USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41)

08/21/2022

Last CO here - she’s away.

It was an a beautiful morning here in Little Creek as ex-WBI set out under tow by USNS Apache en route to Philadelphia.

Thank you all for your service on her!

First in her class, First Always! ⚓️

08/12/2022

Congratulations to Information Systems Technician Second Class Hunter on his re-enlistment!

BZ, Shipmate!

08/05/2022

Congratulations to Interior Communications Electrician Senior Chief Wolfe on his re-enlistment! 

📸: Ltjg Hendricks

07/29/2022

Congratulations to the following individuals for receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal;

🌟LT Fletcher
🌟Ltjg Siefert
🌟EN1 Hu
🌟EN2 Mena
🌟HT2 Price
🌟QM3 Figueroa
🌟GM3 Hill

🌟Congratulations to HT3 Dicks on receiving a letter of Commendation from the Commanding Officer!

07/29/2022

Congratulations to Lieutenant Fletcher on earning his Surface Warfare Officer pin!

BZ, Shipmate 🌟

07/28/2022

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” -Spock 🖖

Congratulations to Chief Electronics Technician Karp on his re-enlistment!

BZ, Shipmate 🌟

07/28/2022

Congratulations to our Whidbey Warrior of the week, Boatswain’s Mate Third Class TrujilloGarcia! Here are some fun facts about BM3 TrujilloGarcia;

▫️Years of service: 3
▫️She plans to earn a bachelors degree in Criminology and to obtain a cosmetology license.
▫️BM3 enjoys watching crime shows in her free time!

BZ, Shipmate 🌟

07/28/2022

Congratulations to Operations Specialist Second Class Bernal on her re-enlistment!

Bravo Zulu, Shipmate 🌟

📸: BM2 Pedroza

07/28/2022

Congratulations to Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Baldwin on his re-enlistment!

Bravo Zulu, Shipmate! 🌟

📸: BM3 TrujilloGarcia

07/28/2022

Congratulations to Electricians Mate Second Class Chen on her re-enlistment!

Bravo Zulu, Shipmate! 🌟

📸: EM2 Roby

07/26/2022

Happy retirement, L*D 41! 👋 ⚓

📍JOINT EXPEDITIONARY BASE LITTLE CREEK - FORT STORY, Va.- The Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship namesake, USS Whidbey Island (L*D 41) held a decommissioning ceremony at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. on July 22 before its inactivation next month.

Read the story here: https://go.usa.gov/xSNHm

07/23/2022

Today the decommissioning ceremony was held for the USS Whidbey Island (L*D 41). Celebrating 38 years of service to her country and crew, she will forever be “First in Class, First Always”.

(U.S. Navy Photos by Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Pedroza & Fire Controlman Second Class Uresti/22 July, 2022)

07/22/2022

07/20/2022

Congratulations to our Whidbey Warrior of the week, Yeoman Seaman Johnson!
Here are some fun facts about YNSN Johnson;

▫️Years of service: 3
▫️He joined the Navy to better support his mom and three sisters.
▫️YNSN Johnson’s hobbies include playing Xbox and reading. As an avid reader, Johnson hopes to own his own book store one day!

BZ, Shipmate 🌟

07/20/2022

☀️ Congratulations to our newest Petty Officer, Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class Roof!

(U.S. Navy Photos by Boatswain’s Mate Third Class Trujillogarcia/19 July, 2022)

07/19/2022

Congratulations to Operations Specialist Second Class Cantero on her re-enlistment onboard The Battleship Wisconsin of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum!

(U.S. Navy photos by Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Pedroza/14 July, 2022)

07/13/2022

Committed to serve ⚓️

Congratulations to Hospital Corpsmen Second Class Fallon on her re-enlistment!

📸: HM2 Hoover

07/07/2022

Congratulations to our Whidbey Warrior of the week, Hospital Corpsmen Second Class Hoover!
Here are some fun facts about HM2 Hoover;

▫️Years of service: 8
▫️She joined the Navy to travel and see the world. Her goals are to graduate from Independent Duty Corpsmen school.
▫️In her free time, HM2 Hoover enjoys the simple things in life like camping, crocheting, hiking and churning her own butter!

BZ, Shipmate 🌟

07/04/2022

06/29/2022

Congratulations to our Whidbey Warrior of the week, Retail Specialist Third Class Henderson!

