Twenty-two Sailors from Patrol Squadron (VP) 40 assembled playground equipment at the Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor, Washington, March 23.

VP-40's Chiefs Mess and First Class Petty Officer's Association volunteered with the City of Oak Harbor's Parks Division to serve their local community and exercise teamwork and cooperation between the two messes.

The Sailors volunteered their efforts to clean up the park. They installed dividers and spread bark to build new play areas, as well as maintained preexisting areas.

"The cooperation between the first classes and the Chiefs Mess is great," said Chief Aircrew Survival Equipmentman Michael Paradiso. "It is beneficial for the Navy. It gets us out in a good light in the community."

The event also served as a teaching opportunity. The Chiefs Mess provides professional development to the first classes of the command through CPO 365 training, a year-round program that prepares first class petty officers to become chiefs.

"It's good to have the interaction between the chiefs and some soon-to-be chiefs," said Paradiso. "We get a chance to take them into our fold, get out onto the ground, and show them what we should be doing."

The VP-40 Chiefs Mess donated 50 volunteer hours locally during March, 2017. The First Class Petty Officer Association donated 30 volunteer hours and recently adopted the Flintstone Park in Oak Harbor.

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