Six Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Oceana service members volunteered in support of Naval Medical Center (NMC) Portsmouth, Virginia, Blood Donor Center's quarterly Armed Service Blood Program (ASBP) Blood Drive in Oceana, Virginia, March 10.

NMC Portsmouth Blood Donor Center hosts a drive each quarter to support the local area.

"The program serves as a way for service members to have a potential impact on other uniformed individual's lives," said Aviation Structural Mechanic (Safety Equipment) 1st Class Michael Wilson, CNATTU Volunteer Coordinator. "Donating blood through the ASBP is something I feel we should all do, said Wilson. "Blood is a necessity, and making sure that our shipmates - Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen Marines and their families - are taken care of is something the ASBP does."

The ASBP is the official blood collection, manufacturing and transfusion program for the U.S. military. The mission of the ASBP is to provide quality blood products and services for all worldwide customers in both peace and war. As a tri-service organization, the ASBP represents all three services - Army, Navy and Air Force - and is tasked with the collection, processing, storage and distribution of blood and blood products to ill or injured service members, veterans and their families throughout the world.

Wilson, along with the other volunteers, assisted with the preregistration for the blood drive, setup, organization and helping distribute information out to the command for those those interested in donating.

More than 35 pints of blood were collected from CNATTU Oceana staff and students during the blood drive.

"Naval Medical Center Portsmouth is one of 19 blood donor centers in the continental U.S and supports regional facilities and ships. Fifty percent of the blood [is] donated to troops in contingency areas. Since blood only lasts for about 45 days, a continuous replenishment is necessary."

CNATTU Oceana Avionics Technician Instructor Sgt. Kayla Hanson said she volunteers to help fellow service members in contingency areas.

"I feel if my fellow Marines are out there on the front lines risking their lives for us, it's the least I can do to help support the blood donation effort and help them get home alive," she said.

CNATTU Oceana is part of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, which provides single site management for Navy and Marine Corps aviation technical training. CNATTU Oceana provides specialized technical training to aviation maintenance professionals for F/A-18 Hornets and automated test equipment in direct support of genuine and emerging fleet requirements.

CNATTU is a technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise, an organization designed to advance and sustain naval aviation warfighting capabilities at an affordable cost under Naval Education and Training Command.

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