Gosport - December 21, 2012

NAS Pensacola gate holiday hours ... NAS Pensacola’s (NASP) Main Gate will remain open and in

normal operating hours throughout the holiday period. • The West Gate (Back Gate) hours will be modified to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting Dec. 22 through Jan. 6. The West Gate will be open until 1 p.m. Dec. 24. The West Gate will be closed Dec. 25 and will reopen at 8 a.m. Dec. 26. The West Gate will be open until 1 p.m. Dec. 31. West Gate will be closed Jan. 1 and will reopen at 8 a.m. Jan. 2. • The VA Gate will be closed Dec. 22 to Jan. 8. • Corry Gate 7 will be closed Dec. 22 to Jan. 8.

VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com

Vol. 82, No. 51

December 21, 2018

NEX Pensacola Aviation Plaza named 2017 Bingham Award winner From NAS Pensacola Public Affairs

Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola’s Navy Exchange (NEX) Aviation Plaza was awarded the 2017 Bingham Award

by Rear Adm. Robert Bianchi, the Navy Exchange Command (NEXCOM) chief executive officer, during a ceremony at the Aviation Plaza Dec. 19.

The Bingham award, designed to recognize excellence in customer service, operations and management at NEX activities, is awarded annually to the best NEX facilities in nine sales categories for overall financial results and customer service. The NAS Pensacola Aviation Plaza was recognized as the top performer in Sales Category 3 ($21 to $35 million).

NEX Pensacola General Manager Steven Foster

said the award represents the hard work and dedication the nearly 450 Pensacola-area NEX employees demonstrate each day, serving the more than 30,000 service members, military retirees and other eligible patrons annually.

“We (NEX Pensacola) have one of the largest populations of eligible patrons in the NEXCOM enterprise,” he said. “The team here ensures that the needs of the population are met – from uniform needs to clothing to electronics – and I couldn’t be more proud of the professional manner in which this staff ensures a pleasant shopping experience for all customers.”

NEX Pensacola’s Aviation Plaza is a series of specialty stores including a uniform shop, personalized services, barber shop and electronics department along with a food

(Left to right) Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Martin, Navy Exchange Pensacola General Manager Steven Foster and NEX Pensacola Aviation Plaza Manager Doug Shees receive the 2017 Bingham Award (Sales Category 3, $21 to $35 million) from Navy Exchange Command (NEXCOM) Chief Executive Officer (ret.) Rear Adm. Robert Bianchi during a ceremony Dec. 19 at the NAS Pensacola Navy Exchange (NEX) Aviation Plaza.

court.

NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt.

Christopher Martin said receipt of the award showcases the commitment

and professionalism of the entire NEX staff.

“At every facility I’ve

been assigned to during See NEX on page 2

LREC mobile app refreshed, encompasses 59 countries

By Glenn Sircy Center for Information Warfare Training

The Center for Information Warfare Training’s (CIWT) Language, Regional Expertise and Culture (LREC) directorate released a new version of their Navy Global Deployer application for mobile devices, Dec. 18.

LREC continues to offer valuable resources for Navy personnel and their families as part of the Ready Relevant Learning initiatives of Sailor 2025 by

delivering the right training at the right time, in the right place and in the right format for the Navy’s Sailors.

For 59 world cultures, the app provides useful information on topics like language, history, geography, people, ethnic groups, religious institutions and societal norms, as well as culturally appropriate behavior and etiquette. With a small initial download, you receive access to culture and language-specific content which can be

downloaded and then deleted after use, making room on your device for other content.

This version of the application adds Every Deployment a Global Engagement (EDGE) courses. EDGE prepares Sailors, family members and others for assignments in the overseas fleet concentration areas of Bahrain, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Spain. This updated version also includes the EDGE Basic CrossCultural Competence (B3C) and Culture Shock See App on page 2

NASP Airmen take advantage of virtual reality paint booths Story, photo

by Randy Martin 12th Flying Training Wing

Teaching Airmen the how-to of protecting parts and planes just got safer and more efficient at the 359th Training Squadron’s Detachment 1 at NAS Pensacola thanks to virtual reality.

Members of the detachment recently installed two 3D virtual reality paint trainers in their schoolhouse, which graduates about 1,200 Airmen annually in the aircraft structural maintenance, low observable aircraft structural maintenance and non-destructive inspection career fields.

“The technology gap between using the virtual reality system and the real thing is almost one in the same, to the point where I train students here and I have to spend less time in the hazardous waste environment,” Tech. Sgt. Kurt Brown,

Wreaths Across America at Barrancas ... Thousands of wreaths were placed at Barran-

Capt. Patrick Britton, 359th Training Squadron Detachment 1 commander, right, uses a spray gun and HTC Virtual Reality goggles to apply paint to a virtual aircraft part in a 3D VR trainer Dec. 12, 2018, at the unit’s schoolhouse onboard NAS Pensacola.

aircraft structural maintenance instructor said.

Maintainers require a respirator, hearing protection, eye protection and a chemical protection suit when they are inside an actual paint booth. That equipment is not neces-

sary for the detachment’s VR training, which focuses on spray gun techniques.

Until October 2018, Brown and fellow instructors alternated training See USAF VR on page 2

cas National Cemetery (BNC) onboard NAS Pensacola Dec. 15. The Kiwanis Club of Big Lagoon Foundation came together with hundreds of military members and families to remember loved ones and veterans interred at BNC. Photo courtesy of Craig McDonnell

Last Gosport of the year ... Today, Dec. 21, we celebrate the last 2018 issue of Gosport. The newspaper will be back on news stands Jan. 11, 2019. Gosport has served Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) and the community for 97 years and we are happy to continue bringing readers the best local military news coverage in 2019. On behalf of NASP Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Martin, the NASP Public Affairs staff and Ballinger Publishing, happy holidays and cheers to the new year.

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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December 21, 2018

GOSPORT

Safe Helpline, SAPR is available at the holidays From Mica Harrell NAS Pensacola SAPR Victim Advocate

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program wishes you a safe and happy holiday season. As you enjoy holiday celebrations, remember to always celebrate and respect other people’s boundaries, both with alcohol and inti-

macy. If you are unsure about signals you are receiving, stop to check in and clarify.

If you are unsure if a person is capable of consenting, err on the side of caution and assume they are not.

In this time of thanks and joyful appreciation, we are thankful to have so many capable individuals who can make a difference and help prevent sexual assault. If you see someone who is at risk of harm, practice ac-

tive intervention. Step in and separate them from the situation or address the potentially harmful behavior directly. Remember, if you see something, say something. If someone tells you they have been sexually assaulted, always believe them and never blame them. The responsibility for the sexual assault lies completely with the offender.

If you know someone who has been sexually assaulted, keep their confidence

“NAS Pensacola: History in Focus” ... NASP History in Focus is a photo feature designed to draw attention to the rich historical legacy of the base. A photo or photos will be published each week showing an interesting, obscure or historically significant feature of NAS Pensacola. The first person who e-mails Gosport to correctly identify the object and its location will win a $5 coupon good toward food or beverages purchased at the Navy Exchange (NEX) onboard NASP. E-mail your answer to NASPGosport@gmail.com. Winner and answer will be announced on NASP Public Affairs Facebook at www. facebook.com/NASPPAO and in the next issue of Gosport. (Readers can win once per month).

NEX from page 1 my 30 years in the Navy, the Navy Exchange has always been a constant,” he said. “The manner in which the NEX Pensacola Aviation Plaza team has taken care of the thousands of Sailors here is exemplary, something this award recognizes. The NAS Pensacola community is heavily reliant on the outstanding services the NEX offers and I’m proud of the employees who App from page 1 courses and EDGE videos for the strategically important countries of China, Iran and Russia.

A short snippet of an example video can be found at https://www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT/videos/1976224415800589/.

These courses are intended to train personnel to recognize culturally-driven behaviors and social norms unique to a foreign culture and to shape learners’ attitudes and behaviors to promote international good will and understanding. The courses also reinforce the Navy’s core values and their applicability to duty overseas.

They are now available on Navy e-Learning and currently being added to Navy e-Learning Afloat.

Country-specific information in the app is divided into the following sections: 1. Navy EDGE – For Bahrain, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, China, Iran and Russia.

