SECDEF ANNOUNCES BUDGET PRIORITIES PAGE 3 VOLUME 52 NO. 5
FEBRUARY 2, 2012
SERVING NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA
INSIDEJET
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DAM NECK ANNEX
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Training VB firefighters
FRC SAILOR HEADING TOWARDS MECP
AIRLANT names sea, shore Sailors of the year From Naval Air Force Atlantic Public Affairs
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UNIQUE ENTRANCE FOR SAILORS’ BABY
PAGE 9 The Oceana Ladies Golf Association will hold a welcome coffee and membership drive for all female active duty, retired, family members, 18 and above, and DOD personnel at NAS Oceana Aeropines Golf Club, Feb. 16, 9:30 am. For more information, call 363-8019.
CHAMBERS FIELD
Photo by MC3 Antonio P. Turretto Ramos
During training at NAS Oceana on Jan. 24, AMEC (AW/SW) Jason Frazier from Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic instructs city of Virginia Beach firefighters about the hazards of responding to a military aircraft emergency. Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire & Emergency Services are working together with Virginia Beach firefighters to coordinate technical expertise as part of continuous training in responding to aircraft emergencies. — See story/more photos, page 8
Rear Adm.Ted N. Branch, commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic announced the selection of the sea and shore Sailors of the Year during a luncheon at Naval Station Norfolk on Jan. 26. Aviation Ordnanceman (AO) 1st Class (AW/SW) Naomi B. Stout is the command’s Sea Sailor of the Year and Aircrew Survival Equipmentman (PR) 1st Class (AW) Maria E. Johnson was named AIRLANT Shore Sailor of the Year. Both Sailors were selected from 10 candidates representing more than 50,000 men and women serving in the sea and shore components within Naval Air Force Atlantic. Each represented their respective commands after being selected as that command’s Sailor of the Year. Stout is assigned to the “Fighting Tigers” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 in Jacksonville, Fla., where she currently serves as quality assurance leading petty officer. A native of — See AIRLANT SOYs Page 10
Historical all-female flight takes place aboard USS Carl Vinson BY MC3 (SW/AW) ROSA A. ARZOLA USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs USS CARL VINSON,At Sea (NNS) — Five “Tigertails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125, embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, made a historic flight Jan. 25 when they flew the Navy’s first all-female E-2C Hawkeye combat mission flight. Plane commander Lt. Cmdr. Tara Refo, mission
commander Lt. Cmdr. Brandy Jackson, pilot Lt. Ashley Ruic, control officer Lt. Nydia Driver and radar operator Lt. j.g. Ashley Ellison flew an E-2C Hawkeye — the all-weather, carrier-based tactical battle management airborne early warning and command and control aircraft. Although women were allowed inside the cockpit after the Women’s Armed Service Integration Act of 1948, it wasn’t until 1993, that female naval aviators were assigned to fly with combat squadrons. Then Secretary of Defense Les Aspin
Jr. opened combat aviation to female aviators and opened enlisted air crew positions for shore-based combat squadrons. “I never had the opportunity to fly with another female pilot except once,” Ruic said.“It’s nice to be part of history,not just because we are females, but because we are also close friends. It was a unique experience.” Ruic explained the all-female crew launch took place because the only two female pilots assigned — See VAW-125 Page 11