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Vol. 24, No. 02 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 01.14-01.20.16
EODMU 12 RETURNS FROM DEPLOYMENT
Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 12 embrace family members after returning from a six-month deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.
By MC2 Charles Oki EOD Group 2 Public Affairs
EODMU 12 is assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Group 2, headquartered at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story and oversees all east coast based Navy EOD units.
NOROFLK
More than 20 Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 12 returned to Norfolk Naval Station from a deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, Jan. 8. During their deployment, EODMU 12 Sailors worked alongside regional allies providing counterimprovised explosive device (IED) training through subject matter expert exchanges and training exercises. “During our deployment, EODMU 12 Sailors were spread throughout the Horn of Africa, providing counter-IED skills to our local partners to help prepare them to face violent extremism,” EODMU 12 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Ken Kleinschnittger said. “It is still a new effort for our community, but it was a great opportunity for the Sailors to be creative on how they approached their mission. I’m very proud of their accomplishments over the past six to seven months.” Commander of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2 Capt. John Moulton met with waiting families and commended the Sailors on completion of a successful deployment. “I am very proud of Cmdr. Kleinschnittger and his team,” Moulton said. “All of the great stuff they did in the six months they were deployed, especially the missions they accomplished for the commands they were supporting, the way they were able to codify support for future rotations and for making certain we had the right training relationships and equipment out there, is very impressive. Great job by Mobile Unit 12 and I’m glad to have the unit back home.” EODGRU 2, headquartered at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, oversees all east coast based Navy EOD mobile units, including one forwarddeployed mobile unit in Spain, as well as EOD Expeditionary Support Unit 2, EOD Training and Evaluation Unit 2, and Mobile Diving & Salvage Unit 2.
SOLAR READY VETS Solar job training for a new career
Department of Energy
The Department of Energy (DOE) has partnered with Naval Station Norfolk and the Hampton Roads and Tidewater Community College (TCC) to offer transitioning Sailors five weeks of intensive training in solar energy system installation. What is DOE’s “Solar Ready Vets” program?
MC2 Charles Oki
The DOE is offering a five week intensive solar workforce training program – Solar Ready Vets – to provide transitioning Sailors the highest quality professional skills to prepare them for potential employment in the solar industry upon discharge. Training will take place at the TCC Chesapeake campus and will be led by DOE master instructors using real solar photovolta-
» see SOLAR | A7
NECC recognizes January’s Civilian of the Month By Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer Cragg Navy Expeditionary Command Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH
Kicking off the New Year, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) announced its January Civilian of the Month, Jan. 6. Pete Bustanoby leads NECC’s Force Safety Directorate and manages the safety requirements for more than 20,000 expeditionary Sailors and civilians. “I appreciate the leadership support and everyone working together to create a safer environment for our NECC forces and through our col-
MWR AUCTION What: Treadmills, stereo equipment, bikes and more. When: Jan. 23, 10 a.m - 12 p.m. Where: CD-22 Warehouse, Naval Station Norfolk Contact: For more information, please call 444-2631.
lective effort, we can see that statistically the hard work that has gone into making it a reality,” Bustanoby said. NECC’s Executive Director Nancy Harned emphasized Bustanoby’s accomplishments while leading the type command’s (TYCOM) Safety Directorate. “Pete’s tremendous dedication to duty and attention to detail has made him the safety subject-matter expert,” Harned said. “His extensive knowledge of safety policies, procedures, and innovative initiatives consistently improved the Navy’s expeditionary forces.”
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Over the past year, Bustanoby helped stand-up the expeditionary category in the yearly Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award, which will provide Office of the Chief of Naval Operations-level recognition for commands in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Seabee and Riverine communities for Safety Excellence. “It is gratifying to me to see leadership support in all hands participation in creating a safer working environment,” Bustanoby said. For more news from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/necc/.
Military retirement overhaul training coming to Hampton Roads By MC1 Theodore Green Flagship Staff
NORFOLK
Sailors can expect to navigate a sea of new career options after the recent approval of the DOD overhaul of the military retirement system. The U.S. Uniformed Services Blended Retirement System takes effect Jan. 1, 2018, and gives Sailors a greater individual responsibility in securing their financial future. The Fleet and Family Readiness Centers (FFRC) of Hampton Roads plans to educate Sailors about these new changes by offering town hall-style events, educational videos, leadership briefings, classroom seminars, and one-on-one counseling to all fleet and shore commands in the Hampton
GOLD STAR FAMILIES When you lose a loved one, the last things you want to think about are finances and taxes. However, as a military survivor, you may be entitled to certain benefits. » see B2
Roads area, ensuring the widest dissemination over the next two years. “This is an exciting time,” FFRC Mid-Atlantic Education Training Supervisor Karen Melvin said. Finalized marketing campaign and curriculum materials have not yet been released by the DOD. Sailors can expect their local FFSC to offer the new training as early as this spring. “I anticipate we will do a lot of wardroom and chief’s mess briefs, in addition to enlisted briefs, to give a basic overview, but what people are really going to be interested in are the workshops and one-on-one counseling,” Melvin said. Melvin added the FFSC’s main focus will be to help determine what will be best
» see RETIRE | A7
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