Pacific Northwest: duty in the great outdoors

All Hands, Sept, 2006 by Todd Frantom

Zoey is 16 months old but according to her Mom, Coleen Vlake, she won't forget the natural beauty of growing up among the great outdoors of the Pacific Northwest, in the Puget Sound region of Washington state.

"I took her on a whale watching cruise around the San Juan Islands north of Whidbey Island," said Vlake. "Her eyes lit up when she saw her first Orca, it was like sitting in a front row seat at Sea World. The whales breached the surface and really put on an impressive show for us. I don't think she will ever forget watching their amazing acrobatics."

Sailors stationed in the Puget Sound region are blessed with beautiful waters to sail, mountains to climb, trails to ride, wildlife to watch and parks to explore. There is also Seattle, a bustling metropolis with an outdoorsy subculture, centrally located to bases in the area--all in a climate that allows year-round enjoyment.

Taking duty in the Northwest region might just be the best experience a Sailor and their family could ever have, according to many stationed there. Most never want to leave. "If you love the outdoors, this is the place to be," said CMDCM Robert Cooley of Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 at Naval Air Station (NAS), Whidbey Island. "This is my third duty in the area and I am doing everything I can to stay. There is no other duty station in the Navy like it."

Navy Region Northwest is the U.S. Navy's third largest fleet concentration area behind Norfolk and San Diego. Bases in the region include Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) Bremerton, Naval Base Kitsap (NBK) Bangor, Naval Station Everett and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

"I enjoy hunting and fishing," said Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Bryan Ryan. "Some of the best is right here in our back yard. I grew up in California fishing on Nevada's Shasta Lakes with my father and two older brothers. What a benefit it is to continue my love for the outdoors here at my duty station on Whidbey Island. I have stayed in the area for the last 14 years."

"What a contrast to southwest," Ryan continued. "I grew up in 110 degree temperatures of eastern California. I couldn't help but notice how nice the weather is [here] compared to the hot, dry air I was used to. During the summer it only gets about 65 to 70 degrees--and it doesn't rain as much as most might think."

"My wife and I fell in love with the area," Ryan said. "All my children have been able to grow up here."

Ryan has been able to spend more time with his family than most Sailors because of the various squadrons at shore to sea commands that call the Pacific Northwest home.

"I cut orders to go to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 133, NAS Whidbey, then jumped from squadron to squadron to stay here," said Ryan. "I have just done what I can to secure my time in the Navy and spend as much of it in the great outdoors with my loved ones as permitted. It's been a privilege that the Navy has allowed me to stay here and raise my family in such a warm and welcoming environment."

When a Sailor enters a convenience store, restaurant and command on any base in the Pacific Northwest there might be a rack or table with many leaflets on it. These little slips of paper are menus to outdoor adventure and might be worth looking into, especially if the letters "MWR" are written anywhere on them.

"Pamphlets are everywhere," said Ryan. "No Sailor should ever be sitting indoors when they are stationed up here."

Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) might be the answer to the boredom that all too often overcomes a Sailor who might otherwise stay among the safe confines of the base. In the Pacific Northwest, the surrounding beauty takes hold sooner or later and MWR just may have the perfect escape.

There is no dodging the beauty of Puget Sound.

"Flying in the region has to be the most picturesque in America," said ENS John Valloredis, a pilot for VAQ-133. "These are the best low-level routes in the United States. They meander through the Cascade Mountains where you fly through 10,000-foot-high, snow-capped mountains covered in glaciers. Even the air navigation flights take you over Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak, Mt. Rainer, Mt. Hood, and the always-active Mount St. Helens. It's like taking part in a National Geographic expedition every time we leave the ground," continued Valloredis. "This makes it hard to avoid the adventures that await on the ground and water."

Sailors stationed in the Puget Sound should check out www.navylifepnw.com, covering all quality of life questions and more.

"There are always tickets available for live music in nearby Seattle which has an awesome band scene, said Valloredis. "We also take the short drive--about 90 minutes--into Seattle to catch a Mariners [baseball] game at Safeco Field."

Bases on Kitsap are easily accessible from the greater Seattle area to the east by four routes of the Washington State Ferry Service, from the Olympic Peninsula to the west by the Hood Canal Bridge (the world's longest floating bridge over tidal water), and by highway from the south.