VP-6 holds at-home safety standown

   VP-6 held its first at home safety standown on the morning of December 5, (1986) at the NAS Barbers Point station theater. Presided over by VP-6 Commanding Officer, CDR B. L. Tempel, the standown progressed smoothly, highlighted by Skipper Tempel's remarks about the squadron's continuing emphasis on safety and the Blue Sharks' persistent efforts to meet this standard. Other highlights included LT Jack Miller's welcome home speech in his capacity as aviation safety officer. 
   The events and high points of the safety standown, educational though they were, were overshadowed by the dark, ominous cloud that loomed on the not-so-far horizon for the flight-side Blue Sharks: Quarterlies! Rubbing his hands wickedly over his churning cauldron of questions, VP6's pilot NATOPS officer, LT Mark Thornley was heard to remark in the days and weeks before Tuesday, December 9's quarterly exams, "I've been brewing up some good questions for this exam; there are five on here that no one's ever even seen!!! Heh, Heh, Heh..." 
   Through teamwork and perseverance (not to mention careful study), the Blue Shark NATOPS quarterlies came and went successfully and the entire squadron now prepares itself for the even bigger, even darker cloud on the horizon: the Ready Month!