Whidbey Island hosts Operation Prepare information fair

Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island held an information fair in support of Operation Prepare at the Nor’Wester Activity Center Sept. 2. The event, held as part of National Preparedness Month, provided information about how to prepare for natural or man-made disasters. Operation Prepare is a Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) education and awareness campaign on emergency preparedness. “Operation Prepare is the initiative to promote personal and family preparedness to the up, down and across the chain of command, because without being personally prepared we can’t go out and carry on the mission,” said Jeff Kirkey, NAS Whidbey Island emergency management officer. “This initiative gives us a chance to focus on those most basic things that we often overlook and get engaged.”
September 10, 2009
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Cougars maintainers surge ahead

The Cougars of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 have pushed through the halfway mark of combat operations during their 2009 SURGE. Since early July, after checking in with 5th Fleet, the squadron has continually provided electronic attack support for troops on the ground in Afghanistan. It is up to the young maintainers, average age early 20s, to fix and prepare aircraft for mission readiness. With limited supplies available aboard the ship and delays in part shipments, there are countless factors working against the Sailors. Under the leadership of Senior Chief Electrician’s Mate Mark Wanless and Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Justen Estes, the Airframes Division continue to revive aircraft through the completion of three major phase inspections.
September 3, 2009
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Children’s theater group performs at Whidbey

The internationally-recognized Missoula Children’s Theater (MCT) visited NAS Whidbey Island Aug. 17-22. MCT develops original musical theater productions and takes them on the road each summer to reach out to children and families through stage performance. MCT directors worked with NAS Whidbey Island’s Child and Youth Programs (CYP) to bring The Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe to life over the course of just one week. Sixty-nine children, ages 6 to 17, auditioned Aug. 17 and 50 earned a part, which they worked to develop into a memorable character in preparation for two live performances at the Skywarrior Theater Aug. 22.
September 3, 2009
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Lights, camera, action

“Quiet, we’re rolling!” Crescent Harbor beach on the Seaplane Base and Ault Field’s Hangar 1 resembled a Hollywood set last weekend with grip and lighting, cameras, and even the proverbial director chairs. Production crews came to spotlight NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue Swimmers, “stars” and heroes to many in the Pacific Northwest. The U.S. Navy Recruiting Command hired the Los Angeles based Bandito Brothers to film new commercial video spots focusing on five unique Navy jobs. According to DoD employee Jim Simpson of Navy Recruiting Command, the commercials will be aimed for male and female ages 18 to 24.
August 27, 2009
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Prowler pilot joins elite group

From a temporary stint in a wheelchair, Cmdr. Steven Trent of VAQ-129s Selected Augmentation Unit accepted a special plaque, Aug. 20, from Northrop-Grumman Corporation. Trent became the fifth Prowler pilot in history to reach 4,000 hours in the EA-6B aircraft. Patricia McMahon, vice president and integrated product team leader, Electronic Warfare Programs, came from Bethpage, N.Y., to congratulate Trent. According to Northrop-Grumman, Trent’s 4,000th hour occurred May 9.
August 27, 2009
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Midshipmen get taste of naval aviation

Throughout the summer, Patrol Squadron (VP) 46 hosted several Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) and Naval Academy Midshipmen on their summer cruise training. This experience is designed to expose midshipmen to various warfare communities so they can make an informed career decision. These future officers come from universities around the country and can choose to do their summer training with a surface, subsurface, aviation, or Marine Corps unit. While attached to VP-46, the Midshipmen experienced many facets of naval aviation.
August 27, 2009
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Salt marsh opens at Whidbey’s Seaplane Base

On Aug. 19 the final berm was cut under the bridge on East Pioneer Way, Seaplane Base, to open the Crescent Harbor Salt Marsh to full tidal flow and juvenile salmon access for the first time in almost 100 years. Rear Adm. James Symonds, commander, Navy Region Northwest, joined Capt. Gerral David, NAS Whidbey Island commanding officer to kick off the final excavation. The wetland habitat restoration project began in 1994 when the Navy modified a tide gate built in the early 1900s to create more agricultural land for the farming community. Efforts to restore the marsh to its original condition began in earnest when the Puget Sound Chinook salmon was listed as a threatened species in 1999.
August 20, 2009
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Triathlon is ‘last blast’ for EOD Unit

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11 hosted a triathlon on Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island’s Seaplane Base, Aug. 7, as part of their weeklong “Last Blast” activities. The event featured 23 participants, 17 individuals and two teams from the military and local community, competing in a 500-yard swim, 13-mile bike ride and three-mile run. This is the fourth time the event has been held. The event is being held as a way of EODMU 11 “saying ‘good bye’” to Whidbey Island prior to its deployment later this year and their subsequent move to San Diego next June.
August 20, 2009
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Leadership of Yellow Jackets changes

Cmdr. Kyle R. Campbell assumed command of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138 from Cmdr. Kyle P. Higgins in a ceremony, Aug. 13 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Rear Adm. Mark Vance, commander, Carrier Strike Group 3, was the keynote speaker at the event. Commenting on Higgins’ accomplishments as Skipper of the Yellow Jackets, Vance said, “As a CO he has perfected his leadership skills. Whether it was day to day operations while deployed, a 95 percent sortie completion rate on cruise, safely leading his squadron to 27 years and 46,000 Class A mishap free hours or tactical contributions to the community and the ICAP III program testing, he has led his squadron magnificently.” Vance added that perhaps the accomplishment Higgins will most be remembered for are his contributions to the people side of the business. “The camaraderie and esprit de corps that exists within the enlisted and officer ranks in the Yellow Jackets I believe is the real testament to his capabilities as a leader,” Vance said.
August 20, 2009
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National Night Out partners Navy, communities

Public service organizations and their military counterparts joined Navy communities around Puget Sound to participate in the 26th annual National Night Out (NNO) Aug. 4. NNO took place in more than 15,000 communities nationwide, involving more than 37 million people last year. NNO is designed to strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships along with heightening crime and drug prevention awareness. “Once a year the local law enforcement and fire companies get together to meet the local community,” said Sgt. A.J. Miller, DoD Police Department, Bremerton Precinct event co-coordinator. “A lot of times when emergency services are required, it is a high-stress situation, and if the community sees a friendly face and knows who we are, it helps calm the situation.”
August 13, 2009
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