The Canadian Consul General to Seattle Denis Stevens visited NAS Whidbey Island Jan. 28 for a tour of Naval Ocean Processing Facility Whidbey Island (NOPFWI). Stevens met with the Canadian and American leadership at this bi-national command, and had the opportunity to speak with several of the 37 Canadian Forces Sailors. He also had the opportunity to attend the graduation of the first Advanced Acoustic Analysis Course (AAAC) taught at NOPF Whidbey Island.
The AAAC, an intense three-week course, focuses on detailed acoustic analysis, passive acoustic listening, education on acoustic sources and Acoustic Intelligence (ACINT) trends. The course is taught by Canadian instructors from Esquimalt, British Columbia and Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Canadian and Allied military sailors, and is one of the best courses of its kind in the world.
In the past, U.S. Sailors from NOPF Whidbey Island had to travel to Canada for the training. Bringing the instructors down to the U.S., not only resulted in a significant cost savings for the U.S. Navy, but it also allowed for more students to be loaded on the course than in the past.
February 10, 2011
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Cmdr. Bertram W. Wagner will transfer command of the VR-61 Islanders to Cmdr. Andrew T. Bishop tomorrow, Feb. 12 during a traditional change of command ceremony held at 2 p.m. in Hangar, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
Capt. Eric G. Petersen, former VR-61 Commanding Officer and former Commander of the Fleet Logistics Support Wing will be the distinguished guest speaker. Petersen has amassed over 4,000 flight hours in various Navy aircraft and reported as Deputy Commander, Naval Air Forces Reserve in January.
“It has been a great opportunity to lead the Islanders of VR-61. I have never worked with a more professional and dedicated group of people,” said Wagner. “Their ability to maintain our aircraft with such high standards; respond to short-notice critical tasking around the world; and provide support for fellow Sailors, has been impressive.
February 10, 2011
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Brad Sandefur is a trainer who works at NAS Whidbey Island’s Gym and Fitness Center. One of his duties is to teach people to run and judging from his class Wednesday morning, he does it well. Several people showed up for his Wednesday morning speed training class where they stretch and hop and kick and sprint with their knees up. They looked expectant.
Sandefur also teaches people to run in the half-marathon, 13.1 miles to be exact, during the Whidbey Island Marathon slated this year for April 10. The group is called the NAS Whidbey Marathon Training Club and has about 35 members.
The club is something that Sandefur clearly enjoys.
“We have been doing it for about five years and it keeps getting larger,” Sandefur said. “There are beginner runners in the group that don’t think they can do it, but they do. Our goal is we don’t concentrate on time — the goal is to finish.”
February 10, 2011
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Although U.S. military involvement in Vietnam had ended with the withdrawal of the last ground combat forces in 1973, the U.S. maintained close ties with the Republic of Vietnam government and continued logistical support of their Armed Forces. Missions flown by VQ-1 had also come to a close with the final withdrawal of U.S military forces.
By March 1975 North Vietnam launched the first attacks in direct violation of the 1973 agreement. American military forces began mustering in mid-April off the coast of South Vietnam and in bases in the Philippines, primarily NAS Cubi Point (Navy) and Clark Air Force Base, and at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.
Operating as Commander Task Group (CTG) 72.5, VQ-1 positioned two EP-3Es (PR-33 and PR-35), three aircrews (Crews 33, 35 and 36), and ground support personnel at NAS Cubi Point beginning about April 20, 1975. This task group operated as a command separate from the usual VQ-1 Det Cubi Point.
February 3, 2011
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When it comes to vehicle versus pedestrian, it’s obvious who is most likely to win. Most people working aboard NAS Whidbey Island endure one of three crosswalks on Charles Porter Avenue every day.
Whether it’s in a vehicle or as a pedestrian, the effects impact our lives daily. Encountering the three crosswalks can often be frustrating. There have even been times when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle.
The crosswalks and flashing red lights were implemented to ensure safety and efficiency of traffic along Charles Porter Avenue.
