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Everything posted by Tony
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During his first six weeks in office, President Donald Trump has embarked on a dizzying teardown of the federal government and attacks on long-standing institutions in an attempt to increase his own authority. “Trump is using the classic elected authoritarian playbook,” said Brendan Nyhan of Dartmouth College, who joined more than 800 other political scientists in signing a letter warning that Trump is undermining the rule of law and the basic constitutional principle of checks and balances. “It’s almost embarrassing how crude it is.”
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A Norwegian petrol company has taken a stand against the US military presence in Norway, following President Donald Trump's controversial encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Haltbakk Bunkers has reportedly declared an immediate halt to fuel supplies for all American forces in Norway, making its position clear with a resounding "No fuel to Americans!".
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Shame on that "commander-in chief" and his lackey vance for their disgraceful, uncivil behavior and lack of protocol. LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer embraced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday and told him he had the nation's unwavering support a day after the blowout at the White House with President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy arrived to shouts of support from people who had gathered outside of 10 Downing St., where Starmer gave him a hug and ushered him inside.
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Nearly 6,000 military veterans who worked for the federal government have been fired and the number is only expected to grow as President Donald Trump’s administration and its Department of Government Efficiency initiative, led by Elon Musk, press ahead with slashing the federal workforce. Democratic lawmakers critical of the cuts have sought to highlight the fact that veterans are being disproportionately affected by the job losses.
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Foreign adversaries including Russia and China have recently directed their intelligence services to ramp up recruiting of US federal employees working in national security, targeting those who have been fired or feel they could be soon, according to four people familiar with recent US intelligence on the issue and a document reviewed by CNN. The intelligence indicates that foreign adversaries are eager to exploit the Trump administration’s efforts to conduct mass layoffs across the federal workforce – a plan laid out by the Office of Personnel Management earlier this week.
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All Department of Defense civilians will need to respond to an email from the Office of Personnel Management requiring them to list five things they did in the past week, according to Thursday Pentagon guidance, reviewed by USNI News. The OPM email will come on Monday, and civilian employees will have 48 hours to respond with their five things and copy their supervisor, according to the guidance, signed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/ ROUTINE R 281339Z FEB 25 MID180001641155U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO CMC WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC SECNAV WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 019/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/FEB// SUBJ/ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE OR FUNDED TRAVEL FOR NON-COVERED ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY// REF/A/EXECUTIVE ORDER 14182/24JAN25// REF/B/PTDO USD-PR MEMORANDUM/3FEB25// REF/C/ALNAV 071/22// REF/D/ALNAV 018/23// REF/E/DODI 1327.06/15JAN21// REF/F/JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS 033013// NARR/REF A IS EXECUTIVE ORDER TITLED, "ENFORCING THE HYDE AMENDMENT." REF B IS UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS, PERFORMING THE DUTIES OF, GUIDANCE: "NON-COVERED ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY." REF C IS ALNAV "REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AND SUPPORT." REF D IS ALNAV "ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE OR FUNDED TRAVEL FOR NON-COVERED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE." REF E IS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION (DODI) 1327.06 "LEAVE AND LIBERTY PROCEDURES." REF F IS THE JOINT TRAVEL REGULATIONS SECTION "TRAVEL FOR NON- COVERED ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY." RMKS/1. References (a) and (b) establish policy that taxpayer dollars will not be used to fund, promote, or reimburse Service Members or dependents for elective abortion-related travel expenses. Accordingly, references (c) and (d) are rescinded. Reference (b) maintains access to non-covered Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). This ALNAV should be read in its entirety. 2. The Department of the Navy (DON) is committed to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of those who serve our country, and their families in an environment of safety, privacy, and respect. Sailors, Marines, and their families should be permitted access to lawfully available non-covered ART. Reference (b) announced revised policies that allow a Service Member to be authorized either an administrative absence to obtain non-covered ART or provided travel and transportation allowances to facilitate official travel to access non-covered ART that is unavailable within the local area of a Service Member's permanent duty station. Non-covered ART includes only the following: a. Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, including any needed medications and procedures required for retrieval, processing, and utilization for ART or cryopreservation. b. Sperm collection and processing for ART or cryopreservation. c. Intrauterine insemination. d. In vitro fertilization. 3. It is the responsibility of the Commanding Officer (CO) or approval authorities to meet operational requirements and protect the health and safety of those in their care. COs or approval authorities are expected to continue to display objectivity, compassion, and discretion when addressing all health care matters. 4. Consistent with existing law and Departmental policy, COs protect the privacy of protected health information they receive under this policy, as they should with any other protected health information. Such health care information will be restricted to personnel with a specific need to know; that is, access to the information must be necessary for the conduct of official duties. Personnel will also be accountable for safeguarding this health care information consistent with existing law and Departmental policy. 5. Administrative absence to obtain non-covered ART a. Reference (b) authorizes the use of administrative absence to include the ability for a Sailor or Marine to request an administrative absence from their duties at their normal duty station for non-covered ART without loss of pay or being charged leave. Reference (e) will be updated to reflect this change. b. Eligibility. Active duty Service Members, including Reserve Component members when on active duty orders for 30 or more consecutive days, may be granted an administrative absence to receive, or to accompany a dual- military spouse or a dependent who receives, non-covered ART as defined in paragraph 2. This administrative absence should be granted whether or not such care is available within the local area of the eligible Service Member's duty location as defined in reference(f), section 0206, "Travel In and Around the Permanent Duty Station," or whether the dual-military spouse or dependent resides with, or are geographically separated from, the eligible Service Member. c. Duration. The administrative absence may be granted for a period of up to 21 days per request. The period of absence will be limited to the minimum number of days essential to receive the required care and travel needed to access the care by the most expeditious means of transportation practicable. COs will limit health information required to the minimum amount necessary to ensure eligibility and be reasonably sure the duration of the time authorized meets this criteria. Should a Service Member or dependent decide not to proceed with the non-covered ART, the DON will not charge the time away as leave and the Member should expeditiously return to the unit. d. Approval guidance. COs or approval authorities should grant an administrative absence to eligible Sailors and Marines when a non-covered ART need is identified by the eligible Service Member. Requests for administrative absence should be given all due consideration and should be granted to the greatest extent practicable, unless, in the CO's judgment, the Service Member's absence would impair proper execution of the military mission. If the CO denies the request, the Sailor or Marine may appeal the request to the next level of leadership. (1) It is essential that COs or approval authorities act promptly and with appropriate discretion when considering a Service Member's request for an administrative absence to obtain non-covered ART. To the greatest extent practicable, delay in granting an administrative absence should not result in an eligible Service Member being unable to access the non- covered ART that served as the basis for the administrative absence request. (2) In considering the mission impact of a Service Member's request for an administrative absence for non- covered ART - for example, where recurring care may be necessary over a period of time - COs or approval authorities should coordinate with the eligible Service Member to balance operational requirements and the health care schedule. (3) Eligible Service Members will not be granted an administrative absence if their intention is to sell, to offer for sale, or to receive proceeds from a sale resulting from an ART procedure while on, or in connection with taking, such absence (including, but not limited to, selling eggs, embryos, sperm, or services as a surrogate). e. Convalescent Leave. COs or approval authorities may also grant a Service Member convalescent leave, as permitted under reference (e), following receipt of non-covered ART based on a recommendation from a Department of Defense (DoD) health care provider or a non-DoD health care provider from whom the Service Member is receiving care. 6. Travel allowances a. Eligibility, reimbursement amounts, and procedures for travel allowances to obtain non-covered ART are provided in reference (f). b. Travel funding is the responsibility of the command authorizing the travel. Commands must adhere to fiscal regulations and may not authorize travel which is not required or for which funding is not available, but all levels of leadership are expected to support this policy and prioritize available resources accordingly. If funding is an issue, commands will work with their chain of command and budget submitting office to obtain additional funds. c. Should a Service Member or dependent decide not to proceed with non- covered ART after travel requested in good faith has commenced, the DON will not recoup travel funds and the Service Member should expeditiously return. d. Eligible Service Members will not be granted travel allowances if their intention is to sell, to offer for sale, or to receive proceeds from a sale resulting from an ART procedure. 