Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi March 21, 2013Vol. 53 No. 12

www.cnic.navy.mil/gulfport

DOUALA, Cameroon - Sailors assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Bat-talion (NMCB) 4 share a coconut with local Cameroonian villagers duringa site survey in preparation for building two new medical centers. NMCB-4 Sailors are partnering with members of the Cameroon Battalion d'In-tervention on construction projects in Cameroon as part of Africa

Partnership Station (APS). APS is an international security cooperation ini-tiative, facilitated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, aimedat strengthening global maritime partnerships through training and col-laborative activities in order to improve maritime safety and security inAfrica. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)

Africa PartnershipAfrica PartnershipStationStation

Are you an active duty mem-ber assigned to a deployableunit? Are you a reservist whohas been recalled to active dutyfor a deployment? Are you aDoD civilian deploying for 30days or more? If you fall intoany of these categories, assoon as you get your deploy-ment orders you need to beginpreparing yourself to be legallyready for your deployment.Topics you need to consider in-clude:

Powers of Attorney. Pow-ers of attorney (POA) are legaldocuments that allow you (the“principal”) to appoint someoneelse (the “agent”) to act onyour behalf. There are twotypes of powers of attorney – ageneral POA and a special POA.A general POA is a blanket

grant of authority for youragent to act on your behalfwhile you are gone. A specialPOA gives someone the author-ity to handle only one specificissue – for example taxes, vehi-cles, or your children. Draftyour POAs closer in time toyour deployment as they aregood for one year.

Estate Planning. Estateplanning includes several docu-ments. First, a will that allowsyou to name the people youwish to receive your moneyand possessions (your estate),to name the people you wish totake care of your children (yourchildren’s guardian), and ap-points the person in charge ofcarrying your wishes out (yourexecutor). Second, a living willallows you to state your prefer-ence for artificial life support.Third, power of attorney.There are two durable POAs –a health care POA and a

durable General POA - thatallow your family to make yourhealth care decisions or handleyour financial affairs if you areso injured or ill you cannot dothese things yourself. Finally, itis important to ensure yourSGLI (life insurance) and DD93(beneficiaries) of the deathgratuity and unpaid pay and al-lowances) are updated.

Family Matters. Family is-sues can create difficult hurdlesto your ability to prepare forand focus on the mission. Ifyou have a court case pendingfor divorce, child custody, childsupport, or spousal support tryto resolve the case well beforeprocessing if you have time andit will not impact your casenegatively. Otherwise, notifythe court and the other partiesinvolved of your pending de-ployment. Single parents ordual military parents shouldmake sure family care plans are

updated and on file with com-mands.

Civil Matters. Are you in-volved in a pending civil casewhere you are the plaintiff, de-fendant, or witness? If you areunable to appear or adequatelyprepare for the case due toyour orders you can request asuit stay under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Seekassistance from your commandand notify the court you willnot be able to attend as soonas possible to avoid a defaultjudgment. Ensure arrange-ments have been made to paybills - either by yourself or anappointed agent back home –during your deployment.

Minor Criminal Matters. Ifyou have any pending criminalcases or unresolved traffic vio-lations, it is imperative that youeither resolve them or notifythe court of your deploymentas soon as practicable to en-sure you do not incur any addi-tional penalties and/or awarrant is not issued for yourarrest.

Consumer Law/IdentityTheft. While on deploymentyou can have an “Active DutyFraud Alert” placed on yourcredit report to prevent becom-ing the victim of identity theft.A request is only needed forthe alert by one of the threecredit bureaus – TransUnion (1-800-680-7289), Equifax (1-800-525-6285), or Experian(1-800-397-3742) – and allthree will place the alert onyour credit report. You are alsoentitled to a free annual credithistory report through www.an-nualcreditreport.com.

Vehicle and Property Stor-age. For your vehicle, ensureit is stored in a legitimate stor-age facility and the registrationand insurance are current andcover the period deploymentperiod in case your vehicle isdamaged while in storage. Forproperty, ensure homeownersand/or renters insurance coversyour period of deployment, no-tify landlords or neighbors ofabsences, have someone regu-larly check on your property foryou, and create a written orvideotape record of your prop-

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NCBCCommanding Officer

Capt. Rick BurgessPublic Affairs Officer

Rob MimsEditor

Bonnie L. McGerrMass Comm. Specialist

MCC(SCW/SW/AW) Ryan G. Wilber

Special ContributorsCM3(SCW) Katchen Tofil

CECN(SCW) Lucinda Moise

The Seabee Courier is aweekly authorized on-linepublication for members ofthe military services and theirfamilies. Content does notnecessarily reflect the officialviews of the U.S. Govern-ment, the DoD or the U.S.Navy and does not imply en-dorsement thereof. The ap-pearance of advertising in thisnewspaper, including insertsor supplements, does notconstitute endorsement bythe U. S. Government, DoD,the Navy or NCBC Gulfport ofthe products and services ad-vertised. All content in thisnewspaper shall be madeavailable for purchase, use orpatronage without regard torace, color, religion, gender,national origin, age, maritalstatus, physical handicap, po-litical affiliation or any othernon-merit factor of the pur-chaser, user or patron. If aviolation or rejection of thisequal opportunity policy byan advertiser is confirmed,the publisher shall refuse toprint advertising from thatsource until the violation iscorrected. The Seabee Couriersolicits news contributionsfrom military and civiliansources, but the Public Affairsstaff reserves the right to editand/or rewrite material se-lected for publication to con-form with journalismstandards. The deadline formaterial is close of businessevery Friday. Your commentsare always welcome. TheSeabee Courier office is inBuilding 1, Room 205. Themailing address is 4902 Mar-vin Shields Blvd., Code 15,Gulfport, MS 39501. Phone:228-871-3662., Email:seabeecourier@navy.mil

Pre-deployment actions to considerBy Lt. Maren A. Sheppard,JAGCLegal Assistance Attorney Gulfport Legal, RLSO SE

See PREPARE page 9

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“A medallion my fire chiefgave me before he passed.”CMCN Sean Monohan

NMCB 11

Hometown: Yakima, Wash.

“Yes, my necklace I got frommy best friend.”EOCN Natalie Beavers

NMCB 74

Hometown: Alakanuk, Ala.

“I got a four leaf clover tat-tooed on my foot with mymom.”

“Do you have anythingthat you keep as agood luck charm?”

CMCN Caitlin Thormann

NMCB 11

Hometown: Annville, Pa.

