FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016
Eye on the Fleet
south china sea
VOL. 27 NO. 10
(March 5, 2016) ABHN Leah Wade directs an E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the Golden Hawks of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112 on USS John C. Stennis’ (CVN 74) flight deck. Providing a ready force supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, Stennis is operating as part of the Great Green Fleet on a regularly scheduled 7th Fleet deployment.
U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Kenneth Rodriguez Santiago
inside: PRE-K Register now. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ASF CERTIFIED Added security. . . . . . . . . . . . 3 SUPER STALLIONS Marine aviators train . . . . . 4 GETTING READY Air show drill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 TOP OF PAGE ONE: Three F/A-18E Super Hornets assigned to the Warhawks of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97 fly in formation for an aerial change of command ceremony as Cmdr. Douglas Peterson is relieved by Cmdr. Matthew Doyle.
WWW.CNIC.NAVY.MIL/KEYWEST NAVAL AIR STATION KEY WEST, FLORIDA
Technology to collect data on base vehicles
Top brass onboard
By Jolene Scholl Southernmost Flyer
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ig Brother is now a passenger in government vehicles assigned to Naval Air Station Key West. Commander, Navy Installations Command has funded a program to install telematics in 29 vehicles assigned to the installation, said Wally Moore, Public Works transportation commodity manager. The vehicles are assigned to Fire and Emergency Services, Operations, Security and Environmental departments, Moore said. “Installation begins today and continues Tuesday and Wednesday,” Moore said on see DATA page 5
U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Cody Babin
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hairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, right, shakes hands with Naval Air Station Key West Commanding Officer Capt. Steve McAlearney after landing at Boca Chica Field Tuesday. Dunford was here for a visit to Joint Interagency Task Force South.
Volunteers sought for turtle survey From NAS Key West Public Affairs
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aval Air Station Key West Environmental Division is looking for volunteers to assist in this year’s Turtle Nesting Survey. NAS Key West participates in the statewide nesting survey, which was initiated in 1979. The
purpose of the survey is to document the distribution, seasonality and abundance of sea turtles nesting in Florida. Historically, loggerhead and green sea turtles nest on beaches at Truman Annex; both species are endangered. “We have two shoreline areas see turtle page 3
Remember to ‘spring forward’ Sunday From NAS Key West Public Affairs
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ailors and civilians can look forward to an extra hour of daylight Sunday as daylight saving time takes effect at 2 a.m. that morning. Daylight saving time will remain in effect until Nov. 6, when clocks return to standard time.
The time change also marks the biannual smoke alarm safety promotion by fire services nationwide. NAS Key West Fire and Emergency Services promotes the annual “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery” campaign, which encourages people to change their smoke alarm batteries when see DST page 3
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•March 11, 2016
All about pi
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March11 1945 - The Navy begins use of landing craft, personnel vehicles to ferry troops across the Rhine River at Bad Neuenahr, Germany.
March 12 1956 - The first missile firing aircraft squadron, Attack Squadron 83, is deployed overseas aboard USS Intrepid (CVA 11).
March 13 1963 - USS Albany (CG 10) and aircraft from Navy Airborne Early Warning Squadron Four aid five ill crewmembers of Norwegian freighter Jotunfjell.
March 14 1929 - During the Elba, Alabama, flooding, Navy planes from Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, make 113 flights carrying relief supplies and conducting rescues to flooded towns.
March 15 1953 - Marine pilots of VMA-312 destroy eight rail cars, two possible radar towers, a power transformer and numerous other assorted targets in Korea before returning to USS Bataan (CVL 29).
March 16 1966 - Gemini 8 launches with former naval aviator Neil Armstrong and Air Force Maj. David Scott.
March 17 1962 - USS Raleigh (LPD 1), the Navy’s first amphibious transport dock, is launched at New York Naval shipyard.