7. Accounting and Reporting. The DON will continue to be tasked to report cost and usage of the administrative absence and funded travel policies authorized by reference (b), reference (f), and this ALNAV. a. The accounting and reporting requirements in this message apply to DON organizations and Service Members assigned to DON organizations. The cost and usage by Sailors and Marines assigned to organizations in other DoD components will be recorded using the mechanisms established by those components. b. The Navy and Marine Corps will continue to use their previously established recording mechanisms for administrative absence. The number of days used will be reported by the Service of the Member, regardless of whether assigned to a Navy or Marine unit. Reports will include no Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) information and will not disclose the type of non- covered ART. (1) The Navy will be responsible for reporting use by Sailors, regardless of whether assigned to a Navy or Marine Corps unit. (2) The Marine Corps will be responsible for reporting use by Marines, regardless of whether assigned to a Navy or Marine Corps unit. c. The Navy and Marine Corps will continue to use their previously established tracking mechanisms for cost and usage of travel and transportation allowances. (1) The Marine Corps will be responsible for reporting usage by Service Members whose travel was funded by Marine Corps commands, regardless of the branch of the Service Member. (2) The Navy will be responsible for reporting usage by Service Members whose travel was funded by Navy commands, regardless of the branch of the Service Member. (3) The reports will not include PII or HIPAA information. The reports will not specify what type of non- covered ART was the basis for travel. (4) The Navy and Marine Corps will be responsible for tracking and reporting the following information for each temporary duty travel period authorized. (a) Command name. (b) Branch of the Service Member (e.g., Navy, Marine Corps). (c) Fiscal quarter in which the travel completed. (d) Number of travel days used by the Service Member. Note that the days authorized or used by a dependent on the same trip may be more or less than this amount. Days of travel by non-Service Members are not required to be reported. (e) Total cost. A single cost is to be provided for the entire trip and inclusive of all authorized travelers. Do not break down costs by traveler or by any other basis. Provide the actual cost of the trip after travel claims are completed. 8. Secretary of the Navy Instruction 1000.10B, "Department of the Navy Policy on Parenthood and Pregnancy," Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Instruction 6000.1D, "Navy Guidelines Concerning Pregnancy and Parenthood," and Marine Corps Order 5000.12F, "Marine Corps Policy Concerning Parenthood and Pregnancy" will be updated to conform with this policy. In the meantime, the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps will issue additional implementation guidance as necessary. 9. Released by Mr. Terence G. Emmert, Acting Secretary of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/
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The 3rd Reich... WASHINGTON (AP) — Building lethality in the military may be the buzzword for the new Trump administration, but busywork and paperwork have become the reality at the Pentagon, as service members and civilian workers are facing a broad mandate to purge all of the department’s social media sites and untangle confusing personnel reduction moves. On Wednesday, the department’s top public affairs official signed and sent out a new memo requiring all the military services to spend countless hours poring over years of website postings, photos, news articles and videos to remove any mentions that “promote diversity, equity and inclusion.”
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CFL/ACFLs, CNIC CFL 5-Day Certification Course Request - The CNIC functional inbox (cfltraining@us.navy.mil) has been experiencing issues with request from personal email addresses (@gmail.com, @yahoo.com, etc.). Therefore, when submitting an application for the CFL 5-day Certification Course, recommend you utilize an official military email address. Also, if you do not receive a response within 48-72hrs, please contact the CFL Administrator, Ms. Gina Woodley at: gina.p.woodley.naf@us.navy.mil. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience, as CNIC works to resolve this issue.
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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/ ROUTINE R 271649Z FEB 25 MID180001636599U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO CMC WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC SECNAV WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 018/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/FEB// SUBJ/FOREIGN ADVERSARY TARGETING OF UNITED STATES NAVY AND MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ON SOCIAL MEDIA// REF/A/MSG/ALNAV/29AUG24// REF/B/DOC/OPNAVINST/14JUN24// REF/C/DOC/SECNAVINST/28OCT19// REF/D//DOC/MCO/12NOV20// REF/E/DOC/DODD/17MAY11// NARR/REF A IS ALNAV 073/24, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY INSIDER THREAT AWARENESS MONTH. REF B IS OPNAVINST 5510.165B, NAVY INSIDER THREAT PROGRAM. REF C IS SECNAVINST 5510.37A, DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY INSIDER THREAT PROGRAM. REF D IS MARINE CORPS ORDER 5510.21, MARINE CORPS COUNTER-INSIDER THREAT PROGRAM. REF E IS DOD DIRECTIVE 5240.06, COUNTERINTELLIGENCE AWARENESS AND REPORTING. RMKS/1. Foreign Intelligence