By CECN(SCW) Lucinda MoiseNCBC Public Affairs

Aroundthe

Personal assigned to NCBC take the 2nd ClassPetty Officer exam at the Colmer Dining Facil-ity on board NCBC, March 14. The exam is givenbiannually to eligible 3rd Class Petty Officers.(U.S. Navy photo by Construction Electrician Con-structionman Lucinda L. Moise/Released)

Utilitiesman 3rd Class Ariane Makell, assignedto Naval Mobile Construction Battalion(NMCB) 74 and a Navy-Marine Corps ReliefSociety (NMCRS) Fund Drive administrativeassistant, and Melissa Wilson, a NMCRS Gulf-port relief service assistant, verify donationssubmitted for the Fund Drive by command co-ordinators at the Fleet and Family ServiceCenter (FFSC) on board Naval ConstructionBattalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, March 13.The Fund Drive will continue through March29. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communica-tion Specialist Ryan G. Wilber/Released)

Center

Buzz on

the Street

Equipment Operator 1st Class Ted Hillan-brand, assigned to Naval ConstructionTraining Center (NCTC) Gulfport, demon-strates pre-start procedures on the auxil-iary hydraulic unit for a vibratory hammer,while contractors from General DynamicsInformation Technologies (GDIT) of Pen-sacola, Fla., making a training video pho-tograph and video record on board NCBCGulfport, March 12. Once approved, thetraining is designed to be added to the ex-isting crane “C” school pipeline. (U.S. Navyphoto by Chief Mass Communication SpecialistRyan G. Wilber/Released)

After 64 years located onboard Naval Construction Bat-talion Center (NCBC) Gulfport,3rd Platoon Reinforced (REIN),Company A, 4th Assault Am-phibious Battalion (AAB), alongwith their amphibious assaultvehicles (AAVs), will soon berelocated to Norfolk, Va., andreplaced with a motor trans-port maintenance facility.The unit consists of an active

duty Marine staff of 12 AAVoperators and 83 Reservists.As a result of a decision by aforce structure review group,the AAVs are scheduled to beremoved from the Seabeebase by March 22, and themaintenance facility set up andoperational this summer.According to 4th AAB Inspec-

tor-Instructor Maj. Jason Bur-gan, the purpose of an AAB isto use the AAVs to transportcombat Marines from ship toshore and then on to their ob-jective. An AAV can operate in three

modes: land, water track andwater jet, which allows pas-sage over land, water, under-water objects and it’s originalpurpose over coral reefs.4th AAB has deployed from

Gulfport, three times to Iraq insupport of Operations IraqiFreedom and Enduring Free-dom, and according to Burganwas key in assisting the com-

munity after Hurricane Katrina,when the unit rescuing nearly200 people using the AAVs.4th AAB 1st. Sgt. Chad Cos-

ton, a former AAB operatorhimself, discusses the reloca-tion.“Seeing the Marines’ loyalty

to their MOS (Military Occupa-tional Specialty), and beingtold they have to becomesomething else is kind of bit-tersweet. Knowing the capabil-ities and deploying to Iraq withthese vehicles, knowing whatthe Gulf Coast is losing alongwith what the Marines are los-ing it is bitter that way. But,change has to happen. Wecan’t control it. We just facili-tate it and make it a smoothas possible, and let theMarines know things happenfor a reason, so we do whatwe have to do. You are a Ma-rine at the end of the day re-gardless of if you are on anAAV or a 7-ton.”Coston refers to AAB opera-

tors as a “different breed” ofMarine as the unit is com-prised of members from manyMOSs who are required toknow multiple jobs, with up-keep of the AAV as prioritynumber one.“As an AAV operator, if you

don’t take care of your vehiclethen you are useless. There isa lot of work to make sure thatvehicle is ready,” said Burgan.“An Amtracker (nickname foran Amphibious Tractor opera-tor) is a jack of all trades, defi-

nitely a different breed.”We’re a maintainer, we’re a

communicator, we’re a gunneron that vehicle,” added Coston.Although the unit relocation

comes with personal and pro-fessional challenges for the as-signed Marines and drillingreservists, Coston said career

planners are working with theunit to assist with expeditedlateral conversions that couldallow the reservists to drillcloser to home and/or allowthem to convert to a job theydesire. The active duty mem-bers will be reassigned to vari-ous AAV units.

“This is the best time thatany of these Reserve Marinescan pick their own destiny,”said Coston.The maintenance facility, re-

located from Augusta, Ga., isscheduled to be set up and op-erational on board NCBC Gulf-port this summer.

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The staff of 3rd Platoon Reinforced (REIN), Company A, 4th Assault Amphibious Battal-ion (AAB), located on board NCBC Gulfport, pause for a photo with an Amphibious AssaultVehicle, March 15. After 64 years located on board NCBC Gulfport, 4th AAB, along withtheir amphibious assault vehicles (AAVs), will soon be relocated to Norfolk, Va., and re-placed with a motor transport maintenance facility. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Commu-nication Specialist Ryan G. Wilber/Released)

By MCC(SCW/SW/AW)Ryan G. WilberNCBC Public Affairs

Marine Unit 4th AAV relocating to Norfolk

Fraud, Wasteand Abuse Hot-line: Due to limited IGresources throughout theSoutheast Region, allFraud, Waste and Abusehotline work will now behandled by the Region. Toreport Fraud, Waste andAbuse, contact the Regionat: Toll Free 1-877-657-9851 Comm: 904-542-4979 DSN 942-4979 FAX:904- 542-5587, E-mail:CNRSE_HOTLINE@navy.mil.

Peak season is fast approach-ing for shipping your personalproperty. Household Goods-Per-sonal Property Office (HHG/PPO)has a few tips to share to makeyour move a success. It is highly recommended that

as soon as you receive your neworders you start your moveprocess. To improve your moving expe-

rience and streamline theprocess for those who supportit, the Department of Defense(DOD) developed a new pro-gram called the Defense Per-sonal Property Program (DP3).

This new program focuses onmeeting the needs of ArmedForces Members, DOD CivilianEmployees and their families bypromoting a higher service qual-ity.All moves are initiated by the

service member on line athttp://www.move.mil by usingthe Defense Personal PropertyProgram (DP3). Currently onlyExplorer, Firefox and Safaribrowsers work at this time andusers must make sure the popup blocker is turned off.First time DPS users must ob-

tain an Electronic TransportationAcquisition (ETA) login Identifi-cation (ID) and password beforeaccessing DPS.

To obtain an ETA login ID andpassword, log on to:http://www.move.mil.

Once you have accessedmove.mil, click on the DPS Reg-istration tab, then click on DODService Member and CivilianRegistration

After the registering, entercustomer information and scrollto the bottom of the page andselect “Submit.” Please submitto your local Personal PropertyShipping Office (NCBC Gulfport). The final step is to print and

sign your DD1299 and DD1797,bring a copy to our office withyour orders at 3502 8th Street,Bldg 452, Gulfport, Miss., oremail to hhg_gulfport@navy.mil.