Lt. Karla Bennett, Security Officer, urges pedestrians to be “responsible adults and take responsibility for his or her own safety by taking a moment to look where they are going prior to crossing Charles Porter Avenue.”
February 3, 2011
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Fleet Readiness Center Northwest (FRCNW) learned Jan. 20 they earned the 2010 Enterprise AIRSpeed Award.
This award is presented annually to a command that excels at fostering an attitude of Continuous Process Improvement (CPI). CPI allows for improved customer satisfaction and improves integration between the maintenance department and supply divisions by applying AIRSpeed concepts, implementing AIRSpeed enablers and deploying CPI sustainment initiatives.
AIRSpeed was developed in 2004 using Navy and Marine Corps tactics. The principle behind AIRSpeed is to eliminate waste, save time and produce a better end product by streamlining maintenance practices resulting in a significant savings of not only money but time. Concepts provided by FRCNW were in direct support to Commander, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Commander, Patrol & Reconnaissance Wing 10; and subordinate commands encompassing 3,792 Sailors and Marines using 165 operational aircraft.
February 3, 2011
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Lt.j.g. Sean Thompson was presented with the 2011 Copernicus Award on Jan. 24 at the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) West Conference in San Diego.
Thompson received the award in recognition for his accomplishments as a weapons and tactics instructor, as well as for his work with the MCS-21 program. He is currently serving as the Command NATOPS Officer at Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Whidbey Island.
“I was excited to learn that I had been selected as a Copernicus Award winner,“ said Thompson. “Although this is an individual award, it is reflective of the work done by our Sailors at NIOC Whidbey Island on a daily basis.”
Recipients are selected each year by judges in the sea services based on their sustained superior performance in a U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard C4I/IT-related job. AFCEA and the Naval Institute present the awards at their annual Western Conference held in San Diego each year.
February 3, 2011
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Honoring 100 years of naval aviation, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 unveiled an EA-6B Prowler and an EA-18G Growler painted in the World War II paint schemes of a Douglas TBD-1 Devastator and a Grumman TBF-1 Avenger, respectively, Jan. 20.
Cmdr. Tim Murphy, VAQ-129 commanding officer, was excited when learned about the Centennial of Naval Aviation (CONA) committee’s plan to paint a limited number of aircraft to represent significant periods in naval aviation history.
“We sat down with the Corrosion Control Team, and we told them we would like to paint an EA-6B and an EA-16G. We did some research and found two paint schemes we thought captured the nuances of both airplanes, and represented WWII naval aviation,” said Murphy.
The Devastator and Avenger paint schemes had an impact on VAQ-129 Sailors right from the beginning.
January 27, 2011
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For over 27 years, the Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 Cougars have denied adversaries use of the electromagnetic spectrum. During this period, their instrument of choice has been the EA-6B Prowler.
Starting in February, the Cougars begin closing that chapter by taking to the sea, for the final time, flying the EA-6B Prowler, one of the few remaining Grumman Ironworks airframes in the fleet. The Cougars will soon trade in the familiar backdrop of the Cascade and Olympic mountains for a panoramic view of endless oceans in support of operations in 7th and 5th Fleets.
The high level of dedication and professionalism this year has been no different than previous years for the Cougars. Workups at Nellis AFB and NAS Fallon in Nevada, RIMPAC and COMPTUEX have prepared the squadron’s aircrew well for this deployment and they are eager to embark on, what will be for many, their final Prowler missions.
January 27, 2011
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The Wizards of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 are preparing to set sail on the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 for Tailored Ship’s Training Availability TSTA).
They prepare for this new adventure after taking some much-deserved leave for the holiday season. Many of the Wizards have been deployed for the last three to four holiday seasons and have not been able to share them with family.
TSTA is the first combined-training event of the inter-deployment training cycle that will prepare the carrier and the air wing for their upcoming deployment.
As important as the month-long TSTA detachment is in preparation for deployment, of note is the fact that the Wizards have not set sail for an extended period of time since their last cruise in 1991. That’s because the Wizards have been an expeditionary squadron deploying to land bases around the world.
January 27, 2011
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