www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, September 28, 2023
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IN THIS ISSUE
Recipients Honored for Commitment to Service Members, Families The Defense Department’s Spirit of Hope Award was awarded to six people and a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping military families during a Pentagon ceremony last week. PAGE A6 VOL. 31, NO. 33, Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com
September 28-October 4, 2023
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (Sept. 21, 2023) A graphic showcasing the 2023 Hampton Roads Medical Service Corps (MSC) Symposium. This year’s theme was“Building Future Leaders,” and speakers provided insight on the state of MSC, leadership, career management, manpower, and the future of Navy Medicine. (U.S. NAVY GRAPHIC BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS LEVI DECKER)
Hampton Roads Medical Service Corps builds future leaders at 2023 symposium By Petty Officer 2nd Class Travis Decker Naval Medical Forces Atlantic
The Medical Service Corps (MSC) Association of Hampton Roads hosted a symposium that focused on the state of the corps, leadership, career management, manpower, expeditionary medicine, and a professional development panel at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP), Sept. 15. “I’m excited [to host the symposium] because you all represent the largest and most diverse corps,” said Capt. Brian Feldman, the commanding officer of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training (NMRTC) Command. “I consider you the connective tissue of Navy Medicine and you enable
comprehensive cutting-edge advancements in healthcare worldwide.” This year’s theme is “Building Future Leaders,” and approximately 100 medical professionals and MSC officers in the local area and from North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Missouri, attended the symposium. Key speaker Rear Adm. Matthew Case, the MSC director and commander, Naval Medical Forces Atlantic (NMFL) stressed the importance of the community’s professional development and medical readiness in order to support our nation’s warfighter. “I am laser-focused on expanding our capabilities and taking care of a full range of combat casualties,” explained Case. “And to prepare, we need to provide the right envi-
ronment for our people to be successful.” Lt. Cmdr. Diana Tran-Yu, who was in the audience and is also the president of NMRTC Bethesda’s MSC Professional Association, shared her key takeaway from this year’s symposium. “Each one of us can do our part to prepare for the future in crisis and combat operations,” concluded Tran-Yu. “I believe that we are prepared to provide the survivability of the force, and we must continue to amplify and reinforce great talents.” The MSC community actively supports Navy Medicine’s readiness and health with more than 30 diverse subspecialties from entomology, environmental health and aerospace and operational physiology to audiology, clinical psychology and pharmacy.
NMFL, headquartered in Portsmouth, Virginia, delivers operationally focused medical expertise and capabilities to meet Fleet, Marine and Joint Force requirements by providing equipment, sustainment and maintenance of medical forces during combat operations and public health crises. NMFL provides oversight for 21 NMRTCs, logistics, and public health and dental services throughout the U.S. East Coast, U.S. Gulf Coast, Cuba, Europe, and the Middle East. Navy Medicine — represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals — provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.
NORFOLK, Va. (Sept. 20, 2023) - A C-2A Greyhound aircraft, assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30, taxis on the flightline at Naval Staion Norfolk after conducting its final flight from Naval Air Station North Island. VRC-30 will officially sundown on Dec. 8, 2023. ABOVE RIGHT: The pilots and aircrewmen assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30 pose for a group photo after completing their final flight. (U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY JENNIFER CRAGG)
VRC-30 flies its last C-2A Greyhound to Norfolk By Jennifer Cragg
Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic
Airborne Command & Control and Logistics Wing (ACCLOGWING) leadership and Sailors assigned to VRC-40 welcomed the crew after their eleven-hour flight from Naval Air Station North Island to land their last C-2A Greyhound which will be used by VRC-40 for the next several years. VRC-30 will officially sundown later this year. VRC-30 began flying the C-2A Greyhound aircraft in 1981 and continued to use the aircraft for carrier onboard delivery (COD) to transport passengers, equipment, gear and supplies around the fleet
for 42 years. Cmdr. James Light, VRC-30’s commanding officer, participated in the final flight which also signified his last flying mission of his naval career as he is expected to retire from the Navy. Light has accumulated more than 2,900 flight hours and 200 carrier arrested landings in the C-2A including arrestments on all ten Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. “It has been the greatest ride in the world,” Light added reflecting on a career spent supporting logistics movement of manpower and equipment. Capt. Scott A. Wastak, Commander, ACCLOGWING, was on hand to meet the
crew when they arrived at NS Norfolk. He congratulated the crew for their long-standing dedication to the Greyhound mission. “A truly historic event for our community and the Navy. The end of an era that is now part of Naval Aviation legacy. Logistics are a critical enabler to warfighting readiness and VRC-30 was instrumental to delivering readiness to the fleet,” Wastak said. Similar to Light, Cmdr. Jesse King, VRC-30’s executive officer, who also participated in the final flight will retire at the end of 2023. “This is an amazing aircraft that has supported the needs of the Navy,” King
added, who has accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours and 150 carrier landings flying the C-2A. Lt. Cmdr. Joe Swindel who flew a portion of the flight to Norfolk with Light and King, shared his experiences flying the C-2A. “This is the platform that made me an aviator,” said Swindel, who flew the C-2A for the past twelve years through four deployments. The C-2A Greyhound will remain in use on the east coast for several more years before they too will eventually be replaced by the MV-22 Osprey as the only COD aircraft used for all aircraft carriers.
Sailor in the Spotlight: Lt. Cmdr. Olivia Wittman www.flagshipnews.com
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Lt. Cmdr. Olivia Wittman, September’s Sailor in the Spotlight for the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC), brings a wealth of shipboard experience to her role as assistant project manager for USS San Antonio (LPD 17). PAGE A2
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