Currently, requested pick updates must be at least twoweeks out. This time framemay change during the peakmoving season. Residency is not needed at

destination to set up your move. For more information, contact

Terry Houmard, 228-871-4741or Antilisa Lewis, 228-871-2588. 5

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Get your move on . . . Peak season right around the corner forHousehold Goods/Personal Property OfficeFrom NCBC HouseholdGoods/Personal PropertyOffice (HHG/PPO)

Personal assigned to NCBC attend the Shot of Reality Alcohol AwarenessTour at the Training Hall on board NCBC, March 15. The training featuredimpromptu responsible and irresponsible drinking scenarios createdby audience members and enacted by performers Bryce Whissel andPatrick Mcintyre. Whissel and Mcintryre used the spur of the moment

comedy to entertain and inform the audience of the dangers of irre-sponsible drinking. Shot of Reality attendees seemed to enjoy the cha-rade game and the fact that humor was used to engage the audience andhelp them think about the realities of drinking too much. (U.S. Navyphoto by Construction Electrician Constructionman Lucinda L. Moise/Released)

Shot of Reality comes to NCBC

VITA - Volunteer Income Tax Assistance The VITA office is open to

help with your tax prepara-

tion. VITA is located in build-

ing 60, room 265.

Appointments for self-service

tax preparation are being of-

fered Tuesdays, Wednesdays

and Fridays, and appoint-

ments for full-service for cer-

tain circumstances are being

offered Mondays and Thurs-

days. VITA is open Mondays –

Thursdays, 9 a.m. - 2:30

p.m., and Fridays, 9 a.m. -

1:30 p.m. For general ques-

tions or to make an appoint-

ment call 228-822-5131.

Seabees assigned to NavalMobile Construction Battalion(NMCB) 11 honored femaleveterans with a visit to theArmed Forces RetirementHome (AFRH) where theyhad lunch with female veter-ans and presented a plaqueto be displayed in the home.The visit to honor the 54 fe-

male veterans residing in theAFRH came, fittingly, duringWomen’s History Month.Cmdr. Lore Aguayo, com-

manding officer of NMCB11attended and spoke directlyto the veterans on behalf herbattalion.“What an honor and a privi-

lege it is for those of us cur-rently on active duty to beable to be here with youtoday and enjoy this wonder-ful lunch with you. In the 20years that I’ve been in theNavy I’ve seen tremendousprogress for women in themilitary, and I can only imag-

ine, from your observationwhen you first came in, whatyou’ve seen to date,” saidAguayo.Both groups, veterans and

active duty members, ap-peared humbled as theyshared stories with one an-other, realizing their commonbond.“We have come such a long

way, and you all started it forus. Thank you sincerely fromthe deepest part of ourhearts, we are in a debt ofgratitude to you for what youdid so that the rest of us cando what we do,” addedAguayo.Navy veteran Marion

Ritchie, who had recently cel-ebrated her 96th birthday,accepted a plaque on behalfof the female veterans in theGulfport AFRH. The plaque read, “Thank

you for paving the way for

U.S. Navy Seabees inAfghanistan transferred au-thority for the country’s Navyengineering operations missionduring a ceremony at CampLeatherneck, March 19.Naval Mobile Construction

Battalion (NMCB) 133, TaskForce Anchor, turned over withNMCB 15, Task Force True Grit.

“We would like to wish fairwinds and following seas tothe Runnin’ Roos as they begintheir journey home,” said U.S.Army Col. Nicholas Katers,commander, 555th EngineerBrigade, Joint Task Force TripleNickel. “What you have donein the last six months rivals thegreat accomplishments of thepast. You have made your im-pact felt across the theater.” During their deployment,

NMCB 133 supported engi-neering operations throughout

the region, directly supportingOperation Enduring Freedomin Afghanistan and supportingthe U.S. Fifth Fleet with con-struction operations in Tajik-istan, Bahrain, and Kuwait.The battalion, while operat-

ing in six different countries,completed more than 70 proj-ects. Its horizontal construction ef-

forts alone resulted in moving1 million cubic meters of earthby pushing more than 18 kilo-meters of force protectionberms and anti-vehicularditches; clearing fields of firefor roughly 130 acres; re-grad-ing a three kilometer strategicconnector road on the side ofa steep mountain; and con-structing a 325 meter cause-way. The battalion also provided

engineering expertise and con-struction effects in five of thesix Regional Commands for

Afghanistan’s International Se-curity Assistance Force (ISAF).Throughout its tenure as

Task Force Anchor, the battal-ion conducted two named op-eration freedom of movementbuilds; Afghan National ArmyEngineer development; 17 life,health and safety improvementprojects that were instrumen-tal to improving the quality oflife and force protection infra-structure for more than 12,000Marines and Soldiers; fivecoalition forces water welldrills; and twice completed aconvoy movement of 1,300kilometers, the farthestAfghanistan ground movementin the history of the NavalConstruction Force.“I couldn’t be prouder of

what we have accomplished,”Cmdr. Nicolas Yamodis, NMCB133 Commanding Officer toldhis Seabees. “You are an in-delible piece of history.” 6

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NMCB 133 Task Force Anchor wrapsup Afghanistan deployment

Cmdr. Nicolas Yamodis, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 commanding officer, TaskForce Anchor, left, transfers authority for the Afghanistan engineering mission to Cmdr. AnthonySpindler, NMCB 15 Commanding Officer, Task Force True Grit, during a ceremony on board CampKrutke. NMCB 133 departs Afghanistan after the completion of more than 70 engineering projectsin support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st ClassSteven Myers/Released)

By MC1(SW/AW) Steven MeyersNMCB 133 Public Affairs

NMCB 11 honorsfemale AFRH VetsBy MC1(AW) Jonathan CarmichaelNMCB 11 Public Affairs

Current and former Navy yeomen pose together for aphoto at the Armed Forces Retirement Home where thewomen of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB)11 were honoring female veterans in recognition ofWomen's History Month. Pictured are Marion Ritche, left,Yeoman 1st Class Desiree D. Wade, retired Master ChiefYeoman Heather Baird, and Yeoman 1st Class Maria D.Manchion, right. Ritchie holds a plaque that she acceptedfrom the women of NMCB 11 on behalf of the women vet-erans at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport,Miss. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1stClass Jonathan Carmichael / Released)

See VETERANS page 12

Ten Sailors assigned to Naval Mo-bile Construction Battalion (NMCB)11 were awarded certificates byCommanding Officer, Cmdr. LoreAguayo, March 12, in recognition ofoutstanding physical achievementand exceptional dedication duringthe 1st cycle of the 2013 U.S. Navyofficial Physical Fitness Assessment(PFA).The certificates were presented in

front of the entire battalion duringmorning quarters to the top femaleand top male PFA performer in eachcompany.The awards come one week after

Aguayo treated 23 Seabees to lunch,fulfilling a promise made when shechallenged her battalion to beat herrun time on the recent 1.5-milePhysical Readiness Test (PRT) por-tion of the PFA.“I challenged my Seabees to beat

my run time to incentivize them topush themselves and set the exam-ple for others to follow,” saidAguayo.The time to beat was nine minutes,

46 seconds, and 30 of the battalion’sroughly 580 men and women metAguayo’s challenge although some ofthem were not available to attendthe lunch.With a run time of 8:42, Builder