Here are some fun facts about RS3 Henderson;

▫️Years of service: 3
▫️RS3 is following her family tradition! Her father is a retired First Class Disbursing Clerk and her husband is a Navy Yeoman with 8 years of service.
▫️She joined the Navy to enroll in college and plans to become a licensed Ultrasound Technician.

BZ, Shipmate 🌟

06/29/2022

🌟Awards & Advancements! 🌟

Congratulations to our newly frocked sailors!
19 of our made the cut for cycle 255 advancement selections.

In addition, congratulations to the following individuals on their awards;
FCC Auger - Navy Commendation Medal
HM2 Hoover - Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal
GM2 Negron (not pictured) - Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal

BZ, Shipmates!

(U.S. Navy Photos by Quartermaster Third Class Jenny Figueroa/29 June, 2022)

06/29/2022

Presenting the last Ensign to be promoted onboard USS Whidbey Island (L*D 41) …Congratulations to our newest O-2, Lieutenant Junior Grade Preu!

(U.S. Navy Photos by Quarter Master Third Class Jenny Figueroa/29 June, 2022)

06/29/2022

Congratulations to our Whidbey Warrior of the week for June 20th, Electricians Mate Second Class Chen!

Here are some fun facts about EM2 Chen;

▫️Years of service: 4
▫️EM2 enjoys training her dog, cooking and watching movies in her free time.
▫️She joined the Navy to better her future and to pursue a challenging work field.

BZ, Shipmate 🌟

06/23/2022

Congratulations to our sailors selected for !

06/15/2022

Congratulations to our Whidbey Warrior of the week, Electronics Technician Second Class Benesch!

Here are some fun facts about ET2 Benesch;

▫️Years of service: 3 & 1/2
▫️ET2 enjoys working out in his free time and cooking.
▫️He is currently in the process of submitting a SO conversion package in the hopes of joining the U.S. Navy SEALs

BZ, Shipmate 🌟

06/10/2022

Despite our ship decommissioning, the USS Whidbey Island (L*D 41) is still contributing to historical U.S. Navy events.

Today, our Commanding Officer, CDR Phillips, along with Chaplain CAPT Thames at Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic had the pleasure of conducting the first ever Surface Chaplain Officer (SCO) designation board!

Congratulations to LT Block of the USS Carter Hall - L*D 50 for earning the FIRST EVER Surface Chaplain Officer pin onboard the first Whidbey Island Class L*D ship.

06/08/2022

Congratulations to our Whidbey Warrior of the Week, Yeoman Second Class Bediako!

Here are some fun facts about YN2 Bediako;

▫️ Years of service: 3

▫️ YN2 joined the Navy to travel and use his service to better himself.

▫️ He plans to pursue commissioning programs or special programs.

BZ, Shipmate 🌟

06/02/2022

U.S. Navy Traditions 🤝 Family Legacies

Retired Aviation Boatswain’s Mate First Class Figueroa pins the ESWS insignia on his daughter, Quartermaster Third Class Figueroa onboard the USS Whidbey Island (L*D 41)

Congratulations on earning your ESWS, QM3!

(U.S. Navy Photos by Damage Controlman Third Class Rodriguez/02 June, 2022)

06/02/2022

Uniform Updates!

06/02/2022

✨ Congratulations to our Auxiliaries Officer, Lieutenant Junior Grade Cohen for receiving her Surface Warfare Officer pin today!

Hampton Roads Naval Museum

06/02/2022

Congratulations to our newest Lieutenant’s!

⭐️ LT Ao
⭐️ LT Cunnings
⭐️ LT Darlage
⭐️ LT Fletcher
⭐️ LT Hodgkinson

Promotion ceremony held onboard the Battleship Wisconsin, part of the Hampton Roads Naval Museum

06/01/2022

June is Pride Month, when the world's LGBTQIA+ communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be who they are 🏳️‍🌈

The month of June was chosen to pay homage to the Stonewall Riots, also known as the Stonewall Uprising. The riots were largely considered to be the single most important event leading to the LGBTQIA+ liberation movement and the modern fight for LGBTQIA+ rights in the United States. On June 28, 1969, police raided The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar and recreational tavern located in New York City. Tensions quickly escalated as patrons and supporters resisted. This was viewed as police harassment and persecution of the LGBTQIA+ community. This uprising marked the beginning of a movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQIA+ Americans.

