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January 8, 2016
GOSPORT
NASP Airmen support outreach program for youth at Tuskegee event Story, photo by A1C Alexa Culbert
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. – The Air Force supported the cultivation of a diverse force by taking part in the Legacy Flight Academy’s “Eyes Above the Horizon” program Dec. 5 at the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site Museum in Tuskegee, Ala. The Eyes Above the Horizon is an outreach program that familiarizes underrepresented youth from the ages of 11-18 with careers in aviation while teaching the history of the Tuskegee Airmen. The event fits into the Air Forces’ diversity and inclusion focus that was discussed in a recent memorandum that went out to Airmen from Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Mark Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody: “As Airmen, whether military or civilian, we must continue to build and maintain our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the associated prom-
Eyes Above the Horizon participants gather under a North American P-51 Mustang static display Dec. 5 at the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Museum in Tuskegee, Ala. Participants learned about the Tuskegee Airman during the program in hopes of instilling ambition to achieve higher accomplishments and possibly consider a career in aviation.
ise of enhanced mission performance. These concepts infuse innovation and forward thinking into our culture and mission areas and resonate within our service’s core values demonstrating that integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do are part of our character.”
There are fewer minority applicants to undergraduate flight training, which has led to fewer rated minority officers and fewer minorities at the senior officer level said, Lt. Col. Diallo Creal, 455th Flying Training Squadron (FTS) instructor pilot from Naval Air Station Pensacola. The Air Force has
NASP voters: Don’t miss your opportunity to vote in upcoming primary elections Register now and request your absentee ballots at FVAP.gov From YNC(SW/AW) Justen J. Davis Administration PSO LCPO Voting Assistance Officer
NASP voters: If you want to register to vote in the following states, stop by the NASP Voting Assistance Office (Bldg. 1500, Room 229) or visit FVAP.gov now to complete a registration application and request your absentee ballots for the presidential preference primaries (P) and State primaries (S): February – 30-Day Notice* New Hampshire: Feb. 9 (P) South Carolina: Feb. 20 (P, Republican primary only) South Carolina: Feb. 27 (P, Democratic primary only, tentative) March – 60-Day Notice* *Alabama: March 1 (P, S) Arkansas: March 1 (P, S) Georgia: March 1 (P) Massachusetts: March 1 (P) Oklahoma: March 1 (P) Tennessee: March 1 (P) Texas: March 1 (P, S) Vermont: March 1 (P) Virginia: March 1 (P) Louisiana: March 5 (P) Idaho: March 8 (P, Republican primary only) Michigan: March 8 (P) Mississippi: March 8 (P, S) Puerto Rico: March 13 (P, Republican primary only) Florida: March 15 (P)
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Illinois: March 15 (P, S) Missouri: March 15 (P) North Carolina: March 15 (P,S) Ohio: March 15 (P,S) Arizona: March 22 (P) April – 90-Day Notice* *Wisconsin: April 5 (P) New York: April 19 (P) Connecticut: April 26 (P) Delaware: April 26 (P) Maryland: April 26 (P,S) Pennsylvania: April 26 (P,S) Rhode Island: April 26 (P) It only takes a few quick steps to make sure your vote is counted no matter where you are in the world. To register and request your ballots, visit your NASP Voting Assistance Office at Bldg.1500, Room 229, complete the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) using the FPCA online assistant (fvap.gov/military-voter/registration-ballots), or fill out the PDF (fvap.gov/uploads/ FVAP/Forms/fpca2013.pdf), or pick up a hardcopy version from your voting assistance office. Not voting in these states? Find your state’s primary election dates at FVAP.gov: Select the State you want to register to vote in from the drop-down menu at the top left-hand side of the home page. To find your state’s election website for specific information on candidates, elections, contact information, and links to your local election offices, visit FVAP’s contact page (fvap.gov/info/contact).
January 8, 2016
Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla.: A Bicentennial Defense Community Commanding Officer — Capt. Keith Hoskins Public Affairs Officer — Patrick J. Nichols The Gosport nameplate pays homage to the 100th anniversary of naval aviation in 2011: the Centennial of Naval Aviation, or CONA. The image on the left side of the nameplate depicts Eugene Ely taking off in a Curtiss pusher bi-plane from the USS Pennsylvania Jan. 18, 1911. While Ely had taken off from the USS Birmingham two months earlier after his plane had been loaded on the ship, the USS Pennsylvania event was the first time a plane landed on and then took off from a U.S. warship.
