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February 6, 2015
GOSPORT
ECAT route changes for base exercises From Escambia County Area Transit
Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) will make route and service adjustments
for the Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2015 Military Exercise on NAS Pensacola and NASP Corry Station until Feb. 13. Public access to both bases will be limited for the military ex-
ercise and there may be delays due to traffic congestion. The affected ECAT routes are Routes 57, 58, 59 A, and 59 Express. Routes 57 and 58 will run
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Cox, the new director of Naval History at the Naval History and Heritage Command. Currier pointed out that the Coast Guard will mark its 100th anniversary in 2016, and Pensacola holds a significant place in history as the “Cradle of Coast Guard aviation.” He said the exhibit would play a part in the anniversary celebration. Currier also drew applause for comments about the exhibit and the museum. “In my opinion this rivals any aviation museum in the United States, including the Air and Space Museum in Washington,” he said. “This is magnificent.” Korn, who presented a Coast Guard distinguished public service medal to museum officials, said the exhibit reflects the dynamic elements of Coast Guard service. “The Coast Guard is on the front lines every day,” he said. “This is the essence of our service.” He said attending the opening was an inspiring experience that brought together the past, present and the future.
Elaine Gregory, right, looks at a display of World War II Coast Guard uniforms donated to the exhibit by her father, Robert Louis Gregory. With her is her cousin, Judy Gregory Dulabhan. Photo by Mike O’Connor
“I see aviation legends on one side and so many people that are about to be aviation legends,” he said. Some of those attending the opening
modified service to the base during the affected time periods. According to base security, passengers must provide proper identification at the front gate entrances of NAS
had a personal connection to the exhibit. Retired Coast Guard Cmdr. Lonnie Lee Mixon, who was an exchange pilot with the U.S. Air Force’s 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron in Vietnam, was excited to see a display of his donated medals and ribbons. Mixon enlisted in the Coast Guard in December 1951 as a sonarman first class. He was accepted for officer candidate school, was commissioned as an ensign in 1958 and completed flight training in 1961. In Vietnam, Mixon flew 395 combat hours and accomplished 10 combat rescues. In July 1968, he was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. He also received the distinguished flying cross. World War II Coast Guard uniforms donated by Robert Louis Gregory were the main attraction for Gregory’s daughter, Elaine Gregory, and her cousin, Judy Gregory Dulabhan. Robert Louis Gregory enlisted in the Navy in 1939 and first trained as a radioman. During World War II, the Navy permitted qualified enlisted men to become pilots with the rating of aviation pilot. Gregory was one such enlisted pilot
Pensacola and NASP Corry Station. For additional ECAT route and schedule information, contact ECAT at 595-3228 or visit its website at www.goecat.com
selected to attend flight school at NAS Pensacola. He later transferred to the Coast Guard, which in times of war, fell under Navy jurisdiction. Gregory served as a liaison pilot, transporting many USO performers overseas, including actress Marlene Dietrich. He also flew PB2Y seaplanes during iceberg sighting missions and was alternately stationed in Greenland and Newfoundland during the war. His uniforms featured in the exhibit indicate the speed at which enlisted men could rise through the ranks during World War II. Work on the exhibit, which officially opened to public Jan. 28, is not finished Macon said. “When you walk into the exhibit you will notice some open areas,” Macon said. He said that was part of the design with the hopes that there will be more contributions in the future. “We have built this and it is up to you to fill it,” he said. “Those of you that are no longer in uniform, remember that you may be history. It’s important to us. Those of you that are in uniform, you’ve got to understand that you are making history.”
