Due to weather concerns, the date for MWR’s Winter Wonderland has been changed to March 2. Details, page B4.
Vol. 77, No. 8
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
February 22, 2013
NASP firefighting team named best in region Department will go on to compete at CNIC level By Jay Cope NAS Whiting Field PAO
“Protecting those who defend our country” is not just a slogan for military fire departments, it is a badge of honor that drives them to be the best of an elite corps. So when a fire department is named the best within a 13 command region, it is an honor that pays tribute to a great deal of hard work, dedication and commitment. Such is the recognition obtained by Fire and Emergency Services Gulf Coast (F&ESGC) when they were recently announced as the Commander Navy Region Southeast (CNRSE) nominee to compete for the Navywide Navy Large Fire Department of the
Year for 2012. For Fire Chief Frank Barrow it is a stirring opportunity to see his guys recognized for their efforts. “I am excited, really excited,” he said. “It is awesome to be recognized by your peers across the region, and it’s a tribute to the guys and their hard work. The selection means a lot to the organization as a whole.” NASP CO Capt. Christopher Plummer is delighted with the selection as well. “The folks from Fire and Emergency Services Gulf Coast are top-notch professionals who do incredible work. I am extremely proud and pleased to see them
See F&ESGC on page 2
Members of Fire & Emergency Services Gulf Coast are congratulated by NASP Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Plummer, center, after saving a cardiac arrest victim in 2012. Photo by Mike O’Connor
Training team from USS Theodore Roosevelt onboard NASP ... A flight deck crash and salvage team from the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) was onboard NAS Pensacola recently to conduct firefighting training using the Mobile Aircraft Firefighting Training Device (MAFTD) at Naval Air Technical Training Center. Photo by Lt. Jonathan Bacon For story and photos, see page 4A
Scorby signs ‘Military Saves Week’ proclamation By MC1(SW) Greg Johnson Navy Region Southeast PAO
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Rear Adm. John C. Scorby Jr. signed a proclamation in support of Military Saves Week at Navy Region Southeast (NRSE) headquarters on board Naval Air Station Jacksonville Feb. 13. Military Saves Week runs from Feb. 25 through March 2 and is intended to encourage service members to make responsible financial decisions to build wealth and reduce debt. The proclamation officially recognizes the week and calls on all service members throughout the Southeast Region to take action to improve their individual and household financial situations. “Personal financial stability is vital to our mission readiness,” Scorby said. “If our war fighters and their families are experiencing financial problems, it makes it very
Hazardous waste management specialists recognized Story, photo By Mike O’Connor Gosport Associate Editor
A select group of individuals were highlighted Feb. 14 for their expert handling of a very important subject – NAS Pensacola’s hazardous waste. Naval Facilities Engineering
Command (NavFac) SE Public Works Department (PWD) Pensacola held an annual award ceremony to recognize and thank the “point source coordinators” who handle the base’s hazardous waste at its satellite accumulation areas. Award certificates were passed out
See Awards on page 2
NASP XO Cmdr. David Jasso, left, handed out awards to base hazardous waste point source coordinators Feb. 14. (Left-right) with Jasso are J.J. Clemente, Mark Hicks, Lance Holcomb, Dodie Matlock, Marc Welhaven, David Holm and NASP NavFac SE PWD Public Works Officer Cmdr. Steven Zimmerman.
Rear Adm. John C. Scorby Jr. signs a proclamation recognizing Military Saves Week in front of members of the Commander, Navy Region Southeast Family Readiness Program. Military Saves Week runs from Feb. 25 through March 2 and is intended to encourage service members to build wealth and reduce debt. Photo by Twilla Smith
difficult to focus on the mission. These difficulties are largely preventable with the proper planning. Our efforts with Military Saves Week encourages everyone to assess their financial situation and
honestly ask themselves if they can be doing more to improve it.” Military Saves is a social marketing campaign to persuade,
In memoriam: Father Jack Gray ... The Pensacola area, to include NAS Pensacola, is mourning the loss of Rev. “Father Jack” Gray, 68, after his death last weekend. After 16 years as pastor of St. Anne’s Catholic Church and serving as chaplain for Naval Hospital Pensacola and Navy League Pensacola, he then became the Catholic chaplain onboard NAS Pensacola, often seen at dedications and other celebrations on base. He had a long career in the priesthood, but also worked in politics, serving as deputy secretary of state in Indiana and for Ronald Reagan’s 1996 presidential campaign. He also worked as a broadcast journalist in his early years and after joining the priesthood, served as the Pensacola Press Club’s first chaplain. A funeral mass was held yesterday (Feb. 21) at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. His death followed heart surgery a few days before. Photo by Janet Thomas
See Military Saves on page 2
Telephone upgrades about to begin From staff reports
The main telephone switch onboard NAS Pensacola will be changed out tomorrow, Feb 23. This will result in an outage affecting NAS Pensacola, NASP Corry Station and NASP Saufley Field from about 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Emergency calls to 911 will still function during this outage, however, there will be no access to 452 numbers. At the completion of the upgrade, you will be required to dial seven digits
See Phones on page 2
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.