Marines of the Year

What’s Inside

Volume 56, Number 25 December 13, 2018https://www.cnic.navy.mil/meridian ~ www.facebook.com/NASMeridian ~ Twitter: @nasmeridianms

~ page 8 ~

CNRSE names Sailor of the Year

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NAS, all Tenants achieve 100% Dental ReadinessBravo Zulu Naval Branch Health Clinic Meridian!

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Area Happenings

page 7:

Check out what’s for sale.

page 5:

43 years later, Vietnam Vet earns

Navy Cross

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Managing Holiday Stress

Base Events

]Christmas DayBasketball PartyDec. 25, Noon

Liberty Center will show NBA games;

refreshments available.

Call 679-3760

]Caroling for Christmas

Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. at the Library. Call 679-2326

]Catholic Mass Dec. 23 at8:30 a.m. at

Chapel. Call 679-3635

Farewell President George H.W. BushBy Jim Garamone

DoD News, Defense Media Activity Eulogies hailed former President George Herbert Walker Bush as both a great and a good man at a state funeral ser-vice at the Washington National Cathedral here today. The nation’s 41st president died Nov. 30 at the age of 94. President Donald J. Trump and former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter attended the service to pay respects to Bush and to offer condolences to his fam-ily and to Americans. Bush’s son – former President George W. Bush – deliv-ered a eulogy, along with historian Jon Meacham, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson. More than 4,000 service members and Defense Department civilians participated in all of the events around the state funeral. All spoke of Bush’s energy, compassion, humility and val-ues. “His life code was: Tell the truth. Be strong. Do your best. Try hard. Forgive. Stay the course,” said Meacham, a Pulitzer Prize winner. “And that was, and is, the most American of creeds.”=Bush, page 4

Photo by Cpl. Paul Ochoa Friends, family, and dignitaries, watch as Joint Service Pallbearers representing the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, carry the flag-draped casket of former President George H.W. Bush from the U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., Dec. 5

Photos by MC1 Chris Liaghat Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Jonathan Epperson renders a salute as Naval Air Station Meridian Honor Guard Sailors fold the flag above the casket of Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Durell Wade at the North Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Kilmichael, Miss, Dec. 7. Wade, a Mississippi native, died at the attack on Pearl Harbor on the USS Oklahoma. His remains were recently identified through the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that exhumed remains from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

Shipmate: ‘We have the watch’

Sgt. Noah Bailey MATSS-1 and MATSG-21

Marine of the Year

Staff Sgt. Kyle Sistrunk MATSS-1 Instructor of the Year

By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

Service members have just one month left to make a decision about opting in to the blended retirement system, Jeri Busch, the Defense Department’s director of military compensation policy, said here today. Congress authorized the new system in 2016 and it went into effect on Jan. 1. While all soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who began service after that date are enrolled in the new system, Con-gress gave serving service members until Dec. 31 to decide whether to opt in. The decision to opt in to the new system is a personal one for service members. DOD has no goal or target level of participation. One major difference is that in the new system, service members are vested after two years’ service, so if they get out of the military, their retirement benefits go with them. “Over 80 percent of our service members will not serve a full 20-year military career,” Busch said. =Deadline, page 8

Deadline approaching to opt in to Blended Retirement System

Area HappeningsDecember14-15: Santa’s Christmas Factory from 4-8 p.m. at the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum. This family-friendly, holiday event features decorations, music, lights, snow-covered play area so realistic you think it is real snow (only open on December dates) and a Christmas train ride for the kids. Admission is $5 per person. Call 601-693-9905.13-29: Trees of Christmas from 9 a.m.- 5p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. at Merrehope. Take a guided tour of Antebellum Merrehope (circa 1858) and Victorian F.W. Williams (circa 1886) historic homes to see 50 exquisitely decorated trees and seasonal delights. $10 for guided tours; call 601-483-8439 for group rates. 16: Ceramic Ornaments for Families from 1-3 p.m. at the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (MAEX). Create a memorable keepsake to add to your family’s tradition by painting ceramic ornaments. Create just one or an entire set for your family. $3 ornament material fee. Call 601-581-1550.18: Cookie Swap from 6-8 p.m. at The MAEX. Cookie bakers are invited to bring their star recipe to The MAEX Cookie Swap. Bring two dozen cookies to taste and two dozen cookies of the same recipe to swap with other cookie bakers. The winner of the Cookie Swap will receive a MAEX t-shirt. Call 601-581-1550.21: Christmas Cabaret from 7-9 p.m. at the MAEX. This holiday variety show will showcase the vast and varied talents of the local community. All acts are to be in the spirit of the holiday season. Call 601-581-1550.January11: Diary of a Worm, a Spider & a Fly at 7 p.m. at the MSU Riley Center. This energetic rock ‘n’ roll musical captures the droll humor and whimsy of the wildly popular Diary of a Worm, Diary of a Spider, and Diary of a Fly children’s books. Tickets are $20 and $12; call 601-696-2200. 18: The Crabb Family Encour Tour 2019 at 7 p.m. at the Historic Temple Theater. Tickets: VIP $35; early access general admission $30; general admission $25; General Admission Groups (10+) $20; or www.itickets.com 601-693-5353. 29: Ballet Hispánico at MSU Riley Center at 7:30 p.m. at the MSU Riley Center. Ballet Hispánico’s repertory explores the diversity of Latino cultures and brings innovative ways of experiencing and sharing a cultural dialogue. Tickets are $39 and $33; call 601-696-2200.

The Skyline ~ December 13, 20182

The Skyline ~ Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss.

Command StaffCommanding Officer ~

Capt. Brian S. HorstmanExecutive Officer ~

Cmdr. J.P. FalardeauCommand Master Chief ~

CMDCM Maurice Sutherland

Editorial StaffPublic Affairs Officer ~

Penny RandallPublic Affairs Specialist~

Adam PrinceStaff Writer/Photographer ~

MC1 Chris Liaghat

This DoD newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The Skyline are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, or NAS Meridian, Mississippi. The Skyline is pub-lished every other Thursday by The Meridian Star, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Navy, under exclusive written contract with the commanding officer of Naval Air Station, Meridian, Mississippi. The editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the NAS Meridian Public Affairs Office. The Skyline solicits news contributions from military and civilian sources. It reserves the right to edit material selected for publication. The deadline for material is 4:30 p.m. the Thursday before publication. Send submissions to: The Skyline, 255 Rosen-baum Ave., Suite 163, Public Affairs Office, Naval Air Station, Meridian, MS 39309-5003 or e-mail: penny.randall@navy.mil or adam.prince@navy.mil. For more information, call (601) 679-2318 or (601) 679-2809. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or The Meridian Star of products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without re-gard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handi-cap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.

