The White Falcon - 20.02.1976, Qupperneq 1

. White
Volume XXXII. Number 7
Falcon
Keflav*, Iceland
February 20. 1976
Fire Department wins again
First place in international
fire prevention contest
The department was judged along with
56 other naval activities with daytime
populations between 1,500 and 3,500. Of
a total 1,139 entries from the United
States and Canada in this year's con-
test, 229 were municipal fire depart-
ments, 129 industrial, 528 government
and 183 military.
The NFPA sponsors the annual competi-
tion, now in its 49th year, to "provide
recognition for positive efforts in the
field of fire prevention."
Halldor Marteinsson, Assistant Fire
Chief, said Wednesday that "everyone on
the Naval Station must share this award
because our success is due to the great
cooperation of the community."
He cited support from the command,
department heads and leaders on the base
along with the efforts of the men at the
fire department for success, but stres-
sed the importance of community support
and understanding.
The fire department believes the key
to fire prevention is an active educa-
tion program, Marteinsson said.
"Of course, we expect a fire now and
then," he said, "but it is better to
fight them before they ever get star-
ted ."
While fire prevention is a year-long
effort for the firemen, emphasis on its
importance is stressed in August and
October.
The annual fire prevention program
begins every August with Operation EDITH
(Exit Drill in the Horae) when firemen
visit homes on base, search for fire
hazards and help occupants establish and
practice exit drills for night fires,
using secondary escape routes as a
means.
During fire prevention week in Oct-
ober, base firemen appear on AFTV, spon-
sor open houses at the fire station,
speak to social organizations and at
dependent schools on base, and conduct a
station-wide information program through
leaflets, posters and static displays.
Naval Station Assistant Fire Chief
Haraldur Stefansson is directly respon-
sible for the base-wide fire prevention
program.
The Naval Station Fire Department has
won first place for its category in an.
international fire prevention contest
sponsored by the National Fire Protec-
tion Association.
This is the 13th consecutive year the
fire department, under Chief Sveinn
Eiriksson, has placed in the top thrfee
of its category. Last year, they won
second place award.
Naval Station Commanding Officer,
Captain John R. Farrell, was notified of
the award Tuesday. The fire department
will receive a plaque and a letter of
recognition from the NFPA.
New rules for CHAMPUS
The 1976/1977 military appropriations
act prohibits payment under the Civilian
Health and Medical Program of the Uni-
formed Services (CHAMPUS) for nonemer-
gency inpatient care when that care is
available at a facility of the uniformed
services within a 40-mile radius of the
patient's residence.
The new rule about nonavailability
statements went into effect Feb. 9, the
date the act was signed into law.
Previously, a nonavailability state-
ment for nonemergency inpatient care was
required only for dependents of active
duty personnel who lived with their
sponsor, within 30 miles of a Uniformed
Services Medical Facility that provided
such care. Now a nonavailability state-
ment must be issued in order for any
beneficiary to be provided CHAMPUS funds
for inpatient care within a 40-mile ra-
dius .
Limiting conditions
The Defense Department's implementa-
tion plan limits authorization for is-
suing a nonavailability statement to
commanders of uniformed services hospi-
tals or their designated representative.
The implementation plan also speci-
fies certain conditions under which the
commander of a uniformed services hospi-
tal may issue a nonavailability state-
ment to a beneficiary. Among the cond-
itions are the following:
— When a maternity patient resides more
than 30 miles from a uniformed services
hospital;
— When a hospital commander determines
that the situation imposes unreasonable
cost and difficulty in getting the pa-
tient to a uniformed services medical
facility;
— When a patient who has been receiving
outpatient care from a civilian source
requires hospitalization for the condi-
tion and it is medically advisable that
care continues from the civilian source.
Another provision of the 1976/1977
military approprations act affects
CHAMPUS payments for services of pastor-
al counselors, family and child coun-
selors, and marital counselors. Details
for implementation of this provision are
being worked out and will be announced
as soon as they are available.
