Nearly 2,000 Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) and Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) students and staff attended a safety stand down presentation May 23 in the Charles Taylor Hangar at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, May 23.

The two-hour presentation, orchestrated by NATTC Safety Manager Sean Brown and coordinated with CNATT Safety Manager Krystal Hancock, was designed to remind attendees of safety considerations during the "101 Critical Days of Summer," a Naval Safety Center-sponsored campaign beginning Memorial Day weekend and continuing through Labor Day. Service members will participate in numerous recreational activities during the upcoming holiday and throughout the summer, so the Department of Defense (DOD) looks to curb the risk of injury by educating personnel and reminding them how to avoid potential mishaps with the "101 Critical Days of Summer" program.

Hancock said the NATTC-driven presentation, which included briefs on alcohol use, recreational activities, and safe driving serves as a reminder to the significant NATTC student population of the hazards commonly associated with summer and outdoor recreation.

"Being safe in everything we do -- from our jobs, to our hobbies, to simply driving to run an errand -- is something we should take into account at all times," she said. "Being cognizant of the numerous everyday factors that could potentially cause us issues is something the CNATT Safety Program stresses, and providing the right resources and awareness to our staff and students is something we take seriously."

Highlighting the safety stand down was a nearly hourlong interactive presentation from Street Smart, Stay Alive From Education (S.A.F.E.) -- a program centered around distracted driving, seatbelt use, and driving under the influence. Presented by Miami-area firefighters and paramedics who have witnessed the aftermath of numerous car accidents, the graphic presentation resonated with attendees, according to NATTC Executive Officer Cmdr. Scott Sherman.

"These individuals [S.A.F.E. presenters] have seen what an automobile accident can do," Sherman said. "As a young student here, being able to drive can represent a new freedom, and having this visual reminder of just being safe when you go out and about to enjoy the long weekend can pay dividends. We want our students safe, at work and off-duty, so we can continue training these Sailors for future operations throughout the fleet."

The S.A.F.E. Street Smart presentation is interactively designed to assist Sailors and Marines in making smart choices concerning driving safety. Program facilitators demonstrate the consequences of making bad driving choices from their firsthand observations.

Other presentations included an Escambia County Sherriff's Office representative discussing traffic safety and motorcycle guidelines, a beach and water safety brief from Pensacola Beach personnel, and a NATTC Drug and Alcohol Program Advisor (DAPA) brief on alcohol awareness.

Hancock added that while emphasis on this particular safety stand down has become commonplace throughout the Department of Defense, remaining vigilant always remains of paramount consideration.

"Our greatest strength is our people, and providing them with the right tools and knowledge to make safe decisions whether at work, at the beach, or engaging in whatever recreational activities they enjoy, is part of what CNATT stresses," said Hancock. "Emphasizing safety during the '101 Critical Days of Summer' is a DoD initiative, and we encourage and practice this all year."

For more than 70 years, with the last two decades at NAS Pensacola, the Naval Air Technical Training Center has been providing training and increasing readiness within the Naval Aviation Enterprise. The facility graduates approximately 15,000 Navy, Marine Corps and international students annually and is the largest training facility in the Navy post Recruit Training Command.

NATTC is part of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, which provides single site management for Navy and Marine Corps aviation technical training.

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

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