Hotlines & Helpful NumbersSAPR Victim Assistance: 601-604-3037

SAPR Civilian Victim Assistance: 601-486-3122SARC: 601-481-4274

SAFE Helpline: 877-995-5247Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255

Military OneSource: 800-342-9647CEAP (DoN Civilian): 844-366-2327EAP (NAF Civilian): 800-932-0034

FFSC Meridian: 601-679-2360Chaplain: 601-604-2015

NMCRS Duty Cell: 601-604-2206EEO (NAF): 866-295-0328EEO (GS): 904-542-2802

Photo of Week

Photo by MC2 Patrick Semales Petty Officer 2nd Class Mohammed Hasan helps children man a fire hose during a family day cruise aboard the USS Blue Ridge in Japan, Dec. 7.

Navy News Briefs

A Day in Naval History

~ Dec. 18, 1927 ~

Chief Gunners Mate Thomas Eadie dives under adverse

conditions to help Chief Torpedoman Fred Michels,

who had problems connecting an air line to USS S 4 as she is sinking. After two hours of extremely dangerous work,

Eadie succeeds in his mission and brings Michels safely to the surface. For his extraordinary

heroism Eadie is awarded the Medal of Honor. Michels receives his second Navy

Cross for his rescue efforts on USS S 4.

~ Dec. 12, 1972 ~

Capt. Eugene A. Cernan, commander of Apollo 17, walks on the Moon and

raises the U.S. flag. Cmdr. Ronald E. Evans is the Command Module Pilot

and Harrison H. Schmitt is the Lunar Module pilot. The mission lasts 12 days, 13

hours and 52 minutes.

NAS Meridian NMCRS Office is open on Tuesdays from 8

a.m.-noon & Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Call 601-679-2504. Administration Building 255,

Suite 283

Electrician’s Mate Fireman Samuel Guidroz was more than 4,500 miles away from home when he was awakened by a sharp pain in his abdomen on the morning of Nov. 27, 2018. The 20-year-old Sailor, assigned to the San Antonio-class amphibious trans-port dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), tried to treat the day like any other day spent underway in the Pacific Ocean. But the discomfort in his stomach soon drove him to the ship’s medical bay. “I had a nauseating feeling in my low-er abdomen,” said Guidroz, from his bed in the ship’s recovery ward. “They ran some x-rays and a few additional tests.” “Fireman Guidroz came to us, and we were able to determine he had acute ap-pendicitis,” said Cmdr. Jeffery Chao, the surgeon for Littoral Combat Group One (LCG-1). Chao said it was fortunate that the fleet surgical team happened to be there

on the Somerset to augment the ship’s capabilities. The fleet surgical team is attached to Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 3, which is currently embarked on USS Somerset as part of LCG-1. If they had not been there, surgery aboard USS Somerset would not have been an option. But not everything was working in Guidroz’s favor. “The sea state at the time was a bit rough, so it made me nervous,” Guidroz said. “The doctors eased my mind though, assuring me it was the right thing to do.” The LCG-1 fleet surgical team and the Sailors aboard USS Somerset acted immediately. “Everything went great. Just like it would have if I had been back at a regu-lar hospital,” Guidroz said. --By MC2 Kyle Carlstrom,

Littoral Combat Group One Public Affairs

Fleet surgical team saves life aboard USS Somerset

The Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson awarded the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) to the Navy Exchange Service Command for meritorious service from Aug. 1 to Nov. 30, 2017, for its response and recov-ery efforts following Hurricane Irma. Twenty-six NEXCOM Enterprise associates from headquarters and the Southeast and Mid-South districts were specifically honored for their work with the Naval Supply Systems Command’s Fleet Logistic Center Jacksonville, Flor-ida Enterprise Logistics Response Team. In addition, several NEXCOM headquar-ters associates were also recognized at a command ceremony for their assistance during Hurricane Irma’s recovery efforts as well. “Being awarded the Navy Meritori-ous Unit Commendation is a significant achievement for a Navy command,” said retired Rear Adm. Robert J. Bianchi, Chief Executive Officer of NEXCOM. “I’m honored that NEXCOM received this award for all the efforts our as-

sociates provided in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. As a Navy command, NEXCOM lends its support whenever possible before, during and after signifi-cant weather events.” In the days and weeks following the hurricane, NEXCOM, its Mid-South District and NEX Key West associates worked together to get its facilities up and running and supplies to the base as quickly as possible for the Sailors and their families stationed in that hard-hit area. Three days after Hurricane Irma hit, NEX Key West mini mart opened for business and in less than 10 days NEX Key West re-opened. A temporary barber shop was opened in base Commanding Officer’s office. Navy Lodge Key West also quickly re-opened to assist displaced military members. In addition, NEX-COM’s Telecommunications Program Office coordinated with one of its vendor partners to provide cellular communica-tion and Wi-Fi to relief workers. --By Kristine M. Sturkie,

Navy Exchange Service Command Public Affairs

NEXCOM receives Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation

The Navy authorized special leave accrual (SLA) for Sailors who had leave either canceled or disapproved in sup-port of humanitarian and emergency as-sistance for Hurricane Florence, in NAV-ADMIN 294/18, Dec. 7. Commanding officers and officers in charge may approve SLA for Sailors whose leave was canceled or disapproved between Sept. 14-30, 2018. SLA ap-proval is limited to the amount of leave

that was canceled or disapproved, up to a maximum of 14 days. SLA approved for this event will ex-pire Sept. 30, 2020. Commands with questions regarding this guidance are encouraged to contact their servicing personnel support detachment (PSD) for clarification. For more information, read NAVAD-MIN 294/18 at www.npc.navy.mil. --From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

Special leave accrual approved for Hurricane Florence

The Skyline ~ December 13, 2018 3

There was a naval aviator designation ceremony Nov. 30, in the Chapel on board NAS Meridian. Five U.S. Navy, one U.S. Marine Corps and one Ital-ian Naval aviators received their “Wings of Gold” during the ceremony. The naval aviator designation ceremony is not prescribed specifically by U.S. Navy regulations, but has emerged as an honored product of the rich heritage of naval tradition. It marks the culmination of nearly two years of specialized training, which has prepared these officers for the rigorous demands of aerial combat and carrier operations -- earning each the title of “Na-val Aviator” and the right to wear the coveted “Wings of Gold.” =Winging, page 7

Seven aviators earn ‘Wings of Gold’ in November ceremony

Miniscalco Perkowski Ristow

Mississippi Council of the Navy League member Arjen Lagendijk, left,presents the Golden Stick award to 1st Lt. Joseph Goodstein Tom during a winging ceremony at the chapel onboard NAS Meridian, Nov. 30.

Photo by MC1 Chris Liaghat

Golden Stick

=Winging Those earning wings include:

xxx0.

Lederer

Tucker VogelTom

Photo by MC1 Chris LiaghatAir Traffic Controller 2nd Class David Moore Jr., left, accepts his reenlistment certificate from Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian Commanding Officer Capt. Brian Horstman at a reenlistment ceremony in the Air Operations building onboard NAS Meridian, Nov. 30.

