Saving Lives, One Simulation at a Time
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® Serving the Hampton Roads Navy Family Vol. 18, No. 25, Norfolk, VA FLAGSHIPNEWS.COM June 24, 2010 Saving lives, one simulation at a time STORY AND PHOTO BY MC3 TERAH MOLLISE NAS Oceana Public Affairs VIRGINIA BEACH — Fleet Area Control and Surveil- lance Facility, Virginia Capes (FACSFAC VACAPES) hosted the national Save a Life Tour (SALT) during its stop in Vir- ginia Beach, June 21. Despite years of increased public awareness of the dan- gers of driving under the infl uence and increased arrests and penalties for doing so, the National Highway Traffi c Safety Administration reports that on the average, someone in the U.S. is killed by a drunk driver every 45 minutes. In 2008, an estimated 11,773 people died in drunk driving re- lated crashes. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at www.madd.org, about three in every 10 Amer- icans will be involved in an alcohol related crash at some time in their lives. Those attending the presentation at FACSFAC VACAPES were greeted by hard-hitting videos and graphic posters showing the real costs of drunk driving. The tour also pro- vided the opportunity for military personnel to drive under the infl uence, while still sober. They sat in the simulator, which included a real ignition, console and three wrap- around screens. SALT, based out of Grand Rapids, Mich., has three groups that travel around the country promoting their message of safe and sober driving to high schools, colleges and mili- tary commands. One team is currently in Texas, another in Washington and the third is visiting bases in Virginia, in- cluding Naval Station Norfolk, FACSFAC VACAPES and the next stop will be at Fort Belvoir. Andrew Tipton, the senior manager for the Save a Life Intelligence Specialist (IS) Seaman Cory Bottie from Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility, Virginia Capes (FACSFAC Tour has traveled around the country for 18 months to plac- VACAPES) tries to stay on the road while driving a simulator during the “Save a Life Tour,” June 21. Save a Life Tour started the presentation by giving Sailors statistics about drinking and driving before everyone had the opportunity to drive as es such as Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Wash., their blood alcohol level slowly reaches .34. After stopping at Naval Station Norfolk last week, the Save a Life Tour visited FACSFAC VACAPES in Virginia Beach to increase knowledge of the dangers of drinking and driving. See SAVE A LIFE, A11 Sailors completing Motorcycle Navy’s new fi rearm policy Safety Course get discount at NEX BY APRIL PHILLIPS Naval Safety Center Public Affairs PRESS RELEASE Navy Exchange Service Command Public Affairs NORFOLK — The Navy announced a policy change re- The NEX, in partnership with the Naval Safety Center and Com- garding personal fi rearms to mander, Navy Installations Command, is offering a 25 percent consolidate and clarify the re- discount coupon on motorcycle protective gear for all Sailors who quirements for those who own complete the Motorcycle Safety Course at their base. these weapons. “We are happy to partner with the Naval Safety Center to bring The NAVADMIN detailing the this discount coupon to Sailors who have completed their re- new policy is available at www. quired motorcycle training,” said Rear Adm. Steven J. Romano, persnet.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/ Commander, Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM). BCB24012-BC52-4E88-B20F- “The NEX does all it can to help promote motorcycle safety in- A509B1C744B7/0/NAV10196. cluding selling protective equipment, promoting safety messages txt. The change to OPNAVINST and partnering with the Naval Safety Center. We will do all we can 5530.14E came after a review to ensure the safety of our Sailors and their families.” of existing policy indicated that Sailors who complete the Navy Motorcycle Rider Training Class there were inconsistencies in the will receive a coupon from their course instructor. The coupon is way personal fi rearm regulations U.S. Navy photo nontransferable and is good for 90 days. The 25 percent discount were enacted across the fl eet, A new addition to the Navy’s fi rearm policy is the ability for all Sailors to does not apply to any other merchandise in the transaction or to according to Rear Adm. Arthur store their personal fi rearms in base housing or armories (when space general purpose footwear, outerwear or electronics. J. Johnson, Commander, Naval is available), so long as they receive prior written approval from the Making the motorcycle protective equipment purchase on the Safety Center. installation commanding offi cer. NEX online store, www.myNavyExchange.com, is slightly dif- However, he emphasized that restrictive for Sailors. Instead, housing or armories (when space ferent. Customers will need to bring their receipt found inside the policy