Safety fair today (April 8) ... Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) and the Naval Aviation Technical Training Center (NATTC) has scheduled the Spring Health and Safety Fair for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today (April 8) at the NATTC Aviation Support Hangar, Bldg. 3460. Topics include driving and boating safety, hurricane preparedness, free health screenings and other more health and safety education information. For more information, contact the NASC Safety Officer at 452-4577.
Vol. 80, No. 14
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
April 8, 2016
NAS Pensacola joins state, national child abuse prevention awareness efforts By Ens. James Griffin NASP PAO
The commanding officer of NAS Pensacola signed child abuse prevention proclamations this week during ceremonies at the base Child Development Center (CDC) and at Pensacola Beach. The proclamations signed by Capt. Christopher Martin officially marked April as the Month of the Military Child and also National Child Abuse Month Prevention (NCAPM). “These issues are not exclusive to the military; it’s a community issue,” said Martin. “We all need to participate and work together to prevent child abuse.” As part of national Month of the Military Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month, Martin met with staff from Morale, Welfare and Recreaation (MWR) and Fleet and Family Support
Center (FFSC), and spent time reading a book, “It’s Okay to be Different,” to preschoolers at the CDC. Since 1986, April has been designated Child Abuse Prevention Month to recognize and to take action in preventing child abuse. “April is recognized as the Month of The Military Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month; however, military children defull support serve year-round,” said FFSC Clinical Supervisor Lauren Anzaldo. As the CDC ceremony concluded, Martin asked that a blue ribbon and a hand-printed American flag be displayed at the base headquarters building, Bldg. 1500, to signify support for child abuse prevention and Month of the Military Child. MWR’s next event on April 15 is Purple Up for Military Children; FFSC asks that base personnel wear the color purple in support of Military Children.
Naval Air Station Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Martin, left, reads a proclamation during a “Pinwheels For Prevention” National Child Abuse Prevention Month (NCAPM) event April 4 at Pensacola Beach. Martin was assisted in the reading by representatives of other military branches including (left-right) Marine Maj. Jenny Colegate, Coast Guard Lt.j.g. Matthew Childs, Army Capt. Benton Parsons and Air Force Tech. Sgt. Thomas Collins. State and local official also attended the event to kick off a state tour to support National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. Photo by Janet Thomas
NATTC, air traffic control schoolhouse mark 20 years From Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training PAO
For two decades, the Naval Air Technical Training Center’s (NATTC) U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Air Traffic Controllers’ and Air Traffic Control Maintenance Technicians’ “A”
and “C” Schools have graduated students from Calhoun Hall, Bldg. 3220, aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola. Before that, however, NATTC functions – the bulk of aviation technical training – resided at Naval Air Station Millington, Tenn. Thousands of
Sailors studying material in aviation technical rates – including ACs – were part of NATTC Millington. But on March 29, 1996, AC students boarded busses in Millington bound for NAS Pensacola, a result of a 1990 Defense Base Realignment and Closure
Act (BRAC) special commission to review Department of Defense installations for disestablishment or reorganization. And after a seven-hour trip, the first NATTC Pensacola students arrived, a group of air traffic controllers who would both continue and begin training in
their rate at the newly relocated NATTC. According to then-NATTC Air Traffic Control Training Department officer-in-charge retired Cmdr. David W. Kelch, the transition from Millington to See 20 years on page 2
USAF’s 479th OSS changes hands By Capt. Meghan O’Rourke USAF AETC 479 FTG/PAO
CPOs 123nd birthday celebrated at NAS Pensacola ... On April 1, NAS Pensacola’s chief petty officers paused to recognize their 123 years of deckplate leadership. (Above) Members of the chiefs mess at NASP Corry Station participate in morning colors. Photo by Carla M. McCarthy (Below) NASP command CPOs assemble for a photo with command master chief, CMDCM Adriana Lewis (front, left). Photo by Mike O’Connor
Several hundred members of the 479th Flying Training Group attended the change of command ceremony for the 479th Operations Support Squadron (OSS) April 1. Lt. Col. Edward Marquez relinquished command of the squadron where he had served as its leader during the past two years. Col. John R. Edwards, commander of the 479th FTG, presided
command upon Lt. Col. Brian Hobbins. Hobbins was formerly the director of operations for the 479th OSS. When Marquez took command in 2014, the OSS was comprised of more than 120 permanent party members and was responsible for nearly 500 undergraduate CSO stuCol. John Edwards (left) presents dents in the 479th FTG. During Lt. Col. Brian Hobbins with the Marquez’s tenure, he oversaw the 479th OSS’s guideon. Photo by Maj. establishment of the 479th Student
Peter Brunke
over the ceremony and bestowed
See 479th OSS on page 2
SAAPM proclamations signed at NHP, FFSC By Jason Bortz NHP PAO
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM). This year’s Department of Defense (DoD) and Navy theme is “Prevention is Possible.” The theme focuses on the ways individuals, communities and the private sector can take action to promote safety, respect and equality. “Every service member is impacted when a sexual assault occurs,” said Lt. Courtney Pollman-Turner, the In the company of NASP victim advocates, NASP CO See SAAPM on page 2
Capt. Christopher Martin signs a SAAPM proclamation April 1 at NASP FFSC. 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.