Lighthouse June 19, 2014

Vol. 14, No. 12 | Thursday, June 19, 2014www.thelighthousenews.com

By Andrea Howry

Lighthouse

Inside the newly erected green

privacy fencing thats visible from

the RV Park at Naval Base Ven-

tura County (NBVC) Port Hue-

neme, a village has taken shape.

But this time, the Seabees didnt

build it, and Sailors arent using

it.

Centered in and around Build-

ing 267 is temporary housing for

up to 575 teenagers caught trying

to enter the United States ille-

gally and without an adult

children the federal government

calls unaccompanied alien chil-

dren.

In addition to the 42,000-

square-foot building, there are

catering trucks, dining tents, por-

table bathrooms and a dirt soccer

field.

TheDepartment of Health and

Human Services (HSS) runs the

facility through its Office of Ref-

ugee Resettlement. Except for the

fact that it sits on NBVC Port

Hueneme land, the Navy has

nothing to do with it.

Fifteenmedia outlets, including

The Lighthouse, toured the facil-

ity Thursday, June 12. Cameras,

cell phones and recording de-

vices were not allowed, and re-

Bldg. 267 expected to reach capacity this week

Its a temporary shelter for up to 575 teens

caught crossing the border without adult

Photo by MC1 Chris Fahey / NMCb 3

Photos like this are why MC1 Chris Fahey of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 was named Navy

Journalist of the Year and MC of the Year (Sea) for 2013. For this photo, shot May 3 of last year during

the Springs Fire in Ventura County, Fahey leaned out the side window of a helicopter. It felt like

someone was physically trying to rip my camera from my hand, Fahey said. For more of the portfolio

that earned him the awards and the stories behind the photos see Pages 16 and 17.

HANGING OUT FOR THE BEST PHOTO

New surfboards, new stand-up

paddleboards, 10 colorful new kay-

aks and half a dozen pop-up camp-

ers that can be towed into beach-

side campgrounds are among the

new rentals available at the Out-

door Adventure Center at Naval

Base VenturaCounty (NBVC) Port

Hueneme.

Rental prices range from $15 a

day for a surfboard, $20 a day for

a kayak and $55 a day for the new

Aliner camper.

In addition, the center has new

management and new staff.

The thing for people to remem-

ber is that in addition to all this

new equipment, we still have the

Center offers

new kayaks,

paddleboards

Outdoor Adventures

at NBVC rents out

summer gear

See MeDIA, PAge 24

See OUTDOOR, PAge 23

Seabees and Sailors attend the

Battle of Midway commemoration at

NBVC Point Mugu June 4. Page 3

WHATS INSIDE

WHATS AHEAD

Bell, a German shepherd-bull

terrier mix, attends the June 14 pet

event at the NBVC Port Hueneme

Navy Exchange. Bell came with her

owners, Charles and BUCN Robin

Prince of NMCB 5. Military working

dogs performed. July 3 Lighthouse

Seabees have put together a hip-

hop band, Roc*It, thats developing

a local fan base. Page 11

By Captain Larry Vasquez

NBVC Commanding Officer

The LighThOuse is puBLished aT NO COsT TO The gOVerN-

meNT eVery OTher Thursday By The sTar, Of CamariLLO,

Ca. The sTar is a priVaTe firm iN NO way CONNeCTed wiTh

The deparTmeNT Of defeNse Or The uNiTed sTaTes NaVy,

uNder wriTTeN CONTraCT wiTh NaVaL Base VeNTura

COuNTy. The LighThOuse is The ONLy auThOrized CiViLiaN

eNTerprise Newspaper fOr memBers Of The u.s. NaVy,

CiViLiaN empLOyees, reTirees aNd Their famiLy memBers

iN The VeNTura COuNTy area. CONTeNTs Of The paper are

NOT NeCessariLy The OffiCiaL Views Of, NOr eNdOrsed By,

The u.s. gOVerNmeNT, aNd The deparTmeNT Of defeNse,

Or The deparTmeNT Of The NaVy aNd dO NOT impLy eN-

dOrsemeNT ThereOf. The appearaNCe Of adVerTisiNg iN

This puBLiCaTiON iNCLudiNg iNserTs aNd suppLemeNTs,

dOes NOT CONsTiTuTe eNdOrsemeNT Of The deparTmeNT

Of defeNse, The u.s. NaVy Or The sTar, Of The prOduCTs

Or serViCes adVerTised. eVeryThiNg adVerTised iN This

puBLiCaTiON shaLL Be made aVaiLaBLe fOr purChase, use

Or paTrONage wiThOuT regard TO raCe, COLOr, reLigiON,

sex, NaTiONaL OrigiN, age, mariTaL sTaTus, physiCaL

haNdiCap, pOLiTiCaL affiLiaTiON, Or aNy OTher NON-meriT

faCTOr Of The purChaser, use, Or paTrON. if a ViOLaTiON

Or rejeCTiON Of This equaL OppOrTuNiTy pOLiCy By aN ad-

VerTiser is CONfirmed, The puBLisher shaLL refuse TO

priNT adVerTisiNg frOm ThaT sOurCe uNTiL The ViOLaTiON

is COrreCTed. ediTOriaL CONTeNT is ediTed, prepared

aNd prOVided TO The puBLisher By The LOCaL iNsTaLLa-

TiON puBLiC affairs OffiCes uNder The auspiCes Of The

NaVaL Base VeNTura COuNTy puBLiC affairs OffiCe.

COmmaNdiNg OffiCer

Capt. LaRRY VaSQUEZ

Chief sTaff OffiCer

Capt. SCott LoESChkE

COmmaNd masTer Chief

CMDCM pERCY tRENt

puBLiC affairs OffiCer

kIMBERLY GEaRhaRt

LighThOuse ediTOr

aNDREa howRY

[email protected]

805-989-5281

fiNd us aT:

facebook.com/

NavalBaseVenturaCounty

puBLisher

MaRGIE CoChRaNE

adVerTisiNg deparTmeNT

437-033

N aVa L B a s e V e N T u r a C O u N T y

please submit your questions or comments to Lighthouse editor andrea howry at [email protected]

800-221-sTar (7827)

Ask the

Captain

Thursday,June19,2014

TheLighthouse

www.TheLighthouseNews.com

Q: With news broadcasts this week of more than 150

teenagers being temporarily sheltered at Naval Base

Ventura County (NBVC) with more to come, might

there be an opportunity to volunteer with the agency

overseeing these children? I speak fluent Spanish and

would love to help out.

A: Thank you for your generous offer. Weve had a

great outpouring of support from the community since

it was announced that NBVC would be one of the De-

partment of Defense sites supporting the Department of

Health and Human Servicesmission to care for unac-

companied children who have crossed the border into

the United States. Your desire to help reflects credit on

you and the community.

At this time, the federal agencies supporting these

facilities are unable to accept donations or volunteers

to assist the unaccompanied children program.

Several refugee resettlement non-governmental

organizations (NGOs) in the U.S. are accepting mone-

tary donations and, in some cases, experienced vol-

unteers to assist incoming refugee families, although

not specifically unaccompanied children, in support

of the effort of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program

at the State Department. Information, by state, for

refugee resettlement NGOs can be found at the State

Departments Refugee Processing Center (RPC) web

page at http://www.wrapsnet.org/Home/RPAgencyCon-

tacts or the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)

web page at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/state-pro-

grams-annual-overview.

Do you have questions, comments, or sugges-

tions? I want to hear them! Reach me here by emailing

[email protected], on Facebook at www.facebook.

com/NavalBaseVenturaCounty or on Twitter at www.

twitter.com/NBVCCalifornia. You can also go online to

our homepage at http://cnic.navy.mil/ventura/index.htm

and use the Commanding Officers Suggestion Box. I

look forward to hearing from you.

Does the temporary shelter at NBVC need donations or volunteers?