AC2 Moore

Photo by MC1 Chris LiaghatSecurity Officer Lt. Barion Haywood receives collar devices for his new paygrade from his wife and daughter at his promotion ceremony in the Air Operations building onboard Naval Air Station Meridian, Nov. 21.

Lt. HaywoodNavy League recognizes military membersThe Mississippi Council of the Navy League honored various Sailors, Marines and Instructors of the Year at their annual meeting Dec. 4 at Northwood Country Club. Those not able to attend included HM1 Michael Wilson, Branch Health Clinic Sailor of the Year; Lt. Douglas DeVouno, VT-9 Navy Instructor Pilot of the Year; and Lt. Michael Cassidy, VT-7 Navy Instructor Pilot of the Year.

Photos by Penny Randall

Rick Justice presents ET1 Anthony Shepler, NOSC Sailor of the Year plaque, as Cmdr. Caleb Rorex looks on.

Rick Justice, left, incoming Mississippi Council of the Navy League President, presents ABE1 Joshua McNeese, NAS Meridian Sailor of the Year plaque, as Cmdr. JP Falardeau looks on.

Rick Justice presents Staff Sgt. Kyle Sistrunk, MATSS-1 Instructor of the Year plaque, as Maj. Eric Hoffman looks on.

Rick Justice presents YN1 Michael Howard, NTTC Sailor of the Year plaque, as Lt Cmdr. Jerod Tabor, looks on.

Rick Justice presents Dana Phillips, the wife of Capt. Robert Phillips, VT-7 Marine Instructor of the Year plaque, as Cmdr. Michael Poe looks on.

Rick Justice presents Capt. Travis Bond, VT-9 Marine Instructor of the Year plaque, as Cmdr. Brian Baumgaertner looks on.

Photo by MC1 Chris LiaghatAviation Boatswains Mate (Equipment) 2nd Class Mitchell Bode, left, takes the oath of enlistment from Chief Aviation Boatswains Mate (Handling) Terry Keyes at a reenlistment ceremony in front of the Ponta Creek Recreation Center onboard NAS Meridian, Nov. 30.

ABE2 Bode

ABE3 Soleil Hammond, back-left row, AC3 Gerardo Nunez, AC2 Michael Hammond, LS1 Robert Kennedy, ABE2 Eric Partee, MA3 Robert Galindo, ABE2 Diane Boyd and AC2 Brian Petty pose for a group photo following their frock-ing ceremony in the Air Op-erations building onboard Naval Air Station Meridian, Nov. 30. NAS Meridian Sail-ors that were frocked to the next pay grade not pictured include AC3 Alec Beiter, ABH2 Aaron Martinez and AC3 Ashley Novak.

Photo by MC1 Chris Liaghat

Frocking ceremony

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The Skyline ~ December 13, 20184

This year, my husband, Francis, and I went to a local farm to pick out our Christmas tree together. In 25 years of marriage, there was one year — and only one, so help me God — in which Francis bought a tree without me. It was 2010, and our street on Patch Army Bar-racks in Germany was covered with fluffy white snow. Our base neighbors merrily buzzed about, bundling kids for sledding and stocking up on holiday provi-sions. Francis and our son, Hayden, were at the Boy Scout troop’s annual Christmas tree sales event. While walking our dog, I stopped to check on them. The scene was sweet: twinkle lights draped, music played, kids savored candy canes, a fire crackled. Dads wished customers “Happy Holidays” while boys loaded trees onto cars. Whatever “cockles” are, mine were warmed. “Wanna see the tree I picked for us?” Francis offered, excitedly. As Francis opened the back of our minivan, the smell of fresh pine tickled my nose. “Looks good, Hon,” I said without much thought. On the walk home, I reviewed the after-noon plan: put up tree, make hot cocoa, set up train, cook dinner while kids decorate, gaze joyfully at tree while snuggled with family on couch. Perfect! An hour later, Hayden and Francis lugged the wrapped tree up the stairs to our fourth floor apartment and tried to attach the stand to the trunk. Francis was admittedly not handy, making such mo-ments quite tense. Sensing he needed assistance, I grabbed the top of the tree. “Ow!” I wailed, looking down at four tiny pin holes in my thumb. “What kind of tree is this, anyway?” “A fir, a spruce, how the heck do I know,” Francis stammered. With the aid of gloves, we secured the tree in its stand and began to lift. “Uh oh,” I said when the tree was at ten o’clock. “What?” Francis said, nervously. “How tall is this thing?” “I don’t know…but we have high ceil-ings, right?”

“No, Hon, we have LOW ceilings, re-member?” I said, trying to remain calm. Francis reluctantly retrieved a saw and stood, befuddled, over our tree. I’d seen this look on his face a thousand times — he had no clue what to do. Quickly measuring the tree and ceiling heights, I declared, “According to my cal-culations, you need to cut off one foot eight inches, plus four more so the angel will have some headroom.” Francis took a step toward the top of the tree, poking out from the netted wrap. “No! Not from the top!” I blared. Wincing, I held the spiky middle while Francis timidly sliced at the trunk. A few painful minutes later, the bottom of the tree surrendered, and we were able to get the remainder upright in the family room. “It looks so small now,” Hayden ob-served of the maimed tree before us in a pile of sawdust and needles. “And it’s crooked too.” We resolved to disguise the tree with as many lights as possible, but it took an-other hour to untangle the massive snarl of wires we found in the basement. “Can we put the ornaments on, yet?” our youngest, Lilly, whined for the thousandth time. After working out the knots, I disguised our crooked tree with four strands of mismatched lights, while Francis lay on the floor with the train set, emitting various expletives. Having found the manual too confusing, Francis randomly stuck pieces of track together and jammed frayed wires into terminals. The train would not budge. I didn’t want to reinforce Francis’ if-I-screw-this-up-she’ll-fix-it-anyway habit, but I couldn’t take it anymore. I read the manual, assembled the track, stripped the wires to expose fresh copper, inserted the wiring into the correct terminals, prop-erly positioned the wheels, turned on the power. Away she went like the wind. Exhaust-ed, I ordered Chinese take out. “Great job with the train, Dad,” our middle child, Anna, said crunching into a spring roll. “The tree looks awesome, too, Dad,” Hayden offered with cheekfuls of chicken. “Yeah, thanks Dad!” Lilly exclaimed, throwing her arms around Francis’ neck. “You’re quite welcome, kids,” Francis said with a wink, “that’s what dads are for.”Lisa Smith Molinari’s self syndicated columns appear on her blog, www.themeatandpotatoesoflife.com and she recently co-authored Stories Around the Table: Laughter, Wisdom, and Strength in Military Life Follow Lisa@MolinariWrites.

Ow! Christmas tree

Lisa Smith Molinari

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=Bush All said that Bush’s Navy service during World War II affected him throughout his life. During a bombing run on the Japanese-held island of Chichi Jima in 1944, Bush’s plane was hit. He completed the bombing run and turned to the sea. He called on his two crewmates to bail out and then hit the silk himself. He landed in the water and was lat-er recovered by the submarine USS Finback. His son said his father embraced life be-cause he almost died twice: as a teenager with a staph infection and “a few years lat-er, he was alone in the Pacific on a life raft, praying his rescuers would find him before the enemy did,” he said. “God answered those prayers. It turned out he had other plans for George H.W. Bush. “For Dad’s part, I think those brushes with death made him cherish the gift of life,” he continued. “And he vowed to live every day to the fullest.” Bush came home from war and married his love, Barbara, and the young family moved to Texas, where the elder Bush en-tered the oil business. But the call to public service was strong, and he was elected to serve in the House of Representatives. He later served as the di-rector of the CIA, led the U.S. liaison office in China before formal diplomatic relations were established, ands served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. In 1981 he took office vice president of the United States. He was elected president in 1988, succeeding President Ronald Reagan, the first vice president elected to succeed his president since Martin Van Buren succeeded Andrew Jackson in 1837. All the eulogists spoke of Bush’s efforts in foreign policy. Operations Desert Storm and Just Cause, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the implosion of the Soviet Union were just a few of the momentous events during his presidential service. They also spoke of the American with Disabilities Act that he signed and his support for environmental laws and his courage to reach across the aisle to ham-mer down a bill that put the United States on a sound fiscal path, even though it cost him his second term. “I believe it will be said that no occupant of the Oval Office was more courageous, more principled and more honorable that George Herbert Walker Bush,” Mulroney said. The younger Bush said his father was a mentor to many –- including the man who de-feated him in 1992, Bill Clinton. “Of course, Dad taught me another special lesson: he showed me what it means to be a president who serves with integrity, leads with courage and acts with love in his heart for the citizens of our country,” Bush said.

By Public Affairs Specialist Jay Cope Navy Region Southeast Public Affairs

Six Sailors from across the southeastern portion of the United States arrived to Naval Air Station Jacksonville to de-termine who would be named the Commander, Navy Region Southeast (CNRSE) Sailor of the Year. Master-at-Arms 1st Class Matthew Labiak from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Navy Counselor 1st Class Sarah Prather from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Or-leans, Aviation Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Kashadra Jenkins from Transient Personnel Unit Jacksonville, Master-at-Arms 1st Class Christopher Coolahan from NAS Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Master-at-Arms 1st Class Joshua Dietrich from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Michael Hein from NAS Whiting Field were the final nominees for the award out of CNRSE’s 18 installations.Hein was named the Region Sailor of the Year by Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, CNRSE. While congratulating Hein on his selec-tion, Bolivar praised all the participants. “[These] Sailors represent the very ‘best of the best’ through-out the region,” she said, “and are to be commended for their sustained superior performance. “Bravo Zulu and a job well done, Shipmates!” Hein said he was “genuinely surprised” by his selection. “My shipmates are so impressive,” he said. “It is my first time up for an award like this. It is a great validation to be recognized for being good at your trade.” Serving as the Flight Planning Branch chief, Hein per-formed admirably in a job normally held by a chief petty offi-cer. He supervised his team in the filing and processing of over 49,000 aircraft flight plans and greater than 100,000 movement messages.

As the leading petty officer for the division, his 24-person team managed 165,826 mishap-free flight operations, in excess of 7,000 ground controlled approaches and aided in the designa-tion of 1,352 naval aviators. In addition to his traditional duties, Hein also supports NAS Whiting Field as the assistant Command Managed Equal Op-portunity lead to ensure fair and equitable treatment of every Sailor at the installation. He also was selected to facilitate the Full Speed Ahead curriculum at the base, setting up 13 courses and ensuring the training completion for 190 personnel. Hein also represents NAS Whiting Field to the Federal Aviation Administration as a terminal instrument procedures special-ist, served on the Command Resiliency Team, is a command financial specialist and one of only six first class petty officers qualified to stand the command duty officer watch at the instal-lation. Hein’s contributions are not limited to Whiting Field, as he also works to improve the local community. He devoted person-al time to deliver meals to families affected by Hurricane Mi-chael, works with the Meals on Wheels program, helped place animals for adoption with the Escambia County Animal Shelter and helped to fulfill book requests for prisoners through the Open Books program as Florida prisons no longer have librar-ies. According to Command Master Chief Chris Leonard from NAS Whiting Field, Hein was nominated for the award because of his outstanding leadership and performance. “Hein is selfless and completely dedicated to the welfare of his fellow Sailors. His integrity is irreproachable and he is sought out by Sailors from across the command for mentor-ship,” he said. “As the Region Sailor of the Year, he will repre-sent a true example, a role model, for all Sailors in the region.”=SOY, page 8

Hein named CNRSE Sailor of the Year

The Commander, Navy Region Southeast Sailor of the Year candidates stand on the quarterdeck of the region headquarters. From left to right are: Navy Counselor 1st Class Sarah Prather, NAS JRB New Orleans; Master-at-Arms 1st Class Christopher Coolahan, NAS Fort Worth JRB; Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Michael Hein, NAS Whiting Field; Master-at-Arms 1st Class Joshua Dietrich, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay; Master-at-Arms 1st Class Matthew Labiak, NSB Kings Bay; and Aviation Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Kasadra Jenkins, Transient Personnel Unit Jacksonville. Hein was announced the Sailor of the Year by Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, Commander, Navy Region Southeast Dec. 5.

U.S. Navy photo by Twila Burns

By Cpl. Michael Parks Defense Media Activity

It’s the summer of 1968 in Vietnam, a sergeant with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines was forced into a position he never could have imagined. He had to lead his entire company through a deadly en-emy ambush after the company commander, platoon com-mander and senior enlisted leadership were wounded in the fight. These were the circumstances of Retired Marine 1st Sgt. John J. Lord, over half a century ago, during the Vietnam War. Lord was awarded the Navy Cross, the nation’s second highest award for combat bravery, during a ceremony at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball celebration in Vancouver, Washington on November 17. The Navy Cross award was an upgrade from a Bronze Star that Lord received in 1975, seven years after he put himself in the crosshairs of the North Vietnamese Army when rescuing his fellow Marines who were wounded. Lord took over command of the entire company and lo-cated one of the only working radios and then started di-

recting air support against the enemy. The day immediately following the battle, now Retired Lt. Col. Michael Sweeney began pushing for Lord to be awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism and valor during the fight. Even after the Bronze Star was awarded, Swee-ney continued to push for the Navy Cross. Finally, forty-three years later, Sweeney’s efforts bore fruit. According to his citation, Lord’s actions helped turned the tide of the battle. However, he always stayed true to his men and their efforts during the fight. “Everything on that citation is true except one thing they left off,” Lord said. “They left off the Marines who served with me that day.” Four of his fellow unit members were in attendance the night of the ceremony, and stood at Lord’s behest to receive a standing ovation from all who were in attendance just like they did for Lord just moments prior. Lord proclaimed how honored he was to serve with these Marines and how important they are to the mission. “I can only stand here and say how proud I am to have served with you Marines — and corpsman, I won’t forget you too,” Lord said. “I am honored to call you brothers in arms.”