n the week ahead we may observe Pi Day. I write ‘observe,’ not ‘celebrate,’ although there are almost certainly those among us who geek out to such things, standing by their phones to screen cap that instant: 3/14 1:59:26.53. If this isn’t your thing I recommend staying off social media that day. I’m happy to be a chaplain, because I don’t really do math. At some point it makes my head hurt. But if I’m honest, I’m secretly amazed and intrigued by math and science. I’ve been known to go nerding on occasion. And my life is richer because there are indeed “mathemagicians” out there who deal in numbers and calculations and little Greek letters with amazing significance. You’ve likely used pi to figure out the circumference of a circle . . . back in grammar school. And if you’re like me, you hated it. You 2πr’d and πr2’d your way to the end of the assignment, and that was probably the end of it. But did you know that the Egyptians were already using pi to construct the pyramids? Or maybe you were unaware that your radio gets better reception
thanks to a calculation involving pi. In fact, a researcher armed with pi to 39 decimal places [that’s 3.1415926535897932384 62643383279502884197 - Google it] can make calculations about the cosmos that are accurate to the size of an atom! That same little pi I hated in seventh grade CHAPLAIN'S has opened the CORNER door to scientific discovery that has continued to expand our understanding of the universe, leading to deepCoast Guard Sector Key West er questions and Command bigger answers. Chaplain Pi goes on for Lt. millions of placJason Dart es after the decimal, but its value will always be less than four. It’s tiny. But include it in one of a number of calculations and stand by while wonders of the world emerge. Apply pi and we slip the bonds of gravity soaring into space, even mathematically mapping a universe we have yet to see with our eyes - satellites and skyscrapers; art and music; nature and navigation and exploration. All of this is from a relatively small number, symbolized by a
little Greek letter in the middle of the alphabet. It’s easy to take any of these things as given. They’re a part of our ordinary life experience. But there’s my point. What seems insignificant makes big things happen. It’s not a leap to consider ourselves in this. We may not always see ourselves as extraordinary. Our contributions may not seem critical in the moment, just as pi by itself is merely a number. But what you and I do as a matter of course combines, each with other, and amazing things happen: Aircraft take flight; cutters patrol the straits; diseases are conquered; families thrive. Our most mundane tasks enable each of these modern wonders and more to happen. I’m going to observe Pi Day. But I celebrate each of you and all that you do, every day, whether ordinary or exceptional. You make each of our days as great as - and more often greater than - Pi Day will ever be. You are welcome to attend Protestant worship service is Sunday at 10:30 a.m. in the Truman Chapel. If you are in need of chaplain care, please call (305) 293-2318, Naval Air Station Key West, or (305) 292-8788, Coast Guard Sector Key West.
Commanding Officer Capt. Steven P. McAlearney Executive Officer Cmdr. Pornchai Davidson PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER Trice Denny EDITOR Jolene Scholl STAFF MC3 Cody Babin This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military service and their families. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Navy and do not imply endorsement thereof. The editorial content of this newspaper is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of Naval Air Station Key West, Florida. Additional copy and photographs provided by the readers of the Southernmost Flyer should be addressed to: Editor, Southernmost Flyer, Public Affairs Office, Naval Air Station, Box 9001, Key West, FL 33040-9001. Copy can also be e-mailed to jolene.scholl@ navy.mil. Telephone (305) 293-2425/2434. DSN 4832425/2434. Deadline for all editorial copy is 4 p.m. the Friday preceding publication. All articles must be submitted on disk in text format, written in upper/lower case style.
Online registration now open for voluntary pre-K program By Yoli Eldred
NAS Key West School Liaison Officer
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he Early Learning Coalition has begun issuing certificates of eligibility for Florida’s free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program. The VPK program consists of 540 instructional hours - 3 hours per school day - for the 2016 - 17 school-year. Children who will be four-years old on
or before Sept. 1 are eligible to participate. Parents need to complete an online application at www. vpkhelp.org. It is important to select Monroe County and the 2016 - 17 school year from the drop box that will appear. Registration includes uploading the following documents in pdf form: Proof of the child’s age an original birth certificate, a
certificate of baptism, a passport and/or an immunization record; Proof of residency - a utility bill, bank statement, pay stub, government document; The child’s social security number, if available. Once the online application is reviewed and approved, the parents will receive the VPK certificate of eligibility via email, which they can then print and submit to the VPK
provider of choice as soon as possible. There are a number of local VPK providers, including Sigsbee Child Development Care Center, local public schools and some private preschools. Enrollment at a specific school is first-come, first-served or as space is available. Contact the Naval Air Station see VPK page 4
March 11, 2016 •
CAC tips
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New faces at the gate
From NAS Key West ID Card Lab
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ince February, Common Access Cards are being issued from the new DOD Certificate Authorities 33 and 34. If a customer receives a new CAC and reports that it doesn’t function properly, they should verify the CAC is readable on a RAPIDS workstation. If the CAC is readable, the customer will need to contact his or her system administrator or Service Public Key Infrastructure help desk to ensure the new DOD PKI trust chains have been properly installed. For certificate support and application compatibility questions, contact your IT systems support.