Constructionman Apprentice AndrewT. Door, originally from Billings,Mont., laid claim to having thefastest run time in the battalion.Door was followed closely by Con-struction Mechanic 3rd Class JeffreyA. Mitchell, from Chicago, and Steel-

worker Constructionman Joshua A.Sallee, from Paris, Ky., with runtimes of 8:46 and 8:47 respectively.During the lunch, Aguayo encour-

aged her Seabees to mentor andmotivate others who might have dif-ficulty meeting the Navy’s PFA stan-dards stating that, “often it justtakes someone who cares with a lit-tle extra motivation to get folks onthe right track.”Aguayo’s challenge serves as an

example of the level of importancethe commanding officer places onthe battalion’s physical readiness.“There is no denying it; physical fit-

ness is essential to our missionreadiness,” asserted Aguayo, whocites the physical demands placedon Seabees during NMCB 11’s recentdeployment to Afghanistan in 2012as an example.“Our Seabees endured extreme

temperatures, physical labor with theadditional weight of all our protec-tive gear, and missions that oftenlasted more than 18 hours straightwith minimal breaks. These environ-mental demands required ourSeabees to be in top physical shapewith the endurance to withstandsuch pressures on the body.“Additionally, exercising is proven

to help manage stress, which is everso present in our line of work,” con-cluded Aguayo. According to Chief Builder Daniel

Sherman, NMCB 11’s Command Fit-ness Leader (CFL), 19 percent of theSeabees in the battalion improvedtheir overall PFA score enough incycle-1 of 2013 to move into thenext higher category as compared tothe previous cycle’s PFA results.

Additionally, the battalion’s PFA fail-ure rate improved from 10 percent inthe previous cycle to four percent inthis most recent cycle. Sherman, anative of Pittsburgh, Pa., attributedmultiple reasons for the improve-ments including “a well-structuredFitness Enhancement Program whichfocuses on properly counselingmembers on dietary issues and waysto improve personal fitness.” “A targeted approach to weight re-

duction through quality training rou-tines has paid huge dividends,” saidSherman. Another program he credited is

Ship Shape which, according to theNavy and Marine Corps Public HealthCenter official website(http://www.med.navy.mil/), pro-vides active-duty personnel withbasic information regarding nutrition,stress management, exercise andbehavior modification techniques tolower and maintain an acceptablebody weight within Navy Standards.Sherman also praised the com-

mand leadership and the AssistantCFLs (ACFLs). “The ACFLs do a phenomenal job

structuring the company-level workout routines, motivating personneland ensuring that they put forthmaximum effort each session. Theyare critical in assisting me with car-rying out the commanding officer’sintent when it comes to physicalreadiness.“They are the ones that are imple-

menting our unique fitness approachdown to the deck plate level and arelargely responsible for our commandsuccess,” stated Sherman.Sherman also mentioned imple-

mentation of the Navy OperationalFitness and Fueling Series (NOFFS)as a key to success in physical readi-ness. Perhaps the most fundamen-tal key to the physical readiness ofany command is in this statementSherman made:“In order to achieve overall success

there has to be a true culture of fit-ness implemented and practiced ona daily basis. Leaders at all levelshave a unique responsibility to en-courage physical fitness amongmembers and to push them to dotheir absolute best in this criticalarea of readiness.”It seems that this ‘culture of fit-

ness’ has been implemented inNMCB 11.

“Monthly mock PFA's result in fewerofficial failures,“ claimed Yeoman 1stClass Maria A. Manchion, an ACFL inthe command, in reference to thepractice of testing individuals onceper month to assess physical readi-ness as opposed to waiting until thesemi-annual official PFA cycle.“NMCB 11's PT program is very ag-gressive, and it benefits all of us.”Manchion is originally from Parkers-burg, W.V. CFLs, ACFLs, and leaders at all lev-

els within the command continue tomaintain the intensity and daily prac-tice of physical readiness by carryingout the commander’s intent and aproven approach toward consistentimprovement and physical fitness.

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Underwater ConstructionTeam (UCT) ONE

Contact UCT CCC/Diver recruiting team at757-462-3988/4313 or Email YNC Aberle at christopher.aberle1@navy.mil; SW1 Dohse

at ryan.dohse@navy.mil or visitwww.facebook.com/seabee.diver for more information.

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Commander rewards top PFA performers in NMCB 11

Left: Builder 2nd Class MeganDunton receives certificate fromCmdr.Lore Aguayo for out-standing physical achievementin the cycle-1 2013 Navy Phys-ical Fitness Assessment. (U.S.Navy photos by Mass CommunicationSpecialist 1st Class JonathanCarmichael/Released)

Right: Seabees assigned to NavalMobile Construction Battalion(NMCB) 11 have lunch with theircommanding officer, Cmdr. LoreAguayo in recognition of achiev-ing a faster run time than her onthe recent Physical ReadinessTest (PRT), a challenge Aguayomade to her battalion prior to thePRT.

By MC1(AW) JonathanCarmichaelNMCB 11 Public Affairs

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“Welcome to Subway, may Itake your order?”“Sure, I’ll take a tuna on wheat,

toasted, please.” While the politebut pierced teen prepared my fa-vorite sub, I chatted with my hus-band, who was next up. “So Hon,did you like that new club delimeat I put in your lunch today?” “That sandwich had meat in it?”

he asked sarcastically. “What are you talking about? I

made you a nice big sandwichwith that new club deli meat I gotat the commissary. You know, theone made of both ham andturkey with bacon wrappedaround it. Geez, I thought you’dlike it!” I declared incredulously. “Well, Hon, it was kind of hard

to taste anything inside the sand-wich because the strong flavor ofthe two heels of bread you gaveme overpowered everything else.” I grumbled, but he was right.

After making the kids’ sandwichesthat morning, I noticed that twoheels of bread were left. Icould’ve opened a new loaf andthrown the heels away, but mymother had instilled a certain fru-gality in me. I thought my husband would

appreciate the fact that I was notwasting two perfectly ediblebread heels that his hard-earnedmilitary salary had purchased.Besides, I thought, he must begrateful that I’m the kind of wifethat gets up every morning and

packs him a nice lunch, right?“What would you like on your

tuna, Ma’am?” As I selected top-pings that were salty, sour,crunchy and spicy, all I couldtaste was bitterness. “That’s it,” Iruminated. “He can make his ownstinking sandwiches from nowon.”As my sub was being salt-and-

peppered, I remembered a con-versation I’d had with asalt-and-pepper-haired lady in theYMCA locker room two tours agoin Virginia. We had just finishedour morning exercise classes – I,advanced step; she, senior wateraerobics – and the women’slocker room was steamy andabuzz with conversation. I regularly got a chuckle out of

listening to the water aerobicsgroup as they pulled on their sup-port hose, stretch gabardinepants and embroidered tops. Allthe old women would cackleaway about their ailments, med-ications, aches and pains. I al-ways noticed that thesalt-and-pepper-haired ladywould listen and show concernfor her friends’ self-absorbedgrievances, but never complainedherself. I thought she was a real class

act, and made a mental note tomyself to try to become that kindof old lady, rather than the kindthat went on and on about thingslike glucosamine and condroitin. On this particular day, she and I

found ourselves simultaneouslybrushing our hair at the sharedvanity. “Are there any decent carwashes around here?” I asked,after some cursory remarks aboutthe weather.“Well,” she started, with that