The Skyline ~ December 13, 2018 5

Safety & Energy Efficiency is Our Duty

OOORAH! Pvt. Kristina WellsMATSS-1 Student

Hometown: Davidson, Mich.

Pvt. Sirena MafnasMATSS-1 Student

Hometown: Talofofo, Guam.

Pvt. Wells joined the Marine Corps June 26, hoping to gain self discipline; improve her mental and physical strength while travelling the world. Wells enjoys cooking, photography and modeling in her free time; having worked as a model before joining the Marines. She hopes to visit Hawaii during her career. “I’ve never been there and have always wanted to go,” she said. “The Marine Corps gives me a stable career and gives me a chance to go to Hawaii for free.” Her favorite Marine Corps tradition is the Marine Corps Ball.

Pvt. Mafnas joined the Marine Corps June 26, wanting to defend her country and make my grandfather proud. Her favorite Marine tradition is Memorial Day Sweatfest. “I usually do a really hard workout to honor fallen Marines,” she said. During her free time, Mafnas enjoys hiking in the jungles in Guam, crossfit, weight lifting and Brazilian Jujitsu. She is looking forward to any deploy-ments during her career, and hopes to end up in Okinawa. Her most memorable experience from boot camp was hiking back from the crucible.

Retired Vietnam Vet receives Navy Cross

QUANTICO, VIRGINIA

DoD Photo Candidates of the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, Charlie and Delta Company, participate in the Montford Point Challenge at Quantico, Va.

ARABIAN GULF

Photo by Lance Cpl. A. J. Van Fredenberg U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew Eisel, a rifleman with Lima Company, Battalion Landing Team 3/1, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fast ropes out of an MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 Reinforced, aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex.

Courtesy photo Then-Sgt. John J. Lord (center) with Gary Williams and Hank Fletcher pause during a street fighting in Danang during the second Tet offensive.

6 The Skyline ~ December 13, 2018

NAS Meridian, MS • Morale, Welfare and Recreation

Facility Phone Numbers

On the Web: www.navymwrmeridian.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/MWRMeridian

Fitness Center 679-2379 Liberty Center 679-3760 Tickets 679-3773McCain Rec Center 679-2651Equipment Rental 679-2609

Library 679-2326Rudders Pub & Grill 679-2780CDC/CDH 679-2652SAC 679-5252SLO 679-2473

P.C. Golf Course 679-2526 MWR Admin. 679-2551MWR Jobs Line 679-2467

Coming Attractions

McCain Rec Center

Thursday, December 135 p.m., Smallfoot, PG7 p.m., The Nun, R

Friday, December 145 p.m., Secondhand Lions, PG7 p.m., Venom, PG13

Saturday, December 151 p.m., Home Alone, PG5 p.m., White Boy Rick, R7 p.m., Venom, PG13

Sunday, December 161 p.m., Smallfoot, PG5 p.m., The Nun, R7 p.m., White Boy Rick, R

Monday, December 175 p.m., A Christmas Story, PG7 p.m., Hell Fest, R

Tuesday, December 185 p.m., Christmas with the Kranks, PG7 p.m., Hostage, R

Wednesday, December 195 p.m., Frozen, PG7 p.m., The Predator, R

Thursday, December 205 p.m., A Christmas Story, PG7 p.m., Hell Fest, R

Coming Attractions

McCain Rec Center

Friday, December 215 p.m., Christmas with the Kranks, PG7 p.m., Hostage, R

Saturday, December 221 p.m., Frozen, PG5 p.m., The Predator, R7 p.m., Hostage, R

Sunday, December 231 p.m., A Christmas Story, PG5 p.m., Hell Fest, R7 p.m., The Predator, R

Monday, December 24CLOSEDTuesday, December 25CLOSEDWednesday, December 265 p.m., The Polar Express, PG7 p.m., Coming to America, R

Thursday, December 275 p.m., A Christmas Carol (2009), PG7 p.m., A Simple Favor, R

Friday, December 285 p.m., The Little Rascals, PG7 p.m., Harlem Nights, R

navymwrmeridian.com

TREES FOR TROOPSAT THE PONTA CREEK COMMUNITY REC COMPLEX

CHRISTMAS TREES ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL AND DEPENDENTS.

TREES ARE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. MUST SHOW ID.

The Skyline ~ December 13, 2018

Listings in the “Sale...Or” column are free for anyone who works at NAS Meridian. You can purchase an ad for a business or organization in “The Skyline,” by calling The Meridian Star at 601-693-1551 -- ask for Advertising or email: advertising@themeridianstar.com

7

Sale... Or2017 Keystone Ava-

lanche 365MB (5th wheel) motor home. Sleeps eight; great living quarters; includes cables, hoses and septic lines. Asking $49k. Call 586-899-6429.

2018 Mallard M185 Travel Trailer. Sleeps 4 with 1 queen bed/2 bunks. Easy to tow at 3,575 lbs; only selling because mili-tary member is moving overseas. Great living quarters with lake view. Hooked up and ready to live in, including cables, hoses, septic lines, plus the $500 towing kit. Ask-ing $17,000. Call 360-434-3035

2010 Ultra Classic Harley Davidson 29K miles 96cc Screaming Ea-

gle Engine. Excellent con-dition. Asking $10,500. Call 601-527-4981.

2010 Polaris Ranger 800XP Browning Edi-tion, camo color. roof, windshield, winch, extra set of wheels/tires, and dual gun scabbard. Ask-ing $7,800. Call Pete at 601-678-3458.

2013 Harley David-son Switchback, Asking $8,000; only one owner; still under warranty; all maintenance done by Harley Davidson. Call 505-658-1675.

1982 Harley Davidson FLHS, 80 C.I. Shovel-head Engine w/4-Speed Transmission. Nice An-tique Bike -- just can’t ride anymore. Call 601-527-9756/601-986-8378

2004 Honda TRX450R four wheeler $2,600; 2005 Honda TRX250EX four wheeler $1,600;

2002 Yamaha TTR-125L dirt bike $800; and 2006 50SX-F dirt bike $2,200. All in good shape ready to go. Overseas move forc-ing sale. Make offer ready to deal! Call Ben at 843-597-4221.

