National Night Out Promotes Community, Safety for Military Families

By Mark O. Piggott, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown Public Affairs

YORKTOWN, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Weapons Station (WPNSTA) Yorktown and Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) Yorktown brought together military families for an evening of education and entertainment at the annual National Night Out, Aug. 3, at Lincoln Military Housing aboard the installation.

WPNSTA Yorktown is one of 15,000 communities across the country participating in National Night Out, bringing first-responders together with community partners to help raise awareness of personal and community safety with military families.

"This night has come together to give you the opportunity to meet with the first responders from Newport News and York County," said Capt. Lowell Crow, commanding officer, WPNSTA Yorktown. "These are the people who provide your support so this is a great opportunity for you to get to know them."

This is the 29th year for National Night Out, "America's night out against crime," the chance for service members and dependents to learn more about military and community resources and an opportunity for families to meet emergency services personnel who work hard to protect and serve our community.

"We had well over 600 attendees, counting program representatives, military families and vendors, a 30 percent increase in attendance from last year," said Michele Bondurant, FFSC Yorktown director.

The field was crowded with more than 30 vendors and several military displays from WPNSTA Yorktown and its tenant commands. Families were given a head start in school supplies thanks to major corporations, York County and Newport News schools as well as other local businesses. Everything from traffic and fire safety to home security and family wellness were represented at the National Night Out program.

"National Night Out is conducted as a festival-like experience with food, music, a parade of law enforcement and fire trucks, games for the children, interactive vendor displays, fire and safety demonstrations, raffle drawings, and many vendor give-aways," Bondurant said.

"It is in this family fun environment that Navy families learn and benefit from the many resources available to them both in the Navy and throughout the community. It emphasizes and solidifies the importance of team work, collaboration and community partnerships both on our installation and throughout the surrounding area," she added. "National Night Out provides a forum to celebrate a sense of community within the Naval Weapons Station and provides a venue to showcase the many resources available to Navy families."

With an increase in community participation in just its second year at WPNSTA Yorktown, the future for more events like the National Night Out will continue in years to come.

"It is important to keep WPNSTA Yorktown perpetually engaged with the Navy family population and in working to continually strengthen its community bonds, collaboration vision and strategy," Bondurant said. "Next year we hope to have even more community vendors from James City and York County, along with added representation from Navy resources."

Joining Forces Grants Military Free Access to National Treasures

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW/AW) Desiree D. Green, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

YORKTOWN, Va. (NNS) -- The U.S. Secretary of Interior visited the Yorktown Victory Monument to speak at a "Joining Forces" initiative ceremony in Yorktown, Va., May 15.

During the ceremony, Ken Salazar announced to more than 300 service members that an annual pass would grant free access to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and other public lands around the nation to active duty service members and their dependents.

The Joining Forces initiative was established in April 2011, by First Lady Michelle Obama and second lady Dr. Jill Biden, in an effort to mobilize all sectors of society to better provide support to service members and their families.

"As we celebrate military appreciation week, it is important that we honor our military service men and women," said Salazar. "Joining Forces has traveled the world over to let the world know what you do. Less than one percent of Americans serve in the military, so it is our mission to get one hundred percent of America to support our military. I want to say thank you because without your efforts and sacrifices, we would not be here today."

Members of the Department of Interior, National Parks Services and Army Corps of Engineers partnered with the Joining Forces national initiative to expand the opportunities for service members, veterans and their dependants, outlined in the initiative.

"This program and our partnership will bring a lot of visibility to our nations' natural treasures, but most importantly get the kids outside," said Jo-Ellen Darcy, the honorable assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) Heather Havunen, from Port Operations Department, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, was one of the first recipients to receive a national park access pass.

"I feel extremely special," said Havunen. "I am very humbled and honored to have been the first to receive it."

As the ceremony concluded, John Jarvis, director of National Park Services encouraged the use of the passes in hopes it would strengthen families and communities.

"Today is very special because we have the opportunity to give our military men and woman, and their families access to more than 397 parks and recreation areas," said Jarvis. "It's a small token to express our appreciation to you and your families. This pass provides access to what makes us America. It's opportunity to vacation, learn, have fun and be inspired. Once you have it, I want you to wear it out and then come back and we'll give you another one."

MCPON Tours Norfolk Commands, Visits with Sailors

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas L. Rosprim, Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Rick D. West finished a three-day fleet engagement trip to Norfolk, Va., and surrounding area commands Feb. 9.

