february 2013 road runner
DESCRIPTION
February 2013 edition of NRD Phoenix's command newsletter.TRANSCRIPT
Road Runner Staff
Cmdr. Derek WessmanCommanding Officer
Cmdr. Michael MosbrugerExecutive Officer
CMDCM(SCW/SW) Eric ColeCommand Master Chief
MC1(AW) Adrian MelendezPublic Affairs Officer
Editor/Layout and Design
The Road Runner is a monthlynewslet-ter produced by the U.S. Navy Recruit-ing District Phoenix Public Affairs. It is intended primarily, but not exclusivly, for the use, information and entertain-ment of it’s active duty and reserve members, civilian employees and their families. Any views exspressed herin are not necessarily the official postions of the U.S. Navy. The Road Runner staff encourages feedbacl from it’s readers. Please submit all articles, suggestions, ideas, comments, photos, compliments or complaints to MC1(AW) Adrian Melendez at adrian.b. [email protected].
Inside This Issue
Page 3 RDAC
Page 4 Spartans
Page 6 Training
Page 8 Around the Fleet
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COMMAND CORNERStay HungryCmdr. Derek WessmanNRD Phoenix, Commanding Officer
ThisismyfinalRoadRunnerarticle.Iwriteitwithbothsadnessandjoy-sadnessbecauseitsignifiestheendofatremendouslyenrichingtourandjoybecauseNRDPhoenixisonapathtogreatness.Justlookatthefollowingpagesofawards!WebeganFiscalYear2013withonegoal–“ToBe#1!”Afterthefirstquarter,that’sexactlywherewestand.Why?It’ssimple…Becauseofyourhardworkanddedicationtoeachotherandourmission.I’mcontinuallyimpressedwiththepro-fessionalismofeverymemberofourNRDPhoenixFamily.Eachofyoutrulytakesownershipofyourrolesandpromotesacultureofdisciplinebasedonourguidingprinciplesofpro-activeness,teamwork,transpar-encyandtrust.Thatisthekeytoourcurrentsuccess.“Inlifeweareoftenfacedwithtwochoices.Oneofthemiseasy,buttheonlyrewardisthatitwaseasy.”(Unknown)Beingpartofachampionshipteamisnevereasy…Yourhardworkismakingadiffer-
ence. I’dliketotakethisoppor-tunitytowelcomeaboardournewXO,CDRMichaelMosbruger,whocomestousafterfiveyearsatthePentagononboththeCNOStaffandtheSecretaryofDefenseStaff.Hehitthegroundrunningandisalreadymakingsignificantcontributionstoourteam.Welcomeaboard! OnMarch8,IwillturnovercommandofNRDPhoenixtoCDRAlexOrtiz,anoutstandingNavalOf-ficerwhoneedsnointroduction,buttowhomIoweatremendousdebtofgratitude.Hehasbeenmysound-ingboardeverystepoftheway.Icouldn’thaveaskedforabetterExecutiveOfficerandhewillbeanevenbetterCommandingOfficer.ItiswithconfidencethatIwillgivethe“con”tosuchacompetent,trustwor-thyanddeterminedleader. IthastrulybeenanhonorandhumblingexperiencetoservealongsideeachandeveryoneofyouasyourCommandingOfficer.NRDPhoenixiscurrentlyheadandshouldersabovethecompetitionandonthevergeof“explosivegrowth,”acrossthefullspectrumofourmis-sion.However,thiswillonlyhappenifwestaytruetotheprinciplesthatgotushere.It’sgoodtobe#1,ofcourse,butonlyifwe’veearneditandourintegrityisintact.Don’tletcomplacencyorshrinkingbudgetsgetintheway.Finally,continuetolookoutforyourShipmatesbyadheringtoourNavyCoreValuesofHonor,CourageandCommitment-BeHonest,BeYourselfandBeThere…andtheresultwillBe#1!StayHungry! Skipper
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TheRecruitingDistrictAssistanceCouncil(RDAC)recentlyheldtheirsemi-annualluncheonattheEastValleyInstituteofTechnology(EVIT)onDecember6,2012.Thecounciliscomprisedoflocalbusinessleaders,educators,NavyLeaguemembers,andmilitaryguestwhogatheredtobothnetwork,andforgeideasthatfurtherlendsupporttoourfieldrecruitingstaff.
