THE U.S. NAVAL MUSEUM OF ARMAMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
This Museum
at China Lake was established when the Secretary of the Navy signed out
SECNAVNOTE 5755 on 12 May 2000. The museum is a showcase for past and current
China Lake products and programs and provides an amenable environment for
briefings and presentations to off-Center visitors.
Scores of weapon and
aircraft RDT&E projects, old and new, are highlighted in China Lake's U.S.
Naval Museum of Armament and Technology. The museum contains one of the finest
publicly accessible collections of tactical air weaponry and technology
anywhere. The display collection ranges from WWII rockets to cutting-edge guided
missiles and includes familiar items like Sidewinder, Shrike and Tomahawk
alongside weapon systems that can be seen nowhere else ? Agile, ACIMD, Bulldog
and Advanced Bomb Family (to name but a few). Outdoor exhibits include
historically significant XF4D-1 and F11F aircraft and Polaris and BOAR missiles;
the new outdoor exhibit area now under development will be home to a significant
part of the museum collection, including the NTA- 4F, A-7E, HH- 1K, F-111B,
QF-86, DF-8L, RA-5C, AV-8A, A-6E, and F/A-18A ("Hornet 1") aircraft; several
significant range instrumentation and target items; and a tribute to the
Station's Search-and- Rescue (SAR) teams, including a UH-1 SAR helo. In the fall
of 2001, the museum began developing an exhibit to highlight the 50th
anniversary of the Sidewinder missile.
Also on display are photographs
and memorabilia from President John F. Kennedy's 1963 visit to China
Lake. Numerous videos covering China Lake projects and history may be
viewed at the museum, and the Museum Foundation Gift Shop offers a large
selection of related books, videos and memorabilia. Visitors and groups desiring
special tours or off-hours visits may make arrangements.
PETROGLYPHS OF
THE COSOS
Concentrated in secluded canyons of the volcanic Coso Range on the
test ranges of the Naval Air Weapons Station, are thousands of visual reminders
of people who, thousands of years ago, hunted and gathered their food in this
high desert. The Coso Range Canyons contain the highest concentration of rock
art in the Western Hemisphere. More than 6,000 images have been pecked,
engraved, or abraded into the desert varnish or patina that forms on basalt
rocks with time and weathering.
No one knows for sure how old these
petroglyphs are. A broad range of dates can be inferred from archaeological
sites in the area and some artifact forms depicted on the rocks. Some of them
may be as old as 16,000 years, some as recent as the 1800s. Designs range from
animals to abstract to anthropomorphic figures.
Maturango Museum guides
tours to the Petroglyphs several times a year.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
DEPARTMENT
Community Support is a service organization that comprises Morale,
Welfare and Recreation, Family Housing, Personal Property, Child Development
Center, School Aged Care, Combined Bachelor Housing and Fleet and Family Support
Center. The mission of the Community Support Department is to provide
professional and technical quality of life services and expertise to its
customers, both internal and external, and to develop and maintain a work force
that is expert, motivated, efficient, entrepreneurial, innovative, responsive
and diverse.
FLEET AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTER (FFSC)
The mission of
the FFSC is to enhance the quality of life for the people in the military
community. Proactive, responsive and supportive services are the FFSC's
business. The highly qualified and dedicated team members provide information,
education, counseling, support services, free enrichment programs and workshops
for active duty, retirees, their family members. The facility offers one-stop
shopping with many support services in a single location.
The FFSC
services provide "skill for living," information, guidance and referrals in
transition, relocation, spouse assistance, financial matters, information and
referral and family counseling.
FFSC SERVICES
Transition Assistance
Management Program (TAMP)
Assists military members in transitioning smoothly
back into the civilian world by offering them tools needed to market themselves
for new careers. The Transition Assistance Program Manager holds workshops for
active duty personnel and their spouses in the search for a new job at the new
home.
The Relocation Assistance Program (RAP)
assists members make a
smooth transition between duty stations, as well as:
. Pre/post move
relocation and newcomer orientations
. Welcome Aboard packages
.
