Page 10 www.NORTHweSTNaVIgaTOR.cOm NORTHweST NaVIgaTOR> WHIDBEY EDITION • Friday, May 14, 2010

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By Lt.j.g. Cecilia HuVP-46

In a change of com-mand ceremony, May 14, Cmdr. Michael J. Grabowski relieved Cmdr. Mark D. Hamilton as commanding officer of the Grey Knights of Patrol Squadron (VP) 46.

Under Hamilton’s lead-ership, the Grey Knights achieved a remarkable milestone of over 308,000 mishap-free flight hours, demonstrating the safety and productivity that con-tinues to uphold the squad-ron’s “Oldest and the Best” motto.

Grabowski, a Navy ROTC graduate from Ohio State University, hails from the Great Buckeye State. He began his Navy career flying the P-3 Orion with VP-11 in Brunswick, Maine. Subsequent tours included Special Projects Mission Commander at VP-8, Weapons Tactics Instructor at VP-30, flag aide for Commander, Carrier Group

Six, VP Shore and Sea Detailer at Naval Personnel Command, department head at VP-40 and Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

He checked in as the executive officer for VP-46 in May 2009. He takes com-mand of the squadron at a critical junction, as the Grey Knights make final prepa-rations for deployment to

Fifth Fleet. With the passing of com-

mand, Grabowski becomes the 75th Commanding Officer of the Grey Knights in a tradition that dates back to 1931. Cmdr. Jake Jacobs reports for duty as the exec-utive officer, with Master Chief Petty Officer Sidney Dawson remaining as the Grey Knight’s Command Master Chief.

VP-46 gets new skipper

AO2 Allan Acosta

VAQ-133 Wizard’s skipper Cmdr. Frank Mays, right, congratulates members of Aviation Life Support Systems work center for their selection as Shop of the Quarter with a handshake and a Bravo Zulu for a job well done. Currently deployed in Iraq are, from left, Aircrew Survival Equipmentman (PR) Airman Ronald Mowbray Jr., PR Airman Manuel Zamora, PR 2nd Class Clifford Erickson, PR 3rd Class Alfonzo White and PR Chief Sean Webb.

VAQ-133 WIZARDS IN SPOTLIGHT

AWOAN Stephen Kurland

Cmdr. Mark Hamilton, left, relieved Cmdr. Michael Grabowski as VP-46 commanding officer as the Grey Knightsí 75th commanding officer, May 14.

By Nancy SageNavy Munitions Command West, Det. Whidbey

Master Chief Torpedo-man’s Mate(SW/AW) Michael R. Vimislik, Navy Munitions Command CONUS West Division Detachment Whidbey Island’s Senior Enlisted Advisor, retires June 4 after a successful and rewarding 30 years in the U.S. Navy.

Following the Navy’s attempt to make occupa-tional specialties (ratings) more broad-based, the Torpedoman’s Mate (TM) rating was subsumed into the Gunner’s Mate (GM) rating in 2009.

Vimislik is one of only five Master Chiefs left on active duty who still possess torpedo-centric technical competencies.

“I miss the TM rating, and I think it will take some years for the Navy to sort

out what constitutes an ade-quate mix of GM and TM technical skills in order to maintain a high level of fleet, anti-submarine warfare readiness,” said Vimislik.

“The TM-rating bil-lets were much more geo-graphically and platform constrained,” said Vimislik. Now the GM-rating incum-bents enjoy a wide array of billets on most surface ves-sels and shore stations.

That benefit alone helps make the GM rating a more diversified and competitive occupational specialty.

Vimislik entered the Navy July 28, 1980 from his home-town of Beaver Valley, N.Y. His shipboard tours of duty include USS Yosemite (AD 19), USS Jesse L. Brown (FF 1089), USS Yellowstone (AD 41), USS Independence (CV 62) and USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63).

His retirement ceremony will be held at Keyport’s Naval Undersea Museum. He and his wife, Kathi, will remain in Seabeck, Wash., following his retirement.

One of Navy’s last master chief torpedoman retiring

Ernie Albrecht

Among the last five Master Chief Torpedoman in the Navy, Michael Vimislik ends his mili-tary career in early June while assigned to Navy Munitions Command CONUS West Division Detachment, Whidbey Island.

Swimming changes If you are on flight status and need some extra practice before attending refresher or indoctrination water sur-vival training or require Navy second class swim qualifications, Aviation Sur-vival Training Center (ASTC) Whidbey

is making a permanent change in date and time for this remedial training. Formerly known as “N8” training, the newly named “Survival Swimming” begins at 8 a.m. every Thursday vice 1 p.m. on Wednesday. This change becomes effective May 12. For further information, call 257-2304.