F L A G S H I P N E W S . C O MSECTION B September 30, 2010

PRESS RELEASECommander Second Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK — A Norwegian diesel electric submarine, HNoMS UTVAER (S303) arrived at Naval Station Nor-folk, Sept. 27, for a port visit.

The arrival of UTVAER marks the first time a Norwegian submarine has pulled into a United States port.

UTVAER will play a part in anti-submarine training while operating

together with U.S. Navy vessels. The submarine is joined by the Norwe-gian AEGIS frigate, F 310 FRIDTJOF NANSEN, which is currently in port at Naval Station Norfolk.

The submarine and frigate will oper-ate together with the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Strike Group dur-ing their upcoming Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) un-derway period.

Norwegian Submarine arrives in Norfolk; First-ever U.S. visit

Photo by MC2 Rafael MartieSailors aboard the Norwegian diesel electric submarine HNoMS UTVAER (S303) prepare mooring lines as the submarine arrives at Naval Station Norfolk Monday, Sept. 27. The arrival of the UTVAER marks the fi rst time a Norwegian submarine has pulled into a United States port. UTVAER will operate with the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Strike Group during their upcoming Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPUTEX).

VIRGINIA BEACH — On Oct. 4, Mary Spear will go the extra effort and run the extra mile to help raise awareness for Virginia Wounded War-rior program. In fact, on that day, she will run a 50-mile marathon which is also her 50th birth-day.

Spear is a Financial Educator/Counselor for the Fleet and Family Support Center on Joint Ex-peditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story and is married to a naval aviator. Needless to say, she is intimately familiar with military life and the sacri-fi ces they and their families make each and every day in defense of our freedoms.

“Our military members and their families make sacrifi ces each and every day and many times it goes unnoticed by the general public,” stated Spear. “Many of our warriors have made the ul-timate sacrifi ce for all us to enjoy the precious freedoms that we cherish so dearly.”

“However, many more are living today that ei-ther suffer from a combination of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain In-jury (TBI) or are working to re-establish their life with missing limbs or other tragic injuries,” noted Spear. “We owe them much for their sac-rifi ces and commitment to our American way of life. I hope, by me running this marathon on my birthday, helps raise public awareness to their sac-rifi ces and the challenges they face every day.”

Spear will begin her run at 5 a.m. on JEB Little Creek running on an approved track on-base. She will complete the fi rst 48 miles on-base and then will transport to JEB Fort Story to fi nish the fi nal two-miles ending up at the historic lighthouses on-base. She anticipates completing her run around 6:30 p.m.

According to Spear, there are over 820,000 veterans in the state of Virgin-ia with upwards of over 30 percent returning from either Iraq or Afghanistan experiencing some degree of new challenges they must face. Her goal is to bring that awareness to the forefront of the general public.

“Our military members who are serving today are our brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, neighbors, friends and loved ones,” noted Spear. “They volunteer to serve us so we can maintain our freedoms and our way of life. Anything I can do to raise the public’s awareness of the challenges they now face is only a small token of appreciation for the sacrifi ces they have made.”

To learn more about Mary Spear’s run, log on to www.runningtheextramile.org. To learn more about Virginia’s Wounded Warrior Program, contact either Col. Jack Hilgers (USMC, Ret) at 481-4164 or (804) 382-3715 (Jack.Hilgers@dvs.virginia.gov), or Steven Combs (former Captain, USAF) at (804) 786-0294 (Steven.Combs@dvs.virginia.gov).

Running the extra mile for Va. Wounded Warrior program

Photo by ADAN Lianet LujanMary Spear and her husband, a Navy Reservist, Captain John Spear, run her fi nal training run at the First Landing State Park. She will run a 50-mile marathon on her 50th birthday on Oct. 4 to help raise awareness for the Virginia Wounded Warrior program.

BY MC3 IAN CAMPBELLCombined Maritime Forces Public Affairs

Sailors sta-tioned aboard USS Peleliu (LHA 5) volunteered to at-tend the Marine Corps Corporals’ Course held on the ship during the last two sessions in the month of August.

The Sailors and Marines who partic-ipated in the course experienced all as-pects of training including: physical exercise, leadership, and Marine Corps history. The class is designed to provide junior noncommis-sioned offi cers with a foundation to be-come a small-unit combat leader, valu-able training for a member of any armed service.

“This class re-in-stilled pride in me,” said Aviation Ord-nanceman 3rd Class Jason Parker. “I wasn’t just a Sailor in the course. I was held to the same standard as the Marines. The camaraderie was amaz-ing.”