Information on schools, recreation, volunteer opportunities
. Loan Closet
items for use when transferring in or out of the area. (TVs, VCRs, microwave
ovens, futons, hospitality kits and much more)
Spouse Employment
Assistance Program (SEAP)
Assists family members in career objectives,
including:
. Career Counseling
. Career interest assessments
. Skills
training, job referrals
. Networking and marketing tools
. Assistance in
resume writing
Personal Finance Management (PFM)
emphasizes personal
financial responsibility and accountability by providing basic principles and
practices of sound money management, counseling tools, and referral
services. Classes instructed include:
. Car buying strategies
.
Renting or buying homes
. Savings and investments
. Checkbook
management
. Consumer awareness
. Credit management
. Life
insurance
. Overcoming personal debt
Information and Referral
Assistant (I&R)
provides one-stop help in finding the appropriate local
resources, both military and civilian, with extensive networking to assist the
military family in all aspects of family development.
Family Advocacy
Program (FAP)
offers social-educational intervention strategies such as
provision of information and short-term support. The primary function of FAP is
prevention; victim safety and protection; offender accountability;
rehabilitative education and counseling.
Counseling Services
provide
short term (8-12 sessions) intervention in common adjustment problems
experienced by single or married service people and their immediate families.
Such problems could include communication and other problems in marriage,
child-rearing or anger-control issues.
New Parent Awareness and
Education
provides supportive and caring services to military families during
pregnancy and in the first years of life. The program offers
information and referral, counseling, and nursing professionals to assist with
coping with stress, isolation, everyday demands of parenthood and military
life.
FFSC TENANT ORGANIZATIONS
The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
(NMCRS) provides services to active duty, retired Navy and Marine Corps
personnel (including Fleet Reservists) and their dependents. Whether the
emergency is a missing allotment check, a destructive home fire or a death in
the family, the NMCRS is there. Trained volunteers can assist with problems
through counseling, budgeting advice for the family or in preparation for a new
addition to the family with their budget for baby class or direct financial
assistance.
Navy Marine Corps Relief Society Visiting Nurse provides
services to the military family in home and clinic or hospital visits for the
purpose of providing continuity between patient, doctors, and military or
community resources.
. Medications and diet orders
. Postpartum or newborn
care
. Post-surgical follow-up care
. Child development and parenting
issues
Women's Outreach Center provides a variety of support services for
victim safety and protection. Services include, but are not limited to, shelter
for victims, education and support groups for victims and advocacy services
(SART).
Laubach Literacy Council provides volunteers who will tutor those
who need English as a second language, math tutoring, and assistance in
obtaining a GED.
WIC (Women, Infants and Children) comes to the FFSC
twice monthly and serves military and their family members who fall within
certain income parameters. This group addresses infant and nursing-mother
needs.
The Navy College representative is available to assist active duty
military, reservists and their dependents in the completion of their educational
goals. Tuition assistance, Dantes and CLEP tests are available.
The
Consumer Credit Counseling representative is available for assistance in debt
consolidation, consumer education, and advice and assistance in lowering monthly
interest rates and monthly payment amounts.
The Substance Abuse and
Rehabilitation Program (SARP) Officer has an office at Branch Health and another
within the FFSC Complex. SARP provides screening, referrals, and
outpatient counseling for individuals with drug, alcohol, and gambling
problems.
Other tenants include two colleges:
Embry Riddle
Aeronautical University and University of Tennessee Space
Institute.
MORALE, WELFARE AND RECREATION -- Mission First, Sailors
Always!
Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) delivers quality
customer-focused leisure services, programs and facilities. Their
objective is to meet and exceed their customers' leisure expectations. In short,
MWR creates leisure opportunities to improve the quality of life for everyone
who elects to use one of its many services, programs and
facilities. Their mission is to provide quality support and
recreational services that contribute to the retention, readiness, mental,
physical, and emotional well being of our Sailors.
Wreck
Center
Located on the corner of Blandy Avenue and Hussey Road, the Wreck
Center houses a fast food and beverage operation with a contemporary casual
atmosphere for small-catered functions or cocktails. This multi-purpose
recreation and entertainment center features an 80-inch television and
television lounge, computer room with IBM and Apple computers for games,
learning opportunities and Internet access, game room with pool, table tennis
and foosball tables, National Trivia Network (NTN) computer satellite
interactive games system, large multi-purpose room for entertainment and grand
galas.
The Wreck Center is also home of the Single Military Program and
coordinator, so call and join the trips, tours and special events.
