October 14, 2011 - Gosport

PAGE6October 14, 2011GOSPORTWhiting Field to host 22nd NHA Fleet Fly-InStory, photo from NASWF PAOIt will soon be that time ofyear again when Marine, CoastGuard and Navy helicoptersfrom across the country willdescend to Naval Air StationWhiting Field to engage in theannual Naval HelicopterAssociation (NHA) Fleet Fly-In.This is the 22nd year for theevent that gathers helicoptersfrom nearly every active platformin the maritime services. Itis one of two annual NHAevents and occurs the thirdweek of October.Although the event startedwith just a few aircraft, it hasgrown to regularly featurearound two dozen rotarywingedaircraft, and to help celebratethe Centennial of NavalAviation, as many as four historicallypainted helicopters areexpected to attend.The NHA brings industrydisplays from various aviationTwo TH-57 training helicopters appear to stand guard for an MH-53 Sea Dragon the largest and heaviest helicopter in the Navyinventory. The Sea Dragon was at Naval Air Station Whiting Fieldfor the 2010 Naval Helicopter Association Fleet Fly-In. The event isone of two annual gatherings for the organization which bringspilots and aircraft from across the country for networking, communitybriefs, industry displays and interaction with prospective pilots.companies and enables tremendousnetworking opportunitiesbetween pilots and corporaterepresentatives. However, thetrue value of the Fleet Fly-In isthe impact it makes on the flightstudents as they prepare to makecareer decisions on aircraft theywould like to fly, geographiclocations, and mission requirements.“I remember that the firsttime I climbed into a fleet helicopterwas during the Fleet Fly-In. There should be somethingfrom each of the rotary wingcommunities to help the studentsget some hands-on experiencewith a fleet squadron. It’sa tremendous opportunity tolearn,” Cmdr. Hans Sholley,commanding officer HelicopterTraining Squadron Eight said.The four-day Fleet Fly-Inbegins Oct. 18 as the helicoptersarrive at Whiting Field. Navyhelicopters which have participatedin past Fleet Fly-Ins andwhich are expected for thisyear’s event include the H-53Sea Stallion, the various versionsof the H-60 Seahawk, theMH-60S Knighthawk, MH-60R, Marine Corps H-53 SeaStallion, AH-1 Cobra, UH-1Huey and the Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin.Students are afforded threewindows of opportunity to fly inthe fleet aircraft, but otheropportunities through social andformal events enable them toask questions and learn from themore experienced pilots.These events include: industrydisplays, briefs from communitydetailers for the students,static display aircraft,cook outs and sporting activitieswith the fleet pilots.The event takes months toplan and involves cooperationfrom NAS Whiting Field,Training Air Wing Five, corporatesponsors, military contractpersonnel and more. It is a longprocess, but one that is eagerlyawaited each year by the staffand students in the trainingsquadrons.“The goal is to make an eventthat builds on previous years –to set a foundation to help itgrow,” Sholley said.“It is a great event that bringsthe training all together for thestudents,” he said. “It is a greatmotivator for them since, theycan see the light at the end of thetunnel.”NASWF celebrates Hispanic-American Heritage MonthBy Ens. James HedmnNASWF PAONaval Air Station Whiting Field celebrated Hispanic-American Heritage Month recently with ethnic food,dance demonstrations, a guest speaker and more. Theevent was coordinated by the base’s Diversity Committeein the auditorium.Although held on the base Sept. 29, the heritage monthis celebrated Sept. 15 to commemorate five Spanishspeakingcountries that gained independence on that day:Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras andNicaragua. What began as Hispanic-American HeritageWeek in 1968, turned into a monthlong tribute in 1988when President Ronald Reagan officially signed into lawthe celebrations to last until Oct. 15.Following the pledge of the allegiance and an invocationat the event, Capt. Pete Hall, commanding officer ofNAS Whiting Field, provided opening remarks; duringwhich, he asked, “Does anybody know the special tie forthe Navy with Hispanic heritage, where our history withit starts?” It dates all the way back to the Civil War whenAdm. David Farragut, the first rear admiral, vice admiraland admiral of the U.S. Navy with Hispanic heritage torise to these ranks.The guest speaker, Grace Resendez McCaffery, tookover for Hall and shared her personal stories of family lifeand growing up in a Hispanic community. She moved tothe Pensacola area, and after her husband passed away,she felt a determination to remain in the area and helpothers.“I had this voice in my head that said, ‘you need to stayhere; you’re going to experience something really big.’”Did she ever. McCaffery’s apparent epiphany anddesire for community service has placed her squarely inthe spotlight as a community leader and altruist.McCaffery is president of Latino Media Gulf Coast, thepublisher of the La Costa Latina bilingual newspaper thathas distributed more than 10,000 copies at nearly 200locations from Mobile, Ala., to Tallahassee, Fla. The disasterbrought by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 promptedMcCaffery to start the Language Bank of NorthwestFlorida, which recruited nearly 100 volunteer translatorsof 25 different languages. Further, she served as publicrelations director for the American Red Cross ofNorthwest Florida, director of development and publicrelations for Independence for the blind of West Florida,and communications specialist for the Escambia CountyBoard of County Commissioners. Her communicationsdegree with a specialization in public relations is hersecret weapon in reaching out to the community.“It was just a matter of letting everyone (the public)know, ‘How can I help?’ … Through the years, we’vebeen able to translate for situations in the emergencyroom, social service agencies, people that just need toknow which way to go — where to get more information.Of course, that’s where the newspaper came from … Itwas an idea that bridged the gap between the Spanishspeakingcommunity and the existing community.”McCaffery’s overall message came in two parts. First,never giving up despite the hand one is dealt. Second, usethat determined attitude and trying experience to positivelyaffect those in yoiur cultural community as a volunteeror social servant.Following McCaffery’s speech were two Latin dances:the Puerto Rican plena and Mexican cumbia. The atmospheretook a turn to the lighter side once again as cheersand zesty “ay yi yi’s” from the audience made for extraspice in the dances’ soul.After closing remarks and a benediction, lunch wasserved. In the Hispanic-American spirit, Sailors and theirfamilies from the First Class Petty Officer’s Mess cookedup a menu of pork, chicken, chips with salsa, rice, beansand cake.AT2 Adriana Ayala Barcellos was the coordinatorbehind this year’s Hispanic-American HeritageCelebration, organizing everything from the guest speakerto the dances. She is a veteran, with 2011 being herthird year involved in the event. To her, Hispanic-American Heritage Month is about “who you are and notforgetting where you came from. It doesn’t matter if youwere born in another country or the United States, youstill have your heritage.”This year’s celebration brought a mixed-race crowd tothe auditorium. Even Hall noted, “One thing we all havein common is, in fact, our diversity.” Appropriately, thisyear’s Hispanic-American Heritage celebration theme is,“Many backgrounds, many stories … one American spirit.”Bringing Hispanic-American Heritage Month to theNavy is a small, nevertheless important, part of the celebration.In the words of Ayala Barcellos, “It’s how youget to know your shipmates … we’re always there foreach other in the Navy and as a country.”