Mayport, USS Shamal
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CHINFO Award Winner Vol. 55 • Issue 37 www.nsmayport.navy.mil www.mayportmirror.com THURSDAY, September 26, 2013 WelcomeFrom Staff To Mayport, USS Shamal Patrol Coastal USS Shamal (PC 13) made the homeport shift from Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Virginia to Naval Station Mayport on Saturday, bringing with her a crew of 30 to join the Florida installation. “The crew and their families are extremely excited about moving to Mayport,” said LCDR Frank Azzarello, com- manding officer of USS Shamal. “We already have some families who have moved to the area and they cannot say enough about it.” Shamal is the first of three Patrol Coastal ships to join the Mayport basin, soon to be followed by USS Tornado (PC 14) and USS Zephyr (PC 8). “ I a m e x c i t e d t o have the PCs join the -Photo by MCC William Townsend Mayport waterfront, said Patrol Coastal USS Shamal (PC 13) pulls into Naval Station Mayport’s basin on Saturday after shifting homeport from Joint Expeditionary Base Capt. Ryan Tillotson, Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Va. Shamal is the first of three Patrol Coastal ships to join the Mayport basin, soon to be followed by USS Tornado (PC Commodore of Squadron 14) and USS Zephyr (PC 8). 14. “USS Shamal is the first of several ships we Patrol, Amphibious, and ties and challenges for the crew remains excit- Operations. together and travel south will have join us over the Littoral Combatant ships. our staff. The ships will ed about moving to The Patrol Coastals to the Arabian Gulf. next year. The arrival of The waterfront will look change but our primary Mayport,” Azzarello said. are based, in part, on Shamal was commis- new ships continues to different but the excel- mission to provide war- “Our mission will to be the Vosper-Thornycroft sioned as the USS Shamal show the Navy commit- lent reputation Mayport ships ready for tasking support USNAVSO/Fourt “Ramadan” class and are (PC13) on Jan. 27, 1996, ment to the Jacksonville has as a great duty sta- to any Fleet will stay the Fleet tasking.” named for weather phe- in Baton Rouge, La. Her area and provides our tion with great ships will same. It may sound corny Shamal was the 13th nomena. Shamal is the first operational deploy- Sailors new opportunities still be at the forefront of but the future truly does Cyclone-class Patrol Arabic name for a violent ment was to the U.S. to serve on a variety of dif- what we do. Destroyer look bright for Mayport Coastal built by Bollinger wind and sand storm that Southern Command for ferent platforms. Three Squadron 14 will change and Squadron 14.” Shipyard of Lockport, originates at the point a 6-month deployment. years from now we will as well and we are excit- “The shift has been La., for the U.S. Navy to where the Tigris and have Destroyers, Coastal ed about the opportuni- challenging, however support Naval Special Euphrates Rivers come See USS Shamal, Page 6 Navy Recommends Security Changes In Wake Of Navy Yard Tragedy By Jim Garamone the timeline of Alexis’ service and American Forces Press Service what the Navy knew about secu- The Navy has recommended rity problems during a Pentagon three changes to security proce- background briefing. Alexis’ service dures following the Washington went from 2007 to 2011. Navy Yard shooting Sept. 16 in “Looking individually at the which a Navy contractor killed 12 events, as we knew them at the people at the facility. time, it’s very difficult to see a glar- Juan M. Garcia, the assistant sec- ing indicator that there is any kind retary of the Navy for manpower of potential for the events that took -Photo by Paige Gnann and reserve affairs, studied the ser- place last week, the senior Navy Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Regional Director John Smith talks to command CFC vice record of the shooter ¬ñ Aaron official said. coordinators and key workers during a CFC training session on Sept. 19 about the 2013 fund Alexis ¬ñ to see how his conduct Many questions were raised drive. CFC is a yearly fund drive which gives vetted charitable organizations the ability to solicit “did or did not meet the threshold about how Alexis, a former sailor donations from employees of the federal government of the United States. More than 2,000 for the sustainment of his securi- and Navy contractor at the time national and local charities are a part of this year’s drive. ty clearance and fitness for Naval of the shootings, received a secret duty.” security clearance. Three years One recommendation, which prior to his enlistment, Alexis shot must