NEWS RELEASE

20 April 2009

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NOMI FLIGHT SURGEON RECOGNIZES LOCAL FAMILY MEMBER

Renee J. Robinson, ASJJA Executive Secretary & Marketing

The Armed Services Judo and Jujitsu Academy (ASJJA), located at the Fred Smalley Youth Services Center, Naval Air Station, Pensacola (NASP) recognized 58 awardees on Saturday, April 18, 2009. The ASJJA also celebrated its recent U.S. National designation as the top Armed Services Martial Arts Club in the state of Florida and the 7^th largest active United States Judo Association club in the United States.  

Captain William Reavey, Commanding Officer, NASP, with Captain Lee Cornforth, MSC, USN, Commander, Naval Operational Medicine Institute (NOMI), and Captain Richard Beane, MC, USN, Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Aeromedical Institute (NAMI), were present as guests of honor to this annual event, and also participated in the presentation of awards.

Aaron Scott, son of USAF MSGT Stanley and Mrs. Belinda Scott was presented with the ASJJA’s Founder’s Superior Excellence Award, as well as two military decorations, by fellow judo player, Army Major Nicole Powell-Dunford, flight surgeon assigned to NOMI. Both Major Dunford’s Army Commendation Medal with V device for Valor and the Combat Medical Badge were earned under fire during her combat tour in Afghanistan.

Virtually assured of a major interstate competition trophy, 11 year old Aaron allowed himself to be thrown in his final contest when accidentally matched against a younger and less experienced opponent, from a different weight class, who had struggled in earlier matches, a selfless act that cost Aaron a trophy, but earned him the respect of the entire Judo community in a five state enclave.

Each of the distinguished guests lauded Judo’s principles of discipline, dedication and sportsmanship in their formal remarks, praising family members and guests who packed the Youth Services gymnasium, for their involvement.  Major Dunford, stated, “My family has benefited from NAS Pensacola’s ASJJA program more than any other MWR program on any military installation throughout my career – in terms of physical fitness, personal and mental development. NOMI trains Navy and Army flight surgeons to be highly prepared to serve our Aviation families - anywhere and any time. Judo enhances the military mission for me as well as for all the sailors, airmen and USMC participants in our program.”

Naval Hospital Pensacola corpsman HM-2 Andrew Saunders, who received the 2009 Volunteer Coach of the Year Award for hundreds of hours of outstanding volunteer work, as well as his 4^th major promotion, agreed that ASJJA is a great recruiting and retention tool. ‘Those of us stationed in Pensacola are lucky to have a program like this right here on post.” LCOL Gary Bergosh, USMC (Ret.) and an active ASJJA Judo player, after calling “Attention to Orders”, read the citation accompanying the awards to Aaron. To wit:

        “True leaders make hard decisions and help others under all circumstances. Aaron Scott is being given these heroic symbols of self-sacrifice for his extraordinary display of leadership and care for his fellow Judo players. “I’ve never seen him ever lose unless it was in helping someone learn something to further boost their confidence and self-esteem; he is an amazing role model for both the kids and adults. I believe that Aaron has at least, if not more, inner strength than those of us who received awards for essentially just doing our assigned jobs during hazardous times. That said, I would not give up these awards easily. However, I am so impressed with the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship displayed by this young man, that this is the least I can do to recognize Aaron for his positive effect on his team mates. He is a distinct credit to his family, the ASJJA, and the Pensacola Naval Air Station Community of Excellence.”    

The list of awardees is as follows: