Day five.  USS Triton Division 197, Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

“Attention on deck!” calls the recruit division commander (RDC) to kick off the division commissioning ceremony held in April.

Cmdr. Matthew Miller, NAS Whidbey Island Executive Officer, surveys the room and sees 76 kids with shaved heads, in new uniforms, with sore arms from immunizations and aching jaws from dental – all suffering from culture shock but doing their best to present a brave face for their honored guest.

“I am proud of each and every one of you for making the decision to serve your country,” said Miller, explaining that even after 21 years in the Navy, he is still proud to serve and excited about what is in store for them as they embark on their Navy careers.

The official ceremony concluded with Miller passing the NAS Whidbey Island guidon, green with the air station logo, to the division leader, cementing NAS Whidbey’s pledge to be an active partner in the “sailorization” process. In this way, they will help integrate the Division 197 Sailors into Navy life, shape their expectations for future duty assignments and give them the tools needed for career and personal success.

A three-person contingent from NAS Whidbey Island had arrived earlier in the week: Culinary Specialist Master Chief Darel Sunday, Aviation Structural Mechanic Senior Chief Eric Nypaver and Master at Arms Chief Jason Stogin, the trip organizer.

They spent their time getting to know the recruits so they could put names to faces, talk about their own Navy careers and answered questions about shipboard life. They even shared their experiences in boot camp when they went through which was apparently back in the “olden days” judging by the looks on some of the recruits’ faces.

“We told them boot camp is supposed to be hard,” said Stogin. “They (RDC) push you hard so when you get out to the Fleet, you know you can handle it.”

The Whidbey contingent was impressed with RTC facility improvements like the 185,000 square foot, climate-controlled fitness center and the firearms simulator.

“It’s improvements like these that show the incoming Sailors that the Navy is making a substantial investment in their future,” said Stogin.

The group, with Master at Arms Senior Chief Brett Kittelson replacing Sunday, heads back to Great Lakes on May 17 to participate in battle stations with the recruits prior to attending their graduation on May 22.