VOL. 53 NO. 28 JULY 17, 2014
SERVING NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, DAM NECK ANNEX, AND NALF FENTRESS
Advisory board formed to assess future of AW rate
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From Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs MILLINGTON,Tenn. (NNS) — Due to inconsistent advancement opportunities for select naval aircrewman (AW) communities during a period of platform transition, Navy Personnel Command has established a Senior Enlisted Aircrew Advisory Board (SEAAB) to develop a plan for the future of the rate. According to Capt. Bruce Deshotel, head enlisted community manager, the AWF (Mechanical) and AWV (Avionics) communities have a planned 60 percent reduction in manning between now and 2020.This outlook has impacted advancement opportunities. “While the community managers successfully developed a number of mitigation plans that increased advancement opportunity, we still need to look at developing a long-term solution to best support the Sailors and the commands,” Deshotel said. In 2005, a SEEAB was also convened to address aircrew advancement opportunity that resulted in all naval aircrewmen being consolidated into the AW rating. “It took three years for the first SEAAB to consolidate the aircrew.We do not want to rush any options,but rather come to a logical conclusion which will benefit our personnel and AW communities.The experts from all aspects of the ratings,as well as aviation leadership,will work together for a beneficial outcome,” said Deshotel. The board held its first meeting July 11 and brought together stakeholders from Naval Air Forces,Navy Air Force Reserve,Naval Education and Training Command, Center for Naval Aviation and Technical Training, Naval Air Technical Training Center and more. “We will come to leadership with courses of action that all stakeholders feel best support their Sailors as well as their commands by the middle of September,” Deshotel said.“We don’t think the solution will be simple but our goal is to develop an actionable plan that best supports all concerned.”
UNIQUE VEHICLES ON DISPLAY AT CPOA SHOW —Page 6
RP3 Stacy Jones, assigned to NAS Oceana Chapel of the Good Shepherd, loads a van with bags of food for Feds Feed Families July 3. NAS Oceana has collected more than 45,000 pounds so far which is donated to the food bank and local pantries which help those in need.
OCEANA PARTICIPATES IN FEDS FEED FAMILIES CAMPAIGN
GEICO SKYTYPERS TAKING TO SKIES AT OCEANA AIR SHOW —Page 8
STORY/PHOTO BY MCSN KAYLA KING NAS Oceana Public Affairs
joined the annual campaign June 10 to donate food and help struggling families in local communities across the country. NAS Oceana collected 26,016 pounds in Sailors, Marines and civilians at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana have donated more 2013 and has almost doubled that weight than 45,000 pounds of non-perishable food for 2014. The overall federal campaign items as part of the Department of Defense- brought in 9 million pounds of food in the wide Feds Feed Families campaign that three-month summer program, with DoN kicked off June 1 and will last until Aug. 31. contributing 1.2 million pounds of the 1.8 “Feds Feed Families is something we do million pounds from the DoD. every year to help out unfortunate families “This year the goal is 100 percent comin the local area that are in need of food. So, mand contact, versus last year, which was we just ask for donations and we take them weight.This year we want everyone in the to places like the food banks and chapels command to get involved,” said Thompson. that feed the homeless.It’s a good program,” Donations of certain other hygiene and said Religious Programs Specialist (RP) 1st cleaning supplies are also appreciated. Class Maria Thompson, assigned to NAS “Sometimes chapels and outreach programs Oceana’s Chapel of the Good Shepherd and need stuff like deodorant, soap, toothpaste the Feds Feed Families point of contact. The Department of the Navy (DoN) — See Donations page 9
NMCRS NIGHT AT THE TIDES Today, July 17 is the deadline to purchase Norfolk Tides tickets for NMCRS Night July 19. A portion of the $11 ticket will benefit the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. To purchase tickets, visit www. TidesGroups.com; choose Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Night and the promo code is NMCRS. Pick up tickets at the will call table.