2. Culture Orientation – The Operational Cultural Awareness Training (OCAT) presentation, or a similar narrated presentation.

3. Culture Card – Mobile-friendly and printable quick-reference guides covering various aspects of each country’s history, language and culture.

4. Etiquette Guide – Information on everything from meeting and greeting to cultural values to the significance of common nonverbal gestures.

5. Language Phrases – Useful common phrases with audio recordings to assist with pronunciation.

6. Language Guide – A library of links to free online learning resources for more than 100 languages.

Other sections of the app include general resources available to the user, emergency resources, and a favorites section that allows users to bookmark and easily access parts of the app they find personally important.

“The app offers Sailors, civilian employees and their family members an opportunity to learn a little about foreign countries they may visit or be stationed in,” Jim Murphy, app development lead with LREC said. “As an ondemand language and culture learning tool, our

Vol. 82, No. 51

continue meeting the needs of the service members and their families who live and work here.”

The Bingham Award is named for the late Capt. W.H. Bingham, the former CEO of R.H. Macy’s and appointed by the Secretary of the Navy in 1946 to lead an advisory board for establishment of what is now NEXCOM. NEXCOM is headquarters for the world wide NEXCOM enterprise, an organization designed to provide authorized customers quality goods and services at a savings and to support Navy quality of life programs

app helps prepare Navy personnel for living, visiting and working overseas.”

These courses satisfy standing orders to maintain cultural awareness. Commanding officers may use EDGE to ensure their crews maintain cultural awareness which improves unit and personnel readiness and operational outcomes.

“When combined with country-specific curriculum, this continuum of learning prepares Sailors and civilian employees for successful overseas tours,” Chris Wise, director of LREC said. “It also improves personal and command cultural readiness; helps the Navy build effective relationships with strategic partners; and reduces the confusion and insecurity that may accompany an assignment in a foreign culture.”

The app is available for download from the iTunes and Google Play online stores. To find the free app, search key words such as “CLREC” and “Navy global deployer” in the app stores or a web browser. Sailors can also find this app and many other Navy apps at https:// www.applocker.navy.mil.

The U.S. Navy Sea Warrior Program (PMW 240) produced the app and Tracen Technologies Inc., a company that specializes in integrated mobile and web solutions, was the software developer.

The Navy’s LREC office delivers foreign language instruction and training on foreign cultures to prepare Navy personnel for global engagements to strengthen ties with enduring allies, cultivate relationships with emerging partners, thwart adversaries, and defeat enemies. Part of the Center for Information Warfare Training, LREC directorate is located onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola Corry Station.

For more information, contact LREC at culturetraining@navy.mil or languagetraining@navy.mil or 452-6736, DSN 459.

Center for Information Warfare Training delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services, enabling optimal performance of information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.

For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training enterprise, visit www.navy. mil/local/cid.

December 21, 2018

Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla.: A Bicentennial Defense Community Commanding Officer – Capt. Christopher T. Martin Public Affairs Officer – Patrick J. Nichols The Gosport nameplate pays homage to the 100th anniversary of naval aviation in 2011: the Centennial of Naval Aviation, or CONA. The image on the left side of the nameplate depicts Eugene Ely taking off in a Curtiss pusher biplane from the USS Pennsylvania Jan. 18, 1911.

While Ely had taken off from the USS Birmingham two months earlier after his plane had been loaded on the ship, the USS Pennsylvania event was the first time a plane landed on and then took off from a U.S. warship.

The image on the right side is one of the

Navy’s most modern fighter aircraft, the F/A18 Super Hornet.

Established in 1921 as the Air Station News, the name Gosport was adopted in 1936. A gosport was a voice tube used by flight instructors in the early days of naval aviation to give instructions and directions to their students. The name “Gosport” was derived from Gosport, England (originally God’s Port), where the voice tube was invented.

Gosport is an authorized newspaper published every Friday by Ballinger Publishing, 314 North Spring St., Suite A, Pensacola, Fla. 32501, in the interest of military and ci-

by directing them to the SAPR Program and by not talking with others about the assault. Safe Helpline is available 24/7 at (877) 995-5247 and provides a variety of online resources as well. Visit safehelpline. org to chat, join anonymous groups and get information. You can also reach SAPR services by calling the 24/7 Victim Advocate at 449-9231 or Civilian Victim Advocate at 293-4561.

Dec. 21

Photo by Trent Hathaway

for active duty military, retirees, reservists and their families.

NAS Pensacola, referred to as the “Cradle of Naval Aviation,” is designed to support operational and training missions of tenant commands, including Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC), the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT), Marine Aviation Training Support Groups (MATSG) 21 and 23 and is the headquarters for Naval Education and Training Command (NETC).

USAF VR from page 1 between a two-dimensional simulator and two real paint booths. They thought VR could improve a student’s proficiency with spray guns, while simultaneously preserving resources and delivering motivated Airmen.

“All the multimedia devices we use get the students more excited about the career field,” Staff Sgt. Jason Noyes, low observable aircraft structural maintenance instructor said.

“Then once they see the results and the increase in efficiency, they go into the paint booth and they realize it’s the exact same thing,” Each VR system allows students to see themselves perform a task in playback mode. Students learn by seeing where they utilized improper technique, wasted paint, or where coverage was lacking. Students also get opportunities to paint an assortment of virtual equipment and utilize chemicals that match authentic materiel in the field. Instructors can track performance and adapt training objectives to match real world scenarios.

Ultimately, students get more time to improve their techniques and the instructors said they have seen improved scores on tests as a result.

“I’m able to train them and have more one-on-one time,” Brown said. “I can instantly clear the paint. You don’t have to wipe it or wait for it to cure before sanding and blasting the parts with all the hazardous waste and chemicals.”

Each system costs about $32,000, which includes a computer, spray gun, HTC VR goggles, 65-inch television monitor, software and operator training with the system’s commercial vendor. This investment pays for itself within two years.

“Operating costs for our two paint booths is $35,000 annually,” Capt. Patrick Britton, 359th TRS Detachment 1 commander said. “When they go into the real paint booth, each student gets maybe 10 minutes to paint. Each class spends 87 total hours waiting for paint to dry, and with 61 courses set for fiscal year 2019, that’s 5,300 hours spent waiting. So this technology allows us to rededicate that training time to our instructors and students by maximizing their hands-on time with the paint gun.”

Plans are to survey graduates and their supervisors in the field in the spring of 2019. That feedback will determine potential changes and improvements to future VR training.

“I believe we are the premier unit within the DoD for using VR in structural maintenance,” Britton said. “The true benefit of the system is that students develop great techniques.

This training ensures more qualified maintenance professionals to maintain the Air Force’s fleet, and ultimately enables us to project the global airpower required by our combatant commanders.”

vilian personnel and their families aboard the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Saufley Field and Corry Station.

Editorial and news material is compiled by the Public Affairs Office, 150 Hase Road, Suite A, NAS Pensacola, FL 32508-1051.

All news releases and related materials should be mailed to that address or e-mailed to michael.f.oconnor@navy.mil.

National news sources are American Forces Press Service (AFPS), Navy News Service (NNS), Air Force News Service (AFNS), News USA and North American Precis Syndicate (NAPS).

Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense, United States Navy, officials of the Naval Air Station Pensacola, or Ballinger Publishing.

All advertising, including classified ads, is arranged through Ballinger Publishing.

Minimum weekly circulation is 25,000. Everything advertised in this publication must be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to rank, rate, race, creed, color, national origin or sex of the purchaser, user or ­patron.

A confirmed rejection of this policy of equal opportunities by an advertiser will result in the refusal of future advertising from that source.

For classified ads, call:

(850) 433-1166, ext. 25

For commercial advertising, call: Becky Hildebrand (850) 433-1166, ext. 31 Becky@ballingerpublishing.com Visit Us On The Web At: Ballinger Publishing.Com Mail to: Gosport, NAS Pensacola, 150 Hase Road, Ste.-A, Pensacola, FL 32508-1051

Gosport Editor

Mike O’Connor

452-2165

Mike@ballingerpublishing.com michael.f.o’connor.ctr@navy.mil

Gosport Staff Writer

Kaitlyn Peacock

452-4419

Kaitlyn@ballingerpublishing.com

December 21, 2018

GOSPORT

Commentary

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Navy revamps surface warfare training for junior officers

By MC2 Danian Douglas Defense Media Activity “Hard right rudder,” a young surface warfare officer (SWO) nervously commanded the helmsman, working to avoid the massive, monolithic oil tanker picked up on the radar only moments before.

