VOL. 54 NO. 5 FEBRUARY 5, 2015
SERVING NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, DAM NECK ANNEX, AND NALF FENTRESS SOLID CURTAIN-CITADEL SHIELD 2015
JET
INSIDE Officer Joshua Makin leads officers from the Virginia Beach Police Department into NAS Oceana’s Administrative Building during an active shooter scenario, as part of Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2015 (SC-CS15). The exercise tests response and coordination between Navy emergency response personnel and their civilian counterparts in an active shooter situation.
PREPARING FOR YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE —Page 3
Photo by MC2 (SW) Alysia Hernandez
— For more photos, see page 9
CNATTU OCEANA HOLDS CHANGE OF COMMAND —Page 7
Warrant officer extends four-year enlistment to 33-year career BY CATHY HEIMER Jet Observer In 1981,Todd Herbert was out of work. On strike from his job at the paper mill company in Mobile,Ala., Herbert had gone to Pensacola. “I was hanging out, watching the air show and I thought that was pretty cool,” he explained. So impressed with watching the Blue Angels and other air show performers, the 20-year-old was at the Navy recruiter’s of-
fice within two weeks. “My whole thing was I’m going to come in and do four years and then get out of the Navy and go back to Mobile and be a civilian with a steady job,” said Herbert. Fast forward to 2015 as the now-Chief Warrant Officer 5 Todd Herbert, Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106’s maintenance officer, ended his 33-year military career with a ceremony at the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Oceana Jan. 23. His out-
standing work ethic and both leadership and maintenance skills, praised throughout his retirement ceremony,allowed him to first ascend through the enlisted ranks, eventually earning a commission as a chief warrant officer. But even his choice of being an aviation structural mechanic, known as an AMS at the time, was intended to set him up for a civilian career after a few years in the Navy.“I liked the aviation piece but I wanted something that would get me a certificate as a welder, in case I went back home.The shipyards down south always were hiring welders,” he explained. Up until the 10-year mark of his career, Herbert was set on returning home, even having — See Herbert, page 8
GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION Auntie Anne’s at the Oceana NEX Food Court will have a grand opening ceremony with a ribbon cutting, Feb. 6, 9 -10 a.m. On Feb. 7, the celebration will continue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with face painting, photos with “Twistee,” balloon animals and a free original pretzel.