During the visit, West toured commands and spoke with Sailors stationed at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Norfolk Navy Yard, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Air Station Oceana, and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center.

"I'm jealous of the young Sailors in this area," said West. "You have exciting times headed your way and I would start my career over if I could to have the opportunities you will have during your time. As Sailors in our great Navy, you are working day and night to keep us moving forward and I appreciate everything you do."

During the trip, Sailors had the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Navy's highest ranking enlisted member. Questions ranged from Perform-To-Serve (PTS) and Enlisted Retention Board (ERB) to rumors of extended deployments.

"PTS is a big deal and it does not begin nine months before you change commands, it starts the day you arrive on board," said West. "As Sailors in the Navy today, you have to trust but verify. Trust that your command submitted your annual evaluation but verify it made it in to your record."

MCPON also sat down with chief petty officers from the various commands during the trip to receive feedback from the Navy's enlisted leaders on the ground. Many expressed concerns for their Sailors' futures in the Navy.

"The CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) has made it clear to leadership and Congress the most important asset the Navy has is our Sailors, and I assure you this is fact," said West. "Some of our Sailors face a challenging future, and as chiefs, it is our duty and privilege to assist these individuals toward success."

Fleet engagements are intended to provide senior leadership with a frontline assessment of Sailors and what they are doing in the Fleet.

NECC Units Complete Integrated Exercise

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Johny Michael, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs

YORKTOWN, Va. (NNS) -- Units from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) completed training toward certification for deployment after a week-long exercise centered in Yorktown, Va. that wrapped up Dec. 9.

Maritime Security Squadron (MSRON) 4 and Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 1 completed challenging exercises for more than a month for this final step. Each exercise was tailor-made by Expeditionary Training Group (ETG) to simulate the real-world operating environments that expeditionary units potentially face while deployed.

This final exercise, an NECC Integrated Exercise (NIEX), was held at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Cheatham Annex and Ft. Eustis. The NIEX was a series of threats which Americans would face in a country which had just had major combat and was now trying to restore normalcy.

"The exercise simulates partnering with a host nation, helping them build their security for cargo handling, port security and protecting waterways," said Capt. Mike Napolitano, commanding officer of ETG. "When NECC deploys to a coastal region, we normally establish a Forward Operating Base (FOB) for our headquarters. One set of skills expeditionary combat forces bring to the Navy's mission is to create security cooperation. We go to our partner nation, and help train their forces so that they can provide security for themselves."

During the exercise MSRON 4 and RIVRON1 provided protection both on land and water. Simulated "terrorists" tried to attack from small boats and jet skis, as well as using small arms and IEDs.

"I'm very happy that ETG is doing these kinds of drills, because these are the kinds of things that we are going to see when we go down range," said Lt. j.g. Harold Saintcloud, anti-terrorism officer for MSRON 4. "We have to expect the unexpected down range. Most of the guys at ETG have been there, and they know what scenarios will best prepare us for our deployment."

During this exercise, ETG planned scenarios with escalating tensions in the host nation and growing threats to Sailors. On the final day of the exercise, Sailors faced a series of attacks on the FOB, starting with sniper and IED attacks, ending in an all-out assault by local militia.

"A lot of these scenarios are based on real events," said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Raccshi Wilson, a training team assessor with Maritime Expeditionary Security Group 2. "Some of the things they may deal with on a daily basis are covered here, whether its people taking out the trash or coming in to fix a generator, the likelihood of them seeing potential threats here in the training scenario prepares them to see actual threats when they deploy. The small number of Sailors that stand the watch at the FOB Entry Control Point are responsible for protecting the two to three hundred personnel inside the compound."

The final confrontation was hectic and fast paced, combining attacks from all sides of the FOB with simulated IED explosions and constant gunfire. The chaos of that final hour presented an challenge for training participants.

"It was a lot of fun," said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Samuel Gonzalez of MSRON 4. "It was a good training environment, and we all learned a lot. You have to keep the area that you're protecting, but not lose focus on what's going on around you."

RIVRON 1 is a combat-arms force that performs point defense, fire support and interdiction operations along inland water ways to defeat enemies and support U.S. Marines and coalition forces. MSRON 4 provides rapidly deployable forces to conduct or support anti-terrorism and force protection missions for U.S. and allied nations in ports and canals around the world.