The South Potomac Pilot
Friday, March 1, 2013
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Branch Health Clinics say goodbye to Lt. Cmdr. Day
seeing the dedication he had for the mission at hand. “ Vernere and Day worked together again when Day assumed command of the branch health clinics in Dahlgren and Indian Head. “He’s done a fantastic job with the two distinct clinics [in Dahlgren and Indian Head] and I just want to applaud him today for his accomplishments.” The guest speaker of the ceremony had a profound influence on Day’s life. His father, Lynn, enlisted in the Navy as a corpsman in 1964 and retired as a lieutenant commander. “I feel like I’m right at home,” the elder Day told the crowd. “It doesn’t
seem like I’ve been gone for 21 years.” Glenn recalled the day his son called him and expressed interest in joining the service to help further his education. “He said he was going to go into the Air Force at the time, but luckily for us the Air Force dragged their feet too long.” Day flew out to San Diego to be sworn in by his father. The two occasionally ran into each other while they both wore the uniform. When Day graduated from a Navy training school, his dad said he would not be able to attend. The elder Day was in fact the guest speaker at the ceremony. Likewise, Day told his dad he would not be able to make it to his retirement. Day showed up wearing the Marine Corps dress blues of a corpsman. This time, however, the Days did not have any surprise ceremony plans. “I think he invited me to be his guest speaker to make sure I didn’t pull anything on him this time,” said Lynn Day. Lynn Day turned serious when he put into words the pride he feels for his son. “I watched him from far and I watched him from close grow and develop into the person he is today. I am filled with pride in what he has accomplished in life and as a naval officer.” The elder Day spoke about how retirement does not mean the end of public life and public service. It merely marks the
end of a chapter in one’s life, he said. “John, may you and Laura continue to write many new chapters filled with hope, love and prosperity.” Day received the Meritorious Service Medal at the ceremony for his “exceptional professionalism” serving at the Branch Health Clinics in Indian Head and Dahlgren. His wife, Laura, was also recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation for her own service as a Navy spouse. “Although you may have never had to carry out a military order or deploy into hostile waters, your loyalty and steadfast support of your husband’s career can rightly be viewed as your service to our country,” according to the citation. Day thanked everyone for attending the ceremony and spoke about what it means when a Navy leader receives an award. “Guests, family and friends, welcome and thank you for coming to help me share this day,” he said. “One thing I want to say about that award and any award I have. It’s never about me. They get presented to me; I get to wear them. But they’re never about me, they’re about the people. So every [award] I have there is a story behind it. There are people behind it.” Day called himself a “facilitator” and credited his staff for making his last tour a successful one. “I’m grateful that in the last three and a half year I’ve had a wonderful staff,” he said.
variable effects. NSWCDD technologists have been making a difference in directed energy research and development throughout the decades. Their understanding - and discoveries - led to the methodologies behind the electromagnetic launch of projectiles using stored electrical energy. These methodologies are critical to the evolution of the railgun program. At the Electromagnetic Railgun facility, the U.K. visitors saw prototype launchers that engineers are testing. The Electromagnetic Railgun is a long-range naval weapon that fires projectiles using electricity instead of traditional gun propellants such as explo-
sive chemicals. Magnetic fields created by high electrical currents accelerate a sliding metal conductor, or armature, between two rails to launch projectiles at 4,500-5,600 mph. The Navy is pursuing development of the launcher system through industry teams to reduce risk in the program and to foster innovation in next-generation shipboard weapons. The U.K. delegation’s tour also featured the Dahlgren Potomac River Test Range – 715 acres of land and a 169-squarenautical-mile water area that stretches along the lower 51 miles of the Potomac River. The five visiting British officials looked out over the Potomac and saw firsthand how
Dahlgren’s gun test facility evolved and expanded to include numerous scientific and response-force missions serving all branches of the United States armed forces. After taking in the guns and scenery of Dahlgren’s test range on the river, NSWC Dahlgren engineers briefed the delegation on the Littoral Combat Ship Gun Mission Module – an integral part of the LCS Surface Warfare Mission Package used for counter-piracy, maritime interdiction and security missions. This mission module consists of two MK 46 turret mounted, axis-stabilized, 30mm chain gun systems that can fire up to 200 rounds per minute.