The image on the right side is the Navy’s most modern fighter aircraft, the F-18 Super Hornet. Established in 1921 as the Air Station News, the name Gosport was adopted in 1936. A gosport was a voice tube used by flight instructors in the early days of naval aviation to give instructions and directions to their students. The name “Gosport” was derived from Gosport, England (originally God’s Port), where the voice tube was invented. Gosport is an authorized newspaper published every Friday by Ballinger Publishing,
ples and forces were discussed, static displays of two T-6 Texan aircraft from the 479th FTG and a 20-minute incentive flight on either a Cessna 172 Sky Hawk, a Piper PA-24 Comanche or a Piper PA-28 Cherokee. “The Detachment 015 Tuskegee University cadets also had a chance to engage in direct communication with pilots and combat systems officers of the unique opportunities that are available to them the Air Force and specifically in terms of aviation career fields,” said Lt. Col. Edwin McCain, detachment commander. During the event, the cadets had the chance to become mentors themselves. They shared their experiences of being in a senior ROTC program in college with the approximately 60 youth that attended. The Legacy Flight Academy is scheduling another Eyes Above the Horizon event for spring 2016. For more information or to become involved, contact the Legacy Flight Academy at 1 (855) TUSKEGEE.
been trying to address the issue for years, but recently his group commander challenged them to seek solutions at their level. Airmen from the 479th Flying Training Group (FTG), the 455th FTS and the 451st FTS decided to accept the challenge and do their part to help diversify the Air Force by participating in the Eyes Above the Horizon program in Tuskegee. “We hope to see a number of these youth test the waters with Junior ROTC programs in their schools and eventually apply to Air Force ROTC or the U.S. Air Force Academy ... Hopefully, the memories of the event will plant seeds of future possibilities,” said Creal. During the event, participants learned about the rich legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and their triumphs and tribulations with a tour of the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site Museum. The day also involved a military career discussion, which featured a 479th FTG mission brief and ground school, where basic flight and aerodynamic princiIMAX from page 1
amenities. The theater will also be energy efficient, using an LED dimming system that will reduce electrical energy consumption by 80 percent. “This conversion allows us to take a 20-year-old theater and make it relevant for the next 20 years. This is win-win for us,” Thiessen added. The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation’s own flagship film, “The Magic of Flight,” which first premiered Nov. 7, 1996, will be converted to the new 4K digital format for exhibition when the theater reopens. The decommissioning of old IMAX® equipment and renovation work is expected to last through March. The museum is scheduled to reopen the theater in March with a grand opening ceremony. New Year from page 1
are mostly young Sailors and this may be the first time away from their families. Last month during the holiday season, I saw two patients that walked into the clinic feeling a little depressed because they missed being home. After normalizing the fears of these two patients and teaching them basic coping skills, they both expressed immediate relief from their symptoms. Their appreciation was immediately evident and I was once again reminded of why I love this job. Integrated behavioral health consultants are available to assist our enrolled beneficiaries with problems, concerns or any stress-related experiences they are trying to cope with. Seeking help is a sign of strength and resiliency and it does not have a negative impact on someone’s occupation or ca-
The Rhodes Building, 41 North Jefferson Street, Suite 402, Pensacola, FL 32504, in the interest of military and civilian personnel and their families aboard the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Saufley Field and Corry Station. Editorial and news material is compiled by the Public Affairs Office, 150 Hase Road, Ste.-A, NAS Pensacola, FL 32508-1051. All news releases and related materials should be mailed to that address, e-mailed to scott.hallford@navy.mil. National news sources are American Forces Press Service (AFPS), Navy News Service (NNS), Air Force News Service (AFNS), News USA and North American Precis Syndicate (NAPS). Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense, United States Navy, officials of the Naval Air Station Pensacola, or Ballinger Publishing. All advertising, including classified ads, is arranged through Ballinger Publishing. Minimum weekly circulation is 25,000. Everything advertised in this publication must be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to rank, rate, race, creed, color, national origin or sex of the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed rejection of this policy of equal opportunities by an advertiser will result in the refusal of future advertising from that source.
reer. We are here to help our beneficiaries manage work, relationships and their personal life. Common behavioral health issues that can be treated include tobacco use, weight management, relationship problems, trouble sleeping, anger, medication management, bereavement and chronic pain. Treatments consist of 30 minute appointments focused on attainable goals, support, skills development and lifestyle changes beneficiaries will need to meet their goals. For more complex issues and higher level of care needs, beneficiaries may receive a referral to a specialist outside of their Medical Home Port Team. To schedule an appointment with a behavior health consult, beneficiaries can contact their Medical Home Port Team, and this year the new you will be even better.
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Gosport Editor
Scott Hallford 452-4466 scott.hallford@navy.mil Gosport Associate Editor
Mike O’Connor 452-2165 michael.f.oʼconnor.ctr@navy.mil Gosport Staff Writer
Janet Thomas 452-4419 janet.thomas.ctr@navy.mil