Gate hours at Pax River will be changed during the holiday season. The holiday hours are:

Gate 1 will be the duty gate, open 24 hours.

Gate 2 will close at 6 p.m. Dec. 18-23, and will close at 2 p.m. Dec. 24. It will reopen at 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 29. It will close at 6 p.m. Dec. 29 and 30, and open at 5:30 a.m. on these dates. Gate 2 will close at 2 p.m. Dec. 31, and remain closed through Jan. 4.

Gate 3 will be closed Dec. 23-Jan 4.

All gates at NAS Pax River will resume normal hours Monday, Jan. 5.

Gates will be open normal hours at both Webster Field and the Naval Recreation Center in Solomons.

Tester holiday schedule

This is the last Tester of 2008. The first edition of 2009 will be Jan. 8. Deadline for that issue will be noon Monday, Jan. 5. The Tester staff takes this time to wish all our readers a safe and happy holiday season.

Holiday Hours for Clinic

The Pax River Naval Health Clinic and Pharmacy will be closed on both Christmas and New Year’s Day. It also will run modified hours on the days before and after. The clinic and pharmacy will close at 4 p.m. Dec. 24, 26 and 31, and Jan. 2.

Inclement Weather Information

All base personnel should call 301-342-BASE (2273) for the most up-to-date information for weather-related issues. Personnel also are reminded to always exercise caution when driving in the snow, ice and rain.

Naval Test Wing Atlantic Changeof Command

Col. Joseph A. Mortenson will relinquish command of Naval Test Wing Atlantic to Capt. Thomas W. Huff during a change-of-command ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m., Friday, in Hangar 115, located off Cedar Point Road. Mortenson is retiring from the Marine Corps after 28 years of service. Rear Adm. Donald Gaddis will be the guest speaker.

Updating DEERS Information

DEERS (Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System) is a computerized database of military service members, retirees, and dependent family members who are eligible for military benefits, including TRICARE.†Sponsors or registered family members†are responsible for keeping their DEERS information updated.†Errors in the DEERS database can cause problems with eligibility, TRICARE claims, and authorization letters for medical care referrals, DEERS info should be updated when you†move, re-enlist, separate from or change services, retire, get married, have a child, etc. For more information on updating your DEERS information, go to the Naval Health Clinic website at www.paxriverclinic.med.navy.mil.

Construction at NNMC in Bethesda

BRAC construction at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda is underway.†Various departments are relocating temporarily because of construction, and patient parking is more limited.†During NNMC construction, Pax River patients are encouraged to use the free NAS Pax base shuttle which departs the Naval Health Clinic twice daily to and from NNMC. For updates on NNMC medical services, specialty clinic locations, and patient parking, go to www.bethesda. med.navy.mil. For shuttle information, go to the Pax River Naval Health Clinic website, www.paxriverclinic.med.navy.mil, or call 301-342-1418 to reserve a shuttle seat.