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By MC3 Hank GettysNSAB Public Affairs staff writer

National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration (NASA) Astronaut,Navy Capt. Barry E. “Butch” Wilmore,visited the United Services Organi-zation Warrior and Family Center atBethesda on Naval Support ActivityBethesda June 19.

Wilmore held a meet-and-greet withservice members and their families,along with signing autographs, posingfor pictures and answering any ques-tions they may have had.

After the event, Wilmore sat downwith The Journal for a casual inter-view about his time in the Navy andas an astronaut.

Q: How did the Navy prepareyou for being an astronaut andgoing into space?

A: The Navy was the foundation ofmy professional career. The Navy in-stilled in me discipline that I have tosucceed, the ability to focus and com-partmentalize. You get in an airplaneon an aircraft carrier and you need toblock everything else out. You may behaving personal issues, but you haveto block that out because the missionis the most important thing at thatmoment.

Those are all big helps when youthink about flying in space, and beingable to focus on the task at hand. Youthink about emergency proceduresthat you’re working at on launch in aspace shuttle for example; we don’t flyshuttles anymore, but I did way backwhen, [and] you’ve got to be able toblock everything else out and knowyour task and do it well. The Navy isthe foundation of training for that.You know, doing a spacewalk, and Idid four of those on the last mission Iwas on, you’ve got tasks at hand, veryimportant procedural tasks and safetythings that you need to be aware ofconstantly. The process of learningand discipline and understanding thatthe Navy taught me is a foundation forall of that. Everything about the Navythat I did, even down to teamwork andtrust. You launch off an aircraft car-rier, you land on an aircraft carrier,the guys that are working on the air-

planes, you know I don’t go and checkeverything on an airplane to makesure it’s ready to go, I don’t go down tothe bowels of the catapult and makesure the catapults are ready. You haveto trust the people to do their job, andit’s the same way with NASA. Launch-ing into space you have to trust a lot ofother people with your life, literally, sothat’s part of it as well.

Q: Did you always want to bean astronaut?

A: Just as much as any other kidgrowing up when I grew up, every-body wanted to, you know. When I wasgrowing up I wanted to be an astro-naut, a garbage man, I wanted to be afireman, you know the standard stuff.As time went on, that was somethingthat was very intriguing and the chal-lenge and the technical understanding

you had to have to be even consideredeligible for that position, the perfor-mance getting up to that, as far asmy performance in my chosen profes-sion, which was aviation in the Navy.So it was all of that combined and itgrew as time went on and it got closer.Finally I had a couple of the wicketsdone, I had a bachelor’s degree andwent to test pilot school and got thatdone then I had a couple of master’sdegrees and I had the qualificationsand started making applications.

Q: Can you describe goinginto space?

A: Laying on the launchpad the firsttime it’s like, wow, this is something Idreamed of as a kid, thought of as akid, not something I necessarily onlyaspired to but here it is. I am actuallyabout to leave the planet. It’s hum-

bling. Lord, thank you for the oppor-tunity, but why me? I don’t know, buthere I go. And just enjoy every singlemoment of it. Take it all in, soak it allin, like I said, so you can share it, I’msharing it now. So you can share itand realize that it is a special thing,and as I said, it is quite humbling. Youget to space and you experience it andget to see your buddy levitating in theback window of the space shuttle, youknow, and it’s just weird looking andyou’re like, ‘wow.’ And all the differentsights you see and the beauty of Earthfrom space and different objects andthings that you see and vehicles com-ing to the space station as they are fly-ing up and the uniqueness of that. It’sjust amazing, it’s amazing.

The second half of the interviewwill run in the July 9 Journal.

Vol. 27 No. 26 www.cnic.navy.mil/bethesda/ July 2, 2015

Photo by MC3 Hank Gettys

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Astronaut, Navy Capt. Barry E. “Butch”Wilmore signs an autograph during his visit to the United Services Organization Warrior and FamilyCenter at Bethesda on Naval Support Activity Bethesda June 19.