TheLighthouse


CommunityCalendar

JUNE GLOOM 5K:

Monthly lunchtime

5K put on by Morale,

Welfare and Recreation.

Free. 11 a.m. registration, 11:30

a.m. run. Family Beach, NBVC

Point Mugu. Open to everyone with

base access. Info: 989-7728.

19

NARFE LUNCH:

National Active

and Retired

Federal Employees

Association, Ventura County

chapter, meets at 11:30 a.m.

at the Elks Club, 801 South A

St., Oxnard. Lunch is at noon.

Cost: $9. Reserve by noon June

23 to Dukie, 487-1801, or email

[email protected].

26

June

FAMiLy FUN NiGHt:

5:30 to 7 p.m.,

Seabreeze Aquatics

Center, NBVC Port

Hueneme. Enjoy a luau

and pool party. Snacks and drinks

provided. RSVP interest to the

Seabee Chapel, 982-4358.

20

MOviE NiGHts: Dusk

at Family Beach,

NBVC Point Mugu,

with campfire, The

LEGO Movie; 5:30 p.m. in the

Seabreeze Aquatics Center at

NBVC Port Hueneme, Despicable

Me. Info: 982-4752.

27

NEMEsis ALUMNi

AssOCiAtiON LUNCH:

51st anniversary of

Naval Surface Warfare

Center, Port Hueneme Division,

11:30 a.m., Bard Mansion. $15.

Guest speaker. Base access info

to Teri Reid by July 2, trojai@icloud.

com or 805-861-6972. RSVP by

July 3 to Reid or to Gerry Roberts,

805-642-6504.

10

July

A farmers market with fresh produce,

exercise-class demonstrations and free

samples of coconut water and other

healthy foods will be featured the last

weekend in June as the Port Hueneme

Commissary hosts its first Your Healthy

Lifestyle Festival.

The event will take place in front of the

commissary andNavy Exchange complex

at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC)

Port Hueneme from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Thursday, June 26; from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, June 27; from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat-

urday, June 28; and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, June 29.

The theme is Shop healthy! Eat healthy!

Be healthy!

When I first heard about this theme, I

jumped in with both feet, said Store Di-

rector Velma Siler, amarathon runner and

fitness fanatic.

Also participating will be the Navy Ex-

change, the Fleet & Family Support Cen-

ter, the Navy Lodge andMorale, Welfare

and Recreation (MWR), which operates

the Seabee Golf Course and the gyms on

base.

The farmersmarket will be stockedwith

melons, pineapples and stone fruits.

Siler said there will be cooking demon-

strations alongwith the samples of healthy

foods.

Done right, a Portobello mushroom

can replace a steak, Siler said.

There will be information on good eat-

ing habits and nutritional values, along

with music and giveaways, including gift

cards of up to $50.

We want this event to reinforce the

health and wellness goals of the military

community, Siler said. And we want

everyone to have a good time.

Festival celebrates healthy foods, lifestyles

Twelve residents of the Veterans Home

of California-Ventura attended a Battle

of Midway commemoration atNaval Base

Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu 72

years after the historic and bloody event

that turned the tide of WorldWar IIs Pa-

cific Theater.

The base personnel were wonderful

and treated our veterans like royalty, said

Lynda Griffin, the supervising rehabilita-

tion therapist who accompanied the vet-

erans to the event, along with two other

staff members. It is an honor for our

Veterans Home to be invited to this event

every year.

Capt. Larry Vasquez, commanding of-

Veterans attend

Battle of Midway

commemoration

PHOtO by vANCE vAsqUEz / NbvC PUbLiC AFFAiRs

Capt. Larry Vasquez, left, the commanding officer of Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC),

is joined by BM2(SW) George Oteng, NBVCs Junior Sailor of the Quarter, during the Battle

of Midway wreath-laying ceremony at Building 1, NBVC Point Mugu.

By Andrea Howry

Lighthouse

Past, present and future have been

blending together lately for Steel-

worker 2nd Class Matthew Rush.

At work, hes restoring a 74-year-

old movie marquee thats headed to

the Seabee Museum. And at home,

he recently welcomed a baby boy,

Jordan, his second child.

The idea that someday he might

take his grown son to see a piece of

World War II history that he helped

restore hasnt been lost on him.

Im glad to be a part of this, he

said.

Rush and other Seabees and civilian

welders at the Construction Equip-

ment Division (CED), Naval Facili-

ties Engineering and Expeditionary

Warfare Center, are currently working

on two parts of themarquee: the base

and the crown.

The marquee was part of theMay-

fair, a downtown Ventura theater

built in 1940, the year before Pearl

Harbor was bombed and the United

States entered World War II.

The theater burned in 2000 andwas

razed in 2004, but the marquee was

spared and spent a decade in an oth-

erwise empty lot in Ventura. A group

Restoration continues onWWII-era marquee

See MIDWAY, PAge 23

See PROJeCT, PAge 22

PHOtO by ANdREA HOwRy / LiGHtHOUsE

Wes Calder examines the marquee crown in the

Construction Equipment Division at Naval Base

Ventura County (NBVC) Port Hueneme.

9

0

~


TheLighthouse


By MC1 Charles Panter

NMCB 4

Cmdr. Jeff Lengkeek relieved

Cmdr. Jeff Kilian as commander

of Naval Mobile Construction

Battalion (NMCB) 4 during a

change of command ceremony at

Naval Base Ventura County

(NBVC) Port Hueneme Thurs-

day, June 12.

Capt. Dean Tufts, commander

of Naval Construction Group 1,

the guest speaker at the ceremony,

commended Kilian for his excel-

lent performance.

Let me talk about the super-

stars in front of you, said Tufts.

And Im not talking about

[Kilian or Lengkeek]; Im talking

about the Sailors, the Seabees, the

Air Force and the Marines that

make up NMCB 4. Last year

these men and women completed

$18millionworth of construction

across 27 countries. They did it

all with professionalism, pride

and excellence.

Tufts presentedKilian with the

Meritorious ServiceMedal for his

outstanding performance as the

commanding officer of NMCB

4 from June 2012 to June 2014.

Before his departure, Kilian

shared his gratitude for the op-

portunity to servewith the Sailors

and families of NMCB 4.

I am leaving with a profound

sense of satisfaction knowing that

we gave it our best,Kilian said.

I was part of an outstanding

battalion that demonstrated the

highest levels of performance

through exemplary character,

preparedness and disciplined ex-

ecution. You did everything I

asked of you and then some. You

exceeded expectation every

time.

Upon assuming command,

Lengkeek spoke of the humbling

experience of taking command

and leading the battalion.

I truly am honored and hum-

bled to be your commanding of-

ficer, said Lengkeek. I look

forward to writing the next chap-

ter of Seabee history with you.

Lengkeekwas commissioned in

1995, with his first command be

-

ing Naval Air Station Lemoore.

He holds a bachelors degree in

civil engineering from Pennsylva-

nia State University and a mas-

ters in civil engineering from

Stanford University.

Lengkeek has served with Na-

val Support Facility Diego Gar-

cia;NMCB3 atNBVCPortHue-

neme; 1st Naval Construction

Division in Virginia Beach, Va.;

Naval StationRota, Spain; Camp

Lemonnier, Djibouti; Command-

er Navy Installations Command,

Washington, D.C., where he

served on the Shore Investment

Strategy Task Force developing

the Chief of Naval Operations

Shore Investment StrategicGuid-

ance; Amphibious Construction

Battalion 1 in San Diego; as the

operations officer of Naval Fa-

cilities Engineering Command

Southwest, also in San Diego;

and the Navy Office of Legisla-

tive Affairs in Washington,

D.C.

NMCB 4 holds change of command ceremony on base

Photo by MC1 Charles Panter / nMCb

Cmdr. Jeff Kilian, left, passes the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion

(NMCB) 4 flag to Cmdr. Jeff Lengkeek, who becomes the 36th

commanding officer of the battalion since its recommissioning in 1951.

