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March 4, 2016
GOSPORT
NAS Whiting Field receives 2015 USS Bainbridge Award By Jay Cope NAS Whiting Field Public Affairs
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aval Air Station Whiting Field (NASWF) was chosen to receive the USS Bainbridge award for outstanding community service for 2015. The award recognizes a Navy command that engaged in exemplary voluntary community service activities with local communities. Each year the Navy selects one command, regardless of size or command type, to be recognized for its outstanding service to its local community. Sailors at NAS Whiting Field earned the recognition by greatly improving the lives of
more than 43,000 members of their local community by donating more than 15,000 hours through partnerships with local agencies. The message announcing the award also cited the fact that Sailors provided critical assistance during disas-
ter relief efforts, helping save the local community thousands of dollars and ensuring re-habilitation after flooding rains. NAS Whiting Field was recognized in four of the five Navy Flagship Award categories for community service. Within the Medium Ashore c a t e g o r y, NAS Whiting Field finished first in the Environmental Stewardship and Personal Excellence categories while receiving an honorable mention in Health Safety and Fitness and second in Project Good Neighbor. “Naval Air Station Whiting Field has a tremendous team of Sailors and civilians who truly care about the local community and our fellow residents,”
NASWF Commanding Officer Capt. Todd Bahlau said. “I couldn’t be prouder of my team and the selfless way they give of their time and effort to try to enrich the lives of others.” NAS Whiting Field helped support more than 60 different events throughout 2015. The installation created 30 new community service relationships during the year and more than 400 command members participated in some fashion. The NAS Whiting Field’s team participated in a wide array of events such as: United Way Day of Caring, Earth Day, Drug Education for Youth, Blackwater River Cleanup, Adopt-a-Highway, Covenant
Hospice Veterans Day recognition,and many others. Organizations which benefitted from the volunteer hours provided by command personnel included: Escambia County Sea Cadets, Men in Action of Milton Florida, Civil Air Patrol, Early Learning Coalition, Bay Area Food Bank, United Way, Longleaf Alliance and more. The award is managed by Commander Navy Installations Command and NAS Whiting Field was selected from a final field of 16 nominees from various regions and fleets across the globe. “Your participation with and continued support of our Navy communities is sincerely appreciated and makes a great difference in the lives of those around you. Well done,” Vice Adm. R.L. Thomas stated in the message announcing the awards.
Navy fire departments take top honors for 2015 By Lt.j.g. Andrew Bertucci NAS Whiting Field Public Affairs
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aval Air Station Whiting Field (NASWF) is in safe hands thanks in part to the Fire & Emergency Services Gulf Coast. The combined NAS Pensacola and NASWF fire departments were recognized for their emergency response performances as well as training and education of firefighters with the Fire Department of the Year Award in the large base category. NAS Whiting Field Fire Department was duly recognized for their perfect performance at three separate TH-57 aircraft emergencies at
three different outlying fields (OLFs) during 2015. The fire department was also recognized for their innovation and initiative
ABH1 Jason Bruce
ABH2 Derrick Rogers
ABH2 Corey Montford
in helping others with the “Pilot for a Day” program which gave station tours, fire truck rides, cake, and fire Tshirts to 10 children with serious/ chronic life challenging conditions. “The work between the civilian and military firefighters to accomplish and be recognized for the award speaks
volumes to the level of training and discipline shown by our firefighters and is why we won the award for Fire Department of the Year,” Rodriguez, NAS Whiting Field Fire and Emergencies Services department head, said. NAS Whiting Field was further recognized with awards won for Military Fire Officer of
the Year; ABH1 Jason Bruce, Military Firefighter of the Year; ABH2 Derrick Rogers, and Fire Instructor of the Year; ABH2 Corey Montford. Bruce is the only certified fire officer IV in the Navy and took charge of the firefighting certification program, exceeding staffing requirements by processing 106 certifica-
tions. Rogers, selected to lead the military Fire Station Santa Rosa, led his firefighting team in responding to 22 aircraft emergencies providing rescue and medical aid for 10 pilots with zero loss of life. Monford is the only qualified military member authorized to conduct respirator fit test at the command and spearheaded the completion of 122 respirator fit tests for civilian and military firefighters. “We are extremely proud of them in the fantastic work they have accomplished. The jobs and duties they perform help pass on the knowledge and training to keep the high level of qualified firefighters that make our base the very best,” Rodriguez stated.
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