Offeringtheopeningremarks,CommanderDerekWessman,CommandingOfficerofNavyRecruitingDistrictPhoenixandMr.DaveCollins,theRDACChairmanpresentedthecouncilasummaryoftheon-goingoperationsofourNavy’sglobalfootprint.WessmanwentontofurtherprovidethecouncilwithasnapshotandoverallupdateofNRDPhoenix’scommandobjectives,missionsuccess,andchallengesinboththecurrentandthepastfiscalyear.CommanderWessmanfurtherexpressedhissincereappreciationtoeachRDACmemberandthedirectpositiveimpactthecouncilhas
hadwithhisfieldrecruitersandheadquartersstaffalike.Chiefly,CommanderWessmannotedthespecificaccomplishmentsofthecouncil’smeasurableimpactincriticalmissionareassuchasofficerinterviews,highschoolandtechnicalcampusaccess,ScienceTechnologyandMath(STEM)initiatives.
CommanderWessmanconcludedhisremarksbypresentingPaul“Doc”JohnsonwithaplaqueofappreciationforhostingtheluncheonandhisunwaveringsupportoftheNavyrecruitingmission.Johnson,aretiredChiefHospitalCorpsman,currentlyservesastheCampusDirectoratEVITandacceptedtheawardonbehalfofhisstaffandstudents.“Doc”,indescribinghiscampus,alsonotedthattheimpressiveluncheonwascoordinated,prepared,andservedentirelybyhisculinaryartsdepartmentstudents.JohnsonalsointroducedtothecouncilhiskeystaffmembersanddepartmentchairsatEVIT,andalsonotedseveralNavyrecruitinginitiatives
currentlyongoingandinthefuturethroughoutthecampusrespectively.
Aftertheluncheon,thecouncilhadtheopportunitytobreak-outintotheirrespectivecommitteestofurthernetwork,forgeideas,andfosterrelationships.Inclosing,RDACChairmanDaveCollinsdescribedtheRDACsstrategicplantoeachcommitteerespectivelyandclosedwith“Intheend,therelationshipbetweenourlocalcommunityandtheNavyisavitalandimportantpartofwhatmakesourRDACwork.”
NRD Phoenix Hosts RDAC LuncheonBy Daymond Howell
On The CoverEquipment Operator 1st Class Alana Siegwald stands proudly as part of the Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Phoenix Color Guard, during the retirement ceremony of Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Charles Dodd at Wesley Bolin Memorial Park in Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 18. The Color Guard is looking for volunteers, from local Phoenix Navy recruiting stations, to be part of the command’s color guard team and represent America’s Navy at ceremonies and sporting events throughout the valley. Interested Sailors should contact EO1 Siegwald at [email protected] for more information. (U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Adrian Melendez)
ThreeSailorsfromNavyRecruitingStationAlbuquerqueparticipateintheannualSpartanRaceinPhoenix,Ariz.,Feb.10. NavyCareerCounselor1stClassWillieHerron,Electrician’sMate1stClassCecilDeveau,andYeoman2ndClassAdriannaGonzalezmadethesixhourdrivefromAlbuquerquetoparticipateinthe4.7raceandobstaclecourse,whichconsistoftestingpartici-pantsstrengthandstaminabyhav-ingthemclimbropes,crawlthroughmudandcarrysandbags. Herronsaidhehasdoneothermud-basedracesbefore,buttheSpartanRacewashisfirstobstaclecourseandthedifficultyliveduptohisexpectations.
“TheracewaseverythingIexpectedittobeandIlookforwardtodoingitagainnextyear,”saidHerron. BecauseofthedifferentobstaclesallthreeSailorshadtheirstrengthsandweaknessesthrough-outtherace,andifanyparticipantfailedtoaccomplishanobstacletheywererequiredtodoasetof
squatthrust,or“Burpees”,tomakeupforthefailure.
Gonzalezsaidthemostdifficultpartforherwastryingtoclimbupa30-footrope2milesintothecourse.“Iexpectedtobeabletoclimbtherope,soIwasa
littledisappointedtohavetodotheburpees
instead,”Shesaid.“I’mgoingtotrainmoreonmyupperbodyandcomebackstrongernexttimeandclimbtherope.” Throughallthedifficultyofthecourse,allthreeSailorsfinished
theracetiredandingreatspirits. “Theobstacleswereablast,”saidGonzalez.“Ilikedrun-ningupallthehillsbecauseitwasreallychallenging.” “Ithinkwedidprettywell,”saidHerron.“Ican’twaitfornextyear.”