The change of command ceremony took place Thursday, June 12, at

Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Port Hueneme.

Lengkeek relieves

Kilian, becomes

battalions 36th CO

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TheLighthouse


5

As summer begins, students are usually

excited to leave the books and homework

behind. As appealing as this sounds, it will

often lead to the summer slideof losing

a few months of learning during summer

vacation.

There are many wonderful ways that

students can get out, explore and con-

tinue their learning. Since some students

prefer to stay on a computer or tablet,

parents may want to find some educa-

tional websites for them and encourage

their use.

Ive compiled a few keywords that lead

to educational and free sites. (A reminder

that sometimes free means it will have

ads, so be sure your child knows the rules

about not clicking on them). There are

many more, but here are some to get you

started:

5 and younger

PBSKids: Children who love Curious

George or The Cat in the Hatwill en-

joy this website. It combines many of the

well-loved PBS characters with learning

games. Best of all, PBS is always free of

ads.

National Geographic Little Kids: It is

never too early to ignite an interest in sci-

ence. National Geographic Little Kids

has games, crafts, recipes, science, videos

and animal information.

Grades K-5

National Geographic Kids: Geared for

the 5-and-over crowd, this site features

games, videos, information and really cool

videos. This will definitely keep your chil-

dren engaged.

Spatulatta: Encourage a love of cook-

ing. This website features kid-friendly

cooking with lots of videos and recipes.

FunBrain: Emphasizing the fun inmath

and reading, this website features games

like math baseball and Mad Libs Junior.

Grades 6-8

Pottermore: The author of the Harry

Potter series, J.K. Rowling, created this

site so kids could read the books and use

interactive features and games.

Whyville: A fun and safe place for

tweens to hang out while playing learning

games and socializing.

NGA Kids: If you cant visit museums

in person, heres another option. This

website gives users art adventures and ac-

tivities from the National Gallery of

Art.

High school

TED: Started in 1984 as a conference

where technology, entertainment and de-

sign converged, TED today shares ideas

from a broad spectrum from science to

business to global issues in more than

100 languages. The website features videos

and articles.

National Geographic: With maps, cul-

tures and facts from around the world,

this website is a geography and history

lesson wrapped up into one.

The College Board: As a national non-

profit membership association whosemis-

sion is to prepare, inspire and connect

students to college success and opportu-

nity, this site includes SAT preparation,

test dates and information for any college-

bound student.

Any of the above sites can be found

through an Internet search engine, and

that may lead to many others.

Going online for kids does not need to

be only about social media.With somany

websites offering games, interactive videos

and virtual tours of historic places, valu-

able learning can take place online.

For any education-related information,

please visit http://navylifesw.com/ventura/

families/cyp/slo/.

The NBVC school liaison officer can be

contacted at 805-989-5211 or via email at

[email protected] for any K-12 education-

related information.

Done correctly, computers can offer fun summer learning

School

connection

withMonica

James

6Thursday,June19,2014

TheLighthouse


Seabee Chapel

Port Hueneme, Bldg. 1433

Phone: (805) 982-4358

Protestant

Sunday worship service: 9 a.m.

Choir rehearsal: Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

Catholic Mass

Sunday: 11:15 a.m.

Confession by prior appt.: 10:45 a.m.

Wednesday: 11:30 a.m.

Confession by prior appt.: 11 a.m.

Thursday: 11:30 a.m.

Confession by prior appointment only

Womens Bible Studies

Tuesday: 10 a.m., Book of I Samuel.

Wednesday: 9:30 a.m., Esther: Its

Tough Being a Woman. Childcare

provided.

Mens Bible Studies

Thursday: 11:30 a.m., The Gospel of

Luke from the Inside Out. Lunch

provided.

Soup Fellowship Study

Sunday: 5 p.m., Foundations of

Apologetics. Potluck.

Catholic Religious Education

Pre-K through high school

Tuesdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Chaplains serving NBVC

Lt. Cmdr. Jeffrey Han

Command Chaplain

Lt. Lesa Welliver

Staff Chaplain

Father Antony Berchmanz

Catholic Priest

Volunteer opportunities

Womens shelter

8 a.m. to noon Thursday, June 26,

Gabriel House womens shelter, 1450

S. Rose Ave., Oxnard. Help needed

painting a farmhouse. Info: RP3

Theresa Bomba, 982-4358.

Highway cleanup

June 11 event was canceled and will be

rescheduled.

Ventura County Stand Down

July 25-27. Donations needed for

homeless vets; drop off at chapel. Info:

SW1 Shawn Herr, 419-789-0293.

Worship schedule

By patient, sympathetic labors with the

crew, day in, day out, and through many

a night, every chaplain I know contrib-

uted immeasurably to the moral courage

of our fighting men; none of this appears

in statistics. Most of it necessarily secret

between pastor and confidant. It is for

that toil, in the cause both of God and

country, that I honor the chaplain

most.

Fleet Adm. Chester A. Nimitz,

USN

The book of Job in the Bible is the

story of a faithful man who lived long

ago. However, tragedy hovers over this

righteous man.

The opening pages explain how Job had

lost just about everything children,

wealth, even his health. He was deeply

grieved and sought comfort from three

of his closest friends: Eliphaz, Bildad and

Zophar.

The Bible records, When three of Jobs

friends heard of the tragedy he had suf-

fered, they got together and traveled from

their homes to comfort and console him.

(Job 2:11, NLT).

Job tried to share his deepest feelings

and concerns with them. Unfortunately,

they didnt listen. Instead, they talked.

Finally, Job says, If only someone would

listen to me! (Job 31:35, NLT).

It is important to be able to be heard.

Chaplains understand this fact of life.

Chaplains provide religious ministry

for members of their own faith groups,

facilitate religious ministry for people of

other faiths and care for all service mem-

bers, family members, Department of

Defense civilians and authorized contrac-

tors with dignity, compassion and respect,

regardless of an individuals faith be-

liefs.

It is equally important to know that

what you share in private is confiden-

tial.

Recently the Chaplain Corps created

a fact sheet on this issue: What you say

to a chaplain in confidence stays between

you and the chaplain; unless you decide

differently, you hold the key

You indeed hold the key.

There are times in our lives when we

face certain existential struggles and we

just need to be heard. Chaplains and

Religious Program Specialists (RPs) have

the obligation and responsibility to pro-

tect and guard what you share in confi-

dence. This level of confidentiality is a

sacred trust. Chaplains are available to

provide you a safe place to talk about

your issues without fear or judgment.

Whatever you share with a chaplain will

remain confidential.

Interestingly, chaplains cannot be com-

pelled by the command, medical profes-

sionals or legal professionals to disclose

what a service member or family member

shares in confidence.

SECNAVINST 1730.9 (4.a) describes

confidential communications this way:

The term confidential communications

includes the legal recognition of the

clergy-penitent privilege, all communica-

tions between Navy chaplains and those

who confide in them as an act of religion,

a matter of conscience or in their role as

spiritual advisers. Commanders and

chaplains are required to honor the con-

fidential relationship between service

personnel and chaplains. This protection

extends to all authorized personnel, and

this obligation extends to all Navy chap-

lains.

Therefore, when life gets tough and

you need to be heard consider speak-

ing with a chaplain.

Chaplains can be reached 24/7. Dont

know who your nearest chaplain is? Call

Navy 311 to request chaplain support in

your area, 1-855-NAVY-311, or text to

[email protected].

Remember, chaplains are here to hear

you; moreover, our confidentiality is un-

breakable. What matters to you, matters

to us!

Need a confidential chat? Try a chaplain

Chaplains

corner

withLt.Cmdr.

RonKennedy

NCG1

Registration is now under way for Vacation

Bible School.

Sporting aWestern theme, this years event will

run 9 a.m. to noonMonday through Friday, July

14-18, at the Seabee Chapel, Naval Base Ventura

County (NBVC) Port Hueneme. Its for young-

sters 5 to 12 years old; older children and adults

are invited to volunteer to help run the pro-

gram.

