Gosport - October 09, 2015

Page 1

Bells to ring for Navy’s birthday ... On the U.S. Navy’s 240th birthday, Oct. 13, there will be a bell-ringing ceremony at NAS Pensacola Command Headquarters, the Walter LeRoy Richardson Building (Bldg. 1500) at 1 p.m. “Ready Then, Ready Now, Ready Always,” is the theme for the celebration. NASP CO Capt. Keith Hoskins will be the guest speaker, and Naval Air Technical Training Center will provide its color guard and performing unit vocal team.

Vol. 79, No. 40

VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com

October 9, 2015

NASP takes part in emergency management National Day of Action Story, photo by Jamie Link NASP PAO Intern

Active-duty personnel, family members and base leadership turned out to learn how to get ready for emergencies Sept. 30 during Naval Air Station Pensacola’s first National Preparedness Day event at

the Mustin Beach Club. There was a variety of information sources and emergency specialists on hand with displays and materials. Harold “Roy” Wilkinson from BRACE (Be Ready Alliance Coordinating For Emergencies) offered some good advice on preparedness.

VT-10 CO Cmdr. Brian Solano, right, picks up some emergency preparedness materials at the NASP National Preparedness Day event Sept. 30.

“Put all your important documents on a flash drive or CD, like birth certificates and insurance documents,” he said. “Keep it in a safe place and when the time comes you can grab it when you need to evacuate.” Kathy Sims from NASP Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) talked about how important it was to have a 72hour backpack already packed and what items would be most helpful for an evacuation. She had several examples on display. Other groups represented at the event included the USO Northwest Florida, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, NAS Pensacola Emergency

Hurricane evacuated aircraft aboard NAS Pensacola ... NAS Pensacola was a safe port in a storm for aircraft evacuated from NAS Oceana last weekend. About a dozen mixed F/A-18 Hornet types flew into NASP’s Forrest Sherman Airfield to avoid Hurricane Joaquin’s winds and flooding rains. More than 40 aircraft were originally slated to move to NASP, but when the storm tracked east, the number was reduced. The base, and NAS Whiting Field’s Naval Outlying Field (NOLF) Choctaw, provided training and operational support for the VFA-106 Gladiators, according to the group’s training officer, Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Baker. “We have a group of fleet replacement pilots training, and the ability to use (NASP and NOLF Choctaw) kept our training on track,” he said. “We had fantastic support, with less than two days notice.” Photos by Mike O’Connor

See Day on page 2

Special Operations Airmen marching 812 miles to honor fallen comrades From 24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, – The fourth Special Tactics Memorial March began Oct. 4 in remembrance of the two Special Tactics Airmen who were killed Aug. 26 in an apparent insider attack in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The march began in 2009 in memory of Staff Sgt. Tim Davis, a combat controller killed by an Improvised Explosive Device, Feb. 20, 2009, during Operation Enduring Freedom. The march is held only when a Special Tactics operator is killed in action

Friends, family and co-workers show support while marching alongside Special Tactics Airmen as they complete an 812-mile memorial march in 2011. Photo by Master Sgt. Steven Pearsall

that year. In addition, the memorial march honors all 19 Special

Tactics pararescuemen and combat controllers who have been

killed in action since 2001. Twenty Special Tactics Airmen began an 812-mile trek Oct. 4 from Medina Annex, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas at 2 a.m. relaying through five states, averaging 12.5 miles per leg. Each two-man team will walk approximately 90 miles during the 10-day trek, carrying a 50-pound ruck sack and a commemorative baton engraved with a fallen Special Tactics Airman’s name. The team made their way through downtown San Antonio at approximately 6 a.m. before heading east across Texas,

Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The 20 team members will reunite in Wynnehaven Beach, Fla., Oct. 13. They will march the final 4.6 miles together, and then walk the final mile from Hurlburt Field’s front gate with surviving family members of the 19 fallen Special Tactics Airmen and members of the community. The march will end at the Special Tactics Training Squadron on Hurlburt Field at 6 p.m. with a small ceremony. Event organizer, retired Chief

See USAF on page 2

The power of pink: NHP promotes Breast Cancer Awareness Month By Jason Bortz NHP PAO

About one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer, according to www. breast cancer. org. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Naval Hospital Pensacola (NHP) is taking the opportunity to educate beneficiaries about the dangers of breast cancer and the importance of getting checked.

In 2015, approximately 230,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 40,000 will die from it. Approximately 2,300 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer (www. breastcancer. org). “The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and getting older,” said Michelle Wilkes,

See NHP on page 2

“Together We Are One Voice Against Domestic Violence ... (Above, left) NAS Pensacola Fleet and Family Support Center invited Escambia County and NASP leadership to a domestic violence awareness and prevention month proclamation signing by NASP CO Capt. Keith Hoskins Oct. 6 at the McKamey Center onboard NASP. More than 40 people attended. (Above, right) “Walk in their shoes,” a display of domestic violence vicitims’ shoes, along with their stories, was a graphic reminder that victims lives’ are real, and are not forgotten. See Gosportʼs B1 “Life” section for more, and visit www.FFSP.navy.mil. Photos by Mike O’Connor

PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA PROUDLY SUPPORTS THE US ARMED FORCES ENTIRE PURCHASE AT REGULAR MENU PRICE ORDER ONLINE AT PAPAJOHNS.COM USE PROMO CODE: MIL30

OFF

30%

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.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Gosport - October 09, 2015 by Ballinger Publishing - Issuu