Selected Children’s Christmas Party needs NASP volunteers ... NAS Pensacola Community Outreach is looking for help with this year’s Selected Children’s Christmas Party, to be held Dec. 5 from 8:30 a.m.-noon at the NASP youth center. Between 50-100 volunteers are needed to buy the children Christmas gifts and to donate their time. Volunteers to purchase gifts only are also needed; gift amounts cannot exceed $30. Anyone who volunteers will receive a certificate signed by NASP CO Capt. Christopher Plummer. For more information and instructions on how to sign up to volunteer or purchase a gift, call NASP Community Outreach at 452-2532.
Vol. 76, No. 46
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
November 16, 2012
Royal Saudi Air Force officials visit Pensacola training commands By Lt. Shelline Floyd NETSAFA Public Affairs Officer
Pensacola Veterans Day parade ... Retired Marine Master Gunnery Sgt Roberto Rivera, left, and Kelley Shuttlesworth stand together Nov. 12 in Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Pensacola as they listen to speakers during the Veterans Day presentation to mark the 20th anniversary of Wall South, which is seen in the background. Prior to the ceremony, military and civilian groups marched in a parade that concluded at the park. Photo by Janet Thomas For more photos, see page A4
Navy e-Learning afloat records more than 200,000 course completions for FY-12 performers in 2012 with more than 19,000 course completions. Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Halfacre is the Vinson’s training The Navy’s web-based training sys- officer and appreciates the flexibility that tem, Navy e-Learning (NeL), set a NeL offers his Sailors. record in Fiscal “Our crew is Year 2012 for the able to complete most course comall of their required pletions by afloat general military units. training (GMT) Nearly 217,000 courses using NeL course completions and that helps us were recorded by manage our sched191 ships and subule while undermarines during the way or pierside,” year. said Halfacre. “We “As we work to don’t have to constantly improve schedule classes, the afloat side of PSSN Terrence Oliver browses the classrooms or Navy e-Learning, Navy e-learning website while under i n s t r u c t o r s and we are seeing way aboard the aircraft carrier USS onboard; the flexiincreased usage Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Navy e- bility and 24/7 and better results as Learning is an online tool Sailors can availability of this application use ashore and under way to enhance courses through matures,” said their learning opportunities. Photo by NeL afloat works Hank Reeves, NeL MC3 Chelsea Kennedy very well for us.” project director. The computer “We’ve seen steady increases in usage server hosting NeL afloat is resident and availability each year since the onboard each platform and runs indeinception of NeL in 2001.” pendently without a constant Internet NeL afloat offers more than 1,600 connection. When connectivity is availcourses, ranging from information assur- able, the server can transfer information ance awareness training required of all back to the shore side for updating Sailors to hull-specific training for indi- Sailors’ Electronic Training Jackets vidual units. (ETJ) and transmitting the latest training The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) was one of the top NeL afloat See NeL on page 2
By Ed Barker NETC Public Affairs
Naval Education and Training Security Assistance Field Activity (NETSAFA) hosted senior officers from the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Nov. 5. Maj. Gen. Ali Juwayr Al-Hamad, commander, King Faisal Air Academy (KFAA) and Brig. Gen. Loaye Yagoub Al-Ali, the academy’s training wing commander, observed RSAF service member’s aviation training in the Pensacola area. Before watching the training, both generals met with Rear Adm. Don Quinn, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC); Capt. Douglas Heady, NETSAFA commanding officer; and Capt. Christopher Heaney, NETSAFA International Training Center’s (NITC) officer in charge, to discuss how RSAF service members are trained like their U.S. counterparts and briefed on the functions, infrastructure and capabilities of NETSAFA, and the aviation training provided to the RSAF service members. “Meeting one-on-one to assess what our international partners expect from our training is very important. It also allows us the opportunity to discuss practices and lessons learned,” said Heady. “Reviews such as these are important to strengthening the ties the U.S. Navy has with the Royal Saudi Air Force, and expands our continued cooperation and
alliance.” Heany says the outlook for growth in the area of training international partners is huge. “This valuable meeting provided the opportunity to improve NITC’s preparatory curriculum,” said Heaney. “We value our ongoing relationship with the RSAF and their outstanding graduates from the KFAA.” Afterward Al-Hamad and Al-Ali met with Capt. Willie Billingslea, commodore of Training Air Wing Six (CTW-6), to familiarize themselves with the training command and see firsthand the type of training students receive. Following their visit to CTW-6, they met with Marine Col. Jim Grace, commodore of Training Air Wing Five (CTW-5), onboard NAS Whiting Field, to discuss training and tour the T-6B Texan II aircraft simulator building, and chat with several RSAF service members about the training they are receiving. “The generals were impressed to see that their students received the same rigorous aviation training as U.S. naval aviation students,” said Heady. NETSAFA is the U.S. Navy’s agent for international education and training. In that role, NETSAFA is dedicated to providing the maximum assistance possible to ensure successful training for the growing Royal Saudi Air Forces and other international partners. For more information about NETSAFA, visit https://www. netsafa.navy.mil
Lt. Cmdr. Nathaniel Dishman, far right, a flight instructor at Training Air Wing Five (CTW-5), discusses with Maj. Gen. Ali Juwayr Al-Hamad, commander, King Faisal Air Academy (KFAA), middle left, and Brig. Gen. Loaye Yagoub Al-Ali, the academy’s training wing commander, how international students receive the same rigorous aviation training as U.S. naval aviation training students. Photo by Ens. Carisa Terry
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.