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Health, Safety and Fitness Community Service Award Winners Announced for 2012
[December 17, 2012]

Health, Safety and Fitness Community Service Award Winners Announced for 2012


Dec 17, 2012 (DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS/ContentWorks via COMTEX) -- Story Number: NNS121217-08 Release Date: 12/17/2012 By Ed Barker, Naval Education and Training Command Public Affairs PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Thirteen commands were recognized for community service excellence Dec. 14 as the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) announced the Health, Safety, and Fitness Flagship awards for calendar year 2012 by Naval Administrative Message (NAVADMIN) 377/12.



Sponsored by the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) and executed by the Naval Education and Training Professional Development Technology Center (NETPDTC), the award recognizes commands with the best overall community service programs teaching and encouraging individuals, especially youth, to lead healthy and active lives.

"The Navy's Health, Safety and Fitness Flagship uses command partnerships to promote healthy and fit lifestyles with schools and communities," said Capt. Ann Burkhardt, NETPDTC commanding officer. "Commands around the world, both shore-based and afloat are out in the community, not only being good neighbors, but also helping to educate and set a good example for kids and their families." Health, safety and fitness project initiatives are part of the Navy's Community Service Program. The Health, Safety and Fitness program features Navy volunteers who visit schools and neighborhoods to share information and give practical training that focuses on nutrition, hygiene, mental health, disease prevention, leisure skills development, personal safety, drug demand reduction, sports and recreation.


Examples of command-sponsored health, safety and fitness events are Special Olympics, the Great American Smokeout, safety and health fairs, and the President's Award on Physical Fitness and Sports.

The Navy Community Service Program (NCSP) was launched in 1992 by then CNO Admiral Frank B. Kelso. The program's goal is to foster and nurture community ties with the Navy and promote volunteerism while developing better Navy leaders through experience in the program.

NCSP consists of five flagships, including the Health, Safety, and Fitness Flagship.

The other four flagships are the Personal Excellence Partnership Flagship, Project Good Neighbor Flagship, Campaign Drug Free Flagship, and Environmental Stewardship Flagship. A separate Navy command sponsors and administers each flagship.

As the Health, Safety, and Fitness Flagship sponsor, NETC is responsible for coordinating policy that encourages volunteer participation. NETC also provides flagship project information and technical support to Navy commands and holds an annual awards board to select and publicize Navy-wide flagship award winners.

According to NETC Commander Rear Adm. Don Quinn, taking the time to devote to improving health, safety and fitness can have significant and lasting effects.

"Getting out into the community, forming relationships and showing that we are good neighbors is extremely important," said Quinn. "The commands that participate in the Health Safety and Fitness Flagship are leading by example and have demonstrated the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Good habits resulting from positive influences and their resulting changes can last a lifetime. These commands have my sincere appreciation for their personal commitment and support of our Navy's Community Service Program." The winners for 2012 are: shore command category, large command - Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay, Ga.; medium command - Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.; small command - Trident Training Facility, Kings Bay, Ga.; large overseas command: USS Frank Cable (AS 40).

Sea command category winners include: large command - USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75); medium command - USS Antietam (CG 54).

Commands receiving honorable mentions include: large shore command - Naval Base San Diego and Training Support Center Great Lakes, Ill.; medium shore command - Precommissioning Unit USS Arlington (LPD 24) and Navy Medicine Professional Development Center, Bethesda, Md.; small shore command - Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Va. and U.S. Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Guam; medium sea command: Patrol Squadron (VP) 1 Award winners will receive commemorative plaques and units that merited honorable mention will receive certificates from NETC.

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