Bringing Sailors home from deployment, carrying celebrities to their United Service Organization performances, delivering Navy divers and their equipment to salvage operations in Morocco-it’s all in a day’s work for the VR-61 Islanders homeported at NAS Whidbey Island. 

Despite its designation as a Reserve squadron, VR-61 operates much more than one weekend a month and two weeks a year. Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 61 carries out its mission of supporting the fleet around the world, around the clock, 365 days a year.

With a complement of more than 240 Sailors, VR-61 operates out of detachment sites in Atsugi, Japan; Sigonella, Sicily; and Bahrain as well as at their home base in Whidbey Island, Wash. As a result, the Islanders are able to provide short notice logistics support virtually anywhere around the globe. 

Current operations have had the Islanders crisscrossing Europe for a number of high profile missions. VR-61’s team of C-9B Skytrain aircraft were called upon to transport Ambassadors Daalder and Kennard, the U.S. ambassadors to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union, from their posts in Brussels, Belgium, to engagements in Belgrade, Serbia, and Pristina, Kosovo.

The Islanders made a second trip to Pristina with Adm. Mark Fitzgerald, former Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, several members of his Allied Joint Forces Command Naples staff to include Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard of Canada and Rear Adm. Joachim Rhüle of Germany, along with Vice Adm. Harry Harris, Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, for the NATO Kosovo Forces Change of Command. In continuous support of the forward deployed fleet, VR-61 also traveled to Tel Aviv, Israel, delivering Casualty Reports parts to the USS Vella Gulf (CG 72). 

The squadron is staffed by more than 140 active duty Full Time Support (FTS) personnel as well as 100 Selected Reservists (SELRES). SELRES serve at NAS Whidbey Island and travel around the world, but many do not live in Island or Skagit counties. Reservists commute from the greater Seattle and Portland areas and some travel from as far as Idaho, California, Colorado and even Guam.

Using a flexible drilling system along with the cooperation of their civilian employers, SELRES are able to bring expertise from their careers in the civilian sector to advance the Islander mission. This collaboration has allowed VR-61 to excel in many areas. In 2009 the squadron earned the Battle E, the Safety S, and the Operations Excellence, and the Retention Excellence awards. 

VR-61 is continually open to new talent. From enlisted maintenance professionals to pilots and aircrew, the benefits of joining the Islander team are many. For pilots and aircrew the ability to gain flight time and proficiency is beneficial, while for maintainers the opportunities for training and A&P certification are invaluable. For all personnel, from administrative clerks to airmen reporting from A-school, VR-61 affords opportunities to travel both within and outside of the United States. 

VR-61 also provides a place for many former active duty sailors to reconnect with the camaraderie of their fleet service while also introducing first tour personnel to Navy life. 

If you have an interest in learning more about the opportunities that VR-61 could offer you, please contact the Administration Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Jason Hynd, (360) 257-2147, or the VR-61 command career counselor, Navy Counselor 1st Class Joleen Burton at (360) 257-5495.