Put on yer boots, grab yer hat and yall get

ready for this rip roarin roundup in the Wild

West! said Lt. Lesa Welliver, staff chaplain.

Child care is being provided to volunteers who

have children too young to attend the event. Any-

one interested in volunteering is asked to call the

Seabee Chapel at 982-4358.

Almost time for VBS

Yellow bins to collect non-perishable foods for hungry Ventura

County residents will soon be showing up all across Naval Base Ven-

tura County (NBVC) as the Navy once again participates in the gov-

ernment-wide Feds Feed Families campaign.

TheU.S. Department of Agriculture leads the campaign, which runs

through the end of August, with support from other federal agencies.

The chaplains office tracks and manages donations.

One of the most quality times spent with family is sitting around

a table having a meal, said Lt. Lesa Welliver, NBVC staff chaplain.

Folks share their day, kids talk about school, and sharing a meal

really unifies families. Were excited about having the opportunity to

help set the table.

While food banks usually see large amounts of food on their shelves

over the winter months, donations typically trail off after the holi-

days.

By the time summer comes, the shelves are bare, and that need still

exists, said Lt. Thea Lopez, Feds Feed Families operations officer for

the Department of the Navy. Hunger goes year-round.

Last year, the campaign brought in 9 million pounds of food.

Feds Feed Families is back


TheLighthouse


By Andrea Howry

Lighthouse

Seabees from Naval Mobile

Construction Battalion 5 and

military and civilian law enforce-

ment personnel at Naval Base

Ventura County took part in the

Thursday, June 5, annual Law

Enforcement Torch Run, a pre-

lude to the Special Olympics

Summer Games Invitational.

Nearly two dozen Seabees, run-

ning with Port Hueneme Police

Department personnel, gained

custody of the torch from the

Oxnard Police Department and

ran with it from the intersection

of Channel Islands Boulevard

andVenturaRoad to the intersec-

tion of Hueneme and Edison

roads, a distance of 3.6 miles.

There, the Seabees handed it

off to California Highway Patrol

officers, who carried it toMissile

Park, where nearly a dozen Force

Protection personnel and mas-

ters-at-arms from the base were

gathered. They took possession

of the torch and ran the 4.7 miles

fromMissile Park toMuguRock,

where they handed it to campus

police fromCalifornia State Uni-

versity, Channel Islands.

The base personnel were joined

by an air traffic controller and

threeMilitaryWorkingDogswho

wore their own T-shirts during

the run.

They enjoy getting out of the

kennel, saidMaster-at-Arms 1st

Class Scott Chilko, who ran with

Jake.

He was joined by Force Protec-

tionOfficerKeithRobishaw, who

ran with Rocko, and Master-at-

Arms 2nd Class Cristina Colle-

sano, who ran with Pali. Several

other Force Protection personnel

and masters-at-arms ran, along

with Air Traffic Controller 1st

Class Robert Schueller.

Were all here to support Spe-

cial Olympics,Chilko said. Its

a great program.

Peggi Preston, director of the

Ventura County Region of Spe-

cial Olympics Southern Califor-

nia, coordinated all nine legs of

the Torch Run from San Luis

Obispo to the Ventura-Los An-

geles County line, where Los An-

geles-area law enforcement per-

sonnel began the final run to the

University of Southern Califor-

nia.

There, during the June 6 open-

ing ceremonies of the Special

Olympics Summer Games Invi-

tational, the torch was used to

light the cauldron along with a

torch being run from theMexican

border north to USC and an-

other being run through the In-

land Empire.

More than 1,200 athletes with

intellectual disabilities were

scheduled to compete in the

three-day event, and more than

10,000 spectators were expect-

ed.

The Seabees said they enjoyed

the opportunity to not only get

some exercise, but to support Spe-

cial Olympics.

I wanted to come out and be

a part of this, said Builder Con-

structionman Benjamin Fletch-

er.

It was a good run for a great

cause, added Builder Construc-

tionman Jonathan Stinnett.

Lt. Matthew Riley, the chap-

lain for NMCB 5, coordinated

the battalions run and called it a

cause more than worthy of the

Navys involvement.

This is what we do, he said.

We show support for the people

we love and defend.

Base law enforcement, NMCB 5 carry Special Olympics torch

Photo by RPSA PAlomA Gooch / Nmcb 5

Lt. Matthew Riley, the chaplain for Naval Mobile Construction Battlion 5, carries the

battalion flag as PSSN Wilbert ONeill Baez carries the torch during the Law Enforcement

Torch Run, the annual prelude to the Special Olympics of Southern California. NMCB 5 ran

with Port Hueneme Police Department personnel, wearing white T-shirts, for 3.6 miles.

Photo by ANdReA howRy / liGhthouSe

Civilian and military law enforcement personnel from Naval Base Ventura County take

part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run from Missile Park to Mugu Rock Thursday, June 5.

Military Working Dog Jake is running with MA1 Scott Chilko. The annual run is a prelude to

the Special Olympics Summer Games Invitational in Los Angeles.

Photo by ANdReA howRy /

liGhthouSe

MA2 Kendahl Peterson holds back

Rocko, whos wearing his own Law

Enforcement Torch Run T-shirt and

is ready to run from Missile Park to

Mugu Rock.

Photo by ANdReA howRy / liGhthouSe

With the torch passed from the Oxnard Police Department, Seabees

with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 join the Port Hueneme Police

Department for the 3.6-mile stretch from the intersection of Channel

Islands Boulevard and Ventura Road to the intersection of Hueneme

and Edison roads during the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

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10


TheLighthouse


Parents whose children are registered at

Child and Youth Programs (CYP) at Na-

val BaseVenturaCounty (NBVC) can now

go online to sign up for hourly child care

and make payments.

CYP Installation ProgramDirector Ja-

cobMunyon said theNavyRegion South-

west CYP Online Services is now up and

running atNBVCPointMugu andNBVC

Port Hueneme.

Parents must first fill out a registration

packet so we canmake sure theyre eligible

for CYP services, he explained. At that

time, theyll get a user name and password,

and they can use that to access the sys-

tem.

Parents can go online to sign up for up

to 10 hours of child care a week at the

Youth Center and up to 25 hours a week

at the Child Development Center. Cost is

$4 per hour per child.

Hourly child care is available from 6:15

a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Fri-

day.

This is a good benefit for families that

dont need child care every day on a regu-

lar basis,Munyon explained.

Formore information, stop by the Child

Development Centers or Teen Centers at

NBVCPortHueneme,NBVCPointMugu

or at the Catalina Heights military hous-

ing complex in Camarillo.

Sign-ups for hourly child care

at NBVC now available online

Longer hours andmore special activities

are among the changes taking place this

summer with the Aquatics Program at

Naval Base Ventura County. Heres a run-

down of the summer schedule:

Longer weekend hours. Through Sun-

day, Sept. 7, the Port Hueneme pool is

open from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and

Sunday. The Point Mugu pool is open

from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5

p.m. Sunday.

Longer weekday hours. The Port Hue-

neme pool is now open from 6 to 8 a.m.

and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through

Friday. The PointMugu pool is open from

6 to 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

Summer swim lessons: There are four

sessions, each consisting of eight classes

that are held Monday through Thursday.

Session 1 has already begun. Session 2 is

July 7-17. Session 3 is July 21-31. Session

4 is Aug. 4-14. Beginners classes are 30

minutes; intermediate classes are 50 min-

utes. Military and their family members

pay $40 per session for beginners and $50

for intermediate; civilians pay $55 for be-

ginners and $65 for intermediate. Six par-

ticipants are needed for a session to be

held. Lessons will be taught from 9 to 11

a.m. at the PortHueneme and PointMugu

pools. Theyll also be taught from 2 to 4

p.m. at Port Hueneme only.