NASA Astronaut Visits USO, Answers Questions

2 Thursday, July 2, 2015 The Journal

Published by offset every Thurs-day by Comprint Military Publi-cations, 9030 Comprint Court,Gaithersburg, Md. 20877, aprivate firm in no way con-nected with the U.S. Navy,under exclusive written con-tract with Naval Support ActivityBethesda, Md. This commercialenterprise newspaper is an autho-rized publication for members of themilitary services. Contents of The Journalare not necessarily the official views of, norendorsed by, the U.S. Government, the De-partment of Defense, or the Department ofthe Navy. The appearance of advertising inthis publication, including inserts or supple-ments, does not constitute endorsement bythe Department of Defense or Comprint,Inc., of the products or services advertised.Everything advertised in this publicationshall be made available for purchase, useor patronage without regard to race, color,

religion, sex, national origin,age, marital status, physicalhandicap, political affiliationor any other non-merit fac-tor of the purchaser, user,or patron. Editorial contentis edited, prepared and pro-vided by the Public AffairsOffice, Naval Support Activ-

ity Bethesda, Md. News copyshould be submitted to the Pub-

lic Affairs Office, Building 17, first floor,across from PSD, by noon one week pre-ceding the desired publication date. Newsitems are welcomed from all installationsources. Inquiries about news copy will beanswered by calling 301-295-1803. Com-mercial advertising should be placed withthe publisher by calling 301-921-2800.Publisher’s advertising offices are locatedat 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md.20877. Classified ads can be placed bycalling 301-670-1700.

Naval Support Activity (NSA) BethesdaCommanding Officer: Capt. David A. BitontiPublic Affairs Officer: Ronald D. InmanPublic Affairs Office: 301-295-1803

Journal StaffManaging Editor MC3 Hank GettysWRNMMC Editor Bernard Little

Staff Writers MC1 Christopher KruckeAndrew DamstedtSarah MarshallSharon Renee TaylorJoseph Nieves

NSABethesdaFleet And Family Support Center 301-319-4087

Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterOffice of Media Relations 301-295-5727

NSAB Emergency Information Line 301-295-6246NSAB OmbudsmanMichelle Herrera 240-370-5421

NSAB Chaplain’s Office 301-319-4443/4706

Sexual Assault ResponseCoordinator Hotline 301-442-2053

Visit us on Facebook:Naval Support Activity Bethesda page:https://www.facebook.com/NSABethesda

Walter Reed National Medical Center page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Walter-Reed-National-Military-Medical-Center/295857217111107

Uniformed Services University of the HealthSciences page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Uniformed-Services-University-of-the-Health-Sciences/96338890888?fref=ts

NCOER TrainingNon-Commissioned Officer Evalua-

tion Report Training will be held in theUSO Tuesday (8 to 10 a.m., and 2 to 4p.m.), Wednesday (8 to 10 a.m.), July21 (8 to 10 a.m., and 2 to 4 p.m.), andJuly 22 (8 to 10 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.).The training is required for all SoldiersE-4 and above as well as other servicemembers in an NCO rating chain. Formore information, contact Scott Bur-gamy at 301-319-7994.

Birth Month TrainingBirth month training for Army,

Navy and civilian personnel at WalterReed Bethesda is held every secondand fourth Thursday of each month inClark Auditorium beginning at 8 a.m.Training sessions include personal fi-nance and stress management; sexualharassment; suicide awareness andprevention; customer service; threatawareness and counterintelligence; aswell as drug and alcohol preventioneducation.

Employer Network EventAn Employer Network Event is held

monthly on the last Thursday from 11a.m. to 1 p.m. in Bldg. 11 (lower level),Room 16. Attendees will be able to meetwith industry representatives, developprofessional connections and exploreemployment opportunities at the event,open to all active duty, family members,veterans, reservists, non-medical at-tendees, contractors and civilians. Noregistration is required. For more infor-mation, contact Fleet and Family Sup-port Center at 301-319-4087 or [email protected].

BethesdaNotebookWhat’s in a birthday? As a

person, it’s very personal, andyou celebrate the day withfamily and friends. You lookback over your life, ponderwhere you are in life on thatday, and contemplate whatthe future holds for you andthose you love.What if you’rea country? I will suggest toyou that the same principalsand thoughts apply, and it isjust as important to celebrateour country’s birthday, as itis our own. Of course, there will be a fewmore candles on the cake as we celebrateour Nation’s 239th birthday this week.

