Columbus Day safety message ... In a recent message, the NAS Pensacola Safety Department reminds personnel to take safety factors into consideration on the holiday. If traveling, don’t text and drive. Avoid speeding. Don’t drink and drive. Perform a good maintenance vehicle check. Plan your route and take frequent breaks. Wear proper protective equipment when operating all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, scooters, skateboards or any personal watercraft. Always check the weather and the environment before any activity – and have a safe long weekend.
Vol. 81, No. 40
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
October 6, 2017
Changes for TRICARE benefits slated By the Defense Health Agency
Changes are coming to your TRICARE benefit beginning Jan. 1, 2018. These changes will give you more benefit choices, improve your access to care, simplify cost shares and allow you to take command of your health. The best way for you to prepare now is to update your information in DEERS, sign up for TRICARE benefit updates and visit TRICARE Changes at www.tricare.mil/changes. Here are changes that you will need to know about: Region consolidation: Currently, there are three TRICARE
regions in the U.S.: North, South and West. The North and South regions will combine on Jan. 1, 2018 to form TRICARE East, while TRICARE West will remain mostly unchanged. Two new contractors, Humana Military and Health Net Federal Services, will administer these regions. This change will allow better coordination between the military hospitals and clinics and the civilian health care providers in each region. TRICARE Select: On Jan. 1, 2018, TRICARE Select will replace TRICARE Standard See TRICARE on page 2
CSADD 5K Color Run ... Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) Aviation Support Equipment Technician “A” School Instructor AS1 Angela Adair congratulates NATTC students at the finish line of the NATTC Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD) 5K Color Run Sept. 29 onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola. More than 2,000 students registered for the run. Photo courtesy of CNATT Public Affairs
Navy College Program Afloat receives major upgrades By Ed Barker Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center (NETPDC) Public Affairs
As part of the continued transformation of the Navy’s Voluntary Education Program, the Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) Distance Learning (DL) has transitioned to individual enrollment Oct. 1 as announced in NAVAD-
MIN 243/17. The NCPACE DL courses are self-contained (no internet connectivity is required to complete the course), and are available at any time for eligible Sailors assigned to type two and type four sea duty. Sailors enroll using the new NCPACE DL application process available in the My Education Application module on the Navy College Program (NCP) website. A major change to the program is that all NC-
Raise your awareness of breast cancer in October By Jason Bortz Naval Hospital Pensacola Public Affairs Officer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Naval Hospital Pensacola (NHP) is taking the opportunity to educate patients about the dangers of breast cancer and the importance of getting checked. According to the American Cancer Society, about 230,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and approximately 40,000 died from it. Approximately 2,300 men were also diagnosed with breast cancer. “The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and getting older,” said Michelle Wilkes, breast health specialist, NHP. “The best defense against breast cancer is early detection with a breast self-exam, clinical breast exam and a mammogram. Think of screening exams as an important gift for yourself and your loved ones.” A mammogram can often detect
PACE DL courses will now be funded using the same rate authorized for Tuition Assistance courses; $250 per semester hour (SH) or equivalent. Sailors may only receive funding for up to 16 SH or equivalent, per fiscal year through TA, NCPACE DL or any combination of the two. NCPACE DL courses now also require the same grade attainment standards as TA courses at all levels to avoid tuition reimbursement to the government. See NCPACE on page 2
TOPGUN at NAS Pensacola By Ashley Laliberty NASP PAO Intern
NAS Pensacola (NASP) recently welcomed the U.S. Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor (SFTI) program, TOPGUN, to conduct training over the next few weeks. Students from various squadrons are visiting NASP to participate in this 13-
week course. The rigorous training includes operating simulation aircraft; F/A-18 Hornets, Super Hornets and F-16 Fighting Falcons. Following the completion and graduation of the course, students complete the training See TOPGUN on page 2
A patient prepares for a mammogram Sept. 22 at Naval Hospital Pensacola. A mammogram can often detect breast cancer long before it can be felt.
breast cancer long before it can be felt and usually years before physical symptoms appear. If detected early, breast cancer treatment can be less invasive and more successful. Some warning signs of breast cancer include a lump in the breast or armpit, nipple discharge, any change in the size or shape of the See NHP on page 2
Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated onboard NAS Pensacola ... Local publisher Grace Resendez McCaffery (left) and NASP’s NCC Luis Diaz were guest speakers at the base’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, held Sept. 29 at the CPO Club. McCaffery spoke about the positive changes Hispanics have made in the area; Diaz told a moving account of his Cuban family’s success in the United States. Photos 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.