NAS Pensacola holiday hours ...
Vol. 77, No. 51
NASP gate hours will be modified as follows during the holiday period: Commencing 6 p.m. today, Dec. 20, through 5 a.m. Jan. 6, 2014, the NASP west gate reduced hours will be 7 a.m.-6 p.m. NASP Corry Station gate seven will close beginning at 6 p.m. today, Dec. 20, through 5 a.m. Jan. 6, 2014. Both the NASP west gate and NASP Corry Station gate seven will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
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December 20, 2013
MCPON visits NAS Pensacola By Lt. Jonathan Bacon NATTC PAO
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Mike Stevens conducted an all-hands call for Sailors at Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) Dec. 12. The visit was part of Stevens’ swing through the South, as he toured Navy commands and units in Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida. At the Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) Aviation Rescue Swimmer School and Aircrew Candidate School, Stevens was given an overview of the programs and toured the training facilities. As a junior Sailor, Stevens was a student in Naval Air Technical Train-
Last issue of Gosport for the year By Scott Hallford Gosport Editor
Today’s issue of your homebase newspaper marks the last edition of the year. Per our contract with the printer, Ballinger Publishing, we print 50 issues annually (with one extra this year), so the December holiday period is a time the Gosport staff takes a break and regroups for the next year. The newspaper will return to distribution Jan. 10, 2014; any classified ads placed during the next two weeks will appear in that issue. We will continue to work hard to bring you one of the best newspapers in the Navy as we begin our 93nd year serving the Cradle of Naval Aviation. On behalf of NASP Commanding Officer, Capt. Keith Hoskins, the NASP Public Affairs staff and Ballinger Publishing, we wish you all very safe and happy holidays. For a complete list of holiday church services, see page B5.
ing Center’s (NATTC) Aviation Structural Mechanic Course, when NATTC was located in Millington, Tenn. As the 13th MCPON, Stevens returned to NATTC, now in Pensacola, to observe the training being delivered to the current generation of new Sailors. Comparing his visits today with the training he received 30 years ago, Stevens said, “I think our training is getting better NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer, Capt. Keith Hoskins (left), speaks with MCPON each year, and I could not Mike Stevens as they head into a briefing Dec. 17. Photo by Janet Thomas be more impressed with what I saw today at NASC the students and instruc- at an ‘A’-School, a ‘C’- NATTC and NASC barSchool, or at Recruit racks which house the stutors. and NATTC.” On the importance of Training Command, they dents attending training. Stevens observed firsthand NATTC’s aviation becoming an instructor, should take it. We have a The barracks facilities are ordnance, jet engine main- Stevens remarked, “If a responsibility to training just one example of the partnership between the air tenance, and aircraft struc- Sailor has the opportunity our reliefs.” Central stops on station and the tenant comtural repair training to become an instructor at facilities as he visited with a training command, either MCPON’s tour were the mands.
Following the barracks tour, Stevens attended a chief petty officers’ call where he fielded questions from the senior enlisted leadership of various local commands. With the chiefs, Stevens spoke about changes coming down the road which will affect the mess, and took questions on topics of interest, including: the commissaries, tuition assistance, and the timeliness of orders. He also encouraged the chiefs to take another look at his letter to the fleet titled “Zeroing in on Excellence.” After meeting with the chiefs, Stevens addressed Sailors from various Pensacola commands during an All Hands call in NATTC’s largest hangar. He fielded questions on a variety of topics including
See MCPON on page 2
Pen Air FCU donates toys to Marines’ Toys for Tots Story, photo from Morgan Cole Pen Air FCU
Throughout November, Pen Air Federal Credit Union (FCU) held a branchwide toy drive collecting more than 300 toys to benefit the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation. On Dec. 3, the toy donations were collected from the Pen Air FCU NAS Pensacola branch and Eastern Shore branch located in Spanish Fort, Ala., to be distributed to children throughout the community. “We thank Pen Air Federal Credit Union for supporting this year’s campaign, especially with the increase in requests from families,” said Marine Staff Sgt. Victor Molter. The Marine Corps spends countless hours coordinating
Pen Air FCU staff members and Marine Staff Sgt. Victor Molter collecting toy donations for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation at Pen Air FCU aboard NAS Pensacola Dec. 3.
drop box locations, conducting fundraisers, and spreading the word about the Toys for Tots Foundation. During the last few years, there has been a significant increase in the number of fami-
lies who have applied to receive toy donations through the foundation. For more information, contact Morgan Cole at 505-3200, ext. 4151, or colemo@penair.org.
Pen Air Federal Credit Union is dedicated to enhancing lives through exceptional service, strength and financial solutions. Visit penair.org/membership for more information.
‘Keep What You’ve Earned:’ designate a driver From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs
Blue Angels at Pensacola Christmas Parade ... Members of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, greet fans, throw beads and share holiday greetings during the 2013 Pensacola Christmas Parade Dec. 14. Photo by MCC Russ Tafuri
MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) – December has been designated as National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, announced Dorice Favorite, director, Navy Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Office. “The month of December is one of the busiest on the nation’s roadways, and also one of the most dangerous, due to a high incidence of alcohol and drug-related traffic crashes,” said Favorite. “Ac-
cording to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 25 people die each day in drunk driving crashes during December.” That means approximately 775 people aren’t making it home for the December holidays. “Impaired driving crashes are one hundred percent preventable,” continued Favorite. “Everyone can practice responsible drinking and ‘Keep What They’ve Earned.’ It’s within everyone’s ability to make and keep to a plan, whether at a party, at the bar, or anywhere that will require you to travel home.”
See Driver 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.