As the destroyer swerved away from the impending collision by rounding the stern of the tanker, the nimble warship now faced a plethora of other super-sized ships as it transited a major shipping lane, both with ships traveling in the same lane and with others crossing the flow of traffic.

Avoiding a collision would absolutely require prompt evasive maneuvering.

But no one was in immediate danger, because the situation just outlined was played out virtually, as an “extremis extraction scenario” that is included in the new Junior Officer of the Deck (JOOD) course at the Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS) – the primary training facility for SWOs. This scenario and others like it purposely put students in extremis situations, in order to increase their stress levels, help them gain an appreciation for the maneuverability of their ships, and teach them how to get out of difficult ship-handling situations.

Thanks to SWOS’s recent technological advancements, young officers taking the revamped course can stop, evaluate their mistakes, and redo their scenarios virtually, on shore, from the safety of Newport, R.I. Long before reporting to their first ships, junior SWO candidates will learn how to safely navigate a ship using radar, become proficient in standard bridge commands, learn the operational controls of the helm and lee helm, and master the rules of the road using a system of high-tech, virtual reality training modules. These scenarios place them in situations they could one day face as officers of the deck, under varying navigational and weather hazards, in navigable waters throughout the world.

While this improved training has been under development at SWOS for the past

two years, it was accelerated after the summer 2017 accidents involving two destroyers, in response to which the SWO community took a prompt, hard look at the way its junior officers were being trained.

“Since the mishaps of 2017 and the follow-on Comprehensive Review, which really forced us to look introspectively at our community and dive deep into the details, we discovered quite a few areas that we needed to address,” Capt. Scott Robertson, USN, SWOS commanding officer, said. “There’s been a tremendous amount of work here at SWOS. We’ve made modifications to almost every one of our courses’ curricula.”

One significant implementation is the number of hours each student spends in the Conning Officer Virtual Environment (COVE) – a virtual training classroom with multiple monitors that offer a 360-degree view of the mission scenario, a hightech helm console, full radar, and a voyage management system.

“We’re in the midst of a renaissance and sea-change in surface warfare training,” Robertson said. “For the first time in a surface warfare officer’s career, we have all the elements for competency coming together.”

Those elements, he said, are formal training, experience at sea, and an assessment strategy to measure and validate aptitude.

“When we were developing the curriculum for the JOOD course, we wanted to focus on (the) thought-process and how the junior officers would think out in the fleet, and give them lots of tools to make decisions – such as identifying target angle, how to identify relative motion, and how to work as a cohesive unit as bridge watchstanders,” said Ellie Mindeman, JOOD curriculum designer and course instructor.

The course was also customized to include real-world and adaptive situations and to incorporate course material that

needs extra attention, as reflected by student test answers.

“Every day, they received quizzes, and we were able to formulate new quizzes and new scenarios depending on how they were reacting, based upon how they performed,” said Mindeman.

“If they were struggling with something specific, we were able to create more dynamic events within the COVE to reinforce that skill.”

At the end of the course, Ensign Thaddeus Ellis, who built on what he learned in the basic division officer course (BDOC), was selected to participate in advanced-scenario modules, which pushed his critical-thinking ability to the limit.

“The most challenging part of the course was having to make decisions. We examined the phenomena called ‘paralysis through analysis’ where you can stand there all day and analyze what’s going to happen,” Ellis said. “But you’re losing time when you analyze. It’s best to make a decision, make the safest decision you can, and make it early.”

Lieutenant Sarah Miller, a senior JOOD course instructor, explained that in order to improve junior officers’ technical aptitude, instructors intentionally put students in extremis situations. The course forces them to confront a case where the ship “is in a bad spot and in a high risk of collision,” and asks them directly: “How do you get out of that?”

“While the course does give the students acting as the officer of the deck in the bridge team the freedom to initiate tactical maneuvering,” Miller said. “The idea is to never have to put yourself or the ship into survival mode.”

Ensign Tasia Blue, who served as a deck seaman before being accepted into officer candidate school, had some experience in ship driving, but said the course intensified her knowledge.

“The COVE scenarios that we experienced (are) definitely going to help me

become a better surface warfare officer, because we dealt with a lot of situations,” Blue said. “I now know what ARPA (automatic radar plotting aid) is, and I know how to use a radar, and (I’m) equipped to know the standard commands in a proficient way ... So it definitely builds that level of confidence that a junior officer of the deck needs as a surface warfare officer.

“It really hit home for me, especially knowing some of the Sailors onboard (ships involved in the 2017 mishaps), so once I got my commission and became a surface warfare officer, I automatically knew what my job was about to entail. It inspires me to put my best foot forward.”

With the continued expansion of shipping commerce and advancements in the maritime industry, the roles of SWOs like Blue will always be adapting.

Robertson emphasized that maritime traffic, which has increased 300 percent in the last 20 years, will continue to grow in the coming decades, resulting in more challenging shipping lanes with complicated choke points.

“We’ve made a movement to be more aligned with the international maritime organizational standards,” Robertson said, explaining that the curriculum will eventually incorporate the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (SCTW), implemented by the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center based on an international convention of the same name. “We’re going to be teaching more courses for our junior officers.

It’s important for us to be more aligned with our fellow mariners when it comes to training standards.”

While the high-tech aspects of SWOS’s new curricula immerse students in futuristic technology, the school is also creating training modules that teach students how to safely operate ships without the emission of any radio-frequency energy. This will help them develop “seaman’s eyes,” using motion and the relationship of a ship’s hull and proximity to the horizon to make shiphandling judgments and decisions.

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December 21, 2018

GOSPORT

Officials detail steps to improve Navy, Marine Corps readiness

By David Vergun Department of Defense Public Affairs

W

ASHINGTON (NNS) – The Navy and Marine Corps have some readiness challenges, but both services are taking steps to address them, Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer and a senior Government Accountability Office (GAO) official told Senators Dec. 12.

Spencer and John H. Pendleton, GAO’s director of defense capabilities and management, testified at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s sea power and readiness and management support subcommittees.

In sum, Pendleton said, the readiness issues were mostly related to a high operations tempo, budgetary shortfalls in previous years and an aging and shrinking fleet of ships, submarines and aircraft. His assessment, he told the senators, is based on numerous visits his team made to naval installations and to the fleet at sea.

Spencer detailed several corrective actions, including: • Using commercial best practices to increase efficiency and flow in maintenance facilities to return ships, subs and planes back to the fleet as quickly as possible.

• Replacing aging systems by accelerated acquisitions for several key items, including the next-generation frigate, the MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueling system, Surface Navy Laser Weapons Systems and Standard Missile 6, Block 1B, while investing further in advanced tactical munitions including tactical Tomahawk missiles, long-range anti-ship missiles, rolling air-

frame missiles and heavyweight torpedoes.

• Significantly accelerating ship acquisition, procuring 22 battle force ships over fiscal years 2017 and 2018, while decommissioning nine ships.

• Increasing fleet readiness with $1.1 billion in additional funding executed for ship maintenance; an increase from $8.7 billion in fiscal 2017 to $9.8 billion in fiscal 2019, enabling ships to begin deployment training on time with improved materiel condition and modernized combat, communications and engineering systems.

• Partnering shipyards with the private sector to improve efficiency and reduce the maintenance backlog and increasing productivity. For example, he said, the Navy has put multiple subs in private shipyards to alleviate the capacity problems in the Navy’s own shipyards.

In the past three years, he added, the Navy has reduced lost days to maintenance in its own shipyards by 11 percent.

• Accelerating efforts to hire and train new public shipyard workers, bringing the total workforce at its shipyards from 34,918 in fiscal 2017 to 36,696 in fiscal 2018, meeting the fiscal 2020 goal of 36,100 full-time-equivalent workers

The future littoral combat ship USS Tulsa (LCS 16) arrives at its new homeport at Naval Base San Diego after completing its maiden voyage from the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala. Tulsa is the eighth ship in the littoral combat ship Independence-variant class and is scheduled for commissioning Feb. 16, 2019 in San Francisco. Photo by MC3 Jason Isaacs

one year earlier than originally planned.

