and I never experienced anything like this when I was in the Navy."

The competition which originated 20 years ago as a chili cook-off between the area's Navy cooks has blossomed into a competition with representatives coming from throughout the greater Puget Sound area such as Joint Base Lewis-McCord, NBK, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Naval Hospital Bremerton, Naval Base Everett, and various ships in the Northwest Navy region.

"It really raises your opinion of the kind of chefs the Navy and the military has...these guys have skills," said Steve Zugschwerdt, freelance photographer and competition attendee.

NHB combined food services staff began their food preparations two days prior to the event and presented the most entries into the competition.

"Our strategy is to just do our best and to represent our command," said Culinary Specialist 1st Class (SW) Arturo Perez, NHB combined food services leading petty officer. "We tried to use the same winning recipes from last year until somebody beats us in that category. The main difference [this year] is in our presentation."

The categories for competition included garnish, chili, appetizer, pie, cake, ribs, wings, and the iron chef cook-off.

"There was no 'I' or 'my' product. Everyone had a hand in each item. We were very critical with each of our entries," said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW/AW) Renee Aquino, NHB Combined Food Service leading chief petty 0fficer.

"I think our entries in this competition are phenomenal," said NHB Command Master Chief Frank Dominguez. "They really hit a homerun with the ribs and the cake."

The efforts of the hospital Terrace Dining Room staff were rewarded with first place awards for both the cake and rib category, second place awards in chili and wings, another third place award for their rib entry, and a second overall award for the second consecutive year. According to command staff members who attended the event, the real winners of the competition are always the patrons of NHB Terrace Dining Room.

"Some of the products we prepare for competition make it on our menu at the hospital," said Aquino. "The sushi that won last year we served as part of our healthy menu during our nutrition month celebration."

The NHB galley began instituting healthier menu items in early 2011 according to Aquino.

"We took away serving hamburgers and fries everyday even though people liked it. We try to set their mind on something else [healthier for them]. We serve whole wheat pasta, brown rice, tofu dishes, and we serve a lot of fish on our menu during the week," said Perez.

"I'd like to see a healthy choice category for next year's competition. We could teach a lot of people that healthy food also tastes good."

"I think we would probably ace that category," said Aquino. "We serve a grilled crusted mahi-mahi [here], all we have to do is make a good sauce to go with it."

Seawolf Completes Sea Trials after Maintenance Period at PSNS

From Commander, Submarine Development Squadron 5 Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- The attack submarine USS Seawolf (SSN 21) returned to its homeport of Naval Base Kitsap April 3, after successful sea trials, capping a major maintenance period which lasted more than two years.

"Seawolf has worked hard to return to the fleet, and we are glad to be back at the tip of the spear," said Cmdr. Dan Packer, Seawolf's commanding officer.

For the past 31 months, Seawolf has been at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF), where it underwent a $280 million maintenance package as part of a Depot Modernization Period.

PSNS & IMF has handled all intermediate and depot-level maintenance for Seawolf-class submarines since 2008.

"The Seawolf Depot Modernization Period was very challenging for the shipyard, as this was a first-time major availability for this unique submarine," said Greg Wolfe, Seawolf's project superintendent. "An incredibly talented shipyard management team and seamless teamwork with the ship guaranteed our success through the maintenance period."

While underway for sea trials, Seawolf was put through her paces, testing all systems and verifying that the boat had been restored to full combat capability.

"The talent and professionalism this crew demonstrated in getting our ship underway is a testament to the hard work, training, and dedication of all hands during our maintenance period," Packer said.

Seawolf's next challenge includes a series of training and certification periods for improving the crew's warfighting readiness.

"This crew is confident in their abilities and in the quality work Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Seawolf project management team accomplished over the last two years," Packer said. "We are ecstatic to be at sea again, and Seawolf is even more capable and effective than at any time in her 15 years of service."

Seawolf and the other two submarines in her class - USS Connecticut (SSN 22), also based in Bremerton, and USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), homeported at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor - are the fastest, quietest, deepest diving, and most heavily armed fast attack submarines in the fleet.