Old World throw-back southernaccent common in Richmond andNorfolk, “I must admit I’m notvery familiar with automotive

services around here.”“You see,” she went on, “my

husband died last fall, and don’tyou know, during our entire 45years together, I never once putgas in my own car.”It took me a minute to process

the significance of what thistasteful elderly lady had just said.“Wait, you mean he always putgas in the car for you?” “Why yes, he certainly did,” she

said, somewhat melancholy. Of course, my immediate reac-

tion was to get mad at my ownhusband, who never put gas inmy minivan. Just as I was men-tally making plans for real doozyof a husband-wife argument, thesalt-and-pepper-haired lady con-tinued:“I never asked him; he wanted

to do that for me, so he did. Andthere were things I always did forhim – cooking his meals, garden-ing, and such. I must say, weloved taking care of each other.”I stood, mouth half agape, star-

ing at the lady in the shared mir-ror. Like a scene from “Cocoon,” itwas as if she had just bestowedupon me the secret to a happymarriage. “Will that be all?” the bolt-stud-

ded Subway employee said, jolt-ing me back to the present. Irealized that making my hus-band’s sandwich every day didn’trender me subservient to him. Itwas something I did to take careof him because he takes care ofme. With a fresh outlook on my mar-

riage and a fresh tuna sub in myhand, I decided that there was noreason for me to dig my heels in.I’d continue making my husbandsandwiches for the rest of ourlives, and hopefully he’ll endure aheel or two along the way. Get more wit and observationsfrom Lisa at her blog, http://the-meatandpotatoesof- life.com.

The PWD Gulfport Trouble Desk isMoving to the Regional Call Center

Move Date: April 1Regional Call Center Phone Number: 1-855-462-8322

~ Call Center Operational 24/7~ All Routine and Emergency Service Calls will be called into

the RCC~ Only Building Managers & Authorized Callers can place

Routine Service Calls (Anyone can call in an Emergency)

Questions? Contact PWD Re-quirements or your FacilityManagement Specialists(FMS): PWD Gulfport, 228-

871-4270/4288;Alan Walker,228-822-5129; Rick Ricker,228-871-3983; Stephen Mur-ray 228-871-2192

Armed Forces MC 2013 Navy-Marine Corps Relief

Fund Poker Run

April 20, AFMC Clubhouse

$250 high hand, raffle prizes, 50/50, Food, DJ

$15 per hand, two for $20

Registration: 10 a.m.First bike out: 11 a.m.Last bike in: 4 p.m.

11007 Wolf River RoadGulfport

HUA 228-229-2816

‘The Meat & Potatoes ‘The Meat & Potatoes of Life’of Life’

By Lisa Smith Molinari By Lisa Smith Molinari Military Spouse ContributerMilitary Spouse Contributer

To heel, or not to heel, that is the sandwich

Recently, two high school studentsfrom Long Beach High School gradu-ated from a welding course given atNaval Construction Training Center(NCTC) Gulfport on board NavalConstruction Battalion Center(NCBC) Gulfport. In partnership withLong Beach and Gulfport HighSchools, the program allows localhigh school students to attend

Builder or Steel Worker “A” schoolon the Seabee Base.On March 5, Christopher Walker andMitchell McKenzie, successfully com-pleted basic level welding certifica-tion training. Both Mckenzie andWalker said they really enjoyed thewelding class and have already uti-lized their new skills. “The instructors taught very well

and made it fun yet stayed on topic.I really learned l lot. I helped mygrandpa weld a tire. He thought I

learned a lot too,” said Walker. “Ihelped my uncle weld a tracker andhe was extremely impressed withwhat I learned,” added Mckenzie. High school students were first

given the opportunity to attendNCTC at the Construction Mechanic“A” school in Port Hueneme, Calif.NCTC Gulfport personnel believed itwas a great program and decided tooffer it to the local high schoolsalong the Gulf Coast. According to Lt. Robert Carr, NCTC

Gulfport training/operations officer,the students attending NCTC areclassed with any of the threebranches of service training at NCTC(Army, Navy or Air Force) to getthem more interested in construc-tion and engineering.“The students will get to see a lit-

tle of the military side of things, andwe hope it gets the students inter-ested in engineering,” said Carr.“When we first started the program,an independent study found thatthere just aren’t enough students inthe state of Mississippi interested inconstruction or engineering.” There are no limitations or modifi-

cations to the curriculum. The highschool students are taught the sameshop techniques as the military stu-dents, including safety and knowl-

edge of each piece of equipment inthe shop. Each high school student enrolled

at NCTC receives a package thatcontains a waiver of liability, coursedescription, student questionnaire,and a Memorandum of Understand-ing between NCTC and the school.In order to enroll, every studentmust be recommended by the high

school in which he or she attendsand be interviewed by NCTC. As the program continues, a Gulf-

port High School student began “A”school March 15. To date, four highschool students have graduatedfrom NCTC Gulfport. For more information on the pro-gram, contact Carr at: 228-871-3365.

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Focus on Education Focus on Education

erty and its condition.Service members Civil Re-

lief Act Matters. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act(SCRA) provides great benefitsand protections before, during,and after deployment. First,the SCRA allows you to reducethe interest rate on any debtyou incurred (for examplecredit cards and mortgages)before your active duty ordersbegan to 6 percent during ac-tive duty. Second, if the de-ployment is for more than 90days the SCRA will allow you toterminate a residential or vehi-cle lease provided you give thelandlord or lessor a written no-tice of your intent to terminatethe lease under the SCRA alongwith a copy of your orders.

You may also terminate or sus-pend your cell phone contract ifyou are being deployed formore than 90 days outside ofthe service area. Third, theSCRA may also delay an evic-tion of your family while youare deployed. Finally, theSCRA also prohibits your prop-erty from being sold or repos-sessed without a court order.If you are interested in takingadvantage of any of the SCRA’sprovisions the legal assistanceoffice can offer guidance onapplication procedures and let-ters.

Taxes. For those deployingto a combat zone, combat payis tax free! For those deployedduring tax season there arealso tax filing extension optionsfrom the IRS, including an au-tomatic 180 day extension to

file and pay taxes for those de-ployed to a combat zone or insupport of a contingency oper-ation (plus credit for the actualtime spent there). For addi-tional information, please visitwww.irs.gov.