Improving Marine Corps readiness: • Making significant improvements and investments in Marine Corps aviation readiness.

On average, Marine squadrons last year achieved readiness rates above service combat readiness standards for the first time in several years. Average flight hours per aircrew increased from 13.5 per month in fiscal 2016 to 17.9 in fiscal 2018, an increase of 32.6 percent.

• Increasing Marine Corps modernization investments over the last three fiscal years, including 82 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets and 16 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters, as well as making significant investments in the protected mobility of Marines at sea and ashore through acquisition of 56 new amphibious combat vehicles.

• Enhancing investments

such as close combat lethality equipment for Marine infantry; High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems; advanced air defense systems; initial investments in a long-range, ground-based anti-ship missile system; and improved command and control systems aboard amphibious warships.

• Continuing to work aggressively to ensure the highest possible Marine Corps ground equipment readiness. Over the last three years, average readiness for mission-essential ground equipment has increased to 92 percent in the active component operating forces and 95 percent in the Maritime Prepositioned Force.

Strengthening alliances and partnerships.

In addition to all of these steps to improve readiness and modernization, Spencer said, the Navy and Marine Corps are strengthening alliances and at-

tracting new partners through combined and joint exercises such as Rim of the Pacific, Trident Juncture, Malabar and Bold Alligator, and increasing opportunities for personnel and their allied counterparts to study together, serve together and operate as a single unit.

The other area the Navy and Marine Corps are striving to improve, Spencer told the panel, is business reform. He called it a top priority that needs to “rapidly achieve effectiveness and efficiency at the speed of relevance.”

For example, he said, the Navy has embraced lessons from commercial airline heavymaintenance practices and their data-driven approach to improve naval aviation’s maintenance processes, with a goal, of achieving an 80 percent mission-capable rate in all fleet strike fighter squadrons by the end of this fiscal year.

Officials detail progress on security clearance investigations, transfer to DoD

By Jim Garamone DefenseLink

WASHINGTON – Defense Department and Office of Personnel Management officials continue to make progress on the security clearance backlog even as they move forward with merging the National Background Investigations Bureau into DoD. Garry Reid, DoD’s director for defense intelligence, and Charles S. Phalen Jr., the NBIB director, testified before the House Armed Services oversight and investigations subcommittee Dec. 12.

Reid said DoD continues to work

with interagency partners to transfer the functions, personnel and resources of the bureau to the Defense Security Service. The service will be responsible for conducting background investigations.

OPM previously held this responsibility.

In addition, Reid’s organization put in place changes to the process to speed clearance procedures and cut down the backlog of pending requests.

“Overall, these new measures have helped reduce the inventory of DoD investigations by almost 18 percent over the past four months,” he said in written testimony to the subcommittee. “We will build on this work in the coming months – continuing to focus on back-

log reduction as we develop detailed plans for the transfer and transition.”

DoD has roughly 1.1 million personnel enrolled in the Continuous Evaluation Program.

“We are planning to expand enrollment to encompass the entire population eligible for access to classified information or to hold a sensitive position by fiscal year 2021,” he said.

The Defense Security Service worked extensively to realign the bureau’s functions, personnel and resources.

“We will soon establish a Personnel Vetting Transformation Office to develop detailed transfer plans and facilitate implementation,” he said.

The office will also examine cuttingedge technology to alleviate the burdens of costly, time-intensive investigations.

Right now, the bureau handles 95 percent of the background investigations within the federal government.

“At its peak in April 2018, NBIB’s inventory was at approximately 725,000 investigative products, including simple record checks, suitability and credentialing investigations and more labor-intensive national security investigations,” Phalen said. “Today, our inventory is at 605,000 investigative products, a reduction of over 16 percent, and we continue to reduce the ‘backlog’ by an average of 3,000 to 4,000 cases every week.”

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GOSPORT

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December 21, 2018

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Operation Christmas Drop: Commemorated with push ceremony Story, photo

By Alana Chargualaf Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

A

SAN, Guam (NNS) – Service members and civilians gathered to witness the ceremonial pushing of a box filled with humanitarian goods into a C-130 during the Operation Christmas Drop push ceremony held at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam Dec. 10.

The airborne holiday bounty is bound for far-flung islands across Micronesia.

Brig. Gen. Gentry Boswell, commander, 36th Wing, AAFB; Col. Otis Jones, commander, 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan; Maj. Gen. John Gordy, commander, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center; Heather Coble, deputy chief of mission, Kolonia, Pohnpei and Federated States of Micronesia; and Bruce Best, researcher, University of Guam, joined together to push the first box of goods into a C-130 that will deliver to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the FSM and the Republic of Palau.

Boswell emphasized the satisfaction that comes with generous service and gave well wishes that the operation continues through the years.

“It is only fitting that, in this season, at this time, we pause and reach out. The reward for our efforts is simple, but yet, again, profound. It’s the satisfaction to help our fellow man,” Boswell said.

“I’m honored to represent the men and

women of 36th Wing, our Airmen, our families, our community and the people of this island as we recognize the importance of Operation Christmas Drop and the purpose of what we are doing today.

“There will always be challenges that will prove to distract us and try to bring us away from efforts such as this,” he continued. “As I pray for safe skies, safe flights and good drops for all of our crews, I will also pray that, in our hearts, we will always have the zeal and commitment to make sure that this operation continues for many, many years to come.”

Operation Christmas Drop organizers and volunteers gathered a total of 62,000 pounds of food, clothing, supplies and various goods from the local and military communities to deliver to approximately 30,000 islanders.

Coble acknowledged the many months of hard work that dozens of service members, organizers and volunteers have devoted to ensuring the success of

Maj. Gen. John Gordy, commander, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center; Heather Coble, deputy chief of mission, Kolonia, Pohnpei and Federated States of Micronesia; Bruce Best, researcher, University of Guam; Brig. Gen. Gentry Boswell, commander, 36th Wing; and Col. Otis Jones, commander, 374th Airlift Wing push a box of humanitarian goods into a C-130 during the Operation Christmas Drop Push Ceremony at Andersen Air Force Base Dec. 10. During the ceremony, the first of nearly 100 boxes of humanitarian goods was pushed into the C-130 before being delivered to 56 islands across the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the FSM and the Republic of Palau.

such a longstanding tradition, also highlighting the sense of community that is so important during the holiday season.

She expressed the sincere gratitude of the island people.

“Believe me. The people of the Federated States of Micronesia very much appreciate your time and effort,” Coble said. “This is something they look forward to every year. Everything that you send down there is really put to good use.”

Operation Christmas Drop began 66 years ago and is the U.S. Department of Defense’s longest-running humanitarian airlift operation.

During the holiday season of 1952, a B-29 Superfortress aircrew noticed islanders waving at them from the island of Kapingamarangi, inspiring the aircrew to drop a bundle of supplies attached to a parachute to the islanders below.

Service members with the Royal Australian Air Force and Japan Air SelfDefense Force are also partners in the effort.

Get more information about the Navy from U.S. Navy Facebook or Twitter.

For more news from U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas, visit www.navy.mil/local/ guam.

PAGE

6

December 21, 2018

GOSPORT

Holiday happenings at NAS Whiting Field Photos by Jamie Link NASWF Public Affairs Office

T

he holiday season brought merry and bright celebrations to NAS Whiting Field (NASWF),

including a visit from Santa himself. Stories and photos from NASWF will return in Gosport’s next issue, Jan. 11, 2019.

After arriving at NASWF on a TH-57 helicopter, Santa and his helpers walk to the workshop so Santa can greet the children during the base’s Christmas celebration Dec. 15.

NAS Whiting Field (NASWF) Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) helped Sailors, civilians and their families celebrate the Christmas holiday Dec. 15. Approximately 1,500 people attended the event, which included a synthetic ice skating rink (above), Santa flying in from the North Pole on a TH-57 helicopter, games, bouncy houses, prizes goodies and more.

Santa’s elves, NASWF Sailors and family members await the arrival of Santa at the Winter Wonderland 2018 celebration. More than 1,500 people attended to ring in the holidays and celebrate together.