Entities (FIE) are using Social Networking Sites (SNS) and applications to target Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of the Navy (DON) personnel and their families to access facilities, systems, equipment, information, or infrastructure in order to damage, disrupt operations, compromise information or commit espionage on behalf of an adversary or competitor. FIE are also using fake personas to obfuscate their intent and affiliation with foreign intelligence services. They have been observed as increasing their use of SNS and seemingly legitimate job offers to elicit sensitive information. These solicitations pose a direct threat to our defense industrial base and undermine the ability of our Department to compete with foreign competitors on the development of critical emerging technologies. The detection and deterrence of these efforts should be a priority for all active duty and civilian members of the DON. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the DON's Insider Threat Programs are committed to increasing the awareness of these threats pursuant to references (a) through (d). 2. Platforms and Tactics. FIE are leveraging SNS to insidiously obtain unclassified and classified information from U.S. military and other U.S. Government (USG) entities and affiliates. FIE have used SNS such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Indeed to initiate espionage relationships with DoD and other USG personnel by posing as researchers and headhunters and offering jobs and consulting opportunities. Contact requests are initiated with superficially harmless questions in order to establish rapport and determine military affiliation. FIE and those working on their behalf are known to offer all-expense paid trips to their targets for speaking engagements, such as presentations at universities and interviews. 3. Solicitation Questions. The questions asked may not explicitly or directly include classified information, rather, adversaries may rely on opinion-based queries to gather information. Examples include geopolitical questions on U.S. relations with China, Taiwan, or Ukraine; opinions on the current U.S. military command climate and structure; or opinions on how to improve military operations and/or functions. Adversaries may also offer disproportionately high payments for opinion papers on the aforementioned topics. Although this model of solicitation does not fit the traditional methods of targeting personnel with access to classified information, the threat should not be discounted, regardless of how innocuous the requested information appears. 4. Contact Methods. Methods of contact include, but are not limited to, social media direct messages, email, phishing attempts, or telephone calls. These contacts appear benign in nature and often do not seem to originate from a hostile nation or government, but rather appear to originate from within the United States or from a friendly nation. The requests have been known to escalate from the sharing of opinions to veiled requests for classified material. All DON personnel are encouraged to remain vigilant to this active and highly complex national security threat. 5. Financial Solicitations. Additionally, DON personnel and their families should be vigilant for suspected fraudulent financial solicitations. FIE use a combination of fake websites, phishing messages, and malicious apps to trick DON personnel into providing financial data, and/or login credentials used for long-term access to financial accounts which are then exploited for vulnerabilities. 6. Reporting Requirements. As mandated by reference (e), all DON personnel will report potential FIE threats, to include contacts, activities, indicators, and behaviors, to their organization's counterintelligence (CI) element or the NCIS. When CI support is not available, DON personnel shall report the threat without delay to their security officer, supervisor, or commander - who shall forward reported information to their organizational CI element or NCIS within 72 hours. 7. All commanding officers and supervisors should mandate prompt threat reporting in order to deter efforts by our adversaries to undermine our military and enhance awareness of established procedures for contacting their respective CI organization and the assigned NCIS Special Agent, servicing NCIS office, or Navy or Marine Corps Insider Threat program representative. Reports can also be submitted to NCIS via the "SUBMIT A TIP" link at the top of the NCIS home page located at [https://www.ncis.navy.mil/. 8. Released by Mr. Terence G. Emmert, Acting Secretary of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/
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DD Form 214-1 (Reserve Addendum) Implementation
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Let's see what other group trump decides to remove... WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Transgender service members will be separated from the U.S. military unless they receive an exemption, according to a Pentagon memo filed in court on Wednesday, essentially banning them from joining or serving in the military. The move, which goes further than restrictions President Donald Trump placed on transgender service members during his first administration, was described as unprecedented by advocates.
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FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Laboratory services and diagnostic imaging are vital tools for maintaining your health. These tests can help you and your provider catch potential issues early, before they become serious problems. They can also help you monitor your health, if you have a chronic condition or other existing concern.