Albuquerque Recruiters Compete in Annual RaceBy MC1 Adrian Melendez
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AllthroughthemonthofJanuarytheNavyRecruitingDistrictPhoenixchainoffcommandtravelledthroughoutthedivisionsgivingannualtraining,aswellasrecognizingthehardworkSailorshavebeendoingthroughoutthedistrictduringthelastfiscalyear. Someofthetraininggivenincludedresponsibleuseofalcohol,suicideawareness,andSexualAssaultPreventionResponse-Fleet(SAPR-F). TheSAPR-FisafleetwidemandatedtrainingaimedatteachingSailorshowtorecognizethesignsandpreventsexualassaultbeforeithappens. “Itisimperativethatwedisruptthecontinuumofharmre-sultingfromsexualassault,”saidChiefofNavalPersonnel,ViceAdm.ScottVanBuskirk,inaNAV-ADMINreleasedNovember2012.“EverySailorhasaresponsibilitytomakeadifferenceandpreventthiscrime.” ChiefNavyCareerCoun-selorToniaBranco,SAPRadvo-cateforAlbuquerqueandElPaso,assistedinfacilitatingthetraining,andechoedVanBuskirk’scallto
stopsexualassaultinAmerica’sNavy. “Ihopefromthisdayforwardyouhavethehonor,cour-ageandcommitmenttostopwhatshouldbestoppedandbethatdif-ference,”saidBrancotoagroupofSailorsfromDivision2inElPaso,Texas. NRDPhoenixCommandingOfficer,Cmdr.DerekWessman,attendedeachoftrainingsessions
acrossthedistrictnotonlytoreiteratetheimportanceofthetraining,butalsotorecognizetheSailorsforalltheirhardworkduringtheyearandtheamountofpridehehasforalltheaccomplishmentsthedistrictaccomplishedasateam,includingtheRecruiting“R”,Enlisted“E”andOfficer“O”.
Lt. Peter Rancourt, and Chief Navy Career Counselor Tonia Branco, train Sailors from Navy Recruiting District Phoenix’s Division 5 on the Navy’s Sexual Assault prevention Response-Fleet (SAPR-F) in Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 10. SAPR-F is fleet-wide mandated training, aimed at educating Sailors how to prevent, and report, sexual assault in America’s Navy.
NRD Phoenix Conducts Annual All-Hands Training, Awards CeremonyStory and Photo by MC1 Adrian Melendez
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WASHINGTON-TheNavyjoinsthenationincelebratingWomen’sHistoryMonthduringthemonthofMarch,asannouncedinNavalAdministrativemessage039/13,releasedFeb.22. CommandsarestronglyencouragedtoincreasetheirknowledgeandawarenessofthecontributionsofwomentoourNavyandnationbycelebratingthenationalWomen’sHistoryMonththeme,“WomenInspiringInnova-tionthroughImagination:Celebrat-ingWomeninScience,Technol-ogy,EngineeringandMathematics(STEM)”throughprograms,exhib-its,publications,andparticipationinmilitaryandcommunityevents. OneNavySTEMpioneerincludesGraceMurrayHopper,whowantedtoputherPh.D.inMathematicstouseforhernationinthemidstofWorldWarII.In1943,shejoinedtheNavalRe-servesandwascommissionedasalieutenantin1944.DuringWorldWarIIsheworkedattheBureauofOrdnanceComputationProjectatHarvardUniversityandattheendofthewarjoinedtheHarvardfaculty.Retiringasarearadmi-ral,Hopper,wasrecognizedasa
pioneercomputerprogrammer,theco-inventorofCommonBusinessOrientedLanguage(COBOL),andforcoiningtheterm“bug”forcomputermalfunctions.HopperwasburiedatArlingtonNationalCemeteryin1992.USSHopper(DDG70)wascommissionedashernamesakein1997;thiswasonlythesecondNavywarshiptobenamedafterawoman. AlsoduringWorldWarII,theNavylaunchedtheWomenAcceptedforVolunteerEmergencyService(WAVES)program.AlongwithHopper,morethan85,000WAVESworkedinSTEMfieldsasairtrafficcontrollers,cryptologists,draftsmen,meteorologists,andtranslatorsduringWorldWarII. InDecember2012,historywasmadeintheNavy’snuclear
communitywhenLieutenantJuniorGradeMarquetteLeveque,assignedtothegoldcrewofUSSWyoming(SSBN742),andLieutenantsJuniorGradeAmberCowanandJenniferNoonanofUSSMaine(SSBN741)bluecrewbecamethefirstfemaleunrestrictedlineofficerstoqualifyinsubma-rinesandreceivetheirSubmarineWarfareInsignia,alsoknownas“dolphins.” TodayintheNavy,femaleofficersfill10percentofSTEMpositions,includingengineeringdutyofficersandinformationwar-fareprofessionals.FemaleenlistedSailorsmakeup22percentofthecryptologyandintelligencecom-munityand21percentofopera-Women Continued OnPage 9
