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VAW-123 Gives Early Warning for a Great Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS051115-02
Release Date: 11/15/2005 5:58:00 AM

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

ABOARD USS ENTERPRISE, At sea (NNS) -- The "Screwtops" of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123, based out of Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va., embarked aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in November with more than 160 Sailors, including 13 pilots and 18 naval flight officers (NFO), to participate in the carrier's Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA).

According to Lt. Joseph Houser, a VAW-123 NFO, the Screwtops have been looking forward to TSTA and are eager to integrate with the ship and air wing.

During carrier qualifications, the pilots of VAW-123 all performed well and qualified without a hitch, according to Houser.

VAW-123 is a command and control (C2) platform. They provide situational awareness (SA) during these missions.

“Some missions include defensive counter-attack missions, providing coverage for fighters on their strike routes,” said Houser. “Also, close air support missions and surface search control (SSC) missions in which the E-2C’s assets search for unidentified contacts and collect pictures, etc.

"When the Screwtops are airborne we have complete SA of the mission, and we provide it to the assets under our control and to the strike group. We know what’s out there; whatever information we have we make sure everyone else does, too. Through our multiple means of communication, we can provide coordinates, vectors and any other information they need to carry out their mission objectives. That’s how the Hawkeye integrates into the carrier, the strike group, the air wing, and the mission,” said Houser.

He feels that the airmen on the flight deck make it all possible.

“The Screwtops have a lot of junior Sailors on the flight deck. It’s a huge experience for them, and from my understanding, they love it. They’re out there training just like the air crew is. I can see them out there wanting to learn, wanting to get their qualifications, wanting to launch aircraft,” said Houser.

The airmen of VAW-123 are also the aircraft maintainers. Houser feels this is also a very important task the airmen are responsible for.

“In order for us to perform our mission, our equipment must work. A lot of man-hours go into keeping the aircraft mission-capable. We wouldn’t be able to do our job without the airmen,” said Houser.

VAW-123 Command Master Chief (CMC) Glenn Hopkins agrees, “I am excited daily to witness the performance of each and every Sailor on the flight deck. Our Sailors are committed professionals who are motivated in what they do,” he said.

Like Houser, Hopkins is extremely pleased with the way VAW-123 has been performing. He feels proud to be CMC to a group of excited, hard-working Sailors.

He said, “Without question, I’m the luckiest master chief in the United States Navy to be a Screwtop and what this command represents. Proud and dedicated Sailors, strong leadership, motivation, confidence and courage, while meeting the mission of Carrier Air Wing 1 and Enterprise Strike Group.”