2017 Camaro Gen6, 4k miles, 50th anniver-sary limited addition; like-new condition. $38,500. Call 601-686-1027.

2012 Honda Civic, 47k miles, $9,200. Call 601-490-3835.

New! For Rent: 3BD/2BA home; available Dec. 31. Big yard; Nice front porch; hardwood floors. Rent: $1055/month with water and garbage included. Deposit (military discount) and references required. Less than one

mile from NAS. Call 601-480-1324 or 601-917-4134.

New! For Sale: 3 BD/1 BA home on Edgewood Dr. in Meridian. Asking $33,500. Call 601-880-1168.

For Rent: 3 BD/2 BA home in Collinsville. Lo-cated in West Lauder-dale School District. Call Joseph at 504-421-8757 or email at Petersjo-seph54@yahoo.com.

For Rent: 3 BD/2 BA home 15 minutes from NAS; pets allowed with de-posit. $1,200 per month; $1,000 deposit with op-tion for 3-year lease at $1,100 per month. Call 334-654-0571.

For Sale: 3 BD/2 BA Ranch style home in Northeast School dis-trict; less than 10 minutes from NAS. Hardwood floors, new metal roof in

quiet neighborhood. Ask-ing $160k. Call 601-454-4990.

For Sale: 4BD/3.5BA Lakefront home in Scham-berville Estates. Lots of amenities, including up-stairs 4th BD w/ full BA that could be bonus room and three-acre peninsula lot boasts appx 1,000 ft. of shoreline. Call Jenny Ziemba at 601-480-5969 or 601-282-5261.

For Sale: 4 BD/3.5 BA, Spacious lake front home with bonus room over the garage. Clarkdale school district (ranked #1 within local area). Asking $374,000. Call 601-723-0741 for a private show-ing.

For Sale: 4 BD/2 BA, 2490 square ft. home in Southern Oaks Subdivi-sion, Northeast Lauder-dale School District, 12 ft ceilings, heartland pine

floors, large brick patio, walk-in closets, walk-in pantry, granite counter-tops, alarm system, quiet and safe neighborhood. Asking $310,000. Call number 601-917-0379.

Two Black storage trucks all brass closures; $10 each. Call 601-482-2276.

Woman’s Converse Composite Toe Trainer Safety Shoe Size 10, brand new in box, $65. White with gray & teal trim. Call Teresa 601-616-9251 (Please no calls af-ter 8 p.m.)

To submit an item to the “Sale...Or” column, e-mail adam.prince@navy.mil.

Deadline is the Thursday prior to

publication.

MOTORCYCLES/GEAR/ATV

AUTOMOBILES, ETC.

HOMES/APARTMENTS

MISCELLANEOUS

BOATS/CAMPERS/TRAILERS

By Lt. j.g. Terryll Daguison Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center

Public Affairs

The Navy-Wide Advancement Exams are approaching, and if you haven’t already -- it’s time to break out your study material. Rumors abound around the work center about exams, but how do you know what’s scuttlebutt and what’s righ-teous gouge? This article addresses several common myths Sailors often hear about the exams.

Myth number one: Civilians write advancement exams. Questions for the Advancement Exams are actually written by Navy chiefs that are selected to participate in the Advancement Exam Readiness Review (AERR) process. Exam reviews are held at the Navy Advancement Center (NAC), part of the Naval Education and Training Profes-sional Development Center (NETPDC) in Pensacola. For every rating, a group of chiefs (E7- E9) selected by their Type Commanders, come together for one-to-two weeks to formulate and review a bank of exam questions. These chiefs serve as Fleet Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and are selected based on their mastery and skill in specified ratings. The SMEs work with a civilian team leader (NAC staff-er) who assists these chiefs in writing questions to confirm each is written properly and in a way Sailors will under-stand. The team leaders also assist with formatting, gram-mar, and the standardization of questions. Exam questions written by the AERR members are always linked to specific references (publication) which are listed in the exam bibli-ography (BIB) for each rank and rating.

Myth number two: “I scored an 80 on the exam, which means I aced it!” The Advancement Exam is scored using a system re-ferred to as “norm-referenced scoring.” This means that your exam score is a numerical representation of how well you did in comparison to your peers who also took the same exam. Depending on how many questions you answered correctly, your score will be placed on a scale from 20 to 80, with 20 being the lowest score and 80 being the highest. This number will then be recorded onto your Profile Sheet, which you can access through the Navy Enlisted Advance-ment System (NEAS) after the exam results are released. Now, let’s say your profile sheet indicates that you re-ceived a score of 80 on the exam. Because the distribution of scores are all relative to each other, a score of 80 only signifies you had a high score relative to your peers. It does not mean you answered every question correctly – there’s almost always room for improvement.

Myth number three: Some test questions are always thrown out. While there are cases in which certain questions are ex-cluded from the total score of each exam, it’s more of an ex-ception than a rule. When 75 percent of completed exams are returned and scored, a review of the test questions is conducted for any errors that may have been missed in the exam writing and publication process. If there are red flags that arise, analysts will check to ensure that the content is still current, the information is relevant, the answer pro-vided is correct, and that the exam question is important to that rating. If an exam question is deemed inadequate, that question will be excluded from all exams and will not be counted towards the overall score.

“On average, about a dozen questions are discarded for each paygrade, E4 - E7” said Darlene Barrow, Head of the Statistical Analysis branch for the NAC. “And that is across approximately 80 different ratings.” It is important to remember that when a question is re-moved, it does not impact the overall score, since that ques-tion is removed for all candidates in that rating.

Myth number four: Other than the score, how you did on the exam is secret. Although your overall score is a solid indicator of how you did on the exam, the key to deciphering your overall performance is to take a close look at your profile sheet, which is broken down into sections from the exam. “For veteran test-takers, the best way to prepare for the exam is to look at your previous exam profile sheet, deter-mine your weak areas, and then compare that with what is listed for the upcoming exam bibliography,” said NETPDC Command Master Chief, Master Chief Electronics Techni-cian, Nuclear Power (SS) Gregory Prichard. “This allows you to understand what you need to work on and formulate an effective study plan. For first-time test-takers, the BIBs are also the key.” Prichard added that exam BIBs can be found on the Navy Advancement Center pages on My Navy Portal and are also available through the Navy Credentialing Oppor-tunities Online (Navy COOL) website. “Bibliographies and their listed references should be a critical part of each Sailor’s exam preparation program,” said Prichard. “When the exams are created, each test question is tied to a specific reference, and the bibliography is a compilation listing of all references used to create that specific exam.”