Beach movie nights: Free movies will

be shown at dusk at Family Beach at

NBVC Point Mugu June 27, July 18 and

Aug. 1. There will be a campfire, and

snacks will be sold; marshmallows will be

provided while supplies last.

Family dive-in: Movies will be shown

at 5:30 p.m. at the Port Hueneme pool

June 27, July 18 and Aug. 1. For $5, each

person will get entrance to the pool, a hot

dog, chips and a juice box.

Junior lifeguards: A four-week session

runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 7

throughAug. 1 at Family Beach at NBVC

Point Mugu. Cost is $150 for military

members and their families and $170 for

civilians. The program is designed to de-

velop confidence, mental and physical

fitness and a respect for one another and

the coastal environment.

Family Beach Day: Outdoor activities

and games are planned from 11 a.m. to 4

p.m. Aug. 23 at Family Beach, NBVC

Point Mugu.

For information on any of these activi-

ties or to sign up for classes, call the Port

Hueneme pool at 805-982-4752 or the

Point Mugu pool at 805-989-7788.

NBVCs Aquatics Program

expands schedule for summer

Swim lessons, junior

lifeguards, movies at the

beach and in the pool are

among the activities

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TheLighthouse


11

By Andrea Howry

Lighthouse

A Seabee whos been in the Navy for

three years but producing music for eight

has formed a hip-hop band thats picking

up a fan base in Ventura County and in

Hollywood.

Called Roc*It Entertainment, the band

has performed at Bombay Bar & Grill in

Ventura and at Tru Hollywood and the

Federal Bar in Hollywood. On Armed

Forces DayMay 17, a performance at the

Golden China in Ventura drew about 50

people.

This summer, the band hopes to release

its first LP.

Roc*It is the brainchild of Construction

Electrician Constructionman Curtis Lee

of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion

(NMCB) 3.

We want to make this a positive name

in the community,Lee explains. A lot of

people see rap, and they think its not the

most positive music. With our group, we

feel we can make a difference.

The themes of violence, illegal drug use

and sexism that pervademuch of the genre

arent in Roc*Its music, Lee says.

We dont have that same mindset that

others put out there, he said. Were ser-

vice members, were married. But we have

previous lives weve lived, and Im able to

express that. Its like a diary a way for

us to express feelings.

While other band members have been

in flux, Equipment Operator 3rd Class

SimonCharumonta of NMCB 4 has been

a constant. He and his wife, Equipment

Operator 3rd Class Taylor Charumonta

of NMCB 5, are housemates of Lee and

his wife, Construction Electrician Con-

structionmanChelseaLee, aReservist with

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion

17.

The four spend hours each night discuss-

ing ideas for new songs and working out

arrangements on $5,000 of production

equipment in their home. Themen practice

in the garage and the women offer cri-

tiques; Taylors voice can be heard on one

track.

Lyrics are explicit, although clean ver-

sions are in the works. Asked to come up

with a song that could be reprinted in The

Lighthouse, the two give a long hesitation

beforeCharumonta asksLee, What about

Afraid?

Yes, thats perfect, Lee replies. Its a

love song to his wife.

Practicing rap songs in the garage of a

suburban neighborhood could have posed

a problem, but Lee and Charumonta

headed that off by visiting their neighbors

before they launched in.

We asked if there would be any conflict

and they said no, wewere good to go,Lee

said. One neighbor said his wife goes to

sleep early, so we dont practice too late.

Theyve also been welcomed by local

businesses that know theyre getting a band

whose members arent using illegal drugs

and, since theyre electricians, know how

to set up their own equipment safely.

They knowwewont do stupid things,

Lee said.

Roc*It hopes it can find a niche in a

genre that has evolved from urban voice

tomisogynistic gangsta rap toMacklemore

& Ryan Lewis Thrift Shop,which won

two Grammy Awards this year.

Lee started off playing brass instruments

in junior high school in his hometown of

SanAntonio, then began producingmusic

eight years ago. Hes seen and benefited

from a lot of equipment upgrades and

laughs asCharumonta talks about the time

he listened to one of Lees first attempts

at production.

I felt bad but I just started laughing it

was so bad, Charumonta says.

Theyve put three videos on YouTube,

but only one blewup,getting about 9,000

views. The rest stayed under 1,000.

Now,with another Seabee acting as their

manager, theyre looking to expand their

social media presence, produce some vid-

eo biographies and get intomerchandising.

Saturday, June 21, they will be performing

for free at the Relay for Life of Port Hue-

neme, and theyve booked upcoming dates

at two Oxnard restaurants.

Its very competitive, Lee says of the

music business. Im passionate about this

and driven, and I would love to do this for

a living, but Im not going to drop every-

thing for it. I still have a responsibility to

the military and to my wife, which Ill

never ignore. None of us will.

Seabees form hip-hop band

With todays electronics, Roc*It doesnt

need any musical instruments to create hip-

hop music.

PhotoS by AndreA howry / LighthouSe

EO3 Simon Charumonta, left, of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4, and CECN

Curtis Lee of NMCB 3, practice in their garage. Their hip-hop band, Roc*It, will be giving a

free performance at the Port Hueneme Relay for Life Saturday, June 21.

12


TheLighthouse


By CEC Terence Juergens

UCT 2

SANGLEY POINT, Philippines

Green Diver, back down the ladder until

your helmets awash!

Make it hot!

Switch off!

These were some of the phrases heard

during the month of May as divers from

the U.S. Navy and the Philippines worked

together on port/harbor recovery scenarios

during this years Exercise Balikatan.

Throughout nine grueling days of high

heat and periodic downpours, Underwater

Construction Team (UCT) 2 trained eight

PhilippineNavy (PN)UCTdivers on such

topics as surface supplied diving systems

and procedures, underwater cutting and

welding techniques and procedures, diving

casualtymanagement and neurological ex-

aminations.

From the makeshift classroom to under

water, all PNdivers received valuable train-

ing that goes hand in hand with the strate-

gic goals of Balikatan 2014.

The Filipino divers are outstanding,

resourceful and very attentive, said Build-

er 2nd Class (SCW/DV) Joseph Hophan,

the project supervisor for UCT 2s Con-

struction Diving Detachment Charlie

(CDD/C). We had to take a crawl-walk-

run approach to our mission here in the

Philippines. Diving is already very danger-

ous; when you add cutting and welding to

the equation, your focus shifts toward safe-

ty and the steps we take to mitigate risk.

They did great and learned at an impressive

rate.

ThePNdiverswere given projects so they

could practice various types of welds.Once

they felt comfortablewithwhat they learned

during topside (dry) welding, theywere put

to the test underwater. Fromproper termi-

nology to electrodeplacement to speed, they

were able to experience how hard it is to

weld underwater. I dont think they real-

ized how hard it was going to be, said

Construction Mechanic 2nd Class (SCW/

EXW/DV)NathanEmmett, leadwelder for

the detachment. Once you call for power,

it was lights out, the visibility goes to zero.

I was surprised at how fast they learned.

Along with cutting and welding under-

water for the first time, the PNUCTdivers

were able to gain valuable knowledge on

side scan sonar techniques and proce-

dures.

We were able to use their system and

train them on what they have, said Build-

er 2nd Class (SCW/DV) David Madmon,

hydrographic survey technician for the de

-

tachment. I think it resonates more when

youre able to train them on a piece of

equipment theyalreadyown.Whenwe leave

they cancontinue topracticewhatwe taught

them.

The Philippines was the fourth of seven

stops spanning six countries across the Pa-

cific for members of UCT 2s CDD/C. On

this deployment, thedetachment is conduct-

ing inspection, maintenance and repair of

various underwater andwaterfront facilities

and is participating in four Pacific Fleet

exercises.

UCT 2 divers teach their

counterparts in Philippines

Divers from the Philippines and Underwater Construction Team 2 prepare to execute a joint

dive to practice underwater cutting and welding.