Women at the Helm: Celebrating 2013 Women’s History MonthBy Chief Operations Specialist Jessica Myers, Navy Office of Women’s Policy
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tionalratings,includingaviationwarfaresystemsoperatorsandsonartechnicians.FemaleSailorscontinuetoexcelbothashoreandafloat,servinginvariousSTEMrelatedfields.Morethan54,000activedutywomenandmorethan10,000femaleReservistsareserv-ingintheNavy.Theymakeup17.3percentoftheforceandmakeindispensablecontributionstoourmissionandoperations.Nearly59,000womenserveinawiderangeofspecialtiesasNavycivil-ians.ThecurrentNavyTotalForceincludes33activeandReservefemaleflagofficers,67femaleseniorexecutiveservicemembers,56femalecommandmasterchiefs,and6femalecommandseniorchiefsleadingfromthefront. Currently,thetopthreehighest-rankingfemaleofficersintheNavyareViceAdm.CarolPot-tenger,ViceAdm.MichelleHow-ard,andViceAdm.RobinBraun.Pottenger,asurfacewarfareofficer,wasoneofthefirstwomenselectedforseadutyandwentontobecomethethirdcommander,NavyEx-
peditionaryCombatCommand.Howardalsoasurfacewarfareofficer,wasthefirstAfricanAmeri-canwomantocommandashipintheU.S.Navywhenshetookcom-mandofUSSRushmore(LSD47),andin2012shebecamethefirstAfrican-Americanwomantore-ceiveathirdstarinflagrankwithintheDepartmentofDefensewhenshewaspromotedAug.24.Braun,acareernavalaviatorandformercommandingofficerofVR-48,hasmorethan5,800flighthoursinNavyaircraft. Thetopthreehighest-rankingfemaleenlistedleadersintheNavyareFleetMasterChiefJoannOrtloff,FleetMasterChiefAprilBeldo,andForceMasterChiefNancyHollingsworth.ForceMasterChiefAprilBeldo,currentlytheNavalEducationandTrainingCommandForceMasterChief,willmakehistoryastheNavy’sfirstfemaleAfricanAmericanFleetMasterChiefwhensheassumesherpositionastheManpower,Personnel,TrainingandEducation(MPT&E)fleetmasterchieflaterthismonth. TheNavy’s67-strong
SeniorExecutiveServicealsohasastrongSTEMpresenceamongstitsseniormostwomen.CarlaLuc-chino,DepartmentofNavyAs-sistantforAdministrationisthetopfemalecivilianSES.SteffanieEaster,executivedirectorfortheF-35LightningIIJointProgramOffice,holdsabachelor’sdegreeinchemicalengineeringandmaster’sdegreeinengineeringmanagement.EasteriscurrentlyleadingtheF-35LightningIIJointProgram,theDe-partmentofDefense’sinitiativefordefiningaffordableandsustainablefifth-generationstrikeaircraft.
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Rights and Empowerment Highlighted in PRT Farah Visit to Radio Television AfghanistanBy Lt. j.g. Matthew Stroup, Radio Television Afghanistan Public Affairs FARAHCITY,Afghani-stan-IncreasingrightsforwomeninsocietyandtheirempowermentoverthepastdecadewasthefocusofconversationduringameetingbetweenrepresentativesfromPro-vincialReconstructionTeam(PRT)FarahandlocalleadersattheRadioTelevisionAfghanistanbroadcastfacilityinFarahCity,Feb.23. ThiswasPRTFarah’sfirstvisittothetelevisionandradiobroadcastfacilityinFarahsince
turningoverwiththepreviousPRTinOctober2012. PRTFarahvisitedtheRTAFarahfacilityasafollowuptoarecentjournalismskillstrainingcourseinFarahledbystafffromthelocaldirectorateofinforma-tionandculturethatbuiltmediacapacityforbothmaleandfemalestudents.Intotal,41students,20ofthemfemale,graduatedfromthecourseataceremonyinFarahCityoneweekago.Oneofthestudents
intheclass,NargasKarimi,isoneoffivefull-timeradiobroadcastjournalistsforRTAFarah.Karimi,whoisalsoasecondyearstudentattheFarahTeacherTrainingInsti-tute,hasattendedmanyjournalismworkshopsbothinFarahandinneighboringHeratprovince. “IlearnedalotaboutmediaandjournalismduringthetrainingworkshopinFarah,”saidKarimi.