USERRA. The UniformedServices Employment andReemployment Rights Act(USERRA) prohibits employersfrom discriminating against Re-servists because of their de-ployment and requiresreemployment upon their re-turn back home. USERRA re-quires mobilizing reservists toprovide oral or written notice tothe employer of their upcomingcall to Active Duty. For moreinformation on USERRA, pleasecontact your legal assistanceoffice, the National Committeefor Employer Support of the

Guard and Reserve(www.esgr.org), or the Depart-ment of Labor(http://www.dol.gov/vets/). Eligibility. Per JAGINST

5801.2B, the highest priority isfor legal assistance services isfor active duty personnel at-tached to deploying units,other deploying active-dutypersonnel, and Reservists andNational Guard members de-ploying under active duty re-call. Pre-mobilization legalcounseling and assistance maybe provided to active duty orinactive reservists consistentwith mobilization readinessneeds. DoD civilian personneldeploying for at least 30 daysto a combat zone, in support ofa contingency operation, oraboard a naval vessel may beprovided pre-deployment legal

assistance services within cur-rent means and capabilities.Finally, DoD civilian personnelwho are U.S. citizens, otherthan local hire employees, em-ployed by, serving with, or ac-companying U.S. ArmedForces, when assigned to a for-eign country or to a vessel orunit of the Armed Forces of theU.S. in excess of 30 days areeligible for notaries, POAs,wills, and general legal assis-tance services. Please visithttp://www.jag.navy.mil/legal_services/rlso/rlso_southeast.htm for more information.

From PREPARE page 2

This article is not intended to sub-stitute for the personal advice of alicensed attorney. Contact theNaval Construction Battalion Center(NCBC) legal office by calling 228-871-2620 for an appointment.

NCTC opens its doors to local high school studentsBy CECN(SCW) Lucinda L.MoiseNCBC Public Affairs

Cmdr. Scott Anderson, commanding officer of Naval Con-struction Training Center (NCTC) Gulfport, awards ChristopherWalker a certificate of completion during the Steelworker“A” school graduation ceremony held at NCTC, March 5. (U.S.Navy photo courtesy of NCTC/Released)

Cmdr. Scott Anderson, commanding officer of Naval Con-struction Training Center (NCTC) Gulfport, presents a basiclevel welding certification to Mitchell McKenzie for successfullycompleting basic level welding, during the Steelworker “A”school graduation on board NCBC, March 5. McKenzie and an-other Long Beach High school student attended “A” schoolfor Steelworkers. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of NCTC/Released

CDC Fitness Intramural sportsmakes working out fun. Thisseason, sign up for softball orthree on three lunchtime basket-ball. Get a group together andmotivate each other to push thatwork out a little further withsome healthy competition. Signup today at the Fitness Center.Call today for details 228-822-5109. Summer is right around the

corner. Are you ready for thebeach? The CDC Fitness Centerhas everything you need to helplose pounds, tone up targetareas or just plain feel better.The Center has top of the linecardio and strength trainingequipment and plenty of it - soyou don’t have to stand aroundwaiting for machines. There arealso racquetball and basketballcourts, softball and soccer fields,and a running track. Equipmentis available for rental at the frontdesk. And don’t forget to finalizethat healthy routine with a relax-ing visit to the sauna.

On a budget? No worries -

you can still afford to get awaywith ITT’s military discountedprices that aren’t available any-where else – not even online.Design a fun-filled, high qualitycustom trip for you and yourcrew. Whether you have a dayor a week, there is fun aroundthe corner at the local brew-eries, beaches and hotels. Mo-bile, New Orleans and Pensacolaare only a short distance away.Stop by today to design yourworry free adventure. Active Duty, Reservist, National

Guard, USCG and Retirees arenow eligible for a complimentaryUniversal 3 Day Park-to-Parkticket and Blue Man GroupTicket at children’s price! All de-pendents and DOD personnelare eligible for discounted Uni-versal 2 Day, with Third DayFree tickets!

Getting ready for a SpringBreak Getaway? Get up to 60percent off lodging rates for mil-itary and DOD personnel atmore than 450 hotels, resorts,condominium resorts, vacationhomes, log cabin rentals andBed & Breakfast Inns through-out the US. Available at ITTthrough the Military Ticket

Voucher program! Call 228-871-2231 for more information.

Hop on the Liberty bus Fridayfor a fun filled bowling night atCypress Lanes Bowling. TheFREE Shuttle leaves at 6 p.m.Sign up today!Outdoors and fast cars . . .

what a great combination! Signup today to go with Liberty onWednesday to the GulfportDragway. The shuttle is FREEand the dragway offers militarydiscounts at the gate. Call Lib-erty for details.

You can be sure to find thebest prices around at NOR. Stopby and pick up a price list for allof your spring outdoor plansfrom boats and camping gear toparty favorites like bouncehouses. NOR’s pricing can’t bebeat. NOR is open Monday, 8a.m. – 1 p.m., Thursday and Fri-day 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Satur-day 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Don’t sit around in your roombored when you could be havingfun with friends at the Beehive.Sit back and enjoy the flatscreens, play a little pool, andjust have fun! With an excellentbeverage selection, you are sureto find your preference. Call fordetails 228-871-4009.Too tired to go out for lunch?

Well that’s okay because TheGrill can bring lunch to you. TheGrill offers lunch delivery Mon-day – Friday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.Call 871-2494 to place yourorder.Got a morning meeting sched-

uled? Why not meet over break-fast at The Grill. The Grill isopen as early as 6:30 a.m. andoffers a variety of tasty optionsfrom French toast plates tobreakfast burritos or traditionaleggs and bacon. The Grill is lo-cated at the corner of Colby and7th Street.

Anchors & Eagles: Great serv-ice and good times are what youcan expect at Anchors & Eagles.Open Tuesday-Thursday 2 - 9

p.m. and designated for Chiefsand Officers. Stop by and shakeoff the day with comrades.

Stay up all Saturday night withyour friends at the Seabee BallAll Night Lock-In. Not only that,enjoy a hockey game, too.Doors are open from 5 p.m. Sat-urday to 7 a.m. Sunday morn-ing. Cost is $15 per person andseats are limited so sign up now. Become an ALL-STAR! Sign up

today for Iddy Biddy T-Ball –from now until March 29. Chil-

dren must be age three or olderby April 1, to be eligible. Theprogram is open to youth ages3 - 4 years of age. A $35 fee in-cludes uniform, participationaward and end of season ban-quet expenses. Call J.J. Atkin-son, youth programs supervisor,228-871-2251 for details.If you haven’t taken the oppor-

tunity to check out the YAC’s Be-fore and After School ProgramPower Hour, then you are miss-ing out. Stop by Monday from 2– 5:30 p.m. and check out thefun.

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Auto HobbyBeehiveChild Development CenterFitness CenterInformation, Tickets & TravelLiberty CenterSeabee Heritage CenterNavy Outdoor Recreation RV ParkThe GrillTraining HallYouth Activities CenterMain Office

228-871-4607228-871-2804228-871-4009228-871-2323228-871-2668228-871-2231

228-871-4684228-871-3619228-871-2127228-871-5435228-871-2494228-871-4750228-871-2251228-871-2538

Friday, “Flight,” R, 6:30 p.m.Saturday, “Rise of theGuardians,” PG, 11 a.m.;“Monsters Inc.,” G, 1:15 p.m.;“Skyfall,” PG13, 3:30 p.m.,

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part2, PG13, 6:30 p.m.Sunday, “Wreck It Ralph,” PG,2 p.m; “Killing Them Softly, R,4:30 p.m.