U.S. Navy photo by Jolene Scholl
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aval Air Station Key West’s Executive Officer Cmdr. Pornchai Davidson, cemter, is shown with the 15 Sailors who graduated March 4 from the the Auxiliary Security Force course. The Sailors, all volunteers with various ratings, will help augment the installation’s security force, manning gates and back up security during the Southernmost Air Spectacular April 2 and 3.
Turtle
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Job Title: Air traffic control Hometown: Plantation, Florida Prior Duty Stations: USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Hobbies: Mountain biking, surfing. Most Interesting Experience: Mountain biking in Whistler, Canada. Future Plans: Move west and finish school.
AC2 Keith Wilcox
that the sea turtle have nested on and these are the areas we will survey,” said Ed Barham, environmental director. “One is the shoreline along United Street and the other is the Beach Patio beach.” Sea turtle nesting season begins on April 15 and ends Oct. 31. Female turtles come ashore between dusk and dawn to lay about 100 pingpong ball-sized eggs, Barham said. Roughly two months later, hatchlings dig their way to the surface and scramble to the sea. In 2015, one turtle nest was identified on Truman Annex, Barham said. “The last couple of years have been slow,” he said, noting that
nesting is cyclic. Another factor is the installation of turtle lights on Truman Annex in 2013. In the past, officials would become aware of nests when hatchlings would walk to street lights, away from the ocean. Now when nesting season begins, the street lights use an amber light, which can’t be seen by the turtles. “We aren’t finding hatchlings in people’s back yards, so we don’t know if we had nests,” he said. Surveys involve a daily walk along the beach in the morning to look for any signs of sea turtle nests or hatchling activity. Volunteers must have base access. More information is available for those interested in being a volunteer. Contact Mat Martin at matthew.s.martin1@navy.mil, (305) 797-9576 or Shelby Graham at Shelby.graham.ctr@navy.mil.
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they change their clocks for daylight saving time. “It’s a simple and inexpensive way to protect your family and your home,” said NAS Key West FES Chief Curt Krieger. According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoke alarms are present in 96 percent of American homes, but 20 percent do not work due to worn or missing batteries. This means that nearly 19 million homes are at needless risk. Almost two-thirds of reported home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes that had no smoke alarms or had smoke alarms that weren’t working. A working smoke alarm can often provide critical extra seconds needed to get out safely, Krieger said. If the smoke alarm is more than 10 years old, it’s time to replace it. According to the NFPA, having working smoke alarms reduces the risk of dying in a fire in half.
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VPK
work horses
continued from page 2
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U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Cody Babin
H-53E Super Stallions with Heavy Marine Helicopter Training Squadron HMHT-302 reported in from Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, to Naval Air Station Key West Monday. The squadron is here training pilots to fly the helicopter, which is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the U.S. military. It can carry 16 tons of cargo and is powerful enough to lift every aircraft in the Marine inventory except the KC-130. It’s also compact enough to deploy on amphibious assault ships.
Key West School Liaison Officer to register for the CDC’s VPK Program or if you are seeking more information on the providers. The CDC offers a morning class from 7:45 - 10:45 a.m. and an afternoon class from 12:15 - 3:15 p.m. Now also is the time to update your child’s immunization records and to schedule a physical exam; updated records and an exam are required for school enrollment. For more information, call School Liaison Officer Yoli Eldred at (305) 3939510 or email yolanda. eldred@navy.mil.
March 11, 2016 •
Data
This week at FFSC
continued from page 5
Monday. The telematics unit is a small black box that is installed in the vehicle. The unit is programmed to transmit data that includes location, speed and driving patterns. “It is GPS enabled and will transmit everywhere you’ve been, how long the vehicle sat idling and driving patterns, like speeding and fast starts/stops,” Moore said. The information is sent to Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic. “It’s a push to save the taxpayers money in fuel cost,” he said. It’s also a way to streamline usage; if vehicles aren’t being used the fleet can be reduced. Data transmission begins as soon as the unit is
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Federal Employment Basics Tuesday, 9 - 10:30 a.m., FFSC This workshop provides information on understanding the complexity of the federal hiring process, assisting in efforts to get a federal job.
Resume Writing Thursday, 1 - 2:30 p.m., FFSC The properly constructed resume will help you stand out in today’s highly competitive job market. Topics include the basics of writing a resume, key words and formatting.
