SAPR training Feb. 19-20 ... The NASP Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program is currently offering SAPR Point of Contact, Data Collection Coordinator and Command Liaison training Feb. 19-20. The Point of Contact class will be held Feb. 19 from 8 a.m.noon, the Data Collection Coordinator class will be Feb. 19 from 1-3 p.m., and the Command Liaison class will be held Feb. 20 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. All classes will be taught at NASP Fleet and Family Support Center. To register, contact Kristy Malone, civilian victim advocate, at 452-5328; or call NASP Fleet and Family Support Center 452-5990, ext. 0.
Vol. 79, No. 6
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
February 13, 2015
NETC announces 2014 Training Excellence Awards Lt.j.g. Michael Hathaway NETC Public Affairs
The commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) announced the winners of the 2014 Training Excellence Awards (TEA) Feb. 3, honoring superior accomplishment in supporting NETC’s mission. These annual awards recognize commands that demonstrate the highest standards of training excellence in meeting fleet established requirements. “Delivering the highest standards of training and education ensures that our Navy continues to be the best in the world,” said Rear Adm. Mike White, NETC commander. “The winners of this year’s Training Excellence Awards epitomize the highest degree of training excellence found throughout the NETC enterprise and represent thousands of instructors and support staff around the globe. They all work exceptionally hard delivering cutting-edge training, ensuring that highly trained, top-quality Sailors are available to meet the needs of the fleet.” The Training Excellence Award competition structure resembles the Battle Ef-
fectiveness (Battle “E”) competition held throughout the fleet; recognizing sustained superior performance in an operational environment within a command. At the end of the year, each NETC training headquarters directorate assesses the learning centers and training support centers based on established performance measures, and total the results. Areas evaluated include results of Inspector General (IG) and safety visits, how well the staff manages training and student throughput, correct handling of specialty items such as ordnance, radiation and highrisk training. TEA Board Coordinator Dorothy Singleton noted that winning in the TEA categories is no easy task. “The 2014 TEA competition details the incredibly hard work performed in and behind the classrooms,” said Singleton. “The bottom line is delivering training that meets fleet requirements, and each of the winners demonstrated significant improvements and accomplishments as they carried out NETC’s strategic goals.” NETC training activities and those that conduct NETC training courses are eligible for TEA awards. The competition is
See TEA on page 2
Lance Cpl. Amanda Serrano (kneeling) and Cpl. Silina Lee (right) from Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 give Mardi Gras beads to Haley Huggins, a fifth-grader from Lipscomb Elementary during the Escambia Westgate School community Mardi Gras parade Feb. 6. The annual parade is held to give special-needs students the experience of Mardi Gras.
NASP Marines help bring Mardi Gras to Westgate School Story, photo by Ed Barker
Volunteers from NAS Pensacola’s Marine Aviation Training Support Group 21 (MATSG-21) helped bring Mardi Gras to a group of special school children Feb. 6. Escambia Westgate is a school filled with very special people – teachers, staff and personal aides – who work every day to create the best educational experiences possible for their students
who all have severe and profound disabilities – from ages three to 22 years old. For many of these students, going to the downtown parades is just not possible. The Westgate Mardi Gras parade started in 1995 with three teachers pulling carts behind a riding lawn mower and throwing beads. This year, the parade involved hundreds of volunteers from more than 50 organizations.
See MATSG-21 on page 2
NASP conducts active-shooter drill By Janet Thomas Gosport Staff Writer
NMCRS 2015 drive kicks off By Cher Holland Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Feb. 17 marks the kickoff of the annual Active Duty Fund Drive in support of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS). This fund drive is the main source of funds NMCRS used to help Sailors, Marines and their families. In 2014 alone, NMCRS provided $48.5 million to 63,800 eligible clients. These millions of dollars aided families in basic living expenses, transportation, car repairs, family emergencies,
See NMCRS on page 2
NASP’s crisis response forces got a good work out during an active-shooter drill Feb. 5 aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP). The drill, which was part of the Navy’s nationwide Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2015, involved a realistic scenario, said Chris Steinnecker, N7 Training and Readiness coordinator at NASP. It started with a suspect, played by GM2 Sean Prior of the NASP Security Department, rushing into Air Operations, Bldg. 1852, at Forrest Sherman Field with an M-14 rifle. The target of the attack was NASP Air Operations Officer Cmdr. Dan Heidt. Prior fired off seven magazines, or about 140 blanks, before security forces moved in to resolve the situation. Steinnecker said the suspect was “neutralized,” and in addition to the deceased
NAS Pensacola Security Department personnel clear rooms at the scene of an active-shooter drill, part of Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2015, an annual exercise focused on training and readiness. Photo by Mike O’Connor For more photos of the exercise, see page A4.
shooter, the casualty count was one dead and two wounded, including Heidt, with an arm wound. As part of the response, security and emergency personnel were called to the scene and NASP’s Emergency Operations Center was activated. Basewide emergency alerts to implement activeshooter procedures also were issued. Security officials said a new system called “Single
Officer Response” was used during the drill. The first officers at the scene moved in at once instead of waiting for backup to arrive. NASP Executive Officer Cmdr. David Jasso said the drill was valuable in that it helps to ensure that NAS Pensacola first responders are trained and prepared to respond in a manner that reduces or eliminates loss of life. “While the training
proves invaluable for our first responders, it is also of benefit to the many that work aboard the installation every day; testing our ability to communicate with installation personnel and their planned responses to a scenario like this,” he said. Burt Fenters, emergency manager at NASP, said the active-shooter exercise went very well. “An active-shooter scenario is one of the most challenging, rapidly developing scenarios that is usually over in minutes and, in most cases, has a potential high casualty count,” he said. “One of the largest challenges we face is getting the word out to over 20,000 personnel on board the installation complex (NAS Pensacola, NASP Corry Station, NASP Saufley Field and Blue Angel Recreation Park) within minutes.” Fenters said that to ensure the word gets out and mitigate a potential high
New hours for Urgent Care Center By Jason Bortz NHP PAO
Beginning today, Feb. 13, Naval Hospital Pensacola’s (NHP) Urgent Care Center (UCC) will be open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. The UCC is open seven days a week including holidays and is available for all TRICARE beneficiaries including TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Standard, TRICARE For Life and TRICARE Young Adult. “Our heaviest flow of patients is usually in the morning, so we adjusted our hours to better accommodate our
See UCC on page 2
See SC/CS on page 2
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