Revelers celebrate the lighting of the Christmas tree at NASWF Winter Wonderland 2018. Earlier in the day, the lights on the tree were not working and with just one touch, Santa made the tree lights twinkle to life.

NJROTC visit to NAS Whiting Field ... Ret. Navy Capt. Michael Fisher, senior

naval science instructor for the Navarre High School Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC), speaks with NJROTC students who toured NAS Whiting Field. Helicopter Training Squadron Eight hosted a tour where students were able to see a TH-57 helicopter, visit South Field to witness training operations and go through the squadron’s building. They learned about the aviation training mission at Whiting Field and participated in a question-and-answer session with instructor pilots. Photo by Jamie Link

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December 21, 2018

GOSPORT

Partyline

Military Notices DLAB and DLPT tests available

Interested in taking the Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) or the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) for foreign languages? Tests are administered Wednesdays at the Navy Language Testing Office Bldg. 634. The test is open to Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine, Coast Guard and DoD personnel.

Test appointments are accepted through https:// www.mnp.navy.mil/group/information-warfaretraining/n-dfltp.

Local MOPH orders announcements

The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Chapter 566 and MOPH Auxiliary Unit 566 have canceled their monthly meetings until Feb. 16. Meetings will continue to be held the third Saturday of the month, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Church of Christ, 4286 Woodbine Road, when they restart.

For more information, contact MOPHA Unit 566 President Ann Smithson at 712-4745 or Dan Smithson at 449-7843.

Onboard NASP

“Read All About It...”

Scholarship for military children

The Scholarships for Military Children Program for school year 2019/20 is now open, and will continue accepting applications through Feb. 15.

Selection qualifications are straightforward. Requirements include completing the application; submission of the student’s official transcript indicating a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale for high school applicants, or college transcript indicating a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for students already enrolled in colleg; and an essay of 500 words or less, no longer than two pages.

For scholarship year 2019/20, Fisher House Foundation will award 500 scholarship grants of $2,000 each. The selection process will begin immediately following receipt of all applications in February.

All rules and requirements for the program, as well as links to frequently asked questions are available at the Scholarships for Military Children website.

For more information, visit www.militaryscholar. org. history, contact Diane Johnson at 393-1561.

Polar Express PJ party at NNAM

The National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) will present “The Polar Express” Pajama Party at 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday on the Giant Screen Theater now until Dec. 23. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the magical journey to the North Pole to find the true spirit of Christmas.

Tickets prices are $7 per person. Infants ages 1 and under are free and do not require a ticket purchase.

Arrive early and purchase tickets in person at the museum ticket counter. Advanced tickets are available in person at the Giant Screen Theater ticket counter.

Admission into NNAM is free and open to the public. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit www.NavalAviationMuseum.org.

Volunteer at Pensacola lighthouse

The Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum is looking for volunteers to help keep the light shining. If you need to earn community service hours or just love

Around Town Jazz students invited to apply

Join the Krewe du YaYas at the sixth annual I Pink I Can Run four-mile run/walk for breast cancer Feb. 23. The race will start at 9 a.m. at the Flora-Bama Lounge. All proceeds from this event benefit The Keeping Abreast Foundations’ mammography and breast health programs.

Cost is $30 now until Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. Registration rate goes up to $35 at packet pick-up and race day.

To register, visit www.active.com/perdido-keyfl/running/distance-running-races/i-pink-i-canrun-2019.

For more information, visit www.keepingabreastfoundation.org.

Global trivia night at Brew Ha Ha

Show off your worldly knowledge at the Global Trivia Night Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. while you enjoy brew and pub fare at Brew Ha Ha Pensacola. Tickets support The Global Corner’s mission of providing opportunities for the children of Northwest Florida to learn about world languages, cultures and geography through the Global Corner’s elementary school passport program. Tickets are $48 per person or $90 a couple. Sponsorship opportunities are available through Jan. 1.

Visit www.theglobalcorner.org to purchase tickets or call 332-6404 for more information.

Start the New Year jamming with professional musicians and vocalists 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 7, at The Vineyard Restaurant located at 1010 N. 12th Ave. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

Featuring the House Band, Jazz Jam is strictly for fun, an opportunity to play jazz with other musicians.

(Lineup subject to change.)

Admission is free for participating musicians, including high school and college students with student IDs. Each participating student also receives one free admission ticket for one guest. Drummers, please bring your own sticks/brushes. Admission is $10 for Jazz Pensacola members and guests, $12 for non-members, free for students with ID and military in uniform. Become a Jazz Pensacola member at the event, and admission is free. Dinner and drinks available.

For more information, call Jazz Pensacola at 4338382, or visit www.jazzpensacola.com.

2018-2019 CONCERT SEASON Opening Night!

The Envelope, Please

Jennifer Koh, Violin

Chris Confessore, Guest Conductor Susan Egan, Soprano

Mozart & Brahms

Mahler: Symphony No. 6

October 13, 2018

February 2, 2019

November 3, 2018 Alon Goldstein, Piano

March 9, 2019

Celebrate the New Year!

Russian Spectacular

Tony DeSare, Piano and Vocals

Elissa Lee Koljonen, Violin

Beethoven & Blue Jeans

Concerto for Orchestra

Robert Sheena, English Horn

Gabriela Lena Frank, Composer Alessio Bax, Piano

December 31, 2018

January 19, 2019

850.435.2533

7

I Pink I Can annual run announced

January 2019 Jazz Jam

Student jazz musicians, you are invited to submit an entry to the 2019 Student Jazz Competition. The finals will be the March Jazz Gumbo, 6:30 p.m., March 18, at Phineas Phogg’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government Street.

Three finalists from each division – College Instrumental, High School Instrumental and Jazz Vocal – will perform at the live finals. Awards for first, second and third in each division, ranging from $100 to $500, will be presented at the conclusion of the event.

Application deadline is March 1. Go to www.jazzpensacola.com to download the 2019 application, the current flyer and backing tracks.

For more information, send an e-mail to info@jazzpensacola.com or call 433-8382.

PAGE

April 6, 2019

April 27, 2019

PensacolaSymphony.com

pa g e

DECEMBER 21, 2018

8

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PAGE

B1

December 21, 2018

GOSPORT

Life

CIWT’s CMDCM Bates is piped ashore; See page B2 “Spotlight”

A Visit from

St. Nicholas

by Clement

’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mama in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; “Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away, all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

Clarke Moore

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes – how they twinkled! His dimples – how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

First published anonymously in 1823, the poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” also known as “The Night Before Christmas,” helped create the modern-day conception of Santa Claus.

Word Search:‘Santa’s reindeer’

Gosling Games Color Me: ‘By the chimney’

Jokes & Groaners Misheard in Christmas carols “Deck the Halls with Buddy Holly... ” “On the first day of Christmas my tulip gave to me... ” “Later on we’ll perspire, as we dream by the fire... ” “He’s makin’ a list, of chicken and rice... ” “Olive, the other reindeer... ” “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, you’ll go down in Listerine... ”

Puns good for coal in your stocking How much did Santa pay for his sleigh?

Nothing, it was on the house.

Why is Santa so good at karate?

Because he has a black belt.

BLITZEN COMET CUPID DANCER DASHER

DONNER OLIVE PRANCER RUDOLPH VIXEN

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? Claustrophobic.

What do they sing under the ocean during the winter? Christmas corals.

GOSPORTPENSACOLA.COM

PAGE

B2 GOSPORT

Spotlight

December 21, 2018

CIWT’s CMDCM Bates is piped ashore Story, photo by Glenn Sircy Center for Information Warfare Training Public Affairs

T

he Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) Command Master Chief (CMDCM) Mike Bates retired from the Navy, going ashore one last time after 24 years of dedicated and honorable service, during a ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum onboard NAS Pensacola Nov. 30.

About 125 family members, friends and shipmates attended the ceremony to honor and bid fair winds and following seas to Bates, who assumed the duties as CIWT command master chief May 26, 2015.

Capt. Nick Andrews, CIWT’s commanding officer and the presiding officer, commended Bates for his loyal devotion to the Navy, Sailors and families.

