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VOLUME 1, NO. 7 | 13 MAY 2011

By GREG SKINNERKitsap Navy News

Shipyard workers closed April with a session on the possible mental health effects from the triple-disaster of earth-quake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown experienced by deployed workers and some of their families in Japan last March.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility Commander Capt. Mark Whitney, in conjunction with Navy Region Northwest Fleet and Family Support arranged an information session held at the Jackson Park Community Center Assembly Hall, in Bremerton.

Counselors discussed stress symptoms

that can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings and your behavior, said PSNS&IMF spokesperson Darcy Jenne.

“As a member of the military, I have seen the armed forces share lots of information and lessons learned on how important it is to deal with stress and anxiety; especially feelings surround-ing a traumatic event,” Whitney stated in a electronic posting to those in his command. “It is imperative that we all be aware of these signs and reach out to those who need our assistance.”

About 25 people attended the session, which was offered out of an abundance of caution and care rather than a specific request of need, according to Jenne.

“No one asked for it, but it was the right thing to make available given the

circumstances,” she said.Several hundred PSNS workers and

some dependents were in Japan to work on the USS George Washington (CV 73) when the 5th largest earthquake in recorded history shook Japan for nearly two minutes and sent a huge tsunami barreling across northeastern Japan that along with killing more than 10,000 peo-ple destroyed several reactors at a nuclear power plant which released radiation into the local air, food and water supply.

As weeks followed and the radiation situation worsened, families were evacu-ated stateside with some workers, while other workers headed to sea with George Washington to continue working in an

PSNS&IMF workers briefed on possible mental effects of Japan earthquake

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U.S. Defense Department Ballistic Missile Defense System Sea-Based X-Band Radar, a floating, self-propelled, mobile radar station designed to operate in high winds and heavy seas, passes Ediz Hook near Port Angeles March 10 on its way to a Seattle shipyard for $28 million in upgrades and maintenance. See Missile defense on page 5. PHOTO: PENINSULA DAILY NEWS

By GREG SKINNERKitsap Navy News

A new Department of Veterans Affairs ruling took effect this week expanding care-giver benefits for seriously wounded post-911 veterans.

Signed into law by President Obama last May, the Care Givers Program offers educa-tion, financial support and replacement help for primary caregivers of qualified veterans.

The VA Monday began national enroll-

VA caregiver benefit expansion

SEE VA | PAGE 8

SEE PSNS | PAGE 8

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“OUR ANNUAL ARMED FORCES PARADE IS THE LONGEST RUNNING AND LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES!”

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT OF THE KITSAP NAV Y NEWS, BREMERTON PATRIOT AND CENTRAL KITSAP REPORTER

THE 63RD ANNUAL ARMED FORCES DAY PARADE IS SATURDAY, MAY 21 STARTING AT 10:00AM

ARMED FORCES2011 FESTIVAL GUIDE

THIS EDITION

A century of Naval aviation celebrated .............pg. 4

Gammers to help Navy � ght piracy .....................pg. 5

Stennis on the water preparing for deployment. ......pg. 6

Mullen, SEALs represent 2.2 million troops ...... pg. 12