Looking back over the life of our coun-try with all the trials and tribulations ithas experienced, we realize how far thecountry has come, and how much she hasgrown. From those fledgling colonies thatyearned to shed the yoke of oppression,they boldly took the first steps to develop afree and equitable new nation. As a youngcountry, she was torn apart by civil war,and survived and persisted to be even bet-ter, stronger, and more determined for herpeople to be free to pursue their dreams.The country graduated to the world stageand fought two world wars, taking thatmessage and belief that all people deservedthe right to be free of oppression and theliberty to search out success and prosper-ity. The country has also struggled, butin that struggle, has moved forward withhonoring and respecting the civil rights ofeach individual. Our country has been aleader in the world in the arts, sciences andtechnology, and shared those successes. Itis important that we gather each year onthe Fourth of July to appreciate, celebrate,and recommit ourselves to the freedoms weenjoy as Americans.

That freedom has not come without cost.For most Americans, the Fourth of July isa time of barbecues, fireworks, celebrationand fun with friends and family. But many

Americans have spent theFourth of July on hostile andfriendly foreign shores, atsea, far from home, defend-ing our freedom. They didand do it because it is theright thing. They did anddo it gladly. They persistthen and today, because theyknow that it means that ourcountry will continue to existwith the principles of free-dom, liberty, and happiness.

The influence these beliefsmaintain in the world is unmistakable, andour resolve to defend them where and whennecessary has never been more courageousor uncompromising. The country must notrest on its laurels. As the leader, it is noteasy and it means making sacrifices andhard choices for the benefit of the greatergood. For 239 years, our country, and we asa people, do and did exactly that, both forus and for the world. As we continue to ma-ture as a nation, wisdom earned throughthe blood, sweat, tears, and experience willchart our course. We each have a respon-sibility to do what it takes to ensure thatwe, our children, and those that follow helpour nation continue to grow as the worldevolves and changes.

Much like the candles on a birthday cake,our nation started as a single flame illumi-nating the darkness, and now, 239 yearslater, it is a brightly-lit beacon for good,peace, and liberty at home and around theworld. Please be safe and enjoy the holi-day weekend with your family and friends.Celebrate our country, her story, and herbirthday in grand style. Thank you for ev-erything you do for our Nation. I am proudto work and serve with each of you. HappyFourth of July! Happy Birthday USA!

All Ahead Flank,David A. Bitonti, Capt., DC, USNCommanding OfficerNaval Support Activity Bethesda

Commander’s Column

The Journal Thursday, July 2, 2015 3

Members of Naval SupportActivity Bethesda (NSAB)attended a command picnicat the Morale Welfare andRecreation Sports ComplexJune 25.

Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Jason Rakowski, thecommand senior enlistedleader, said he was pleasedwith the turnout and that itseemed like everyone had agood time.

“I think events like thisare important to foster com-radery, as a morale boosterand to foster command spir-it,” he said. “It’s a reward forthe people for all the hardwork that they do, day in andday out to show that we ap-preciate what they do and tocome to work, but have theopportunity to let their hairdown a little bit and enjoythemselves for the day.”

The picnic included a ca-tered barbecue lunch, a pre-sentation of gifts to NSABCommanding Officer Capt.David A. Bitonti and attend-ees participated in variousgames and sports such ascornhole, horseshoes, basket-ball, soccer and frisbee.Photos by MC3 Hank Gettys

NSAB Team Enjoys Command Picnic

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Photos by Joseph Nieves

The Walter Reed National Military MedicalCenter (WRNMMC) family came togeth-er June 25 for this year’s OrganizationalDay. Staff and their families had a chanceto participate in rock climbing, sumo suitwrestling and a chance to dunk some se-nior WRNMMC leaders into a tank full ofwater. The children enjoyed face-painting,fire trucks, cotton candy, popcorn, burgersand hot dogs. There was something for ev-eryone. The event was a way, not only forthe WRNMMC family to come together,but also for leadership to say thank you tostaff members for their dedication and hardwork in helping WRNMMC accomplish itsmissions.