FREE MovieProgram atthe TrainingHall: Take a loadoff. Sit back

and watch the big screen all byyourself for some alone time, ormake it a family night and bring

the whole crew! Stop by theSnack Bar on your way in to getthat buttered movie popcorn andthose other goodies that helpyou get lost in the moment. For-get what was playing? No wor-ries - put the movie hotline inyour phone, 228-871-3299 andcall anytime!

MWR Program contact information MWR Program contact information

Fitness

Information, Tickets and Travel

Liberty Center

Food and Beverage

Youth Activities

Navy Outdoor Rec

PASS CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL(Grades K-5), 270 West Second Street, PassChristian is asking for five volunteers to helpout with Field Day, March 22, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.Volunteers will be asked to reorganize/refill sta-tions between class visits If you are interestedin volunteering, please contact Stacy S.Necaise, School Counselor, 228-452-5200 oremail snecaise@pc.k12.ms.usELTON JOHN CONCERT - The Seabee BallCommittee is looking for 40 volunteers tosupport the Elton John Concert March 30 atthe Coast Coliseum. If you are interested,please contact Lt.j.g. Matt Catanese, atmatthew.catanese@navy.mil or 228-822-5439ART IN THE PASS - Approximately 25 vol-unteers are needed for Art in the Pass April 5- 7 at the War Memorial Park. Art in the Pass

is a not-for-profit organization; made possiblethrough the hard work and dedication of vol-unteers. Volunteers are asked to work twohour shifts. Work includes setting up booths,carrying sound equipment, setting up ta-bles/chairs/displays, park maintenance, hand-ing out program pamphlets, working with foodvendors, and selling tickets for water andother beverages. Volunteers are needed April5 from 11 am - 4:30 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. -5 p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ContactErnestine Allison, 228-216-5741 for details.2013 ZOMBIE RUN- Ten volunteers areneeded for the 2013 Zombie Run April 6, 10a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Harrison County Fair-grounds. All proceeds raised during the racewill help cover the cost of surgery for 15 chil-dren in need of cleft lip and palate repairs. The

Zombie Run is new to the coast, but has beenheld in numerous cities throughout the UnitedStates. Although there is a lot of fun and playthroughout the race/obstacle course, the ben-efits are life changing. If you are interested involunteering, please contact kirsty_cullum-ber@navyfederal.org, or stop by the OrangeGrove Navy Federal Credit Union branch lo-cated in the Crossroads Shopping Plaza tosign up. GULFPORT CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL- GCMS, 1310 42nd Ave, Gulfport is asking for10 proctor/hall monitors April 10, from 7:30 -11:30 a.m. If you can help, please contactErwin Gilliam, Guidance Counselor, 228-870-1020.SMOKIN’ THE SOUND AND SMOKIN’ THELAKE - Smokin’ the Sound and Smokin’ the

Sound, April 26 - 28, and Smokin’ the Lake,May 4 - 5, are returning to the MississippiGulf Coast. Race organizers are asking for vol-unteers to sell and attach wrist bands to eventspectators, director spectators to viewing areasand perform other volunteer services. Vol-unteers will be provided with a meal. If youare interested in volunteering, please contactChief Ryan Wilber at ryan.wilber@navy.mil orstop by the NCBC Public Affairs Office, build-ing 1, room 205, no later than March 30 to signup for a shift. ORANGE GROVE ELEMENTARY - OrangeGrove Elementary, 11391 Old Highway 49,Gulfport is in need of six volunteers May 1, toserve as test proctors and 35 volunteers, May14, 15 and 16 to serve as proctors. Volunteersare asked to report to the school by 7:30 a.m.

If you are interested, please contact StephanieSchepens, 228-365-0204 for more information. COAST SALVATION ARMY NEEDS VOL-UNTEERS - Volunteers are need for variousprojects throughout the year. Contact ShawnaTatge for info, Shawna_Tatge@uss.salva-tionarmy.org USO GULF COAST - Get involved with USOGulf Coast. Thanks to dedicated volunteers,our USO Gulf Coast Centers operate to providea place to unwind, to connect to families backhome or whatever else is needed to ease theburden. Even if you are not able to volunteeron a regular basis, our local USO Gulf CoastCenters often have programs and events thatneed your support. Interested in becoming aUSO volunteer? Simply visit usovolunteer.orgto submit a volunteer interest form.

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Center Chaplains: Lt. Cmdr. Paul Smith, Protestant Chaplain

Lt. Yoon Choi, Protestant ChaplainFor information concerning other faith groups,

call the chapel office at 228-871-2454

Services:Gospel Service: 8 a.m.

Sunday Catholic Mass: 9:30 a.m.Weekday Mass: Tuesday, 11:15 a.m.Divine Worship: Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

Seabee Memorial ChapelSeabee Memorial Chapel

NCBC Helping Hands volunteer opportunitiesNCBC Helping Hands volunteer opportunities

Looking for a church?The Seabee Memorial Chapel holds services every Sunday that might suityour needs. Protestant Services include a Gospel Service at 8 a.m. andDivine Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. Catholic Services include CatholicMass at 9:30 a.m. There is also Catholic Mass Tuesdays at 11:15 a.m.Seabee PantryThe Seabee Pantry needs restocking. During the holidays, the need forfood donations is at its highest level. Please donate as many canned goodsand other nonperishables as possible. Donation drop-off sites are locatedat the Navy Exchange, Chapel, Commissary, Fleet and Family Support Cen-ter and Armed Forces Retirement Home. The Seabee Pantry is for anyone affiliated with NCBC.Praise and WorshipThe Seabee Memorial Chapel is looking for new members for the Praise andWorship Team for the Divine Worship Service at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. If youcan sing or play an instrument, you are invited to come share your gift.Women’s Bible Study Women’s Bible Study is held Wednesdays at 11 a.m. at the SeabeeMemorial Chapel. Free child care is available. For more information onall offerings that are available, contact the chapel at 228-871-2454.

Chapel Offerings

NCIS has two new anonymous ways to re-port crimes or suspicious behavior with theuse of discreet and secure online or textingtip lines.To report information by Cell text:1. Text “NCIS” to the short code 274637 (CRIMES) from any cell or smartphone.2. Receive a response, for example: “Your alias is: S2U5 Call 911 if ur-gent! If replies put you at risk, text “STOP”3. Begin dialogueTo report information Online:1. Go to www.NCIS.navy.mil, click on the “Report a Crime” tab and selectthe icon for “text and Web tip Hotline.”There is a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to a felony ar-rest or apprehension.

See Something Wrong, Do Something Right!

Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day Ride

April 27

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SUPPORTFamily Readiness Groups NMCB 1 FRG invites friends and family mem-bers to attend FRG meetings the first Monday ofevery month at the Youth Activity Center, build-ing 335. A potluck dinner is served at 6 p.m., fol-lowed by a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Children arewelcome and babysitting is provided during de-ployment. Contact FRG President Mary Belanger,e-mail nmcbonefrg@gmail.com. NMCB 11 FRG For more information regardingthe NMCB 11 FRG, please visit the FRG and Om-budsman website at http://nmcb11.webs.com.NMCB 74 FRG All families of NMCB 74 are in-vited to the 74 FRG meeting the third Monday ofeach month. Meetings are at the MWR Youth Ac-tivities Center, building 335, behind the Grinderon NCBC. Socializing begins at 5:30 p.m., andmeetings begin at 6 p.m. Bring a covered dish toshare at our potluck dinner. Children are wel-come. Email nmcb74fsg@yahoo.com or visit ourFacebook page at “NMCB74 Fearless FRG” formore information.NMCB 133 FRG invites all friends and familymembers to attend FRG meetings the first Mon-day of the month at 6 p.m. at the Youth Center.Children are welcome and babysitting is pro-vided. Please bring a dish to share. For more in-

formation contact FRG President Jaime Royal at317-730-4064 or email NMCB133fsg@gmail.com.Log on to the FRG site,http://www.wix.com/NMCB133 FSG/133frg. FOCUSFamilies OverComing Under Stress (FOCUS),provides resiliency training to service membersand their families by teaching practical skills tohelp meet the challenges of military life, includ-ing how to communicate & solve problems effec-tively and to successfully set goals together.Confidential and free with family-friendly hours,contact FOCUS today! Call 228- 822-5736 oremail Gulfport@focusproject.orgGulfport Officer’s Spouse ClubThe Gulfport Officers’ Spouses’ Club is a socialorganization that has FUN while helping ourcommunity. We meet monthly and have specialinterest groups for almost everyone! For moreinformation, email goscgulfport@yahoo.com. Wehope to see YOU soon! Navy Wives Clubs of America, Inc. The NavyWives Clubs of America, Inc. is interested inreestablishing a club in the local area and will behosting a meeting for new member, Feb. 16. Ifyou are interested in joining an organization thatpromotes the health and welfare of any enlistedmember of the Navy, Marine Corps or CoastGuard, please contact Darlene Carpenter at 228-342-2271 or Tina O’Shields, 228-357-0513. Visitwww.navywivesclubs-ofamerica.org for moreinfo on NWCA. NMCRS The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society ThriftShop is located in building 29 on Snead Street.The Thrift Shop is staffed entirely by volunteers,and child care and mileage are reimbursed. Re-tail hours of operation are Tuesday, Wednesdayand Friday, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Volunteers are al-ways welcome. Visit the NMCRS offices at theFleet and Family Support Center, building 30,

suite 103 or call 228-871-2610 to find out howto become a part of the NMCRS volunteer team!Gamblers AnonymousThe Fleet and Family Support Center offers GAmeetings every Thursday at 11 a.m. GA is a fellowship of people who share their experience,strength and hope with each other. All meetingsare confidential and facilitated by GA. Come to a meeting or call Jim Soriano at 228-871-3000 fordetails.TRAINING Naval Sea Cadets The Gulfport branch of theNaval Sea Cadets are recruiting youth ages 11 to17 for Sea Cadets, a nation-wide organizationthat help youth achieve personal successthrough nautical training. Meetings are the thirdSaturday of the month from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.,building 1, 2nd floor conference room. ContactLt.j.g. Bowling at 228-313-9035 orcoachcb@yahoo.com for details.SOCIAL Miss. Gulf Coast First Class Association isalways looking for new members. Meetings areevery Wednesday at 2:30 p.m., at the FitnessCenter classroom. For more information, contactAssociation president, CE1 Daniel Shaver, 228-871-2145. NCBC Multi-Cultural Diversity Committee isseeking members. Meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m., at the Seabee Memorial Chapel. Contact BU1 Jerma Cloude, 228-871-2454 for details. VFW Post 3937 Long Beach is open Monday -Thursday from noon until 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from Noon until 10 p.m., Sunday fromnoon until 7 p.m. The first Friday of the month is Seafood Night, the remaining Fridays areSteak Night. Breakfast is served from 7 to 10a.m. on Saturdays. VFW meetings are held thesecond Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.New members are always welcome. Contact Post

Commander Bill North at 228-863-8602 for info. VFW Post 4526 Orange Grove is open dailyfrom Noon to 10 p.m. and located at 15206Dedeaux Road, Orange Grove. Meetings are thefirst Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. All arewelcome and encouraged to attend. Call 228-832-0017 for more info. NMCB 62 Alumni GroupNaval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 62was recommissioned in Gulfport in 1966, and de-commissioned in 1989. To become a member, goto http://nmcb62alumni.org or for links toSeabee historical sites. Seabee Veterans ofAmerica Island X-1 Gulfport are seeking ActiveDuty, Reserve, Retired or Seabees who left themilitary after a short period of time. Island X-1Gulfport meets the first Thursday of each monthat Anchors & Eagles at 7 p.m. Contact Joe Scott(secretary) at 228-669-8335 orelevenoaks58@cableone.net or log ontowww.nsva.org for information. D.A.V. - Disabled American Veterans,Chapter 5 invites Veterans and future Veteransto monthly meetings held the 3rd Monday ofeach month at 7 p.m. Call Service Officer, SilvaRoyer at 228-324-1888 to find out more aboutour organization. HERITAGE The Seabee Gift Store is located in theSeabee Heritage Center Training Hall, building446. Hours are Monday -Friday, 10 a.m. to 4p.m., and Saturdays from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. Theshop has a variety of Seabee related memora-bilia, books and DVD’s. Contact the museum atwww.seabeemuseumstore.org or call the giftshop at 228-871-4779 for information on all thatis available.

To publicize your organization, send informationto seabeecourier@navy.mil

CENTERNOTES

us. From the Women ofNMCB 11; 7 March 2013."Women’s Wellness Councilleader, Yeoman 1st ClassMaria A. Manchion, originallyfrom Parkersburg, W.V., or-ganized the visit.“Sitting in that room with

all that history and experi-ence was very emotional forall of us as women on activeduty. It gave me new insight and appreciation ofthe things they experienced and what they went throughas females in a male

dominated military.” It seems that the apprecia-

tion was mutual. “The ladies at our table

kept telling us we madethem look good and to keepit up. We kept telling themwe wouldn't be here withoutthem,” added Manchion.The common sentiment ex-

pressed by Sailors immedi-ately following the visit wasthat of a heightened senseof responsibility to continuethe progress forged by theveterans in regard to womenserving in the military.

From VETERANS page 6

Registration /Ride begins at Biloxi VA cemetery

Registration: 9 - 10:45 a.m. Kick stands up at 11 a.m.

Group ride to the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Ocean Springs

$15 per bike/operator, $5 per passengerVietnam Vets ride free!

Coffee, soda, donuts, juice, water, bagels,etc., for sale at registration

Hosted by Vietnam VetsLegacy Vets MC MS “C” Chapter

Contact Legacy Vet Shipwreckat 808-772-0894 with questions

“In remembrance of thosewho served in Vietnam”

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