Happy Birthday NAS Whidbey
On September 21, NAS Whidbey will celebrate its 68th birthday. “The air station’s longevity as a major installation on the West Coast is due in part to the hard work and pride of Sailors and civilian employees over the last six decades. With a birthday comes cake, so to celebrate, the Admiral Nimitz Hall (Galley) award-winning bakers will prepare a special cake for new NAS Whidbey Island base commanding officer, Capt. Jay Johnston, to cut at 11 a.m. Sept. 21.”
NAS Whidbey Island Hosts WSTOA for Basic SWAT Training
The Washington State Tactical Officers Association (WSTOA) held a basic Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) training course on Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island from March 14 to 19. Thirty-two personnel representing 14 law enforcement agencies around Washington state participated in the training. The course featured training on firearms, tactical movements, breaching, room clearing, chemical agents, scouting, victim rescues and entries through the use of classroom and hands-on instruction; including simulated real world situations.
Welcome Home!
A Navy squadron known as the “Black Ravens” is returning to Washington this weekend after an 8-month deployment aboard the USS Nimitz. Part of the electronic attack squadron will return to the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station on Saturday. On Sunday, maintenance and support personnel will arrive at Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton.
The squadron left Washington in July to support operations throughout Asia and the Middle East, including more than a thousand flights over Afghanistan.
NAS Whidbey Receives Zumwalt Award
Vice Adm. Michael C. Vitale, commander Navy Installations Command, honored 15 installation’s Navy Gateway Inns and Suites by giving them the coveted 5-Star Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt Award for housing and lodging management. Among those honored was NAS Whidbey Island. A 5-star rating is awarded for the overall excellence of an installation’s entire NGIS operation. Congratulations!
Battle ‘E’ Squadrons Named
Naval Air Forces announced the squadrons that won Battle Efficiency Awards for 2009 in an internal message dated Feb. 10. Among those was the EA-6B Prowler: Electronic Attack Squadron 140, Patriots, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash. (Atlantic deployment); VAQ-133, Wizards, NAS Whidbey Island; VP-40, Fighting Marlins, NAS Whidbey Island; and Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 1, World Watchers, NAS Whidbey Island.
An A-3 to Whidbey?
The Whidbey A-3 Skywarrior Memorial Foundation’s fundraising efforts have kicked into overdrive. A small but growing group of former A-3 pilots, engineers, mechanics and enthusiasts are ready to do what is takes to bring an A-3 jet to Whidbey Island.
Now the race is on to raise enough money — a minimum of $50,000 — by May to fly an A-3 from Raytheon in Van Nuys, Calif., to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. So far, the current donation tally is $14,700.
Read the details at http://www.seattlepi.com/sound/415706_sound84812882.html
Hello world!
We are proud to call Whidbey Island our home. Its communities – the people and places – are an important part of Coldwell Banker Tara Properties. The North part of the Island has its own dynamics. We are happy to be able to help the families in Oak Harbor and Coupeville with any of their real estate questions and needs. Our Oak Harbor agents have years of experience and are Military Specialists. Call them at 360.675.7200.