SW1 Cody Oswald of Underwater

Construction Team 2 teaches a surface

supplied diving course to the Philippine

Underwater Construction Team during last

months Exercise Balikatan.

Photos by Eo1 ManuEl tErrEro / uCt 2

Divers from the Philippines and Underwater Construction Team 2 practice underwater

cutting techniques on dry land prior to applying this skill underwater during Exercise

Balikatan in Sangley Point, Philippines.

"

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TheLighthouse


13

By Andrea Howry

Lighthouse

Suits, ties and conservative dresses re-

placed school uniformsWednesday, June

11, as about 400 eighth-graders at E.O.

Green Junior High School in Oxnard

took part in Portfolio Day, showing their

poise and sharing their work with local

professionals, many from the areas larg-

est employer: Naval Base Ventura Coun-

ty.

Each year, just before school ends,

eighth-graders sit down one-on-one with

adult volunteers who rate the contents

of their school portfolio and critique

their personal presence confidence,

friendliness and eye contact included.

Carlos Boisselier, an engineer at Naval

Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme

Division (NSWC PHD), has been volun-

teering at this event since 2006.

I learn a lot from these kids, he said.

Some are very enthusiastic, some have

reservations because its their first time

doing this, but they all learn from the

experience.

He makes sure to explain that the days

lessons will carry over for years to come,

whether its a job interview or an aca-

demic interview.

A couple of these kids had excellent

interviewing skills, he said. Their an-

swers were well thought-out and articu-

lated.

Holding a large binder filled with

schoolwork, including a brochure shed

made for a Spanish class marketing a

make-believe resort in Spain, eighth-

grader Jacquelin Sanchez said the day

requires a lot of preparation.

I was really nervous, but in reality, it

was all worth it all that hard work,

she said.

Gil Cajala, the Exceptional Family

Member liaison at the Fleet & Family

Support Center (FFSC), said some

youngsters had strong charisma but a

weak portfolio; others had outstanding

work but no confidence.

When you have both is when you can

really succeed, he explained.

For Lori Steinhauer, a work and fam-

ily life consultant with the FFSC, there

was one girl among the many students

she interviewed that day who will be hard

to forget.

She had such good eye contact, and

I asked her about it, Steinhauer said.

She said her momwas looking for work,

and shed been coaching her on job in-

terviews.

In addition, she said, All the practic-

ing shed been doing at home for Portfo-

lio Day had given her mom some confi-

dence, too.

Steinhauer, who was volunteering for

a third year, said she wished all schools

had an event like this.

Shy or confident, these students have

all these gems they discover in themselves

that we get to see, she said.

Diane Gomez, the school counselor

who helped organize the event, agreed.

This is a rite of passage for these kids,

she said. We see them blossom before

our eyes.

Added Carol Short, chair of the lan-

guage arts department, This is my fa-

vorite day of the year.

Its a tradition, she explained.

They know all year that its coming

up, she said, and they rise to the occa-

sion.

Cajala summed up the day:

The future, he said, does seem pret-

ty bright.

Base workers judge students portfolios, professionalism

Photos by AndreA howry / Lighthouse

Gil Cajala, left, the Exceptional Family Member liaison at the Naval Base Ventura County

(NBVC) Fleet & Family Support Center (FFSC), critiques George Romeros portfolio at E.O.

Green Junior High School Wednesday, June 11.

Carlos Boisselier, an engineer with the

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port

Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) fills out

the Interviewers Rating Form that judges

students on whether they are appropriately

dressed, articulate, enthusiastic and

friendly, well-groomed and self-confident

and whether they have good eye contact and

a strong voice. Their portfolio is judged on

organization, quality of work, originality and

creativity, style, grammar, neatness and

overall effort.

14


TheLighthouse


By YNC Ryan Arnoldussen

NOSC Ventura County

Navy Operational Support Center

(NOSC)Ventura County held a time-hon-

ored change of command ceremony June

7 aboard Naval Base Ventura County

(NBVC) Port Hueneme.

During the ceremony, Capt. Thomas

A. Long relieved Capt. Ron G. Oswald

as commanding officer.

Guests included Rear Adm. Russell E.

Allen, deputy commander of the U.S. 7th

Fleet, who spoke to the crowd of more

than 120 military service members, retir-

ees, civilians, families and friends. Allen

said NOSC Ventura County has been

fortunate to have a leader such as Os-

wald.

Allen presentedOswald with the Legion

of Merit Award for his distinguished per-

formance of duty and achieving the high-

est levels of personnel and operational

readiness while serving as commanding

officer. Part of the award citation lauded

his inspiring leadership of 33 staff, 39

assigned units and 1,200 selected reserv-

ists for the flawless mobilization and de-

mobilization of 400 Sailors.

That mobilization provided 70,000man

days in support of overseas contingency

operations.

We have come a long way since the

merger of NOSC PointMugu andNOSC

Port Hueneme to NOSC Ventura Coun-

ty,Oswald said. As I thought about my

time here, there are a couple of events

that stick out in my mind. I remember

hiking the Chumash Trail and taking a

command photo with every Sailor that

helped the NOSC win the 2011 and 2013

NOSC of the Year achievement.

NOSCVenturas Sailors have excelled

in everything theyve done, he added.

Their work ethic, resiliency and com-

mitment to excellence have made NOSC

Ventura County what it is today. Im

humbled by their selfless dedication and

feel privileged to have been a part of this

command.

Long thanked Oswald for turning over

an incredible command and an even

greater crew.

The NOSC crew embodies the honor,

courage, and commitment that has made

our Navy Reserve force, our Navy and

our country great, Long said. I assure

you, our future is bright.

Oswald will report for duty to Com-

mander, U.S. 7th Fleet, in Yokosuka, Ja-

pan.

Long relieves Oswald as CO of NOSC Ventura County

Photo by yN2 PaulyN SaNtiago / NoSC VeNtura CouNty

As Rear Adm. Russell Allen, deputy commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, looks on, Capt.

Ronald Oswald, left, is relieved by Capt. Thomas Long as the commanding officer of Navy

Operational Support Center (NOSC) Ventura County during a June 7 ceremony.


TheLighthouse


15

PhotoS by Delaney RoDRiguez / nSWC PhD

The Ka Hale Hula O Pilialohaokalani O Hilo dance group performs a traditional Hawaiian

hula dance as a conclusion to the May 29 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month event

at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD). The dancers are,

from left, Kathy Magallanes of St. Johns Hospital, Josephine Rodriguez and Elvin Spencer

of NSWC PHD, and Jill Cupal.

By Delaney Rodriguez

NSWC PHD

As Asian Pacific American Heritage

Month, May is the time to acknowledge

themany contributions, achievements and

cultural enrichments brought to the Unit-

ed States by Asian Pacific Americans.

This years theme, Diverse Leadership

and Expanding Opportunity: an Impera-

tive for America,was celebrated at Naval

Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme

Division (NSWC PHD), May 29.

Capt. Burt Espe, NSWC PHD com-

mander, spoke to those in attendance

about the importance of diverse ideas,

experiences, expertise and backgrounds.

We are particularly pleased,Espe said,

to have employees of Asian Pacific de-

scent throughout our workforce. Yet, its

important that we take time to remember

all the different cultures that make Port

Hueneme Division so unique. Without

diversity, we would not be the successful

and creative command that we are today.

As commander, I personally feel it is im-

portant to promote inclusiveness and di-

versity throughout the workforce.

The event included Polynesian/Hawai-

ian food, live music, Polynesian dancers

and hula dancing, all sponsored byNSWC

PHDs CivilianMorale, Welfare and Rec-

reationCommittee in conjunctionwith the

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

Asian Pacific Islander focus group.

NSWCPHD honors Asian

Pacific American heritage

Elvin Spencer of Naval Surface Warfare

Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC

PHD) presents Capt. Burt Espe, NSWC

PHD commander, with a lei during the May

29 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

event.

