Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Natalia Murillo | SAN DIEGO (Sep. 10, 2021) U.S. Navy Cmdr. Christopher Lopez, officer in charge, Navy...... read more read more
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NR NPASE SDC Reinstates In-Person Drilling
Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jasmin Suarez and Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Melissa K. Russell
Navy Reserve, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West (NR NPASE West) held an in-person all-hands drill along with a friends and family immersion and appreciation event onboard Naval Air Station North Island, Sep. 9-12.
The drill weekend marked the first time the unit has drilled live together in almost 18 months due to COVID-19 and pandemic-mandated separation.
“Early on in the pandemic we opted to move to virtual drills as a way to follow Navy guidance and still keep the unit operating cohesively,” said Cmdr. Christopher Lopez, NR NPASE SDC Officer in Charge. “The virtual environment allowed us to continue training and working together while keeping our Sailors and their families as safe as possible. Now that we’re starting to drill in person again it’s great to see how seamlessly everyone is coming together.”
This particular drill weekend not only provided an opportunity for the reserve Sailors to connect with one another but also with the friends and family of their shipmates who attended various immersion and appreciation activities.
“We had a wonderful time and are grateful to be part of this weekend. It was great to get to know the people my husband works with,” said Brandi Bolibol, wife of NR NPASE West, Operations Department Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gil Bolibol.
The weekend included a number of events ranging from ultimate frisbee with the NPASE active duty component to in-rate training, a ship familiarization tour aboard USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), a beach picnic, an awards ceremony, reenlistment and promotions, to a traditional Navy dining out, and a memorial service and moment of silence to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
“This is actually the first time I’ve been able to drill in person with this unit since I left A-school in April 2020,” said Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Staker Holt. “It’s been amazing having the chance to finally meet everyone and to grab a camera and re-familiarize myself with photography.”
Meanwhile, Lopez is optimistic about the future of the unit.
“Moving forward we hope to return to quarterly in-person drilling, which used to be standard. Either way, my Sailors have proven their flexibility and resilience in these unprecedented times. I’m confident they will continue to accomplish the missions set before them no matter the circumstances," Lopez said.
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2021 17:01 |
| Story ID: | 405039 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 96 |
| Downloads: | 7 |
This work, NR NPASE West Reinstates In-Person Drilling, by PO2 Jasmine Suarez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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