Time change this weekend: Spring ahead ...
At 2 a.m. Sunday, March 12, clocks will move an hour ahead (or spring forward) to begin daylight saving time. By act of Congress, civil clocks in most areas of the United States are adjusted ahead one hour in the summer months (known as daylight time) and returned back one hour in the winter months (known as standard time). You’ll lose an hour, mornings are darker and evenings are brighter. For more, visit http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/daylight_time.php.
Vol. 81, No. 10
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
March 10, 2017
Department of Justice officials visit NATTC Story, photo from Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Public Affairs
The Department of Justice’s (DoJ) Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Wheeler II held a town hall meeting for more than 800 Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) students and staff onboard NAS Pensacola Feb. 28. Wheeler and other DoJ officials are visiting Northwest Florida military installations to conduct Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) seminars organized by the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative (SVI). NATTC Commanding Officer Capt. Hugh Rankin greeted Wheeler, SVI representatives Silas Darden and Tanya Kirwan, and DoJ Civil Rights Division representative Elizabeth Singer. They were provided briefs on the various
training NATTC Sailors receive. Wheeler is responsible for the enforcement of federal statutes prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, sex, disability, religion, familial status and national origin. “What these young men and women – these young Sailors and Marines – are learning here is truly astonishing,” Wheeler said. “The level at which our military trains and ultimately operates is unparalleled, and being able to see how these service members are learning the skills to enhance our military capabilities is something I hold quite dear.” Since its inception of the SCRA (formerly known as the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act), they have worked to strengthen and enhance DoJ efforts on behalf of service members, veterans, and their families in three specific areas: enforcement, outreach and training. The DoJ Civil
The U.S. Department of Justice (Civil Rights Division) Acting Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Wheeler II speaks to Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) Sailors and Marines during a town hall meeting Feb. 28 at the NATTC Charles Taylor Hangar aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola. Wheeler and his staff are visiting Northwest Florida military installations discussing service members’ rights and answering questions during open-forum discussions.
Rights Division visits military installations across the country to provide
training on SCRA, and to identify legal issues impacting service members
Helmet reminder: March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month Injury Awareness Month. To help create awareness of the importance of wearing a helmet, Naval Hospital Pensacola’s Neurology Department with support from the Anchor Clinic, a According to the Centers for Disease Control and local behavioral medicine clinic, visited N.B. Cook ElPrevention, approximately 26,000 children and adoles- ementary School March 4 in Pensacola to encourage cents are treated in emergency departments annually children to wear helmets when bicycling, skateboardfor traumatic brain injuries (TBI). ing, rollerblading or during other activities where head The good news is that many head-related injuries can injuries can occur. be prevented by simply wearing a properly fitted hel“It’s important to educate children on the reasons for met – a good reminder during March, National Brain wearing a helmet,” said Lt. Joseph Cahill, neurologist, Naval Hospital Pensacola. “Children are often reluctant to wear helmets because they are worried about how they look wearing them or for various other reasons. It’s important to start educating them and their parents at a young age.” While at the school, the Sailors explained the importance of wearing a helmet and showed the children and their parents how to ensure a helmet fits properly. NHP also gave away more than 60 helmets, but the children had to first take a pledge that they promised to wear the helmets. “This was a great opportunity to teach children about helmet safety and that it’s ‘cool’ to wear one,” said HM3 Melissa Clayton, a corpsman with NHP’s Neurology Department. “The children loved getting the helmets and the parents were excited about them as well.” As a neurologist, Cahill has seen the horrific results that can occur from TBIs. A TBI is the result of a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain. The severity of such an Lt. Joseph Cahill, neurologist, Naval Hospital Pensacola injury may range from “mild” – a brief change in men(NHP), observes a helmet being placed on Ron Jay, tal status or consciousness – to “severe,” which could age 5, to ensure it fits properly. Sailors from NHP’s Neu- cause an extended period of unconsciousness or amnerology Department and graduate students from the An- sia after the injury. chor Clinic, a local behavioral medicine clinic, visited Common symptoms for TBIs include concussions, Story, photo by Jason Bortz Naval Hospital Pensacola PAO
N.B. Cook Elementary School in Pensacola March 4 to promote helmet safety to children and their parents.
See Helmet on page 2
in order to better utilize its enforcement resources. “It is our hope that by
educating military members about this law which offers them such broad financial protections, it will enable them to avoid companies who seek to prey upon those who so bravely protect our freedoms,” said Darden. The SCRA is a federal law which provides protections for military members as they enter active duty. It covers issues such as rental agreements, security deposits, prepaid rent, eviction, installment contracts, credit card interest rates, mortgage interest rates, mortgage foreclosure, civil judicial proceedings, automobile leases, life insurance, health insurance and income tax payments. “The SCRA’s benefits and protections include a six-percent interest rate cap on pre-service obligations such as credit cards, student loans, vehicle loans and mortgages,” See NATTC on page 2
Reminder: e-cigs only allowed in authorized areas From staff reports
Personnel onboard NAS Pensacola are reminded that electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) are not authorized to be in an individual’s possession in any government facility or government vehicle onboard the base except for authorized smoking shelters. “These e-cigarettes are a hazard to individuals and others,” said Jonathan Winters, NAS Pensacola safety officer. “There have been an increasing number of See E-cigs on page 2
You’ve been warned about speeding ... Wrecked cars have been placed at the base gates at the request of NASP Security officials as a reminder to drive safely. Don’t count on another warning; if pulled over by a radar-equipped security officer, it’s likely to mean an expensive ticket. Photo by Mike O’Connor
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.