JBPHH anniversary special Oktoberfest meal What’s See page B-5 INSIDE PACAF hosts Pacific Air Want to clean Protect against flu Chiefs Symposium a fishpond? with yearly vaccination See pages A-3, A-5 See page B-3 See page B-3 September 29, 2017 www.issuu.com/navyregionhawaii www.hookelenews.com Volume 8 Issue 38 15th Wing Airmen conduct Hurricane Irma relief 1st Lt. Thomas Holland, a C-17 Globemaster III pilot with the 535th Airlift Squadron, performs a post-flight inspection Sept. 14, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Story and photo by those efforts when a 535th Texas to pick up food and the load and be in and out St. Croix to assist munic- “We worked about 99 1st Lt. Avery Larkin Airlift Squadron (AS) crew water for Hurricane Irma as soon as possible.” ipal hurricane response. percent of what is allowed was sent to the Caribbean victims. The crew’s mission The crew also transported for flight duty,” he said. 15th Wing Public Affairs for hurricane response. Muro, a 535th AS in- was to take more than 27 medical personnel pro- “We’re tired, but it was Maj. Stewart Renz, structor loadmaster, re- 100,000 pounds of food viding assistance in St. great to be a part of such According to the De- Capt. Steven Pizzi, 1st Lt. called they arrived before and water to the Virgin Croix back to the United a massive team effort. partment of Defense, Thomas Holland, Tech. the cargo was prepared, Islands. They transported States. Members of all services more than 40,000 mem- Sgt. Christo Sudock, and requiring participation 14 pallets of food and wa- According to Maj. were there to help out.” bers of the federal govern- Staff Sgts. Alicia Muro, from the whole crew to ter, each weighing 10,000 Stewart Renz, 535th AS For information about ment have volunteered to Amorin Moracco and get everything loaded. pounds. assistant director of op- how to help with hurri- help with Hurricane Irma Joshua Hutton were re- “We arrived before they In addition to carrying erations, the crew com- cane relief efforts, visit response efforts. turning from a mission finished assembling the supplies, they flew one of pleted this mission by the Federal Emergency Members of the 15th in the Middle East when pallets,” she said. “We all the senators of St. Croix pushing themselves to the Management Agency web- Wing had a direct role in they were rerouted to pitched in to reconfigure from St. Thomas back to limit of aircrew duty. site at www.fema.gov. U.S. Navy supports Pearl Harbor mangrove removal Story and photo by Petty Officer Association MC2 Gabrielle Joyner (FCPOA) and Seabees assigned to the Navy Navy Public Affairs Construction Battalion Support Element Mobile Unit (CBMU) Detachment Hawaii 303 Detachment Pearl Harbor, joined together Sailors assigned to to begin the second Joint Base Pearl Har- phase of the bike path’s bor-Hickam (JBPHH) restoration, which in- volunteered to assist volved clearing out an Hawaii’s Department of invasive stretch of man- Transportation Services grove trees that grow (DTS) and the City and near the waterline. County of Honolulu with “It’s great to see our ongoing efforts to restore Sailors volunteer in the Pearl Harbor Bike this community effort Path, located along Pearl to clear invasive man- Harbor’s historic water- grove as part of the front in Aiea, Sept. 22. city’s second phase of Members of the JB- maintenance to clean up PHH Chief Petty Offi- cers Mess, First Class > See page A-2 Photo by MC1 Paul Seeber Two P-8A Poseidon and more than a dozen P3 Orion patrol aircraft stand aligned on the tarmac at Marine Corps Base Hawaii during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012. P-8 Poseidon arrive for rotational deployment Navy Region Hawaii This is the first time a here during the Vietnam VP-4 executed a perma- Public Affairs P-8 detachment will be War and the Cold War. nent duty station change deployed to Oahu. Pre- In recent years, VP-4 de- to Whidbey Island. Mar- As part of a rotational viously, these maritime ployed to the U.S. Fifth itime Patrol Squadrons deployment of forces, two security missions were Fleet Area of Operations now conduct temporarily P-8A Poseidon maritime flown by P-3C Orion air- in Iraq and Afghanistan deploy to Hawaii on a ro- patrol aircraft assigned craft. and U.S. 6th Fleet Area tational basis. to the Skinny Dragons VP-4, which is sta- of Operations including This is VP-4’s first de- of Patrol Squadron (VP) tioned at Whidbey Is- Italy, Greece and Spain ployment flying the P-8A 4 will deploy to Marine land in Washington, to name a few. Poseidon. The P-8A, a Corps Base Hawaii and has a long history in In March 2016, the militarized version of the Capt. Jeff Bernard, Joint Base commander, right, helps Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hawaii, dating back to Skinny Dragons departed Boeing 737, is the most volunteers from the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Hickam