MCAST WELCOMES BACK DEPLOYED TEAMS PAGE 4 VOLUME 52 NO. 17
MAY 2, 2013
SERVING NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA
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DAM NECK ANNEX
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NALF FENTRESS
INSIDEJET
Annual luncheon honors NMCRS volunteers
ED FAIR BRINGS INFO TO OCEANA
PAGE 7 BY CATHY HEIMER Jet Observer
CSFWL HONORS 1ST RESPONDERS
PAGE 8 Meet the following bands, May 3 at the Oceana Navy Exchange: •Otherwise, 11 a.m. to noon •Sevendust, 12:30 -1:30 p.m. •P.O.D., 2 - 3 p.m. Their music will be available for purchase during the event.
Led by Suzanne Guilbault, executive assistant to the NAS Oceana commanding and executive officers, walkers head up Tomcat Boulevard, during the “Denim Day,” event April 24. Denim Day, held annually across the country, encourages everyone to wear blue jeans and red shirts as a way to bring attention to sexual assault prevention. Participants began at 7 a.m. and walks were held throughout the day for the 369 Sailors, Marines and civilians who participated.
raising awareness of sexual assault prevention STORY/PHOTO BY MC2 ANTONIO P. TURRETTO RAMOS NAS Oceana Public Affairs In a show of solidarity against sexual violence, Sailors,Marines and civilians at NAS Oceana traded their uniforms and normal business attire for blue jeans and red shirts, to walk in “Denim Day” on April 24, one of several Sexual Assault Awareness Month events at Oceana. Denim Day is a rape prevention education campaign that asks community members to make a social statement with their fashion by wearing jeans as a visible means of protest against misconceptions that surround sexual assault,according to the website www.denimdayusa.org. “It’s get’s people to ask questions about why we
are in red T-shirts and blue jeans…Once they start getting involved, they realize that this can happen to anybody, to me, to someone in my family, and that bring attention to what we’re trying to advocate and what we’re trying to eradicate,” said Information SystemsTechnician 2nd Class (AW/SW) Ebony Sheffield of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, who is a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program victim advocate. One of the organizers of the event, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Patricia Baker, who is also a SAPR victim advocate,said that the goal of Denim Day is promote awareness in way that has high visibility and is fun. Baker, a pharmacy technician at the Oceana Branch Health Clinic,hopes the
Without the 71 volunteers who contributed 14,492 hours to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at NAS Oceana in 2012, most services provided to 1,763 Sailors, Marines, retirees and their families would not have been possible. With just two paid staff members, the majority of NCMRS clients would not have been able to secure almost $1.2 million in financial assistance through loans and grants. And without those needed volunteers, 262 expectant parents would not have been able to attend the “Budget for Baby”class and receive a handmade layette, created by volunteers who knitted and crocheted 274 blankets in 2012. “With just one full-time and one part-time staff, we would only probably be able to see six clients a day, as opposed to the 16-20 clients, plus our walk-ins for the Quick Assist Loans, that we see every day,” explained Lolita Sheats, NMCRS director at Oceana. Because the work of volunteers is so vital to the mission of NMCRS, they were honored during a luncheon April 26 at Dam Neck’s Shifting Sands Club.The annual luncheon coincides with National Volunteer Week, celebrated April 21-27. “They give selflessly their time to help others with their financial needs, so it’s only deserving to recognize them for their selflessness,” explained Sheats. NAS Oceana Commanding Officer Capt. Bob
— See Denim Day age 8 — See Volunteers Page 9