WRNMMC Holds Organizational Day

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By Bernard S. LittleWRNMMC Public

Affairs staff writer

Passing between tworaised swords crossedat the tips to symbol-ize their transition fromthe junior ranks to non-commissioned officers(NCOs), 23 Soldiers wereinducted into the NCOCorps during a ceremonysteeped in tradition June18 at Walter Reed Na-tional Military MedicalCenter (WRNMMC).

“Most of you are soon-to-be squad leaders orsection chiefs, [and] someof you have worked inroles and duties aboveyour current titles al-ready, which makes yousome of the most impor-tant leaders in the Army,”said Congressional Fel-low, Sgt. Maj. Dewayne S.Blackmon, guest speakerat the induction.

“Many people in theArmy have more au-thority and responsibili-ties than you do, but noleader has a more directeffect on a Soldier [thanyou]. You are accountablefor their development,”Blackmon told the newNCOs. He urged themto practice “five power-ful points for successfulleadership – the 5 Cs”--competence, character,complement, compassionand credibility.

“You have to knowyour job and your duty,”Blackmon said regard-ing competence. Char-acter involves “knowingyourself ” and havingmoral strength, he ex-plained.

Complement com-pletes something else, ormakes it perfect, Black-mon continued. He add-ed NCOs should comple-ment their leaders andSoldiers, which alsoinvolves compassion,“a feeling of warmth tohelp someone who issick, hungry or in trou-ble. Always have this foryour Soldiers; they needyou,” the sergeant majoradded.

Credibility concernsbelievability, which is“powerful when leadingSoldiers. It is your obliga-tion to do what is right,”Blackmon said.

“You are a leader anda trainer,” he added.“Strive to be the bestyou can, and rememberyou are training yourreplacement. You are aprofessional Soldier andresponsible to your peers,leaders, unit and the U.S.Army.”

During the ceremony,service members worevarious vintage Armyuniforms while explain-ing the history of NCOs,their traditions, dutiesand responsibilities.First sergeants lit threecandles – red, white andblue – symbolizing an im-portant part of the NCOCorps in military history.The red candle represent-ed valor, blood, sweat andtears from the past to thepresent. A white candlerepresented purity, inno-cence as well as camara-derie. A blue candle rep-resented perseverance,justice and the strengthof the corps.

The Army’s newest

NCOs then affirmed theircommitment to the NCOCorps, also known as the“backbone of the Army,”by signing the NCO Oathand receiving a copy ofthe NCO Charge, alongwith the NCO Creed atthe ceremony.

“Many people toldme the ceremony wouldchange the outlook of therank on my chest, andit has helped,” said Sgt.Clayton Gerrian, one ofthe newest inducteesinto the NCO Corps. “Itmakes you proud to havethe rank on your chest.It’s a great feeling.”

Sgt. Christina Mc-Grath, another new in-ductee, said, “Being anNCO means not only be-ing accountable for my-self and my work, butalso being responsiblefor the welfare of my Sol-diers and what is going tohelp them progress.”

Another new NCO,Sgt. Alisha Kohler, hasaccomplished a lot dur-ing the past severalmonths. In addition tobeing inducted into theNCO Corps, she has be-come an Iron Warriorand won WRNMMCBravo Company Soldierof the Month, Soldier ofthe Quarter, and Soldierof the Year. She has alsoearned the Expert FieldMedical Badge.

Kohler said as a newNCO she will portraywhat she wants her Sol-diers to be when they be-come NCOs. “I can showmy subordinates how todo the right thing.”


Photo by Bernard S. Little

Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Williams, Troop Command-U.S.Army Element at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center(WRNMMC) administers the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO)Charge to new inductees into the NCO Corps during a ceremonyJune 17 at WRNMMC.

WRNMMC Inducts Newest Membersinto ‘Backbone of the Army’ Corps

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By Bernard S. LittleWRNMMC PublicAffairs staff writer

Nearly 300 health-careproviders received certifi-cates from various special-ties in the National CapitalConsortium Graduate Medi-cal Education (NCC GME)graduation June 19 at theStrathmore Music Centerin Bethesda, Md.

