Southwest Region Navy Compass

SAN DIEGO, CA- On Aug. 27th, Naval Base San Diego (NBSD) celebrated the opening of the Active Duty Programs Office of the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) located on NBSD's waterfront.  The office supports all active duty personnel with specific focus on single, junior Sailors.  Capt. Rick Williamson, commanding officer, NBSD was on hand to help cut the ribbon along with Peter Opsal, ASYMCA Board Chairman, Capt. (ret) Paul Steffens, ASYMCA Executive Director and Corey Arkush, Active Duty Program Director.

SAN DIEGO, CA -Military commissaries worldwide will be displaying colorful signs to help encourage youth in grades K-12, including homeschoolers, to take part in the 2010 Constitution Day Poster Contest.

For the second straight year, Naval Base San Diego's Commissary has joined the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) and several other organizations in promoting this contest in hopes that the attention will highlight Constitution Day, Sept. 17, and raise awareness among children about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, voting rights and the need to preserve liberties.

Children can participate in the contest by designing a poster showing how they feel they benefit from the freedoms embodied in the U.S. Constitution. Entries must be postmarked by Oct. 1. Details, resources and entry forms also are available at the GovDoc Kids Group wiki, http://www.govdocs4children.pbwiki.com and the FDLP Community at http://community.fdlp.gov/govdockidsgroup. Information on contest requirements and the submission deadline also can be found by going to http://www.ConstitutionFacts.com.

"We are proud to give our support in helping our youth learn more about the importance of our Constitution," said Thomas E. Milks, acting DeCA director and CEO. "I hope parents, fellow shoppers and our employees – people everywhere – take time out to learn more about this historic legal document and why it is the foundation of who we are as American citizens."

Winning students will receive two copies of their posters. Contest winners will be posted on the GovDoc Kids Group wiki on Election Day, Nov. 2. The first 100 entrants will receive a copy of "The U.S. Constitution & Fascinating Facts About It" – a pocket-size guide to the Constitution provided by ConstitutionFacts.com.

This is the fourth year for the Constitution Day Poster Contest. Since 2007, participation has grown from 161 entries in eight states and a Department of Defense Dependent School in Japan to last year’s 2,395 entries from 37 states and DoDDS schools in Italy, Japan and South Korea.

Constitution Day is observed nationally Sept. 17, on the day that the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the Constitution in 1787. In 2004, the government established it as a federal observance and renamed it from Citizenship Day to Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. As a result, all publicly funded educational institutions are required to provide educational programming on the history of the U.S. Constitution on that day.

SAN DIEGO, CA - Naval Base San Diego’s (NBSD) Environmental Office and Fleet & Industrial Supply Center (FISC) San Diego teamed up with Clean Harbors to host the first Hazardous Material and Waste collection event Aug. 10 on NBSD.

Over 800 different types of hazardous material were screened for potential acceptance into FISC’s reutilization process, but due to specification and expiration issues, all items ended up as hazardous waste. Nearly seven tons of excess hazardous materials from a number of work centers throughout the base was collected.

"It was a very successful day. We were able to offer commands a safe, easy and correct way to remove both hazardous waste and hazardous material from their work spaces," stated Mark Edson, NBSD’s Installation Environmental Program Manager.

The event was inspired during NBSD’s commanding officer’s Zone Inspection Program (ZIP). The ZIP is a biannual walk-through of every base structure conducted by senior command personnel to identify various discrepancies. Although the base has standard procedures for hazardous waste turn-in and collection, the inspections revealed excess stored hazardous materials.

Though Clean Harbors, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest’s hazardous waste contractor, provides daily services to the base, the event provided a convenient event for commands to properly dispose of hazardous materials. "We take hazardous material seriously and wanted to provide an easy one-stop shop for our stakeholders to be able to drop off hazardous material they no longer needed," remarked Capt. Rick Williamson, NBSD’s commanding officer. This event not only offered immediate service, but offered procedural education and information to Sailors turning in the materials.

Capt. Williamson has eagerly pursued the quest for a more environmentally friendly and ecologically conscience base. "We continue to be a global force for green and this is just one event of many in order to promote a healthy and clean environment," said Williamson. This event follows very successful Electronic Materials and Appliances Recycling events and precedes the first ever Environmental Green Summit scheduled for Sept. 29 at NBSD’s base theater.

The partnership displayed by all-parties enabled a streamlined process offered by NBSD, FISC and Clean Harbors that not only supported the commanding officer’s mission, but the Navy’s mission to be good stewards of the environment. "We are dedicated to not only helping out the environment, but doing so in a manner where we educate and continue to transform our Sailors into environmentally conscious citizens," said Williamson.

NAF El Centro, CA, August 12, 2010 – After 28 years in a "temporary" facility, Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro’s new Combined Child Care and Youth Center Facility officially opened today. A critical component in the services provided to the installation, this facility provides the team at NAF El Centro the peace of mind that their children are well cared for when they are executing the command’s mission. Katrina Portwood, Child and Youth Programs Director and twenty-nine year employee of the facility expressed it best when she said, "This facility is a dream come true. A place for our children to live and love and learn…what more could we ask for?"

The $8.5 million center features a reception lobby area, offices, training rooms for caregivers and instructors, full kitchen, laundry, quiet and activity rooms, computer rooms, snack bar, youth lounge as well as outdoor recreation areas equipped with age-appropriate toys and play equipment. Additionally, the single-story 12,077 square-foot facility incorporates several water and energy saving initiatives, indoor environmental quality measures and sustainable site features that meet the standards for Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

The most popular components of the new facility, according to the school age children, are the on-site splash pad and the full misting system on the playgrounds, an integral component when summer temperatures regularly exceed 110 degrees. According to 8-year-old Parker, his favorite aspect of the center is that "the atmosphere is more relaxing."

