VFA-213 Blacklions

05/13/2022

Congratulations to our sailors who had reenlistments over the last couple months!!!

04/06/2022

Great video put out by USS Gerald R. Ford - CVN 78 about what we've been up to lately!

02/25/2022

Congratulations to our Chief of the Year and our Senior Sailor of the Year for FY2021!!! Two of our very own pilots, including the Executive Officer, were able to give these two sailors backseat rides as a special thanks for being some of the best VFA-213 has to offer!!!

12/25/2021

Merry Christmas from the BlackLions!

12/12/2021

The BlackLions and VFA-37 Ragin Bulls were lucky enough to kick off the Midshipmen’s big win against Army. Fly Navy, Beat Army!!

11/29/2021

The squadron Thanksgiving potluck was a success! Thank you to everyone who made it possible, and congratulations to all our awardees!!!

11/24/2021

BlackLions Officers hard at work “cooking” turkeys. Luckily the Chiefs are taking care of the hams.

11/05/2021

The Navy community paid tribute to CDR John “BAG” Hefti this afternoon. A former Blacklion Commanding Officer, father, husband, son, and leader to many, we lost him too soon. Rest Easy Skipper, we have the watch.

10/22/2021

VFA-213 Blacklions

10/13/2021

Commanding Officers have the opportunity to recognize some of their best Sailors by granting advancement when they are ready for the next level of responsibility through the Meritorious Advancement Program. Congratulations to our new Petty Officer Second Classes, AO2 Sanders and LS2 Ferreira and our new Petty Officer Third Class, LS3 Barron and HM3 Bostic (who was on leave)!

10/13/2021

The blacklions recognized Sailors on their accomplishments. Please help me congratulate the following on a job well done 🎉

ADCS Byas
AM1 Gaddie
AT1 Martinez
AD1 Gutierrez
AO1 Holmes
AM1 Hays
AD1 Muhammad
AME2 Cantu
AM2 Halfpenny
AT2 Lothian
AE2 Iossi
LS2 Swient
AMAA Towry
AE3 Young
LS3 Brandao

10/03/2021

BlackLions kicking off Talladega 2021!

09/23/2021

Please help us congratulate these phenomenal Blacklion award recipients on a job well done! 🎉

ADC Chierici
AO1 Aiken
AD1 Muhammad
YN2 Ong
AM2 Schutte
AZ2 Watson
AM3 Ladeji
AD3 Miller
PR3 Caballero
LS3 Baker
AO3 Gwozdz
AOAN Burt
AOAN Fisher
ADAN Liston

📸: YN3 Osborne

09/17/2021

This past Wednesday the Blacklions had the honor of welcoming WW2 veteran Felix P. Maurizio to our ready room as a guest speaker. Chief Maurizio was a signalman who worked on Fleet Admiral Nimitz’s staff, participated in the the Normandy landings, and transported Marines to and from Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He personally informed Fleet Admiral Nimitz that the Japanese had surrendered to which Fleet Admiral Nimitz responded with a champagne toast. It was truly an honor to have this hero in our ready room sharing his stories and lessons learned from a meaningful, long career in the US Navy. Thank you Chief, fair winds and following seas!

09/01/2021

Any day that we are recognizing Sailors for their efforts with awards is a good day. Congratulations to all those promoted and award recipients!

AVCM Gardner
NC1 Jordan
AME1 Powell
AD2 Fannon
YN2 Haynes
YN2 Perry
CS3 Liang
AD3 Cortez
AD3 Miller
AO3 Schmidt
AD3 Stevens
AE2 Roark
AMAN Rivera

Sailors of the Quarter
SSOQ: PS1 Dunham
JSOQ: AZ2 Watson
BJOQ: AOAN Fisher
PCOQ: AM3 Torres

Bravo Zulu: AZ2 Cruz and AO2 Rhodes.

08/31/2021

This past week we have said farewell to two phenomenal Sailors as they depart from VFA-213. Good luck in all your future endeavors AT2 Meier and AD3 Knutson! Thank you for all your hard work over the years!

