Vol. 76, No. 28
NMOTC change of command ceremony today (July 13) By Lt.j.g. Michael Schermer NMOTC PAO
Capt. Larry S. Garsha will turn over command of Navy Medicine Operational Training Center (NMOTC) to Capt. James P. Norton today (July 13).
Capt. James P. Norton
The change of command ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. in the National Naval Aviation Museum. Presiding over the ceremony will be Capt. Gail L. Hathaway. Hathaway is the commanding officer for Navy
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
July 13, 2012
New changes to traffic safety instruction From NASP Safety Department, staff reports
The Chief of Naval Operations has released a new traffic safety instruction, OpNavInst 5100.12J, which changes and emphasizes some important safety regulations that focus on cell phone use while driving, texting while driving, use of seat belts and motorcycle safety instruction. NASP Traffic Safety Officer Capt. Brett Kratzer took the opportunity to point out that some of the changes in fine print are common-sense safety issues drivers need to be aware of. “Unfortunately, I still see people driving on base with a cell phone in their hand,” Kratzer said. “Cell phone use while driving on base has been and still is prohibited. The only time it is acceptable to use a cell phone in your vehicle is when it is safely parked. All personnel are encouraged to avoid any activity that may be a distraction while driving.” The new instruction incorporated a few changes involving civilian motorcycle riders. Notably, civilians working on base are no longer required to complete the Basic Riders Course and follow-on training, provided they have a proper motorcycle endorsement. This does not apply to active military personnel. “Although the training is no longer required for civilian personnel, NASP Safety still encourages every rider to complete a motorcycle training course. The extra training may save your life,” Kratzer said. NASP Safety Manager Jon Winters reminds civilian motorcycle riders that the Basic Riders Course remains available to them. “The skills you can
Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education Steffanie B. Easter watches aviation ordnanceman students work in a training scenario.
Top Navy official visits NATTC Story, photo by AECS(AW/SW) Thomas E. Hebert NATTC PAO
The Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education got a firsthand look a aviation training during a visit to the Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) June 26. During her visit, Steffanie Easter got a detailed look at the broad range of courses taught throughout Center
for Naval Aviation Technical Training’s (CNATT) domain, including NATTC, its largest training command. At NATTC, Easter saw how Sailors and Marines are trained for the fleet through a blended learning solution that includes standard classrooms, hands-on labs and simulations, as well as computer-based and interactive courseware training. “The quality of instruction is up to par, or exceeds, training received in
See NATTC on page 2
See Traffic safety on page 2
Pensacola Beach Air Show today, tomorrow By Janet Thomas Gosport Staff Writer
Capt. Larry S. Garsha
Medicine Education and Training Command located in San Antonio, Texas, and NMOTC’s immediate superior in command. Norton was commissioned in 1984 and winged in 1985 as a naval aerospace physiologist at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI) located onboard NASP. After his first six years in the Navy, Norton graduated from the Aviation Safety Officer Course at Naval Postgraduate School in 1990. Three years later as a lieutenant commander, he transferred to a full time out-service training position at the University of Minnesota, completing
See NMOTC on page 2
Big crowds are expected to watch the Blue Angels fly at Pensacola Beach today, July 13, and tomorrow, July 14. The annual beach show by the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, which is homebased at NAS Pensacola, is a highlight of the summer tourism season. The squadron’s six F/A-18 Hornets will perform a sequence of high-speed aerobatic maneuvers over Pensacola Beach along with the team’s C-130 Hercules. A “dress rehearsal” is scheduled for today and there will be a full performance tomor-
row. The planes are scheduled to start flying at noon each day, and the Blues should roar into action at about 2 p.m. Other aircraft and teams scheduled to participate include a Grumman Widgeon G-44 flown by Julian MacQueen, Prometheus flown by Skip Stewart, Team RV, an MX2 flown by Gary Ward and an Extra 300SHP flown by Kevin Coleman Aerosports. For more information, call 932-1500 or go to www.pensacolabeachchamber.com. Local fans will get another chance to see the Blues Angels perform Nov. 2-3 at the annual homecoming show at NAS Pensacola.
Blue Angels Flight Leader and Commanding Officer Capt. Greg McWherter flies a Blue Angel F/A-18 Hornet inverted in the “Double Farvel” maneuver over Pensacola Beach in July 2011. Photo by MC3 Andrew Johnson
National PTSD Awareness Day subject of local event From Twelve Oaks Recovery Center
Highlighted by two multiservice, multidisciplinary panel discussions, the focus was squarely on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at a special awareness event June 27 in Fort Walton Beach. Hosted by Twelve Oaks Recovery Center, the Military Appreciation and National PTSD Awareness Day event culminated a monthlong campaign of awareness and education in conjunction with the national observance. Congress named June 27 Eight members of a panel of experts in the field of PTSD treatment, National PTSD Awareness Day in 2009. including NASP Chaplain Cmdr. David Gibson (left), answer ques“Since 1993, Twelve Oaks Recovery has made a commitment to tions during a military appreciation and National PTSD Awareness Day event held at Twelve Oaks Recovery Center June 27. Photo courtesy retired Master Sgt. Dan Carpenter
See PTSD on page 2
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