VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
Vol. 83, No. 10
March 15, 2019
NAS Pensacola changes command See next week’s Gosport for full coverage of the NAS Pensacola change of command From NASP Public Affairs
Command of Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola changed hands yesterday, March 14 as Capt. Christopher Martin turned over command of the “Cradle of Naval Aviation” to Capt. Timothy Kinsella Jr. Martin then retired from the U.S. Navy with more than 31 years of service. Acting Director for Defense Human Resources Activity Jeffrey Register was the guest speaker during the retirement portion of the ceremony, and Rear Adm. Kyle Capt. Timothy Cozad, ComKinsella Jr. mander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), was guest speaker over the change of command portion of the ceremony. Rear Adm. Gary Mayes, Commander, Navy Region
Southeast, was the presiding officer. Martin was the NAS Pensacola commanding officer since March 2016. Under his leadership, the command received several awards, including the fiscal year 2016 and 2017 Secretary of the Navy Gold Energy Management Awards, the Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Award for Cultural Resources and the Secretary of the Navy Platinum Energy Management Award. Also during his tenure NAS Pensacola received the Retention Excellence Award, its first in seven years. Kinsella, a 30year naval vetCapt. Christopher eran and H-60 Martin helicopter pilot, came to NAS Pensacola from his previous duty station as a part of the North American Treaty Organization (NATO) staff in Mons, Belgium.
NETC IG conducts triennial training symposium Story, photo by Cmdr. James Stockman Naval Education and Training Command
The Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) Inspector General (IG) conducted its triennial training symposium onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola March 5 to 7. The training was geared towards NETC domain echelon three training personnel who manage their command’s IG and Command Evaluation (CE) programs. “These command representatives are essential to the NETC and the Navy’s risk assessment and mitigation efforts,” Al Johnson, NETC IG said. “This training increases their understanding and improves their management of all IG/CE programs.” During the three-day symposium, attendees were provided training on ethics issues, the NETC complaint and reprisal process, the NETC Manager’s Internal Control Program (MICP) and much more. In addition to training, two practical exercises were conducted to hone attendee skills in investigation and CE.
Alan Johnson, Naval Education and Training Command’s (NETC) inspector general (IG), welcomes participants to the triennial training symposium geared towards NETC domain echelon three training personnel who manage their command’s IG and Command Evaluation (CE) programs.
“The Navy has placed increased emphasis on operational and administrative risk assessment,” Johnson said. “These IG/CE programs focus on identifying risk and mitigating it through the development and application of effective internal controls.” The NETC IG is responsible for developing policy; coordi-
nating functions, projects and tasks and conducting oversight of the NETC domain for assigned programs, including NETC area visit inspections, Hotline complaint investigations, Military Whistleblower/Reprisal Complaint Investigations, CE program, audit liaison, audit follow-up and MICP. For more information on NETC, visit https:// www. public.navy.mil/netc or https:// www.facebook.com/ netcpao.
Navy Medicine Operational Training Center (NMOTC) is leading this year’s Navy-Marine Corps Relief Socety Fund Drive.
NMOTC leads 2019 Pensacola-area NMCRS Fund Drive Story, photo by MC2(SW/AW) Michael J. Lieberknecht NMOTC Public Affairs Office
Navy Medicine Operational Training Center (NMOTC) is spearheading the Pensacola area 2019 Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) Fund Drive, which began March 1. The six-week annual fund drive, involving commands onboard NAS Pensacola, NAS Pensacola Corry Station, NAS Whiting Field, Naval Support Activity (NSA) Panama City and other Navy and Marine Corps elements in the Gulf Coast region, is designed to raise funds in support of NMCRS. NMOTC’s HM1 Ramias Flemons, the Pensacola-area lead NMCRS coordinator, said the goal of this year’s NMCRS Fund Drive is similar to those held in years past. “This year, in addition to raising donations, we want to ensure one-hundred percent contact with all Marine and Navy active-duty service members,” he said. “We want all Sailors and Marines to be aware of the services NMCRS can offer.” Flemons said that in addition to the interest-free loans provided to service members and their families, NMCRS also provides financial assistance and counseling, education assistance, health education and post combat support, budgeting for baby classes, emergency travel and disaster relief assistance. “Service members and their families never know when a situation comes about and they need some assistance,” Flemons said. “NMCRS has positioned itself to help Sailors, Marines and their families, and one of the ways they can continue to provide assistance is through charitable donations. This fund drive is one of the ways they accomplish that.” NMCRS, a non-profit, volunteer service organization, uses both financial and non-financial resources to identify solutions to meet emerging needs. The organization helps clients improve personal financial skills and encourage individual financial responsibility. NMCRS, operating since 1903, stemmed from an early recognition of the needs of service members. With no benefits for service members during the early 1900s, no retirement annuities and survivors’ benefits for families of deceased personnel, Sailors and Marines would “pass the hat” to collect funds to help their shipmate’s widows and orphans. In 1904, several Naval officers, wives of naval officers, and civilian friends saw the need for more formal and organized assistance. The Society was incorporated Jan. 23, 1904, with initial funding coming from the proceeds of the 1903 Army-Navy Football Game held at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In its first year, the Society gave $9,500 to widows and families of enlisted men. During World War I, military pay days were often delayed. To help cover the gap, the Society began an interestfree loan program for Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Eventually, this financial assistance expanded to help with other needs, such as medical bills. Anticipating the personal needs of those serving in the U.S. military during World War II, President Franklin D. See NMOTC/NMCRS 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.