VOL.54 NO. 15 APRIL 30, 2015
SERVING NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, DAM NECK ANNEX, AND NALF FENTRESS
NFL player speaks to service members about mental illness
JET
INSIDE
BY MC3 TIMOTHY DAUGHTON NAS Oceana Public Affairs With his personal message to military members being “there is no shame in getting help,” former NFL player Herschel Walker visited the Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana Aerotheater April 15 as the national spokesman for the Patriot Support Program Anti-Stigma Campaign to discuss his own battle with mental illness. In 2008, Walker released a memoir “Breaking Free: My life with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).” After releasing his memoir, Walker became a spokesman for mental health and addiction treatment for service members through the Patriot Support Program. Since 2008, Herschel has made more than 100 visits to military installations speaking to more than 95,000 military members as well as those hospitalized after being wounded in battle. “It is very important to me to work with the military because they are who makes this country what it is today,” Walker said. My favorite part of speaking with military members is when someone comes to me and tells me they have been struggling with something and now they are going to go and speak to someone.” Walker won the Heisman trophy while playing for the University of Georgia and had a successful career in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles. After announcing publicly that he has dealt with DID, he has dedicated his time
— See Walker, page 13
VFA-37 HOLDS CHANGE OF COMMAND —Page 5
Photo by MC2 (SW) Alysia Hernandez Sailors participate in the An Achievable Dream program at Seatack Elementary School April 23. An Achievable Dream teaches students a Social, Academic, and Moral Education (SAME) curriculum where every student participates in etiquette, ethics and peaceful conflict resolution classes.
SAILORS VOLUNTEER FOR AN ACHIEVABLE DREAM PROGRAM BY MC3 TIMOTHY DAUGHTON NAS Oceana Public Affairs All school year, Sailors from Naval Air Station Oceana (NAS) have been volunteering at Seatack Elementary School in collaboration with the An Achievable Dream (AAD) program providing mentoring to students. On April 24, the school held a breakfast to honor all the volunteers and their dedicated efforts throughout the year in the school cafeteria. Over the course of the school year, Sailors greet students with a handshake as they enter the school in the morning followed by eating breakfast in their assigned classrooms. After breakfast, all AAD students recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the National Anthem
in the auditorium. Each Sailor conducts a uniform inspection for the students where they make sure they have the required polo shirt, belt and footwear. “The kids really respect these Sailors and try to emulate them by how they act, speak and interact with each other. On the flip side our Sailors are getting a lot out of the experience. They have been maturing, especially those who might not have children of their own are appreciating what it takes to actually raise a child,” said NAS Oceana Command Master Chief (SW/ AW/EXW) Eric Clark. The AAD program teaches students a Social, Academic, and Moral Education (SAME) curriculum where every student participates
— See Mentors, page 3
NMCRS AWARDS VOLUNTEERS —Page 7
CINCO DE MAYO SPECIAL MEAL The NAS Oceana Hornet’s Nest Galley is hosting a special meal and cake cutting for Cinco De Mayo on May 5. The meal is open to military and DoD personnel. The special meal will include beef empanadas, various tacos, chicken fajitas, Mexican casserole and many more Mexican dishes.