For more information, please visit https://www.dodea.edu/dodeaCelebrates/pride-month.cfm

05/30/2022

Memorial Day 2022

Memorial Day 2022

05/26/2022

Congratulations to our Navigator on her promotion to O-3!

Introducing, Lieutenant Darlage ✨

📸: Ltjg Hendricks

05/26/2022

Mental health is just as important for military and family readiness as physical fitness. While Military OneSource does not provide health care services, it does point members of the military family to the resources available to help. If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Military Crisis Line at 800-273-8255, then press 1, or access online chat by texting 838255.

05/25/2022

Last week, we competed in our last Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic Surface Line Week.

Even with our ship only at 50% manning, our still took home🥈



📸:(U.S. Navy photos by Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Pedroza)

05/25/2022

Congratulations to our Whidbey Warrior of the Week, Boatswain’s Mate First Class Dailey!

Here are some fun facts about BM1 Dailey;

▫️ Years of service: 19 going on 20

▫️ Once BM1 finishes his military career, he plans to become a data analytics supervisor and save 1 million dollars before the age of 60.

▫️ When he’s not at work, BM1 enjoys exercising, drawing, yard work and gaming!

BZ, Shipmate 🌟

05/24/2022

All smiles here 🤗

Fair winds and following seas to Quartermaster Seaman Banda!

📸: LTjg Hendricks

05/24/2022

Congratulations to Cryptologic Technician Technical Second Class Quinn for earning his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) pin!

📸: (U.S. Navy photos by Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Baldwin/24 May 2022)

05/24/2022

Congratulations to the newest Senior Chief Petty Officer of the U.S. Navy, RSCS Brown!

📸: BM2 Baldwin

05/24/2022

Introducing the newest O-2’s for the U.S. Navy!

🔹 Lieutenant Junior Grade Bamgbose
🔸 Lieutenant Junior Grade Berg-Saether
🔹 Lieutenant Junior Grade Corinna
🔸 Lieutenant Junior Grade Diaz

Congratulations, shipmates!

📸 : BM2 Baldwin

05/22/2022

Capt. Sunita Williams designated as a naval aviator in July 1989, served at Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 8 in Norfolk, Virginia, and made overseas deployments to the Mediterranean, Red Sea and the Persian Gulf in support of Desert Shield and Operation Provide Comfort.

She has logged more than 3,000 flight hours in over 30 different aircraft. Williams, who has spent a total of 322 days in space on two missions, now ranks sixth on the all-time U.S. endurance list, and second all-time for a woman astronaut. In 2012, she became the first person to complete a triathlon in space. She also ran the Boston Marathon in Space.

Follow the link to learn about more amazing women in the U.S. Navy! https://media.defense.gov/.../-1/1/2021_WIN%20EBOOK.PDF...

05/17/2022

Photos from Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic's post

05/17/2022

The representing during during the DC Olympics!

05/17/2022

⚓️ Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Monix providing man overboard training on forecastle recovery to Deck Department

📸: BM2 Pedroza

05/16/2022

Fair winds and following seas to LTJG Krog as he departs the today.

📸 : LTJG Lenker

05/16/2022

⚓ U.S. Navy Commissions First Female Tongan Officer. Ensign Mary MeleNaite Tufui Likio ‘Fui’ McCray is commissioned at Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, CA on April 29, 2022.

Read the full story here ⬇️
https://go.usa.gov/xuHQ9

05/16/2022

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and today, we remember the first Asian-American in space, Ellison S. Onizuka. The former United States Air Force test pilot went on to fly as a NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration mission specialist aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985. Onizuka died in the Challenger explosion the very next year; he was 39. Learn more about his life and distinguished career: https://go.usa.gov/xuHNV

05/16/2022

Photos from Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic's post

05/12/2022

Introducing the sailors of the quarter for the 2nd quarter of 2022!

⭐️ Blue Jacket of the Quarter: BMSN McGuffey
⭐️ Junior Sailor of the Quarter: MM3 Luna
⭐️ Sailor of the Quarter: BM2 Monix
⭐️ Senior Sailor of the Quarter: PS1 Awatha

📸: BM2 Pedroza