NAVY EARNS TOP HONORS AT WILDERNESS CHALLENGE PAGE 11 VOLUME 52 NO. 42
OCTOBER 18, 2012
SERVING NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA
INSIDEJET
TOMCATTERS VOLUNTEER IN COMMUNITY
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CHILI AND MORE AT FLEET WEEK EVENTS
PAGES 8 - 9 Don’t miss the spook-tactular guided, onehour Twilight Trail Ride at the NAS Oceana Stables, Oct. 19 & 20, 5:30 p.m. The cost is $25 per person for military; $30 for DoD/civilians. Advance registration is required. Call 433-3266 for information.
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DAM NECK ANNEX
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NALF FENTRESS
Oceana takes a stand against domestic violence BY CATHY HEIMER Jet Observer Dressed in various shades of purple or their Navy Working Uniform, nearly 150 active duty, DoD civilians and family members took a stand against domestic violence during a unique photo opportunity, Oct. 12, at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana flightline.Volunteers formed a human ribbon in front of an F/A-18 Super Hornet to show their support of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. “It’s the first time we tried something of this size, this complicated. It’s awesome. It’s making a statement against domestic violence. It’s making a statement for awareness,” said NAS Oceana Commanding Officer Capt. Bob Geis, who along with Executive Officer Capt. Kit Chope, were among the sea of ribbon volunteers. Geis brought a special purple shirt for use – that of James Madison University, where his daughter is a freshman. “Awareness is important, so if we can understand the threat, if we can understand what’s going on, we can better prevent it in the future,” said Geis. Photo by MC3 Antonio P. Turretto Ramos “This shows everyone that we won’t stand for it,” added Chope. Getting the volunteers organized in the shape of the ribbon took a bit Approximately 150 active duty and civilian volunteers form a purple ribbon, the of preplanning and coordination. Perched on the catwalk of the air opera- symbol for domestic violence awareness, on the flightline at NAS Oceana, Oct. tions tower and using his cell phone, Mass Communication Specialist 3rd 12, in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month Oct. 12. October has been National Domestic Violence Awareness Month since it evolved from the — See Awareness, Page 3 first Day of Unity observed in October 1981.
USS Enterprise transits Suez Canal for final time BY MC3(SW) BRIAN G. REYNOLDS Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs USS ENTERPRISE,At Sea (NNS) —The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) has been the first to do a lot of things.“Big E”was the world’s first nuclearpowered aircraft carrier and the first carrier to respond to the terrorist attacks of Sept.11,2001. OnApril 29,1986,Enterprise did something that no other nuclear-powered carrier had ever done — she transited the Suez Canal,the world’s largest man-
made canal,adding another first to an already long list of accomplishments. The 1986 transit brought Enterprise back into the Mediterranean for the first time in 22 years, as she shifted homeports from Alameda, Calif., back to Norfolk,where she was originally commissioned in 1961. Twenty-six years later,on Oct.12,the“Big E”passed through the Suez Canal for the final time as she transitioned from the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) to U.S. 6th Fleet AOR, entering the Mediterranean Sea for the last time. — See Enterprise, Page 4