A ceremony was held at North Whidbey Middle School auditorium Nov. 10 which honored all veterans, both past and present.
Instructors and staff from Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU), Whidbey Island were in attendance with Cmdr. David A. Latosky, CNATTU Commanding Officer, as the keynote speaker.
The event kicked off with everyone reciting the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silent reflection, followed by a slideshow of past military events while the official hymns of the respective branches played over the loudspeakers.
In addition, there was fantastic singing by the school choir, music by the band, and patriotic poetry read by the student body president.
November 23, 2010
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Many want to, few can. But that’s the nature of the beast when it comes to football championship games. Still, seven members of NAS Whidbey Island will play for Navy Region Northwest in the 2010 Army-Navy Championship game at Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s Cowan Stadium on Dec. 3, 2010 at 2 p.m.
NAS Whidbey Island players include Logistics Specialist 1st Class (AW) Melvin Haley, Fleet Readiness Center NorthWest; Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Dell Thomas and Sonar Technician (Surface) 1st Class Edward McInnis, both from Naval Ocean Processing Facility; Naval Air Crewmen (Mechanical) 2nd Class Brian Walser and Naval Air Crewmen Operator 2nd Class Michael T. Smith, both from VP-40; Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Francisco Rivera, VQ-1; and Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Rochad Jones, VQ-2.
They competed among three naval facilities: NAS Whidbey Island, Naval Station Everett and Naval Base Kitsap for the right to represent the Navy Region Northwest and righteously beat Army to a pulp.
November 23, 2010
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Veterans Day isn’t just acknowledged at Oak Harbor schools, it’s celebrated. At Oak Harbor High School, the students noted Veterans Day with songs, bands and speeches, honoring those who served.
In the high school gym, more than 1,500 people packed the bleachers, including 180 members of the Oak Harbor High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, (JROTC). They were there to celebrate Veterans Day as well as to listen to members of Naval Hospital Oak Harbor speak.
The hospital has a long standing partnership with the Oak Harbor High School, and renewed it through the Partnership in Education program by signing the agreement at the assembly.
Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Sergio Guerrero, assistant program director for Naval Hospital’s Partnership in Education or PIE, said the agreement is a way for JROTC to improve fitness, morale and self-esteem, as well as provide aids to education and to encourage student achievement.
November 18, 2010
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It’s not every day Explosives Ordnance Disposal Detachment Northwest gets called to south Whidbey Island for a “two-fer” but Nov. 10 wasn’t just any day. At about 10 a.m. the Island County Sheriff called to request EOD’s assistance in disposing of some dynamite discovered by a woman walking in the woods. The dynamite was in an old metal ammunition container tucked into a tree stump on private property near Langley, Wash.
Once on site, the 7-member team from NAS Whidbey Island assessed the situation. First thing they determined was the approximately 20 pounds of dynamite was old and had probably been used to remove tree stumps when the property was originally cleared. The nitroglycerine-based product had oozed out of its paper wrappers and crystallized. Old or not, it was definitely unstable and not something that would be safe to transport to another location for disposal.
Initially EOD thought the best way to dispose of it would be to blow it up. Based on that decision, local authorities put out a 9-1-1 alert that people within a 5-mile radius might hear a loud explosion. Since EOD couldn’t guarantee the explosive’s concussive impact wouldn’t damage nearby homes, they decided to burn it and carefully walked the ammo can about 100 yards away from the property owner’s home.
November 18, 2010
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Embarked aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), the “Zappers” of VAQ-130 have been underway supporting Operation Enduring Freedom since May. Flying multiple sorties every day puts great stress on the EA-6B Prowler airframes that have already flown thousands of hours and endured several thousand carrier-arrested landings. The unique abuse of carrier aviation takes its toll on all aircraft regardless of type or age.
The Zappers are the proud owners of two jets with over 10,000 hours, both of which came off the assembly line in 1975. Aircraft 500 (Buno 158815) and aircraft 502 (Buno158805) have performed superbly, but recently presented challenges for the Zapper maintainers. Leading the charge in man hours to keep the birds in the air were the Aviation Structural Mechanics from the Airframes work center.
During the past challenging month, the air framers repaired a multitude of complicated hydraulic system components, major flight actuator system components and components that activate the flaps on aircraft 500 alone. All these things were accomplished while successfully supporting combat operations with the four squadron aircraft.
November 18, 2010
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Oak Harbor High School’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) is the largest in Washington State.
It has 180 members, 116 males and 64 females according to retired Cmdr. Mike Black, senior Navy science instructor at Oak Harbor High School. It certainly doesn’t hurt that OHHS is less than five mile from NAS Whidbey Island, where 10,000 people work every day.
But its more than that.
“There’s lots of different reasons,” said Black. “Most kids have some interest in the military and they may want to pursue a career or they like the structure or discipline they can find in the JROTC.”
November 18, 2010
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As part of a generous grant from Commander, Navy Installations Command and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, NAS Whidbey Island’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation department received a wide range of equipment and facility upgrades that further improve quality of life for Sailors and Marines.
The fitness center received two grants totaling $248,000, which were used to purchase a wide range of new cardiovascular equipment including 10 treadmills, four ellipticals, four upright lifecycle bikes, three crosstrainers, two recumbent bikes, a stepper, a summit trainer, three rowers and 12 new spinning bikes.
Upgrades in strength equipment include a lateral rowing machine, a power squat rack, a Nautilus incline leg press, two flat-incline benches, weight racks and a variety of dumbbell sets.
A FreeMotion selectorized line will soon replace the equipment currently in the Nautilus room and includes equipment for chest, shoulders, biceps, triceps, quads, hamstrings, abdominals and laterals, as well as rowing, lifting, stepping, and dual cable cross functions.
November 18, 2010
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The Wizards of Electronic Attack Squadron 133 (VAQ-133) recently marked an historic moment aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) with the squadron’s first carrier-arrested landing since December 1991.
“It actually came as a surprise to me and my crew after we landed,” said Lt. Cmdr. Hunter Bankart, the pilot for the landing. “It wasn’t planned for us to be the first trap but we felt honored to be a part of this historic occasion.”
The path leading to this moment began on Aug. 6 this year when VAQ-133 left their “expeditionary” days behind them and became part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 and the John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Strike Group.
November 11, 2010
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If you see an unfamiliar 34-foot gray boat around Whidbey Island with U.S. Navy on the side and uniformed personnel on board, you have seen a part of the newest addition to the base, Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron Nine (MSRON 9)
MSRON 9 is a rapidly, deployable unit that can go anywhere in the world. The squadron can handle port security, harbor defense and coordinate shore and force protection for high value assets, such as ships and equipment, going into and out of port. The squadron also conducts surveillance, waterborne prevention and anti-terrorism activity around oil platforms.
In September, they moved to Whidbey Island from Naval Station Everett. Boatswain’s Mate Master Chief (BMCM) Edward Spillane said they are especially happy to get to a place where they can have all their gear in one place.
November 11, 2010
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The American Cancer Society is celebrating its 35th Great American Smokeout on Nov. 18, 2010. Each November this event marks an anniversary for many smokers who have kicked the habit and offers encouragement for those still struggling with the habit.
Nicotine addiction is powerful. Sometimes quitting with a friend or family member can offer the additional support and encouragement needed to succeed. The rewards can be lifesaving and will improve your quality of life.
Naval Hospital Oak Harbor is ready to assist you with this life-changing effort. Tobacco Cessation classes are available through the Health Promotion Clinic, located in R-80 across Saratoga Street from the main hospital. Discussions include nicotine addiction, consequences of tobacco use and assistance in developing a personalized cessation plan.
November 11, 2010
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