Graduates included in-terns, residents and fellowsfrom NCC GME programsat Walter Reed NationalMilitary Medical Center(WRNMMC), UniformedServices University of theHealth Sciences (USUHS),Fort Belvoir CommunityHospital and Malcolm GrowMedical Clinics and SurgeryCenter.They completed pro-grams in such specialties assurgery, internal medicine,pediatrics, family medicine,obstetrics and gynecology,cardiology, rheumatology,hematology-oncology, their

sub-specialties and otherconcentrations.

The physicians andother allied health profes-sionals from all servicescompleted three to sevenyears “of hard work provid-ing the bulk of the frontlinecare to beneficiaries [while]accomplishing outstand-

ing research and academicachievements,” explainedArmy Col. (Dr.) CliftonE. Yu, chief of GME atWRNMMC.“These individ-uals represent the immedi-ate and long-term futureof our military health-caresystem,” he added.

Rear Adm. (Dr.) Raquel

C. Bono, director of the Na-tional Capital Region Medi-cal Directorate and chief ofthe Navy Medical Corps,acknowledged the familiesand faculty who, throughtheir support and sacri-fices, enabled graduates toachieve their success in theNCC GME, the largest cen-ter for GME in the Depart-ment of the Defense (DoD).

“We have more than1,200 faculty members pro-viding 67 training programsto over 700 trainees,” Bonosaid. She added that NCCGME programs provide thenation with many of its besteducated providers whosefirst-time board pass rate is90 percent. “You are amongthe best and brightest.”

Bono said it’s importantfor the graduates to alwaysremember their mission –“[We] are here to take careof others in uniform, thosewho have served in the past,as well as their family mem-bers.” She explained thismust be done with compas-sion, respect and kindness.

“This nation and our mil-itary need physician leader-ship more than ever,” addedguest speaker at the gradu-ation,Lt.Col. (Dr.) Robert L.Mabry. “Without taking onleadership roles, your voiceswill not be heard.”

He said with budget re-straints and global instabil-ity, “well-rounded, adaptive,innovative” military medi-cal leaders and a militaryhealth-care system areneeded to meet the nation’schallenges.

“During periods ofchange, there are those whowatch things happen, there

are those who make thingshappen, and there are thosewho wonder, ‘what hap-pened?’,” Mabry said. Heasked the graduates,“Whichwill you be?”

Mabry enlisted in theU.S.Army in 1984 and served 11years as a Ranger and Spe-cial Forces medical sergeantbefore attending medicalschool at USUHS to becomea physician.He participatedin combat operations as thesenior search and rescuemedic forTask Force Rangerin Mogadishu, Somalia dur-ing the “Blackhawk Down”battle in 1993, as a SpecialForces battalion surgeonduring Operation EnduringFreedom in Afghanistan in2005, and as the Joint The-ater Trauma System Pre-hospital Director again inAfghanistan in 2010.

Currently the programdirector of the MilitaryEmergency Medical Ser-vices and Disaster MedicineFellowship, the largest EMSfellowship in the nation,anddirector ofTrauma Care De-livery at the Joint TraumaSystem of the U.S.Army In-

stitute of Surgical Research,Mabry encouraged the grad-uates to have the courage tobring about change to betterthe Military Health Systemwhile continuously learningand developing a network ofrelationships in order to be-come effective leaders.

“Have the courage tobring up controversial topicsto people who may not wantto hear them; have the cour-age to question your own as-sumptions and world views;[and] have the courage toask the hard questions thatneed to be asked,” Mabrytold the graduates.

In addition to his wifeand children, Mabry saidhis family includes manyof those with whom he hasserved with in uniform overthe years. “Today, you arebeing granted the privilegeof taking care of [them]. Itgoes without saying I wantthem to have the best medi-cal care possible. That said,simply being a good doctorwon’t be enough. When youleave here today, I challengeyou to lead.”


Approximately 300 health-care providers graduated from NationalCapital Consortium (NCC) Graduate Medical Education (GME)programs during a ceremony June 19 at the Strathmore Music Cen-ter in Bethesda, Md.


Graduates of the National Capital Consor-tium Graduate Medical Education (NCC-GME) programs June 19 included servicemembers from all branches.

GME Graduates Encouraged to LeadClose To 300 Earn Health Care Certificates

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2014 Mercedes-Benz ML 350 Sport Utility

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