“As the domain master chief, you had a profound, positive impact not only on the staff at our headquarters, but also the staff and students at our four schoolhouse commands, two detachments and training sites throughout the United States and Japan,” Andrews shared.

“You embodied excellence throughout your 24-year career.

Countless Sailors and families have benefited and will continue to benefit from your leadership, innovation, passion and courage. I thank you for your wise counsel, astute advice, and everpresent concern for your Sailors.

The entire CIWT family wishes you and your family well on your next journey in life.”

Andrews also presented Bates the Meritorious Service Medal, the second of his career, for superior performance as CIWT’s command master chief from May 2015 to November 2018.

Retired Navy CMDCM Roy Hooper served as the guest speaker. Hooper has known Bates for the past 18 years, and they first met in Mayport, Fla., when Bates was a first class petty officer and Hooper was a senior chief.

“We struck up a friendship that I value tremendously,” Hooper said. “Mike has risen to the top wherever he has been stationed; his Sailors succeed under his leadership; his command executes mission flawlessly and he is a success story for all of us to emulate. Family, leadership, dedication and inspiration are terms enlisted Sailors and officers associate with Mike. He leads by example, trusts his Sailors and loves his family.”

Bates, a native of New Orleans, joined the Navy in February 1995. Following basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, he

The Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) Command Master Chief Mike Bates (right) is presented the Meritorious Service Medal by CIWT’s Commanding Officer Capt.

Nick Andrews. Bates retired from the Navy, going ashore one last time after 24 years of dedicated and honorable service, during a ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum Nov. 30.

completed Data Systems Technician “A” school at Great Lakes in 1996. Bates later earned an associate degree in Applied Science in Technical Studies from Excelsior College; is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy, Class 158, Command Master Chief Course and attended the Naval Postgraduate School’s Navy Senior Leader Seminar.

He is designated a specialist in surface and information warfare and afloat training.

Bates served as a data systems technician and fire controlman until he was selected for the Command Master Chief Program in 2011.

His assignments include USS

Spruance (DD 963); Southeast Regional Maintenance Center; USS The Sullivans (DDG 68); Afloat Training Group Mayport; and USS Underwood (FFG 36) and USS Vicksburg (CG 69) as command master chief. He conducted six extended overseas deployments to U.S. 4th, 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of national tasking, NATO operations and various campaigns.

During his remarks, Bates talked about how fellow Sailors impacted his career.

“The Navy has been great to me,” Bates said. “I’ve been around the world multiple times and had the opportunity to visit

over 40 countries, but the best part of my Navy career has been the relationships I have made along the way. I have been surrounded by some amazing people who have influenced my career leading to where I am today.”

Bates also individually thanked the numerous family and friends in attendance, and shared why they decided to retire in Pensacola.

“Pensacola has been great to the Bates family, and one of the main reasons why we decided to retire here,” Bates added.

“We’ve been blessed with making some great friends that we call our Pensacola family.”

The ceremony included numerous presentations to Bates and his family. Bates was also presented with Louisiana State University (LSU) memorabilia,

by CIWT’s Chiefs Mess, which serve as a symbol of Bates’ lifelong love for LSU. The also included a reading of “The Wife’s Watch,” a retirement flag folding and presentation with the recitation of “Old Glory,” the reading of the Chief Petty Officer Retirement Creed, and concluded with a recitation of “The Watch.”

Bates and his family were then piped ashore for the last time by the honors boatswain.

“The Navy is losing a great leader today,” Hooper added.

“The only obstacle myself and 50 others in Jacksonville are working on now is how do we get the Bates family back to Jacksonville.”

Command Lines

GOSPORT

• Fleet and Family Support Center The NASP Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), 151 Ellyson Ave., Bldg. 625, is offering the following: • Family Employment Readiness Brief: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. every Tuesday.

This workshop is targeted to spouses and family members who are seeking employment, education and volunteer information.

• Imagination Station: 10 a.m. to noon every third Thursday of the month at Blue Wahoo Stadium. The next meeting is Jan. 17. The NASP New Parent Support program partners with the Imagination Station for a military family play date. Meet some military families and let your children play.

• Stress Management: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. every first and third Thursday. The next class is scheduled for Jan. 17. Stress and damage your health, both physical and mental. Learn how to recognize stress and become more productive, happier and healthier.

• Music & Movement: 11 a.m. to noon Dec. 28 at Lighthouse Terrace, #1 Price Ave. A learning activity to enhance self-expression and socialization in children through dance with use of instruments.

• Waggy Wednesdays: 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 16 at Naval Hospital Pensacola Courtyard. Exceptional Family Member Program event offers interaction with service dogs on third Wednesday of every month at NHP. • SAPR If you are a victim of sexual

• Worship schedule • NAS Pensacola – Protestant • Worship service, 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel, Bldg. 1982 • Chapel choir, meets following the 10:15 a.m.

Sunday service at Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel • Contemporary service, 6 p.m. Sunday, All Faiths Chapel, dinner after service • Training Air Wing Six Bible Study, 11:15 a.m.

Tuesday, Griffith Hall student lounge • Bible study, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, J.B. McKamey Center NAS Pensacola – Roman Catholic • Sunday Mass, 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel, Bldg. 1982 • Daily Mass, 11:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Our Lady of Loreto Chapel • Confessions: 30 minutes before services Latter Day Saints • Service, 10:30 a.m. Sunday, All Faiths Chapel • Meeting: 6 p.m. Sunday, J.B. McKamey NASP Corry Station – Protestant • Adult Bible study, 9 a.m. Sunday, fellowship hall • Chapel choir, 9 a.m. Sunday, choir room vice sanctuary • Worship service, 10 a.m. Sunday • Fellowship, 11:30 a.m. Sunday • Contemporary worship, 6:00 p.m. Sunday, followed by fellowship at 7:00 p.m.

• Bible study and dinner, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, fellowship hall Latter Day Saints • Service, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday NASP Corry Station – Roman Catholic • Mass, noon Sunday and 11:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday. For more, call 452-6376 NAS Whiting Field Chapel – Roman Catholic • Mass, 11 a.m. Friday NAS Whiting Field Chapel – Protestant • Bible study, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday with meal assault, it is not your fault.

Help for victims of sexual assault in the DoD community is a call, click or text away: • The SafeHelpline: Provides live, one-on-one crisis support and information

• Greek Orthodox Orthos, 10 a.m. Sunday, Chapel (everyone welcome) • Greek Orthodox Worship, 11 a.m. Sunday, Chapel (everyone welcome) • Weekly chapel service, 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

For more information, call 623-7212 Other services: • B’nai Israel Synagogue, 1829 North Ninth Ave., services by Rabbi/Cantor Sam Waidenbaum. 7 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday. For information, call 433-7311 or e-mail help@bnaiisraelpensacola.org • Temple Beth El, 800 North Palafox St., services 7 p.m. Friday (6 p.m. first Friday of each month). For information, call 438-3321 or go to http://templebethelofpensacola.org • Brit Ahm Messianic Synagogue, 6700 Spanish Trail. Services are 10 a.m., Saturday morning. For more, visit www.shalompensacola. com • Buddhism 101 – Introduction to Nichiren Buddhism courses are provided every third Wednesday at the Downtown Pensacola Library at 6 p.m. For more information, call 436-5060 • Seventh-day Adventist – Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1080 North Blue Angel Parkway, services at 11 a.m. Saturday. For information, call 453-3442 • Grace Christian Church – (a non-denominational Christian Church/Church of Christ) 9921 Chemstrand Rd. Phone: 494-3022 Weekly Sunday services: Bible school – 9:30 a.m., Worship – 10:30 a.m.

• Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 1720 W. Garden Street. Sunday Service – Orthros 8:45 a.m., Liturgy 10 a.m. Weekday Feast Day Services – Orthros 8:30 a.m., Liturgy 9:30 a.m.

For information call 433-2662 or visit www.annunciationgoc.org.

by trained staff. Call: (877) 995-5247; click: www.SafeHelpline.org or text: 55-247, CONUS; (202) 470-5546, OCONUS (may be extra charges for OCONUS) • The Sexual Assault

Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program: Provides prevention, intervention and a 24/7/365 response to nonintimate partner adult victims of sexual assault.