PRT Farah Continued onPage 10
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“IactuallylearnedmorethanIthoughtIwould.Itwasreallyben-eficialtraining.” NotlongagoinFarah,inallofAfghanistaninfact,womenwouldn’thavehadtheopportunitytogotoschoolorworkoutsideofthehome.Theycertainlywouldn’thavehadtheopportunitytoworkasaradiopersonalityonalocalradiostation.OnepersonwhoremembersthattimewellistheFarahdirectorofwomen’saffairs,LeilumaSediqui. SediquirecalledatimewhensheworkedasateacherinKabulduringtheTalibanregime.Herdaughterwassickandneededtovisitthedoctor.Atthattime,Sediqui’shusbandwasinPakistanworkingasamerchant,havinglosthispositionasalocalprosecutorundertheTaliban. “Itookmydaughtertoseethedoctor,whowasacousinofmyhusband’s,”saidSediqui.“Whenhestartedtheexaminationonmydaughter,aTalibwassittingbehindmeandnoticedthatIuncoveredmyface.Hewantedtolashmebutthedoctorstoppedhim.Iquicklycoveredmyface.TheseweremydarkesttimesinAfghanistan.” MuchhaschangedsincethattimeinAfghanistan,andwhilewomen’srightsandissuesarecer-tainlynotanafterthought,ideasarechangingwithintheculture. “Ihavebeenthedirectorofwomen’saffairsfortenyears,”saidSediqui.“Forthefirsttwoyears,Ididn’tleavemyoffice.WhentheTalibanwentaway,womenwereabletobeapartofmeetingsandparticipateinsocietyandthegov-ernment.” Sediquibelievesthattherearetwomainreasonsforthe
cultureshiftregardingwomen’srightsinFarah.TheremovaloftheTalibanisthefirstreason,followedbyanincreasedawarenessandunderstandingofwomen’srights.Sediquinotedthatpublicinfor-mationcampaignsandmonthlywomen’srightsseminarsinallofAfghanistan’sprovinceshaveledtoashiftinthemindsetofthepeople.ShealsopointedoutthefactthateachofAfghanistan’sprovincesnowhasadirectorateofwomen’saffairstocontinueprogressintheseareas. Despitetheincreaseinwomen’srightsinFarah,therearestillchallenges.Karimi,whowashelpedbyamalefamilymembertogetherjobatRTAFarah,alsosaidthatnotallofherfamilyandfriendsareentirelysupportive.Sheevennotedthatsomeoneclosetoheraskediftherewasn’tanotherwomaninFarahthatcouldworkontheradio. Herresponse,“ThisiswhatIwanttodo.” Karimi,now25-years-old,spentherformativeyearsinIranasarefugeeduringtheTalibanyears.Despitethechallengesherfamilyfaced,shegrewupwithadreamtobeontelevision.Infact,Karimisaidthatsheusedtofrequentlylookintoamirrorandpretendlikeshewasajournalist.Herdreamsareslowlybecomingherreality. Alongwiththegrowthofwomen’srights,positionsinthemediaarebecomingmoreread-ilyavailableforwomeninFarah,despitealackofopenpositionsonthegeneralmanager’stashkil-adocumentoutliningtheamountofstaffhecanhire.Currently,anotheryoung,Farahiwomanworksonapart-time,volunteerbasisatRTAFarah,producingatelevisionshowaboutchildren.
