Volume 57, Number 7 https://www.cnic.navy.mil/meridian ~ www.facebook.com/NASMeridian ~ Twitter: @nasmeridianms April 4, 2019 On Base Housing survey examines residents’ concerns From Staff Reports housing management companies as well as overall satis- faction. As a result of recent concerns of sub- All Sailors living in privatized housing are strong- ]Paint n’ Sip standard privatized housing conditions ly encouraged to participate in the survey. April 27 from across the military branches, Chief of They will receive a letter, which will provide Naval Operations John Richardson information on how to access the survey, 6-9 p.m. at Ponta has directed an “out of cycle” hous- from CEL & Associates, Inc., which is an Creek. Must be ing survey be given to all Sailors independent third party that will conduct currently living in the housing. and manage the survey. 21 or older. The intent of the survey, which In light of issues recently raised Call will be conducted from April 2-30 by service members and families, the by an independent third party, is Navy has also conducted town hall meet- 679-2526 to determine residents’ overall sat- ings and “walk troughs” where residents isfaction with privatized housing, to volunteer to have leadership check out ]April Showers include health and safety concerns. their houses. In addition, the Navy is work- What makes the survey unique is ing with housing partners to ensure mainte- Duathlon that it is being conducted on behalf of nance and repairs are conducted and other is- the Navy, which is different than past an- sues are addressed. April 20 at 8 a.m. nual surveys that were conducted on behalf of The Navy is also conducting a survey April 2 to June at Ponta Creek. the five companies that provide Navy privatized 20 for Sailors living in unaccompanied housing. A survey 5k run/10 mi bike. housing. for Sailors and families living in government-owned or government- Sailors through the survey will also be able to note their likes and leased housing was launched on March 19, and runs through June 6. Call 679-2379 dislikes with privatized housing, concerns they may have regard- For more information, contact NAS Meridian Homes office at 601- ing their homes, community and services provided by the privatized 679-7669. Spring Navy uniform Fling & Towering high above policy update Easter announced Egg Hunt The Navy announced updates to uniform policy, grooming standards, uniform item availability and man- April 13 from datory possession dates for new uni- form items in NAVADMIN 075/19, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. released March 25. at Ponta Creek. Highlights include: Call a A command/unit logo shoulder 601-679-2526 patch is now an option for wear on the left shoulder pocket of the Navy Working Uniform (NWU) Type II and III in place of the Don’t Tread On Me shoulder patch. a Black leather and non-leather gloves can be worn with the black NWU parka fleece liner. a NWU Type III O-6 rank insignia will be available for purchase and op- Follow us on tional wear in silver thread starting June 1, 2019 for easier visual recog- www.facebook. nition and distinction from the E-4 com/NASMeridian insignia. and Twitter: a Effective June 1, 2019 all enlisted Sailors with 12 years of cumulative @NASMeridianMS service in active or drilling reserve time in the Navy or Marine Corps may wear gold rating badges and gold service stripes on dress uni- forms in lieu of red rating badges and stripes. Photo by Lt. Kyle Widhalm a Women have the option to wear What’s Employees with Glass Inc. in Meridian maneuver large 8 x 8 foot glass panels into place to smooth or synthetic leather flat replace three broken windows on the NAS Meridian Air Traffic Control Tower, March 16. The shoes (flats) in service and service Inside extremely tedious process took nearly eight hours due to the size and weight of the glass, a day dress uniforms. with nearly no wind or bad weather was required. a Nursing T-shirts may be worn with service uniforms, NWU Type I, II and III and flight suits. The message provides clarifica- page 2: tion on the definition and manner of wear for ponytail hairstyles. Area Happenings Effective immediately, Sailors VT-7 aviators earn CNATRA awards who are assigned to Joint/Unified Commands are authorized to wear the command’s identification badge page 5: only during the period of assign- ment. Navy Exchange (NEXCOM) uni- President appoints form stores will provide a free re- new Commandant placement collar if needed to improve the fit of the officer and chief petty officer (CPO) service dress white coat (choker) effective March 1, 2019. page 7: The NAVADMIN announces the completion of the testing and evalu- ation of the improved female officer Check out what’s and CPO slacks and skirts. for sale It also provides the schedule for Axley Globke Pence when the NEXCOM Customer Con- tact Center and