Active-duty and adult fam-

ily member sexual assault victims have a choice of reporting options, unrestricted and restricted. Unrestricted reporting allows victims to have an advocate, seek medical care, counseling, legal services, safety interventions and/or transfer, etc. To access an unrestricted report, the victim may report to his/ her chain-of-command, security/law enforcement, NCIS, SAPR VA, SARC or others.

NCIS shall be notified by the CO and/or the VA/SARC in unrestricted cases to begin investigation. Investigation results are provided to the offender’s CO for appropriate action/disposition. Restricted reporting allows a victim to have a confidential report, which does not trigger command or law enforcement notification and the victim may have a SAPR VA and seek medical care and/or counseling. To access restricted reporting, the victim may disclose his/her sexual assault only to the SARC, a current SAPR VA, a health care professional and/or a chaplain.

To contact the NASP 24/7 Victim Advocate, call 4499231/2. For the Civilian Victim Advocate, call 293-4561.

To contact duty SARC, call the SARC cell at 554-5606.

• CREDO Chaplain’s Religious Enrichment Development Operation (CREDO) Southeast offers retreats enabling military members and their families to develop personal and spiritual resources in order to meet the unique challenges of military life. For information, e-mail Tony Bradford at Tony. bradford.ctr@navy.mil or call 452-2342.

PAGE

B3 GOSPORT

Off Duty

New Year’s in Pensacola

The famous Pensacola Pelican will drop at 8 p.m., Dec. 31 during the Kazoo’s Rockin’ Eve at the Blue Wahoos Stadium.

By Kaitlyn Peacock Gosport Staff Writer Ready to celebrate the New Year? Pensacola has a party for you. Whether you’re looking for family fun or a romantic night, there are plenty of options for you to ring in the New Year in style. All events listed will take place New Year’s Eve night, Dec. 31, unless specified.

• Kazoo’s Rockin’ Eve: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Surprise! The Pelican Drop, a Pensacola New Years tradition, will take place at the Blue Wahoos Stadium for the second year in a row. This celebration is familyfriendly and will feature live music, mascot appearances, and on-field activities for children and families, with the night culminating in a fireworks display and the Pelican Drop. For more information, visit www.

BlueWahoos.com or call the box office at 934-8444.

• Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Presents Celebrate the New Year: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For those who want a relaxing New Year, the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra will have a performance featuring pianist and vocalist Tony DeSare. DeSare and the orchestra’s performance will include more than a century of the greatest piano hits, including songs from Elton John, Ray Charles, John Lennon and more. Tickets start at $23 and are available at www. pensacolasymphony.com.

• New Year’s Eve at Jackson’s: 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

If New Year’s for you means lots of food and good company, Jackson’s Steakhouse will be celebrating with two special dinner seatings, held at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The dinner will be a fixed-price, three-course menu with bottomless Piper Sonoma champagne. Cost is $125 per person with complimentary favors and valet services included. For a look at the full menu or more information, visit www.jacksonsrestaurant.com or call 469-9898.

• New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Pensacola Beach: 8 p.m.

If you are on Pensacola Beach for the New Year or within viewing distance on your porch, look to the skies at 8 p.m. for the greatest fireworks display in Pensacola. The fireworks can be seen throughout the city and this event is free and open to the public.

• 1987 New Year’s Eve: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Plan on ringing in the New Year with style? The Court of DeLuna will play host to a 1987 Prom Night New Years Eve party. Get your groove on with the hottest tracks from the 80s, snow cones and live art drawings. Cover charge for the night is $25 your first drink is free. 80s attire is requested. For more information, call 712-1951.

• Skopelos New Year’s Eve Bash: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The biggest party in downtown Pensacola will take place in the Skopelos Grand Ballroom, with premium open bars, midnight champagne toasts and party favors. There will be live music and after the midnight toasts, start your New Year will a gourmet midnight breakfast buffet. All guests must be 21 years of age or older. For more information, visit www.skopelosatnewworld.com.

• Polar Bear Plunge: Jan. 1, 2 p.m.

Looking for the right way to start the New Year?

Try taking a dip in the chilly Santa Rosa Sound waters with hundreds of participants and spectators. Dress up in fun costumes and take part in this long-standing Pensacola tradition. Registration begins Jan. 1 at noon and the fee will be $15 per adult and $5 for children fifth-grade and under. Participants will receive a Polar Bear Plunge T-shirt.

C @ NAS Pensacola Portside Cinema a FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY TUESDAY “The Crimes of “The Grinch” (PG) “The Grinch” (PG) t Grindelwald” (PG13) 2D: 1 p.m.

2D: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

2D: 4 p.m. c “Creed II” (PG13) “Ralph Breaks the “Creed II” (PG13) 3 p.m.

Internet” (PG) h 7 p.m.

2D: 5 p.m.

“The Crimes of

“The Grinch” (PG) 2D: 5 p.m.

“The Crimes of Grindelwald” (PG13) 2D: 7 p.m.

a M o v i e

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” (PG) 2D: 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Grindelwald” (PG13) 2D: 6 p.m.

“Instant Family” (PG13) 1:30 p.m.

“The Grinch” (PG) 2D: 5 p.m.

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” (PG) 2D: 4 p.m.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” (PG13) 7 p.m.

“Overlord” (R) 6:30 p.m.

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” (PG) 2D: 5:10 p.m.

“Nobody’s Fool” (R) 7:30 p.m.

“The Crimes of Grindelwald” (PG13) 2D: 1:30 p.m.

“Creed II” (PG13) 4:30 p.m.

Regular shows: $4 adults, $2 children ages 6 through 11, free for 5 and younger 3D shows: $5 adults, $3 children ages 6 through 11, free for 5 and younger NASP Portside Cinema is closed on Monday.

THE BIRTH OF

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” (PG) 2D: 5:10 p.m.

“Instant Family” (PG13) 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY “The Grinch” (PG) 2D: 5 p.m.

“Creed II” (PG13) 7 p.m.

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” (PG) 2D: 5:10 p.m.

“Overlord” (R) 7:30 p.m.

December 21, 2018

Morale, Welfare and Recreation

The NASP Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) department has a number of upcoming events and activities. For more information, call 452-3806, ext. 3100, or go to the MWR website at www.navymwrpensacola.com.

• NFL Tickets Available: Tickets and Travel has NFL New Orleans Saints tickets at the Superdome available for games Dec. 23 against the Steelers and Dec. 30 against the Panthers.

Tickets are $75 each. To buy the tickets or for more information, call Try this 452-6354.

• Ugly Sweater Cosmic Bowling: • Full Moon Float: NASP Corry Station Get set for a paddleBowling Center is board race under the hosting special ugly full moon today, Dec. sweater contest Cos- 21 from nightfall, 5:30 mic Bowling for the p.m. to 8:30 p.m. At holiday season today, the events, there will Dec. 21 from 7 p.m. to be free drinks, hot9:30 p.m. Dust off your dogs and s’mores. best ugly sweater for a Races include kayak, discounted entrance. tandem kayak and races.

Cost is $12 for adults paddleboard For more information, or $10 with an ugly sweater and $5 for chil- call 452-4152. dren age 6 and under.

For more information or to reserve a lane, call 452-6380.

• Family Fitness Days: The Family Fitness Center onboard NASP Corry Station will be hosting Family Fitness Days the first and third Saturdays of the month. These events will educate families about fitness and nutrition through family fun, activities, lectures and programming. For more information, call 452-6004.

• Onesie Fun Run: MWR Fitness Center will host a Onesie Fun Run, a 1.5 mile race along the NAS Pensacola Seawall Jan. 24 starting at 4:30 p.m. Bring your favorite onesie and the family for this fun family-friendly run with hot cocoa and cookies at the finish line. For more information, call 452-9845.

• Bushido Sports Judo Club: Tuesday and Thursday, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at NASP Youth Center, Bldg. 3690 (452-2417). For children ages 5 to 17. For more information, call Sensei Gerome Baldwin at 3243146, 457-1421 or 457-1421 or e-mail baldg6@ att.net.

• Good reading: The NASP Library, 250 Chambers Ave., Bldg. 634, has an extensive selection of books, periodicals and newspapers.

Computers with Internet access are available for use in the library. Wireless access and quiet study areas are also available. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Closed on federal holidays. For more information, call 452-4362.

