Collateral duty public affairs officers (PAOs) from commands around Naval Air Station Whidbey Island participated in training sessions to improve proficiency in photojournalist responsibilities, Jan. 21, 22 and 26.

Thirty-seven personnel from 21 commands around NAS Whidbey Island attended one of four sessions held over the course of the three days. During the seminars, attendees learned basic writing formulae per Associated Press style guidelines and rules of photographic composition to enhance their skills and make their products more marketable for publication.

“I feel more informed because I wasn’t sure of the different styles of writing, like hard news, and different ways to take pictures; it’s all pretty exciting,” said Logistics Specialist 1st Class (AW) Jennifer Thomas, of NAS Whidbey Island Search and Rescue who recently assumed collateral duty PAO responsibilities for the base operations department.

According to Kimberly Martin, NAS Whidbey Island PAO, the training was prompted by the recent conversion of the Northwest Navigator North Sound edition that previously covered both Naval Station Everett and NAS Whidbey Island news to a more “Whidbey-centric” base newspaper as encouraged by NAS Whidbey Island Commanding Officer Capt. Gerral David.

“I love reading about people here on the base and local Oak Harbor stuff. I like this base; I like this town, and I like being here,” said Lt.j.g. Alex Rodeck, a P-3C pilot who has been the acting PAO for Patrol Squadron 46 for five months. 

The classes also provided an opportunity for PAOs to exchange ideas for what new features they would like to see added to the paper such as commentaries, comics, awards announcements and a police blotter.

“I think that making the paper localized will give more commands a voice instead of fighting for space in a paper that’s fought between multiple bases,” said Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class (AW) Michael Henderson, an intermediate level maintenance instructor from Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Whidbey Island who has been the command’s collateral duty PAO for 27 months.

David’s stated goal is to have more than 100 names from his installation in each issue. This will ensure maximum exposure to the people who work on board NAS Whidbey Island so their work is seen and appreciated not only by other people on base but all the people in the local community who pick up a copy of the Navigator each Friday or read it online.

“I want to contribute by being the voice for CNATTU so that the voices of our instructors, officers, civilian staff and students are heard,” said Henderson.

Filling the PAO responsibilities as a collateral duty is primarily a volunteer activity, and draws an array of candidates, both military and civilian, to take on this unique role to showcase their commands.

“It definitely adds more to my day. I’m doing my normal flying job in addition I have this, what I call my ground job, but it’s awesome because I get to show everybody what we do every day,” said Rodeck. “Nobody really knows about the P-3 Navy, and I get to show people what we do and how important [our mission is].”

The first NAS Whidbey Island edition of the Northwest Navigator was released Jan. 15.