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PhotobyMC2BrianSmarrVS-24CommandingOfficerCmdr.TedMillsthankshisSailorsfortheirhardworkfollowingthesquadron’slastflightFeb.8.

VS-24 takes one last flightByPH2BrianSmarrFleetPublicAffairsCenterDetachmentSoutheast

The VS-24 “Scouts” took their last flight Feb. 8, prior to the squadron’s upcoming decommis-sioning ceremony March 22.

VS-24 traces its history back to Jan. 1, 1943, when it was commissioned as Bombing Squadron 17.

Since then, VS-24 has been deployed in Operations Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Southern Watch, in the Eastern Mediterranean in support of NATO strikes against Bosnian-Serb military targets and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“I see our decommissioning as a necessary thing because change is inevitable” said VS-24 Command-ing Officer Cmdr. Ted Mills. “We are winding up a

SeeVS-24,Page17

ByZonaLewisCommander,NavyInstallationsCommandPublicAffairs

Commander, Navy Installations Com-mand’s (CNIC) Fleet

and Family Readiness Program (FFRP) is sponsor-ing the Navy-wide financial fitness campaign, Military Saves, this winter and throughout 2007. The pro-gram is designed to change savings behavior by educat-ing service members and their families on how they can build wealth, not debt.

C N I C M i l i t a r y a n d Family Readiness Program Manager David DuBois, asks Sailors to think about the last time they have had a complete financial physi-cal, and recommends that everyone start the new year with a financial check-up.

“We’re stepping up our efforts to increase individ-ual and family financial fit-ness by providing additional educational programs at our Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC), and by working directly with com-mand financial specialists to provide information and personalized assistance in addressing unit financial readiness,” said DuBois.

“We’re increasing the number o f accredi ted

financial counselors in the Fleet and Family Support Centers available to pro-vide one-on-one help in developing realistic and achievable financial plans,” he added. “We’re increas-ing the involvement of our partner agencies, on-base financial institutions, con-sumer awareness experts and nationwide industry leaders to help improve Sailors’ financial fitness.”

There ex i s t s a gap between setting a savings goal and knowing how to reach that goal. The Military Saves Campaign provides tools to service members and their families to bridge the gap and help them on their way to build-ing personal wealth.

“It begins by reducing debt, eliminating high-interest credit, and increas-ing personal savings,” con-tinued DuBois. “You can see your net worth increase and begin your journey to financial freedom.”

Building wealth starts with a commitment to save and setting reasonable, achievable goals. Whether the participant is saving to buy a home, a new car or get out of debt, they must

SeeCAMPAIGN,Page18

Last CruiseVS-31onfinaldeployment

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PRTComingsoon!

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VOL.65•NO.8•NASJACKSONVILLE,FLA

www.jaxairnews.comTHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2007

NECEThebugdoctors

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TOUCHING

BASEAre you ready?

The next advancement exam dates are: March 1 for E6, March 8 for E5 and March 15 for E4. For more informa-tion, call 542-4217.

Navy launches Military Saves Campaign

PhotobyMC2(SW/AW)RebeccaKruck

Commander,NavyRegion Southeast (CNRSE)RearAdm.MarkBoensel (center) signs a proclamation to kick off the 2007Military SavesWeekCampaign for the region. From left front,CNRSECommandMasterChiefCNOCM(SW/AW)RichardTrimmer,BoenselandCNRSEDirectorfortheCommunitySupportProgramGusTerlaje.Back,fromleft,NSMayportPersonalFinancialManager(PFM)KevinAhnsen,NSMayportFleetandFamilySupportCenterDirector(FFSC)HectorSepulveda,NASJaxPFMRufusBudrige,NASJaxFFSCDirectorCarolynMcCorey,NSBKingsBayPFMFelipeGonzalezandNSBKingsBayFFSCDirectorSoniaSmith.ThecampaignwascreatedtoinfluenceSailorsandtheirfamiliestosetsavingsordebtreductiongoals.

ByLorenBarnesandMarshaChildsNHJacksonvillePublicAffairs

Naval Hospital Jacksonville’s 2006 Sailors of the Year (SOYs), Junior SOYs and Blue Jackets of the Year are among the very best in Navy medicine.

These Sailors faced stiff competition from a command filled with dedicated, professional professionals.

At the end of each year, the hospital names Senior SOYs, Junior SOYs and Blue Jackets of the Year for the hospital core facility and its seven Branch Health Clinics (BHCs) located at NS Mayport, NS Key West, NAS Jacksonville, NAS Atlanta, MCSC Athens, Ga., MCLB Albany, Ga., and NSB Kings Bay, Ga.

Naval Hospital Jacksonville’s overall Senior Sailor of the Year is HM1(FMF) Jerrie Echon. He was first selected as the core hospital facility’s Sailor of the Year.

Echon said that medicine was always his first choice. “I’ve always had an interest in the medical field, specifi-cally in nursing,” he said. “When it came time to join and decide on a rate in the Navy, I requested a job in the medi-cal field. The recruiter told me, ‘You can be a corpsman then.’ I remember, had they offered me any other jobs at the Military Entrance Processing Station, that I would have not signed up until they had a guaranteed billet for HM ‘A’ School.”

As the leading petty officer for the Naval Hospital Jacksonville Education and Training Department, Echon superbly leads seven junior Sailors and manages 18 hospi-tal staff development programs to meet the diverse train-ing needs of 2,500 personnel at the hospital and its seven BHCs.

As the advance life support program manager, for the hospital, Echon provides oversight for course admin-istration and handles coordination and logistics for the Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Neonatal Resuscitative Program courses. He manages more than 60 instructors and ensures their adherence to current American Heart Association and Military Training Network guidelines.

Echon is a proactive command member, who serves on the critical care committee tasked with evaluating overall command compliance with life support protocols.

SeeHOSPITALSOY,Page17

NH Jax honors some of Navy medicine’s best

HM1(FMF)JerrieEchon CS2(SW/AW)SonnyLalatag

CSSNJasonDaniels HM1MichaelDiPietroIII