Gosport - May 10, 2019

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VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com

Vol. 83, No. 18

May 10, 2019

NASP emergency management encourages hurricane preparedness Story, photo NAS Pensacola Public Affairs

The Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Emergency Management Office encouraged service members, their families and civilian employees to ensure their hurricane preparedness plans are finalized before the Gulf Coast hurricane season begins June 1. Burt Fenters, the NAS Pensacola Emergency Manager, said preparation for any potential natural disaster is of paramount consideration, and the thousands of NAS Pensacola community members who could be impacted by a potential Gulf Coast hurricane should take the coming weeks to prepare. “Hurricane Season Preparedness is a year-long process,” he said. “During the off-season (Dec. 1 through May 30), items that take time to incorporate into your plans such as storm shutter inspections and home hardening projects (hurricane strap additions) should take place. This time of year, indi-

Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Emergency Manager Burt Fenters (right) discusses potential hurricane issues with NAS Pensacola Installation Training Officer Trent Hathaway May 7 in the NAS Pensacola Emergency Operations Center. Fenters is stressing the importance of National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 5 through 11) to the NAS Pensacola community as hurricane season begins June 1.

viduals should be reviewing how to secure their belongings, checking their sheltering-inplace kits to replace renewable items and reviewing evacuation plans.” Fenters advised that National

Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 5 through 11, is a time to make final preparations for potential storms. He suggested that determining the types of hazards a potential hurricane could bring to your area

– storm surge, rip currents, inland flooding, tornados and strong winds – should be the first consideration. “Certain areas of Pensacola can be impacted differently than others,” he said. “The

obvious damage that can occur from a hurricane are storm surge and wind, but inland flooding and tornados have also inflicted serious damage on houses and other structures during storms. People, to this day, still do not absorb the post storm reports from previous incidents. Inland flooding is the primary cause of death in a tropical system – not storm surge or wind.” According to Fenters, NAS Pensacola community members should develop an evacuation plan, including a method of receiving up-to-date information through various channels. He said the NAS Pensacola Facebook page will post the most current information on any potential weather threat to the Pensacola area, and information contained on this page will be considered the official message from the air station. Fenters also said NAS Pensacola community members to gather supplies before the See Hurricane on page 2

50th annual memorial ceremony honors fallen EOD technicians By Billy P. Martin Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal Public Affairs

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (NNS) – Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD) hosted the 50th annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Memorial Ceremony at the EOD Memorial onboard Eglin Air Force Base May 4. The EOD community from each of the joint services

gathered to honor the memory of 338 fallen EOD heroes and add the names of three additional EOD technicians to the memorial. Those added to the memorial this year include: Army Sgt. Joseph P. Collette, who was killed in action March 22 while serving in Afghanistan; Army Sgt. James Allen Slape, who was killed in action Oct. 4, 2018 while serving in Afghanistan; and Army 1st Lt. William F. “Bill” Alter, who was killed in action June 11, 1945 while serving

Former Vietnam POW speaks at Naval Aviation Schools Command By Ens. Stewart Bova Naval Aviation Schools Command Public Affairs

Retired U.S. Air Force Capt. William “Bill” Robinson, a former prisoner of war (POW) in Vietnam, spoke to hundreds of Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) students April 26. Robinson grew up in eastern North Carolina and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1961. He served several assign-

ments within the United States and a year-long tour in Korea. At the rank of airman first class, Robinson transferred to Thailand to serve with an air rescue and recovery unit in the Spring of 1965. He conducted operations in support of the Vietnam War until his rescue helicopter, a Kaman HH43B “Huskie,” was shot down while attempting to recover a downed F-105D pilot. Surviving the See POW @NASC on page 2

in World War II. Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan stated in a letter to NAVSCOLEOD, “Our EOD technicians have a long legacy of providing our nation critical service in the face of great danger. This year’s memorialization of Sgt. Joseph P. Collette, 1st Lt. William Alter, and Sgt. James Slape highlights the timeless criticality of the EOD mission and the enduring appreciation of their sacrifice by our military community.” See EOD on page 2

Commander, Naval Air Forces visits NATTC ... Capt. Max-

ine Goodridge, Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) commanding officer, (left) discusses training with Vice Adm. DeWolfe Miller, commander, Naval Air Forces (center) during a May 6 visit. NATTC is part of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, which provides single site management for Navy and Marine Corps aviation technical training. Photo by Lt. Ian Loomis

NHP Retiree Town Hall Meeting May 15 ... Naval Hospital Pensacola (NHP) is hold-

Retired U.S. Air Force Capt. William “Bill” Robinson, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam (center-right) returns a salute to a recent air crew graduate at the Naval Aviation Schools Command air crew graduation ceremony April 25. Photo by Ens. Simeon Fritz

ing a Retiree Town Hall Meeting May 15, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the hospital’s Command Theater, third floor, Rm. 3051. The focus of this town hall will be the transition of the administrative oversight of NHP to the Defense Health Agency that will occur this year. For patients, this transition will have little or no immediate effect on your experience – your facility, physicians and coverage will remain the same and you will continue to receive the same exceptional level of care and service you deserve from NHP. The town hall is a great opportunity to ask questions or provide feedback to us on the care you receive. If you have any questions, contact the NHP Public Affairs Officer at 505-6796.

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.


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