Volume 56, Number 16 https://www.cnic.navy.mil/meridian ~ www.facebook.com/NASMeridian ~ Twitter: @nasmeridianms August 2, 2018 Base Brothers earn their ‘Wings of Gold’ Events From Staff Reports become an aviator.” But it wasn’t until about age 16 Twin brothers completed almost when the brothers visited a recruit- ]Operation Get Fit two years of training in the T-45C ing center that the two seriously Aug. 1-Oct.1 at the “Goshawk” with Training Squadron started thinking of a career in the Seven on board Naval Air Station military. gym; meal plans Meridian, July 27. “We wanted to serve something included. U.S. Marine aviators, 1st Lt. bigger than ourselves,” Matteo Andrea “Andy” Occhipinti and his said. “The Marine Corps demanded Call 679-2379. brother, Capt. Matteo Occhipinti something from us while the other were joined by four other aviators branches offered us something.” during the ceremony when they all Though both commissioned at ]Commissary earned their “Wings of Gold” ap- different times, with Matteo go- Side Walk Sale plauded by family, friends and staff. ing through the Platoon Leaders Capt. Nick Mungas, commodore Course at the University of Illinois Aug. 23-25 of Training Air Wing One, was the at Chicago and Andy going through during normal guest speaker. ROTC at the Illinois Institute of “You will be ready, you will suc- Technology, both earned their wings business hours. ceed and you will perform – This is at the same time. Call 679-2326. your day,” Mungas said. In addition, both received de- Born in Italy, the Occhipinti Photo by MC1 Chris Liaghat grees from their respective schools brothers moved to the United Capt. Matteo Occhipinti, left, Training Squadron Seven Commanding in mechanical engineering. Andy ]Liberty Bowl and States when they were six years Officer Cmdr. Steven Vitrella, 1st Lt. Andrea Occhipinti and Training said the two have different ways of Putt-Putt old. Air Wing ONE Commodore Capt. Nicholas Mungas pose for a group approaching similar problems. “When I got off the plane in the photo before the twin brothers receive their gold aviator wings “He likes to talk to other people Aug. 12 from 6:30- U.S., I remember I had a model simultaneously during a winging ceremony at the chapel onboard and get a couple of opinions,” Andy 8:30 p.m. at the airplane in my hand,” Matteo said. Naval Air Station Meridian, July 27. The brothers completed Advanced said. “That may have been a sign I would Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven. =Twins, page 8 bowling alley. Call 679-5252. ]Family Movie Night ‘Sherlock Gnomes’ Aug. 10 at 7:30 50 Years of Service p.m. at Ponta Creek Rec Center. Capt. Brian S. Horstman, Call 679-2526. commanding officer of NAS Meridian, left, congratulates Theodore Cole for 50 years of service at the NEX, July 25. Cole began his career with the Navy Exchange in May 1968 Follow us on as a 19-year-old custodian. www.facebook. During his career he has com/NASMeridian endured many challenges and seen the beginning and and Twitter: end of an era of Navy @NASMeridianMS Exchange officers changing to general managers. Cole and his wife, Ida, have been married for 49 years. They have two children, Tonya and What’s Theodore Jr, both of Alpharetta, Ga.; and two Inside grandchildren. Photo by Adam Prince page 2: Changes to SWO qualifications OPSEC: Everyone’s page 6: responsobility Within the Navy, the odds of making it through boot camp Marine sets records without hearing ‘Loose Lips Sink Ships’ are improbable. Though at Warrior Games the slogan is old, it still embodies the basic principle of Opera- tional Security, or OPSEC. OPSEC is a multi-faceted concept that strives to prevent the inadvertent compromise of sensitive or classified activities, page 7: capabilities or intentions. OPSEC involves a relatively simple five-step process that anyone can use. What’s for sale Five steps to remember, include: aIdentify critical information. The information you have that could assist an adversary in any way. aAnalyze the threat to that information. Does an adversary have the capability to collect or use the information, and if so, page 9: how? aAnalyze the vulnerabilities. How is the critical information relayed in the course of your daily duties and how is it protected? Welcome aboard at aAssess the risk. How likely is it that the information could be FFSC, Aug. 7. compromised? aDevelop countermeasures. What can you do to protect the in- formation from being disclosed? OPSEC requires the active participation of everyone, regard- less of his or her rank or job. The best defense is educating peo- ple through annual required training on how to protect critical information. “It’s a combination of people knowing what information is considered sensitive and then knowing when to shut their mouth,” said Gunnery Sgt. Fred Wilson, assistant OPSEC of- ficer and OPSEC program manager at Navy Europe Headquar- ters. To put OPSEC in perspective, Wilson said he has seen Sail- ors and Marines go to extreme lengths to protect information about things such as surprise birthday parties and promotion lists, yet discuss details of their work freely and openly. ~ page 4 ~ “We need to take that same mindset and apply it to our ev- eryday job,” said Wilson. The path of least resistance, while the easiest to travel, usu- U.S. receives remains ally offers the least amount of protection. from North Korea “The combination of secure communications and physical secu- rity, if used consistently and properly, greatly reduce the risk of disclosure,” said Wilson. 