The Corporals’ Course lasts two weeks and is conduct-ed during normal working hours. Beginning at 6 a.m. and lasting until 5 p.m., Marines and Sailors completed a daily routine consisting of physical training, leadership training, Marine Corps history and an assortment of oth-er training topics and exercises that help build junior service members into military leaders.

Peleliu Sailors participate in Marine Corps training course

See PELELIU, B9

Photo by MC3 Foster BamfordCpl. Steven Smith assists Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Joshua Durstine lift a duffl e bag during the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Corporals’ Course aboard amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5). The Corporals’ Course is a standard part of the Marine Corps leadership training track. The 15th MEU offered four Peleliu Sailors an opportunity to experience the course in order to promote common leadership traits between the Navy and Marine Corps.

Diversity offi cer enhances sub communityBY MC2 DANNA M. MORRISCommander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK — A key person in the de-velopment of a more diverse submarine force left the command Sept. 17 to support an Individual Augmentee assignment in Saraje-vo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, leaving Commander, Submarine Forces Atlantic (COMSUBLANT) grateful for his hard work and determined to stay on track.

Lt. Cmdr. Roberto F. Sanchez, the diversity offi cer at COMSUBLANT had the responsi-bility of ensuring the submarine community takes a proactive role in refl ecting varying ar-ray of ethnicities and backgrounds that makes the sea-going service one of the most diverse organizations in the world.

“My job gives me the opportunity to help the Navy gain more talent to meet its needs and accomplish the mission,” said Sanchez, a 1997 graduate of Penn State University with a de-gree in nuclear engineering. “If we want to get the best out there we need to be able to attract folks from all different backgrounds.”

He reported to COMSUBLANT in June 2008 as the force’s second diversity offi cer and has been working with Naval Recruiting Command in ways to attract more diverse sub-marine offi cers.

Sanchez said the main way this is done is

by sending experienced submarine offi cers along with recruiters for visits at universities.

“A lot of people in the areas we are trying to recruit really don’t understand the mis-sion of the Navy and the prestige that resides in the Navy,” said Sanchez, a native of Phila-delphia. “Their image of the Navy is driving ships, but the submarine force and the Navy as a whole is a highly technical profession. When college students hear about the experi-ences that graduates in their fi elds are having

in the Navy, they realize they too can have the same type of successes.”

Cmdr. Andrew C. Hertel, the Submarine Forces personnel and policies career develop-ment offi cer, said it’s important to target wider pools of candidates than in the past.

“By improving the diversity of the subma-rine forces we improve readiness of the force,” said Hertel. “We have more and better people doing the job.”

Although he is the second person billeted as the Diversity Offi cer, Hertel said Sanchez has been the key player instrumental in building a program that was once nonexistent.

“To get candidates interested in the sub-marine force you must be able to present the challenges and rewards,” said Hertel.

The important work he has completed as di-versity offi cer will continue to positively affect the submarine community.

“Sanchez has made a reality out of the vision to make the submarine force refl ect society,” said Hertel. “We simply want the best people in our community, regardless of what they look like.”

USS CHURCHILL | VOLUNTEERING AT BOYS’ ORPHANAGESailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill and Sailors assigned to “Swamp Foxes” of HSL 44 (Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light) took time to volunteer at Foyer De Nazerath Boys Orphanage during a recent port visit to Victoria, Seychelles. B5

Lt. Cmdr. Roberto F. Sanchez

“The most diffi cult part of the course for me was drill practice,” said Quartermaster 3rd Class Jerrad Emerson. “Everything else was manageable and I caught on quickly. It was pretty unique to be able to participate in a Marine course and see the differenc-es between the branches.”

Although the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) leads the Corporals’ Course, instructors and leadership from subordinate elements of the MEU collaborate to give Marines and Sailors well-rounded guidance and experience.

“The course is hosted by the 15th MEU, with the instructors and leadership representing all subor-dinate elements of the MEU such as the Battalion Landing Team, Aviation Combat Element and Com-mand Element,” said Gunnery Sgt. Erick Findley. “This allows the students to have a broader scope of experience from all the dif ferent Military Oc-cupational Specialties (MOSs) within the Marine Corps and offering knowledge and experience to them.”

The Navy’s Petty Offi cer Indoctrination class is sig-nifi cantly different from the Corporals’ Course, said Parker.

“This course really develops you and puts you in a good place,” said Parker.

“It tells you where you stand in every single as-pect of being a non-commissioned offi cer. It teaches you that you are now a leader and people are going to ask you for advice and how to correct certain is-sues.”

“When one of your men is lost, he will look to you for guidance. This course teaches you how to address those issues and take care of your people.”