Petty Officer Second Class Melissa Crowe, who has two children enrolled in the program, spoke at the ceremony and told the 250 plus gathered in the multi-purpose room that "without the Child and Youth program, there is no way we’d be able to fully focus on our occupations. On a larger scale, this programs allows us deploy without the worry of where, when and who is going to take care of our children. It even simply allows us to suture that laceration, tighten that F-18 engine screw or inspect and repair ordnance systems. We owe a million thank-yous and hugs to all personnel involved in this project. Thank-you to all of the personnel constantly battling to keep this project in the books, thank-you to the construction workers for doing such a tremendous job and thank-you to the staff and all the parents who have supported this evolution."

SAN DIEGO – More than 50 senior enlisted spouses attended a leadership seminar July 28 and 29 onboard Naval Base San Diego at the Fleet and Family Support Center. The training was developed specifically to help spouses understand the importance of their role in supporting the Navy’s mission.

The one-day Highlights in Leadership seminar, developed by the Command Leadership School (CLS) in Newport, R.I., is offered to senior enlisted spouses who have the potential to attend the Command Master Chief Spouse Leadership Course (CMCSLC) in Newport, R.I., or who were unable to attend when with their spouse attended the Command Master Chief/Chief of the Boat (CMC/COB) Leadership course.

"This seminar is designed to provide you with the tools to be our eyes and ears at home while we are out there supporting the mission," said Capt. Rick L. Williamson, commanding officer, Naval Base San Diego.

The training was led by Robin Witcher, lead instructor for the CMC Spouse Leadership Course taught in Newport. The Highlights course included topics such as team-building, communication, command support team relationships, group dynamics and conflict resolution.

“What a great opportunity for our spouses to understand what their spouses do, so they can assist them in their careers,” said Navy Region Southwest Command Master Chief David Chmielewski.

Because of the popularity of the course the seminar was held two consecutive days to ensure that all San Diego area spouses who were interested in attending could participate.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for the spouses in our region," said Kim McDonough, seminar coordinator and CMC/COB Spouse Leadership Course Advisory Board member for Navy Region Southwest. "All of our spouses were extremely excited about the opportunity to attend. I look forward to coordinating our next one."

Each day attendees worked collaboratively to identify the many resources available to help Navy leaders and their spouses overcome challenges as members of the command triad.

“The command triad, consisting of the commanding officer, executive officer and command master chief or chief of the boat, is a powerful element at any command,” said Williamson.  “Your role as the spouse of a CMC or COB is, or will be, a major factor.”

CLS offers Highlights in Leadership to senior enlisted spouses in multiple locations throughout the year with the assistance of the CMC/COB Spouse Leadership Course Advisory Board. In addition to coordinating local attendance and facilities, board members provide seminar support during the events to ensure the success of the events. The next seminar will held at Naval Station Pearl Harbor Aug. 26 and 27.

“The seminar has received rave reviews in other fleet concentration areas,” said Capt. Bill Nault, director, Command Leadership School.  ”I’m convinced that everyone who attends will be equally energized and informed about leading our fleet and our Sailors.”

Spouses who have a spouse selected to be a Command Senior Chief (CSC), CMC or COB have the opportunity to attend CMCSLC in Newport.  CMCSLC provides spouses with an in-depth program to develop their knowledge of the choices and contributions they make as the senior enlisted leader’s spouse. Based on personal values and preferences, each spouse develops a personal vision statement and, together with their prospective CMC/COB/CSC, develops a Command Master Chief Tour Charter (CMCTC) that is in alignment with each of their personal visions.

The CMCSLC is an intense, one-week course and is taught at the same time as the CMC/COB Leadership course.

“Attending the Command Master Chief Spouse Leadership Course is a great opportunity, and I would encourage any spouse who has the chance to make the time for the class,” said Chmielewski.

“Senior enlisted spouses are seen as leaders,” said Witcher, “Their experiences have given them the tools and resources necessary to help them become an integral part of the command support team.”

The course also provides spouses with an awareness of leadership and management skills that can enhance positive contributions to the family, command, and community environments. The course does this by providing insight into issues that are likely to arise in connection with the new command responsibilities.

 “You are every bit as much leaders as your spouses are,” said Nault.“Part of our mission at CLS is to make sure you have the tools you need to succeed during your spouses’ CMC or COB tour.”

For more information about the Command Leadership School, visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/cppd/cls.

For more information about Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), visit www.netc.navy.mil.

Captain Williamson, commanding officer of Naval Base San Diego kicked off the 2010 Personal Readiness Summit held at the Anchors Catering and Conference Center on Aug. 3.  The seminar, attended by commanding officers, executive officers, command master chiefs and chiefs of the boat, focused on the Navy's Drug and Alcohol Prevention programs and the Navy's physical fitness program.

Capt. Rick L. Williamson, commanding officer of Naval Base San Diego, speaks to senior enlisted spouses during the “Highlights in Leadership” seminar at Naval Base San Diego. The one-day seminar covers topics such as teambuilding, communication and conflict resolution. It was created to meet and train senior enlisted spouses who have the potential in the future to attend the Command Master Chief Spouse Leadership Course in Newport, R.I. or who were unable to attend the course when with their spouse attended.

SAN DIEGO (July 20, 2010) - Capt. John R. Jones briefs limited duty officers (LDO) and chief warrant officers (CWO) in the San Diego area on the future of their communities at Naval Base San Diego's theater July 20. Jones is the LDO/CWO Community Manager from BUPERS 319. U.S. Navy photo by Quartermaster 1st (SW/AW) Class Benita Snerling.