go to Defense Secretary out the tires of a construction work- Chuck Hagel for approval, is that all er’s vehicle in Seattle. No charges Giving To Your Favorite Office of Personnel Management were filed. investigative reports include any Upon entering the Navy Reserve available police documents related in 2007, OPM initiated an investiga- to the subject being backgrounded. tion. The check turned up Alexis’ Charity Just Got Easier Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has fingerprints in the FBI system and By Paige Gnann cine supplies for the sick, $5 a month. Imagine what Editor already approved two other rec- investigators became aware of the said Combined Federal kind of good that could do.” ommendations. The first will incident in Seattle. OPM sent inves- Got 5 bucks in your pock- Campaign (CFC) Regional CFC gives service mem- require command security man- tigators to speak to Alexis at Great et? What are you planning Director John Smith during bers and federal civilians ager responsibilities be assigned to Lakes Naval Training Center, Ill. on spending it on? A soda a CFC training session held the opportunity to donate to executive officers or other senior There was no mention of the inci- and chips or maybe a cof- at Naval Station Mayport on any of more than 2,000 pre- members of commands. Currently, dent involving firearms in the OPM fee? It doesn’t take long for Sept. 19. screened charities, includ- junior officers hold those responsi- report to the Navy. you to spend $5 nowadays “A dollar in the hands of ing several local charities bilities. The OPM report to the and it definitely doesn’t go non profits goes a lot farther that directly benefit Naval The second is to “require senior- Department of the Navy Central far when you do. But in the than in your pocket,” he told Station Mayport. level accountability on all detach- Adjudication Facility determined hands of a non-profit orga- command CFC coordinators MWR Youth Activities ment of individual evaluations/fit- Alexis was eligible for a secret nization, it could mean and key workers in atten- and Child Development ness reports.” clearance with one caveat - he had feeding a family, clothing dance at the training. “And Centers, Greater Jacksonville A senior Navy official discussed See Security, Page 11 children or buying medi- donators can give as little as See CFC, Page 7 Check us out Online! Day For Kids Customer Appreciation USS Simpson Deploys With MWR, BGCA At NEX Mayport To 6th Flt AOR Pages 4-5 Page 6 Page 10 mayportmirror.com 2 THE MIRROR, NS MAYPORT, Thursday, September 26, 2013 Finegan Elementary this school year. ence, a family member or friend. MWR This money will go a long way toward Child Development Center and Youth providing awards for students who dem- Activities Center, American Red Cross, CAPTAIN’S onstrate outstanding scholastic perfor- and the Greater Jacksonville USO are all CORNER mance. local charities here on or near the base times for one reason or another, but we That makes energy conservation a that benefit from CFC. are definitely nearing the end of con- win-win for all of us! Plus, there are more than 20,000 other struction. Another shout out to CMC Bob White local and national charities for you to According to our great folks at MWR, and his team for putting on an outstand- choose. I’m asking for you to consider the Gym should finally be fully opera- ing POW/MIA ceremony this past Friday choosing at least one. Capt. Wesley McCall tional by mid-October. I know you’re at Mayport Memorial Park. It can be as little as $5 a month out of NS Mayport Commanding Officer tired of waiting, but just hold on a little Capt. Glenn Kuffel, Deputy your paycheck - the cost of a Starbucks while longer. The end product is going to Commander, Destroyer Squadron 14, coffee - with enormous returns for Let me start off by welcoming aboard be magnificent. was guest speaker at the event and that charity. It’s amazing how they can Lt. Cmdr. Frank Azzarello and the crew I want to say good luck to USS reminded all in attendance of the Sailors stretch $5 into so much more. So when of USS Shamal (PC 13). The Cyclone- Simpson (FFG 56) and embarked HSM- and ships lost in battle over the past 230 a CFC coordinator or key worker comes class Patrol Coastal ship is the first of 46 Detachment 8, who set out last week years. to your space with a pledge form in their three to join Mayport’s basin over the with four Fire Scout (MQ-8B) Vertical It reminded me of how dedicated hands, spend a moment to listen to what next few months. Takeoff and Landing Tactical (VTLT) each branch of our military services, they have to say.