Tester 010716 flipbook

Page 1

TESTER Naval Air Station Patuxent River

Gate 3 will open for the week of Jan. 4-8, 2016, and operate on limited hours. Normal operating hours resume Jan. 11, 2016.

Vol. 73, No. 1

Celebrating 72 Years of Community Partnership

Proposed changes to UCMJ Page 3

Accolades Page 4

NDW volunteer opportunities Page 5

January 7, 2016

Countdown to Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield: 24 days Gearing up for Navy’s largest ATFP exercise Feb. 1-12 By Donna Cipolloni NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kenneth Abbate

In February, Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield (SC/CS) – the annual Navywide anti-terrorism and force protection (ATFP) exercise – will be underway at NAS Patuxent River.

What is SC/CS? • Led by Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Commander, Navy Installations Command, SC/CS is a two-part exercise designed to enhance the training and readiness of naval security forces and first responders by testing their ability to react to threats aimed at installations, units, personnel and families. • It also creates an integrated learning environment for personnel to exercise functional plans and operational capabilities • Solid Curtain: an event affecting the entire Navy, up to Fleet Forces • Citadel Shield: localized event to test and evaluate installation-level responses to a range of force protection situations • Exercise is divided into two major parts, including a drill during the first week, customized for each individual Navy installation; and communication-heavy training during the second week • Pax River personnel are also evaluated on how well they are prepared to handle an emergency situation should one play out during the exercise, or occur in real life • Personnel are encouraged to sign up for the AtHoc alert network by clicking the purple globe at the bottom of their NMCI computer; and to follow the “If you see something, say something” rule when witnessing any suspicious activity or person During SC/CS, measures will be taken to minimize impact to Pax personnel, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic or delays in base access – so take note and be ready; and continue reading Tester each week for more information and instruction leading up to the exercise.

Tester’s year in review By Compiled by Donna Cipolloni NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs

Here are just a few items of interest that appeared on the pages of Tester throughout 2015: January • NEX gas station introduces the “Fuel Call” button at certain pumps, allowing customers with physical disabilities to signal for gas-pumping assistance from their car. • An energy reduction incentive contest was launched with the goal of reducing annual energy and water usage for every eligible building on the installation. Prizes, up to $50,000, will be used toward facility improvements the following year. • The NAVAIR H-53 Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) Team was presented with a 2014 Secretary of Defense PBL Award in the component category for implementing a PBL solution that increased the supply availability for 10 high-value, flight-critical H-53 aircraft components. Along with the increase in supply avail-

ability, the team was able to reduce operating and support costs by $20.2 million. February • NAS Patuxent River was announced the 2014 Naval District Washington regional winner for Community Service Program of the Year, Personal Excellence Partnership flagship award. • Naval Recreation Center Solomons was recognized as one of the top Navy Getaways Programs. March • United States Naval Test Pilot School celebrated its 70th anniversary. • Cultural Resources Manager, Mike Smolek, won the 2014 Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Award in the category of Cultural Resources Management/Individual. • First airborne flights were completed for the newly-developed F/A-18 flight control software called MAGIC CARPET, an acronym for Maritime Augmented Guidance with Integrated Controls for Carrier

Approach and Recovery Precision Enabling Technologies. • Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 2nd Class Victor Rushing, Jr. was named 2014 NAVAIR Junior Sailor of the Year. April • Ten percent of all Sailors assigned to Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River deployed aboard the Navy hospital ship, USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) bound for South America on a humanitarian mission. • Pax River welcomed Mark, another Military Working Dog, to its security force. Mark’s handler and partner is Master-atArms 2nd Class John Melendez. • Washington Navy Yard Building 197 held a dedication ceremony after undergoing renovations following the tragic shooting in September 2013 that claimed the lives of 12 people. • The MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft,

See REVIEW, Page 2

U.S. Navy photo by Shawn Graham

Chief petty officer (CPO) selects assigned to NAS Patuxent River area commands moments before they were pinned Sept. 16.


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