Uniform Centers page 9: will have slacks and skirts, the Im- From Staff Reports contributions to safety, leadership, and strength proved Safety Boot (I-Boot 4) and the of character, personality, and civic involvement. optional physical training uniform Month of the This 2018 Chief of Naval Air Training (CNA- 1st Lt. Michael J. Pence, USMC, formerly as- available for purchase. TRA) award winners were recently announced. signed to VT-7, is the recipient of The McCamp- The dates for when Sailors must Miltary Child Competition was keen and all training air bell and Foss Awards. The awards are sponsored possess new uniforms and uniform wings, squadrons, flight instructors, student by the American Fighter Aces Association. They components are listed in the NAV- aviators and flight surgeons are congratulated are awarded to the top Navy and Marine Corps ADMIN. for their efforts. student Naval aviator graduates who excelled Sailors can ask questions and The CNATRA Training Excellence Award in the air combat maneuvering stage during the provide feedback and recommenda- identifies the best overall Primary and Ad- past calendar year. Pence earned his wings of tions on Navy uniforms via the “Ask vanced training squadrons. Three aviators with gold in October 2018. the Chiefs” email, on the Navy Uni- Training Squadron Seven, Training Air Wing The CNATRA Landing Signal Officer (LSO) form Matters Office (UMO) website, One, onboard NAS Meridian are recipients of of the Year is Lt. Matthew T. Axley, USN, VT- through MyNavy Portal at https:// awards. 7. Sponsored by the Tailhook Association, the www.mnp.navy.mil/. Select Profes- The CNATRA Reserve Component Flight award is based on the LSO’s duties and perfor- sional Resources, U.S. Navy Uni- Instructor of the Year is Lt. Cmdr. Bryan E. mance, number of carrier qualification detach- forms and “Ask the Chiefs”. Sailors ~ page 8 ~ Globke, USN, assigned to the “Eagles” of Train- ments, number of students qualified by the can also contact UMO via the Navy ing Squadron Seven (VT-7). This award is pre- LSO, instructor qualifications, flight time and Uniform App that can be downloaded sented to the top reserve flight instructor in the instructional flights completed, student critique MCPON focusing on at the Navy App Locker https://www. NATRACOM. Selection is based on all-around comments, extracurricular activities and civic applocker.navy.mil/. readiness performance and effectiveness as an instructor, involvement. --From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs 2 The Skyline ~ April 4, 2019 Photo of Week A Day in Naval History ~ April 4, 1949 ~ The North Atlantic Treaty is signed in Washington, D.C., establishing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The treaty promotes peace, stability, and well-being in the North Atlantic area with a collective defense effort. ~ April 7, 2017 ~ On the orders of President Trump, USS Ross (DDG 71) and USS Porter (DDG 78) Photo by MC2 Timothy Schumaker launch Tomahawk missiles into The Blue Angels, the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, perform Syria April 7, in retaliation for the loop break cross maneuver during a demonstration at the El Centro the regime of Bashar Assad Airshow at Naval Air Facility El Centro, Calif. using nerve agents to attack his own people. Area Happenings April Navy News Briefs 6: Threefoot Art Festival & Earth’s Bounty from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Meridian City Hall. Earth’s Bounty returns the first Saturday of each month until November. This is a free event. Call 601-485- U. S. 2nd Fleet to lead BALTOPS 1908. U.S. 2nd Fleet (C2F) will lead the and improve overall coordination and 6: Heart Behind the Music at 7:30 p.m. at the MSU Riley 47th annual exercise Baltic Operations interoperability between allies and Center. Three veterans and a comparative rookie bring widely (BALTOPS) 2019, the premier mari- partners during both peace and times of varying styles to the latest Heart Behind the Music Songwriter’s time-focused exercise in the Baltic Re- conflict.” gion that takes place in the Baltic Sea BALTOPS 2019, scheduled to in- Showcase. Tickets are $39 and $33; call 601-696-2200. mid-June 2019 marking the fleet’s first clude air, maritime, and ground assets 6-7: Meridian Mini Maker Faire from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 6, and time operating in the European theater from 18 nations is an annual joint, mul- 1-5 p.m. April 7 at the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum. since reestablishment in 2018. tinational maritime-focused exercise Commander, C2F, Vice Adm. Andrew that provides a unique training oppor- This is a family-friendly event that gives everyone an opportunity “Woody” Lewis, will lead the exercise on tunity designed to foster and sustain co- for conversations with Makers — everyone comes together to behalf of U.S.