Gosport - September 13, 2019

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September 13, 2019

VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com

Vol. 83, No. 36

Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month observed at NAS Pensacola By Carolyn Gray NAS Pensacola Public Affairs Office

September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness month. To raise awareness, promote prevention and save lives, the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola provided a “1 Small Act” training event at the Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) auditorium Sept. 5. Speakers from Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), EscaRosa Suicide Prevention Coalition and Religious Ministries spoke to more than 400 students and service members. Military life can be stressful for service members and their families. Everyone reacts to stress and traumatic experiences differently and some may feel angry or isolated. People coping with these concerns may feel like there is no escape from their stressors leading them to having thoughts of suicide.

Legalman Senior Chief Petty Officer Erica Queely has been the suicide prevention coordinator for NAS Pensacola for 12 months. During her 19year naval career, she has seen her share of suicide situations. “Every small act shows that we care,” Queely said. “We care by showing concern, by getting involved and by supporting our fellow Sailors.” In a report released by the Defense Suicide Prevention office, 325 service members were killed by suicide in 2018: 58 Marines, 68 Sailors, 60 Airmen and 139 Soldiers. The report indicates an increase of 40 deaths from the previous year. “Over the past 10 years, I’ve noticed an overall increase in suicides within the Navy,” Capt. Timothy Kinsella Jr., commanding officer, NAS Pensacola said. “Suicide in the Navy has reached epidemic proportions and it has become critical that we educate our Sailors of the importance of caring for each other and asking

Information Systems Technician Seaman Apprentice Brandon Louallen writes a message about suicide prevention on the sidewalk in front of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Headquarters Building Sept. 6. September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month and NAS Pensacola is holding several events throughout the month to raise awareness on how to prevent suicides. Photo by Jason J. Bortz

for help when needed.” According to the National Action for Suicide Prevention and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, for every

person who dies by suicide annually, there are another 280 people who have thought seriously about suicide and nearly 60 who have survived a

suicide attempt. “There are some common factors as well as issues within See Suicide on page 2

Defense Health Agency assumes administration of remaining Eastern MTFs From Defense Health Agency (DHA)

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) has officially assumed administration and management responsibilities for all military treatment facilities (MTF) from central Texas to Maine as a part of Military Health System reform mandated by Congress in the National Defense Authorization Acts of Fiscal Years 2017 and 2019. The ultimate goal of this transition for the Department of Defense is a more integrated, efficient, and effective system of readiness and health. The recent announcement impacts more than 200 military hospitals and clinics east of the Mississippi River, plus those in Arkansas,

Louisiana, Oklahoma and most of Texas. “From a patient perspective, most of these changes should go unnoticed,” Navy Vice-Adm. Raquel C. “Rocky” Bono, DHA director said. “Patients expect and will receive the same high quality, trusted care they have come to know at our military treatment facilities. Providers can expect to focus on practicing medicine and maintaining their preparedness in the event of crisis.” The transition to DHA of more than 50 hospitals and 377 clinics currently administered by the armed services will be accomplished in phases by Sept. 30, 2021. DHA will be responsible for all facilities with respect to budgetary matters; information technology; health care administration

and management; administrative policy and procedure; and military medical construction. Previously, the DHA assumed management and administration of hospitals and clinics at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Pope Field, North Carolina; Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida; Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi; Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina; and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. These are in addition to DHA’s authority, direction, and control over Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Maryland, and Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital, Virginia, and their associated clinics. DHA will assume oversight of military treatment facilities in the western U.S. on Oct. 1, 2020 and all overseas facilities by Sept. 30, 2021.

Submit your Tuition Assistance, NCPACE Distance Learning requests now for FY2020 By Ensign Crysta M. Gonzalez Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs

Shelter from the storm ... A MH-53 Sea Dragon with Helicopters Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15 from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia, arrives at NAS Pensacola Sept. 4. Three additional MH-53 from HM14 and HM-15 also landed at NAS Pensacola. The aircraft were staging at NAS Pensacola to potentially provide assistance following Hurricane Dorian. Photo by Jason J. Bortz

If your plans for this fall include taking college courses, now is the time to select courses and apply for your Tuition Assistance (TA) and Navy College Program for Afloat College Education Distance Learning (NCPACE DL) funding. TA and NCPACE DL applications may be created, command approved and submitted in MyNavy Education on the Navy College Program (NCP) website as early as 120 days in advance of your school’s published term start date. All applications must be submitted and command approved no later than 14 days preceding the academic institution’s published term start date. First-time Sailors planning to utilize TA and/or NCPACE DL programs

are required to complete the following MyNavy Education training before applying: (1) Navy Tuition Assistance training: This covers Navy TA policy and the WebTA application process. For NCPACE, “NCPACE Policy and Procedures” training covers the NCPACE DL policy and application process. (2) “Navy Virtual Counseling 101” training: This helps you establish education and career goals, select and apply to an academic institution, and understand the higher education life cycle. This training will help to prepare you for your academic counseling with a Navy College Education counselor. Additionally, Sailors must: (1) Receive academic counseling from a NCP counselor. Sailors may See NCPACE 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.


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