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years – through music – and therefore Navy bands are integral to our national security,” said Capt. Brian O. Walden, the Navy Band’s commanding officer. “Today, Navy bands are still performing around the world, acting as agents of public diplomacy for the American government, improving relations with our allies and winning the hearts and minds with the universal language of music.” “Community and public outreach is a crucial Departmental activity that reinforces trust and confidence in the United States military and in its most important asset – people,” Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in an internal memorandum to service chiefs and other military leaders. “These proactive engagements showcase our superior combat power, demonstrate readiness to defend the nation, and help to preserve the all-volunteer force.” All Navy Band performances are free and open to the public. For more information about this concert, visit the band’s website at http://www.navyband.navy.mil/national_tour.shtml. For more information and press materials about the United States Navy Band, visit http://www.navyband.navy.mil. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon coming to NAS Pensacola March 19: The Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon will perform onboard NAS Pensacola March 19, at noon, on the Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) parade field. The Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon is a 24-man rifle platoon that performs a unique precision drill exhibition. This highly disciplined platoon exemplifies the professionalism associated with the United States Marine Corps. The Silent Drill Platoon first performed in the Sunset Parades of 1948 and received such an overwhelming response that it soon became a regular part of the parades at Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. (8th & I, the “Oldest Post of the Corps”). The Marines execute a series of calculated drill movements and precise handling of their hand-polished, 10.5-pound, M1 Garand rifles with fixed bayonets. The routine concludes with a unique rifle inspection sequence demonstrating elaborate rifle spins and tosses. These Marines are individually selected from the Schools of Infantry located in Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Camp Lejeune, N.C., based on interviews conducted by barracks personnel. Once selected, Marines are assigned to Marine Barracks Washington to serve a two-year ceremonial tour. Beyond their ceremonial duties, the Marines collaterally train in the field as infantrymen. To remain proficient, these Marines hone their infantry skills at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., throughout the year. Experienced members of the Silent Drill Platoon have the opportunity to audition to become rifle inspectors. Only two Marines per year are selected to become rifle inspectors. They, along with the platoon’s drill master, are entrusted with keeping and passing on the unique knowledge and traditions of the Silent Drill Platoon. Once the year’s Silent Drill Platoon Marines have been selected each fall, they begin their rigorous training at Marine Barracks Washington and later move to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., in order to perfect the routine before beginning a tour of the Corps’ continental installations. Throughout the year, they perform in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators at Marine Barracks Washington and at numerous events across the country and abroad.
USFF directs the U.S. naval bases through these exercises and NASP tracks completion during the exercises and develops a plan to fix what went wrong. Even though the USFF has control over the exercises, NASP has some leeway to cater to the specificities of the base. The Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield are not the only exercises that take place at NASP; throughout the year there are four integrated exercises, each for different types of emergencies. To make these exercises as life-like as possible, they may include acoustic effects, smoke effects, actors playing the opposing side, scripts and timelines for the actors, simulated injuries, and more. These special effects are included in the exercises to make them as realistic as possible and to better prepare and train personnel. During Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield, base employees and residents should expect and plan for longer delays at the gate. It is recommended that people leave for work earlier and be aware that the commute home might take a little longer than usual.
Vol. 79, No. 5
February 6, 2015
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,
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families (and DoD civilian employees) assistance. Information for the program can be obtained online at www.militarysaves.org or at www.penair.org. Military Saves information brochures are available at any Pen Air FCU office. Military Saves is a free and confidential savings oriented program. Easy tools such as direct deposit can make saving possible on most budgets. Oneon-one financial counseling and information are available at Fleet & Family Support. Pen Air FCU offers members Jump
Start Certificate accounts, which are a short-term savings instrument with no minimum deposit requirements. The Jump Start Certificate is a great way to “jump start” a savings goal – just ask any Pen Air FCU representative for details. Pen Air FCU members also have access to a Balance Financial Fitness Program that offers free budget and debt counseling. More information is available at www.penair.org and by contacting our balance advisers direct at (888) 4562227. Military Saves Week is coordinated by America Saves and the Consumer Federation of America in partnership with the Department of Defense.
NEX to host Black History Month event Feb. 21 From Andrea Beck NEX Special Events Coordinator
Join the Navy Exchange (NEX) Mall for a Black History Month celebration, “Black History Awareness 2015,” Feb. 21, from noon to 1:30 p.m., inside the main mall entrance. Highlights include a third appearance by members of the African American Heritage Society of Pensacola, which will bring several local stories to life with readings from the book, “When Black Folks was Colored.” For more information, call Andrea Beck at 458-8250. 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.
For classified ads, call: (850) 433-1166, ext. 24 For commercial advertising: Simone Sands (850) 433-1166, ext. 21 Simone@ballingerpublishing.Com Visit Us On The Web At: Ballinger Publishing.Com Mail To: Gosport, NAS Pensacola, 150 Hase Road, Ste.-A, Pensacola, FL 32508-1051
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