Staff gets Inside Look At Whidbey Island
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (EXW/DV) Jack Georges,
Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia Public Affairs
NAPLES, Italy – Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia (EURAFSWA) Italian and U.S. civilian employees and servicemembers visited USS Whidbey Island Jan. 19 and 20 during a routine port visit to Naples.
The tours gave the civilian employees a glimpse of life aboard ship and an opportunity to see how their work supports Navy operations.
Rocco Merola works in EURAFSWA’s commercial bill paying office. Merola believes the work he and others do on shore is critical in supporting Navy operations.
“Even if we are only clerks, our work is very important. Without our administrative work, troops fighting for freedom and security could not do their job,” said Merola.
Visitors got a chance to view essential parts of the ship including the well deck, flight deck and pilot house.
Suella Davis is part of the EURAFSWA comptroller office. It was her first time on a U.S. Navy vessel. She thought the Whidbey Island was impressive but lamented the tight quarters of shipboard living.
“I’m impressed at the amount of equipment on the boat but the gym is a little small,” said Davis.
Ensign Alexander White, a junior officer aboard Whidbey Island, conducted one of the tours and was delighted to have people from shore support visit the ship.
“After being out ten months it’s nice to show people on shore side what we do,” he said.
He said it is important for people working on shore to see the ship and know that their hard work has impact.
“It helps to know something is real, to touch it physically. It helps make your day to day have more meaning,” said White.
Whidbey Island has been deployed since March supporting Libya operations and other theater security cooperation missions.
Naples is Whidbey Island’s final port visit before concluding its deployment and returning home to Little Creek, Va.
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