Last modified Wed., April 23, 2008 - 03:52 PM
Originally created Thursday, April 24, 2008

NOSC Jax celebrates Family Day

By MC3 Elisha Dawkins and MC3 Sean Allen, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Detachment Southeast

Lt. Jennifer Childs accepts literature from Information, Tickets and Travel (ITT) Manager Genevieve Bustos about programs sponsored through the ITT office. Childs attended Navy Operational Support Center's first Family Day Saturday to get more informed on benefits that the base Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department and many other organizations provide to reservists. Photo by MC2(SW/AW) Rebecca Kruck

Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Jackson-ville hosted hundreds of Navy Reservists and their families for its first Family Preparation Day Saturday.

Military-friendly organizations set up tables at the event to inform Sailors and their families of many of the benefits available to them.

"This is an opportunity for families to put eyes on target and be able to sit down face to face and get questions answered," said CMDCM(SW) Ceroma Love NOSC Jax command master chief.

The organizations that supported family day included Morale Welfare and Recreation, United Ser-vice Organizations, VyStar Credit Union, Military OneSource, Government Military Housing, Southeast Region Legal Service Office and Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society.

They educated reservists and their family members on opportunities involving investment options, legal issue, mortgage, housing, financial aid, pregnancy services, vacation packages and volunteer programs.

YN2 Latia Smalls accepts an autographed poster from The Roar Cheerleaders Kristina Reyes and Joshyln Davenport at the Navy Operational Support Center Family Day event. Photo by MC2 Jason Trevett

Navy Region Southeast Family Service Center Coordinator Jim Bury opened the event by telling attendees how much they mean to him. "You are the tip of the spear," he said. "I know it's difficult to have both a military and civilian life. Your service humbles me."

He went on to inform Sailors of grants they may qualify for. "If you are activated, you are eligible for the Florida Family Readiness Fund."

According to Bury, this fund has helped families of mobilized reservists pay for everything from new roofs to refrigerators and car transmissions. "If your needs are not being met, we are here to help," he said.

AD1 Luis Montes, a volunteer for the USO, talks with Reservist ET2 Virtue Nguyen and his wife, Maria about some of the programs the USO provides. Photo by MC2(SW/AW) Rebecca Kruck

IT2 David Washington of Navy Computer Telecommunication Station Jacksonville was one of the Family Preparation Day attendees. "The event information was resourceful and beneficial for my family needs," he said.