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Tell combat photographers theyre headed out on assignment and you can imagine what theyll want to bring on the plane: lenses, bigger lenses and as much camera gear as they can pack.

Not Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Chris Fahey.

I dont want a telephoto lens, says Fahey, whos assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3. I want the widest lens and the smallest cam-era and as much safety equipment as possible.

His need to get as close to the action as he can is one of the traits that won Fahey the titles of Navy Journalist of the Year and MC of the Year (Sea) for 2013.

NMCB 3 was deployed to the Pacific for much of the year. Week after week, Fahey sent packages of stories and photos from Seabees playing with youngsters in the Philippines to construction shots taken in the mud.

Before he deployed, he covered the Springs Fire, which burned more than 24,000 acres in Ventura County.

Fahey, 34, has been in the Navy for 12 years.

When you get to tell someones story, he says, its an honor.

Heres a look at some of Faheys work over the past year and his stories from behind the lens.

NMCB 3 Seabee namedJournalist of the Year

In the Russell Egnor Navy Media Awards for calendar year 2013, MC1 Chris Fahey of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3 was named Navy Journalist of the Year and MC of the Year (Sea).

April 4: In Zambales, Philippines, Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force (JCMOTF) Surgeon U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. (Dr.) Jennifer Almy listens to the heartbeat of 2-year old Jude Freduluces during a medical community relations project at the Natividad Health Clinic in support of Exercise Balikatan 2013, an annual Philippine-U.S. bilateral exercise. Behind the lens: Its hard not making yourself part of your own story. I waited on my belly with my camera up for what felt like an eternity for one of the many children given free check-ups that day to look back at me. Finally, this little boy did and all I wanted to do was hold his hand or give him a hug.

May 3: From back, Navy Aviation Warfare Systems Operators Chief Jay Okonek and 1st Class Petty Officer Jason Blase, aircrewmen from the Merlins of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 3, drop water from a 360-gallon Bambi bucket on the Springs Fire near Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu.

Behind the lens: I remember cursing my arms for not being long enough during this photo. I was able to capture the action (water releasing) and the scorched ground the water was dousing during the 2013 Ventura County wildfires, but just barely. Im leaning out of the side window with the camera strap fighting against me thanks to the rotary blades above. It felt like someone was physically trying to rip my camera from my hand. So much fun.

Nov. 11: EO1 Peter Izarra of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 gives an exuberant high-five to a youngster in Okinawa, Japan.

Behind the lens: This image makes me happy every time I look at it. We were at a volunteer project working with local children in an Okinawan district. Its the most amazing high-five that has or will ever be given.

Sept. 22: In Okinawa, Japan, CE2 Dwayne Watson of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 uses his weapon to push Constantine wire away from his face while running a six-hour endurance course at the Marine Corps Jungle Warfare Training Center (JWTC).

Behind the lens: I used a wide, wide lens that allowed me to get within just a few inches of this Seabees face. It looks like Im about a foot away, but in reality, our feet are pretty much tied together. Thats the only way I know to shoot. If my subject is underneath five feet of mud water, then I am too. Long lenses rob you from feeling what your subject is feeling. If I didnt know what it was like to have nasty jungle water in my underwear, I wouldnt be able to write about how it made my subject feel not as well, anyway.

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April 4: In Zambales, Philippines, Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force (JCMOTF) Surgeon U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. (Dr.) Jennifer Almy listens to the heartbeat of 2-year old Jude Freduluces during a medical community relations project at the Natividad Health Clinic in support of Exercise Balikatan 2013, an annual Philippine-U.S. bilateral exercise. Behind the lens: Its hard not making yourself part of your own story. I waited on my belly with my camera up for what felt like an eternity for one of the many children given free check-ups that day to look back at me. Finally, this little boy did and all I wanted to do was hold his hand or give him a hug.

April 1: In this photo taken during exercise Balikatan 2013, what looks to be a roadside cross in the Philippines is actually something else entirely.

Behind the lens: This image probably had the most dramatic effect on me than any other image I shot in 2013. At first, I thought it was just a memorial cross, similar to those found alongside highways in the U.S. The blue cross was actually the top of a Catholic church that was instantly buried in ash and mud during the early 1990s eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. Inside remain the bodies of several families who were caught in the eruption and couldnt make it out before the ground swallowed them whole. I probably looked at this cross 50 times, and out of all the things I thought it could be, I never imagined it to be the top of a buried church filled with ghosts. Blew my mind.

April 13: In Zambales, Philippines, three resident girls at the Shepherd of the Hills Childrens Home make jewelry in their room. During a nap or bed time, up to six girls will lay on thin padded mats on the floor. A group of Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force (JCMOTF) volunteers installed 30 fans in three dormitories while in Zambales for Balikatan 2013.

Behind the lens: Some of my friends who look at this photo always comment on how bare the room is and despite being in the Philippines, how cold the floor looks. Its sad to them. I hate that. These girls were having a great day, and despite being orphans from different displaced families, they loved each other very much. They dont know or care that the room wasnt filled with electronics or furniture. They dont need such things to be happy. They sit close to each other and just play. Its a very happy photo.

Nov. 11: EO1 Peter Izarra of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 gives an exuberant high-five to a youngster in Okinawa, Japan.

Behind the lens: This image makes me happy every time I look at it. We were at a volunteer project working with local children in an Okinawan district. Its the most amazing high-five that has or will ever be given.

Oct. 25: In Metinaro, Timor-Leste, BU3 Morgan Rego, left, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3s Timor-Leste Construction Civic Action Detail (CCAD), and William Nesbitt, assigned to the Australian Defence Forces 1st Combat Engineering Regiment, place the lid on a new seven-foot septic tank during Sapper 13, which lasted 28 days and involved construction of a new school, outside bathroom facility, kitchenette and playground for the local neighborhood.

Behind the lens: When the Aussie engineers and Seabees were building this septic tank, I knew the only photo worth capturing would be of them sealing it up from the inside. I was squatting in a few inches of standing water and genuinely worried the Australian Royal engineer would make good on his joke to trap the camera guy in until lunch.

Oct. 26: In Metinaro, Timor-Leste, U.S. Marine Corps Combat Engineer Lance Cpl. Jose Diaz, assigned to 1st Platoon, 9th Engineering Support Battalion, Engineering Company A, spot welds the top of a fence post during the final days of Sapper 13, a joint exercise involving Royal Australian engineers, U.S. Navy Seabees, Marine Corps engineers and the Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL).

Behind the lens: This photo is the most technically complex image Ive ever captured. The welding sparks are in focus while everything less than an eighth of an inch around that specific area is out of focus. Thats like finding winning lottery numbers in a bowl of alphabet soup. To achieve this, I used a very, very difficult technique sought after by every photographer complete and utter luck. Ill never be able to reproduce this image because I honestly have no idea how I did it to begin with, but I love the way it looks.

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Photos by MA1 terri torgerson / nAVFAC eXWC

ET1 Joseph Ballard and LS2 Jeremy Fratella, both with Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare

Center, volunteer with Jakob Lemos and Erik Torgerson to help clean up the Ventura River bottom so trash

doesnt make its way to the ocean.

By MC1 Charles Panter

NMCB 4

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construc-

tion Battalion (NMCB) 4 participated in

lastmonthsNaval Expeditionary Combat

Command (NECC) Integrated Exercise,

or NIEX, at Naval Base Ventura County

(NBVC) Port Hueneme.

The purpose of the NIEX, said Lt.

Cmdr. Michael Guzzi, operations officer

for NMCB 4, is to get the NECC units

to work together as one adaptive force

package, under the umbrella of a naval

expeditionary force.

NMCB 4 participated in theMay 12-23

table topexercise as a construction force

providing humanitarian aid to a nation

devastated by natural disasters. No con-

struction operations were performed, but

the planning was completed as would have

been done in an actual disaster.

