Keesler's Navy unit recognized for community service programs Published Oct. 15, 2009 By Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Burpee Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit at Keesler was recently recognized for outstanding community service by Rear Adm. T.G. Alexander, commander of Navy Region Southeast. CNATTU earned the region's first place award with its Campaign Drug Free flagship. "Flagship" refers to programs in which Sailors are leading the way. Gulf Coast partners included Biloxi Alternative High School, East Hancock Elementary School, Oak Park Elementary School in Ocean Springs, the Boy Scouts of America and the Sea Cadets of Gulfport. CNATTU assisted 1,521 youths ages 5-18 with 590 total volunteer hours in the past calendar year in this program alone. CNATTU also took home two regional second place honors with its personal excellence partnership flagship and health, safety and fitness flagship. The programs partner CNATTU with Nichols Elementary School and the annual Mississippi Special Olympics Summer Games held at Keesler. These two categories served 812 youths ages 5-18 with a total of 821 volunteer hours. "All of our volunteers have amazing motivation to assist the local community," stated Petty Officer 1st Class Clarence Hartenstine, CNATTU community service coordinator. "This awards recognize all they do." CNATTU was commended for having active and thriving volunteer community service programs in several flagships. Packages have been forwarded for Navy-wide competition for the USS Bainbridge Award for overall excellence in community service.