Gosport - February 07, 2014

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African-American/Black History Month observance ... NAS Pensacola is scheduled to hold its annual African-American/Black History Month program at the Mustin Beach Club Feb. 28 at 11:30 a.m. Guest speaker for the event will be NASP Commanding Officer Capt. Keith Hoskins. For more information, contact SH1(SW/AW) Lajoy Battle at 452-4755.

Vol. 78, No. 5

VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com

February 7, 2014

CNO announces Health, Safety and Fitness Flagship award winners By NETC PAO

Fourteen commands were recognized for community service excellence as the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) announced the Health, Safety and Fitness Flagship awards for calendar year 2013 in NavAdmin 017/14 Jan. 27. Managed by the flag sponsor, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), and executed by the Naval Education and Training Professional Development Technology Center’s (NETPDTC) Community Service and Outreach Program director, the award recognizes commands with the best overall community service programs teaching and encouraging individuals, especially youth, to lead healthy and active lives. “The Navy’s Health, Safety and Fitness Flagship award recognizes those commands who partner with schools and the local communities to promote and encourage healthy, active lifestyles,” said Capt. Janet Lomax, NETPDTC’s commanding officer. “Afloat and shore-based commands who participate are leading by example. The contributions of their Sailors are important because they work to build a culture of fitness and change mindsets towards healthy living while de-

veloping close ties between the community and the Navy. The resulting changes are lasting,” she said. “As the coordinator for the NETC Sponsored Health, Safety and Fitness Flagship Awards program, I was truly impressed with the packages,” said Keith Washington, NETPDTC’s Community Service and Outreach director. “It was very evident that these commands embraced the spirit and intent of the Navy Community Service Program (NCSP). These Sailors devoted numerous hours serving as role models in the community, while promoting healthy lifestyles in keeping with the Navy core values.” Health, safety and fitness project initiatives are part of the NCSP. The Health, Safety and Fitness program features Navy volunteers who visit schools and neighborhoods to share information and give practical training that focuses on nutrition, hygiene, mental health, disease prevention, leisure skills development, personal safety, drug demand reduction, sports and recreation. Examples of command-sponsored health, safety and fitness events are Special Olympics, the Great American

See Awards on page 2

Sixth annual ʻGoatfloatʼ has area chiefs plunge into 48 degree water for Wounded Warriors ... On Feb. 2 the Pensacola Area Chief Petty Officers Association kicked off Super Bowl Sunday with their annual version of a polar bear dip, the “Goatfloat.” This year’s event saw 34 active-duty and retired chiefs from Pensacola area commands taking the plunge into the Intracoastal waterway at the Lighthouse Point tiki hut. For the second year, the event was partnered up with the Wounded Warrior Project. “The event has grown from six years ago from just 10 plungers to what we had this year, which is our most successful to date,” event coordinator ACCS Trent Hathaway said. He noted it was the coldest ever water temperature, with a buoy in the Intracostal recording 48 degrees before the swim. Photos by Jennifer Hathaway

Winter ice storm closes NASP to nonessential personnel ... A rare combination of “wintry mix” precipitation gave NAS Pensacola and the surrounding areas a coating of ice Jan. 28-30, making travel difficult and dangerous. Nonessential base personnel were sent home; area schools and some businesses closed until the ice thawed. The base met the condition’s challenges with innovation – such as using hurricane sandbag sand for traction on ice – and good communication. According to Burt Fenters, NASP emergency manager, the base kept its people informed using AtHoc (computerized desktop notification system), a toll free Information line (866-951-2322), with media releases, website updates and social media. Photo by Jennifer Hathaway

Free tax help available at NASP VITA office By Janet Thomas Gosport Staff Writer

For those who are anxious to get their taxes done, the NAS Pensacola Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) office is expected to be up and running today, said ABE1 Eric Sienzant. The opening, which was originally scheduled for Feb. 3, was delayed by last month’s ice storm and other technical problems, Sienzant said. The office is scheduled to be open through the April 15 tax deadline. The office is located in Bldg. 680, Room 225. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Services will be available Saturday by appointment only. Clients should note that the hours are subject to change. The Navy tax assistance program assists military members and their dependants with filing tax returns free of charge with the help of volunteers trained and certified by the IRS. The

self-service office is equipped with computer stations where clients can prepare their own tax returns online. Here is what you need to bring: • All forms, W-2s and 1099s. • Any information regarding other income. • Information regard-

ing deductions and credits. • Social Security cards. • Proof of identification. • Bank information. • If married and filing jointly, spouse must be present.

See Vita on page 2

U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller at Corry ... U.S. Rep. Jefferson B. “Jeff” Miller congratulates 18 Joint Cyber Analysis Course (JCAC) students from the Center for Information Dominance (CID) Unit Corry Station for successfully completing a demanding sixmonth course of instruction at NASP Corry Station Jan. 27. JCAC is a program that is designed to take individuals who have minimal computer experience and make them proficient in cyberanalysis within six months. Miller thanked the joint service members for their service and wished them well in their future assignments. Photo by Gary Nichols

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.


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