The Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River will run a modified schedule during the Labor Day holiday weekend. Signs will be posted at the clinic and the pharmacy to alert beneficiaries of the changes in business hours. The clinic will be open from 8 a.m.- noon Friday with same day ⁄acute appointments only from noon- 4 p.m.

The pharmacy will operate normally, processing new prescriptions and offering refill pick-up from 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. but will close at 4 p.m. Because of reduced pharmacy staffing, please anticipate possible extended wait times.

Both the Clinic and pharmacy will be closed on Monday.

PROSC Kick-off

The Pax River Officers Spouses Group (PROSC) is holding its annual kickoff social event on Sept. 14 at the Mattapany House. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. and is open to spouses of active-duty officers, reservists, retirees, and international military officers. This event is intended to welcome new members and provide information about our group. PROSC serves as a social group and support network for spouses of military officers, as well as a charitable organization within our community. For information, visit www.paxosc.org or send e-mail to paxspouses@hotmail.com.

DoD wants your ideas

The Department of Defense is soliciting all DoD military and civilian employees for their ideas on how the DoD can be more efficient and effective, save money, avoid costs, reduce cycle time, and increase the department’s agility. For instructions on how to submit your ideas, visit www.defense.gov⁄Invest. Ideas will be accepted through Sept. 24 and can cover the Department of the Navy, another service or the Department of Defense as a whole. Ideas will be evaluated without your name attached, so please be candid. Winning ideas will be announced at the end of October with tiered cash awards ranging from $500 to $1,000.

IA homecoming

The next IA homecoming is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sept. 9 in the Atrium of the Moffett building (2272) and is a great opportunity to show appreciation to those who serve on IA assignments. There will be food, music and presentations. For information, contact ADC Jamie Serfass at 301-995-3604 or by e-mail at Jamie.Serfass@navy.mil.

Airlifts for Tailhook Symposium 2010

Per CNAF authorization, airlifts are being coordinated for those wanting to attend Tailhook 2010 in Reno, Nev. Airlifts for Pax River personnel will leave from here or Norfolk on Sep 9 and return Sept. 12. Ground transport to and from the convention is provided. Those eligible to ride include all active-duty military and their dependents, retired military, foreign military and DoD civilians who are on orders to attend the symposium. For information, contact Cmdr. Armen Kurdian at 301-757-7188 or armen.kurdian@navy.mil, or Lt. Brian Tollefson at 301-995-3898 or brian.tollefson@navy.mil.

NHA Luncheon

NAS Patuxent River will host a Naval Helicopter Association luncheon from 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Sept. 22 at the River’s Edge Catering and Conference Center. The keynote speaker will be John McCue from TPS, who will discuss High Altitude Helicopter Operations. For information, contact Lt. James Dalo at james.dalo@navy.smil.mil.

Navy advancementexams

Navy advancement exams will be held at the NAS Drill Hall on Sept. 2 for E-6, Sept 9 for E-5, and Sept. 16 for E-4. Exam candidates must report to the exam site in the uniform of the day with military ID card, no later than 7 a.m. on the morning of their examination. All candidates must have verified and signed their worksheets in order to participate in the exam.

MAD to host PME

The Marine Aviation Detachment will offer Intermediate Level PME for qualifying Navy and Marine Corps Officers and SNCOs this academic year. It appears there we will be enough students to teach the first four lessons (8901 Theory & Nature of War⁄ 8902 National & International Security Studies⁄ 8903 Operational Art⁄ 8904 Joint Warfighting). However, there is a shortage of students for the second four lessons (8905 Small Wars⁄ 8906 MAGTF Expeditionary Operations⁄ 8907 Amphibious Operations⁄ 8908 Operation Planning).

This is a great opportunity for students without a tremendous amount of commitment; class typically meets once a week for two to three hours to discuss the week’s reading, a short quiz, and a final paper.

This is a great way to get PME requirements out of the way. Those eligible from the Navy⁄Marine Corps team are all Marine Corps CWO4 & Majors, CWO3 & Captains EWS complete, MSGT⁄1stSGT with waivers, and Navy CWO4⁄LT⁄LCDRs. The courses are executed under the 8900 series of Marine Corps Command and Staff Distance Education program and will meet once a week at the Marine Detachment Headquarters.

Those interested in participating should contact Mark Shigley, regional coordinator, at 703-784-0654, or Maj. Bart Ludlow, MAD executive officer at 301 342-1421.

Pax Partnership, ANA to host reception

The Patuxent Partnership and The Association of Naval Aviation’s Squadron 18 will hold a Panel and Reception titled ‘‘New Apps, New Gear, New Planes! A Backstage Pass to the T&E Hangar” with keynote panelist Rear Adm. Donald Gaddis, Commander Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum. Other panelists include VX-1 Commander Capt. Kevin Kenney, VX-20 Commanding Officer Lt. Col. John Albers, US Naval Test Pilot School Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Roger Cordell and HX-21 Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Tom Post. This event is open to the public, business and base communities. Attire is business casual or flight suits and advance registration is strongly recommended. The cost is $10 per person.

Pilot Ground Schools

The Patuxent River Navy Flying Club will sponsor Private Pilot and Instrument Pilot Ground Schools this fall, beginning Sept. 20 and Sept. 22, respectively. The classes will be held weekly through early December. To register, please stop by or call (301-862-1110) the flying club office, building 336.

Voting assistance

Voting assistance is available onboard NAS Patuxent River through Installation Voting Assistance Officers (IVAOs). To learn about upcoming elections, register to vote and receive your absentee ballot, go to www.fvap.gov or contact Lt. Cmdr. Martin Barlow (military) at martin.barlow@navy.mil or 301-342-1801, Doreen Talbott (civilian) at doreen.talbott@navy.mil or 301-995-3810. Don’t miss out on your democratic right to vote. Be informed; make your vote count.

Holiday Party fundraiser

The MWR Recreational Committee will be holding weekly donut sales to raise money for this year’s Pax River Holiday Party. The sale begins at 6:15 a.m. every Thursday in the parking lot of the ITT building on Cedar Point Road.

Naval Clinic accepting retirees, family

Naval Health Clinic (NHC) Pax River is now open to enrollment by TRICARE Prime retirees and their family members.Since March 2009 a written waiver request has been required to enroll but now a written request is no longer required.

This change in enrollment policy is subject to change each month based on clinic capacity and provider staffing changes.To enroll visit the NHC Pax River TRICARE Service Center during walk-in hours, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Applicants living 30 minutes or more drive time from NHC Pax River will still need to sign a drive-time waiver agreement on their enrollment form.

For information about NHC Pax River’s enrollment policy for newborns, active-duty family members or others, visit the Naval Health Clinic website at www.med.navy.mil⁄ sites⁄paxriver⁄Pages⁄index.aspx or contact the Enrollment Coordinator, 301-342-2761.

TRICARE Smoking Quitline

All non-Medicare eligible TRICARE beneficiaries within the United States can get assistance with going ‘‘smoke-free” by calling the toll-free quitline, 866-459-8766.