“ItusedtobethatIwouldnevergetjobrequestsfromwom-en,”saidMohammedHashemOmari,generalmanagerofRTAFarah.“NowIgetrequestsfromwomentoworkhereonaregularbasis.UnfortunatelymytashkilisfullsoIhavenofull-timeposi-tionsformenorforwomen.But,Idomakeanefforttogivejobstowomenwhenpositionsbecomeavailable.” DuringthePRT’svisittotheradioandtelevisionbroad-castcenter,PRTmembershadanopportunitytowatchthroughtheglassasKarimiinterviewedSediquiforaliveradiointerview,aneventthatcertainlywouldn’thaveoccurredtenyearsago.En-gagementslikethisareasignalthatchangeistakingplaceinkeywaysinAfghanistan. Whilemanypeoplearecon-cernedthatthepost-transitionse-curitysituationinAfghanistanwillleadtothelossofgroundgainedonwomen’srightsissues,Sediquiisn’toneofthem. “Therearesomepeoplewhoareafraidofwhatwillhappen[aftertransition],”saidSediqui.“andmaybesecuritywillgetworse.Butwhateverhappenswiththesecuritysituation,themindsetofwomenandpeoplewhohavebeenexposedtowomen’srightswillnotchange.Nobodycanchangeourminds.” PRTFarah’smissionistotrain,advise,andassistAfghangovernmentleadersatthemunici-pal,district,andprovinciallevelsinFarahprovince,Afghanistan.Theircivil-militaryteamiscomprisedofmembersoftheU.S.Navy,U.S.Army,theU.S.DepartmentofStateandtheU.S.AgencyforInterna-tionalDevelopment(USAID).
PRT Farah Continued FromPage 9
EOD School Graduates First Students from Albania, St. Vincent and the Peruvian NavyBy Ensign Elizabeth Allen, Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Public AffairsEGLINAIRFORCEBASE,Fla.(NNS)--ThefirststudentsfromAlbania,thePeruviannavyandtheislandchainofSt.VincentandtheGrenadinesgraduatedfromtheNa-valSchoolofExplosiveOrdnanceDisposal(NAVSCOLEOD)receiv-ingtheirBasicEODTechnicianqualificationpinsFeb.13. Seventeenstudentscom-pletedtheInternationalExplosiveOrdnanceDisposal(EOD)PhaseIISurfaceCourse,whichbeganAug.2. ElevenofthegraduateswillcontinueintotheUnderwaterOrdnanceDivisionofschoolforathree-weekcourseinidentification,render-safeproceduresanddisposalproceduresforunderwaterord-nance. “Thiscoursewasverychal-lenging,”saidAlbanianArmyCapt.VladiminPica,arecentgraduateoftheinternationalcourse.“Itwasalongcourse,butwiththehelpoftheinstructorsandmyfriendsintheclassandcomingtostudyhall,
Imadeit.” Currently,94countriessendtheirstudentstoNAVSCO-LEODtoreceivetrainingandbasicknowledgeofEOD.Theinterna-tionalstudentsareheldtothesamecurriculumstandardsastheirU.S.counterparts. “Everythingthatneedstobelearnedhastobelearnedattheschool,”explainedPica,whenspeakingofthecurriculumtaughtatNAVSCOLEOD.“Wearen’tal-lowedtotakebookshome.” PettyOfficer3rdClassDamianFranklyn,amemberoftheSt.VincentCoastGuard,isoneofthe11studentscontinuingontotheUnderwaterOrdnancecourseofstudy. “IfeelhonoredthatI’vemadeitsofar,”saidFranklyn.“IwilltaketheknowledgeIlearnedheretohelpteachothersandmakemycountry’ssecuritysystemsstronger.I’moptimisticmycountrywillstartsendingmorestudentstothisschooltoformourownEOD
team.” Theschool’sInternationalMilitaryStudentOfficer,BillyMartin,isinchargeofupto125in-ternationalstudentseachyearwhoattendNAVSCOLEODandistheirliaisonforallissuesinandoutsideoftheclassroom. “HavingstudentsgraduatefromNAVSCOLEODandreturnhomeastheircountries’firstEODtechniciansrepresentsasignificantaccomplishment,”saidMartin.“Theycanreturnhomeknow-ingtheymadeadifferenceattheschoolandwillcontinuetomakeadifferenceperformingEODworkwhencalledupon.” “I’mgladtobegoinghomeandtomeetmytwo-montholddaughter,”addedPica.“TheU.S.governmentandMr.Martinhavebeengreat-I’dliketogiveabig‘thankyou’totheschool.”
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Derek R. Sanchez)
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communica-tion Specialist 3rd Class Molly Anne Greendeer)
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