in support of 1928 when it was first Oahu for the last time advanced long-range Chiefs Mess and First Class Petty Officer Association maritime security initia- established in Hawaii. as a Hawaii squadron. maritime patrol aircraft clear invasive mangrove trees from the Pearl Harbor tives starting this week. The squadron operated While on deployment, in the world. Bike Path. A-2 • September 29, 2017 HO‘OKELE USS Columbus changes command following deployment MC2 Michael Lee of highly trained, highly rity,” Alarcon said. “Their successful submarine pro- story is one of resiliency, COMSUBPAC fessionals seated before commitment to each other, Public Affairs you,” Drake said. “This is ownership and dedication your legacy. You gave this to the mission.” The Los Angeles-class job your all and the results As French assumed fast-attack submarine speak for themselves.” command, he thanked USS Columbus (SSN 762) Capt. Robert Ronscka, Alarcon for a smooth tran- held a change of command commander, Submarine sition and the crew for the ceremony at the subma- Squadron Seven, awarded warm welcome as their rine piers at Joint Base Alarcon with a Meritori- new commanding officer. Pearl Harbor-Hickam, ous Service Medal for out- “Thank you for the Sept. 21. standing achievements warm welcome and sup- Cmdr. Peter French re- and service. port to make this a seam- lieved Capt. Albert Alar- Prior to his relief, Alar- less turnover,” French con as the commanding con thanked his crew and said. “You accomplished officer of Columbus. attributed successful mis- every mission tasked to Retired Navy Capt. Wil- sions of Columbus to the you, and you did excep- liam Drake was the hon- hard work of the crew. tionally well. It is an honor ored guest speaker for the “Rather than focusing to serve with you, and I ceremony, and commended on the individual, we all look forward to the next Alarcon for Columbus’ nu- know that it is the crew several years together.” merous accomplishments that brings a front-line Following his command and leadership during his fast-attack submarine to at sea, Alarcon will report three-year tour aboard Co- life, and it is the crew that for duty at Commander, lumbus. allows her to accomplish U.S. Pacific Fleet. Photo by MC2 Shaun Griffin “Your legacy is not the missions so vital to our For more news from the Capt. Albert Alarcon is piped aboard the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS this great warship, we’re freedom, our democracy Pacific Submarine Force, Columbus (SSN 762) for his change of command ceremony, Sept. 21. standing on, but the crew and our national secu- visit www.csp.navy.mil. Navy Gateway Inns and Suites Pearl Harbor bike path mangrove removal to increase room rates Oct. 1 < From page A-1 significance while also Bike Path would not have havior for others to em- Anna General serving as a vital cor- been possible without the ulate.” the Pearl Harbor bike ridor for bicyclists and grant of easement from According to Harborth, Navy Region Hawaii path,” said Capt. Jeff the United States Navy, he found encouragement Public Affairs pedestrians seeking al- Bernard, JBPHH com- ternatives in commut- which Mayor Caldwell through the collective mander, who was in at- ing,” said Department signed on July 20, 2017,” effort put in by all of Beginning Oct. 1, Navy tendance to lend a hand of Facility Maintenance Sasamura said. the different teams who Gateway Inns and Suites to the cleanup process. Director Ross Sasa- Master-at-Arms 1st worked together to make (NGIS), a Commander, “As good neighbors and mura. “Mayor Caldwell Class Jeremy Harborth, sure they accomplished Navy Installations Com- partners, we share the expresses his appre- a member of the JBPHH their task. mand (CNIC)-sponsored city’s commitment to ciation and heartfelt FCPOA, was one of sev- “Today was an eye lodging operation, will safety and security of thanks to the United eral Sailors who joined opening experience be- increase room rates at for restoration and oper- this popular bike path.” States Navy and the in to help remove heavy cause of the motivation Joint Base Pearl Har- ational support for the The U.S. Navy has contingent of hard work- mangrove branches from displayed by the volun- bor-Hickam (JBPHH). program.” partnered with the City ing volunteers and Sea- the bike path, safely and teers,” Harborth said. “Due to the wear and Over the past years and County of Honolulu bees for their assistance efficiently. “No one blinked on tear of the facilities, we NGIS has taken small in- for the past 12 years to in cutting back and re- “The JBPHH FCPOA how hard the job was go- will increase room rates cremental increases, but cleanup the bike path, moving mangroves that has been actively work- ing to be, or how long it by $20 per room,” said this has not generated hosting volunteer efforts previously obstructed ing with engineers from was going to take.