The Marine Corps provided two seats in each of the course iterations for any interested 3rd Class Petty Offi cers.

According to Findley, “The course is going to continue to open up seats each time to our Navy counterparts. We have to balance the number of seats allotted based on classroom space available and the need to get the PME for the corporals aboard the ship.”

After graduating the course, Parker said he felt like a new person.

“I feel like a super-charged Sailor,” said Parker. “It’s like I was born again. I wear my uniform with a great deal of rejuvenated pride.”

So far, four 3rd Class Petty Offi cers have completed the Corporals’ Course during Peleliu’s 2010 Western Pacifi c deployment and the feedback has been unan-imously positive.

“The feedback from the instructors and students has been very positive,” said Findley. “It allows all ser-vice members engaged to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the other service. They also ex-perience a different style of leadership and how it is distributed downward to the junior Marines.”

PELELIU: Sailors volunteer for Marine Corps Corporals’ CourseContinued from page B1

DESRON 24 ships departfor Exercise Joint Warrior BY LT. ZACHARY HARRELLDestroyer Squadron 24 Public Affairs

NORFOLK — Four ships led by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (COMDESRON) 24 departed Norfolk, Sept. 21, to participate in Joint Warrior, a coalition exercise designed and led by the Joint Tactical Exercise Planning Staff (JTEPS) in the United Kingdom and staged off the coast of Scotland.

Sailors from USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) and Fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195) will be representing the United States in the exercise that will also include sea, air and land forces from Belgium, Germa-ny, Greece, Estonia, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Tur-key, United Kingdom and NATO.

“Joint Warrior will allow our Sailors the opportunity to practice operating with our coalition partners so that we are better prepared to support multi-national operations in real-world missions,” said Capt. Aaron Jacobs, DESRON 24 commander. “Our Sail-ors will gain essential training and experience by operating as part of a multinational force in a multi-warfare

environment.”The exercise scenarios will challenge

the coalition navies in major warfare areas such as air defense, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare. Particular emphasis will be placed on maritime security operations including boarding and searching vessels sus-pected of illegal activities and defending against small boat attacks.

“The safety and security of the world’s seas is a responsibility shared by all of

the coalition navies,” said DESRON 24 operations offi cer, Lt. Cmdr. Greta Den-sham. ”Joint Warrior allows us to realize that responsibility by working with our allies to improve the way we counter il-legal activity and defend against acts of terrorism on the high seas.”

Joint Warrior is scheduled to begin in early October. The exercise, which will last approximately two weeks, will also serve to certify the U.S. ships for deployment.

Photo by MC3 Brian GoodwinThe Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) departs Naval Station Norfolk, Sept. 21, for Exercise Joint Warrior (JW). JW, led by the United Kingdom, is intended to improve interoperability between allied navies and prepares participants for a joint maritime environment during upcoming deployments.

NORFOLK — The Virginia Depart-ment of Transportation (VDOT) shifted traffi c traveling on Hampton Blvd. onto a newly created detour road, Sept. 25. The six-lane detour roadway was con-structed as part of the Hampton Blvd. Grade Separation Project. The detour road will provide access to both NIT and NAS facilities, while main-taining the same vehicle capacity as the current Hampton Boulevard.

The Hampton Blvd. Grade Sepa-ration Project is a seven-tenth of a mile improvement project located be-tween Mapleshade Ave. and “B” Ave. in Norfolk. The detour road is necessary to divert traffi c off of Hampton Blvd., allowing the installation of a roadway depression (underpass) at the exist-ing at-grade crossing with the Norfolk

Southern/Norfolk Portsmouth Belt-line railroad.

The new traffi c pattern should not impact through traffi c for the area, however, the intersection of Maple-shade Ave. and Hampton Blvd. will close permanently as part of the con-

struction improvements. The completed project will pro-

vide six lanes for through traffi c and a 13-foot median for left turn lanes as needed. It will provide improved roadway lighting, signals, drainage, landscaping, bike lanes, curb, gutter

and sidewalks. The existing at-grade crossing with the Norfolk Southern/Norfolk Portsmouth Beltline railroad will be removed. Other improvements will include access into Fleet Recre-ational Park, Pier 3 and relocation of Mapleshade Ave. and Greenbrier Ave.

side streets.The Hampton Blvd. Grade Sep-

aration Project is currently on budget and on schedule for com-pletion by November 2012.

For more information about the project, please visit www.VirginiaD-OT.org. Traffi c updates are available to motorists by visiting www.511va.com, by calling 511 or the Traffi c Informa-tion Line at 361-3016 or by listening to Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) 610 AM.

Hampton Boulevard traffi c shift New traffi c pattern will be in place for two years