The most challenging part of the ex-

ercise was the coordinate piece,saidChief

Engineering Aid Alwin Lau, one of the

watchstanders during the exercise. It can

be a challenge contacting the correct peo-

ple when they are spread over multiple

time zones.

Guzzi called the teams performance

outstanding.

The challenge was working in a simu-

lated crisis environment with 12 other

units from across NECC, he said. We

gained valuable experience.

It helped that we just came back from

our field training exercise,Lau said. We

actually had all of the training first, and

then had the exercise after.

NMCB 4 is making its final prepara-

tions for an August deployment.

NMCB 4 works with other commands during pre-deployment exercise

CSC Eddie Hernandez of the Naval Facilities Engineering and

Expeditionary Warfare Center at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Port

Hueneme picks up trash in the Ventura River bottom during a volunteer

project last month.

By EA2 Atit Gurung

NAVFAC EXWC

On a recent spring morning, 14 Seabees from

Naval Facilities Expeditionary andWarfare Center

(NAVFAC EXWC) gathered at the Ventura River

bottom and met with Derek Poultney, the protec-

tion coordinator for the Ventura Hillsides Conser-

vancy, and California State Parks Ranger Geno

Lucich.

The Seabees were answering a call for volunteers

from the conservancy, a land trust that aims to

protect and conserve open space by acquiring land,

maintaining protected lands and educating the

public about local natural resources.

After a short introduction to the program and

an update on the status of the river bottom from

the Main Street bridge to the ocean, the Seabees

put on their protective gloves, picked up tools and

started clearing and removing trash that had col-

lected from the previous months rains.

MA2 (SCW)Gerald Baker, volunteer coordina-

tor for NAVFAC EXWC, said habitat restoration

projects like this one help maintain the integrity

and safety of the Earths resources by preventing

trash frombeingwashed out to the ocean andwind-

ing up on local beaches.

During the three-hour cleanup Saturday, May

17, the group collectedmore than 10 bags of trash,

two bicycles and a mini motorcycle.

The Seabees also removed a makeshift raft that

had been floating on the river for more than a

year.

Seabees help clean up river bottom


TheLighthouse


19

Help when you need it.

The Fleet & Family

Support Center

Were moving!

Its challenging, exciting, frustrating.

Here we go, again!

I dont want to leave my friendsmy

school!

Dad/Mom just got home from de-

ployment, and now were leaving!

I finally have a BFF!

Moving brings about a lot of feelings,

stresses and new experiences. Research

shows that military children who move

frequently:

Average four times more moves than

an average child in the United States.

Often have no long-term negative

effects.

Often participate in more social ac-

tivities because they have more oppor-

tunities to do so.

As teenagers, can be more likely to

show depression and can be more upset

because of loss of friendships.

May have a decline in academic per-

formance right after the move.

Adjusted better when they were pre-

pared for the move ahead of time.

The most important factor that helps

kids adjust well to a move is the relation-

ship they have with their parents. So,

how do we make a move easier on our

military kids?

One way is to be as upfront about the

move as we can be. As soon as children

learn about a move, they begin to adjust,

even if it sounds like complaining. The

more time they have to adjust, the eas-

ier the relocation becomes.

Another approach we can take is to

find out as much as we can about the

new location. Google it. Scope it out.

Have the children research what the new

area is known for, nearby activities, in-

teresting stories or history about the

area.

Since one of the difficulties about

moving is a sense of the unknown, allow

your child or teen to make a special box

just for moving-day essentials. Give them

choices about what items to keep with

them while in transition. A favorite book

or toy or game can be comforting.

Give them an opportunity to plan

their new room. Ask them to sort out

their things and plan to have packing

dateswhere you pack together and have

some family time at the end of the day.

Not every member of the family ex-

periences the move in the same way.

Coping skills may also differ. One may

want to listen to music, while another

wants to shoot hoops, paint or keep a

journal or dairy. Encourage your child

to stay in touch Facebook and email

can be important ways to maintain

friendships and family contact, as long

as parents can monitor use, time and

content.

Find support to deal with your own

stress about the move away from the

kids, but dont be reluctant to share feel-

ings, apprehensions and anticipations

about the move in a positive and open

manner. Make a list together of those

things that will be missed, but also those

things that can be exciting to discover

and try. Help your child plan their good-

byes not only to their friends and ex-

tended family, but to favorite places

youve come to appreciate over time.

With supportive parenting, military

kids are strong and able to deal with

many challenges. They gain confidence

as they realize they have the ability to

survive new experiences. Family ties can

become even closer as family members

realize they can rely on one another.

Pat White is a counseling and advocacy

supervisor at Naval Base Ventura Countys

Fleet & Family Support Center.

How to prepare your child for the words Were moving!

On the

move

withPatWhite

FFSC

Toll-free appointment scheduling ser-

vice: 1-866-923-6478, call 24 hours a day,

seven days a week. Confidential clinical

counseling, relocation assistance, resume

assistance, financial consultations, deploy-

ment support, new parent support, career

services and many other support services

are available at the Fleet and Family Sup-

port Center. NBVC Point Mugu, Bldg.

225 next to the chapel, 989-8146; NBVC

Port Hueneme, Bldg. 1169 behind NEX,

982-5037.

All classes at Port Hueneme unless oth-

erwise noted. Call 982-5037 for more in-

formation. Child care option available

with prior registration.

Career Support and Retention

Transition Assistance Program

Mondays-Fridays, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

daily. XGPS for retirees E7 and above is

July 7-11 andAug. 4-8; GPS is July 14-18.

Register via Command Career Counsel-

or.

CapstoneWorkshop/Individual Tran-

sition Plan Review: For those who have

completed Transition GPS to ensure Ca-

reer Readiness Standards have been met.

Tues., June 24, noon to 3 p.m. No walk-

ins. Register with command career coun-

selor.

Higher Education Optional Track: A

two-day optional track for thosewho have

completed Transition GPS and are inter-

ested in pursuing higher education.

Wednesday and Thursday, June 25 and

26, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

VARepOffice: Assistance with claims

and medical records at the FFSC office;

walk-ins welcome. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tues-

days. Information: 424-901-9006.

VA Paperwork Assistance: Hands on

assistance in filing, reopening or appealing

your VA claim. Active duty, veterans,

widows, walk-ins welcome! Call for sched-

ule at 805-982-5037.

Writing the Perfect Resume & Cover

Letter: Learn cutting-edge resume and

cover letter techniques to successfully

present your skills. Thurs., June 19, 3:30

to 5:30 p.m.

Federal Employment & Resume:

Learn about federal resumes, relevant

websites and the application process for

federal jobs. Tues., June 24, 2 to 4 p.m.;

Thurs., July 10, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., FFSC

Point Mugu; Thurs., July 28, noon to 2

p.m.

Interview Skills: Prepare for your job

interview, learn about the interview pro-

cess, conduct a mock interview andmore.

Thurs., June 26, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Advancement Preparation: Do you

need help preparing for the enlisted ad-

vancement exam?We teach you test-tak-

ing tips and study skills to improve your

chances of success. Thurs., July 10, 9 to

11 a.m.; Wed., July 16, 9 to 11 a.m.; sec-

ond workshop at FFSC Point Mugu.

EXcel Basics: Learn how to use Mi-

crosoft Office Excel 2007 software for

both personal and professional use.Wed.,

July 16, 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Excel Intermediate: Learn advanced

shortcuts, formulas, charts, referencing

and more using Microsoft Office Excel

2007. Wed., July 23, 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Power Point Tips&Tricks: Learn how

to create basic presentations usingMicro-

soft Office PowerPoint 2007. Thurs., July

24, 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Life Skills

General information: 982-3102.

Stress Management 101: Learn to

tackle stress and build your stress stamina.

Develop the skills and tools to more ef-

fectively manage your response to stress-

ors. Thurs., June 26, 1 to 2 p.m.

Relocation Assistance

General information: 982-3726.

Lighthouse June 19, 2014

Documents

Transcript of Lighthouse June 19, 2014