CNATTU, MWR Give Recreation Area a Facelift

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tucker M. Yates, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Northwest

OAK HARBOR, Wash. (NNS) -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) hosted a cleanup of the Rocky Point and Can Do Inn military recreation area May 7.

Thirty-five Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Whidbey Island instructors and students and MWR personnel volunteered to clean, clear overgrown foot paths, resand a volleyball court net replacement, refurbish playground equipment, regravel of common areas and the clear out horseshoe pits.

"We're trying to get more involved and contribute as much of our time to the community as possible. We saw the opportunity and told MWR we'd jump on it and help them out. We're basically doing a good initial spring cleaning," said Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class (AW) Chad Hodges, a CNATTU instructor and the command coordinator for the event, from Houston. "It's a beautiful place to come out to and have fun."

Sherry Yates said NAS Whidbey Island Liberty and Deployed Forces Program manager, when she put out a request for assistance in the event, CNATTU Commanding Officer Cmdr. David Latosky and Executive Officer Cmdr. Charles Murphy adopted the project as a command initiative. After this initial clean up, CNATTU will continue to maintain the facility by sending personnel out twice a month throughout the summer for cleaning, preventive maintenance and upkeep, the first command to do so since Construction Battalion Unit 417 left NAS Whidbey Island in April of 2007.

"This place provides a venue to develop the camaraderie of being together as a command. It gives them leisure time to interact where they can come with their families and spend some time getting to know one another outside of work status," said Yates.

"I've been here 24-and-a-half years, and this is fantastic. It's going to get better," said Tee Knouse, the installation N92 (Recreation) administrative assistant. "I think it's fantastic [that CNATTU adopted the area] because it's on base; normally you see the commands adopt a road out in town. Well, now someone is taking on something actually on base. I don't think any other tenant has taken a part of NAS and said we're going to dedicate this to us and keep it spruced up. I love my active duty, and I'm proud of all them."

Latosky said he considered it an honor and a privilege to contribute to the Team Whidbey spirit through this activity.

"We were happy to jump in. We were trying to assist and support even before this because we have a lot of students out there who are young Sailors and initial accessions who need to be brought into [the atmosphere] of the right spirit; all about teamwork, all about honor, courage and commitment," said Latosky. "Some of this relates; there couldn't be a better teaching tool than coming out here and volunteering, giving back not only to the community, but right to shipmates, right to Navy and Marine Corps, right to all military who come out here and use this facility."

"The support CNATT(U) has given so far is amazing and the progress has been made is just outstanding. There is no way MWR could have done this alone in a day without their support," said Yates. "All of the commands at NAS Whidbey Island, whether it be the squadrons or the tenant commands, when MWR goes out and asks for their support they have always stepped up and supported us. Without them we wouldn't be able to offer the services we have to offer."

During the cleanup a lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs with traditional barbecue fare was provided by MWR for the volunteers.