U.S. Navy photo by Jolene Scholl
Todd Russell, a contractor with Metro Mobile Electronics, prepares to install a telematics unit in government vehicle Monday. The unit records data including location, speed, distance, time of day and driving habits. installed. CNIC is the first to adopt the program but not the last. “Right now it’s CNIC but NAVFAC [Naval Facilities
Engineering Command] has already chimed in about coming in,” he said. The data also will be used to prevent fraud, waste and
abuse. “If somebody’s doing something they’re not supposed to, I’m sure we’ll get a report back,” Moore said.
Fleet and Family Support Center’s hours of operation are 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday. FFSC offers many services including deployment support, relocation assistance, family employment readiness, life skills education, notary service, personal financial management, crisis incident response and training, sexual assault prevention and response, ombudsman support, transition assistance management, family advocacy and professional counseling. For more information or to request services, call (305) 293-4408 or visit the center at 804 Sigsbee Rd., Sigsbee Park.
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MWR Update Easter pool party The Easter bunny will greet youngsters at the annual Trumbo Easter pool party March 27. The event runs from noon - 3 and admission is free. Activities include pool games, a bunny sack race, inflatables and more. For more information, call (305) 293-4324.
Golf league
The 2016 Captain’s Cup Golf League starts April 8. Games play every Friday at 11 a.m. The cost is $41 per person, per week. Rosters are due March 28 and can be submitted to kwathletics@gmail.com. To earn Captain’s Cup points, the team may only have one non-active duty member. Call (305) 797-7791 for more details.
Navigator’s live
It’s that time of year Navigator’s is hosting performers during season. Entertainment by “Wyatt Hurts” is 6 - 9 p.m. March 17 and the Fly Away Café will have a dinner special. For more information call (305) 293-2468.
AquaFit class Trumbo Pool offers a free AquaFit class every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. - noon. No registration is required. Patrons interested in staying in the pool after class, must pay the standard fees. Unattended children are prohibited. For more information call (305) 293- 4324.
Babysitting break
March 26: “Daddy’s Home” their families. (PG-13) at 1 p.m. For more information, or The Child Development March 26: “Steve Jobs” (R) to book a party, call (305) Center offers additional at 6 p.m. 293-4324. child care during the month of February. The cost is $4 Disney tickets 2016 air show per child, per hour. Preregistration is required, The 2016 Disney Salute The Navy Flight including immunization tickets are now available for Demonstration Squadron, records. Call the CDC for purchase and use through the Blue Angels are commore information at (305) Dec. 19. The only blackout ing to Key West on April 293-4498. date for this year’s promo- 2 and 3. The air show also March 18: 6:30 - 11:30 p.m. tion is March 20 - April 1. will feature other military (register by Wednesday) Tickets are $192.50 per per- and civilian performers. March 19: 5:30 - 10:30 p.m. son for ages three and older. For a full list of civilian (register by Thursday) Tickets are only available March 26: 5:30 - 11:30 p.m. to active duty service mem(register by March 24) bers, retirees and dependents. There is a limit of six tickets per sponsor ID. Beach Yoga The Boca Chica Fitness Center hosts a monthly yoga class through April on the beach at the Boca Chica Marina. Classes are the last Sunday of each month from 10 - 11 a.m. Participants should bring a mat, towel and water bottle. For more information, call (305) 2932480.
Fly Away Café
The Fly Away Café, operating at Navigator’s Bar & Grill, Boca Chica Marina, offers breakfast and lunch, as well as dinner specials. Hours of service are 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday - Saturday, and 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Sunday. In addition to a wide variety of food selections, the café serves café Free movies con leche, cappuccino and Beach Patio Recreation espresso. Order ahead, or Center offers free movies call for specials, at (305) each Saturday at 1 and 6 293-2468. p.m. on the big screen. Lazy Boy seating is available and Trumbo Pool snacks may be purchased. Note: The facility is for The Trumbo Pool has patrons aged 18 and older shifted to winter hours: after 4 p.m. daily. For more Wednesday - Saturday, 11 information, call (305) 293- a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday, 5282. noon - 5 p.m. The pool, on Saturday: “The Good Trumbo Point, offers laps Dinosaur” (PG) at 1 p.m. swimming, water slides, lily Saturday: “Crimson Peak” pads, climbing wall and kid(R) at 6 p.m. die splash pad. The pavilMarch 19: “Alvin and the ion is available for parties Chipmunks: The Road and a playground is on site. Chip” (PG) at 1 p.m. Admission is $1 a day for March 19: “Victor Frank- retirees and DOD civilians enstein” (PG-13) at 6 p.m. and free to active duty and
performers along with bios, videos and more visit the air show website. General admission to the event is free but if you would like to purchase reserve seating, tickets are on sale now: www.airshowkeywest. com. Bleacher and Box seating are available online or visit the ITT Office for assistance. For more information, email emma.harlow@navy. mil or call (305) 293-2503.