The
Wreck Center features a first class Catering Program. Whether you want a wedding
reception, retirement party, work function or reunion, the staff welcomes those
unique opportunities to cater your events and activities on base or off base.
Information, Tickets And Tours (ITT)
The ITT program dispenses
Southern California recreation information on attractions such as Disneyland,
Sea World, Knott's Berry Farm and many others. Discounted tickets may be
purchased for most amusement and recreational parks, attractions, special events
and museums.
Barefoot Bar
Located behind the U.S. Naval Museum of
Armament & Technology at the east end of Blandy Avenue, the Barefoot Bar,
with its "footloose" atmosphere, features BBQ grills and a bandstand area that's
perfect for special events such as concerts, "burn your own steak" nights,
private parties or reunions.
China Lake Golf Course
China Lake Golf
Course has a brand new 3 million-dollar Clubhouse named Mulligan's. The 18-hole
golf course is located on Halsey Street, and features a putting and chipping
green, a driving range and lessons from a PGA-certified golf pro. The Golf Pro
Shop displays a variety of retail items and can special order any golf accessory
you want or need. The new clubhouse also has a full-service grill,
with indoor and outdoor dining available. For weekend tee times, phone Thursday
mornings after 7 a.m.
Athletic/ Fitness Complex
Located on Blandy
Avenue, the Athletic/Fitness Complex features the best gymnasium, sports and
fitness programs in the high desert and, unofficially, the "Navy." The complex
includes an extensive seasonal intramural-recreational sports program for team
or individual competition, a large outdoor community pool, a physical fitness
testing program, an indoor pool, state-of-the-art weight room and equipment,
racquetball courts, basketball/ volleyball courts, gym floor, tennis courts,
fitness par course, karate, aerobics and aquacize classes.
Outdoor
Recreation Check Out Center
Located behind Bennington Plaza, visit the
Outdoor Recreation Checkout Center and reserve and rent camping tents, cook
sets, lanterns, sleeping bags, portable generators, 18-foot air-conditioned
hardtop camp trailers with microwave ovens, tent trailers, utility trailers,
horse trailers, boats with trailers, tennis racquets, volleyballs and nets,
horse shoe sets, mountain bikes, portable propane BBQ grills, 6-foot metal
tables or metal chairs for your next recreational excursion.
Hall Lanes
Bowling Center
Located on King Street, Hall Lanes Bowling Center is your one
stop for bowling fun. Enjoy 10 computerized scoring systems, synthetic lanes and
new pinsetters, as well as a fabulous snack bar serving everything from salads
to their famous cheeseburgers. The retail shop houses bowling accessories and
offers an extensive special-order department for your bowling needs. The Bowling
Center offers seasonal bowling leagues to suit your busy recreational
schedule.
Auto Hobby Center
Located on East Inyokern Road, the Auto
Hobby Center offers customers a place to work on their own vehicles. Periodic
vehicle maintenance lessens the odds of car trouble on your return from a
favorite vacation spot. Auto Hobby also houses a wheel-balancing machine, paint
booth, engine-analyzing equipment, hoists and two car washes. The Auto Hobby
Center is also home of the famous "Lemon Lot," the best place on base to park
and sell your car or to buy one.
OTHER CHINA LAKE FACILITIES
AltaOne
Federal Credit Union
The Base Branch of Alta One Federal Credit Union is
located at 1115 King Street, across the street from the Commissary. Membership
is available to all who live or work in local communities and their families.
All Faith Chapel
Located at Blandy Avenue and Richmond Road, the All
Faith Chapel has four congregations, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Islamic.
One Catholic and one Protestant Navy chaplain staff the Chapel.
Legal
Assistance
The Staff Judge Advocate office is located in the NAWS China Lake
Headquarters Building. A judge advocate is available for consultation, advice
and assistance. Legal assistance is provided to all active duty military
personnel and their families; retired U.S. military personnel and their family
members; and reserve military members while performing active duty.
Legal assistance is provided on most personal civil legal matters,
including wills, adoptions, name changes, consumer affairs, domestic relations,
landlord-tenant disputes, personal finances and debt collection. Any matter
discussed with a judge advocate within the attorney-client relationship is
privileged and confidential. Assistance is also available in filing claims for
the loss or damage of personal property during a move. An appointment is
necessary to file a claim. Notary service and the preparation of powers of
attorney are available by appointment.