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VFA-86 Packs a Powerful Bite Aboard Enterprise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS051107-03
Release Date: 11/7/2005 9:57:00 AM

By Photographer's Mate Airman Apprentice Michael Stokely, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

ABOARD USS ENTERPRISE (NNS) -- The Sidewinders of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C., deployed aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Oct. 26 in support of the carrier’s Tailored Ship’s Training Availability (TSTA).

According to the squadron’s Command Master Chief, CMDCM(SW/AW) Rita Kline, VFA-86 is a company to be proud of. The squadron consists of roughly 20 pilots and more than 225 Sailors.

The squadron began preparing for operations aboard Big E nearly three weeks ago, when some members of VFA-86 arrived just before the ship's flight deck certification. During that time, the Sailors also prepared for the arrival of the squadron’s main body by readying mattresses, sheets and pillows for racks and setting up computers and cruise boxes for their workshops.

“All the squadron spaces were empty, so our Sailors were very resourceful. For instance, they took cruise boxes and made tables out of them so that the pilots could have desks. They are improvising and overcoming and doing very well.”

VFA-86 qualified 18 pilots during flight deck certification, and while the airmen were up on the flight deck supporting flight operations, they were also working on their own flight deck qualifications.

“Chiefs and first class [petty officers] were helping the airmen to earn their qualifications, showing them where the hazards, foul lines and elevator stanchions are so they can continue to work up there and not be a problem to other people,” said Kline.

VFA-86 immediately started integrating its Sailors into shipboard operations such as working parties and temporary assigned duty [TAD] locations. “We have 24 enlisted Sailors TAD to various places,” said Kline. “We also send Sailors to every working party because we are all one team here and we are trying to do what is right to help the team out.”

When the advance detachment arrived in Norfolk, the senior members of the squadron arranged transportation to the Navy Exchange for their junior Sailors. They also assure regular check-ups on their Sailors who are TAD.

“We make sure we check on them every couple days to make sure that they are doing OK, because even though they aren’t working for us at that time, they are still our Sailors,” said Kline.

Over the remainder of this underway period, the Sidewinders’ first priority is to complete the qualification of their pilots. According to Lt. Adam Poth, VFA-86’s scheduling officer and pilot, this process involves completing a series of landings on the ship, both day and night. Poth added that the number of landings a pilot must complete depends on the amount of time elapsed since their last landing.

“We’re hoping to get everyone qualified so that we’ll be ready to start with the purpose of TSTA, which is to practice cyclic operations and get the whole air wing working as a team, but we’ve got to get qualified first and we’ll be ready to roll,” said Poth.

Kline agreed that working as a team is a very important aspect of carrier life. “We have got to make this a team effort, because that is what TSTA is all about; it is to show that the ship and air wing can work together and save the ship in case of an emergency,” says Kline.

With the way the Sidewinders have been performing, both Kline and Poth feel confident the remaining three weeks of TSTA will go smoothly. Poth has been more than impressed with the way the Sailors have been contributing on the flight deck and assisting the pilots.

“We couldn’t ask for more from them. Those guys are out there 15 to 17 hours a day doing all the tasks - refueling jets, pushing us back. Without them we couldn’t do anything,” said Poth. “It’s all about 5,000 people on the ship working together towards a common goal, which is getting us out and getting us back, and we couldn’t do it without the help of every single person.”

“I think we are doing fabulous,” added Kline. “Some of our Sailors have even gotten recognized, and we are extremely proud of our junior Sailors because they are they future of the Navy,” said Kline. “They have been getting the job done.”

According to Poth, everything is going well for VFA-86. “Our squadron as a whole has been coming together very well,” he said. “It’s been a great team effort, and everyone is really happy with the way things are going.”