change should not it aligns policy across the en- is available), so long as they re- the shipping box, along with their 25 percent coupon to any NEX make life more diffi cult for those terprise so Sailors know what’s ceive prior written approval from customer service counter. The NEX will issue a discount to the who choose to own weapons. expected of them if they do own the installation commanding offi - Sailor’s credit card for 25 percent off the merchandise cost of the “This policy is more of a clar- a fi rearm.” cer. Weapons must be stored in entire purchase of motorcycle protective equipment. The coupon ifi cation than a change,” said One highlight of the new policy a locked container, a locked gun is not good on online purchases of motorcycle protective equip- Johnson. “It’s not meant to make is the ability for all Sailors to store ment from www.myNavyExchange.com made prior to the date of owning a personal fi rearm more their personal fi rearms in base See WEAPONS, A11 issuance of the coupon. Mullen praises Merchant Marine Academy graduates Adm. Mike Mullen, BY ARMY SGT. 1ST CLASS MICHAEL J. CARDEN chairman of the American Forces Press Service Joint Chiefs of WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Staff addresses Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, graduates at the praised the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s Seventy-Fourth commencement Class of 2010, urging the 198 graduating mari- exercises at the ners to live their institution’s motto, “Acta Non U.S. Merchant Verba,” or “Deeds, not words.” Marine Academy Mullen spoke at the academy’s commence- in Kings Point, ment exercises June 21 in Kings Point, N.Y. N.Y., June 21. As “Five decades in uniform has taught me one of the fi ve U.S. it’s not what people say, it’s what they do,” service academies, said Mullen. “And by choosing to serve, you USMMA is already began a life with purpose and conse- responsible for training quences, not just at Kings Point, but around midshipmen for the world. service in the “Soon, most of you will be commissioned as Merchant Marines, ensigns in the Naval Reserve,” he continued, the maritime “many serving in the Merchant Marine – a vi- industries or the tal resource upon which our nation has long other fi ve branches of the military, both See MERCHANT MARINERS, A11 Photo by MC1 Chad J. McNeeley and ashore. INSIDE: 112TH ANNIVERSARY A8 MOTORCYCLE RODEO B4 OFF DUTY C1 Hospital Corpsman Naval Station Norfolk’s Cajun-Style fun at the Bayou celebrate 112th anniversary Motorcycle Rodeo Boogaloo Hospital Corpsmen are on of Norfolk pulls out all stops for The unique Bayou culture the most decorated rating in riders during their fourth annual takes place in Norfolk, June 25 the Navy. rodeo, June 18. - 27 at Town Point Park. NNMC emergency offi cials offer tips for hurricane season preparedness Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic is: Rear Adm. Mark S. Boensel BY CAT DEBINDER National Naval Medical Center The Flagship® is produced by Public Affairs Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic staff. The editorial content of this newspaper and any supplement is prepared, edited BETHESDA, Md. — and provided by the public affairs offi ce of Commander Navy Region Mid- Atlantic. National Naval Medical Regional program manager for Center (NNMC) emergen- Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic is cy management personnel Public Affairs Director encourages staff members Beth Baker to establish an emergency Editorial Staff plan of action for hurricane Managing Editor season June 1 - Nov. 30. Micheal Mink “All people should have Deputy Managing Editor a plan in place well before MC1 (AW) Tim Comerford the hurricane or destruc- Editorial Assistant tive weather arrives,” said MC3 Samantha L. Rivero Melissa Knapp, emergency Graphic Designer management program spe- David Todd cialist in the NNMC Offi ce Off Duty Editor / Designer of Emergency Management. Tim Rafalski “Your family members may The Flagship® is an authorized not be together when a di- publication for members of the military saster strikes, so you need services and their families. Its contents do not necessarily refl ect the offi cial views of to have an emergency plan the U.S. government, the Department of in place.” Defense, the U.S. Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps and do not imply endorsement Contact information for all thereof. family members should be an emergency, it’s a good idea to have a cell The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts immediately accessible and include an out phone and to make sure it is charged. or supplements, does not constitute of-town friend or relative who can communi- “There are wind-up and battery-pow- endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Navy or Marine Corps, cate with other family members, explained ered devices available to charge cell phones Commander Navy Region Mid-Atlantic or Knapp.