USA: San Diego Training Command Recognized for Fostering Positive Community Support

Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) North Island and Miramar announced Jan. 2 that it received the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC) 2012 Achievement Award for providing outstanding volunteer support to multiple San Diego organizations.

“Through its continuing support of the community, CNATTU North Island and Miramar Sailors and Marines are committed to fostering a positive relationship with the city of San Diego,” said Cmdr. Gary Van Ert, commanding officer of CNATTU North Island and Miramar.

The ceremony was held on board Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Complex Point Loma in San Diego. Vice Adm. Dave Buss, commander, Naval Air Forces was the keynote speaker.

Accepting the award on behalf of the command were Van Ert and CNATTU’s Senior Enlisted Advisor, Master Chief Aviation Support Equipment Technician Felipe Buenviaje, Public Affairs Officer Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate Nemrod Guevaraestrada, and Aviation Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Joel Hagstrom, representing the command’s First Class Petty Officer/Staff Sergeant Association.

Dignitaries among the audience included Bob Filner, Mayor of San Diego, Marine Maj. Gen. Steven Busby, commanding general of 3rd Marine Air Wing, Brig. Gen. Vincent Coglianese, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations West-Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, SDMAC President for 2012 retired Rear Adm. James Johnson, and Rear Adm. Forrest Faison, commander, Navy Medicine West.

During 2012 CNATTU North Island and Miramar Sailors and Marines devoted more than 2,200 hours r supporting Partners in Education at Kimbrough Elementary School, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, I Love a Clean San Diego, San Diego Veterans Museum, Fort Rosecrans Cemetery, and St Vincent De Paul Village.

At Kimbrough Elementary, close to 200 volunteers spent time assisting teachers, chaperoning field trips, and raising more than $1,000 to pay for transportation for a field trip. The volunteers also provided more than 400 hours helping San Diego’s Meals on Wheels deliver meals to the infirm and visit with elderly living alone. At San Diego’s Habitat for Humanity, close to 150 hours were devoted to building new homes and rehabilitating homes for families in need. Working with “I Love a Clean San Diego” the Sailors and Marines, removed several hundred pounds of trash and debris from Coronado Island’s Central Beach. CNATTU’s Chief Petty Officers’ Mess also got involved cleaning up the grounds at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, renovating the Veterans Memorial Museum and serving meals to homeless people at St Vincent de Paul Village.

SDMAC is a non-profit mutual benefit corporation, whose mission is to support and promote the common business and other interests of the military in the San Diego community as well as act as an advocate on behalf of the military and their families.

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Naval Today Staff, January 3, 2013; Image: US Navy