08/29/2021

Photos from Volk Field ANGB's post

08/29/2021

Looking good BlackLions

08/12/2021

Gerald R Ford Full Shock Trials Compilation

Looking forward to getting back underway with Warship 78!

07/30/2021

Yesterday the Blacklions pinned a new Senior Chief! Congrats to Senior Chief Varela on your promotion! Senior Chief V is a loved and respected member of the Blacklion family, a dedicated, hard worker who always makes us laugh. Thank you for all you do, Congrats Senior!!

07/26/2021

Congrats to YN2 Haynes on her re-enlistment! She was sworn in by LCDR Geddes and accompanied by her parents. What a special day! Thank you YN2 for your continued service to the Navy & our Blacklion family! We’re so happy to have you!

07/26/2021

Congratulations to ATC(AW) Jesus Varela on his selection to Senior Chief Petty Officer! BLACKLIONS leading the charge and Senior Chief Varela is no exception! Congrats again to you and your family. Well deserved! Blacklion Family, Blacklion Pride! Navy Chief, Navy Pride!

07/16/2021

🦁🚨 Photo bomb because we have so many amazing Sailors here at VFA-213! 🚨🦁
Yesterday 213 celebrated the achievements of 34 Sailors who received an award or put on a new rank. Here in the Navy we call awarding a new rank “frocking.” It’s a big achievement for these Sailors as they promote based on their performance and hard work! All of our Sailors are hardworking individuals, but today we take a moment to congratulate our newest promotions & awardees! Congrats to the following BLACKLIONS:

✨ATC VARELA
✨AMEC TREVINO
✨ATC WALLS
✨AD2 WILLIAMS
✨PS2 FRONDA
✨AT3 LIST
✨AM3 PIERCE
✨AM3 OLIVERAMCKINLEY
✨AMAN RIVERA
✨LSSN BARRON
✨PR1 SALAZAR
✨AE2 LANCE
✨ATAN DZIOBA
✨AOAN MERCHAND
✨LS3 MONTANEZ
✨AE2 LANCE
✨AM3 REVAY
✨AD3 MILLER
✨AT2 LOZANO
✨AD2 FANNON
✨CS3 LIANG
✨YN3 GRIFFIN
✨AT2 SMITH
✨AM2 HENSLEY
✨PR3 AUSTIN
✨AE3 OCONNOR
✨LSSN ADAMS
✨AME2 BADILLA
✨AO2 DEDEAUX
✨AO2 GREEN
✨AT2 JACKSON
✨AT2 LOTHIAN
✨AZ3 CARTER
✨AM3 LADEJI
✨AD3 RAY
✨PR3 ROBERTS
✨YN3 OSBORNE

07/12/2021

07/08/2021

1JUL21: Congratulations NC1 Jordan on your reenlistment. Thank you for the continuous guidance to help Sailors navigate through their Naval career!🎉

07/06/2021

25JUN21: Congratulations to ATC Varelaquinones on his reenlistment. Such a joyous moment to be shared with his family and Blacklion Family to celebrate his career and future successes!

06/30/2021

Good luck AT2 Mobley as you transfer to your next command. Thank you for all the hard work here at VFA-213!

06/30/2021

You may be cool...but not Flying an F/A-18F over Fenway Park at tonight's Boston Red Sox game, landing, then hanging out with CNO Gilday, MCPON Smith and a group of amazing Sailors cool...BLACKLION Family, BLACKLION Pride!!

06/29/2021

The BlackLions were able to fly the Bluejacket of the Year, PR3 Martin. Congrats again PR3 for everything you did for VFA-213, and it was great to get you airborne.

06/22/2021

CITIMANAGER for all your GTCC Management needs! More information at the link below. https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/cardholder.cfm

06/19/2021

Pretty cool!

06/17/2021

Today, we recognized our Blacklions on the hard work and dedication that is shown each and every day, and also announced the "Of the Quarter" award recipients. Congratulations to all awardees! 🎉