Child Care Need an extra hour or two of child care? The School Age Care program and the Child Development Center offer hourly care. Families may not exceed 10 hours of care per child per week during SAC Before and After School program. Children must have an active regissee mwr page 8
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Ready to respond
U.S. Navy photos by MC3 Cody Babin
Sailors from Naval Branch Health Clinic Key West, left, assess mock casualties during a drill at Naval Air Station Key West’s Boca Chica Field Wednesday. Above, Cmdr. John Steely, a medical officer at NBHC, consults with a volunteer victim simulating injuries. From NAS Key West Public Affairs
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he posters are up, the performers set, and activities planned as the days dwindle down before the Southernmost Air Spectacular Air Show April 2 and 3. On Wednesday installation personnel trained for a worst-case scenario - a mass casualty event occurring during the air show. Using the scenario of a performer crashing during a performance, emergency personnel responded to the site where Sailors simulated injuries that could occur in such an accident. A triage center was immediately stood up, and Naval Branch Health Clinic Key West medical staff evaluated patients as air operations oversaw the transportation of eight people taken on mock flights to area hospitals. The drill gave all departments an opportunity to test the 46-page Airshow Emergency Action Plan, which was developed specifically for the upcoming air show. It also gave them the chance work together to ensure that in a real emergency, response would be immediate and seamless.
Sailors assigned to the triage area debrief after the mass casualty training exercise, which was held in preparation for the upcoming Southernmost Air Spectacular Air Show April 2 and 3.
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MWR
tion, call (305) 293-2480.
continued from page 6
Open pickleball
tration on file. Make reservations in person or by calling the Youth Center at (305) 293-4437. For CDC hourly care, call (305) 2934498.
Open pickleball is scheduled from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Sigsbee Park tennis courts. This sport combines the elements of badminton, tennis and ping-pong. Newcomers Liberty activities and players of all levels are welcome. The Liberty Single Sailor For information, call Program is open to all single (305) 797-7791 or email or unaccompanied active kwathletics@gmail.com. duty military personnel E-6 and below. Visit us on Landing Zone Facebook at “MWR Liberty Key West” and request to be The Landing Zone has added to the closed Liberty relocated to Bldg. A-711 Group.For additional infor- Essex Circle, Boca Chica mation email naskwliber- Field, is a one-stop shop ty@gmail.com or call (305) resource center. Products 293-2682 or (305) 797-4468. include plaques and engravUpcoming activities: ing, NAS Key West logoed Saturday - Everglades products, printing/copyAlligator Farm Trip; free ing; it is also an authorized admission and transporta- notary public. tion, 7 am - 6 pm. Call (305) 293-2884 or email mwrgraphics@hotmail.com. Cardio Dance Boca Chica Fitness Center is rolling Shake It Off Cardio Dance Class on Tuesdays. The class,meets 5:15 - 6 p.m. in the Exercise Studio, Bldg. A-350 on Boca Chica.For more informa-
Fitness schedule
Studio) 5:15 - 6 p.m. - CardioFit (Boca Chica Exercise Studio) Tuesday 10 - 10:45 a.m. - HIIT (Boca Chica Fitness Center) 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. - Gentle Yoga (Sigsbee Community Center) 4:15 - 5 p.m. - TRX (Boca Chica Fitness Center) 5:15 - 6 p.m. - Shake It Off (Boca Chica Exercise Studio) 6:15 - 7 p.m. - Cycling (Boca Chica Cycling Studio) Wednesday 11 - 11:45 a.m. - Total Body Toning (Boca Chica Exercise Studio) 5:15 - 6 p.m. - HIIT (Boca Chica Fitness Center) Thursday 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. - Gentle Yoga (Sigsbee Community Center) 5 - 6 p.m. - Pump (Boca Chica Exercise Studio) Friday 10 - 11 a.m. Yoga (Boca Chica Exercise Studio)
Monday 7 - 7:45 a.m. - Cycling (Boca Chica Cycling Studio) Saturday 11 - 11:45 a.m. - Pilates 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. - Circuit (Boca Chica Exercise (Boca Chica Fitness Center)