Dispelling common myths about advancement exam

The Skyline ~ December 13, 20188

Honoring Outstanding Teachers and Educators in East Mississippi and

West Alabama

To nominate a teacher, log on to wmdn.net, wgbctv.com, goldenappleawards.com or meridianstar.com

CongratulationsJulie OwenNovember 2018

Teacher of the MonthClarke County Career & Technology

Development Center

175310-1

LaBiche Jewelers - Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Company

Meridian Starthe

=Winging Those earning wings include: a Lt. j.g. Colby Al Lederer, USN, carrier quali-fied in the T-45C onboard the USS George H.W. Bush Nov. 9, and was named VT-7’s “Top Hook” for that carrier qualification evolution. Lederer completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven.aLt. j.g. Davide Miniscalco, Italian Navy, was named to the Commodore’s List during Primary Flight Training and earned two Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training. He carrier qualified in the T-45C on-board the USS George H.W. Bush Nov. 9. Minis-calco completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine.aLt. j.g. Caitlin Elizabeth Perkowski, USN, carrier qualified in the T-45C onboard the USS George H.W. Bush Nov. 8. Perkowski completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven.aLt. j.g. Maxx Donald Ristow, USN, was se-lected for E-2/C-2 and underwent multi-engine training in Corpus Christi, Texas, before begin-ning training in Meridian. Ristow will continue training in Norfolk, Virginia, and will fly either the E-2 Hawkeye or the C-2 Greyhound. He carrier qualified in the T-45C onboard the USS George H.W. Bush Nov. 10. Ristow completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine.a1st Lt. Joseph Goodstein Tom, USMC, earned one Navy “E” for bombing accuracy during Ad-vanced Jet Flight Training. He carrier quali-fied in the T-45C onboard the USS George H.W. Bush Nov. 10. Tom completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven.aLt. j.g. Nicholas Peyton Tucker, USN, carrier qualified in the T-45C onboard the USS George H.W. Bush Nov. 8. Tucker completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven.aLt. j.g. Alexander William Vogel, USN, carrier qualified in the T-45C onboard the USS George H.W. Bush Nov. 9. Vogel completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven.

=Deadline“However, through BRS and by maximiz-ing their [Thrift Savings Plan] contribu-tions, today’s service members can receive a government retirement benefit whether they serve four, 14 or 20 years – a big change to what has historically been a part of military retirement.” Another difference between the blended retirement system and the legacy system is that BRS adjusts the years-of-service multiplier from 2.5 percent to 2.0 percent for calculating monthly retired pay. The “blend” is the combination of auto-matic government contributions of 1 per-cent of basic pay and government match-ing contributions of up to an additional 4

percent of basic pay to a service member’s TSP account. “It is a highly personal choice to opt in to BRS, and there are many factors that can effect a member’s decision,” Busch said. “The department’s goal is to ensure that each eligible service member has the resources and tools to make a well-in-formed and educated choice best for them and their families.” More than 300,000 active, reserve and National Guard service members have opted in to BRS, Busch said. For those who have yet to make a choice, “time is fleet-ing,” she said. “There are a number of re-sources our service members can access free, to ensure they are receiving credit-

able and factual information on their re-tirement choice.” Each installation has a personal fi-nancial manager that service members can contact. There is also a handy site at https://militarypay.defense.gov/Blended-Retirement/. The site includes a calcula-tor that service members can use to plug in their information and compare the two systems. Military OneSource is also avail-able 24 hours a day to service members and their families as they face this crucial decision. “Most junior service members may think they can’t afford to contribute to re-tirement, but I say in today’s environment the average worker – including our service

members – can’t afford not to save for re-tirement,” Busch said. For some service members opting into BRS is clearly the right choice for them, she said. For others, staying with the legacy system is the best choice. “We have strived to ensure all eligible service mem-bers are educated on the various elements of BRS, informed on the process for how to opt in, and aware of training and coun-selling resources and tools available,” she said. DOD has “stress-tested” the site that allows service members to sign up for the new system, Busch said, and even if tens of thousands wait until Dec. 31 to opt in, there is still room to accommodate them.

=SOY Each year, CNRSE hosts the top nomi-nees from the 18 installations, along with their command master chiefs, to review them in person, engage them in some fun activities, as well as thank them for their service and honor their success. The six Sailors were hosted to several meals while at NAS Jacksonville, learn some Navy history at the site of the fu-ture USS Charles F. Adams (DDG-2) Me-morial, and stand before a board of the command master chiefs of their respec-tive commands and the region CMC. The board interview and a review of their service records determined who would be named the Sailor of the Year. One new concept added this year was that the six Sailors were tasked with providing insight into one of the Navy’s most concerning problems – that of de-structive behaviors by service members. The command master chiefs decided that

they wanted a new perspective on the is-sue and asked the Sailors of the Year to review the issues and offer suggestions. “We had the six best Sailors across our region here and I wanted more,” CNRSE Command Master Chief Bill Houlihan said. “These six will make up a working group charged with devising policy and processes to drastically elimi-nate destructive behaviors like suicide, sexual assault, domestic violence and alcohol related incidents.” However, the most memorable event for the Sailors was the opportunity to attend a community relations project at the Cmdr. Clyde Lassen Veterans Home. The Sailors visited with the veterans and each came back moved by the expe-rience. Prather spoke about a lady she met at the veterans’ home whose hus-band and son were also veterans but had passed away. “I volunteer for the

Wreaths Around America and promised I would lay a wreath in honor of her hus-band and son and take a picture for her. It was my best memory of the trip.”Deitrich agreed. “Definitely. The veter-ans’ home [was the best part]. Speaking with the veterans was eye opening. The stories they have and the memories they shared were amazing.” Although this year’s event was short-ened to properly honor former President George H.W. Bush following his passing, Houlihan emphasized that the neces-sary aspects were accomplished. “Anything I have ever done well in the Navy, I can attribute to those who have helped me and those on whose shoulders I stood,” he said. Hein will now compete for the Com-mander Naval Installations Command Sailor of the Year, which recognizes the top Sailor across all shore installations in the Navy worldwide.

Meridian Community College Campus Life Coordinator LeAnne Motes, left,gathers new and unwrapped toys as Sgt. Demarckus Adams collects them Dec. 10as a part of the Marines Toys for Tots campaign. The MCC campus communitycontributed the toys that will be distributed to less fortunate children atChristmas. “This is a great help,” Adams, who is stationed at NAS Meridian, said as he picked up the donations. He noted colleges are generous in giving to Toys for Tots.

Submitted photo

Toys for Tots

The Skyline ~ December 13, 2018 9

FFSC BriefsTo register for any of the following workshops,

please call the FFSC at 601-679-2360. The class may not be presented if no one registers, so make

sure you call if you’re interested! Can’t make the scheduled time? Call anyway - the workshop facilitator may be able to work with you one-on-one, give you materials, or let you know when

the class will be offered again. All classes held at FFSC (Building 405) unless otherwise noted

Transition GPS CapstoneJan. 3 from 9:30-10:30 a.m.Ninety days before their separation from military service, service members will participate in a CAPSTONE event, which will verify that transitioning service members completed the Transition GPS curriculum and achieved Career Readiness Standards. Service members who require additional assistance will be referred to supplemental training opportunities. In addition, through the CAPSTONE event, all service members will be offered a ‘warm handover’ to appropriate government agencies and organizations that will be able to provide them continued benefits, services, and support as veterans. See your command career counselor for more information.