Payment prohibited
The other provisions of the act pro-
hibit CHAMPUS payments in the following:
— Special education, except when provi-
ded as secondary to active psychiatric
treatment on an institutional basis;
— Treatment for obesity under certain
conditions;
— Any other service or supply which is
not medically or psychologically neces-
sary to diagnose or treat a mental or
physical illness, injury, or bodily mal-
function as diagnosed by a physician, a
dentist or a clinical psychologist.
These provisions support in law ad-
ministrative steps taken last year by
CHAMPUS officials. Again, details for
their implementation are being worked
out and will be announced as soon as
they are available.
CHAMPUS Advisors
All CHAMPUS beneficiaries who believe
they might be affected by any provision
of the 1976/1977 military appropriations
act that deals with CHAMPUS benefits and
are not certain of the effect should
check with a CHAMPUS advisor or health
benefits counselor before receiving care
if they wish CHAMPUS to share the cost.
>7hen a CHAMPUS advisor or health benefit
counselor is not available, write to
CHAMPUS, Denver, Colo. 80240.
VP-56 Dragons complete eventful tour
by Ltjg Pat Crandall
If one were to combine Thanksgiving,
Christmas, New Year's, Valentine's Day,
and throw in some birthdays and anniver-
saries, put them all in one day -—it
would come out as Feb. 24 to the men of
Patrol Squadron 56, for those are the
things the Dragons will celebrate when
they are reunited with their families.
It has been five months since VP-56's
first P3C Orion set down to mark another
Keflavik deployment for the Dragons.
Led by Commander William H. Compton, the
flight crews and ground personnel arriv-
ed here with some trepidation having
heard of 70 knot winds and chill factors
of minus many.
During peacetime the squadron monit-
ors the sea lanes and investigates un-
identified contacts. On one such mis-
sion, Crew Four was reassigned to help
in a search and rescue mission. Re-
sponding to the call, the crew located
18 fishermen in liferafts and directed
rescue ships to the area.
In addition to normal operations, the
squadron participated in the NATO ex-
ercise "Ocean Safari 75," alongside
units from Norway, Germany, Netherlands,
and Great Britain. In the exercise the
Dragons displayed the continuing readi-
ness of American Forces while coordinat-
ing with surface commands.
On Dec. 10, the Dragons conducted a
change of command in which Commander
James E. McNulla relieved Cdr. Compton
as the skipper. Included in the festiv-
ities was the appearance of the Navy
Steel Band to entertain the squadron's
guests.
The end of 1975 marked VP-56's
eleventh straight accident-free year.
The squadron is now approaching 100,000
consecutive accident-free flight hours.
The Dragons recognized two of their
own by selecting A01 Stanley Clay Sailor
of the 3rd quarter and AZ2 Joe Girdner
Sailor of the 4th quarter in 1975. Both
men epitomized dedication and excellence
in performance.
In athletic endeavors, the squadron
has enjoyed success in various fields.
The basketball "A" team leads their
league, and the raquetball team tied for
first place and the bowing team also
lead their league. In one inter-squad-
ron football game, only two aviators
broke bones. In addition to sports, the
men of VP-56 pursued such hobbies as,
slot machine speculation, snow flake
collection, sun searching, and the most
popular stereo buying.
In order to minimize the ennui of
daily missions and routine paperwork,
the squadron participated in "Operation:
Beer Jug," a NATO program to introduce
other nations to each other's culture.
While crews from other nations flew into
Keflavik, 56's crews visited bases in
Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands
and Great Britain. Although operation
missions were flown to and from these
sites, the few days spent sightseeing
and relaxing did much to invigorate lag-
ging spirits.
As the Dragons prepare for departure
they wish a fond farewell to the many
pepple who have shown them kindnesses
during deployment. And balmy summer
weather to the "Mad Foxes" of VP-5 <who
relieve them.