NAS Pensacola tree lighting ...
NASP Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) will conduct a holiday tree lighting today, Dec., 2 from 3-6 p.m. at the MWR Radford Fitness Center. Santa Claus is coming to the event at 3:30 p.m. in his firetruck sleigh. There will be activities for children, as well as cookies and hot chocolate. Call 452-3806 for more information.
Vol. 80, No. 48
VT-10 to change command Dec. 8 From VT-10
Cmdr. Brian Solano will transfer command of Training Squadron 10 (VT-10) to Cmdr. Ken Froberg during a change of command ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum aboard NAS Pensacola Dec. 8 at 10 a.m.
Cmdr. Ken Froberg
After more than 15 months in the top spot, Solano will pass the responsibility of commanding the squadron to his executive officer. Under Solano’s command, VT10 executed more than 17,000 mishap-free flight hours, encompassing more than 15,000 sorties, while training more than 800 Navy and Marine Corps student naval flight officers (SNFOs), flight surgeons and international navigators.
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
New Americans sworn in at NAS Pensacola Story, photo by Janet Thomas Gosport Staff Writer
Friends and family members gathered to witness the swearing in of 72 new Americans, including two U.S. Navy Sailors, during a Nov. 18 naturalization ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum. The Honorable M. Casey Rodgers, chief judge for the Northern District of Florida, presided over the special court session. Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) Officer Commanding Capt. Christopher Martin was the guest speaker. Rodgers said that while every naturalization ceremony is special, the November ceremony recognizes Veterans Day. “We can think of no more fitting way to welcome our newest citizens than by commemorating the selfless service of our veterans, who by their bravery and their sacrifices have secured the very
New American citizens take the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance at a ceremony Nov. 18 at the National Naval Aviation Museum aboard NAS Pensacola.
rights and the very freedoms that are going to be conferred on our new citizens today during this ceremony,” she said. “We can also think of no better place than to honor Amer-
ica’s veterans than here aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola – where so many veterans have served and continue to proudly serve their county and also where so many heroes
have been laid to rest.” Rodgers also pointed out that the other judges on the panel with her, Senior District Judge Lacey A. Collier and Escambia County First Judicial Cir-
From staff reports
Despite a recent Department of Defense (DoD) directive, base weapons policy aboard NAS Pensacola is unchanged. DoD Directive 5210.56 Arming and the Use of Force, effective Nov. 18, does not affect the U.S. Navy or NASP’s weapons
policy, which remains in place. Force protection and safety remain top concerns. According to Navy General Regulation 1159 Possession of Weapons, “Except as may be necessary to the proper performance of his or her duty or as may be authorized by proper authority, no person in the naval service shall:
a. Have concealed about his or her person any dangerous weapon, instrument or device, or any highly explosive article or compound, or b. Have in his or her possession any highly dangerous weapon, instrument or device or any highly explosive article or compound on board any ship, craft, aircraft, or in
From Center for Information Warfare Training Public Affairs
Solano leaves the “Wildcats” to join the staff of USS George Washington (CVN 73), based in Norfolk, Va., as the navigation officer. It serves as the next step for a career that began in 1999 after completion of Officer Candidate School. He is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and was commissioned upon completion of Officer Candidate School in April 1999. Following completion of his advanced flight training in See VT-10 on page 2
cuit Judge Gary L. Bergosh, were both veterans. Before the ceremony began, Christina Wooten, 13, a member of the West Florida Home Education Support League Student Government Association, was invited to read her essay on “What it Means to be an American.” The candidates, who came from more than 40 different countries, were asked to stand and introduce themselves before Rodgers administered the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance. Then, the new citizens recited the Pledge of Allegiance along with the attending guests. Martin said he was proud to be among the first to greet the new citizens as “my fellow Americans.” “I am in good fortune to be born in the United States and hold the highest of respect for those who have taken special steps to get here,” Martin said. “All See Citizens on page 2
DoD directive does not affect base weapons policy
IWTC Corry Station graduates Saturday Scholars
Cmdr. Brian Solano
December 2, 2016
Fifty-eight students from New Warrington Elementary School graduated from the Saturday Scholars Program in a ceremony held at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola chapel Nov. 19. Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station continued a 33-year-old tradition of partnering with the Escambia County school district to have volunteers spend Saturday mornings mentoring students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) concepts. A command from NAS Pensacola Corry Station has supported a session at a different school each spring and fall, with this fall marking the 63rd session. “This is a great program that does a good job of bringing the military and community together,” said Chief Petty Officer Dwayne Self, an instructor at IWTC Corry Station and a coordinator for the Saturday Scholars Program. “It is one of our longest running programs, and I think it will con-
any vehicle of the naval service nor within any base or other place under naval jurisdiction.” Further, OpNavInstruction 5530.14E, 0306 Personal Firearms Safety, Control and Accountability, states: “Personal firearms shall not be possessed, used, introduced, transported, or stored onboard a Navy installation.”
Pearl Harbor commemoration planned for Dec. 7 From staff reports
A Saturday scholar, accompanied by his mentor from Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station, receives a certificate of completion at a graduation ceremony held at the NAS Pensacola chapel. Photo by PO1 Brandon Greene
tinue to go strongly with the community and Navy’s support.” For four consecutive Saturdays, the children at the nearby school studied STEM topics alongside their mentors, who were Navy “A” and “C” school students at See Scholars on page 2
The National Naval Aviation Museum will honor the World War II generation on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor with a commemoration ceremony at 10 a.m. Dec. 7 in the Blue Angels Atrium. The guest speaker will be retired Navy Capt. Sterling Gilliam, the museum’s director. Patriotic music and popular songs from the World War II era will be performed by the Northwest Florida State College Jazz Ensemble in Niceville and the Tate High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble. All World War II veterans and their families are invited to attend and be recognized for their service. Admission to the museum and the World War II Remembrance is free and it is open to the public. Unaccompanied non-DoD visitors should enter the base at the west gate off of Blue Angel Parkway. For more information, go to www.navalaviationmuseum.org.
Published by Ballinger Publishing, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Navy. Opinions contained herein are not official expressions of the Department of the Navy nor do the advertisements constitute Department of the Navy, NAS Pensacola or Ballinger Publishing’s endorsement of products or services advertised.