IA Spouse Discussion GroupJan. 3 from 11 a.m.-noonFFSC hosts this IA Spouse Discussion Group over coffee (or tea). Join other military spouses to talk about the challenges of IA deployment, share survival tips, discuss the impact of deployment on children, remind one another about the benefits of deployment, or just kick back & chat

Welcome AboardJan. 8 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.FFSC welcomes you to Meridian by providing current information and policies regarding NAS. Topics covered will include: Navy career choices, FFSC services, Suicide Prevention, Medical, Dental, Exceptional Family Member (EFM) Program, TRICARE, vehicle registration, on- & off-base driving regulations, legal services, community services, Chapel & other religious services, MWR, things to do at NAS & in Meridian, and more!

Lt. Sara Black JAG

“Charlie Brown Christmas. It’s a classic my family watches every year.”

Arianna Briones Administration

“The Polar Express. I love watching this movie with my children.”

Jerry SnowSafety Officer

“Any holiday movie with Jerry Lewis or Dean Martin. They are my favorites.”

IT’S YOUR TURN...

Fleet & Family Support Center

This week we asked: “What is your favorite Holiday movie and why?”By Adam Prince

Autumn McCoyNavy Federal

“The Santa Clause. We always watch it as a family.”

LS1 Robert Kennedy Air Operations

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer because it’s my daughter’s favorite.”

Welcome to the holiday season -- that whirlwind of gift-giving holidays, marketing blitzes, holiday parties and activities galore that begins right after Halloween, builds to Thanksgiving and continues gaining momen-tum through the end of the year. While this season is meant to bring feelings of love and cheer, it’s also the harbinger of holiday stress for many. The great thing about holiday stress is that it’s predictable. Unlike many other types of negative stress we encounter in life, we know when holiday stress will begin and end, and we can make plans to reduce the amount of stress we experience and the negative impact it has on us.

Here are some tips you can try to help reduce hol-iday stress: Doing Too Much: All things in moderation, as the saying goes. The problem with the holiday season is that we often experience too much of a good thing. While stress itself is necessary for our survival and zest for life (researchers call this positive type of stress “eu-stress”), too much stress has a negative impact on our health, both mental and physical. Eating, Drinking and Spending Too Much: An over-abundance of parties and gift-giving occasions lead many people to eat, drink and be merry -- often to excess. The temptation to overindulge in spending, rich desserts or alcohol can cause many people the lasting stress of deal-

ing with consequences (debt, weight gain, memories of embarrassing behavior) that can linger long after the season is over. Set a Spending Budget: The holiday season and

spending go hand-in-hand. Between buying gifts for your children, spouse and relatives, you can drop hundreds of dollars be-tween Black Friday and Christmas Day. Although spending money during the holiday season may be unavoidable, you can con-trol how much you spend. Keep It Simple: The holiday season is particu-larly stressful when you have too much on your plate. This might be the case if you’re welcoming out-of-town guests and hosting family festivities. You don’t necessarily have to cancel your plans, but make sure you’re not set-ting unrealistic expecta-tions for yourself. Every-

thing doesn’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to do everything yourself. Get your family involved and delegate. Know your limitations and learn how to say “no.” Even if you’re a calm and collected person, the holi-day season can still be a trying time. Your stress level can still skyrocket. These practical tips may minimize your stress and anxiety, and they may help you improve your coping skills so you can get through the holiday season with a smile on your face. Happy Holidays!

--From FFSC

Managing Holiday Stress

The Navy Exchange Service Com-mand’s (NEXCOM) A-OK Student Reward Program offers all qualified students to participate in a quarterly drawing for monetary awards of $2,500, $1,500, $1,000 or $500 for a total of $5,500 per quarter. The next drawing will be at the end of December 2018. Any eligible full-time student that has a B-grade point average equivalent or better, as determined by their school system, may enter the drawing. Home-

schooled students can also qualify with acknowledgement that the student has a “B” average or equivalent record of ac-complishment. Eligible students include dependent children of active duty members, reserv-ists and military retirees as well as U.S. civilian Department of Defense employ-ees stationed outside the continental United States and U.S. civilian employ-ees of firms under contract to the Depart-ment of Defense outside the continental

United States. Students must be enrolled in 1st through 12th grade. Dependent children without an individual Depen-dent Identification Card must be accom-panied by their sponsor to submit their entry. Each student may enter only once each grading period and must re-enter with each qualifying report card. To enter the drawing, stop by any NEX with a current report card or progress re-port and have a NEX associate verify the eligibility. Then fill out an entry card and

obtain an A-OK ID which entitles the stu-dent to discount coupons for NEX prod-ucts and services. NEXCOM has been offering students a chance to help pay for college through its A-OK Student Reward Program since 1997. Since the program’s inception, NEXCOM has awarded $$738,500 in savings bonds and monetary awards to students with the help of its generous vendor partners.

--From NEXCOM Public Affairs

NEX gives back to students with A-OK Student Reward Program

Meridian Community College students, Jerome Miller of Brownsville, Tenn., left, and Brelan Gardner of Philadelphia are all smiles as they prepare to receive their diplomas from MCC during the college’s commencement Dec. 7. They are wearing red, white and blue cords denoting their veterans/military status at MCC. Miller is active duty Navy stationed at NAS Meridian and Gardner is a member of the Air National Guard. The two were also named as members of the College’s newest Circle of Excellence class. Circle of Excellence salutes students for their scholarship, leadership, spirit and service.

Submitted photo

Congrats Grads

The Skyline ~ December 13, 201810

Never farfrom ourhearts.Military families get$30/line for 4 lines.

Per month with Go Unlimited.Plus taxes & fees. When you enroll in Auto Pay.

Approved military documents required. $40/line/mo for 4 lines on Go Unlimited, less $40 account discount. Auto Pay (checks, home banking or debit card only) & paper-free billing req’d. In times of congestion, your data may be temporarily slower than other traffi c (only after 22 GB/mo on Beyond Unlimited and 75 GB/mo on Above Unlimited). Our Surcharges (incl. Fed. Univ. Svc. of 20.1% of interstate & int’l telecom charges (varies quarterly), 21¢ Regulatory & $1.23 Administrative/line/mo., & others by area) are not taxes (details: 1-888-684-1888); gov’t taxes & our surcharges could add 7% - 46% to your bill. Activation/upgrade fee/line: $30.IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Subject to VZW Agmts, Calling Plan & credit approval. Offers & coverage, varying by svc, not available everywhere; see vzw.com. Limited time offer.