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TR Completes FRS Carrier Qualifications

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080524-02
Release Date: 5/24/2008 8:02:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman John Suits, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs

USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) completed four days of Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) carrier qualifications (CQ) May 23, qualifying pilots assigned to the "Gladiators" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106.

Pilots and flight deck personnel worked tirelessly, flying both day and night on the flight deck to qualify in order to become fleet pilots.

"We qualified pilots in their final step of training before they enter the fleet," said Senior Chief Aviation Electronics Technician (AW) Dan Secunda, leading chief petty officer VFA 106 CQ detachment. "We performed flight operations in three days with five F/A-18C Hornets. All five aircraft held up well and little maintenance was done to make sure everything went smoothly."

Secunda explained the procedures of training that the pilots went through to qualify included, air-to-air combat, air-to-ground and the final phase known as CQ.

"To qualify the pilots, they were required to perform dogfights with other aircraft, as part of air-to-air combat," said Secunda. "They also dropped ordnance on targets for the air-to-ground maneuvers and the final phase included taking off and landing on the flight deck."

During the week-long underway, focus was not only on the qualifying pilots, but on how operations played it's part in CQ's.

"The difference between this underway and the past two underway periods, is that we are integrating the air wing as part of the ship as well as qualifying flight students," said Cmdr. Jim Skarbek, TR air operations officer. "The past underways were geared toward training the ship as a battle group and as a unit."

During Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) and Tailored Ship's Training Availability, TR Sailors were trained on different exercises to be qualified as battle ready by performing drills that cover problems that may occur while underway.

"COMPTUEX prepared us in an advanced form of warfighting," said Cmdr. Carl Conti, TR's air officer. "This underway, we focused more on the normal routine of flight operations. New pilots have to be qualified so they can relieve the more experienced ones."

For more news from USS Theodore Roosevelt, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn71/.