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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/ ROUTINE R 252001Z FEB 25 MID180001628470U FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC TO ALNAV INFO CMC WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC SECNAV WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS ALNAV 017/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/FEB SUBJ/DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY IMPLEMENTATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 14168// REF/A//EXECUTIVE ORDER/PRESIDENT/20JAN25// REF/B//MEMO/OPM/29JAN25// REF/C//MEMO/SECDEF/29JAN25// REF/D/MEMO/SECDEF/31JAN25// REF/E//MEMO/OSD/31JAN25// NARR/REF A IS EXECUTIVE ORDER 14168 ON DEFENDING WOMEN FROM GENDER IDEOLOGY EXTREMISM AND RESTORING BIOLOGICAL TRUTH TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. REF B IS OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT MEMO ON INITIAL GUIDANCE REGARDING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER DEFENDING WOMEN. REF C IS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MEMO ON RESTORING AMERICA'S FIGHTING FORCE. REF D IS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MEMO ON DEFENDING WOMEN FROM GENDER IDEOLOGY EXTREMISM AND RESTORING BIOLOGICAL TRUTH TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. REF E IS PERFORMING THE DUTIES OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS MEMO ON DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IMPLEMENTATION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 14168 DEFENDING WOMEN FROM GENDER IDEOLOGY EXTREMISM AND RESTORING BIOLOGICAL TRUTH TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. RMKS/1. This ALNAV provides guidance to Department of the Navy (DON) personnel, employees, and commands on implementation of references (a) through (e). Reference (a) establishes the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female, that are not changeable. Reference (b) directs initial actions for federal departments and agencies. References (c), (d), and (e) provide Department of Defense intent to end elements, policies, programs, or initiatives that promote or reflect gender ideology. 2. DON entities will enforce laws governing sex-based rights, protections, opportunities, and accommodations to protect men and women as biologically distinct sexes. 3. DON entities will use the definitions contained in Section 2 of reference (a) when interpreting or applying statutes, regulations, or guidance and in all other official DON business, documents, or communications. 4. DON entities will cease issuing, and remove all statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications, or other internal and external messages under its purview that promote or otherwise inculcate gender ideology, as it is defined in Section 2 of reference (a). a. Forms that require an individual's sex will list male or female only and will not request gender identity. b. For any such statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications, or other internal or external messages originating from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) (e.g., DD forms), DON will defer to OSD for implementing direction. 5. DON entities will review policies for intimate spaces (further described as intimate single-sex spaces in reference (a)) and take appropriate action to ensure such spaces are designated by sex and not gender identity on installations, facilities, ships, and any other infrastructure under the jurisdiction of the DON. This direction will not prevent the use of neutral intimate spaces, provided they are intended for a single occupant. 6. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC), and civilian executive and staff assistants will oversee implementation of the direction in this ALNAV for policies, statements, forms, etc. under their jurisdiction. Within 30 days and again within 90 days, the CNO, CMC, and civilian executive and staff assistants, will provide the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs a summary of all actions taken and all outstanding actions necessary to fully comply with reference (a) and this ALNAV. These suspense dates may be accelerated pending emerging requirements. a. This summary should include an accounting of changes to regulations, instructions, guidance, forms, and communications and any other actions in accordance with paragraphs 4 and 5 of this ALNAV. b. The CNO, CMC, and the civilian executive and staff assistants should maintain, and direct subordinate commands to maintain, an accounting of actions taken at each subordinate level. 7. The response to paragraph six will identify any necessary and recommended DON actions to support compliance with reference (a) and this ALNAV. 8. Released by Mr. Terence G. Emmert, Acting Secretary of the Navy.// BT #0001 NNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/
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Know What's in Your Tap Water
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ITALY 02.26.2025 Story by Lt.j.g. Andrea Perez Naval Air Station Sigonella Subscribe8 facebook sharing buttontwitter sharing buttonlinkedin sharing buttonsharethis sharing button NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Sicily (Feb. 26, 2025) - At 7:54 a.m., Feb. 26, NAS Sigonella security forces were alerted to a possible VBIED (vehicle-born incendiary explosive device). After a thorough investigation, it was determined there was no threat. The all clear was given at 11:25 a.m. Navy Security Force personnel responded to the situation immediately to investigate. Personnel were evacuated from the immediate area and the NAS 2 base entry control point was secured. Out of an abundance of caution, at approximately 8:38 a.m. NAS 2 was ordered to shelter-in-place. Naval Air Station Sigonella’s NAS 1 and Marinai bases were not under threat and not put in a shelter-in-place status. Italian explosives disposal specialists, in coordination with host nation police, inspected the vehicle and determined it was not a threat. We are grateful to our Navy Security Force personnel for their quick response. Naval Security Forces responded to the scene immediately, and reflecting our training, were joined within minutes by Naval Air Station Sigonella first responders. Naval Air Station Sigonella provides consolidated operational, command and control, administrative, and advanced logistical support to U.S. and NATO forces. The installation’s strategic location enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required, ensuring security and stability throughout Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.