2 The Skyline ~ August 2, 2018 Photo of Week A Day in Naval History ~ Aug. 2, 1943 ~ (PT 109), commanded by Lt. j.g. John F. Kennedy, is rammed by the Japanese destroyer, Amagiri, which cuts through the vessel at Blackett Strait near Kolombangara Island. Abandoning ship, Kennedy leads his men to swim to an island some miles away. With the aid of a Coastwatcher and local residents, they return to Rendova PT base on Aug. 8. Photo by Staff Sgt. John A. Martinez Jr. Marines march in formation during the Sunset Parade at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. ~ Aug. 3, 2016 ~ Captain Joe Turk, commanding officer of USS Michigan (SSGN 727)(Blue), presents Chief Area Happenings Culinary Specialist Dominique Saavedra with her submarine qualification certificate during a August ceremony at Puget Sound 4: Investigative Theatre–A Devised Theatre Workshop from Naval Shipyard. U.S. Navy 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Meridian Arts and Entertainment Experience. By Chief Dominique Saavedra the end of this collaborative workshop for actors of all abilities, you becomes the first woman to earn the silver submarine pin will have explored human stories, created characters from people we that represents a fully trained meet, written a play and performed it. Lunch is included. Registration submariner. required. Class is limited to 25 students. Registration $30 and $35. Call 601-581-1550. 11: 3rd Annual High Tea and Silent Auction from 2-4 p.m. at Northcrest Baptist Church. Event sponsored by Lauderdale County Navy News Briefs Habitat for Humanity. Tickets on sale Aug. 8; call 601-485-4992. 13: Auditions for “Singin’ in the Rain” at 6:30 p.m. at the Meridian CNSF announces changes to SWO qualification Little Theatre. Dancers, singers and actors needed; parts for men, Commander, Naval Surface Forces/ team and I remain committed to ensuring women and boys from ages 10-14 available. Production runs from Commander of Naval Surface Force, U.S. the future leaders of our community are Oct. 11-16. Call 601-682-6371. Pacific Fleet announced a revision to the properly trained and qualified.” requirements for qualification and desig- Officers pursuing SWO qualification 16-17: Care Lodge 24th Annual Conference from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. at nation as a surface warfare officer (SWO), must be a commissioned officer perma- the MSU Riley Center. The two-day conference will cover: July 23. nently assigned to either a commissioned quantifying the problem of sex trafficking locally; defining the high Effective immediately, designators or pre-commissioning U.S. Navy surface 116X and lateral transfers into the SWO ship. risk victim; and effective victim interview techniques pre-registration community are the only designators eli- Non-116X officers, who are currently is required. For information, visit http://www.carelodge.com/about-us/ gible to pursue SWO qualification. This pursuing a SWO qualification, are autho- upcoming-events/care-lodge-24th-annual-conference/. change aligns with new career path revi- rized to continue until Oct. 1, 2018. sions, which focuses on increased experi- Additionally, only commanding offi- 18: KC and the Sunshine Band at 7:30 p.m. at the MSU Riley ence on ships, including increased bridge cers of commissioned surface ships may Center. Harry Wayne Casey, better known as KC, got millions of watchstanding opportunities for SWOs. qualify officers who are permanently people to lace up their boogie shoes for soundtrack-of-the-’70s hits “The surface warfare officer qualifica- assigned to their ship as SWOs. Once tion is the path to 1110 and is the crucible SWO qualification is achieved, transfer as “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s the Way (I Like It),” “(Shake, Shake, of a junior professional surface warfare of- from one ship to another will not require Shake) Shake Your Booty,” “I’m Your Boogie Man,” and “Keep It ficer to develop and master the core com- requalification as a SWO or revalidation Comin’ Love.” Tickets are $64 and $58; Call 601-696-2200. petencies necessary to excel as a future of the entire SWO PQS package.