[MilCom] VP-65 "Tridents" Disestablished at Point Mugu

[AllanStern at aol.com]

"Tridents" of VP-65 Disestablished
Story Number: NNS060315-06
Release  Date: 3/15/2006 12:02:00 PM
By Journalist 1st Class Elton Shaw, Naval Air  Reserve Point Mugu Public 
Affairs
 
POINT MUGU, CA (NNS) -- Naval Reserve Patrol Sqdn VP-65, stationed at NAS  
Point Mugu, was formally disestablished during a ceremony at the VP-65 hangar  
March 4. Among the 300-plus people in attendance for the ceremony were several  
past commanding officers, officers-in-charge, command master chiefs and  
Sailors.
 
"Today, we collectively come together to celebrate more than 35 years of  
service to our great country. Our mission is to disestablish this fine  
organization and record the final words, on the final page, of the final chapter  of 
the remarkable Team Trident story," said Cmdr Kevin Simpson, commanding  officer 
of VP-65.
 
The Tridents were established Nov 16, 1970, during a major reorganization  of 
the Naval Air Reserve Force. The squadron, manned by a combination of  
active-duty, full time support and part-time (selected reserve) personnel, was  
formed along the lines of fleet Navy squadrons, with nearly identical manning  and 
organization levels. 
 
Throughout the ceremony, Simpson mentioned many of the milestones and  
accomplishments the squadron achieved over the years and made it clear the  
uncompromising commitment of Team Trident Sailors was the key.
 
"Simply put, you delivered excellence in everything you did. You flew and  
maintained our aircraft like our commanders and taxpayers expected. Moreover,  
you were loyal to one another. You watched out for one another and you were  
persistent in your charge to develop tomorrow's leaders," Simpson said. 
 
Since its inception, VP-65 has received many awards, including the AVCM  
Donald M Neal Award, the "Golden Wrench" (1981, 1988, 1990 and 1997), presented  
annually to the best of the Reserve P-3 squadrons for excellence in aircraft  
maintenance, the "Golden Anchor" (1991, 1995 and 1997) for retention excellence 
 and the Noel Davis "Battle 'E'" Trophy (1972, 1994, and 1997).
 
VP-65 air crews have successfully completed countless missions around the  
world, providing consistent operational support spanning from the Cold War to  
the global war on terrorism.
 
Rear Adm Jeffrey A Lemmons, vice commander, Naval Air Forces and commander,  
Naval Air Force Reserve was on hand as the guest speaker and to present 
Simpson  with a Meritorious Service Medal for his time as the squadron's final 
commanding  officer.
 
After he received his award Simpson read the official disestablishment  
order: "In accordance with Chief of Naval Operations Notice 3111 you are hereby  
ordered to disestablish VP-65 effective March 31,  2006."