Vol. 73, No. 47 VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com November 25, 2009


We have liftoff ... NASA astronaut candidate Army Lt. Col. Mark Vande Hei and Training
Squadron Four instructor Lt. Cmdr. Patrick McCaslin preflight the engine of a T-6A Texan II before an
instrument training hop onboard NAS Pensacola recently. Vande Hei is a member of the 20th class of
NASA astronauts undergoing flight, wilderness survival, physiology and water survival training with
the Navy. Photo by Ed Barker

 For more on the astronauts' training with the Navy, see page 4


Reminder: No cell phone use while

 driving onboard NAS Pensacola


 In recent weeks there have been several instances
of drivers onboard NASP disregarding the base pol-
icy on cell phone usage while driving.
 As per NASP Commanding Officer Capt. Bill
Reavey and Commander-in-Chief President
Barack Obama, drivers on any military installation,
and operators of government-owned, leased or rent-
ed vehicles on or off a Navy installation, may not


use cell phones while the vehicle is in operation.
 President Obama signed an executive order Oct.
1, 2009, specifically prohibiting texting by federal
employees while driving a government-owned
vehicle, or when driving privately owned vehicles
while on official government business, or when
using electronic equipment supplied by the gov-
ernment while driving.


Toys for Tots




 underway


by 2nd Lt. Daniel Tadross and
2nd Lt. Kelsey Lourie
MATSG-21 PAO


 Christmastime
 A draws near a
dedicated group of
Marines are working to
brighten the lives of local
needy children by way of
the Toys for Tots pro-
gram.
 The Reserve Marines of 4th
Marine Aircraft Wing Training
Support Group (MAWTSG) and
the active duty Marines of Marine
Aviation Training Support Group
21 (MATSG-21) have been
working since September to
ensure that this year's toy drive is
a success. Since Toys for Tots was
started more than 60 years ago, it
has been responsible for distribut-
ing more than 400 million toys to
188 million children across the
country. The Marines have also
partnered with a number of local
Pensacola foundations: The
Friends of Pensacola, United Way


Reservist Master Gunnery Sgt.
Roberto Rivera senior Marine
in charge of Toys for Tots,
shops at Toys "R" Us. Photo by
2nd Lt. Daniel Tadross
of Santa Rosa, National Aviation
Museum Foundation, the National
Naval Aviation Museum and
many more. Each one has been
instrumental to the success of the
program, donating thousands of
dollars and toys to this year's drive.
 More than 100 collection boxes
have been delivered to local busi-
nesses, who have been just as
eager to help. Some businesses
have even gone the extra mile to
contribute their services. Uncle
Bob's Self Storage provid-
See Toys for Tots on page 2


USO center opening at Northwest Florida Regional Airport


From USO computer connectivity, snacks and beverages.
 "The USO is the premier military care and support
 Anew USO Center will be opening agency for the military," airport direc-
in early 2010 at the Northwest Florida tor Greg Donovan said. "We are excit-
Regional Airport. Partnering with the ed to have the USO at Northwest
Northwest Florida Regional Airport Florida Regional Airport."
and the area military affairs commit- "With so many of our military uti-
tees, the USO will be located in a lizing this airport we are looking for-
1,000-square-foot area by the ticketing ward to providing a safe and secure
counter. Nicknamed the "Freedom Lounge," the new place for our nation's heroes to wait and greet," Heidi
USO will have a full range of core services including Blair, director USO Pensacola said. "This is a great


NROTC numbers increasing


Story, photo
by Anne Thrower
Gosport Staff Writer

 Ens. John B. Cook always wanted to be
a pilot like his father, Capt.
James Cook
 At 23 he is on track to
achieve that goal thanks,
in part, to the Naval
Reserve Officer Training
Corps (NROTC).
 He came to Naval Air
Station Pensacola in June
fresh out of college with
an aerospace engineering
degree. He was debt free
and had a job.
 Cook's decision to
choose NROTC is part of
a growing trend in the ns. Jo
Navy. The interest in
NROTC has increased significantly in the
past couple years, according to officials
with the Naval Service Training
Command, which oversees the units
across the United States. NSTC, headquar-
tered at Naval Station Great Lakes in
Illinois, is part of the Naval Education and
Training Command, located onboard


n


NASP.
 "We are very pleased that more young
Americans know about the opportunities
NROTC provides and are applying for the
program," said Dr. Jill Stein, the Navy's
 program manager for
 NROTC. "NROTC is a
 great fit for those seeking
 careers of service."
 Stein, who manages the
 program out of NASP, said
 the Navy believes the
 increased interest repre-
 sents "this generation's
 commitment to service as
 well as the desire to pay for
 college."
 According to NSTC,
 2,825 scholarships were
 offered this year and more
B. Cook than 1,250 were accepted.
 Navy nurse degree scholar-
ships were offered to 208 candidates with
more than 120 accepted.
 The entire enrollment in NROTC units
nationwide this year is expected to
increase by 17 percent. A total of 22,000
applications were started and of those

 See NROTC on page 2


partnership and a wonderful way to lift the spirits of the
military while they are travelling."
 The new center is looking for financial support and
volunteer assistance to staff the center. Financial sup-
port can be sent to P.O. Box 33135 Pensacola FL
32508.
 If you are interested in volunteering call Kathy
Karsten, program manager at 455-8280 ext. 4 or e-mail
info@usopensacola.org.

 See USO on page 2


If you ride, get recertified: the Navy

Motorcycle Recertification process


By Mary Anne
Broderick Tubman
CNRSE Public Affairs


 Since motorcycle recertification train-
ing became mandatory for all U.S. Navy
and DoD personnel, fatalities for the Navy


have decreased more than 60 percent. To
fine tune those lifesaving skills, all motor-
cycle riders are required to complete fol-
low-on recertification training every three
years. Connie Policastro, lead motorcycle


See Motorcycle on page 2


Published by the Ballinger Publishing, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Navy. Opinions contained herein are not official expressions of the Department of the Navy nor do the advertisements constitute
Department of the Navy or NAS Pensacola endorsement of products or services advertised.


NASP CDC Thanksgiving lunch ... About 150 parents attended the annual
Thanksgiving lunch at the Child Development Center (CDC) onboard NASP Nov. 18-19.
The menu included turkey, homemade combread stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green
beans, tropical fruit, rolls and apple pie, according to Paula S. Anderson, training and cur-
riculum specialist with the CDC. Barbara Kemble, lead educational technician, cooked
16 turkeys and made homemade combread stuffing. (Above) Staff Sgt. Ed Lathan with
son, Desmond, and friend Mya Murray. Photo by Anne Thrower