SHUTTLEtheUSS Enterprise (CVN 65) - Friday, May 6, 2011

THE ENEMY’S WORST KNIGHTMARE

VFA-136

the Page 3Friday, May 6, 2011

Enterprise NewsSHUTTLE

By MCSN Daniel J. MeshelUSS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At sea – Of the seven squadrons that comprise Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), the ‘Knighthawks’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 stand apart from the rest. The squadron is the only one aboard that flies the single-seat F/A-18E Super Hornet, making the Knighhawk pilots effective at doing two jobs at once. “It requires pilots with a greater deal of skill who can handle more task-loading,” said Cmdr. Damien “Satan” R. Christopher, the commanding officer of VFA-136. “The workload is higher. Radios, weapons, and flying the aircraft all get done by the pilot.” The other Super Hornets on board are the two-seat variety that allow a weapon systems officer to help share the workload on more complicated missions. The level of performance and skill exhibited by Knighthawk pilots and maintainers is not unusual for the squadron, which has won the Strike Fighter Bombing Derby and

earned the Top Hook award for CVW-1 seven line periods in a row, said Christopher. “Top Hook is awarded to a squadron with the highest grade point average after a line period,” said Lt. Andrew G. Talbott, a pilot assigned to the Knighthawks. A line period is a set timeframe where each landing is graded and compared to other units. As aircraft land aboard the ship, they are observed, assessed, and then given an overall grade along with critique and semantics, all in an effort to improve performance. “You can have an okay pass, which is a 4.0, a fair pass, which is a 3.0., and a no-grade pass which is a 2.0,” said Talbott. It’s not just the pilots that participate, said

Christopher. The grade incorporates the combined efforts of the squadron’s maintenance department that contributes to the squadron’s success. The squadron has also won the Retention Excellence Award three years in a row, seen advancement rates rise 63 percent in one cycle after implementing an advancement team, and witnessed enlisted warfare qualifications grow by more than 337 percent in the last year alone. “The squadron has come together [and] rallied around a cause that they know is bigger than themselves,” Christopher said. “Everybody has been a part of making an environment where those around them rise to the occasion.” For Christopher, to win

Knighthawks setting the standard on Big ‘E’

Photo by USS Enterprise Public Affairs

Sailors assigned to the “Knighthawks” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 tend to one of the squadron’s F/A-18 Super Hornets on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

Air, Operations

Air, Combat Systems

Reactor

Reactor

Weapons, Deck, Supply, MWR

Weapons, Deck, Supply

in combat, the primary mission of the squadron, first begins with attitude. “Constantly learning from setbacks, collaboration, and constant self-critique,” said Christopher, “provides the vision and forethought to maintain goals of winning and continuing superior performance.” The friendly competition between squadrons is part of the inherent process improvement mindset that the squadrons on board build into everything they do. With people’s lives at stake in the air and on the ground, extremely potent weapons on board and millions of dollars in equipment controlled by one person, the pilot must be confident. “The track record we’ve established, the winning totals that we continue to rack up, are indicative of that measure of success,” he said. “The only reason we do it is because, whether we want to say so or not, combat is a competition, and you don’t want to be on the losing side,” said Christopher. “I’m biased of course,” added Christopher. “But this is the greatest hornet squadron in the history of Naval aviation,” he said. His confidence is contagious.

the Friday, May 6, 2011Page 4 SHUTTLE

Answers can be found on Big ‘E’ Net at S:\Public\MEDIA\GM\Crossword and Sudoku answers

FUN ZONE!Down1 “___ she blows!”2 It springs eternal3 Asteroid discovered in 18984 A majority5 Egg-shaped instrument6 Choral work7 Mimic8 Determined9 Reception device10 “The Maltese Falcon” actor11 Film director Jon12 Waterway13 Come together15 Hot21 Meat treat23 Diatribes24 Health resorts25 Actionable wrong26 Asian border river27 Scholarly book31 Item on a to-do list32 Rick’s love in “Casablanca”33 Exceeding34 Former capital of Japan36 Drink39 Artemis turned him into a stag40 Memento ___41 Father of Odysseus42 Win over45 Bagel purveyors46 Keys47 Vengeful feeling48 Unpleasant smell49 Handout51 One of a comical pair52 Josip Broz53 “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” author54 Professor Higgins, to Eliza57 Hair application

Across1 Those people5 General Bradley9 Exclamation of sorrow14 Astrologer’s reading16 “___ is an island”17 Forsakers of the faith18 Lopez of pop19 Make good as new

20 Gorge22 Dickens heroine24 New York City island28 Court star Lendl29 Roman goddess of fruit trees30 Link35 Jack-in-the-pulpit36 Harmful

37 Edison’s middle name38 Flowed copiously41 Not as important43 Inlet44 Asia Minor capital45 Troubled49 Give up hope50 Bridge support

55 One of a comical pair56 Unrest58 Mislead59 Power source60 German steel city61 Antlered animals62 Prying

Photos by MCSN Jesse L. Gonzalez

Lance Cpl. Carr, an airframe mechanic assigned to the “Thunderbolts” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 251, joined the Marine Corps two years ago while searching for a steady job. To Carr, the most rewarding aspect of his job is “knowing that I am maintaining the Marine Corps’ attack aircraft and knowing that it is protecting troops on the ground.” After his Marine Corps career, Carr aspires to one day take over his family’s water fowl hunting guide service Outdoor Action and have his own TV show about the great outdoors. During his free time, Carr enjoys duck hunting, fishing and spending time with friends.

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) AirmanKeith Wanzor - Washington, D.C.

Sailor of the DayLance CorporalJonathan W. Carr - Orange County, Virginia

Marine of the Day

ABEAN Wanzor, an arresting gear night maintenance technician and engine room operator assigned to Air department’s V-2 division, joined the Navy two years ago for the travel and education benefits. To Wanzor, the most rewarding aspects of his job are “safely recovering aircraft and reaping the benefits of knowing that a little hard work and long hours are a small price to pay for freedom.” Wanzor is working hard on his in-rate qualifications and aspires to make petty officer 3rd class in the near future. Wanzor plans on taking his family to Disney World after deployment and enjoys reading the Bible in his spare time.