Liberty Activities Liberty program events at NAS Pensacola and Corry Station target young, unaccompanied active-duty military. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Friday and Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Sunday through Thursday. Regular events are scheduled at the main Liberty Center in the Portside Entertainment Complex. You must sign up in advance for off-base trips. For more information, call 452-2372 or go to www.naspensacola-mwr. com.

Christmas Eve Services 4 pm, 6 pm, 10:30 pm Christmas Day 10:30 am

18 W. Wright St. | Downtown Pensacola | 850.432.5115 | www.christ-church.net

page

DECEMBER 21, 2018

Marketplace Announcements

Articles for Sale

Faith Christian Academy has childcare openings infant to age 5. Discounted rate. $100 per week/ per child. 850-444-9499.

Ask for Deborah.

Articles for Sale

Benchcraft roan manual fully reclining sofa. Soft chenille- dark tan. 86 inch wide. 39 inch deep. Good condition. Cleaned. Nonsmoking home. $200.

662-414-5692

Insigna 19” TV. Bissell Aeroswift Upright Vac and SSPriminute 12 Pc Cookware. All Items New In Box. 125.00 for all.

457-8967

Charbroil large gas patio cooker. Good condition. $110 850-208-1675

Palmetto State Armory U.S.A. AR-15.

Custom w/Hardened upper, red dot and popup sts. 10 mags/400+ rds of ammo,soft case. ex.cond.$750.00.

850 484-8998

Tropical whites, khakis, choker whites. 36 inch. $10 for all. 944-5763

Wooden porch swing. $50.

850-208-1675

Cashmere top coat. Size 46. 944-5763

For sale: two standard size glass pane house front Four cemetery plots four doors. $50 each OBO. sale. Location: Pensacola 850-497-9192 Memorial Gardens, Pine Forest Road. $750 each Beautiful Italian style pespace. Call for more infor- can dining room set. 2 mation- 850-776-7639 leaves, 2 armchairs, 6 side chairs (all cushioned). InSony subwoofer Mod cludes 5 ft long buffet and SS-WG450 for shelf 5 ft long lighted closet. stereo system. $20.00. Absolutely gorgeous set!

850.607.2012 $2,000 OBO. Call 850665-4031 2 piece bamboo settee. $40.00. 850.607.2012 Frigidaire washer/dryer combo $370.00.

Sharp shelf stereo Mod 850-346-8938.

CD-C3600. Two speakers, am/fm radio, 3 CD, Glock G27, Gen4, .40 dual cassette. $25.00. S&W. 3 mags, Fobus hol850.607.2012 ster. $450.

Glock G42 .380 auto, 2 mags, Fobus holster, personal defense

auto • merchandise • employment • real estate • and more!

Articles for Sale

Boats

ammo. $450.

(850) 776-8207

Real Estate

For Sale: F24 foot Laguna with twin 250 Mercury engines. Walk around with Price free!!! Upright pia- port-a-potty. $9.000.00 as no. Plays just fine. Outside is. Call is 850-712-1141. needs some work. Needs to go ASAP. 850-266- Sailboat 1989 Hunter 39.5 5188 @NAS Pensacola. Ready to sail. 850-728-1043 Diana German made side Trucks/Vans/SUVs cocking air rifle. Top quality lifetime warranty never shot! Includes new scope 2005Holiday Rambler MH rings. Retail at 460, asking Trucks/Vans/SUVs time to 275. 8502939734 hand over to new adventure seeker In great cond.

73 Win 9422M - Func- Asking $70,000 OBO call tions Perfectly, Bright Kevin at 4056586753 Shine Bore, Minor HanReal Estate dling Marks, Heirloom Gift! Retired Marine w/ FL CCL! BOS! Tom @ Home for Sale by Owner: 9045213559 Near Navy bases. 1250 sq.ft.3bed, 2 bath, 1.3 Auto Auto Acres. Pre-qualified buyers by app’t. $159K. 2005 Ford Escape XLS 850-377-4412 FWD $4099. Only 62,747 miles. Good tires. Runs Large Building Lot in great. 850-356-7425 Myrtle Grove on 77th Ave. Cleared with Water Meter.

2010 Genesis Coupe. Ful- Owner Fin No Qualifying ly loaded, all power, 6 cd $4,000 Down Pmt $250 changer, new interior,rims, Mo. or Cash.712-2199 tires. Warranty until 2021.

12,000 OBO. Stephen Very nice 4 bedroom 6968936, Jack 6373714. home Eastside Scenic Heights pool table fenced 2002 Ford F150 4 door backyard very nice house pick-up. Model: Harley fully furnished absolutely Davidson.

Automatic. prefer military 375 per Excellent condition. AM/ month. 8504806735 FM/CD/Stereo. $9000.

850-497-9192 For Rent: 4BR/2BA 1300 sq. ft. in quiet neighborhood. Near bases. Off

street parking. Fenced yard. Tile/carpet. No pets.

Available now. $35 app fee. $890 mo. $890 deposit. (850) 982-1827

Real Estate has 2957 sq.ft. living area, 3 bath and bed room, office space, 3 car garage and huge lanai with access to Bayou Mullat. It has a total of 4617 sq.ft. under one roof and can be yours for $130.00 per sq. ft. Move in ready.

850-477-7923

$1100.00 2 BR 1BA with study, living room, dining room. Hardwood floors and crown molding. No smoking and no pets. $1100 deposit. Contact 2br/1bth brick home close to NASP & Corry. Fence Bill @ 850/572-0555. yard w/shed. Home does $1450 3 BR 2 BA house in have window ACs and Cordova Park. Hardwood wall heat. $600 deposit floors and fireplace in fam- $650 rent. 850-525-6803 ily room. No smoking and after 5pm no pets. $1450 deposit, yard care provided. Con- 1BR/1Ba Bayshore Contact Bill @850/572-0555. dominiums. Pool, dock, 24/7 security, laundry, House for rent - 8300 Gulf parking spot, utilities inBeach Hwy., 3/2 on 4 cluded except internet & $900/mo.Katie acres with storage, green power. house and pool. $1,200 8503415701 per month with deposit.

Great location for mili- Vacation House RentMilitary/Families. tary and will rent monthly. al.

4BR/2.5BA, sleeps 8. On Available now. water, near NAS PensacCall 850-324-1210. ola. Rents daily, weekly, For Rent: 1BR Large TV, monthly. http://www.vrbo.

WIFI/ Would like military, com/4016771ha female preferred, as companion to 82 y/o female, be able to drive around. $300 per month.

850-456-5534.

Call

New Construction and centrally located; 1 mile to interstate 10, easy accsess to UF, UWF, PSC, Whiting Field, Pensacola, Fl. and beautifull beaches. It

850.433.1166 ext. 25 to place a classified today!

HEATHER J. HAMMONS

Ask me about our YOUR Service Matters Incentive Program available to Military, Veterans, and First Responders!

YOUR SERVICE MATTERS and we work hard to be at your service!

850.225.0409 REALTOR Associate & Heather@ServiceMattersRE.com Former Merchant Marine www.servicemattersre.com

With Chas Henry

A ONE OF A KIND WEEKLY VETERANS SHOW Connecting vets to the information they need, - when they need it… veterans immediate and easy access - toProvides all available resources…

Links military veterans and their families to - relevant information, resources, solutions and,

-

most importantly, each other…

Helping vets understand the complexity and stages of transitioning from the military ranks back into civilian life…

Discover issues impacting female veterans and veterans’ families…

Cuts through the clutter and confusion of what’s available to vets with easy access to the benefits and resources they’ve so rightly earned…

Connecting vets with each other, letting those who’ve made the most of those resources tell fellow vets how they can do the same...

Explore job-finding challenges military spouses face — as, every few years,SEAN they move fromBURNIE one THOMPSON HANNITY 5PM-7PM 2PM-5PM duty station to another…

SATURDAY 6:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M.

JOE PAGS 7PM-9PM

B4

MIKE DOLLEN CMDCM USN (Ret.) | REALTOR ® Designated Military Relocation Professional and Florida Military Specialist

850.207.1191 4475 Bayou Blvd, Pensacola mike.dollen@floridamoves.com

I specialize in military relocations and proudly serve our military community.