Carl Vinson Flies ESWS/EAWS Pennants
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050622-11
Release Date: 6/22/2005 12:02:00 PM
By Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Chris Fahey, USS Carl Vinson Public Affairs
USS CARL VINSON (NNS) -- The crew of USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) witnessed the culmination of more than a year’s worth of hard work as two pennants climbed the ship’s mast, honoring their achievement of 100 percent surface and aviation warfare qualifications June 18.
The “hauling up” ceremony for the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) and Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) pennants occurred shortly after Vinson moored pierside in the United Arab Emirates’ port of Jebel Ali near the city of Dubai.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the crew and what they have accomplished,” said Vinson’s command master chief, CMDCM(AW/SW) Renall Evans. “In my 25 years of service, I have never heard of an aircraft carrier earning the right to fly both enlisted warfare pennants. It really says a lot, especially out here in the Gulf.
“America right now is relying on us to do the job we are trained to do in the place where it must be performed at the highest level. Becoming 100 percent qualified in both aviation and surface is another way to show America that they can sleep well...we’re more than capable,” Evans said.
To qualify for the honor of flying both pennants, all E-5-and-above Sailors with more than 18 months aboard were required to earn their ESWS or EAWS qualifications.
Obtaining an ESWS or EAWS designator meant Sailors had to complete two personal qualification standards (PQS) booklets, totaling roughly 200 pages for each warfare pin. The books are designed to take Sailors to every department and seek warfare-qualified individuals willing to explain specific areas of their job and sign their name to the topic they instructed. Nearly 400 signatures are required to finish both PQSs. Next, the Sailor must pass a 200-question written test and an oral board chaired by a seasoned senior or master chief.
“[Earning a warfare pin displays] increased warfighting knowledge, mission enhancement, command survivability and pride,” said Vinson’s command EAWS coordinator, Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic (AW/SW) Henry Buckley. “All the material that is covered on the test is derived from the PQS and study guides. Every section in the book is covered on the test. The level of knowledge tested on an oral board is simply [to see if the Sailors] possess the general knowledge of the program.”
Routine tracking procedures concerning the status of eligible Sailors enabled command leaders to target, monitor and motivate Sailors seeking their qualifications. Command-wide training sessions were conducted on the ship’s aft mess decks three times per week and allowed Sailors to complete their study guides in roughly six weeks. Departmental tours and one-on-one attention through the ship’s mentorship program enabled crew members to intake large quantities of knowledge in retainable sprints rather than learning the information through long cramming sessions.
“I attended the ESWS lectures on the mess decks several times,” said Personnelman Seaman (SW) James Stallworth, who recently received his ESWS qualification and is very near to earning his EAWS. “The information was put out in plain, easy-to-understand terms. The tours also helped, because I was able to put eyes on the equipment I was learning about.
"My best resource, though, was my mentor [Chief Fire Controlman (AW/SW) Chester Williams]," he added. "I sought his help daily. He made the process easier, and his willingness to help directly affected my ability to earn my pin.”
So far during Carl Vinson's and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9’s around-the-world deployment, more than 900 Sailors have received their ESWS or EAWS qualifications, making for more than 1,500 qualified surface and aviation warriors.
“Seeing both those pennants wave from our mast is an accomplishment more than a year in the making; the XO (executive officer), CMC (command master chief) and I are extremely proud of the crew,” said Carl Vinson Commanding Officer Capt. Kevin Donegan. “Anyone who sees these pennants will know that the Sailors aboard Carl Vinson are sea and air warriors dedicated to the team they serve and the mission.
"Of course our work is not done, we have to continue that momentum and look ahead at newly-received or -advanced Sailors approaching their eligibility date so we can continue providing the resources needed for them to gain their primary warfare designations," he added. "For those who have already gained their primary, we want to give them the opportunity to gain their secondary warfare qualification.”
Carl Vinson is currently deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Iraqi and multinational forces in Iraq and maritime security operations (MSO) in the Gulf. MSO sets the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complements the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO denies international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons, or other material
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group includes commander, Carrier Strike Group 3, Carrier Air Wing 9, Destroyer Squadron 31, the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54), the guided-missile destroyers USS O’Kane (DDG 77) and USS Mustin (DDG 89), and the fast-combat support ship USS Camden (AOE 2).
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