Proof of the pride the sailors stationed at Naval Air Station Whiting Field have in their area surfaced with the command winning two awards for community service, and one for environmental stewardship. Commander Navy Installations Command manages these awards: the Personal Excellence Flagship Award, the Environmental Stewardship Flagship Award, and the USS Bainbridge Award.
NAS Whiting Field Commanding Officer Captain Todd Bahlau said, "Earning the two Flagship awards and the USS Bainbridge award really showcases the tremendous effort put forth by our Sailors to be good neighbors in the community.” He went on to say, "It truly amazes me how they support both the Navy mission and the residents of the county so effectively. They undoubtedly deserve every accolade the Navy has presented them."
In the message announcing the awards, Vice Adm. R. L. Thomas stated, “Your participation with and continued support of our Navy communities is sincerely appreciated and makes a great difference in the lives of those around you. Well done!”
To understand the weights of these accolades, the Flagship Awards go to commands in eight categories, while the USS Bainbridge Award goes to a single command. According to the press release, NAS Whiting Field was named the winner in the Medium Ashore category for the Flagship Awards. NAS Whiting Field was selected from a final field of 16 nominees from various regions and fleets across the globe for the Bainbridge.
Whiting Field Public Information Officer Jay Cope said the two community service awards do have some overlap. The Personal Excellence Flagship Award goes to commands specifically engaging in community service activities promoting youth education and life skills, while the USS Bainbridge Award recognizes commands “engaged in exemplary voluntary community service activities with local communities.”
According to the press release, in 2015, more than 400 command members participated in some fashion donating in excess of 15,000 volunteer hours. The station’s resume breaks down to more than 70 members of NAS Whiting Field’s team involved in programs designed to help youths, supporting more than 60 different events, and creating 30 new community service relationships.
The list of events and organizations with which Whiting Field was involved in 2015 is extensive. Events include United Way Day of Caring, Earth Day, Drug Education for Youth, Blackwater River Cleanup, Adopt-a-Highway, Covenant Hospice Veterans’ Day recognition, and many others.
Organizations which benefitted from the volunteer hours provided by command personnel included: Escambia County Sea Cadets, Men in Action of Milton Florida, Civil Air Patrol, Early Learning Coalition, Bay Area Food Bank, United WaySanta Rosa, Longleaf Alliance, and more.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Navy recognizes extensive volunteer work by Whiting sailors