12 (EODMU 12), which serves NSASP and its tenant commands, was called out on a real world call in Charles County under the mutual aid agreement. “Mutual aid is a critical aspect of NSASP’s or any other agencies’ emergency response,” explained Patuga. “It exists to allow agencies to partner and help each other when incidents overcome ones capability to effectively respond to and mitigate an incident. It also allows agencies to share outside resources and unique capabilities, such as EOD and hostage negotiators.” While EODMU 12 was not
able to practice disarming the simulated VBIED due to the call, the rest of NSASP was busy at work in the emergency operations center (EOC). There, NSASP’s military and civilian leadership worked to coordinate the emergency response and stay abreast of developments. At the end of each drill, the EOC also served as the setting for the postexercise “hotwash,” allowing the exercise participants and facilitators a chance talk about the day’s events. Meeting all of the training objectives was itself a complicated task, with many moving
parts. Patuga thanked all whose hard work and dedication made the exercises possible, especially the Installation Training Team. “The Installation Training Team pulled together,” said Patuga. “Outside of the team, I would like to thank our active shooter role player, branch medical clinic personnel and ATRC staff. All had key roles in making the active shooterhostage-mass casualty event a better one. I hope that the other tenant commands follow ATRC’s lead in recognizing an opportunity to work together and benefit from a wellplanned training event.”
By Andrew Revelos Staff Writer
CARPOOL/VANPOOL WANTED Van or carpool desired from any rideshare parking area or Reston Town Center. Depart between 0600-0700, return from Indian Head between 160-1700. Call Moses, (301) 743-4180. Van or Car pool desired from Fredericksburg or King George to Indian Head, Monday thru Friday with one RDO, prefer 7-430, but hours can be negotiated. 703909-3380. Riders wanted to start a carpool from the Northern Neck (Lively/Lancaster), passing through Warsaw at 0605 and Montross at 0615, arriving at Dahlgren by 0700; leaving Dahlgren at 1600. Call Lea at 540-6536776 or 571-232-5412 (cell). From the Ferry Farm area to Dahlgren Bldg. 1500 area. Prefer early work hours. Call Mark, 540-653-2148. Riders wanted for van pool. Leaves from Richmond at Home Depot on Atlee-Elmont Rd. (exit # 86B off I-95) to Dahlgren. Call David at (540) 653-9203. Clinton, Md., to Dahlgren. Hours are flexible (0600 - 1700). Call Miranda at 703692-9590. Carpool/vanpool wanted from Montross area to Dahlgren. Can also take up to 3 or 4 riders from here if they would prefer me to drive. Call Doc at 252-670-6686. Early risers only.
Sailors and staff assigned to the Naval Branch Health Clinics at Naval Support Facilities (NSFs) Dahlgren and Indian Head said goodbye to Lt. Cmdr. John Day at his retirement ceremony Feb. 22. Day retires after 26 years of serving in the Navy, first as an enlisted man and later as a commissioned officer. Day’s Navy journey began in 1986 when he enlisted in the Navy with encouragement from his father, who was then an active duty Navy Nurse Corps officer. “Today is a day of great significance, marking the end of a distinguished and rewarding military career supporting the men, women and families of the United States armed forces,” said Capt. Mark Pressley, officer-in-charge of Naval Branch Health Clinic Naval Air Facility Washington and the master of ceremonies. Capt. Michael Vernere, commanding officer of Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River, praised Day. “This is a time-honored tradition capping 26 years of faithful, honorable and in my opinion, outstanding service from Lieutenant Commander John Day.” Vernere first met Day in 1998, when Day was a hospitalman first class. “I had the pleasure of working with him and seeing the kind of man he was,
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Want to start a carpool? Need riders? “Commuter Clearinghouse” is a source for information on carpools or vanpools that already exist and need passengers, as well as a place for employees to advertise to start a carpool or vanpool. Whether you already operate a carpool or vanpool and are open to accepting new riders or need drivers, or if you are looking for a carpool or vanpool, provide us with information that might help you find or start a commuter opportunity, such as, where you will need to commute from and to, preferred schedule and contact information. You can send your information via e-mail to nsasp_pao_dlgr@ navy.mil or contact our office toll free at 866-359-5540, or DSN 249-8153, or 540653-8153.
FREDERICKSBURG RIDESHARING SERVICE GWRideConnect is a free ridesharing service that assists persons who are seeking daily transportation from Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and King George counties to employment locations in Dahlgren among other employment sites. Go to www.gwregion.org/gwride connect.html.
struction costs. This capability opens targets for which no engagement option currently exists. Potential mission sets for high power microwave include disruption of communications networks, infrastructure, sensors and vehicle stopping. Directed energy programs, such as the Laser Weapon System, offer unique “game changing” alternatives to traditional kinetic weapons such as guns and bombs because a myriad of targets can be engaged with more precision and
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responded to the base’s call for help as outlined in NSASP’s mutual aid agreement with those communities. Mutual aid would come into play the next day, when the second drill unfolded at NSF Indian Head. When the call went out that an IED was found in a vehicle outside the galley at NSF Indian Head, police responded and set a perimeter. But the bomb squad never arrived. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit
Lt. Cmdr. John Day escorts his wife, Laura, off the stage at Day’s retirement ceremony Feb. 22. Both of the Days were recognized for their many years of loyal service to the Navy and the nation.